Newsies Summery

OK, so you know what the movie is about…the newsies strike up against the powerful newspaper owners…but what you really want to know is why that mean guy is always chasing Jack! And what the heck is between Jack and Sarah, anyway? Well, here's a more detailed summery of the movie for you. Hope it helps! ; o)

The Manhattan newsies all live in the Lodging House (except David, but we'll get to that later). Every morning they all go buy their "papes" for 50˘ per 100 (after the big song and dance "Carrying the Banner," of course). Then they venture out into the city "Harlem to Delancy" peddling their papers "a penny a pape." One morning, a new guy joins the bunch, David Jacobs (David Moscow), along with his 10-year-old brother Les. They meet the leader of the newsies, Jack (Christian Bale). He offers to take the newcomers under his wing and make them partners (splitting the profits 60 – 40, of course…). David reluctantly (and Les ecstatically) agrees to the proposition. David is appalled at the newsies' way of doing things – especially when Jack tries to "spit shake" with him.

Jack teaches them how to "improve the truth a little" to sell more papes. Then, Jack spots a man across the way, and tells David and Les to run as policemen ("bulls") chase after them. Finally, after running a while, David stops Jack and demands an explanation. They go inside Irving Hall, where Jack introduces Medda Larkson, "The Swedish Meadowlark" (Ann-Margaret), who is a performer and owner of "the joint." The two apparently have a history, but later Jack describes her as only "a friend of my father's." But I wonder what their real relationship is…. Anyway…. David confronts Jack about why the police were chasing them and why that man called Jack "Francis Sullivan." Jack tells them that that man was Snyder, the warden of The Refuge, and jail for kids. Jack was in there for stealing food, but escaped on Teddy Roosevelt's carriage. Of course, David has doubts about Jack's story, noting that he "has a way of improving the truth."

After enjoying a show by Medda, the three partners head over to David and Les' house to divvy up the day's profits. David introduces Jack to his mom, dad, and older sister Sarah…and guess who gets all googly-eyed at each other…. After a meal with the family, Jack heads, back to the lodging house. On his way, he shares his dreams and aspirations of someday leaving the slums of New York and being free in "Santa Fe."

The next morning, the newsies come to find out that the owner of the World newspaper, Joseph Pulitzer, has raised the newsies' price for a paper by 10%. They are barely making ends meet as it is, so naturally they are enraged by the price hike. David suggests to Jack that they should go on strike, and the rest of the newsies soon fall in line. They declare their rights as hard working people, and vow to bring down the newspaper giants in "The World Will Know." David tells Jack that he must bring their demands to Pulitzer himself. So, Jack walks in, and then promptly gets thrown back out. Overhearing the newsies' declaration, newspaper writer Bryan Denton (Bill Pullman) inquires about their intentions and wants to write a story about them for his paper, the Sun.

They figure they can't strike alone, so Jack sends representatives to all the different boroughs of New York City to petition the other newsies to join the fight. Jack, David, and Boots go to Brooklyn to persuade Spot Conlon, leader of the Brooklyn newsies and most feared newsie in New York, to join the strike. Spot wonders about the Manhattan newsies' dedication to the cause and is reluctant about joining.

The next morning, the band of strikers go to stop other newsies that haven't joined yet ("scabs") from selling papes. A fight breaks out, and the newsies destroy all newspapers in sight, tearing them to shreds. The police are called, so they all flee, except for Crutchy, who can't get away in time. The Delancy brothers (scabs, and sworn enemies of the newsies) get ahold of Crutchy and drag him off. Later that night, Jack and David sneak into the refuge where the police had taken Crutchy. David holds Jack as he is suspended outside Crutch's window. Jack wants to break Crutchy out, but Crutchy decides to stay there, saying that the Delancy brothers beat him up, so now he can't walk very well. Warden Snyder suddenly comes into the room, so Jack and David quickly leave.

The next day, after a rousing "Seize the Day," the newsies go to once again stop the scabs from buying their papes for the day. But, when they get there, they are greeted by much bigger and older adversaries with weapons. The newsies seem to be loosing the fight when all of a sudden, heads start popping up around the place. Then, Spot Conlon appears and states, "Never fear, Brooklyn is here!" The Brooklyn newsies (who are apparently excellently trained sharpshooters) proceed to shoot the scabs with their slingshots, giving the Manhattan-ites a chance to take the lead. With the victory, Spot and his newsies join the strike. The whole bunch gather together for a group shot to be on the front page of Denton's Sun. Later, at Tibby's, the local diner, they all gather with Bryan Denton to celebrate their victory and dream of what they would like to with their newfound fame in "King of New York." They also plan a huge rally to be held in Irving Hall, inviting as many newsies as can come.

