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The Public Prosecutor (“Press”)
Rafas is the leader of the Downey Gang, the rivals of the 38th Street Gang. Rafas and his crew often show up at 38th Street Gang parties, much to Henry’s dismay. He and his friends also vandalize Henry’s car at the Sleepy Lagoon and then beat him unconscious. When Henry awakes, he gets the rest of the 38th Street Gang and then returns to the Lagoon, but Rafas and the Downey Gang have already left for the Williams’ Ranch, which they terrorize before taking off into the night. Although it’s never clarified, the implication is that Rafas and his gang are responsible for the death of José Williams, which gets pinned on Henry and his friends.
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Rafas Character Timeline in Zoot Suit
The timeline below shows where the character Rafas appears in Zoot Suit. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 1: Zoot Suit
...festivities, as El Pachuco rushes over to break up a fight developing between Henry and Rafas, the Downey Gang’s leader who has just pushed Henry’s little brother, Rudy.
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Act 1, Scene 7: The Saturday Night Dance
...just arrived. Henry decides to keep an eye on them, but it isn’t long before Rafas picks a fight with Rudy, who’s drunk. Henry stands up for his brother, and the...
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Henry and Rafas pull out switchblades and start knife-fighting. Henry soon emerges victorious, poised with his blade against...
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Act 1, Scene 10: Sleepy Lagoon
...he does survive the war, and she says yes. As they kiss, they notice that Rafas and the Downey Gang have approached Henry’s parked car and have started vandalizing it. Henry...
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