WEST SIDE STORY WEST SIDE STORY was first presented by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince, by arrangement with Roger L. Stevens, at the Winter Garden, New York City, September 26, 1957, with the following cast: THE JETS RIFF, the leader-Mickey Calin TONY, his friend-Larry Kert ACTION-Eddie Roll A-RAB-Tony Mordente BABY JOHN-David Winters SNOWBOY-Grover Dale BIG DEAL-Martin Charnin DIESEL-Hank Brunjes GEE-TAR-Tommy Abbott MOUTHPIECE-Frank Green TIGER-Lowell Harris THEIR GIRLS GRAZIELLA-Wilma Curley VELMA-Carole D'Andrea MINNIE-Nanette Rosen CLARICE-Marilyn D'Honau PAULINE-Julie Oser ANYBODYS-Lee Becker THE SHARKS BERNARDO, the leader-Ken Le Roy MARIA, his sister-Carol Lawrence ANITA, his girl-Chita Rivera CHINO, his friend-Jamie Sanchez PEPE-George Marcy INDIO-Noel Schwartz LUIS-Al De Sio ANXOIUS-Gene Gavin NIBBLES-Ronnie Lee JUANO-Jay Norman TORO-Erne Castaldo MOOSE-Jack Murray THEIR GIRLS ROSALIA-Marilyn Cooper CONSUELO-Reri Grist TERESITA-Carmen Guiterrez FRANCISCA-Elizabeth Taylor ESTELLA-Lynn Ross MARGARITA-Liane Plane THE ADULTS DOC-Art Smith SCHRANK-Arch Johnson KRUPKE-William Bramley GLAD HAND-John Harkins ACT ONE PROLOGUE: THE MONTHS BEFORE 5:00 P.M., The Street 5:30 P.M., A Back Yard 6:00 P.M., A Bridal Shop 10:00 P.M., The Gym 11:00 P.M., A Back Alley MIDNIGHT, The Drugstore THE NEXT DAY 9:15 P.M., The Bridal Shop 6:00 to 9:00 P.M., The Neighborhood 9:00 P.M., Under the Highway ACT TWO 9:15 P.M., A Bedroom 10:00 P.M., Another Alley 11:30 P.M., The Bedroom 11:40 P.M., The Drugstore 11:50 P.M., The Cellar MIDNIGHT, The Street MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT ONE PROLOGUE, Danced by the Jets and Shark JET SONG, Riff and Jets SOMEHING'S COMING, Tony THE DANCE AT THE GYM MARIA, Tony TONIGHT, Tony and Maria AMERICA, Anita, Rosalia, and Shark Girls COOL, Riff and the Jets ONE HAND, ONE HEART, Tony and Maria TONIGHT (Quintet and Chorus), Company THE RUMBLE, Riff, Bernardo, Jets and Sharks ACT TWO I FEEL PRETTY, Maria, Rosalia, Teresita, Francisca SOMEWHERE, Danced by Company; Sung by Consuelo GEE, OFFICER KRUPKE, Action, Snowboy, and Jets A BOY LIKE THAT, Anita and Maria I HAVE A LOVE, Anita and Maria TAUNTING, Anita and the Jets FINALE, Company ACT I SCENE ONE 5:00 P.M. The Street. A suggestion of city streets and alleyways: a brick wall. The opening is musical: half-danced, half-mimed, with occasional phrases of dialogue. It is primarily a condensation of the growing rivalry between two teen-age games, the Jets and the Sharks, each of which has its own prideful uniform. The boys - sideburned, long-haired- are vital, restless, sardonic; the Sharks are Puerto Ricans, the Jets an anthology of what is called "American." The action begins with the Jets in possession of the are: owning, enjoying, loving their "home." Their leader is Riff: glowing, driving, intelligent, slightly wacky. His lieutenant is Deisel: big, slow, steady, nice. The youngest member of the gang is Baby John: awed at everything including that he is a Jet, trying to act the big man. His buddy is A-rab: an explosive little ferret who enjoys everything and understands the seriousness of nothing. The most aggressive is Action: a catlike ball of fury. We will get to know these boys better later, as well as Snowboy: a bespectacled self-styled expert. The first interruption of the Jets' sunny mood is the sharply punctuated entrance of the leader of the Sharks, Bernardo: handsome proud, fluid, a chip on his sardonic shoulder. The Jets, by far in the majority, flick him off. He returns with other Sharks: they, too, are flicked off. But the numerical supremacy, the strength of the Jets, is gradually being threatened. The beginnings of warfare are mild at first: a boy being tripped up, or being sandbagged with a flour sack or even being spit on -all with overly elaborate apologies. Finally, A-rab comes across the suddenly deserted area, pretending to be an airplane. There is no sound as he zooms along in fancied flight. Then over the wall drops Bernardo. Another Shark, another and another appear, blocking A-rab's panicky efforts at escape. They close in, grab him, pummel him, as a Shark on top of the wall is stationed as lookout. Finally, Bernardo bends over A-rab and makes a gesture (piercing his ear); the lookout whistles; Jets tear on, Sharks tear on, and a free- for-all breaks out. Riff goes at once to A-rab, like a protective father. The fight is stopped by a police whistle, louder and louder, and the arrival of a big goonlike cop, Krupke, and a plainclothesman, Schrank. Schrank is strong, always in command; he has a charming, pleasant manner, which he often employs to cover his venom and his fear. KRUPKE Knock it off! Settle down. SCHRANK All right: Kill each other! ...But not on my beat. RIFF [such innocence] Why if it isn't Lieutenant Schrank. SEVERAL JETS [dancing class manners] To of the day, Lieutenant Schrank. BERNARDO [one with Riff] And Officer Krupke! SEVERAL SHARKS Top of the day, Officer Krupke. SCHRANK Boy, what you Puerto Ricans have done to this neighborhood. Which one of 'em clobbered ya, A-rab? [A-rab looks to Riff, who takes over with great helpful seriousness.] RIFF As a matter of factuality, sir, we suspicion the job was done by a cop. SNOWBOY Two cops. A-RAB Oh, at least! KRUPKE Impossible! SCHRANK Didn't nobody tell ya there's a difference between bein' a stool pigeon and cooperatin' with the law? RIFF You told us the difference, sir. And we all chipped in for a prize for the first guy who can figure it out. ACTION [indicating Schrank] Maybe buddy boy should get the prize. SCHRANK Don't buddy me, Action! I got a hot surprise for you: you hoodlums don't own the streets. There's been too much raiding between you and the PRs. All right, Bernardo, get your trash outa here. [Mock Charm.] Please. BERNARDO Let's go, Sharks. [They exit.] SCHRANK [to Jets] If I don't put down the roughhouse, I get put down -on a traffic corner. Your friends don't like traffic corners. So you buddy boys are gonna play ball with me. I gotta put up with them and so do you. You're gonna make nice with them PRs from now on. Because otherwise I'm gonna beat the crap outa every one of ya and then run ya in. Say good-bye to the nice boys, Krupke. KRUPKE Good-bye, boys. [He follows Schrank out.] SNOWBOY [imitating Krupke] Good-bye, boys. A-RAB They make a very nice couple. ACTION [bitterly] You hoodlums don't own the streets. SNOWBOY Go play in the park! ACTION Keep off the grass! BABY JOHN Get outa the house! ACTION Keep off the block! A-RAB Get outa here! ACTION Keep off the world! A gang that down own a street is nuthin'! RIFF WE DO OWN IT! Jets -square off! Acemen: [Diesel, Action and Snowboy line up at attention] Rocketmen: [three others line up] Rank-and-file: [Sheepishly, A-rab trudges into position, Baby John behind him.] BABY JOHN [shocked, to A-rab] Gee, your ear's got blood on it! A-RAB [proudly] I'm a casual, Baby John. BABY JOHN [examining the ear] Them PRs! They branded you! SNOWBOY That makes you a Puerto Rican tomato. Cha-cha-cha, señorita? RIFF Cut the frabbajabba. Which one of the Sharks did it? A-RAB Bernardo. 'Cause I heard him say: "Thees ees for stink-bombin' my old man's store." [He makes the same gesture Bernardo made when he pierced his ear.] BABY JOHN Ouch! ACTION You shoulda done worse. Them PRs're the reason my old man's gone bust. RIFF Who says? ACTION My old man says. BABY JOHN [to A-rab] My old man says his old man woulda gone bust anyway. ACTION Your old man says that? BABY JOHN My old man says them Puerto Ricans is ruinin' free ennaprise. ACTION And what're we doin' about it? [Pushing through the game comes a scrawny teen-age girl, dressed in an outfit that is a pathetic attempt to imitate that of the Jets. Perhaps we have glimpsed her in the fracas before the police am e in. Her name is Anybodys.] ANYBODYS Gassin', crabbin'- ACTION You still around? ANYBODYS Listen I was a smash in that fight. Oh, Riff, Riff, I was murder! RIFF Come on, Anybodys- ANYBODYS Riff, how about me getting' in the gang now? A-RAB How about the gang gettin' in -ahhh, who'd wanta! ANYBODYS You cheap beast! [She lunges for A-rab, but Riff pulls her off and pushes her out.] RIFF The road, little lady, the road. [In a moment of bravado, just before she goes, Anybodys spits-but cautiously.] Round out! [This is Riff's summoning of the gang, and they surround him.] We fought hard for this territory and it's ours. But with those cops servin' as cover, the PRs can move in right under our noses and take it away. Unless we speed fast and clean 'em up in one all- out fight! ACTION [eagerly] A rumble! [A jabbing gesture.] Chung! Chung! RIFF Cool, Action boy. The Sharks want a place, too, and they are tough. They might ask for bottles of knives or zip guns. BABY JOHN Zip guys... Gee! RIFF I'm not finalizin' and sayin' they will: I'm only sayin' they might and we gotta be prepared. Now what's your mood? ACTION I say go, go!! SNOWBOY But if they say knives or guns- BABY JOHN I say let's forget the whole thing. DIESEL What do you say, Riff? RIFF I say this turf is small, but it's all we got. I wanna hold it like we always held it: with skin! But if they say switchblades, I'll get a switchblade. I say I want the Jets to be Number One, to sail, to hold the sky! DIESEL Then rev us off. [A punching gesture.] Voom-va voom! ACTION Chung chung! A-RAB Cracko, jacko! SNOWBOY Riga diga dum! BABY JOHN Pam pam!! RIFF OK, buddy boys, we rumble! [General glee.] Now protocality calls for a war council to decide on weapons. I'll make the challenge to Bernardo. SNOWBOY You gotta take a lieutenant. ACTION That's me! RIFF That's Tony. ACTION Who need Tony? Music starts. RIFF Against the Sharks we need every man we got. ACTION Tony don't belong any more. RIFF Cut it, Action boy. I and Tony started the Jets. ACTION Well, he acts like he don't wanna belong. BABY JOHN Who wouldn't wanna belong to the Jets! ACTION Tony ain't been with us for over a month. SNOWBOY What about the day we clobbered the Emeralds? A-RAB Which we couldn't have done without Tony. BABY JOHN He saved my ever lovin' neck. RIFF Right. He's always come through for us and he will now. [He sings:] When you're a Jet, You're a Jet all the way From your first cigarette To your last dyin' day. When you're a Jet, If the spit hits the fan, You got brothers around, You're a family man! You're never alone, You're never disconnected! You're home with your own: When company's expected, You're well protected! Then you are set With a capital J, Which you'll never forget Till they cart you away. When you're a Jet, You stay A Jet! [He speaks:] I know Tony like I know. I guarantee you can count him in. ACTION In, out, let's get crackin'. A-RAB Where you gonna find Bernardo? RIFF At the dance tonight at the gym. BIG DEAL But the gym's neutral territory. RIFF [sweet