Original subtitles

(MUSIC PLAYING)

JACK: Hey, where you going?

The morning bell ain't rung yet. Go back to sleep.

I wanna beat the other fellows to the street.

I don't want anyone should see.

(STUTTERS) I, uh...

I ain't been walkin' so good.

Oh, quit gripin'.

You know how many fellows fake a limp for sympathy, right?

That bum leg of yours is a gold mine.

Ah, someone gets the idea I can't make it on my own,

they'll lock me up in the Refuge for good.

Hey, be a pal, Jack. Help me down.

Whoa! (GASPS)

Do you wanna bust your other leg, too?

No, I wanna go down.

(STAMMERS) You'll be down there soon enough!

Take a moment.

Drink in my... My penthouse.

High above the stinkin' streets of New York.

You're crazy.

Oh, what, 'cause I like a breath of fresh air?

'Cause I like seeing the sky and the stars?

Yeah, you're seeing stars, all right.

(SIGHS)

Them streets down there...

They sucked the life right outta my old man.

Years of rotten jobs, stomped on by bosses.

And when they finally broke him, they... They tossed him to the curb

just like yesterday's paper.

Well, they ain't doin' that to me!

But... But everyone wants to come here. Ugh.

New York's fine for those who got a big strong door to lock it out.

Yeah, but I tell you, Crutchie,

there is a whole other way out there.

So, you keep your small life in a big city.

Give me a big life...

In a small town.

♪ They say folks is dyin' to get here

♪ Me, I'm dyin' to get away

♪ To a little town out west that's spankin' new

(CHUCKLES)

♪ And while I ain't never been there

♪ I can see it clear as day

♪ If you want

♪ I bet you you could see it, too

(JACK CHUCKLES)

♪ Close your eyes

♪ Come with me

♪ Where it's clean and green and pretty

♪ And they went and made a city outta clay

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

♪ Like the minute that you get there

♪ Folks will walk right up and say

♪ "Welcome home, son

♪ "Welcome home to Santa Fe!"

♪ Plantin' crops, splittin' rails

♪ Swappin' tales around the fire

♪ Oh, 'cept for Sunday when you lie around all day

♪ Soon your friends are more like family

♪ And they's beggin' you to stay

♪ Ain't that neat?

♪ Livin' sweet

♪ In Santa Fe ♪

You got folks there?

(SCOFFS) Ain't got no folks nowhere.

What, you?

(SCOFFS) I don't need folks.

(CHUCKLES)

I got friends. (CHUCKLES)

Hey. Hey!

How's about you come with me, huh?

Oh, no one cares about no bum leg in Santa Fe.

No, you just... Just hop a palomino!

You ride it in style.

Oh, yeah! Feature me, ridin' in style.

Hey! I bet a few months of clean air,

and you, you could toss that crutch for good!

♪ Santa Fe

♪ You can bet

♪ We won't let them bastards 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

♪ Work the land

♪ Chase the sun

♪ Swim the whole Rio Grande just for fun

♪ Watch me stand!

♪ Watch me run...

Hey.

Hey.

♪ Don't you know that we's a family?

♪ Hey, would I let ya down? Huh?

♪ No way

♪ Just hold on, kid

♪ 'Til that train makes Santa Fe ♪

(BELL TOLLS)

JACK: (SIGHS) Time for dreamin's done.

Yeah? Yeah.

Hey, Specs!

Racer, Henry, Albert, Elmer!

Get a move on! Them papes don't sell themselves!

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

Hey, Albert, Elmer, Specs, you heard Jack.

Get a move on.

(SIGHS) I was having the most beautiful dream.

My lips are still tinglin'.

Oh, a pretty girl?

A leg of lamb.

♪ Hey, that's my cigar

♪ You'll steal another

♪ Hey, look, it's bath time at the zoo

♪ I thought that I'd surprise my mother

If you can find her.

ALL: Who asked you?

Papes ain't movin' like they used to.

I think I need a new sellin' spot. Got any ideas?

♪ From Bottle Alley to the harbor

♪ There's easy pickin's guaranteed

♪ Try any banker, bum, or barber

♪ They almost all knows how to read

♪ 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

ALL: ♪ Ain't it a fine life

♪ Carryin' the banner through it all

♪ A mighty fine life

♪ Carryin' the banner tough and tall

♪ When that bell rings

♪ We goes where we wishes we's as free as fishes

♪ Sure beats washing dishes

♪ What a fine life

♪ Carryin' the banner home free all ♪

Well, hello, hello, hello, beautiful.

Oh, step aside, Romeo. Nothin' more concerns you here.

Mornin', miss.

May I interest you in the latest news?

The paper isn't out yet.

Oh, I would be delighted to deliver it to you personally.

(STUTTERS) I've got a headline for you.

"Cheeky Boy Gets Nothing For His Troubles."

(ALL LAUGH)

Back to the bench, slugger.

You struck out. JACK: I'm crushed!

FINCH: Hey, Crutchie.

What's your leg say? Gonna rain? Uh...

No rain.

Oh-oh. Partly cloudy, clear by evenin'.

They ought to bottle this guy!

Yeah, and the limp sells 50 papes a week all by itself.

I don't need the limp to sell papes. I got personality.

♪ It takes a smile that spreads like butter

♪ The kind that turns a lady's head

♪ It takes an orphan with a stutter

♪ Who's also blind ♪ And mute

♪ And dead (ALL LAUGH)

NEWSIES: ♪ Summer stinks and winter's freezing

♪ When you works outdoors

♪ Start out sweatin' end up sneezin'

♪ In between, it pours

♪ Still, it's a fine life

♪ Carryin' the banner with me chums

♪ Still, it's a fine life Carryin' the banner with me chums

♪ A bunch of big shots

♪ Tossin' out a freebie to the bums

♪ A bunch of big shots tossin' out a freebie

FINCH: ♪ Hey, what's the holdup?

♪ Waitin' makes me antsy I likes living chancy

NEWSIES: ♪ Harlem to Delancey What a fine life

♪ Carryin' the banner through the...

NUNS: ♪ Bless the children

♪ Though you wander

♪ Lost and depraved

♪ Jesus

♪ Loves you

♪ You shall

♪ Be saved ♪

Thanks for the grub, Sister.

Elmer, when are we going to see you inside the church?

I don't know, Sister. But it's bound to rain sooner or later.

(BOYS CHUCKLE)

♪ Curdled

♪ Just give me half a cup

♪ Coffee

♪ Something to wake me up

♪ Concrete donuts ♪ I gotta find an angle

♪ Sprinkled with mold

♪ It's gettin' bad out there

♪ Papers is all I got

♪ It's 88 degrees

JOJO: ♪ Jack says to change my spot

ALBERT: ♪ Wish I could catch a breeze

RACE: ♪ Just two FINCH: ♪ Maybe it's worth a shot

BUTTONS: ♪ All I can catch is fleas

♪ If I hate the headline I'll make up a headline

BOTH: ♪ And I'll say anything I have to...

ALL: ♪ 'Cause at two for a penny

♪ If I take too many

♪ Weasel just makes me eat 'em afta...

NEWSIES: ♪ Got a feelin' 'bout the headline!

♪ I smells me a headline!

♪ Papes are gonna sell like we was givin' 'em away

♪ What a switch, soon we'll all be rich

♪ Don't know a better way to make a newsie's day

♪ You wanna move the next edition

♪ Give us an earthquake or a war

♪ 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

♪ But we'll be out there ♪ Got a feelin' about the headline

♪ Carrying the banner man to man

♪ Papes is gonna sell like we was givin' 'em away!

♪ We're always out there

♪ Soakin' ev'ry sucker that we can!

♪ Don't know any better way to make a newsie's day!

♪ Here's the headline "Newsies on a Mission!"

♪ Kill the competition! Sell the next edition!

♪ We'll be out there carryin' the banner!

♪ See us out there carryin' the banner!

♪ Always out there carryin' the banner! ♪

Hey, look! They're puttin' up the headline.

I hope it's real bloody with a nice, clear picture!

NEWSIES: Yeah!

(MUSIC TEMPO INCREASES)

(ALL GROAN)

The trolley strike? Not again!

Man, three weeks of the same story.

They're killin' us with that snoozer.

MORRIS: Hey, make way! Hey, step aside!

Oh, dear me!

What is that unpleasant aroma? (ALL CHUCKLE)

I fear the sewers may have backed up during the night.

Or could it be...

NEWSIES: The Delancey brothers!

Hey, Oscar,

word on the street says you and your brother took money

to beat up striking trolley workers.

So? It's honest work.

By crackin' the heads of defenseless workers?

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

Hey, ain't your father one of the strikers?

Guess he didn't take care of me! NEWSIES: Hey!

You want some of that too? Ya lousy crip!

NEWSIES: Hey! That is not nice, Morris.

All right, five to one Jack skunks him!

NEWSIES: Yeah! Get off me.

One unfortunate day, you might find you got a bum gam of your own.

How'd you like us pickin' on you, huh?

Hey! Hey! Maybe we should find out.

(GRUNTING)

(NEWSIES HOOTING) (BELL CLANGING)

Wait 'til I get my hands on you.

Oh, you gotta catch me first! (GRUNTS)

NEWSIES: Go, Jack!

NEWSIES: ♪ We'll all be out there

♪ Carryin' 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 carryin' the banner!

♪ See us out there carryin' the banner!

♪ Always out there carryin' the banner!

(VOCALIZING)

♪ Go! ♪

Papes for the newsies! Line up!

Morning, Weasel! You missed me?

The name's Wiesel.

Ain't that what I said? I'll take the usual.

Hundred papes for the wise guy.

How's it goin', Weasel?

At least call me Mister.

Well, I'll call you sweetheart

if you'd spot me fifty papes, huh?

Drop the cash and move it along.

Oh, well, whatever happened to romance?

(ALL CHUCKLE) Fifty for the Racer. Next!

Good morning, Mr. Wiesel.

(CHUCKLES) Fifty papes for Crutchie.

