NEWSIES
RACETRACK:
In 1899, the streets of New York City echoed with the voices of newsies, peddling the newspapers of Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst and other giants of the newspaper world. On every calle corner tu saw 'em, carrying the banner, bringing tu the news for a penny a pape. Poor orphans and runaways, the newsies were a ragged army, without a leader, until one día when all that changed.
(The movie título appears. We see the outside of the Newsboys Lodging House. Inside, Kloppman, the owner, enters the bunkroom, finding the boys still in bed.)
KLOPPMAN:
Boots! Skittery! Skittery! Skittery!
SKITTERY:
Wha..I didn't do it!
KLOPPMAN:
What do tu mean tu didn't do it? Will tu get up? When tu get up, it's time to get up! Snitch! Get up! Get up! Everybody's sleeping. They sleep their lives away these kids! The presses are rolling! Sell the papers, sell the papers! Come on, come on. tu dreaming about selling papers?
JACK:
Mmmmmm? What's the matta with you?
KLOPPMAN:
What's the matter with me?
JACK:
What's the matta with you? Wanna..go..back..to..
KLOPPMAN:
Come on! (gives him a shove)
JACK:
Get away from me, you're mad!
KLOPPMAN:
Ha ha. Get up boy! Come on. Alright! Carry the banner! Sell the papers!
(Racetrack looks around for his cigar, noticing that Snipeshooter has it)
RACETRACK:
That's my cigar!
SNIPESHOOTER:
You'll steal anudder!
KID BLINK:
hola bummers, we got work tah do!
SPECS:
Since when did tu become me mudder?
CRUTCHY:
Aww, stop your bawling!
NEWSIES:
Hey, who asked you?
MUSH:
So, how'd tu sleep Jack?
JACK:
On me back Mush.
MUSH:
Ha ha. Hear that fellas? Hear what Jack said? I asked Jack how he slept and he dicho 'On me back Mush.'
CRUTCHY:
Jack, when I walk, does it look like I'm faking it?
JACK:
No. Who says you're faking it?
CRUTCHY:
I dunno. It's just there's so many fake crips on the calle today, a real crip ain't got a chance. I gotta find me a new selling spot where they ain't used to seeing me.
MUSH:
Try Bottle Alley o the harbor
RACETRACK:
Try Central Park, it's guaranteed
JACK:
Try any banker, bum, o barber
SKITTERY:
They almost all knows how to read
KID BLINK:
I smell money
CRUTCHY:
tu smell foul!
MUSH:
Met this girl last night
CRUTCHY:
mover your elbow!
RACETRACK:
Pass the towel!
SKITTERY:
For a buck I might!
NEWSIES:
Ain't it a fine life
Carrying the banner through it all?
A mighty fine life
Carrying the banner tough and tall
Every morning, we goes where we wishes
We's as free as fishes
Sure beats washing dishes
What a fine life
Carrying the banner home-free all!
(The newsies leave the Lodging House and head towards Newsies Square)
JACK:
It takes a smile as sweet as butter
CRUTCHY:
The kind the ladies can’t resist
RACETRACK:
It takes an orphan…with a stutter
JACK:
That ain’t afraid to use his-
KID BLINK:
Fist!
NEWSIES:
Summer stinks and winter's waiting
Welcome to New York
Boy, ain't nature fascinating
When youse gotta walk?
Still, it's a fine life
Carrying the banner with me chums
A mighty fine life
Blowing every nickel as it comes
CRUTCHY:
I'm no snoozer
Sitting makes me antsy
I likes living chancy
NEWSIES:
Harlem tah Delancey
What a fine life
Carrying the banner through the slums
NUNS:
Blessed children though tu wonder lost and depraved
jesús loves you, tu shall be saved!
PATRICK'S MOTHER:
Patrick, darling
Since tu left me, I am undone
Mother loves you
God save my son!
(Sung in counterpoint)
RACETRACK:
Just give me half a cup
KID BLINK:
Something to wake me up
MUSH:
I gotta find an angle
CRUTCHY:
I gotta sell más papes
VARIOUS NEWSIES:
Papers is all I got
Wish I could catch a breeze
Sure hope the headline's hot
All I can catch is fleas
God help me if it's not
Somebody help me, please..
(End counterpoint)
NEWSIES:
If I hate the headline, I'll make up the headline
And I'll say anything I hafta
'Cause it's two for a penny, if I take too many
comadreja just makes me eat 'em afta
(Sung in counterpoint)
1. Look! They're putting up the headline
They call that a headline?
I get better stories from the copper on the beat
I was gunna start with twenty but a dozen'll be plenty
Tell me, how'm I gonna make ends meet?
2. What's it say?
That won't pay!
So where's your spot?
God, it's hot!
Will ya tell me how'm I gonna make ends meet?
(End counterpoint)
NEWSIES:
We need a good assassination!
We need an earthquake o a war!
SNIPESHOOTER:
How 'bout a crooked politician?
NEWSIES:
Hey, stupid, that ain't news no more!
Uptown to Grand Central Station
Down to City Hall
We improves our circulation
Walkin' til we fall!
(Sung in counterpoint)
1. Still we'll be out there
Carrying the banner man to man!
Yes, we'll be out there
Soaking every sucker that we can!
See the headline
Newsies on a mission
Kill the competition
Sell the siguiente edition
While we're out there
Carrying the banner is the...
2.Look, they're putting up the headline
They call that a headline
The idiot who wrote it must be working for the Sun
Didja hear about the fire?
3.Heard it killed old man Maguire!
2.Heard the toll was ever higher
3.Why do I miss all the fun?
2.Hitched it on a Trolley
3.Meetcha Forty-Fourth and Second
2.Little Italy's a secret
3.Bleecker's further than I reckoned
2.At the courthouse
3.Near the stables
2.On the corner someone beckoned and I....
(The Delancey brothers, Oscar and Morris, enter.)
RACETRACK:
Dear me! What is that unpleasant aroma? I fear the sewers may have backed up during the night.
BOOTS:
Nah, too rotten to be the sewers.
CRUTCHY:
It must be the Delancey brudders.
RACETRACK:
Hiya boys!
OSCAR: (to Snipeshooter)
In the back, tu lousy little shrimp.
(Oscar throws Snipeshooter to the ground. Jack goes to help him up)
RACETRACK:
It's not good to do that. Not healthy.
JACK:
tu shouldn't call people lousy little shrimps, Oscar, unless you're referring to the family resemblance in your brudda here.
RACETRACK:
5-1 that Cowboys skunks 'em. Who's betting?
JACK:
That's right. It's an insult. So's this.
(Jack knocks Morris' hat off his head. The Delancey's chase Jack around the Square. David and Les enter and watch until Jack bumps into them.)
DAVID:
What do tu think you're doing?
JACK:
Runnin'!
(Sung in counterpoint)
NEWSIES:
1.It's a fine life
Carrying the banner through it all
A mighty fine life
Carrying the banner tough and tall
See the headline
Newsies on a mission
Kill the competition
Sell the siguiente edition
What a fine life
Carrying the banner!
2.Would tu look at the headline
tu call that a headline?
I get better stories from the copper on the beat
I was gonna start with twenty but a dozen'll be plenty
Would tu tell me how'm I ever gonna make ends meet
Hitched it on a Trolley
Meetcha Forty-Fourth and Second
Little Italy's a secret
Bleecker's further than I reckoned
por the courthouse, near the stables
On the corner someone beckoned!
Go get 'em Cowboy!
You've got 'em now boy!
(End counterpoint)
NEWSIES:
Go!
WORLD EMPLOYEE:
These is for the newsies!
(The newsies line up for their papes, congratulating Jack on beating the Delancey's)
RACETRACK:
Brilliant, better than yesterday.
JACK:
You’re too kind to me, Race, you’re too kind.
MORRIS:
See tu tomorrow, Cowboy
OSCAR:
You're as good as dead, Cowboy.
JACK:
Oh Mr. Weasel.
WEASEL:
Alright, alright! Hold your horses! I'm coming, I'm coming.
JACK:
So, didja miss me Weasel? Huh, did tu miss me?
WEASEL:
I told ya a million times, the name's Wisely. Mr. Wisely to you. How many?
JACK:
Don't rush me, I'm prusing the merchandise Mr. Weasel. The usual.
WEASEL:
100 papes for the wise guy. Next!
RACETRACK:
Morning your honour! Listen, do me a favour, spot me 50 papes? I got a hot tip in the fourth; tu won't waste your money.
WEASEL:
It's a sure thing?
RACETRACK:
Yeah . . . Not like last time.