innocence] I'm gonna make nice there! I'm only gonna challenge him. RIFF Great, Daddy-O! A-RAB So everybody dress up sweet and sharp. Meet Tony and me at them. And walk tall! [He runs off.] A-RAB We always talk tall! BABY JOHN We're Jets! ACTION The greatest! [He sings with Baby John:] When you're a Jet, You're the top cat in town, You're the gold-metal kid With the heavyweight crown! [A-rab, Action, Big Deal sings:] When you're a Jet, You're the swingin'est thing. Little boy, you're a man; Little man, you're a king! [All:] The Jets are in gear, Our cylinders are clickin'! The Sharks'll steer clear 'Cause ev'ry Puerto Rican 'S a lousy chicken! Here come the Jets Like a bat out of hell- Someone gets in our way, Someone don't feel so well. Here come the Jets: Little world, step aside! Better go underground, Better run, better hide. We're drawin' the line, So keep your noses hidden! We're hangin' a sign, Says "Visitors forbidden"- And we ain't kiddin'! Here come the Jets, Yeah! An' we're gonna beat Ev'ry last buggin' gang On the whole buggin' street! [Diesel and Action.] On the whole [All:] Ever-! Mother-! Lovin'-! Street! The Lights Black Out SCENE TWO. 5:30 P.M. A back yard. On a small ladder, a good-looking sandy-haired boy is painting a vertical sign that will say: "Doc's." Below, Riff is haranguing. RIFF Riga tiga tum tum. Why not? ...You can't say ya won't, Tony boy, without sayin' why not? RIFF Because it's me askin': Riff. Womb to tomb! TONY Sperm to worm! [Surveying the sign.] You sure this looks like skywritin'? RIFF It's brilliant. TONY Twenty-seven years the boss has had that drugstore. I wanna surprise him with a new sign. RIFF [shaking the ladder.] Tony, this is important! TONY Very important: Acemen, Rocketmen. RIFF What's with you? Four and one-half year I live with a buddy and his family. Four and one-half years I think I know a man's character. Buddy boy, I am a victim of disappointment in you. TONY End your sufferin', little man. Why don't you pack up your gear and clear out? RIFF 'Cause your ma's hot for me. [Tony grabs his arms and twists it.] No! 'Cause I hate livin' with my buggin' uncle uncle UNCLE! [Tony releases him and climbs back up the ladder.] TONY Now go play nice with the Jets. RIFF The Jets are the greatest! TONY Were. RIFF Are. You found something' better? TONY No, But- RIFF But what? TONY You won't dig it. RIFF Try me. TONY OK... Every single damn night for the last month, I wake up-and I'm reachin' out. RIFF For what? TONY I don't know. It's right outside the door, around the corner. But it's comin'! RIFF What is? Tell me! TONY I don't know! It's-like the kick I use to get from bein' a Jet. RIFF [quietly] ...Or from bein buddies. TONY We're still buddies. RIFF The kick comes from the people, buddy boy. TONY Yea, but not from a Jet. RIFF No? Without a gang you're an orphan. With a gang you walk in two's three's four's. And when your gang is the best, when you're a Jet, buddy boy, you're out in the sun and home free home! TONY Riff, I've had it. [Pause.] RIFF Tony, the trouble is large: The Sharks bite hard! We got to stop them now, and we need you! [Pause. Quietly.] I never asked the time of a day from a clock, but I'm askin' you: Come to the dance tonight... [Tony turns away.] ...I already told the gang you'd be there. TONY [after a moment, turns to him with a grin] What time? RIFF Ten? TONY Ten it is. RIFF Womb to tomb! TONY Sperm to worm! And I'll live to regret this. RIFF Who knows? Maybe what you're waitin' for'll be twitchin' at the dance! [He runs off.] TONY Who knows? [Music starts and he sings:] Could be!... Who knows?... There's something due any day; I will know right away, Soon as it shows. It may come cannon-balling down thru the sky, Gleam in its eye, Bright as a rose! Who knows?... It's only just out of reach, Down the block, on a beach, Under a tree... I got a feeling there's a miracle due, Gonna come true, Coming to me! Could it be? Yes it could. Something's coming, something good, If I can wait! Something's coming, I don't know what it is, But it is Gonna be great! With a click, with a shock, Phone'll jingle, door'll knock, Open the latch! Something's coming, don't know when but it's soon- Catch the moon, One-handed catch! Around the corner, Or whistling down the river, Come on-deliver To me! Will it be? Yes, it will. Maybe just by holding still, It'll be there! Come on something, come on in, don't be shy, Meet a guy, Pull up a chair! The air is humming, And something great is coming! Who knows? It's only just out of reach, Down the block, on a beach... Maybe tonight... The Lights Dim SCENE THREE. 6:00 P.M. A bridal shop. A small section, enough to include a table with sewing machine, a chair or two. Anita, A Puerto Rican girl with loose hair and slightly flashy clothes, is finishing remaking what was a white communion dress into a party dress for an extremely lovely, extremely young girl: Maria. Anita is knowing, a sexual, sharp. Maria is an excited, enthusiastic, obedient child, with the temper, stubborn strength and awareness of a woman. MARIA [holding out scissors] Por favor, Anita. Make the neck lower! ANITA Stop it, Maria. MARIA One inch. How much can one little inch do? ANITA Too much. MARIA [exasperated] Anita, it is now to be a dress of dancing, no longer for kneeling in front of an altar. ANITA With those boys you can start in dancing and end up kneeling. MARIA Querida, one little inch; uno poca poca- ANITA Bernardo made me promise- MARIA Ai! Bernardo! One month have I been in this country-do I ever even touch excitement? I sew all day, I sit all night. For what did my fine brother bring me here? ANITA To marry Chino. MARIA When I look at Chino, nothing happens. ANITA What do you expect to happen? MARIA I don't know: something. What happens when you look at Bernardo? ANITA It's when I don't look at him that it happens. MARIA I think I will tell Mama and Papa about you and 'Nardo in the balcony of the movies. ANITA I will rip this to shreds! MARIA No. But you perhaps could manage to lower the neck- ANITA Next year. MARIA Next year I will be married an no one will care if its down to here! ANITA Down to where? MARIA Down to here. [Indicates her waist.] I hate this dress! ANITA Then don't wear it and don't come to the dance. MARIA [shocked] Don't come! [Grabs the dress.] Could we not dye it red, at least? ANITA No, we could not. [She starts to help Maria into the dress.] MARIA White is for babies. I will be the only one there in a white- ANITA Well??? MARIA Ahhhh-sí! It is a beautiful dress: I love you! [As she hugs Anita, Bernardo enters, followed by a shy, gentle sweet-faced boy: Chino.] BERNARDO Are you ready? MARIA Come in, 'Nardo. [Whirls in the dress.] Is it not beautiful? BERNARDO [looking only at Maria's face] Yes. [Kisses her.] Very. ANITA I didn't quite hear... BERNARDO [kissin Anita quite differently.] Very beautiful. MARIA [watches them a second, then turns to Chino] Come in, Chino. Do not be afraid. CHINO But this is a shop for ladies. BERNARDO Our ladies! MARIA 'Nardo, it is most important that I have a wonderful time at the dancing tonight. BENARDO [as Anita hooks up Maria] Why? MARIA Because tonight is the real beginning of my life as a young lady of America! [She begins to whirl in the dress as the shop slides off and a flood of gaily colored streamers pours down. As Maria begins to turn and turn, going off-stage. Sharks girls, dressed for the dance whirl on, followed by Jet girls. By boys from both gangs. The streamers fly up again for the next scene.] SCENE FOUR. 10:00 P.M. The gym. Actually, a converted gymnasium of a settlement house, at the moment being used as a dancehall, disguised for the occasion with streamers and bunting. Both gangs are jitterbugging wildly with their bodies, but their faces, although they are enjoying themselves, remain cool, almost detached. The line between the two gangs is sharply defined by the colors they wear: the Jets, girls as well as boys, reflecting the colors of the Jets jackets; the same is true of the Sharks. The dancing is a physical and emotional release for these kids. Maria enters with Chino, Bernardo and Anita. As she looks around, delighted, thrilled by this, her first dance, the Jets catch sight of Bernardo, who is being greeted by Pepe, his lieutenant, and other Sharks. As the music peters away, the Jets withdraw to one side of the hall, around Riff. The Sharks, seeing this, draw to their side, around Bernardo, who starts-with his lieutenants-to meet him. The moment is brief but it would be disastrous if a smiling, overly cheerful young man of about thirty did not hurry forward. He is called Glad Hand, and he is a "square." GLAD HAND [beaming] All right, boys and girls! Attention, please! [Hum of talk.] Attention! [Krupke appears behind Glad Hand: the talk stops.] Thank you. It sure is fine turnout tonight. [Ad libs from the kids.] We want to make friends here, so we're going to have a few get-together dances. [Ad libs: "Oh, ginger peachy," ect.] You form two circles: boys on the outside and girls on the inside. SNOWBOY Where are you? GLAD HAND [tries to laugh at this] All right. Now when the music stops, each boy dances with whichever girl is opposite. O.K.? O.K. Two circles, kids. [The kids clap their hands back at him and ad lib: "Two circles, kids," ect., but do not move.] Well, it won't hurt you to try. SNOWBOY [limping forward] Oh, it hurts; it hurts; it- [Krupke steps forward. Snowboy straightens up and meekly returns to his place. Riff steps forward and beckons to his girl, Velma. She is terribly young, sexy, lost in a world of jive. She slithers forward to take her place with Riff. The challenge is met by Bernardo, who steps forward, leading Anita as though he were presenting the most magnificent lady in all the world. The other kids follow, forming the two circles Glad Hand requested.] GLAD HAND That's it, kids. Keep the ball rolling. Round she goes and where she stops, nobody knows. All right: here we go! [Promenade music starts and the circles start revolving. Glad Hand, whistles to this mouth, is in the center with Krupke. He blows the whistle and the music stops, leaving the Jet boys opposite Sharks girls, and vice versa. There is a moment of tenseness, then Bernardo reaches across the Jet girl opposite for Anita's hand, and she comes to him. Riff reaches for Velma; and the kids of both gangs follow suit. The "get-together" has failed, and each gang is on its own side of the hall as a mambo starts. This turns into a challenge dance between Bernardo and Anita-cheered on by the Sharks-and Riff and Velma-cheered on by the Jets. During it, Tony enters and is momentarily embraced by Riff, who is delighted that his best friend did turn up. The dance builds wilder and wilder, until, at the peak, everybody is dancing and shouting. "Go, Mambo!" It