NAME: ___________________________________

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NEWSIES ACTONE

PROLOGUE:Rooftop,Dawn

#1-Overture

(Summer,1899.AfiguresleepspeacefullyonarooftopamidthemoonlitManhattancityscape.ItisJACK,acharismaticboyofseventeen.Acrosstherooftop,anotherfigurestirs.CRUTCHIE,aslightandsicklyboyoffifteen,walkswiththeaidofawoodencrutch.Hecrossestothefireescapeladderandfumbles,tryingtoclimbdown.JACKstirs.)

#2-SantaFe(Prologue)-Jack,Crutchie

JACK:Whereyougoing?Morningbellain’trungyet.Getbacktosleep.CRUTCHIE:Iwannabeattheotherfellastothestreet.Idon’twantanyoneshouldsee;Iain’tbeenwalkin’sogood.JACK:Quitgripin’.Youknowhowmanyguysfakealimpforsympathy?Thatbumlegofyoursisagoldmine.CRUTCHIE:SomeonegetstheideaIcan’tmakeitonmyown,they’lllockmeupinTheRefugeforgood.Beapal,Jack.Helpmedown.(loseshisfootingandalmostfalls,yelps.)Whoa!!!!(JACKrushestoCRUTCHIE’Srescue,pullinghimbackfromdanger.)JACK:Youwannabustyourotherleg,too?CRUTCHIE:No.Iwannagodown.JACK:You’llbedowntheresoonenough.Takeamomenttodrinkinmypenthousehighabovethestinkin’streetsofNewYork.CRUTCHIE:You’recrazy.JACK:BecauseIlikeabreathoffreshair?‘CauseIlikeseein’theskyandthestars?CRUTCHIE:You’reseein’starsallright!JACK:Themstreetsdowntheresuckedtheliferightouttamyoldman.Yearsofrottenjobs,stompedonbybosses.Andwhentheyfinallybrokehim,theytossedhimtothecurblikeyesterday’spaper.Well,theyain’tdoin’thattome.CRUTCHIE:Buteveryonewantstocomehere.JACK:NewYork’sfineforthosewhatcanaffordabigstrongdoortolockitout.ButItellyou,Crutchie,there’sawholeotherwayoutthere.Soyoukeepyoursmalllifeinthebigcity.Givemeabiglifeinasmalltown.

THEYSAYFOLKSISDYIN’TOGETHERE,MEI’MDYIN’TOGETAWAYTOALITTLETOWNOUTWESTTHAT’SSPANKIN’NEWANDWHILEIAIN’TNEVERBEENTHEREICANSEEITCLEARASDAYIFYOUWANT,IBET’CHAYOUCOULDSEEITTOO

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CLOSEYOUREYES,COMEWITHMEWHEREIT’SCLEANANDGREENANDPRETTYANDTHEYWENTANDMADEACITYOUTTACLAYWHY,THEMINUTETHATYAGETTHEREFOLKS’LLWALKRIGHTUPANDSAY”WELCOMEHOME,SONWELCOMEHOMETOSANTAFE!”(CRUTCHIEistakenunderJACK’Sspell.)PLANTIN'CROPS,SPLITTIN'RAILSSWAPPIN'TALESAROUNDTHEFIRE'CEPTFORSUNDAYWHENYOULIEAROUNDALLDAYSOONYOURFRIENDSAREMORELIKEFAMILYANDTHEY'SBEGGIN'YOUTOSTAY!AIN'TTHATNEAT?LIVIN'SWEET,INSANTAFE

CRUTCHIE:Yougotfolksthere?JACK:Gotnofolksnowhere.You?CRUTCHIE:Idon’tneedfolks.Igotfriends.JACK:How’saboutyoucomewithme?NooneworriesaboutnogimpleginSantaFe.Youjusthopapalominoandrideinstyle.CRUTCHIE:Featureme:ridin’instyle.JACK:Ibetafewmonthsofcleanairandyoucouldlosethatcrutchforgood.

JACK&CRUTCHIE:SANTAFE,YOUCANBETWEWON’TLETTHEMTOUGHGUYSBEATUSWEWON’TBEGNOONETOTREATUSFAIRANDSQUARETHERE'SALIFETHAT'SWORTHTHELIVIN'ANDI'MGONNADOMYSHAREJACK:WORKTHELAND,CHASETHESUNJACK&CRUTCHIE:SWIMTHEWHOLERIOGRANDEJUSTFORFUN!CRUTCHIE:(standsonhisown.)WATCHMESTAND!WATCHMERUN...(CRUTCHIErealizeshisrecoverisjustafantasy,andturnsawayfromJACK.)JACK:Hey...(CRUTCHIElooksathim.JACKwrapshisarmsaroundhisfriendprotectively.)DON'TYOUKNOWTHATWE'SAFAMILY?WOULDILETYOUDOWN?NOWAYJUSTHOLDON,KID'TILTHATTRAINMAKESSANTAFE

(CRUTCHIEleansagainstJACKasthesunrisesbehindthem.Thechurchbelltolls5a.m.,whichbreaksthespell.)JACK:Timefordreamin’sdone.(JACKtakesCRUTCHIE’Scrutchandbangsitonthefireescapemetal,soundinganalarm.)Hey!Specs,Racer,Henry,Albert,Elmer.Getamoveon,boys.Thempapesdon’tsellthemselves!

#2A-Prologue(Playoff)

SCENEONE:Newsboys’LodgingHouse&NewsieSquare(RACE,alittletoughguy,callstotheothersashedresses.)

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RACE:Hey,Albert,Elmer,Specs!YouheardJack.Getamoveon.

(ALBERTappearsnexttohim,stillwipingthesleepfromhiseyes.)

ALBERT:Iwashavin’themostbeautifuldream.Mylipsisstilltingling.RACE:Aprettygirl?ALBERT:Alegoflamb!

#3-CarryingtheBanner-Jack,Newsies,Nuns(MoreBOYSbegintoappearastheydressandwash.ALBERTsmokesacigar.)

RACE:Hey!That'smycigar!ALBERT:YOU'LLSTEALANOTHER.SPECS:(ReferringtotheotherBOYS,)HEY,LOOK,IT'SBATHTIMEATTHEZOO.HENRY:ITHOUGHTTHATI'DSURPRISEMYMOTHER.ALBERT:Ifyoucanfindher.NEWSIES:Whoaskedyou?ALBERT:Papesain’tmovin’liketheyusedto.Ineedanewsellin’spot.Gotanyideas?RACE:FROMBOTTLEALLEYTOTHEHARBORTHERE'SEASYPICKIN'SGUARANTEED.FINCH:TRYANYBANKER,BUMORBARBER.THEYALMOSTALLKNOWSHOWTOREAD.JACK:IT'SACROOKEDGAMEWE'REPLAYIN',ONEWE'LLNEVERLOSELONGASSUCKERSDON'TMINDPAYIN'JUSTTOGETBADNEWS!(TheNEWSIESmoveoutdoorstotheNewsieSquare.)NEWSIES:AIN'TITAFINELIFECARRYINGTHEBANNERTHROUGHITALL!AMIGHTYFINELIFECARRYINGTHEBANNERTOUGHANDTALL.WHENTHATBELLRINGS,WEGOESWHEREWEWISHES.WE'SASFREEASFISHES,SUREBEATSWASHIN'DISHES.WHATAFINELIFE,CARRYINGTHEBANNERHOMEFREEALL!(KATHERINE,alovelyyounglady,walksbywithafriend.ROMEOspotsherandstartstowardsher,butJACKseeshertoo.)ROMEO:Well,hello,hello,hello,beautiful.JACK:Stepback,Romeo.Nothin’whatconcernsyouhere.(movesROMEOasideandshootstoKATHERINE.)MorningMiss.CanIinterestyouinthelatestnews?KATHERINE:Thepaperisn’toutyet.JACK:I’dbedelightedtobringittoyoupersonally.KATHERINE:I’vegotaheadlineforyou:“CheekyBoyGetsNothingforHisTroubles!”(KATHERINEbrushespastJACKandjoinsherfriend.)ROMEO:Backtothebenchslugger.Youstruckout.JACK:(Feigningpain)I’mcrushed.FINCH:Hey,Crutchie.What'syourlegsay?Gonnarain?CRUTCHIE:(shakeshisleg)Norain.Partlycloudy.Clearbyevening.FINCH:Theyoughtabottlethisguy.RACE:Andthelimpsellsfiftypapesaweekallbyitself.CRUTCHIE:Idon'tneedthelimptosellpapes.Igotpersonality.ITTAKESASMILETHATSPREADSLIKEBUTTER

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THEKINDWHATTURNSALADY'SHEAD.RACE:ITTAKESANORPHANWITHASTUTTER,FINCH:WHO'SALSOBLIND-ALBERT:ANDMUTE-ELMER:ANDDEAD!JACK&CRUTCHIE:SUMMERSTINKSANDWINTER'SFREEZIN'WHENYOUWORKSOUTDOORS.JACK,CRUTCHIE,BUTTONS,SPLASHER,&TOMMYBOY:STARTOUTSWEATIN',ENDUPSNEZIN',NEWSIES:INBETWEENITPOURS!STILLIT'SAFINELIFE,CARRYINGTHEBANNERWITHMECHUMS,(STILLIT’SAFINELIFE,CARRYINGTHEBANNER)ABUNCHOFBIGSHOTS,TOSSIN'OUTAFREEBIETOTHEBUMS.(ABUNCHOFBIGSHOTS,TOSSIN’OUTAFREEBIE)FINCH:(callingtotheNEWSIES)HEY!WHAT'STHEHOLDUP?WAITIN'MAKESMEANTSY.ILIKESLIVIN'CHANCEYNEWSIES:HARLEMTODELANCEY.WHATAFINELIFECARRYINGTHEBANNERTHROUGHTHE...(AgroupofNUNSappearsanddistributesabreakfastofcoffeeanddoughnutstotheNEWSIES)NUNS:BLESSEDCHILDREN,THOUGHYOUWANDERLOSTANDDEPRAVED,JESUSLOVESYOU.YOUSHALLBESAVED.ELMER:Thanksforthegrub,Sistuh.NUN1:Elmer,whenarewegoingtoseeyouinsidethechurch?ELMER:Idon’tknow,Sistuh.Butit’sboundtorainsoonerorlater.(SIMULTANEOUS)NUNS:BLESSEDCHILDREN,AH.JESUSLOVESYOU,AHRACE:CURDLEDCOFFEE,CONCRETEDONUTSSPRINKLEDWITHMOLD,HOMEMADEBISCUITS,JUSTTWOYEARSOLD.ELMER:JUSTGIVEMEHALFACUP.HENRY:SOMETHINGTOWAKEMEUP.ROMEO:IGOTTAFINDANANGLE.TOMMYBOY:IT'SGETTINGBADOUTTHERE.MUSH:PAPERSISALLIGOT.SPECS:IT'SEIGHTY-EIGHTDEGREES.JOJO:JACKSAYSTOCHANGEMYSPOT.ALBERT:WISHICOULDCATCHABREEZE.FINCH:MAYBEIT'SWORTHASHOT.BUTTONS:ALLICANCATCHISFLEAS.JACK:IFIHATETHEHEADLINE.I'LLMAKEUPAHEADLINE.JACK&AFEWNEWSIES:ANDI'LLSAYANYTHINGIHAVE'TAJACK&MORENEWSIES:'CAUSEATTWOFORAPENNY,IFITAKETOOMANYWEASELJUSTMAKESMEEAT'EMAFTA.(TheNEWSIEScontinuetheirjourneythroughdowntownManhattan.)NEWSIEGROUP1:(SIMULTANEOUSLYWITHNEWSIEGROUP2BELOW):GOTAFEELIN''BOUTTHEHEADLINE!ISMELLSMEAHEADLINE!PAPESAREGONNASELLLIKEWEWASGIVIN''EMAWAY!

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BET'CHADINNERIT'SADOOZY,'BOUTAPISTOL-PACKIN'FLOOZYWHOKNOWSHOWTOMAKEANEWSIE'SDAYNEWSIEGROUP2:IDO,TOO!SOITMUSTBETRUE!WHATASWITCH!SOONWE'LLALLBERICH!DON'TKNOWANYBETTERWAYTOMAKEANEWSIESDAY!NEWSIES:YOUWANNAMOVETHENEXTEDITION?GIVEUSANEARTHQUAKEORAWAR.ELMER:HOW'BOUTACROOKEDPOLITICIAN?NEWSIES:YANITWIT,THATAIN'TNEWSNOMORE!UPTOWNTOGRANDCENTRALSTATION,DOWNTOCITYHALL,WEIMPROVESOURCIRCULATIONWALKIN''TILLWEFALL!NEWSIEGROUP1(SIMULTANEOUSWITHNEWSIEGROUP2BELOW):BUTWE'LLBEOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNERMANTOMAN.WE'REALWAYSOUTTHERESOAKIN'EV'RYSUCKERTHATWECAN.HERE'STHEHEADLINE:NEWSIESONAMISSION!KILLTHECOMPETITION!SELLTHENEXTEDITION!WE'LLBEOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!SEEUSOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!ALWAYSOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!

NEWSIEGROUP2:GOTAFEELIN''BOUTTHEHEADLINE!ISMELLSMEAHEADLINE!PAPESAREGONNASELLLIKEWEWASGIVIN''EMAWAY!BET'CHADINNERIT'SADOOZY'BOUTAPISTOL-PACKIN'FLOOZY!DON'TKNOWANYBETTERWAYTOMAKEANEWSIE'SDAY!IWASSTAKIN'OUTTHECIRCUS,ANDTHENSOMEONESAIDTHATCONEY'SREALLYHOT,BUTWHENIGETTHERE,THEREWASSPOTWITHALLHISCRONIES.HECK,I'MGONNATAKEWHATLITTLEDOUGHIGOTANDPLAYTHEPONIES!WEATLEASTDESERVEAHEADLINEFORTHEHOURSTHATTHEYWORKUS.JEEZ,IBETIFIJUSTSTAYEDALITTLELONGERATTHECIRCUS...

(TheNEWSIEShavearrivedatthelockedgateinfrontoftheWorld-aprominentnewspaperownedbyJosephPulitzer.)

FINCH:Hey,look!They’reputtin’uptheheadline.SPECS:Ihopeit’sreallybloody.Withaniceclearpicture.ROMEO:Pleasebemurder,pleasebeamurder!(Alargechalkboardloomsabove.TheNEWSIESwatchinanticipationasaMANwritestheheadlineinlargeletters,“TROLLEYSTRIKEENTERSTHIRDWEEK.”)ELMER:Thetrolleystrike?IKE:Notagain!RACE:Threeweeksofthesamestory.FINCH:They’rekillin’uswiththatsnoozer.SCRUB:Iwashopin’toeattoday.(Twotough-lookingboys,OSCARandMORRISDELANCEY,unlockthegates.)MORRIS:Makeway.Stepaside.

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RACE:Dearme,whatisthatunpleasantaroma?Ifearthesewermayhavebackedupduringthenight.PEPPER:Orcoulditbe...NEWSIES:...theDelanceybrothers.FINCH:Hey,Oscar,wordonthestreetsaysyouandyourbrothertookmoneytobeatupstrikingtrolleyworkers.OSCAR:So?It’shonestwork.ALBERT:Butcrackin’theheadsofdefenselessworkers?OSCAR:Itakecareoftheguywhotakescareofme.RACE:Ain’tyourfatheroneofthestrikers?OSCAR:Guesshedidn’ttakecareofme!(Asiftomakehispoint,MORRIESgrabsCRUTCHIEandthrowshimtotheground.)MORRIS:Youwantsomeofthattoo?Yalousycrip!

(JACKpullsCRUTCHIEbacktohisfeetandthenconfrontstheDELANCEYS.TheNEWSIESbackuptogiveJACKroom.)

JACK:Nowthat’snotnice,Morris.RACE:FivetooneJackskunks‘em!SWISH:Mymoney’sonJack!JACK:Oneunfortunatedayyoumightfindyougotabumgamofyourown.How’dyoulikeuspickin’onyou?Maybeweshouldfindout.(Andwiththat,JacktakesCRUTCHIE’SwalkingstickandsmackstheDELANCEYSintheshins,knockingthembothtotheground.)OSCAR:WaittillIgetmyhandsonyou.JACK:Yagottacatchmefirst.(AchaseensuesastheNEWSIESsinganddancetheirwayinthroughthefrontgate....)NEWSIES:WE'LLALLBEOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNERMANTOMAN.WE'REALWAYSOUTTHERESOAKIN'EV'RYSUCKERTHATWECAN.HERE'STHEHEADLINE:“NEWSIESONAMISSION!”KILLTHECOMPETITION!SELLTHENEXTEDITION!WE'LLBEOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!SEEUSOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!ALWAYSOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!AH,AH,AH,GO!(TheNEWSIESarriveatthedistributionwindowsoftheWorld.WIESEL,anill-tempered,rumpledman,appearswiththeDELANCEYStocollectthemoneyanddistributethepaperstotheNEWSIES.)WIESEL:PapersfortheNewsies!Lineup!(JACKisfirsttothewindow.)JACK:Goodmorning,Weasel.Didyoumissme?WIESEL:That’sWise-el.JACK:Ain’tthatwhatIsaid?(Slappingdownhismoney.)I’lltaketheusual.WIESEL:Ahundredpapesforthewiseguy.(OSCARhandsoverthepapersandRACEmovesuptothewindow.)RACE:How’sitgoing,Weasel?WIESEL:Atleastcallme“mister.”RACE:I’llcallyousweetheartifyou’dspotmefiftypapes.(TheotherNEWSIESlaugh.)WIESEL:Dropthecashandmoveitalong.

