Chapter Ten: Dealing
Ashley: Sadly (well, not really sadly), this story is going faster than my other one, and that's with my friend's help. Well, anyway, nothing really to say...except...I HAVE SCHOOL SPIRIT!
Kazu: What?
Ashley: Nevermind. I'm just gonna hand out a bag, YES A BAG, of cookies to everyone, and get to the chapter. Cookies to....Dragongirl, Dark-angel, Kit- kat, EvilVidel, Rika1332, Abby, The Anti Fluffy (It's the song in this chapter!), and Ryoki. Okay, onto chapter ten, AND MY FAV. SONG!
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A short fifteen minute break was inbetween the two acts, so everyone was resting.
Rika was sitting in the chair that they used for previous scenes. Ashley came over and sat in the one next to her.
"So..."
"So what?" Rika asked.
"You like him..." Ashley said.
"Do not."
"Do too. You always deny it, but I can tell..."
"Whatever."
"AHA! So I'm right!" Ashley said.
"I didn't say that."
"You hinted at it." Ashley smiled. Rika said nothing.
"Come on, back to places!!!" Mrs. Tenner shouting, running by.
"Oh, yes, in case I forget," Ashley said, nodding her head towards Takato and Kazu, "Remind me to kill those two later."
"Why?"
"I have my reasons..." Ashley said with an evil look. Then they got into places for act two.
On stage, a bedroom was set up. The curtain rose, as gay music played for Consuelo, who's exmining herself in the mirror, and Rosalia, who is painting her nails.
"This is my last night as a blonde," Consuelo announced.
"No loss," Rosalia said.
"Again! The fortune-teller told Pepe a dark lady was coming into his life."
"So that's why he's not taking you out after the rumble!" The music became festively, spanish-like as Rika entered through a curtained doorway.
"There is not going to be a rumble," Rika said.
"Another fortune-teller," Rosalia exclaimed.
"Where is Chino escorting you after the rumble-that-is-not-going-to-be-a- rumble?" Consuelo asked.
"Chino is escorting me no place."
"She is just dolling for us. Gracias, querida," Rosalia said.
"No, not for you. Can you keep a secret?" Rika asked.
"I'm not for secrets!"
"Tonight is my wedding night!" Rika announced.
"The poor thing is out of her mind," Consuelo said.
"I am, crazy!" Rika exclaimed.
"She might be at that. She looks somehow different," Rosalia added.
"I do?" Rika said.
"And I think she is up to something tonight," Rosalia continued.
"I am?"
"I do? I am? What is going on with you?" Consuelo asked, which caused music to play and a song to start.
Rika started singing,
"I feel pretty,
Oh so pretty,
I feel pretty and witty and bright,
And I pity any girl who isn't me tonight.
I feel charming,
Oh so charming,
It's alarming how charming I feel,
And so pretty that I hardly can believe I'm real.
See the pretty girl in that mirror there:" Rika pointed to an
imaginary mirror.
"Who can that attractive girl be?
Such a pretty face,
Such a pretty dress,
Such a pretty smile,
Such a pretty me!
I feel stunning
And entrancing,
Feel like running and dancing for joy,
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy!"
Rosalia and Consuelo started singing,
"Have you met my good friend Maria,
The craziest girl on the block?
You'll know her the minute you see her,
She's the one who is in an advanced state of shock.
She thinks she's in love.
She thinks she's in Spain.
She isn't in love,
She's merely insane.
It must be the heat
Or some rare disease,
Or too much to eat
Or maybe it's fleas.
Keep away from her,
Send for Chino!
This is not the Maria we know!
Modest and pure,
Polite and refined,
Well-bred and mature,
And out of her mind!
Rika got up onstage, and acted like she was Miss America.
And Rika. "I feel pretty,
Oh so pretty
That the city should give me its key.
A committee
Should be organized to honor me.
I feel dizzy,
I feel sunny,
I feel fizzy and funny and fine,
And so pretty,
Miss America can just resign!
See the pretty girl in that mirror there..."
"What mirror where?" Rosalia and Consuelo sang.
"Who can that attractive girl be?"
"Which? What? Where? Whom?"
Rika. "Such a pretty face,
Such a pretty dress,
Such a pretty smile,
Such a pretty me!
And then it was all the three girls.
"I feel stunning
And entrancing,
Feel like running and dancing for joy,
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy! "
Chino's voice was heard offstage. "Maria!"
"It's Chino," Consuelo said the obvious.
"The happy bridegroom," Rosalia exclaimed.
"Maria!" Chino's voice sounded closer.
"Please - " Rika pleaded.
"Yes, little bride, we're going," Consuelo said and exited.
"They have a quaint old-fashioned custom in this country, Maria. They get married here before the wedding night," Rosalia exclaimed then followed Consuelo out. Chino (Katie) entered, clothes dirty and torn, and face smeared. Rosalia and Consuelo shake their heads at him, and flounce out. Chino closed the door.
"Maria..."
"I'm in here. I was just getting ready to - " Rika put a bathrobe over her dress. Chino comes in before she can finish, so that she left it over her shoulders, holding it closed with her hands.
"Where are your parents?" Chino asked.
