NEWSIES 1

PROLOGUE: Rooftop, Dawn

Overture
(Summer, 1899 Manhattan. It is JACK, a charismatic boy of seventeen. CRUTCHIE, a slight and sickly
kid of fifteen, walks with the aid of a wooden crutch)
Santa Fe (Prologue)
JACK: Where you going? Morning bell ain't rung yet. Get back to sleep.
CRUTCHIE: I wanna beat the other fellas to the street. I ain't been walkin' so good.
JACK: You know how many guys fake a limp for sympathy? That bum leg of yours
is a gold mine.
CRUTCHIE: If I can't make it on my own, they'll lock me up in The Refuge Jack. Help me
JACK: You'll be down there soon enough. Take a moment in my penthouse high
above the stinkin' streets of New York.
CRUTCHIE: You're crazy.
JACK: New York's fine but I tell you, there's a whole other way out there. So you
keep your small life in the big city. Give me a big life in a small town.
CRUTCHIE: You got folks there?
JACK: Got no folks nowhere. You?
CRUTCHIE: I don't need folks. I got friends.
JACK: How about you come with? I bet a few months of clean air and you could
toss that crutch for good.
JACK, CRUTCHIE SANTA FE
YOU CAN BET
WE WON'T LET THEM BASTIDS BEAT US
WE WON'T BEG NO ONE TO TREAT US FAIR AND SQUARE
THERE'S A LIFE THAT'S WORTH THE LIVIN'
AND I'M GONNA DO MY SHARE:

JACK WORK THE LAND

CHASE THE SUN

JACK, CRUTCHIE SWIM THE WHOLE RIO GRANDE

JUST FOR FUN!

CRUTCHIE (stands on his own) WATCH ME STAND! WATCH ME RUN...

(CRUTCHIE realizes this recovery is just a fantasy and turns away from JACK.)
JACK Hey…
DON'T YOU KNOW THAT WE'S A FAM'LY?
WOULD I LET YA DOWN?
NO WAY!
JUST HOLD ON, KID
TILL THAT TRAIN MAKES SANTA FE

(The church bell tolls 5 a.m., which breaks the spell.)

Time for dreamin's done.

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 NEWSIES 2

SCENE ONE: Newboys’ Lodging House & Newsie Square

(RACE, a little tough kid, calls to the others as they dress.)
RACE: Hey, Finch, Specs! Get a move on. Them papes don't sell themselves!
(SPECS & FINCH appear, still wiping the sleep from their eyes.)
SPECS: I was havin' the most beautiful dream. My lips is still tingling.
RACE: Who were you kissing?
SPECS: A burger!
Carrying the Banner
FINCH: Papes ain't movin' like they used to. I need a new sellin' spot. Got any ideas?
RACE FROM BOTTLE ALLEY TO THE HARBOR
THERE'S EASY PICKIN'S GUARANTEED

FINCH TRY ANY BANKER, BUM, OR BARBER

THEY ALMOST ALL KNOWS HOW TO READ

RACE IT'S A CROOKED GAME WE'RE PLAYIN'

ONE WE'LL NEVER LOSE
LONG AS SUCKERS DON'T MIND PAYIN'
JUST TO GET BAD NEWS!

NEWSIES AIN'T IT A FINE LIFE

CARRYING THE BANNER THROUGH IT ALL!
A MIGHTY FINE LIFE
CARRYING THE BANNER TOUGH AND TALL
WHEN THAT BELL RINGS
WE GOES WHERE WE WISHES
WE'S AS FREE AS FISHES
SURE BEATS WASHIN' DISHES
WHAT A FINE LIFE
CARRYING THE BANNER HOME FREE ALL

FINCH: Hey, Crutchie. What's your leg say? Gonna rain?

CRUTCHIE (shakes his leg) No rain. Partly cloudy. Clear by evening.
FINCH: They oughta bottle this guy.
RACE: And the limp sells fifty papes a week all by itself.
CRUTCHIE I don't need the limp to sell papes. I got personality.
IT TAKES A SMILE THAT SPREADS LIKE BUTTER
THE KIND WHAT TURNS A LADY'S HEAD

RACE IT TAKES AN ORPHAN WITH A STUTTER

FINCH WHO'S ALSO BLIND

SPECS AND MUTE

ELMER AND DEAD!

SNYDER SUMMER STINKS AND WINTER'S FREEZIN'

WHEN YOU WORKS OUTDOORS
START OUT SWEATIN', END UP SNEEZIN'

NEWSIES IN BETWEEN IT POURS!

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 NEWSIES 3

“THE WORLD” STILL, IT'S A FINE LIFE NEWSIES (STILL, IT'S A FINE LIFE)
CARRYING THE BANNER (CARRYING THE BANNER)
WITH ME CHUMS (WITH ME CHUMS)
A BUNCH O' BIG SHOTS (A BUNCH O' BIG SHOTS)
TOSSIN' OUT A FREEBIE TO THE BUMS (TOSSIN' OUT A FREEBIE...

FINCH (calling to the NEWSIES) HEY! WHAT'S THE HOLD UP?

WAITIN' MAKES ME ANTSY
I LIKES LIVIN' CHANCEY

NEWSIES HARLEM TO DELANCEY

WHAT A FINE LIFE
CARRYING THE BANNER THROUGH THE...

WIESEL IF 1 HATE THE HEADLINE

I'LL MAKE UP A HEADLINE
AND I'LL SAY ANYTHING I HAVE'TA
'CAUSE AT TWO FOR A PENNY
IF 1 TAKE TOO MANY
JOSEPH JUST MAKES ME EAT 'EM AFTA'

NEWSIES GROUP 1 NEWSIES GROUP 2

GOT A FEELIN' 'BOUT THE
HEADLINE! I DO, TOO!
I SMELLS ME A HEADLINE! SO IT MUST BE TRUE!
PAPES ARE GONNA SELL LIKE WE
WAS GIV1N' 'EM AWAY! WHAT A SWITCH!
BET'CHA DINNER IT'S A DOOZY SOON WE'LL ALL BE RICH!
'BOUT A PISTOL-PACKIN' FLOOZY DON'T KNOW A BETTER WAY
WHO KNOWS HOW TO MAKE A TO MAKE A
NEWSIE'S DAY! NEWSIE'S DAY!

NEWSIES YOU WANNA MOVE THE NEXT EDITION? GIVE US A EARTHQUAKE OR A WAR

ELMER HOW 'BOUT A CROOKED POLITICIAN?

NEWSIES YA NITWIT, THAT AIN'T NEWS NO MORE!

UPTOWN TO GRAND CENTRAL STATION
DOWN TO CITY HALL
WE IMPROVES OUR CIRCULATION
WALKIN' TILL WE FALL!

NEWSIES GROUP 1 NEWSIES GROUP 2

BUT WE'LL BE OUT THERE GOT A FEELIN' 'BOUT THE HEADLINE!
CARRYING THE BANNER 1 SMELLS ME A HEADLINE!
MAN TO MAN PAPES ARE GONNA SELL LIKE
WE WAS GIVIN' 'EM AWAY!
WE'RE ALWAYS OUT THERE BET'CHA DINNER IT'S A DOOZY
SOAKIN' EV'RY SUCKER 'BOUT A PISTOL-PACKIN' FLOOZY
THAT WE CAN DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER WAY
TO MAKE A NEWSIE'S DAY!

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 NEWSIES 4

HERE'S THE HEADLINE: 1 WAS STAKIN' OUT THE CIRCUS

"NEWSIES ON A MISSION!" AND THEN SOMEONE SAID THAT CONEY'S
KILL THE COMPETITION! REALLY HOT, BUT WHEN I GOT THERE
SELL THE NEXT EDITION! THERE WAS SPOT WITH ALL HIS CRONIES
WE'LL BE OUT THERE HECK, I'M GONNA TAKE WHAT LITTLE
CARRYING THE BANNER! DOUGH I GOT AND PLAY THE PONIES!
SEE US OUT THERE WE AT LEAST DESERVES A HEADLINE
CARRYING THE BANNER! FOR THE HOURS THAT THEY WORK US
ALWAYS OUT THERE JEEZ, I BET IF I JUST STAYED
CARRYING THE BANNER! A LITTLE LONGER AT THE CIRCUS...

NEWSIES WE'LL ALL BE OUT THERE

CARRYING THE BANNER MAN TO MAN
WE'RE ALWAYS OUT THERE
SOAKIN' EV'RY SUCKER THAT WE CAN
HERE'S THE HEADLINE:
"NEWSIES ON A MISSION!"
KILL THE COMPETITION!
SELL THE NEXT EDITION!
WE'LL BE OUT THERE
CARRYING THE BANNER!
SEE US OUT THERE
CARRYING THE BANNER!
ALWAYS OUT THERE
CARRYING THE BANNER!
AH, AH, AH
GO!

(The NEWSIES have arrived at the locked gate in front of the newspaper owned by Joseph Pulitzer.)
FINCH: Hey, look! They're puttin' up the headline.
SPECS: I hope it's really bloody. With a nice clear picture.
(The NEWSIES watch as a Seitz puts out the headline, "TROLLEY STRIKE ENTERS THIRD WEEK.")
ELMER: The trolley strike? Not again!
FINCH: They're killin' us with that snoozer.
(Two tough-looking boys, OSCAR and MORRIS DELANCEY, unlock the gates.)
MORRIS: Make way. Step aside.
RACE: Dear me, what is that unpleasant aroma? I fear the sewer may have backed
up during the night.
CRUTCHIE: Or could it be...
NEWSIES ... the Delanceys.
FINCH: Hey, Oscar, word on the street says you and Morris took money to beat up
striking trolley workers.
OSCAR: So? It's honest work.
SPECS: But crackin' the heads of defenseless workers?
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 NEWSIES 5

OSCAR: I take care of the guy who takes care of me.