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RACE:(slappingdownhiscoin)Whateverhappenedtoromance?WIESEL:FiftyfortheRace.Next!CRUTCHIE:Goodmorning,Mr.Wiesel.WIESEL:FiftypapesforCrutchie.(DAVEY,a17-year-old-boywhoappearsoutofhiselement,andhiskidbrotherLES,arenextinline.)Havealookatthis:anewkid.LES:I’mnewtoo!KNUCKLES:Yadon’tsay.RACE:Don’tworry,kid-rubsrightoff.DAVEY:I’lltaketwentynewspapers,please.WIESEL:Twentyforthenewkid.Let’sseethedime.DAVEY:I’llpayyouwhenIsellthem.WIESEL:Funny,kid.C’mon,cashupfront.DAVEY:ButwhateverIdon’tsell,youbuyback,right?WIESEL:Certainly.AndeverytimeyouloseatoothIputapennyunderyourpillow.Thiskid’sariot.C’mon.Coughupthecashorblow.(Daveyhandsoveradime,getshispapers,andlooksthemover.)Comeon,movealong.Albert,lemmeseeyourmoney.ALBERT:Youhaveaveryinterestin’face.Everthinkofgetting’intothemovin’pictures?WIESEL:YouthinkIcould?ALBERT:Sure.Buyaticket,theyletanyonein.WIESEL:Beatit,willya?DUCKY:Twentypapersplease.DAVEY:Sorry.Excuseme.Ipaidfortwentybutyougavemenineteen.(EVERYONEfreezesandwatches.JACKswoopsinandquicklycountsthepapers.)WIESEL:YouseenhowniceIwastodisnewkid?AndwhatdidIgetformycivility?Ungroundedaccusations.DAVEY:IjustwantwhatIpaidfor.OSCAR:Hesaidbeatit!(TheDELANCEYSstarttocracktheirknuckles.)JACK:Newkid’sright,Weasel.Yagavehimnineteen.I’msureitwasanhonestmistakeonaccount’aOscarcan’tcounttotwentywithhisshoeson.(OSCARthreatenstoattack.WIESELpusheshimbackandtossesanotherpapertoDAVEY.)WIESEL:Here.Nowtakeahike.JACK:(flippingacoinontothecounter)Givehimanotherfiftypapes.DAVEY:Idon’twantmorepapes.JACK:Whatkind’aNewsiedon’twantmorepapes?(OscarhandsDAVEYastackofpapers.DAVEYfollowsJACKwiththem.)DAVEY:I’mnocharitycase.Idon’tevenknowyou.LES:Hisname’sJack.CRUTCHIE:ThishereisthefamousJackKelly.HeonceescapedjailonthebackofTeddyRoosevelt’scarriage.Madeallthepapes.JACK:(toLES)Howoldareyou,kid?LES:I’mten.Almost.JACK:Ifanybodyasks,you’reseven.Youngersellsmorepapes,andifwe’regonnabepartners....DAVEY:Whosaidwewantapartner?CRUTCHIE:Sellin’withJackisthechanceofalifetime.Youlearnfromhim,youlearnfromthebest.

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DAVEY:Ifhe’sthebest,what’sheneedwithme?JACK:‘CauseyougotalittlebrotherandIdon’t.Thatfacecouldsellathousandpapesaweek.(toLES)Looksad,kid.(LESmakesasadface.)We’regonnamakemillions.LES:ThisismybrotherDavid.I’mLes.JACK:Nicetomeetya,Davey.Mytwobitscomeoffthetop,andwespliteverything70-30.LES:50-50!Youwouldn’ttrytopullafastoneonalittlekid.JACK:60-40andthat’smyfinaloffer.LES:Deal.(JACKspitsinhishandandholdsitouttoshake.LEScopieshimandtheyshake.)DAVEY:That’sdisgusting.JACK:It’sjustbusiness.(toALL)Newsies,hitthestreets.Thesunisup,theheadlinestinks,andthiskidain’tgetting’anyyounger!

#3-CarryingTheBanner(Tag)-Newsies

NEWSIES:WE'LLALLBEOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNERMANTOMAN.WE'REALWAYSOUTTHERESOAKIN'EV'RYSUCKERTHATWECAN.HERE'STHEHEADLINE:“NEWSIESONAMISSION!”KILLTHECOMPETITION!SELLTHENEXTEDITION!WE'LLBEOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!SEEUSOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!ALWAYSOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!AH,AH,AH,GO!

(TheNEWSIESexitasthesceneshiftsto...)

SCENETWO:Pulitzer’sOffice,Afternoon

(EditorSEITZ,secretaryHANNAH,andaccountantBUNSENhuddleinabusinessmeeting.Themogul,JOSEPHPULITZER,ishavinghishaircutbyNUNZIO,thebarber.)

PULITZER:Staff,theWorldisintrouble.Ourcirculationisdownforthethirdquarterinarow.SEITZ:But,Mr.Pulitzer,everypaper’scirculationisdownsincethewarended.PULITZER:Whoeversaid,“warisatragedy”,wasn’ttryingtosellnewspapers.BUNSEN:Wecoulduseanexcitingheadline.PULITZER:Whathavewegottoday?SEITZ:Thetrolleystrike.PULITZER:That’snotexciting?It’sepic!HANNAH:It’sboring.Folkswannaknow,“Isthetrolleycomin’orain’tit?”Noonecareswhy.SEITZ:Andthestrike’sabouttobesettled.GovernorRooseveltjustputhissupportbehindtheworkers.PULITZER:Thatmanisasocialist.SEITZ:TeddyRooseveltisnosocialist.He’sanAmericanhero.PULITZER:Themanwantstooutlawfootballforbeingtooviolent.Football!Violent?!You’reright.He’snotsocialist.He’acommie!NUNZIO:Mr.Pulitzer,please,youmusttrytositstill.PULITZER:Gentlemen,please,youaremakingNunzionervous.AndwhenNunziogetsnervous,Idon’tlookpretty.(PULITZERsitsback.)HANNAH:YouneverlikedRoosevelt.Youwroteandeditorialagainsthimdayafterdaywhenheranforgovernor.Andguesswhat?Hegotelected.PULITZER:HowcanIinfluencevotersifthey’renotreadingmyopinion?

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SEITZ:Bigphotosattractreaders.PULITZER:Doyouknowwhatbigphotoscost?BUNSEN:Butwithoutflashyphotosorheadlines,howarewesupposedtosellmorepapers.PULITZER:There’sananswerrightbeforeyoureyes.You’renotthinkingthisthrough.People...

#3-TheBottomLine-Pulitzer,Seitz,Bunsen,Hannah

PULITZER:NUNZIOKNOWSWHENHE’SCUTTINGMYHAIRTRIMABITHEREANDTHENTRIMABITTHEREJUSTAMODESTADJUSTMENTCANFATTENTHEBOTTOMLINENUNZIO:Mr.Pulitzer,please.PULITZER:SHAVINGISTRICKY:THERAZORSHOULDFLOATSHAVEMETOOCLOSE,ANDYOUMAYCUTMYTHROATIT’STHESIMPLESTSOLUTIONSTHATBOLSTERTHEBOTTOMLINEBUNSEN:Buthowdoesthathelpussellmorepapers?HANNAH:Wedon’tsellpapers,silly,Newsiessellpapers.BUNSEN:I’vegotit!RightnowwechargetheNewsiesfiftycentsforahundredpapers.PULITZER:Yes...BUNSEN:Butifweraisedtheirpricetosixtycentsperhundred...PULITZER:Nowyou’regettingsomewhere...SEITZ:Ameretenthofapennyperpaper.BUNSEN:EverysingleNewsiewouldhavetoselltwenty-fivemorepapersjusttoearnthesameamountasalways.PULITZER:Mythoughtsexactly.It’sgenius.HANNAH:It’sgoingtobeawfullyroughonthosechildren.PULITZER:Nonsense.I’mgivingthemareallifelessonineconomics.Icouldn’tofferthemabettereducationiftheyweremyown.GIVEMEAWEEKANDI’LLTRAINTHEMTOBE,LIKEANARMYTHAT’SMARCHINGTOWARPROUDOFTHEMSELVESANDSOGRATEFULTOME,THEY’LLBEBEGGINGTOPAYEVENMORE!WHENTHERE’SDIRTONOURSHOES,BOYS,YOUHAVETORELAX!WHYTHROWTHEMOUT?ALLWENEEDISSOMEWAXLISTENWELLTOTHESEBARBERSHIPLESSONSFORTHEY’LLSEEYOUTHROUGH!SIETZ,HANNAH&BUNSEN:WHENYOU’RESTUCKINTHEMUCK,YOU’LLBEFINE-YOU’LLERASEANYTRACEOFDECLINESEITZ:WHATATRIM!HANNAH:ANDASNIP!BUNSEN:ANDASHINE!PULITZER:ANDTHEPOWEROFPRESS,YES!ONCEAGAINISMINE!PULITZER:ThepricefortheNewsiesgoesupinthemorning!PULITZER:JUSTAFEWCOMMONCENTS,GENTS,THAT’STHEBOTTOMLINE!SIETZ,HANNAH&BUNSEN:EV’RYNEWOUTCOMEISINCOMEFORYOU,THANKSTOTHATBOTTOMLINE!

(ThelightsshiftfromtheofficetotheNEWSIESduringthescenetransition.)

#4A-CarryingTheBanner(Reprise)-Newsies

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NEWSIES:SUNUPTOSUNDOWN,KNOWIN’WHEREMYCUSTOMERS’LLBESUNUPTOSUNDOWN,WATCHIN’ALLTHELADIESWATCHIN’MEWALKEDMYSHOESOFF,GOTTHEDOUGHTOSHOWITPROBABLYI’LLBLOWIT,THENBEFOREYOUKNOWITWE’LLBEOUTTHERE,CARRYINGTHEBANNER….

(Thesceneshiftsto...)

SCENETHREE:AStreetCorner

(JACKleansagainstabuildingasDAVEYattemptstopeddlepaperstoaGROUPOFGIRLS.)

GIRL1:AndhesaidIcouldn’tseehimagain!GIRL2:Who?Yourfather?GIRL1:Yeah,justbecausehedidn’t…GIRL3:Wait,Ithoughtheworkedforhim?DAVEY:Paper.Paper.Evenin’papehere.Careforapaperladies?(TheGIRLGROUPgiggles)GIRL2:Nothanks.GIRL3:Hewascute!JACK:Sing‘emtosleepwhydontcha?(SnatchesapaperfromDAVEYandhawksit.)Extra!Extra!Terrifiedflightfromburnin’inferno!Youheardthestoryrighthere!PASSERBY:Ohno!Whatburneddown?(PASSERBYsnatchesthepaperfromJACK,handshimacoinJACK:Thanksmadam!(PASSERBYopensthepaperandexitsinarush.)DAVEY:Youmadethatup.JACK:Didnot.Isaidhehearditrighthere,andhedid.DAVEY:Myfathertaughtusnottolie.JACK:Andminetaughtmenottostarve.(LEScomesupempty-handed.)LES:Hey!Ijustsoldmylastpaper.DAVEY:Igotonemore.JACK:Sellitorpayforit.LES:Giveithere.(takesthepaper,sidlesuptoaWOMANandSALLYpassingby,andputsthesaddestlookonhisface.)Buyapaperfromapoororphanboy?(LEScoughsgently.)WOMAN:Oh,youdearthing.OfcourseI’lltakeanewspaper.Here’sadime.(TheWOMANandSALLYexitwiththepaper.SALLYturnsandsmilesatLESbeforeleaving.)JACK:Borntothebreed.LES:Thisissomuchbetterthanschool!DAVEY:Don’teventhinkit.WhenPopgoesbacktowork,wegobacktoschool.(Whiletheboystalk,SNYDER,asinisterlookingman,seesJACKandstepsbackagainabuilding.Heseemsexcitedtohavespottedtheboy.Cautiously,heflagsdownaPOLICEMANandwhisperstohim.)JACK:So’showaboutwedivvyupthemoney,grabsomechow,thenfindyou’ssomewheresavetospendthenight?DAVEY:Wegottagethome.Ourfolkswillbewaitin’dinner.JACK:Yagotfolks,huh?LES:Doesn’teverybody?DAVEY:(Elbowshisbrother)Ourdadtangledwithadeliverytruckonthejob.Messedhislegupbad,so

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theylaidhimoff.That’showcomewehadtofindwork.JACK:Yeah,sure,thatmakessense.Toobadaboutyourdad.DAVEY:Whydon’tyoucomehomewithusfordinner?Ourfolkswouldbehappytohaveyou.LES:Mom’sagreatcook.JACK:Thanksfortheinvite,butIjustrememberedIgotplanswithafella.He’sprobablywaitingonmerightnow.

(SNYDERandthePOLICEMANhavebeenslowlymovingtowardtheBOYS.LESspotsthemandpoints.)

#5-TheChase

LES:Isthattheguyyou’remeetin’?(JACKlooksupandseesSNYDER.)SNYDER:Kelly!JACK:(grabbingLES)Runforit!SNYDER:Officer,grabhim!You,JackKelly,stop!Kelly!(JACK,DAVEY,andLESleapontoafireescapeladderandtakeoff.ThePOLICEMANandSNYDERtrytofollow.TheBOYSclimbovertheroofandbackdowntheotherside,intothefliesofaburlesquehouse.)

SCENEFOUR:Medda’sTheater

JACK:Slowdown.Welost‘em.DAVEY:SomeonewanttotellmewhyI’mrunning?Igotnoonechasingme.Whowasthatguy?JACK:ThatwasSnydertheSpider.Arealsweetie.HerunsajailforunderagekidscalledTheRefuge.Themorekidshelocksup,themoremoneythecitypayshim.Problemis,allthemoneygoesstraighttohisownpocket.DoyourselfafavorandstayclearofhimandTheRefuge.(MEDDALARKIN,aburlesquestar,appearsinarevealingcostume.TheEMCEEandtwoshowgirls,theBOWERYBEAUTIES,getreadyfortheperformance.)MEDDA:Hey,youupthere,shoo!Nokidsallowedinthetheater.JACK:Notevenme,MissMedda?MEDDA:(recognizingtheintruder)JackKelly,manofmystery.Getyourselfdownhereandgivemeahug.Wherehaveyoubeenkeepin’yourself,kid?(JACK,DAVEY,andLEScomedowntothestage.)JACK:Neverfarfromyou,MissMedda.Boys,mayIpresentMissMeddaLarkin:thegreateststarontheBowerytoday.Shealsoownsthejoint.MEDDA:TheonlythingIownisamortgage.Pleasure,gents.DAVEY:Apleasure.(DAVEYbowsgallantly,butLESjuststandswide-eyed,staringattheBOWERYBEAUTIES.DAVEYsmackshim.)What’swrongwithyou?LES:Areyoublind?Shegotnoclotheson!DAVEY:That’shercostume.LES:ButIcanseeherlegs!MEDDA:(toDAVEY)Stepoutofhiswayso’shecangetabetterlook.Theater’snotonlyentertaining,it’seducational.(posing)Gotthepicture,kid?JACK:MissMedda,Igotalittlesituationoutonthestreet.MindifIhideouthereawhile?MEDDA:Wherebettertoescapetroublethanatheater?IsSnyderafteryouagain?LES:HeyJack,didyoureallyescapejailonthebackofTeddyRoosevelt’scarriage?DAVEY:WhatwouldtheGovernorbedoingatajuvenilejail?JACK:Sohappenshewasrunnin’forofficeandwantedtoshowhecaredaboutorphansandsuch.Sowhilehegothismuginthepaper,Igotmybuttinthebackseatandwerodetogether.

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LES:YoureallyknowtheGovernor?MEDDA:Hedon’t,butIdo!Say,Jack,whenyou’vegottime,Iwantyoutopaintmesomemoreofthesebackdrops.(Indicatesaparkscenedropbehindher)Thislastoneyoudidisadoozy.Folksloveit.AndthingshavebeengoingsowellthatIcanactuallypay.JACK:Icouldn’ttakeyourmoney,MissMedda.LES:Youpicturedthat?MEDDA:Yourfriendisquiteanartist.JACK:Idon’tgetcarriedaway.It’sabunchoftrees.DAVEY:You’rereallygood.MEDDA:Thatboy’sgotnaturalaptitude.LES:Geez.Ineverknewnoonewithaaptitude.(TheEMCEEcallstoher.)EMCEE:MissMedda,you’reon!MEDDA:(strikesapose)Yeah?How’mIdoin’?(totheBOYS)Boys,lockthedoorandstayallnight.You’rewithMeddanow!EMCEE:(announcingMEDDAasshemovestowardthestage)Ladiesandgentleman,pleasewelcomethestarofourshow....MissMeddaLarkin!(MEDDAiscapturedinaspotlight.TheBOYSwatchfromthewings,completelyentranced,whilesheperformstothecrowdofNYCITIZENS.)