is at this moment that Tony and Maria-at opposite sides of the hall-see each other. They have been cheering on their respective friends, clapping in rhythm. Now, as they s TONY You're not thinking I'm someone else? MARIA I know you are not. TONY Or that we have met before? MARIA I know we have not. TONY I felt, I knew something-never-before was going to happen, had to happen. But this is- MARIA [interrupting] My hands are cold. [He takes them in his.] Yours, too. [He moves her hand to his face.] So warm. [She moves his hands to her face.] TONY Yours, too. MARIA But of course. They are the same. TONY It's so much to believe-you're not joking me? MARIA I have not yet learned how to joke that way. I think now I never will. [Impulsively, he stops to kiss her hands; then tenderly, innocently, her lips. The music bursts out, the lights flare up, and Bernardo is upon them in an icy rage.] BERNARDO Go home, "American." TONY Slow down, Bernardo. BERNARDO Stay away from my sister! TONY ...Sister? [Riff steps up.] BERNARDO [to Maria] Couldn't you see he's one of them? MARIA No; I saw only him. BERNARDO [as Chino comes up] I told you; there's one thing they want from a Puerto Rican girl! TONY That's a lie! RIFF Cool, boy. Chino [to Tony] Get away. TONY You keep out, Chino. [To Maria:] Don't listen to them! BERNARDO She will listen to brother before- RIFF [overlapping] If you characters want to settle- GLAD HAND Please! Everything was going so well! Do you fellows get pleasure out of making trouble? Now come on-it won't hurt you to have a good time. [Music starts again. Bernardo is on one side with Maria and Chino; Anita joins them. Tony is on the other with Riff and Diesel. Light emphasizes the first group.] BERNARDO I warned you- CHINO Do not yell at her, 'Nardo. BERNARDO You yell at babies. ANITA And put ideas in the baby's head. BERNARDO Take her home, Chino. MARIA 'Nardo, it is my first dance. BERNARDO Please. We are family, Maria. Go. [Maria hesitates, then starts out with Chino as the light follows her to the other group, which she passes.] RIFF [to Diesel, indicating Tony happily] I guess the kid's with us for sure now. [Tony doesn't even hear; he is starting at Maria, who stops for a moment.] CHINO Come, Maria. [They continue out.] TONY Maria... [He is unaware that Bernardo is crossing toward him, but Riff intercepts.] BERNARDO I don't want you. RIFF I want you, though. For a war council-Jets and Sharks. BERNARDO The pleasure is all mine. RIFF Let's go outside. BERNARDO I would not leave the ladies here alone. We will meet you in half an hour. RIFF Doc's drugstore? [Bernardo nods.] And no jazz before then. BERNARDO I understand the rules-Native Boy. [The lights is fading on them, on everyone but Tony.] RIFF Spread the word, Diesel. DIESEL Right, Daddy-o. RIFF Let's get the chicks and kick it. Tony? TONY Maria... [Music stars.] RIFF [in darkness] Tony! DIESEL [in darkness] Ah, we'll see him at Doc's. TONY [speaking dreamily over the music-he is now standing alone in the light] The most beautiful sound I ever heard. VOICES [off stage:] Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria... TONY All the beautiful words of the world in a single word: VOICES [off stage:] Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria... [Swelling in intensity.] TONY Maria! I've just met a girl named Maria, And suddenly that name Will never be the same To me. Maria! I've just kissed a girl named Maria, And suddenly I've found How wonderful a sound Can be! Maria! Say it loud and there's music playing- Say it soft and it's almost like praying- Maria... I'll never stop saying Maria! The most beautiful sound I ever heard. Maria CHORUS [offstage, against Tony's obbligato:] I've just met a girl named Maria, And suddenly that name Will never be the same To me. Maria- I've just kissed a girl named Maria, And suddenly I've found How wonderful a sound Can be! TONY Maria- Say it loud and there's music playing- Say it soft and it's almost like praying- Maria- I'll never stop saying Maria! The most beautiful sound I ever heard- Maria. [During the song, the sate behind Tony has gone dark; by the time he has finished, it is set for the next scene.] SCENE FIVE. 11:00 P.M. A back alley. A suggestion of buildings; a fire escape climbing to the rear window of an unseen flat. As Tony sings, he looks for where Maria lives, wishing for her. And she does appear, at the window above him, which opens onto the fire escape. Music stays beneath most of the scene. TONY [sings:] Maria, Maria... MARIA Ssh! TONY Maria! MARIA Quiet! TONY Come down. MARIA No. TONY Maria... MARIA Please. If Bernardo- TONY He's at the dance. Come down. MARIA He will soon bring Anita home. TONY Just for a minute. MARIA [smiles] A minute is not enough. TONY [smiles] For an hour then. MARIA I cannot. TONY Forever! MARIA Ssh! TONY Then I'm coming up. WOMAN'S VOICE [from the offstage apartment] Maria! MARIA Momentito, Mama... TONY [climbing up] Maria, Maria- MARIA Cállate! [Reaching her hand out to stop him.] Ssh! TONY [grabbing her hand] Ssh! MARIA It is dangerous. TONY I'm not "one of them." MARIA You are; but to me, you are not. Just as I am one of them-[she gestures toward the apartment.] TONY To me, you are all the- [She covers his mouth with her hand.] MAN'S VOICE [from the unseen apartment] Maruca! MARIA Sí, ya vengo, Papa. TONY Maruca? MARIA His pet name for me. TONY I like him. He will like me. MARIA No. He is like Bernardo: afraid. [Suddenly laughing.] Imagine being afraid of you! TONY You see? MARIA [touching his face] I see you. TONY See only me. MARIA [sings:] Only you, you're the only thing I'll see forever. In my eyes, in my words and in everything I do, Nothing else but you Ever! TONY And there's nothing for me but Maria, Every sight that I see is Maria. MARIA Tony, Tony... TONY Always you , every thought I'll ever know, Everywhere I go, you'll be. MARIA All the world is only you and me! [And now the buildings, the world fade away, leaving them suspended in space.] Tonight, tonight, It all began tonight, I saw you and the world went away. Tonight, tonight, There's only you tonight, What you are, what you do, what you say. TONY Today, all day I had the feeling A miracle would happen- I know now I was right. For here you are And what was just a world is a star Tonight! BOTH Tonight, tonight, The world is full of light, With suns and moons all over the place. Tonight, tonight, The world is wild and bright, Going mad, shooting stars into space. Today the world was just an address, A place for me to live in, No better than all right, But here you are And what was just a world is a star Tonight! MAN'S VOICE [offstage] Maruca! MARIA Wait for me! [She goes inside as the buildings begin to come back into place.] TONY [sings] Tonight, tonight, It all began tonight, I saw you and the world went away. MARIA [returning] I cannot stay. Go quickly! TONY I'm not afraid. MARIA They are strict with me. Please. TONY [kissing her] Good night. MARIA Buenos noches. TONY I love you. MARIA Yes, yes. Hurry. [He climbs down.] Wait! When will I see you? [He starts back up.] No! TONY Tomorrow. MARIA I work at the bridal shop. Come there. TONY At sundown. MARIA Yes. Good night. TONY Good night. [He starts off.] MARIA Tony! TONY Ssh! MARIA Come to the back door. TONY Si. [Again he starts out.] MARIA Tony! [He stops. A pause.] What does Tony stand for? TONY Anton. MARIA Te adoro, Anton. TONY Te adoro, Maria. [Both sing as music starts again:] Good night, good night, Sleep well and when you dream, Dream of me Tonight. [She goes inside; He ducks out into the shadows just as Bernardo and Anita enter, followed by Indio, and Pep and their girls. One is a bleached-blond, bangled beauty: Consuelo. The other, more quietly dressed, is Rosalia. She is not too bright.] BERNARDO [Looking up to the window.] Maria? ANITA She also has a mother. Also a father. BERNARDO They do not know the country any better than she does. ANITA You do not know it all! Girls here are free to have fun. She-is- in-America-now. BERNARDO [exaggerated] But Puerto-Rico-is-in-America-now! ANITA [in disgust] Ai! BERNARDO [cooing] Anita Josefina Teresita- ANITA It's plain Anita now- BERNARDO [continuing through] -Beatriz del Carmen Margarita, etcetera, etcetera- ANITA Immigrant! BERNARDO [pulling her to him] Thank God, you can't change your hair! PEPE [fondling Consuelo's bleached mop] Is that possible? CONSUELO In the U.S.A., everything is real. BERNARDO [to Chino, who enters] Chino, how was she when you took her home? CHINO All right. 'Nardo, she was only dancing. BERNARDO With an "American." Who is really a Polack. ANITA Says the Spic. BERNARDO You are not so cute. ANITA That Tony is. ROSALIA And he works. CHINO A delivery boy. ANITA And what are you? CHINO An assistant. BERNARDO Sí! And Chino makes half what the Polack makes-the Polack is American! [A burlesque oration in mock Puerto Rican accent. Bernardo starts the first line with her.] The mother of Tony was born in Poland; the father still goes to a night school. Tony was born in America, so that makes him an American. But us? Foreigners! PEPE and CONSUELO Lice! PEPE, CONSUELO, ANITA Cockroaches! BERNARDO Well, it is true! You remember how we were when we first came! Did we even think of going back? BERNARDO and ANITA No! We came ready, eager- ANITA [mocking] With our hearts open- CONSUELO Our arms open- PEPE You came with your pants open. CONSUELO You did, pig! [Slaps him.] You'll go back with handcuffs! BERNARDO I am going back with a Cadillac! CHINO Air-conditioned! BERNARDO Built-in bar! CHINO Telephone! BERNARDO Television! CHINO Compatible color! BERNARDO And a king-sized bed. [Grabs Anita.] Come on. ANITA [mimicking] Come on. BERNARDO Well, are you or aren't you? ANITA You have your big, important war council. The council or me? BERNARDO First one, then the other. ANITA [breaking away from him] I am an American girl now. I don't wait. BERNARDO [to Chino] Back home, women know their place. ANITA Back home, little boys don't have war councils. BERNARDO You want me to be an American? [To the boys.] Vámonos, chicos, Es tarde. [A mock bow.] Buenos noches, Anita Josefina del Carmen, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. [He exits with the boys.] ROSALIA That's a very pretty name: Etcetera. ANITA Ai! CONSUELO She means well. ROSALIA We have many names at home. ANITA [mimicking] At home, at home. If it's so nice "at home," why don't you go back there? ROSALIA I would like-[A look from Anita.]