(SNICKERS) Have a look at this. A new kid!

I'm new, too!

Hey, don't worry, kid. It rubs right off. NEWSIES: Yeah.

I'll take 20 newspapers please.

Twenty for the new kid.

And let's see the dime.

I'll pay when I sell them. (CHUCKLES)

Funny, kid, Come on. Cash up front.

But whatever I don't sell, you buy back, right?

(NEWSIES SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

Certainly! Oh, and every time you lose a tooth,

I put a penny under your pillow.

Come on! Drop the cash or move along.

Aye, move it along.

Albert, let me see your money!

You have a very interesting face.

Ever think about getting into moving pictures?

You really think I could? Sure.

Buy a ticket. They'll let anyone in.

(LAUGHTER)

I'm sorry. Excuse me.

I paid for 20, but you gave me 19.

You seen how nice I was to the new kid?

And what do I get for my civility? Hey.

Ungrounded accusations. I just want what I paid for.

He said beat it!

Whoa!

New kid's right, Wiesel. You gave him 19.

Hey, I'm sure it's an honest mistake

on account of Oscar can't count to 20 with his shoes on.

(NEWSIES LAUGH) WIESEL: Here!

Now take a hike! Hey!

Give the new kid fifty more papes.

I don't want more papes.

What kind of newsie don't want more papes?

NEWSIES: Yeah. Crazy.

I'm no charity case. I don't even know you.

His name's Jack.

Yeah, this here is the famous Jack Kelly.

He once escaped jail on the back of Teddy Roosevelt's carriage.

Made all the papes.

JACK: How old are you, kid? I'm ten, almost.

(SCOFFS) Well, if anybody asks, you're seven.

Younger sells more papes, and if we're gonna be partners...

Who said we want a partner?

Selling with Jack is the chance of a lifetime.

You learn from him, you learn from the best.

If he's the best, what's he need with me?

'Cause you got a little brother and I don't.

With that puss, we could easy sell a thousand papes a week.

Hey, look sad, kid.

(EXCLAIMS) We're gonna make millions!

This is my brother David. I'm Les.

Hey, nice to meet you, Davey.

My two bits come off the top,

we split everything else 70-30, all right?

Fifty-fifty. You wouldn't try to pull a fast one on a little kid?

Sixty-forty. And that is my final offer.

Deal!

That's disgusting.

That's just business.

Newsies, hit the streets!

The sun is up, the headline stinks,

and this kid ain't getting any younger!

♪ We'll all be out there

♪ Carryin' 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

♪ Carryin' the banner!

♪ See us out there

♪ Carryin' the banner!

♪ Always out there

♪ Carryin' the banner!

(VOCALIZING)

♪ Go! ♪

Gentlemen, The World is in trouble.

Our circulation is down for the third quarter in a row.

But, Mr. Pulitzer, every paper's circulation is down since the war ended.

Whoever said "War is hell" wasn't trying to sell newspapers.

We could use an exciting headline. What have we got today?

The trolley strike.

That's not exciting?

It's epic. It's boring.

Folks wanna know, "Is the trolley comin' or am I walkin'?"

No one cares why.

And the strike's about to be settled.

Governor Roosevelt just put his support behind the workers.

Oh, that man is a socialist.

Teddy Roosevelt is no socialist. He's an American hero.

The man wants to outlaw football for being too violent!

Football! Violent?

You're right. He's no socialist. He's a commie.

Mr. Pulitzer, you must try to sit still.

Gentlemen, please. You're making Nunzio nervous.

And when Nunzio gets nervous,

I don't look pretty.

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.

How can I influence voters if they're not reading my opinion?

Big photos attract readers. Do you know what big photos cost?

But without flashy photos and headlines,

how are we supposed to sell more papers?

(SIGHS) The answer is right before your eyes.

You're not thinking this through.

People...

♪ Nunzio knows when he's cutting my hair

♪ Trim a bit here and then trim a bit there

♪ Just a modest adjustment can fatten the bottom line...

Mr. Pulitzer, please. Eh?

♪ Shaving is tricky, the razor should float

♪ Shave me too close, and you may cut my throat

♪ It's the simplest solutions that bolster the bottom line ♪

How does that help us sell more papers?

We don't sell papers, silly. Newsies sell papers.

Exactly, silly.

Newsies sell papers. I've got it.

Right now, we charge the newsies

50 cents for 100 papers. Yes.

But if we raise their price to 60 cents per 100...

Now you're getting somewhere.

A mere tenth of a penny per paper?

Every single newsie would have to sell 10 more papers

just to earn the same amount as always.

My thought exactly. It's genius.

But it's going to be awfully rough on those children.

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 'em to be

♪ Like an army that's marching to war

♪ Proud of themselves and so grateful to me

♪ They'll be begging to pay even more

♪ When there's dirt on your 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

♪ When you're stuck in the muck, you'll be fine

♪ You'll erase any trace of decline

♪ With a trim! ♪ And a snip!

♪ And a shine ♪ And the power 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...

♪ Every new outcome is income for you

♪ Thanks to that bottom line! ♪

NEWSIES: Extra! Extra...

NEWSIES: ♪ Sunup to sundown

♪ Knowin' where my customers will be

♪ Sunup to sundown

♪ Watchin' all the ladies watchin' me

♪ Walk my shoes off got the dough to show it

♪ Probably I'll blow it Then before you know it

♪ We'll be out there carryin' the banner ♪

Paper! Paper! Oh, evenin' pape here.

(JACK LAUGHING)

Sing him to sleep, why don't you?

Extra! Extra!

"Terrified flight from burnin' inferno."

You heard the story right here.

Thanks, mister.

(CLICKING TONGUE) You just made that up.

I did not. I said he heard it right here. And he did.

Well, my father taught us not to lie.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah! Mine taught me not to starve.

Hey! Just sold my last paper!

I got one more. Sell it or pay for it.

Give it here!

JACK: (WHISPERING) Oh. Go, go, go.

Buy a pape from a poor orphan boy.

(COUGHS)

Oh, you dear thing. Of course, I'll take a newspaper.

Here's a dime.

(LAUGHS)

Born to the breed.

This is so much better than school!

This kid. Don't even think it.

When Pop goes back to work, we go back to school.

Hey, so, uh, how's about we divvy up the money?

We'll grab some chow and find you someplace safe to spend the night. Yeah?

Uh, no, we gotta get home. Our folks'll be waitin' dinner.

You got folks, huh?

Doesn't everyone? Hey.

(SCOFFS) Um...

Our dad tangled with a delivery truck on the job.

Mmm. Messed up his leg bad, so they laid him off.

That's how come we had to find work.

Yeah, sure, that... That makes sense, yes.

Um, too, too bad about your dad.

Look, why don't you come home with us for dinner?

Our folks will be happy to have you.

Mom's a great cook. Yeah.

Uh, thanks for the invite.

I just remembered I got plans with a fella.

He's probably waitin' on me right now. I...

Is that the guy you're meetin'? JACK: What?

Kelly! Run for it!

SNYDER: Kelly! Come on, run!

SNYDER: This way, Officer!

Jack Kelly!

(INDISTINCT YELLING)

Hurry! Come on, kid!

Down here. Down here.

(ALL PANTING)

Slow down. We lost him.

Does someone wanna tell me why I'm running?

I got no one chasing me!

Who was that guy?

That, there, was Snyder the Spider. A real sweetie.

He runs a jail for underage kids called the Refuge.

The more kids he brings in, the more city pays him.

Problem is, all that money goes right into his own pocket.

Just do yourself a favor. Stay clear of him and the Refuge.

DAVEY: I hear you.

Hey! You up there! Shoo!

No kids allowed in the theater!

Not even me, Miss Medda?

Jack Kelly? JACK: Yeah.

Man of mystery.

Get yourself down here and give me a hug.

(BOTH LAUGH)

(GRUNTS) Ah.

Where you been keepin' yourself, kid?

Oh, never far from you, Miss Medda.

Boys! May I introduce Miss Medda Larkin,

the greatest star in the Bowery today.

She also owns the joint.

Oh, the only thing I own is the mortgage. Ha!

Pleasure, gents. A pleasure.

What is wrong with you?

Are you blind? She got no clothes on!

DAVEY: That's her costume! But I can see her legs!

Well, step out of his way so's he can get a better look.

Theater's not only entertaining, it's educational.

Got the picture, kid? (GIRLS GIGGLING)

Say, Miss Medda, we got a little situation on the street.

You mind if I hide out here a while?

Oh, where better to escape trouble than a theater?

Is Snyder after you again?

Hey, Jack, did you really escape jail

on the back of Teddy Roosevelt's carriage?

Come on, what would the governor be doing at a juvenile jail?

It so happens he was running for office,

and he wanted to show he cared about orphans and such.

So while he got his mug in a pape, I got my butt in the backseat,

and off we rode together.

You really know the governor?

He don't, but I do! (CHUCKLES)

Uh, say, Jack, when you've got time,

I want you to paint me another one of these backdrops.

Sure. This last one you did is a doozy.

Yeah. Folks love it.

And things have been going so well that I can actually pay.

(STUTTERS) I couldn't take your money, Miss Medda.

You pictured that?

Your friend is quite an artist.

All right. Take it easy. It's a bunch of trees. (CHUCKLES) You're really good.

That boy's got natural aptitude. Okay.

Jeez! I never knew no one with an aptitude.

Miss Medda, you're on!

I am? How am I doing? (LAUGHS)

Ugh. (LAUGHS)

You're good.

Boys, lock the door and stay all night.

You're with Medda now.

(PENSIVE TUNE PLAYS)

Ladies and gentlemen!

Please welcome the star of our show,

Miss Medda Larkin!

♪ 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...

Well, hello!

(LAUGHS)

Welcome to my theater.

Now, listen.

♪ I live in a mansion on Long Island Sound

♪ I pulled up a weed They found oil in the ground

♪ But you telling me you don't want me around

♪ Now, honey, that's rich!