WEASEL:
50 papes! Next!
CRUTCHY:
Heya Mr. Wisel.
RACETRACK:
See anything good this morning?
WEASEL:
30 papes for Crutchy! Next!
JACK: (to Les)
tu wanna sit down?
DAVID:
20 papers please. Thanks.
RACETRACK:
Look at this, 'Baby Born With Two Heads'. Must be from Brooklyn.
WEASEL:
Hey, tu got your lousy papes, now beat it!
DAVID:
I paid for twenty. I only got nineteen.
WEASEL:
Are tu accusing me of lying kid?
DAVID:
No. I just want my paper.
MORRIS:
He dicho beat it!
JACK:
No, it's nineteen. It's nineteen, but don't worry about it. It's an honest mistake. I mean, Morris here can't count to twenty with his shoes on. hola Race, will ya spot me 2 bits? Another 50 for my friend.
DAVID:
I don't want another 50.
JACK:
Sure tu do. Every newsie wants más papes.
DAVID:
I don't. I don't want your papes. I don't take charity from anyone. I don't know you. I
don't care to. Here are your papes.
LES:
Cowboy. They called him Cowboy.
JACK:
Yeah, I'm called that and a lot of other things, including Jack Kelly, which is what me mudder called me. What do they call tu kid?
LES:
Les, and this is my brother David. He's older.
JACK:
No kidding. So how old are tu Les?
LES:
Me? Near 10.
JACK:
Near 10. Well, that's no good. If anyone asks, you're 7. tu see, younger sells más papes and if we're gunna be partners, we wanna be the best.
DAVID:
Wait. Who dicho anything about being partners?
JACK:
Well, tu owe me 2 bits right? Well, I'll consider that an investment. We sell together, we división, split 70-30, plus tu get the benefit of observing me, no charge.
DAVID:
Ah-ha.
JACK: (mocking)
Ah-ha.
CRUTCHY:
You're getting the chance of a lifetime here, Davey. tu learn from Jack, tu learn from the best.
DAVID:
Well, if he's the best, then how come he needs me?
JACK:
Listen, I don't need you, pal, but I ain't got a cute little brudder like Les here to front for me. With this kid's puss and my God-given talent, we could mover a thousand papes a week. So what do tu say Les? tu wanna sell papes with me?
LES:
Yeah!
JACK:
So we got a deal?
DAVID:
Wait. It's got to be at least 50-50.
JACK:
60-40, I forget the whole thing.
(David holds out his hand. Jack spits on his hand and reaches for David, who pulls his arm away.)
JACK:
What'sa matta?
DAVID:
That's disgusting!
(By this time, the rest of the newsies have gotten their papers and are moving out into the street.)
JACK:
The name of the game is volume, Dave. tu only took twenty papes. Why?
DAVID:
Bad headline.
JACK:
That's the first thing tu gotta learn. Headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell papes. tu know, we're what holds this town together. Without newsies, nobody knows nothing.
(A girl hurries past and the newsies take off their hats and make a few comments)
SPECS:
Baby born with three heads!
(The newsies begin to yell out various headlines as the spread out over the streets. We go into Pulitzer's office where Pulitzer is lectura the headline. Also in the room is Jonathan, Seitz and another World employee.)
PULITZER:
'Trolley Strike Drags On For Third Week' and this so-called headline drags on for infinity.
EMPLOYEE:
News is slow, Mr. Pulitzer. The trolley strike's all we've got.
PULITZER:
Well, that's all Mr. William Randolph Hearst has too, but look how he covers the strike. Look! Look!
EMPLOYEE:
We'll get a new headline writer, sir.
PULITZER:
Steal Hearst's man. Offer him double.
SEITZ:
That's how he estola him from us. It's not the headlines, Chief. The circulation wars are cutting into our profits because tu spend as much as tu make trying to beat Hearst.
PULITZER:
Then we need to make más money. tu do not penny-pinch when you're in a war, Seitz. Victory means everything. Now, when I created the World…what is that deafening noise?
JONATHAN:
Just the newsies, sir. I'll go have them quieted.
PULITZER:
Never mind the newsies. Where was I?
SEITZ:
Creating the World, Chief.
PULITZER:
There's lots of money down there, gentlemen. I want to know how I can get más of it...by tonight.
(We are now in the streets of New York. Jack and David roam through the crowds.)
DAVID:
Extra! Extra! Trolley strike drags on!
JACK:
Extra! Extra! Ellis Island in flames!
DAVID:
Wait, where's that story?
JACK:
Thank tu sir. Page 9. Thousands flee in panic. Thank you. Much obliged to tu ladies.
DAVID:
'Trash fuego siguiente To Immigration Building Terrifies Seagulls'??
JACK:
Terrified flight of inferno!! Thousands of lives at stake! Extra! Extra! Thank tu sir. Extra! Extra!
(Les enters)
JACK:
Hey, tu start in the back like I told you? Ok, mostrar me again.
LES:(coughs)
Buy me last pape, mista?
JACK:
It's heartbreaking kid. Go get 'em.
DAVID:
My father taught us not to lie.
JACK:
Well, mine told me not to starve, so we both got an education.
DAVID:
You're just making up things. All these headlines.
JACK:
I don't do nothing the guys who write it don't do. Anyway, it's not lying; it's just improving the truth a little.
(Warden Snyder enters and sees Jack. Les re-enters)
LES:
The guy gave me a quarter. Quick, give me some más last papers.
DAVID:
Wait, wait. tu smell like beer.
LES:
Well, that's how I made the quarter. The guy bet me I wouldn't drink some.
JACK:
Hey, no drinking on the job. It's bad for business. And what if somebody called the cop on you?
DAVID: (pointing to Snyder)
Is he a friend of yours?
JACK:
Beat it! It's the bulls!
LES:
All this over one sip of beer?
(Snyder chases Jack, David and Les through the streets, and into a building. They run up the stairs and get to the roof. Without stopping for a second, Jack jumps off the roof, leaving David and Les alone. Jack's head pops up and David and Les registrarse him on a ledge just as Snyder enters.)
SNYDER:
Sullivan! Wait ‘til I get tu back to the Refuge!
(Jack leads David and Les a little more, when David pulls him to a halt outside Irving Hall)
DAVID:
I'm not running any further.
(Jack leads the two brothers inside.)
DAVID:
I want some answers.
JACK:
Shhh!
DAVID:
Who was he and why was he chasing you? And what is this Refuge?
JACK:
The Refuge is a jail for kids. That guy chasing me was Snyder, he’s the warden.
LES:
tu were in jail?
JACK:
Yeah.
LES:
Why?
JACK:
Well, I was starving, so I estola some food.
DAVID:
Food?
JACK:
Yeah, food.
DAVID:
He called tu Sullivan.
JACK:
Well, my name's Kelly. Jack Kelly. tu think I'm lying?
DAVID:
Well, tu have a way of improving the truth. Why was he chasing you?
JACK:
'Cause I escaped.
LES:
Oh boy! How?
JACK:
Well, this big shot gave me a ride out in his carriage.
DAVID:
I bet it was the mayor, right?
JACK:
No, Teddy Roosevelt. tu ever heard of him?
MEDDA:
What's going on down there? Out! Out! Out!
JACK:
tu wouldn't kick me out without a kiss goodbye, wouldja Medda?
MEDDA:
Oh Kelly. Where ya been, kid? Oh, I miss seeing tu up in the balcony.
JACK:
Hanging on your every word. So Medda.
MEDDA:
Yes.
JACK:
This is David and Les.
MEDDA:
Hello.
JACK:
And this is the greatest estrella of the vaudeville stage today, Miss Medda Larkson, the Swedish Meadowlark.
MEDDA:
Welcome, gentlemen.
JACK:
Medda also owns the joint.
MEDDA:
Oh, what do we have here? Oh, aren't tu the cutest little thing there ever was? Yes tu are.
LES: (cough)
Buy me last pape, lady?
MEDDA:
Oh, tu are good. Oh yes, this kid is really good. Speaking as one professional to another, I'd say tu have a great future.
JACK:
So, is it alright if we stay here for a little while, Medda? Just until a little problem outside goes away.
MEDDA:
Sure, stay as long as tu like. Toby, just give my guests whatever they want.
ANNOUNCER:
And now gents, the moment you've all been waiting for. The sensational songbird. The Swedish Meadowlark, Miss Medda Larkson.
(Medda goes on stage. Jack, David and Les watch from backstage.)