#6-That’sRich-Medda

MEDDA:I'MDOINGALLRIGHTFORMYSELFFOLKS:I'MHEALTHY,I'MWEALTHY,I'MWISE.MYINVESTMENTSANDSUCHHAVEALLGONEUPSOMUCH-SEEMSWHATEVERITOUCHSTARTSTORISE.I’VEBEENALLKINDSOFLUCKYANDYETTHETHINGIWANTMOST...ICAN'TGET.ILIVEINAMANSIONONLONGISLANDSOUND.IPULLEDUPAWEED,THEYFOUNDOILINTHEGROUND.BUTYOUTELLINGMEYOUDON'TWANTMEAROUND-NOW,HONEY,THAT'SRICH.(toaudiencemembers)SOMEGUYSGIVEMEERMINE,CHINCHILLAANDMINKANDGIVEMEDIAMONDSASBIGASASINK,BUTYOUWOULDN'TGIVEMEASMUCHASAWINK-NOW,BABY,THAT'SRICH.IGETBRANDYFROMANDYANDCANDYFROMSCOTT.OH,ANDFRANKANDEDUARDOCHIPPEDINFORAYACHT.IGETSTARESFROMTHEFELLASANDPRAYERSFROMTHEPOPE,BUTIRANOUTMYLUCKGETTINGSTUCKWITHTHISMOPE!MEDDA:(toaudiencemember)Oh,honey,Iwasjusttalkingaboutyou!(To“Him”)NOW,LISTEN,SPORT,THISLIFE'STOOSHORTTOWASTEITONYOU.ITMAYBEROUGH,BUTSOONENOUGHI'LLLEARNTOMAKEDO….WITHTHEMANSION,THEOILWELL,THEDIAMONDS,THEYACHT,

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WITHANDY,EDUARDO,THEPONTIFFANDSCOTTANDFRANK.ANDMYBANK!SOSPILLNOTEARSFORME,'CAUSETHERE'SONETHINGYOUAIN'TTHATI'LLALWAYSBE,ANDHONEY,YEAH,THAT'SRIGHT,THAT'SRICH!THAT'SRICH!THAT'SRICH!MEDDA:That’srich!

(MEDDAbows.JACK’seyesaredrawntoaboxseatoutfrontwhereKATHERINEsitswatchingtheshow.Thesetshiftsashecrossesthestageandclimbsthestairs.)

#6A-INeverPlannedOnYou/Don’tComea-Knocking-Jack,BoweryBeauties

MEDDA:Andnow,gents,let’shaveabighandfortheBoweryBeauties!(TheBOWERYBEAUTIESbegintodance.)BOWERYBEAUTIES:DON’TCOMEA-KNOCKINGONMYDOOR

JACK:(climbsintothebox)Well,helloagain.KATHERINE:Thisisaprivatebox.JACK:(Movingcloser)WantIshouldlockthedoor?(Movingcloserstill)Twiceinoneday.Thinkit’sfate?KATHERINE:(Dismissive)Goaway.I'mworking.JACK:Aworkinggirl,huh?Doin’what?KATHERINE:ReviewingtheshowfortheNewYorkSun.JACK:Hey!IworkfortheWorld.KATHERINE:Somewhereouttheresomeonecares.Gotellthem.JACK:Theview’sbetterhere.KATHERINE:Pleasego.Iamnotinthehabitofspeakingtostrangers.JACK:Thenyou’regonnamakealousyreporter.Thename’sJackKelly.KATHERINE:Isthatwhatitsaysonyourrapsheet?JACK:Asmartgirl.Iadmiresmartgirls.(AdmiringKATHERINE)Beautiful.Smart.Independent.KATHERINE:(Gettingloud)Doyoumind!?MEDDA:(HolleringuptoJACKandKATHERINE)Yougotinforfree.Atleastpayattention.JACK:SorryMedda.(KATHERINEreturnstowatchingtheshow,butJACKonlyhaseyesforher.Hetakesapieceofnewsprintadapencilinhispocketandbeginstosketchofportraitofher.Theimageofthedrawingappearsinprojectionsbehindthem.)

JACK:IGOTNOUSEFORMOONLIGHTORSAPPYPOETRY.LOVEATFIRSTSIGHT'SFORSUCKERS,ATLEASTITUSEDTOBE.LOOK,GIRLSARENICE,ONCEORTWICE,TILLIFINDSOMEONENEW,BUTINEVERPLANNEDONSOMEONELIKEYOU.(SingssimultaneouslywiththeBoweryBeauties)IGOTNOUSEFORMOONLIGHTORSAPPYPOETRY.LOVEATFIRSTSIGHT'SFORSUCKERS,ATLEASTITUSEDTOBE.JACK:NO,INEVERPLANNEDONNOONELIKEYOU.BOWERYBEAUTIES:DON'TCOMEAKNOCKINGONMYDOOR.

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YOUAREN'TWELCOMEHERENOMORE.ISHOULDHAVEKNOWNYOUSTUNKLIKEYESTERDAY'STRASHTHENIGHTYOUSTOLEMYHEARTPLUSFORTYDOLLARSINCASH.TURNSOUTMYBEAUISJUSTSOMEBUM.TURNSOUTTHATLOVEAIN'TBLIND,IT'SDUMB.YOUNEVERTOLDTHETRUTHORWORKEDADAYINYOURLIFE.INFACT,YOU'RESOREVOLTIN',IFEELBADFORYOURWIFE.KATHERINE:Whatareyoudoing?JACK:Quietdown.There'sashowgoingon.KATHERINE:Youarethemostimpossibleboy-JACK:Shhh!KATHERINE:Ever.BOWERYBEAUTIES:IWON'TBESHAVINGYOURBACKANYMORE,NO,SENOR.JACK:NO,INEVERPLANNEDONNOONELIKEYOU.BOWERYBEAUTIES:DON'TCOMEA-KNOCKINGONMYDOOR!BOWERYBEAUTIES:DON'TCOMEA-KNOCKINGONMYDOOR!BOWERYBEAUTIES:DON'TCOMEA-KNOCKINGONMYDOOR!

(JACKplacesthenewsprintontheemptychairasheexits.KATHERINElooksatitandseestheportraitofherself,beautifullyrendered.Wecanalmostseeherblush.)

#6B-TotheDistributionWindow

SCENEFIVE:NewsieSquare,NextMorning

(AfewNEWSIESconveneoutsidethedistributionwindowoftheWorldasthecirculationbelltolls.)

SPLASHER:Themfiresirenskeptmeawakeallnight.MUSH:Sirensislikelullabiestome.Theloudertheywailthebettertheheadline.Andthebettertheheadline,thebetterIeat.AndthebetterIeat...SPLASHER:(cuttingMUSHoff)...thefurtherawayfromyouIsleep!(LESandDAVEYarrive.)DAVEY:‘Morning,everybody.Sorrywe’relate.GUMGUM:Youdidn’tmissnothin’yet.NEWBY:Whatmadeyourmornin’excitin’thisearly?DAVEY:Wehadtohelpourmomwithsomething.RACE:Theygottamudder?Iwasgonnagetmeone.ROMEO:What’dyoudowiththeoneyouhad?BUTTONS:Hetradedherforaboxofcigars.RACE:TheywasCoronas!LES:Wehaveafathertoo.BUTTONS:Amudderandafodder.RACE:Ain’twethehoipolloi?LES:So,how’sitgoingtoday?TOMMYBOY:Askmeaftertheyputuptheheadline.(LESlooksuptoreadit.)CHICKLET:Hereitcomesnow.

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ALBERT:(reading)“NewNewsiePrice:SixtyCentsPerHundred.”MUSH:What’dyousay?(TheNEWSIESbegintotakenotice.)DAVEY:Isthatnews?MIKE:Itistome.ALBERT:Theyjackedupthepriceofpapes.RACKET:Tencentsmoreahundred!ELMER:Icaneattwodaysonadime.CRUTCHIE:I’llbesleepin’onthestreet.JOJO:Youalreadysleeponthestreet.CRUTCHIE:Inaworseneighborhood.(JACKarrives.)SALAMI:Wait’llJackhear’saboutthis.IKE:He’sgonnaloseit.CRISS-CROSS:Herehecomesnow!KNUCKLES:Jack,checkthisout.JACK:What’reyouallstandin’aroundfor?CRUTCHIE:Getaloadofthis,Jack.ROMEO:LikePulitzerdon’tmakeenoughalready?CHICKLET:Therichgottagetricher….CURLY:Whileweallgottastarvetadeath.(WIESELopenshiswindowforbusiness.HestaresattheNEWSIESwithamalevolentsmile.)WIESEL:PapesfortheNewsies.JACK:Relax.It’sgottabeagag.WIESEL:Lineup,boys.(JACKgoesuptothewindowandslapshismoneydown.)JACK:Goodjoke,Weasel.Reallygotthefellasgoin’.I’lltakeahundredandbeonmyway.WIESEL:Ahundred’llcostyasixty.JACK:Iain’tpayin’nosixty—WIESEL:Thenmakewayforsomeonewhowill.(SPECSandafewmoreNEWSIESarrive.)JACK:Youbet!MeandthefellaswilltakeahikeovertoTheJournal.NEWSIES:YEAH!!!SPECS:I’llsaveyouthewalk.Theyuppedtheirpricetoo.JACK:Thenwe’lltakeourbusinesstotheSun!WIESEL:It’sthesamepriceallaroundtown.Newday.Newprice.BUDDY:Whythejack-up?WIESEL:Forthemkind’aanswersyougottaaskalittlefurtherupthefoodchain.So,youbuyin’ormovin’on?JACK:C’merefellas.(TheNEWSIEShuddletogetherasagang.)FINCH:Theycan’tjustdothat,canthey?RACE:Whynot?It’stheirpaper.CRUTCHIE:It’stheirworld.HENRY:Ain’twegotnorights?CRUTCHIE:Wegottherighttostarve.C’mon,let’sgetourpapesandhitthestreetswhilewestillcan.HENRY:Atthemprices?CRUTCHIE:Wegotachoice?PICKLES:Ifit’sthesameeverywhere,thenIdon’tseeanotheroption.

17

JACK:Holdon.Nobody’spayin’nonewnothin’.TOMMYBOY:Yougotaidea?SCRUB:WhatisitJack?JACK:Keepyourshirton.Lemmethinkthisthrough.BUTTONS:What’syourangle?(LESpushestheotherboysaway.)SPLASHER:Let’sheartheidea,Jack!LES:Stopcrowdin’him.Letthemanworkitout.(TheNEWSIESbackupandwatchJACKthink.)Hey,Jack,youstillthinkin’?RACE:Sureheis.Can’tyousmellsmoke?DUCKY:Idon’tgetit.JACK:Allright,here’sthedeal:ifwedon’tsellpapes,thennoonesellspapes.Nobodygetstothatwindowtilltheyputthepricebackwhereitbelongs.DAVEY:Youmeanlikeastrike?JACK:YouheardDavey.We’reonstrike.DAVEY:Holdon.Ididn’tsay—JACK:Weshutdownthisplacelikethemworkersshutdownthetrolleys.FINCH:Andthecopswillbustourheads!TOMMYBOY:Halfthemstrikersislaidupwithbrokebones.JACK:Copsain’tgonnacareaboutabunchofkids.Right,Davey?DAVEY:Leavemeoutofthis.I’mjusttryingtofeedmyfamily.JACK:Andtherestofusisonplaytime?Justbecauseweonlymakepenniesdon’tgivenobodytherighttorubournosesinit.DAVEY:Itdoesn’tmatter.Youcan’tstrike.You’renotaunion.JACK:AndwhatifIsaysweis?DAVEY:There’salotofstuffyougottahaveinordertobeaunion.RACKET:Likewhat?DAVEY:Likemembership.JACK:Whatdoyoucalltheseguys?DAVEY:Andofficers.CRUTCHIE:InominateJackPresident!(TheNEWSIEScheertheirapproval.)JACK:Gee,I’mtouched.DAVEY:Howaboutastatementofpurpose?JACK:Must’aleftitinmyotherpants.RACE:What’sastatementofpurpose?DAVEY:Areasonforformingtheunion.JACK:Whatreasondidthetrolleyworkershave?DAVEY:Idon’tknow.Wages?Workhours?Safetyonthejob?JACK:Whodon’tneedthat?Betifyourfatherhadaunionyouwouldn’tbeoutheresellin’papesrightnow.Yeah?DAVEY:Yeah.JACK:So,ourunionisherebyformedtowatcheachother’sbacks.“Union’dwestand.”Hey,that’snotbad.Somebodywritethatdown.LES:Igotapencil.JACK:MeetourSecretaryofState.Nowwhat?

18

DAVEY:Ifyouwanttostrike,themembership’sgottavote.JACK:Solet’svote.Whatdoyousay,fellas?Thechoiceisyours.DowerolloverandletPulitzerpickourpockets,ordowestrike?NEWSIES:Strike!!!!!!

#7-TheWorldWillKnow-Jack,Davey,Les,Crutchie,Newsies

JACK:Youheardthevoiceofthemembership.TheNewsiesofLowerManhattanarenowofficiallyonstrike.Whatnext?CRUTCHIE:Wouldn’tastrikebemoreeffectiveifsomeoneinchargeknewaboutit?RACE:ItwouldbeapleasuretotellWeaselmyself.JACK:Yeah?AndwhotellsPulitzer?Davey?DAVEY:Idon’tknow…Iguess…(givingin)Youdo,Mr.President.JACK:That’sright,wedo!(ToDAVEY,abithushed.)Whatdowetell‘em?DAVEY:Thenewspaperownersneedtorespectyourrightsasemployees.JACK:(Loudlytothegroup.)PulitzerandHearstgottarespecttherightsoftheworkin’kidsofthiscity.DAVEY:Theycan’tjustchangetheruleswhentheyfeellikeit.JACK:That’sright.Wedothework,sowegetasay.DAVEY:(finallycommitting)We’vegotaunion.NEWSIES:Yeah!JACK:PULITZERANDHEARST,THEYTHINKWE'RENOTHING'.AREWENOTHIN'?NEWSIES:NO!DAVEY:Theyneedtounderstandthatwe’renotenslavedtothem.We’refreeagents.JACK:PULITZERANDHEARST,THEYTHINKTHEYGOTUS.DOTHEYGOTUS?NEWSIES:NO!DAVEY:We’reaunionnow–theNewsboys’Union–andwemeanbusiness.JACK:EVENTHOUGHWEAIN'TGOTHATSORBADGES,WE'REAUNIONJUSTBYSAYINGSO.ANDTHEWORLDWILLKNOW.FINCH:What’stostopsomeotherkidscomin’alongtosellourpapes?ALBERT:Justlet‘emtry!DAVEY:No!Wecan’tbeatupontheotherkids.We’reallinthistogether.JACK:(ignoringDAVEY)WHAT'SITGONNATAKETOSTOPTHEWAGONS?AREWEREADY?NEWSIES:YEAH!JACK:WHAT'SITGONNATAKETOSTOPTHESCABBERS?CANWEDOIT?NEWSIES:YEAH!JACK:WE'LLDOWHATWEGOTTADOUNTILWEBREAKTHEWILLOFMIGHTYBILLANDJOE.NEWSIES:ANDTHEWORLDWILLKNOW.ANDTHEJOURNALTOO.JACK&DAVEY:MISTERHEARSTANDPULITZER,HAVEWEGOTNEWSFORYOU.NEWSIES:SEE,THEWORLDDON'TKNOW,BUTTHEY'REGONNAPAY.JACK&DAVEY:'STEADOFHAWKIN'HEADLINESWE'LLBEMAKIN''EMTODAY.NEWSIES:ANDOURRANKSWILLGROW,CRUTCHIE:ANDWE'LLKICKTHEIRREAR!NEWSIES:YEAH!ANDTHEWORLDWILLKNOWTHATWEBEENHERE.JACK:WHENTHECIRCULATIONBELLSTARTSRINGING,WILLWEHEARIT?NEWSIES:NO!

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JACK:WHATIFTHEDELANCEY'SCOMEOUTSWINGING?WILLWEHEARIT?NEWSIES:NO!WHENYAGOTAHUNDREDVOICESSINGING,WHOCANHEARALOUSYWHISTLEBLOW?ANDTHEWORLDWILLKNOWTHATTHISAIN'TNOGAME,THATWEGOTATONOFROTTENFRUITANDPERFECTAIM.SOTHEYGAVETHEIRWORD.WELL,ITAIN'TWORTHBEANS.NOWTHEY'REGONNASEEWHAT"STOPTHEPRESSES"REALLYMEANS.ANDTHEOLDWILLWEEP,ANDGOBACKTOSLEEP.ANDWEGOTNOCHOICEBUTTOSEEITTHROUGH,RACE:ANDWEFOUNDOURVOICE,SPECS:ANDILOSTMYSHOE!NEWSIES:ANDTHEWORLDWILL-

(Thescenetransitionstothegate.JACKclimbsuptothechalkboardandwritesdown“STRIKE”overtheotherheadlines.)

NEWSIES:Yeah!!JACK:PULITZERMAYOWNTHEWORLDBUTHEDON'TOWNUS!NEWSIES:PULITZERMAYOWNTHEWORLDBUTHEDON'TOWNUS!JACK:PULITZERMAYCRACKTHEWHIPBUTHEWON'TWHIPUS!NEWSIES:PULTIZERMAYCRACKTHEWHIPBUTHEWON'TWHIPUS!ANDTHEWORLDWILLKNOWWEBEENKEEPIN'SCORE.EITHERTHEYGIVESUSOURRIGHTSORWEGIVESTHEMAWAR.WEBEENDOWNTOOLONG,ANDWEPAIDOURDUES.(TheNEWSIESmaketheirwaytothefrontdooroftheWorld.)CRUTCHIE:ANDTHETHINGSWEDOTODAYWILLBETOMORROW'SNEWS.NEWSIES:ANDTHEDIEISCAST,ANDTHETORCHISPASSED.NEWSIESGROUP1:ANDAROARWILLRISE…NEWSIESGROUP2:…FROMTHESTREETSBELOW,NEWSIESGROUP1:ANDOURRANKSWILLGROW…NEWSIESGROUP2:…ANDGROWNEWSIESGROUP1:ANDGROWNEWSIES:ANDSOTHEWORLDWILLFEELTHEFIREANDFINALLYKNOW!

