[Intended to be presented by junior high or high-school level students of English as a foreign language. Continuing from here.]
Narrator: Benvolio and Mercutio have been out on business.
Benvolio: Mercutio, let's go home. It's too hot.
In weather like this, it's easy to get into an argument.
Mercutio: What do you have against a good argument?
Speaking of which, here come some Capulets.
Benvolio: I definitely do not want to argue with them.
Tybalt: Good evening. Could we talk?
Mercutio: I think you want to do more than talk.
Tybalt: Ready any time you are.
Mercutio, you hang around with Romeo, ...
Mercutio: And what if I do?
Is there some problem with that?
Benvolio: This is a public place.
We could discuss things more freely in some private place.
Mercutio: I see no need to go anywhere.
Narrator: Tybalt sees Romeo approaching.
Tybalt: Well, we have nothing to discuss.
There is the man I want to talk with.
Mercutio: And he's a better man than you.
Tybalt: Romeo, I hate you. You are scum!
Die!
Romeo: Oh, Tybalt, we should be friends.
Let's not talk about hate.
Tybalt: You have injured me! Draw your sword!
Romeo: But how could I injure you?
You are a Capulet, and I love all Capulets.
Mercutio: You are being a coward, Romeo!
Tybalt, do you want to fight?
Tybalt: Ready when you are.
Romeo: My friend, Mercutio, put your sword away.
Mercutio: Come on Tybalt.
Romeo: Benvolio, help me stop them!
Fighting in the streets is against the law!
Stop, Tybalt! Stop, Mercutio!
Narrator: Tybalt's thrust under Romeo's arm has fatally wounded Mercutio.
Mercutio: I'm going to die.
Did he get away without a scratch?
I hate you both!
Benvolio: Are you wounded?
Mercutio: Call a doctor!
Romeo: Please hang on!
It's not too bad, is it?
Mercutio: Maybe it's not too bad, but it's bad enough.
If you look for me tomorrow, you'll find me in the graveyard.
Why did you try to stop us?
Romeo: I meant it for the best!
Mercutio: I'm dead meat.
Benvolio, help me to some shelter.
I hate you both! And your families, too!
Romeo: My new cousin Tybalt has fatally wounded my friend Mercutio!
And it's my fault for trying to stop the fight.
Oh, Juliet, my love for you makes me think like a girl.
Benvolio: He's dead. Brave Mercutio is dead!
Here comes Tybalt, now.
Romeo: Tybalt, you are a dead man.
Tybalt: It's your fault for hanging around with him.
Narrator: So Romeo and Tybalt fight.
Benvolio: And now Tybalt's dead.
If the prince catches you, you're dead, too.
Romeo., you must go away.
Romeo: Why does fate play games with me?
[End of excerpts.]
2014-06-30
Romeo and Juliet Excerpt 5 -- the Wedding
[Intended to be presented by junior high or high-school level students of English as a foreign language. Continuing from here.]
Narrator: Romeo and Juliet have agreed to meet at Friar Laurence's room,
to be married in secret.
Friar Laurence is having second thoughts
about the pace with which the romance has developed.
Friar Laurence: Marriage is a holy thing,
so we must pray for the blessings of heaven
on your marriage with Juliet.
What starts out happily should not end up unhappily.
Romeo: Oh, I want this to be a happy marriage,
but once she and I are married,
no sorrow can hold any fear for me.
Friar Laurence: That is a rash brag.
I am concerned that your passion is too uncontrolled.
Uncontrolled passion tends to cause unhappiness.
Juliet is here.
She seems quite happy, too.
Juliet: Good evening, my spiritual friend.
Friar Laurence: Good evening, and Romeo is as glad to see you as I am.
Juliet: And I am glad to see him.
Romeo: Juliet, if you are as happy as I am,
this is truly a happy occasion.
Juliet: No words can match how happy I am.
Friar Laurence: Well, come with me to the chapel
and the church shall marry you.
[Continues here.]
Narrator: Romeo and Juliet have agreed to meet at Friar Laurence's room,
to be married in secret.
Friar Laurence is having second thoughts
about the pace with which the romance has developed.
Friar Laurence: Marriage is a holy thing,
so we must pray for the blessings of heaven
on your marriage with Juliet.
What starts out happily should not end up unhappily.
Romeo: Oh, I want this to be a happy marriage,
but once she and I are married,
no sorrow can hold any fear for me.
