RALPH: Welcome back. We're joined in studio by the man of the hour—or the next two hours, you might say—Romeo Montague. Good morning, Romeo. 

ROMEO: Um, Good morning. It isn't really still morning, is it? 

RALPH: It is. It's about 9:00 AM. 

ROMEO: Wow. Time passes slowly when you're miserable. Was that my dad that was just here? 

RALPH: It was. But Romeo, what's this sadness that lengthens the hours, as you say? 

ROMEO: Not having that which having makes them shorter. 

RALPH: Sounds like you're in love. 

ROMEO: Out. 

RALPH: Out of love? 

ROMEO: Out of her favor where I am in love. 

RALPH: She's not returning your love? That's tough. Cupid may look like an innocent toddler, but he can be a real bully when you're actually in love. 

ROMEO: Alas that love whose view is muffled still should without eyes see pathways to his will. 

RALPH: Love is blind. Cupid is literally blindfolded. But that doesn't stop him from forcing you to love somebody. 

ROMEO: Did I hear something about a fight happening here? 

RALPH: Yeah, there was. More of a scuffle. 

ROMEO: Never mind. I don't want to hear about it. Here's much to do with hate, but more with love. 

RALPH: So what do you mean by that? 

ROMEO: All of this commotion, this brawling in the streets between our families, it's a lot of wasted energy, you know. 

RALPH: Lots of turmoil. 

ROMEO: Yeah, but with love there's even more. 

RALPH: More turmoil? Well, go on. Tell us what you say there. 

ROMEO: Why then, oh brawling love? Oh loving hate. Oh anything of nothing first create. Oh heavy lightness. Serious vanity. Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms. Feather of lead. Bright smoke. Cold fire. Sick health. Still-waking sleep. That is not what it is. This love feel I that feel no love in this. 

RALPH: Wow. Lots of opposites. But I guess that's how it must feel if you're in love and your love isn't returned. 

ROMEO: Yeah, that's what I just said. Funny isn't it? 

RALPH: Oh, I don't know. Seems kind of sad. 

ROMEO: Why should you feel sad? 

RALPH: I feel sad that you feel sad. 

ROMEO: Well, don't do that. I feel bad as it is. If you feel bad because I feel bad, it's just going to make things worse. Can I go now? 

RALPH: Yes, but before you go, Romeo, if you don't mind, who are you in love with? 

ROMEO: A woman. 

RALPH: OK. Well. I might have guessed that. 

ROMEO: She's beautiful. 

RALPH: Well, you're in love with her, so I might have guessed you'd say that too. 

ROMEO: Well anyway, like I said, she doesn't love me back. 

RALPH: Yeah, that's right. And you say, "she'll not be hit with Cupid's arrow. She hath Dian's wit. And in strong proof of chastity, well armed, from love's weak childish bow, she lives uncharmed." So it's not just that she's not in love with you, it's like she's taken a vow of chastity. 

ROMEO: Yeah. It's like she's wearing a suit of armor. She refuses my letters, refuses to meet me face-to-face, refuses the gifts I send her. Oh, she is rich in beauty. Only poor that when she dies, with beauty dies her store. 

RALPH: So in other words, the only thing wrong with her beauty is that when she dies, all of beauty dies with her. 

ROMEO: That's what I just said. 

RALPH: Sounds pretty heartbreaking. You're madly in love with a woman who doesn't love you back. And there seems to be very little chance that it's going to change. 

ROMEO: Way to like, twist the knife, Ralph. 

RALPH: Sorry Romeo. But if you don't mind, why not just forget about her? 

ROMEO: How would I do that? 

RALPH: Oh come on. There's got to be lots of beautiful young women in Verona, other fish in the sea. Why not pay attention to one of them? 

ROMEO: When love strikes you blind, how can you forget the beauty that took your eyesight away? Show me a beautiful woman, and it will only remind me of the one who is more beautiful than her. Can I go now? 

RALPH: Sure. But keep an open mind about this. You might be surprised. Will Romeo find a greater beauty than the woman he loves now? I guess we'll find out.