"At the store," Rika answered. "If I had known you were...you have been fighting, Chino."
"Yes, I'm sorry," Chino said.
"That is not like you," Rika stated.
"No."
"Why, Chino?"
"I don't know why. It happened so fast," Chino explained.
"You must wash up."
"Maria - "
"You can go in there," Rika said, pointing to the bathroom.
"In a minute. Maria...at the rumble - "
"There was no rumble."
"There was."
"You are wrong," Rika said.
"No, there was. Nobody meant for it to happen..."
"...Tell me," Rika said.
"It's bad."
"Very bad?" Rika asked.
"You see..." Chino said, moving toward her, helplessly.
"It will be easier if you say it very fast."
Chino nodded. "There was a fight..." Rika nodded. "And 'Nardo..." Another nod. "And somehow a knife...and 'Nardo someone..." Chino took Rika's hand.
"Tony. What happened to Tony?" The name stopped Chino. Then he (she, whatever) yanked off the robe, revealing she is dressed to go out. "Chino, is Tony all right?!"
"He killed your brother." Rika walked into the parlor, slamming the door behind him. A pause.
"You are lying," Rika said.
Chino started to leave the parlor, but comes back. He looked into a dresser drawer and pulled out an object warpped in the same material as Bernardo's short. From the bedroom, Rika's voice called out again.
"You are lying, Chino!"
Coldly, Chino unwrapped a gun, and put it in his pocket. A police siren was heard in the background, as Chino left.
Rika was kneeling in front of a shrine on the wall, rocking back and forth, saying a paryer, some of it in Spanish, some in English.
"Make it not be true...please make it not be true...I will do anything. Make me die...only, please...make it not be true."
As she prayed, Ryo appeared at the fire-escape window and quietly climbs in. His shirt is ripped and torn. He stood still, watching Rika pray. Aware the someone was in the room, Rika topped her prayers. Slowly, she turned around, and looked at him for a long moment. Then, almost in one spring, she was on him, fists beating his chest.
"Killer, killer, killer, killer..." But her vocie broke into tears, and she buries her face in his chest, kissing him. Slowly, they sat down on the bed. Ryo pushed Rika's hair back from her face, and kissed her, between words that came tumbling out
"I tried to stop it...I did try. I don't know how it went wrong...I didn't mean to hurt him. I didn't want to. I didn't know I had. But Riff...Riff was like my brother. So when Bernardo killed him..." Rika lifted her head."'Nardo didn't mean it either. Oh, I don't know he didn't! Oh, no. I didn't come to tell you just for you to forgive me so I couldn't go to the police - "
"No!" Rika said.
"It's easy now..." Ryo explained.
"No..."
"Whatever you want, I'll do - "
"Stay. Stay with me." Ryo wrapped his arms around Rika.
"I love you so much."
"Tighter." The music started.
"We'll be all right. I know it. We're really together now," Ryo said.
"But it's not us! It's everything around us!" Rika exclaimed.
"Then we'll find some place where nothing can get to us...not one of them, not anything. And..." Then Ryo began singing,
"I'll take you away, take you far far away out of here,
Far far away till the walls and the streets disappear,
Somewhere there must be a place we can feel we're free,
Somewhere there's got to be some place for you and for me."
As he sang, the walls of the apartment moved off, and the city walls surrouding them closed in. The apartment goes and both began to run, battering against the walls of the city, breaking through the figures of the gangs. They break through, and are in a world of sunshine and air. They both stopped, looking around, pleased. And they begin to dance with other girls and boys who appeared also.
A spotlight shone on Amber in the corner and she began to sing. (A/N: This is because there was no narrator, Amber. SORRY! Well, here you go.)
"There's a place for us,
Somewhere a place for us.
Peace and quiet and open air
Wait for us
Somewhere.
There's a time for us,
Some day a time for us,
Time together with time to spare,
Time to look, time to care,
Someday!
Somewhere.
We'll find a new way of living,
We'll find a way of forgiving
Somewhere,
Somewhere...
There's a place for us,
A time and place for us.
Hold my hand and we're half way there.
Hold my hand and I'll take you there
Someday,
Somehow,
Somewhere!"
Ryo and Rika held out their hands to each other, the otehrs follow suit. Jets to Sharks...Sharks to Jets...and then suddenly there is a complete stop. The atmosphere turns gray, as the figures of Riff and Bernardo slowly walk on. The dream becomes a nightmare. They began to play out the deaths again, Ryo and Rika separated by the gangs. Rika tried to reach Bernardo, Ryo tried to stop Riff. They reach out for each other, but cannot. The both wake up back in the bedroom, scared. Ryo and Rika started singing again to reassure each other.
"Hold my hand and we're halfway there.
Hold my hand and I'll take you there
Someday,
Somehow,
Somewhere!"
The lights fade, as they sink back on the bed.
The next scene was another alley. The Jet gang whistles behind a fence, and then an answering whistle around the corner. Baby John and A-rab (Kenta) came through.
"They got you yet?" Kenta asked.
"No, you?" Baby John answered.
"Hell, no."
"You seen Tony?" Baby John said.
"Nobody has."
"Geez..." Baby John said, a bit scared.
"You been home yet?"
