Benvolio and Mercutio are talking and Tybalt enters and starts an argument. Romeo enters and Tybalt insults him, hoping he will draw his weapon, but Romeo doesn’t want to because he is now related to Tybalt through his marriage to Juliet. Mercutio, ashamed by Romeo not fighting and answers Tybalt’s insults for Romeo. Tybalt and Mercutio draw their swords and fight. To stop the battle, Romeo steps between them and Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo’s arm. Mercutio blames his death on Romeo.
Romeo is forced to run because the citizen entered and the Prince, and the heads of the two households, and their wives appear at the scene. After Benvolio tells them what has happened, the Prince banishes Romeo.