♪ Some guys give me ermine, chinchilla, and mink

♪ And some give me diamonds as big as a sink

♪ But you wouldn't give me so much as a wink

♪ Now, baby, that's rich!

♪ I get brandy from Andy and candy from Scott

♪ 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 some dope

Oh, hey, honey, I was just talking about you!

♪ 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

♪ That's rich!

♪ That's rich!

♪ That's

♪ Rich ♪

♪ That's rich! ♪

Thank you!

Thank you!

And now, gents...

(PENSIVE TUNE PLAYS)

Let's have a big hand for the Bowery Beauties!

(TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

Why don't you go find out?

♪ Don't come a-knocking on my door ♪

Hello, again.

This is a private box.

What, you want I should lock the door?

(STAMMERS)

Twice in one day. Think it's fate?

Go away. I'm working.

Oh, a working girl, huh? Doing what?

Reviewing the show for The New York Sun.

Hey! I work for The World.

Oh, somewhere out there someone cares.

(GASPS) Go tell them.

The view is better here.

Please go. I am not in the habit of speaking to strangers.

(SCOFFS) Well, then you're gonna make a lousy reporter.

The name's Jack Kelly.

Is that what it says on your rap sheet?

Oh, a smart girl, huh?

I admire smart girls.

Beautiful. Smart. Independent...

Do you mind? Pipe down, up there!

You got in for free. At least pay attention. I'm sorry, Miss Medda.

♪ I got no use for moonlight

♪ Or sappy poetry (CHUCKLES)

♪ Love at first sight's for suckers

♪ At least it used to be

♪ Look, girls are nice once or twice

♪ Till I find someone new

♪ But I never planned

♪ On no one like you

BOWERY BEAUTIES: ♪ Don't come a-knocking on my door

♪ I got no use

♪ You aren't welcome here no more ♪ For moonlight

♪ I should've known you stunk like yesterday's trash ♪ Or sappy poetry

♪ The night you stole my heart plus $40 in cash

♪ Turns out my beau is just some bum ♪ Love at first sight's

♪ Turns out that love ain't blind, it's dumb ♪ For suckers

♪ At least it used to be ♪ You got no education and you dress like a thug

♪ You kiss like my Dalmatian and you lie like a rug ♪

What are you doing? Hey! Hey!

Quiet down. There's a show going on.

You are the most impossible boy...

Shh! (WHISPERS) Ever.

♪ Don't come a-knocking on my door!

♪ No I never planned on no one ♪ Don't come a-knocking on my door!

♪ Like you ♪

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(BELL CLANGS)

Ah, man, them fire sirens kept me awake all night.

MUSH: Sirens is like lullabies to me.

The louder they wail, the better the headline.

The better the headline, the better I eat. And the better I eat...

The further away from you I sleep.

Morning, everybody. Sorry we're late.

We had to help our mom with something.

Oh, they've got a mother. (CHUCKLES) I was gonna get me one.

What'd you do with the one you had?

He traded her for a box of cigars. Hey, they was Coronas!

We have a father, too.

A mother and a father.

Hey, ain't we the hoi polloi?

So, how's it going today?

Ask me after they put up the headline.

(BELL CLANGS)

Here it comes now.

"New newsie price. 60 cents per 100."

What'd you say? Is that news?

It is to me!

They jacked up the price of papes.

10 cents more 100!

I could eat two days on a dime!

I'll be sleeping on the street.

You already sleep on the street.

In a worse neighborhood. You're right.

All right, what are you all waiting around here for?

Hey, Jack, get a load of this.

Like Pulitzer don't make enough already.

Papes for the newsies!

Hey, relax. It's gotta be a gag. WIESEL: Line up, boys!

Hey, good joke, Weasel. You really had the fellas going.

I'll take 100. Be on my way.

(CHORTLES) 100 will cost you 60.

(ALL EXCLAIM)

I ain't paying no 60.

Well, then make way for someone who will.

You bet. Me and the fellas will take a hike over to The Journal.

Hey, hey, hey, hey! I'll save you the walk.

They upped their price, too.

Then we'll take our business to The Sun.

WIESEL: Same all around town.

New day. New price.

Hey, hey. Why the jack-up?

Well, for them kind of answers, you gotta ask further up the food chain.

So...

You buying or moving on?

Come here, fellas.

Get over here. Come on. They can't just do that, can they?

Hey, why not? It's their paper.

It's their world. Ain't we got no rights?

We got the right to starve.

Let's just get our papes and hit the streets while we still can.

(ALL CLAMORING)

Hey, hey. Nobody's paying no new nothing. You got an idea?

Would you keep your shirt on? Let me think this through. (ALL CLAMORING)

Stop crowding him! Hey, hey, hey...

Let the man work it out! Whoa, whoa.

Hey, Jack, you still thinking?

RACE: Sure he is.

Can't you smell smoke? (GROANS)

Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Come here.

Hurry up. All right, here's the deal.

If we don't sell papes, nobody sells papes.

Nobody gets to that window till they put the price back where it belongs.

What? You mean like a strike?

Well, hey, you heard Davey, we're on strike!

(ALL CLAMORING) Hold on. I didn't say that.

We shut down this place just like them workers shut down the trolleys.

And the cops will bust our heads.

Half of them strikers is laid up with broke bones. (ALL CLAMORING)

Cops ain't gonna care about a bunch of kids. Right, Davey?

Leave me out of this. I'm just here trying to feed my family.

Oh, what? And the rest of us is here on play time?

Hey, hey. Just 'cause we only make pennies

don't give them the right to rub our noses in it.

It doesn't matter. You can't strike. You're not a union.

What if I says we is?

There's a lot of stuff you gotta have in order to be a union.

Like membership.

What do you call these guys?

ALL: Hi!

And officers.

I nominate Jack president!

Oh, gee. I'm touched. (SCATTERED APPLAUSE)

How about a statement of purpose?

Yeah, I must've left that in my other pants.

Um, what's a statement of purpose?

A reason for forming the union.

Well, what reason do the trolley workers have? I don't know.

Wages, work hours, safety on the job.

Who don't need that?

Hey.

I bet if your father had a union,

you wouldn't need to be out here selling papes right now, yeah?

Yeah. So...

Our union is hereby formed to watch each other's backs.

Union'd we stand. Hey, that's not bad. Somebody write that down.

I got a pencil.

Well, meet our Secretary of State.

(ALL CHEER) JACK: Now what?

If you want a strike, the membership's got to vote.

Okay, so we'll 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! Yeah!

You heard the voice of the membership. (CHUCKLES)

The Newsies of Lower Manhattan are officially on strike.

ALL: Yeah! What's next?

Uh, wouldn't our strike be more effective if someone in charge knew about it?

Aye, well, it would be a pleasure to tell Wiesel myself.

ELMER: And who tells Pulitzer, huh?

JACK: Davey? I don't know.

I guess you do, Mr. President. That's right.

Hey, we do.

So what... What do we tell him?

Well, the newspaper owners need to respect your rights as employees.

Yeah, yeah. Pulitzer and Hearst gotta respect the rights

of the working kids of this city!

Well, they can't just change the rules when they feel like it!

Yeah, that's right. We do the work!

So, we get a say! NEWSIES: Yeah!

We got a union!

(NEWSIES CHEERING)

Pulitzer and Hearst, they think we're nothing.

Are we nothing? NEWSIES: No!

They need to understand that we're not enslaved to them.

We are free agents.

♪ Pulitzer and Hearst they think they got us

♪ Do they got us? NEWSIES: No!

We're a union now.

The Newsboy Union, and we mean business! Hey!

♪ Even though we ain't got hats or badges

♪ We're a union just by saying so

♪ And The World will know ♪

What's to stop some other kids coming along to sell our papes?

Oh, just let them try! NEWSIES: Yeah!

We cannot beat up on other kids.

We're all in this together. All right, all right.

♪ What's it gonna take to stop the wagons?

♪ Are we ready?

NEWSIES: Yeah!

♪ What's it gonna take to stop the scabbers?

♪ Can we do it?

NEWSIES: Yeah!

♪ We'll do what we gotta do until

♪ We break the will of mighty Bill and Joe

♪ And The World will know

♪ And The Journal, too

♪ Mr. Hearst and Pulitzer, have we got news for you

♪ See, The World don't know

♪ But they're gonna pay

♪ 'Stead of hawkin' headlines we'll be makin' 'em today

NEWSIES: Hey!

♪ And our ranks will grow

♪ And we'll kick their rear!

NEWSIES: Yeah!

♪ And The World will know that we've been here!

♪ When the circulation bell starts ringing

♪ Will we hear it?

NEWSIES: No!

♪ What if the Delanceys come out swinging?

♪ Will we hear it?

NEWSIES: No!

NEWSIES: ♪ When ya got 100 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 (BOTH SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

♪ Well, it ain't worth beans

♪ Now they 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

RACE: ♪ And we found our voice

SPECS: ♪ And I lost my shoe

NEWSIES: ♪ And The World will...

NEWSIES: Yeah! Yeah!

♪ Pulitzer may own The World but he don't own us!

NEWSIES: ♪ Pulitzer may own The World but he don't own us!

♪ 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've been down too long

♪ And we paid our dues

♪ And the things we do today will be tomorrow's news

NEWSIES: ♪ And the die is cast and the torch is passed

♪ And the roar will rise from the streets below

♪ And our ranks will grow and grow and grow

♪ And so The World will feel the fire

♪ And finally know ♪

(ALL GRUNTING)

And stay out!

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?

He got it.

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

♪ Pulitzer may own The World, but he don't own us!

♪ Pulitzer may own The World, but he don't own us!

♪ Pulitzer may crack the whip, but he won't whip us

♪ Pulitzer may crack the whip, but he won't whip us

♪ So The World says, "No!"

♪ Well, the kids do, too! Come on!

♪ Try to walk all over us, we'll stomp all over you!

♪ Can they kick us out? No.

♪ And take away our vote? Come on.