-just for a successful visit. [She sings nostalgically:] Puerto Rico... You lovely island... Island of tropical breezes. Always the pineapples growing, Always the coffee blossoms blowing... ANITA Puerto Rico... You ugly island... Island of tropic diseases. Always the hurricanes blowing, Always the population growing... And the money owing, And the babies crying, And the bullets flying. I like the island Manhattan- Smoke on your pipe and put that in! [all, except Rosalia:] I like to be in America! OK by me in America! Everything free in America For a small fee in America! ROSALIA I like the city of San Juan- ANITA I know a boat you can get on. ROSALIA Hundreds of flowers in full bloom- ANITA Hundreds of people in each room! [all except Rosalia:] Automobile in America, Chromium steel in America, Wire-spoke wheel in America- Very big deal in America- ROSALIA I'll drive a Buick to San Juan- ANITA If there's a road you can drive on. ROSALIA I'll give my cousin a free ride- ANITA How you get all of them inside? [all except Rosalia:] An immigrant goes to America, Many hellos in America; Nobody knows in America Puerto Rico's in America. [The girls whistle and dace.] ROSALIA When will I go back to San Juan- ANITA When you will shut up and get gone! ROSALIA I'll give them new washing machine- ANITA What have they got there to keep clean? [all except Rosalia:] I like the shores of America! Comfort is yours in America! Knobs on the doors in America, Wall-to-wall floors in America! [They whistle and dance.] ROSALIA I'll bring TV to San Juan ANITA If there's a current to turn on. ROSALIA Everyone there will get big cheer! ANITA Everyone there will have moved here! [The song ends in a joyous dance.] The Lights Black Out. SCENE SIX. Midnight. The drugstore. A suggestion of a run-down, musty general store which, in cities, is called a drugstore. A door leading to the street outside; another leading to the cellar below. Baby John is reading a comic book; A-rab is playing solitaire; Anybodys is huddled by the jukebox: Action is watching the street door. The atmosphere is tense, jumpy. Action slams the door and strides to the dart board. ACTION Where the devil are they? Are we havin' a war council tonight or ain't we? [He throws a dart savagely.] BABY JOHN He don't use knives. He don't even use an atomic ray gun. A-RAB Superman. Gee, I love him. SNOWBOY So marry him. ANYBODYS I ain't never gonna get married: too noisy. A-RAB You ain't never gonna get married: too ugly. ANYBODYS ["shooting" him] Pow pow! A-RAB Cracko, jacko! [Clutching his belly, he spins to the floor.] Down goes a teen-age hoodlum. BABY JOHN Could a zip gun make you do like that? [A second of silence. Then Snowboy slams into the room and they all jump.] ACTION What the hell's a matter with you? SNOWBOY I got caught sneakin' outa the movies. A-RAB Sneakin' out? Whadd'ya do that for? SNOWBOY I sneaked in. ACTION A ware council comin' up and he goes to the movies. ANYBODYS And you let him be a Jet! BABY JOHN Ah, go walk the streets like ya sister. ANYBODYS [jumping him] Lissen, jail bait, I licked you twice and I can do it again. [From the doorway behind the counter a little middle-aged man enters: Doc.] DOC Curfew, gentlemen. And lady. Baby John, you should be home in bed. BABY JOHN We're gonna have a ware council here, Doc. DOC A who? A-RAB To decide on weapons for a big-time rumble! SNOWBOY We're gonna mix with the PRs. DOC Weapons. You couldn't play basketball? ANYBODYS Get with it, buddy boy. DOC War councils- ACTION Don't start, Doc. DOC Rumbles... ACTION Doc- DOC Why, when I was your age- ACTION When you was my age; when my old man was my age; when my brother was my age! You was never my age, none a you! The sooner you creeps get a hip to that, the sooner you'll dig us. DOC I'll dig you early graves, that's what I'll do. A-RAB Dig, dig, dig- DOC What're you gonna be when you grow up? ANYBODYS [wistfully.] A telephone call girl! [The store doorbell tinkles as Riff enters with Velma.] SNOWBOY Riff, hey! ACTION Are they comin'? RIFF Unwind, Action. Hey, Doc, Tony here? DOC No, Riff, it's closing time. ACTION [to Riff] What d'ya think they're gonna ask for? A-RAB Just rubber hoses, maybe, huh? RIFF Cool, little men. Easy, freezy cool. VELMA Oo, oo, ooblee-oo. [Diesel enters with a would-be grand number: Graziella.] DIESEL They're comin' any minute now! ACTION Chung chung! A-RAB Cracko, jacko! VELMA Ooblee-oo. RIFF [sharply] Cool! ANYBODYS Riff-in a tight spot you need every man you- RIFF No. GRAZIELLA [indicating Anybodys to Velma] An American tragedy. ANYBODYS ["shooting" to her] Pow. GRAZIELLA Poo. VELMA Ooblee-pooh. [They giggle.] RIFF Now when the victims come in, you chicks cut out. GRAZIELLA We might, and then again, we might not. DIESEL This ain't kid stuff, Graziella. GRAZIELLA I and Velma aint kid stuff, neither. Are we, Vel? VELMA No thank you-oo, ooblee-oo. GRAZIELLA And you can punctuate it? VELMA Ooo! [They giggle again.] ACTION [to Riff] What're we poppin' around with dumb broads? GRAZIELLA I and Velma ain't dumb! ACTION We got important business comin' DOC Makin' trouble for the Puerto Ricans? SNOWBOY They make trouble for us. DOC Look! He almost laughs when he says it. For you, trouble is a relief. RIFF We've got to stand up to the PRs, Doc. It's important. DOC Fighting over a little piece of the street is so important? ACTION To us, it is. DOC To hoodlums, it is. [He goes out through the cellar doorway as Action lunges for him.] ACTION Don't you call me hoodlum! RIFF [holding him] Easy, Action! Save your steam for the rumble. A-RAB He don't want what we want, so we're hoodlums! BABY JOHN I wear a jacket like my buddies, so my teacher calls me hoodlum! ACTION I swear, the next creep who calls me hoodlum- RIFF You'll laugh! Yeah. Now you all better dig this and dig it the most. No matter who or what is eatin' at you, you show it, buddy boys, and you are dead. You are cuttin' a hole in yourselves for them to stick in a red-hot umbrella and open it. Wide. You wanna live? You play it cool. [Music starts.] ACTION I wanna get even! RIFF Get cool. A-RAB I wanna bust! RIFF Bust cool. RIFF Go cool! Boy, boy, crazy boy- Get cool, boy! Got a rocket in your pocket- Keep coolly cool, boy! Don't get hot, 'Cause, man, you got Some high times ahead. Take it slow and, Daddy-o, You can live it up and die in bed! Boy, boy, crazy boy- Stay loose, boy! Breeze it, buzz it, easy does it- Turn off the juice, boy! Go man, go, But not like a yo Yo school boy- Just play it cool, boy. Real cool! Easy, Action. Easy. [This leads into a frenetic dance in which the boys and girls release their emotions and get "cool." It finishes, starts again when a Jet bounces in with the gang whistle. Everyone but Riff and Velma stops dancing. A moment, then Bernardo, Chino, Pepe and Indio enter. The tinkle of the doorbell brings a moment longer. Then he pats Velma on her behind. Followed by Graziella, she runs out, slithering past the Sharks. Anybodys is back, huddled by the jukebox, but Riff spots her. He gives him a pleading let-me-stay look, but he gestures for her to go. Unlike the other girls, as she exits, Anybodys shoves the Sharks like a big tough man.] RIFF Set 'em up, Doc. Cokes all around. BERNARDO Let's get down to business. RIFF Bernardo hasn't learned the procedures of gracious livin'. BERNARDO I don't like you, either. So cut it. RIFF Kick it, Doc. DOC Boys, couldn't you maybe all talk it- RIFF Kick it! [Do goes out. The two gangs take places behind their leaders.] RIFF We challenge you to a rumble. All out, once and for all. Accept? BERNARDO On what terms? RIFF Whatever terms you're callin', buddy boy. You crossed the line once too often. BERNARDO You started it. RIFF Who jumped A-rab this afternoon? BERNARDO Who jumped me the first day I moved here? RIFF Who asked you to moved here? BERNARDO Who asked you? SNOWBOY Move where you're wanted! A-RAB Back where ya came from! ACTION Spics! PEPE Micks! INDIO Wop! BERNARDO We accept! RIFF Time: BERNARDO Tomorrow? RIFF The river. BERNARDO Under the highway. [They shake.] RIFF Weapons! BERNARDO Weapons... RIFF You call. BERNARDO You're challenge. RIFF Afraid to call? BERNARDO ...Sticks. RIFF ...Rocks. BERNARDO ...Poles. RIFF ...Cans. BERNARDO ...Bricks. RIFF ...Bats. BERNARDO ...Clubs. TONY Bottles, knives, guns! [They stare.] What a coop full of chickens! BERNARDO Every dog knows his own. TONY I'm callin' all of you chicken. The big touch buddy boys have to throw bricks! Afraid to get close in? Afraid to slug it out? Afraid to use plain skin? BABY JOHN Not even garbage? ACTION That ain't ruble. RIFF Who says? BERNARDO You said call weapons. TONY A rumble can be clinched by a fair fight. If you have the guts to risk that. Best man from each gang to slug it out. BERNARDO [looking at Tony] I'd enjoy to risk that. O.K.! Fair fight! PEPE What? ACTION [simultaneously] No! RIFF The commanders say yes or no. [To Bernardo.] Fair fight. [They shake.] BERNARDO [To Tony.] In two minutes you will be like a fish after skinnin'. RIFF Your best man fights our best man-and we pick him. [Claps Diesel on the shoulder.] BERNARDO But I thought it would be- RIFF We shook on it, Bernardo. BERNARDO Yes. I shook on it. ACTION [quickly] Look, Bernardo, if you wanna change your mind, maybe we could all- [One of the Jets near the door suddenly whistles. Instantly, they shift positions so they are mixed up, no segregation. Silence; then in comes Schrank. During the following, the gangs are absolutely silent and motionless, unless otherwise indicated.] Good evening, Lieutenant Schrank. I and Tony was just closing up. SCHRANK [lifting a pack of cigarettes] Mind? DOC I have no mind. I am the village idiot. SCHRANK [lighting a cigarette] I always make it a rule to smoke in the can. And what else is a room with half-breeds in it, eh, Riff? [Bernardo's move is checked by Riff. Schrank speaks again, pleasantly.] Clear out, Spics. Sure; it's a free country and I ain't got the right. But it's a country with laws: and I can find the right. I got the badge, you got the skin. It's tough all over. Beat it! [A second. Then Riff nods once to Bernardo, who nods to his gang. Slowly, they file out. Bernardo starts to whistle "My Country 'Tis of Thee" as he exits proudly. His gang joins in, finishing a sardonic jazz lick offstage. Schrank, still pleasant.] From their angle, sure. Say, where's the rumble gonna be? Ah, look: I know regular American don't rub with the gold=teeth otherwise. The river? The park? [Silence.] I'm for you. I want this beat cleaned up and you can do it for me. I'll even lend a hand if it gets rough. Where ya gonna rumble? The playground? Sweeney's lot? [Angered by the silence.] Ya think I'm a lousy stool pigeon? I wanna help ya get r [He exits.] DOC [indicating Schrank] Wouldn't give me a mouth like his. TONY Forget him. From here on in, everything goes my way. [He starts to clean up, to turn out the lights.] DOC You think it'll really be a fair fight. TONY Yeah. DOC What have you been takin' tonight? TONY A trip to the moon. And I'll tell you a secret. It isn't a man that's up there, Doc. It's a girl, a lady. [Opens the door.] Buenos noches, señor. DOC Buenos noches?! So that's why you made it a fair fight. [Tony smiles.] ...Tony... things aren't tough enough? TONY Tough? Doc, I'm in love. DOC How do you know? TONY Because... there isn't any other way I could feel. DOC And you're not frightened? TONY Should I be? [He opens door, exits.] DOC Why? I'm frightened enough for both of you. [He turns out the last light.] The Stage is Dark. SCENE SEVEN. 