Rosaline

On the night of the Capulet masquerade ball, Rosaline's attention is snagged by Dario Penza, a prospective suitor her father pushes on her. She ends up missing the ball itself as she deals with this encounter. The missed event inadvertently steers her away from Romeo's world and into a web of secrecy and strategy that follows.

During the ball, Romeo Montague meets Rosaline's cousin Juliet Capulet and is instantly smitten. He is drawn to her despite the family feud that divides them. This initial attraction seeds the romantic conflict that Rosaline will confront for the rest of the story.

On the following day, Romeo fails to show up for Rosaline, prompting her to tail him. She witnesses him courting Juliet and realizes Romeo has turned his affections toward her cousin. This discovery deepens Rosaline's resolve to protect Juliet from Romeo's charisma.

Lord and Lady Capulet visit Rosaline's father, Adrian, bringing Juliet and Tybalt along. Rosaline learns of Juliet's romance with Romeo and resolves to steer Juliet away from him. The visit marks the start of Rosaline's calculated meddling.

Rosaline tells Juliet that she knows of her liaison with Romeo and implies he is promiscuous. She then takes Juliet to a dive bar to meet other men, hoping to tempt Juliet away from Romeo. The plan reveals Rosaline's willingness to manipulate to protect her cousin from heartbreak.

Rosaline begins writing letters to Romeo, hoping for his affection, but is dismayed when he does not reply. She later discovers letters Romeo has written to Juliet, which she steals, fueling a sense of betrayal. This fuels her determination to outmaneuver the unfolding romance.

Rosaline encourages Juliet to spurn Romeo, convincing her to push him away. Juliet senses something is off and notices Rosaline's necklace engraved with both Romeo's and Rosaline's names, realizing her cousin's manipulation. Juliet declares that Romeo will not return to Rosaline.

Rosaline convinces Count Paris to court Juliet as a distraction while the romance unfolds. The Capulets approve the match, using it to shield the family from scandal and to lure Juliet away from Romeo.

Rosaline uncovers a letter from Romeo to Juliet revealing their elopement plan. Dario agrees to help infiltrate the Montague estate to stop the wedding, but guards spot them and a chase ensues. They escape on horseback but fail to prevent the wedding.

Dario tells Rosaline he must rejoin the navy, ending their immediate plan. He reveals he has begun to fall in love with Rosaline as their alliance shifts under pressure. The pair's partnership is strained as events spiral toward the confrontation.

Rosaline's attempt to keep Romeo and Juliet apart backfires when Tybalt confronts Romeo and is killed. Romeo kills Tybalt in a duel, prompting the feuding families to demand justice and to declare war on each other. The couple's secret relationship becomes a public crisis.

Rosaline apologizes to Dario for her misjudgments and begs for his help. They go to Juliet's room to smuggle her and Romeo to safety, only to learn Juliet has already carried out her plan to fake her death. Rosaline urges Romeo to join the ruse and save them all.

Following the chaos, the feuding families reconcile and depart, weary from the feud's cost. Rosaline and Dario watch as the revived Romeo and Juliet depart on Dario's boat, sharing a kiss as their friends and families look on. The closing moment hints at a fragile happiness beyond the feud.

In the mid-credits scene, Romeo and Juliet aboard the boat struggle to find common ground and shared interests. Their personalities still clash as they navigate a future they are still learning to understand. The moment teases both potential harmony and ongoing tension.