1. Prologue
The Neighborhood – The months before
(The opening, half danced half mimed, is a condensation of the growing rivalry between two teenage gangs. The Sharks are Puerto Ricans, the Jets an anthology of what is called ‘American’. The Jets want to hold on to their territory and clean out the Sharks in a rumble.)
2. Jet Song
The Street – 5:00 p.m.
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!
RIFF: Right! He’s always come through for us and he will now.
When you’re a Jet
You’re a Jet all the way
From your first cigarette
To you last dyin’ day.
When you’re a Jet
If the shit 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!
I know Tony like I know me. I guarantee you
Can count him in.
ACTION: In, out, let’s get crackin’
A-RAB: Where you’re gonna find Bernardo?
RIFF: At the dance tonight at the gym
BIG DEAL: But the gym is neutral territory.
RIFF (innocently): I’m gonna make nice there! I’m
only gonna challenge him.
A-RAB: Great Daddy-O!
RIFF: so everybody dress up sweet and sharp and
meet Tony and me at ten.
ALL:
Oh, when the Jets fall in at the cornball dance
We’ll be the sweetest dressin’ gang in pants!
And when the chicks dig us in our Jet black ties,
They’re gonna flip, gonna flop, gonna drop like
flies!
(They dance together a little wild )
RIFF: Hey, Cool! Easy. Sweet. See ya. And walk tall!
(He runs off)
A-RAB: We always walk tall!
BABY JOHN: We’re Jets!
ACTION: The greatest!
ACTION and BABY JOHN:
When you’re a Jet
You’re the top cat in town
You’re the gold-medal kid
With the heavyweight crown!
A-RAB, ACTION and BIG DEAL:
When you’re a Jet
You’re the swingingest thing
Little boy, you’re a man
Little man, you’re a king
ALL:
The Jets are in gear.
Our cylinders are clicking
The Sharks’ll stay 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!
On the whole ever-mother-lovin’ street!
3. Something’s Coming
A Back Yard – 5:30 p.m.
(Tony has been painting a sign for Doc’s drugstore, where he now works. Riff talks him into joining the Jets at the dance, but Tony’s mind is already on other things.)
TONY:
Could be!
Who knows?
There’s something due any day
I will know, right away
Soon as it shows
It may come cannonballing down
From the sky
Gleam in its eye, bright as 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, comin’ to me…
Could it be, yes, it could
Something’s comin’, something good
If I can wait!
Something’s comin’,
I don’t know what it is
But it is gonna be great!
With a click, with a shock ,
Phone’ll jingle, door will knock,
Open the latch!
Something’s comin’,
Don’t know when
But it’s soon
Catch the moon,
One-handed catch!
Around the corner,
Or whistlin’ 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…!
4. The Dance at the Gym
The Gym – 10:00 p.m.
(By the time the mambo music starts the Jets and Sharks are each on their own side of the hall. At the climax of the dance, Tony and Bernardo’s sister, Maria, see one another: as a delicate cha-cha-cha, they slowly walk forward to meet each other.)
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 so cold. (He takes them in his) Yours too. (He moves her hands 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.
(Bernardo is upon them in an icy rage. Chino, whom Bernardo has brought Maria from Puerto Rico to marry, takes her home. Riff wants Bernardo for “War Council”; they agree to meet in half an hour at Doc’s drugstore.)
5. Maria
TONY:
Maria . .
The most beautiful sound I ever heard:
Maria. Maria. Maria. Maria…
All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word
Maria. Maria. Maria. Maria…
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…
6. Balcony Scene
A Back Alley – 11:00 p.m.
(Maria appears at the window above him which opens onto the escape.)
TONY: 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: For ever!
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: Caladito! (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… (gestures inside)
TONY: To me, you are all the… (She covers his
mouth with her hand.)
MAN’S VOICE (from the unseen apartment):
Maruca!
MARIA: Si, 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. Imagine being afraid of you!
TONY: You see?
MARIA (touching his face): I see you.
TONY: See only me.
7. Tonight
MARIA:
Only you, you’re the only thing I’ll see forever.
In my eyes, in my words and in ev’rything I do,
Nothing else but you.
Ever!
TONY:
And there’s nothing for me but Maria,
Ev’ry sight that I see is Maria.
MARIA:
Tony. Tony…
TONY:
Always you, ev’ry thought I’ll ever know, MARIA:
Ev’rywhere I go, you’ll be, you and me! All the world is only you and me!
(They kiss)
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!
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 sparks 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!
(They kiss. Maria goes inside.)
TONY:
Tonight! Tonight!
It all began tonight
I saw you and the world went away
MARIA (returning): I cannot stay. Go quickly!
TONY: I am not afraid!
MARIA: They are strict with me. Please!
TONY: I love you.
MARIA: Yes, yes, hurry. Go! (He climbs down.)
Buenas noches!
MARIA: Wait! When will I see you? (He starts back up.)