5:30 P.M. The next day. The bridal shop. Hot late-afternoon sun coloring the workroom. One or two sewing machines. Several dressmaker dummies, male and female, in bridal-party garb. Maria in a smock is hand-sewing a wedding veil as Anita whirls in whipping off her smock. ANITA She's gone! The old bag of a bruja has gone! MARIA Bravo! ANITA The day is over, the jail is open, home we go! MARIA You go, querida. I will lock up. ANITA Finish tomorrow. Come! MARIA I am in no hurry. ANITA I am. I'm going to take a bubble bath all during supper: Black Orchid. MARIA You will not eat? ANITA After the rumble-with 'Nardo. MARIA [sewing angrily] That rumble, why do they have it? ANITA You saw how they dance: like they have to get rid of something, quick. That's how they fight. MARIA To get rid of what? ANITA Too much feeling. And they get rid of it: after a fight, that brother of yours is so healthy! Definitely: Black Orchid. [There is a knock at the rear door, and Tony enters.] TONY Buenas noches! ANITA [sarcastically to Maria] You go, querida. I will look up. [To Tony:] It's too early for noches. Buenos tardes. TONY [bows] Gracias. Buenas tardes. MARIA He just came to deliver aspirin. ANITA You'll need it. TONY No, we're out of the world. ANITA You're out of your heads. TONY We're twelve feet in the air. MARIA [gently taking his hand] Anita can see all that. [To Anita:] You will not tell? ANITA Tell what? How can I hear what goes on twelve feet over my head? [Opens door. To Maria:] You better be home in fifteen minutes. [She goes out.] TONY Don't worry. She likes us! MARIA But she is worried. TONY She's foolish. We're untouchable; we are in the air; we have magic! MARIA Magic is also evil and black. Are you going to that rumble? TONY No. MARIA Yes. TONY Why?? MARIA You must go and stop it. TONY I have stopped it! It's only a fist fight. 'Nardo won't get- MARIA Any fight is not good for us. TONY Everything is good for us and we are good for everything. MARIA Listen and hear me. You must go and stop it. TONY Then I will. MARIA [surprised] Can you? TONY You don't want even a fist fight? There won't be any fight. MARIA I believe you! You do have magic. TONY Of course, I have you. You go home and dress up. Then tonight, I will come by for you. MARIA You cannot come by. My mama... TONY [after a pause] Then I will take you to my house- MARIA [shaking her head] Your mama... [Another awkward pause. Then he sees a female dummy and pushes is forward.] TONY She will come running from the kitchen to welcome you. She lives in the kitchen. MARIA Dressed so elegant? TONY I told her you were coming. She will look at your face and try not to smile. And she will say: Skinny-but pretty. MARIA She is plump no doubt. TONY [holding out the waist of dummy's dress] Fat! MARIA [indicating another female dummy] I take after my mama; delicate-boned. [He kisses her.] Not in front of Mama! [He turns the dummy around as she goes to a male dummy.] Oh, I would like to see Papa in this! Mama will make him ask about your prospects, if you go to church. But Papa-Papa might like you. TONY [kneeling to the "father" dummy] May I have your daughter's hand? TONY Gracias! MARIA And your mama? TONY I'm afraid to ask her. MARIA Tell her she's not getting a daughter; she's getting rid of a son! TONY She says yes. MARIA She has good taste. [She grabs up the wedding veil and puts it on as Tony arranges the dummies.] TONY Maid of honor! MARIA That color is bad for Anita. TONY Best man! MARIA That is my papa! TONY Sorry, Pap. Here we go, Riff: Womb to Tomb! [He takes hat off dummy.] MARIA Now you see, Anita, I told you there was nothing to worry about. [Music starts as she leaves the dummy and walks up to Tony. They look at each other-and the ply acting vanishes. Slowly, seriously, they turn front, and together kneel as before an altar.] TONY I, Anton, take thee Maria... MARIA I, Maria, take thee Anton... TONY For richer, for poorer... MARIA In sickness and in health... TONY To love and to honor... MARIA To hold and to keep... TONY From each sun to each moon... MARIA From tomorrow to tomorrow... TONY For now to forever... MARIA Till death do us part. TONY With this ring, I thee wed. MARIA With this ring, I thee wed. TONY [sings] Make of our hands one hand, Make of our hearts one heart, Make of our vows one last vow: Only death will part us now. MARIA Make of our lives one life, Day after day, one life. BOTH Now it begins, now we start One hand, one heart- Even death won't part us now. [They look at each other, then at the reality of their "game." They smile tenderly, ruefully, and slowly put the dummies back into position. Though brought back to earth, they continue to sing.] Make of our lives one life, Day after day, one life. Now it begins, now we start One hand, one heart- Even death won't part us now. [Very gently, he kisses her hand.] The Lights Fade Out. SCENE EIGHT. 6:00 P.M. The neighborhood. Spotlights pick out Riff and the Jets, Bernardo and the Sharks, Anita, Maria and Tony against small sets representing different places in the neighborhood. All are waiting expectantly for the coming of night, but for very different reasons. JETS [sings] The Jets are gonna have their day Tonight. SHARKS The Sharks are gonna have their way Tonight. JETS The Puerto Rican grumble, Fair fight. But if they start a rumble, We'll rumble 'em right. SHARKS We're gonna hand 'em a surprise Tonight. JETS We're gonna cut 'em down to size Tonight. SHARKS We said, "O.K., no rumpus, No tricks"- But just in case they jump us, We're ready to mix Tonight! BOTH GANGS We're gonna rock it tonight, We're gonna jazz it up and have us a ball. They're gonna get it tonight; The more they turn it on, the harder they'll fall! JETS Well, they began it- SHARKS Well, they began it- BOTH GANGS And we're the ones to stop 'em once and for all, Tonight! ANITA Anita's gonna get her kicks Tonight. We'll have our private little mix Tonight. He'll walk in hot and tired, So what? Don't matter if he's tired, As long as he's hot Tonight! TONY Tonight, tonight, Won't be just any night, Tonight there will be no morning star. Tonight, tonight, I'll see my love tonight And for us, stars will stop where they are. Today The minutes seem like hours, The hours go so slowly, And still the sky is light... Oh moon, grow bright, And make this endless day endless night! RIFF [to Tony] I'm counting on you to be there Tonight When Diesel wins it fair and square Tonight. That Puerto Rican punk'll Go down. And when he's hollered Uncle We'll tear up the town Tonight! MARIA Tonight, tonight Won't be just any night... [She reprises the same chorus Tony has just sung.] RIFF So I can count on you, boy? TONY All right... [Regretting his impatience.] Womb to tomb! RIFF Sperm to worm! I'll see you there about eight... TONY Tonight... BERNARDO and SHARKS We're gonna rock it tonight!!! ANITA Tonight... [All have been singing at once, reprising the choruses they sang before.] BERNARDO and SHARKS We're gonna jazz it tonight They're gonna get it tonight-tonight. They began it-they began it And we're the ones To stop 'em once and for all! The Sharks are gonna have their way, The Sharks are gonna have their day, We're gonna rocks it tonight- Tonight! ANITA Tonight, Late tonight, We're gonna mix it tonight. Anita's gonna have her day, Anita's gonna have her day, Bernardo's gonna have his way Tonight-tonight. Tonight-this very night, We're gonna rock it tonight, Tonight! RIFF and JETS They began it. They began it. We'll stop 'em once and for all The Jets are gonna have their day, The Jets are gonna have their way, We're gonna rock it tonight. Tonight! MARIA Tonight there will be no morning star. Tonight, tonight, I'll se my love tonight. When we kiss, stars will stop where they are. TONY and MARIA Today the minutes seem like hours. The hours go so slowly, And still the sky is light. Oh moon, grow bright, And make this endless day endless night, Tonight! [The lights build with the music to the climax, and then blackout at the final exultant note.] SCENE NINE. 9:00 P.M. Under the highway. A dead end: rotting plaster-and-brick walls and mesh wire fences. A street lamp. It is nightfall. The almost-silhouetted gangs come in from separate sides: climbing over the fences or crawling through holes in the walls. There is silence as they fan out on opposite sides of the cleared space. Then Bernardo and Diesel remove their jackets, handing them to their second: Chino and Riff. BERNARDO Ready. CHINO Ready! DIESEL Ready! Come center and shake hands. BERNARDO For what? RIFF That's how it's done, buddy boy. BERNARDO More gracious living? Look: I don't go for that pretend crap you all go for in this country. Every one of you hates every one of us, and we hate you right back. I don't drink with nobody I hate, I don't shake hands with nobody I hate. Let's get at it. RIFF OK. BERNARDO [moving toward center] Here we go. [Diesel begins to move toward him. There are encouragements called from each sides. The "fair fight" is just beginning when there is an interruption.] TONY Hold it! [He leaps over a fence and starts toward Bernardo.] RIFF Get with the gang. TONY No. RIFF What're you doing? BERNARDO Maybe he has found the guts to fight his own battles. TONY [smiling] It doesn't take guts if you have a battle. But we haven't got one, 'Nardo. [He extends his hand for Bernardo to shake it. Bernardo knocks the hand away and gives Tony a shove that sends him sprawling.] BERNARDO Bernardo. RIFF [quiet, strong] The deal is a fair fight between and Diesel. [To Tony, who has gotten up:] Get with the gang. [During the following, Bernardo flicks Tony's shirt, pushes his shoulder, pinches his cheek.] BERNARDO [To Tony.] I'll give you a battle, Kiddando. DIESEL You've got one. BERNARDO I'll take pretty boy on as a warm-up. Afraid, pretty boy? Afraid, chicken? Afraid, gutless? RIFF Cut that- TONY I don't want to, Bernardo... BERNARDO I'm sure. TONY Bernardo, you've got it wrong. BERNARDO Are you chicken? TONY You won't understand! BERNARDO What d'ya say, chicken? ACTION Get him, Tony! BERNARDO He is chicken. DIESEL Tony- A-RAB Get him! TONY Bernardo, don't. BERNARDO Don't want, pretty little chicken? RIFF Tony, don't just stand- BERNARDO Yellow-bellied chicken- RIFF TONY! ACTION Murder him! SNOWBOY Kill him! BERNARDO Come on, you yellow-bellied Polack bas- [He never finishes, for Riff hauls off and hits him. Immediately, the two gangs alert, and the following action takes