♪ Will we let 'em stuff this crock of garbage down our throat?

NEWSIES: No!

♪ Every day we wait is a day we lose!

♪ And this ain't for fun! ♪ And it ain't for show!

♪ And we'll fight 'em toe to toe to toe

♪ And so The World will feel the fire

♪ And finally

♪ Finally know! ♪

And a glass of water for you.

And one for you.

And you and you and, um... (CLEARS THROAT) Thank you.

Who's the big spender that ordered the seltzer?

Over here.

That'll be 2 cents.

(GROANS) 2 cents for a glass of seltzer?

Just give me a water.

How did I ever see that coming?

I'd say we launched our strike in a most auspicious manner.

Yeah.

I don't know about that.

But we sure scared the bejeebers outta Wiesel!

And did you see the Delanceys? They didn't know which way was up.

Hey, hey. So, what's next?

DAVEY: Now you have to spread the word.

Let the rest of the city's newsies know about the strike.

Hey, you heard the man. Let's split up. Let's spread the word.

I'll take Harlem. I got Midtown.

I got the Bronx. And I got the Bowery.

Uh, Specs, you take Queens. Yeah.

Tommy Boy, take the East Side. Hey.

And who wants Brooklyn?

Oh, come on. Brooklyn.

Spot Conlon's turf.

Finch!

You tellin' me you're scared of Brooklyn?

I ain't scared of no turf! Okay.

But that Spot Conlon gets me a little jittery.

Oh. Me and Davey will take Brooklyn.

Me? No.

Why is everyone so scared of Brooklyn?

Oh, hey.

What are you doing here?

Asking a question. Have you got an answer?

(SCOFFS)

Brooklyn is the sixth largest city in the entire world.

You got Brooklyn, you hit the mother lode.

Say, for someone who works for The New York Sun,

you are spending an awful lot of time hanging around at The World. (CHUCKLES)

So what's that about, huh? Are you following me?

(ALL EXCLAIM) No. The only thing I'm following is a story.

A ragtag gang of ragamuffins

wants to take on the king makers of New York?

Well, do you think you have a chance?

Oh, shouldn't you be at the ballet? (SCATTERED LAUGH)

Is the question too difficult? I'll rephrase.

Will the richest and most powerful men in New York

give the time of day to a gang of kids

who haven't got a nickel to their name?

Hey! You don't gotta be insultin'.

I got a nickel. (CHUCKLES)

So, I guess you'd say you're a couple of Davids looking to take on Goliath.

DAVEY: We never said that. Well, you didn't have to.

I did.

You know, I've seen a lot of papes in my day

and I ain't never noted no girl reporters writing the hard news.

Well, wake up to the new century. The game's changing.

Now, how about an exclusive interview?

Ain't your beat entertainment?

This is entertaining. So far.

Hey, what's the last news story you wrote?

What's the last strike you organized?

(ALL LAUGH) You're out of your league, Kelly.

Methinks the lady needs to be handled by a...

Real man.

You thinks wrong, Romeo.

How'd she know my name? Get outta here.

I'd say we save any exclusive for a real reporter.

Well, do you see somebody else giving you the time of day?

Uh...

All right. So I'm just busting out of the social pages, but...

But you give me the exclusive.

Let me run with the story,

and I promise I'll get you the space.

Hey, you really think we could be in the papes?

Well, shut down a paper like The World?

You're gonna make the front page.

(INDISTINCT WHISPERING)

You want a story?

Be at the circulation gate tomorrow mornin', and you'll get one.

Oh, and bring your camera.

You're gonna want to snap a picture of this!

NEWSIES: Yeah!

Boys, play outside. I gotta set up for dinner

and I got payin' customers that need the tables.

Now, come on! We got newsies to visit.

Hey, you won't be shooin' us off when we get our mugs in the papes!

NEWSIES: Yeah!

♪ And The World will know

♪ We been keepin' score

♪ Either they gives us our rights

♪ Or we gives them a war

♪ We've been down too long

♪ And we paid our dues

♪ And the things we do today will be tomorrow's news

♪ And the die is cast

♪ And the torch is passed

♪ And the roar will rise ♪ From the streets below

♪ And our ranks will grow and grow and grow

♪ And so The World will feel the fire

♪ And finally know! ♪

Hey, come on, Les. The folks are waitin'.

So, what's your story?

Are you selling newspapers to work your way through art school?

(SCOFFS) Art school? Are you kiddin' me?

But you're an artist.

You've got real talent.

You should be inside the paper illustrating, not outside hawking it.

Maybe that ain't what I want.

So tell me what you want.

Can't you see it in my eyes?

Yeah, okay.

Have you always been their leader?

Hey, I'm a blowhard. Davey is the brains.

Modesty is not a quality I would've pinned on you.

You got a name?

Katherine... Plumber.

(STUTTERS) What's the matter? Ain't you sure?

It's my byline.

The name I publish under. Yeah.

So tell me about tomorrow.

What are you hoping for?

I'd rather tell you what I'm hopin' for tonight.

Mr. Kelly... (STAMMERS)

(GROANS) Today, we stop the newsies from carrying out the papes.

But the wagons still deliver to the rest of the city.

Tomorrow...

We stop the wagons.

Are you scared? (SCOFFS) Do I look scared?

(CHUCKLES)

Eh. But ask me again in the mornin'.

Good answer.

Good night, Mr. Kelly.

Hey! Hey, where are you runnin'? It ain't even supper time.

I'll see you in the morning.

And, um, off the record...

Good luck.

(GROANS) Hey! Hey! Hey, Plumber!

(JACK PANTING)

Write it good.

We both got a lot riding on you.

You heard the man.

(IMITATES JACK) "Write it good."

Write it good or it's back to wheezing your way through the flower show.

No pressure.

Let's go. (SIGHS)

"Newsies Stop The World."

Huh. A little hyperbole never hurt anyone. (CHUCKLES)

"With all eyes fixed on the trolley strike,

"there's another battle brewing in the city."

And if I could just write about it...

Oh, come on, Katherine!

Those 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 could practically write itself

♪ And let's pray it does

♪ 'Cause as I may have mentioned

♪ I have no clue what I'm doing

♪ Am I insane?

♪ This is what I've been waiting for

♪ Well, that, plus the screaming of 10 angry editors

♪ A girl? It's a girl! How the hell? Is that even legal?

♪ Look, just go and get her!

♪ Not only that There's a 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 camera and her pen

♪ As boys turn into men

♪ They'll storm the gates and then

♪ Just watch what happens when they do ♪

(SQUEALS)

(BREATHING HEAVILY) Okay. Um...

"A modern day David is poised to take on the rich and powerful Goliath

"with the swagger of one twice his age.

"Armed with nothing more than a few nuggets of truth,

"Jack Kelly stands ready to face the behemoth Pulitzer."

(TYPEWRITER DINGS)

Now that is how you turn a boy into a legend.

♪ Picture a handsome, heroically charismatic

♪ Plain spoken, know-nothing skirt-chasing cocky little son of a...

♪ Lie down with dogs

♪ And you wake up with a raise and a promotion

♪ So, he's a flirt, a complete egomaniac

♪ The fact is he's also the face of the strike, what a face

♪ Face the fact, that's a face that could save us all from sinking in the ocean

♪ 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

♪ And it just so happens that we just might win

♪ So whatever happens...

♪ Let's begin! ♪

Is anyone else comin'? I've got no clue.

Hey, well, you've seen Spot Conlon, right?

What, what'd he say? Yeah, sure, we seen him.

Him and about 20 of his gang.

And them Brooklyn boys is big.

And... And I gotta say, Spot was very impressed.

Wasn't he? I'd say.

All right, so, they're with us?

That all depends on how you look at it.

If you look and see Brooklyn, then they're with us.

Yeah, they wanted proof we weren't gonna fold at the first sign of trouble.

Are we?

We are not! No!

There's us, there's Harlem... Well, not so fast, boss.

Harlem wants to know what Brooklyn's gonna do.

What about Queens?

Queens will be right here backing us up.

(ALL EXCLAIM) As soon as we get the nod from Brooklyn.

I got the same fish-eye in Midtown.

MORRIS: Say, Oscar,

it looks like we got bum information

about a strike happenin' here today.

Not that I'm complaining. (CHUCKLES)

I know my skull-bustin' arm could use a day of rest.

JACK: Hey. Are you done?

Are we doing the right thing?

Sure we are.

Maybe we should put this off a few days.

No, we cannot just put this...

Jack, they are not...

Say something. Tell 'em if we back off now,

they will never listen to us again!

Hey, hey!

We can't back down now, all right?

No matter who does or doesn't show.

You like it or not, now is when we take a stand.

How's about we just don't show up for work? That'll send a message.

No! They'll just replace us.

They need to see us stand our ground.

(STUTTERS) Davey. What?

You tell them. I... Jack...

♪ 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 ♪

Hey, Jack, look what I made. Good, huh? (CHUCKLES)

Strike!

Oh, that's great.

That's pitiful.

Don't be so quick to judge.

Maybe Pulitzer will see it out his window and feel sorry for us.

Hey, Specs, any sign of reinforcements?

(SIGHS) Davey, Davey, come on.

♪ Courage cannot erase our fear

♪ Courage is when we face our fear

♪ Tell those with power

♪ Safe in their tower

♪ We will not obey

BOTH: ♪ 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

(BELL CLANGING)

(SIGHS) We doin' this? Yeah.

♪ Now is the time to seize the day

♪ Stare down the odds and seize the day

♪ Once we've begun, if we stand as one

♪ Someday becomes somehow

♪ And a prayer becomes a vow

♪ And the strike starts

♪ Right damn now! ♪

The sun is up. The birds are singin'.

It's a beautiful day to crack some heads.

Ain't it? (CHUCKLES)

Step right up and get your papes.

Are you workin' or trespassin'?

What's your pleasure?

Who are they? Scabs!

Oh, they think they can just waltz in here and take our jobs?

CRUTCHIE: We can handle them! ROMEO: Let's soak 'em, boys!