TONY: Tomorrow
MARIA: I work at the bridal shop. Come there.
TONY: At sundown
MARIA: Yes. Good night.
TONY: Good night (starts off)
MARIA: Tony!
TONY: Ssh!
MARIA: Come to the back door
TONY: Si.
MARIA: Tony! (He stops.) What does Tony stand for?
TONY: Anton.
MARIA: Te adoro. Anton…
TONY: Te adoro, Maria!
BOTH:
Good night, good night,
Sleep well and when you dream,
Dream of me…
Tonight!
(As Tony ducks out into the shadows, Bernardo enters with his girl Anita, followed by other Sharks and their girls. The boys leave to the “War Council” at Doc’s drugstore)
8. America
ROSALIA:
Puerto Rico…
You lovely island …
Island of tropical breezes
Always the pineapples growing,
Always the coffee blossoms blowing…
ANITA (mockingly):
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!
OTHERS (except Rosalia):
I like to be in America!
Okay 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 through San Juan.
ANITA:
If there’s a road you can drive on!
ROSALIA:
I’ll give my cousins a free ride
ANITA:
How can you get all of them inside?
ALL (except Rosalia):
Immigrant goes to America,
Many hellos in America,
Nobody knows in America,
Puerto Rico’s in America!
(The girls dance around Rosalia.)
ROSALIA:
I’ll bring a TV to San Juan.
ANITA:
If there’s a current to turn on!
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 dance)
ROSALIA:
When I will go back to San Juan –
ANITA:
When you will shut up and get gone!
ROSALIA:
Ev’ryone there will give big cheer!
ANITA:
Ev’ryone there will have moved here!
(More dancing).
9. Cool
The Drugstore – Midnight
(The Jets await the arrival of the Sharks for the “War Council”. The atmosphere is tense, jumpy.)
RIFF:
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
Schoolboy
Just play it cool, boy,
Real cool!
FUGUE
(Frenetic dance)
JETS:
Boy, boy, crazy boy.
Stay loose, boy! etc.
Schoolboy…
RIFF:
Just play it cool, boy,
Real cool!
(The Sharks enter. Riff challenges Bernardo and they agree on a fair fight – the best man from each gang to slug it out.)
10. One Hand, One Heart
The Bridal Shop – The next day, 5:30 p.m.
(Maria is sewing a wedding veil; Tony enters. She persuades him to try to stop the fight. After planning to meet that evening, they arrange the mannequins in bridal party garb for a mock wedding, then 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: From now to forever…
MARIA: Till death do us part.
TONY: With this ring, I thee wed.
MARIA: With this ring, I thee wed.
TONY: 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 rise and slowly put the mannequins back into position.)
BOTH: 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.
11. Tonight (Reprise)
The Neighborhood – 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
(Riff and the Jets, Bernardo and the Sharks, Anita Maria and Tony all wait expectantly for the coming of night.)
ENSEMBLE
RIFF:
The Jets are gonna have their day
Tonight
BERNARDO:
The Sharks are gonna have their way
Tonight
RIFF:
The Puerto Ricans 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:
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 fall!
JETS:
Well, they began it!
SHARKS:
Well, they began it –
BOTH:
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!
MARIA:
Tonight, tonight
Won’t be just any night, etc.
RIFF (firmly):
So I can count on you, boy!
TONY (abstractedly):
All right
RIFF:
We’re gonna have us a ball
TONY (a bit impatiently):
All right
All right
RIFF (gently): Womb to tomb!
TONY (regretting his impatience): Sperm to worm!
RIFF:
I’ll see you there about eight…
TONY:
Tonight…
BERNARDO and SHARKS:
We’re gonna rock it tonight!!
ANITA:
Tonight…
BERNARDO and SHARKS:
We’re gonna jazz it up and have us a ball!
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,
Tonight!
The Sharks are gonna have their way,
The Sharks are gonna have their day,
We’re gonna rock it tonight,
Tonight!
ANITA:
Tonight,
Late tonight
We’re gonna mix it tonight
Anita’s gonna have her day,
Bernardo’s gonna have his way
Tonight, tonight
Tonight this very night,
We’re gonna rock it tonight!
RIFF and JETS:
They began it, they began it
We’ll stop ’em once and for all!
The Jets are gonna have their way,
The Jets are gonna have their day,
We’re gonna rock it tonight,
Tonight!
MARIA:
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!
Tonight!
TONY:
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!
12. The Rumble
Under The Highway – 9:00 p.m.
(The gangs come in from separate sides Bernardo and Diesel are just beginning the “fair fight” when Tony tries to stop them Riff hits Bernardo and both open knives.
As Riff is about to kill Bernardo, Tony moves to stop him. Bernardo runs his knife into Riff. Riff falls toward Tony; Tony takes the knife from his hand and kills Bernardo. The gangs disperse in panic and confusion, except for Tony who stands horrified, over the bodies of Riff and Bernardo. Suddenly he realizes the danger and runs.)