RACE: Ain't your father one of the strikers?
OSCAR: Guess he didn't take care of me!
(As if to make his point, MORRIS grabs CRUTCHIE and throws them to the ground.)
MORRIS: You want some of that too? Ya lousy crip!
JACK: (JACK pulls CRUTCHIE back to his feet) Now that's not nice, Morris.
OSCAR: Wait till I get my hands on you.
(WIESEL appears to collect the money and distribute the newspapers to the NEWSIES.)
WIESEL: Papes for the newsies! Line up!
JACK: Good morning, Weasel. Did you miss me? I'll take the usual.
WIESEL: A hundred papes for the wise guy.
RACE: How's it going Weasel?
WIESEL: At least call me "mister."
RACE: I'll call you sweetheart if you'd spot me fifty papes. (The NEWSIES laugh.)
WIESEL: Drop the cash and move it along.
RACE: Whatever happened to romance?
CRUTCHIE: Good morning, Mr. Wiesel.
WIESEL: Fifty papes for Crutchie.
(DAVEY, a 17-year-old kid who appears out of their element, and their sibling LES are next in line.)
WIESEL: Have a look at this: a new kid.
LES: I'm new too!
DAVEY: I'll take twenty newspapers, please.
WIESEL: Twenty for the new kid. Let's see the dime.
DAVEY: I'll pay you when I sell them.
WIESEL: Funny, kid. C'mon, cash up front.
DAVEY: But whatever I don't sell, you buy back, right?
WIESEL: Certainly. And every time you lose a tooth I put a penny under your pillow.
This kid's a riot. C'mon. Cough up the cash or blow.
(DAVEY hands over a dime, gets his papers, and looks them over.)
WIESEL: Come on, move along. Specs, lemme see your money.
SPECS: You have a very interestin' face. Ever think of gettin' into the movin'
pictures?
WIESEL: You think I could?
SPECS: Sure. Buy a ticket, they let anyone in.
DAVEY: Sorry. Excuse me. I paid for twenty but you gave me nineteen.
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 NEWSIES 6

(EVERYONE freezes and watches.)

WIESEL: You seen how nice I was to dis new kid? And what did I get for my civility?
Ungrounded accusations.
DAVEY: I just want what I paid for.
OSCAR: He said beat it!
(The DELANCEYS start to crack their knuckles when JACK swoops in and quickly counts the papers.)
JACK: New kid's right. Ya gave 'em nineteen. I'm sure it was an honest mistake.
(OSCAR threatens to attack. WIESEL pushes back and tosses another paper to DAVEY.)
WIESEL: Here. Now take a hike.
JACK: (flipping a coin onto the counter) Give 'em another fifty papes.
DAVEY: I don't want more papes. I'm no charity case. I don't even know you.
LES: This is Jack!
CRUTCHIE: The famous Jack Kelly. Once escaped jail on the back of Roosevelt's
carriage. Made all the papes.
JACK: (to LES) How old are you, kid?
LES: I'm twelve. Almost.
JACK: If anybody asks, you're ten. Younger sells more papes, and if we're gonna be
partners...
DAVEY: Who said we want a partner?
CRUTCHIE: Sellin' with Jack is the chance of a lifetime. You learn from the best.
DAVEY: If Jack’s the best, why need me?
JACK: 'Cause you got a little sibling and I don't. (to LES) Look sad, kid.(LES makes
a sad face.) We're gonna make millions.
LES: This is David. I'm Les.
JACK: Nice to meet ya. My two bits come off the top, then we split everything 70-
30.
LES: 50-50! You wouldn't try to pull a fast one on a little kid.
JACK: 60-40 and that's my final offer.
LES: Deal.
(JACK spits in one hand and holds it out to shake. LES copies JACK and they shake.)
DAVEY: That's disgusting.
JACK: It's just business. (to ALL) Newsies, the sun is up, hit the streets.
SCENE TWO: Pulitzer’s Office, Afternoon
(Editor SEITZ, secretary HANNAH, and accountant BUNSEN huddle in a business meeting with
JOSEPH PULITZER)

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 NEWSIES 7

PULITZER: People, the World is in trouble. Our circulation is down for the third quarter
in a row.
SEITZ: But, Mr. Pulitzer, every paper's circulation is down since the war ended.
PULITZER: Whoever said "war is hell" wasn't trying to sell newspapers.
BUNSEN: We could use an exciting headline.
PULITZER: What have we got today?
SEITZ: The trolley strike.
PULITZER: That's not exciting? It's epic!
HANNAH: It's boring. Folks wanna know, "Is the trolley cornin' or ain't it?" No one
cares why.
SEITZ: And the strike's about to be settled. Governor Roosevelt just put his support
behind the workers.
PULITZER: That man is a socialist.
SEITZ: Teddy Roosevelt is no socialist. He's an American hero.
PULITZER: The man wants to outlaw football for being too violent. Football! Violent?!
You're right. He's no socialist. He's a commie!
HANNAH: You never liked Roosevelt. You wrote an editorial against him day after day
when he ran for governor. And guess what? He got elected.
PULITZER: How can I influence voters if they're not reading my opinion?
SEITZ: Big photos attract readers.
PULITZER: Do you know what big photos cost?
BUNSEN: But without flashy photos or headlines, how are we supposed to sell more
papers?
PULITZER: There's an answer right before your eyes. You're not thinking this through.
SEITZ: I've got it! Right now we charge the newsies fifty cents for a hundred papers.
PULITZER: Yes...
SEITZ: But if we raised their price to sixty cents per hundred...
PULITZER: Now you're getting somewhere...
BUNSEN: Every single newsie would have to sell twenty-five more papers just to earn
the same amount as always.
PULITZER: My thought exactly. It's genius.
HANNAH: It's going to be awfully rough on those children...
The Bottom Line
PULITZER: Nonsense. I'm giving them a real life lesson in economics. I couldn't offer
them a better education if they were my own.
GIVE ME A WEEK AND I'LL TRAIN THEM TO BE
LIKE AN ARMY THAT'S MARCHING TO WAR
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 NEWSIES 8

PROUD OF THEMSELVES AND SO GRATEFUL TO ME

THEY'LL BE BEGGING TO PAY EVEN MORE!
WHEN THERE'S DIRT ON OUR SHOES, BOYS
FOR GOD'S SAKE, RELAX!
WHY THROW THEM OUT?
ALL WE NEED IS SOME WAX
LISTEN WELL TO THESE BARBERSHOP LESSONS
FOR THEY'LL SEE YOU THROUGH

SEITZ, HANNAH, BUNSEN

WHEN YOU'RE STUCK IN THE MUCK, YOU'LL BE FINE
YOU'LL ERASE ANY TRACE OF DECLINE

SEITZ WITH A TRIM!

HANNAH AND A SNIP!

BUNSEN AND A SHINE

PULITZER AND THE POW'R OF THE PRESS, YES!

ONCE AGAIN IS MINE!
The price for the newsies goes up in the morning!
JUST A FEW COMMON CENTS
GENTS
THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE!

SEITZ, HANNAH, BUNSEN

EV'RY NEW OUTCOME
IS INCOME FOR YOU
THANKS TO THAT BOTTOM LINE!

SCENE THREE: A Street Corner

DAVEY: Paper. Paper. Evenin' pape here.

JACK: Sing 'em to sleep why dontcha? (snatches a paper from DAVEY) Extra!
Terrified flight from burnin' inferno. You heard the story right here! (A
person snatches the paper, hands a coin, and exits.) Thanks, mister.
DAVEY: You just made that up. My father taught us not to lie.
JACK: And mine taught me not to starve.
LES: (LES comes up empty-handed.) Hey! Just sold my last paper.
DAVEY: I got one more.
LES: Give it here. ( sidles up to people passing by, and puts the saddest look on
his face) Buy a paper from a poor orphan kid? (LES coughs gently.)
HANNAH: Oh, you dear thing. Of course I'll take a newspaper. Here's a dime.(She exits)
LES: This is so much better than school!
DAVEY: Don't even think it. When Pop goes back to work, we go back to school.
(While the kids talk, SNYDER sees JACK and seems excited to have spotted the kid.)
JACK: So's how about we divvy up the money and find yis somewheres safe to
spend the night?

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 NEWSIES 9

DAVEY: We gotta get home. Our folks will be waitin' dinner.

JACK: Ya got folks, huh?
LES: Doesn't everyone?
DAVEY: Why don't you come home with us for dinner? Our folks would be happy to
have you.
JACK: Thanks for the invite, but I just remembered I got plans with a fella. He's
probably waiting on me right now.
(SNYDER has been slowly moving toward the BOYS. LES spots him and points.)
LES: Is that the guy you're meetin'?
(JACK: looks up and sees SNYDER. They start running)
SNYDER: Kelly! You, Jack Kelly, stop! Kelly!
(JACK, DAVEY, and LES take off. SNYDER tries to follow. The KIDS are out of sight.)
SCENE FOUR: Medda’s Theater

DAVEY: Someone want to tell me why I'm running? I got no one chasing me.
(Medda larkin, a burlesque star, appears. She and the Bowery beauties, get ready for the performance)
MEDDA: Hey, you up there, shoo! No kids allowed in the theater.
JACK: Not even me. Miss Medda?
MEDDA: Jack Kelly, Give me a hug. Where have you been keepin' yourself, kid?
JACK: Never far from you. May I present Miss Medda Larkin: greatest star on the
Bowery today. She also owns the joint.
MEDDA: The only thing I own is the mortgage. Pleasure, kids.
DAVEY: A pleasure. (LES just stands wide-eyed, looking at the big theatre.)
JACK: Miss Medda, I got a little situation out on the street. Mind if I hide out here?
MEDDA: Where better to escape trouble than a theater? Is Snyder after you again?
DAVEY: Snyder? That’s the name of the guy?
MEDDA: Snyder the Spider. He runs a jail for underage kids called The Refuge. The
more kids he locks up, the more money the city pays him.
LES: Hey Jack, did you really escape jail on the back of Teddy Roosevelt's
carriage?
DAVEY: What would the Governor be doing at a juvenile jail?
MEDDA: So happens he was runnin' for office and wanted to show he cared about
orphans and such. Jack got their butt in the back seat and off they rode
together.
LES: Jack really knows the Governor?
MEDDA: I do! Say, Jack, I want you to paint me some more of these backdrops. This
last one you did. Folks love it. And things have been going so well that I can
actually pay.
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 NEWSIES 10

LES: You pictured that?