MEDDA:
My lovey dovey baby
I boo-hoo-hoo for you
I used to be your tootsie-wootsie
Then tu dicho 'tooldle-dedoo'
I miss the hanky-panky
Each nighty-night til three
Come back my lovey dovey baby
And coochie-coo with me
(After the show, the boys go outside)
JACK:
So, tu like that?
DAVID:
Oh, I loved that. I loved it. It was great. She is beautiful. How do tu know her?
JACK:
She was a friend of me fadder's. Come on, Les, tu wanna shine me shoes for me?
DAVID:
Oh, it's getting late. My parents are going to be worried. What about yours?
JACK:
Nah, they're out west looking for a place to live, like this.
(Pulls out a Santa Fe brochure)
See, that Les? Santa Fe, New Mexico. As soon as they find the right ranch, they're gonna send for me.
LES:
Then you'll be a real cowboy.
JACK:
Yup.
(Fire and loud crashes are heard. The boys run and see a riot breaking out. A group of men are beating up another man.)
DAVID:
Jack! Why don't we go to my place and divvy up. tu can meet my folks.
JACK:
It's the trolley strike, Dave. These couple of dumb-asses must not have joined o something.
DAVID:
Jack, let's get out of here.
JACK:
So, maybe we'll get a good headline tomorrow, Dave. Look at this, he slept the whole way threw it.
(Jack picks up Les from the bench where he fell asleep. They enter David's house.)
ESTER:
My God. What happened?
DAVID:
Nothing, mama. He's just sleeping.
MAYER:
We've been waiting cena for you. Where have tu been?
(David puts a pile of coins on the table.)
MAYER:
tu made all this selling newspapers?
DAVID:
Well, half of it's Jack's. This is our selling partner, and our friend. Jack Kelly, my parents. And that's my sister, Sarah.
MAYER:
Ester, maybe David's partner would like to registrarse us for dinner. Why don't tu add a little más water to the soup?
(He kisses her. She shoves him away playfully)
ESTER:
Mayer!
(After dinner, they talk as Sarah clears the table.)
JACK:
So, from what I saw today, you're boys are a couple of born newsies. Can I have some more?
SARAH:
Yes.
JACK:
So with their hard work and my experience, I figure we can peddle a thousand papes a week and not even break a sweat.
MAYER:
That many?
JACK:
más when the headline's good.
SARAH:
So what makes the headline good?
JACK:
Oh, tu know. Catchy words like maniac, o corpse, umm…love-nest, o nude. Excuse me. Maybe I'm talkin' too much.
MAYER:
Sarah? Go get the cake your mother's hiding in the cabinet.
ESTER:
That's for your birthday tomorrow!
MAYOR:
Well, I've had enough birthdays. This is a celebration.
DAVID:
I'll get the knife.
SARAH:
I got the plates.
DAVID:
This is only the beginning, papa. The longer I work, the más money I'll make.
MAYER:
You'll only work until I go back to the factory, and then tu are going back to school, like tu promised.
SARAH:
Happy-birthday, papa.
MAYER:
This is going to heal, and they'll give me my job back. We'll make them
(Les stirs, but doesn't wake up in bed.)
LES:
Come back my lovey dovey baby
And coochie-coo with me
(David and Jack start laughing)
ESTER:
And what is this David?
(The boys try to stop laughing, but can't. LATER THAT NIGHT, on David's fuego escape)
JACK:
So, how'd your pop get hurt?
DAVID:
At the factory. It was an accident. He's no good to them anymore, so they just fired him.
(Mayer appears at the window.)
MAYER:
David, it's time to come in now.
DAVID:
Alright. Jack, why don't tu stay here tonight?
JACK:
Ah, no, thanks. I got a place of my own. But you're family's real nice, like mine.
DAVID:
See tu tomorrow.
JACK:
Alright.
DAVID:
Carrying the banner.
JACK:
Carrying the banner.
(David goes inside, leaving Jack alone on the fuego escape. He looks in the window and sees the family together.)
JACK:
So that's what they call a family?
Mudder, fadder, daughter, son
Guess everything tu heard about is true.
So tu ain't got any family
Well, who dicho tu needed one?
Ain'tcha glad nobody's waiting up for you?
When I dream on my own
I'm alone, but I ain't lonely
For a dreamer, night's the only time of day
When the city's finally sleeping
When my thoughts begin to stray
And I'm on the train that bound for
Santa Fe
And I'm free
Like the wind
Like I’m gonna live forever
It's a feeling time can never take away
All I need’s a few más dollars
And I'm outta here to stay
Dreams come true
Yes they do
In Santa Fe
Where does it say you've gotta live and die here?
Where does it say a guy can't catch a break?
Why should tu only take what you're given?
Why should tu spend your whole life livin'
Trapped where there ain't no future
Even at seventeen
Breaking your back for someone else's sake
If the life don't seem to suit ya
How bout a change of scene?
Far from the lousy headlines
And the deadlines in between
Santa Fe
Are tu there?
Do tu swear tu won't forget me?
If I found tu would tu let me come and stay?
I ain't getting any younger
And before my dying day
I want space
Not just air
Let 'em laugh in my face, I don't care
Save a place
I'll be there
So that's what they call a family?
Ain'tcha glad tu ain't that way?
Ain'tcha glad tu got a dream called
Santa Fe?
(Jack ends up outside the Lodging House. As he enters, he meets up with Racetrack)
JACK:
Heya Race.
RACETRACK:
hola Jack.
JACK:
How was your día at the track?
RACETRACK:
Remember that hot tip I told tu about? Nobody told the horse.
(Pulitzer, Seitz and Jonathan are sitting it Pulitzer's office.)
PULITZER:
I know we need to make más money. That’s why we’re here, to find out how to make más money.
JONATHAN:
I have several proposals. First, to increase the paper’s price.
PLUITZER:
Then Hearst outsells me and I’m in the poorhouse. Brilliant, Jonathan, brilliant.
JONATHAN:
Not the customer’s price. The price to the distribution apparatus.
SEITZ:
Charge the newsies más for their papers? Bad idea, Chief.
JONATHAN:
Very well. My siguiente proposal, salary cuts. Particularly those at the top.
SEITZ:
Very bad idea, Chief.
PULITZER:
Wait. What do the newsies pay now? 50 cents for 100 papers? If tu raise it to 60 cents..
JONATHAN:
A mere tenth of a cent per paper.
PULITZER:
Multiply por 40, 000 papers a day…7 days a week….
JONATHAN:
It definitely adds up, sir.
SEITZ:
If tu do this, every newsie we’ve got will head straight for Hearst.
PULITZER:
tu don’t know Hearst like I do, Setiz. As newspapermen, he and I would cut each other’s throats to get an advantage. But as gentlemen, as businessmen, if also see eye to eye on certain things. Now, if we do it, Hearst and I, if we do it, then the other papers will do it.
SEITZ:
It’s going to be awfully tough on those children.
PULITZER:
Nonsense, nonsense. It’ll be good for them. Incentive, make them work harder, sell más papers. They’ll look on it as an advantage.
(Outside the World building, the newsies have gathered. Jack joins them)
KID BLINK:
They jacked up the price! tu hear that Jack? Ten cents a hundred! tu know, it’s bad enough that we gotta eat what we don’t sell, now they jack up the price! Can tu believe that?
SKITTERY:
This’ll bust me, I’m barely making a living right now.
BOOTS:
I’ll be back sleeping on the streets.
MUSH:
It don’t make no sense. I mean, all the money Pulitzer’s making, why would he gouge us?
RACETRACK:
Because he’s a tight wad, that’s why!
JACK:
Pipe down, it’s just a gag. So, why the jack up Weasel?
WEASEL:
Why not? It’s a nice day. Why don’tcha ask Mr. Pulitzer?
KID BLINK:
They can’t to this to me Jack.
RACETRACK:
They can do whatever they want. It’s their stinkin’ paper.
BOOTS:
It ain’t fair. We got no rights at all.
RACETRACK:
Come on, it’s a rigged deck. They got all the marbles.
MUSH:
Jack, we got no choice, so why don’t we get our lousy papes while they still got some, huh?
JACK:
No! Nobody’s going anywhere. They can’t get away with this!
LES:
Give him some room, give him some room. Let him think.
RACETRACK:
Jack, tu done thinkin’ yet?
WEASEL:
Hey! Hey! Hey! World employees only on this side of the gate!
JACK:
Well, listen. One thing’s for sure, if we don’t sell papes, then nobody sells papes. Nobody comes through those gates until they put the price back to where it was.
DAVID:
tu mean like a strike?
JACK:
Yeah, like a strike!
RACETRACK:
Are tu out of your mind?
JACK:
It’s a good idea!
