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West Side Story (2021) | Transcript

An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.
West Side Story (2021)

An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.

* * *

(PERSON WHISTLING TUNE)

(WHISTLING CONTINUES INTERMITTENTLY)

(SOFT DRUMS MUSIC INTRO PLAYING)

(CRANES WHIRRING AND CLANKING)

(SOFT DRUMS MUSIC CONTINUES)

(INTERMITTENT WHISTLING CONTINUES)

(SOFT CREAKING)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC RISING)

(MUSIC ENDS IN FLOURISH)

(SUSPENSEFUL JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(FINGERS SNAPPING RHYTHMICALLY)

(BOY WHISTLES)

(CHUCKLES)

(WHISTLING)

Jets!

(DISCORDANT JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(JETS MEMBER WHISTLES)

(METAL CLINKS)

(TYRES SCREECH)

(JETS MEMBER WHISTLES)

(SNAPS FINGERS)

WOMAN: Hey, hey!

(MELODIOUS JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(MELODIOUS JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING IN SPANISH)

(SUSPENSEFUL JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

Come on.

(WALTZY JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

Ha!

(MAN SPEAKING SPANISH)

(WALTZY JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SHOUTING IN SPANISH)

(CONTINUES SHOUTING IN SPANISH)

JETS: Yeah! Come on, come on!

(WHOOPING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(MUSIC ENDS)

Beat it.

(SUSPENSEFUL JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(METAL CLINKS)

(FRANTIC JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(JETS CLAMOURING)

JETS MEMBER: Oh, yeah!

(MEN SPEAKING SPANISH)

(JETS CLAMOURING AND WHOOPING)

Hey!

(WHISTLES)

(ALL CLAMOURING)

(FRANTIC JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

BOY: Hey!

Hey, you! Come on!

(ALL GRUNTING)

(MAN LAUGHS)

(ALL GRUNTING)

(MAN LAUGHS)

(SHOUTS) Jets!

JETS MEMBER: Come on, Baby John!

(BABY JOHN SCREAMING)

Hey!

(ALL GRUNTING)

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

(BRAKES SCREECH)

(FRANTIC JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

OFFICER: Alright now, all you separate!

Separate! Separate!

You’re driving me to my grave, ya pack of jackals.

Watch yourself, Sergeant Krupke, you’re gonna inflame your asthma, shouting like that.

(LAUGHTER)

Why don’t you leave the Puerto Ricans alone, Riff?

Christ almighty. And you lot, you’re in New York now.

You got a problem, you call the cops.

Youse can’t play at being cops yourselves.

Pero we call the cops, you show up and arrest us!

You’re never around when these hijueputas mess up our stores and our streets.

See, I get confused when you say “our streets,” seeing how these streets are ours by right of being born here, amigo.

The Jets!

(ALL ARGUING INDISTINCTLY)

How many times do I gotta tell you, Bernardo?

I don’t speak spic.

(SQUABBLING)

KRUPKE: Hey, hey!

That’s enough! That’s enough!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Come on! Break it up!

Jesus wept, Baby John.

Who did that to your ear?

Ow!

Which one of them nailed you?

Who cracked your head open, hombre?

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

In English.

Same guy who nailed your ear, maybe?

Maybe. I don’t remember.

I realise if any of you helps me out, you might spoil your chance to murder each other over control of this earthly paradise.

The Jets control it and you know it.

Uh-huh, yeah, but, golly gee, Balkan, not according to the New York City Committee for Slum Clearance, which has decided to pull this whole hellmouth down to the bedrock, and you’re in the way.

Aah! (SHUDDERING)

(WHISTLES)

Nice reflexes, muchacho.

So, any day now, all of you are gonna be evicted.

You’ll have to “vamoose,” as we say in Spanish.

We’re not relocating.

(MAN SPEAKS SPANISH)

We have rights.

Rights, huh? Where are they?

(BERNARDO GROWLS)

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

You back down, Bernardo. Don’t be stupid.

Some night, muchacho, maybe you’ll get to see me fight.

‘Course, you’ll have to leave your gun at home, Lieutenant.

Evict yourself off my crime scene, Bernardo.

Vamos.

(JETS TAUNTING)

JETS MEMBER: Chick, chick, chick.

(JETS MEMBER 2 WHISTLES TAUNTINGLY)

JETS MEMBER: Chickie, chickie, chickie.

(SINGING IN SPANISH)

(JETS SNICKERING)

A boxer and a singer.

JETS MEMBER 3: Get a load of this guy.

(CONTINUES SINGING IN SPANISH)

(JETS LAUGHING)

(ALL SINGING)

You want me to book the whole bunch of you?

Keep up the serenade and see what…

(SINGING CONTINUES)

¡Viva Puerto Rico libre!

I am ordering you clowns to disperse!

Now!

(ALL CONTINUE SINGING)

(CROWD CHEERING)

We’re outnumbered, boys.

Thousands more are on their way, and once they’re here, they pop out kids like crazy. Am I right?

Tell me which one of them nailed Baby John’s ear and I’ll put him out of circulation.

Work with me, fellas.

Or they’re gonna drive you off your turf.

You said it was the Slum Clearance Committee that was driving us off, now it’s the PRs.

You gotta get your story straight, Lieutenant Schrank.

We’re very impressionable.

Most of the white guys who grew up in this slum climbed their way out of it.

Irish, Italian, Jews.

Nowadays, their descendants live in nice houses and drive nice cars and date nice girls you’d want to marry.

Your dads or your granddads stayed put, drinking and knocking up some local piece who gave birth to you.

The last of the can’t-make-it Caucasians.

What’s a gang without its terrain, its turf?

You’re a month or two away from finding out, one step ahead of the wrecking ball.

And in this uncertain world, the only thing you can count on is me.

I’m here to keep the civil peace until the last building falls.

And if you boys make trouble on my turf, Riff, hand to heart, you’re headed to an upstate prison cell for a very long time.

By the time you get out, this will be a shiny new neighbourhood of rich people in beautiful apartments with Puerto Rican doormen to chase trash like you away.

Wait!

I got a question for you, Lieutenant.

How tall did you used to be before you, you know, “schrank”?

(JETS LAUGHING)

Come on, Sergeant, ride with me.

Long as I know you, Riff, you ain’t had the sense, God gave a pigeon.

RIFF: Come here, let’s see what he done.

Come on.

Well, that’s gonna scar, buddy boy.

You think so? (CHUCKLES)

Frankenstein time.

They can’t make us up and leave.

We’re here, ain’t we?

American citizens, which them spics ain’t!

Them they can chase off, not us.

Puerto Ricans are Americans, you ignoramus.

Ah, go eat a green banana!

Puerto Rico’s like a state, ain’t it? So, Deez is right…

BABY JOHN: No, it’s something else.

JETS MEMBER: There are only 48 states, ya dead battery.

What do you know?

(LAUGHTER)

Whatever they are, citizens or who gives a fart, what we know is…

JETS MEMBER 2: They ain’t us.

So, spill it, Krazy Kat, what are you thinking?

(METAL CLINKS)

I’m thinking it’s past time for a rumble.

For a all-in, all-out, once-and-for-all, winner-takes-all, high-noon-shootout-at-the-O.K. Corral rumble!

(ALL SHOUT EXCITEDLY)

BALKAN: Wild blue yonder! About time!

We do ’em like we done the Egyptian Kings.

And the Emeralds.

And the Bishops.

Alright, so Tony and me will sit down with…

JETS MEMBER: Tony?

Yeah, Tony.

JETS MEMBER 2: What’s this got to do with him?

He ain’t stood with us once since he got out.

He’s on parole. He’s gotta be careful, is all.

He cannot be running around…

Tony’s done with the Jets, Riff.

He ain’t done with the Jets. Like that’s even a thing!

You cannot be done with this family.

Maybe it wasn’t a thing before, but now, Riff?

The Lieutenant’s right.

What are the Jets if we got no territory?

JETS MEMBER: That’s right!

ALL: Yeah.

Schrank doesn’t know his ass from his elbow.

Look, Tony and me started the Jets cause none of us would even be here if it wasn’t for all of us.

And all you know it.

(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(SINGING) 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

(TYRES SCREECH RHYTHMICALLY)

You stay a

Jet

(CARS HORNS HONKING)

So, meet Tony and me at the Dog Days Dance at the gym tonight.

We can’t rumble at the gym, it’ll be lousy with cops!

And maybe we’ve had enough trouble with the Puerto Ricans for one day?

Relax. It’s a social mixer.

So we’ll mix until the time’s right to fix the rumble for tomorrow night.

Be there 10:00 p.m., punctual-like, dressed to kill, walking tall!

We always walk tall! We’re Jets!