MEDDA: Your friend is quite an artist.
JACK: Don't get carried away. It's a bunch of trees.
MEDDA: That boy's got natural aptitude.
(The STAGE MANAGER calls to her.)
STAGE MANAGER Miss Medda, you're on!
MEDDA: (strikes a pose) Yeah? How'm I doin'? (to the kids)Kids, lock the door and
stay all night. You're with Medda now!
STAGE MANAGER (announcing MEDDA as she moves toward the stage) Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the star of our show... Miss Medda Larkin!
That’s Rich
MEDDA I'M DOING ALL RIGHT FOR MYSELF, FOLKS:
I'M HEALTHY, I'M WEALTHY, I'M WISE
MY INVESTMENTS AND SUCH
HAVE ALL GONE UP SO MUCH-
SEEMS WHATEVER I TOUCH STARTS TO RISE
I'VE BEEN ALL KINDS OF LUCKY AND YET
THE THING I WANT MOST…I CAN'T GET

BARBARA SHE LIVES IN A MANSION ON LONG ISLAND SOUND

SHE PULLED UP A WEED, THEY FOUND OIL IN THE GROUND
BUT YOU TELLING ME YOU DON'T WANT HER AROUND—
NOW HONEY, THAT'S RICH

TINA SOME GUYS GIVE HER ERMINE, CHINCHILLA, AND MINK

AND SOME GIVE HER DIAMONDS AS BIG AS A SINK
BUT YOU WOULDN'T GIVE HER AS MUCH AS A WINK­
NOW BABY, THAT'S RICH

BARBARA & TINA I GET BRANDY FROM ANDY

AND CANDY FROM SCOTT
OH, AND FRANK AND EDUARDO CHIPPED IN FOR A YACHT
I GET STARES FROM THE FELLAS
AND PRAYERS FROM THE POPE
BUT I RAN OUT MY LUCK
GETTING STUCK WITH THIS MOPE

MEDDA (to audience member) Oh, honey, we were just talking about you!
(to "him") NOW, LISTEN, SPORT
THIS LIFE'S TOO SHORT
TO WASTE IT ON YOU
IT MAY BE ROUGH
BUT SOON ENOUGH
I'LL LEARN TO MAKE DO WITH
THE MANSION, THE OIL WELL, THE DIAMONDS, THE YACHT
WITH ANDY, EDUARDO, THE PONTIFF, AND SCOTT
AND FRANK
AND MY BANK!
SO SPILL NO TEARS FOR ME
'CAUSE THERE'S ONE THING YOU AIN'T
THAT I'LL ALWAYS BE
AND HONEY, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT
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 NEWSIES 11

THAT'S RICH!
THAT'S RICH!
THAT'S RICH!
THAT'S RICH!

(JACK goes and watches the show in a box seat next to Katherine)
JACK: Well, hello again
KATHERINE: (dismissive) Go away. I'm working. Reviewing the show for the New York
Sun.
JACK: Hey! I work for the World.
KATHERINE: I am not in the habit of speaking to strangers.
JACK: Then you're gonna make a lousy reporter. The name's Jack Kelly.
(KATHERINE ignores JACK, who then takes out a paper and starts drawing, staring straight at her).
KATHERINE: (getting too loud) Do you mind!?
MEDDA: (hollering up to JACK and KATHERINE) You got in for free. At least pay
attention.
SCENE FIVE: Newsie Square, Next Morning

(A few NEWSIES convene outside the distribution window of theWorld as the circulation bell tolls.)
RACE: Them fire sirens kept me awake all night.
ROMEO: Sirens is like lullabyes to me. The louder they wail the better the headline.
And the better the headline, the better I eat. And the better I eat...
RACE: (cutting him off) ... the further away from you I sleep!
(LES: and DAVEY arrive.)
DAVEY: 'Morning. Sorry we're late. We had to help our mom with something.
RACE: They got a mudder? I was gonna get me one.
LES: We have a father too.
ELMER: A mudder and a fodder.
LES: So, how's it going today?
ROMEO: Ask me after they put up the headline.
LES: Here it comes now.
SPECS: (reading) "New Newsie Price: Sixty Cents Per Hundred."They jacked up the
price of papes. Ten cents more a hundred!
ELMER: I can eat two days on a dime.
CRUTCHIE: I'll be sleepin' on the street.
JO JO: You already sleep on the street.
CRUTCHIE: In a worse neighborhood.
JACK: (entering) What're you all standin' around for?
CRUTCHIE: Get a load of this. Jack.
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 NEWSIES 12

ROMEO: Like Pulitzer don't make enough already?

(WIESEL opens window for business and stares at the NEWSIES with a malevolent smile.)
WIESEL: Papes for the newsies. Line up, kids.
JACK: Good joke. Weasel. Really got the fellas goin'. I'll take a hundred.
WIESEL: A hundred'll cost ya sixty.
JACK: I ain't payin' no sixty —
WIESEL: Then make way for someone who will.
JACK: You bet! Me and the fellas will take a hike over to the Journal.
NEWSIES YEAH!!!
WIESEL: It's the same all around town. New day. New price. You buyin' or movin' on?
(The NEWSIES huddle together as a gang.)
FINCH: They can't just do that, can they?
RACE: Why not? It's their paper.
ROMEO: Ain't we got no rights?
CRUTCHIE: We got the right to starve. C'mon, let's get our papes and hit the streets while
we still can.
SPECS: At them prices?
CRUTCHIE: We got a choice?
JACK: Hold on. Nobody's payin' no new nothin'.
ELMER: You got a idea?
JACK: Lemme think this through.
(LES pushes the other boys away.)
LES: Stop crowdin' him. Let the man work it out.
(The NEWSIES back up and watch JACK think.)
LES: Hey, Jack, you still thinkin'?
RACE: Sure is. Can't you smell smoke?
JACK: All right, if we don't sell papes, then no one sells papes. Nobody gets to that
window till they put the price back where it belongs.
DAVEY: You mean like a strike?
JACK: You heard Davey. We're on strike. We shut down this place like them workers
shut down the trolleys.
DAVEY: You can't strike. You're not a union.
JACK: And what if I says we is?
DAVEY: There's a lot of stuff you gotta have in order to be a union. Like membership.
And officers.

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 NEWSIES 13

CRUTCHIE: I nominate Jack President!

(The NEWSIES cheer their approvals.)
DAVEY: We need a statement of purpose. A reason for forming the union.
JO JO: What reason did the trolley workers have?
DAVEY: I don't know. Wages? Work hours? Safety on the job?
JACK: So, our union is hereby formed to watch each other's backs. "Union'd we
stand." Hey, that's not bad. Now what?
DAVEY: If you want to strike, the membership's gotta vote.
JACK: So let's vote. What do you say, fellas? The choice is yours. Do we roll over
and let Pulitzer pick our pockets, or do we strike?
NEWSIES Strike!!!!
JACK: You heard the voice of the membership. The Newsies are now officially on
strike. What next?
CRUTCHIE: Wouldn't a strike be more effective if someone in charge knew about it?
RACE: It would be a pleasure to tell Weasel myself.
ELMER: Yeah? And who tells Pulitzer? Davey?
DAVEY: I don't know... I guess...(giving in)You do, Mr. President.
JACK: (to DAVEY) That's right, we do! What do we tell 'em?
DAVEY: The newspaper owners need to respect your rights as employees.
JACK: Pulitzer and Hearst gotta respect the rights of the workin' kids of this city.
The World Will Know
DAVEY: (finally committing) We've got a union.
NEWSIES: Yeah!
OSCAR PULITZER AND HEARST, THEY THINK THEY'RE NOTHIN'
ARE THEY NOTHIN'?

NEWSIES NO!

DAVEY: They need to understand that we're not enslaved to them. We're free agents.
MORRIS PULITZER AND HEARST, THEY THINK THEY GOT THEM
DO THEY GOT THEM?

NEWSIES NO!

DAVEY: We're a union now - the Newsboys' Union - and we mean business.
JACK EVEN THOUGH WE AIN'T GOT HATS OR BADGES WE'RE A UNION JUST BY
SAYING SO AND THE WORLD WILL KNOW

FINCH: What's to stop some other kids comin' along to sell our papes?
SPECS: Just let 'em try!
DAVEY: No! We can't beat up on other kids. We're all in this together.

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MUSH (ignoring DAVEY) WHAT'S IT GONNA TAKE TO STOP THE WAGONS?

ARE WE READY?

NEWSIES YEAH!

BUTTONS WHAT'S IT GONNA TAKE TO STOP THE SCABBERS? CAN WE DO IT?

NEWSIES YEAH!

BUTTONS WE'LL DO WHAT WE GOTTA DO UNTIL

WE BREAK THE WILL
OF MIGHTY BILL
AND JOE

NEWSIES AND THE WORLD WILL KNOW

AND THE JOURNAL TOO

MUSH MISTER HEARST AND PULITZER

HAVE WE GOT NEWS FOR YOU

NEWSIES SEE, THE WORLD DON'T KNOW

BUT THEY'RE GONNA PAY

MUSH, BUTTONS 'STEAD OF HAWKIN' HEADLINES

WE'LL BE MAKIN' 'EM TODAY

NEWSIES AND OUR RANKS WILL GROW!