DAVID:
Jack, I was only joking. We can’t go on strike, we don’t have a union.
JACK:
But, if we go on strike, then we are a union, right?
DAVID:
No, we’re just a bunch of angry kids with no money. Maybe if we got every newsie in New York, but…
JACK:
Yeah, well we organize. Crutchy, tu take up for collection. We get all the newsies of New York together.
DAVID:
Jack, this isn’t a joke. tu saw what happened to those trolley workers.
JACK:
Yeah, well that’s another good idea. Any newsie don’t registrarse with us, then we bust their heads like the trolley workers.
DAVID:
Stop and think about this Jack. tu can’t just rush everybody into this
JACK:
Alright. Let me think about it. Listen. Dave’s right. Pulitzer and Hearst and all them other rich fellas, I mean, they own this city, so do they really think a bunch of calle kids like us can make any difference? The choice has got to be yours. Are we just gonna take what they give us, o are we gonna strike?
LES:
Strike!
BOOTS:
Keep talking Jack, tell us what to do!
JACK:
Well, tu tell us what to do Davey.
DAVID:
Pulitzer and Hearst have to respect our rights.
JACK:
hola listen! Pulitzer and Hearst have to respect the rights of the working boys of New York! Well, that worked pretty good, so what else?
DAVID:
Tell them that they can’t treat us like we don’t exist.
JACK:
Pulitzer and Hearst, they think we’re nothing.
Are we nothing!
NEWSIES:
No!
DAVID:
If we stick together like the trolley workers then they can’t break us up.
JACK:
Pulitzer and Hearst, they think they got us.
Do they got us?
NEWSIES:
No!
DAVID:
We’re a union now, the Newsboys Union. We have to start actuación like a union.
JACK:
Even though we ain’t got hats o badges
We’re a union just por saying so
And the World will know!
BOOTS:
What’s to start somebody else from selling our papes?
JACK:
Well, we'll talk with them!
RACETRACK:
Some of them don’t hear so good!
JACK:
Well then we’ll soak ‘em!
DAVID:
No! We can’t beat up kids in the streets. It’ll give us a bad name.
CRUTCHY:
Can’t get any worse.
JACK:
What’s it gonna take to stop the wagons?
Are we ready?
NEWSIES:
Yeah!
DAVID:
No!
JACK:
What’s it gonna take to stop the scabber?
Can we do it?
NEWSIES:
Yeah!
JACK:
We’ll do what we gotta do until we
Break the will of mighty Bill and Joe!
NEWSIES:
And the World will know
And the Journal too!
Mr. Hearst and Pulitzer
Have we got news for you!
Now the World will hear
What we’ve got to say
We’ve been hawking headlines
But we’re making ‘em today.
And our ranks will grow!
CRUTCHY:
And we’ll kick their rear!
NEWSIES:
And the World will know that we’ve been here!
JACK:
When the circulation campana starts ringing
Will we hear it?
NEWSIES:
No!
JACK:
What if the Delancey’s come out swinging
Will we hear it?
NEWSIES:
No!
When you’ve got a hundred voices singing
Who can hear a lousy whistle blow?
And the World will know
That this ain’t no game
That we got a ton of rotten frutas and perfect aim
So they gave their word
But it ain’t worth beans!
Now they’re gonna see what ‘stop the presses’ really means
And the día has come
And the time is now
And the fear is gone
BOOTS:
And their name is mud!
NEWSIES:
And the strike is on
BOOTS:
And I can't stand blood!
NEWSIES:
And the World will..
JACK:
Pulitzer may own the World but he don’t own us!
NEWSIES:
Pulitzer may own the World but he don’t own us!
JACK:
Pulitzer may crack the whip but he won’t whip us!
NEWSIES:
Pulitzer may crack the whip but he won’t whip us!
And the World will know
And the World will learn
And the World will wonder how
We made the tables turn
And the World will see
That we had to choose
That the things we do today
Will be tomorrow’s news
And the old will fall
And the young stand tall
And the time is now
And the winds will blow
And our ranks will grow
And grow and grow and so
The World will feel the fire
And finally know!

NEWSIES:
Strike! Strike! Strike! (etc.)
JACK:
We gotta get word out to all the newsies of New York. I need some of those….what’dja call ‘em?
DAVID:
Ambassadors?
JACK:
Yeah, right. Okay, tu guys, tu gotta be am-bastards and go tell the other that we’re on strike.
KID BLINK:
Say, Jack, I’ll take Harlem.
RACETRACK:
Yeah, I got Midtown.
MUSH:
I got the Battery, Jack.
CRUTCHY:
Hey, I’ll take the Bronx.
JACK:
Alright. And Bumlets, and Specs and Skittery, tu take Queens. Pie Eater! Snoddy! East Side! Snipeshooter, tu go with ‘em. So, what about Brooklyn? Come on, Spot Conlon’s territory. What’sa matta? tu scared of Brooklyn?
BOOTS:
Hey, we ain’t scared of Brooklyn. It’s Spot Conlon that makes us a little nervous.
JACK:
Well, he don’t make me nervous. So tu and me, Boots, we’ll go to Brooklyn. And Dave here can keep us company.
DAVID:
Sure, just as soon as tu delivery our demands to Pulitzer.
JACK:
Me? To Pulitzer?
DAVID:
You’re the leader, Jack.
JACK:
Well, maybe the kid’ll soften him up.
(Jack and Les enter the World Building. The newsies cheer)
NEWSIES:
Strike! Strike! Strike! (etc.)
(The newsies go off in different directions. Denton enters and approaches David.)
DENTON:
Hey, what is the strike? What’s going on?
DAVID:
We’re bringing out demands to Pulitzer.
DENTON:
What demands?
DAVID:
The newsies demands. We’re on strike.
DENTON:
I’m with the New York Sun. Bryan Denton. tu seem like the kid in charge. What’s your name?
DAVID:
David.
DENTON:
David. David as in David and Goliath? tu really think old man Pulitzer’s going to listen to your demands?
DAVID:
He has to.
(Jack and Let thrown out the door.)
JACK:
Well, so’s your old lady! tu tell Pulitzer he needs an appointment with me!
LES:
Yeah!
(Jack, David, Les and Denton are sitting in a booth in Tibby’s Restaurant.)
JACK:
So this snooty mug says to me, ‘You can’t see Mr. Pulitzer. No one sees Mr. Pulitzer.’ Real hoity-toity, tu know the type?
LES:
Real hoity-toity.
JACK:
So that’s when I says to him, ‘Listen, I ain’t in the habit of transacting no business with office boys. Just tell him Jack Kelly’s here to see him now!’
LES:
That’s when he threw us out.
DENTON:
Does he scare you? You’re going up against the most powerful man in New York City.
JACK:
Oh yeah, look at me. I’m trembling.
DENTON:
Alright, keep me informed. I want to know everything that’s going on.
DAVID:
Are we really an important story?
DENTON:
Well, what’s important? Last año I covered the war in Cuba. Charged up San Juan colina with Col. Teddy Roosevelt. That was an important story. So, is the newsie’s strike important? That all depends on you.
JACK:
So my name’s really gonna be in the papers?
DENTON:
Any objections?
JACK:
Not as long as tu get it right. It’s Kelly, Jack Kelly. Oh, and Denton? No pictures.
DENTON:
Sure Jack.
(Jack, David and Boots start across the Brooklyn Bridge.)
DAVID:
I’ve never been to Brooklyn, have you?
BOOTS:
I spent a mes there one night.
(Jack and Boots lean over the side and scream at the parte superior, arriba of their lungs.)
DAVID:
So, is this Spot Conlon really dangerous?
(The boys get to Brooklyn. There are a lot of tough looking boys.)
BROOKLYN NEWSIE:
Going somewhere, Kelly?
(Jack pushes past him. David and Boots follow.)
SPOT:
Well, if it ain’t Jack be nimble, Jack be quick.
JACK:
I see tu moved up in the world, Spot. Got a river view and everything.
(The two boys spit-shake.)
SPOT:
Heya Boots. How’s it rollin’?
BOOTS:
I got a couple of real good shooters.
(Spot takes the marbles and takes out his sling-shot.)
SPOT:
Yeah. So, Jacky-boy. I’ve been hearing things from little birds. Things from Harlem, Queens, all over. They been chirpin’ in my ear. Jacky-boy’s newsies is playing like they’re going on strike.
JACK:
Yeah, well we are.
DAVID:
We’re not playing. We are going on strike.
SPOT:
Oh yeah? Yeah? What is this, Jacky-boy? Some kind of walking mouth?