No, no, no! We all stand together!

Or we don't have a chance!

Jack! Yeah, I know. I hear ya.

Fellas...

(JACK SIGHS)

I know someone put youse up to this.

Oh, yeah, they probably paid you some extra money, too, huh?

Yeah, well, it ain't right.

Pulitzer thinks we are gutter rats.

With no... No respect for nothin', including each other.

Is that who we are, huh? Well, we stab each other in the back

and, yeah, that's who we are. But if we stand together,

we can change the whole game.

(BREATHING HEAVILY) And it ain't just about us!

Yeah, all across the city, there are boys and girls

who ought to be out playin' or going to school!

Instead they are slavin' to support themselves and... And their folks!

Ain't no crime to bein' poor!

No, not a one of us complains if the work we do is hard.

All we ask is a square deal.

For the sake of all the kids

in every sweatshop, factory and slaughterhouse in this city,

I beg you, throw down your papers...

And join the strike.

Please?

Hey! What are you doing? Come on.

(INHALES THROUGH TEETH) I'm with ya.

(ALL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

♪ Now is the time to seize the day

♪ Now is the time to seize the day

♪ Answer the call and don't delay

♪ Answer the call and don't delay

♪ Wrongs will be righted if we're united!

♪ Let us seize the day!

NEWSIES: Yeah!

You're kidding me, right?

Hey, at the end of the day, who are you gonna trust?

Them or them?

(NEWSIES EXCLAIM)

♪ Now let 'em hear it loud and clear!

NEWSIES: ♪ Now let 'em hear it loud and clear!

♪ Like it or not, we're drawing near!

NEWSIES: ♪ Like it or not, we're drawing near!

♪ Proud and defiant, we'll slay the giant!

♪ Judgment day is here!

Oh, what the hell!

My father's gonna kill me anyway!

NEWSIES: Yeah!

NEWSIES: ♪ 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! ♪

NEWSIE 1: All right, Jack! NEWSIE 2: Let's go, Jack!

(MUSIC PLAYING)

All right, come on, Davey!

Come on, boys! NEWSIE: Let's go, boys.

NEWSIE: Show 'em, fellas!

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

NEWSIES: Ha!

Ha!

You see this, Mr. Pulitzer? (GRUNTS)

NEWSIE: Come on, fellas.

(NEWSIES GRUNTING)

NEWSIES: Ha!

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

NEWSIE: All right, let's go! Let's go.

(BOTH GROAN)

(NEWSIES EXCLAIM)

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

NEWSIES: ♪ Charge!

(NEWSIES GRUNTING)

♪ 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!

♪ Newsies forever!

♪ Second to none

♪ One for all and all for

♪ One for all and all for... ♪

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

WIESEL: Atta boys!

It's time these kids learned a lesson.

No, we're not... JACK: Hey!

Newsies! Get 'em!

(NEWSIES SCREAMING)

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

Stay down.

Hey!

Get outta here, kid!

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

It's about time you showed up.

They're slaughtering us. (GRUNTS)

JACK: Cheese it! It's the bulls!

(SCREAMING)

Jack, wait for me! Hey!

Where do you think you're goin'? Jack, help! Romeo! Finch!

Oh, shut it, crip.

(GRUNTS)

SNYDER: Well, it's off to the Refuge with you, little man.

CRUTCHIE: No! No, stop!

No, please, don't!

SNYDER: How about a little... Yeah! (CRUTCHIE GRUNTS)

SNYDER: And you, take him away.

JACK: Crutchie! CRUTCHIE: Jack! Help!

Help!

(PANTING)

(GASPING)

(GRUNTS LOUDLY)

♪ Folks, we finally got a headline

♪ "Newsies Crushed As Bulls Attack!"

♪ Crutchie's callin' me Dumb crip's just too damn slow

♪ Guys are fightin', bleedin', fallin'

♪ Thanks to good ol' Captain Jack

♪ Captain Jack just wants to close his eyes and go

(PANTING)

♪ Let me go

♪ Far away

♪ Somewhere they won't never find me

♪ And tomorrow won't remind me of today

♪ When the city's finally sleepin'

♪ And the moon looks old and gray

♪ I get on the train that's bound for Santa Fe

♪ And I'm gone! And I'm done!

♪ No more runnin', no more lyin'

♪ No more fat old men denyin' me my pay

♪ Just the 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?

♪ Why should you only take what you're given?

♪ Why should you spend your whole life livin'

♪ Trapped where there ain't no future

♪ Even at 17

♪ Breakin' your back for someone else's sake?

♪ If the life don't seem to suit ya

♪ How 'bout a change of scene?

♪ 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 I seem inclined to do

♪ I ain't getting any younger

♪ And I wanna start brand new

♪ I need space

♪ And fresh air

♪ Let 'em laugh in my face I don't care

♪ 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 I can't count on you today

♪ I got nothing if I ain't got

♪ Santa Fe ♪

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Hey, drink up, boys.

And don't never say I don't give you nothin'.

And before you say water is nothin',

just ask a fish in the desert.

Why do old people talk?

To prove they's still alive. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

KATHERINE: Good morning, gentlemen.

Oh, would you get a load of these glum mugs.

Wait, can these really be the same boys

who made front page of The New York Sun?

(ALL EXCLAIM)

Would ya look it! That's me!

Where's me? Where's me?

Wait till my old man gets a load of this!

(GASPS) I won't be last in line for the tub tonight!

(ALL SPEAK INDISTINCTLY)

You got us in the paper? You got yourselves in the pape.

"Newsies Stop The World." (ALL CHUCKLE)

Now there's a headline even Elmer could sell. (ALL LAUGH)

So, uh, what else you got?

KATHERINE: Oh, mine's the only story that ran.

Pulitzer declared a blackout on strike news,

so even I'm shut down now.

Hey, I heard they arrested Crutchie. Did they get Jack, too?

Uh, the Delanceys are spreading a story

that he took it on the lam first sight of the cops.

Jack don't run from no fight.

Take it down, shortstop.

I'm just reporting the news.

For jumping Jack's sake, can you stow the seriosity

long enough to just drink in the moment?

I'm famous!

Yeah, what of it?

Well, are you stupid or what?

When you're famous,

the world is your erster.

Your what?

Your erster.

NEWSIES: What are you saying?

Your erster. (NEWSIES SPEAK INDISTINCTLY)

Hey, you know, your fancy clam with the pearl inside.

(NEWSIES SPEAK INDISTINCTLY)

All right! How much does being famous pay?

No, you don't need money when you're famous.

They gives you whatever you want.

Gratis.

HENRY: Such as?

♪ A pair of new shoes with matchin' laces

♪ A permanent box at Sheepshead Races

♪ Pastrami on rye with a sour pickle

♪ My personal puss on a wooden nickel

♪ Look at me

♪ I'm the King of New York!

(ALL EXCLAIM)

♪ Suddenly

♪ I'm respectable staring right at'cha

♪ Lousy with stature

♪ Nobbin' with all the muckety-mucks

♪ I'm blowin' my dough and going deluxe

♪ And there I be!

♪ Ain't I pretty? It's my city

♪ I'm the King of New York

♪ A solid gold watch with a chain to twirl it

♪ My very own bed and a indoor terlet

♪ A barbershop haircut that costs a quarter

♪ A regular beat for the star reporter!

♪ Am-scray, punk! She's the King of New York...

♪ Who'd'a thunk? I'm the King of New York!

NEWSIES: ♪ We was sunk, pale and pitiful

♪ Buncha wet noodles

♪ Pulitzer's poodles

♪ Almost about to drown in the drink

♪ When she fished us out ♪ And drowned us in ink

♪ So let's get drunk! NEWSIES: ♪ Yeah!

♪ 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 I was a star for one whole minute! ♪

(ALL EXCLAIM)

ROMEO: Come on, boys!

Yeah!

(ALL CONTINUE EXCLAIMING)

NEWSIE: Got 'em!

Whoo!

(ALL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

DAVEY: That's it? (ALL EXCLAIM)

NEWSIE: You gotta be kidding me.

NEWSIES: Whoa!

(EXCLAIMING)

Let's go...

Come on, Katherine!

♪ 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

♪ Flashpots are shootin' bright as the sun!

♪ I'm one highfalutin' son of a gun!

♪ I 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! ♪

(MUSIC PLAYS)

(ALL CHEER)

(MUSIC ENDS)

"Dear Jack...

"Greetings from the Refuge."

♪ How are you?

♪ I'm okay

♪ Guess I wasn't much help yesterday

♪ Snyder soaked me real good with my crutch

♪ Oh, yeah, Jack

♪ This is Crutchie, by the way

♪ These here guards

♪ They is rude

♪ They say jump, boy, you jump or you're screwed

♪ But the food ain't so bad, least so far

♪ 'Cause so far they ain't brung us no food

"Ha. Ha."

♪ I miss the rooftop

♪ Sleepin' right out in the open

♪ In your penthouse in the sky

♪ There's a cool breeze blowin'

♪ Even in July

♪ Anyway

♪ So, guess what?

♪ There's a secret escape plan I got

♪ Tie a sheet to the bed Toss the end out the window

♪ Climb down, then take off like a shot

♪ Maybe though

♪ Not tonight

♪ I ain't slept, and my leg still ain't right

♪ Hey, but Pulitzer, he's going down!

♪ And then, Jack, I was thinking we might just go

♪ Like you was saying

♪ Where it's clean, and green and pretty

♪ With no buildings in your way

♪ And you're ridin' palominos every day

♪ Once that train makes...

Damn this place.

♪ I'll be fine

♪ Good as new

♪ But there's one thing I need you to do

♪ On the rooftop, you said

♪ That a family looks out for each other

♪ So you tell all the fellas for me

♪ To protect one another

♪ The end

♪ Your friend

♪ Your best friend

♪ Your brother

♪ Crutchie ♪

REFUGE KID: All right, enough already.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

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.

Miss Medda, I... Jack.

You're a gem.