Friar Laurence: That is a rash brag.
I am concerned that your passion is too uncontrolled.
Uncontrolled passion tends to cause unhappiness.
Juliet is here.
She seems quite happy, too.
Juliet: Good evening, my spiritual friend.
Friar Laurence: Good evening, and Romeo is as glad to see you as I am.
Juliet: And I am glad to see him.
Romeo: Juliet, if you are as happy as I am,
this is truly a happy occasion.
Juliet: No words can match how happy I am.
Friar Laurence: Well, come with me to the chapel
and the church shall marry you.
[Continues here.]
2014-06-28
Romeo and Juliet Excerpt 4 -- in the Capulet's Garden
[Intended to be presented by junior high or high-school level students of English as a foreign language. Continuing from here.]
Narrator: Romeo listens as Benvolio and Mercutio leave.
Romeo: I don't think Mercutio has ever been in love.
Narrator: When Romeo looks around, he sees Juliet come out on her balcony.
Romeo: Am I facing east? Does the sun rise in the sky?
Juliet shines much brighter than the moon.
Juliet: Oh, what shall I do?
Romeo: How wonderful it is to hear her voice!
Juliet: Oh, Romeo, why do you have to be Romeo?
Say you're not a Montague!
Or I'll say I'm not a Capulet.
Romeo: Should I just listen, or should I answer?
Juliet: If you called a rose by any other name,
it would still smell just as sweet.
Oh, Romeo, change your name and I'll be all yours.
Romeo: If you call me your love,
I'll change my name and never be called Romeo again!
Juliet: What?
Who are you, hiding in the dark and listening to me?
Romeo: I cannot say my name because you hate it.
Juliet: I recognize your voice. Aren't you Romeo Montague?
Romeo: If you don't like that name, it isn't mine any more.
Juliet: How did you get in here, and why?
It's dangerous for you here.
Romeo: If I see in your eyes that you love me,
nothing is too dangerous.
Juliet: You've heard too much.
Romeo: How can I prove my love?
Juliet: Not tonight. We can meet again.
Good night.
Romeo: I can't leave unless you tell me you love me.
Juliet: It has already been said.
But tell me you mean what you say.
Do you intend to ask me to marry you?
Romeo: Yes, I do.
Nurse: Juliet?
Juliet: Wait there. Yes, Nurse?
Romeo: I am afraid I am dreaming.
Juliet: I'm back. How shall we meet tomorrow?
Romeo: Send a messenger to me in the morning.
Juliet: I'll send you my nurse.
Nurse: Juliet?
Juliet: I'm coming.
Good night.
Romeo: Until tomorrow, good night.
[Continues here.]
Narrator: Romeo listens as Benvolio and Mercutio leave.
Romeo: I don't think Mercutio has ever been in love.
Narrator: When Romeo looks around, he sees Juliet come out on her balcony.
Romeo: Am I facing east? Does the sun rise in the sky?
Juliet shines much brighter than the moon.
Juliet: Oh, what shall I do?
Romeo: How wonderful it is to hear her voice!
Juliet: Oh, Romeo, why do you have to be Romeo?
Say you're not a Montague!
Or I'll say I'm not a Capulet.
Romeo: Should I just listen, or should I answer?
Juliet: If you called a rose by any other name,
it would still smell just as sweet.
Oh, Romeo, change your name and I'll be all yours.
Romeo: If you call me your love,
I'll change my name and never be called Romeo again!
Juliet: What?
Who are you, hiding in the dark and listening to me?
Romeo: I cannot say my name because you hate it.
Juliet: I recognize your voice. Aren't you Romeo Montague?
Romeo: If you don't like that name, it isn't mine any more.
Juliet: How did you get in here, and why?
It's dangerous for you here.
Romeo: If I see in your eyes that you love me,
nothing is too dangerous.
Juliet: You've heard too much.
Romeo: How can I prove my love?
Juliet: Not tonight. We can meet again.
Good night.
Romeo: I can't leave unless you tell me you love me.
Juliet: It has already been said.
But tell me you mean what you say.
Do you intend to ask me to marry you?
Romeo: Yes, I do.
Nurse: Juliet?
Juliet: Wait there. Yes, Nurse?
Romeo: I am afraid I am dreaming.
Juliet: I'm back. How shall we meet tomorrow?
