Doc's Drugstore is a location featured in the 2021 film West Side Story. It is a small run-down storefront pharmacy and candy store with a soda fountain and a game room. The drug store serves as the main hangout for the Jets, a white street gang, and the meeting place for their war council with the Sharks, a Puerto Rican street gang. It is also located near the high school gym where Tony (Ansel Elgort), a former Jet who works for Doc, meets MarÃa (Rachel Zegler), the sister of the Sharks' leader Bernardo (David Alvarez), and falls in love with her.
Role in the film[]
In the 2021 film, Doc's Drugstore is owned by Valentina (Rita Moreno), who is Doc's widow. Valentina is a sympathetic and wise character who tries to dissuade the Jets from fighting and offers Tony a safe space and advice. She also hires MarÃa to work at the drugstore after Bernardo's death. Valentina is a repurposed version of Doc, who was played by Ned Glass in the 1961 film and was based on Friar Laurence from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Doc's Drugstore is the setting for several important scenes in the film, such as:
- The war council between Riff (Mike Faist), the leader of the Jets, and Bernardo, where they agree to have a rumble under the highway. Tony arrives and tries to make peace, but Bernardo insults him and challenges him to a fight. Riff accepts on Tony's behalf, setting the stage for the tragic events that follow.
- Tony's confession to Valentina that he loves MarÃa and his request for her help to stop the rumble. Valentina is skeptical but agrees to call MarÃa's house and ask for her. She tells Tony that MarÃa will meet him at Doc's after dark.
- Anita's (Ariana DeBose) visit to the drugstore to deliver a message to Tony from MarÃa, who is delayed by Police Police Lieutenant Schrank (Brian d'Arcy James). Anita is harassed and assaulted by the Jets until Valentina intervenes. Angered, Anita lies that Chino (Josh Andrés Rivera) has killed MarÃa out of jealousy.
- Valentina's relay of Anita's message to Tony, along with some money for him and MarÃa to escape. Tony runs out of the drugstore in despair, looking for Chino to kill him. He finds MarÃa alive at a playground, but Chino shoots him before they can reunite.