Just tell me you're goin' somewhere,

not running away.

(SCOFFS) Does it matter?

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 is ever the right place.

Oh, how about lettin' a pal know you're alive?

Why don't I leave you with your friend.

Where did you go? We couldn't find ya.

You ever think I didn't wanna be found?

Hey, is that a real place? That Santa Fe?

Hey, did you see the papes?

We are front page news above the fold!

Oh, yes. Above

the fold.

Good for you.

Everyone wants to meet the famous Jack Kelly.

Even Spot Conlon sent over a kid just to say,

"Next event you can count on Brooklyn." How about that?

We got stomped into the ground.

Yeah, they got us this time. I'll grant you that.

But we took round one,

and with press like this, our fight is far from over.

Every newsie who could walk was out there this morning,

selling papes like the strike never happened.

And I was right out there with them.

If I don't sell papes, my folks don't eat.

Save your breath. I get it. It's hopeless.

But then I saw this look on Wiesel's face.

He was actually nervous

and I realized this isn't over.

We got 'em worried.

Really worried.

And I walked away.

Lots of other kids did, too.

And that is what you call a beginning.

There he is, just like I said.

For cryin' out loud, where's a fella gotta go

to get away from you people?

There's no escapin' us, pal. We're inevitable.

So, what's the story? Can we have the theater?

Pipe down. I didn't ask yet.

What's the holdup?

I need to let my girl know we've got a date.

Your girl?

You heard me!

I've been swattin' skirts away all morning.

Fame is one intoxicating potion.

And this here girl, Sally, she's a plum.

Word is, you wrote a great story.

Hey, you look like hell.

Hey, Jack, where's that supposed to be?

It's Santa Fe.

Oh, I gotta tell you, Jack.

This "Go west, young man!" routine is getting tired.

Even Horace Greeley moved back to New York.

Yes, he did.

And then he died.

Ain't reporters supposed to be, uh, non-partisan?

Ask a reporter?

Pulitzer's had me blacklisted from every news desk in town.

Can we table the palaver and get back to business?

Will Medda let us have the theater?

It's what I been tryin' to tell ya.

We wanna hold a rally, a 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?

Yeah, smart enough to get you committed to a padded room.

The guy who paints places he's never seen is calling us crazy?

You wanna see a place I seen, huh?

How about this?

Newsie Square, thanks to my big mouth,

filled to overflowing with failure.

Kids hurt, others arrested!

Lighten up. No one died.

Oh, is that what you're aimin' for?

No, no, go on.

Call me a coward. You call me a quitter.

Ain't no way I'm puttin' them kids back in danger.

We're doing something that's never been done before!

How could that not be dangerous?

Specs brung me a note from Crutchie

at the Refuge.

I tried to go see him. I went up the fire escape.

They busted him up so bad,

he couldn't even come to the window.

Now, what if he don't make it, huh?

Are you... Are you willin' to shoulder that?

For what, half a penny a pape?

It's not about pennies, Jack!

You said it yourself.

My family wouldn't be in the mess we're in if my father had a union.

This is a fight we have to win!

If I wanted a sermon, I would show up for church.

Tell me how quitting does Crutchie any good.

(INHALES) Exactly.

♪ So here's how it goes once we win

♪ And we will be winning Make no mistake

♪ We'll be what? ♪ We're already winning

♪ Oh, right ♪ And we'll tell 'em straight out

♪ They let Crutchie go or they keep getting pounded

♪ Oh, Dave What the hell?

♪ Did they bust up your brains or somethin'?

♪ As I recall, Dave, we all got our asses kicked

♪ They won! ♪ Won the battle

♪ Oh, come on! ♪ Jackie, think about it

♪ We got them surrounded

♪ And here's where I think Joe's a jerk

♪ He's a rattlesnake ♪ You're right

♪ And you know why a snake starts to rattle?

♪ No. Why? ♪ 'Cause he's scared

♪ Oh, sure ♪ Go and look it up

♪ The poor guy's head is spinning

♪ Why would he send for the goons? An entire army?

♪ Dozens of goons plus the cops and...

♪ You know, you may be right ♪ Thank you, God

♪ If he wasn't afraid ♪ Exactly

BOTH: ♪ He knows we're winning

DAVEY, KATHERINE AND LES: ♪ Get those kids to see

♪ We're circling victory

♪ And watch what happens

ALL: ♪ We're doing something no one's even tried

♪ And, yes, we're terrified

♪ But watch what happens

♪ You can't undo the past

♪ So just move on

DAVEY AND KATHERINE: ♪ And stay on track

LES: ♪ Stay on track

ALL: ♪ 'Cause Humpty Dumpty is about to crack

KATHERINE: ♪ We've got faith

♪ We've got the plan

♪ And we've got Jack

ALL: ♪ So just watch what happens

♪ We're back ♪

And I've got a date!

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?

Because the trolley workers

are striking for a fair contract.

The newsies are striking against me.

Oh, I'd spare you this embarrassment if I could.

But the Burlesque House is private property.

He can't order a raid without legal cause.

Mr. Mayor, would the fact that this rally

is organized by an escaped convict

be cause enough to shut it down?

An escaped convict?

A fugitive from one of your own institutions.

A convicted thief at large,

wreaking mischief on our law-abiding community.

Mr. Snyder, which one is he?

That is him, there.

Jack Kelly. And how do you know this boy?

His is not a pleasant story.

He was first sentenced to my Refuge

for loitering and vagrancy.

But his total disregard for authority

has made him a frequent visitor.

You called him a thief and escaped convict.

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.

So you'd be doing the city a service.

Removing this criminal from our streets.

If that's the case, we can take him in quietly.

(SHOUTS) What good would quiet do me?

I want a public example made of him.

HANNAH: Mr. Pulitzer...

The boy, Jack Kelly, is here.

Here? Just outside.

He's asked to see you.

(LAUGHS)

Ask and ye shall be received.

Mr. Snyder, if you please.

Sit.

Mr. Jack Kelly.

Hey. Good afternoon, boys.

And which Jack Kelly is this? (WHISTLES)

The charismatic union organizer,

or the petty thief and escaped convict?

Which one gives us more in common, huh?

Impudence is in bad taste when crawling for mercy.

JACK: Crawlin'? (LAUGHS)

That's a laugh. No.

No, I just stopped by with an invite.

No, it seems a, uh, few hundred

of your employees are rallyin'

to discuss some, uh, recent disagreements.

Now, I thought it only fair to invite you

to state your case direct to the fellas.

Huh?

So what do you say, Joe?

Want I should save you a spot on the bill?

You are as shameless and disrespectful a creature as I was told.

Did you know what I was doing when I was your age, boy?

I was fighting in a war.

Oh, yeah, how'd that turn out for ya?

It taught me a lesson that shaped my life.

You don't win a war on the battlefield.

It's the headline that crowns the victor.

Well, I will keep that in mind

when New York wakes up

to front page photos of our rally.

Oh. Rally till the cows come home.

Not a paper in town will publish a word.

And if it's not in the papers, it never happened.

You may run this city,

but there are some of us who cannot be bullied.

Even some reporters. Ah.

Such as that young woman who made you yesterday's news.

Hmm. Talented girl.

And beautiful as well, don't you think?

Yeah. I'll tell her you said so.

PULITZER: Oh, no need.

She can hear for herself.

Can't you, darling?

I trust you know my daughter, Katherine.

(SING-SONG) Yes. My daughter.

You're probably asking, why the nom de plume?

Why doesn't my daughter work for me?

Good questions.

I offered Katherine a life of wealth and leisure.

Instead, she chose to pursue a career.

And she was showing real promise

until this recent lapse.

But you're done with all of that now, aren't you, sweetheart?

Jack, I didn't mean... No. Mmm-mmm.

PULITZER: Don't trouble the boy with your problems, dearest.

Mr. Kelly has a plateful of his own.

Would you say so, Mr. Snyder?

Hello, Jack.

Does anyone else feel a noose tightening, hmm?

But allow me to offer an alternate scenario.

You attend this rally

and you speak against this hopeless strike.

And I'll see your criminal record expunged.

And your pockets filled with enough cash to carry you

in a first-class train compartment from New York

to New Mexico and beyond.

You did say he wanted to travel west, didn't you?

There ain't a person in this room

that don't know you stink.

And if they know me, they know I don't care.

Mark my words, boy.

Defy me, and I'll have you

and every one of your friends locked up in the Refuge.

Now, I know...

I know that you are Mr. Tough Guy.

But it's not right to condemn that little

crippled boy to conditions like that.

And what about your pal, uh... SNYDER: Davey.

Davey and his baby brother

ripped from their loving family

and tossed to the rats.

(TUTTING)

Will they ever be able to thank you enough?

♪ Time's running out, kid So what do you say?

♪ Cowboy or convict

♪ I win either way

♪ Your abject surrender

(LAUGHING) ♪ Was always the bottom line

Gentlemen, escort our guest to the cellar

so he might reflect in solitude.

♪ Too bad you've no job, Jack but you did resign

♪ Too bad you've no family but you can't have mine

♪ Be glad you're alive, boy I'd say that's the bottom line

♪ Like the pied piper

♪ You knew what to play

♪ Till those kids all believed you were right

♪ Lucky for them, all but one got away

♪ They may not be so lucky tonight ♪

And now, we've been given discretion to handle you as we see fit.

Yeah, so behave.

Oh, but just in case,

I been polishin' my favorite brass knuckles.

Ah, you can sleep right here on this old printin' press.

(LAUGHS) Now that there is firm.

(CHUCKLES)

(MARCHING DRUM MUSIC PLAYING)

BROOKLYN NEWSIES: ♪ Newsies need our help today Newsies need our help today

♪ Tell 'em Brooklyn's on their way

♪ Tell 'em Brooklyn's on their way

♪ We're from Brooklyn We are newsies

♪ We are Brooklyn newsies

♪ Just got word that our buddies is hurtin'

♪ Facin' total disaster for certain

♪ That's our cue, boys It's time to go slummin'

♪ Hey, Manhattan, the cavalry's comin'

♪ Have no fear

♪ You know we've got your back from way back

♪ Brooklyn's here

♪ We'll get your pay back with some payback

♪ We're the boys from the beaches of Brighton

♪ Prospect Park and the Navy Yard Pier

♪ Strikes ain't fun but they sure is excitin'

♪ Loud and clear

♪ Brooklyn's here!

