2023/2024

···- ·· . - -···- ·····- ·· ..

-•,•.
•" CASTOFCHARACTERS
USNAVI DE LA VEGA, owner of De La Vega Bodega

••
(USN*) NJNA ROSARIO. a freshman at Stanford
ti Uníversity (NIN)
KEVIN ROSARIO, Nina's fathor, owner ofRosario Car Serví.ce (KEV)
CAMILAROSARIO, Nina's motber, co-owner ofRosario's (C

• BENNY, employee ofllosario's (BEN)

• VANESSA, wom at the salon (VAN)

SONNY, Usoavi's oousjn (SON)
ABUELA CLAUDIA, raised Usnavi, though notbis blood grandmothe:r (ABC)

't DANIBLA, owner of DaníeJa's Salon (DAN)

CARLA. works at the salon (CAR)

• GRAFFffiPETE, an artist (GRP)

PIRAGÜERO (PJRAGUA GUY), scrapes piraguas from his block ofice (P]R)
ENSEMBLE, 5 Women, 6 Men (Wl-5, Ml-6)

• The three capital letters listed efter each character is wied a.r a short hand
► in the libretto. Similar abbreviations are found in the score.)

'
J

PERUSAL
 MUSICAL SYNOPSIS

SETTING

One block of Washington Heights, Manha:tt:ao 0n one side of the street is

Rosm-io Car Service with a dispatch booth. Usna.vi & Claudía's front stoop is
next door. Across the street is De La Vega Bodega and Daniela's Uni.sex
Salon. Apartment windows and fue escapes tangle into the landscape. A bluny
view of tbe bridge in the background.

TIME

July 3rd tbrough 5th.

ACTI
Séene 1: Washington Heights - sunrise
™ TIIE IIEIGiffS.........................................................Usnavi & Campa.ay
Scene 2: On the Street
BREA.TIIE........,....................................................................N ina & Company
Soene 3: Rosario's Ce.r Service
BENNY""S DISPATCH..............................................................Benny & Nina
Scene 4: The Street
IT WON'T BE LONG NOW..................................Vanessa, Usnavi & Sonny
Scene 5: The Dispatch Booth
INÚ11L (Useless)...................................................................................Kevin
Scene 6: The Salon · .
NO ME DIGA ......................,.......................Daniela, Carla, Vanessa & Nina
Sce.ne 7: Inside the Bodega; th.e Street
96,000...............Usnavi, Benny, Sonny, Vanessa, DanieJa, Carla & Company
Scene B: Toe Street
PACIENCIA Y FE (Patience end Faith)..............Abuela Claudia & Company
Scene 9: Abuela Claudia's Stoop-early evening
WHEN YOU'RE HOME......................................Nina, Benny & Cómpany
Scene 10: The Street - dusk
PIRAGUA....................................................................................Piragua Guy
Scene 11; The Rosario Household
SIEMPRE (Always)............................................... Camila & Bolero Sing-er
Scene 12: Toe Club :·
TIIE CLUB.............................................................................. Cornpany
BLACKOUT ...................................................................,................Company

PERUSA.L
 '•
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••·• ACT 11

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Sc ............,...................................................................Nina, Benny & Ensem.ble
en . Scene 2: Outside the Bodegl:l; the Rosario Fire
e Escape Scene 3: Interior ofUsnavi and Abuela's
1: Apartment
B HUNDREDS OF STOR.IES................................ Abuela Claudia & Usnavi
en Scene 4: Outside the Dispatch Booth
ny ENOUGR......................................................................................... Ca:mila
's Scene 5: The Street
Fi CARNAVAL DEL BARRIO.........................................Daniela & Cotnpany
re Scene 6: The Dispatch Boath
Es ATENCIÓN......................................................................................Kevin
ca Scene 7: The Street
pe ALAB.AN'ZA. ......................................................,.....Usnavi, Nina & Company
- Scene 8: Toe Street- later that aftemoon
Su EVERY'IlilN'G I l{NOW....................................................................Nin.a
nd Scene 9: Outsi.de 1he Salon
ay NO ME DIGA (REPRISE).....................................Daniela, Carla & Vanessa
m Scene 1O: To.e Street ·
o PIRAGUA (REPRISE)..................................................................Piragua Guy
mi Scene 11: Toe Bodega
ng CHAWAGNE................................................................Vanessa&Usnavi
S Soene 12: The Dispamh Booth
l WlIEN'11IE SUN GOES DOWN"........................................Nina & Benny
J Scene 13: A Shady Alleyway- late at night
N Sceno 14: The Street-Mondaymoming, slllllÍse ...................................................
R FINALE...........................................................................Usnavi & Com.pany
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PERUSAL

• -.- . ·- ·· • . ·•··-- -· =---- - - - - - - - - - -

 I-1-1

Scene 1: Washington Helghts sunrise »

(Sunrise. A radio switches through dijferent stationsJ

RADIOVOICE
Yo, pull out them kiddie pools and call me up with. your sizzling swnmer
scandal. Tomorrow's the Fourth of July butwe'reldcking offthe celebration
tonight with fireworks at tho marina! It's going to be a soorclied

(.4 beat comes in. In die fhadowJ, GRA.FF.ll1 PEI'E i3 revealed painting
various walls in the neighborhood. &ter USNAVI.from his stoop.)

USNAVI
Yo, that's my walll

GRAFFITI PETE
Pshh..•

(GRAFFm PETE runa away. USNAVI t1l1'1l3 to us,)

MUSIC 1: IN THE HEIGHTS (OPENING)

USNAVI
LIGHTS UP ON WASHINGTON HEIGIITS,
UP AT TIIE BREAK OF DAY,
IWAKE UP AND I GOT THIS LITILE PUNKI OOTTA CHASE AWAY.
POP THE GRATE AT T.HE CRACK OF DAWN, SING
WIIlLE I WIPE IXJWN TIIE AWNiNG, HEY Y'ALL, GOOD MORNING.

(USNAVI operu tire bodega.)

PIRAGÜERO (PIRAGUA GUY)
(Scrapingfrom his ice 1,/ocJc.)
Ice cold piragua! Parcha. China. Cherry. [Orange, Passicmjruit.J
Strawberry. Just for today, I got mamey! [mango]

USNAVI
Oye, piragflero, como estas? 1 [Hey, piragua py, 1tow are you?J

PIRAGÜERO
Como skmpre, Señor U.Jnavi. 1 [Lilce alwaya, Mr. U.mavt.]

PERUSA.L
 I-1-2

USNAVI
IAMUSNAVIANDYOUPROB'LYNEVERHEARDMYNAME
REPORTS OF MYFAME ARE GREA.TI,Y EXAGGERATED
EXACERBATBD BY TIIE FACT
THAT MY SYNTAX
IS HIGHLY COMPUCATED
'CUZ I IMMIGRATED
PROM THE SINGLE GREATBST LIITLE PLACE lN THE CARIBBEAN:
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC!
ILOVEIT!

JESUS, I'M JEALOUS OFIT.

AND BEYOND TIIAT,
EVER SINCE MY FOLK.S PASSED
ON l HAVEN'T GONE BACK.
GOD DAMN! I GOTIA GET ON THAT..•

(He sni.ffs the milk carton.)

Fo!

TIIB MILK HAS GONE BAD, HOLD UP JUSTA SECOND

WHY IS EVERYTI:IING IN THIB FRIDGE WARM AND
TBPID? I BETrER STEP IT UP, AND FlGHr TIIB HEAT.
'CUZ l'MNOT MAKIN' ANY PROFIT -
IF THE COFFEE ISN'T UGHT AND SWEETI

ABUELA CLAUDIA
(Enter3.)
Ooo-ool

USNAVI
Abuela. do we have milk at
home?

ABUELA CLAUDIA
No, que 1 [No, what happened?]
pasó?
USNAVI
lt's my fridg . I got cafe;but no"con leclre." 1 [with milk.'1

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Try my mother's old recipe: one can of condensed milk.

USNAVI
Nice. Your lottecy ticket

Pt:RUSAL
 1-1-3

ABUELA CLAUDIA
(She kisses the ticlret.r and holdr them up to the ley.)
Paciencia y fe... 1 [Patience andfaith...J

(She exits.) l
l1
USNAVI
THAT WAS
.ABU
SHE'S NOT REALLY MY"ABUELA," j [grandmother]
BUT SHE PRACTICALLY RAISED ME,
THIS CORNERIS .HERESC()EU. 1 [school}
NOW, YOU'RE PROB'LY TIIINKIN:
''I'M UP smrs CREEKI
I NEVER BBEN NORTH OF NJNETY SIXTII STREETI"
WELL, YOU MUST TAKE THE A TRAIN.
EVEN FARTHER THAN HAIU,EM TO NORTHERNMANHATIAN
AND MAINTAlN. .
GET OFF AT 181ST, AND TAKE THE ESCALATOR.
l HOPE YOU'RE WRITING TIIlS
DOWN, I'M GONNA TEST YA
LATER.

YM GETTING TESTED; TIMES ARE TOUGH ON TIIlS

BODEGA. TWO MONTHS AGO SOMEBODY'S BOUGIIT
ORTEGA'
(l'oints to the salonJ
OUR NEIGHBORS STARTED PACKIN' UP AND PICKIN' UP
AND EVER SINCE THE RENTS WENT
UP IT'S GOTTEN MAD EXPENSIVE
BUT WB LIVE WITHJUST ENOUGH.

ALL (EXCEPT NINA)

IN TIIE HEIGHTS.

CAR, DAN. CAM1 KEV, BEN, SON, PIR,

W4, M4, M5 & M&
IFLIP THE LIGHTS AND START MY DAY.

; ALL
THERE ARE FIGHTS

CAR, DAN &

AND ENDLESS W1..S
DEBTS

PERIJSAL
 1-1-4

KEV1 BEN, PIR & M3-6

ANO Bll,LS TO
PAY
ALL
IN THE HEIGHTS
BEN, KEV, PIR, GRP,
W1, W3, W4, W5, M1, M2 & 1113
I CAN'T SURVIVE WITHOUT CAFÉ

USNAVI
ISERVECAFÉ

ALL
'CUZ TONIGBT SEEMS LIKE A MILLION YEARS AWAYI
ENWASHINGTON-

USNAVI
NEXTUP TO BAT, T.HEROSARIOS
THEY RUN THE CAB COMPANY, THEY STRUGGLE IN THE BARRIO
SEE, THEIR DAUGIITERNINA'S OFF AT COLLEGE,
TUITION IS MAD STEEP.
SO THBY CAN'T SLEEP, EVERYTIIlNO 1HEY GET IS MAD CHEAP!

(KEVIN und CAMIU enterJ

· KEVIN
GOOD MORNING, USNAVI!
USNAVl
PAN caIENTE, CAFÉ CON LECHE/ j {Hot bread, coffee with mtlk!]
KEVIN
PUT TWENTY DOLLARS ON TODAY'S LOTI'ERY.

CAMILA
ONE TICKET,, TIIAT'S ITl

KEVIN
HEY! A MAN'S GOTIA DREAM...

CAMILA
DON'T MINO HIM, HE'S ALL BXCITED
'CUZ NINA FLEW1N AT 3 A.M. LAST NIGRTI

PERUSAL
 1-1-5

KEVIN
OON'TLOOKAT ME, TIIlS ONE'S BEEN COOKING All WEEKI

CAMILA
USNAVI, COME OVER FOR DINNER.

KEVIN & CAMILA

THERE'S PLENTY TO EAT.

(I'hey exit. DA.NIELA and CARLA..enterJ

DANIELA
SO THEN YESENIA WALKS IN THE ROOM-

CARLA
Aha....

DANIELA
SHE SMELLS SEX AND CHEAP PERFUME!

CARLA
Uhoh...

DANIELA
IT SMELLS LlKE ONE OF THOSE TREES
THATYOU HANG FROMTHE REAR VIEWI

CARLA
Ah,no!
DANIELA
IT'S TRUE! SHE SCREAMS ''WHO'S IN THERE WITH YOU ruuor
GRABS A BAT AND KICKS IN THB DOOR.
HB'S IN BED WITII JOSE FROM THE IJQUOR STORE!

CARLA & USNAVI

NOMEDIGAt \ [No kiddin.g! (No tell me!)]

USNAVI
Daniela and Carla, from the salon.

(lñey grah the stujf and go.)

PERUSAL
 I- 1 -6

1HANKS DANIELA & CARLA

USNAVI!

(Ihey exit. SONNY nms in.)

USNAVI
Sonny. you're late.

SONNY
Chillax, you know you lave
me.

(SONNY exit.s.)
USNAVI
ME AND MY COUSIN RUNNIN' JUST .ANOTHERDJME..A-DOZEN
MOM AND POP STOP AND SHOP.
AND, OH, MY GOD, IT'S GOTTEN
TOO DARN HOT, LIKE MY MAN COLE PORTER SAID.
PEOPLE COME THROUGHFORA FEW COLD WATERS ANO
A LOITERY TICKET, JUSTA PART OF TIIE ROUTJNE.
EVERYBODY'S GOTA JOB, EVBRYBODY'S GOTA
DREAM. TBEY GOSSIP, AS I SIP MY COFFEE AND SMIRK.
THB FIRST STOP AS PEOPLE HOP TO wo
BUST IT-I'M LIKE:

(People ánne through his atore.)

"ONE DOLLAR, TWO OOLLARS, óNE FIFTY, ONE SIX1Y-

NINE YOU GOT IT! YOU WANT A BOX OF CONDOMS?
WHAT KlND? THAT'S TWO QUARTERS. .
TWO QUARTER WATERS. THE NEW YORK TIMES.
YOU NEED A BAG FOR 1HA T? THE TAXIS ADDED."
ONCE YOU GET SOME PRACTICE AT IT,
YOU DO RAPID MATHEMATICS AUTOMATICALLY,
SELLThP MAXIPADS, rozzy DICE FOR TAXICABS,
AND PRACTICALLY
EVERYBODY'S STRBSSED, YES!
BUT THEY PRESS THROUGH THE MESS 1
BOUNCE CHECKS AND WONDER WHAT'S NEXT.

ALL
IN THE HEIGHTS

PERUSAL
 1-1-7
GROUP 1:
(CAM, CAR, DAN, ABC, SON, USN,
KEV, BEN, GRP, W2 & M2)
IBUYMYCOFFEBANDIGO! .

GROUP 2:
(PIR, W1, W3, W4, WS, M1, M4 &
MS)
IBUYMY COFFEE AND-

ALL
SET MY
SIOHTS

GROUP1
ON ONLY WHAT INEED TO KNOW.

GROUP 2
WHAT INEED TO
KNOW.
ALL
INTim HBIGHTS
MONEY IS TIGHT
GROUP1

BUTEVENSO.
GROUP2

BUTEVENSO,

ALL ..
WHEN 1HB LIGHTS 00 DOWN I BLAST MY RADIO!

(.BENNY enters, tires.red in a shm mtd tie like KEVJN.)

BENNY
YOU AlN'T GOT NO SKILLSI

USNAVI
BENNYI

BENNY
LEMMEGETA-

USNAVI
MILKYWAY

PE:R.USA.L
 I-1-8

BENNY
YEAH, LEMME ALSO GET A-

USNAVI
DAILY NEWS-

BENNY
ANDA-

USNAVI
POST-

BENNV
AND MOST IMPORTANT, MY-

USNAVI
BOSS' SBCOND COFFEB, ONE CREAM-

BOTH
FIVE SUGARS.

BENNY
l'M THENUMBER ONE EARNBR:-

USNAVI & SONNY

WHÁTII

BENNY
TilE FASTEST LEARNER-

USNAVI & SONNY

WHATII

BENNY
MYBOSS CAN'TKEEP ME ON TBE DAMNBACK BURNER.!

USNAVI
YES,HECAN.

BENNY
I'M MAKIN' MOVES, I'M MAKIN' DEALS, BUT GUESS WHAT?

PERUSAL
 I-1-9

USNAVI
WHAT?

BENNY & SONNY

YOU STILL Arn'T GOT NO SKILLS!

USNAVI
HARDEB-HAR.

BENNY
VANESSA SHOW UP
YET?
USNAVI

SHUTTJ.P!
BENNY
HEY LITrLE HOMIEOON'T GET SO UPSET.
USNAVI
Man...

BENNY
TELL VANe,SSA HOWYOU FEEL, BUY TBE GIRL A MEAL,
ON THE REAL, OR YOU AIN'T GOTNO SKILLS.
(VANESSA walks hy on the phone.)
VANESSA
NOI
NO,NONO!
NO, NO, NO, NO-NO-NO!
NO, NO-NO-NO!
NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO, NO-NO-NO-NO-NO!
MR. JOHNSON, I GOT THE SECURITY DEPOSIT.
IT'S LOCKBD IN A BOX IN THE BO'ITOM OF MY CLOSET.
IT'S NOT REFLECTED IN MY BANX STATEMENT.
BUT l'VE BEEN SAVIN' TO MAKEA DOWN PAYMENT
ANDPAYRENT.
NO, NO, I wo ·T LET YOUDOWN-

BENNY
YO, HERE'S YOUR CHANCE; ASK HER OUT RIGHT NOWI

VANESSA
I'LL SEE YOU LATERWE CAN LOOK AT THAT LEASE.

PER.USAL
 I- 1 - 10

(She hangs up.)

BENNY
DO SOMBTHIN', MAK.E YOUR MOVE, DON'T FREEZE!

USNAVI
HEYI

VANESSA
(Approaches USNAVI)
YOU OWE MEA BOTILE OF COLD CHAMPAGNEI

USNAVI
ARE YOU MOVING?

YANESSA
JUSTA UITLE CREDIT CHECK AND I'M ON THAT DOWNTOWN
TRAIN!

USNAVI
WELL, YOUR COFFEE'S ON THE HOUSE.

VANESSA
OKAY.

BENNY
(Underhühreat mSONNY)
USNAVI, ASX HER OUT.

SONNY
NOWAYI

VANESSA
I'LL SEE YOU LATER, SO ...

(VANESSA wai a moment, befare exlting. USNAVI misses the 111L1WUYrt.)

BENNY
OOOH... SMOOTII OPERATOR, AW, DAMN, THERE SHE GOi
YO, BRO, TAKEFIVE, TAKEA WALKOUTSIDEI
YOU LOOK EXHAUSTED, LOST, DON'T LET LIFE SLIDEI
THE WHOLE HOOD IS STRUGGLING, TIMES ARE
TIGHT.
AND YOU'RE STIJCK TO TIIE CORNER LIKE A STREETIJGHT!

PERUSAL
 1-1-11

USNAVI
YBAHPM A
STREETUGHT, CHOKING
ON THB HEAT.
THE WORLD SPJNS AROUND
WIDLE PM FROZEN TO MY
SEAT. THE PEOPLE THAT
IKNOW
AIL KEEP ONROLUNG DOWN TIIB STREEf.
BUT EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT
SO I'M SWITCHJN' UP TI:IE BEAT.

'CUZ MY:PARENTS CAME WITHNOTHING,

TilEY OOT A LITILE MORE
AND SURE, WE'RE POOR, BUT,
YO, AT LEAST WE GOT TIIE
STORE. AND IT'S ALL ABOUI' TIIB
LEGACY THEY LEFr WITHME,
IT'S-OESTINY. AND ONE DAY
rLI,BE ON A BEACH
WITH SONNYVJRITING CHECKS TO ME.

ENSEMBLE:
(DAN 1 CAR, PIR, W4, M5 & M&)
IN TH8 HEIGBTS I HANG MY FLAG UP ON DISPLAY

USNAVI
WE CAME TO WORK.AND TO LIVE AND WE GOTA
LOT IN CO:MMON.

ENSEMBLE + CAMI, VAN, SON & KEVIN

ITREMINDS ME 1HAT I CAMB FROM ES AWAY.

USNAVl
D.R., P.R., WE ARE NOT STOPPIN'.

ALL
IN THB ABUELA CLAUDIA
HEIGHfS OOH, EVERY DAY, PACIENCIA Y FE.
OOH,
USNAVI
OOR UNTIL THE DAY WE 00 FROM
POVBRTY TO STOCK OPTIONS.

ALL
IN THE BElGHTS,
I'VE GOT
TODAY!

l>ERUSAL
. I- 1 - 12

USNAVI
AND TODAY'S AIL WE GOT, SO WE CANNOT STOP,
THIS IS OURBLOCK!

ALL
JN THE HEIGHfS,
I HANG MY FLAG UP ON DISPLAY.

PIRAGUAGUY
LO LE LO LE LO LAl LA1LO LE!

ALL
IT REMJNDS MB1HAT I CAME FROM MILES AWAY.