The greatest.

(SINGING) When you’re a Jet You’re the top cat in town

You’re the gold-medal kid With the heavyweight crown

When you’re a Jet

You’re the swingin’est thing Little boy, you’re a man

JETS: Little man You’re a king

RIFF: The Jets are in gear

Our cylinders are clickin’

The Sharks’ll steer clear

JETS: Cause every 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’

JETS: Here come the Jets, yeah And we’re gonna beat

Every last buggin’ gang On the whole buggin’ street

On the whole

Ever mother-lovin’

Street

Yeah!

(MUSIC ENDS)

Can.

RIFF: Come on.

Just for an hour, only a little hour.

You used to like dancing.

No monkeyshines.

Come on, Riff, can.

Christ almighty. You know, there’s dust on everything.

You know, ever since…

Hey, I swear on what’s holy, it is just girls sipping punch and music…

And the Sharks.

And the spics.

And a rumble.

Which all you gotta do…

You’re on your own, pal-o-mine.

…is help me haggle over the terms of the rumble.

You don’t need me helping ya screw up your life.

You know how I get. I will start runnin’ my mouth.

You… You got command.

You are West Side legendary! And, Tony,

Tony, the Jets. I gave ’em my word you’d show.

Why would you do that?

Because…

Because it’s a rumble!

We need you if we’re going to war.

You can’t refuse us now. And because I know you.

Or I thought I did, before you got all unlike yourself, before you went upstate.

WOMAN: Tony? (SPEAKS SPANISH)

I’m coming!

It’s like you’re still in prison, and the old witch is the warden.

She gave me a job and a place to stay.

She’s always been there for me, like nobody else.

Oh, nobody, huh? Thanks, pal.

So don’t call her…

Thanks a big fat lot. Yeah.

You know I didn’t mean you wasn’t there.

You was always there.

Womb to tomb.

Sperm to worm.

So, come with me to the dance, huh?

Come on.

Is it Graziella? That what’s eatin’ you?

No, it ain’t Grazie. (CHUCKLES)

She said that you and she was done.

It’s good that you’re keeping her company.

Even before you got locked up, you know?

It’s cool. Don’t get all the way you get.

Grazie’s a great girl, and the Jets are the greatest.

And you, you’re like, you know, blood to me.

But I’m scared of myself, Riff.

What I done to that kid. What I almost done.

You gotta get over that.

What is the point in beating yourself up?

I wanna be unlike how I was.

Cause I was disappearing down a sewer and taking you and everything with me.

WOMAN: Tony, you coming?

Yeah, he heard ya!

I had time. Lots of it.

Locked up like that, and for the first time ever, I took a look inside, and that was rough, doing that, but I… I gotta stay with myself.

You know what I mean? Maybe stay… by myself, just for…

Yeah, you know what?

You’re just too deep for me, kid.

You know, I don’t know who I am.

And who cares who I am?

Nobody, including me.

I know that this dust that’s covering everything right now, that’s the four-story buildings that was standing here when you went upstate a year ago.

You know, I wake up to everything I know either getting sold or wrecked, or being taken over by people that I don’t like.

And they don’t like me.

And you know what’s left out of all that?

The Jets.

My guys. My guys, who are just like me.

Who are just like you.

I can’t go to the dance, Riff!

My parole officer said no going out!

I told you I don’t want you in my store.

I’m a paying customer.

You’ve been stealing from me since you were six.

Now, get out. I mean it.

And leave Tony alone.

He is not allowed to associate with criminals.

Look, don’t fall off that ladder.

At your age, brittle bones. That’s all I’m saying.

WOMAN: You’ll pay for that candy.

Five cents. On the counter!

Stand me for a Milky Way, huh? Least you could do.

Womb to tomb wasn’t never a joke for me.

Don’t be like that.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Just cause I can’t go to a dance?

Tony, I don’t tell you who to hang out with. But…

(IMITATES HER) “But those boys are juvenile delinquent.

“They’re no good for you. And you better watch out.”

Hey.

(IMITATES HIM) “You make fun of the way I talk one more time, blondie…”

(SNORTS)

(IN NORMAL TONE) I’m gonna talk to Riff and tell him that he can’t just come in here and not pay.

Tony, wake up.

I know you love Riff, but he hates Puerto Ricans.

That is not you.

Riff don’t hate you.

I married a gringo.

He thinks that makes me a gringa, which it don’t. And I ain’t.

Well, it’s guys like Riff and me, when things ain’t familiar, we just got this instinct to, you know…

You… even as an angry little boy, somehow there was this… this promise that you couldn’t keep hidden.

Not from you.

And sometimes, I see you smiling, like you’re waiting for the, what do you call, Irish Sweepstakes, instead of sweeping the floor like I pay you to do.

I sweep as good as you pay.

Yeah?

Look it.

(GASPS) Ooh.

You see? Promise.

You bring dead floors back to life.

(TONY SIGHS)

Keep looking for better, mi milagro.

Like you always done.

(JAZZ MUSIC INTRO PLAYING SOFTLY)

(SIGHS)

(SINGING) Could be?

Who knows?

There’s something due any day I will know right away

Soon as it shows

It may come cannonballing

(GASPS) Aah!

Down through the sky Gleam in its eye

Bright as a rose

(LAUGHS)

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, if 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

Maybe tonight

Maybe tonight

(MUSIC ENDS)

(NEIGHBOURS CHATTERING)

(SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE)

WOMAN: María!

María! (SPEAKS SPANISH)

They’re gonna be here in five minutes.

(TRAIN CHUGGING IN DISTANCE)

(SIGHS)

WOMAN: Mamita.

Didn’t you hear me…? (SIGHS)

What are you doing? Ay, nena…

MARÍA: No, no, no, no.

It look like a shroud, it’s so big and so white.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

It wouldn’t look like a shroud if it was red.

(CONVERSING IN SPANISH)

Speak English.

In Gimbels, there are lots of dresses that fit me.

And you don’t shop in Gimbels. You clean in Gimbels.

MARÍA: Ay.

Mm.

Ahorrar tus chavitos, fancy pants.

(ZIPS DRESS)

(MARÍA GRUNTS)

(MARÍA GROANS)

Aw. Sí.

Ay, turn around.

Hmm. (PRAISING IN SPANISH)

(CHUCKLES)

Ay, Anita.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(EXCLAIMS IN SPANISH)

Oh!

Ay, don’t mess up my hair.

I just got it to act right.

Ugh. OK.

(SIGHS)

Get your shoes on.

Bernardo will be so mad if we make him late.

And I want to dance.

(GIGGLES)

Bernardo’s always mad.

Necesito lipstick.

I’m too short. I need, please.

Please, some lipstick, and maybe some eyeliner.

Hmm.

The boys think I’m a kid.

You are a kid, kiddo.

I’m 18. I have a job.

I’ve been taking care of Papi since I was six.

Bernardo thinks I’m a baby.

Who cares what Bernardo thinks?

Chino is the only boy who counts.

Oh, Chino. Mi primer baile en Nueva York and I have to go with the zángano I don’t want to.

Ay, be nice. Chino is a very sweet boy.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(ANITA SIGHS)

You can’t take that personally.

He’s got to be like that.

It’s how he got to be a great boxer.

Everyone’s afraid of him.

Mm, but I’m not.

MAN: Anita, we’re home.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(MUFFLED CHATTER)

Are you ready? Chino’s here.

(BERNARDO SPEAKS SPANISH)

You gotta dance with her.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

I don’t know how to dance.

Ay.

She’s bossy. She gonna show you how.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Don’t move.

You always look out for me.

You’re the best friend I ever had.

I owe you so much. But I just wish that…

You’re the smartest friend I ever had.

Maria needs to meet smart guys like you.

Let me join the Sharks.

Ay, muchacho, not this again.

Por favor, let me help you protect our people.

BERNARDO: No.

You keep out of that. It’s stupid.

We gotta do it, but it’s stupid.

María can’t like a lambeojo who just works day and night.

Never stands up like her brother does.

She says all the time she doesn’t want anyone like me.

Just be Chino.

But be a Chino who dances.

(DOOR OPENS)

(CONVERSING IN SPANISH)

You look like Mami.

And, Chino, qué guapo.

He took off from night school just so he could take you to the dance.

Gracias, Chino.

Night school, accounting, and…

And, Chino, what else are you learning about?

Adding machine repair.

ANITA: And just think, how many adding machines in New York City.

Chino is gonna be rich.

Well, not exactly, pero…

Boxers get rich.

Boxers get their brains knocked out.

Bossy, como te dije, y una wiseass.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

The gringos tonight, they stare because…

ANITA: Oh, like you don’t stare.