(TheNEWSIESopenthedoors.JACK,DAVEY,andLESenterandthedoorsclosebehindthem.TheNEWSIESwaitinanticipation.ThenthedoorsflyopenandaGUARDthrowsJACK,DAVEY,andLESout.)

GUARD:Andstayout!LES:(yellingback)YoucantellPulitzerthatafewdaysintothisstrike,he’sgonnabebeggin’foranappointmenttoseeme!Yougotthat?(DoorsSlam.)Hegotit.NEWSIES:PULITZERMAYOWNTHEWORLDBUTHEDON'TOWNUS!JACK:PULITZERMAYOWNTHEWORLDBUTHEDON'TOWNUS!NEWSIES:PULITZERMAYCRACKTHEWHIPBUTHEWON'TWHIPUS!JACK:PULITZERMAYCRACKTHEWHIPBUTHEWON'TWHIPUS!NEWSIES:SOTHEWORLDSAYS"NO!"WELLTHEKIDSDOTOO!TRYTOWALKALLOVERUS,WE'LLSTOMPALLOVERYOU!CRUTCHIE:CANTHEYKICKUSOUT?TAKEAWAYOURVOTE?

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NEWSIES:WILLWELET'EMSTUFFTHISCROCKOFGARBAGEDOWNOURTHROAT?NO!EVERYDAYWEWAITISADAYWELOSE!NEWSIESGROUP1:ANDTHISAIN'TFORFUN!NEWSIESGROUP2:ANDITAIN'TFORSHOW!NEWSIESGROUP1:ANDWE'LLFIGHT'EMTOENEWSIESGROUP2:TOTOENEWSIESGROUP1:TOTOE!NEWSIES:ANDJOE,YOURWORLDWILLFEELTHEFIREANDFINALLY,FINALLYKNOW!

SCENESIX:Jacobi’sDeli&Street,Afternoon

(TheNEWSIESsettleinattheirfavoritehangout.Theproprietor,MS.JACOBI,arriveswithatrayofglasses,whichheproceedstohandout.)

MS.JACOBI:Andherewego...aglassofwaterforyou.Andoneforyou.Andoneforyou.Andyou.And,ah,who’sthebigspenderwhatorderedtheseltzer?ALBERT:Overhere.MS.JACOBI:Andthat’llbetwocents.ALBERT:Twocentsforaglassofseltzer?Justgimmewater.MS.JACOBI:(switchingoutglasses)HowdidIeverseethatcoming?SWISH:CouldIgetawatertoo?PEPPER:Oh!Metoo!NEWBY:Metoo!GUMGUM:Overhereaswell!MIKE:Justbringanotherroundofwatersplease.MS.JACOBI:Yeesh.Letmedothedishestogetafewmoreglassescleanfirst.(Sheexits.)DAVEY:(toasting)I’dsaywelaunchedourstrikeinamostauspiciousmanner.(TheNEWSIEStrytofigureoutwhatDAVEYsaid.)MUSH:Idon’tknowaboutthat,butwesurescaredthebejeebersouttaWeasel!CRUTCHIE:DidyouseetheDelanceys?PICKLES:Theydidn’tknowwhichwaywasup.JACK:(toDAVEY)So,what’snext?DAVEY:Nowyouhavetospreadtheword.Lettherestofthecity’sNewsiesknowaboutthestrike.JACK:Youheardtheman.Let’ssplitupandspreadtheword.MUSH:I’lltakeHarlem.RACE:Igotmidtown.JOJO:IgottheBronx.BUTTONS:AndIgottheBowery.JACK:Specs,youtakeQueens.TommyBoy,youtaketheEastside.AndwhowantsBrooklyn?(TheNEWSIEScringeandlookaway.)C’mon.Brooklyn.SpotConlon’sturf.Finch,youtellin’meyou’rescaredofBrooklyn?FINCH:Iain’tscaredofnoturf.ButthatSpotConlongotmealittlejittery.JACK:Fine.MeandDaveywilltakeBrooklyn.DAVEY:(stillstruggling)Me?Ihaveto...(KATHERINEenters)KATHERINE:Why’severyonesoscaredofBrooklyn?JACK:(smiling)What’reyoudoin’here?

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KATHERINE:Askingaquestion.Haveyougotananswer?JACK:Brooklynisthesixthlargestcityintheentireworld.YougotBrooklyn,youhitthemotherload.(sidlinguptoKATHERINE)ForsomeonewhoworksfortheNewYorkSun,youspendanawfullotoftimehangingaroundattheWorld.So,what’sthatabout?Youfollowin’me?KATHERINE:TheonlythingI’mfollowingisastory.Arag-taggangofragamuffinswantstotakeonthekingmakersofNewYork.Thinkyouhaveachance?JACK:Shouldn’tyoubeattheballet?KATHERINE:Questiontoodifficult?I’llrephrase:willtherichestandmostpowerfulmeninNewYorkgivethetimeofdaytoagangofkidswhohaven’tgotanickeltotheirname?CRUCHIE:Youdon’tgottabeinsultin’.Igotanickel.KATHERINE:SoIguessyou’dsayyou’reacoupleofDavidslookingtotakeonGoliath?DAVEY:Weneversaidthat.KATHERINE:Youdidn’thaveto.Idid.JACK:IseenalotofpapersinmytimeandIain’tnevernotednogirlreporterswritinghardnews.KATHERINE:Wakeuptothenewcentury.Thegame’schanging.Howaboutanexclusiveinterview?JACK:Ain’tyourbeatentertainment?KATHERINE:Thisisentertaining...sofar.JACK:What’sthelastnewsstoryyouwrote?KATHERINE:What’sthelaststrikeyouorganized?ROMEO:(pushinghiswayin)You’reoutofyourleague,Kelly.Methinkstheladyneedstohandledbyarealman.KATHERINE:(wavinghimoff)Youthinkswrong,Romeo.ROMEO:How’dsheknowmyname?DAVEY:(toJACK)Isaywesaveanyexclusiveforarealreporter.KATHERINE:(Almostangry)Youseesomebodyelsegivingyouthetimeofday?(desperate)Alright,soI’mjustbustingoutofthesocialpages.Butyougivemetheexclusive,letmerunwiththestory,andIpromiseyouI’llgetyouthespace.CRUTCHIE:Youthinkwecouldbeinthepapes?KATHERINE:ShutdownapaperliketheWorldandyou’regoingtomakethefrontpage.JACK:Youwantastory?Beinfrontofthecirculationgatetomorrowmorningandyou’llgetone.Andbringacamera.You’regonnawannasnapapictureofdis.(MS.JACOBIcomestoshootheNEWSIESout.)MS.JACOBI:Let’sgo,boys,playoutside.Igottasetupfordinner.Igotpayin’customersneedtables.

#8-TheWorldWillKnow(Reprise)-Jack,Davey,Les,Newsies

FINCH:C’mon.WegotNewsiestovisit.RACE:Youwon’tbeshooin’usoffwhenwegetsourmugsinthepapes!(TheNEWSIESexitthedeliandheadtothestreet.)NEWSIES:ANDTHEWORLDWILLKNOW,WEBEENKEEPIN'SCORE.EITHERTHEYGIVESUSOURRIGHTSORWEGIVESTHEMAWAR.WEBEENDOWNTOOLONG,ANDWEPAIDOURDUES.ANDTHETHINGSWEDOTODAYWILLBETOMORROW'SNEWS.ANDTHEDIEISCAST,ANDTHETORCHISPASSED.NEWSIESGROUP1:ANDAROARWILLRISE…

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NEWSIESGROUP2:…FROMTHESTREETSBELOW,NEWSIESGROUP1:ANDOURRANKSWILLGROW…

NEWSIESGROUP2:…ANDGROWNEWSIESGROUP1:ANDGROWNEWSIES:ANDSOTHEWORLDWILLFEELTHEFIREANDFINALLYKNOW!

DAVEY:Comeon,Les.Thefolksarewaiting.(TheNewsiesdisperseasDAVEYandLESheadhome.JACKlingersbehindwithKATHERINE.)KATHERINE:So,what’syourstory?Areyousellingnewspaperstoworkyourwaythroughartschool?JACK:Artschool?Areyoukiddin’me?(KATHERINEholdsupthedrawingthatJACKdidofher.)KATHERINE:Butyou’reanartist.You’vegotrealtalent.Youshouldbeinsidethepaperillustrating,notoutsidehawkingit.JACK:Maybethatain’twhatIwant.KATHERINE:Sotellmewhatyouwant.JACK:(shamelesslyflirting)Can’tyouseeitinmyeyes?KATHERINE:Haveyoualwaysbeentheirleader?JACK:I’mablowhard.Davey’sthebrains.KATHERINE:ModestyisnotaqualityIwouldhavepinnedonyou.JACK:Yougotaname?KATHERINE:Katherine...Plumber.JACK:What’sthematter?Ain’tyasure?KATHERINE:It’smybyline,thenameIpublishunder.Tellmeabouttomorrow.Whatareyouhopingfor?JACK:I’drathertellyouwhatI’mhopingfortonight.KATHERINE:Mr.Kelly....JACK:TodaywestoppedourNewsiesfromcarryingoutpapes,butthewagonsstilldeliveredtotherestofthecity.Tomorrow,westopthewagons.KATHERINE:Areyouscared?JACK:DoIlookscared?Butaskmeagaininthemorning.KATHERINE:(writesdownthequiteandstartstoexit)Goodanswer.Goodnight,Mr.Kelly.JACK:Comeon,whereyourunnin’?Itain’tevensuppertime!

#9-WatchWhatHappens-Katherine

KATHERINE:I’llseeyouinthemorning.And,offtherecord,goodluck.JACK:Hey,Plumber.Writeitgood.Webothgotalotridin’onyou.(JACKwalksoffasKATHERINEheadstoheroffice.)

SCENESEVEN:Katherine’sOffice

(KATHERINEsitsdownatherdeskandbeginstowriteherarticle)

KATHERINE:Youheardtheman,“Writeitgood.”Writeitgood,orit’sbacktowheezingyourwaythroughtheflowershow.Nopressure.Let’sgo.(typing)“NewsiesStoptheWorld.”Alittlehyperboleneverhurtanyone.(typingagain)“Withalleyesfixedonthetrolleystrike,there’sanotherbattlebrewinginthecity...”(pullspaperoutofthetypewriterandripsitup)...andifIcouldjustwriteaboutit...(putsafreshpieceofpaperinthetypewriter)Comeon,Katherine,theboysarecountingonyou.Oh,youpoorboys....

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"WRITEWHATYOUKNOW"SOTHEYSAY,ALLIKNOWISIDON'TKNOWWHATTOWRITEORTHERIGHTWAYTOWRITEITTHISISBIG,LADY,DON'TSCREWITUPTHISISNOTSOMELITTLEVAUDEVILLEI'MREVIEWINGPOORLITTLEKIDSVERSUSRICHGREEDYSOURPUSSESHA!IT'SACINCH!ITCOULDPRACTICALLYWRITEITSELFANDLET'SPRAYITDOES,CAUSEASIMAYHAVEMENTIONEDIHAVENOCLUEWHATI'MDOINGAMIINSANE?THISISWHATI'VEBEENWAITINGFORWELLTHAT,PLUSTHESCREAMINGOFTENANGRYEDITORS“AGIRL?”“THAT’SAGIRL!HOWTHEHECK?”“ISTHATEVENLEGAL?”“LOOK,JUSTGOANDGETHER!”NOTONLYTHAT,THERE'SASTORYBEHINDTHESTORYTHOUSANDSOFCHILDREN,EXPLOITED,INVISIBLESPEAKUP,TAKEASTAND,ANDTHERE'SSOMEONETOWRITEABOUTITTHAT'SHOWTHINGSGETBETTERGIVELIFE'SLITTLEGUYSSOMEINK,ANDWHENITDRIESJUSTWATCHWHATHAPPENSTHOSEKIDSWILLLIVEANDBREATHERIGHTONTHEPAGEANDONCETHEY'RECENTERSTAGE,YOUWATCHWHATHAPPENSANDWHO'STHEREWITHHERCAMERAANDHERPENASBOYSTURNINTOMENTHEY'LLSTORMTHEGATESANDTHENJUSTWATCHWHATHAPPENSWHENTHEYDO!

KATHERINE:(readsaloudwhatshe’swritten)“AmoderndayDavidispoisedtotakeontherichandpowerfulGoliath.Withtheswaggerofonetwicehisage,armedwithnothingmorethanafewnuggetsoftruth,JackKellystandsreadytofacethebehemothPulitzer.”Nowthat’showyouturnaboyintoalegend!PICTUREAHANDSOME,HEROICALLYCHARISMATICPLAINSPOKEN,KNOWNOTHING,SKIRT-CHASING,COCKYLITTLESONOFALIEDOWNWITHDOGSANDYOUWAKEUPWITHARAISEANDAPROMOTIONSO,HE'SAFLIRT,ACOMPLETEEGOMANIACTHEFACTISHE'SALSOTHEFACEOFTHESTRIKEWHATAFACE,FACETHEFACTS,THAT'SAFACETHATCOULDSAVEUSALLFROMSINKINGINTHEOCEANLIKESOMEONESAID,"POWERTENDSTOCORRUPT"ANDABSOLUTEPOWER,WAIT!WAIT,CORRUPTS!?ABSOLUTELY,THATISGENIUS!BUTGIVEMESOMETIME,I'LLBETWICEASGOODASTHATSIXMONTHSFROMNEVERJUSTLOOKAROUNDATTHEWORLDWE'REINHERITINGANDTHINKOFTHEONEWE'LLCREATETHEIRMISTAKEISTHEYGOTOLD,THATISNOTAMISTAKEWE'LLBEMAKINGNOSIR,WE'LLSTAYYOUNGFOREVER!GIVETHOSEKIDSANDMETHEBRANDNEWCENTURYANDWATCHWHATHAPPENSIT'SDAVIDANDGOLIATH,DOORDIETHEFIGHTISONANDICAN'TWATCHWHATHAPPENS

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BUTALLIKNOWISNOTHINGHAPPENSIFYOUJUSTGIVEINITCAN'TBEANYWORSETHANHOWIT'SBEENANDITJUSTSOHAPPENSTHATWEJUSTMIGHTWINSOWHATEVERHAPPENS!LET'SBEGIN!

(Blackout.)

#9A-WatchWhatHappens(Playoff)

SCENEEIGHT:NewsieSquare,NextMorning

(JACKandtheotherNEWSIESnervouslybegintoassemble.AsDAVEYandLESarrive,DAVEYpullsJACKaside.)

DAVEY:Isanyoneelsecoming?JACK:Don’tgotaclue.RACE:YouseseenSpotConlon,right?What’dhesay?JACK:Sureweseenhim.DAVEY:Himandabouttwentyofhisgang.LES:AndthemBrooklynboysisbig.JACK:AndIgottasay,Spotwasveryimpressed.Wasn’the?DAVEY:I’dsay.RACE:Sothey’rewithus?DAVEY:Thatalldependsonhowyoulookatit.IfyoulookandseeBrooklyn,thenthey’rewithus.JACK:Theywantedproofwe’renotgonnafoldatthefirstsignoftrouble.FINCH:Arewe?JACK:Wearenot!There’susandHarlem—MUSH:Notsofast,boss.HarlemwantstoknowwhatBrooklyn’sgonnado.JACK:HowaboutQueens?SPECS:Queenswillberightherebackingusup—JACK:Yasee!SPECS:...assoonastheygetthenodfromBrooklyn.RACE:Igotthesamefish-eyeinmidtown.(TheDELANCEYSwalkbyontheirwaytowork.)MORRIS:Say,Oscar,lookslikewegotbuminformationaboutastrikehappenin’heretoday.NotthatI’mcomplainin’.Myskullbustin’armcoulduseadayofrest.(TheDELANCYESmoveon.)LES:Arewedoingtherightthing?DAVEY:Sureweare.RACE:Maybeweputthisoffacoupleadays?DAVEY:No.Wecan’t...(desperatelytoJACK)Saysomething.Tellthemifwebackoffnowtheywillneverlistentousagain.

#10-SeizeTheDay-Davey,Jack,Les,Newsies

JACK:(totheNEWSIES)Wecan’tbackdownnow.Nomatterwhodoesordoesn’tshow.Likeitornot,nowiswhenwetakeastand.FINCH:How’saboutwejustdon’tshowforwork?That’llsendamessage.