USNJ PIR, W4 & M4

MY FAMILY CAME FROM MILES AWAY -

ENSEMBLE
IN THE HEIGHfS .
1T GETS MORE EXPENSIVE EVERY DAY,

USN, PIR, W4 & M4

EVERYDAY

ALL
ANDTONIGHTISSOFARAWAY-

USNAVI
AS FOR.M.tÑAN.A MI PANA. ] [tomorrow myfriená]
YOU GOTTA JUSTKEEP WATCHlN'

USNAVI ALLOTHERS
YOU'LL SEE THE BEN, GRP, Nl1,
M2&M3 lN THE HEIGHTS!
LATE NIGHrS,
YOU'LL TASTE LATE NJGHTSl
BEANS AND RICE
THE SYRUP AND BEANS AND RICE!
IN THE HEIGHTS!
SRAVED ICE,,
SHAVEDICE!
1 AIN•r OONNA
SAYIT TWICE. SAYIT TWICEI
lN lHEHElGRTSl

..,.
PERUSAL

....
-
••
•t
t
•
1-2-13
USNAVI
TURNUP THE STAGELIGHTS, ALL

•t
VIB'RE TAKIN, A FLIGffi AH
TO A COUPLE OF DAYS AH
AH
IN THE L1FE OF WHAT IT'S AH!
ttLIKE ALL

• EN WASlllNGTON HEIGHISJ

•••t Scene 2: On the Street

MUSIC 1 A: BACK TO WORK

(USNA.VI and SONNY are out on the stree.t. .ABUELA. sita on he stoop)

•t USNAVI

•
What did l say? Go fix the
fridge.
SONNY

• Hells no, it was blowing fases, s_parking and shitl

••
ABUELA CLAUDIA .
Usnavi, sendhim to D.R. forthe summer. Let him wor.k on a finm so his Nikes
can get dirt on1heml

USNAVI

•• I ain'twastín' no plane ticket on this kid. ru be on Playa Rincon witb arum and
coke. Sonny can stay here aod sell Twínkies.·

SONNY

•• •
Sell? PU give 'em away for frce. l'm the RobinHood ofEl Ban-io.
(F,xits.)
Heyl

•
NINA
(Enter.r, loolcs around aJ the neighborhcod}

• Nma Rosario, what is up?l

•• •
•
••
Jetl4& I haven't slept ali night

•
• •
PERUSAl.

•
U A
S V
N I NINA
 I-2- 14

ABUELA CLAUDIA
lt' s tbe watermelon of my
heart!
NINA
! [Blessing]
Bendición, Abuela.

ASUELA CLAUDIA
Congratu!ations, your firstyear at Stanford University!

NINA
It felt like ten.

ABUELA CLAUDIA
You just missed your
parents.
NINA

l'm here to see you guys.

. .
USNAVI
So, did you.kick some college NINA

I got mine han.ded to me on a silver platter.

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Please, youknew the ABC's when you were six months
...
.
USNAVI
You regist.ered halfthis block tó vote!

ABUELA
CLAUDIA

SONNY
(Enters.)
I wanna be your campaign manager. .. Yo miss, recognize thls face?
NINA
Look who's a grown
man. SONNY

Check oots the goatee.

PERUSAL
 IJ

,,
I;
l i

.. 1

That's fridge grease,

USNAVI
I-2 -15

·t
;¡ SONNY

.,,
Wby you so jealous of my skills?
1 USNAVI
·1
.,
Back to
work.
(SONNY exwr. To NINA:)
Stop by laterl
(Exits.)

MUSIC 1B: NlNA'S THEME-

l j
IJ, NINA
11 Those recipes you sent were my survival kit

, 1 ABUELA CLAUDIA

,1

I had to make sure you remembered tbe tlavor of

1
home.
1 (Gets up.) ._
1 I
Bu no, come inside, I have your sandwichito ready! [GofXÍ ... little sandwich]
·,
NINA
li I'll be there in a second.
1
1
l i

,,
ABUELA CLAUDIA
rn
go put the fan on.
li
(ABUEU CLAUDIA 'exits into her apartment.)
1,

.•
MUSIC 2: RESPIRA (BREATHE)
11

••
SIGUE ANDANDO EL CAMINO
PIRAGUA[Continue
GUY walking
POR TODA SU VIDA. the way (paih) ofyour
11 RESPIRA...
life. Breathe ...]

••
NINA

BRBATHE.
PIR, SON, USN &
11 (Overlapping) 113
Y SI PIERDES }JJS HUELLAS [And if yau lose your way
QUE DIOS TE BENDIGA.. 1 dlat gr,d blessed (gave)
yau.
11
.1
PERUSA.L

••·
•_ __ ,,
·- · -· -
- ----===- - - .- - - ·
---- -· - - -- - - · ---- -

I-2-16

RESPIRA. 1 Breathe.]

NINA
THIS IS MY STREET.
I SMILE AT THE FACES
I'VE KNOWN ALL MY LIFE. TBEYREG.ARD ME WlTH PRIDE.
ANO EVERYONE'S SWEET,
- THEY SAY ''YOU'RE GOJNG PLACES!"
SO HOW CAN I SAY THAT WHll,E I WAS AWAY,
I HAO SO MUCH TO HIDEI
"HEY GUYS, IT'S ME!
THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT YOU KNOW."
TIIB KID COULDN'T RACK.1T. ,
SHE'S BACKAND SHE'S WALKIN' REAL SLOW,
WELCOME HOME. .
JUSTBREATBE ...

ENSEMBLE:
(DAN1 CAR, PIG, SON, USN, W1, WS, M3 & M5)
SIGUE ANDANDO EL CAMINO POR TODA SU VIDA.
RESPIRA-
NINA ENSEMBLE
RJST BREATHE-- Y S1PIERDES MIS HUELLAS
QUE DIOS TE BENDIGA..
RESPIRA-

NINA
AS THE RADIO PLAYS OLD FORGOTTEN BOLEROS,
I THINK. OF THE DAYS WHEN TIIlS CTIY WAS
:MINE. I REMEMBER THE PRAISE.

NINA ENSEMBLE
''.AY, TE ADORO, TE QUIERO, " TE ADORO, 1 [//(]lle you]
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAVED,
AND SAID ''NJNA, BE BRAVE AND TE QUIERO 1 [J want yuu]
YOU'RE GONNA BE TINB!" RESPIRA!
AND MAYBE rr•s ME, RESPIRA.!
BUT1T AIL SEEMS LIKE
LIFETIMESAGO

NINA
SO WHAT DO I SAY TO TIIESE FACES THAT I USED TO KNOW?
"HEY, l'M HOME?"

PERUSAL
 1-2-17

W4
MIRANINA, 1 [Look]

NINA

CAR, DAN, PIR, W4 & M6

NO MF. PRE(!CUPO POR ELLA. 1 [I'm ,wt worried ahout her]

NINA
THEY'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT ME...

CAR, DAN, PIR, W4, W&, M3 & M5 .

.MIRA, ALÚ ESTA NUESTRA ESTKELUJ 1 [Look, there is our starl]

NINA
THEY ARE ALL COUNTING ON ME TO SUCCEED

ENSEMBLE + SON, W1, USN, M4 & M6

ELLA. SI D.A. LA TALLA! 1 [She really malees the grade!]

ENSEMBLE + SON,
NINA W1, USN, M4 & M6
1AM Tirn ONB WHO MADE 1T AH!AH,AAH...
OUT! THE ONE WHO ALWAYS
MADE THE GRADE,
BUT MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE JUST MIRA
STAYED HOME ... · NJNA

V/BEN I WAS A CffiLD I STAYED

WIDE
AWAKE
CLIMBED TO TIIE HIGHEST PLACE
ON EVERY FIRE ESCAPE,
RESTLESS TO CLIMB. RESPIRA ..•

I GOT EVERY SCHOLARSHIP,

SAVED EVER.Y DOLLAR,
THE FIRST TOGO TO RESPIRA ...
COLLEGE, HOWDO I TELL AH!
THEMWHY I'M COMING
l3ACK HOME?
Wl1H MY EYES ON TIIEHORIZON.

NJNA
JUST ME AND THE GWB, ASKING "GEE NINA, WHAT'LL YOU BE?"

PERUSAL
 1-3-18

STRAIGHTEN THE SPINE.

SMILE FOR THE NEIGHBORS.
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
EVERYTHING'S COOL.
THE STANDARD REPLY:
"LOTS OF TESTS, LOTS OF PAPERS."
SMILE, WAVB GOODBYE,
AND PRAY TO THE SKY, OH, GOD...
AND WHAT WILL MY PARENTS SAY?

ENSEMBLE:
(CA DAN, PIR, SON, USN, W3-6 & M3-6)
NINA . . .

NINA
CAN I 00 IN THBRE AND SAY,

ENSEMBLE
NINA ...

NINA
"I KNOW THAT rM LETI1NG YOU DOWN . .. ;•

ABUELA CLAUDIA
(ABUELA CUUDIA appea_rs at the toop again.)
NINA ...

NINA
JUSTBREATBE ...

(She exits lnto ABUELA CU UDIA's apartment.)

MUSIC 2A: TO THE DISPATCH! -

Scene 3: Rosarlo's Car Service

(CAMILA. is g<J g thraugh b;1/s.·)

KEVIN
(lnto the radio.)
Cie11to noventa y dos, en la [One hundred ninety-two, on the
e3quina, 1 comer, across from McDanald's.J
al frente del McDona/d'3,

PERUSA.L
 (Beat.)
Atención, I know it's hot but I don't want to
see any drivers witbout a tie, tbis is Rosario's .
(Cozies up to CAMILA.)
How can you be st:ressed when our muiieca's home? 1 [doll]

CAMILA
Toe mechanic called, he won't touch another engin.e till we pay fur last month.

KEVIN
Then I'U get a little engine grease on my hands.

CAMILA
Why, so you can hurt your back again?

KEVIN
You ut'led to thmk. I was sexy when I fixed cars.

CAMILA
Befon:: all1hat mileage...
(Looking ata letter.)
M,ra, Uptown Inves1Jllent
Group...
KEVIN
Anolher developer. It's notan. offer, ít's an insult.

CAMILA
Regency Bank.
(Opens a letterJ
We're behlnd on all these payments. We need an. emergency loan.

KEVIN
We'll go see the bank manager Monday.

CAMILA
This can't wait.pap-i,

KEVIN
Toe dispatcher cal_led out.

BENNY
Hey, boss, ru cover the

radio.

PERUSAL
 I -3 -20

You don't speak Spanish. KEVIN

Five years with these BENNY

drivers? You•re not KEVIN

CAMILA
Latino.
How much English djd you speak when you started here? Benny is honorary
Latino.

(KEVIN hands BENNY the radio)

BENNY
Ahem, there's a newvoice riding the heat wave today-

KEYIN
Just get them :frotn point A to point B.

· BENNY
I got yoor back.

(CAMlLA. and KEVJN exit.)

MUSIC 3: BENNY'S DISPATCH

BENNY
CHECK ONE TWO THREE... CHECK ONE TWO THREE...
THlS IS BENNY ON Tim DISPATCH. YO!
ATENCIÓN, YO, ATTENTIONI
IT'S BENNY, AND I'D LIKB TO MENTION
I'M ON 1BE MICROPHONE nns MORN!
W. HONK YA HORN 1F YOUV/ANT IT!

(Car horns blast. NINA exits CLAUDIA's apartmem, enter3 the

dispaJch.)

OKAY WE GOT TRAFFIC ON THB WEST

SIDE. GET OFF AT 79m, AND TAKE TIIE
LEFr SIDE OF RIVERSIDE ORNE, AND YA
MIGHT SLIDE.
WEST END'S YA BEST FRIEND IF YOU CATCH THE
LIG1ITS! AND DON'T-TAKE TIIE DEEGAN;

PERUSAL
 I-3 -21

MANNY RAMIREZ IS IN TO'WN THCS

WEEKEND. SORRY DOMINICANS, TAKE ROUTE ,!
;

EIGHTY SEVEN, YOU AIN'T GETI'JNG BACK IN

J

AGAIN.
HOLD UPA MINUTE.

(He¡nas down the radio)

NINA
BENNY,HEY-

BENNY
N1NA, YOU'RE HOME TODAYI

NINA
ANYSIGN-

BENNY
... OF YOUR FOLKS, THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY!

NINA
ANYWAY-

BENNY
IT'S OOOD TO SEE YOURFACE-

NINA
ANYTIME--

BENNY
HOID UPA MlNUTE. WAITl
YOUUSED TO RUN nns DISPATCH, RIGHf?

NINA
ONCE OR
TWICB--
BENNY
WEIL CHECK THE TECHNIQUEI YO!
(Into dis¡x¡tch.)
TIIERE' S A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT I HAVE TO MENTION
AT THE lNTERSECTION OF 10m AVE AND TIIB JACOB J'AVITZ
.,. CONVENTION CENTER
AND CHECK IT, DON'T GET STUCK 1N THE RUBBER-
NECKIN' ON A HUNDRED NJNBTY SECOND,
THERE' S A DOUBLE DECKBRBUS WRECK!

PERUSAL
 -.- ·• ·- .. · ···. - ,.:::,==!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! l! ! ! - - ■

I-3 -22 .

NOW LISTEN UP, WE GOTA SPECIAL GUESTI

BENNY NINA
LIVE AND DIRECT BENNY...
FROM AYEAR OUT WESTI
WELCOMEHERBACK, BENNY...
'CAUSE SHELOOKS MAD STRESSED!
NJNA ROSARIO, THE BARRIO' S BEST!
HONK YOURHORNSl
(We hear a serie11 af syncopated hom blaats, aa BENNY contlnues to
stng)
SHE'S SMILING! SAY HELLOl

(NINA steps to the microphone.)

NINA
HEILO!

(We hear the cacophony of tl,e, mrut beautiful HORN CHART EVER
WlUTTENJ
GOOD MORNINGI

(NINA catchea herself havingfim, abrupt/y stopsJ

I BEITER FIND MY FOLKS.

THANKS FOR THE WELCO:M;E WAGON.

BENNY
ANYTIME. ANYTIME, NINA.

(NINA headsfor the door. BENNY stops her.)

BENNY
WAITHERE WfIH
:ME.
rr·sGEITING HOT OUTSIDE, TIJRN UP TIIB A.C.
STAYHBRE WITHME.

(She síts besi4e him. BIG BUITON!)

MUSIC 3A: ¡AY. QUÉ CALOR!

DAN, CAR, VAN, SON, PIR, W1-5 & M1-6

WHOA,

PERUSAL
 OH!
WHOA,
OHI

Scene 4: The Street

(ABUELA. CLAUDIA is on hu stoop, feeding pigeom. USNAVI ent(!l's

from fhe bodega.)

USNAVI
Oye, you missed another doctor's appo.intment.

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Mijo, would you tak.e medical advice from a man ruuned Dr. Gross? 1 [My son]

USNAVI
As long as you're taking your medicine.
(She doesn't re3pond)

Abuela.. .Pero, Abuela, eso no importa ... 1 [But, Abuela, it doesn't matter...

ABUELA CLAUDIA
It makes my heart work better, but in retum it gives me headaches. lmagfnate,
with what those pills cost, I could get myself a good mcelift.
(Demonstrating nips and tucks on her face.)
Sócalo de aqui, métela pacá. 1 [Take a bit here off here, put ti here.]
Sacalo de aqui, mételo pacá. Pacá, pacá...

(SONNY comes out of tJM bodega with a soda in hand.)

SONNY
Who hooked. it up? Ice cold Country Club Cola. Champagne! Abbbbbb.

USNAVI
Put that on your tab. You owe me five thousand, three hundred-

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Usnavi, I think he's ing to tell you, he fixed the Frigidaire.

, SONNY
So let's talk about that raise. Free sodas or I walk.

PERUSAL
 I-4-24

USNAVI
Halfprice. Diet. Cola Champagne. That's my final offer.
(&itsJ

SONNY
Ain't no Dominicans be drinking nodiet soda/

VANESSA
(From across the s/reet)
Be thankful, at least someone around here is getting a raisel

SONNY
I'm starting a union. Underage cousins ofbodega workers unitel
(&its hito the bO<kgaJ

(Lights shift to the salan. VANESSA is outstde on her phone. DANIELA

comes out of the salan.)

DANIELA
Excuse me, this isn't social
hours.
VANESSA
Sorry, it's Con Edison. I gave my mom half :my check to pay the bills...

DANIELA
Y que pasó? She drank it awey'I J [And whaJ happ,ned?J
Vanessa, when are you going to get out of that to:xic envirorunent?

VÁNESSA
(lnto the phoneJ
Hima'am? lgetmy check on Monday, I canpaythen. Yes,1'11 hold.
(To DANIEU.J
Daniela, I know I still owe YoU from last time...

DANIELA
Carla, what'smyrule?

CARLA
(To VANESSAJ
She'll do anything for you but she won't supportyour rnother's malfunction...

DANIELA
(Correctit,g her.)
Dysfunction.

PERUSA.L
 11

1-4-25

VANESSA
My lights are going to be out all week.

CARLA
What would Jesus do?

DANIELA
Do I loolc like Jesus to
you?
VANESSA

(Into the phone.)

Yes, l'ru still hcre. No, don'ttransfer mel

MUSIC 38: THIS ISN'T SOCIAL HOURS! -

Hello? Helio']

DANIELA
(I'akes the phone.)
Comay, it' s time to clear out that negative 1 [Girlfrienil]
encrgyl So take five and get me sorne packing
tape.

VANESSA
Anything eJse? While Pm at it?

DANIELA
APepsi.

MUSIC 4: IT WON'T BE LONG NOW -

(&iting, to CARLA.)
Toughlove,chacha. 1 [girl]

(D.ANIELA. and CARLA exit into the salan.)

VANESSA
THE ELEVATED;rRAIN BYMY WlNDOW ·
DOESN'T FAZE ME ANYMORE.
TIIBRATTLING SCREAMS DON'T DJSRUPT MYDREAMS
IT'S A LULLABY, IN rrs WAY.
11IB ELEVATED TRAIN ORIVES EVERYONE INSANE.
BUT I DON'T MIND, OHNO.
WHEN I BRING BACK. BOYS THEY CAN'T TOLERATE T.HE NOISE;
PERUSAL
 1-4-26

AND THAT'S OK, 'CAUSE I NEVER LET THEM STAY.

ANDONEDAY,
l'M HOPPIN' THAT ELEVATBD TRAIN AND l'M RIDING
AWAYI IT WON'T BE LONG NOW!

(MEN whistle at VANF,SSA. on the sidewalk.)

THEBOYSAROUNDTIIEWAY
HOLLERAT ME WHENI'M WALKING DOWN THE
STREET. TIIBIR MACHISMO PRIDE DOESN'T BREAK MY
STRIDE IT'S A COMPLIMENT, SO THEY SAY.
THE BOYS AROUND THE WAY
HOLLERATMB EVBRY DAY BUT IDON'T MIND, OH.
NO. IF rMIN THE MOOD, IT W1LL NOT BE WITH SOME
DUDE WHO IS WIIlSTI.,ING 'CAUSE HE HAS NOTHING TO
S.A.Y,
OR WHO'S HONKING AT ME FROM FDS CHEVROLETI
ANDONEDAY ...
l'M HOPP{N' IN ALIMOUSINB AND l'M DRIVING AWAY!
IT WON'T BE LONG NOWI

(V.ANESSA approaches USNAVI outsiáe the bodega)

Ay, Usnavi, help? SOS!

USNAVI
GOOD MORNING VANESSAI .
IF IT ISN'T TIIE LOVELIEST GIRL IN TIIB PLACE...

(She wipe.s his clreek.)

VANESSA
YOU GOT SO.ME SCHMUTZ ONYOURFACE.

USNAVI
Another late night, eh? Whoever you were with, he's got nothing on these biceps.
I bench press six gallons of miJk and two cases of Goya beans.

VANESSA
It was my mom. Tbey shut off our power. Again.

USNAVI
Coffee, whole milk. Very sweet. Little bit of cinnamon.

PERUSAL
 1-4-27

VANESSA
Mm. Just like my abuela used to do.

USNAVI
That's what ali the ladies say. I remind them oftheir
grandma.

SONNY
GOOD MORNINGI

SONNY & USNAVI

GOO:Q
MORNINGI

(VANESSA. kisses SONNY on the cheek. She grabs SONNY to dance.)

USNAVI
VANBSSA!

SONNY
VANESSA!

SONNY & USNAVI

VANESSA!

DANIELA
(Screammgfrom the salon)
VANBSSSSSAAAAAA! I'm thirsty, eolio! l ¡aamn11
.VANE
SSA
Can I get a Pepsi and sorne packing tape?

SONNY
Uh, my cousin over there with bis tangue hanging out, has been meanmg to ask
you...

VANESSA
Yes?

SONNY
What a lady such as yoµrselfmight be doing tonight?

VANESSA
Does your cousin dance?

PERUSAL
 SONNY
Likc, a drunk: Chita
Rivera.
VANESSA
Okay... After Nma's dinner we can hit a few clubs and check out the fireworks.

(USNAVI awkwardly hands her a bag. She exits.)

USNAVI
OH SNAPI WHO'S THAT?
DON'T TOUCHME l'M TOO HOTI YESl
QUÉ pASÓ? HBREI GOi [What happened?]
SO DOPE! YTU LO SABES/ [Andyou know Jt!]
- NO PARE [Don't 3top]
SONNY & USNAVI
SIGUE SIGUE! [ [Keep going! (Continfll!)]

