Scene 1: In Mantua, Romeo’s servant Balthasar wrongly tells him Juliet is truly dead — the Friar’s letter explaining the plan never reached him, having been delayed by a quarantine. Romeo buys poison, intending to die beside Juliet.

Scene 2: Friar Laurence learns the letter failed to arrive and rushes toward the tomb, too late.

Scene 3: Romeo arrives at the tomb, kills Paris (who is there mourning Juliet), and, believing her dead, drinks the poison beside her. Juliet wakes moments later, finds Romeo dead, and stabs herself with his dagger. The families arrive, discover the deaths, and Prince Escalus reveals the whole sequence of events, prompting Capulet and Montague to finally reconcile.