Romeo: Send a messenger to me in the morning.
Juliet: I'll send you my nurse.
Nurse: Juliet?
Juliet: I'm coming.
Good night.
Romeo: Until tomorrow, good night.
[Continues here.]
2014-06-27
Romeo and Juliet Excerpt 3 -- the Wall by the Garden
[Intended to be presented by junior high or high-school level students of English as a foreign language. Continuing from here.]
Romeo: But how can I leave?
Narrator: Romeo climbs over the fence and returns to the Capulets' garden.
Benvolio: Where are you, Romeo?
Mercutio: I think he's gone to bed.
Benvolio: I think he has gone into the woods to be unhappy all by himself.
Mercutio: That's a typical young boy trick.
Benvolio: Anyway, he doesn't want to be found.
Narrator: So Benvolio and Mercutio go home.
[Continues here.]
Romeo: But how can I leave?
Narrator: Romeo climbs over the fence and returns to the Capulets' garden.
Benvolio: Where are you, Romeo?
Mercutio: I think he's gone to bed.
Benvolio: I think he has gone into the woods to be unhappy all by himself.
Mercutio: That's a typical young boy trick.
Benvolio: Anyway, he doesn't want to be found.
Narrator: So Benvolio and Mercutio go home.
[Continues here.]
Doughnuts Are Scary! -- ドーナツ怖い
[This is my American retelling of the famous traditional Japanese comedy sketch "Manjuu Kowai" （饅頭怖い）。 In addition to using American confections, I've shortened it a bit, not playing the usual absurd concern for "Jack's" wellbeing, and not invoking the separate room where he naps, that allows the concern to be be played. It's intended to be comprehensible to Japanese jr. high students familiar with the Japanese story in one of its many versions.]
Betty: I hate frogs.
Rick: Oh, why?
Betty: Frogs jump. And their mouths open wide and their tongues shoot out. And they eat flies! They are gross, and scary. What scares you, Rick?
Rick: I don’t like elephants. Elephants are too big. I think they would crush me. Does anything scare you Jack?
Jack: Scare? Me? Nothing scares me.
Betty: I don’t believe you.
Jack: I’m not afraid of anything. I eat frogs for lunch. And I ride an elephant to school.
Rick: Snakes?
Jack: I wear a snake for a belt. See?
Betty: OH!
Rick: Scary!
Betty: Isn’t there something that you don’t like? Anything you think is scary?
Jack: Hmm. Well, I shouldn’t tell you this, but I don’t like doughnuts.
Betty: Doughnuts!
Rick: I don’t believe you.
Jack: No. It’s true. Doughnuts are too sweet. Yuck.
Betty: You’re teasing us.
Jack: And they crumble in your mouth. I hate that.
Rick: No way! They’re supposed to do that.
Jack: But the worst thing is the hole in the middle. I’m afraid of that hole. If my head got through that hole, I’d choke to death.
Betty: I think you’re just joking around.
Jack: Thinking about it makes me faint. I think I’ll go lie down.
Rick: Huh?
Jack: Zzzzzzzz.
Betty: Huh? Hmm. It looks like he’s asleep.
Rick: I have a good idea!
Betty: Oh?
Rick: Let’s see if he is really afraid of doughnuts.
Betty: I know a doughnut store.
Jack: Zzzzzzzzz. Oh. Now where did they go? Hmm. Zzzzzz.
Rick: Okay, here we are. Lot’s of doughnuts. We’ll put them beside where he is sleeping.
Jack: Aaaaggggghhhh! Doughnuts! Where did they come from?
Rick: Are you okay?
Jack: Chocolate doughnut! Yuck! Cherry glazed doughnut! Help! And the worst thing of all, a jelly-filled doughnut! I must get rid of them all, now! Munch munch munch.
Betty: Huh?
Jack: Yum! I mean, YUCK! Don’t help me get rid of them. Gulp. Munch munch munch.
Betty: Oh. You’re not scared of doughnuts after all.
Rick: You tricked us.
Jack: Munch munch munch. Okay, you help me with this sugar doughnut, Rick. And how about helping me with this almond frosted doughnut, Betty? Munch munch munch.
Betty: Is there nothing you are afraid of?
Jack: Well, let me think. I know! I’m deathly afraid of ice cream!
Betty: I hate frogs.
Rick: Oh, why?