Because our girls make their girls look lousy.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

The first gringo boy who smiles at you… Pow!

Ay, Mr. Juvenile Delincuente.

BERNARDO: Vamos.

(ANITA CHUCKLES)

I fold you she likes him.

(SOFT, PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)

(BERNARDO AND ANITA LAUGHING)

ANITA: You want her to pick him, keep telling her she has to like him.

(MARÍA CHUCKLES)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

(MUSIC CRESCENDOS)

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(ALL CHEER)

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

Hey, get away from her, you lesbo!

Get out of here!

Hey, hey, what are you doing?

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SNIFFS)

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

How about you give me some room?

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(CROWD CHEERING)

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

You wanna dance, buddy?

(ALL CLAMOURING)

Get back! (BLOWING WHISTLE)

OFFICER: Let’s back up! Back up!

(CONTINUES BLOWING WHISTLE)

Everyone, keep calm now!

Contain the aggression, OK?

What’s the matter with you guys?

Pretty girls wanting to dance and all youse can think of is to beat up on each other.

Thank you, Officer.

(JETS LAUGHING)

Alright! Alright!

So, tonight is a social experiment, boys and girls, brotherhood and all that, and you’re the guinea pigs.

(JETS SNORTING AND LAUGHING)

Thank you, right on cue.

Be nice to each other! Give us some hope!

Just for a little bit, then you can revert back 10 your true feral selves.

Now, boys, get into a big circle facing in.

And, girls, make a small circle on the inside, facing out.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(SHARKS LAUGHING)

Speak English in school-sponsored functions!

Now, everyone, please!

(ALL ARGUING)

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

You heard the man! All youse fall in!

Hey!

(SHARKS CHEERING)

SHARKS MEMBER: Hey! Bernardo!

SHARKS MEMBER: Anita!

(SHARKS CHEERING IN SPANISH)

(CHEERING QUIETS)

(JETS CHEERING)

JETS MEMBER: Hey, buddy!

JETS MEMBER 2: Yeah, Riff!

OK.

BOY: Sorry.

GIRL 2: Excuse us.

I’m sorry.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(PLAYING LIVELY MUSIC)

Boys, step it right. Girls, left.

And when the music stops, ya dance with whoever’s in front of ya.

(MUSIC STOPS)

(SHOUTS IN SPANISH)

(PLAYING MAMBO MUSIC)

(ALL CHEERING)

Come on! Give it a chance! It’s gonna…

SHARKS: Mambo!

JETS: Mambo!

ALL: Go!

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

Tony!

Anybodys!

Good to see ya.

TONY: Whoa!

Tony, I knew you’d come, buddy boy. I knew you’d come.

Hey! Come and dance, yeah?

Yeah!

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

SHARKS: Mambo!

(FINGERS SNAP)

SHARKS: Mambo!

Alright. Let’s go, boys!

JETS MEMBER: Let’s go, boys!

JETS: Oh… Yeah!

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

Yeah!

RIFF: Hey!

No, no, no. I just wanna give him a talk real quick.

Hey, Bernardo!

GRAZIELLA: Riff!

(RHYTHMIC HANDCLAPS)

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

GIRL: Bernardo!

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(ANITA CHEERS IN SPANISH)

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

MAN: Chino!

(PLAYING SOLO)

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

(MUSIC SLOWS DOWN)

(WALTZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(SNAPS FINGERS)

(MUSIC CRESCENDOS)

It’s funny, I wasn’t planning on showin’ up tonight.

You don’t like dancing?

No.

I mean, yeah.

I like it.

I like it a lot, dancing with you.

It’s just, you’re, uh…

You’re tall.

Yeah, I know.

You’re not.

(CHUCKLES)

You’re not Puerto Rican?

You’re just figuring that out?

From down here, I wasn’t sure.

Is that OK? That I’m not?

I don’t know.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

Since I…

I never seen you before.

This is my first time dancing in New York City, so, you tell me.

Is it OK?

There’s not much I can do about it, so…

I’m sorry. You just… caught me by surprise, is all.

I’m a by-the-book type. So…

By the book?

Try me again.

(MUSIC TEMPO INCREASING)

WOMAN: María! María! (SPEAKS SPANISH)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

BERNARDO: María! (SPEAKS SPANISH)

María.

(CONVERSING IN SPANISH)

I’m glad to meet you, I’m…

What were you doing under there with my sister?

Bernardo, no!

María!

(MARÍA AND BERNARDO ARGUING IN SPANISH)

TONY: I wasn’t doing nothing.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

KRUPKE: Back up there, Bernardo.

You ought to know better. Ain’t you learned nothing?

TONY: I didn’t mean no disrespect.

I just wanted to dance with her.

She don’t wanna dance with you, American.

Come on, we’re all Americans, right?

Keep away from her, hijo de puta!

Hey, hey! Now that sounded kinda rough, Bernardo,

and I ain’t having it.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

Youse gonna fight or youse gonna dance?

I wanna dance, God damn it!

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

God damn it, Riff,

you swore to me you wasn’t starting nothing.

You promised me that we could dance first

and then you was only gonna challenge ’em…

I am here to dance, girly girl.

Ain’t that what we been doin’?

Challenge who to what?

GRAZIELLA: Like I know. Like he tells me anything.

María.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(THANKING IN SPANISH)

Thank you for the dance.

Sure. No, I mean, thank you for the dance and for the…

ANITA: Ay…

Let’s say…

Let’s say we visit the head

and we’ll pow-wow friendly like.

You, me, and my troublemaking buddy here.

(BERNARDO BREATHING HEAVILY)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Do you wanna start World War III?

Ay, María, María.

Tony? Come on.

Tony, come on.

You walking away? Hey! Come on, man!

(GIRL LAUGHING)

You want to fight, right?

Not here. We gotta set it up.

Set it up?

You mean like a date?

All of you, and all of us.

We’re busy guys.

RIFF: Mm-hmm.

We got jobs.

Why should we play on the playground

with a bunch of…?

Control of your territory,

that’s what you get.

We keep clear out of your way, you’re Jet-free. If you win.

We win, you see us coming, and we will keep coming,

you Sharks make like the rats and skedaddle.

Where?

The river.

The docks.

The underpass.

The rail yards.

The salt shed.

¿Dónde?

De dónde está 57th and the river.

Wait!

Midnight tomorrow.

Weapons?

Fists.

Rocks.

Bricks.

Pipes.

Chains.

Knives?

Hey, we don’t need no knives.

You boys love your knives.

(CLAMOURING IN SPANISH)

Better without knives.

Better for who is the question that comes to mind,

but no knives.

And no jazz till then. Copasetic?

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

Riff, I don’t know, that about knives…

Them spics sleep

with their switchblades in their teeth.

Action. Action.

They ain’t gonna leave

their knives at home.

(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)

Your friendly friend.

RIFF: What about him?

I’ll see him tomorrow night?

You bet your ass.

Tell him…

Tony.

Tell Tony

I look forward to that.

(SOFT ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(SCOFFS)

María.

(SINGING) The most beautiful sound

I ever heard

María

María, María

María

All the beautiful sounds of the world

In a single word

María

María

María

María

María, María

María

(MUSIC TEMPO INCREASES)

I’ve just met a girl named María

And suddenly that name

Will never be the same to me

María

I’ve just kissed a girl named María

And suddenly I’ve found

How wonderful a sound can be

María

Say it loud And there’s music playing

(MUSIC TEMPO SLOWS)

Say it soft

And it’s almost like praying

María

I’ll never stop saying

María

(MUSIC TEMPO INCREASES)

María

María

María, María

María

María

María

María

María

Say it loud and there’s music playing

(MUSIC TEMPOS SLOWS)

Say it soft

And it’s almost like praying

María

I’ll never stop saying

María

The most beautiful sound I ever heard

María

(MUSIC FADES OFF)

(BARRICADE RATTLES)

(MARÍA SHOUTS IN SPANISH)

(DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE)

It’s me!

Are you crazy? You can’t…

What are you doing, spooking around como una rata?

Come down.

Meet me on the corner…

No!

(MARÍA SPEAKS SPANISH)

Let’s meet on the, uh…

(MARÍA SPEAKS SPANISH)

What’s that mean?

It means “go away.”

Can I come up?

No.

But I found you.

Please.

My brother’s so angry now, he might…

I’ll make him like me. Everybody does.

There’s nobody who everybody likes.

Yeah, but, 50 long as you like me,

I’m OK with that.

(SHUSHES, SPEAKS SPANISH)

Please, you have to go.

Ay, Dios mío. No, no, no.

(METAL CREAKS)

BERNARDO: María! We’re home.

ANITA: Need a little rum? It’ll help you sleep.

Who needs to sleep?