CRUTCHIE AND WE'LL KICK THEIR REAR!

NEWSIES YEAH!
AND THE WORLD WILL KNOW
THAT WE BEEN HERE

OSCAR WHEN THE CIRCULATION BELL STARTS RINGING

WILL YOU HEAR IT?

NEWSIES NO!

MORRIS WHAT IF WE DECIDE TO COME OUT SWINGING?

WILL YOU HEAR IT?

NEWSIES NO!
WHEN YA GOT A HUNDRED VOICES SINGING
WHO CAN HEAR A LOUSY WHISTLE BLOW?
AND THE WORLD WILL KNOW
THAT THIS AIN'T NO GAME
THAT WE GOT A TON OF ROTTEN FRUIT
AND PERFECT AIM
SO THEY GAVE THEIR WORD
WELL, IT AIN'T WORTH BEANS
NOW THEY'RE GONNA SEE WHAT
"STOP THE PRESSES" REALLY MEANS?
AND THE OLD WILL WEEP
AND GO BACK TO SLEEP
AND WE GOT NO CHOICE
BUT TO SEE IT THROUGH

MUSH AND WE FOUND OUR VOICE

SPECS AND I LOST MY SHOE

NEWSIES AND THE WORLD W1LL-

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 NEWSIES 15

( JACK climbs up to the chalkboard and writes "STRIKE" over the other headlines.)
NEWSIES Yeah!
JACK PULITZER MAY OWN THE WORLD BUT HE DON'T OWN US!

NEWSIES PULITZER MAY OWN THE WORLD BUT HE DON'T OWN US!

SPECS PULITZER MAY CRACK THE WHIP BUT HE WON'T WHIP US!

NEWSIES PULITZER MAY CRACK THE WHIP BUT HE WON'T WHIP US!
AND THE WORLD WILL KNOW
WE BEEN KEEPIN' SCORE
EITHER THEY GIVES US OUR RIGHTS
OR WE GIVES THEM A WAR
WE BEEN DOWN TOO LONG
AND WE PAID OUR DUES

CRUTCHIE AND THE THINGS WE DO TODAY

WILL BE TOMORROW'S NEWS

NEWSIES AND THE DIE IS CAST

AND THE TORCH IS PASSED

NEWSIES GROUP 1 AND A ROAR WILL RISE…

NEWSIES GROUP 2 ... FROM THE STREETS BELOW

NEWSIES GROUP 1 AND OUR RANKS WILL GROW...

NEWSIES GROUP 2 ... AND GROW

NEWSIES GROUP 1 AND GROW

NEWSIES AND SO
THE WORLD WILL FEEL THE FIRE
AND FIN'LLY KNOW!

( JACK, DAVEY, and LES enter Pulitzer’s building but Bunsen kicks them out)
BUNSEN: And stay out!
LES: You can tell Pulitzer that a few days into this strike, he's gonna be beggin'
for an appointment to see me! You got that? (The doors slam shut.) He got it.
NEWSIES PULITZER MAY OWN THE WORLD BUT HE DON'T OWN US!

BUTTONS PULITZER MAY OWN THE WORLD BUT HE DON'T OWN US!

NEWSIES PULITZER MAY CRACK THE WHIP BUT HE WON'T WHIP US!

SPECS PULITZER MAY CRACK THE WHIP BUT HE WON'T WHIP US!

NEWSIES SO THE WORLD SAYS "NO!"

WELL, THE KIDS DO, TOO!
TRY TO WALK ALL OVER US
WE'LL STOMP ALL OVER YOU

CRUTCHIE CAN THEY KICK US OUT?

TAKE AWAY OUR VOTE?

NEWSIES WILL WE LET 'EM STUFF THIS CROCK OF GARBAGE DOWN OUR THROAT?
NO!
EV'RY DAY WE WAIT
IS A DAY WE LOSE!

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 NEWSIES 16

(The NEWSIES make their way to Jacobi's Deli.)

NEWSIES GROUP 1 AND THIS AIN'T FOR FUN!

NEWSIES GROUP 2 AND IT AIN'T FOR SHOW!

NEWSIES GROUP 1 AND WE'LL FIGHT 'EM TOE

NEWSIES GROUP 2 TO TOE!

NEWSIES GROUP 1 TO TOE

NEWSIES AND JOE

YOUR WORLD WILL FEEL THE FIRE
AND FIN'LLY
FIN'LLY KNOW!

SCENE SIX: Jacobi ’s Deli & Street, Afternoon

(The NEWSIES settle in at their favorite hangout.)
MRS. JACOBI: And here we go... A glass of water for you. And one for you. And one for
you. And you. And, ah, who's the big spender what ordered seltzer?
SPECS: Over here.
MRS. JACOBI: And that'll be two cents.
SPECS: Two cents for a glass of seltzer? Just gimme water.
MRS. JACOBI: (switching out glasses) How did I ever see that coming?
DAVEY: (toasting) I'd say we launched our strike in a most auspicious manner.
(The NEWSIES try to figure out what DAVEY said.)
IKE: I don't know about that, but we sure scared the bejeebers outta Weasel!
CRUTCHIE: Did you see the Delanceys? They didn't know which way was up.
KATHERINE: (entering) So, what's next?

JACK: What're you doin' here?

KATHERINE: Asking a question. Have you got an answer?
JACK: For someone who works for the New York Sun,you spend an awful lot of
time hanging around at the World. You followin' us?
KATHERINE: The only thing I'm following is a story. A rag-tag gang of ragamuffins wants
to take on the kingmakers of New York. Think you have a chance?
JACK: Shouldn't you be at the ballet?
KATHERINE: Question too difficult? I'll rephrase: will the richest and most powerful
people in New York give the time of day to a gang of kids who haven't got a
nickel to their name?
CRUTCHIE: You don't gotta be insultin'. I got a nickel.
IKE: I seen a lot of papes in my time and I ain't never noted no girl reporters
writing hard news.
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 NEWSIES 17

KATHERINE: Wake up to the new century. The game's changing. How about an exclusive
interview?
JACK: What's the last news story you wrote?
KATHERINE: What's the last strike you organized?
IKE: You got a name?
KATHERINE: Katherine... Plumber.
IKE: What's the matter? Ain't ya sure?
KATHERINE: It's my byline, the name I publish under. Tell me about tomorrow. What are
you hoping for?
JACK: Today we stopped our newsies from carrying out papes, but the wagons still
delivered to the rest of the city. Tomorrow, we stop the wagons.
DAVEY: (to JACK) I say we save any exclusive for a real reporter.
KATHERINE: You see somebody else giving you the time of day? (desperate) You give me
the exclusive, let me run with the story, and I promise I'll get you the space.
CRUTCHIE: You really think we could be in the papes?
KATHERINE: Shut down a paper like the World and you're going to make the front page.
JACK: You want a story? Be in front of the circulation gate tomorrow morning and
you'll get one.
(MRS. JACOBI comes to shoo the NEWSIES out.)
MRS. JACOBI: Let's go, boys, play outside. I gotta set up for dinner. I got payin' customers
need the tables.
(The NEWSIES disperse as DAVEY and LES head home. JACK lingers behind with KATHERINE.)
KATHERINE So, what's your story? Are you selling newspapers to work your way through
art school? You've got real talent. You should be inside the paper illustrating,
not outside hawking it. (She holds up the drawing that JACK did of her.)
JACK: You don’t know what I want
KATHERINE: Are you scared?
JACK: Ask me again in the morning.
KATHERINE: (writes down the quote) Good answer. Good night, Kelly. And, off the record,
good luck.
JACK: Hey, Plumber. Write it good. We both got a lot ridin' on you.
(JACK walks off as KATHERINE heads to her office.)
SCENE SEVEN: Katherine’s Office
(KATHERINE sits down at her desk and begins to write her article.)
Watch what happens
KATHERINE: You heard the man, "Write it good." No pressure. Let's go. (typing) "Newsies
Stop the World." A little hyperbole never hurt anyone.(typing again) "With

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NEWSIES 18

all eyes fixed on the trolley strike, there's another battle brewing in the city..."
(pulls the paper out of the typewriter and rips it up)
Come on, Katherine, the boys are counting on you. Oh, you poor boys.
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW, SO THEY SAY
ALL I KNOW IS I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE
OR THE RIGHT WAY TO WRITE IT
THIS IS BIG, LADY, DON'T SCREW IT UP!
THIS IS NOT SOME LITTLE VAUDEVILLE I'M REVIEWING

"POOR LITTLE KIDS VERSUS RICH GREEDY SOURPUSSES":

HA! IT'S A CINCH! IT CAN PRACTIC'LY WRITE ITSELF
AND LET'S PRAY IT DOES, 'CAUSE AS I MAY HAVE MENTIONED
1 HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I'M DOING
AM 1 INSANE?
THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!
WELL, THAT, PLUS THE SCREAMING OF TEN ANGRY EDITORS:
"A GIRL?"
"THAT'S A GIRL!! HOW THE HELL-"
"IS THAT EVEN LEGAL?"
"LOOK, JUST GO AND GET HER"
NOT ONLY THAT, THERE'S THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY:
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN EXPLOITED, INVISIBLE, SPEAK UP
TAKE A STAND, AND THERE'S SOMEONE TO WRITE ABOUT IT
THAT'S HOW THINGS GET BETTER
GIVE LIFE'S LITTLE GUYS SOME INK
AND WHEN IT DRIES
JUST WATCH WHAT HAPPENS!
THOSE KIDS WILL LIVE AND BREATHE
RIGHT ON THE PAGE
AND ONCE THEY'RE CENTER STAGE
YOU WATCH WHAT HAPPENS!
AND WHO'S THERE WITH HER CAM'RA AND HER PEN
AS BOYS TURN INTO MEN?
THEY'LL STORM THE GATES AND THEN
JUST WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DO!