"Uh uh."
"Me either."
"Just hidin' around?" Baby John asked.
"Uh huh."
"A-rab. did you get a look at 'em?"
"Loot at who?" Kenta exclaimed.
"Ya know. At the rumble. Riff and Bernardo." There was a pause.
"I wish it was yesterday," Kenta finally said.
"Wadaya say we run away?"
"What's the matter? You scared?"
"Yeah," Baby John admitted.
"You cut it out, ya hear?" Kenta said, "You're only makin' me scared and that scares me!" There was a police whistle and he grabbed Baby John. "Last thing ever is to let a cop know you're scared or anythin'."
"Hey, you two!" Krupke said, offstage.
"Play it big with the baby blues," Kenta exclaimed.
"Okay," Baby John said, scared.
"Big, not scare, big!" Again a whistle. Casual, they start walking off as Krupke appears.
"Yeah, you," Krupke said. They both stopped, acting surprised.
"Why, it is Officer Krupke, Baby John," Kenta said.
"Top of the evening, Officer Krupke."
"I'll crack the top of your skulls if you punks don't stop when I whistle," Krupke exclaimed.
"But we stopped the very moment we heard," Kenta argued.
"We got twenty-twenty hearing."
"You wanna get hauled down to the station house?"
"Indeed not, sir," Baby John said.
"I'll make a little deal. I know you was rumblin' under the highway - "
"We was at the playground, sir," Baby John lied.
"We like the playground. It keeps us deprived kids off the foul streets."
"It gives us comradeship - "
"A place for pleasant pastimes...and for us, born like we was on the hot pavements..."
"Okay, wise apples, down to the station house," Krupke interrupted.
"Which way?" Baby John asked.
"This way!" Kenta exclaimed, and got down on all fours, as Baby John pushed Krupke, so that he tumbled over Kenta. Baby John and Kenta split up. Krupke hesitated, then ran after them, blowing his whistle like mad. The moment he ran off, Kenta, Baby John, and the other Jets appeared through the fence. "Look at the brass-ass run!"
"I hope he breaks it!" Baby John said.
"Get the lead out, fat boy!" Kazu added.
"Easy. He'll come back and drag us down the station house."
"I already been," Kazu admitted.
"We both already been," Takato said.
"What happened?" Kenta asked.
"A bit fat nuthin'!" Takato said.
"How come?"
"Cops believe everythin' they read in the papers."
"To them we ain't human. We're cruddy juvenile delinquents. So that's what we give 'em," Kazu said. (A/N: In a sec, you'll see why I placed Kazu as Action.)
"Hey, you!" Takato said, imitating Krupke.
"Me, Officer Krupke?" Kazu asked.
"Yeah, you! Gimme one good reason for not draggin' ya down the station house, ya punk," Takato said.
Kazu sang,
"Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke,
You gotta understand,
It's just our bringin' up-ke
That gets us out of hand.
Our mothers all are junkies,
Our fathers all are drunks."
And then all. "Golly Moses, naturally we're punks!
Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset;
We never had the love that every child oughta get.
We ain't no delinquents,
We're misunderstood.
Deep down inside us there is good!"
"There is good!" Kazu sang.
And everyone. "There is good, there is good,
There is untapped good.
Like inside, the worst of us is good."
Takato said, "That's a touchin' good story."
"Lemme tell it to the world!"
"Just tell it to the judge."
So Kazu sang to Diesel who was the judge,
"Dear kindly Judge, your Honor,
My parents treat me rough.
With all their marijuana,
They won't give me a puff.
They didn't wanna have me,
But somehow I was had.
Leapin' lizards, that's why I'm so bad!"
Diesel sang, imitating a judge,
"Right!
Officer Krupke, you're really a square;
This boy don't need a judge, he needs an
analyst's care!
It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed.
He's psychologic'ly disturbed!"
"I'm disturbed!" Kazu exclaimed.
All. "We're disturbed, we're disturbed,
We're the most disturbed,
Like we're psychologic'ly disturbed."
"Hear ye, Hear ye! In the opinion of this court, this child is depraved on account he ain't had a normal home."
"Hey, I'm depraved on account I'm deprived!" Kazu said, as he got hit with a rolled-up newspaper.
"So take him to a headshrinker."
"My father is a bastard, (A/N: Yes, nice words...)
My ma's an S.O.B.
My grandpa's always plastered,
My grandma pushes tea.
My sister wears a mustache,
My brother wears a dress.
Goodness gracious, that's why I'm a mess!"
Kenta sang, "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!"
Kazu said, "I am sick!"
All. "We are sick, we are sick,
We are sick sick sick,
Like we're sociologically sick!"
"In my opinion, this child don't need to have his head shrunk at all. Juvenile delinquency is purely a social disease!" Kenta said.
"Hey, I got a social disease!" Kazu bolted up, causing them to hit him again.
"So take him to a social worker!"
"Dear kindly social worker,
They say go earn a buck,
Like be a soda jerker,
Which means like be a schmuck.
It's not I'm anti-social,
I'm only anti-work.
Glory Osky, that's why I'm a jerk!
Baby John sang like a girl social worker,
"Eek!
Officer Krupke, you've done it again.