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JACK:They’lljustreplaceus.Theyneedustostandourground.(turnstoDAVEY)C’mon,Davey.Tell‘em.DAVEY:(onthespot,timidlybeginsapeptalk)

NOWISTHETIMETOSEIZETHEDAY.STAREDOWNTHEODDSANDSEIZETHEDAY.MINUTEBYMINUTE,THAT'SHOWYOUWINIT.WEWILLFINDAWAY.BUTLETUSSEIZETHEDAY.(CRUTCHIEarriveswitharagpainted“STRIKE!”hangingfromhiscrutch.)CRUTCHIE:HeyJack.LookwhatImade!Good,huh?Strike!RACE:(ToCrutchie)That’sgreat.(ToDavey)That’spitiful.LES:Don’tbesoquicktojudge.MaybePulitzerwillitouthiswindowandfeelsorryforus.JACK:(calluptochalkboardplatform)HeySpecs,anysignofreinforcements?(thumbsdown)Davey…?DAVEY:COURAGECANNOTERASEOURFEAR.COURAGEISWHENWEFACEOURFEAR.TELLTHOSEWITHPOWER,SAFEINTHEIRTOWER,WEWILLNOTOBEY(DAVEYstepsupnexttoJACKasthesceneshiftstothedistributionwindow.)DAVEY&JACK:BEHOLDTHEBRAVEBATTALIONTHATSTANDSSIDEBYSIDE,TOOFEWINNUMBERANDTOOPROUDTOHIDE.THENSAYTOTHEOTHERSWHODIDNOTFOLLOWTHROUGH,"YOU'RESTILLOURBROTHERS,ANDWEWILLFIGHTFORYOU."(Thecirculationbellrings.TheNEWSIESignoreit.)DAVEY,RACE,JACK&CRUTCHIE:NOWISTHETIMETOSEIZETHEDAY.STAREDOWNTHEODDSANDSEIZETHEDAY.(OtherNEWSIESgraduallyjoininuntilallaresinging.)NEWSIES:ONCEWE'VEBEGUN,IFWESTANDASONE,SOMEDAYBECOMESSOMEHOW,ANDTHEPRAYERBECOMESAVOW,JACK:ANDTHESTRIKESTARTSHEREANDNOW!(Thecirculationbellringsagain.WIESELpusheshiswindowopen.)WIESEL:Thesunisupandthebirdsissingin’.Abeautifuldaytocracksomeheads,ain’tit?Steprightupandgetyourpapes.MORRIS:(steppingforward)Youworkin’ortrespassin’?What’syourpleasure?(EVERYONEtenses.ThreeSCABSwalkonandheadtowardthecirculationwindowtocollecttheirpapers.)DAVEY:Whoarethey?JACK:Scabs.Whatdoyouthink?FINCH:Iftheythinktheycanjustwaltzinhereandtakeourjobs–CRUTCHIE:Wecanhandlethem!(TheNEWSIESmovemenacinglyforwardastheSCABScollecttheirpapersfromthedistributionwindow.)ROMEO:Let’ssoak‘emboys!FINCH:Yeah!Let’sget‘em!DAVEY:No!Weallstandtogetherorwedon’thaveachance!(callingforhelp)Jack!JACK:Allright.Iknow.Ihearya.(LookstohisNEWSIES,thenaddressestheSCABS.)Listen,fellas…Iknowsomebodyputyouseuptothis.Probablypaidyasomeextramoneytoo.Yeah?Well,itain’tright.Pulitzerthinkswe’regutterratswithnorespectfornothin’,includin’eachother.Isthatwhoweare?Well,westabeachotherinthebackand,yeah,that’swhoweare.Butifwestandtogether,wechangethewholegame.

26

Anditain’tjustaboutus.Allacrossthiscitythereareboysandgirlswhooughttobeoutplayin’orgoingtoschool.Insteadthey’reslavin’tosupportthemselvesandtheirfolks.Ain’tnocrimetobein’poor,andnotaoneofuscomplainsiftheworkwedoishard.Allweaskisasquaredeal.Fellas…forthesakeofallthekidsineverysweatshop,factoryandslaughterhouseinthistown,Ibegyou…throwdownyourpapersandjointhestrike.LES:Please?SCAB1:(TheSCABSlookateachother,andthefirststepsforward)I’mwithya.(ThefirstSCABthrowsdownhispapers.TheNEWSIESsurroundthetworemainingSCABS.)DAVEY:NOWISTHETIMETOSEIZETHEDAY!NEWSIES:NOWISTHETIMETOSEIZETHEDAY!DAVEY:ANSWERTHECALLANDDON'TDELAY!NEWSIES:ANSWERTHECALLANDDON'TDELAY!WRONGSWILLBERIGHTEDIFWE'REUNITED!LETUSSEIZETHEDAY!(ThesecondSCABthrowsdownhispapersandjoinstheNEWSIES.MORRISDELANCYreachesforthebundle,butJACKstopshim.)SCAB3:You’rekidding,right?SCAB2:Attheendoftheday,whoareyougonnatrust?(toDELANCEYS)Them…(toNEWSIES)orthem?(ThesecondSCABthrowshissatchelbackatWIESELastheNEWSIESsurroundSCAB3.)JACK:NOWLET'EMHEARITLOUDANDCLEAR!NEWSIES:NOWLET'EMHEARITLOUDANDCLEAR!JACK:LIKEITORNOT,WE'REDRAWINGNEAR!NEWSIES:LIKEITORNOT,WE'REDRAWINGNEAR!PROUDANDDEFIANT,WE'LLSLAYTHEGIANT!JUDGMENTDAYISHERE!(ThethirdSCABthrowsdownhispapers.)SCAB3:Oh…whocares?Mefather’sgonnakillmeanyway!(TheNEWSIEScheer.)NEWSIES:HOUSTONTOHARLEM,LOOKWHAT'SBEGUN!ONEFORALLANDALLFORONE!STRIKE,STRIKE,STRIKE,STRIKE,STRIKE,STRIKE,STRIKE,STRIKE,STRIKE,STRIKE,OH…..STRIKE!(JACKleadstheNEWSIESinatriumphantdance.TheDELANCEYSbreakin,punchDAVEYandJACK,andgrabLES.TherestoftheNEWSIESsaveLES,chasethemoff,andcelebrate.)NEWSIES:NOWISTHETIMETOSEIZETHEDAY!THEY'REGONNASEETHEY’LLHAVETOPAY!NOTHINGCANBREAKUSNOONECANMAKEUSQUITBEFOREWE'REDONE!ONEFORALLANDALLFORONEFORALLANDALLFORONEFORALLANDALLFORONE!

(KATHERINEarriveswithherPHOTOGRAPHER,whoshootsatriumphantphotoofJACK,DAVEY,LES,andtheNEWSIES.TheecstaticNEWSIEStossnewspapersalloverthesquare.)

#10A-SeizeTheDay(Tag)-Newsies

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NEWSIES:NEWSIESFOREVER!SECONDTONONE!ONEFORALLANDALLFOR…ONEFORALLANDALLFOR…

(ThegatesswingopentorevealWIESEL,theDELANCEYS,andseveralGOONS.TheNEWSIESstopdeadintheirtracks.–thenafightensues.)

#11-TheFight

WIESEL:Timethesekidslearnedalesson.(TheMENadvance.)JACK:Newsies!Get‘em!(TheNEWSIESruntothewagonsandtossbundlesofpapersattheMEN.TheMENsurgeforwardandthefightismoreorlesseven.SuddenlyaPOLICEMENappearsandblowshiswhistle.ROMEOrunsexcitedlytohim.)ROMEO:It’sabouttimeyoushowedup.They’reslaughteringus—(ThePOLICEMANsmacksROMEOtotheground.SNYDERappears.)JACK:Cheeseit,fellas!It’sthebulls!(AsmorePOLICEMENarrive,manyNEWSIEStakeflight.Somearehit,othersaresnatchedupandtakenaway.TheNEWSIESarehelplessagainsttheMEN.SNYDERappears.)SYNDER:Youcan’trunforever,Kelly!(JACKseesSNYDERandstartstomakehisescape.)CRUTCHIE:Jack?Waitforme!(JACKreachesbackforCRUTCHIE,butheisgrabbedbyOSCARandMORRISDELANCEY.JACKcontinuestorun.)OSCAR:(toCRUTCHIE)Whereyathinkyou’regoin’?CRUTCHIE:Jack!Help!Romeo!Albert!Finch!MORRIS:Shutit,Crip.(MORRISpunchesCRUTCHIE,knockinghimtotheground.SNYDERbeatshimwithhiscrutchandslapsonhandcuffs.)SNYDER:It’sofftoTheRefugewithyou,littleman.(tothePOLICEMAN)Takehimaway.(JACKwatchesasthePOLICEMANdragsCRUTCHIEoff.)JACK:Crutchie!SNYDER:JackKelly!(JACKducksoutofthesquareandrunstothesafetyofhisrooftop.)

SCENENINE:Rooftop

(Papersflutterdownontheemptyingsquareunderahauntingmoon.Lostinthewreckageofthefailedprotestbelow,JACKpaces,desolate.)

#12-SantaFe-Jack

JACK:FOLKS,WEFINALLYGOTOURHEADLINE"NEWSIESCRUSHEDASBULLSATTACK"CRUTCHIE'SCALLINGMEPOORCRIP'SJUSTMOVESTOOSLOWGUYSAREFIGHTIN',BLEEDIN',FALLIN'THANKSTOGOODOLE'CAPTAINJACKCAPTAINJACKJUSTWANTSTOCLOSEHISEYESANDGO!LETMEGOFARAWAYSOMEWHERETHEYWON'TEVERFINDMEANDTOMORROWWON’TREMINDMEOFTODAYANDTHECITY’SFINALLYSLEEPIN’ANDTHEMOONLOOKSOLDANDGREY

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IGETONATRAINTHAT’SBOUNDFORSANTAFEANDI’MGONEANDI’MDONENOMORERUNNING.NOMORELYINGNOMOREFATOLDMANDENYINGMEMYPAYJUSTAMOONSOBIGANDYELLOW,ITTURNSNIGHTRIGHTINTODAYDREAMSCOMETRUE.YEAHTHEYDO.INSANTAFEWHEREDOESITSAYYOUGOTTALIVEANDDIEHERE?WHEREDOESITSAYAGUYCAN’TCATCHABREAK?WHYSHOULDYOUONLYTAKEWHATYOU’REGIVEN?WHYSHOULDYOUSPENDYOURWHOLELIFELIVINGTRAPPEDWHERETHEREAIN’TNOFUTUREEVENAT17!BREAKINGYOURBACKFORSOMEONEELSE’SSAKE!IFTHELIFEDON’TSEEMTOSUITYOU,HOWABOUTACHANGEOFSCENE?FARFROMTHELOUSYHEADLINES,ANDTHEDEADLINESINBETWEENSANTAFE,MYOLDFRIENDICAN’TSPENDMYWHOLELIFEDREAMINGTHOUGHIKNOWTHAT’SALLISEEMINCLINEDTODOIAIN’TGETTINGANYYOUNGERANDIWANNASTARTBRANDNEWINEEDSPACE.ANDFRESHAIRLET‘EMLAUGHINMYFACE.IDON’TCARESAVEMYPLACE,I’LLBETHEREJUSTBEREALISALLI’MASKINGNOTSOMEPAINTINGINMYHEADCAUSEI’MDEADIFICAN’TCOUNTONYOUTODAYIGOTNOTHINGIFIAIN’TGOTSANTAFE!

(EndofActOne.)

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ACTTWOSCENEONE:Jacobi’sDeli,NextMorning

#12A-Entr’acte

(DAVEYandtheNEWSIESarequietlyignoringtheirdrinks.MS.JACOBenters.)

MS.JACOBI:Drinkup,boys.Anddon’tneversayIdon’tgiveyounothing.Andbeforeyousaywaterisnothing,justaskafishinthedesert.(MS.JACOBIexits.)FINCH:Whydooldpeopletalk?RACE:Toprovethey’restillalive.(KATHERINEarriveswithanewspaper.)KATHERINE:Goodmorning,gentlemen.Wouldyougetaloadoftheseglummugs?CanthesereallybethesameboyswhomadefrontpageoftheNewYorkSun?ROMEO:Frontpageofwhat?(TheNEWSIESrushtowardsKATHERINEandsnatchthepaper.)SALAMI:Lemmesee!Lemmesee!BUDDY:Lookatthat!?RACE:Wouldyoulookit?Dat’sme!Dat’sme!JOJO:Frontpageandyouain’tevendead.TOMMYBOY:ThereIam!(Pointingtothepaper)ROMEO:Where’sme?Where’sme?BUTTONS:Waittillmyoldmangetsaloadofdis.Iwon’tbelastinlineforthetubtonight.DAVEY:(toKATHERINE)Yougotusthepape?KATHERINE:Yougotyourselfinthepape.MUSH:“NewsiesStoptheWorld”-now,there’saheadlineevenElmercouldsell!ELMER:Hey!SPECS:Whatelsedoyougot?KATHERINE:Mine’stheonlystorythatran.Pulitzerdeclaredablackoutonstrikenews,soevenI’mshutdownnow.IheardtheyarrestedCrutchie.DidtheygetJacktoo?ALBERT:TheDelanceysarespreadingastorythathetookitonthelam,firstsightofthecops.LES:(chargesALBERT)Jackdon’trunfromnofight!ALBERT:Takeitdown,short-stop.I’mjustreportin’thenews.CRISS-CROSS:Where’dhego?SPLASHER:Icheckedtheusualplaces.Noluck.CURLY:Wonderwhereheendedup?RACE:Forjumpin’Jack’ssake.Canyoustowtheseriositylongenoughtodrinkinthemoment?I’mfamous!HENRY:Whatofit?RACE:Areyoustupidorwhat?You’refamous,theworldisyourerster?HENRY:Yourwhat?RACE:Yourerster!Yourerster!Yourfancyclamwithapearlinside.HENRY:Howmuchdoesbein’famouspay?RACE:Yadon’tneedmoneywhenyou’refamous.Theygivesyawhateveryawantgratis!HENRY:Suchas...?

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#13-KingofNewYork-Davey,Katherine,Les,Newsies

RACE:APAIROFNEWSHOESWITHMATCHIN'LACES...ROMEO:APERMANENTBOXATTHESHEEPSHEADRACES...HENRY:PASTRAMIONRYEWITHASOURPICKLE...FINCH:MYPERSONALPUSSONAWOODENNICKLE..RACE:LOOKATME:I'MTHEKINGOFNEWYORK!SUDDENLYI'MRESPECTABLE,

STARINGRIGHTAT'CHA,LOUSYWITHSTA'CHA.ALBERT:NOBBIN'WITHALLTHEMUCKETY-MUCKS,I'MBLOWINGMYDOUGHANDGOIN'DELUXE.RACE:ANDTHEREIBE!AIN'TIPRETTY?RACE&HENRY:IT'SMYCITY.I'MTHEKINGOFNEWYORK!JOJO:ASOLIDGOLDWATCHWITHACHAINTOTWIRLIT...LES:MYVERYOWNBEDANDAINDOORTERLET...MUSH:ABARBERSHOPHAIRCUTTHATCOSTSAQUARTER...DAVEY:(indicatingKATHERINE)AREGULARBEATFORTHESTARREPORTER!RACE:AM-SCRAY,PUNK,SHE'STHEKINGOFNEWYORK!KATHERINE:WHO'D'ATHUNK!I'MTHEKINGOFNEWYORK!NEWSIES:WEWASSUNK,PALEANDPITIFUL,KATHERINE:BUNCHOFWETNOODLES,KATHERINE&NEWSIES:PULITZER'SPOODLES.LES:ALMOSTABOUTTODROWNINTHEDRINK,BUTTONS:WHENSHEFISHEDUSOUTRACE:ANDDROWNEDUSININK!KATHERINE:SOLET'SGETDRUNK!NEWSIES:YEAH!KATHERINE:NOTWITHLIQUOR.FAMEWORKSQUICKERWHENYOURKINGOFNEWYORK.NEWSIES:IGOTTABEEITHERDEADORDREAMIN','CAUSELOOKATTHATPAPEWITHMYFACEBEAMIN'.TOMORROWTHEYMAYWRAPFISHESINIT,BUTIWASASTARFORONEWHOLEMINUTE!(TheNEWSIESandKATHERINEdanceinthedeli.)KATHERINEANDNEWSIES:LOOKATME!I'MTHEKINGOFNEWYORK!WAITANDSEE:THISGONNAMAKEBOTHDELANCEYSPEEINTHEIRPANT-SIES.FLASHPOTSARESHOOTIN'BRIGHTASTHESUN!I'MONEHIHFALLUTIN'SON-OF-A-GUN!IGUARANTEE:THOUGHICRAPPEDOUT,IAIN'TTAPPEDOUT!I'MTHEKINGOFNEW-

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FRIENDSMAYFLEE.LET'EMDITCH'YA!SNAPONEPIT'CHA,YOU'RETHEKINGOFNEW-HISTORY!FRONTPAGESTORY,GUTSANDGLORY,I'MTHEKING…OFNEWYORK!

#13A-KingofNewYork(Tag)

SCENETWO:TheRefuge

#14-LetterFromTheRefuge-Crutchie

(Inanemptycorner,CRUTCHIEissittingonabedholdingapencilandpaper.Alightedcandlesitsnearby.OtherREFUGEKIDSaresleepingontheflooraroundhim.Hereadswhathe’swritten.)

