Sampson and Gregory, servants of the Capulets, stroll through the streets of Verona. As they walk they vent about their hatred for the Montagues. They exchange comments about the Montague men and women. Gregory then sees two Montague servants. As they approach they decide to bite their thumbs at them(a rude gesture). When the Montagues question them, they tell them they were simply bitting their thumbs. It is too late and the servants are drawing their swords. A brawl errupts and multiple members of boths households join in. Benvolio enters, attempting to break up the fight, but fails as hot headed Tybalt pronounces his hatred towards peace. Montague and Capulet enter, enraged. They both try to join, but are stopped by the Prince. He commands the participants to stop, telling them that if they fight again, the participants will be executed. Everyone then scatters, leaving the Montagues and Benvolio. He explains the situation to his aggrivated uncle and aunt. His aunt asks Benvolio if her Romeo was involved, to which Benvolio refutes. She informs him that he hides himself in his room, telling nobody about his problems. Montague and Lady Montague hastily depart. Benvolio spots his cousin and approaches him. He explains that he is "out of love", telling Benvolio that the woman that he loves does not love him back. Benvolio tells him that he should try and focus on other women, to which Romeo refutes, telling him that he cannot as she is the most beautiful woman. They both exit.
On a nearby street, Paris, a noble county and Capulet stroll. Paris pronounces his love for Juliet, and his wish to marry her. Capulet is overjoyed, but believes that Juliet is too young for marriage. He assures Paris that he will marry her, just when she is of appropriate age. He then invites Paris to a family feast that he is hosting. He calls his servant over and asks him to invite various friends and family members on a list that he hands him. As Capulet and Paris walk away, the servant attempts to read the list, but figures that he must seek assistance. Romeo and Benvolio are loitering nearby and are eventually approached by the servant. He tells them that he is illiterate and needs them to read the name on the list. Romeo skims over the list before reading it and finds Rosaline(his love's name) near the top. The servant invites them to the party, oblivious to who they are. Benvolio convinces his cousin to attend, telling him that it is an opportunity to forget about Rosaline. Romeo agrees to go, only because Rosaline herself is attending.
Lady Capulet asks the Nurse to find her daughter. Juliet enters, and Lady Capulet asks the Nurse to leave, before quickly retracting the statement. Before Lady Capulet can speak, the Nurse jumps in recounting when Juliet was younger and the subject of a sexual joke. Lady Capulet tries to stop the Nurse's rambling, but is unsuccessful. Finally Lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about marriage. Juliet tells her mother that she hadn't put much thought into it. The Nurse jumps in again and tells Juliet that she must consider it as her suitor is the "valiant Paris". Juliet tells them that she will take some notice of him, before the servingman enters, claiming that the feast has begun.
Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio group up with other party-goers. Romeo, still depressed, pronounces that he believes that they cannot get into the Capulet party, although his statement is later rendered moot, as his friends assure him that they will get in. Romeo also pronounces that he will not dance at the feast. Mercutio, as all friends do, mocks Romeo. Romeo confesses that he had a dream in which he found that going to the feast was a bad idea. Mercutio quickly retorts by telling Romeo that he must have been visited by Queen Mab, a fairy. Romeo quickly stops him before his speech escalates, although Mercutio admits that he was talking out of nothing. Benvolio revisits how they shall enter the feast. Romeo quickly pronounces that entering the feast will put them on a path of fate and eventual death. The group continue towards the feast.
It is lively in the Capulet hall. The maskers are dancing, eating and talking. Capulet roams through the crowds, conversing and joking with all of his old friends. Nearby, Romeo scans the crowd, looking for Rosaline. Whilst looking for her, Juliet catches his eye. Romeo immediatly asks a servingman who she is. The servingman doesn't know. Romeo's mind now becomes fixated on Juliet and forgets about Rosaline and slowly starts to gravitate to Juliet. During this time, Tybalt has discovered that Romeo is present and quickly declares his presence to his uncle. He tells his uncle that he should be punished, but Capulet refutes his nephew's intentions. He continues to scold Tybalt until he vows to not embarass himself. Romeo approaches Juliet and takes her hand. They exchange religious metaphores about saints and pilgrims. Through doing so, he convinces Juliet to let him kiss her. He does and then she kisses him again. When their second kiss ends, the nurse arrives and tells Juliet that her mother wishes to speak with her. She leaves and Romeo asks the nurse who Juliet's mother is. The nurse tells Romeo that Lady Capulet is her mother. Romeo's heart sinks. The crowds begin to disperse as people leave the ball. Benvolio quickly arrives and leads Romeo away from the feast. Juliet is also struck with Romeo's love and feels that she would perish from her melancholy. In order to not look suspicious, she asks the nurse who he was. The nurse goes off and returns to Juliet, telling her that she kissed Romeo, a Montague. Horrified that she kissed a Montague, she followed the nurse from the hall.