USNAVL
DID YOU SBE ME

SONNY & USNAVI

FREAKY FREAKIT!

USNAVI
WHAT A WAY TO BEGIN TH-E WEEKBND
SONNY, ANYTHING YOU WANT IS FREE,
MANI
AND MY DEARLYBELOVED 00:MINICAN REPUBUC,
I HAVEN'T FORGO'ITF.N

SONNY & USNAVJ

YOU!

USNAVI
GONNA SEE TIDS HONEY MAKE A LITTLE MONEY
AND ONE DAY l'LL HOP JET

SONNY & USNAVI

BUJE!

- USNAVI
BUT UNTIL THATFATEFUL DAY, l'M GRATEFUL
I GOTA DESTINATION.
I'M RUNNIN TO MAKE IT HOME,

PERUSAL
 1- 5-29

AND HOME'S WHATVANESSA'S RUNNIN AWAYFROMI

I'M RUNNIN TO MAKE IT HOME,
ANDHO.ME'S WHATVANESSA'SRUNNIN AWAYFROM...

(USNAVI is at the bodega dJJor, V.ANESSA at the aal01.1 door. She

sing.r to h!m.)

VANESSA
THE NEIGHBORHOOD SALON IS THE PLACE I AMWORKING
FOR TI-IEMOMENT. .
AS I CUT TIIEIR LADIES TALK AND
SHARB-- EVERY DAY, WHO'S DOING WHO AND
WHY•..
THENEIGHBORHOODSALONDOESN'T PAY ME WHAT l WANNA
BE MAKING BUI IDON'T MIND.
AS I SWEEP TBE CURB I CAN HE.AR THOSE TURBO
. ENGJNES BLAZING A TRA1L THROUGH THE SKY.
I LOOK UP AND TIIINK.ABOUT THE YEARS GONB
BY.
BUT ONE DAY-l'MWALKlN TO J.FK. AND PM GONNA FLY!
1T WON'T BELONG NOW!
ANYDAY...
(They exit.J

MUSIC 4A: RETURN TO THE DISPATCH

Scene 5: The Dlspatch Booth

(BENNY and NJNA in.the dispaJch booth)

BENNY
(lnto the radio. Shaky Spanish)
Roger. Como? Uh... donde estas? [H()W? Uh...when areyou?]
Slow Down! Uno momento. [Onemament.
Yo, cabrón, l'm trying to belp youl Yo, bastard...]

NINA
Whoa. who taught you
Spanish?

BENNY
The dri dirty
bastards.
NINA

(She takes the 1 [Aha, tell me,]

radio.) Aha. dime.

PERUSAL
•
)

)
 1- 5 -30
(Li,stens.)
Hes' going to the Cloisters, he's stuck on the Hudson.

BENNY
Exit fourteen, follow signs tfl Fort Tryon.
NINA
The u-turn off exit fJfteen. is
quicker.
BENNY

lt's also illegal

NINA

(Into the radia.)

Salida quina, hagas una mediavue/Ja. \ {Exitfifteen, doa u-turn,
$igue derecho. continue stmight.J

BENNY
You gave hiro your directions, didn't you?

KEVIN
(Enters, watches themflirt)
Eyes on the dispatch,por favor. \ [please]

BENNY
(Bac:k to work)
Yes sir.
KEVIN

..
(Hugs NINA.)
You look more beautiful and even smarterl
NINA
CAMILA
lt must be1he bags lttlder my

Nena de mamá! Mija tan [Mama's baby! Daughter so preciousf}

let me see my flaquita/ \ [slcinny little
(E,ntersJ
Tum around., ... .
....-.
NINA
Mom.

PERLISAL

,.
•,.
 I-5-31

CAMILA
Excuse me, yon think: you're ali grown up?

NINA
I was hoping we could grab a few coffees e.nd go home for a
minute.

KEVIN
No, we're celebnrtingl Caridad is still set'Ving breakfast.

NINA
I ate at Abuela Claudia's.

CAIIILA
So? I get to fatten you up,
tool

KEVIN
We have to go by Danie1a's. Everyone wants to see you.

NINA
Youguysl
(Beat.)
Okay. I planned this whole speech on tbe plane.•.

KEVIN
Benny, give 118 a minute.

BENNY
(To NINA,)
Ifthere's anything lean
do...
KEVIN

Go.

(JJENNY exttJ.)

CAMILA
Mrja.

NINA
l Jost my
scholarshipS
CAIIAILA
Did you get in some kind of trouble?

PERUSAL
 1-5 -32

NINA
No.

CAMILA
It's okay. Justtell us what happened.

NINA
My grades were below the cuto:ff so they put me on probation. After midterms
tbey calledmo into the Dean's office andhe was lilce, "We have to pull your
scholarship."

CAMlLA
But you were studying
nonstop!

· NINA
No, I was working to pay for books I didn't have time to read. Look, I ended up
taking a leave of absence.

CAMILA
Does leave ofabsence mean drop out? Nina, look at me.

NINA
I guess you could say I left school

KEVIN
What?

CAMILA
Oh my god, when?

NINA
I didn't know wbat to do-

CAMILA
When?

NINA
Much.

CAMILA
Four months ago!? What were you doing since then?

NINA
Figuring out how to tell you. Staying on my friend's couch:

PERUSAL
 CAIIILA
Like a beggar? You li.ed to me! Every timo I called youl

NINA
I couldn't work: two jobs and study for finals and :finish my term papers.

KEVIN
Two jobs? You said it was going to be one.

NINA
It's expensive. Toe scholarship only covered part of it.

KEVIN
Then you pickup the phone and say, "Papi, I need sorne money."

NINA
You laid off two drivers this

KEVIN
year. I would have found a way!

NINA
You don.'t k:nowwhat college is tike!

KEVIN
Well th.en educate me, por

favor! (Pause.)

CAMILA
l'm going to get started on
dinner.
NINA

Cancel tonight.
CAMILA

You be home in an ho,or!

(F;xtts.) .

MUSIC 5: INÚTIL (USELESS)

. KEVIN
Why didn't youjust ask me?

PERUSAL
 1-5 -34

NINA
What could you have done?
(Exit.YJ

KEVIN
THIS ISN'T
HAPPENJNG.
lNÚTIL! USELESS.
JUST LIKE MY FATIIER WAS BEF0RE ME:
JNÚTIL! USELESS.
AND EVERYDAY
HE CUT THE
CANE,
HE CAME HOME LATEAND PRAYED FOR
RAIN. PRAYBD FOR RArN.

AND 0N THE DAYS

WHENNOT.HING CAME
MY FATimR'S FACE WAS LINED WITH SHAME.
HE'D SIT ME DOWN BESIDE HIM .AND HE'D
SAY, ''MY FATHER WAS A FARMER.,
HISFATHER WASAFARMER,
ANp Y0U WILL BE A FARMER',
BUT I TOLD HIM,"PAPJ, l'M SORRY, rM GOING FARTHER.
I'M GETTING 0N APLANE.
AND 1AM G0NNA CHANGE THE WORLD SOMEDAY!"
AND HE SLAPPED MY PACE. .
HE STO0D THERE, STARING AT ME, USELBSS.

TODAY MYDAUGHrER'S HOME AND IAM... USELESS.

ANDAS A BABY SHE AMAZED ME WJ.TH
THE THINGS SHE LEARNED EACH
DAY. SHB USED TO STAY ON 1BE FIRE
ESCAPE
WlilLE ALL THE 0THER KIDS W0ULD PLAY.
ANDIW0UW STANDBESIDEHERANDPD SAY:

"l'MPR0UD TO BE Y0URFATHER,
'CUZ Y0U W0RK SO MUCH
HARDER., AND Y0U ARE SO MUCH
SMARTER THANI WAS
ATYOURAGE."
AND I ALWAYS KNEWTHAT SHE W0 ULD- FLY AWAY.
TIIAT SHE WAS G0NNA CHANGE TIIB WORLD
S0MEDAY.

I WlLL N0T BE TIIE REAS0N

THAT MY FAMlLY CAN'T SUCCEED.

PERUSAL
 1- 6- 35

I WILL DO WHATIT TAKES.

THEY'LL HAVE EVERYTIIlNG THEY NEED.
OR ALL MY WORI<., ALL MY LIFE,
EVERYTHING I'VE SACRIFICED WILL HAVE BEBN USELESS.

MUSIC 5A: USN-AVl'S DANCE LESSON

Scene 6: The Salon

(Ihe ladie3 are packing.)

DANIELA
You know me, I don't Iike to talle about
nobody, pero... oye esto! I [but... Iisten to this!]
CARLA
Dani, don't! My pastor told me gossip is a sin.

DANIELA
Jesus,pe.rd name. Gladys went behind my [ fforgive me.}
back for a ten dollar hairdo and guess wbat she
found in her extensions? Una cucaracha. 1 [A cockroach.]
One of the big ones with wings.

(NINA enters.)

NINA
Hey, ladies.
..
1

DANIELA
Entre, mijal 1 [Come in, girlfriend/J 1
J

Mrra quié.n
CARLA
1 {Laokwho it is/] ¡
es! !
1
VANESSA
Hells yeah. she's back!

NINA
(To VANESSA.)
I called you all
morning.

PERUSAL
 VANESSA
Gness who confiscated tny phone? Next fall, put me in your suitcase and take
me witbyou.
NINA
(l'o DANIELA.)
Mind ifI steal Vanessa for a mimrte?

DANIELA
And what are we, chopped chuletas? 1 [pork chops]

CARLA
PtJbrectta, you need a makeover. 1 [Poor girl}

NINA
I ha.ve to go help my mom.•. I'll aee you at dinner?

DANIELA
I'Jl be packing. Tomottow we close that door forever!

NINA
Ohno.
(Sits.)
Alright, ten minutes.

DANIELA
Can YCJU believe the .salon's moving to1he Bronx?

VANESSA
Gettin' out the barrio, and headin' to the hood. ·

DANIELA
(I'o NIN.A.)
They keepra.ising the rent, what can I do?

NINA ·
Man, now who's going tomess up my highlights?

DANIELA
Ungratefull I mess up your highlights at a discount prico. And if you come
visit in the Broox. ftee eyebrow waxingl ·• ·

NINA
You're the only person who touches fuese brows.

'PERUSAL
 DANIELA
So I see. Tweez.ersl

(VANESSA hands her tweezers.)

CARLA
Ay pero, what happened to these curls? You need some hair gel mami.

MUSIC 6: NO ME DIGA -

NINA
Oh godt do not meke my hair ali cruncbyt

DANIELA
You ha.ve to accepthair gel into your life!

DANIELA
GORGEOUSI

CARLA
LINDA./ 1 [Pretty woman!J

CARLA & DANIELA

TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOWI

- VANESSA
VIEJA! 1 [Oldwoman!]
DANIELA
SUCIA! 1 [Dirty girl u
CARLA
CABRONA.! 1 [Bmtard! (B_itclú)j

CARLA, VANESSA & DANIELA

TELL ME SOMEPIJNO I DON'T KNOW!

CARLA
AW1LE OFF THE TOP!

DANIELA
A LITTLE ON THE SIDEI

PERUSA.L
 1-6-38

NINA
A LITTLE BIT OF NEWS YOU'VE HEARD AROUND THE BARRIO!

ALL
TELL ME SOMETHING I OON'T KNOW!

DANIELA
BUENO.
YOU DlDN'T HEAR nns FROM ME.
BUT SOME LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD :ME,
USNAVIRAD SEX WTI1-I YOLANDA!

NINA&CARLA
NOMEDIGA!

VANESSA
AY, NO! HE'D NEVER GO OUT WJTII A SKANK L1KE
THATI PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE JOKING!

- DANIElA
O:KAYl
JUSTWANTED TO SEE WHAT YOU'D SAYI

ALL
TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW!
,

CARLA, NJNA & DANIELA

(at Vane.ssa)
MMM-HMM-:MMM ...
VANESSA
What? I don't carel

ALL
AY BENDITO! 1 [Oh, gosh! (Oh, goodnessl)]
DANIELA
so NINA, I HEAR YOUBEEN TALKING TO BENNY.

NINA
AND WHAT DO YOU HEAR?

DANIELA
I HEAR PLENTYl

PERUSAL
 1-6 -39

THEY SAY HE•s GOT QUITE A BIG ... TAXI!

CARLA & VANESSA

NOMEDIGA!

NINA
OKAY! IOON'T WANNA KNOW WHERE YOUHEARD ALL mATl

CARLA
IDON'T THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ..•

DANIELA
CARLA? HB'S PACKINO A STRETCH LIMOUSJNE!

(CARLA gets it. They all laugh.)

VANESSA & DANIELA
TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW!

CARLA
LONG AS HE KEEPS IT CLEANI
NINA, VANESSA & DANIELA
AY DIOS MIO! 1 [Oh my god!]
(']'he wamen hoot ami h l/er.)

DANIELA
NJN.A, SERIOUSLY, WE KNEW YOU'D BE
THE ONE TO MAKE IT OUTI

VANESSA
I'LL BET YOU IMPRESSED TIIEMALL OUT
WEST; YOU WERE ALWAYS THE BEST,NO
DOUBTI

C RLA
WE WANT FRONTROW SEATS TO YOUR GRADUATION!

DANIELA
THEY'LL CALL YOURNAME-

DANIELA, CARLA & VANESSA

AND WE'LL SCREAM AND SHOUf!

PERUSAL
 I- 6- 40

(They cheer for NINA. 1ñe music stop.r.)

NINA
Y ou guys, I dropped
out

_ DANIELA, CARLA & VANESSA

No me diga?!

NINA
I should go.

(She exits.)

DANIELA
That's a shitty piece
ofnews.

CARLA
That girl never quit
anything.
DANIELA
. 1 [Girl]
Muchacha never got a B!

VANESSA
She got a C :in gym once. I had to talk her off ti.te fue escape.

DANIELA
Maybe the pressure cooker couldn't take it and pah, the lid flew off!

VANESSA
But why? What the hell happened1

DANIELA
I DON'T
KNOW.•.

DANIELA & CARLA

IDON'TKNOW.

DANIELA
l DON'T
KNOW...

CARLA & VANESSA

TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOWI

PERUSAL
 1- 7 - 41

ALL
QUÉSÉYO? 1 [ff'hatdolknow?J

MUSIC 6A: WHAT UP?

Scene 7: lnside the Bodega. the Street

(USNAVI is checldng lottery numhers. BENNY is there fanning himself.)

BENNY
Does my tie look saaight?

USNAVI
Benny, YoU look 1he same as every da.y. Quit trying to impress N""ma. .

SONNY
(Sniffs.)
Whoo, you need to impro88 sorne Old Spioo under those anns.
BENNY

Shut up. My boss put me on dispatch, I need to look pro:ressional

SONNY
"My boss, my boss.'' You're paving the road to someone else's dreams. Man,
strike out on your own. ·
BENNY
l'm leaming on someone else's dime. The day I open Benny's Car Service, rn
lcnow my trade inside and out

USNAVI
Either one of you Rockefellers waona take this business off my hands?

SONNY BENNY
Heckno. Naw, l'm cool.

USNAVI
I didn't tbink so.

(GRAFFifl PE'rE enters displaying a hand-airbrushed t-shirt.) ·

GRAFFITI PETE
What up? Buy my t-shirt.

PEFtUSAL
 1- 7 -42

USNAVI
That's your sales p.itch? Getthe hell out of here.

GRAFFITI PETE
Today's special, two for twenty.

USNAVI
How about I give you noth:ing and you scrub your initials off my awning? .

SONNY
(Hands PETE a slushee.)
Sonny's Secret Recipe.

USNAVI
That's a dollar twenty
five.
GRAFFITI PETE
Let's trade. I got some roman candles, bottle roclrets. Thlrd of July, party starts
tonight! ·

USNAVI
Cotitraband, Vandalism. You got three seconds before I call the cops. 9. 1.

(GRAFFII1PETE e:cits.)

SONNY
Usna doubie check this.

(Hands USNAVI the paper.)

USNAVI
Take Five Lotto. Hold up, we sold a winner yesterday?

BENNY
Somebody won?

SONNY
Yo, I want a cut ofyour
cut!
USNAVI
l don't get a cut. Yup, these numbers match!

PERUSAL
 1-7 -43

BENNY
What's the payout? Don't tell me no five hundrod dollars..

MUSIC 7: 96,000 - - _

USNAVI
NINETY SIX THOUSAND!

SONNY & BENNY

DAMN!

USNAVl
N1NE1Y SIX1HOUSANDI

{GRAF'Flll PETE pokea 1w head back in, still wíth the slusheeJ

SONNY
DOILARS? HOLLERl

USNAVI
NJNETY SIX THOUSAND!

GRAFFITI PETE
THAT'S A LOT OF SPRAY CANSl

USNAVI
NINE1Y SIX
TIIOUSAND!
BENNY
YO,
IF I WON THE LOTI'O TOMORROW,
WELL, IKNOW I WOULDN'T BOTIIBR GOIN ON NO
SPENDIN' SPREE.
J'I) PICK A BUSINESS SCHOOL AND PAY THE ENTRANCE FEE!
THEN MAYBE IF You·RE LUCKY,
YOU'LL STAY FRIENDS WITHMEl

rLL BE A BUSINESSMAN, RICHER THAN NINA'S DADDYI

DONALD TRUMP AND I ON THE LINKS, AND HE'S MY
CADDYI MY MONEY'S MAKIN MONEY,
fM GOIN FROM PO' TOMO' DOUGH!
KEEP TBE BLlNG, l WANT THE BRASS RJNG, LIKE FRODOJ

PERUSAL
 I-7-44

USNAVI
OH NO, HERE GOES MR. BRAGGADOCCIO
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, HE'S LYING LIKE PINOCCHIO-

BENNY
WELL IF YOU'RE SCARED OF THE BULL, STAY OUT THE RODEO!

GRAFFlTI PETE
YO, I GOT MOREHOES 1HAN A PHONE BOOK IN TOKYot

USNAVI
OOH, YOU BEITBR STOP RAPPIN YOURE NOT READY
IT'S GONNA GBT HOT AND HEAVY.
AND YOU'RE ALREADY SWEATY-

GRAFFITI PETE
Y-Y-YO! YO!•..

USNAVI
YOI YOl l'M SORR.Y WAS THAT AN ANSWER?
SHOTUP,GO HOME AND PULL YA -DAMN PANTS UPI
AS FOR YOU, MR. FRODO qF TIIE SHIRE--
96 G'S AIN'T ENOUGH TO RETIRE

BENNY
C'MON, I'LL HAVE ENOUGH TO KNOCK YOUR ASS OFF ITS AXIS!

USNAVI
YOU'LL HAVE AKNAPSACKFULL OF JACK AFTER TAXESI

(SONNYrwzs to.ABUELA. CLAUDIA.)

SONNY
N1NE1Y SIX THOUSAND!

: ABUELA CLAUDIA
(Crosses herselj.)
Ay alalxmza! 1 [Oh, praise!J

(ABUELA CLAUDIA disappear into her apartment. SONNYruns to the

salonJ

SONNY
NINElY SIX TIIOUSANDI

PERUSAL
 1- 7 -45

DANIELA
No me diga!

SONNV
NINETY SIX IBOUSANDI

VANESSA
I never win shitl

SONNY
NINETY SIX1HOUSANDI

(CARLA ami DANIELA. come out to the streetJ

BENNY
FORREAL, 1HOUGH, IMAGINE HOW IT WOULD FEEL
GOIN' REAL SLOW
DOWN THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE WITHNO REGRETS
AND NO BREAKIN' YOUR NECKFORRESPECT ORA PAYCHECK
FOR THOUGH. rLL TAKE A BREAKF.R.OMTIIE WHEEL
AND WE'LL THROW
THE BIGGEST BLOCK PARTY, EVERYBODY HERE

BENNY
A WEEKEND WHEN WE CANBREATIIB, TAKB IT EASY.

W1,W3&M1
YO! MA IT'S ME, CHECK MY TICKETSf

CARLA
CHECK ONE TWO
THREB
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITHNlNETY SIX O'S?

DANIELA
WHOME7
CARLA
I MEANIF rr·s IDST BETWEENYOU AND :ME?

DANIELA
ESA PREGrJmA ES TRICK.Y! 1 {That question is]

PERUSAL
 I-7-46

CARLA
IKNOW.

WITHNINETY SIX DANIELA

G'S
ro START MY LIFE WITHA BRAND LEASE!
ATLANTIC CITY WTIH A MALIBU BRBEZE

CARLA
ANDA BRAND NEW WEAVEI

DANIELA
OR MAYBE JUST BLEACH...

VANESSA
Y'ALL ARE FREAKS.

USNAVI
Yo, rmjust sayin'...
IT'S Sll,LY WHENWB GE.TINTO THESE CRAZY HYPOTHETICALS
YOUREALLYWANT SO:MBBREAD?
THEN GO AHEAD CREATE /1SET OF OOALS.
AND CROSS THEM OFF THE UST AS YOU PURSUE 'EM,
AND wrmTHOSE NINETY srx. .
I KNOWPRECISELY WHATI'M DOIN'.