♪ Borough what gave me birth

♪ Friendliest place on Earth

♪ Pay us a visit and see what we means

♪ And when ya do ♪ When ya do

♪ When ya do

♪ We'll kick ya halfway to Queens

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

♪ Now them soakers is in for a soakin'

♪ What a sad way to end a career

♪ They's a joke

♪ But if they thinks we're jokin'

♪ Loud and clear

♪ Manhattan's here

♪ Flushing's here

♪ Richmond's here

♪ Woodside's here

♪ So's the Bronx!

♪ Brooklyn's here ♪ Loud and clear

♪ We is here ♪

Whoo-hoo!

Welcome, newsies of New York City.

Welcome to my theater and your revolution!

And let's hear it for Spot Conlon and Brooklyn!

(ALL CHEERING) Newsies united!

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

(CHEERING STOPS)

Let's see what Pulitzer's gotta say to you now.

NEWSIE: Hey, Davey.

Where's Jack?

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

NEWSIES: (CHANTING) Jack! Jack! Jack!

Sorry, kid. No sign of him yet.

Looks like you're doin' a solo.

I can't. Yes, you can.

DAVEY: All right.

Newsies of New York!

Look at what we done.

We got newsies from every pape

and every neighborhood here tonight.

Tonight, you're makin' history.

Tonight, we declare

that we are just as much a part of the newspaper

as any reporter or editor.

We are done being treated like kids.

From now on, they will treat us as equals!

All right?

You wanna be talked to like an adult?

Start actin' like one.

Jack. Don't just run your mouth.

Make some sense. And here's Jack!

NEWSIES: (CHANTING) Jack! Jack! Jack!

JACK: All right, all right.

All right!

Pulitzer...

Raised the price of papes

without so much as a word to us

and that was a lousy thing to do.

(NEWSIES AGREEING) So we got mad

and we showed 'em we ain't gonna be pushed around.

So we go on strike. And then what happens?

Well, Pulitzer lowers the price of papes,

so's we'll go back to work!

(ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)

And then a few weeks after that,

he hikes up his price again, and don't think he won't.

So what do we do then?

And what do we do when he decides to raise his price again after that?

Fellas, we gotta be realistic here.

If we don't work, we don't get paid.

How many days can you go without making money?

Huh?

Believe me, however long,

Pulitzer can go longer.

(NEWSIES CLAMORING)

But I have spoken with Mr. Pulitzer.

And he...

He has given me his word.

If we disband the union... (NEWSIES SHOUTING IN DISAGREEMENT)

...he will not raise prices again for two years.

He will even put that in writing.

Now I say, we take the deal.

We go back to work knowing our price is secure.

All you gotta do is vote "No."

Vote "No"!

(GRUNTS)

(LAUGHS MOCKINGLY)

NEWSIE 1: He's a sellout.

Hey! NEWSIES: Hey!

NEWSIE 2: You're a traitor, Jack!

Davey.

That was some speech you made.

How'd you get here? Well, Specs showed me.

What? He say you could go through my stuff?

I saw them rolled up sticking out of there.

I didn't know what they were.

These drawings...

These are drawings of the Refuge, aren't they?

Is this really what it's like in there?

Three boys to a bed,

rats everywhere and vermin...

What? A little different from where you were raised?

Snyder told my father that you were arrested stealing food and clothing.

This is why, isn't it?

You stole to feed those boys.

I don't understand!

If you are willing to go to jail for those boys,

how could you turn your back on them now?

Oh, I do not think you are one to talk about turnin' on folks!

I never turned on you or anyone else.

Oh, no, you didn't.

You just double-crossed us to your father!

Your father!

My father has eyes on every corner of this city.

He doesn't need me spying for him.

And I never lied. (PANTING)

I didn't tell you everything.

(GRUNTS) If you weren't a girl,

you would be trying to talk with a fist in your mouth.

I told you that I worked for The Sun and I did.

I told you my professional name is Plumber and it is.

You never asked my real one.

I wouldn't think I had to

unless I knew I was dealing with a backstabber!

Oh, and if I was a boy,

you'd be looking at me through one swollen eye!

Oh, yeah? Don't let that stop you, huh.

Give me your best shot!

(BOTH STAMMER)

Uh...

I need to know that you didn't cave for the money.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

No, I spoke the truth.

You win a fight when you got

the other fellow down eatin' pavement.

All right, you heard your father.

No matter how many days we strike,

he ain't never givin' up. I don't...

I don't know what else we can do.

Ah, but I do. Oh, come on.

Really, Jack, really?

Only you can have a good idea?

Or is it because I'm a girl? Oh, I did not say nothin'...

This would be a good time to shut up.

Being boss doesn't mean you have all the answers.

Just the brains to recognize

the right one when you hear it.

I'm listening.

Oh, good for you.

The strike was your idea. The rally was Davey's.

And now my plan will take us to the finish line.

Deal with it.

"The Children's Crusade."

"For the sake of all the kids in every sweatshop, factory

"and slaughterhouse in New York,

"I beg you, join us."

This...

With those words, the strike stopped

being just about the newsies.

You challenged our whole generation

to stand up and demand a place at the table.

Children's Crusade...

Think, Jack, if we publish this,

my words with one of your drawings,

(GASPS) and if every worker under 21

read it and stayed home from work,

or better yet,

they came to Newsie Square.

A general citywide strike!

(CHUCKLING) Even my father couldn't ignore that.

We have one small problem.

We got no way to print it.

Oh, come on, there has to be

one printing press he doesn't control. (SIGHS)

Oh, no. What?

(EXCLAIMS)

I know where there's a printing press

no one would ever think we'd use.

Well, then, why are we still standing here?

Hey, hey. Wait! Stop!

What is this about for you?

Nah, and I'm not talkin' about the Children's Crusade.

What's this about?

What, am I...

Am I kiddin' myself or is there somethin'...

(SCOFFS) Of course, there is.

(CHUCKLES)

Well, don't just say it like it happens every day!

Jack, I didn't... No, no! I'm not an idiot!

Look, I know girls like you don't wind up with guys like me.

And I don't want you promisin' nothin'

you're just gonna take back later.

Standin' here...

Tonight, lookin' at you, I...

Look, I'm scared tomorrow's gonna come and change everything.

If there was a way I could grab hold of somethin'...

Just to make time stop, so's I could just

keep on lookin' at you.

You snuck up on me, Jack Kelly.

I never even saw it coming.

For sure?

For sure.

♪ Till the moment I found you

♪ I thought I knew what love was

♪ Now I'm learning what is true

♪ That love will do what it does

♪ The world finds ways to sting you

♪ And then, one day, decides to bring you

♪ Something to believe in

♪ For even a night

♪ One night may be forever

♪ But that's all right

♪ That's all right

♪ And if you're gone tomorrow

♪ What was ours still will be

♪ I have something to believe in

♪ Now that I know you believed in me

♪ We was never meant to meet

♪ And then we meet

♪ Who knows why (BOTH CHUCKLE)

♪ One more stranger on the street

♪ Just someone sweet passing by (BOTH LAUGHING)

♪ An angel come to save me

♪ Who didn't even know she gave me

♪ Somethin' to believe in

♪ For even a day

♪ One day may be forever

♪ But that's okay

♪ That's okay

♪ And if I'm gone tomorrow

♪ What was ours still will be

♪ I have something to believe in

♪ Now that I know you believed in me

♪ Do you know what I believe in?

♪ Look into my eyes

♪ And see

(STUTTERS) If things were different...

If you weren't going to Santa Fe...

Yeah, if you weren't an heiress... (LAUGHS)

And if your father wasn't after my head.

But you're not really scared of my father.

No. Ugh.

I am pretty scared of you.

(LAUGHS) Oh, don't be!

♪ And if I'm gone tomorrow

♪ What was ours still will be

♪ I have something to believe in

♪ Now that I know you believed in me

♪ I have somethin' to believe in

♪ Now that I know you believed

♪ In me ♪

(MARCHING DRUM MUSIC PLAYING)

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 ♪

I'll get the lights. You get those windows unlocked.

JACK: We've got enough keys here for the entire building.

Hey, has someone being pickin' Daddy's pockets?

The janitor's been working here since he was eight

and hasn't had a raise in 20 years.

He's with us 100%.

(WHISTLES) Hey, you bring enough fellas to keep us covered?

We can hold a hoedown in here and no one would be the wiser.

All right, good job.

Hey. Huh?

It's good to have you back again.

Shut up.

Here she is, boys.

Now just think, while my father snores blissfully in his bed,

we will be using his very own press to bring him down.

Yeah, remind me to stay on your good side.

Hey, is this what they print the papes on?

I can see why they tossed this old girl down to the cellar.

But I think she'll do the job.

Oh, Jack, this is Darcy.

He knows just about everything there is to know about printing.

(SPITS)

I'm sorry.

Uh... (CLEARS THROAT)

You work for one of the papes?

My father owns The Trib.

Whoa. Whoa!

And this is Bill.

He'll be typesetting the article for us.

(STAMMERS) Bill? So I suppose you're the son of William Randolph Hearst, right?

Yeah. And proud to be a part of your revolution.

Ain't that somethin'?

In the words of the little one,

"Can we table the palaver and get back to business?"

A little grease, and she'll be good as gold.

All right, here's how it'll work.

As we print the papes, Race, you'll let the fellas in

and they'll spread 'em to every workin' kid in New York.

After that... Well, after that,

it's up to them.