(BERNARDO SPEAKS SPANISH)

ANITA: Oh, not here. In the bedroom.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(SOFT ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING)

¿Dónde estás?

Where are you? Ay!

Is it locked?

Sí, but there’s no key.

Well, that’s against the law. You ought to report that.

OK, I will. Now, please go,

or something bad will happen…

Run away with me.

(MARÍA CHUCKLES)

I’m serious. Don’t laugh.

Sí, serious.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll run away with you.

Tomorrow?

Deal.

Wait!

Tomorrow, where?

I can’t see ya.

(SOFT ROMANTIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

Careful.

What’s your name?

Tony.

See you tomorrow, Tony.

You promise me?

What?

You gotta see me tomorrow. Nobody else.

Only me.

(SOFT ROMANTIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SINGING) 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

And there’s nothing for me but María

Every sight that I see is María

Tony, Tony

Always you Every thought I’ll ever know

Everywhere I go

You’ll be

All the world is only

You and me

(MUSIC TEMPO INCREASES)

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

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

(MUSIC SLOWS)

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 sparks into space

Today the world was just an address

A place for me to live in

No better than alright

But here you are

And what was just a world

Is a star

Tonight

BERNARDO: María!

(BERNARDO AND MARÍA CONVERSING IN SPANISH)

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Sí.

Wait! What time?

Uh, tomorrow night?

I work.

2:00? PM?

72nd Street subway station. Uptown side.

Sí. Sí, OK. Now…

(WHISPERS) Wait! Wait!

(SOFT ROMANTIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

I forgot why I called you.

I’ll wait till you remember.

Tony is Antonio?

Anton.

Te adoro, Anton.

Te adoro, María.

(SINGING) Good night

Good night

Sleep well

And when you dream

Dream of me

Tonight

(MUSIC FADES OFF)

(LILTING MUSIC PLAYING)

(CAT MEOWS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(LILTING MUSIC CONTINUES)

ANITA: María! Breakfast, niña.

(GASPS)

(LILTING MUSIC CONTINUES)

(GRUNTING)

(SIGHS)

(MUSIC ENDS)

BERNARDO: Last night I dreamed I was back in Puerto Rico.

In my dream, we had six kids.

Six kids? Marry a cat.

I’ve been asking you for five years.

ANITA: Mm-hmm.

You want to marry me, then leave the gringos alone.

BERNARDO: I’m gonna make quick work of the Jets.

ANITA: (CHUCKLES) You sound like the funny papers.

“The Jets.”

(BERNARDO SPEAKING SPANISH)

English. We gotta practice.

Anita María Teresa…

Oh.

(ANITA GIGGLING)

Josefina…

Good morning.

I’m right here.

(ANITA SPEAKS SPANISH)

Stay here and don’t fight?

What fight?

BERNARDO: Don’t worry about that.

You don’t have a fight till next week.

The match with that Thompson guy.

What was his name?

Your brother has something to say to you.

I apologise

for behaving last night like a…

Like a gangster.

(ASSENTS IN SPANISH)

It was embarrassing.

And he’s apologising.

Perdón.

I’m a grown-up now, Bernardo.

I can dance with anyone I like.

As long as he’s puertorriqueño.

But why? Tony’s a nice boy.

Tony? (SPEAKS SPANISH)

Tony. Who cares if he’s a…?

I don’t know what he is. A Yankee?

He’s a Polack. That’s what he is.

A big, dumb Polack.

“Polack,” says the spic.

Now you sound like a real American. (CHUCKLES)

I don’t want you to marry a gringo.

Marry him?

I danced with him, Bernardo.

For a minute, until you…

You’re crazy. I can’t talk to you anymore.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

I was OK on my own.

Just me and Papi for five years without you,

while you came here,

where you do everything you want.

You… You study, and you make money…

And he boxes.

Sí. And you have your boxing.

And he fights in the streets.

Don’t fight with the Jets.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

I want you to be happy.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

ANITA: Mm.

Here, dead man, eat your eggs.

And everyone, speak English.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

But I’m here, too.

And I… I want to make a life, a home.

Maybe go to City College

like Rosalía’s cousin, Virginia.

I want to be happy here.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

English.

Puerto Rico, sí.

That is what you think.

I’m gonna think for myself.

You keep away from him.

(SPEAKS SPANISH, SIGHS)

As long as you’re in my house…

This ain’t your house.

She pays rent here same as me and you.

This is about family.

(SPEAKS SPANISH, STOPS ABRUPTLY)

Ah! (SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SHOUTS IN SPANISH)

(ARGUING IN SPANISH)

María… (STUTTERS)

(ANITA SCOFFS)

(UTENSILS RATTLE)

(CONTINUES SPEAKING SPANISH)

Maybe Chino and your friends fall down at your feet,

and maybe you scare the Americanos

when you make fists and angry faces…

(CONTINUES TEARFULLY IN SPANISH)

And I am not interested in what you have to say.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(ANITA BREATHES DEEPLY)

You want to know where my home is?

It’s where I pay rent. Right here,

where I work my fingers raw,

mending pants and hemming neckties

so that I can earn enough money

to pay other girls to sew for me,

so that someday I can rent a shop of my own

in this great, big, beautiful Nueva York.

Ah.

(SNAPS FINGERS)

And if you think

that I’m going back home to Puerto Rico with six kids

that I put to bed hungry every night,

amor de mi vida, you are dreaming.

In Puerto Rico, our kids won’t get fat

like the kids in New York.

(LAUGHTER AND INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(LOW PERCUSSION MUSIC INTRO PLAYING)

(SOFT LATIN MUSIC PLAYING)

(SINGING) Puerto Rico

You lovely island

Island of tropical breezes

Always the pineapples growing

Always the coffee blossoms blowing

And the money owing

And the babies crying

And the people trying

I like the island Manhattan

I know you do!

Smoke on your pipe

And put that in

(MUSIC TEMPO QUICKENS)

I like to be in America

OK by me in America

Everything free in America

For a small fee in America

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

Buying on credit is so nice

One look at us And they charge twice

I have my own washing machine

What do you have though To keep clean?

Skyscrapers bloom in America

Cadillacs zoom in America

Industry boom in America

Twelve in a room in America

(PROTESTERS CHANTING IN SPANISH)

Lots of new housing with more space

Lots of doors slamming in our face

I’ll get a terrace apartment

Better get rid of your accent

Life can be bright in America

If you can fight in America

Life is alright in America

If you’re all white in America

(WOMEN SPEAKING SPANISH)

(UP-TEMPO MUSIC CONTINUES)

(CROWD CHEERING)

ALL: Hey, hey, hey!

La la, la la, la America

America

La la, la la, la America

America

(SHARKS EXCLAIM)

Ay, ay, ay, ay.

(BOXING BELL DINGS)

Here you are free And you have pride

Long as you stay on your own side

Free to do anything you choose

Free to wait tables and shine shoes

Everywhere grime in America

Organized crime in America

(ANITA RESPONDING IN SPANISH)

Terrible time in America

You forget I’m in America

(WOMEN LAUGH)

(UP-TEMPO MUSIC CONTINUES)

(CHEERING INDISTINCTLY)

Hey, hey, hey!

Hey, hey, hey!

I think I go back to San Juan

I know a boat you can get on

WOMEN: Bye-bye!

Everyone there will give big cheer!

SHARKS: Hey!

Everyone there will have moved here

(WOMEN EXCLAIM)

(SHARKS LAUGH)

WOMEN: Ow, ow, ow!

Ow, ow, ow!

Ow, ow, ow!

(UP-TEMPO MUSIC CONTINUES)

SHARKS: Hey! WOMEN: Hey!

SHARKS: Hey! WOMEN: Hey!

(ALL CHEERING)

SHARKS: Hey!

(UP-TEMPO MUSIC CONTINUES)

ALL: Hey!

(MUSIC ENDS)

(ALL CHEERING)

(CHEERING CONTINUES)

“I’m happy to see you again.”

(TRANSLATES INTO SPANISH)

(REPEATS SPANISH PHRASE)

So, who are you so happy to see again?

Last one.

“You look beautiful.”

(SCOFFS) ¿De verdad?

“De veda…”

¿Una puertorriqueña?

I wanna do like Doc,

find me a Puerto Rican girl.

Ay, Tony, you don’t have enough troubles?

I don’t wanna jinx it,

but maybe I’m done with trouble.

You are never done with troubles. Nunca.

Nunca. “Nunca” means “never”?

Uh-huh.

What’s “forever”?

Like, “I wanna be with you forever.”

You don’t wanna start, maybe,

with “I’d like to take you out to coffee”?

No. Come on, tell me.

“I wanna take you to Chock Full o’ Nuts

“for a cream cheese sandwich on a raisin bread”?