This boy don't need a job, he needs a year in the pen.
It ain't just a question of misunderstood;
Deep down inside him, he's no good!"
"I'm no good!" Kazu said.
All. "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," Diesel said, hitting Kazu with a newspaper.
"The trouble is he drinks." Same thing with Kenta.
"The trouble is he's lazy." Baby John said.
"The trouble is he stinks."
"The trouble is he's grown."
"The trouble is he's grown."
All. "Krupke, we got troubles of our own!
Gee, Officer Krupke,
We're down on our knees,
'Cause no one wants a fella with a social disease
Gee, Officer Krupke,
What are we to do?
Gee, Officer Krupke,
Krup you!" Then sang, hitting "Krupke" on the head, making him fall over.
At the end of the song, Ashley appeared over the fence.
"Buddy boys!" Ashley yelled.
"Ah! Go wear a skirt," Kazu said.
"I got scabby knees. Listen - " Ashley started.
"Come on, we gotta make sure those PRs know we're on top," Kazu said to the gang.
"Geez, Action, ain't we had enough?" Diesel exclaimed.
"Wotta buncha Old Man Rivers: they don't know nothin' and they don't say nuthin'," Ashley said. "Diesel, the question ain't whether we had enough - "
"What do you know?" Kazu asked.
"I know I gotta get a skirt," Ashley said, and started off but Diesel stopped her.
"Come on, Anybodys, tell me," Diesel pleaded.
"Ah, what's the freak know?" Takato said, that caused Ashley to give him an evil glare.
"Plenty," Ashley said, "I figgered somebody oughta infiltrate PR territory and spy around. I'm very big with shadows, ya know. I can slip in and out of 'em like wind through a fence."
"Boy, is she ever makin' the most of it!" Takato exclaimed.
"You be you fat A, I am!" Ashley said.
"Go on. Wadd'ya hear?" Kazu asked.
"I heard Chino tellin' the Sharks somethin' about Tony and Bernardo's sister. Then Chino said, 'If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to get Tony.'"
"What'd I tell ya? Them PRs won't stop!" Kazu said.
"Easy, Action!" Takato exclaimed.
"It's bad enough now - "
"Yeah!"
"You forgettin'?" Kazu exclaimed, "Tony came through for us Jets. We gotta find him and protect him from Chino."
"Right!" Kenta agreed.
"Okay then!" Kazu said, "Snowboy...cover the river!" Takato ran off. "A- rab...get over to Doc's." Kenta ran off in another direction.
"I'll take the back alleys," Baby John said.
"Diesel?" Kazu asked.
"I'll cover the park," Diesel answered.
"Good boy!" Kazu began to run off.
"What about me?" Ashley asked. Kazu stopped and turned around.
"You?" Kazu said, as Ashley nodded, "You get a hold of the girls and send 'em out as liaison runners so we'll know who's found Tony where."
"Right!" Ashley started to run off.
"Hey!" Kazu shouted out, and Ashley turned around, "You done good, buddy boy."
Ashley (A/N: *starts laughing her head off*) acted like she fell in love with Kazu. "Thanks, Daddy-o." And they both ran off. The lights blacked out as the cast roamed around backstage.
Kazu kept trying to put his arm around Ashley, and she was getting very annoyed. Finally, she kicked him where any annoyed girl would.
"Ow..." Was all Kazu could say after.
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Kazu: *blinks*
Ashley: Thank-you Amber for that great idea! Even though you encouraged that to happen! And that's the thing I found out a couple chapters ago...
Kazu: ...
Ashley: ^_^ Right, thank-you for reading!! And review if you liked this chapter. Or review to....review. Anyway, there's only a couple more chapters of the play left. And more action! So, get ready!
Kazu: ...
Ashley: Since Kazu has nothing to say, I'd like to say this...
I'LL MISS YOU MRS. BOLTON! You were the best choir teacher ever!
I'LL MISS YOU MR. VANNEST! You were always funny, and made learning fun!
I'LL MISS YOU MRS. WHITE! You taught me to sew and cook! YAY!
I'LL MISS YOU MR. HANSEN! Okay...maybe I won't...but you did make us laugh a lot.
I'LL MISS YOU MRS. LAVIGNE! You were very nice, and always supportive.
I'LL MISS YOU MR. SMITH! You made Algebra interesting...with jokes.
I shouldn't be so sad that school is ending in...7 days...including weekends, but I'll miss 8th grade. And my friends! Okay, now for the friends:
Amber, I'll see you this summer...so...keep being...weird...
Amanda, Just keep being scary and morbid. It's interesting...
Andrew, HEY BUNNY BOY! You dance weird, sing...weird...but you're really funny. Drama was SO fun!
Eric, HAHAHAHAHAHA! I BEAT YOU! *pokes him*
Andrew B., STOP POKING ME! It hurts! How many times have you read that Harry Potter book?
Katie, Just keep being yourself. I like your sarcastic humor. CALL ME OVER THE SUMMER!
Roger, You're not really a friend...but you were the one to get me hooked on WSS! Thanks!
And many more. Too many to list actually.
I'LL MISS 8TH GRADE! Off to high school...oh goody...
Okay, I'm done with that....review.
