The play starts out in the streets of Verona.  Gregory and Sampson, servants of the Capulets are walking along, when they see Abram and Balthasar, servants of the Montague family.  They start to fight, and Benvolio, a Montague, tries to break it up.  Tybalt, the villain of the story, and also a Capulet, enters the scene, and challenges Benvolio to a swordfight.  Everyone starts fighting, and causes a lot of noise in the streets.  Prince Escalus arrives, and angrily tells the Capulets and Montagues that they shall be put to death if they start fighting again.
    Everyone leaves, except for Lord Montague, his wife, and Benvolio.  They talk for a bit about Romeo, and that he seems depressed.  Just then, Romeo enters.  Benvolio goes to talk with him to find out the problem.  Romeo is in love with a girl named Rosaline.  Benvolio tells Romeo to forget her, and find someone else, because Rosaline doesn't love Romeo back.