This ain’t casual like that.

Oh.

“I want to be with you forever.”

(TRANSLATES INTO SPANISH)

(REPEATS SPANISH PHRASE)

(TONY FALTERING)

(REPEATS WORDS)

“With you.”

“Para siempre.”

“Siempre.”

“Siempre.”

“Forever.”

TONY: I wanna show you something.

It’s a surprise, uptown.

You seem sorta…

There’s a fight tonight.

Between my brother and his friends.

News to me.

And your friend

who helped you when Bernardo…

Riff.

Tell him, Riff, tell him not to.

It’s because of us they’re gonna fight, verdad?

Well, get your brother to call it off.

Bernardo’s too angry.

Well, Riff’s angry, too, so…

Come on.

(TRAIN HORN TOOTS)

This place we’re going, it’s, uh, up past Harlem.

It’s practically at the tip of the island.

My brother…

there’s so much more against him than Riff.

He’s angry because…

The whole world has been against Riff

since he was born.

Do you think it’s easier for us?

Uh, well, I think you come from families, homes.

You and Bernardo, you have hope.

You think Riff has that?

Riff could have hope if he didn’t try to take hope

from people he doesn’t know.

Riff didn’t start this, it was Bernardo.

He came after me.

Just cause I wanted to dance with you.

Tony, if someone gets hurt because of what we do…

What did we do to anyone?

We don’t do anything wrong, liking each other,

pero…

María.

I don’t just like you.

We can’t pretend what we do doesn’t cause trouble.

I can’t talk my guys outta making trouble.

Trouble’s what they’re made of.

All of you go suck a pickle.

You think we’re going to jail?

They’re fishing, is all. Asking questions.

Which we ain’t answering.

So, you’re gonna tell me

where and when the rumble’s happening…

or I’m gonna send you straight to the Tombs.

I don’t know where the rumble is.

I don’t even know what a rumble is.

Uh, they don’t tell me nothing.

They know I can’t keep any secrets.

They tell you when to show up, right?

Nah, they don’t.

I just hang around until somebody says “let’s go.”

And then?

I go.

(FAINT RADIO CHATTER)

I can’t go to jail, Deez.

Dry up, weepy, or else go sit on the ladies’ bench

with the other dickless wonder.

Leave her be.

Get stuffed, why don’t ya?

Go back to the zoo, why don’t ya?

Go suck on your sister’s titty, why don’t ya?

You guinea hyena.

Hey, Krupke! You made a mistake.

She ain’t a Jet. She nags us all the time.

Hey, I ought to be a Jet. Tony told me…

She ain’t a Jet.

She ain’t even a boy.

Pipe down, A-Rab.

She’s a dumb girl.

I ain’t a girl!

She looks like some kinda biological disaster,

but I pantsed her once, and under oath, she’s a girl!

I said I ain’t no goddamn girl,

you shrivel-dick dago pansy!

(BOTH GRUNTING)

KRUPKE: Get off of him,

Cut it out! Now!

You’re gonna break her arm, you godforsaken…

I’m trying to get her off of him.

Back up! God!

My ulcer.

It’s a freaking felony!

Assaulting an officer of the…

Sit yourselves some place

and don’t move a muscle till I get back!

Don’t even sweat! Youse hear me?

Hey, a girl gave me a nosebleed.

She just bought herself a ticket

to the House of Detention.

What about us?

Rikers, most likely.

BABY JOHN: Rikers?

What, you ain’t never been arrested before?

He ain’t never been nothing before.

BABY JOHN: That’d kill my ma.

Oh.

I can’t go to jail.

You won’t. Long as you remember two things.

One, tell ’em what they wanna hear.

And two, don’t tell ’em nothing.

Hey, garbage!

Who?

Me, Officer Krupke?

(BOYS LAUGH)

Well, look at youse.

You feckless frigging disappointments.

Now, give me one good reason

I shouldn’t throw the book at ya.

(SINGING) Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke

You gotta understand

It’s just our bringin’ upke

That gets us out of hand

Our mothers all are junkies

Our fathers all are drunks

Golly Moses

Naturally we’re punks

Gee, Officer Krupke

We’re very upset

We never had the love That every child ought to get

We ain’t no delinquents

We’re misunderstood

Deep down inside us There is good

There is good

There is good

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

There is good

There is untapped good Like inside

The worst of us is good

Aw, that’s a touching good story.

Let me tell it to the world!

Oh, just tell it to the judge.

(ALL EXCLAIM)

Whoo!

(UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES)

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

Get over there.

Dear kindly Judge, Your Honour

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

Right! Officer Krupke You’re really a square

This boy don’t need a judge He needs a analyst’s care

It’s just his neurosis That ought to be curbed

He’s psychologically disturbed

I’m disturbed!

We’re disturbed We’re disturbed

We’re the most disturbed

Like we’re psychologically disturbed

(ALL LAUGH AND SCREAM)

(UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES)

(WHOOPING)

BALKAN: Hear ye, hear ye.

In the opinion of this court, the boy’s depraved

on account of he ain’t had a normal home.

Hey, I’m depraved on account of I’m deprived!

So, take this nut to a headshrinker.

Oh, why not? Come on.

DIESEL: Go, go, go.

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 moustache My brother wears a dress

Goodness gracious

That’s why I’m a mess

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

I am sick!

We are sick, we are sick

We are sick, sick, sick

Like we’re sociologically sick

(WHOOPING)

A-RAB: I did it! Yeah!

DIESEL: Officer, I’m guilty. MOUTHPIECE: Get out of here.

In my professional opinion,

what we got here

is a run-of-the-mill juvenile delinquent,

and juvenile delinquency is a social disease.

Ew, Diesel, you got a social disease?

Bring him to a social worker.

Wait, can I catch it by touching him?

Get down.

BIG DEAL: Oh! (LAUGHS)

Dear

Kindly social worker

They say go earn a buck

(LAUGHTER)

Like be a soda jerker

Which means like be a schmuck

It’s not I’m antisocial I’m only anti-work

Glory! Osky!

That’s why I’m a jerk

(IN FALSETTO) Yee! Officer Krupke

You’ve done it again

This boy don’t need a job He needs a year in the pen

OK.

It ain’t just a question of misunderstood

Deep down inside him He’s no good

I’m no good

We’re no good, we’re no good

We’re no earthly good

Like the best of us is no damn good

The trouble is he’s crazy

The trouble is he drinks

The trouble is he’s lazy

The trouble is he stinks

The trouble is he’s growin’

The trouble is he’s grown

Krupke, we’ve got troubles of our own

Gee, Officer Krupke We’re down on our knees

Cause no one wants a fellow With a social disease

Gee, Officer Krupke What are we to do?

Gee, Officer Krupke

Krup you

(MUSIC ENDS)

(PANTING HEAVILY)

(ALL PANTING HEAVILY)

This is for you.

TONY: This is the surprise.

MARÍA: It look like a church.

TONY: It’s a museum now, you know.

First time I saw this place,

I was on a prison bus.

Up to the state prison in Ossining.

There was a rumble.

And I busted up this kid.

He was in the Egyptian Kings.

He only didn’t die because of luck,

like, one more punch and he probably would’ve died.

And I would’ve done it.

I would’ve murdered this messed-up kid

who wasn’t no different from me.

And for a year in prison and since I got out,

I can’t quit thinking about what I almost done.

I think about killing him, and…

and it’s like I’m always just about to fall off

the edge of the world’s tallest building.

I stopped falling the second I saw you.

(CHURCH BELL TOLLING)

I shouldn’t have asked you to stop the fighting.

I don’t want you to go anywhere near the fighting.

(SLOWLY RECITES PHRASE IN SPANISH)

(LAUGHS)

Don’t laugh. It means I wanna be…

I know what it means.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I don’t know what that…

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

Oh.

(LAUGHS) Oh, that’s…

Don’t laugh.

(GULPS)

I, Tony…

I, Anton,

take you, María,

rich or poor…

I’m poor.

I’m poorer.

(CONTINUES VOW IN SPANISH)

To love you and respect you.

Siempre.

(SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES)

TONY: (SINGING) Make of our hands

One hand

Make of our hearts

One heart

Make of our vows

One last vow

Even death

Won’t part us now

Make of our lives

One life

Day after day

One life

Now it begins

Now we start

One hand

One heart

Only death

Will part us now

(SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES)

You’re worried. But they’re still my guys.

They’ll listen to me.

But what if you can’t?

We can’t be together

while they’re brawling all around us.

Because of us.

I swear to you, María,

there won’t be any fight.