on the form of a dance. As Bernardo reels back to his feet, he reaches for his back pocket. Riff reaches for his back pocket, and at the same instant each forth a gleaming knife. They jockey for position, feinting, dueling; the two gangs shift position, now and again temporarily obscuring the fighters. Tony tries to get between them.] RIFF Hold him! [Diesel and Action grab Tony and hold him back. The fight continues. Riff loses his knife, is passed another by a Jet. At last, he has Bernardo in a position where it seems that he will be able to run him through. Tony breaks from Diesel and, crying out, moves to stop Riff.] TONY Riff, don't! [Riff hesitates a moment; the moments is enough for Bernardo-whose hand goes forward with a driving motion, running his knife into Riff. Tony leaps forward to catch Riff. He breaks his fall, then takes the knife in hand, leaps at the triumphant Bernardo. All this happens terribly fast; and Tony rams his knife into Bernardo. The free-for-all continues a moment longer. Then there is a sharp police whistle. Everything comes to a dead stop- dead silence. Then a distant police siren: the kids waver, run one way, another, in panic, confusion. As the stage is cleared, Tony stands, horrified, over the still bodies of Riff and Bernardo. He bends over Riff's body; then he rolls Bernardo's body over-and stares. Then Tony raises his voice in an anguished cry.] MARIA! [Another police whistle, closer now, but he doesn't move. From the shadows, Anybodys appears. She scurries to Tony and tugs at his arm. A siren, another whistle, then a searchlight cuts across the playground. Anybodys' insistent tugging brings Tony to the realization of the danger. He crouches, starts to run with her to one escape way. She reaches it first, goes out-but the searchlight hits it just as he would go through. He stops, runs the other way. He darts here, there, and finally gets away as a distant clock begins to boom.] The Curtain Falls. WEST SIDE STORY ACT II 9:15 P.M. A bedroom. Part of a parlor is also visible. The bedroom as a window opening onto the fire escape, a bed on a wall, a small shrine to the Virgin, and a curtained doorway, rear. There is a door between the bedroom and the parlor. Gay music for Consuelo, who is examining herself in the mirror, and for Rasolia, who is on the bed, finishing her nails. CONSUELO This is my last night as a blonde. ROSALIA No loss. CONSUELO Again! The fortune-teller told Pepe a dark lady was coming into his life. ROSALIA So that's why he's not taking you out after the rumble! [The music becomes festively, humorously Spanish as Maria enters through the curtained doorway. She is finishing getting very dressed up.] MARIA There is not going to be a rumble. ROSALIA Another fortune-teller. CONSUELO Where is Chino escorting you after the rumble-that-is-not-going- to-be-a-rumble? MARIA Chino is escorting me no place. ROSALIA She is just dolling for us. Gracias, querida. MARIA No, not for you. Can you keep a secret? CONSUELO I'm not for secrets! MARIA Tonight is my wedding night! CONSUELO The poor thing is out of her mind. MARIA I am: crazy! ROSALIA She might be at that. She looks somehow different. MARIA I do? ROSALIA And I think she is up to something tonight. MARIA I am? CONSUELO I do? I am? What is going on with you? MARIA [sings] I feel pretty, Oh so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and bright, And I pity Any girl who isn't me tonight. I feel charming, Oh so charming, It's alarming how charming I feel, And so pretty That I hardly can believe I'm real. See the pretty girl in that mirror there: Who can that attractive girl be? Such a pretty face, Such a pretty dress, Such a pretty smile, Such a pretty me! I feel stunning And entrancing, Feel like running and dancing for joy, For I'm loved By a pretty wonderful boy! ROSALIA and CONSUELO Have you met my good friend Maria, The craziest girl on the block? You'll know her the minute you see her, She's the one who is in an advanced state of shock. She thinks she's in love. She thinks she's in Spain. She isn't in love, She's merely insane. It must be the heat Or some rare disease, Or too much to eat Or maybe it's fleas. Keep away from her, Send for Chino! This is not the Maria we know! Modest and pure, Polite and refined, Well-bred and mature, And out of her mind! MARIA I feel pretty, Oh so pretty That the city should give me its key. A committee Should be organized to honor me. I feel dizzy, I feel sunny, I feel fizzy and funny and fine, And so pretty, Miss America can just resign! See the pretty girl in that mirror there: ROSALIA and CONSUELO What mirror where? MARIA Who can that attractive girl be? ROSALIA and CONSUELO Which? What? Where? Whom? MARIA Such a pretty face, Such a pretty dress, Such a pretty smile, Such a pretty me! ALL I feel stunning And entrancing, Feel like running and dancing for joy, For I'm loved By a pretty wonderful boy! CHINO [offstage] Maria! CONSUELO It's Chino. ROSALIA The happy bridegroom. CHINO [closer] Maria! MARIA Please- COSUELO Yes, little bride, we're going. [She exits.] ROSALIA They have a quaint old-fashioned custom in this country, Maria: they get married here before the wedding night. [She follows Consuelo out as Chino enters from offstage. His clothes are dirty and torn from the fight. His face is smeared. They shake their heads at him and flounce out. He closes the outer door.] CHINO Maria... MARIA I'm in here. I was just getting ready to-[She is hurriedly trying to put a bathrobe over her dress. Chino comes in before she can finish, so that she leaves it over her shoulders, holding it closed with her hands.] CHINO Where are your parents? MARIA At the store. If I had known you were-You have been fighting, Chino. CHINO Yes, I'm sorry. MARIA That is not like you. CHINO No. MARIA Why, Chino? CHINO I don't know why. It happened so fast. MARIA You must wash up. CHINO Maria- MARIA You can go in there. CHINO In a minute. Maria... at the rumble- MARIA There was no rumble. CHINO There was. MARIA You are wrong. CHINO No; there was. Nobody meant for it to happen... MARIA ...Tell me. CHINO It's bad. MARIA Very bad? CHINO You see... [he moves to her, helplessly] MARIA It will be easier if you say it very fast. CHINO [nods] There was a fight-[She nods.] And 'Nardo-[She nods.] And somehow a knife-and 'Nardo someone-[He takes her hand.] MARIA Tony. What happened to Tony? [The name stops Chino. He yanks off the robe, revealing that she is dressed to go out.] Chino, is Tony all right?! CHINO He killed your brother. [She walks into the parlor, slamming the door behind him. A pause.] MARIA You are lying. [Chino has started to leave the parlor, but comes back now. Swiftly searching behind the furniture, he come up with a n object wrapped in material the same color as Bernardo's shirt. From the bedroom, Maria's voice calls out, louder.] You are lying, Chino! [Coldly, Chino unwraps a gun, which he puts in his pocket. There is the sound of a police siren at a distance. He goes out. During this, Maria has knelt before the shrine on the wall. She rocks back and forth in prayer, some of it in Spanish, some of it in English.] Make it not be true... please make it not be true... I will do anything: make me die... Only, please-make it not be true. [As she prays, Tony appears at the fire-escape window and quietly climbs in. His shirt is ripped, half-torn off. He stands still, limp, watching her. Aware that someone is in the room, she tops her prayers. Slowly, her head turns; she looks at him for a long moment. Then, almost in one spring, she in on him, her fists beating his chest.] Killer, killer, killer, TONY I tried to stop it; I did try. I don't know how it went wrong... I didn't mean to hurt him; I didn't want to; I didn't know I had. But Riff... Riff was like my brother. So when Bernardo killed him-[She lifts her head.] 'Nardo didn't mean it either. Oh, I don't know he didn't! Oh, no. I didn't come to tell you just for you to forgive me so I couldn't go to the police- MARIA No! TONY It's easy now- MARIA No... TONY Whatever you want, I'll do- MARIA Stay. Stay with me. TONY I love you so much. MARIA Tighter. [Music starts.] TONY We'll be all right. I know it. We're really together now. MARIA But it's not us! It's everything around us! TONY Then we'll find some place where nothing can et to us; not one of them, not anything. And- [He sings.] I'll take you away, take you far far away out of here, Far far away till the walls and the streets disappear, Somewhere there must be a place we can feel we're free, Somewhere there's got to be some place for you and for me. [As he sings, the walls of the apartment begin to move off, and the city walls surrounding them begin to close in on them. Then the apartment it self goes, and the two lovers begin to run, battering against the walls of the city, beginning to break through as chaotic figures of the gangs, of violence, fail around them. But they do break through, and suddenly-they are in a world of space and air and sun. They stop, looking at it, pleased, startled, as boys and girls both sides come on. And they, too, stop and stare, happy, pleased. Their clothes are soft and pastel versions of what they have worn before. They begin to dance, to play: no sides, no hostility now; join, making a world that Tony and Maria want to be in, belong to, share their love with. As they go into the steps of a gentle love dance, a voice is heard singing.] OFFSTAGE VOICE [sings] There's a place for us, Somewhere a place for us. Peace and quiet and open air Wait for us Somewhere. There's a time for us, Some day a time for us, Time together with time to spare, Time to look, time to care, Someday! Somewhere. We'll find a new way of living, We'll find a way of forgiving Somewhere, Somewhere... There's a place for us, A time and place for us. Hold my hand and we're half way there. Hold my hand and I'll take you there Someday, Somehow, Somewhere! [The lovers hold out their hands to each other; the others follow suit: Jets to Sharks; Sharks to Jets. And they form what is almost a procession winding its triumphant way through this would-be world, as they sing the words of the song with wonderment. Then, suddenly, there is a dead stop. The harsh shadows, the fire escapes of the real, tenement world cloud the sky, and the figures of Riff and Bernardo slowly walk on. The dream becomes a nightmare: as the city returns, there are brief reenactments of the knife fight, of the deaths. Maria and Tony are once again separated from each other by the violent warring of the two sides. Maria tries to reach Bernardo, Tony tries to stop Riff; the lovers try to reach each other, but they cannot. Chaotic confusion and blackness, after which they find themselves, back in the bedroom, clinging to each other desperately. With a blind refusal to face what they know must