VANESSA
WHAT'CHU DOIN?

USNAVI
WHATMIDOIN?WHAT'MIDOIN?
IT TAKES MOST OF THAT
CASH
JUST TOSAVE MY ASS PROM FlNANCIAL RUIN!
SONNY CAN KEEP TIIE COFFEE BREWIN',
AND rLL SPEND A FEW ONYOU,
'CAUSE THE ONLY ROOM WITH A VIEW'S
A ROOM WITB YOUIN IT!

AND I COULD GIVE ABUELA CLAUDIA TIIB REST OF

IT. JUST FLY ME DOWN TO PUERTA PLATA,
ru. MAKB THEBEST OF ITJ
YOU REALLY LOVE TIIIS BUSINESS?

PEFHJSAL
 SONNY
NO.

USNAVI
TOUGH, MERRY CHRISTMAS.
YOU'RENOW THE YOUNGEST TYCOON
IN WASHINGTON HIZNITS!

SONNY
YO!
WITH NJNETY SIX mouSAND, l'D FINALLY FIX HOUSIN',
GIVE THE BARRIO COMPUTERS AND WIRBLESS WEB
BROWSIN', YOUR KIDS ARE LIVIN' WITHOUT A GOOD
EDJUMICATION, .
CHANGE THE STATION, TEACH EM ABOUT GENTRIFICATION.
TiffiRENT IS ESCALATIN'.

GRAFFITI PETE
WHAT?!

SONNY
THERICHARE PENETRATIN'.

GRAFFm PETE
WHAT?

SONNY
WE PAY OUR CORPORATIONS WHEN WE SHOULD BE
DEMONSTRAT.IN'.

GRAFFITI PETE
WHATI!

SONNY
WHAT ABOUT IMMIGRATION?

GRAFFITI PETE
WHAT?

SONNY
POLffiCIANS BE HATm'.
,

WHAT?

PERUSAL

lt
G
R
A
F
F
I
T
I
P
E
T
E

·
 I- 7 -4!!

SONNY
RACISM lN THIS NATIO S GONE FROM LATENT TO BLATANT.

ALL
OOOOOHI / WOOHJ

SONNY
I'LL CASH MY TICKET AND PICKET, INVEST IN PROTEST,
NEVER LOSE MY FOCUS TILL TIIE CITY TAKES NOTICE
AND YOU KNOW nns MAN! I'LL NEVER SLEBP
BECAUSE THE GHEITO HAS A MlLLION PROMISES
FORME TO KEEP!

(A stunned silence. VANESSA kisses SONNY the cheek.)

VANESSA
You are so cute!

SONNY
I was just thinking off the top of iny head.

USNAVI
Ninety-six K: Go!

VANESSA .
IF I WlN THE WITERY, YOU'll NEVER SEE ME AGAIN.

USNAVI
DAMN, WE ONLY JOKIN', STAY BROKE THEN.

VANESSA
I'LL BE DOWNTOWN, .
GET A NICE STUDIO, GET OUT OF THE
BARRIO.

· v ANESSA BENNY
IFI FOR REAL TIIOUGH.,
WIN IMAGINE HOW IT WOULD FBEL
THE GOJN' RE.AL SLOW,
LOTTERY, DOWN THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE
YOU'LL WONDER WHERE WITH NO REGRETS,
l'VEBEEN. AND NO BREAKIN' YOUR NECK
FORRESPECT ORA PAYCHECK-

PERUSAL
L "•, • •• -- -- •- V -- • •• • • ••• - , .•• ..- -• ••

I- 7 - 50

(
YOIIT'S USNAVI BENNY
FORREAL
SILLY WHEN WE THOUGH,
GET lNTO THESE I'LL TAKE A BREAK
CRAZY HYPOTHETICALS. FROM THE WHEEL
AND WB'LL THROW

YOUREALLY WANT SOME TIIE BIGGEST

BREAD, TIIEN 00 AHEAD BLOCK
CREATE A SET OF GOALS. PARTY, EVER.Y
CROSS 'EM OFF THE LISTAS BODY HERE.
YOU PURSUE 'EM,

AND WITH THOSE A WEEKEND WHBN

NINBTY SIX I KNOW WE CANBREAT
PRECISELY - WHAT TAKE IT EASY.
I'MDOIN'.

FORREAL
YO!IT'S THOUG
SILLY WHEN WE IMAGINE
GET JNTO THBSE HOWIT WOULD FEEL GOIN'
CRAZY HYPOTHETICALS.

REALSLOW,
YOU REALLY WANT DOWNTHE
SOME BREAD THEN GO HIGHWAYOF
AHEAD CREATE A SET LIFEWITH
OF GOALS, NOREGRETS,

CROSS 'EMOFFTHELIST AS AND NO BREAKlN'

YOU PURSUE 'EM, AND YOURNECK.
WITH THOSE NINETY SIX. FOR RESPF.Cf ORA
PAYCHECK
I KNOW PRECISELY
WHAT I'M DOIN'.

PERUSAL
 I- 7 - 51
SON, DAN & ENS
VANESSA

96,000 ' CARLA

l'LL
BE
DOWNTOWN,
NOI\.1EDIGA!

ENSEMBLE
96,000

CARLA
NOMEDIGA! SEB
YOU
ENSEMBLE AROUND!
96,000

SON&DAN
NOMEDIGAI

ENSEMBLE
WHY-OHl

WOMEN
CHECK IFIWIN
ONE TWO THREE THB
LOTTERY,
MEN
AND WITII TIIE DOLLAH DOLLAH

WOMEN
WITH96G,S

MEN YOU
WB GET TO HOLLAHHOLLAH WON'T
SEEA
WOMEN LOTOF
BETWEEN YOU ME ME!
,,
MEN
WEROCK THE HOTIMPALA

ENSEMBLE
WHY-OH
PERUSAL
; ·- ... _ ·-·- --- -
.... ..... ... - - - ·- - - ---·

I- 7- 52

,(
USNAVI BENNY
YO! IT'S FORREAL
Sll,LY WHEN WE GET INTO 1HOUGH,
THESECRAZY
rLLTAKEA
HYPOTIIBTICALS, BREAKFROM
THEWHBEL
YOU RBALLY WANT SOME AND WB'IL THROW,
BREAD IHEN 00 AHEAD
CREATE A SET OF GOALS.

TIIB BIGGEST
BLOCK
PARTY, EVERY
CROSS 'IDA OFF THE LISTAS BODYHBRE,
YOUPURSUE'

AND WITH THOSENINETY

- SIX, I KNOWPRECISELY
WHAT l'M DOIN'! A WEEKEND
WHENWE
CAN
AND WITR TIIOSB BREATHE,
NINETYSIX TAKE IT EASY.
IKNOW
PRECISBLY
WHATl'M
DON.

YO! OH, WHOA, OHt

PERUSAL
 I- 7 -53

WOIIIEN &
IIEN
'--- - - --,
rIL
VAN ES SA

WITH 96 G'S BE DOV/NTOWN,

MEN
WE MOVJN' ON TOMORRAH.

WOMEN
A BRAND NEW LEASB

MEN
WE ROCK BEYOND MAil.ÁilA. SEB
YOU
WOMEN AROUND!
A MALIBU BREEZE...

MEN
WE DROP THEMAMADRAMA,
WE STOP AT THE
BAHAMASJ

WOMEN
WHY-OH!

IIEN
WE DRINK PINA COLADAS!
POPPlN' LOCKIN' UP TIIE BLOCK
AROUNDI
WOMEN
WHY-OHI

MEN
DROP IT LIKE rr·s HOTJ

PERUSAL
 WOMEN&MEN
WHO-OAA! WHO..OAA! WHO-OAA! WHO-OAA!
VANESSA
l'LL BEDOWNTOWN!

USNI BEN & SON

WB COULD PAY OFF THE DEBTS WHOA-OHI WHOA.OH!
VJEOWE!
VAN, CAR & DAN
WE COULD TELL EVERYONE WEKNOWI
WHOA-OH!

USNAVI
I COULD GET ON A PLANEAND
GOi WHOA-OH!

USNAVI; BENNY & SONNY WE BE SWIMMIN' INDOUGH, YOI

USN, BEN, SON, VAN,.

GRP, M1&M2
WHOA-OHl

..
....
NO TIP-TOElN'
WB'LL GBT THE DOUGH 'N'

ALL
ONCE WE GET GOJN'
WB'RE NEVER GONNA
srop TIP-TOElN'
WE'LL GET THE DOUGH
AN'

.
ONCE WE GET GOIN',
WE'RE NEVER GONNA-
W1-4, M1-
3, USN&
BEN
SON, PIR,J
CAR, VAN & DAN,
M4

..
.
NJNETY SIX
THOUSAND 115-6 &GRP WHA'?

NlNE
• 1Y SIX
 ..
THOUSAND NINETY WE'LL GET WHA'?
THE WHA'?
DOUGH•N• WHA'?

.
SIX THOUSAND
ONCEWEGET

•
GOIN'

PERUSAL

• ••
•
 ALL
WE'IL GET THE OOUGH 'N'
ONCE WE GET GOIN'
WE'RE NEVER GONNA STOP!

MUSIC 7A: 96 ,000 PLAYOFF/ AB UEL A'S TRANSITJON

NINETY SIX THOUSAND

NlNElY SIX
THOUSAND NINETY
SIX THOUSAND

Scene 8: The Street

(NINA and CAMJLA. enter.)

CAMILA
Calt your father. He was supposed to belp me, snd he's not picking up.

NINA
We're fine, we have ali
aftemoon.
CAMILA

Wc atonotfine.

(They exit into the bodega. ABUELA. CLA.UDIA comes ouJ onto her
stoop.}
CLAUDIA
Ay, que calor. Usnavi, 000--00! 1 [Ay, the heat.]

USNAVI
(Enters.)
Something's wrong, you were off-pitch.

CLAUDIA
It's the heat. Toma,; your ham and cheese. 1 [Here]
USNAVI
Thanks. You know,, you already brought me
one.
CLAUDIA
De vffl"dad'l My memory goes two miles an how. ] [Really?]
I'm taking a walk, I need sorne air.

PERUSAL
 USNAVI
Breadcrumbs for your birds.
(Hands her a little
bag.)
Stay in the shade, okay?
CLAUDIA
Ah! I should stop by Padre Carlos's church and light a few caridles.

USNAVI
Light one for my broken grate. I gotta. go call the mechanic about th.at thing. Mi
amor, like you always say, patience and faith.

CLAUDIA
Paciencia yfe.

(USNA n
exitsJ
MUSIC 8: PACIENCIA Y FE - - _

ABUELA CLAUDIA
CALOR . . . CALOR . . . CALOR . . .
CALOR . . . CALOR . . . CALOR . • .
AY, MAMÁ.!
THE SUMMER'S HOTTEST DAY!
PACIENCIA YFE! PACIÉNCIA YFE!
AY CARAJO, IT'S HOT! 1 [ldiom: hell (shit)]
(She makes the sign ofthe-cross)
BUT THAT'S OKAYI
MAMÁ WOULD SAY, "PACIENCIA Y FE!''

IT WAS HOTTERAT HO:ME IN LA VIBORA

Tim WASHINGTON HEIGIITS OF HAVANA!
A CROWDED CTIY OF FACES THE SAME AS MINE!
BACK AS A CIIlLD IN LA VIBORA,
I CHASED THE BIRDS IN THEPLAZA
PRAYING, MAMÁ, YOU WOULD FIND WORK.
COMBING THE STARS IN THE SKY FOR SOME SORT OF
SIGNI AY, MAMÁ, SO MANY STARS IN CUBA ...
ENNUEVA YORKWE CAN'T SBE BEYOND OUR STRÍIBTLIGHTS . .
. TO REACH TlIE ROOF YOU GOTTA BRIBE THE SUPA' ...
.AJN'T NO CASSIOPIA IN WASIDNGTONBEIGIITS ...
BUT AIN'T NO FOOD IN LA VIBORA . . .

I REMEMBER NIGHTS, ANGER IN THE STREETS,

PERUSAL
I- 8- 57

HUNGERATnIE WINDOWS.
WOMEN FOLDING CLOTHES, PLAYING WITH MY FRIENDS
IN THE SUMMER RAIN ...
MAMÁ NEBDS A JOB, MAMÁ SAYS WE'RE POOR,
ONEDAYYOUSAY
"VAM()SANUEVAYORK ... "1 ["Let's gotoNew York...'1
AND NUEVA. YORKW AS FAR,
BUT NUEVA YORKHAD WORK. AND SO WE C.AlVIE ••.

AND NOW, I'M WIDE AWAKE

A MILLION YEARS TOO LATE
I TALK TO YOU, IMAGJNING WHAT YOU'D DO
REMEMBERING WHAT WE WENf TIIR.OUGH

(I'he mwic swell.s into a mambo groo-ve. PASSERSBY on the sidewalk

come to life, waving helio to ABUELA CLAUDIA as they pass.)

NUEVA YORK/ AY MAMÁ!

IT WASN' T LIKE
TODAY, YOU'DSAY:
"PACIENCIA Y FE,

ENSEMBLE:
(PIR, W1-4, M1-6)
"PACIF.NCL4 Y
FE.

ABUELA CLAUDIA
PACIENCIA Y FE!"

ENSEMBLE
PACIENCIA Y -

ABUELA CLAUDIA
FRESH OFF THE BOAT IN AMERICA
FREBZING IN BARLY DECEMBBR
A CROWDED CITY INNlNETEEN FORTY THREEI
LEARNlNG,THE ROPES IN AMERICA
IN ESPAÑOL, I REMEMBER,
DANCING WITij: MAYOR LA.GUARDIA,
ALL OF SOCIETY WELCOMING MAMI AND ME!
HA!

PERUSAL
 ENSEMBLE + BACKGROUND:
(NIN, DAN, CAR, VAN, SON, USN, BEN, GRP & WS)
YOU BETIER CLEAN THIS MESSI

ABUELA CLAUDIA
PACIENCIA Y
FE!
ENSEMBLE &
BACKGROUND
YOU BETIER LEARN INGLÉS!

ABUELA CLAUDIA
PACIENCIA Y FE .. -.

ENSEMBLE & BACKGROUND

y· o u BETTER NOT BE LATE!
YOU BETIER PULL YOUR WEIGHT!
ARE YOU BETIER OFF THAN YOU WERE WITH THEBIRDS OF LA
VIBORA?

ABUELA CLAUDIA
SHARING DOUBLE BBDS, TRYJNG TO CATCH A BREAK,
STRUGGLING WITHF.NGLISH
LISTENING TO FRIENDS, FINALLY GOTA JOB
WORKING AS A MAID. -
SO WE CLEANED SOME HOMES, POLISHING WITH PRIDE,
SCRUBBING THE WHOLE OF THE UPPER EAST SIDE
nIE DAYS1NTO WE.EKS, THE WEEKS INTO YEARS,
AND HERE I STAYED.

USN, BEN, GRP & M3

PACIENCIA Y FE . .
.
SON, PIR, MS & M&

PACIENCIA Y FE. , .

MEN + DANI. CAR, NIN, W3, W4 & W5

PACIENCIA Y FE .• .

PERUSAL
 I-9-59

DAN, CAR, NIN, SON,

ABUELA CLAUDIA BEN, GRP, USN, W5
.ANDAS l PEED TIIESE BIRDS & M6 + (OFF-STAGE:
MY HANDS BEGIN TO SHAKE PIR, W3, W4 & M6)
ANDAS I SAY THBSE WORDS OOH,
MY HEART'S ABOUT TO BREAK OOH, OOH, AND AY .MAMÁ.!
ANDAYMAMÁ,
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN
YOUR DREAMS COME ANDAYMAMÁ.
TRUE? AAH, AAH, AH!
I'VE SPENT MY LIFE
INHERITING
DRRAMS FROM
YOU.

(A.JJUELA CLAUDIA holds upa lottery ticketJ

ABUELA CLAUDIA
WHAT DO IDO WITH TIIIS WINNlNG
TICKET? WHAT CAN IDO BUT PRAY?

IBUYMY LOAF OF BREAD

CONTJNUE WITHMYDAY.
AND SEE YOU INMY HEAD
IMAGINING WHAT YOU'D SAY
THE BIRDS, THEY FLY
AWAY; DO TIIBY FLY TO LA
VIBORA?

(She stops and laughs.J

Alright, Mamá. Oby.

PACIENCIA YFE.

CAR, NIN, CAM, DAN, SON, USN, BEN, GRP & W5 +

(OFF-STAGE: PIR, W1-3 & M1, M2, M4 & M6)
CALOR, CALOR. CALOR/

MUSIC 8A: TIME LAPSE

Scene 9: Abuela Claudla's Stoop- early evenlng

(Early eveníng. NJNA at ABUELA. CLA.VDIA's stoop. She ring the

doorhell, no answer. She knocks on the door, no answer. SONNY enters
fram the bodega.)

PERUSAL
 SONNY
Well, wcll, well. Nina Rosario. I think we both know what time it is.

NINA
Your bedtime?

SONNY
Not yet. lt's time you open that wounded soul up to Sonny.

NINA
It' s tempting.
SONNY
Yooneed a.welcome home slushee. Two parts blue raspberry, one part
cherry cola, and check this out. I mix. in some nerds at the end... mm!

BENNY
(Entering fram the dispatch, calling beltilfd mm.)
Domingo, it' s ali you.

NINA
(TiJ SONNY.)
Can I get a raincheck on trust slushee?

SONNY
B ut -

BENNY
Yo,
Sonny.
(Gestu.res that SONNY shuuld get lost.)

SONNY
One day you'll both need my sympathy and wi1l I be there? Probably.
(ExitsJ

BENNY
Is thi.s step taken?

NINA
(Scoots overJ
Did you learn some more curse words?

PERUSAL
 ...

BENNY
(Sits.)
l'm trying but it's like two different languages. Dominican Spanish, Puerto Rican
Spanish.

NINA
I he.ar you. They spoko a different kind of Bnglish. sí Stanford.

BENNY
Really?

NINA
"Weekend/' Verb. To go skiing at your cabin on Lake Tahoe. ''Cahin."
Noun. A blasé word far "mansion."

BENNY
You need to teach them some local vocabulmy.

NINA
Oh I did. Bvery day in the cafeteria, I was like, "Oye, you need some fries with
that?"

MUSIC 9: WHEN YOU'RE HOME - --

. BENNY
(Lilce a toast.)
To not speaking the
language.
NINA
I USED TO TIIlNK WE LIVBD AT THE TOP OF THB WORLD,
WHEN TIIE WORLD WAS JUSTA SUBWAYMAP
AND THE ONE-SLASH-NINE CLlMBED A DOTTED LINE
TOMYPLACB.

BENNY
THERE'S NO NINE TRAINNOW.

NINA
RIGHI.
I USED TO THJNK THE BRONX WAS A PLACE IN THE SKY,
WHEN THE WORLD WAS msT A SUBWAY MAP.
AND MY THOUGHTS TOOK SHAPE

PERUSAL
 I-9-62

NINA&BENNY
ON THAT FIRE ESCAPE ...

NINA
CAN YOU REMIND ME OF WHAT IT WAS L1KE
AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD?

BENNY
COME WITH ME.
WE BEGIN JULY
WITIIA STOP AT MY CORNERFIRE HYDRANT.

NINA
YOU WOULD OPEN IT EVERY SUMMER.

BENNY
I WOULD BUST IT WITH A
WRBNCH TILL MY FACE GOT
DRENCHED,
TILL I HEARD THE SIRENS,
THEN I RAN LIKE HELLI

NINA
YOU RAN LIKE IIELL!

BENNY
YEAH, I RAN LllCE

NINA·
HELLI 1REl\IBMBER

BENNY
WEIL!
TO YOURFATHER'S DISPATCH WINDOW,
(He bQllgs on the wi11dow.)
"HEY, LET ME IN, YO!
THEY'RE COMINO TO GET MEI"

NINA
'YOU WERE ALWAYS 1N CONSTANT TROUBLE-

BENNY
TilEN YOUR DAD WOUI.D ACT ALL SNIDE, BUT HE LET ME HIDE.
Y0U'D BE THERE INSIDE-

PERUSAL
Twenty seven years ago, in Arrecibo, Puerto Rico, I threw my shovel down, hitched a ride into town
and I bought two plane tickets to Nueva York. I showed up at Camila’s house with my suitcase and
said: “This way, vamos”.

CAMILA: That whole plane ride I was trying not to cry, verdad?

KEVIN: The whole plane ride you were drinking Baccardi. You were Nina’s age and now watch.
You make me proud to be a Rosario, so today I put down my shovel again, hitched a ride into
town and I took another leap of faith. Nina, I sold the business to pay for your tuition.

NINA: What?

KEVIN: I sold Rosario’s; you’re going back to Stanford.

CAMILA: Kevin, this had better be a joke.

KEVIN: Uptown Investments takes over in two weeks.

CAMILA. Uptown? Ay Dios mío!