(SINGING) Make of our lives

One life

Day after day

One life

Now it begins

Now we start

One hand

One heart

MARÍA: Death won’t part

Even death won’t part

MARÍA: Us now

Us now

(SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES)

Come see me tonight.

MAN: You ever fired a gun before?

Sure, of course I have.

What kind?

Colt. Revolver.

That so? What’d it shoot?

Bullets.

.32s.

Colt shoots .22s.

We got money.

I don’t sell heaters to unscrubbed boys.

These guys, the ones we’re rumbling with,

they’re bringing heat.

Cause they think we’re bringing heat.

So, we need to bring heat

so they know that we ain’t defenceless.

And vice versa.

Mutually assured destruction.

I don’t know what that is.

That’s a Smith and Wesson, Model 10.

Classic of its kind.

If you want it, take it, why don’t ya?

Fires trey eights.

Makes quite a hole for a little gun.

It’s loaded.

You don’t gotta cock it, even.

You just squeeze the trigger and…

You might as well.

(SCOFFS)

You remind me of your dad.

Leave it on the bar.

RIFF: (SHOUTS) What you got?

(WHOOPING)

JETS: Whoa, whoa, whoa!

RIFF: Pow, pow, pow! ACTION: Pow, pow, pow!

Eat lead!

RIFF: Pow, pow, pow!

TIGER: Come on, you chicken! RIFF: Pow, pow, pow!

TIGER: Chicken, chicken, chicken!

RIFF: Pow! Pow, pow!

TIGER: You yellow flatfoot, come on!

RIFF: Pow!

Pow! Pow, pow!

TONY: Pow.

Gee whillikers, Batman.

Since when you carry a rod?

Well, I don’t got magic powers like you, Superman,

so I got this.

Promise to be with us tonight, I’ll let you hold it.

When are you gonna grow up?

Never probably. Born to die young, daddy-o.

They catch you with this,

it’s 15 years in Attica.

(CHUCKLES)

Call it off.

Call what off?

Tell Bernardo the cops found out about the rumble.

Tell him a rain check.

Hey, why should we call it off? We got a gun.

Shut up, Tiger. Stay out of this.

You know we wouldn’t even need a gun if you was with us?

But you ain’t, so let go of my goddamn gun.

I paid for it.

TONY: You paid for it? RIFF: Right.

TONY: Oh, OK, well, in that case,

oopsy-daisy.

RIFF: Tony. Tony.

Tony! Tony!

Tony! Give me the gun!

Call off the rumble.

Come on, it’s mine.

It’s yours?

Fellas, does it look to you like this is his gun?

(SOFT JAZZ MUSIC INTRO PLAYING)

Alright, let’s get some beer and some weed

and let’s go to the zoo.

Like the old days, huh?

Yeah. I will if you will.

You know me, brother. I don’t look back.

Why? You afraid of what you’re gonna see?

No, I look ahead.

I wanna be prepared in case they come prepared.

So, give me the gun, Tony. I mean it. Now.

(SINGING) Boy, boy, crazy boy

Get cool, boy

Got a rocket in your pocket

Keep coolly cool, boy

Come on.

Don’t get hot

Cause, man, you’ve got Some high times ahead

Take it slow and daddy-o You can five it up

And die in bed

Cut the crap!

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

(GUN CLACKS)

Real cool

Careful, buddy.

(JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

Careful yourself, Superman. Come on.

(JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

(JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

Cool!

TIGER: Go!

Crazy!

Cool!

Go!

Crazy!

JETS: Go!

TIGER: Come on! ACTION: Tony!

I’m open!

ACTION: Tiger, toss it!

Come on, let’s go!

(JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SINGING) Boy, boy, crazy boy

Stay loose, boy

Breeze it, buzz it Easy does it

Turn off the juice, boy

(JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

Just play it cool, boy

Real cool

(RIFF PANTING)

Pow.

Pow.

Pow, pow!

Pow.

Pow.

(MUSIC ENDS)

(PANTING)

SCHRANK: It’s happening tonight.

That’s all we know.

The morning papers filled with stories about dead kids.

Not on my watch.

Every block of Lincoln Square,

every inch of San Juan Hill.

I want the West Side locked down.

(UP-TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(SINGING) The Jets are gonna Have their day tonight

The Jets are gonna Have their way tonight

The Puerto Ricans grumble “Fair fight”

But when they start a rumble We’ll rumble ’em right

We’re gonna hand ’em a surprise tonight

We’re gonna cut ’em down to size tonight

We said, “OK, no rumpus No tricks”

But just in case they jump us We’re ready to mix

Tonight!

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

Well, they began it

Well, they began it

And we’re the ones to stop ’em Once and for all

Tonight!

Anita’s gonna get her kicks tonight

Ssh!

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

Shh!

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

TONY AND MARÍA: Oh, moon, grow bright

And make this endless day

Endless night

(TYRES SCREECH)

(UP-TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

The Jets are comin’ out on top tonight

(JETS CHEER)

We’re gonna watch Bernardo drop tonight

(ALL CHEER)

That Puerto Rican punk’ll go down

And when he’s hollered uncle We’ll tear up the town

Tonight, tonight

ICE: We’ll be in back of you, boy

RIFF: Right MARÍA: Won’t be just any night

We’re gonna flatten him good

Right

Womb to tomb?

Sperm to worm!

RIFF: And then we’ll have us A ball tonight

MARÍA: Tonight, tonight

We’re gonna rock it tonight

I’ll see my love tonight

We’re gonna jazz it tonight

And for us Stars will stop where they are

We’re gonna mix it tonight

TONY AND MARÍA: Today The minutes seem like hours

JETS: They began it

TONY: The hours go so slowly

SHARKS: They began it

And still the sky is light

JETS: We’ll stop ’em Once and for all

SHARKS: We’ll stop ’em Once and for all

MARÍA AND TONY: Oh, moon, grow bright

And make this endless day Endless night

SHARKS: We’re gonna rock it tonight

ALL: Tonight

(MUSIC ENDS)

(SHUTTER WHIRRING)

(CHAINS RATTLING)

ICE: Welcome to the North Pole.

It’s salt.

For when the streets ice up.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

Kill the lights.

(SWITCH CLANGS)

(SHUTTER WHIRRING)

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

BERNARDO: Promised your buddy was gonna be here.

If you don’t keep your word, jefe,

how am I going to believe

you’ll keep out of our territory after…

(CONVERSING IN SPANISH)

And just when all hope is lost…

So, is this the shot heard round the world,

or just, you know, more of your bullshit?

Don’t ask me about shooting, pal.

You’re the one with the gun.

That’s right, and who are you? Friend or foe?

You’re out of control.

Hey.

I don’t need it if you stand with us.

Here, take it.

Go on, it’ll be safe with you.

And you pitch in.

I wanna talk to…

I’m doing the talking now.

Lets do it!

ALL: Yeah!

Right now!

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

Can I talk to you?

Anything you need to say,

you can say through me.

We talked enough.

Let’s try something else.

You and me,

we just got off on the wrong foot, is all.

I always know which foot I’m on.

(HUFFS)

(SHARKS LAUGH)

We all know you can fight, Bernardo.

So, can you just quit dancing for a second…

RIFF: Yeah, can you quit whispering in his ear?

…and listen to what I came here to tell you?

I got nothing against you.

And… And if I, somehow or other,

if I offended you,

I apologise.

Oye, pana, I thought we were going to fight.

(CLAMOURING)

Did you bring him flowers, too?

Come on, quit flirting with him! Close his eyes!

Hey, can’t you shut up for a single goddamn second?

What are you afraid of? Your parole officer?

You are breaking my heart with this shit!

Come on!

BERNARDO: A convict?

How long in prison?

Uh, a year.

In prison, there were Puerto Ricans, Dominicans?

TONY: Sure. Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Cubans.

They love locking up us brown guys.

(SHARKS MURMUR)

TONY: This is not about skin. It’s… It’s about…

It’s about territory!

(CLAMOURING)

A-RAB: That’s right! Our territory!

None of us would be here if any of us believed

we had any place else to be.

What did you do to get yourself locked up, primo?

He beat the snot outta someone exactly like you!

It don’t matter what I did.

I’m different now. And…

you don’t gotta worry about me being with María.

So, you told God and Jesús

when you get out, you gonna become somebody new?

Am I right, pendejito?

And then you came to that dance

and you see my sister,

and you think…

(ALL EXCLAIM)

“How about I get myself a brown girl?”

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

“I never spent time with a little puertorriqueña before.”

RIFF: Tony!

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

“If I can be with a coloured girl like her,

“I’ll be somebody better than I was.

“Somebody I never been before.”

DIESEL: Put your hands up! BABY JOHN: Come on! Hit him!

A-RAB: Come on!

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

He won’t fight you, fight someone who will.