R&R.
Ashley: Sadly (well, not really sadly), this story is going faster than my other one, and that's with my friend's help. Well, anyway, nothing really to say...except...I HAVE SCHOOL SPIRIT!
Kazu: What?
Ashley: Nevermind. I'm just gonna hand out a bag, YES A BAG, of cookies to everyone, and get to the chapter. Cookies to....Dragongirl, Dark-angel, Kit- kat, EvilVidel, Rika1332, Abby, The Anti Fluffy (It's the song in this chapter!), and Ryoki. Okay, onto chapter ten, AND MY FAV. SONG!
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A short fifteen minute break was inbetween the two acts, so everyone was resting.
Rika was sitting in the chair that they used for previous scenes. Ashley came over and sat in the one next to her.
"So..."
"So what?" Rika asked.
"You like him..." Ashley said.
"Do not."
"Do too. You always deny it, but I can tell..."
"Whatever."
"AHA! So I'm right!" Ashley said.
"I didn't say that."
"You hinted at it." Ashley smiled. Rika said nothing.
"Come on, back to places!!!" Mrs. Tenner shouting, running by.
"Oh, yes, in case I forget," Ashley said, nodding her head towards Takato and Kazu, "Remind me to kill those two later."
"Why?"
"I have my reasons..." Ashley said with an evil look. Then they got into places for act two.
On stage, a bedroom was set up. The curtain rose, as gay music played for Consuelo, who's exmining herself in the mirror, and Rosalia, who is painting her nails.
"This is my last night as a blonde," Consuelo announced.
"No loss," Rosalia said.
"Again! The fortune-teller told Pepe a dark lady was coming into his life."
"So that's why he's not taking you out after the rumble!" The music became festively, spanish-like as Rika entered through a curtained doorway.
"There is not going to be a rumble," Rika said.
"Another fortune-teller," Rosalia exclaimed.
"Where is Chino escorting you after the rumble-that-is-not-going-to-be-a- rumble?" Consuelo asked.
"Chino is escorting me no place."
"She is just dolling for us. Gracias, querida," Rosalia said.
"No, not for you. Can you keep a secret?" Rika asked.
"I'm not for secrets!"
"Tonight is my wedding night!" Rika announced.
"The poor thing is out of her mind," Consuelo said.
"I am, crazy!" Rika exclaimed.
"She might be at that. She looks somehow different," Rosalia added.
"I do?" Rika said.
"And I think she is up to something tonight," Rosalia continued.
"I am?"
"I do? I am? What is going on with you?" Consuelo asked, which caused music to play and a song to start.
Rika started singing,
"I feel pretty,
Oh so pretty,
I feel pretty and witty and bright,
And I pity any girl who isn't me tonight.
I feel charming,
Oh so charming,
It's alarming how charming I feel,
And so pretty that I hardly can believe I'm real.
See the pretty girl in that mirror there:" Rika pointed to an
imaginary mirror.
"Who can that attractive girl be?
Such a pretty face,
Such a pretty dress,
Such a pretty smile,
Such a pretty me!
I feel stunning
And entrancing,
Feel like running and dancing for joy,
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy!"
Rosalia and Consuelo started singing,
"Have you met my good friend Maria,
The craziest girl on the block?
You'll know her the minute you see her,
She's the one who is in an advanced state of shock.
She thinks she's in love.
She thinks she's in Spain.
She isn't in love,
She's merely insane.
It must be the heat
Or some rare disease,
Or too much to eat
Or maybe it's fleas.
Keep away from her,
Send for Chino!
This is not the Maria we know!
Modest and pure,
Polite and refined,
Well-bred and mature,
And out of her mind!
Rika got up onstage, and acted like she was Miss America.
And Rika. "I feel pretty,
Oh so pretty
That the city should give me its key.
A committee
Should be organized to honor me.
I feel dizzy,
I feel sunny,
I feel fizzy and funny and fine,
And so pretty,
Miss America can just resign!
See the pretty girl in that mirror there..."
"What mirror where?" Rosalia and Consuelo sang.
"Who can that attractive girl be?"
"Which? What? Where? Whom?"
Rika. "Such a pretty face,
Such a pretty dress,
Such a pretty smile,
Such a pretty me!
And then it was all the three girls.
"I feel stunning
And entrancing,
Feel like running and dancing for joy,
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy! "
Chino's voice was heard offstage. "Maria!"
"It's Chino," Consuelo said the obvious.
"The happy bridegroom," Rosalia exclaimed.
"Maria!" Chino's voice sounded closer.
"Please - " Rika pleaded.
"Yes, little bride, we're going," Consuelo said and exited.
"They have a quaint old-fashioned custom in this country, Maria. They get married here before the wedding night," Rosalia exclaimed then followed Consuelo out. Chino (Katie) entered, clothes dirty and torn, and face smeared. Rosalia and Consuelo shake their heads at him, and flounce out. Chino closed the door.
"Maria..."
"I'm in here. I was just getting ready to - " Rika put a bathrobe over her dress. Chino comes in before she can finish, so that she left it over her shoulders, holding it closed with her hands.
"Where are your parents?" Chino asked.
