Acte 1/scène 6

*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**

Who don't?

**BABY JOHN**

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.

## *#8 - Cool (Riff, Jets)*

**ACTION**

I wanna get even!

**RIFF**

Get cool.

**A-RAB**

I wanna bust!

**RIFF**

Bust cool.

**BABY JOHN**

I wanna go!

**RIFF**

Go cool!

*(Note : Ne fonctionne pas sur iPad ou sur tout support ne prenant pas en charge le format audio .ogg.)*

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 as she EXITS.]*

## *#8A - Cool Chase (Orchestra)*

**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 rumble.

**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. DOC comes in, brought by the tinkle of the little shop doorbell. During the following, the GANGS are absolutely silent and motionless, unless otherwise indicated.]*

**DOC** *[unhappily.]*
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 getsrough. 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 rid of them! Come on! Where's it gonna be? ... Get smart, you stupid hoodlums! I oughta fine ya for litterin' the streets. You oughta be taken down the station house and have your skulls mashed to a pulp! You and the tin horn immigrant scum you come from! How's your old man's DT's, A-Rab? How's the action on your mother's mattress, Action?

*[ACTION lunges for him but is tripped up by RIFF. SCHRANK courches low, ready for him]*

**SCHRANK** *[quiet now.]*

Let him go, buddy boy, just let him go.

*[ACTION starts to his feet but DIESEL holds him.]*

**SCHRANK**

One of these days there won't be nobody to hold you.

*[RIFF deliberately starts for the door, followed by the OTHERS, except TONY. As they go]*

**SCHRANK**

I'll find out where ya gonna rumble. But be sure to finish each other off. Because if you don't I will!

*[RIFF has stayed at the door until the OTHERS have passed throught. Now he just looks at SCHRANK and cockily saunters out. Silence.]*

**SCHRANK** *[looks at DOC.]*

Weel, you try keepin' hoodlums in line and see what it does to you.

*[He exits.]*

**DOC** *[indicating Schrank]*

Wouldn't give me a mouth like his.

## *#8B - Under Dialogue And Change of Scene (Orchestra)*

**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.*