Scene 1: Juliet visits Friar Laurence in despair over the forced marriage to Paris. He proposes a plan: she will take a potion that makes her appear dead for 42 hours, be laid in the family tomb, and be secretly reunited with Romeo (who will be informed by letter) once she wakes.

Scene 2–3: Juliet pretends to agree to marry Paris to placate her father, then privately drinks the potion, fearful but resolved.

Scene 4–5: The Capulet household prepares for the wedding, only to discover Juliet apparently dead. The family’s celebration turns instantly to mourning.