"At the store," Rika answered. "If I had known you were...you have been fighting, Chino."
"Yes, I'm sorry," Chino said.
"That is not like you," Rika stated.
"No."
"Why, Chino?"
"I don't know why. It happened so fast," Chino explained.
"You must wash up."
"Maria - "
"You can go in there," Rika said, pointing to the bathroom.
"In a minute. Maria...at the rumble - "
"There was no rumble."
"There was."
"You are wrong," Rika said.
"No, there was. Nobody meant for it to happen..."
"...Tell me," Rika said.
"It's bad."
"Very bad?" Rika asked.
"You see..." Chino said, moving toward her, helplessly.
"It will be easier if you say it very fast."
Chino nodded. "There was a fight..." Rika nodded. "And 'Nardo..." Another nod. "And somehow a knife...and 'Nardo someone..." Chino took Rika's hand.
"Tony. What happened to Tony?" The name stopped Chino. Then he (she, whatever) yanked off the robe, revealing she is dressed to go out. "Chino, is Tony all right?!"
"He killed your brother." Rika walked into the parlor, slamming the door behind him. A pause.
"You are lying," Rika said.
Chino started to leave the parlor, but comes back. He looked into a dresser drawer and pulled out an object warpped in the same material as Bernardo's short. From the bedroom, Rika's voice called out again.
"You are lying, Chino!"
Coldly, Chino unwrapped a gun, and put it in his pocket. A police siren was heard in the background, as Chino left.
Rika was kneeling in front of a shrine on the wall, rocking back and forth, saying a paryer, some of it in Spanish, some in English.
"Make it not be true...please make it not be true...I will do anything. Make me die...only, please...make it not be true."
As she prayed, Ryo appeared at the fire-escape window and quietly climbs in. His shirt is ripped and torn. He stood still, watching Rika pray. Aware the someone was in the room, Rika topped her prayers. Slowly, she turned around, and looked at him for a long moment. Then, almost in one spring, she was on him, fists beating his chest.
"Killer, killer, killer, killer..." But her vocie broke into tears, and she buries her face in his chest, kissing him. Slowly, they sat down on the bed. Ryo pushed Rika's hair back from her face, and kissed her, between words that came tumbling out
"I tried to stop it...I did try. I don't know how it went wrong...I didn't mean to hurt him. I didn't want to. I didn't know I had. But Riff...Riff was like my brother. So when Bernardo killed him..." Rika lifted her head."'Nardo didn't mean it either. Oh, I don't know he didn't! Oh, no. I didn't come to tell you just for you to forgive me so I couldn't go to the police - "
"No!" Rika said.
"It's easy now..." Ryo explained.
"No..."
"Whatever you want, I'll do - "
"Stay. Stay with me." Ryo wrapped his arms around Rika.
"I love you so much."
"Tighter." The music started.
"We'll be all right. I know it. We're really together now," Ryo said.
"But it's not us! It's everything around us!" Rika exclaimed.
"Then we'll find some place where nothing can get to us...not one of them, not anything. And..." Then Ryo began singing,
"I'll take you away, take you far far away out of here,
Far far away till the walls and the streets disappear,
Somewhere there must be a place we can feel we're free,
Somewhere there's got to be some place for you and for me."
As he sang, the walls of the apartment moved off, and the city walls surrouding them closed in. The apartment goes and both began to run, battering against the walls of the city, breaking through the figures of the gangs. They break through, and are in a world of sunshine and air. They both stopped, looking around, pleased. And they begin to dance with other girls and boys who appeared also.
A spotlight shone on Amber in the corner and she began to sing. (A/N: This is because there was no narrator, Amber. SORRY! Well, here you go.)
"There's a place for us,
Somewhere a place for us.
Peace and quiet and open air
Wait for us
Somewhere.
There's a time for us,
Some day a time for us,
Time together with time to spare,
Time to look, time to care,
Someday!
Somewhere.
We'll find a new way of living,
We'll find a way of forgiving
Somewhere,
Somewhere...
There's a place for us,
A time and place for us.
Hold my hand and we're half way there.
Hold my hand and I'll take you there
Someday,
Somehow,
Somewhere!"
Ryo and Rika held out their hands to each other, the otehrs follow suit. Jets to Sharks...Sharks to Jets...and then suddenly there is a complete stop. The atmosphere turns gray, as the figures of Riff and Bernardo slowly walk on. The dream becomes a nightmare. They began to play out the deaths again, Ryo and Rika separated by the gangs. Rika tried to reach Bernardo, Ryo tried to stop Riff. They reach out for each other, but cannot. The both wake up back in the bedroom, scared. Ryo and Rika started singing again to reassure each other.
"Hold my hand and we're halfway there.
Hold my hand and I'll take you there
Someday,
Somehow,
Somewhere!"
The lights fade, as they sink back on the bed.
The next scene was another alley. The Jet gang whistles behind a fence, and then an answering whistle around the corner. Baby John and A-rab (Kenta) came through.
"They got you yet?" Kenta asked.
"No, you?" Baby John answered.
"Hell, no."
"You seen Tony?" Baby John said.
"Nobody has."
"Geez..." Baby John said, a bit scared.
"You been home yet?"
"Uh uh."