NINA: Hey dad, I’ll find a job. I’ll take no classes...

KEVIN: What? (Looks at Vanessa) So you can end up just another girl stuck in el barrio?

VANESSA: Hey wait! Why are you looking at me when you say that?

BENNY: So I just lose my job.

CAMILA: Of course you didn’t. I do the payroll, the banking, the chaotic papers, we worked twenty
years to build this company. I worked…

KEVIN: For what Cami? Twenty years for what?

NINA: What about your employees?

BENNY: You can’t just kick us to the street.

KEVIN: I’m not a welfare office. Family comes first, above everything.

BENNY: The day you hired me you said I was family.

KEVIN: That’s business. This is my daughter.

CAMILA: You’re all my family and you have my word: we are not selling Rosario’s.

KEVIN: That's the same thing that

we foresaw when we came!

NINA: No, it's not the same thing, Dad.

It is not the same.

When you came here and Mom came here,

you all had a Latino community

ready to welcome you, open arms,

babies and abuelas,

and teachers and lawyers,

first generation, fifth generation...

There's no community for me at school.

I got searched.

Yeah.. I got searched.On moving day...my roommate lost her pearl necklace and...

the RA and her parents came in...

and searched me and

they... emptied my

drawers, turned over my

purse...

and I just stood there.

I stood there and didn't say anything.

And then eventually, they found it...

in her bag.

KEVIN:

You're the best we've got, Nina.

If you can't stay in the ring,

what's that gonna say about us?

NINA

You can't keep putting your life's work

on my shoulders, Dad.

KEVIN

Dile, mi gente,

isn't she the best we got?

NINA

And then I apologize like an

idiot. I stood there, I didn't do

anything, and then I apologized.

KEVIN

Well, you keep getting A's, baby,

that's your revenge.

BENNY: My God, you're not hearing her, Kevin.

NINA: I'm not going back!

KEVIN: ¿Cómo?
NINA: I'm not going back!

KEVIN

So all of my decisions

can just go to hell here?

I'm doing this for you!

NINA: No, you're doing it for you!

NINA

What if I refuse your money?

What if I don't want it?

KEVIN: Mírame en los ojos.

NINA

I refuse.

VANESSA: Excuse me, I’m not good enough to sit with the Bourgeoisie.

(Nina goes to Benny).

NINA: Benny I can fix this, I promise…

KEVIN: Nina, stay away from him. (Benny

exits) BENNY: I’ll get out of the way.

NINA: You know I will never touch that money!

KEVIN: So help me God, you are flying back to California.

KEVIN: I’m making the damn deal.

CAMILA: This is our business!

KEVIN: It was in my name.

CAMILA: Dinner is over.

 I-10- 66

BENNY
WELCOME HOME-

NINA
I'MHOMB-

BENNY NINA
YOU'RE FINALLY HOME. rMHom1
YOU'RE HOME! l'MHOME!

(Sun sets on the neighborhood.)

Scene 1o: The Street - dusk

(Dusk, neighbors Jan themselves on .stoops. PIRAGUA. GUY scrape3

from hfs ice block.)

MUSIC 10: PIRAGUA

. PIRAGUA. GUY
OH, QUÉ CALOR, QUÉ CALOR, QUÉ CALOR, QUÉ CALO-O-ORJ

PIRAGUA. PJRA.GUA!
NEW BLOCK OF ICE. PIRAGUA!
PIRAGUA, PIRAGUA!
SO SWEET AND NICE, PIRAGUA.!

TENGO DE MANGO,
[I hove mango...
TENGO DE PARCHA.
passion fruit]
DEPIÑAYDEFRESAI
[p'ineapple ... strawberry]
TENGO DE CHINA:, DE
[orange... lemc,nj .
LIMÓN, DE PESO Y
[Dollar--.size ami quarter-size]
DEPESET..4, HEY1

PIRAGUA, PIRAGUA!
NEW BLOCK OF ICE, PIRA.GUA!
PIRAGUA, PIRAGUA/
SO SWEET AND NICB, PIRAGUA!

IT'S HOITER THAN THE ISLANDS ARE

TONIGHT. AND MR. SOFTEE'S TRYING TO
SHUT ME DOWN. BUTI KEEP SCRAPING BY
1HE FADING LIGHT: HEY PANA, THIS IS MY
TOWNI

PERUSAL
 -

-- - -

I-11-67
PIRAGUA, PIRAGUA!
KEEP SCRAPING BY, PIRAGUA!

PIRAGUA, PIRAGUA!
KEEP SCRAPJNG BY, PIRAGUA!

KEEP SCRAPING BY, KEEP SCRAPING BY...

LAI LO LE LO LAI! LAI LO LE LO LAI!

KEEP SCRAPJNG BY, KEEP SCRAPING BY...

LA/ LO LE LO LAI!

KEEP SCRAPJNG BY...

OH, QUÉ CALOR. QUÉ CALOR, QUÉ CALOR. QUÉ CAL0-0-0R/

Scene 11: The Rosario Household

' q!
MUSIC 11; SIEMPRE 1¡
1'
!
(Ihe Rosario houseluild. An old record p/ays. NJNA and CAMlLA
.1
dance. VANESSA dmtces up to ABUELA. CLAUDIA.)

VANESSA
Yo, tomorrow's the fourth oí July, it's time to party! Come on, Abuela Claudia,
!'11 show you some new moves.·

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Vamos, butno bwnp andgr.ind!

(I'hey dance.)

CAMILA
(Pul/s NIN.A to
dance.)
Jt's my song.
NINA

We really don\ have t .

CAMILA
Yes we do. I dance best when I'm angry.
(They dance.)
1

PERUSAL
 ABUELA CLAUDIA
(To VANESSA..)
It's too much nalgas. Be subUe. 1 [lruttock.J]
Pretend you're dancing on a tiny
brick.

VANESSA
Uh-uh, Abuela, l shake my
assl
BOLERO SINGER (PRE-RECORDED}
NO TE VA.Y.AS [Don'tgo away
SI ME DEJAS, Jf you leave me.
SI TE ALEJAS DE MI. lf you11Wve away frum me
(CAMILA. :sitigs along to the record)

BOLERO SINGER & CAMILA

SEGUIRAS EN MIS RECUERDOS \ You'll be in my memurie.<1
PARA SIEMPRE, forever]
(]'he recard bits a sldp.)
PARA SIEMPRE... PARA SIEMPRE-...
(CAMILA turns oj/the record)

CAMILA
The scratch in tb.c, record is my favarite part!

USNAVI
(Enters.)
Damn, did we miss the reoord scratch?

BENNY
(Entas.)
Put the music back on!

CAMILA
Bueno, but no encoresl Show up late, you miss the hot stuffl

USNAVI
New Zealand Shiraz. Vintage 2008.

BENNY
Some pastel de guava for dessert. ! [guava pastry]

PERUSAL
 -

-
-
' ,,.
-
• ,1-
-
.
.,-,,:
,
-
- • J
•'

- - - - -

I-11-69

USNAVI
(To CLAUDIA.)
Bendición.
ABUELA
CLAUDIA
Qué di03 te bendiga! Alahanzato the day! I [God bless you! Praise..,]
We have fo1Rlk later...

USNAVI
So, West Village, do I owe you a bottle of champagne?

VANESSA
The landlord saw my credit application and laughed. Out loud.

NINA
Screw him. It wasn't the rigbt place for you.

VANESSA
No, there was exposed brick on putpose, not because the wal1s were all busted.

NINA
Don'tworry about that. We should e.ll go dancing later...

BENNY
ff there's AC, I'm there.
(I'o USNAVJ.)
Youin?

USNAVI
Actually, Vanessa and I already have plans.

VANESSA
Yeah, come with us. The more friends the bettcr, rigbt?

USNAVI
You know it, frien.di

(KEVIN
rmters.)
KEVIN
The west side highway was bumper to bumperl

CAMILA
There you arel

PERUSAL
 I- 11- 70

BENNY
Boss, how's it go:ing?

USNAVI
E/jefe! 1 [The boss!J

VANESSA
What's up, Mr.
Rosario?

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Mua pa'lla. Who's that handsome man? 1 [Look ove,- there.]
KEVIN
(Kisses ABUELA CLAUDIA.)
It's my beautifulprincesa.

NINA
Hey, dad...

KEVIN
(I'oNINA.)
Excuse me. You're the princess, Claudia is the queen.

CAMILA
And what does that make
me?
KEVIN .

The dictator.

(I'Jrey !rus.)
CAMILA
Damn straight! One day I'll open my R.e8taurante Boricua. Until then, you•re
all my guinea pigsl Serve youn¡elves, plates are in the kitchen!

KEVIN
Listen up everyone. Atención!

CAMILA
Let's serve first. the food is gonna get cold.

KEVIN
Cami, the pernil can wait five minutes. 1 [ham]

PERUSA.L
 1-11 - 71

(He clears his throat.)

Twenty seven years: ago in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, I threw down my shovel,
hitched a ride into town, and bought two pla.ne tickets to Nuevayork. I
showed up at Camila's house with a suitcase and said vamos.

CAMILA
That whole plane ride I was trying not to cry, 1 [truth?J
verdad?

KEVIN
That whole plane ride you were drinking Bacardi,

CAMILA
Sin erguenza! 1 [No shame!]

KEVIN
We were Nina s
age.
(I'oNINA.)
And now look at you. You make me proud to be a Rosario. So today I threw
down my shovel agaio. I hitched a ridc into town. I took another leap of faith.
Nina, I irold the business topa.y for your tuition.

NINA
What?

KEVIN
I sold Rosario's. You're going backto Stanford.

CAMILA
Kevin, this had better be ajoke.

KEVIN
Uptown Investment takes over in two weeks.

CAMILA
Uptown? Ay dias mio, they offered us [ [Ohmygod]
nothing!

KEVIN
It was onough, mi 1 [mylife]
vidq.

NINA
Wait. Dad, I'll find ajob. I can take night classes!

KEVIN
What, so you end up just another girl irtuck in el barrio?

PERUSA.L
 I-11-72

VANESSA
Heyl Why you gotta look at me when you say that'l
BENNY
Yo, did Ijust lose my job?

CAMlLA
Of coW'Sfl you didn't.
(IoKEVIN.)
I do the payroll, tbe banlcing, your chaotic papers. We worked twenty yeatS
to build this compeny. I worked!
KEVIN
For what. Cami'? Twenty years for whal?
NINA
What about your employees'l
BENNY
You can'tjust kick us to the

...
USNAVI
cu.rb.
Your drivers are halfmy customer_s.
KEVIN

rm noat welfare office! Family comes first. above e-verytbing.

BENNY
Toe day you hired me you said I was fami1y.
KEVIN
..•
That's business. This is m:y daughter.
CA.MlLA ••
You are a1l my y, and you have- my word: we are not sellmg Rosario's.

•
•
KEVIN
r m making the damn
CAMllA @
deal.
This is our business! t

••
pERlJSAL
•
 I-11-73

KEVIN
It was in my
name!
CAMILA

Dinner is over.

(She exitsJ

NINA
Momt

VANESSA
Excuse me. I'm not good enough. to sit with the bourgeoisie.

(VANESSA exitsJ

ABUELA CLAUDfA
Con permiso. 1 [Excuse me. (Lit: with permissian)]

USNAVI
Vente, Abuela. 1 [Comeon]

(USNAVI andAJJUELA CLAUDIA exit.)

NINA
(IoBENNY.J
Benny. I'll fix this, I
promiso-"
KEVIN

Nina, stay away from lriml

BENNY
(I'oKEVIN)
1'11 get out of your way.
(He exitsJ

(N1NA and;I(EVJN are alone.)

NINA
You know I will never touch that money.

KEVIN
So help me god, you are :tlying back to California.

PERUS-ll
 I-12 -74

(She exit3.)

Scene 12: The Club

(The club. V.ANF.SSA. enter.r. USN.A..Vlfollows. BENNY is drinking at

the b{I]'.)

MUSIC 12: CLUB NUMBER -

CLUBPEOPLE
VANESSA!

(USNAYI tries to keep up wlth her.) .

USNAVí
DAMN. TIIlS IS NICE!
I REALLY LIKB WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THB LIGHTS!
SO, THB HOT CLUB IN WASHINGTON HBIGHTS!
YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT, THIS MUSIC'S TIGHf,
YO, DID 1 MENTION TIIAT YOU LOOK GREAT TONIGHT?
BF.CAUSE YOU DO YOU REAILY...

VANESSA
USNAVI, RELAX!

USNAVI
RELAX. QUÉ RELAXED? I'MRELAXÍID.

(A couple dancea by.)

M3&W3
WEPA!VANESSAI 1 [Yeah! (Gol)]

USNAVI
SO YOU'VE BEEN·HERE BEFORE.
I OON'J' GO OUT; I GBT SO BUSY WITH T.HE STORE.
Y CADA DIA IT'S A BRAND NEW CHORE 1 [And everyday]

MY ARMS ARE SORE; NO TIME FOR TIIE DANCE FLOOR

BUT MAYBE YOU AND ME SHOill.,D HANG OUT
SOMEMORE. I'M SUCH A DORK, BUT 1-

PERUSAL
 VANESSA
LET'SGOGET ADRINK.

USNAVI
SOMETHING SWEET.

VANESSA
YOU KNOWME, A LITTLE BIT OF CINNAMON.

ALL
WEPA! VANESSAI

(USNAVljoins BENNY at the hm-. BENNY is dC>ing shotsJ

BENNY
HERE'S TO GETIING FIRED!

USNAVI
TO KILLING THE
MOOD!
BOTH ·· 1¡
1 [Health!]
SALUD! 1 i
1

(They da a shot) :1
· BENNY ¡¡
WITHOUT SO MUCHAS A TIIANIC YOUI"
,,,
[ 1

USNAVI ,
AFfER. ALL THESE YEARSI ¡
l1
I!
80TH 1

!
CHEERSI

(11,ey do arwther
shotJ
BENNY
TO FlNALLY GETIING VANESSAI
MAN, FIX YOUR COLLAR...

'(He flx USNA.VI'S collar.)

USNAVI
HOLLER!

PERUSAL
I-12- 76

BENNV
TO DOING SHOTS ON A WEEKEND!
USNAVI
AS LONG AS YOUBUY 'EM. L'CHAIM! 1 [Hebr : To life!]

(A:nother $hot.· JOSE approac.hes V.ANESSA.)

JOSE(M2)
HEYYOU!

VANESSA
WHO?

JOSE
YOU!

VANESSA
WHO,ME'1

...
· JOSE
YOU WANNA
DANCE?
VANESSA

NAW,MAN ...
JOSE
OKAY, I TOOK MY CHANCE ...

..
USNAVl
IT'S COOL, IT'S COOL, BEY,1F YOU WANT TO. . .

VANESSA
YOU DON'T MINO?
;

..
USNAVI
l'M FINE! I'MFINB!
BENNY
@
USNAVI

.•
YO!

PERUSAL

-
 BENNY
WHO'S VANESSA TALKIN' TO?

USNAVI
SOMEDUDBI

BENNY
SOMEDUDE?!
THAT'S MESSED UP, SHE'S TRYINTO MAKE YOU JBALOUSI

USNAVI
JEALOUS? I AIN'T JEALOUS! I CAN TAKE ALL THESE PELLAS,
WHATEVERI

(USNA.VI grahs V.ANESSA.from JOSE anti dances wlth her, JOSE is

pissed NINA enters.)

NINA
BENNY, CANWE TAKEA WALK OUTSIDE'l

BENNY
AND THERE SlIB IS!

. NINA
l'M SO SORRY, I DIDN''f KNOW.

BENNY
WHO LET YOU IN? THIS IS TIIB GIRL WHO COST US OUR JOBS
TODAY!

NINA
rM GONNA MAKE IT RIGIITI

(He ralses his glass ro her.)

, BENNY
A TOAST TO TIIE END OF ALL I KNOW!

NINA
YOU'VE HAD ENOUGHI

BENNY
SAYS TIIE GIRL WHO HAS IT ALL!

PERUSAL
1-12 - 78

NINA
TIIAT' S NOT
FAIR.
BENNY
WELL WHYDON'T YOU RUNHOME TO DADDY?
HE LOVES TO REMIND ME THAT l'LL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH
FORYOURFAMILY ... FORYOU ...

NINA
YOU DON'T KNOW ME!

BENNY
POORYOU...

NINA
I IBOUGHTYOU WERE DIFFERENT.

BENNY
SALUD.
(He shaves h drink in NINA's J,and and pul!:. a random WOMAN te the
dance jloor.)
Comeon.

(A choro$ of hoys swoops_ in on VANESS.A, stealing her from LJgNAVJ,

alternating as they swing her around the flour.)

PIR, GRP & M1-6

VANESSA, LET ME GET THE NEXT
ONE! VANESSA, LET ME INTERJECT
SOMEI
THE WAYYOU SWEAT, THE WAY YOU FLEX ON THE FLOOR
IT MAKES ME WANT YOU MORE!

VANESSA, LET ME GET THE NEXT ONEI

VANESSA, LET ME INTERJECT SOME!
THE WAY YOU SWEAT, THE WAY YOUFLEX 0N TIIE FWOR
ITMAKESMEWANTYOUMORE!

VANESSA, LET ME GET THE NEXT ONE. !

VANESSA, LET:ME INTERJECT SOME!
THE WAYYOU SWEAT, THE WAY YOU FLEX ON THE FLOOR
1T MAKES ME WANTYOU MOREt

PER:USAL
 I-12 -79

(USNAVI approaches YOLANDA at the bar.)

USNAVI
BARTENDER.!
LET ME GET AN AMARETIO SOURFOR TIIlS GHETTO FLOWER!
HOW ARE YOU SO PRETTY?
YOU COMPLETE ME,
YOU HAD ME AT ''HELLO,"YOU KNOWYOUNEED ME,_
TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY, LET'S GET FREAKY.
OH I GET IT YOU'RE TIIE STRONG AND SILENT
TYPE. WELL, rM THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND TYPE,
AND I CAN ORIVE YOU WILD ALL
NIGHT! BUT I DIGRESSI
SAY SOMETIIING SO I DON'T STRESS.

YOLANDA (W1)
NO HABLO 1 [J don't speak Englilih.J
INGLÉS.
USNAVI

YES\

(USNAVI takes her out on the floor. Everyrme is dancing. VANESSA. ,,

and JOSE. USNAVI and YOLANDA. BENNY ami CLUB GIRL. NINA
fmds another GUY to dance wtth and spins by BENNY. BENNY is 1

pwed. USNAVI SWOOM m and ta/wJ VANESSA. aut of JOSE'S hands

1
;
;
ar.d dances with hu. JOSE, without mwing a beat, glides back in and ;

takes VANESSA hc,ck, ' mid-wrn. To adt1 tn.rult to injury, he grabs

YOLANDA, and is now dipping and spinning them hoth on tire dance
floor. During this impressive di3play, USNAVI and a very drunk
BENNY slide in ami each grab a girl, /eavtng JOSE dancing alone.
JOSE, angry, starts to tap USNAVI on the shoulder. Without missing a
beat, BF.NNY hauls and punche.s JOSE acr033 the face. More ami
more instruments add to the mix. 11,e dancing get8 intense, crazy, It is a
whirlwind of mavement, a re/ease of stress, wJum .mddenly:

THE POWE, R GOF,S OUT IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS.

Complete darkness. A cell phrme light appears, ill1.111'inal.ing a face.

Mot"e and more ce/l phoTU!S lights up, creating a bl-ue glow in the club.)

MUSIC 13: BLACKOUT -

(Aflashltght comes rm tn the dispatch booth.)

PERUSAL
 ..
:. · ..',:¡"" ·:f-· : ,:\;,/ --:::-_...
:_:.._. :.: ·:... ;·

I-12-80

PIRAGUAGUY
OYE QUÉ 1 [Heywhat happened?]
PASO?

USNAVI
BLACKOUT, BLACK.OUT!

PIRAGUAGUY
GRP &M1•3
VINO EL APAGÓN 1 [Here comes a OH,NO!
blackout
AY DIOS! ohgod!] ·
GRP, DAN, CAR,
USNAVI PIR, M6 & MS NIN, VAN, W1-5
BLACK0UT, OYE QUÉ PASO'! & M1-3,
BLACKOUT! O NO!

BENNY ENSEMBLE
HOLD UP, WAIT! VINO EL APAGÓN OH,NO!
HOLD UP, WAIT! AY DIOS!

USNAVI
NINA WHERB'D YOU YO! 11 CAN'T SEE! OH,NOI
GO, QUIT SHOVIN'
I CAN'T F1ND YOU- you S0N-OF-A, OH,NO!
_ IT'S AN OVEN,
ANDWEGOTIA OH,NO!
NINA TAKE IT SL0W. BACKOUT
l'M BEHIND YOU- TIDS IS A BLACK OH,NOl
OUT!
CHIIL, F0RREAL,
0R WB'RE G0NNA
GETKILLED!

(Aflashlight at the bodega. SONNY appear.r outside, holding a

baseball bat, protecting the storejront.)

