The two main families in the town of Verona are the Montagues and the Capulets who are feuding with each other and have public sword fights. Lord Capulet (Paul Hardwick) tries to arrange a marriage between his 13-year-old daughter, Juliet (Olivia Hussey) and Paris (Robert Bisacco). He suggests that Paris woo her at a feast that evening. Instead she meets Romeo who has crashed the party. They are both immediately smitten. After the party Romeo and Juliet have an opportunity to talk and declare their love. Romeo tells Friar Laurence (Milo O’Shea) he wants to marry Juliet. Thinking the union will patch up the old feud, the Friar marries them. Romeo gets caught up in another fight where his cousin, Mercutio (John McEnery), is killed. Romeo kills Tybalt (Michael York), his cousin’s killer. He is banished from town leaving his bride behind. Not knowing what has happened, Juliet’s parents tell her she’s to marry Paris. She begs Friar Laurence to help her. He comes up with a plan to fake her death. She’ll be put in the family tomb, and then Romeo can come and take her with him. She takes the potion and is put into the tomb.