"Me either."
"Just hidin' around?" Baby John asked.
"Uh huh."
"A-rab. did you get a look at 'em?"
"Loot at who?" Kenta exclaimed.
"Ya know. At the rumble. Riff and Bernardo." There was a pause.
"I wish it was yesterday," Kenta finally said.
"Wadaya say we run away?"
"What's the matter? You scared?"
"Yeah," Baby John admitted.
"You cut it out, ya hear?" Kenta said, "You're only makin' me scared and that scares me!" There was a police whistle and he grabbed Baby John. "Last thing ever is to let a cop know you're scared or anythin'."
"Hey, you two!" Krupke said, offstage.
"Play it big with the baby blues," Kenta exclaimed.
"Okay," Baby John said, scared.
"Big, not scare, big!" Again a whistle. Casual, they start walking off as Krupke appears.
"Yeah, you," Krupke said. They both stopped, acting surprised.
"Why, it is Officer Krupke, Baby John," Kenta said.
"Top of the evening, Officer Krupke."
"I'll crack the top of your skulls if you punks don't stop when I whistle," Krupke exclaimed.
"But we stopped the very moment we heard," Kenta argued.
"We got twenty-twenty hearing."
"You wanna get hauled down to the station house?"
"Indeed not, sir," Baby John said.
"I'll make a little deal. I know you was rumblin' under the highway - "
"We was at the playground, sir," Baby John lied.
"We like the playground. It keeps us deprived kids off the foul streets."
"It gives us comradeship - "
"A place for pleasant pastimes...and for us, born like we was on the hot pavements..."
"Okay, wise apples, down to the station house," Krupke interrupted.
"Which way?" Baby John asked.
"This way!" Kenta exclaimed, and got down on all fours, as Baby John pushed Krupke, so that he tumbled over Kenta. Baby John and Kenta split up. Krupke hesitated, then ran after them, blowing his whistle like mad. The moment he ran off, Kenta, Baby John, and the other Jets appeared through the fence. "Look at the brass-ass run!"
"I hope he breaks it!" Baby John said.
"Get the lead out, fat boy!" Kazu added.
"Easy. He'll come back and drag us down the station house."
"I already been," Kazu admitted.
"We both already been," Takato said.
"What happened?" Kenta asked.
"A bit fat nuthin'!" Takato said.
"How come?"
"Cops believe everythin' they read in the papers."
"To them we ain't human. We're cruddy juvenile delinquents. So that's what we give 'em," Kazu said. (A/N: In a sec, you'll see why I placed Kazu as Action.)
"Hey, you!" Takato said, imitating Krupke.
"Me, Officer Krupke?" Kazu asked.
"Yeah, you! Gimme one good reason for not draggin' ya down the station house, ya punk," Takato said.
Kazu sang,
"Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke,
You gotta understand,
It's just our bringin' up-ke
That gets us out of hand.
Our mothers all are junkies,
Our fathers all are drunks."
And then all. "Golly Moses, naturally we're punks!
Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset;
We never had the love that every child oughta get.
We ain't no delinquents,
We're misunderstood.
Deep down inside us there is good!"
"There is good!" Kazu sang.
And everyone. "There is good, there is good,
There is untapped good.
Like inside, the worst of us is good."
Takato said, "That's a touchin' good story."
"Lemme tell it to the world!"
"Just tell it to the judge."
So Kazu sang to Diesel who was the judge,
"Dear kindly Judge, your Honor,
My parents treat me rough.
With all their marijuana,
They won't give me a puff.
They didn't wanna have me,
But somehow I was had.
Leapin' lizards, that's why I'm so bad!"
Diesel sang, imitating a judge,
"Right!
Officer Krupke, you're really a square;
This boy don't need a judge, he needs an
analyst's care!
It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed.
He's psychologic'ly disturbed!"
"I'm disturbed!" Kazu exclaimed.
All. "We're disturbed, we're disturbed,
We're the most disturbed,
Like we're psychologic'ly disturbed."
"Hear ye, Hear ye! In the opinion of this court, this child is depraved on account he ain't had a normal home."
"Hey, I'm depraved on account I'm deprived!" Kazu said, as he got hit with a rolled-up newspaper.
"So take him to a headshrinker."
"My father is a bastard, (A/N: Yes, nice words...)
My ma's an S.O.B.
My grandpa's always plastered,
My grandma pushes tea.
My sister wears a mustache,
My brother wears a dress.
Goodness gracious, that's why I'm a mess!"
Kenta sang, "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!"
Kazu said, "I am sick!"
All. "We are sick, we are sick,
We are sick sick sick,
Like we're sociologically sick!"
"In my opinion, this child don't need to have his head shrunk at all. Juvenile delinquency is purely a social disease!" Kenta said.
"Hey, I got a social disease!" Kazu bolted up, causing them to hit him again.
"So take him to a social worker!"
"Dear kindly social worker,
They say go earn a buck,
Like be a soda jerker,
Which means like be a schmuck.
It's not I'm anti-social,
I'm only anti-work.
Glory Osky, that's why I'm a jerk!
Baby John sang like a girl social worker,
"Eek!
Officer Krupke, you've done it again.