CRUTCHIE:“DearJack.GreetingsfromTheRefuge!HOWAREYOU?I'MOKAYGUESSIWASN'TMUCHHELPYESTERDAYSNYDERSOAKEDMEREALGOODWITHMYCRUTCH(writes)OHYEAH,JACK?THISISCRUTCHIEBYTHEWAY(backtoreading)THESEHEREGUARDS,THEYISRUDETHEYSAY"JUMPBOY,YOUJUMPORYOU'RESCREWED!"BUTTHEFOODAIN'TSOBADLEASTSOFAR,'CAUSESOFAR,THEYAIN'TBRUNGUSNOFOOD!HA,HAIMISSTHEROOFTOP(stopsreading,daydreams)SLEEPINGRIGHTOUTINTHEOPENINYOURPENTHOUSEINTHESKYTHERE'SACOOLBREEZEBLOWIN'EVENINJULY(stopsdaydreaming,continuesreading)ANYWAY,SOGUESSWHAT!THERE'STHISSECRETESCAPEPLANI'VEGOT!TIEASHEETTOBED,TOSSTHEENDOUTTHEWINDOWCLIMBDOWNANDTAKEOFFLIKEASHOT!MAYBETHOUGH,NOTTONIGHTIAIN'TSLEPT,ANDMYLEGSTILLAIN'TRIGHT!BUTHEY,PULITZER!HE'SGOIN'DOWN!THENJACK,IWASTHINKINGWEMIGHTJUSTGO,LIKEYOUWASSAYIN'(daydreamingagain)WHEREIT'SCLEANANDGREENANDPRETTYWITHNOBUILDINGSINYOURWAYANDYOURRIDINGPALOMINOS,EVERYDAY!ONCETHATTRAINMAKES(AKIDonthebedkicksCRUTCHIE.)REFUGEKIDREGGIE:Shutitcrip.CRUTCHIE:Sorry.Ugh.Thisplace(backtoreading)I'LLBEFINE.GOODASNEWBUTTHERE'SONETHINGINEEDYATODO

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ONTHEROOFTOPYOUSAIDTHATAFAM'LYLOOKSOUTFOREACHOTHERSOTELLALLTHEFELLASFROMME,TOPROTECTONEANOTHER!(pauses,writes)THEEND.YOURFRIEND...(thinks,writes)YOURBESTFRIEND...(hesitates,thencrossesitout,writes)YOURBROTHER...CRUTCHIE.”

SNYDER:(offstage)Youinthere-pipedown!(CRUTCHIEblowsoutthecandle.).

#14A-LetterFromtheRefuge(Playoff)

SCENETHREE:Medda’sTheater

(JACKpaintsabackdropoftheTaosMountains.It’salmostfinished.MEDDAentersinadressingrobe.)MEDDA:Here’severythingIoweyouforthefirstbackdrop,plusthisone,andevenalittlesomethingextrajustaccount’abecauseI’mgonnamissyouso.(MEDDAhandsJACKanenvelopefullofmoney.)JACK:MissMedda.MEDDA:Jack.JACK:You’reagem.MEDDA:Justtellmeyou’regoingsomewhereandnotrunningaway.JACK:Doesitmatter?MEDDA:Whenyougosomewhereanditturnsoutnottobetherightplace,youcanalwaysgosomewhereelse.Butyou’rerunningaway,nowhere’severtherightplace.(DAVEYfindshiswayinthroughthestageflies,excitedtoseeJACK.)DAVEY:How‘boutlettin’apalknowyou’realive?MEDDA:I’llleaveyouwithyourfriend.(MEDDAexits.)DAVEY:Where’dyougo?Wecouldn’tfindyou.JACK:EverthinkIdidn’twannabefound?DAVEY:(indicatingthebackdrop)Isthatarealplace?ThatSantaFe?(suddenlyremembering,holdsoutthenewspaper)Hey!Youseethepape?We’refrontpagenews,abovethefold.Oh,yes.Abovethefold.JACK:Goodforyou.DAVEY:EveryonewantstomeetthefamousJackKelly.EvenSpotConlonsentakidjusttosay:nextevenyoucancountonBrooklyn.Howaboutthat?JACK:Wegotstompedintotheground.DAVEY:Theygotusthistime.I’llgrantyouthat.Butwetookroundone.Andwiththepresslikethisourfightisfarfromover.JACK:EveryNewsiewhocouldwalkshowedupthismorningtosellpapeslikethestrikeneverhappened.DAVEY:AndIwastherewiththem.IfIdon’tsellpapes,myfolksdon’teat.JACK:Saveyourbreath.Igetit.It’shopeless.DAVEY:ButthenIsawthislookonWeasel’sface;hewasactuallynervous.AndIrealizedthisisn’tover.Wegotthemworried.Reallyworried.AndIwalkedaway.Lotsofotherkidsdid,too.Andthatiswhatyoucallabeginning.(LESenters,callingtoKATHERINEbehindhim.)LES:Thereheis,justlikeIsaid.JACK:Forcryin’outloud...where’safellagottagotogetawayfromyoupeople?DAVEY:There’snoescapin’us,pal.We’reinevitable.

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LES:(toDAVEY)So,what’sthestory?Canwehavethetheater?DAVEY:Pipedown.Ididn’taskyet.LES:What’stheholdup?Ineedtoletmygirlknowwe’vegotadate.DAVEY:Yourgirl?LES:Youheardme.I’vebeenswattin’skirtsawayallmorning.Fameisoneintoxicatin’potion.Andthisgirl,Sally,she’saplum.JACK:(seesKATHERINE)Wordisyouwroteagreatstory.KATHERINE:(tentativelyapproachesJACK)Youlookterrible.LES:(studyingthepainting)Hey,Jack.Where’sthatsupposedtobe?JACK:It’sSantaFe.KATHERINE:I’vegottotellyou,Jack,this“Gowest,youngman”routineisgettingtired.EvanHoraceGreeleymovedbacktoNewYork.LES:Yes,hedid.Andthenhedied.JACK:Ain’treporterssupposedtobenon-partisan?KATHERINE:Askareporter.Pulitzer’shadmeblacklistedfromeverynewsdeskintown—LES:Canwetablethepalaverandgetbacktobusiness?WillMeddaletushavethetheater?DAVEY:(toJACK)it’swhatIbeentryingtotellyou:wewanttoholdarally–acitywidemeetingwhereeveryNewsiegetsasayandavote.Andwedoitafterworkinghourssonoonelosesaday’spay.Smart?JACK:Smartenoughtogetyoucommittedtoapaddedroom.KATHERINE:Theguywhopaintsplaceshe’sneverseeniscallinguscrazy?JACK:WanttoseeaplaceIseen?Howaboutthis?

#14B-Jack’sPainting

(JACKturnsthebackdroparoundandrevealsalarge,passionatelyexecutedpoliticalcartoonoftheNewsiesbeingcrushedbyPulitzerinNewsieSquare.DAVEY,LES,andKATHERINEstareinawe.)JACK:NewsieSquare,thankstomybigmouth,filledtooverflowingwithfailure.Kidshurt,othersarrested—DAVEY:Lightenup.Noonedied.JACK:Isthatwhatyou’reaimingfor?Goonandcallmeaquitter,callmeacoward.NowayI’mputtin’themkidsbackindanger.DAVEY:We’redoingsomethingthathasneverbeendonebefore.Howcouldthatnotbedangerous?JACK:SpecsbrungmeanotefromCrutchieatTheRefuge.Itriedtoseehim.Climbeddownthefireescape.Buttheybustedhimupsobadhecouldn’tevencometothewindow.Whatifhedon’tmakeit?Youwillingtoshoulderthatforatenthofapennyapape?DAVEY:It’snotaboutpennies.Yousaidityourself:myfamilywouldn’tbeinthemesswe’reinnowifmyfatherhadaunion.Thisisafightwehavetowin.JACK:IfIwantedasermon,I’dshowupforchurch.

#15-WatchWhatHappens(Reprise)-Davey,Jack,Katherine,Les

DAVEY:TellmehowquittingdoesCrutchiedoesanygood?(JACKdoesn’tanswerhim.)Exactly.So...HERE'SHOWITGOES,ONCEWEWINANDWE"WILL"BEWINNING,MAKENOMISTAKEJACK:WE'LLBEWHAT?DAVEY:WE'REALREADYWINNING

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JACK:RIGHTDAVEY:ANDWE'LLTELLTHEMSTRAIGHTOUTTHEYLETCRUTCHIEGOORTHEYKEEPGETTINGPOUNDEDJACK:DAVE,WHATTHEHECK?DIDTHEYBUSTUPYOURBRAINSORSOMETHIN'?ASIRECALL,DAVEWEALLGOTOURBUTTSKICKED,THEYWON.DAVEY:WONTHEBATTLE.JACK:OHCOMEONDAVEY:JACKIE,THINKABOUTIT,WEGOTTHEMSURRONDEDJACK:HERE'SWHATITHINK,JOE'SAJERK!HE'SARATTLESNAKEDAVEY:YOU'RERIGHT!ANDYOUKNOWWHYASNAKESTARTSTORATTLE?JACK:NOWHY?DAVEY:‘CAUSEHE'SSCARED.JACK:SURE.DAVEY:GOANDLOOKITUP.THEPOORGUY'SHEADISSPINNING.WHYWOULDHESENDFORTHEGOONS,ANENTIREARMY?DOZENSOFGOONSANDCOPS,AND-JACK:YOUKNOWYOUMAYBERIGHTDAVEY:THANKYOU,GOD!JACK:IFHEWASN'TAFRAID-DAVEY:EXACTLY!JACK&DAVEY:HEKNOWSWE'REWINNINGJACK,DAVEY,KATHERINE,ANDLES:GETTHOSEKIDSTOSEEWE'RECIRCLINGVICTORYANDWATCHWHATHAPPENSWE'REDOINGSOMETHINGNOONE'SEVENTRIEDANDYES,WE'RETERRIFIEDBUTWATCHWHATHAPPENSJACK:YOUCAN'TUNDOTHEPASTDAVEY:SOJUSTMOVEONDAVEY&KATHERINE:ANDSTAYONTRACKLES:STAYONTRACKJACK,DAVEY,KATHERINE,ANDLES:‘CAUSEHUMPTYDUMPTYISABOUTTOCRACKKATHERINE:WE'VEGOTFAITH!DAVEY:WE'VEGOTTHEPLAN!LES:ANDWE'VEGOTJACK!JACK,DAVEY,KATHERINE,ANDLES:SOJUSTWATCHWHATHAPPENS...WE'REBACK!LES:AndI'vegotadate!

#15A-BacktoPulitzer’sOffice

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SCENEFOUR:Pulitzer’sOffice&Cellar,Afternoon

(TheMAYOR,SEITZ,BUNSEN,andPULITZERareinaheateddiscussion.KATHERINEsits,listeningquietly.)

MAYOR:...butI’vereadyoureditorials,Mr.Pulitzer.HowcanyouexpresssomuchsympathyforthetrolleyworkersandyethavenonefortheNewsies?PULITZER:Becausethetrolleyworkersarestrikingforafaircontract.TheNewsiesarestrikingagainstme!MAYOR:I’dspareyoutheembarrassmentifIcould,butMissMedda’sTheaterisprivateproperty.BUNSEN:Hecan’torderaraidwithoutlegalcause.PULITZER:Mr.Mayor,wouldthefactthatthisrallyisorganizedbyanescapedconvictbeenoughtoshutitdown?MAYOR:Anescapedconvict?PULITZER:Afugitivefromoneofyourowninstitutions.Aconvictedthief,atlarge,reekingmischiefonourlaw-abidingcommunity.(turnshisdeskchairaroundtorevealSNYDERandholdsoutthenewspaper.)Mr.Snyder,whichoneishe?SNYDER:(pointingtothephoto)Thatonethere:JackKelly.MAYOR:Andhowdoyouknowthisboy?SNYDER:Hisisnotapleasantstory.HewasthefirstsentencedtomyRefugeforloiteringandvagrancy,buthistotaldisregardforauthorityhasmadehimafrequentvisitor.MAYOR:Youcalledhimathiefandescapedconvict.SNYDER:AfterhisreleaseIcaughthimmyself,red-handed,traffickingstolenfoodandclothing.Hewaslastsentencedtosixmonths,butthewillfulruffianescaped.PULITZER:Soyou’dbedoingthecityaserviceremovingthiscriminalfromourstreets.MAYOR:Ifthat’sthecase,wecantakehiminquietlyand—PULITZER:(exploding)Whatgoodwouldquietdome???Iwantapublicexamplemadeofhim!!!(HANNAHrushesintotheoffice.)HANNAH:Mr.Pulitzer-theboy,JackKelly,ishere.PULITZER:Here?HANNAH:Justoutside.He’saskedtoseeyou.PULITZER:Askandyeshallbereceived.Mr.Snyder,ifyouplease.Sit.(PULITZERdirectsSNYDERtoretreattotheshadowycornerandspinsKATHERINEintheswivelchairsoshe’shiddenaswell.HANNAHescortsJACKintotheroom.)HANNAH:Mr.JackKelly.JACK:Afternoon,boys...PULITZER:AndwhichJackKellyisthis?Thecharismaticunionorganizer,orthepettythiefandescapedconvict?JACK:Whichonegivesusmoreincommon?PULITZER:Impudenceisinbadtastewhencrawlingformercy.JACK:Crawlin’?That’salaugh,Ijustdroppedbywithaninvite.Seemsafewhundredofyouremployeesarerallyingtodiscussrecentdisagreements.Ithoughtitonlyfairtoinviteyoutostateyourcasestraighttothefellas.Sowhat’d’yasay,Joe?WantIshouldsaveyouaspotonthebill?PULITZER:YouareasshamelessanddisrespectfulacreatureasIwastold.DoyouknowwhatIwasdoingwhenIwasyourage,boy?Iwasfightinginawar.JACK:Yeah?How’dthatturnoutforya?PULITZER:Ittaughtmealessonthatshapedmylife.Youdon’twinawaronthebattlefield.It’sthe

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headlinethatcrownsthevictor.JACK:I’llkeepthatinmindwhenNewYorkwakesuptofront-pagephotosofourrally.PULITZER:Rallytillthecowscomehome.Notapaperintownwillpublishaword.Andifit’snotinthepapers,itneverhappened.JACK:Youmayrunthiscity,buttherearesomeofuswhocan’tbebullied.Evensomereporters...PULITZER:Suchasthatyoungwomanwhomadeyouyesterday’snews?Talentedgirl.Andbeautifulaswell,don’tyouthink?JACK:I’lltellheryousaidso.PULITZER:Noneed.Shecanhearforherself.Can’tyou,darling?Katherinestandsup.JACKstepsbackinsurprise.)Itrustyouknowmydaughter,Katherine.(letsthatsinkin)Yes.Mydaughter.Youareprobablyasking,whythenomdeplumeandwhydoesn’tmydaughterworkforme?Goodquestions.IofferedKatherinealifeofwealthandleisure.Insteadshechosetopursueacareer.Andshewasshowingrealpromise,untilthisrecentlapse.Butyou’redonewithallofthatnow,areyou,sweetheart?KATHERINE:Jack,I—PULITZER:Don’ttroubletheboywithyourproblems,dearest.Mr.Kellyhasaplatefulofhisown.Wouldn’tyousayso,Mr.Snyder?(SNYDERstepsintosight.)SNYDER:Hello,Jack.(JACKtriestorunforthedoor,butisstoppedbytheDELANCYES.Herealizeshe’strapped.)PULITZER:Ow!Doesanyoneelsefeelanoosetightening?Butallowmetoofferanalternatescenario:youattendtherallyandspeakagainstthishopelessstrike,andI’llseeyourcriminalrecordexpungedandyourpocketsfilledwithenoughcashtocarryyou,inafirst-classtraincompartment,fromNewYorktoNewMexicoandbeyond.(toKATHERINE)Youdidsayhewantedtotravelwest,didn’tyou?JACK:Thereain’tapersoninthisroomwhodon’tknowyoustink.PULITZER:Andiftheyknowme,theyknowIdon’tcare.Markmywords,boy.Defyme,andIwillhaveyouandeveryoneofyourfriendslockedupinTheRefuge.Iknowyou’reMr.ToughGuy,butit’snotrighttocondemnthatlittlecrippledboytoconditionslikethat.AndwhataboutyourpalDaveyandhisbabybrother,rippedfromtheirlovingfamilyandtossedtotherats?Willtheyeverbeabletothankyouenough?

#16-TheBottomLine(Reprise)-Pulitzer,Seitz,Bunsen

PULITZER:TIME’SRUNNINGOUT,KIDSOWHATDOYOUSAY?COWBOYORCONVICT,IWINEITHERWAY!YOURABJECTSURRENDERWASALWAYSTHEBOTTOMLINE!PULITZER:Gentlemen,escortourguesttothecellarsohemightreflectinsolitude.(TheDELANCEYSleadJACKoutoftheofficeandintothecellar.)TOOBADYOU’VENOJOB,JACK,BUTYOUDIDRESIGNTOOBADYOU’VENOFAMILY,BUTYOUCAN’THAVEMINEBEGLADYOU’REALIVE,BOY-I’DSAYTHAT’STHEBOTTOMLINESEITZ:LIKETHEPIEDPIPERYOUKNEWWHATTOPLAYPULITZER:TILLTHOSEKIDSALLBELIEVEDYOUWERERIGHTBUNSEN:LUCKYFORTHEMALLBUTONEGOTAWAYPULITZER:THEYMAYNOTBESOLUCKYTONIGHTTheDELANCEYSdepositJACKinadarkspacepopulatedwithnothingbutaprintingpress.)MORRIS:Webeengivendiscretiontohandleyouasweseefit,sobehave.

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OSCAR:But,justincase,Ibeenpolishin’myfavoritebrassknuckles.(Morrispullsthedust-coveredtarpoffoftheoldpressandtossesittoJACK.)MORRIS:Youcansleeprighthereonthisoldprintingpress.(slapsthehardsurface)Nowthatthereisfirm.(OSCARandMORRISexitasJACKhopelesslytakesinhissurroundings.Suddenly,afamiliardrumbeatsoundsinmilitarystyle.Voicesareheardoffstage.)

#17-Brooklyn’sHere-Spot,Newsies

SPOT:ComeonBrooklyn!BROOKLYNNEWSIES:Newsiesneedourhelptoday!(Newsiesneedourhelptoday)Tell'emBrooklyn'sontheirway!(Tell‘emBrooklyn’sontheirway!)We'refrom...(Brooklyn!)Weare...(Newsies!)Weare…(Brooklyn)Newsies!

