ACT ONE
Scene Nineteen:
"Tonight: The Quintet"
Inside the squad room of the 21st precinct house, Lieutenant Marcus Schrank, with Krupke standing behind him, addressed a large group of patrolmen in front of a large board.
"It's happening tonight. That's all we know," he said, grimly, his arms behind his back as he walked around, "The morning papers filled with stories about dead kids. Not on my watch."
He pointed to a map on the board, circling his finger.
"Every block of Lincoln Square, every inch of San Juan Hill. I want the West Side locked down," he ordered with a severe frown.
…
Far across the island, the sun was sinking lower, starting to set. Inside a dark taxi garage, the Jets dumped out a box of junk they'd gathered to use as weapons.
Bats, bricks, chains, clubs, rebar, car antennae, wrenches – all spilling onto a table, raising dust. Everyone grabbed a weapon from the pile, some trading weapons with each other.
The air was alive with their energy; sinister and dark.
The Jets are gonna have their day, tonight…
The Jets are gonna have their way, tonight…
Jinx sat on a metal staircase, narrowing her eyes at the concrete floor. Familiar graffiti painted on the floor and walls. She fingered the gun in her lap, loading the bullets the way the singed man had showed her.
The agreement Jinx made among the Jets was that she would only use it if she needed to. The gun was their safety card. Because using the gun early would lose the purpose of the rumble. The Jets had to show those Sharks, gun or no gun, the Jets were in charge.
Jinx gnashed her teeth when the thought of Vi's eyes and tears entered her mind. She quickly pushed the image away.
Deckard came up to her and offered a wooden baseball bat. Jinx stood up and took it, gripping it experimentally in her hands. She practiced a couple swings, grunting in satisfaction at the weapon.
The Puerto Ricans grumble, 'fair fight'
But when they start a rumble,
We'll rumble 'em right!
She tossed up a tin can and practiced crushing in, mid-air.
…
Across the neighborhood, the Sharks were also getting ready. On the roof of an old warehouse on West 69th street, the sun was setting.
The Sharks had gathered and distributed their weapons, which they'd stowed out of sight in pockets and waistbands.
Jayce was wrapping strips of cloth around his knuckles, wrapping up his wrists and arms. His friends were also wrapping chains and cloth around their wrists.
We're gonna hand 'em a surprise, tonight…
We're gonna cut 'em down to size, tonight…
We said, 'okay, no rumpus, no tricks'
But just in case they jump us,
We're ready to mix!
Jayce finished wrapping his wrists, punching the air in front of him.
Tonight!
…
Opening the garage door, Jinx and the Jets exploded outside. She led them through the surrounding ruins.
We're gonna rock it, tonight!
We're gonna jazz it up,
And have us a ball!
…
Outside the alley of West 69th street warehouse, Jayce and the Sharks exploded out of the double doors of the warehouse, which opened onto an alley, and headed toward the street.
They're gonna get it, tonight!
The more they turn it on,
The harder they'll fall!
…
The Jets marched with speed and determination past demolished buildings, turning a corner on West 64th street.
Well, they began it!
…
The Sharks turn another corner, moving with equal speed and determination down the alley.
Well, they began it!
They turned out of the alley onto West 69th street and heading toward the river and the sunset.
And we're ones to stop 'em,
Once and for all,
Tonight!
The Jets also marched on toward the river. Behind them, they happened to pass in front of a church on 64th street.
…
Mel, Elora, and Sky, wore veils, kneeling in a pew among a sparse mostly female congregation, and some elderly Irish and Italian women. At the altar, an elderly priest, attended by two altar boys, was celebrating the mass. As she held her rosary, Mel sang to herself.
Melita's gonna get her kicks, tonight…
Shocked, Sky, shushed her. Elora snickered. Mel continued by herself.
We'll have our private little mix, tonight…
Elora shushed her too, in warning. Mel smirked.
He'll walk in tired,
So what?
Don't matter if he's tired,
As long as he's hot
They both shushed her, loudly. Mel bowed her head, smirking to herself, quietly murmuring.