LIKE SOMEONE SAID, "POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT

AND ABSOLUTE POWER..." WAIT! WAIT!
"... CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY"
THAT IS GENIUS! BUT GIVE ME SOME TIME
I'LL BE TWICE AS GOOD AS THAT SIX MONTHS FROM... NEVER
JUST LOOK AROUND
AT THE WORLD WE'RE INHERITING
AND THINK OF THE ONE WE'LL CREATE
THEIR MISTAKE IS THEY GOT OLD
THAT IS NOT A MISTAKE WE'LL BE MAKING
NO, SIR, WE'LL STAY YOUNG FOREVER!
GIVE THOSE KIDS AND ME
THE BRAND NEW CENTURY
AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS!

IT'S DAVID AND GOLIATH

DO OR DIE
THE FIGHT IS ON AND I
CAN'T WATCH WHAT HAPPENS
BUT ALL I KNOW IS NOTHING HAPPENS IF YOU JUST GIVE IN IT CAN'T BE ANY
WORSE THAN HOW IT'S BEEN
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 NEWSIES 19

AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT WE JUST MIGHT WIN

SO WHATEVER HAPPENS
LET'S BEGIN!

SCENE EIGHT: Newsie Square, Next Morning

(The NEWSIES nervously begin to assemble. The DELANCEYS walk by on their way to work.)
MORRIS: Say, Oscar, looks like we got bum information about a strike happenin' here
today. Not that I'm complainin'. My skull bustin' arm could use a day of rest.
IKE: Are we doing the right thing?
DAVEY: Sure we are.
RACE: Maybe we put this off a couple days?
DAVEY: No. We can't… (desperately to JACK) Say something. Tell them if we back
off now they will never listen to us again.
JACK: (to the them) We can't back down now. No matter who does or doesn't show.
FINCH: How's about we just don't show for work? That'll send a message.
JACK: They'll just replace us. They need to see us stand our ground.
CRUTCHIE: Hey, guys. Look what I made! Good, huh? Strike!
RACE: (to CRUTCHIE) That's great. (to DAVEY) That's pitiful.
LES: Maybe Pulitzer will see it out his window and feel sorry for us.
Seize the Day
DAVEY NOW IS THE TIME TO SEIZE THE DAY
STARE DOWN THE ODDS AND SEIZE THE DAY
MINUTE BY MINUTE
THAT'S HOW YOU WIN IT
WE WILL FIND A WAY
BUT LET US SEIZE THE DAY

LES COURAGE CANNOT ERASE OUR FEAR

COURAGE IS WHEN WE FACE OUR FEAR
TELL THOSE WITH POWER
SAFE IN THEIR TOWER
WE WILL NOT OBEY

DAVEY, JACK BEHOLD THE BRAVE BATTALION

THAT STANDS SIDE BY SIDE
TOO FEW IN NUMBER
AND TOO PROUD TO HIDE
THEN SAY TO THE OTHERS
WHO DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH
"YOU'RE STILL OUR BROTHERS
AND WE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU"

(The circulation bell rings. The NEWSIES ignore it.)

BUTTONS, MUSH NOW IS THE TIME TO SEIZE THE DAY
STARE DOWN THE ODDS AND SEIZE THE DAY

NEWSIES ONCE WE'VE BEGUN

IF WE STAND AS ONE

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 NEWSIES 20

SOMEDAY BECOMES SOMEHOW

AND A PRAYER BECOMES A VOW

JACK AND THE STRIKE STARTS RIGHT DAMN NOW!

(The circulation bell rings again. WIESEL pushes his window open.)
WIESEL: The sun is up and the birds is singin'. A beautiful day to crack some heads,
ain't it? Step right up and get your papes.
MORRIS: (stepping forward) You workin' or trespassin'? What's your pleasure?
(EVERYONE tenses. JOJO & SPOT head toward the circulation window to collect their papers.)
DAVEY: What are you doing?
JO JO: What do you think?
(The NEWSIES move menacingly forward as JOJO & SPOT collect their papers.)
ROMEO: Let's soak 'em, guys!
FINCH: Yeah! Let's get 'em!
DAVEY: No! We all stand together or we don't have a chance!
SPOT: Pulitzer thinks we're rats with no respect for nothin'.
DAVEY: But if we stand together, we change the whole game.
JACK: Fellas... for the sake of all the working kids in this town, I beg you... throw
down your papers and join the strike.
LES: Please?
(JOJO & SPOT look at each other, and the first steps forward.)
JO JO: I'm with ya.
(JOJO throws down the papers. The NEWSIES surround SPOT.)
SPOT: You're kidding, right?
JO JO: At the end of the day who are you gonna trust? (refers to the DELANCEYS
then the NEWSIES) Them... or them?
SPOT: ( throws down the papers.)Oh... what the hell? Me father's gonna kill me
anyway!

Seize the day b

JO JO NOW IS THE TIME TO SEIZE THE DAY!

NEWSIES NOW IS THE TIME TO SEIZE THE DAY!

SPOT ANSWER THE CALL AND DON'T DELAY!

NEWSIES ANSWER THE CALL AND DON'T DELAY!

WRONGS WILL BE RIGHTED
IF WE'RE UNITED!
LET US SEIZE THE DAY!

JO JO NOW LET 'EM HEAR IT LOUD AND CLEAR!

NEWSIES NOW LET 'EM HEAR IT LOUD AND CLEAR!

ELMER LIKE IT OR NOT, WE'RE DRAWING NEAR!

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 NEWSIES 21

NEWSIES LIKE IT OR NOT, WE'RE DRAWING NEAR!

PROUD AND DEFIANT
WE'LL SLAY THE GIANT!
JUDGMENT DAY IS HERE!
HOUSTON TO HARLEM
LOOK WHAT'S BEGUN!
ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE!
STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!
STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! OH... STRIKE!

NOW IS THE TIME TO SEIZE THE DAY!

THEY'RE GONNA SEE THERE'S HELL TO PAY!
NOTHING CAN BREAK US
NO ONE CAN MAKE US
QUIT BEFORE WE'RE DONE!
ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR
ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR
ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE!

(KATHERINE shoots a triumphant photo of the NEWSIES..)

(The gates swing open to reveal WIESEL, the DELANCEYS, Snyder and Bunsen appear.)
WIESEL: Time these kids learned a lesson.
(The fight starts. Many NEWSIES take flight. Some are hit, others taken away.)
SNYDER: You can't run forever, Kelly! (JACK sees SNYDER and starts to leave.)
CRUTCHIE: Jack? Wait for me!
OSCAR: (to CRUTCHIE) Where ya think you're goin'?
CRUTCHIE: Jack! Help! Romeo! Finch!
MORRIS: Shut it, Crip. ( SNYDER beats him with his crutch and slaps on handcuffs.)
SNYDER: It's off to The Refuge with you, little man.
(JACK watches as Snyder drags CRUTCHIE off while he runs to safety)
JACK: Crutchie!
SNYDER: Jack Kelly!
SCENE NINE: Rooftop

Santa Fe
JACK LET ME GO…. FAR AWAY….
SOMEWHERE THEY WON'T NEVER FIND ME
AND TOMORROW WON'T REMIND ME OF TODAY
JUST A MOON SO BIG AND YELLOW
IT TURNS NIGHT RIGHT INTO DAY
DREAMS COME TRUE
YEAH, THEY DO
IN SANTA FE

WHERE DOES IT SAY YOU GOTTA LIVE AND DIE HERE?

WHERE DOES IT SAY A GUY CAN'T CATCH A BREAK?
IF THE LIFE DON'T SEEM TO SUIT YA
HOW 'BOUT A CHANGE OF SCENE?

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 NEWSIES 22

FAR FROM THE LOUSY HEADLINES

AND THE DEADLINES IN BETWEEN!

SANTA FE!
MY OLD FRIEND
I CAN'T SPEND MY WHOLE LIFE DREAMIN'
THOUGH I KNOW THAT'S ALL 1 SEEM INCLINED TO DO
I AIN'T GETTIN' ANY YOUNGER
AND I WANNA START BRAND NEW

SAVE MY PLACE
I'LL BE THERE…
JUST BE REAL IS ALL I'M ASKIN'
NOT SOME PAINTIN' IN MY HEAD
'CAUSE I'M DEAD IF 1 CAN'T COUNT ON YOU TODAY
I GOT NOTHIN' IF I AIN'T GOT SANTA FE!

SCENE TEN: Jacobi ’s Deli, Next Morning

(DAVEY and the NEWSIES are quietly ignoring their drinks. MRS. JACOBI enters.)
MRS. JACOBI: Drink up, kids. And don't never say I don't give you nothing. And before you
say water is nothing, just ask a fish in the desert.
(KATHERINE arrives with a newspaper.)
KATHERINE: Good morning, people. Can these really be the same kids who made front
page of the New York Sun?
ROMEO: Front page of what?
(The NEWSIES rush towards KATHERINE and snatch the paper.)
DAVEY: (to KATHERINE) You got us in the pape?
MRS. JACOBI: You got yourselves in the pape.
SPOT: "Newsies Stop the World" — now, there's a headline even Elmer could sell!
AD LIB “Lemme see. Lookit! Would you lookit? Dat’s me! Front page! Where’s me? Where’s me?”
SPECS: What else do you got?
KATHERINE: Mine's the only story that ran. Pulitzer declared a blackout on strike news. I
heard they arrested Crutchie. Did they get Jack too?
SPECS: The Delanceys are spreading a story that he took it on the lam, first sight of
the cops.
LES: (charges SPECS) Jack don't run from no fight!
SPECS: Take it down, short-stop. I'm just reportin' the news.
RACE: For jumpin' Jack's sake. Can you stow the seriosity long enough to drink in
the moment? I'm famous!
HENRY: What of it?
RACE: Are you stupid or what? You're famous, the world is your erster.
HENRY: Your what?