(ThesceneshiftstotheBrooklynBridgeasacavalryofBROOKLYNNEWSIESmaketheirwaytotherally.)

SCENEFIVE:BrooklynBridge&Medda’sTheater,EveningBROOKLYNNEWSIES:JUSTGOTWORDTHATOURBUDDIESISHURTIN',FACIN'TOTALDISASTERFORCERTAIN.THAT'SOURCUE,BOYS:IT'STIMETOGOSLUMMIN'.HEYMANHATTAN,THECAVALRY'SCOMIN'!BROOKLYNNEWSIESGROUP1:HAVENOFEAR!BROOKLYNNEWSIESGROUP2:YOUKNOWWEGOTYOURBACKFROMWAYBACK!BROOKLYNNEWSIESGROUP1:BROOKLYN'SHERE!BROOKLYNNEWSIESGROUP2:WE'LLGETYOUPAYBACKWITHSOMEPAYBACK!BROOKLYNNEWSIES:WE'RETHEBOYSFROMTHEBEACHESOFBRIGHTON,PROSPECTPARKANDTHENAVYYARDPIER.STRIKESAIN'TFUN,BUTTHEYSUREISEXCITIN'.LOUDANDCLEAR!BROOKLYN'SHERE!SPOT:BOROUGHWHATGAVEMEBIRTH,BROOKLYNNEWSIES:FRIENDLIESTPLACEONEARTH.PAYUSAVISITANDSEEWHATWEMEAN,ANDWHENYADO,(WHENYADO,WHENYADO)WE'LLKICKYAHALFWAYTOQUEENS!

(TheBROOKLYNNEWSIESarriveatMedda’sTheater.WithJACK’spoliticalcartoonofNewsieSquareasthebackdrop,thetheaterbeginstofillwithNEWSIESfromallfiveboroughs,singingandwavingbannersandplacards.)

BROOKLYNNEWSIES:NOWTHEMSOAKERSISINFORASOAKIN'.WHATASADWAYTOENDACAREER.THEY'SAJOKE,BUTIFTHEYTHINKSWE'REJOKIN'.LOUDANDCLEAR!MANHATTANNEWSIES:MANHATTAN'SHERE!FLUSHINGNEWSIES:FLUSHING'SHERE!RICHMONDNEWSIES:RICHMOND'SHERE!WOODSIDENEWSIES:WOODSIDE'SHERE!BRONXNEWSIE:SO'SDABRONX!BROOKLYNNEWSIES:BROOKLYN'SHERE!ALLNEWSIES:LOUDANDCLEAR:WEISHERE!!

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(TheNEWSIESgocrazy.LESisseatedwithSALLY.SPOTshakeshandswithDAVEYinthecenterofthestageasMEDDAstepsforward.)MEDDA:Welcome,NewsiesofNewYorkCity.Welcometomytheaterandyourrevolution!(CROWDcheers.)DAVEY:Let’shereitforSpotConlonandBrooklyn!SPOT:Newsiesunited!Let’sseewhatPulitzerhastosaytoyounow.SALLY:HeyLes,where’sJack?FINCH:YeahDavey,whereisJack?NEWSIES:Yeah.WewantJack!Whereishe?(DAVEYlookstoMEDDAforhelp.)MEDDA:Sorry,kid.Nosignofhimyet.Lookslikeyou’redoingasolo.NEWSIES:JACK!JACK!JACK!JACK!(DAVEYtimidlytakesthestage.)DAVEY:NewsiesofNewYork...lookatwhatwe’vedone!We’vegotNewsiesfromeverypapeandeveryneighborhoodheretonight.Tonightyou’remakinghistory.(NEWSIEScheer.)Tonightwedeclarethatwe’rejustasmuchapartofthenewspaperasanyreporteroreditor.(Thecheersgrowlouder.)We’redonebeingtreatedlikekids.Fromnowontheywilltreatusasequals.(JACKappearsfromthebackofthetheaterandstartsdowntheaisle.)JACK:Youwannabetalkedtolikeanadult?Thenstartactin’likeone.Don’tjustrunyourmouth.Makesomesense.DAVEY:Andhere’sJack!NEWSIES:Jack!Jack!Jack!(JACKclimbsupontothestageasDAVEYheavesasighofrelief.KATHERINEhasarrivedandstandsinthebalcony.)JACK:(quietingtheNEWSIES)Allright.Pulitzerraisedthepriceofpapeswithoutsomuchasawordtous.Thatwasalousythingtodo.(TheNEWSIEScheer.)Sowegotmadeandlet‘emknowweain’tgonnabepushedaround.(Morecheers.)Sowegoonstrike.Thenwhathappens?Pulitzerlowersthepriceso’swe’llgobacktowork!Andafewweekslaterhehikesthepricebackupagain,anddon’tthinkhewon’t.sowhatdowedothen?Andwhatdowedoifhedecidestoraisehispriceagainafterthat?(DaveyandtheNEWSIESlooktoeachother,confusedbywhatJACKissaying.)Fellas,wegottaberealistic.Wedon’twork,wedon’tgetpaid.Howmanydayscanyougowithoutmakin’money?Howeverlong,believeme,Pulitzercangolonger.(TheNEWSIESboo.)ButIhavespokentoMr.Pulitzerandhehasgivenmehisword:ifwedisbandtheunion,hewillnotraisepricesagainfortwoyears.Hewillevenputitinwriting.(TheboosarenowdrowningoutJACK.)Isaywetakethedeal.Gobacktoworkknowingthatourpriceissecure.Allweneedtodoisvote“NO”onthestrike.Vote“NO”!

(TheboosoverwhelmJACK.Hewalkstowardthewings,whereBUNSENiswaitingwithawadofcash.HeholdsoutthemoneyoutandJACKpocketsit,lookingaroundguiltily.LESreachesout,butJACKmuscleshimawayandrushesout.TheNEWSIESarefurious,andtheirbooingechoesacrossthetheater,andthecity,asthescenetransitions...)

SCENESIX:Rooftop,Night

#17A-ToTheRooftop

(KATHERINEhasdiscoveredJACK’sdrawingsstuffedinanairventpipeandopensthemup.JACKarrives.)

KATHERINE:Thatwassomespeechyoumade.JACK:How’dyougethere?

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KATHERINE:Specsshowedme.JACK:(snatcheshisdrawings)Hesayyoucouldgothroughmystuff?KATHERINE:Isawthemrolledup,stickingoutofthere.Ididn’tknowwhattheywere.Thesedrawings...?ThesearedrawingsofTherefuge,aren’tthey?(takesthedrawingsbackandstudiesthemcloser)isthisreallywhatit’slikeinthere:threeboystoabed,ratseverywhere,andvermin?JACK:Alittledifferentfromwhereyouwereraised?KATHERINE:Snydertoldmyfatheryouwerearrestedstealingfoodandclothing.Thisiswhy,isn’tit?Youstoletofeedthoseboys.(JACK,embarrassed,turnsaway.)Idon’tunderstand.Ifyouwerewillingtogotojailforthoseboys,howcouldyouturnyourbackonthemnow?JACK:Idon’tthinkyou’reanyonetotalkaboutturningonfolks.KATHERINE:Ineverturnedonyouoranyoneelse.JACK:No.Youjustdoublecrossedustoyourfather.Yourfather!KATHERINE:Myfatherhaseyesoneverycornerofthiscity.Hedoesn’tneedmespyingforhim.AndIneverliedIdidn’ttellyoueverything...JACK:Ifyouweren’tagirlyou’dbetryingtotalkwithafistinyourmouth.KATHERINE:IsaidthatIworkedfortheSun,andIdid.ItoldyoumyprofessionalnamewasPlumber,anditis.Youneveraskedmyrealone.JACK:Iwouldn’tthinkIhadtounlessIknewIwasdealingwithabackstabber.KATHERINE:AndifIwasaboy,you’dbelookingatmethroughoneswolleneye.JACK:Don’tletthatstopya.Gimmeyourbestshot.(JACKpresentshisfacetoher.KATHERINE,outofnowhere,grabsJACKandkisseshimfullonthelips.Theypart.AmomentofsilenceandthenJACKtriestogetanotherkiss,butisblocked.)KATHERINE:Ineedtoknowyoudidn’tcaveforthemoney.JACK:Ispokethetruth.Youwinafightwhenyougottheotherfelladowneatin’pavement.Youheardyourfather.Nomatterhowmanydayswestrike,heain’tgivin’up.Idon’tnowwhatelsewecando.KATHERINE:Ah.ButIdo.JACK:Oh,comeone...KATHERINE:Really,Jack?Really?Onlyyoucanhaveagoodidea?OrisitbecauseI’magirl?JACK:Ididn’tsaynothin’...KATHERINE:Thiswouldbeagoodtimetoshutup.Beingbossdoesn’tmeanyouhavealltheanswers.Justthebrainstorecognizetherightonewhenyouhearit.JACK:I’mlistening.KATHERINE:Goodforyou.Thestrikewasyouridea.TherallywasDavey’s.andnowmyplanwilltakeustothefinishline.Dealwithit.(KATHERINEtakesapieceofpaperfromherpocketandhandsittohim.)JACK:(reading)“TheChildren’sCrusade”?KATHERINE:(snatchesitbackandreads)“Forthesakeofallthekidsineverysweatshop,factory,andslaughterhouseinNewYork.Ibegyou...joinus.”WiththosewordsthestrikestoppedbeingjustabouttheNewsies.Youchallengedourwholegenerationtostandupanddemandaplaceatthetable.JACK:“TheChildren’sCrusade”???KATHERINE:Think,Jack,ifwepublishthis-mywordswithoneofyourdrawings-andifeveryworkerundertwenty-onereaditandstayedhomefromwork...orbetteryet,cametoNewsieSquare-ageneralcity-widestrike!Evenmyfathercouldn’tignorethat.JACK:Onlyonesmallproblem:wegotnowaytoprintit.KATHERINE:Comeon,therehastobeoneprintingpresshedoesn’tcontrol.

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JACK:(suddenlyremembering)Ohno.KATHERINE:What?JACK:Iknowwherethere’saprintingpressthatnoonewouldeverthinkwe’duse.KATHERINE:Thenwhyarewestillstandinghere?(KATHERINEstartsclimbingdownthefireescapeladder,butJACKstopsher.)JACK:Wait.Stop.What’sthisaboutforyou?Idon’tmean“TheChildren’sCrusade.”(indicatingthetwoofthem)What’sthisabout?AmIkiddin’myselforistheresomething...KATHERINE:Ofcoursethereis.JACK:Welldon’tsayitlikethishappenseveryday!KATHERINE:Oh,Jack...JACK:I’mnotanidiot.Iknowgirlslikeyoudon’twindupwithguyslikeme.AndIdon’twantyoupromisin’nothin’yougottatakebacklater.Butstandingheretonight...lookin’atyou...I’mscaredtomorrrow’sgonnacomeandchangeeverything.

#18-SomethingToBelieveIn-Katherine,Jack

JACK:IftherewasawayIcouldgrabholdofsomethingtomaketimestop.Justso’sIcouldkeeplookingatyou.KATHERINE:Yousnuckuponme,JackKelly.Ineverevensawitcoming.JACK:Forsure?KATHERINE:Forsure.TILTHEMOMENTIFOUNDYOU,ITHOUGHTIKNEWWHATLOVEWAS.NOWI'MLEARNINGWHATISTRUE,THATLOVEWILLDOWHATITDOES.THEWORLDFINDSWAYSTOSTINGYOUANDTHENONEDAY,DECIDESTOBRINGYOUSOMETHINGTOBELIEVEINFOREVENANIGHT.ONENIGHTMAYBEFOREVER,BUTTHAT'SALRIGHT,THAT'SALRIGHT.ANDIFYOU'REGONETOMORROW,WHATWASOURSSTILLWILLBE.IHAVESOMETHINGTOBELIEVEIN,NOWTHATIKNOWYOUBELIEVEDINME.JACK:WEWASNEVERMEANTTOMEET,ANDTHENWEMEET,WHOKNOWSWHY.ONEMORESTRANGERONTHESTREET.JUSTSOMEONESWEETPASSIN'BY.ANANGELCOMETOSAVEME,WHODIDN'TEVENKNOWSHEGAVEMESOMETHINGTOBELIEVEINFOREVENADAY.ONEDAYMAYBEFOREVER,BUTTHAT'SOKAY,THAT'SOKAY.ANDIFI'MGONETOMORROW,WHATWASOURSSTILLWILLBE.

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IHAVESOMETHINGTOBELIEVEIN,NOWTHATIKNOWYOUBELIEVEDINME.JACKANDKATHERINE:DOYOUKNOWWHATIBELIEVEIN?LOOKINTOMYEYESANDSEE.(JACKandKATHERINEkissuntilJACKpullsaway.)JACK:Ifthingsweredifferent...KATHERINE:What,ifyouweren'tgoingtoSantaFe?JACK:Andifyouweren'tanheiress.Andifyourfatherwasn'taftermyhead.KATHERINE:(teasing)You'renotreallyscaredofmyfather.JACK:No,butIamprettyscaredofyou.KATHERINE:Don'tbe.JACK:ANDIFI'MGONETOMORROW...KATHERINE:WHATWASOURSSTILLWILLBE.JACKANDKATHERINE:IHAVESOMETHINGTOBELIEVEIN,NOWTHATIKNOWYOUBELIEVEDINME.JACK:IHAVESOMETHINGTOBELIEVEIN,JACKANDKATHERINE:NOWTHATIKNOWYOUBELIEVEDINME.

(Lightsfadeasadrumbeatisheard.)

SCENESEVEN:Pulitzer’sCellar

#19-SeizeTheDay(Reprise)-Newsies

(Inthesemi-darkness,theNEWSIEScrossthestage,lanternsinhand,spreadingthenewstoNYCITIZENSinconspiratorialwhispers.)

NEWSIES:NOWISTHETIMETOSEIZETHEDAYSTAREDOWNTHEODDSANDSEIZETHEDAYMINUTEBYMINUTE,THAT’SHOWYOUWINIT.WEWILLFINDAWAY,BUTLETUSSEIZETHEDAY.(JACKandKATHERINEenterthecellar.Shehandshimaringofkeys.)KATHERINE:I’llgetthelights.Yougetthosewindowsunlocked.JACK:(goestoworkundoingthewindow)Yougotenoughkeysherefortheentirebuilding.Hassomeonebeenpickingdaddy’spockets?KATHERINE:Thejanitor’sbeenworkingheresincehewaseightyearsoldandhasn’thadaraiseintwentyyears.He’swithusone-hundredpercent.(KATHERINEturnsupthelightsanduncoverstheprintingpress.DAVEY,RACE,andafewotherNEWSIESpourthroughthewindow.Twowell-dressedkids,BILLandDARCY,gostraighttoworkontheprintingpress.)JACK:(toDAVEY)Youbringenoughfellastokeepuscovered?DAVEY:Wecouldholdahoe-downinhereandnoonewouldbethewiser.JACK:Goodjob.DAVEY:It’sgoodtohaveyoubackagain.JACK:(apologizing,appreciatively,inhisownway)Shutup.KATHERINE:Heresheis,boys.Justthink,whilemyfathersnoresblissfullyinhisbed,wewillbeusinghis

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veryownpresstobringhimdown.JACK:Remindmetostayonyourgoodside.(RACEgoestotheprintingpress)RACE:Isthiswhattheyprintthepapeson?DARCY:Icanseewhytheytossedthisoldgirldowntothecellar,butIthinkshewilldothejob.KATHERINE:Jack,thisisDarcy.Heknowsjustabouteverythingthereistoknowaboutprinting.JACK:Youworkforoneofthepapes?DARCY:MyfatherownstheTrib.JACK:Whoa!KATHERINE:AndthisisBill.He’llbetypesettingthearticleforus.JACK:(beingfunny)Bill?SoIsupposeyou’rethesonofWilliamRandolphHearst?BILL:Andproudtobepartofyourrevolution!JACK:(inawe)Ain’tthatsomethin’?KATHERINE:Inthewordsofthelittleone,“Canwetablethepalaverandgetdowntobusiness?”DARCY:Alittlegreaseandshe’llbegoodasgold.BILL:Great!Let’sgettowork.

#20-OnceAndForAll-Jack,Davey,Katherine,Newsies

DAVEY:Allright.Here’showit’llwork:asweprintthepapes,Race,you’llletthefellasinandthey’llspreadthemtoeveryworkin’kidinNewYork.Afterthat…?(RACEtakeshispositionatthewindow.)JACK:Afterthatit’suptothem.THERE'SCHANGECOMIN'ONCEANDFORALL.YOUMAKESTHEFRONTPAGE,ANDMAN,YOUISMAJORNEWS.JACK&DAVEY:TOMORROWTHEY'LLSEEWHATWEARE,JACK,DAVEY&KATHERINE:ANDSUREASSTAR,WEAIN'TCOMETHISFAR….TOLOSE!RACE:Heretheycome!(MoreNEWSIEStakeuptheirpositions.)NEWSIES:THISISTHESTORYWENEEDEDTOWRITETHAT’SBEENKEPTOUTOFSIGHT,BUTNOMORE!INAFEWHOURS,BYDAWN'SEARLYLIGHTWE'LLBEREADYTOFIGHTUSAWAR.THISTIMEWE'REINITTOSTAY.TALKABOUTSEIZINGTHEDAY!JACK:WRITEITININKORINBLOOD,IT'STHESAMEEITHERWAY:THEY'REGONNAHAVETOPAY!NEWSIES:SEEOL'MANPULITZERSNUGINHISBED,HEDON'TCAREIFWE'REDEADORALIVE.THREESATINPILLOWSAREUNDERHISHEADWHILEWE'REBEGGIN'FORBREADTOSURVIVE.JOE,YOUCANSTOPCOUNTIN'SHEEP.WE'REGONNASINGYATOSLEEP.THENWHILEYASNOOZE,WE’LLBELIGHTIN’AFUSEWITHAPROMISEWE’SEACHIN’TOKEEP.(BILLtypesetstheNewsiesBanner.)JACK:ONCEANDFORALL,IFTHEYDON'TMINDTHEIRMANNERSWE'LLBLEED'EM!NEWSIES:BLEED'EM!