Betty: Frogs jump. And their mouths open wide and their tongues shoot out. And they eat flies! They are gross, and scary. What scares you, Rick?
Rick: I don’t like elephants. Elephants are too big. I think they would crush me. Does anything scare you Jack?
Jack: Scare? Me? Nothing scares me.
Betty: I don’t believe you.
Jack: I’m not afraid of anything. I eat frogs for lunch. And I ride an elephant to school.
Rick: Snakes?
Jack: I wear a snake for a belt. See?
Betty: OH!
Rick: Scary!
Betty: Isn’t there something that you don’t like? Anything you think is scary?
Jack: Hmm. Well, I shouldn’t tell you this, but I don’t like doughnuts.
Betty: Doughnuts!
Rick: I don’t believe you.
Jack: No. It’s true. Doughnuts are too sweet. Yuck.
Betty: You’re teasing us.
Jack: And they crumble in your mouth. I hate that.
Rick: No way! They’re supposed to do that.
Jack: But the worst thing is the hole in the middle. I’m afraid of that hole. If my head got through that hole, I’d choke to death.
Betty: I think you’re just joking around.
Jack: Thinking about it makes me faint. I think I’ll go lie down.
Rick: Huh?
Jack: Zzzzzzzz.
Betty: Huh? Hmm. It looks like he’s asleep.
Rick: I have a good idea!
Betty: Oh?
Rick: Let’s see if he is really afraid of doughnuts.
Betty: I know a doughnut store.
Jack: Zzzzzzzzz. Oh. Now where did they go? Hmm. Zzzzzz.
Rick: Okay, here we are. Lot’s of doughnuts. We’ll put them beside where he is sleeping.
Jack: Aaaaggggghhhh! Doughnuts! Where did they come from?
Rick: Are you okay?
Jack: Chocolate doughnut! Yuck! Cherry glazed doughnut! Help! And the worst thing of all, a jelly-filled doughnut! I must get rid of them all, now! Munch munch munch.
Betty: Huh?
Jack: Yum! I mean, YUCK! Don’t help me get rid of them. Gulp. Munch munch munch.
Betty: Oh. You’re not scared of doughnuts after all.
Rick: You tricked us.
Jack: Munch munch munch. Okay, you help me with this sugar doughnut, Rick. And how about helping me with this almond frosted doughnut, Betty? Munch munch munch.
Betty: Is there nothing you are afraid of?
Jack: Well, let me think. I know! I’m deathly afraid of ice cream!
2014-06-23
Romeo and Juliet Excerpt 2 -- at the Party
[Intended to be presented by junior high or high-school level students of English as a foreign language. Continuing from here.]
Narrator: Capulet and Lady Capulet have arranged this party
so that Juliet can meet Count Paris.
Capulet: Welcome, guests! Let everyone dance!
Narrator: Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio arrive among the guests.
Romeo: Who is that girl standing with that man over there?
Servant: I don't know.
Romeo: She is so beautiful!
Maybe I should try to meet her.
Tybalt: This guy sounds like a Montague!
What's he doing here?
Servant, bring me my sword!
Capulet: What makes you so angry, nephew?
Tybalt: He insults us by coming to our party!
Capulet: Calm yourself. It's the Montague boy Romeo, isn't it?
Tybalt: That bad boy Romeo, himself!
Capulet: Well, he's behaving himself.
Why spoil our party? Let him alone.
Tybalt: Uncle, why should we put up with it?
Capulet: You'll cause a riot and get us all sent to jail.
Be a man and be patient!
Tybalt: It's hard to be angry and patient, but I'll be patient for now.
They can have their fun, but I'll make them regret it.
Narrator: So Tybalt leaves, bearing his grudge,
and Romeo goes to meet Juliet.
Romeo: It embarrasses me to offer my rough hand to one so beautiful as yourself.
Juliet: Your hand is not so rough that I mind our hands' meeting.
Romeo: My lips would be very happy if they could meet your hand as well.
Juliet: I guess my hand wouldn't think it was a crime.
You are quite a gentleman.
Nurse: Your mother wants to speak with you.
Narrator: So Juliet leaves.
Romeo: Who is her mother?
Nurse: Her mother is the lady of the house.
Romeo: She is a Capulet! I've lost my heart to the enemy!
Benvolio: Romeo, let's leave before anything bad happens.
Romeo: Something bad has already happened!
