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.