PERUSAL
 _ • •,.-, • · 1· - ....-" -- • .-- -.:1..,/ _ -:- '•1 .
·· •,·
.. f\ - .'· • , - - • - • -
- - v
.
.-

•
•
•
•
• I-12 - 81

MEN
• KEVIN
CALLING ALL TAXIS!
SONNY
WHAT'S GOING ON? OH,
WHAT' S GOING ON? NO!
KEV & USN SUDDENLYI FIND OH,
EVERYONE RELAX THE ELECTRICITY IS NOJ ·
PLEASE... GONE.

KEVIN {SONNY) (MEN)

CALLJNGALL WHAT'S GOING ON? OH,
TAXIS! WHAT'S GOlNG ON? NO!

KEV&USN I GOTTA GUARO OH,

EVERYONE RELAX THE STORE MAKE NOI
PLEASE... SURETHAT
NOTIIING'S GOlNG
WRONG!
ENSEMBLE
(split in two groups)
BENNY OH,/NO!
S0MRBODY WHAT'S GOING ON? NO!/OH,
BEITEROPEN WHAT'S GOING ON?
TIIESE GODDAMN
DOORSI OH,/NO!
NOI/OH,
VANESSA
SOMEBODY GOTTAFIND
BE'ITBROPEN USNAVI TELL HIM OH,/NOI
THESE GODDAMN WHAT IS GOJNG ON NO! /OH,
DOORS!

BENNY ENSEMBLE
SOMEBODY NOTffiNG IS ON! (one group)
BETI'EROPEN NOTHING IS ON! NO!
THESE GODDAMN NO!
DOORSI NO!

VANESSA
AND I CAN'T FIND AND I CAN'T
FIND USNAVI! USNAVI ...

PERUSAL

.
- --- - ·- · - - - -
- ·= _: ;,_
 I-12 82

BENNY USNAVI
NJNA WHERE'D VANESSA,
YOUGO? NINA
HASANYONE
NINA WHERE D
1
VANESSA, SEENBENNY?
YOUGO?

NINA WHERE'D VANESSA,

YOUGO?
BENNY ... VANESSA
ICAN'TFIND IGOTTA USNAVI
YOU! GO. HELP:ME!
NINA WHERE'D VANESSA,
YOUGO?

NINA WHERE'D VANESSA, HASANYONE

YOUGO? SEENBBNNY?

NlNA WHERE'D VANESSA,

YOUGO? BENNY ..
.
ICAN'TFIND IGOTIA USNAVI
YOU! GO. HELPME!

KEVIN
PLEASE FIND NINA! VANESSA
FlND CAMILAl FINDMYWAYHOMBI
IF YOU SEE MY FAMILY
BRING USNAVI, HELP ME,
THEMHOMB!

SONNY
WE ARE POWERLESS YOULEFTMEAWNE!
WE ARE POWERLESS

SON, CAM, PIR. W4, W5 & M6

WE ARE POWERLESSI
WE ARE POWERLESSI

GRAFFITI PE:TE
YO! YOI THEY THROWIN' BOTILES IN THE STREETl
PEOPLE WOTIN' AND SHOOTIN'.
SONNY, THEY WANNA SEE A ROBBERY

PERUSAL
-

- • • - • • • r •• •

- .

I-12 -
83
WE GOTTAKEEP MOVINI

SONNY
NAW, MAN, I CAN'T LEAVE, WE GOTTA GUARD TIIB STOREI

GRAFFITI. PETE
THEY GONNA BOhIBARD THE STORE
UNTIL YOU AIN'T GOTA STORE NO MORE!

SONNV
I GOTA BASEBALL BAT ON A RACK JN' THEBACK!

GRAFFITI PETE
(Opentng a book bagJ
I GOTA COUPLE 'AROMAN CANDLES,
WE CAN DISTRACT TIIE VANDALS!
SONNY
HEY YO I SEE SOME TIIUGS COMIN',
MAN, WE GONNA GET JACKED UPI

(GRAFFll'l PETE rushes out of the atore holding a RDman Candle,

SONNY behind him wie1díng a bat.)

GRAfFITI PETE
GIMME A LIGHT, I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. BACK UPJ

GRAFFm PETE & SONNY

BACK llP! BACK UPI

(We heCII' an explosion.)

CAM, NIN1 CAR, ABC, USN, BEN,

SON, KEV, GRP, W1, W2l W3, VAN, DAN, PIR, W4,
1111 & M2 WS, M3, M-4 & M5 .
LOOK AT THE FIREWORKS.. LOOKAT THEFJREWORKS ...
. LOOKAT TIIB FIRBWORKS FLYI

□GHT UP TIIE NIGIIT LIGHT UP THE NIGHT SKY!

SKY.. . LOOK AT THE LOOK AT THE FIREWORKS FLY!
FIREWORKS.. .
UGHT UP TIIE NIGHT SKY...
LIGHT UP THB NIGHT SKYI

.PERIJSAL
{() : :·:!::.:\: ·: ·_'.·/·: .]/ ;-:;. Y?
-·.
r:_:

1-12- 84

SONNY
IT'S LATE AND TffiS GRATE WON'T COME OOWN,
COMEDOWN!

SONNY
IT'S LATE AND CARLA
- THIS GRA•ffi . -":·- OH, GOD, SO
MUCH P.ANICI
· WON;TCOME T1IE CROWD WAS
DOWNI MANICWim
EVERYBODY
_S CREAMING AND
SHOVING
AND SHOUTING
+M3 &M4
AND SLAPPING
WBARB
POWERLESS, AND EVERYONE'S
FRANTICI WHAT'S DANIELA*
WBARE MIRA MI A.MOR.
POWERLESS. HAPPENING WITH
YOU? HAZME UN FAVOR!
DESPIEKI'A U
ABUELA YALO
SONNY& IIEN . MEJOR ELLA TIENE
WEARE +VANESSA, UNA VELA! ESTUVE
POWERLESS, W4&W5 BAILANDO CUANDO
WE ARE VINO EL APAGÓN
WEARE AQUI HAY GENTE
POWERLESS!
POWERLESSl PERONOSÉ
POWERLESS! QUJENF,S SON!
WE ARE
POWERLESS!

(More exploslo-ns. USNAVI enterg his apartment.)

ENSEMBLE
LOOKAT THE FIREWORKS...

USNAVI
ABUELA ARE YOU AI,RIGHT?

ENSEMBLE
LlGHT UP THE NIGHT SKY ...

• Translation: [Lcok my /ove, do me a favor! Walce A.huela and maybe she

has a candle! / When I was dancing, the blacKtJui carne I There are people
Itere but I don't .biaw who they are!]
PERUSA.L
 1- 12- 85

ABUELA CLAUDIA
THE STARS ARE OUT TONIGHT!

ENSEMBLE
LOOK AT TIIE FIREWORKS .. ,

USNAVI
YOU,RE NOT ALONE TONIGHT.

ENSEMBLE
LIGHT UP THE NIGHf SKY ...

USNAVI & ABUELA CLAUDIA

YOU'RF./I'MNOT ALONE TONIGHT ...

ABUELA CLAUDIA
USNAVI, PLEASE PROl\.{ISE ME
YOU'LL GUARO TIIIS WITH YOUR LIFE!

(She hanás USNAVI a brawn paper bag. He looh iruide.)

USNAVI
ABUELA, ['VE NEVER. SEEN-

USNAVI & ABUELA CLAUDIA

TIIlS MUCHMONEYINMYLIFE!

(BENNY finds NINA on the street.)

BENNY
NINA TBERE YOU ARE!

NINA
PVE GOTTA GO!

BENNY
l'LL GET YOU OUT OF IIERB TONIGIITI

NINA
I OON'T NEED ANYTHING TONIGHT!
I CAN FIND MY WAY HOME.

BENNY
THEN FIND YOUR WAYHOME!

PERLISAL
 " -

•' .'-. •:: •;,w-. " ,•.• :s </ ;' :, -i:-> { :;_•' -"':-'
', - - - i,:, -
;;, \ J .,,,,' ."=--:-, it - (P -« r
, • <•.. ·,.,
: "· • '= +-, ' - A ", ! ·- . - - r") . • -

·- · z...

I -12 -86

(She stops.)

NINA
WITHOUT YOU-

NINA & BENNY

WITHOUT

YOU!

(She runs away from him.)

GROUP 1:
(USN, KEV SON,
1
GRP, VAN, CAM, ABC, W4, W5, M1 & M2)
LOOKAT THE FIREWORKS . . .

GROUP 2:
(PIR, DAN, CAR. W1--3 & M3"6)
LOOKAT TIIE FIRBWORKS.. . .

GROUP 1
LOOX. AT THE FIREWORKS ...
GROUP 2
LOOKAT THB FIREWO:RKS ...

ALL
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT SKY
...

CAR, DAN, PIR, M3 & M4

LlGIIT UP THE NIGHT SKY ...

ALL
EN WASHINGTON .
..
LOOK AT THE FIREWORKS .
. . LOOKAT THE FIREWORKS
...

VAN, CAM, CAR, ABC, DAN, SON, PIR,

USN, KEV, W4, W5, M3, M4 & M&
llGHT UPTHE NIGHT SKY ...

GRP, W1, W2, W3, M1, M2 & M5

LIGIIT UP TIIE NIGHT SKY ...
PERUSAL
 I-12-87

(BE"NNY fmds NINA, grabs her. They kiss, llluminated by fire!Works.)

ALL
•
•
• •
•• •
•
••
••
t
••.
t
•
•
• t

•
•
••
'
•
•
•
 E
N
W
A
S
H
IN
G
T
O
N
H
EI
G
B
T
S!
END OF ACT
ONE

PER
USA
L
 -
- ' . 'f º':J :"\".. ' . -
."$' . a .' : • •-,• - - -
.. •

II-1-88 -

ACTII

Scene 1: Benny's Fire Escape- Sunday morning

(Sunday maming. The sky is still dark, the pawer i.f s:till o uJ. We heal'
the sound of a coqu( [líttle .frog], welcoming the morning. Slowly, the
sounds of approaching dawn. NINA and BENNY appear, arm in arm,
on his jire escape.)

_MU SIC 14: SUNRISE

NINA
ARE YOU READY TO TRY AGAIN?

BENNY
I THINK I'M
READY.
NINA

Okay. Here we go.

ESQUINA,
BENNY
CORNER,
·NI NA

TIENDA,
BENNY
STORE.
NINA

BOMBILLA,
BENNY

UGIITBULB-
NINA

YOU'RE SURE?
BENNY
l'M ... SURE.

NINA
THREE OUT OF THREE, YOU DID ALL RIGHT.

PERUSAL
 TEACH MEA LITTLE MORE.BENNY

NINA
CALOR.

BENNY
HEAT.
NINA
.A.NOCHE.

BENNY
LASTNIGHT.

NINA
DOLOR. ·

BENNY
PAIN.

NINA
m A T'S
L L TÁ
RIGII
.
MAME.
BENNY
CALLME.
NINA
.AZUL.
BENNV
BUJE.
NINA
ÁMAME.
BENNV
WVEME.
NINA
PERHAPS 1DO-

PERUSAL
II-1-90
BENNY·
WELL, HOW DO YOU SAY ••KISS l\lffi?,'

NINA
BÉSAME

BENNY
AND HOW DO YOU SAY HOLD ME?
NINA
ABRÁZAME-
ALAMÁNECER. ATSUNRlSE.
NINA&BENNY
ANYTHING AT AIL CAN HAPPEN JUST BEFORE THE sUNRISE.

NINA
AL AMÁNECER.

BENNY
AL
AMÁNECER.
(A little more light shines, rewaling the street below. USNAVI's wíndow
has been smmhed. 11,ere is tra.rh all around.)

SONNY
SUNRISE.
CARLA
SUNRISE.

VANESSA
SUNRISE.

OANIELA
SUNRISE.

PIRAGUA GUY.
DOMINGO (M3), M5 & M6 CARLA

•.
SIGUE ANDANDO EL CAMINO SUNRISE.
POR TODA SU VIDA VANESSA

SUNRISE.

•
 .
-
PERUSAL

•
 DANIELA
SUNRISB.

PIR, M3, MS &

RESPIRA.

M6
SUNRISE.

DAN, CAR, VAN &

NINA...

SON KEVIN
IDON'T KNOW.

BENNY
YONOSÉ.

NINA
WHATTODO.
BENNY
QUÉHA.CER.

NINA .

BENNY
NOW THAT I'VE FOUNDYOU.

NINA
AHORA QUE TE
ENCONTRÉ.
BENNY

WHAT WILL HE SAY?

NINA

QUÉDIRÁ.? 1
BENNY
WHB.N HE SEES ME AROUND
YOU? SO HOW DO YOU SAY
HELP ME?

NINA
AYÚDAME.

PERUSAL
 }:t.·t:\:/ :' c, '..:
'. rj-·

BENNY
AND HOW DO YOU SAY PROMISE ME?

NINA
PROMÉTEME.

NINA& BENNY
PROMISE ME YO,U LL STAY BEYOND 1HE SUNRISE.
I OON'T CARB AT ALL WHAT PBOPLB SAY BEYOND THB SUNRISE.

NINA
PROMISE ME YOU'LL STAY.

BENNY
PLLSTAY.

SON, PIR, M4 & M6

SUNRISE.

CAR, VAN&W4
SUNRISE.
DAN W1 &W& ·
SUNRISB.

USN, GRP, SON & M3 8

SUNRISE.

BENNY· ·
AND HOW DO YOU SAY "XI.SS ME?"

NINA
BÉSAME.

BENNY SON, PIR & M-4

BÉSAME. SUNRISE

CA VAN &W4
SUNRISE

DAN,W1 &WS
SUNRISE

PERUSAL
 II-2-93

USN, GRP, Nl3, 1115 &

SUNRISE M6

BENNY
OH, AND HOW DO YOU SAY ALWAYS?

NINA
P.ARA SIEMPRE...

BENNY
PARA SIEMPRE...

CAR1 VAN, DAN, SON, GRP. PIR, USN,

W11 W4, WS, M3, M4, M6 & M6
ALAMÁNECER

NINA
.AL AMÁNECER.

BENNY.
ALAMÁNECER ...

ENSEMBLE
ALAMÁNECER.

-NINA& BENNY
I WILL BE
THERE...
ALAMÁNECER

MUSIC 14A : AFTERMATH -

Scene 2; Outside the Bodega; the Rosario Fire Escape

(USNAVI outside the bodega. The awning¡,, slashed, the window is

broken. Neighbors &tand by, looking at the darnage.)

DANIELA
Whoever didthis,l'm gonna put ajÍDX on their bead.
CARLA
'Dito, Us.navi, Jet us help you clean up,

USNAVI
Thanks but Pd like to be alone with my broken window.

PERUSAL
 (DANIELA and CARLA exit into the salon. USNAVI finds a ripped up
dotlm on the jloor, picks it up.)

SONNY
(Enters from fhe
bodega.)
I got most ofthe glas8 up.
USNAVI

Reco i:re thi ?

SONNY
Oh. man, the bodeg.a's first customer... ?

USNAVI
First dollar my dad made here.
(He puts it down.J
Bueno, take whatever batteries and candles we have to1he church on Audubon.

SONNY
You don't need backup?

USNAVl
Forwhat?

- SONNY
For your soul. Dr. Phil said denia.l is the first stage of grief.

USNAVI
It' s a stolen register, a ripped up awning. it' s just things.

(VA"NESSA. enters.)

VANESSA
Iheard.

USNAVI
I still got a gas range, canI make you sorne co:ffee?

VANESSA
You got actual stuff to deal with.

USNAVI
Listen, about last night, Sonny was calling. Abuela was alone...

PERUSAL
 Il- 2-95

VANESSA
My phone didn't ring once all night. No one cared ifI was okay.

USNAVI
I meant to call.

VANESSA
Sorry about your
bodega.
(Exits.) 1
GRAFFITI PETE
(Enters.)
Yo, Sonny, come eheck out m:y new walll I paínted tlutt shit by candlolight!

SONNY
Sbh, tbe man's having female troubles.

GRAFFITI PETE
Mybad...

· USNAVI
(Fa GRAFFn1PETE.)
You got a new canvas. Tag up the w.hole store, have a blast.
(Exits.)

MUSIC 148: NINA'S GONE- ·

(Lights shift to CAMILA. on the Rosario flfe escape. KEVIN enters.)

KEVIN
Thank god. Where have you been?

CAMILA
Waiting here since three in the morning for you and N.ina.

, KEVIN
You should check your messages, I've been combing the streets all night
looking for the two of youl

CAMILA
My phone died. She went dancing. I tried to find her afier the blackout.

PEltUSAL
 II - 3 - 96
KEVIN
$he followed your lead. She walked out the door, same as youl

CAMILA
Pero, carajo, who opened that door?
KEVIN
Camilal
CAMILA
Later,papi. Righ1 nowwe find our daughter.

Scene 3: Interior of Usanavl and Abuela's Apartment

(USNAVI ente:rs. ABUELA is th'ere with tire bag ofmoney.)

MUSIC 15: HUNDRE0S OF STORIES

USNAVl
ABUELAI

ABUELA CLAUDIA
AREYOUOK?

ABUELA CLAUDIA & USNAVI

PACIENCIA Y FE!
PACIENCIA Y FE!

USNAVI
LET ME SEE IT
AGAINI

(He looh in the

bag.)

......
•
WE KEPT IT
SAFE. USNAVI
ABUELA CLAUDIA
SO WE SURVIVBD TIIB

•
NIG:EIT;
WHATHAPPENSTODAY?
ABUELA

.
A TIIlRDFORYOU. CLAUDIA

PERUSAL
•
..
NINA

Dad, I know what I have to do.

You've given me this amazing education

and I just need to use it,

and figure out how every

undocumented kid gets a pathway.

Maybe Stanford isn't a way out.

Maybe it's a way back.

Like Abuela always used to say...

asserting our dignity in small ways.

KEVIN

Wow.

This is it, huh, mija?

NINA

What?

KEVIN

This is the moment when

you do better than me.

Not because of some fancy degree...

It's 'cause you can see a future

that I can't.

Hey..You are Boricua.

Hmm?

We're a people on the move,

so yeah...

...bring us with you.

Ignore anyone who doubts you.

You take all the bruises, baby,

but you stay in the ring.

1'

Il-3 -97

USNAVI
tmffiJH, UH HUHI UH HUH, UHHIJHI

ABUELA
CLAUDIA
A THIRD FORMEI

USNAVI
NO PARE! SIGUE,
SIGUE!

ABUELA CLAUDIA
THE REST FOR SONNY-
AND WITH OUR SHARE OF THE MONEY,
AND WITH OUR SHARE OF THEMONBY:

DREAM OF THE SEASIDB AIRI

SEE ME BESIDE YOU THEREI
THINK OF TilE HUNDREDS OF STORIES WE W1LL SHAREI

ABUELA. CLAUDIA
YOUANDII

USNAVI & ABUELA CLAUDIA

AYY ...

ABUELA CLAUDIA
NOWYOU CAN SELL YOUR STOREI
OPEN A BAR BY THE SHORE!
l'VB TOLD YOU HUNDREDS OF STORIES
ABOUT HOME; MAKE SOME MORE.

USNAVI & ABUELA CLAUDIA

MORE ...

USNAVI
YO! I KNOW ,TUST WHERE TOGO!
THERE'S A Ll.TILE BEACH NAMED PLAYA RINCÓN,
WITH NO ROADS, YOUNEED A ROWBOAT ORMOTORBIKE
TO REACH nns BEACH, AND IT'S JUSTA STONE'S THROW
FROMHOME. .
MY FOLKS'S HOME,
BEFORE IWAS BORN.
BEFORE THEY PASSED ON
AND LEFTME ON MY OWN, lN NEW
YORK, WITH THE GROCERY STORE.

PERUSAL
 Il- 3 - 98

THEY WOULD TALK ABOUT HOME, I LISTENED CLOSELY FOR

THE WAY THEY WIIISPERED TO EACH OTHER
. 'BOlIT THE WARMER WINTER WEATHER.
INSEPARABLE. THEY EVEN GOT SICK TOGETHER.
BUT THEY NEVER GOT BETTER . . .
PASSED AWAY THATDECEMB
AND LEFT ME WITH THESE MEMOR1ES LIKB DYJN
EMBERS FROM A DREAMI CAN'T REMEMBER ...
EVER SINCE TIIBN IT'S LIKE
.ANOTHER DAY DEEPER IN DEBT WITH DIFFERENT DILEMMAS.
THE BODEGA' S A MBSS, I'IL BESBEIN' LESS OF VANESSA.
ABUELA I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN KEEP 1T TOGETHERI

ABUELA CLAUDIA
REMEMBER THE STORY OF YOUR NAME.. .
IT WM ENGRAVED ON A PASSING SHIP ON THE DAY
YOURFAMILYCAME.
YOUR FATHER SAID ..USNAVI.,
THAT'S WHAT WE'LL NAME THE BABY."

USNAVI
ITREALLY SAID ''U.S.NAVY,"BUTIIBY ...
I WORKED WITH V/HAT THEY GAVE M:E OKAY...

