<big>Bernardo approaches the sentinel Francisco at the beginning of the play, to relieve him, at midnight. When Bernardo sees a human shape ahead of him in the darkness, a shape he does not yet recognize as Francisco, he stops and calls out, to begin the play dialogue. | <big>Bernardo approaches the sentinel Francisco at the beginning of the play, to relieve him, at midnight. When Bernardo sees a human shape ahead of him in the darkness, a shape he does not yet recognize as Francisco, he stops and calls out, to begin the play dialogue. |