Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet at a secret wedding witnessed by the nurse.
Episode 4: A secret wedding
[Scene 1: Friar Lawrence's church]
Rosaline
It’s very early, but after everything that happened last night at the party, there’s no time to lose. There’s only one person who Romeo could ask for help and who could marry Romeo and Juliet - Friar Lawrence. If Romeo is going to be going anywhere, it’ll be here - and soon. He’s got to get everything arranged in time to meet Juliet’s messenger at 9 o’clock! (Seeing Romeo arrive) Told you.
Friar Lawrence
The dark of night is gone and a happy morning begins, as sunlight streaks through the clouds in the east.
Romeo
Good morning, Friar Lawrence.
Friar Lawrence
Who is greeting me so early? Being awake at this time must mean you have had trouble sleeping. Or, or if that’s not true, then I’d guess our Romeo has not been to bed last night.
Romeo
That guess is correct.
Friar Lawrence
Did you go to the party? Did you see Rosaline?
Romeo
Rosaline? No. I have forgotten all about Rosaline and the misery she caused me.
Friar Lawrence
Well that’s good. But what’s troubling you then?
Romeo
I will tell you simply. I am in love with the beautiful daughter of Lord Capulet. I love her. And she loves me. And we want to be married. I’ll tell you the story of how, when and where we met later. But now I hope that you will agree to marry us today.
Friar Lawrence
How things have changed!
Rosaline
I’m betting the good friar knows the trouble this may cause…
Friar Lawrence
I’ll agree to help you, as it may just be possible that this marriage could turn your two families’ feelings of hatred towards each other into those of love.
Rosaline
That’s one way of seeing it I guess. Their marriage might bring the families closer…
Romeo
Let’s go then! Let’s do this quickly.
Friar Lawrence
Go wisely, and go slowly. Those who rush into things often stumble.
Rosaline
The friar’s right: it’s all a bit sudden, isn’t it? One minute he was crying over me and the next he wants to marry Juliet. Either Romeo has just learned what love really is…or he’s acting too quickly and this is just another short-term crush. But maybe the friar is right: this marriage could be just the thing the families need to end their feud. Oh, I really hope he is right.
[Scene 2: the streets of Verona]
Rosaline
With the friar agreeing to help, there’s only one other hurdle that might prevent these two ‘star-crossed lovers’ from marrying today. Who is Juliet going to trust to send to meet Romeo? No one in her household would agree, surely? I don’t see anyone coming from the Capulet house and it’s past 9 o’clock now. Oh, hang on a minute, there’s someone I recognise…
Nurse
Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where I may find young Romeo?
Romeo
I am he.
Nurse
I need to speak with you: my young mistress sent me to find you. What she has asked me to say, I will keep to myself. But first let me say that if you are lying to her, or fooling her… Well, that would be a terrible thing to do.
Rosaline
She’s making sure Romeo is serious. She’s checking his love and offer of marriage is genuine.
Romeo
Nurse, tell her I am true, I promise you.
Nurse
I will tell her your heart is good. She will be so happy.
Romeo
Tell her to find a way to come to the church this afternoon. And there, Friar Lawrence will marry us!
Nurse
This afternoon, sir? Well, she will be there!
Rosaline
Juliet’s nurse has agreed to help. More than that - she’s going to help Juliet sneak out of the house, go to the friar’s and watch her get married to Romeo. She knows the trouble this could cause…
[Scene 3: Juliet's room]
Juliet
It was nine o’clock when I sent the nurse. She said she’d be back in half an hour! Maybe she couldn’t find him… It’s been three hours and she’s still not back.
Rosaline
Maybe the nurse has changed her mind and isn’t going to help organise the wedding after all?
Juliet
Ah, she’s back! Sweet nurse, what news? Oh no, why do you look so sad?
Nurse
I‘m tired. Give me a moment. Ah, my bones are aching!
Juliet
I wish you could have my bones, then maybe I could have your news! Please tell me good nurse, speak. Is your news good or bad? What did Romeo say of our marriage?
Nurse
You must go to Friar Lawrence’s. Romeo is waiting there to marry you!
[Scene 4: Friar Lawrence's church]
Friar Lawrence
May the heavens smile upon this marriage. Come, come with me and we will do the ceremony quickly. And the holy church shall unite you both as one.
Rosaline
As the doors close and secret marriage vows are made, we can only hope that the Friar is right…that the heavens are smiling down on them, and that this will bring peace and unite the families…
Romeo and Juliet animation
4. A secret wedding
Romeo goes to see Friar Lawrence, where he declares his love for Juliet and asks for the Friar to marry them. The Friar is aware of the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues but views the marriage as a possible way to heal the rift between them and so agrees to help Romeo.
The scene changes to the centre of Verona, where Romeo is talking with Benvolio and Mercutio. The nurse arrives - she is Juliet's messenger - and Romeo assures her that his love for Juliet is true. He urges the nurse to return to Juliet and tell her to meet him at the church that afternoon, so that Friar Lawrence can marry them.
Juliet is in her bedroom feeling anxious: it is three hours since the nurse was due to meet Romeo and there is still no news from her. The nurse arrives and after a short delay passes on Romeo's message.
Later that day Friar Lawrence ushers Romeo, Juliet and the nurse into church for the secret wedding.
The adaptation is intended to be broadly suitable for upper KS2 - that is, pupils aged 9 years old and above. However, be aware that the content deals with a number of sensitive issues including deaths during street fighting and suicide. Teachers should ensure they have watched any content they intend to share with their group in order to assess its suitability.
This film is relevant for teaching English within the National Curriculum at KS2 in England and Northern Ireland and equivalent levels in Scotland and Wales.
Further resources
Teacher Notes
Download / print the Teacher Notes for this series
Episode transcript
Click to download / print the episode transcript
Other videos in this series
3. Promises from a balcony. video
After the ball Romeo climbs into the Capulet garden hoping to see Juliet again.
5. Blood is spilled. video
Hot-headed Tybalt fights with Mercutio. Romeo intervenes but the fight ends in tragedy.
6. Exile. video
The prince banishes Romeo in punishment for Tybalt's death. Romeo visits Juliet in secret before leaving.
