s of this incomplete report, Romeo seeks out an pharmacist to provide him with poison. He plans to go to the tomb in which Juliet lies and die alongside her. Back at Friar Laurence's cell in Verona, Friar John arrives with bad news: he was blocked by accident from delivering Father's Laurence's letter to Romeo. Friar Laurence realizes that this mishap could mean disaster and goes forth immediately to the graveyard open the Capulet family tomb before Juliet wakes. At the churchyard in Verona, Paris has come to Juliet's tomb to glimpse her beauty once more. He instructs a boy servant to stand watch and enters with a torch into the Capulet mausoleum. Romeo and the servant Balthasar then enter. Romeo instructs his man to leave the scene, saying that he merely wishes to retrieve a ring from Juliet's hand. Balthasar is doubtful and fears that Romeo may attempt suicide; he decides to hide nearby. Romeo and Paris encounter each other. Romeo calls Paris a gentle youth and warns him not to interfere with his plans. Paris defies him, they fight, and Paris is slain by Romeo. Romeo takes Paris' body further into the tomb and lays it alongside the "corpse" of his beloved Juliet. He stands over Juliet's body, saying that not even death can conquer her beauty. He kisses Juliet, takes the pharmacist's swiftly acting potion and dies. Just then, Friar Laurence appears: trying to run to the tomb of the Capulets, the priest tripped and stumbled over tombstones and arrived too late to save Romeo from his misguided suicide. He then enters the tomb just as Juliet wakes from her slumber. Friar Laurence tells Juliet that Romeo is dead. She takes Romeo's dagger and stabs herself to death when Friar Laurence is distracted. The Prince, the Capulets, and the Montagues then enter. Friar Laurence tells the Prince and the others about the failed plan to bring Romeo and Juliet together and of their tragic, mistaken suicides. The Prince chastises the heads of the familie...
