In Verona, Italy, the longstanding feud between the Montague and the Capulet

families breaks out in a street fight and is interrupted by the Prince of the city.
The same night, two teenagers of the two families Romeo (Montague ) and
Juliet (Capulet ) meet at a Capulet masked ball and fall in love at first sight.
Later, Romeo stands under Juliet's balcony as they reveal their love to each
other. They are soon secretly married by Romeo's confessor, Friar Laurence,
with the assistance of Juliet's nursemaid. Unfortunately, another street duel
breaks out between Juliet's first cousin Tybalt and Romeo's best friend Mercutio
when Tybalt insults Romeo. Since Tybalt is Juliet's cousin and Romeo has just
been married to Juliet, he sees Tybalt as family and refuses to fight him. But
Mercutio, who is a loyal friend fights for him and is killed in the duel . Romeo
takes revenge by fighting Tybalt and killing him, and is punished by the Prince
with banishment instead of the death penalty. For Romeo banishment is worse
than death, as Verona is the only home he has known and he does not want to
be away from Juliet.
In the meantime (nel frattempo) Juliet's father, who doesnt know about her
and Romeo, has arranged for her to marry Count Paris. In order to escape this
marriage and remain faithful to Romeo, Juliet takes a potion prepared by Friar
Laurence that is intended to make her appear dead for forty-two hours. Friar
Laurence plans to inform Romeo of the deception (inganno) so that Romeo can
meet Juliet and escape with her when she wakes up, so he sends another Friar,
John, to give Romeo a letter describing the plan. However, when Romeo's
servant, Balthasar, sees Juliet he thinks that she is dead, so he goes to tell
Romeo and reaches him before Friar John. In despair, Romeo goes to Juliet's
tomb and kills himself by drinking poison. When Juliet wakes up, she sees a
dead Romeo and stab herself (si pugnala)with his dagger (pugnale). Later, the
two families attend the funeral of the unlucky lovers and agree to end the feud.