HOW SHAKESPEARE SETS UP A SCENE

I've often thought that modern screen writers take too much time to set up a scene. They're too wedded to realism, where everything takes forever to do. To make my point I thought I'd compare two versions of a classic scene that everybody's already familiar with, and what could be more classic than the famous balcony scene in "Romeo and Juliet?"

You know the story. Here's how a modern screen writer would write the same scene:

A doorbell rings. It rings long enough for the maid in another part of the house to hear it. She drops what she's doing and answers the door. Romeo identifies himself, says what he's come for. The maid invites him in and offers to see if Juliet is home. The frightened Romeo steps inside and sits down, maybe wishing he'd never come. Juliet unexpectedly appears on the stairs as Romeo looks around the room. She dismisses the maid and greets Romeo. 

After an awkward moment Romeo offers Juliet a breath mint...not that she needs it, he explains...and asks about her father. He also admires her hair, inquires about a painting on the wall, and says he was just passing by.  Juliet is nervous too and to ease the tension she talks about a mutual acquaintance and there's some light laughter.

Romeo offers to go and Juliet says its not that late yet. Romeo sits down again, thoughtfully picking at lint balls on his socks. In and around the small talk there's little meaningful glances between them. Finally Romeo takes her hand. 

Well, it goes on.

Here's (below) how Shakespeare set up the same kind of scene:

"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?"

'Nuff said.