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RACE:ONCEANDFORALLWEWON'TCARRYNOBANNERSTHATDON'TSPELLNEWSIES:“FREEDOM!"FIN'LLYWE'SERAISIN'THESTAKES,THISTIMEWHATEVERITTAKES,THISTIMETHEUNIONAWAKES,ONCEANDFORALL!(DARCYpullsthefirstprooffromthepressandhandsittoRACE.HepassesitacrosstheNEWSIEStoKATHERINE.)KATHERINE:(reading)“InthewordsofunionleaderJackKelly,‘Wewillworkwithyou.Wewillevenworkforyou.Butwewillbepaidandtreatedasvaluablemembersofyourorganizations.’”Rivetingstuff,huh?JACK:(toKATHERINE)Getgoing.You’vegotaveryimportantmantosee.KATHERINE:Keepyourfingerscrossed.JACK:Forus,too.(KATHERINEexits.Theprintingpresschurnsawayatarhythmicpace.Papersarebundled.BundlesarepassedbetweenNEWSIESandcollectedfordistribution.)NEWSIES:THISISFORKIDSSHININ'SHOESONTHESTREETWITHNOSHOESONTHEIRFEETEVERYDAY.THISISFORGUYSSWEATIN'BLOODINTHESHOPSWHILETHEBOSSESANDCOPSLOOKAWAY.I'MSEEIN'KIDSSTANDIN'TALL,GLARINGANDRARIN'TOBRAWL,ARMIESOFGUYSWHOARESICKOFTHELIESGETTIN'READYTORISETOTHECALL!ONCEANDFORALLTHERE'LLBEBLOODONTHEWALLIFTHEYDOUBTUS.THEYTHINKTHEY'RERUNNINGTHISTOWNBUTTHISTOWNWILLSHUTDOWNWITHOUTUS!NEWSIESGROUP1:TENTHOUSANDKIDSINTHESQUARE!NEWSIESGROUP2:TENTHOUSANDKIDSINTHESQUARENEWSIESGROUP1:TENTHOUSANDFISTSINTHEAIR!NEWSIESGROUP2:TENTHOUSANDFISTS!NEWSIES:JOEYOUISGONNAPLAYFAIR,ONCEANDFORALL!NEWSIESGROUP1:ONCEANDFORALL!NEWSIESGROUP2:ONCEANDFORALL!NEWSIESGROUP1:ONCEANDFORALL!NEWSIESGROUP2:ONCEANDFORALL!NEWSIESGROUP1:ONCEANDFORALL!NEWSIESGROUP2:ONCEANDFORALL!(Readytohitthestreets,theNEWSIESraisetheirpapersindefiance.)NEWSIES:THERE'SCHANGECOMIN'ONCEANDFORALL.YOU'REGETTINGTOOOLD,TOOWEAKTOKEEPHOLDIN'ON.ANEWWORLDISGUNNIN'FORYOU,ANDJOEWEISTOO,TILLONCEANDFORALL,YOU'REGONE!DAVEY:ONCEANDFORALL!JACK:ONCEANDFORALL!DAVEY,RACE,SPOT,MIKE,IKE,&MUSH:ONCEANDFORALL!NEWSIES:ONCEANDFORALL!(ThesunrisesasKATHERINEheadstohermeeting,theNewsiesBannerandJACK’sdrawingsinhand.)

#20A-OnceAndForAll(Playoff)

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SCENEEIGHT:Pulitzer’sOffice,NextMorning

(Theofficeisinfullpanicmode.HANNAHandBUNSENscrambletoanswerphonesastheycontinuetoringincessantly.PULITZERsitsfuriouslyathisdesk.)HANNAH:(intothephone)I’msorry,Mr.Pulitzerwillhavetocallyouback.BUNSEN:I’msorry,buthe’llhavetocallyouback.HANNAH:(nextphone)Hecan’ttalk.He’llcallyouback—BUNSEN:I’msorry,buthe’ll—I’msorry.I’msorry.PULITZER:Silencethosephones!!!(HANNAHandBUNSENremovethereceiversfromtheircradles.)BUNSEN:Theentirecityisshutdown.Nooneisworkinganywhere.Andeveryoneisblamingyou.HANNAH:They’reallcalling:theMayor,thepublishers,themanufacturers...andsuchlanguage!(JACK,DAVEY,andSPOTentermerrily,chasedbySEITZ.)SEITZ:Youcan’tjustbargein...JACK:(offersuptheNewsiesBannertoPULITZER)Howwedoin’thismorning,gents?PULITZER:You’rebehindthis?Wehadadeal.JACK:(tossesbribemoneyonPULITZER’sdesk)Anditcamewithamoney-backguarantee.Andthanksforyourlessonsonthepowerofthepress.SEITZ:(examiningthearticle)Didyoureadthisboss?Thesekidsputoutaprettygoodpaper.Veryconvincing.PULITZER:Nodoubtwrittenbymydaughter.JACK:(nowreclininginanofficechair)I’dsignherbeforesomeoneelsegrabsherup.PULITZER:Idemandtoknowwhodefiedmybanonprintingstrikematerial!JACK:We’reyourloyalemployers.SPOT:We’dnevertakeourbusinesselsewhere.SEITZ:(examiningthepaper)Theoldprintingpressinthecellar.PULIZTER:(takingmeasuredstepstowardJACK)Imadeyoutheofferofalifetime.Anyonewhodoesnotactinhisownself-interestisafool.DAVEY:What’sthatmakeyou?Thisallbeganbecauseyouwantedtosellmorepapers.Butnowyourcirculationisdownseventypercent.Whydidn’tyoujustcometalktous?JACK:GuyslikeJoedon’ttalkwithnothin’slikeus.Butaverywisereportertoldmearealbossdon’tneedtheanswers.Justthesmartstosnatchtherightonewhenhehearsit.(NEWSIESsinginNewsieSquarebelowPulitzer’soffice.)

#20B-SeizeTheDay(Reprise2)-Newsies

NEWSIES:NOWISTHETIMETOSEIZETHEDAYSTAREDOWNTHEODDSANDSEIZETHEDAYMINUTEBYMINUTE,THAT’SHOWYOUWINITWEWILLFINDAWAY.BUTLETUSSEIZETHEDAY.HMMMMMM……(TheNEWSIEScontinuetohumasadrumbeatssteadily.)

SPOT:Havealookoutthere,Mr.Pulitzer.Incaseyouain’tfigureditout,wegotyousurrounded.JACK:NewYorkisclosedforbusiness.Paralyzed.Youcan’tgetapaperorashoeshine.Youcan’tsendamessageorrideanelevatororcrosstheBrooklynBridge.Youcan’tevenleaveyourownbuilding.So,what’syournextmove?(BUNSENrushesbackintotheroominatizzy.)BUNSEN:Mr.Pulitzer,theMayorisherealongwithyourdaughterand...ohyou’renotgoingtobelieve

45

whoelse!(InwalktheMAYOR,KATHERINE,MEDDA,andGOVERNORTEDDYROOSEVELT.)MAYOR:Goodmorning,Mr.Pulitzer.IthinkyouknowtheGovernor.PULITZER:GovernorRoosevelt?ROOSEVELT:Joseph,Joseph,Joseph.Whathaveyoudonenow?PULITZER:I’msurewhenyouhearmyexplanation—ROOSEVELT:ThankstoMissMeddaLarkinbringingyourdaughtertomyoffice,Ialreadyhaveathoroughgraspofthesituation-graphicillustrationsincluded.(brandishesJACK’sdrawings)BullyistheexpressionIusuallyemploytoshowapproval.ButinyourcaseIsimplymeanbully!(toKATHERINE,referringtoJACK)Isthistheboyofwhomyouspoke?KATHERINE:YesSir.ROOSEVELT:(toJACK)Howareyou,son?I’mtoldweoncesharedacarriageride.JACK:Pleasure’smine,Mr.Governor.ROOSEVELT:(toPULITZER)Well,Joe,don’tjuststandtherelettingthosechildrensing…endlessly.Givethemthegoodnews.PULITZER:Whatgoodnews?ROOSEVELT:Thatyou’vecometoyoursensesandrolledbackyourprices.Unless,ofcourse,youwanttoinviteafullstatesenateinvestigationintoyouremploymentpractices.PULITZER:(redwithanger)Youwouldn’t—ROOSEVELT:Afterthepressureyouwieldedtokeepmefromoffice?I’ddoitwithasmile.Comealong,Joseph.There’sonlyonethingworsethanahardheart,andthat’sasofthead.(PULITZERgrowlsandpostures.)Andthinkofthehappinessyou’llbringthosechildren.(toHANNAH)Hedoesn’tdohappiness,doeshe?HANNAH:(hushed)Nosir.PULITZER:(cornered,shiftingtactics)Mr.Kelly,ifImayspeaktoyou...alone.(TheOTHERSwithdrawfromtheroom.)ROOSEVELT:(toJACK)Keepyoureyesonthestars,andyourfeetontheground.Youcandothis.(ROOSEVELTexits.JACKandPULITZERarealone.)PULITZER:Icannotputthepricebackwhereitwas.(JACKstartstomoveaway.)I’msorry,Ican’t.Thereareotherconsiderations—JACK:Igetit.Youneedtosavefacefrontofallthesefolks.I’myoung,Iain’tstupid.PULITZER:Thankyouforunderstanding.JACK:ButIgotconstituentswithalegitimategripe.PULITZER:WhatifIreducetheraisebyhalfandgettheotherstodothesame?It’sacompromisewecanalllivewith.JACK:(hethinks…)Butyoueatourlosses.Fromnowon,anypapeswecan’tsell,youbuyback-fullprice.PULITZER:That’sneverbeenonthetable!What’stostopNewsiesfromtakinghundredsofpaperstheycan’tsell?Mycostswillexplode!JACK:NoNewsieisgonnabreakhisbackhaulin’aroundpapeshecan’tsell.Butiftheycantakeafewmorewithnorisk,theymightsell‘emandyourcirculationwouldbegintogrow...(mockingPULITZER)“It’sacompromisewecanalllivewith.”PULITZER:(calmingconsiderably)That’snotabadheadyou’vegotonyourshoulders.JACK:Deal?(JACKspitsinhishandandholdsitoutforPULITZERtoshake.)PULITZER:That’sdisgusting.JACK:Justthepriceofdoingbusiness.(PULITZERspitsinhishand.JACKgrabsitandshakes.Dealsealed.)

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SCENENINE:NewsieSquare

#21-FinaleUltimo(Part1)-Company

NEWSIES/BROOKLYNNEWSIES:ANDTHEWORLDWILLKNOW,WEBEENKEEPIN’SCOREEITHERTHEYGIVESUSOURRIGHTSORWEGIVESTHEMAWARWEBEENDOWNTOOLONG,ANDWEPAIDOURDUESANDTHETHINGSWEDOTODAYWILLBETOMORROW’SNEWS.ANDTHEDIEISCAST,ANDTHETORCHISPASSEDNEWSIESGROUP1:ANDAROARWILLRISE…NEWSIESGROUP2:…FROMTHESTREETSBELOWNEWSIESGROUP1:ANDOURRANKSWILLGROWNEWSIES:ANDGROWANDGROWANDGROWANDGROWANDGROWAND….(JACK,KATHERINE,MEDDA,SPOT,DAVEY,ROOSEVELT,andPULITZERcomeouttothesquare.PULITZER,ROOSEVELT,andJACKmountaraisedplatformtoaddresstheCROWD.)

JACK:NewsiesofNewYorkCity...wewon!!!(TheCROWDcheers.JACKquietsthem.)AndnowI’dliketointroducemyownpersonalpal,GovernorTheodoreRoosevelthimself!!!(TheCROWDcheers.)ROOSEVELT:(recognizingthishistoricalmoment)Eachgenerationmust,attheheightofitspower,stepasideandinvitetheyoungtosharetheday.YouhavelaidclaimtoourworldandIbelievethefuture,inyourhands,willbebrightandprosperous.(toJACK)Andyourdrawings,son,havebroughtanothermattertobear.(signalingoffstage)Officers,ifyouplease.(Apolicewhistlesounds.CRUTCHIEappears,blowingthewhistleandwaiving.)RACE:Heylookit,Jack.It’sCrutchie!NEWSIES:(adlib)Crutchie!CRUTCHIE:Hiya,fellas.Youmissme?NEWSIES:(adlib)Yeah.Sure.Ain’tbeenthesamewithoutya.CRUTCHIE:AndlookitwhatIgotyis:straightfromTheRefuge.(callingoffstage)Bringhimin,fellas!(TwoPOLICEMENenterwithSNYDERbetweenthem.)RACE:It’sSnydertheSpider!MUSH:Heain’tlookin’sotoughnomore,ishe?ROOSEVELT:Jack,withthesedrawingsyoumadeaneloquentargumentforshuttingdownTheRefuge.BeassuredthatMr.Snyder’sabuseswillbefullyinvestigated.(toaPOLICEMAN)Officer,takehimaway.CRUTCHIE:(toROOSEVELT)Please,YourHighness...mayIdothehonors?(ROOSEVELTgiveshimtheapproval.CRUTCHIEslapshandcuffsontoSNYDER.)SNYDER:You’vegottobejoking.CRUTCHIE:Andyou’llbelaughingallthewaytothepen,“littleman.”(CRUTCHIEgivesSYNDERakickintherear.)Solong,sucker!JACK:Thankyou,Governor.(JACKracesdowntoembraceCRUTCHIE.PULITZERstepsforward,snatchingJACK’sdrawingsawayfromROOSEVELT.)PULITZER:(toJACK)Ican’thelpthinking...ifoneofyourdrawingsconvincedthegovernortocloseTheRefuge,whatmightadailypoliticalcartoondotheexposethedealingsinourowngovernmentbackrooms?(toROOSEVELT)Whatdoyousay,Teddy?Caretohavethisyoungman’sartistryshinealanternbehindyourcloseddoors?

47

JACK:Don’tsweatit,Gov.Withthestrikesettled,Iprobablyshouldbehittingtheroad.(DAVEYandKATHERINEmovetowardsJACK.)DAVEY:Don’tyouevergettiredofsingingthatsameoldtune?What’sSantaFegotthatNewYorkain’t?Tarantulas?KATHERINE:Betteryet:what’sNewYorkgotthatSantaFeain’t?CRUTCHIE:NewYork’sgotus.Andwe’refamily.PULITZER:(bellowingfromabove)Didn’tIhearsomethingaboutastrikebeingsettled?(WIESELandtheDELANCEYSopenthedistributionwindowasPULITZERexits.)WIESEL:PapesfortheNewsies.Lineup,boys.Thesepapesain’tgonnasellthemselves.MEDDA:(exitingwithROOSEVELT)Comealong,Governor,andshowmethatbackseatI’vebeenhearingsomuchabout.KATHERINE:(teasingJACK)Welldon’tjuststandthere,you’vegotauniontorun.Besides,didn’tsomeonejustofferyouaprettyexcitingjob?JACK:Meworkforyourfather?KATHERINE:Youalreadyworkformyfather.JACK:Oh,yeah.KATHERINE:Andyou’vegotonemoreaceupyoursleeve.JACK:Whatwouldthatbe?KATHERINE:Me.Whereveryougo,I’llberighttherebyyourside.JACK:Forsure?KATHERINE:Forsure.JACK:DON’TTAKEMUCHTOBEADREAMER.ALLYOUDOISCLOSEYOUREYES.BUTSOMEMADE-UPWORLDISALLYOUEVERSEENOWMYEYESISFINALLYOPEN.ANDMYDREAMS,THEY’SAVERAGESIZEBUTTHEYDON’TMUCHMATTERIFYOUAIN’TWITHME(JACKgrabsKATHERINEinanembraceandtheykiss.)LES:(pointingtothepublicdisplayofaffection)Guys!(TheNEWSIEScatcallandwhistletheirapproval.)DAVEY:Well,Jack…youinoryouout?(JACKleavesKATHERINE.Withabigsmile,heapproachesWIESEL,slapshismoneydownonthecounter,andsnatchesuphispapes.)

#21A-FinaleUltimo(Part2)-Company

COMPANY:WE'LLALLBEOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNERMANTOMAN!WE'REALWAYSOUTTHERE,SOAKIN'EV'RYSUCKERTHATWECAN.HERE'STHEHEADLINE:NEWSIESONAMISSION!KILLTHECOMPETITION!SELLTHENEXTEDITION!WE'LLBEOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!SEEUSOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!ALWAYSOUTTHERECARRYINGTHEBANNER!LOOKATME:I'MTHEKINGOFNEWYORK!SUDDENLYI'MRESPECTABLE,STARIN'RIGHTAT'CHA,LOUSYWITHSTA'CHA.GLORYBE!I'MTHEKINGOFNEWYORK!VICTORY!FRONTPAGESTORYGUTSANDGLORYI’MTHEKING…OFNEWYORK!

(BOWS.)

THEEND