Tonight…
…
Across the neighborhood, there was a metal clang as the cellar door in front of Doc's drugstore opened up, revealing a bright orange sky above as Vi shielded her eyes, climbing up the cellar stairs.
She breathed in the fresh air, taking the moment to appreciate the beauty of the sun setting behind the buildings and purple clouds. With all the red colors in the sky, she tried not to feel dread for the rumble that was going to happen.
Vi crouched down and closed the cellar door, locking it behind her, as quietly as she could. She didn't like the idea of sneaking out again from under Babette's nose, but this was important.
Tonight, tonight,
Won't be just any night
Tonight, there will be no morning star…
She sighed as she thought about how she failed to get the gun from Powder.
Powder changed so much from when they were kids. But Vi knew that was mostly her own fault.
Even before Vander died, she wasn't exactly the star role model of a big sister to follow. And when she got arrested and taken away... she couldn't imagine the dark places sensitive, little Powder inhabited to grow into Jinx.
Jinx was a leader. Jinx showed up because Vi was absent. Jinx was violent and had the skills to lead the Jets in her absence.
And Vi hated to admit, but she could see a bit of her past self in Jinx. She wouldn't let history repeat itself.
Powder or Jinx… she would always be her baby sister.
Vi shook her head, tussling her hair. She had to think positive. She couldn't give up. She was going to talk to Jinx. She was going to stop the rumble. She had to.
And then… then she would see Caitlyn. And, with some luck, there wouldn't be any more obstacles between them.
Tonight, tonight,
I'll see my love, tonight
Vi turned onto the street, facing the river. The angle of the sun turned everything molten gold.
And for us,
Stars will stop
Where they are!
…
Caitlyn exited the stairwell of her apartment building, wearing her working clothes. She specifically picked out one of her prettier blue dresses. She wondered if Vi would like it on her.
She blushed but didn't hide her smile. She liked this feeling, like butterflies in her chest. For once, she was excited. She had something great to look forward to, rather than ending her nights cleaning Gimbels.
She knew Vi would be waiting for her. She had faith in Vi.
Today, the minutes seem like hours
The hours go so slowly
And still the sky is light…
While Caitlyn had a bright smile on her face, and walked with a graceful spring in her step, elsewhere, Vi's face was marked with grim determination, her walk the gate of someone heading to a battlefield.
The sun blazed orange on both of their faces. Both hoped the night would come faster and change destiny.
Oh, moon, grow bright
And make this endless day
Endless night!
…
Outside the 21st precinct, cops piled into their patrol cars. They turned on their headlights and were sent out to patrol the streets of the West Side. With the squeal of wheels, they drove out into the night.
…
As Vi walked along the street, she heard a car approaching behind her. The headlights getting brighter. She looked over her shoulder with wide eyes, then dodged out of sight of what she thought was a cruiser that happened to pass by her.
The last thing that Vi needed to happen was for her to get caught breaking her parole, or that the cops flooded the scene of the rumble before Vi could get there.
In a flash, Vi remembered the gun Jinx possessed.
When the car was gone, Vi hurried her pace. The sun set and darkened the sky considerably.
…
Still elsewhere, underneath the metal bridge of the West Side Highway off-ramp, the shadows of night loomed over Jinx's face, accented only by the artificial neon lights from businesses still open this late. A river of cars passed by, but none noticed or cared about the group of teenagers gathering there.
Beneath the highway, Jinx stood on top of an abandoned car, pointing to all the Jets.
The Jets are comin' out on top, tonight!
They cheered in return, raising their pipes and other weapons in the air. Jinx threw her arms out wide.
We're gonna watch Jayce Talis drop, tonight!
They hollered in reply and Jinx slammed her bat down on the car hood at her feet, igniting the Jets' bloodlust.
That Puerto Rican punk 'll go down!
And when he's hollered, 'uncle' –
She jumped down from the car hood and the Jets followed her, joining her cry.
We'll tear up the town!
…
Nearby, Caitlyn peacefully walked up 72nd street, which she always took to work. She sang to herself as she dropped down the stairs below ground into the subway entrance.