I love her, Bernardo.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

Stay out of this!

(CHEERING)

(CHEERING CONTINUES)

(SHOUTING IN SPANISH)

(OTHERS CONTINUE CHEERING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

(EXCLAIMING)

(JETS CHEERING)

(STIFLED BREATHING)

(CLAMOURING)

Finish it!

A-RAB: Tony! What the hell are you doing?

DIESEL: Tony.

Come on. (PANTING)

(SHOUTS IN SPANISH)

(CLAMOURING)

Fight me!

Riff…

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

OK. That’s enough.

Tony! Tony! Tony!

Let go! Let go!

(PANTING)

(CHUCKLES)

Its OK. Its OK. (CHUCKLES)

Take it out.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SOBBING)

(BERNARDO GRUNTS)

(ALL SHOUTING MANIACALLY)

(SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

Tony, come on!

Come on! Come on.

Tony, come on!

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

ANYBODYS: Tony, come on.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES)

(WOMAN SPEAKING SPANISH)

Housing Department.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

We’re gonna get apartments in the new buildings.

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

Right where we live now.

Ay, nena, we’re gonna get evicted.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

The new apartments,

the Metropolitan Opera, the orchestra hall?

Not for us, for the gringos.

(ASSENTS IN SPANISH)

That’s why I cashed my relocation check

inmediatamente. (CONTINUES IN SPANISH)

Before they take it back.

Mm-hmm.

You cashed the check? I tore mine up.

Uh-huh.

You tore up a $500 check?

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(OTHERS CHUCKLE)

Once you cash the check, mi’jita, they can evict you!

I mailed mine right back to the Public Works.

(WALTZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(CONVERSING IN SPANISH)

A ver, Bernardo ain’t keeping

their dirty money, verdad, María?

María? (SPEAKS SPANISH)

Get down from there!

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

We have eight floors to clean! María!

Oh, I am terribly sorry, Señora Fausta,

but I do not clean floors. No, no, no.

I wear my $17.98 silk shawl…

Ha-ha. (SPEAKS SPANISH)

Now get down.

She’s dreaming about her boyfriend.

Oh, Chino.

Chino, sí. She’s in love with Chino.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I’m happy in my fancy,

rich lady apartment.

(OTHERS EXCLAIM)

(SINGING) I feel pretty Oh, so pretty

I feel pretty And witty and bright

And I pity

Any girl who isn’t me tonight

(FAUSTA SPEAKING SPANISH)

I feel charming Oh, so charming

It’s alarming How charming I feel

And so pretty

That I hardly can believe I’m real

(WALTZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

See that pretty girl In that mirror there?

(SPRAYING RHYTHMICALLY)

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

(WOMEN EXCLAIMING)

And entrancing

Feel like running And dancing for joy

For I’m loved

By a pretty wonderful boy

(WALTZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

Have you met my good friend María?

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

BOTH: She thinks she’s in love She thinks she’s in Spain

Ay, she isn’t in love

She’s merely insane

It must be the heat

Or some rare disease

WOMEN: Or too much to eat

Or maybe it’s fleas

(LAUGHING)

Keep away from her

Send for Chino

This is not the María we know

Modest and pure

Polite

And refined

Well-bred and mature

And out of her mind

(WALTZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

Miss America!

A speech, a speech, por favor!

(SHOUTS IN SPANISH)

I feel pretty

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

Oh so pretty

That the city should give me its key

A committee

Should be organized to honour me

(SCOLDS IN SPANISH)

I feel dizzy I feel sunny

I feel fizzy and funny and fine

And so pretty

Miss America can just resign

ALL: La, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la

See that pretty girl In that mirror there?

What mirror where?

Who can that attractive girl be?

Which?

What?

Where?

Who?

Such a pretty face Such a pretty dress

Such a pretty smile Such a pretty me

Such a pretty me

I feel stunning

I feel stunning

And entrancing

And entrancing

Feel like running and dancing for joy

For I’m loved

By a pretty wonderful boy

(MUSIC ENDS)

(WOMEN CHUCKLE)

Get back to work!

(VACUUM WHIRRING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

I didn’t punch my time card.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(METAL RATTLES)

¿Hola?

(INQUIRING IN SPANISH)

(MAN SPEAKS SPANISH)

Chino?

(INQUIRING IN SPANISH)

María.

Que pasó?

Chino, que pasó?

(INQUIRING IN SPANISH)

There was a fight con los Jets.

(CONTINUES IN SPANISH)

Like it was over before anyone could stop him.

(RESUMES IN SPANISH)

And Riff, he got stabbed, and…

Tony.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Chino!

(SHOUTS IN SPANISH)

(GASPS)

Tony killed Bernardo.

(MARÍA SHOUTS IN SPANISH)

Chino! Liar!

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

What’s going on down there?

(TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SOBS QUIETLY)

(SOFT SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I… I didn’t mean for it to…

You promised you would stop this.

You promised you would stop this!

I tried. I tried.

And then you murdered him! No, no, you murdered me!

You’re a killer! The killer!

(SOBBING) Killer, killer, killer, killer, killer…

(CONTINUES SOBBING)

I’m going to the cops.

(PANTING)

I just had to see you first.

If you let them take you from me,

how do I forgive you for that?

(SOFT SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES)

(CRYING)

(ALL PANTING)

(BRAKES SCREECH)

(SIREN WAILING)

Go!

BABY JOHN: Come on!

(CONVERSING IN SPANISH)

(PANICKY ARGUING)

(VALENTINA SHOUTS IN SPANISH)

(CONVERSING IN SPANISH)

Come on, we gotta get outta here.

(CONVERSING IN SPANISH)

(HURRIED CHATTER)

(SAD MUSIC PLAYING)

(SAD MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SINGING) 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

Someday

A time for us

Time together

With time to spare

Time to learn

Time to care

Someday

Somewhere

We’ll find a new way of living

We’ll find a way of forgiving

Somewhere

There’s a

Place for us

A time and place for us

Hold my hand

And we’re halfway there

Hold my hand And I’ll take you there

Somehow

Someday

Somewhere

(SAD MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SIGHS)

(MUSIC FADES OFF)

(SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I should go.

Where?

(SIREN CONTINUES WAILING)

Ay, no.

Go to Doc’s.

Valentina will know what to do.

Tony!

Promise me you will.

(DOOR OPENS)

ANITA: María.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(BREATHING SHAKILY)

(SNIFFLES)

(SIGHS)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Come with me now.

I can’t. I can’t.

(SIGHS)

(VOICE BREAKING) María.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Sí, I’m almost… I’ll come out in a…

Go. Go.

(DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE)

(GASPING SOFTLY)

(LOW, PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I love him.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(SINGING) 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, María Very smart

(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

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, María

Just wait and see

Oh, no, Anita, no

Anita, no

It isn’t true Not for me

It’s 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

A boy like that Who’d kill your brother

MARÍA: And my heart is too strong

Forget that boy and find another

For I belong

One of your own kind

Stick to your own kind

To him alone, to him alone One thing I know

A boy who kills cannot love

I am his

I don’t care what he is

A boy who kills has no heart

I don’t know why it’s so

And he’s the boy Who gets your love

I don’t want to know

And gets your heart

Very smart, María Very smart

Oh, no, Anita, no

You should know better

You were in love Or so you said

You should know better

(MUSIC SLOWS)

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

(CRYING)

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

(MUSIC SWELLS)

(SOBBING)

When love comes so strong

There is no right or wrong

Your love is

Your life

(BOTH VOCALIZING END NOTE)

(MUSIC SWELLING)

(MARÍA CRYING)

(ANITA SNIFFLING)

(VOICE BREAKING) He will never be safe here.

Sí, lo sé.

And no one will ever forgive him.

Will you?

You can’t ever ask me that.

Will you forgive me?

Te quiero, mi niña, but he will have to go away.

And you will have to go with him.

(MUSIC FADES OFF)

(SWITCH CLICKS)

(INQUIRES IN SPANISH)

(CONVERSING IN SPANISH)

QUIQUE: It got so bad so fast.

(RESUME CONVERSING IN SPANISH)

QUIQUE: He was a hero.

I know people say that about a lot of people…

(CHICO SPEAKS SPANISH)

Bernardo was a fool.

What did he die for?

Murió luchando por su dignidad…

and for pride, mi hermano, orgullo puertorriqueño!

Bernardo, he died to show those gringos

how tough Puerto Ricans are.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

And if they push us too far…

If those nobodies can take your pride away from you,

tú eres más estúpido que Bernardo.

(ALL SHOUT INDISTINCTLY)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

It’s a big world.

Bernardo let the gringos tell him there’s only this barrio,

these 20 bad blocks.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Don’t you do what Bernardo did.

