The Script!
The script is too long for one page.
That's why it is on 5 pages.
RACETRACK:
In 1899, the street of New York City echoed with the voices of newsies, peddeling the newspapers of Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst and other giants of the newspaper world. On every street corner you saw 'em, carrying the banner, bringing you the news for a penny a pape. Poor orphans and run aways, the newsies were a ragged army, without a leader, until one day when all that changed.
(The movie title 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 you mean you didn't do it? Will you get up? When you 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. You 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:
Haha. 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:
Hey bummers, we got woik tah do!
SPECS:
Since when did you become me mudder?
CRUTCHY:
Aww, stop your bawling!
NEWSIES:
Hey, who asked you?
MUSH:
So, how'd you 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 said '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 street 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 or the harbour
RACETRACK:
Try Central Park, it's guaranteed
JACK:
Try any banker, bum, or barber
SKITTERY:
They almost all knows how to read
KID BLINK:
I smell money
CRUTCHY:
You smell foul!
MUSH:
Met this goil last night
CRUTCHY:
Move your elbow!
RACETRACK:
Pass the towel!
SKITTERY:
For a buck I might!
NEWSIES:
Ain't it a fine life
Carrying the banner throught 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 washig dishes
What a fine life
Carrying the banner home-free all!
(The newsies leave the Lodging House and head towards Newsies Square)
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 thought you wonder lost and depraved
Jesus loves you, you shall be saved!
PATRICK'S MOTHER:
Partick, darling
Since you 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 more 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
Weasel 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 or 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 next 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 Trolly
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 sewer may have backed up during the night
BOOTS:
Nah, it's too rotten to be the sewers.
CRUTCHY:
It must be the Delancey brudders.
RACETRACK:
Hiya boys!
OSCAR:(to Snipeshooter)
In the back, you lously 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:
You shouldn't call people lously little shrimps, Oscar, unless you're refering to the family resemblance in your brudda here.
RACETRACK:
5-1 that Cowboys skunks 'em. Who's beting?
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 you 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 next edition
What a fine life
Carrying the banner!
2.Would you look at the headline
You 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 you tell me how'm I ever gonna make ends meet
Hitched it on a Trolly
Meetcha Forty-Fourth and Second
Little Italy's a secret
Bleecker's further than I reckoned
By 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, congradulating Jack on beating the Delancey's)
MORRIS:
See you 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 you miss me?
WEASEL:
I told ya a million times, the name's Wisel. Mr. Wisel to you. How many?
JACK:
Don't rush me, I'm prussing the merchandise Mr. Weasel. The usual.
WEASEL:
100 papes for the wise guy. Next!
RACETRACK:
Morning your honor! Listen,do me a favor,spot me 50 papes? I got a hot tip int the fourth, you 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)
You wanna sit down?
DAVID:
20 papers please. Thanks.
RACETRACK:
Look at this, 'Baby Born With Two Heads'. Must be from Brooklyn.
WEASEL:
Hey, you got your lously papes, now beat it!
DAVID:
I paid for twenty. I only got nineteen.
WEASEL:
Are you accusing me of lying kid?
DAVID:
No. I just want my paper.
MORRIS:
He said 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. Hey Race, will ya spot me 2 bits? Another 50 for my friend.
DAVID:
I don't want another 50.
JACK:
Sure you do. Every newsie wants more 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 you kid?
LES:
Les, and this is my brother David. He's older.
JACK:
No kidding. So how old are you Les?
LES:
Me? Near 10.
JACK:
Near 10. Well, that's no good. if anyone asks, you're 7. You see, younger sells more papes and if we're gonna be parteners, we wanna be the best.
DAVID:
Wait. Who said anything about being parteners?
JACK:
Well, you owe me 2 bits right? Well, I'll consider that an investment. We sell together, we split 70-30, plus you get the benifit of observing me, no charge.
DAVID:
Ah-ha.
JACK:(mocking)
Ah-ha.
CRUTCHY:
You're getting the chance of a lifetime here, Davey. You learn from Jack, you 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 move a thousand papes a week. So what do you say Les? You 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. You only took twenty papes. Why?
DAVID:
Bad headline.
JACK:
That's the first thing you gotta learn. Headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell papes. You 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 Pulitser is reading the headline. Also in the room is Jonathan, Seitz and another World employee.)
PULITZER:
'Trolly Strike Drags On For Third Week' and this so called headline drags on for infinity.
EMPLOYEE:
News is slow, Mr. Pulitzer. The trolly 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 writter, sir.