Tonight, tonight
Won't be just any night
Tonight, there will be no morning star…
Just as she disappeared below ground, around the corner, Jinx came walking down the street, leading the Jets behind her.
Deckard paced beside her, adding his voice.
We'll be in back of you, boy!
Jinx nodded, singing.
Right!
Deckard smirked.
We're gonna flatten him good!
Jinx sang louder.
Right!
After a moment, she asked, a bit of hesitation in her voice, "Womb to tomb?"
Deckard smiled, holding his hand out for their handshake. "Sperm to worm."
Jinx smirked to herself, reassured, finishing the handshake with him. She threw up her arm, rallying the rest behind her.
And then we'll have us a ball! Tonight!
…
Alone, down a side street, Vi turned a corner, coming to the basketball court. She gripped the chain-link fence, shaking her head as she still didn't find any of the Jets or Sharks.
Where could her sister be? Where was the rumble happening?!
Vi grimaced and hurried faster, continuing her search.
Tonight, tonight,
I'll see my love, tonight…
…
Across the neighborhood, the Sharks helped each other jump over a wooden fence, hopping into the rail yard, as a shortcut on their way to their destination.
We're gonna rock it, tonight!
We're gonna jazz it, tonight!
…
Caitlyn sat in her seat and gazed out the window as her subway pulled away from the station. Her voice matching with Vi's.
And for us,
Stars will stop
Where they are!
…
The Sharks prowled the streets.
They're gonna get it, tonight!
…
Inside their apartment, Mel was dressed in her bathrobe and wore a headscarf around her head. She put a vase of red flowers in the middle of the kitchen table, which she had set with romantic place settings for two. She smirked.
We're gonna mix it, tonight…
…
The Jets cried out.
Tonight!
…
Vi jogged past a liquor storefront, the light from the interior casting shadows on her face; her head covered with her hood to stay out of sight.
No luck.
She chewed her lip.
Where would Jinx go? She wasn't at their usual haunts.
A drunk guy stumbled around the corner and bumped into her shoulder, throwing his middle finger at her. Vi hardly cared, shoving him away.
Then suddenly it hit her: the Salt shed.
Vi booked it in that direction. Her heart hammered faster.
Today, the minutes seem like hours –
…
Mel adjusted the flowers in the vase.
Melita's gonna have her day…
…
Sharks and Jets both sang.
They began it!
…
Caitlyn smiled as she approached her stop, hugging her purse closer to herself.
– The hours go so slowly
…
Mel spun in her robe, smiling to herself.
Melita's gonna have her day…
…
The Sharks glowered as they prowled closer to their destination, walking down the rail lines past a tall, slatted fence. Their voices matched with the Jets.
They began it!
…
The Jets walked along a chain link fence under the highway.
And we're the ones to stop 'em, once and for all!
…
The Sharks walked past container cars queued up on the rails, a semaphore looming above them.
We'll stop 'em, once and for all!
…
Vi and Caitlyn's voices matched each other over the clashing of the other voices.
– And still the sky is light…
…
Mel belted.
Jayce's gone have his way! Tonight!
…
The Jets approached the tracks as a diesel train roared by.
We'll stop 'em, once and for all!
The Jets are gonna have their way!
The Jets are gonna have their day!
…
The Sharks sang almost in reply.
The Sharks are gonna have their way!
The Sharks are gonna have their day!
…
Vi hurriedly turned down an alley corner, positive she was going in the right direction.
Meanwhile, Caitlyn stood up and turned down the aisle corner, stepping off her subway.
Oh, moon, grow bright
And make this endless day
Endless night!
…
Jets and Sharks sang together, loudly.
We're gonna rock it, tonight!
…
Mel sang loudly.
We're gonna rock it, to…
…
Vi crossed the railroad tracks, a freight train barreling by behind her. The Sharks leapt up onto the chain-link fence and began to climb over it. The Jets hoisted themselves up and over the chain-link fence on the opposite side of the shed. The subway pulled away behind Caitlyn and her friends, walking on the platform. Mel twirled around the kitchen in her bathrobe.
Everyone's prayers crescendo-ed in an amalgamation of their voices.
TONIIIIIIIGHT!
/