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 NEWSIES 23

RACE: Your erster! Your erster! Your fancy clam with a pearl inside.
HENRY: How much does bein' famous pay?
King of New York
RACE: Ya don't need money when you're famous. They gives ya whatever ya want
gratis (fer free) .
HENRY Such as...?
RACE A PAIR OF NEW SHOES WITH MATCHIN' LACES...

ROMEO A PERMANENT BOX AT THE SHEEPSHEAD RACES...

HENRY PASTRAMI ON RYE WITH A SOUR PICKLE...

FINCH MY PERSONAL PUSS ON A WOODEN NICKEL...

RACE LOOK AT ME:

I'M THE KING OF NEW YORK!
SUDDENLY
I'M RESPECTABLE
STARIN' RIGHT AT'CHA
LOUSY WITH STA'CHA

ROMEO NOBBIN' WITH ALL THE MUCKETY-MUCKS

I'M BLOW1N' MY DOUGH AND GOIN' DELUXE

MRS JACOBI AND THERE I BE!

AIN'T I PRETTY? IT'S MY CITY
I'M THE KING OF NEW YORK!

JO JO A SOLID GOLD WATCH WITH A CHAIN TO TWIRL IT...

LES MY VERY OWN BED AND A INDOOR TERLET...

MRS JACOBI A BARBERSHOP HAIRCUT THAT COSTS A QUARTER...

DAVEY (indicating KATHERINE) A REGULAR BEAT FOR THE STAR REPORTER!

RACE AM-SCRAY, PUNK
SHE'S THE KING OF NEW YORK!

KATHERINE WHO'D'A THUNK!

I'M THE KING OF NEW YORK!

NEWSIES WE WAS SUNK

PALE AND PITIFUL

KATHERINE BUNCH OF WET NOODLES

KATHERINE, NEWSIES PULITZER'S POODLES

LES ALMOST ABOUT TO DROWN IN THE DRINK

ROMEO WHEN SHE FISHED US OUT

RACE AND DROWNED US IN INK!

KATHERINE SO LET'S GET DRUNK!

NEWSIES YEAH!

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MRS. JACOBI NOT WITH LIQUOR

FAME WORKS QUICKER
WHEN YOU'RE KING OF NEW YORK

NEWSIES I GOTTA BE EITHER DEAD OR DREAMIN'

'CAUSE LOOK AT THAT PAPE WITH MY FACE BEAMIN'
TOMORROW THEY MAY WRAP FISHES IN IT
BUT 1 WAS A STAR FOR ONE WHOLE MINUTE!

(The NEWSIES and KATHERINE dance, employing anything else they can find in the deli.)
KATHERINE, NEWSIES LOOK AT ME: I'M THE KING OF NEW YORK!
WAIT AND SEE: THIS IS GONNA MAKE
BOTH THE DELANCEYS
PEE IN THEIR PANT-SIES
FLASH POTS ARE SHOOTIN' BRIGHT AS THE SUN! I'M ONE HIGHFALUTIN'
SON-OF-A-GUN!
1 GUARANTEE: THOUGH I CRAPPED OUT
I AIN'T TAPPED OUT! I'M THE KING OF NEW —
FRIENDS MAY FLEE
LET 'EM DITCH YA!
SNAP ONE PIT'CHA
YOU'RE THE KING OF NEW —
HISTORY!
FRONT PAGE STORY
GUTS AND GLORY
I'M THE KING OF NEW YORK!

SCENE ELEVEN: The Refuge

(CRUTCHIE is sitting down holding a pencil and paper. A lighted candle sits nearby. He reads what
he's written.)
CRUTCHIE: “Dear Jack. Greetings from The Refuge! Guess I wasn't much help
yesterday… Snyder soaked me real good with my crutch… Oh, this is
Crutchie, by the way. Hey, Pulitzer is goin' down! And then, we might just
go to Santa Fe.. There's one thing I need you to do: fam'ly looks out for each
other, so you tell all the fellas for me to protect one another. Your friend...
(hesitates, then crosses it out, writes) your family... Crutchie"
SCENE TWELVE: Medda’s Theater
(JACK paints a backdrop of the Taos Mountains. It's an explosion of color. MEDDA enters)
MEDDA: Here's everything I owe you for the first backdrop, plus this one, and even a
little something extra just account'a because I'm gonna miss you so.
(MEDDA hands JACK an envelope full of money.)
JACK: You're a gem.
MEDDA: Just tell me that you're going somewhere and not running away.
JACK: Does it matter?

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 NEWSIES 25

MEDDA: When you go somewhere and it turns out not to be the right place, you can
always go somewhere else. But if you're running away, nowhere's ever the
right place. (DAVEY, KATHERINE and LES arrive.)
LES: There’s Jack, just like I said.
JACK: For cryin' out loud... Where's a fella gotta go to get away from you people?
DAVEY: How 'bout lettin' a pal know you're alive? There's no escapin' us, pal.
MEDDA: Why don't I leave you with your friend.(MEDDA exits.)
DAVEY: Hey! You see the pape? We're front page news, above the fold. With press
like this our fight is far from over.
LES: (studying the painting) Hey, Jack. Where's that supposed to be?
DAVEY: It's Santa Fe.
KATHERINE: I've got to tell you. Jack, this "Go west, young man" routine is getting tired.
Even Horace Greeley moved back to New York.
LES: Yes, he did. And then he died.
JACK: Ain't reporters supposed to be non-partisan?
KATHERINE: Ask a reporter. Pulitzer's had me blacklisted from every news desk in town—
LES: Can we table the palaver and get back to business? Will Medda let us have
the theater?
DAVEY: (to JACK) we want to hold a rally - citywide meeting where every newsie
gets a say and a vote. And we do it after working hours so no one loses a
day's pay. Smart?
JACK: Want to see a place I seen?
(JACK turns the backdrop around and reveals a cartoon of the newsies being crushed by Pulitzer.)
JACK: Newsie Square, thanks to my big mouth. Kids hurt, others arrested —
DAVEY: Lighten up. No one died.
JACK: Is that what you're aiming for? Go on and call me a quitter. No way I'm
puttin' them kids back in danger.
DAVEY: We're doing something that has never been done before. How could that not
be dangerous?
JACK: I tried to see Crutchie at The Refuge. But they busted him up so bad he
couldn't even come to the window. What if he don't make it? You willing to
shoulder that for a tenth of a penny a pape?
DAVEY: Tell me how quitting does Crutchie any good? (JACK doesn't answer him.)
Exactly. Think about it: we got them surrounded! I saw this look on Weasel's
face; he was actually nervous. And that is what you call a beginning.
LES Here's what I think: Joe's a jerk, he's a rattlesnake!
DAVEY: 'Cause he's scared

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JACK, DAVEY: He knows we're winning!

KATHERINE: Get those kids to see we're circling victory and watch what happens! We've
got faith
DAVEY: We've got the plan
LES: And we've got jack!

SCENE THIRTEEN: Pulitzer’s Office & Cellar, Afternoon

(The MAYOR, SEITZ, BUNSEN, and PULITZER are in a heated discussion. KATHERINE sits quietly.)
MAYOR: ... but I've read your editorials, Mr. Pulitzer. How can you express so much
sympathy for the trolley workers and yet have none for the newsies?
PULITZER: Because the trolley workers are striking for a fair contract. The newsies are
striking against me!
MAYOR: I'd spare you this embarrassment if I could, but the burlesque house is private
property.
BUNSEN: He can't order a raid without legal cause.
PULITZER: Mr. Mayor, would the fact that this rally is organized by an escaped convict
be enough to shut it down?
MAYOR: An escaped convict?
PULITZER: A fugitive from one of your own institutions. A convicted thief(turns his
desk chair around to reveal SNYDER) Mr. Snyder, which one is he?
SNYDER: (pointing to the photo) That one there: Jack Kelly.
MAYOR: And how do you know this boy?
SNYDER: His is not a pleasant story. He was first sentenced to my Refuge for loitering
and vagrancy, but his total disregard of authority has made him a frequent
visitor.
MAYOR: You called him a thief and escaped convict.
SNYDER: After his release I caught him myself, red handed, trafficking stolen food and
clothing. He was last sentenced to six months, but the willful ruffian escaped.
PULITZER: So you'd be doing the city a service removing this criminal from our streets.
MAYOR: If that's the case, we can take him in quietly and —
PULITZER: (exploding) What good would quiet do me? I want a public example made of
him.
(HANNAH rushes into the office.)
HANNAH: Mr. Pulitzer - the boy. Jack Kelly, is here.
PULITZER: Here?
HANNAH: Just outside. He's asked to see you.
PULITZER: Ask and ye shall be received. Mr. Snyder, if you please. Sit.
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(Snyder and Katherine hides by Pulitzer’s orders. HANNAH escorts JACK into the room.)
HANNAH: Mr. Jack Kelly.
PULITZER: And which Jack Kelly is this? The charismatic union organizer, or the petty
thief and escaped convict?
JACK: I just dropped by with an invite. Seems a few hundred of your employees are
rallying to discuss recent disagreements. I thought it only fair to invite you.
So what'd'ya say, Joe?
PULITZER: You are as shameless and disrespectful a creature as I was told. Do you know
what I was doing when I was your age, kid? I was fighting in a war and it
taught me a lesson. It's the headline that crowns the victor.
JACK: I'll keep that in mind when New York wakes up to front page photos of our
rally.
PULITZER: Not a paper in town will publish a word.
SEITZ: And if it's not in the papers, it never happened.
JACK: You may run this city, but there are some of us who can't be bullied. Even
some reporters...
PULITZER: Such as that young woman who made you yesterday's news? Talented girl.
JACK: I'll tell her you said so.
PULITZER: She can hear for herself. Can't you, darling? (KATHERINE stands up. JACK
steps back in surprise.) I trust you know my daughter, Katherine. You are
probably asking, why doesn't my daughter work for me? Good questions.
She chose to pursue a career.
HANNAH: And she was showing real promise, until this recent lapse.
PULITZER: But you're done with all of that now, aren't you, sweetheart?
KATHERINE: Jack, I —
PULITZER: Don't trouble the kid with your problems, dearest. Kelly has a plateful of
their own. Wouldn't you say so, Snyder? (SNYDER steps into sight.)
SNYDER: Hello, Jack.
(JACK tries to run for the door, but is stopped by the DELANCEYS. He realizes he's trapped.)
BUNSEN: Allow me to offer an alternate scenario: you attend the rally and speak
against this strike, and we'll see your pockets filled with enough cash to carry
you, from New York to New Mexico and beyond.
PULITZER: (to KATHERINE) You did say he wanted to travel west, didn't you?
JACK: There ain't a person in this room who don't know you stink.
PULITZER: It's not right to condemn that little crippled kid. And what about your pal
Davey and their baby sibling...Time's running out, kid, so what do you say?
(Jack stays in silence)Delanceys, escort our guest to the cellar.
(The DELANCEYS lead JACK to a dark space populated with nothing but a large printing press.)