This boy don't need a job, he needs a year in the pen.
It ain't just a question of misunderstood;
Deep down inside him, he's no good!"
"I'm no good!" Kazu said.
All. "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," Diesel said, hitting Kazu with a newspaper.
"The trouble is he drinks." Same thing with Kenta.
"The trouble is he's lazy." Baby John said.
"The trouble is he stinks."
"The trouble is he's grown."
"The trouble is he's grown."
All. "Krupke, we got troubles of our own!
Gee, Officer Krupke,
We're down on our knees,
'Cause no one wants a fella with a social disease
Gee, Officer Krupke,
What are we to do?
Gee, Officer Krupke,
Krup you!" Then sang, hitting "Krupke" on the head, making him fall over.
At the end of the song, Ashley appeared over the fence.
"Buddy boys!" Ashley yelled.
"Ah! Go wear a skirt," Kazu said.
"I got scabby knees. Listen - " Ashley started.
"Come on, we gotta make sure those PRs know we're on top," Kazu said to the gang.
"Geez, Action, ain't we had enough?" Diesel exclaimed.
"Wotta buncha Old Man Rivers: they don't know nothin' and they don't say nuthin'," Ashley said. "Diesel, the question ain't whether we had enough - "
"What do you know?" Kazu asked.
"I know I gotta get a skirt," Ashley said, and started off but Diesel stopped her.
"Come on, Anybodys, tell me," Diesel pleaded.
"Ah, what's the freak know?" Takato said, that caused Ashley to give him an evil glare.
"Plenty," Ashley said, "I figgered somebody oughta infiltrate PR territory and spy around. I'm very big with shadows, ya know. I can slip in and out of 'em like wind through a fence."
"Boy, is she ever makin' the most of it!" Takato exclaimed.
"You be you fat A, I am!" Ashley said.
"Go on. Wadd'ya hear?" Kazu asked.
"I heard Chino tellin' the Sharks somethin' about Tony and Bernardo's sister. Then Chino said, 'If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to get Tony.'"
"What'd I tell ya? Them PRs won't stop!" Kazu said.
"Easy, Action!" Takato exclaimed.
"It's bad enough now - "
"Yeah!"
"You forgettin'?" Kazu exclaimed, "Tony came through for us Jets. We gotta find him and protect him from Chino."
"Right!" Kenta agreed.
"Okay then!" Kazu said, "Snowboy...cover the river!" Takato ran off. "A- rab...get over to Doc's." Kenta ran off in another direction.
"I'll take the back alleys," Baby John said.
"Diesel?" Kazu asked.
"I'll cover the park," Diesel answered.
"Good boy!" Kazu began to run off.
"What about me?" Ashley asked. Kazu stopped and turned around.
"You?" Kazu said, as Ashley nodded, "You get a hold of the girls and send 'em out as liaison runners so we'll know who's found Tony where."
"Right!" Ashley started to run off.
"Hey!" Kazu shouted out, and Ashley turned around, "You done good, buddy boy."
Ashley (A/N: *starts laughing her head off*) acted like she fell in love with Kazu. "Thanks, Daddy-o." And they both ran off. The lights blacked out as the cast roamed around backstage.
Kazu kept trying to put his arm around Ashley, and she was getting very annoyed. Finally, she kicked him where any annoyed girl would.
"Ow..." Was all Kazu could say after.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kazu: *blinks*
Ashley: Thank-you Amber for that great idea! Even though you encouraged that to happen! And that's the thing I found out a couple chapters ago...
Kazu: ...
Ashley: ^_^ Right, thank-you for reading!! And review if you liked this chapter. Or review to....review. Anyway, there's only a couple more chapters of the play left. And more action! So, get ready!
Kazu: ...
Ashley: Since Kazu has nothing to say, I'd like to say this...
I'LL MISS YOU MRS. BOLTON! You were the best choir teacher ever!
I'LL MISS YOU MR. VANNEST! You were always funny, and made learning fun!
I'LL MISS YOU MRS. WHITE! You taught me to sew and cook! YAY!
I'LL MISS YOU MR. HANSEN! Okay...maybe I won't...but you did make us laugh a lot.
I'LL MISS YOU MRS. LAVIGNE! You were very nice, and always supportive.
I'LL MISS YOU MR. SMITH! You made Algebra interesting...with jokes.
I shouldn't be so sad that school is ending in...7 days...including weekends, but I'll miss 8th grade. And my friends! Okay, now for the friends:
Amber, I'll see you this summer...so...keep being...weird...
Amanda, Just keep being scary and morbid. It's interesting...
Andrew, HEY BUNNY BOY! You dance weird, sing...weird...but you're really funny. Drama was SO fun!
Eric, HAHAHAHAHAHA! I BEAT YOU! *pokes him*
Andrew B., STOP POKING ME! It hurts! How many times have you read that Harry Potter book?
Katie, Just keep being yourself. I like your sarcastic humor. CALL ME OVER THE SUMMER!
Roger, You're not really a friend...but you were the one to get me hooked on WSS! Thanks!
And many more. Too many to list actually.
I'LL MISS 8TH GRADE! Off to high school...oh goody...
Okay, I'm done with that....review.
R&R.