Romeo enters. He is in Mantua waiting to hear news from the friar. He speaks about a dream that he had in which Juliet came and found him dead: "I dreamt my lady came and found me dead . . ." Act 5, Scene 1, line 6
Balthasar, Romeo's servant, enters and informs Romeo that Juliet is dead. Romeo is outraged and speaks against fate: "Then I defy you, stars!" Act 5, Scene 1, line 24 Balthasar leaves.
Romeo recalls an Apothecary that lives nearby. He decides that he will go and buy poison from this man.
The Apothecary enters. Romeo asks him for the poison. He offers him forty ducats for the poison, but at first the Apothecary refuses to sell it to him, for it is illegal to sell such drugs in Mantua. Romeo tries to persuade him by suggesting that the Apothecary needs the money, considering how poor he is. Finally, the Apothecary accepts the money and sells Romeo the poison. He leaves to make his way back to Verona to Juliet's grave.
