SARAH: To discuss Act One, Scene Three, we're joined by Capulet's wife, his daughter Juliet, and Juliet's nurse. Welcome. 

NURSE: I'm so excited to be here. 

SARAH: Yes, well, we're so glad to have you all here. Now at this point, Lady Capulet, you've decided to talk to your daughter about something, although you begin the conversation with a discussion of her age. 

NURSE: Her age. I know Juliet's age down to the very second. 

LADY CAPULET: She's not quite 14. 

NURSE: Hold on I got this. How long is it till Lammas tide? 

SARAH: Lammas tide? 

NURSE: The Harvest Festival. Silly. 

LADY CAPULET: It's in a couple of weeks. 

NURSE: Well, that's it then. On Lammas tide at night, she's going to be 14. Juliet and Susan, my daughter, God rest her soul, were, you know, the same age. 

SARAH: Oh I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter. 

NURSE: It's okay. She's with God now. She was too good for me. 

SARAH: So. Lady Capulet. You go—

NURSE: But as I was saying, on Lammas eve night she'll be 14. Honestly, I remember it like it was yesterday. 

LADY CAPULET: Right. 

NURSE: Even though it's been 11 years since the earthquake, then on the same day I weaned her. Can you believe it? On the day that I weaned her from my breast was the same day as the earthquake. 

SARAH: Amazing. 

NURSE: Amazing. I mean my lord and lady, you, were at Mantua, and I was sitting in the sun under the dove house wall, and I had just put Wormwood on my nipple, so that tiny baby Juliet wouldn't like the taste anymore. I know these things. I remember them. I have a brain. You know? 

SARAH: Lady Capulet—

[INTERPOSING VOICES] 

NURSE: I put wormwood on my nipple, she spit it out, because she didn't like the taste of it. And then that was the exact moment when, bam, the wall started shaking. And I picked her up and we ran as fast as I could. That was eleven years ago. Right. 

SARAH: Okay. 

NURSE: Then she could even stand by herself. She could waddle all around. Even the day before she fell and cut her forehead. And then my husband, oh rest his soul, what a joker. He picked her up and said, did you fall on her face? Don't worry, when you're older you'll fall on your back. 

SARAH: Oh. 

NURSE: Get it? Get it? I know you get it. He said, when you fall on your face, don't worry when you're older, you're going to fall on your back, and as soon as he said that she stopped and said aye. 

LADY CAPULET: Okay. That's enough. 

NURSE: Just picture it. Just like a picture it for a second. There she was, with a knot on her head the size of her rooster's testicle. I mean like that big. And then my husband says, don't worry when you're old enough you'll fall on your back. [LAUGHS] Don't worry, you'll fall on your back. Will you not, Jule? I mean then she stopped. She just stopped, and—and she said, aye. 

LADY CAPULET: And it's time for you to stop. Now. Please. 

NURSE: Oh. Kay. I'm done. 

SARAH: Great. So let's get back to this earlier conversation. 

NURSE: She is the sweetest babe that I ever did nurse, and I just hope to see you married. 

SARAH: Yes, in fact that is the topic of discussion with Juliet, isn't it? 

LADY CAPULET: Yes, yes, it is. Thank you Sarah. Juliet, Darling. What do you think about getting married? 

JULIET: Getting married? I don't really think about it at all. 

LADY CAPULET: Oh, well, it's time that you did. Here in Verona young ladies even younger than yourself are getting married and starting families. I was really quite young when I got married myself. But anyway, young Paris has asked to marry you. 

NURSE: Now, that is a man for you. Gorgeous. Like he was carved out of wax. 

LADY CAPULET: He really is a fine young man. The flower of Verona. 

NURSE: The finest. The finest. A very flower. 

LADY CAPULET: So what do you think? Do you think you will love him? You can meet him tonight at the feast. He's really, oh he's so handsome. So all you have to do is take a look at his face, and if you want to see deeper into his soul, you just look into his eyes. I think you will find that the only thing missing is a wife. He really is just—he's a beautiful book. And you could be the golden clasps that lock the story inside. And of course, you will share in everything that he has. Making yourself no worse in the process. 

NURSE: And bigger too. 

SARAH: Well. My goodness. So Juliet, what do you think? Could you learn to like this young man enough to marry him? 

JULIET: I'll look to like. If looking liking move. But no more deep will I endart my eye than your consent gives strength to make it fly. 

SARAH: Yes, I think I see but let's go over that one more time. To be sure. I'll looked like if looking liking move. So you're ready to like him, and you'll even expect to like him given what your mother and nurse have just said. But help me with the next part? 

JULIET: Well, how much I like him is really up to my mother. 

SARAH: Up to your mother? How is that? 

JULIET: Well, if she wants my liking to turn into loving through marriage, then I will do as she desires. 

LADY CAPULET: That's my girl. 

SARAH: Well, yes, that's very sweet but, does loving really work that way? Can you love someone just because your parents tell you to? 

LADY CAPULET: Of course it does, Sarah. How else would it work? 

SARAH: Well, I guess we'll find out. You ladies have a party to get ready for. Ralph? 

RALPH: Thanks Sarah. So there you have it. The basic elements of our plot are in place. Two feuding families. In one a son, who is madly in love with Rosaline. A young woman who won't give Romeo the time of day. And in the other, a daughter who's quickly headed towards a marriage to someone she's never met. But this play is called Romeo and Juliet. When will their paths cross? And what will happen when they do?