ABUELA CLAUDIA
THEY'D BE SO PROUD OF YOU TODAYI

USNAVI
THENBY THEEND OF JULY,

ABUELA CLAUDIA
UH HUH, UHHlJH I UHHUH, UH HUHl

USNAVI
OUT WHERE THE SEA MEETS 1HB SXYI

ABUELA CLAUDIA
NO PARE! SIGUE, SIGUE!

USNAVI & ABUELA CLAUDIA

THINK OF THE HUNDREDS OF STORIES
WE'LL CREATE,
YOUANDI!
AY. ..

PERUSAL
 ,.
i
i

Il-4-99

ABUELA CLAUDIA
WE'IL FIND YOUR ISLAND!

USNAVI
I'LL FIND MY ISLAND 1 :,

.,
SKYI 1

ABUELA CLAUDIA
AY. FIND YOURISLANDI

USNAVI
BUT WHATEVER WE DO ITS------
.. !,

USNAVI & ABUELA CLAUDIA

YOUANDII

15A: NINA COMES HOME

Scene 4: Outslde the Dlspatch Booth

(CAMl.LA slts alane. K.EVIN enters.)

KEVlN
1 weot down to1he park, noth.ing. .Arry word here?

CAMILA
Mostly voice mails, half of people's phones are out.. , I got totb.e letter M...

KEVIN
M'rra,, alli está. 1 [Look, there she Is.]

(NINA entersJ

NINA
Mom,dad.

KEVIN
Start ta1king.

CAMILA
Where the hell have you
been?
NINA

I should have called. I know.

PERUSA.L
 II-4-100

KEVIN
Answer your motherl Where were yoo.?

(BENNY enters.)

BENNY
Boss, Mrs. Rosario. Can I have a minute?

(KEVIN hoots NIN.A. a Iook:.)

NINA
It's okay. dad.

KEVlN
Think: very hard about what you say to me.

- NINA
Just hear him out.

KEVIN
(ro himself)
Actually, no.
- (IoBENNY.)
_
I'll say this nicely. Please stayaway froni my daughter.

BENNY
Sir, I've worlced here since I was practically a kid. You know me.

KEVIN
Do you think you're anywhere close to her level?

BENNY
Of course not, sir. No one

NINA
is. Stop calling him "sir".

KEVIN
(ToNINA.)
You stay out ofthis!

NINA
Jesus, Dad...

PERUSA.L
 ll-4-101

KEVIN
(ToBENNYJ
I taught you how to drive. I taugbt you how to tie a goddamn tie!

BENNY
And now I ti.e the same Windsor knot around my collar as you. We're not
that different

KEVIN
You know nothing about our culture!

BENNY
This bullshit again?

CAMILA
(Overlapping.)
Kevin, cálmate. 1 [calm down]

KEVIN
You will never be a part ofth:is family, 1 [understand?]
entiendes?

BENNY
Loud and clear.
(Goes to
exitJ
NINA
Benny!

BENNY
Why learn the language if they still won't hear you?
(Exlia.)

KEVIN
(IoNINA.)
Sin verguenza! Are you trying to shame 1 [Without shame!]
me?

NINA
Yes, dad that's ex.actly what rm trying to
do!

KEVIN
Well you have succeededl / Congratulations, you succeed at everything-

PERUSA.L
- ,t ' ,... ..,... •. ""--. ... ... - • . - -

• , w ;_. _: .. -· 1 , ,;.r'"'; -
. - ..,.. ¡¡;c. ' \.}... .,:,,_-. · ) • '· 1 - - - - - •

.._ ..... -

Il-4-102

(Overlapping.) NINA
Sorry I embamt38 youl

MUSIC 16: ENOUGH

OH, MY GOD, CAMILA

BNOUGHl
NOW YOU USTEN TO ME
...
NINA

Mom ...
CAMILA
CARAJO, I SAID ENOUGH!
I'M SICK OF ALL nns FIGHTINGl
KEVIN
Camí ...
(CAMILA makes a yapping no/se in his direction)

CAMILA
Y.APAPAPAPA! ,
I TEINK YOU'VE SAID
ENOUGH! NOW LISTEN TO
WHAT I SAY, WHAT I SAY
GOBS!

PAPI, YOU'VE PUSHED US ALL AWAY!

KEVIN
J'm trying to
...
CAMILA
I DON'T WANNA BEAR IT! WE MAKE DECISIONS AS A
F.AMILY. AND THROWIN(3 BENNY OUT LIKE THAT?
YOU SOUND JUST LIKE YOUR FATHERJ
WBBOTHKNOWWHAT A SONOFABITCHHE WASt
YOU TIIlNK 1T ALL COMES DOWN TO YOU ...

(KEVIN goes to embrace her.)

KEVIN
C.Al\-11,LBT'S T.ALKABOUTIT ...

PERUSAL
 - -

- - - -- - - ----

11 -4 -103

(CAMILA. shoves him away.)

CAMILA
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! NO, YOU OON'T!
WHENYOU HAVEA PROBLEM YOU COME
HOME. YOU DON'T GO OFF.AND MAKEMATIERS
WORSE
ONYOUROWN.
ONE DAY YOU'RE GONNA COME RACK HOME,
AND YOlI'RE NOT GONNA F1ND ME WAITING ANY MORE.

KEVIN
I'm sorry.

CAMILA
HUH. DAMN RIGHTYOU'RE SORRY.

(CAMILA. tumJ her attentlon to NINA.J

SO YOU STAYED OUT ALLNIGHT.

NINA
Mom ...

CAMILA
l'M TALKING NOW! .
YOU SCARED US HALF TO DEATH, YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT?

NINA
rmsorry.

CAMILA
DON'T APOLOOIZE TO ME. YOU SAVE 1T FOR YOURFATBER.

. NINA
What?

CAMILA
L0OKATYOURFATHER.
HB DOESN'T SLEEP WHEN YOU'RE GONB.
HE'S WORKED HIS WHOLE LIFE TO HELP YOU GO FARTHER.
AND HE CAN'T ADMIT WHEN HE'S WRONG.
NOW WHO DOES TIIAT REMIND YOU OF?

PERUSAL
 . ,, ' . .. , .
-1.,. "t' •• -: , t_!;.::J.:: : · --·.·,.
-.-=:...- - -. -
--- . =- ...._ _ ...

Il-5-104

YOU TWO DES.ERVE EACH

OTHER! POR MONTIIS YOU'VE
L1ED TO US. WHAT DID WE DO,
TO MAKE YOU THINK WE WOULDN'T DO
ANYTffiNG AND EVERYTIIING FOR YOU?
WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM YOU COME HOME.
YOU DON'TRUN OFF AND HIDE FROM YOURFAMILY
AlLALONEI
YOUHEARMB?
WHEN YOU HAVE APROBLEMYOU COME HOME.
AS LONG AS WE'RE ALNE, YOU'RE NBVER ON YOUR OWN.
LEAVEBENNY.
TAKEBBNNY. ..
ITDOESN'T MAKE ANY DlFFEREN
AS WNG AS YOU COME HOME!

KEVIN
Camila-

CAMILA
NO, NO, NO, NO, NOl
ENOUGHLYlNG
ENOUGHSCREAMING
1'M DONE TRYING,
AND 1AM LEAVJNG IT UP TO
YOUl ITS UP TO YOU!
I'LL SEE YOU BOTH BACK
HOME! ENOUGH!

(CAMILA exit.v. KEVIN aits after CAMILA. NINA goe& to CU UDIA's

stoop, Tcnoclra, exits tnto her apartment.)

..
MUSIC 16A: -
POWERLESS
DAN, CAR, VAN, SON, PIR, GRP, W1-6 &
M1-6

...
WHOA,OH! , ·

Scene 5: Tha Street

..
(Later that mom ing, NEIGHBORS are sltting in the sun,

PERUSAL

..
. . .
.-...
 •
•
•
•
•
•• SONNY
II - 5 -105

•• My friend was trapped in the subway. They had to walk a mile in that danlc,
n.asty tunnel. Arid he stepped on a rat.

•
t Ah, hells no!

• (EntersJ
GRAFFITI PETE

DANIELA
Okay, people, I got through to Con Edison! They said it would be at least twenty
t
•t
four hours--

PIRAGUAGUY VANESSA GRAFFITI PETE

No fricldn' joda. Are you serious? That•s sorne bullsbit.

t We can. complain or wc
DANIELA
get organized
t
can
• Complainf
GRAFFm PETE, VANESSA & PIRAGUA GUY

J
DANIELA

• • Here. It's(I'o
called a broom.
GRAFFmPETE.)

••
(J'o VANESSA..)
It's the Fourth of Ju.ly, show some freaking sp.irit!

(Neighhors re!uctantly clean.)

VANESSA

••
I'm catching a bus downtown for lunch. Who's hungry?

SONNY

• They stopped all the buses. No tra:ffic lights.

• VANESSA
This is like Gilli 's Ghetto Island.
' DANIELA

• • • Graffiti Pete, pónla MUSica.

•• I'm out of batteries.

•• - • PERUSAL
 1
[pla
y
sor
ne
mus
ic]
GR
AF
FJ
TI
PE
TE
 II-5-106

SONNY
Toe dispatch has a
generator.

GRAFFITI PETE
Ain't nobody there.

CARLA
Well can'tyou open ahydrant?·

GRAFFITI PETE
The popo's took my monkey wrench.

DANIELA
Playnioe.

SONNY
My sneakers are stuck to the damn sheet.

.CARLA
My fingemails are slipping off iti the heat.!

MUSIC 17: CARNAVAL DEL BARRIO

DANIELA
HEYIHBY!
WHAT'S THIS TONTERIA 1 [nonsense]
THAT l'M SEEING ON THE STREET?
I NEVER lHOUGJIT I'D SEE THE DAY...
SINCE WHEN ARE LATIN PEOPLE SCARED OF
HEAT? WHEN I WAS A LlTILE GIRL
GROWING UP IN THE HILLS OF VEGA ALTA
MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR WAS CHRISTMAS TIME. !
ASKMEWHY! ·

CARLA
Why?

DANIELA
TIIERE WASN'T AN OUNCE OF SNOW,
BUT OH, THE COQUITO WOULD FLOWI 1 [eggnog-like beverage]

DANIELA
AS WE SANG THEAGUJNALDO, j [Christmas music]
TIIE CARNAVAL WOULD BEGlN TO GROWI

PERUSAL
 II • 5 -107

BUSINESS IS CLOSBD, AND WE' RE ABOUT TO

GO. ,.
LET'S HAVE A CARNAVAL DEL BARRIO!

PIRAGUAGUY
Wepa!
(PIRAGUA GUY begins to scrape a sluw beat. DANJELA begins
slowly)

DANIELA
CARNAVAL DEL
BARRIO! CARNA.VAL
DEL BARRIO!
CARNAVAL...

(SONNY joiM her effart)

PJRAGUAGUY
CARNAVAL/

DANJELA
DEL

PJRAGUAGUY
BARRIO..·.

· DANIELA
BARRIO!

CARNAVAL...

SONNY, PIRAGUA GUY & GRAFFm PETE

CARNAVAL! .

DANIELA
DELBARRIO...

SONNY, PIRAGUA GUY & GRAFFITI PETE

BARRIO/
DANIELA
WE DON'T NEED ELECTRICIDAD! [Electricity]
GET OFF YOURBUIT , AVA.NZA./ [Gol.
SACAU MARACA, BRING YOUR TAMBOURINE. [Get your maraca]
COME AND JOIN TIIE PARRANDA [Parade]

PIRAGUAGUY
WEPA.!

Pf:RUSAL
Il- 5 - 108

(['he community gets into

it.)

PIR, DAN, C W4,

WS, M3, M4 & M6 SON, GRP, W1-3, M1 & M2
CARNAVAL .. CARNAVAL!

. BARRIO/

DELBARRIOI · CARNAVAL/

CARNA'VAL ... BARRIO!

DEL
CARNAVAL/
BARRIO!
BARRIO!
+ SONNY & M&
CARNAVAL .. CARN.A.VAL!

. DELBARR/01

DELBARRIOI

CARNAVAL ..

DELB.A.RRIO!

CARLA
. OH, ME, ME, ME! DANI I HAVBA QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE CANTANDO. 1 [singing]

DANIELA
JUST MAKE 1T UPAS YOU GOi
WE ARB lMPROVISANDO! 1 [improvismg]
LA1LE LO LAI LO LE LO LA/!
YOU CAN SING ANYTHINGI
CARLA WHATEVER POPS INTO YOUR.HEAD.
JUST SO LONG AS YOU SINGI

CARLA
1IlI...
MY MOM IS DOMINICAN-CUBAN,
MYDAD IS FROM CHILE AND P. R- . WIDCHMEANS:
l'M ClilLE-DOMINI-CURICAN,
BlIT I ALWAYS SAY I'M FROM QUBENS!

PIRAGUAGUY
WEPAAA.!
PER L
'
•
' SON, PIR, DAN, CAR,
W4,W5&M3-6
CARNAVAL ... GRP, W1•3 & M1-2

•''
CARNAVAL!
DELB.ARRIOI
BARRIO!
c.A.RNAVAL..•
CARNAVAL!

'
DEL BARRIO...
BARRIO/

••
(V ANESSA. takes center
stage.)

•
1 •'•
-
1 '
••
VANESSA
YO! WHYIS EVER.YONE SO HAPPY?
WE'RE SWEATING AND WE HAVENO POWER!

••
I'VE GOTIA GET our OF HERE SOON,
THIS BLOCK.' S GETTING WORSE BY THE
HOURJ YOU CAN'T EVEN GO TO A CLUB WITH
A FRlEND WITHOUT HAVING SOMEBODY
SHOVE YOU!

DANIELA

•' AY, POR FAVOR,

VANESSA. DON'T PRETEND THAT USNAVI'S YOURFRIEND,
WE ALLKNOW THAT HELOVE YOU!

OHHHH!l

•'
•• COMPANY

CARLA

•
WOW, NOWTIIATYOU MENTION THAT SEXUAL TENSION
IT'S EASY TO SEE!
YO, nns IS BOGUS!
 VANESSA

• DANIELA
HAVEN'T YOU NOTICED YOU GET ALL YOUR COFFEE FORFREE?

••
1

•• PERUSAL

•
-•
 , :·:-:-?--t''. ?:• '. _>"' :· .:. , ; •·•: .- ,, .,-
A - •- ... •• - - • - - • •

'- .' "' : · • < ••

·;_:. cc, ,;:5s #: • c;-:-: -- i!t{!:· .i: :. ! ! ! ! l!II

Il- 5 -110

SON, PIR, DAN,

CAfft W4,
WS&M3-6
CARNAVAL ... GRP, W1-3 &M1-2
CARN.A..VAL!
DEL
BARRIO!
BARRIO!
CARNAVAL!
c.ARNAVAL ..

DELBARRIO!
BARRIO!

MAN4
HERE COMES USNAVII

(USNAVI enters from his apartment.)

..
. USNAVI

...
YO! YO! . Y' YO, YO!
NOW, NOW, EVERYONE GATHER 'ROUND, SIT
DOWN LISTEN, I GOT.AN
ANNOUNCEMENT.
wow, IT INVOLVES
SOMEWHERE IN THE LARGÉ
RANOEAMOUNTSj
OF NINETY SIX
ATENCIÓN, rM CLOSJN SHOPI .
SONNY, GRAB EVERYBODY A SODA-
POP! YO, GRABA BOTTLE, KISS IT UP

.
TO GOD,
'CAUSE ABUELA CLAUDIA JUST WON TIIB
LOTIO! ABUELA CLAUDIA WON TIIE LOTIO!
AND WE'RB BOOKIN A FLIGHI FOR D.R. TOMORROW!
COMPANY
OHMYGAH!

.
(]'he company hoists USNAVI on their shoulders and begin marching
flags aro the street. SONNY e:4ts into CLAUDIA'a place with
a soda battleJ

ALL (EXCEPT VANESSA & SONNY)

ALZA LA BANDERA [Rai3e tire. flag]
LA BANDERA DOMINICANA! [The DaminicanflagJ
ALZA U BANDERA
LA..BANDERA PUERTORIQT.JENAI [Puerto Rico flag]

.
ALZA LA BANDERA
 . ..
.
LA BANDERA MEJICANA! [Alexican flag] .
PERUSAL
•
•
•
 •
•
•• ALZA LA BANDERA
Il-5-111

•• L4 BANDERA CUBANA!

PIRAGUAGUY
1 [Cuban flag]

ALL
t PA.'RllJBA ESA BANDERA.! [Up with that flag! HEYI
BEY!
ÁLZA.LA DONDE QUIERA! Raise it anwherel
RECUERDO DE MI TIERRA! lt 's a reminder of
my

•••
homeland!]
ALL
PIRAGUA GUY & USNAVI. . HEYI
ME ACUERDO DE MI TIERRA.! [I rememher my BEY!

•
homeland!
BONITA BANDERA! that beautiful flag!
C01'{TIENE MI ALMA ENTERA.! · Contains my entire

••
soul! Y CUANDO YO MEMUERA, A1lli when 1 die,
EN11ÉRRAME EN MI TIERRA! Bury me in my lwmeland.]

PIRAGUAGUY

•
(adlfb.)
AH!

••
(Dance break! USNAVI if tn t center, gettin' !ove from the ladie•s
inverse o/ VANESSA'a club number momentJ

••
DANIEL.A
BVERYTHING CHANOES TODAYI
COMPANY

• HEYJ

DANIELA & CARLA

••
USNAVI'S ON.lilS
WAY!

•
COMPANY

HEYl

•• DANIEL.A & CARLA

OFF TO A BETIER PLACE!
1

COMPANY

•'
HEYI

DANIELA & CARLA

LOOKAT VANESSA'S FACEI

••
• PERUSAL
•
_-r .. . . . ... .

:;,¡ ·., .• ' ·: · -,., .. \ •.• <. . ·_

, tf'",;.. ,.,,1"¾' J- - ~
- ·= • • ,.-,--; - . - .,......,...-..... --...- - - - - - --- -

n - s - 112
BENNY
EVERYTHING CHANGES TODAY!

COMPANY
HEY!
BENNY USNAVI
GOODBYE, MR. OKAY!
ROSARIO!
BENNY
l'M TAKJNG OVER THE BARRIO!

. USNAV1 DANIELA & CARLA 1

WE'RE GETTING OUT OF TI!E BARRIO!

DANIELA
HEY, MR BENNY: HAVE YOU SBEN ANY HORSES TODAY?

COMPANY
BEY!

BENNY
WHAT 00 YOUMEAN'l ·

DANIELA
!HEARD YOU AND NINA WENT FOR A ROLL IN THE HA_Y\

....
ALL
HEY! OHHHH...

WOMEN MEN
BENNY AND
BENNY AND NINA.

SITITNG IN A
TREEI SITTING IN A

..
TREEI K-I-S-S-I-N-

QUE BOCHINCHE/ G!

NJNA AND BEl'- QUEBOCHJNCHE!l[Wluzt

mY! gosripl]

..
NINAAND BENNY!
K-I-S-S-1-N-G!

pER\JSAL
..
.• .
 11-5 -113

SONNY
HOLDUP, GRAFFITI PETE & M1
WAIT AMINUTEI WAIT A MINUTE
USNAvrs LEAVJN' us FOR nm
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC?
AND BENNYWENT AND STOLE THE
GIRL THAT I'M IN LOVE WITH?
SHE WAS MY BABYSITTER GRAFFITI PETE & 111
FIRSTI H OO! .

LISTEN UP, IS TIIlS

WHATYA'LL WANT?
WE CLOSB TIIfS BODEGA,
TRE NFJGHBORHOOD IS
GONE! THEY SELLING TIIE
DISPATCa THEY CWSING THE
SALON, AND THETIL NEVER
TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON,
C

SONNY & VANESSA

WE ARE POWERLESS, WE ARE POWERLESSI

SONNY
AND Y' ALL KBEP DANCIN' AND SINGIN' AND
CELEBRATIN' BUT IT'S GETTIN' LATE AND T!llS PLACE IS
DISINTEGRATIN'
AND--

SONNY & VANESSA

WE ARE POWERLESS, WE ARE POWERLESS!

USNAVI
ALRIGIIT, WE'RE POWERLESS, SO LIGHT UPA CANDLEI
TimRE'S NOTHING GOlNG ONHERB THAT WE CAN'T HANDLE!

SONNY .
YOUDON'T UNDBRSTAND, l'MNOT TRYlNG TO BE FUNNYI

USNAVI
WE'RE GONNA GIVE A11DRD OF THE MONEY TO YOU SONNYI

SONNY
WHAT?

PeRUSAL
 n - s- 114
USNAVI
YEAH, YEAH
...

SONNY
FORREAL?