be, they reassure each other desperately as they sing.] TONY and MARIA Hold my hand and we're halfway there. Home my hand and I'll take you there Someday, Somehow, Somewhere! [As the lights fade, together they sink back on the bed.] SCENE TWO. 10:00 P.M. Another alley. A fence with loose boards; angles between buildings. Softly, from behind the fence, the Jet gang whistles. A pause, then the answering whistle, softly, from offstage or around a corner. Now a loose board flips up and Baby John wriggles through the fence. He whistles again, timidly, and A-rab comes on. A-RAB They got you yet? BABY JOHN No, you? A-RAB Hell, no. BABY JOHN You seen Tony? A-RAB Nobody has. BABY JOHN Geez... A-RAB You been home yet? A-RAB Uh uh. A-RAB Me either. BABY JOHN Just hidin' around? A-RAB Uh huh. BABY JOHN A-rab... did you get a look at 'em? A-RAB Loot at who? BABY JOHN Ya know. At the rumble. Riff and Bernardo. [Pause.] A-RAB I wish it was yesterday. BABY JOHN Wadaya say we run away? A-RAB What's the matter? You scared? BABY JOHN ...Yeah. A-RAB You cut it out, ya hear? You're only makin' me scared and that scares me! [Police whistle. He grabs Baby John.] Last thing ever is to let a cop know you're scared or anythin'. KRUPKE [offstage] Hey, you two! A-RAB Play it big with the baby blues. BABY JOHN [scared] OK. A-RAB [gripping him] Big, not scare, big! [Again a whistle. Elaborately casual, they start sauntering off as Krupke appears.] KRUPKE Yeah, you. [They stop, so surprised.] A-RAB Why, it is Officer Krupke, Baby John. BABY JOHN [quaking] Top of the evening, Officer Krupke. KRUPKE I'll crack the top of your skulls if you punks don't stop when I whistle. A-RAB But we stopped the very moment we heard. BABY JOHN We got twenty-twenty hearing. KRUPKE You wanna get hauled down to the station house? BABY JOHN Indeed not, sir. KRUPKE I'll make a little deal. I know you was rumblin' under the highway- BABY JOHN We was at the playground, sir. A-RAB We like the playground. It keeps us deprived kids off the foul streets. BABY JOHN It gives us comradeship- A-RAB A place for pleasant pastimes-And for us, born like we was on the hot pavements- KRUPKE OK, wise apples, down to the station house. BABY JOHN Which way? A-RAB This way! [He gets down on all fours, Baby John pushes Krupke, so that he tumbles over A-rab. Baby John pushes Krupke, so that he tumbles over A-rab. Baby John starts off one way, A-rab the other. Krupke hesitates, then runs after one of them, blowing his whistle like mad. The moment he is off, A-rab and Baby John appear through the fence, followed by the other Jets.] Look at the brass-ass run! BABY JOHN I hope he breaks it! ACTION Get the lead out, fat boy! DIESEL Easy. He'll come back and drag us down the station house. ACTION I already been. SNOWBOY We both already been. A-RAB What happened? SNOWBOY A bit fat nuthin'! A-RAB How come? SNOWBOY Cops believe everythin' they read in the papers. ACTION To them we ain't human. We're cruddy juvenile delinquents. So that's what we give 'em. SNOWBOY [imitating Krupke] Hey, you! ACTION Me, Officer Krupke? SNOWBOY Yeah, you! Gimme one good reason for not draggin' ya down the station house, ya punk. ACTION Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke, You gotta understand, It's just our bringin' up-ke That gets us out of hand. Our mothers all are junkies, Our fathers all are drunks. ALL Golly Moses, natcherly we're punks! Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset; We never had the love that every child oughta get. We ain't no delinquents, We're misunderstood. Deep down inside us there is good! ACTION There is good! ALL There is good, there is good, There is untapped good. Like inside, the worst of us is good. SNOWBOY [imitating Krupke] That's a touchin' good story. ACTION Lemme tell it to the world! SNOWBOY [imitating Krupke] Just tell it to the judge. ACTION [to Diesel] Dear kindly Judge, your Honor, My parents treat me rough. With all their marijuana, They won't give me a puff. They didn't wanna have me, But somehow I was had. Leapin' lizards, that's why I'm so bad! DIESEL [imitating a judge] Right! Officer Krupke, you're really a square; This boy don't need a judge, he needs an analyst's care! It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed. He's psychologic'ly disturbed! ACTION I'm disturbed! ALL We're disturbed, we're disturbed, We're the most disturbed, Like we're psychologic'ly disturbed. DIESEL [speaks, still acting part of the judge] Hear ye, Hear ye! In the opinion of this court, this child is depraved on account he ain't had a normal home. ACTION Hey, I'm depraved on account I'm deprived! DIESEL [as Judge] So take him to a headshrinker. ACTION My father is a bastard, My ma's an S.O.B. My grandpa's always plastered, My grandma pushes tea. My sister wears a mustache, My brother wears a dress. Goodness gracious, that's why I'm a mess! A-RAB [as psychiatrist] Yes! Officer Krupke, you're really a slob. This boy don't need a doctor, just a good honest job. Society's played him a terrible trick, And sociologically he's sick! ACTION I am sick! ALL We are sick, we are sick, We are sick sick sick, Like we're sociologically sick! A-RAB [speaks as psychiatrist] In my opinion, this child don't need to have his head shrunk at all. Juvenile delinquency is purely a social disease! ACTION Hey, I got a social disease! A-RAB [as psychiatrist] So take him to a social worker! ACTION [to Baby John] Dear kindly social worker, They say go earn a buck, Like be a soda jerker, Which means like be a schmuck. It's not I'm anti-social, I'm only anti-work. Glory Osky, that's why I'm a jerk! BABY JOHN [as a female social workers] Eek! Officer Krupke, you've done it again. This boy don't need a job, he needs a year in the pen. It ain't just a question of misunderstood; Deep down inside him, he's no good! ACTION I'm no good! ALL We're no good, we're no good, We're no earthly good, Like the best of us is no damn good! DIESEL [as judge] The trouble is he's crazy, A-RAB [as psychiatrist] The trouble is he drinks. BABY JOHN [as social worker] The trouble is he's lazy. DIESEL [as judge] The trouble is he stinks. A-RAB [as psychiatrist] The trouble is he's grown. BABY JOHN [as social worker] The trouble is he's grown. ALL Krupke, we got troubles of our own! Gee, Officer Krupke, We're down on our knees, 'Cause no one wants a fella with a social disease Gee, Officer Krupke, What are we to do? Gee, Officer Krupke, Krup you! [At the end of the song, Anybodys appears over the fence] ANYBODYS Buddy boys! ACTION Ah! Go wear a skirt. ANYBODYS I got scabby knees. Listen- ACTION [to the gang] Come on, we gotta make sure those PRs know we're on top. DIESEL Geez, Action, ain't we had enough? ANYBODYS [going after them] Wotta buncha Old Man Rivers: they don't know nothin' and they don't say nuthin'. ANYBODYS Diesel, the question ain't whether we had enough- ACTION What do you know? ANYBODYS I know I gotta get a skirt. [She starts off, but Diesel stops her.] DIESEL Come on, Anybodys, tell me. SNOWBOY Ah, what's the freak know? ANYBODYS Plenty. I figgered somebody oughta infiltrate PR territory and spy around. I'm very big with shadows, ya know. I can slip in and out of 'em like wind through a fence. SNOWBOY Boy, is she ever makin' the most of it! ANYBODYS You be you fat A, I am! ACTION Go on. Wadd'ya hear? ANYBODYS I heard Chino tellin' the Sharks somethin' about Tony and Bernardo's sister. Then Chino said, "If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to get Tony." ACTION What'd I tell ya? Them PRs won't stop! SNOWBOY Easy, action! DIESEL It's bad enough now- BABY JOHN Yeah! ACTION You forgettin'? Tony came through for us Jet's We gotta find him and protect him from Chino. A-RAB Right! ACTION OK then! Snowboy-cover the river! [Snowboy runs off.] A-rab-get over to Doc's. BABY JOHN I'll take the back alleys. ACTION Diesel? DIESEL I'll cover the park. ACTION Good boy! [He begins to run off.] ANYBODYS What about me? ACTION You? You get a hold of the girls and send 'em out as liaison runners so we'll know who's found Tony where. ANYBODYS Right! [She starts to run off.] ACTION Hey! [She stops.] You done good, buddy boy. ANYBODYS [she has fallen in love] Thanks, Daddy-o. [They both run off.] The Lights Black Out. SCENE THREE 11:30 P.M. The bedroom. The light is, at first, a vague glow on the lovers, who are sleep on the bed. From offstage, faint at first, there is the sound of knocking. It gets louder; Tony stirs. At a distance, a police siren sounds, and the knocking is now very loud. Tony bolts upright. Anita comes in from outside and goes to the bedroom door-which is locked-tries the knob. ANITA [holding back tears] Maria? ... Maria? [Tony is reaching for his shirt, when Maria sits up. Quickly, he puts his hand, then his lips on her lips.] Maria, it's Anita. Why are you locked in? MARIA I didn't know it was locked. ANITA Open the door. I need you. [Maria reaches for the knob, Tony stops her.] MARIA [a whisper] Now you are afraid, too. ANITA What? MARIA [loud] One moment. TONY [whispering] Doc'll help. I'll get money from him. You meet me at his drugstore. [In the other room, Anita is aware of voices but unsure of what they are saying.] At Doc's, yes. [Aloud.] Coming, Anita! TONY [kisses her] Hurry! [He scrambles out the window as Maria hastily puts a bathrobe on over her slip. In the other room Anita has stiffened and moved away from the door. She stands staring at it coldly as Maria prattles to her through the door.] MARIA Did you see Chino? He was here before, but he left so angry I think maybe he... [She opens the door and sees Anita's look. A moment, then Anita pushes her aside: looks at the bed, at the window, then turns accusingly to Maria.] All right. Now you know. ANITA [savagely] And you still don't know: Tony is one of them! [She sings bitterly.] A boy like that who'd kill your brother, Forget that boy and find another, One of your own kind- Stick to your own kind! A boy like that will give you sorrow- You'll meet another boy tomorrow! One of your own kind, Stick to your own kind! A boy who kills cannot love, A boy who kills has no heart. And he's the boy who gets your love And gets your heart- Very smart, Maria, very smart! A boy like that wants one thing only, And when he's done he'll leave you lonely. He'll murder your love; he murdered mine. Just wait and see- Just wait, Maria, Just wait and see! MARIA Oh, no, Anita, no- Anita, no! It isn't true, not for me, It is true for you, not for me, I hear your words- And in my head I know they're smart, But my heart, Anita, But my heart Knows they're wrong [Anita reprises the chorus she has just sung, as Maria continues her song.] And my heart Is too strong, For I belong To him alone, to him alone. One thing I know: I am his, I don't care what he is. I don't know why it's so, I don't want to know. Oh