At the rally, David tries to persuade the newsies that beating up ("soaking") other people in the streets because they are scabs is not the right way to do things. It's a sign of disrespect for themselves, and shows that they "have no brains." After some reluctance, the newsies start to agree. Then, Jack turns to Spot and asks, "So, what do you say?" The whole place gets quiet as they await the deciding words of Spot Conlon. He says to Jack, "I say…that what you say…it what I say." Everyone cheers.

Then, during the celebration, Snyder is spotted, and David tries to warn Jack, but not before policemen fill the Hall and surround the building. A massive scene erupts, with everyone running around and trying to escape. Jack is successful at dodging the bulls, until someone punches him straight in the chin, sending him flying into the hands of the police.

The next scene is at the courthouse where the newsies who were caught are being arraigned. Their bail is set at $5 each. Racetrack (a bad gambler) says to Judge "Movealong" Mahony, "Five dollars?! We ain't even got five cents! How 'bout I roll ya for it? Double or nothin'." Everyone giggles at Race's proposition. Then, Denton walks in and offers to pay the fines for all the newsies. Jack is not with the group, and everyone is wondering where he is. Then, he comes out with his hands tied, and with Snyder representing him to the judge (Snyder and the judge are apparently old friends). Snyder petitions for Jack to go back to the refuge, and Jack is upset because he knows that whenever a kid is sent to the refuge, the state sends Snyder more money, which he just "sticks in his pocket." Snyder also reveals Jack's true name and past. His real name is Francis Sullivan, and his parents aren't out west looking for a home like Jack had said. His mother was deceased and his father was in prison. This shocks and confuses his friends. Jack is sentenced to go to the refuge until the age of 21, and the rest of the newsies are naturally enraged and saddened.

The newsies are gathered at Tibby's when Denton walks in. He tells the group that none of the papers in the city covered the rally like they had hoped. Not even the Sun. Joseph Pulitzer had ordered a ban on all news concerning the newsie strike. He says that his paper is sending him back to Europe to be an "ace war correspondent", so he can no longer cover the strike story. This makes David mad, and he feels like they are being abandoned. Denton gives David the story he wrote about the rally, even though it wasn't printed in the paper. After Denton leaves, David throws the paper down, but later Les picks it up and uses it to wrap his hot dog in so he can take it home. He tells the newsies that they are going to break Jack out of the refuge that night.

David, Les, Racetrack, and some others are gathered outside the gates to the refuge, when they see Jack being escorted out into a carriage. David hides on the back of the carriage and rides with them to find out where they are taking Jack. They arrive at the home of Joseph Pulitzer. After they take Jack inside, David removes a pin connecting the horses to the carriage. Inside, Pulitzer tries to persuade Jack to sell papers for him again. Pulitzer offers him new clothes, money, and freedom, but Jack is unmoving, telling Joe, "I must have you pretty scared, old man." Pulitzer finally tells Jack (in a roundabout way) that if he doesn't start selling again, he'd throw all his friends in jail. So, Jack shamefully agrees. As he is being escorted back out to the carriage, David pops up and yells, "Jack! Run!" So, Jack makes his escape. But, halfway down an alley, he stops David and tells him he shouldn't have done that. Jack tells David to go on without him, which surprises David. Jack yells at him to go away, so David does…confused and angry. Back in his cell at the refuge, Jack sings again of his dream, "Santa Fe," this time less hopeful, as if he'd given up. Then, Crutchy comes and tells him, "You can't let them beat ya." Jack replies, "We was beat when we was born." Later, he is taken to a basement room at the newspaper place, which is to be his new home.

The next morning, dressed in his new suit, Jack buys his papes and comes out to face his former comrades. Spot can't believe his eyes. All the newsies are confused and dumbfounded at the sight of Jack over there with the scabs and a stack of newspapers in his hands.

ok, here's all I have so far...I'll finish it soon, I promise!

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