Script!
Part 3
MORRIS:
I�m gonna crack your dome!
(The tearing of newspapers continues. A delivery cart is pushed onto it�s side. Weasel 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 by cops. He turns to find the Delancey brothers behind him. 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 you be sure they sent him here?
JACK:
How can I be sure the Delancey�s stink? It�s just the way things work, you know? An orphan gets arrested, Snyder makes sure he gets sent straight here, so he can rehabilitate him. The more kids in the Refuge, the more money the city sends to take care of them, the more Snyder sticks things in his pocket. He�s here.
DAVID:
So how come you 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. You miss the joint?
JACK:
What do ya say, Ten Pin. You got a new guy in here. Crutchy.
TEN PIN:
The gimp? I�ll get him for ya.
JACK:
The gimp...Hey Crutchy.
(With the help of a boy, Crutchy limps to the window.)
CRUTCHY:
I don�t believe it. What are you hanging around here for?
JACK:
What do you mean what am I hangin� around here for? You 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 you outta here.
CRUTCHY:
Well, actually, I ain�t walking so good. Oscar and Morris kindda worked me over a little bit, you know?
JACK:
They hurt you? Don�t worry about it. Me and Dave, we can carry you outta here.
CRUTCHY:
I don�t want nobody carrying me, you hear? Hey, Dave! You know, they still talk about how Jack rode outta here on that coach.
DAVID:
Oh, yeah. Teddy Roosevelt�s, right?
CRUTCHY:
You already heard the story.
DAVID:
You 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. You know, I was thinking. I�d just like you to know that when you were taking a nap this afternoon�
(Crutchy leads Snyder away from the window and Jack leaves.The next morning- Pulitzer, Weasel 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 you whatever means you require. I want this nonsense done with once and for all.
SEITZ:
Chief�
PULIZER:
Shut you mouth, Setiz
(Weasel and Seitz leave. Pulitzer 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 cart 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 clubs and chains come out)
RACETRACK:
Jack! Jack! It's a trick!
(the men form a circle 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 tried to get in.)
DENTON:
Aren�t you going to stop them, sir?
POLICEMAN:
Move 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 Scabs, the Brooklyn boys using their sling shots. Racetrack throws his hands in the air and sit 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 you 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 Crib back. The newsies cheer and tear some more 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�. Next day- The newsies are in Tibby�s. Denton enters with the
paper.)
DENTON:
Hey fellas. Hey, hey! Big time.
BOOTS:
What you 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. You look like a gentlemen
JACK:
Will you get your fingers off me face?
SPOT:
Where does it say my name? Where�s my name?
JACK:
Will you quit thinking about yourself?
DAVID:
You got us on the front page!
DENTON:
You got yourselves on the front page. I just got to make sure you stay there.
SKITTERY:
So what. You get your picture in the papes, so what�s that get you, huh?
MUSH:
What are you talkin� about?
JACK:
Shut up, boy. You 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? You get your picture in the papes, your famous. Your famous, you get anything you 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 porcelain 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?
JACK:
It�s my city
RACETRACK & JACK:
I�m the king of New York!
BOOTS:
A corduroy suit with fitted knickers
LES:
A mezzanine seat to see the flickers
SNIPESHOOTER:
Havana cigars that cost a quarter
DAVID:
An editor�s desk for our star 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 or dreaming
�Cuz look at that pape with my face beaming
Tomorrow they may wrap fishes in it
But I was a star for one whole minute!
Starting now
I�m the King of New York!
DENTON:
Ain�t you 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 Kin 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 show 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:
Yes, 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 our 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:
You know this boy?
CRUTCHY:
No.
SNYDER:
You have a very famous friend, this Jack. Do you 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 you 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:
You 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 you 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, you 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 next morning- Sarah wakes up and looks out the window. She sees Jack on the fire escape)
SARAH:
Did you sleep out there all night?
JACK:
Yeah
SARAH:
Why didn�t you 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 tomato off a plant. Sarah enters with a basket.)
SARAH:
Are you hungry?
JACK:
Yeah
SARAH:
Good. I made you breakfast
(She lays down a cloth and gets the food and milk.)
SARAH:
Papa�s so proud of you and David. You should hear him talking about Jack Kelly, the 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? You know, you 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 or 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 by 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 allis of Jack Kelly. What�s his real name?
SNYDER:
Sullivan. Francis Sullivan. Your honor. I would have caught him before now, but..
PULITZER:
You know Warder Snyder, don�t you mayor? I believe you know him because you 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:
By the way, mayor, a few friends for cards tonight. Newspaper friends. Billy Hearst, Gordon Bennett. Perhaps you�ll join us. Talk about the coming election.
MAYOR:
I�d be honored.
(Newsies are gathering outside Irrving 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:
You know Gordon, mayor. Mr. Bennett of the Tribune. Mr. Taylor of the Times. Of course, you 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:
You got no brain�s. Why we starting to fight each other? It�s just what the big shot�s wanna see. That we�re street rats! Street rats with no brain�s. No respect for nothing, including ourselves! So, here�s how it�s gonna be. If we don�t act together, then we�re none. If we don�t stick together, then we�re none. And if we can�t even trust each other, then we�re none
KID BLINK:
Tell �em Jack!
JACK:
So, what�s it gonna be?
RACETRACK:
We�re with you Jack.
JACK:
So, what about you, Spot?
SPOT:
I say that what you 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 race�s again!
MEDDA:
Hello, newsies. What�s new?
(Outside, the Scabs and police are gathering. Snyder enters)
MEDDA:
So your old lady don�t love you no more
So you�re afraid there�s a wolf at your door
So you�ve got street rats that scream in your ear
MEDDA & NEWSIES:
You win some, you 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 you Warden Snyder? Bryan Denton of the Sun. How do you 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 more 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 you 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 by cops or the scabs. By 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 by 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 top and punches him in the chin. Jack falls back and is caught by cops. THE NEXT DAY- the newsies are in court.)
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