no, Anita, no-you should know better! You were in love-or so you said. You should know better... I have a love, and it's all that I have. Right or wrong, what else can I do? I love him; I'm his And everything he is I am, too. I have a love and it's all that I need, Right or wrong, and he needs me too. I love him, we're one; There's nothing to be done, Not a thing I can do But hold him, hold him forever, Be with him now, tomorrow And all of my life! BOTH When love comes so strong, There is no right or wrong, Your love is your life! ANITA [quietly] Chino has a gun... He is sending the boys out to hunt for Tony- MARIA [tears off her bathrobe] If he hurts Tony-If he touches him-I swear to you, I'll- ANITA [sharply] You'll do what Tony did to Bernardo? MARIA I love Tony. ANITA I know. I loved Bernardo. [Shrank comes into the outer room.] SCHRANK Anybody home? [Goes to bedroom door, Pleasantly.] Sorry to disturb you. Guess you're disturbed enough. MARIA [gathering her robe] Yes. You will excuse me, please. I must go to my brother. SCHRANK There are just a coupla questions- MARIA Afterwards, please. Later. SCHRANK It'll only take a minute. ANITA Couldn't you wait until- SCHRANK [sharply] No! [A smile to Maria.] You were at the dance at the gym last night. MARIA Yes. SCHRANK Your brother got in a heavy argument because you danced with the wrong boy. MARIA Oh? SCHRANK Who was the wrong boy? MARIA Excuse me. Anita, my head is worse. Will you go to the drugstore and tell them what I need? SCHRANK Don't you keep aspirin around? MARIA This is something special. Will you go for me, Anita? ANITA [hesitates, looks at Maria, then nods.] Shall I tell him to hold it for you till you come? MARIA [to Shrank] Will I be long? SCHRANK As long as it takes. MARIA [to Anita] Yes. Tell him I will pick it up myself. [Anita goes out.] I'm sorry. Now you asked? SCHRANK I didn't ask, I told you. There was an argument over a boy. Who was that boy? MARIA Another from my country. SCHRANK And his name? MARIA Jose. The Lights Are Out. SCENE FOUR 11:40 P.M. The drugstore. A-rab and some of the Jets are there as Anybodys and other Jets run in. ACTION Where's Tony? A-RAB Down in the cellar with Doc. DIESEL Ya warn him about Chino? A-RAB Doc said he'd tell him. BABY JOHN What's he hidin' in the cellar from? SNOWBOY Maybe he can't run as fast as you. ACTION Cut the frabbajabba. ANYBODYS Yeah! The cops'll get hip, if Chino and the PRs don't. ACTION Grab some readin' matter; play the juke. Some of ya get outside and if ya see Chino or any PR- [The shop doorbell tinkles as Anita enters. Cold silence, then slowly she comes down to the counter. They all stare at her. A long moment. Someone turns on the jukebox; a mambo comes on softly.] ANITA I'd like to see Doc. ACTION He ain't here. ANITA Where is he? A-RAB He's gone to the bank. There was an error I his favor. ANITA The banks are closed at night. Where is he? A-RAB You know how skinny Doc is. He slipped in through the night- deposit slot. ANYBODYS And got stuck halfway in. A-RAB Which indicates there's no tellin' when he'll be back. Buenos noches, senorita. [Anita starts to go toward the cellar door.] DIESEL Where you going? ANITA Downstairs to-see Doc. ACTION Didn't I tell ya he ain't here? ANITA I'd like to see for myself. ACTION [nastily] Please. ANITA [controlling herself] ...Please. ACTION Por favor. ANITA Will you let me pass? SNOWBOY She's too dark to pass. ANITA [low] Don't. ACTION Please don't. SNOWBOY Por favor. DIESEL Non comprende. A-RAB Gracias. BABY JOHN Di nada. ANITA Listen, you-[She controls herself.] ACTION We're listenin'. ANITA I've got to give a friend of yours a message. I've got tell Tony- DIESEL He ain't here. ANITA I know he is. ACTION Who says he is? A-RAB Who's the message from? ANITA Never mind. ACTION Couldn't be from Chino, could it? ANITA I want to stop Chino! I want to help! ANYBODYS Bernardo's girl wants ta help? ACTION Even a greaseball's got feelings. ANYBODYS But she wants to help Tony! ANITA No! ACTION Not much-Bernardo's tramp. SNOWBOY Bernardo's pig! ANITA Don't do that! BABY JOHN Gold tooth! DIESEL Pierced ear! A-RAB Garlic mouth! ACTION Spic! Lyin' Spic! [The taunting breaks out into a wild, savage dance, with epithets hurled at Anita, who is encircled and drivers by the whole pack. At the peak, she is shoved so that she falls in a corner. Baby John is lifted up high and dropped on her as Doc enters from the cellar door and yells.] DOC Stop it!... What've you been doing now? [Dead silence. Anita gets up and looks at them.] ANITA [trying not to cry] Bernardo was right... If one of you was bleeding in the street, I'd walk by and spit on you. [She flicks herself off and makes her way toward the door.] ACTION Don't let her go! DIESEL She'll tell Chino that Tony- [Snowboy grabs her; she shakes loose.] ANITA Let go! [Facing them.] I'll give you a message for your American buddy! Tell the murderer Maria's never going to meet him! Tell him Chino found out and-and shot her! [She slams out. There is a stunned silence.] DOC What does it take to get through to you? When do you stop? You make this world lousy! ACTION That's the way we found it, Doc. DOC Get out of here! [Slowly, they start to file out.] The Lights Fade. 11:50 P.M. The Cellar. Cramped: a box or crate; stairs leading to the drugstore above; a door to the outside. Tony is sitting on a crate, whistling "Maria" as Doc comes down the stairs, some bills in his hand. TONY Make a big sale? DOC No. TONY [taking the money that Doc is holding] Thanks. I'll pay you back as soon as I can. DOC For get that. TONY I won't; I couldn't. Doc, you know what we're going to do in the country, Maria and me? We're going to have kids and we'll name them all after you, even the girls. Then when you come to visit- DOC [slaps him] Wake up! [Raging.] Is that the only way to get through to you? Do just what you all do? Bust like a hot-water pipe? TONY Doc, what's gotten- DOC [overriding angrily] Why do you live like there's a war on? [Low.] Why do you kill? TONY I told you how it happened, Doc. Maria understands. Why can't you? DOC I never had a Maria. TONY [gently] I have, and I'll tell you one thing, Doc. Even if it only lasts from one night to the next, it's worth the world. DOC That's all it did last. TONY What? DOC That was no costumer upstairs, just now. That was Anita. [Pause.] Maria is dead. China found out about you and her-and shot her. [A brief moment. Tony looks at Doc, stunned, numb. He shakes his head, as though he cannot believe this. Doc holds out his hands to him, but Tony backs away, then suddenly turns and runs out the door. As he does, the set flies away and the stage goes dark. In the darkness, we heaver Tony's voice.] TONY Chino? Chino? Come and get me, too, Chino. SCENE SIX Midnight. The street. The lights come up to reveal the same set we saw at the beginning of Act One-but it is now jagged with shadows. Tony stands in the emptiness, calling, whirling around as a figure darts out of the shadows and then runs off again. TONY Chino?... COME ON: GET ME TOO! ANYBODYS [a whisper from the dark] Tony... TONY [swings around] Who's that? ANYBODYS [darting on] Me: Anybodys. TONY Get outa here. HEY, CHINO! COME GET ME, DAMN YOU! ANYBODYS What're you doin', Tony? TONY I said get outa here! CHINO! ANYBODYS Look, maybe if you and me just- TONY [savagely] It's not playing any more! Can't any of you get that? ANYBODYS But the gang- TONY You're a girl: be a girl! Beat it. [She retreats.] CHINO, I'M CALLING FOR YOU, CHINO! HURRY! IT'S CLEAR NOW. THERE'S NOBODY BUT ME. COME ON! Will you, please? I'm waiting for you. I want you to- [Suddenly, all the way across the stage from him, a figure steps out of the dark. He stops and peers as light starts to glow on it. He utters an unbelieving whisper.] Maria... Maria? MARIA Tony... [As she holds out her arms toward him, another figure appears: Chino.] TONY MARIA! [As they run to each other, there is a gunshot. Tony stumbles, as though he has tripped. Maria catches him and cradles him in her arms as he falters to the ground. During this Baby John and A-rab run on; then Pepe and Indio and other Sharks. Chino stands very still, bewildered by the gun dangling from his hand. More Jets and Sharks, some girls run on, and Doc comes out to stare with them.] I didn't believe hard enough. MARIA Long is enough. TONY Not here. They won't let us be. MARIA Then we'll get away. TONY Yes, we can. We sill. [He shivers, as though a pain went through him. She holds him closer and begins to sing-without orchestra.] MARIA Hold my hand and we're halfway there. Hold my hand and I'll take you there, Someday, Somehow... [He has started to join in on the second line. She sings harder, as though to urge him back to life, but his voice falters and he barely finishes the line. She sings on, a phrase or two more, then stops, his body quiet in her arms. A moment, and then, as she gently rests Tony on the floor, the orchestra finishes the last bars of the song. Lightly, she brushes Tony's lips with her fingers. Behind her, Action, in font of a group of Jets, moves to lead them toward Chino. Maria speaks, her voice cold, sharp.] Stay back. [The shawl she has had around her shoulders slips to the ground as she gets up, walks to Chino and holds out her hand. He hands her the gun. She speaks again, in a flat, hard voice.] How do you fire this gun, Chino? Just by pulling this little trigger? [She points it at him suddenly; he draws back. She has all of them in front of her now, as she holds the gun out and her voice gets stronger with anger and savage rage.] How many bullets are left, Chino? Enough for you? [Pointing at another.] And you? [At Action.] All of you? WE ALL KILLED HIIM; and my brother and Riff. I, too. I CAN KILL NOW BECAUSE I HATE NOW. [She has been pointing the gun wildly, and they have all been drawing back. Now, again, she holds it straight out at Action.] How many can I kill, Chino? How many-and still have one bullet left for me? [Both hands on the gun, she breaks into tears, hurls the gun away and sinks to the ground. Schrank walks on looks around and starts toward Tony's body. Like a madwoman, Maria races to the body [She kisses him gently. Music starts as the two Jets and two Sharks lift up Tony's body and start to carry him out. The others, boys and girls, fall in behind to make a procession, the same procession they made in the dream ballet, as Baby John comes forward to pick up Maria's shawl and put it over her head. She sits quietly, like a woman in mourning, as the music builds, the light starts to come up and the procession makes its way across the stage. At last, she gets up and, despite the tears on her face, lifts her head proudly, and triumphantly turns to follow the others. The adults-Doc, Schrank, Krupke, Glad Hand-are left bowed, alone, useless.] The Curtain Falls.