Romeo, unaware of Friar Lawrence's ruse to reunite the couple, returns to the castle only to witness Juliet's funeral procession. He enters the Capulets' tomb to find Juliet's lifeless body, carries her from the crypt, and drinks a vial of poison. Before the poison takes effect, Juliet wakes and the lovers are able to steal a few more moments together. When Romeo collapses, Juliet, not wanting to live without him, stabs herself with his dagger; they die in each other's arms, asking for God's forgiveness. Unlike the play, the film, like Gounod's opera, allows the ill-fated pair one last chance to express their love for each other before the final reckoning.