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MORRIS: We been given discretion to handle you as we see fit, so behave.

OSCAR: But, just in case, I been polishin' my favorite brass knuckles.
(MORRIS pulls the dust-covered tarp off of the old press and tosses it to JACK.)
MORRIS: You can sleep right here on this old printing press.
(OSCAR and MORRIS exit as JACK hopelessly takes in the surroundings. )
The Bottom Line reprise
BUNSEN TOO BAD YOU'VE NO JOB, JACK
BUT YOU DID RESIGN

PULITZER TOO BAD YOU'VE NO FAMILY

BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE MINE

SNYDER BE GLAD YOU'RE ALIVE, BOY

I'D SAY THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE

SEITZ LIKE THE PIED PIPER YOU KNEW WHAT TO PLAY

HANNAH 'TILL THOSE KIDS ALL BELIEVED YOU WERE RIGHT

SNYDER LUCKY FOR THEM ALL BUT ONE GOT AWAY

PULITZER THEY MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY TONIGHT

SCENE FOURTEEN: Brooklyn Bridge & Medda’s Theater, Evening

MEDDA: Welcome, Newsies of New York City. Welcome to my theater and your
revolution! (The CROWD cheers.)
SPOT: Newsies united! Let's see what Pulitzer has to say to you now.
FINCH: Hey Davey, where's Jack?
NEWSIES We want Jack!
(DAVEY looks to MEDDA for help.)
MEDDA: Sorry, kid. No sign of Jack yet. Looks like you're doing a solo.
(DAVEY timidly takes the stage.)
DAVEY: Newsies of New York... look at what we've done! Tonight you're making
history. (The NEWSIES cheer.) Tonight we declare that we're just as much a
part of the newspaper as any reporter or editor. (The cheers grow louder.)
We're done being treated like kids. From now on they will treat us as equals.
(JACK appears from the back of the theater and starts down the aisle.)
DAVEY: And here's Jack!!!
NEWSIES Jack! Jack! Jack!
(JACK climbs up onto the stage. DAVEY heaves a sigh of relief. KATHERINE stands in a balcony.)
JACK: Pulitzer raised the price of papes without so much as a word to us.(The
NEWSIES cheer.) So we go on strike. Then what happens?
IKE: Pulitzer lowers the price so's we'll go back to work!

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 NEWSIES 29

JACK: Yeah, yeah.. and a few weeks later they hike the price back up again. So
what do we do then? ( the NEWSIES look to each other confused.) Fellas, we
gotta be realistic. We don't work, we don't get paid.(The NEWSIES boo.) If
we disband the union, Pulitzer will not raise prices again for two years. All
we need to do is vote "NO" on the strike.
(JACK, overwhelmed, walks toward the wings, where BUNSEN is waiting with a wad of cash.)
SCENE FIFTEEN: Rooftop, Night
(KATHERINE has discovered JACK'S drawings opens them up. JACK arrives.)
KATHERINE: That was some speech you made.
JACK: How'd you get here?
KATHERINE: Specs showed me.
JACK: (snatches the drawings) And say you could go through my stuff?
KATHERINE: These are drawings of The Refuge, aren't they? Is this really what it's like in
there: three kids to a bed, rats everywhere, and vermin?
JACK: A little different from where you were raised?
KATHERINE: Snyder told my father you were arrested stealing food and clothing. This is
why, isn't it? You stole to feed those kids. If you were willing to go to jail for
them, how could you turn your back on them now?
JACK: I don't think you're anyone to talk about turning on folks.
KATHERINE: I never turned on you or anyone else.
JACK: No. You just double crossed us to the enemy!! (RACE & SPECS arrive)
KATHERINE: I never lied. I didn't tell you everything...I said that I worked for the Sun, and
I did. I told you my professional name was Plumber, and it is. You never
asked my real one.
JACK: I wouldn't think I had to unless I knew I was dealing with a backstabber.
SPECS: Jack, we need to know you didn't cave for the money.
JACK: You heard Pulitzer. I don't know what else we can do.
KATHERINE: Being boss doesn't mean you have all the answers. Just the brains to
recognize the right one when you hear it.
JACK: I'm listening.
(KATHERINE takes a piece of paper from her pocket and hands it to them.)
KATHERINE: "For the sake of all the working kids in New York, I beg you... join us." With
those words, the strike stopped being just about the newsies.
RACE: "The Children's Crusade"??
KATHERINE: If we publish my words with one of your drawings - and if every worker
under twenty-one read it and stayed home from work... or better yet, came to
Newsie Square - a general city-wide strike! Even “The World” couldn't
ignore that.

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 NEWSIES 30

SPECS: Only one small problem: we got no way to print it.

KATHERINE: Come on, there has to be one printing press he doesn't control.
JACK: (suddenly remembering) Oh, I know where there's a printing press that no
one would ever think we'd use.

SCENE SIXTEEN: Pulitzer’s Cellar

(JACK and KATHERINE enter the cellar. She hands him a ring of keys.)
KATHERINE: I'll get the lights. You get those windows unlocked.
(KATHERINE turns up the lights and uncovers the printing press.)
DAVEY: It's good to have you back again.
KATHERINE: Here she is, kids.
HENRY: Just think, while Joe snores blissfully in his bed, we will be using his very
own press to bring him down.
(RACE goes to the printing press.)
ROMEO: Is this what they print the papes on?
JO JO: I can see why they tossed this old one down to the cellar, but I think she will
do the job.
KATHERINE: In the words of the little one, "Can we table the palaver and get down to
business?"
JO JO: A little grease and she'll be good as gold.
Once and for All
DAVEY: All right. Here's how it'll work: as we print the papes. Race, you'll let the
fellas in, and they'll spread them to every workin' kid in New York. After
that...?
JACK After that it's up to them.
THERE'S CHANGE COM1N' ONCE AND FOR ALL
YOU MAKES THE FRONT PAGE
AND MAN, YOU IS MAJOR NEWS

HENRY, IKE TOMORROW THEY'LL SEE WHAT WE ARE

AND SURE AS A STAR, WE AIN'T
COME THIS FAR TO LOSE!

FINCH: Here they come!

NEWSIES THIS IS THE STORY WE NEEDED TO WRITE
THAT'S BEEN KEPT OUT OF SIGHT, BUT NO MORE!
IN A FEW HOURS, BY DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT
WE'LL BE READY TO FIGHT US A WAR
THIS TIME WE'RE IN IT TO STAY
TALK ABOUT SEIZING THE DAY!

ROMEO WRITE IT WITH INK OR IN BLOOD

IT'S THE SAME EITHER WAY:
THEY'RE GONNA DAMN WELL PAY!

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 NEWSIES 31

NEWSIES SEE OL' MAN PULITZER SNUG IN HIS BED

HE DON'T CARE IF WE'RE DEAD OR ALIVE
THREE SATIN PILLOWS ARE UNDER HIS HEAD
WHILE WE'SE BEGGIN' FOR BREAD TO SURVIVE
JOE, YOU CAN STOP COUNTIN' SHEEP
WE'RE GONNA SING YA TO SLEEP
YOU’VE GOT YOUR THUGS
WITH THEIR STICKS AND THEIR SLUGS
YEAH! BUT WE GOT A PROMISE TO KEEP

MRS. JACOBI ONCE AND FOR ALL

IF THEY DON'T MIND THEIR MANNERS
WE'LL BLEED'EM!

NEWSIES BLEED 'EM!

SPECS ONCE AND FOR ALL

WE WON'T CARRY NO BANNERS
THAT DON'T SPELL

NEWSIES "FREEDOM!"
FIN'LLY WE'SE RAISIN' THE STAKES!
THIS TIME WHATEVER IT TAKES!
THIS TIME THE UNION AWAKES
ONCE AND FOR ALL!

NEWSIES THIS IS FOR KIDS SHININ' SHOES ON THE STREET

WITH NO SHOES ON THEIR FEET EV'RY DAY
THIS IS FOR GUYS SWEATIN' BLOOD IN THE SHOPS
WHILE THE BOSSES AND COPS LOOK AWAY
I'M SEEIN' KIDS STANDIN' TALL
GLARIN' AND RARIN' TO BRAWL
ARMIES OF GUYS WHO ARE SICK OF THE LIES
GETT1N' READY TO RISE TO THE CALL!

