Church bells begin ringing out the three-quarters of an hour sound. Lights up stage right (SR), indicating midday on a street in Verona, Italy. JULIET HULME enters (13 years old in 1952), wearing a frock and sunglasses, and carrying a camera, guidebook and little rucksack. She stops, looks around, consults a map in her guidebook, walks SR in front of the SR table, does a 90 degree turn and heads downstage, checks the map again, walks across the front of the stage – as the lighting comes up there, turns and fixes on the SL table and runs towards it.

JULIET H

Oh, this is it!

JULIET H strikes a dramatic pose

JULIET H

“O Romeo, Romeo!

JULIET CAPULET – as the ghost of herself with a horribly pale face and lots of blood from her fatal stab wound staining the front of her nightdress – glides on to her balcony) behind JULIET H.

JULIET H	carrying straight on    – wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse / thy name …”
JULIET C	Forswear! I get so sick of hearing that paltry crap

JULIET H jumps and looks around. She is gob-smacked to see JULIET C and waves her hand in front of her eyes, as if to brush the illusion away, but it won’t go. JULIET C is surprised that JULIET H can see her, and pulls a face to check the reaction. JULIET H takes a few steps back before her curiosity moves her forward again.

JULIET H

Are you …are you Juliet?

JULIET C rolls her eyes.

JULIET H	I’m Juliet too, Juliet Hulme.
JULIET C	Really? You won’t believe how many silly little Juliets turn up here, wanting to have their photo taken under my balcony.

JULIET H hides her camera behind her back.

JULIET C	Then there’s the busloads after busloads of tourists and hundreds of thousands of lovers. As for the shrieks of joy from women who’ve just been proposed to – I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep for 564 years.
JULIET H	Don’t you get tired?
JULIET C	I’m supposed to be tired and miserable.
JULIET H	But you’re Juliet, the famous, greatest girl lover. Everyone wants to be you.
JULIET C	There wasn’t much being about it.
JULIET H	I beg your pardon?
JULIET C	Romeo and I died almost before we began. Should never have listened to the Friar – God won’t forgive me for killing myself in the name of Love instead of trusting Him. That’s why he stuck me on this Hell of a balcony with non-stop bloody tourists forever. I’d throw myself over the edge, if I wasn’t dead already.

A couple of beats

JULIET H	Would you like some chocolate? It always cheers Mummy up when she’s down in the dumps.
JULIET C	Chock – ?

JULIET H gets the chocolate out of her rucksack and shows JULIET C.

JULIET C	Oh I know – the tourists stuff their faces with it while the guides drone on. No one’s ever offered me any before. Mind you, no one’s ever seen me before. Why you?
JULIET H	Shrugs    Shall I bring it up?
JULIET C	If you desire –    indicating   there’s a staircase behind.

JULIET H steps up on the table via a chair. She sits down on the edge of the table to take the wrapper off and break up the chocolate. JULIET C sits next to her. They eat chocolate during the next bit – JULIET C scoffing lots – talking with their mouths full.

JULIET C	You’re English – what are you doing in Verona?
JULIET H	We’re on holiday on the way to live in New Zealand.
JULIET C	New Ze – ?
JULIET H	Zealand. Daddy’s got a new job at a university there.
JULIET C	Oh. About the chocolate You’re right – I feel better already.
JULIET H	That’s something. It must be ghastly having no hope. Are you really doomed forever?
JULIET C	Yes. Well … oh, God gave me one chance for redemption, but that’s impossible.
JULIET H	A chance?
JULIET C	God said that I can go back to life and try again for a place in heaven if … Tch    She waves her hand in dismissal
JULIET H	What?
JULIET C	If I can save one human life. And how am I going to do that – a ghost on a balcony. No-one’s even been up here since I died – except for you. Sigh You don’t want to end up like me. Very seriously Juliet, even if you’re really really desperate, promise that you’ll think things through.
JULIET H	Mmmm.
JULIET C	Urgently    Promise?
JULIET H	Absently    Promise.
JULIET C	Very urgently    Really?
JULIET H	Seriously    Cross my heart and hope to die.

The church bell rings twice, ie two o’clock. JULIET C jumps up.

JULIET C

The caretaker‘ll be back from siesta any minute – better leave or you’ll be in trouble.

JULIET H scrambles to her feet, kisses JULIET C, runs down the steps and out into the courtyard. They wave. JULIET H walks away, back the way she came.

JULIET C	Calling    Oh, Juliet.
JULIET H	Yes.
JULIET C	Would you bring me more chocolate before you leave town?

JULIET H nods.

JULIET C

Lots and lots.    To herself    – enough for eternity.

JULIET H nods, waves, walks away, and exits as the lights fade to blackout.