PULITZER:
Steal Hearst's man. Offer him double.
SEITZ:
That's how he stole him from us. It's not the headlines, Chief. The circulation wars are cutting into our profits because you spend as much as you make trying to beat Hearst.
PULITZER:
Then we need to make more money. You do not penny-pinch when you're in a war, Seitz. Victory means everything. Now, when I created the World..what is that deafing 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 in those streets, gentelmen. I want to know how I can get more of it...by tonight.
(We are now in the streets of New York. Jack and David roam through the crowds.)
DAVID:
Extra! Extra! Trolly strike drags on!
JACK:
Extra! Extra! Elis Island in flames!
DAVID:
Wait, where's that story?
JACK:
Thank you sir. Page 9. Thousands flee in panic. Thank you. Much oblidged to you ladies.
DAVID:
'Trash Fire Next To Immigration Buliding Terrifies Seagulls'?
JACK:
Terrified flight of inferno!! Thousands of lives at stake! Extra! Extra! Thank you sir. Extra! Extra!
(Les enters)
JACK:
Hey, you start in the back like I told you? Ok, show 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 little.
(Warden Snyder enters and sees Jack. Les re-enters)
LES:
The guy gave me a quarter. Quick, give me some more last papers.
DAVID:
Wait, wait. You smell like beer.
LES:
Well, that's how I made the quarter. The guy bet me I woulsn'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 your's?
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 buliding. They run up the stairs and get to the roof. Without stoping for a second, Jack jumps off the roof, leaving David and Les alone. Jack's head pops up and David and Les join him on a ledge just as Synder enters.)
SNYDER:
Sullivan! Wait til I get you back to the Refuge!
(Jack leads David and Les a little more, when David pulls him to a hault outside Irrving 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 is the warden.
LES:
You were in jail?
JACK:
Yeah.
LES:
Why?
JACK:
Well, I was starving, so I stole some food.
DAVID:
Food?
JACK:
Yeah, food.
AVID:
He called you Sullivan.
JACK:
Well, my name's Kelly. Jack Kelly. You think I'm lying?
DAVID:
Well, you 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.
JACK:
No, Teddy Roosevelt. You ever heard of him?
MEDDA:
What's going on there? Out! Out! Out!
JACK:
You wouldn't kick me out without a kiss of goodbye, wouldja Medda?
MEDDA:
Oh Kelly. Where ya been, kid? Oh, I miss seeing you 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 star of the vaudeville stage today, Miss Medda Larkson, the Swedish Meadowlark.
MEDDA:
Welcome,gentelmen.
JACK:
Medda also owns the joint.
MEDDA:
Oh, what do we have here? Oh, aren't you the cutest little thing that ever was? Yes you are.
LES: (cough)
Buy me last pape, lady?
MEDDA:
Oh, you are good. Oh yes, this kid is really good. Speaking as one professional to another, I'd say you have a great furture.
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 you 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 you said '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, you like that?
DAVID:
Oh,I loved that. I loved it. It was great. She is beautiful. How do you know her?
JACK:
She was a friend of me fadder's. Come on, Les, you wanna shine me shoes for me?
DAVID:
Oh, it's getting late. My parents are going to be worried. What about your's?
JACK:
Nah, they're out west looking for a place to live, like this. (Pulls out a Santa Fe brochure)See, that's 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 divi up. You can meet my folks.
JACK:
It's the trolly strike, Dave. These couple of dumbasses must not have joined or 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 dinner for you. Where have you been?
(David puts a pile of coins on the table.)
MAYER:
You made all this selling newspapers?
DAVID:
Well, half of it's Jack's. This is our selling partener, and our friend. Jack Kelly, my parents. And that's my sister, Sarah.
MAYER:
Ester, maybe David's partener would like to join us for dinner. Why don't you add a little more 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 wat 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:
More when the headline's good.
SARAH:
So what makes the headline good?
JACK:
Oh, you know. Catchy words like maniac, or corpse, umm..lovenest, or nude. Excuse me. Maybe I'm talkin' too much.
MAYER:
Sarah? Go get the cake your mother's hiding in the cabnet.
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 begining, papa. The longer I work, the more money I'll make.
MAYER:
You'll only work until I go back to the factory, and then you are going back to school, like you 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 fire 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 you 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 you tomorrow.
JACK:
Alright.
DAVID:
Carrying the banner.
JACK:
Carrying the banner.
(David goes inside, leaving Jack alone on the fire escape. He looks in the window and see the family together.)
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