JACK:
Yeah, it’s a mouth. A mouth with a brain, and if tu got half a one, you’ll listen to what he’s got to say.
DAVID:
Well, we started the strike, but we can’t do it alone. So, we’re talking to newsies all around the city.
SPOT:
Yeah, so they told me. But what’d they tell you?
DAVID:
They’re waiting to see what Spot Conlon is doing, you’re the key. That Spot Conlon is the most respected and famous newsie in all of New York, and probably everywhere else. And if Spot Conlon joins the strike, then they registrarse and we’ll be unstoppable. So tu gotta join, I mean…well, tu gotta!
SPOT:
You’re right Jacky-boy, brains. But I got brains too, and más than just half a one. How do I know tu punks won’t run the first time some goon comes at ya with a club? How do I know tu got what it takes to win?
JACK:
Because I’m telling you, Spot.
SPOT:
That ain’t good enough Jacky-boy. tu gotta mostrar me.
(The boys go back to Newsies Square, where the rest of the newsies wait.)
RACETRACK:
Jack. So, where’s Spot?
JACK:
He was concerned about us being serious. tu imagine that?
RACETRACK:
Well, Jack, maybe we ought to ease off a little.
Without Spot and the others, there ain’t enough of us, Jack.
MUSH:
Maybe we’re moving too soon. Maybe we ain’t ready, tu know?
SKITTERY:
I definitely think we should forget about it for a little while.
JACK:
Oh, do ya?
SKITTERY:
Yeah.
RACETRACK
Yeah, I mean, without Brooklyn…you know?
JACK:
Spot was right, is this just a game to tu guys?
DAVID:
Open the gates and seize the day
Don’t be afraid and don’t delay
Nothing can break us
No one can make us
Give our rights away
Arise and seize the day!
DAVID AND NEWSIES:
Now is the time to seize the day
Send out the call and registrarse the fray
DAVID:
Wrongs will be righted
If we’re united
DAVID AND NEWSIES:
Let us seize the day!
friends of the friendless seize the day
Raise up the torch and light the way
Proud and defiant
We’ll slay the giant
Let us seize the day
Neighbor to neighbor
Father to son
One for all and all for one!
Open the gates and seize the day
Don’t be afraid and don’t delay
Nothing can break us
No one can make us
Give our rights away
Neighbor to neighbor
Father to son!
One for all and all for one!
(The circulation campana begins to ring)
JACK
Anybody hear that?
NEWSIES:
No!
JACK:
So what are we gonna do about it?
NEWSIES:
Soak ‘em!
(The newsies and the scabbers have a stand off. 3 scabs registrarse with the newsies, but then a big scab comes up against Jack. He tries to get by, but can’t. The newsies start soaking the scabs, who eventually run away. They tear up the newspapers. Jack starts making faces and blowing raspberries at Weasel, Oscar and Morris through the distribution window.)
MORRIS:
I’m gonna crack your dome!
(The tearing of newspapers continue. A delivery carro is pushed onto its side. comadreja calls for the cops, who enter blowing whistles.)
JACK:
Cheese it! Cheese it, it’s the bulls!
(All the newsies run, except Crutchy, who doesn’t notice)
RACETRACK:
Crutchy! Scram! Scram!
(Crutchy starts to leave, but is blocked in por cops. He turns to find the Delancey brothers behind him.)
CRUTCHY:
Hiya boys!
OSCAR:
Hey!
(They knock his crutch aside and drag him away.)
Denton has been watching all of this. THAT NIGHT- Jack and David walk to the Refuge. Jack has a rope in his hands)
JACK:
So here it is. The Refuge. My home, sweet home.
DAVID:
How can tu be sure they sent him here?
JACK:
How can I be sure the Delancey’s stink? It’s just how things work, tu know? An orphan gets arrested, Snyder makes sure he gets sent straight here, so he can rehabilitate him. The más kids in the Refuge, the más money the city sends to take care of them, the más Snyder sticks it in his pocket. He’s here.
DAVID:
So how come tu brought the rope?
(A carriage exits the Refuge. Jack and David hind in the shadows. As the guard talks with the nuns, the two boys sneak by. On the roof, David lowers Jack, who has the rope tied around his waist. Jack gets level with the window.)
JACK:
Steady. Steady, Dave. That’s good.
(Jack knocks on the window. A boy around Les’s age opens it.)
TEN PIN:
Hey. Cowboy. tu miss the joint?
JACK:
What do ya say, Ten Pin. tu got a new guy in here. Crutchy.
TEN PIN:
The gimp? I’ll get him for ya.
JACK:
hola Crutchy.
(With the help of a boy, Crutchy limps to the window.)
CRUTCHY:
I don’t believe it. What are tu hanging around here for?
JACK:
What do tu mean what am I hangin’ around here for? tu know who’s on the roof?
CRUTCHY:
Who?
JACK:
Dave.
CRUTCHY:
Is that Dave? Heya Dave! How ya doin’?
DAVID:
Shhh.
JACK:
Listen, Crutchy, go get your stuff. We’re gonna get tu outta here.
CRUTCHY:
Well, actually, I ain’t walking so good. Oscar and Morris kinda worked me over a little bit, tu know?
JACK:
They hurt you? Don’t worry about it. Me and Dave, we can carry tu outta here.
CRUTCHY:
I don’t want nobody carrying me, tu hear? Hey, Dave! tu know, they still talk about how Jack rode outta here on that coach.
DAVID:
Oh, yeah. Teddy Roosevelt’s, right?
CRUTCHY:
tu already heard the story.
DAVID:
tu mean it’s true?
CRUTCHY:
Of course. Hey! Cheese it!
(Snyder enters and inspects the room. Jack swings to the side, out of site. As Snyder is about to look out the window, Crutchy grabs his arm.)
CRUTCHY:
Mr. Warden Snyder, sir. tu know, I was thinking. I’d just like tu to know that when tu were taking a nap this afternoon…
(Crutchy leads Snyder away from the window and Jack leaves. THE siguiente MORNING- Pulitzer, comadreja and Seitz are inside Pulitzer’s office.)
SEITZ:
I don’t think they’re just going to go away, Chief.
WEASEL:
Mr. Pulitzer, sir, just give me the means and I’ll take care of them for ya.
PULITZER:
I’ll give tu whatever means tu require. I want this nonsense down with once and for all.
SEITZ:
Chief…
PULIZER:
Shut tu mouth, Setiz
(Weasel and Seitz leave. Snyder looks out the window to the square where the newsies have gathered.)
NEWSIES:
Open the gates and seize the day
Don’t be afraid and don’t delay
Nothing can break us
No one can make us
Give our rights away
Arise and seize the day
(The boys dance in the square and block the entrance to the World building. A delivery carro rushes through. The newsies and scabs have another stand off.)
DAVID:
Alright. Everyone remain calm.
JACK:
Let’s soak ‘em for Crutchy!
(The newsies charge towards the scabs, who retreat. A large door opens and big men with clubes and chains come out)
RACETRACK:
Jack! Jack! the Crib!
(The men form a circulo, círculo around Jack so none of the newsies can help him. The gates shut and Denton can’t get in to help.)
OSCAR:
Heya Jacky-boy
(Jack faces a man with a chain. Outside, Denton tries to get in.)
DENTON:
Aren’t tu going to stop them, sir?
POLICEMAN:
mover along, mister.
(Just as all hope seems lost for Jack, a bunch of newsies appear on the rooftops, including Spot.)
SPOT:
Never fear, Brooklyn is here.
MUSH:
It’s Brooklyn!
(The newsies start to soak the Crib, the Brooklyn boys using their honda shots. Racetrack throws his hands in the air and sits on a ledge...)
RACETRACK:
Hey, I give up. Alright, alright. I give up.
(…then kicks the guy in the family jewels)
JACK:
Hey, Spot!
(Shots of Newsies punching the scabs. First Racetrack, then Jack, Kid Blink and another. Skittery get hits and falls back. Newsies catch him)
DAVID:
Are tu alright?
(Before he can answer, the newsies push him back up and he punches the man back. Spot opens the gates and the Brooklyn gang join. They force the cuna back. The newsies cheer and tear some más papers. Denton enters with him camera.)
DENTON:
Jack! Boys! Freeze! Freeze!
JACK:
Alright guys
(Denton takes the picture. Jack is the only one ready for it. The others all have weird expressions on their faces. The picture turns black and white and appears on the cover of the New York Sun under the headline ‘The Children’s Crusade; Newsies Stop the World’. siguiente DAY- The newsies are in Tibby’s. Denton enters with the paper.)