USNAVl
YESI

MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT, SONNY. CAIL lN THE CORONERSl

MAYBE WE'RE POWERLESS, A CORNERFULL OF
FOREIGNERS, .
MAYBE nns NBIGHBORHOOD'S CHANGJNG FOREVER.
MAYBE TONIGHT IS OURLAST NIGHT TOGETHER. HOWEVER:
HOW DO YOUWANNAFACE IT?
DOYOUWANNA WASTEIT,
WHEN THE END IS SO CLOSE YOU CANTASTE
IT? Y' ALL COULD CRY WITHYOURHEAD IN THE
SAND. l'M-A FLY TfilS FLAG THAT I GOT 1N MY
HANDl

· PIRAGUY GUY
PA'RRlBA ESA BANDERA! j [Raise the flag!]
ALL

.
HEYJ

PIRAGUY GUY & DANIELA

ÁLZALA DONDE QUIERA! . 1 [Lift it wherever you want!] .
HEYl ALL
9
USNAVI

..
CAN WE RAISE OUR VOICE TONIGHTI
CAN WE MAKE A LlTTLE NOISE
TONIGHTI

.
ALL

PIR, DAN & CAR

F,SA BONITA BANDERA! j [This beautifuljlag!]

•
.,
"
 .
"
PERUSAL

..
•
-
 ALL
BEY!

PIR, DAN & CAR

CONTIENE MI ALMA ENTERA/ 1 [lt contairu my soull]

ALL

USNAVI
IN FACT, CAN WE SING SO LOUD AND RAUCOUS,
THEY CAN HEAR US ACROSS TBE BRIDGE JN EAST SECAUCUS?

PIR, DAN, CAR, SON & M3-6 GRP, W4, W5 &

PA'RRilJA ES.A. BANDERA! M1 CARN.AVAL DEL
ÁLULA DONDE QUIERA! BARRIO!
USNAVI
FROM PUERTO RICO TO SANTO DOMINGO,
WHEREVER WE GO, WE REP OURPEOPLE AND TIIB BEAT GO ...

PIR, DAN, CAR, MS & M6 GRP, W1•6 & M1-

ESA BONITA BANDERA! 2 CARNA'VAL DEL
CONI1ENEMI ALMA ENTERA./ BARRIO...
(USNAVI confront.s VANESSA.)

USNAVI .
VANESSA, FORGET ABOUT WHAT COULDABEEN,
AND DANCE WITH ME, ONE LASTNIGHT, JN THE HOOD AGAIN.

(A ltWmeM.)

DANIELA & CARLA

WEPAI

(The COMMUNIIT apiades into a final chorus around VANESSA ami

USNAVI, _as:t hey $lowly begin to dance.)

ALL (EXCEPT DANIELA)

CARNAVAL DEL BARRIO/
CARNAVAL DEL BARRIO!

PERUSAL
 1' ,, ,. . .. .. . .. .
p •• 1, ' ,, - •• .. •

• • • • y

•.
.:;.:.si/", '.
, -·- --
.

....
DANIELA ALL
PA'RRIBA ESA BANDERA.! CARNAVAL DEL BARRIO!
OYE!
Y CUANDO YO ME MUERA, CARNAVAL DEL BARRIO!

•.•.
ENTIÉRRAME. EN MI TIERRA{
DELBARR/0! DEL BARRIO!

...•.
ALZA LA
U BANDERA DOMINICANA!
.ALZ4 LA AUA. LA BANDERA
LA BANDERA

....
AD/OSI PUEKl'ORIQUEÑA/
ADIOS! .ALZA. LA.
.ADIOS! LA. BANDERA
BANDERA

ALL
ALZA LA

...•.
LA.BANDERA
BANDERA.
LA.BANDERA
LA BANDERA

..•
U.BANDERA
DANIELA & PIRAGUA GUY ALL
DEL BARRIO! ALU LA.
BANDERA/

(ALL Cheer.)
_
....•
..
USN
MUSIC 1 BEN,
17A:- GRP,
AL ZA DAN1
LA BANDERA
W1-4. M1, M2, M5 & M6

CARNAVAL ...
DELBARR/01 PI CAR, VAN, W5, M3 &
CARNAVAL ... M4
BARRIO!
CARNAVAL!
DELBARRIO!

CARNAVAL!
.•.
CARNAVAL ...
DEL
BARRIO/ .•.....
PERUSAL
•
••
 -
- - -·-- - - ---- - - - -

'
•
• II-7-117

•• (USN, BEN, GRP, DAN,

W1-4, M1, M2, M5 &
M6) (PIR, CAR, VAN, WS, M3 & M4)

'•
CARNAVAL ... CARNAVAL/
1 DELBARRIO!

••
(Suddenly NINA enters from CLAUDIA 's stoop, panicked. She runs and
graba USNAVI, tells him something under the noise. They exit inlo

••
CLAUDIA 's apartmerat.)

BEN, GRP, DAN, IR, CAR, VAN, W5, M3 & M4

W1-4, M1, MZ MS & BARRIO...
• M&

•
e.ARNA.VAL .. ALZ.A LA. BANDERA
CARNAVAL .. U BANDERA. DOMINICANA.
DEL BARRIO! ALZA LA. BANDERA.

•
LABANDERA
DELBARRIO! PUERWRIQUEÑA.

•
. ALZA LA BANDERA
:
LA BANDERA CUBANA.

•
t (NEIGHBORS exit as the carnaval ccmtinues onto the next block.)
..
Scene 6: The Dlspatch Booth

• (KJJ;VIN in the dis hbooth, at the radio.)

••
1 MUSIC 18: ATENCIÓN

KEVIN
ATENCIÓN. ATENCIÓN.

•
ROLL DOWNYOUR WINOOWS.
TURNUP YOUR RADIOS.

•'
UN MOMENTO, POR FAVOR.

(CAMILA enters, stands beside him.)

1 '
ATENCIÓN. ATENCIÓN.

•
1 PLEASE ORIVE SLOW
LET EVERYBODYKNOW

••
ABUELA Cl.AUDIAPASSED AWAY ATNOON TODAY.
t
Scene 7: The Street

1
•• PERUSAL
•
 (Neighbors gather aruund USNAVJ. and ABUELA CLAUDIA.'a &toop.)

MUSIC 19: ALABANZA

USNAVI
SHE WAS FOUND AND PRONOUNCED ... AT THE
SCENE. SBE WAS ALREADYLYING IN BED.
TIIB PARAMEDICS SAID
TBAT HERHEART OAVE OUT •..
I MEAN, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT TiffiY SAID. THEY
SAID A COMBlNATION OF THE STRESS AND THE IIEAT...
WHY SHE NE.VER TOOKHERMEDICINE,
ru, NEVER UNDERSTAND.
I'D LIKE TO THINK SHE WENf OUT lN PEACÉ,
WITH PlECES OF BREAD CRUMBS IN HER HAND.
ABUELA CLAUDIA HAD SIMPLE PLEASURES.
SHE SANG TIIB PRAISES OF TRINOS WE
IGNORE.
GLASS COKE BOITLES, BREAD CRUMBS, A SKY FULL OF
STARS. SHE HED TiffiSE THINGS, SHE'D
SAY:"ALABANZA."
ALABANZA MEANS TO RAISE nns
TIIlNG TO GOD'S FAC. E
AND TO SING, QUITE LITERALLY: "PRAISE TO
TIIIS." WHEN SHE WAS HERE, THE PATII WAS
CLEAR.
AND SHE WAS IDST HERE, SHE WAS JUST HERE ...

. NINA
ALABANZA.
ALABANZA A DOÑA CLAUD/A., SEÑOR.
ALABANZA. ALA.JUNZA.
ALABANZA.
AI.t1BANU.A DOÑA CLAUDIA, SEÑOR.
AL.4B.ANU ALABANZA.
NINA, DANIELA & CARLA
ALAB.A.NZA..
ALABANZA A DOÑA CU UDIA, SEitOR

+SONNY
ALABANZA, ALABANZA.

· +CAMILA & BENNY

ALABANZA.
ALABANZA. A DOGA CLA.UDIA. SENOR

PERUSAL
 11-8-119

+VANESSA & KEVIN

ALABANZA, ALABANZA.

CAMI, PIR, SON,

KEV, BEN &M3 NINA, DANIELA & CARLA
ALABANZA. ALABANZA.
ALABANZA A DOÑA CU
UDIA, SEROR

ALABANZA, ALABANZA.
ALABANZA,
M4&M6
PACIENCIA Y FE
ALABANZA.
W3&W4
PACIENCIA Y FE
+M5
ALABANZAADOÍVA CLAUDIA, ALABANZA.A DOÍVA CLAUDIA
SEivOR
ALABANZA, ALABANZA.
ALABANZA.

ALL
ALABANZA,
ALABANZA.
ALABANZA.

USNAVI
ALABANZA.

Scene Bi The Street- later that afternoon

(USNAVI an,I NINA go through old bo.us cif ABUELA CLAUDIA's

things.)

NINA
(Finds an old
ticket,)
New York Lotto, 1978,
USNAVI
She thought it was bad luck to throw them away.

PERUSAL
 II- 8 -120

NINA
(She finds a piece of
paper.)
"My Abuela's Front Door'' by Usnavi de la Vega! 3rd grade.

USNAVJ
Man, I got a check minus on that thing.

NINA
Nice handwriting. "My abuela's frcmt doar is busted up. It is falling offthe-''

(Shows the paper to USNAVI.)

USNAVI
I believe that would be "hinges." SpeUed with aj.

NINA
"The doorbell don't work. Becau.se so many people comes over to visit the
doorknob be falling out." The poet laureate of 183rd Street.

USNAVI
Nina, how much is your

NINA
toition? She asked me about it

USNAVJ
last nigbt.
Abuela would want you to have some.

NINA
I have my parents, I ca:n't take her money. But ifyou could spare sorne of these
photos, my dad would appreciate it.

MUSIC 20: EVERYTHING I KNOW

USNAVI
Thc,re's a bunch ofboxes inside.

NINA
IN THIS ALBUM., THERE'S A PIC1URE
OF THE LADIES AT DANIELA'S.
YOU CAN TELL rrs FROM nm NJNETIES
BY THE VOLUME OF THEIR HAIR..

THERE YOU ARF,, YOU'REJUST ABABY,

FIERUSA.L
 II- 8 -121

'BIGlITY-SEVEN, HALWWEEN!
IF JT HAPPENED ON THlS BLOCK, ABUELA WAB TIIBRE.
EVERY AFIBRNOON I CAME,
S.HE'D MAKE SURE I DIO MY
HOMEWORK. SHE COULD BARELY
WRITE HERNAME, BUTEVENSO ...
SHB WOULD STARE AT THE PAPER AND TELL ME,

NINA & USNAVI

"BUENO, LET'S REVJEW,

NINA
WHY OONT YOU TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW."
IN THrS ALBUM THERE'S A
PICTURE OF ABUELA INHAVANA
SHB IS HOLDING A RAG DOLL, UNSM1LING,
BLACKAND WHITE.
I WONDER WHAT SHE'S THINKING,
DO SHEKNOW THAT SHE'LL BE
LEAVINO FOR THE CITY 0N A COLD,
DARK NIGHr?
AND ON TIIB DAY THEYRAN,
DID SHE DREAM OFENDLESS SUMMER'!
DID HER MOTHER HAVE A PLAN,
ORDID THEY rusr GO?
DID SOMEBODY SIT HER OOWN AND SAY,
"CLAUDIA, GET READY,
TO LEAVE BElllND EVERYTHING YOU KNOW."
EVBRYTHING IKNOW.
WHAT DO I KNOW?
USNAVJ
I'll go fmd those photos.

(USNAVI exits.)

, NINA
IN THIS FOLDER, THERE'S A PICTURE
OF MY ffiGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
WITH THE PROGRAM, MlNT CONDIDON,
ANDA STAR BESIDE MYNAME.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF MY PARENTS,
AS I LEFT FOR CALIFORNIA.
SHE SAVED EVERYTHINO WE GAVE HER
EVERY LITTLE SCRAP OF PAPER.

FIERUSAL
' --,- _-:•-. -": ;.:;; ;, _- : - - - - .
....: , '_
-:-; .. _ ( }f: •· .:f- :
- --·-- - ,,.. ...... -- - - - ·- -

II- 8-122

AND OUR LIVES ARE IN THESB BOXES,

WHILE Tiffi WOMAN WHO HBLD US IS
GONE. BUT WE GO ON, WE GROW, SO
HOLD TIGHT, ABUELA, IF YOU'RE UF 11:IERR
I'LL MAKE YOU PROUD OF EVERYTHING IKNOW.
THANK YOU, FOR EVERYTHING I KNOW.

(Ihe ROSARIOS have entered. 'NIN.A sees them, hands them a pi.ctW'e.)

KEVIN
The day I bought the business. That man tOQk every dollar 1 had.
(Hands it to CA.MILA.)

CAMILA
Mr. O'Hanrahan. When half this block was Jrlsh.

KEVIN

...
That Polaroid is an
NINA
Dad, I have to just say tlús first. Bennys a good person. I hope you can

,,,....•
trustMo l've been thinking all day about what you said, what dad did. If you
me.
two ha.ve never quit, there's no wa.y I'm going to. I want to go back to
Stanford and 6nish whatl started.

KEVIN
Camila?

. ...,.
,.
CAMILA

Yes?

KEVIN
I'm asking for your support on this.
CAMILA

Sothen ask.

,
,
J

,.
Señora Rosario, ar'o we ready to sell the business?
KEVIN
CAMILA
 ,..
,.
I will never- be ready. But l know it's th.e rigb.t time.

,.
PERUSAL
 11-9 -123

KEVIN
Okay. Thenl'll be amechanic again ifthat's
whatittakes.

NINA
How oan I pay you baclc?

KEVIN
When I was nine I took sorne pieces of wood and made a box. I took a rag
from th.e kitchen and an old caffee can. I wa1ked to the plaza in Areci'bo,
and sWned shoes for a nickel. At the end of the day th.ere was thirty five
cents in the can.
Did I spend it on candy? Did I buy to)'!?

CAMILA
You bought shoe polish.

KEVIN
I"always .bad a mind far investments. Nma Rosario, Bachelor of Arts. Wheo
that day comes, we'U call it even.

NJNA
I love you, Dad.

(I'heyhug.)

MUSIC 21: NO ME DIGA (REPRISE) - _

Scene 9: Outsldé the Saloh

(DANIELA, CARLA, and YANESSA enter .frmn the salon wtth a few
hro:es.)

DANIELA
STIIL NO
POWER...
CARLA & VANESSA
TELL ME SOMETIDNG I DON'TKNOW.

VANESSA
I THINK THAT S ALL OF THE BOXES.

. . CARLA & DANJELA

TELL ME SOMETIDNG I DON'T KNOW.

PERUSAL
 = -•:-..>;:·- t

·,: -...,..._: ;;;'_1; ',.·•

¡¡J,

Il-9-124

CARLA
(Looking at (he
candlesJ
I'm seeing double.
DANIELA
You say tbat every time you wear those tigbt jeans.

ALL
AY, DIOS MIO.

DANIELA
I gota little something
something.,.
ALL

(Sad.)
No me diga.

DANIELA
Vanessa's new address.
(Shaws a piece of
paper.)
A little birdie told me you needed a credit reference.

VANESSA
Wbat do you mean?

DANIELA
I'll cosign on the apartment. But you have to invite me for a
housewanning cocktail. ·

VANESSA
Where did you get this?

......
DANIELA
Usnavi swore me to
secn:cy...
(I'o
CAR!,A.)
What'nnyrule?

....•
CARLA
Sho'll do anything for you, but she won't support your mother's
dysfunction.
VANESSA
I know the rule, I just never thougb.t you meant the first part of it.
(Pause.)
l'm touched. You caro about me.

PERUSAL

.
.-
•
 DANIELA
Oye, I'm just signing the paper. You're still paying th.e rent!

VANESSA
Thankyou!
(Erits.)

CARLA
Feels good, doesn't it?

DANIELA
What?

CARLA
Spreading Jesus's
love.
DANIELA
I never should have gotten you that "Miracle ADay' calendar.

(DANIELA.finds her keys, CARLA winces. A moment.)

CARLA
This is it Make a farewell spe h.

DANIELA
It's lik.e a band-aid. Rip it off quick, you don't even notice.

(DANJELA locb the door, they exit.)

Scene 10: The Street

MUSIC 21A: PIRAGUA (REPRISE) - _

PIRAGUAGUY
IT'S HOTI'ER ;I'HAN TilE ISLANDS ARE TODAY.
AND MISTER SOFfEE' S TRUCK HAS BRO:KEN DOWN!
AND HERE COME ALL IIlS CUSTOMERS MY WAY!
I TOLD YOU, I RON TIIlS TOWNI

PIRAGUA. PIRAGUA!
ONE-TWBNTY-FIVE, PJJU.GUA!
PIRAGUA, PIRAGUA/

PERUSAL
 II- 11 -126

TWO-TWENTY-FIVE, PIRAGUA!

NBW BLOCK OF ICE, HIKE UP THE PRICE!

UI LO LE LO LAI, LAI LO LE LO LAII
BLACKOUIS ARE NICE, BLACKOUTS ARE NICE!
LOLELOLAI,
KEBP SCRAPING BY!
PIRA.GUA/

Scene 11: The Bodega

(USNA.J'I in the bodega.)

USNAVI
Sonny! Don't act like you can't hear me!
SONNY
(Enters.)
State your purpose.

USNAVI
(Hands SONNY some ca.-;h.)
Here's sorne ofthat lunch money. Go buy a couple ofpepperoni slices.

. SONNY
So it all comes down to this, my-s everance package?
USNAVI

......
SONNY
You think Burt would ever abandon Emie? You think Knight Rider would
Money
be and liberty. What you always waríted. I'm freeing you. You.'re free.
auything without Kit? He'd be taking a

....
(He tumJ to go as VANESSA.

USNAVI
Papa, you watoh way too much TV. Can we talk about this

.•...
tomorrow?
SONNY
Fine. Bye. See ya. This is the end of an
era!
, MUSIC 22: CHAMPAGNE -

.
PERUSAL flll
 •• ,. ·' • ..t,; • • " •• , r .,. - - -
,;:
• l."'• -•
í½"-':::''-
t. \
:,-_.,_
''' _._,.
. -, . .
. - .-
. - - ?- , ..,. . ' .
-
-
'
.

ll- 11 - 128
USNAVI
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE COFFEE CUPS,
OR PLASTIC CUPS, I THINK SONNY PACKED THE CUPS...

VANESSA
TONIGHT WE'RE DRINXING STRAIGHT FROM THE BOTILE.
USNAVI?

USNAVI
YEAH?

VANESSA
DANIELA TOLD ME WHAT YOU DID FORME.
AND IT'S, HONFSTLY, TIIB SWEETEST THING ANYONE
EVER DID FORME.

....
NOW, WHAT CAN I SAY OR DO TO
POSSIBLYREPAYYOU
FOR YOUR KINDNESS?

HOW DO YOU GET TIIIS GOLD smr

......
USNAVI
VANESSA
USNAVI!

YEAHI
USNAVI
....
....
VANESSA
BEFORE WE BOTH LEAVE TOWN,
BEFORE THE CORNER CHANGES
ANO THE SIGNS ARE TAKEN DOWN.

....
LET'S WALK. AROUND THE
NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND SAY OUR p
USNAVI. ARE YOU

USNAVI

.•.
rM FINE, rM TRYN'A OPEN TIIIS
CJJAMPAGNE! SEE THE TWISTY THING IS
BUT I'M GONNA OPEN TI-IlS DAMN
CHAMPAGNEI

.•.
VANESSA
LEMME SEE
IT.

PERUSA.L
•
•
•
•
 II-14-134

(The puwer is stiU out. KEVIN Is up on a ladder, talcing dawn the

"Rosario Car Service" .sign. CAMILA is heside him. He handr the sign
dawn to CAMILA. UndO"rreath is the glimmer of an older sign:
"O'Hanrahan Car Service.'J
-
MUSIC 24: FINALE _

BOLERO SINGER (PRE-RECORDED)

NOTE VAYAS.
SIMEDEJAS,
SITEALEJASDEMI,
SEGUJRASEN MIS RECUERDOS PARA SIEMPRE,
PARA SIEMPRE, PARA SIEMPRE,
PARASIE
PARASJE
PARA SIEMPRE...
(Continues under next rap)

(USNAVI has entered and watched this. He sits on his stoop.)

USNAVI
LIGHTS OUT ON WASHINGTONHEIGHTS,
AND NOW TilE CRACK OF DAWN,
TilE BLACKOUT GOES ON AND ON AND ON...

BOLERO SINGER (PRE-RECORDED)

PARA SIEMPRE,

USNAVI
SONNY'S OUTBACK, SORTINTIIB TRASH
AS I THINKABOUTTHEPASTWITHA SACK FULL OF CASH.

BOLERO SINGER (PRE-RECORDED)

PARA SIEMPRE,

USNAVI
ABUELA REALLY WANTBD ME UP ON A
BEACH WITHMARGARITASINMYREACH,AND
SOONTHAT'S HOWIT'S GONNABE...

BOLERO SINGER (PRE-RECORDED)

PARA SIEMPRE,

PERLISAL