♪ There's change comin'

♪ Once and for all

♪ You makes the front page

♪ And, man, you is major news

♪ Tomorrow they'll see what we are

♪ And sure as a star

♪ We ain't come this far

♪ To lose

NEWSIE: Let's go, boys! Clear up! Here they come!

SPECS: Right, bring 'em in!

Let's go, boys! Come on, boys, let's go!

ALL: ♪ This is the story we needed to write

♪ As we're 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

(SPITS)

♪ This time, we're in it to stay

♪ Talk about seizing the day

♪ Write it in ink or in blood

♪ It's the same either way

♪ They're gonna damn well pay!

♪ See old 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's begging for bread to survive

♪ Joe, you can stop counting 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!

♪ Once and for all if they don't mind their manners

♪ We'll bleed 'em

NEWSIES: ♪ Bleed 'em

♪ Once and for all we won't carry no banners

♪ That don't spell

NEWSIES: ♪ Freedom!

♪ Finally, we's raising the stakes

♪ This time, whatever it takes

♪ This time, the union awaits

♪ Once and for all!

"In the words of union leader, Jack Kelly..."

(CHUCKLES)

"'We will work with you, we will even work for you,

"'but we will be paid

"'and treated as valuable members of your organization.'"

Riveting stuff, huh? (SIGHS)

Hey, get goin'. You got a very important man to see.

Well, keep your fingers crossed, okay?

For us, too.

NEWSIES: ♪ This is for kids shining shoes on the street

♪ With no shoes on their feet every day

♪ This is for guys sweating blood in the shops

♪ While their bosses and cops look away

♪ I'm seeing kids standing tall

♪ Glaring and raring to brawl

♪ Armies of guys who are sick of the lies

♪ Getting 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 will shut down without us

♪ Ten thousand kids in the square

♪ Ten thousand kids in the square

♪ Ten thousand fists in the air ♪ Ten thousand fists

♪ Joe, you is gonna play fair

♪ Once and for all!

♪ Once and for all ♪ Once and for all

♪ Once and for all ♪ Once and for all

♪ Once and for all ♪ Once and for all

♪ There's change coming once and for all

♪ You're getting too old

♪ Too weak to keep holding on

♪ A new world is gunning for you

♪ And, Joe, we is, too!

♪ Till once and for all

♪ You're gone!

JACK: Come on, boys!

♪ Once and for all

JACK: ♪ Once and for all

NEWSIES: ♪ Once and for all

♪ Once and for all ♪

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

I'm sorry, Mr. Pulitzer will have to call you back. (PHONES RINGING)

No, he's very busy. He'll have to call you back. I'm sorry.

He can't talk. He'll call you back.

Mr. Pulitzer's office. No, he can't take your call. I'm sorry.

HANNAH: I'm sorry, Mr. Pulitzer's simply not available.

Well, I'm sorry! I am...

Silence those phones!

The entire city is... (PHONE RINGING)

Sorry.

The entire city is shut down.

No one is working anywhere, and everyone is blaming you!

They're all calling. The mayor, the publishers, the manufacturers.

(GASPS) And such language.

SEITZ: You can't just barge in here!

Mornin', gents!

You're behind this.

We had a deal.

And it came with a money-back guarantee.

Oh, and thank you for your lesson on the powers of the press.

SEITZ: Did you read this, boss?

These kids put out a pretty good paper.

Very convincing.

No doubt written by my daughter.

Oh, I would sign her before somebody else grabs her.

I demand to know who defied my ban on printing strike material.

Oh. No, we're your loyal employees.

Oh, we would never take our business elsewhere.

That old printing press in the cellar.

Oh...

I made you the offer of a lifetime.

Anyone who does not act in his own self-interest is a fool.

(SHOUTS) What's that make you?

This all began because you wanted to sell more papers.

But now your circulation is down 70%.

Why didn't you just come talk to us?

Oh, 'cause guys like Joe don't talk to nobodies like us.

But a very wise reporter told me,

"A real boss don't need all the answers." Nah.

"Just the smarts enough to snatch up the right one when he hears it."

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 (LAUGHING)

♪ But let us seize the day ♪

Have a look out there, Mr. Pulitzer.

In case you ain't figured it out, we got you surrounded.

New York is closed for business.

Paralyzed.

You can't get a paper or a shoe shine. (CHUCKLES)

You can't send a message,

ride an elevator or cross the Brooklyn Bridge.

Hell, you can't even get out of your own office.

So, what's your next move?

Mr. Pulitzer, the mayor is here along with your daughter.

And, oh, you won't believe who else.

Good morning, Mr. Pulitzer. I think you know the governor.

Governor Roosevelt?

Joseph, Joseph, Joseph. What have you done now?

I'm certain when you hear my explanation, you'll know exactly...

Oh, thanks to Miss Medda Larkin bringing your daughter to my office,

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.

And is this the boy of whom you spoke?

How are you, son?

I'm told we once shared a carriage ride!

The pleasure is mine, Mr. Governor.

My, God...

Well, Joe, don't just stand there, letting those children sing...

Endlessly. Give 'em the good news.

What good news?

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.

You wouldn't dare.

After the pressure you wielded to keep me from office...

I'd do it with a smile.

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.

He doesn't do happiness, does he?

Mr. Kelly...

If I may speak to you. Alone.

Don't worry. I'll get it.

"Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground."

You can do this.

I cannot put the price back where it was.

I'm sorry. I can't.

There are other considerations... Oh, I get it. I get it.

Joe, you need to save face in front of all these other folks.

I'm young. I ain't stupid.

Thank you for understanding... But I got constituents with a legitimate gripe!

What if I reduced the raise by half?

And get the others to do the same.

It's a compromise we can all live with!

But you eat our losses. Huh?

From now on, any pape we can't sell, you buy back. Full price!

That was never on the table!

What's to stop the newsies from taking hundreds of papers they cannot sell?

My cost would explode!

Oh, no newsie's gonna break his back hauling around papes he can't sell!

But if he can take a few extra with no risk,

oh, he might sell them and then your circulation will begin to grow!

(IMITATES MOCKINGLY) "It's a compromise we can all live with!"

(SCOFFS)

That's not a bad head you've got on your shoulders.

Deal?

(SPITS)

That's disgusting.

Well, that's just the price of doing business.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

NEWSIES: ♪ And The World will know

♪ We been keepin' score

♪ Either they gives us our rights

♪ Or we gives them a war

♪ We've been down too long and we paid our dues

♪ And the things we do today will be tomorrow's news

♪ And the die is cast and the torch is passed

♪ And the roar will rise ♪ From the streets below

♪ And our ranks will grow and grow

♪ And grow and grow and grow and grow and... ♪

Newsies of New York City.

We won!

(CHEERING)

And now I would like to introduce my very own personal pal,

Governor Theodore Roosevelt himself!

Each generation must, at the height of its power,

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!

Your drawing, son, brought another matter to bear.

Officers! If you please.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

RACE: Hey, Jack, look. It's Crutchie!

(LAUGHTER)

Hiya, fellas! You miss me?

ALL: Yeah!

Oh! And look what I got for youse, a gift. Straight from the Refuge.

All right, bring him in, fellas.

RACE: Oh, it's Snyder the Spider.

Oh, he ain't lookin' so tough no more.

(GRUNTS) (NEWSIES EXCLAIM)

Jack, with those drawings, you've made an eloquent argument

for shutting down the Refuge.

Be assured that Mr. Snyder's abuses will be fully investigated.

Officers, take him away!

Oh. Please, Your Highness, may I do the honors?

You have got to be joking.

Oh, yeah, and you'll be laughin'

all the way to the pen, little man.

So long, sucker! (ALL EXCLAIM)

Thank you, Governor.

I can't help thinking, if one of your drawings

convinced the governor to shut down the Refuge,

what might a daily political cartoon do to expose the dealings

in our own government's back rooms?

What do you say, Teddy?

Care to let this young man's artistry

shine a lantern behind your closed doors?

(STAMMERS) Don't sweat it, Gov.

I mean, with the strike settled,

I should be hittin' the road.

Don't you ever get tired of singing the same old tune?

What's Santa Fe got that New York ain't?

Tarantulas?

Better yet, what's New York got that Santa Fe ain't?

New York's got us, and we're family.

Did I not hear something about the strike being settled?

WIESEL: Papes for the newsies. Line up, boys.

These papes ain't gonna sell themselves.

Come along, Governor.

And show me that backseat I've been hearing so much about.

(LAUGHING)

Well, don't just stand there. You've got a union to run. (SCOFFS)

Besides, didn't someone just offer you a pretty exciting job?

What? Me work for your father?

Well, you already work for my father.

Oh, yeah. (CHUCKLES)

And you've got one more ace up your sleeve.

And what would that be?

Me.

Wherever you go, I'm there.

Right by your side.

For sure?

For sure.

♪ It don't take much to be a dreamer

♪ All you do is close your eyes

♪ But some made-up world is all you ever see

♪ Now my eyes is finally open

♪ And my dreams, they's average size

(CHUCKLES)

♪ But they don't much matter if you ain't with me ♪

Guys!

RACE: Whoa! (NEWSIES CHEERING)

Atta boy, Jack Kelly!

Well, Jack, are you in or you out?

Come on.

I mean, I've been busy, right? (LAUGHING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

NEWSIES: Yeah!

♪ We'll all be out there

♪ Carryin' 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 carryin' the banner

♪ See us out there carryin' the banner

♪ Always out there carryin' the banner ♪

♪ Look at me I'm the King of New York

♪ Suddenly I'm respectable

♪ Staring right at'cha Lousy with stature

♪ Glory be I'm the King of New York

♪ Victory Front page story Guts and glory

♪ I'm the King

Whoo!

♪ Of New York! ♪

(MARCHING DRUMS MUSIC PLAYING)

(NEWSIE 1 SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY)

NEWSIES: Newsies of New York!

(YELL IN UNISON)

NEWSIE 1: Let's go! NEWSIE 2: Hey.

(MARCHING DRUMS MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)

(NEWSIES GRUNTING)

(MUSIC PLAYING)