DENTON:
hola fellas. Hey, hey! Big time.
BOOTS:
What tu got there Jack?
SPOT:
Where’s me picture? Where’s me picture?
BOOTS:
What’s that? That all about us?
MUSH:
Look at that Jack. tu look like a gentlemen
JACK:
Will tu get your fingers off me face?
SPOT:
Where does it say my name? Where’s my name?
JACK:
Will tu quit thinking about yourself?
DAVID:
tu got us on the front page!
DENTON:
tu got yourselves on the front page. I just got to make sure tu stay there.
SKITTERY:
So what. tu get your picture in the papes, so what’s that get you, huh?
MUSH:
What are tu talkin’ about?
JACK:
Shut up, boy. tu been in a bad mood all day!
SKITTERY:
I’m not in a bad mood!
RACETRACK:
Glum and dumb. What’s the matta with you? tu get your picture in the papes, your famous. Your famous, tu get anything tu want. That’s what so great about New York!
MUSH:
A pair of new shoes with matching laces
RACETRACK:
A permanent box at Sheepshed Races.
SPOT:
A porcelana tub with boiling water
KID BLINK:
A Saturday night with the mayor’s daughter!
RACETRACK:
Look at me
I’m the King of New York!
Suddenly
I’m respectable
Staring right atcha
Lousy with stature
JACK:
Nubbin’ with all the muckety-mucks
I’m blowin’ my dough and goin’ deluxe!
RACETRACK:
And there I’ll be
Ain’t I pretty?
RACETRACK & JACK:
It’s my city
I’m the king of New York!
BOOTS:
A corduroy suit with fitted knickers
LES:
A mezzanine asiento to see the flickers
SNIPESHOOTER:
Havana cigars that cost a quarter
DAVID:
An editor’s escritorio for our estrella reporter!
NEWSIES:
Tip your hat
He’s the King of New York!
DENTON:
How ‘bout that?
I’m the King of New York!
NEWSIES:
In nothing flat
He’ll be covering
Brooklyn to Trenton
Our man Denton
KID BLINK:
Making a headline out of a hunch
DENTON:
Protecting the weak
RACETRACK:
And paying for lunch
DENTON:
When I’m at bat
Strong men crumble
RACETRACK:
Proud yet humble
DENTON & RACETRACK:
I’m/He’s the King of New York
NEWSIES:
I gotta be either dead o dreaming
’Cuz look at that pape with my face beaming
Tomorrow they may envolver, abrigo fishes in it
But I was a estrella for one whole minute!
Starting now
I’m the King of New York!
DENTON:
Ain’t tu hear?
I’m the King of New York!
NEWSIES:
Holy cow!
It’s a miracle
Pulitzer’s crying
Weasel? He’s dying!
Flashpots are shooting bright as the sun
I’m one hifalutin’ sonuva gun!
Don’t ask me how
Fortune found me
Fate just crowned me
Now I’m King of New York!
Look and see
Once a piker
Now a striker
I’m the King of New York!
Victory!
Front page story
Guts and glory
I’m the King of New York!
(The newsies cheer and gather around a table)
JACK:
So, let’s have some ideas.
DAVID:
Well, we gotta mostrar people where we stand
JACK:
Yeah, so we gotta stay in the papes.
DENTON:
My paper’s the only one printing any strike news so far
JACK:
So, we should do something that’s so big the other papers’ll feel stupid if they try to ignore us. Like a rally. A newsie rally with all the kids from all over New York. It’ll be the biggest, loudest, nosiest blow-out this town’s ever seen!
DAVID:
We’ll send a message to the big boys
RACETRACK:
Yeah, I’ll give ‘em a message.
(A waiter brings a tray of cokes. Each newsie grabs a glass.)
JACK:
There’s a lot of us, and we ain’t going away. We’ll fight until damn Doomsday if it means we get a fair shake.
DAVID:
Hey, guys. To out man Denton.
NEWSIES:
Our man Denton!
(The newsies lift their glasses in a toast. IN THE REFUGE- Crutchy knocks on Snyder’s door and enters.)
CRUTCHY:
Heya Mr. Snyder. How was your supper?
(As he begins to put the plates on a tray, Crutchy notices Snyder looking at the paper, particularly at Jack’s picture.)
CRUTCHY:
Hey! That’s Jack. He looks just like himself.
SNYDER:
tu know this boy?
CRUTCHY:
No.
SNYDER:
tu have a very famous friend, this Jack. Do tu know where he lives?
CRUTCHY:
I never heard of him, honest! It’s this brain of mine, it’s always making mistakes. It’s got a mind of it’s own. Can I get tu anything else, Mr. Snyder? Good bye Mr. Snyder.
(Crutchy leaves, realizing his mistake. THAT NIGHT- The newsies are making signs for the rally. Dutchy’s sign says ‘STRIKE’)
DUTCHY:
So, did I spell it right, Kloppman?
KLOPPMAN:
Very good, very good.
(Snyder enters and starts going through Kloppman’s book)
KLOPPMAN:
Excuse me. Can I help you?
SNYDER:
tu have a boy who calls himself Jack Kelly? I wish to see him
KLOPPMAN:
Jack Kelly? Never heard of him. Never heard of him. Any of tu boys ever hear of a Jack Kelly?
SPECS:
That’s an unusual name for these parts.
(Jack enters, but Swifty stops him and points Snyder out to him)
RACETRACK:
Oh, tu mean Jack Kelly. Yeah, he was here, but he put an egg in his shoe and beat it.
SNYDER:
I have reason to believe he’s an escaped prisoner, possibly dangerous.
KLOPPMAN:
Oh, dangerous? I better look in my files. This way please.
(Kloppman distracts Snyder and Jack exits. The boys hold up signs to hide him)
RACETRACK:
Give to the Newsies Strike fund, Mister?
(Snyder hands Racetrack a coin. THE siguiente MORNING- Sarah wakes up and looks out the window. She sees Jack on the fuego escape)
SARAH:
Did tu sleep out there all night?
JACK:
Yeah
SARAH:
Why didn’t tu wake us up?
JACK:
Well, I didn’t want to disturb nobody. Besides, it’s like the Waldorph out here. Great view. Cool air
SARAH:
Go up on the roof.
(Jack leaves so Sarah can get dressed. While he waits, he boxes with some stockings and steals a tomate off a plant. Sarah enters with a basket.)
SARAH:
Are tu hungry?
JACK:
Yeah
SARAH:
Good. I made tu breakfast
(She lays down a clothe and gets the comida and milk.)
SARAH:
Papa’s so proud of tu and David. tu should hear him talking about Jack Kelly, strike leader, who occasionally takes his meal with us
JACK:
Well, this is one strike leader who’s gonna be very happy when it’s all over and I can get outta here and go to Santa Fe. I mean, there’s nothing for me to stay for, is there? tu know, tu should se Santa Fe, everything’s different there. It’s all bigger. The desert, the sky, the sun
SARAH:
It’s the same sun as here
JACK:
Yeah, it just looks different
SARAH:
I should get ready for work
JACK:
Sarah? I’m just not used to having whether I stay o whether I go matta to anybody. I’m not saying it should matta to you. I’m just saying, well, does it? Matta?
(Pulitzer is in his office with the Mayor, the Police Chief, Snyder and Seitz. He is looking at the paper and has Jack’s face circled.)
MAYOR:
Of course, the city is very concerned that this event doesn’t get out of hand. But…Chief?
CHIEF:
We can’t just charge in there and break it up, Mr. Pulitzer. We’ve got no legal cause.
MAYOR:
Legal cause.
PULITZER:
Would the fact that this rally is organized por an escaped criminal be cause enough, mayor?
MAYOR:
Escaped criminal?
PULITZER:
A fugitive from one of your prisons, mayor. A convicted thief. Been living at large for some time under the alias of Jack Kelly. What’s his real name?
SNYDER:
Sullivan. Francis Sullivan. Your honor. I would have caught him before now, but..
PULITZER:
tu know Warder Snyder, don’t tu mayor? I believe tu know him because tu appointed him.
MAYOR:
Yes. Well, if this boy’s a fugitive then the chief can quietly arrest him.
PULITZER:
No, no, no, no! Not quietly! Not quietly! I want an example made. I want this rabble he’s roused to see what happens to those who would dare to lead. They should see justice and action.
MAYOR:
Arrest him at the rally?
PULITZER:
por the way, mayor, a few friends for cards tonight. Newspaper friends. Billy Hearst, Gordon Bennett. Perhaps you’ll registrarse us. Talk about the coming election.
MAYOR:
I’d be honored.