You kill a gringo, they kill you.

Sooner or later, the gringos kill everything.

Chino, Chino, Chino, por favor.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Don’t follow me.

(PANTS)

Bernardo was your husband?

ANITA: Yes.

Oh. Close enough.

Your brother was angry you danced with a white boy

at the mixer last night.

No. I don’t think so.

You don’t think the boy you danced with was white?

Or you don’t think Bernardo was angry?

I wouldn’t dance with a white boy.

Yeah?

I heard you came with a date.

Some, uh, Puerto Rican boy.

Goes by the street name “Chino.”

Word is, Chino’s got a gun.

That’s what the word is, anyway.

He’s armed…

(SEWING MACHINE WHIRRING)

(RAISES VOICE) …and hunting for this white stranger

who she danced with,

who we think killed your boyfriend!

(WHIRRING STOPS)

Anything else you wanna add?

Bernardo told me about you.

I’m flattered.

The way you talked to him.

Chino is gentle.

He doesn’t have a gun.

Apparently, now he does.

(SEWING MACHINE WHIRRING)

I have a, uh…

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

A headache?

She has her monthly, you know?

I get the picture.

I need for this, uh, medicine.

Anita, she can… she can go for me?

Mamita…

(WHIRRING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

In English.

Sí. Sí.

English is hard to, uh…

Yeah, I bet it is.

She wants you to go to Doc’s drugstore

and ask Valentina for…

(CLOTH RIPS)

Hot tea is how my wife handles it.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

What did I say?

Tell Valentina,

I hope her cousin arrived safe from Santurce.

And I’m sorry I can’t be there to meet him like I promised.

And all of a sudden, fluency.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

That means “I’ll come as soon as I can.”

I can go?

You’re not his widow or anything.

I’m done with you.

(DOOR OPENS)

(SIGHS)

(BREATH TREMBLING)

(SCHRANK SIGHS)

Must be tough, losing a brother.

So, let’s start from the beginning.

GRAZIELLA: (TEARFULLY) I wanna go see him.

Talk to him.

Tony just wants to be alone right now,

he don’t wanna see us.

A-RAB: He ain’t alone.

The old lady’s down there with him.

Does he know we’re up here? Me and Grazie?

Does he know I’m here?

Tony cared about me once.

He don’t wanna see you, Grazie.

Go home.

We left him lying there.

In the salt shed.

Ice…

I know.

That’s bothering me.

Bothers me, too, Deez.

ANYBODYS: He ain’t there anymore.

ACTION: Jesus Christ.

ICE: Where’d you come from?

Down the chimney like Santy Claus.

What’s Tony gonna do?

Go pop yourself, ya blister.

How long’s he figure on holing up down there?

Till the heat dies down.

When’s that gonna happen?

Two guys died, so…

never ever,

Bernardo’s friend, Chino?

He has Riff’s gun.

Oh, Jesus.

And he’s hunting for Tony.

What are we gonna do?

I don’t know.

Where you going?

To keep track of Chino.

Yeah, yeah. Good. You do that.

In and out of shadows.

That’s how.

Hey.

(DOOR OPENS)

You done good, buddy boy.

Leave.

I want to see your friend, Tony.

He’s here? He’s supposed to be.

I have a message for him.

Where is Valentina?

You’re Bernardo’s girl.

We saw you at the gym.

Yeah, you wanna dance, Chiquita Banana?

Dancing up a storm, you was, dipping them hips.

Valentina!

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Spanish?

You come here speaking Spanish?

I wasn’t talking to you.

No Spanish. Not with us. Not today.

(ANITA SCOFFS)

Let me pass.

You heard her, boys.

She wants to pass.

Hmm, she’s too dark to pass.

Let her go.

No one wants you here.

Why don’t you dance for us first?

(JUKEBOX CLICKS)

(LATIN DANCE MUSIC PLAYING ON JUKEBOX)

Dance with me, darling, like you danced at the gym.

Numbers, stop it.

Stop it.

Cutting in.

Balkan, out of here.

A-RAB: Come on, you pig, let’s see you move!

ANITA: No, no, no.

Bernardo’s black pig.

WOMAN: Hey! Stop touching her!

GRAZIELLA: Boys, don’t do this!

ANITA: No! GRAZIELLA: Tiger, let her go!

GRAZIELLA: Let her go!

Ice, enough! Enough!

ANITA: Help me!

(CLAMOURING)

GRAZIELLA: No!

Don’t hurt her!

Open the door!

MOUTHPIECE: Keep moving!

GRAZIELLA: Don’t hurt her!

Don’t hurt her, please!

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

(BOYS GRUNTING)

Oh, my God! Oh, my God!

What the hell are you doing?

You disgusting pieces of shit!

(MUSIC STOPS)

(VALENTINA SPEAKS SPANISH)

(ANITA WHIMPERING)

Mija, mija.

No!

(SHOUTS IN SPANISH)

Traitor!

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Go back where you came from.

You think I want to stay here?

In this city full of ugly, little animals like you?

No, gracias.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Tell Tony… (SNIFFLES)

You tell that murderer…

María ain’t coming.

Chino, he found out about them…

Tony and María.

He shot her.

María is dead.

You tell him that.

(DOOR CLOSES)

I know you.

I know all of your names.

Since you was born.

(VOICE QUIVERING) I watched you grow up.

And you have grown into rapists.

You dishonour yourselves.

You dishonour your dead.

(DOOR OPENS)

What do we do now?

(DOOR CLOSES)

We’re done.

(OBJECT RATTLES)

What was that? What was that?

You can never hear nothing from down here.

Was it the cops?

No, no, no.

It was not police. No, it was… it was…

Uh… Now it’s alright.

Tony, let’s sit down for a second, huh?

Listen. I got something to ask you.

No, no, wait. I… I… I got something…

It ain’t easy to ask this, so let me just go, OK?

Wait, wait. I have something to…

You’ve given me so much already,

but when she gets here,

just…

If you could help us out with the bus fare…

Tony…

I…

I have no idea what it’s gonna cost

to get far enough away, out west some place.

100 bucks for both of us.

And we’ll get work when we get there.

We’ll pay you back every cent.

I know you ain’t got money, so if it’s too much to ask…

No, no, no. It’s not too much.

It’s not too much. (INHALES SHARPLY)

We’re gonna name all our girls Valentina.

Hmm.

Cause if you hadn’t cared

for me like you always done,

I wouldn’t even be here alive, which…

maybe I shouldn’t be.

Don’t ever say that, Tony.

Life matters even more than love.

Mm. They’re the same thing.

Before María, maybe I would’ve said they ain’t.

But now, it’s all life is.

Even if it lasts no time at all.

A month, a day even.

That was Anita upstairs.

What’s wrong?

Chino…

What?

Chino has a gun.

He…

Chino shot María.

He killed her.

She’s… She’s dead.

(TONY WHIMPERS)

(TONY CRYING)

(FOOTSTEPS RUNNING UP STAIRS)

(DOOR OPENS)

(GASPING AND WHIMPERING)

(PANTING)

TONY: Chino!

Chino!

Where are you?

Chino!

I’m right here!

(TEARFULLY) Chino!

Chino!

Come on, man!

I’m right here!

I’m locking for you!

Come on! Come on, with me!

I know how to hide you.

I got places to go they’ll never look,

just please!

Don’t leave me here!

Get off of me!

Chino, kill me!

Kill me, too, Chino!

(PANTING)

Chino!

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

No!

Don’t!

(MARÍA SHRIEKS)

(CRYING)

Mi amor mio, mi corazon.

(SOFTLY) María.

María.

(CONTINUES CRYING)

(SINGING) Only you

You’re the only thing I’ll see

(VOICE QUIVERS) Forever

In my eyes, in my words

And in everything I do

(VOICE BREAKING) Nothing else but you

Ever (SOBBING)

(TONY BREATHING HEAVILY)

(BREATHING STOPS)

(MARÍA GASPING)

(SOBBING)

(SAD MUSIC PLAYING)

(MARÍA CONTINUES SOBBING)

Give it to me.

(CHINO BREATHING SHAKILY)

How do you fire it?

Just pull this?

(BREATH QUIVERS)

(SHOUTING) How many bullets are left?

Enough for you?

And you?

All of you!

I can kill now because I hate now.

I hate now.

How many can I kill, Chino?

And still have one bullet left for me!

(GASPING)

(CONTINUES GASPING)

(SAD MUSIC CONTINUES)

Te adoro, Anton.

No, don’t touch him!

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SAD MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SAD MUSIC CONTINUES)

(MUSIC FADES OFF)

(SLOW DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(MUSIC FADES OFF)

(ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYING)

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