SARAH: Welcome back, everyone. We're still in the first scene of Act Three. But we've brought the Capulets and the Montagues back into the studio because of the recent trouble on the streets of Verona. Ralph? 

RALPH: Thanks, Sarah. I'm here with the Montagues. And the prince is joining us. Hello, sir. So sorry to trouble you. I know you're a very busy man. And this is probably the last thing you want to be dealing with. 

PRINCE: You're right about that, Ralph. Who started all this trouble? 

RALPH: Well, Benvolio has giving a full report, which I can share with you. Tybalt is dead, slain by young Romeo. And your own kinsmen, brave Mercutio, was slain by Tybalt. 

LADY CAPULET: [SCOFF] Excuse me. Prince? Hello? Can I say something? Tybalt is dead, sir, my cousin, my brother's child. My kinsman's blood has been spilled. Prince, as thou art true, for blood of ours, shed blood of Montague. 

SARAH: You want the prince to take the life of a Montague in exchange for Tybalt's? 

LADY CAPULET: Well, of course. I mean, this is just dangerous. 

PRINCE: Everyone, hold on, please. Ralph, who started this? 

RALPH: Well, Romeo killed Tybalt. But he was actually just trying to break up the fight, telling everyone how upset you would be. But Tybalt wasn't having any of it. And he started fighting with Mercutio, who was pretty belligerent as well, actually. And then Romeo, putting himself in danger, got between them to break up the fight. But Tybalt slipped his sword under Romeo's arm and stabbed Mercutio, killing him. Tybalt ran away at first, but then he came back. By this point, Romeo was pretty worked up about Mercutio dying. And he began to fight with Tybalt. Even though Benvolio tried to stop them, Romeo killed Tybalt and then ran away himself. 

LADY CAPULET: Well, you can't listen to him. I mean, look at him. Clearly, he is on their side. I wouldn't believe a word of it. 

RALPH: I'm not on their side, actually. I'm a journalist, thank you very much. I'm just reporting what Benvolio said. It's called the news. 

LADY CAPULET: Well, you cannot believe what Benvolio says, either. Clearly, they ganged up on Tybalt and murdered him in the street, the thugs. I beg for justice, my prince. Romeo slew Tybalt. Romeo must not live. 

[SOB] 

MONTAGUE: Not Romeo, prince. Mercutio is Romeo's friend. Tybalt killed Mercutio. Romeo just took the law into his own hands and killed Tybalt. It's the same death sentence you would've given Tybalt yourself. 

PRINCE: And for that offense, we immediately exile Romeo from Verona. 

[GASP] 

PRINCE: This is my final decision. I will hear no pleas. He is to leave Verona immediately, and will be put to death on the spot if found here. 

[SOB] 

PRINCE: Forgiving murderers only leads to more violent deaths. That's it, I'm done here. 

[SOBBING] 

RALPH: Well, I guess there's some good news. Romeo isn't going to be put to death. 

LADY MONTAGUE: It's exile, Ralph. He might as well be dead. 

RALPH: Exile is that bad? 

LADY MONTAGUE: Pretty much. 

MONTAGUE: Think about it, Ralph. Verona is great, but our city's not like yours. There's no internet, no phones. 

LADY MONTAGUE: And even traveling out of the city isn't easy. We'll likely never see him again. 

MONTAGUE: Wasn't it just yesterday we were trying to find out why he was so miserable? 

LADY MONTAGUE: And now this! 

MONTAGUE: It's all happening so fast.