(Newsies are gathering outside Irving Hall. Inside, Jack, David and Spot are on stage. Jack quiets everyone)
JACK:
Carryin’ the banner!
(The newsies stand up and cheer. MEANWHILE- In Pulitzer’s study, men are sitting at a table, playing cards. Pulitzer leads the mayor around the table)
PULITZER:
tu know Gordon, mayor. Mr. Bennett of the Tribune. Mr. Taylor of the Times. Of course, tu know Mr. Hearst. This is a new member of our little group, Mr. Gammon. He just came back from Europe. Mr. Gammon owns the New York Sun.
(Back in the theater, Jack is giving a speech.)
JACK:
So, we’ve come a long way, but we ain’t there yet and maybe it’s only gonna get tougher from now on. But that’s fine, we’ll just get tougher with it. But also, we gotta get smart and start listening to my pal David, who says ‘stop soakin’ the scabs’.
RACETRACK:
What are we supposed to do to the bums? kiss ‘em?
SPOT:
Any scab I see I soak ‘em. Period.
DAVID:
No, no. That’s what they want us to do. If we get violent, it’s just playing into their hands.
SPOT:
Hey, look. They’re gonna be playing with my hands, alright. "Cuz it ain’t what they say, it’s what we say. And nobody ain’t gonna listen to us unless we make ‘em.
(Newsies in the crowd take different sides and start to argue.)
JACK:
tu got no brains. Why we starting to fight each other? It’s just what the big shot’s wanna see. That we’re calle rats! calle rats with no brains. No respect for nothing, including ourselves! So, here’s how it’s gonna be. If we don’t act together, then we’re nothing. If we don’t stick together, then we’re nothing. And if we can’t even trust each other, then we’re nothing.
KID BLINK:
Tell ‘em Jack!
JACK:
So, what’s it gonna be?
RACETRACK:
We’re with tu Jack.
JACK:
So, what about you, Spot?
SPOT:
I say that what tu say is what I say.
(The spit-shake. All the newsies cheer. The curtains open and Medda enters. The cheering gets louder.)
MEDDA & NEWSIES:
High times, hard times
Sometimes the living is sweet
And sometimes there’s nothing to eat
But I always land on my feet
So when there’s dry times
I wait for high times and then
I put on my best
And I stick out my chest
And I’m off to the races again!
MEDDA:
Hello, newsies. What’s new?
(Outside, the cuna and police are gathering. Snyder enters)
MEDDA:
So your old lady don’t amor tu no more
So you’re afraid there’s a lobo at your door
So you’ve got calle rats that scream in your ear

MEDDA & NEWSIES:
tu win some, tu lose some
My dear ,oh…
High times, hard times
Sometimes the living is sweet
And sometimes there’s nothing to eat
But I always land on my feet
So when there’s dry times
I wait for high times and then
I put on my best
And I stick out my chest
And I’m off to the races again
MEDDA:
I put on my best!
NEWSIES:
I put on my best!
MEDDA:
And I stick out my chest
NEWSIES:
And I sticks out my chest
MEDDS:
And I’m off
NEWSIES:
And I’m off
MEDDA:
And I’m off
NEWSIES:
And I’m off
MEDDA:
And I’m off
ALL:
To the races again!
(The police block off the entrance to the theater. Denton sees Snyder and tries to keep him busy)
DENTON:
Excuse me. Aren’t tu Warden Snyder? Bryan Denton of the Sun. How do tu do, sir?
(David sees Snyder and tells Spot)
DENTON:
I heard about your wonderful work with the children and I wondered if I might get an interview with you.
(David rushes through the crowd to Jack)
DAVID:
Jack! Jack! It’s Snyder!
JACK:
What?
DAVID:
It’s Snyder. Right there!
(Denton tries to distract Snyder one más time. This time with his camera)
DENTON:
Let me get that correct. That’s Snyder, as in snide? Smile sir!
(The flash blinds him for a minute, then he blows his whistle.)
JACK:
Medda, thanks. I gotta run.
(Cops come in and the newsies scatter. Jack take’s Sarah’s hand and pulls her through the crowd. Racetrack gets Medda to safety and start to leave)
MEDDA:
No! Stay with me!
(A huge man kicks Racetrack in the stomach and punches him out. Medda breaks away from her maid and bodyguard(?) and slaps the man)
MEDDA:
No! No! For God’s sake! He’s just a child! Can’t tu see that? Racetrack!
(Medda is pulled back and Racetrack is dragged away. Jack and David get Sarah and Les to safety. Then turn back to fight. Everywhere they go, they are surrounded por cops o the crib. por Medda’s swing, they meet up with Snyder. David sits on the swing.)
DAVID:
Push me!
(Jack shoves David, who hits Snyder in the face.)
DAVID:
Get out of here! Go!
(Jack runs as David and some other newsies hold Snyder off. Jack and Kid Blink run outside and find they are surrounded por cops. One of them grabs for Jack, but Kid Blink shoves him away)
KID BLINK:
Beat it!
(Jack runs back inside. Kid Blink gets hit with a club and is dragged away. Jack starts to run up the stairs, but a man meets him at the parte superior, arriba and punches him in the chin. Jack falls back and is caught por cops. THE siguiente DAY- the newsies are in court.)
BAILOFF:
All rise. All rise. Court is now in session. Judge E.A. Monahan presiding.
MONAHAN:
Are any of tu boys represented por council? No? Good, that will mover things along considerably.
SPOT:
Hey, yer honor, I object!
MONAHAN:
On what grounds?
SPOT:
On the grounds of Brooklyn, yer honor.
(The newsies crack up laughing. Monahan bangs on his desk.)
MONAHAN:
I fine each of tu five dollars, o two weeks confinement in the House of Refuge.
RACETRACK:
Whoa. We ain’t got five bucks. We don’t even got five cents. Hey, yer honor, how ‘bout I roll tu for it. Double o nothing?
MONAHAN:
Alright. mover along, mover along.
(Denton, David and Les enter)
DENTON:
Your honor, I’ll pay the fines. All of them.
DAVID:
Hey, tu fellas alright? Where’s Jack?
DENTON:
Look, we’ve got to meet at the restaurant. Everybody. We have to talk.
MONAHAN:
Pay the clerk. mover it along.
(Jack is lead in, handcuffed)
JACK:
hola fellas!
RACETRACK:
Hey, Cowboy! Nice shiner!
JACK:
Hey, Denton. I guess we made all the papes this time. So, how’s my picture look?
DENTON:
None of the papers covered the rally. Not even the Sun.
BAILOFF:
Case of Jack Kelly. Inciting a riot. Assault. Resisting arrest.
SNYDER:
Judge Monahan, I’ll speak for this young man.
JACK:
tu two know each other. Ain’t that nice.
MONAHAN:
Just mover it along, Warden Snyder.
SNYDER:
This boy’s real name is Francis Sullivan. His mother’s deceased. His father’s a convict in the state penitentiary. He’s an escapee from the House of Refuge where his original sentence for three months was extended to six moths for disruptive behavior.
JACK:
Like demanding we eat the comida tu steal from us.
SNYDER:
Followed por an additional six months for attempted escape.
JACK:
Attempted? Last time it wasn’t an attempted escape. Remember Snyder? Remember me and Teddy Roosevelt? Remember Roosevelt and the carriage?
SNYDER:
Therefore, I ask that he be returned to the House of Refuge.
JACK:
What? For my own good, right? mover it along? For my own good and for what he kicks back to you.
SNYDER:
I ask that the court order his incarceration until the age of twenty-one, in the hope that we may yet guide him to a useful and productive life.
MONAHAN:
So ordered.
LES:
No!
(Jack is led away. Snyder follows, then turns and smiles at the judge.)

(LATER- The newsies sit in Tibby’s. Denton enters. They greet him)
DAVID:
Why didn’t the Sun print the story?
DENTON:
Because it never happened
RACETRACK:
What do tu mean it never happened? tu were there!
KID BLINK:
tu wrote it!
DENTON:
It’s not in the papers, it never happened. The owners decreed it not be in the papers, therefore… I came to tell tu fellas good bye.
DAVID:
What happened? Did tu get fired o something?
DENTON:
No, I got reassigned back to my old job as the Sun’s ace war corespondent. They want me to leave right away. The owner thinks I should only cover the really important stories. Wish me luck fellas. At least half of what I wish for you. They don’t always fuego you. I would be black balled from every paper in the country. I’m a newspaper man. I have to have a paper to write for. This is the story I wrote about the rally. I want tu to read it at least. This should cover it
(Denton pays the waiter and leaves. David crumples the story up and throws it on a table)
DAVID:
We get Jack out of the Refuge tonight. From now on, we trust no one but the newsies.