ONCE AND FOR ALL

THERE'LL BE BLOOD ON THE WALL
IF THEY DOUBT US
THEY THINK THEY'RE RUNNING THIS TOWN
BUT THIS TOWN'LL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT US!

NEWSIES GROUP 1 TEN THOUSAND KIDS IN THE SQUARE!

NEWSIES GROUP 2 TEN THOUSAND KIDS IN THE SQUARE!

NEWSIES GROUP 1 TEN THOUSAND FISTS IN THE AIR!

NEWSIES GROUP 2 TEN THOUSAND FISTS!

NEWSIES JOE, YOU IS GONNA PLAY FAIR

ONCE AND FOR ALL!

NEWSIES GROUP 1 ONCE AND FOR ALL!

NEWSIES GROUP 2 ONCE AND FOR ALL!

NEWSIES GROUP 1 ONCE AND FOR ALL!

NEWSIES GROUP 2 ONCE AND FOR ALL!

NEWSIES GROUP 1 ONCE AND FOR ALL!

NEWSIES GROUP 2 ONCE AND FOR ALL!

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 NEWSIES 32

(Ready to hit the streets, the NEWSIES raise their papers in defiance.)
NEWSIES THERE'S CHANGE COMIN' ONCE AND FOR ALL
YOU'RE GETTIN' TOO OLD
TOO WEAK TO KEEP HOLDIN' ON
A NEW WORLD IS GUNNIN' FOR YOU
AND JOE, WE IS TOO
TILL ONCE AND FOR ALL YOU'RE GONE!

DAVEY ONCE AND FOR ALL!

JACK ONCE AND FOR ALL!

SPOT, ROMEO ONCE AND FOR ALL!

NEWSIES ONCE AND FOR ALL!

SCENE SEVENTEEN: Pulitzer’s Office, Next Morning

(The office is in full panic mode. PULITZER sits furiously at his desk.)
HANNAH: (into phone) I'm sorry, Pulitzer will have to call you back.
BUNSEN: I'm sorry, but he'll have to call you back.
HANNAH: (next phone) He can't talk. He'll call you back—
BUNSEN: I'm sorry, but he'll— I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
PULITZER: Silence those phones!!!
BUNSEN: The entire city is shut down. No one is working anywhere. And everyone is
blaming you.
HANNAH: They're all calling: the Mayor, the publishers, the manufacturers... and such
language!
(JACK, DAVEY, and RACE enter merrily, chased by SEITZ.)
SEITZ: You can't just barge in...
JACK: How we doin' this morning, people?
PULITZER: You're behind this? We had a deal.
JACK: (puts money on the desk) Thanks for your lessons on the power of the press.
SEITZ: (examining the article) Did you read this, boss? These kids put out a pretty
good paper. Very convincing. No doubt written by your daughter.
PULITZER: I demand to know who defied my ban on printing strike material!
RACE: We're your loyal employees. We'd never take our business elsewhere.
SEITZ: (examining the paper) The old printing press in the cellar...
PULITZER: (taking measured steps toward JACK) I made you the offer of a lifetime.
Anyone who does not act in his own self-interest is a fool.
DAVEY: This all began because you wanted to sell more papers. But now your
circulation is down seventy percent. Why didn't you just come talk to us?
JACK: A very wise reporter told me a real boss don't need the answers. Just the
smarts to snatch the right one when he hears it.

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(NEWSIES sing in Newsie Square below Pulitzer’s office.)

Seize the Day Reprise
NEWSIES NOW IS THE TIME TO SEIZE THE DAY STARE DOWN THE ODDS AND SEIZE THE
DAY MINUTE BY MINUTE
THAT'S HOW YOU WIN IT
WE WILL FIND A WAY
BUT LET US SEIZE THE DAY

RACE: Have a look out there, Mr. Pulitzer. In case you ain't figured it out, we got
you surrounded.
JACK: New York is paralyzed. You can't send a message or ride an elevator. You
can't even leave your own building. So, what's your next move?
(BUNSEN rushes back into the room in a tizzy.)
BUNSEN: Mr. Pulitzer, the Mayor is here along with your daughter and... oh, you're not
going to believe who else!
(In walk the MAYOR, KATHERINE, MEDDA, and GOVERNOR TEDDY ROOSEVELT.)
MAYOR: Good morning, Mr. Pulitzer. I think you know the Governor.
ROOSEVELT: Joseph, Joseph, Joseph. What have you done now?
PULITZER: I'm certain when you hear my explanation —
ROOSEVELT: Thanks to Miss Medda Larkin I already have a thorough grasp of the
situation - graphic illustrations included. Bully is the expression I usually
employ to show approval. But in your case I simply mean bully! (to JACK)
How are you, son? I'm told we once shared a carriage ride.
JACK: Pleasure's mine, Mr. Governor.
ROOSEVELT: (to PULITZER) Well, Joe, don't just stand there letting those children sing
endlessly. Tell them that you've come to your senses and rolled back prices.
Unless, of course, you want to invite a full state senate investigation into
your employment practices.
PULITZER: (red with anger) You wouldn't—
ROOSEVELT: Come along, Joseph. There's only one thing worse than a hard heart, and
that's a soft head. And think of the happiness you'll bring those children.
PULITZER: (cornered, shifting tactics) Mr. Kelly, if I may speak to you... alone.
(The OTHERS withdraw from the room.)
ROOSEVELT: (to JACK) Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.
PULITZER: I cannot put the price back where it was. (JACK starts to move away.) I'm
sorry, I can't. There are other considerations —
JACK: I get it. You need to save face front of all these folks. I ain't stupid.
PULITZER: What if I reduce the raise by half and get the others to do the same? It's a
compromise we can all live with.
JACK: But you eat our losses. Any papes we can't sell, you buy back - full price.

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 NEWSIES 34

PULITZER: That's never been on the table! What's to stop newsies from taking hundreds
of papers they can't sell? My costs will explode!
JACK: No newsie is gonna break his back haulin' around papes he can't sell. But if
they can take a few more with no risk, they might sell 'em and your
circulation would begin to grow… (aping PULITZER) "It's a compromise we
can all live with."
PULITZER: (calmly considering) That's not a bad head you've got on your shoulders.
(JACK spits in his hand and holds it out for PULITZER to shake.)
JACK: Deal?
PULITZER: That's disgusting.
JACK: Just the price of doin' business.
(PULITZER spits in his hand. JACK grabs it and shakes. The deal has been sealed!)
SCENE EIGHTEEN: Newsie Square
(Everybody meets at the square.)
JACK: Newsies of New York City... we won!!(The CROWD roars.) And now I'd like
to introduce my own personal pal. Governor Theodore Roosevelt
himself!!!(The CROWD cheers.)
ROOSEVELT: Each generation must step aside and invite the young to share the day. You
have laid claim to our world and I believe the future, in your hands, will be
bright and prosperous. (turning to JACK) And your drawings, son, have
brought another matter to bear. (signalling offstage) Come in.
(CRUTCHIE appears.)
HENRY: Hey lookit. It's Crutchie!
NEWSIES (ad lib) Crutchie!
CRUTCHIE: Hiya, fellas. You miss me?
NEWSIES (ad lib) Yeah. Sure. Ain't been the same without ya.
ROOSEVELT: Jack, with those drawings you made an eloquent argument for shutting down
The Refuge. Be assured that Mr. Snyder's abuses will be fully investigated.
(PULITZER steps forward, snatching Jack's drawings away from ROOSEVELT.)
PULITZER: (to JACK) If one of your drawings convinced the governor to close The
Refuge, what might a daily political cartoon do to expose the dealings in our
own government?
JACK: Don't sweat it. With the strike settled, I should be hitting the road.
DAVEY: Don't you ever get tired of singing that same old tune? What's Santa Fe got
that New York ain't?
KATHERINE: Better yet: what's New York got that Santa Fe ain't?
CRUTCHIE: New York's got us. And we're family.
PULITZER: Didn't I hear something about the strike being settled? (WIESEL and the
DELANCEYS open the distribution window as PULITZER exits.)
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 NEWSIES 35

WIESEL: Papes for the newsies. Line up, kids. These papes ain't gonna sell themselves.
KATHERINE: (teasing JACK) Well, don't just stand there, you've got a union to run.
Besides, didn't someone just offer you a pretty exciting job?
JACK: Me work for you father?
KATHERINE: You already work for my father.
Finale Ultimo
JACK NOW MY EYES IS FIN'LLY OPEN
AND MY DREAMS, THEY'S AV'RAGE SIZE
BUT THEY DON'T MUCH MATTER IF YOU AIN'T WITH ME ( they all hug)
DAVEY: Well, Jack... you in or you out?
( He approaches WIESEL, slaps his money down on the counter, and snatches up his papes.)
COMPANY WE'LL ALL BE OUT THERE
CARRYING THE BANNER, MAN TO MAN!
WE'RE ALWAYS OUT THERE
SOAKIN' EV'RY SUCKER THAT WE CAN
HERE'S THE HEADLINE: "NEWSIES ON A MISSION!" KILL THE COMPETITION!
SELL THE NEXT EDITION!
WE'LL BE OUT THERE
CARRYING THE BANNER!
SEE US OUT THERE
CARRYING THE BANNER!
ALWAYS OUT THERE
CARRYING THE BANNER!

LOOK AT ME:
I'M THE KING OF NEW YORK!
SUDDENLY
I'M RESPECTABLE
STARIN' RIGHT AT'CHA
LOUSY WITH STA'CHA
GLORY BE!
I'M THE KING OF NEW YORK! VICTORY!
FRONT PAGE STORY
GUTS AND GLORY
I'M THE KING... OF NEW YORK!

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