Narrator: Romeo leaves ahead of Benvolio and Mercutio.
Juliet: Who was the boy that would not dance?
Nurse: I'll find out.
Juliet: I hope he's not married!
Nurse: He is the Montague boy, Romeo.
Juliet: I wish I had known who he was before I met him.
I think I'm in love with my enemy.
Nurse: Watch what you say!
[Continues here.]
Narrator: Capulet and Lady Capulet have arranged this party
so that Juliet can meet Count Paris.
Capulet: Welcome, guests! Let everyone dance!
Narrator: Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio arrive among the guests.
Romeo: Who is that girl standing with that man over there?
Servant: I don't know.
Romeo: She is so beautiful!
Maybe I should try to meet her.
Tybalt: This guy sounds like a Montague!
What's he doing here?
Servant, bring me my sword!
Capulet: What makes you so angry, nephew?
Tybalt: He insults us by coming to our party!
Capulet: Calm yourself. It's the Montague boy Romeo, isn't it?
Tybalt: That bad boy Romeo, himself!
Capulet: Well, he's behaving himself.
Why spoil our party? Let him alone.
Tybalt: Uncle, why should we put up with it?
Capulet: You'll cause a riot and get us all sent to jail.
Be a man and be patient!
Tybalt: It's hard to be angry and patient, but I'll be patient for now.
They can have their fun, but I'll make them regret it.
Narrator: So Tybalt leaves, bearing his grudge,
and Romeo goes to meet Juliet.
Romeo: It embarrasses me to offer my rough hand to one so beautiful as yourself.
Juliet: Your hand is not so rough that I mind our hands' meeting.
Romeo: My lips would be very happy if they could meet your hand as well.
Juliet: I guess my hand wouldn't think it was a crime.
You are quite a gentleman.
Nurse: Your mother wants to speak with you.
Narrator: So Juliet leaves.
Romeo: Who is her mother?
Nurse: Her mother is the lady of the house.
Romeo: She is a Capulet! I've lost my heart to the enemy!
Benvolio: Romeo, let's leave before anything bad happens.
Romeo: Something bad has already happened!
Narrator: Romeo leaves ahead of Benvolio and Mercutio.
Juliet: Who was the boy that would not dance?
Nurse: I'll find out.
Juliet: I hope he's not married!
Nurse: He is the Montague boy, Romeo.
Juliet: I wish I had known who he was before I met him.
I think I'm in love with my enemy.
Nurse: Watch what you say!
[Continues here.]
Romeo and Juliet Excerpt 1 -- before the Party
[Intended to be presented by junior high or high-school level students of English as a foreign language.]
Narrator: Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio are talking in a street.
Romeo is sad because Rosaline does not return his feelings.
Benvolio and Mercutio try to cheer him up.
Benvolio: Let's go to the Capulets' party.
Romeo: But I don't feel like going to a party.
Mercutio: It'll be fun! We can dance!
Romeo: How can I go to a party when Rosaline doesn't love me?
Benvolio: There are prettier girls than Rosaline!
Romeo: Not for me. I have a bad feeling about this.
Benvolio: We'll be wearing masks, they won't know who we are.
Mercutio: We can have a dance and leave.
Romeo: You can dance. My heart is too heavy.
Benvolio: Rosaline will be at the party, too.
Mercutio: And you can compare her to the other girls. We're wasting time talking.
Benvolio: You'll see. She's not the prettiest girl in the city.
Narrator: So the three young men decide to attend the Capulet's party.
[Continues here.]
Narrator: Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio are talking in a street.
Romeo is sad because Rosaline does not return his feelings.
Benvolio and Mercutio try to cheer him up.
Benvolio: Let's go to the Capulets' party.
Romeo: But I don't feel like going to a party.
Mercutio: It'll be fun! We can dance!
Romeo: How can I go to a party when Rosaline doesn't love me?
Benvolio: There are prettier girls than Rosaline!
Romeo: Not for me. I have a bad feeling about this.
Benvolio: We'll be wearing masks, they won't know who we are.
Mercutio: We can have a dance and leave.
Romeo: You can dance. My heart is too heavy.
Benvolio: Rosaline will be at the party, too.
Mercutio: And you can compare her to the other girls. We're wasting time talking.
Benvolio: You'll see. She's not the prettiest girl in the city.
Narrator: So the three young men decide to attend the Capulet's party.
[Continues here.]
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