(The newsies get up and leave. Les uses Denton’s articulo to envolver, abrigo his unfinished hot dog in. THAT NIGHT- David, Les, Mush, Kid Blink, Racetrack and Boots sneak into the Refuge’s gates. Kid Blink had a rope.)
DAVID:
That’s the window where we saw Crutchy
(They are about to mover when they see Snyder leading Jack into a carriage.)
LES:
It’s Jack!
MUSH:
Where they takin’ him Dave?
DAVID:
Only one way to find out. I’ll meet tu guys at the square. Racetrack, watch him.
(David hides in the back of the carriage, which goes to Pulitzer’s house. Seitz is waiting outside for them.)
SEITZ:
Get him inside
(Snyder takes Jack’s arm and leads him in. David pulls out the pin that attaches the caballos to the carriage. INSIDE- Seitz leaves Jack in Pulitzer’s study. Pulitzer enters.)
PULITZER:
Sit. Know what I was doing at your age, boy? I was in a war. The Civil War.
JACK:
Yeah, I heard of it. So, didja win?
PULITZER:
People think war is about right o wrong and not power.
JACK:
Yeah, I heard of that too. I don’t just sell your papes, Joe. Sometime I read ‘em.
PULIZTER:
Power of the press is the greatest power of them all. I tell this city how to think. I tell this city how to vote. I shape it’s future.
JACK:
Yeah? Well, right now I’m only thinking about one future, and that’s mine.
PULITZER:
So am I boy. I have the power to see tu stay locked in the Refuge
JACK:
And I have the power to break out again.
PULITZER:
Or, I can see tu released tomorrow, free and clear, with más money in your pockets than tu can earn in three lifetimes.
JACK:
Are tu bribin’ me, Joe?
PULITZER:
No.
JACK:
Well, it’s been real nice chattin’ with ya, Joe. But I got to be goin’ now.
PULIZTER:
tu listen to me, boy. tu just shut your mouth and listen to me! tu shut up and listen to me for once! No game I’m playing. tu work for me til the strike’s over, and it will end, boy, make no mistake, with o without you. Then tu go wherever tu want to buy a ticket for. Away from the Refuge, these foul streets. Free. With money to spend and nobody chasing you.
JACK:
We must have tu scared pretty bad, old man.
PULITZER:
I offer tu freedom and money just to work for me again. To your friends, I won’t be so kind. Now, you’re partner, what’s his name? David. I understand he has a family. What do tu think the Refuge will do to him? And it will be tu who put him there. And all the others, after all, you’re their leader. Go back to the Refuge tonight, think about it. Give me your answer in the morning.
(Jack leaves. As he is being taken outside, Snyder lets go of him for one second)
DAVID:
Jack! Come on! Come on!
(Jack slides down the railing and jumps over it. He and David take off)
SNYDER:
After him!
(The driver whips the horses, who take off without the carriage.)
SEITZ:
Don’t worry. He’s got no place to go.
(David and Jack run into an alley. Jack slows down)
DAVID:
Come on! Keep running!
JACK:
tu shouldn’t have done this, Dave. They could put tu in jail.
DAVID:
I don’t care
JACK:
Come here. What about your family? What happened to them if tu go in jail? tu don’t know nothing about jail. Now, thanks for what tu done, but tu get out of here.
DAVID:
I don’t understand.
JACK:
I don’t understand either, but just get outta here!
DAVID:
No!
JACK:
Go!
(David turns slowly and walks away. Jack leans against a wall. Suddenly, he’s leaning against a muro in the Refuge.)
JACK:
Santa Fe
My old friend
I can’t spend my whole life hidin’
You’re the only light that’s guidin’ me today
(Crutchy opens a little slot in the door. He has a potato)
CRUCTHY:
Psst! Jack! Look! I snitched it off Snyder’s plate while I was serving him. It’s the biggest one. Oh, Mr. Snyder was eating good tonight. tu know the stuff that we don’t ever get? He got potatoes, olives, liver, bacon, sauerkraut. And guess what I done to his sauerkraut, huh?
JACK:
So, what’d it get ya?
CRUTCHY:
Oh, anudder three months, probably, but tu can’t let ‘em get you, right Jack? That’s what tu always said.
JACK:
We was beat when we was born.
(Crutchy frowns and closes the slot)
JACK:
Will tu keep a candle burnin’
Will tu help me find my way?
You’re my chance to break free
And who knows when my siguiente one will be
Santa Fe
Wait for me
(The newsies are picketing outside the World building.)
NEWSIES:
Stop the World! No más papes! Stop the World! No más papes! (etc.)
(The police form a barricade. Some of the newsies start to fight amongst themselves.)
DAVID:
Race! Help me! I need some help!
RACETRACK:
Alright! I ain’t deaf!
SPOT:
Hey, hey, hey! Break it up. Hey, Race, come here.
(Weasel leads Jack out. He’s in a new suit)
RACETRACK:
What?
SPOT:
Just tell me I’m seeing things. Just tell me I’m seeing things.
RACETRACK:
No, tu ain’t seeing things. That’s Jack. What’s he doing?
SPOT:
He’s dressed like a scabber!
MUSH:
Jack? Jack, look at me, will ya? Come on, it’s me, Mush. Look at me. What are tu doin’, Jack?
KID BLINK:
This ain’t happening. This can’t be happening. What are tu doin’ Jack? Come on, what are tu doin’?
BOOTS:
Come on. What is this? Where’d tu get them clothes?
WEASEL:
Mr. Pulitzer picked them out himself. A special gift to a special new employee.
SPOT:
He sold us out!
RACETRACK:
I’ll give tu a new suit! tu bum! I’ll soak ya!
SPOT:
Hey, hey, hey! Let me get my hands dirty. Come here tu dirty rotten scabber! Traitor!
(Some newsies pull Spot away. David stares at Jack)
WEASEL:
Aww. tu wanna talk to him? Come on, come on. Sure. Got right ahead.
(David walks up to Jack)
DAVID:
So, this is why tu didn’t escape last night. You’re a liar! tu lied about everything. tu lied about your father being out west, ‘cause he’s not out west! tu didn’t even tell me your real name!
JACK:
So? What tu wanna do about it Dave?
DAVID:
I don’t understand you.
JACK:
Oh, so let me spell it out for ya. tu see, I ain’t got nobody tucking me in at night, like you. It’s just me, I gotta look out for myself.
DAVID:
tu had the newsies.
JACK:
Oh, what’d being a newsies ever give me but a dime a día and a few black eyes? tu know, I can’t afford to be a kid no more, Dave. For the first time in my life, I got money in my pockets. Real money. Money, tu understand? I got más on the way and as soon as I collect, I’m gone, I’m away. Alright?
DAVID:
Well, that’s good. That’s good because we don’t need you! We don’t need you! All those words tu said, those were mine.
JACK:
Yeah, but tu never had the guts to put them across yourself, didja?
DAVID:
I do now.
(Dave starts to go back to the newsies, then turns to look at Jack again.)
JACK:
What’sa matta? Got a problem?
(David rushes towards Jack, but comadreja and a few policemen pull him away.)
WEASEL:
Maybe you’d like a new suit of your own, huh?
DAVID:
Never! Never!
WEASEL:
Get outta here! Get outta here!
DAVID:
I’m not like you!
(The cops surround Jack so the newsies can’t get him. The newsies watch him go.)
SPOT:
Traitor!
KID BLINK:
tu make me sick!
BOOTS:
I trusted you!
RACETRACK:
Seize the day, huh Jack?
LES:
He’s foolin’ ‘em, so he can spy on ‘em o something. Yeah, yeah, that’s it. He’s foolin’ ‘em!
RACETRACK:
Yeah, he’s spying on them, kid.
(At David’s house, Sarah is going through a pile of lace. She finds Les’s old hot dog)
SARAH:
Les. What is this?
LES:
Savin’ it
(He takes the hot dog and leaves the articulo in Sarah’s hands. She looks at it.)
SARAH:
David. It’s Denton’s article. ‘The Dark Truth; Why Our City Really Fears The Newsies Strike’ por Bryan Denton. ‘Last night I saw naked force excised against mere boys, the newsies, who were…’
(David climes out the window, slams it, then storms off the fuego escape. THAT NIGHT-Weasel leads Jack to his new bedroom, the basement of the World building.)
WEASEL:
One trick, Cowboy, and it’s right back to the Refuge. Please.
(He throws a dust-covered sheet to Ja