(he throws a dust-covered sheet to) Jack.
WEASEL:
Ah. You gonna be requiring anything this evening? Huh? No? Aww…tick tick. Well then, I ought to be saying good night. Remember, on trick and I go straight to Mr. Pulitzer.
(He exits, leaving Jack alone. MORNING- Jack goes to collect his papers. Oscar and Morris come up behind him.)
WEASEL:
Sleep well Cowboy?
OSCAR:
Come with us Cowboy. We’re gonna go fix you’re pal, Davey. Fix him so he can’t walk.
MORRIS:
Shut up.
(Jack starts to go after them.)
WEASEL:
Ah! Lift one finger and it’s right back to the Refuge. Next!
(Jack picks up his papers and leaves. LATER THAT MORNING- Sarah is walking to work with Les. She has a basket full of lace.)
SARAH:
Morning.
LADY:
Good mornin’, dear.
(Oscar ‘bumps’ into her)
OSCAR:
’Cuse me, Sweetface.
(She continues to walk with Oscar behind her. Morris steps out in front of her.)
MORRIS:
Where’s your little brother, Tootsie? Where’s little Davey?
(Sarah tries to get by, but the brothers push her around.)
LES:
Leave my sister alone!
(He shoves Oscar. Morris holds onto Sarah while Oscar pushed Les into a puddle.)
SARAH:
Stop it! Leave him alone!
(Oscar shoves Les into a pile of baskets. Sarah shoves Morris away.)
SARAH:
You stupid ape.
(She punches him, but it doesn’t hurt him. She runs into the alley. The brothers catch her. David sees Les and helps him up.)
DAVID:
What’s the matter? Are you alright?
LES:
I’m alright, I’m alright. Help Sarah!
SARAH:
Run Davey!
OSCAR:
Yeah, run Davey. We got the best part of your family right here.
(David tackles Oscar.)
SARAH:
Let go of me!
(Morris throws her to the ground. Oscar punches David)
SARAH:
Stop it! Les! Stop, you’re hurting him! No!
(Morris pulls out a pair of brass knuckles and puts them on.)
SARAH:
Leave him alone!
(Oscar continues to punch David. Les runs to Sarah. Jack is walking down the street near the alley.)
SARAH:
Stop it! Leave him alone!
(Jack hears her cries and runs, dropping his papers as he goes. Oscar holds David as Morris gets ready to hit him with the knuckles. Jack comes up behind Morris and punches him. David gives Oscar an elbow in the stomach. Jack throws Morris into a box)
JACK:
Get over here.
(Jack grabs Oscar)
JACK:
Remember Crutchy?
(Jack head butts him and he falls near Morris. Jack goes to help Sarah up)
JACK:
You alright?
SARAH:
Yeah.
(The hug briefly)
SARAH:
David!
(Jack goes to David and checks him out before helping him up. Oscar and Morris finally get up.)
MORRIS:
You’d better run, Cowboy. We’re gonna tell uncle Weas. You’ll be back in the Refuge before suppertime!
OSCAR:
Run, you lousy coward, run!
(Jack starts to go after them, but Sarah stops him. Les runs to the end of the alley.)
LES:
Run! Get outta here! Don’t come back! You hear me?
DAVID:
What? You couldn’t stay away?
JACK:
Well, I guess I can’t be something I ain’t.
DAVID:
A scab?
JACK:
No, smart.
(The four of them go to Denton’s apartment. Jack knocks on the door. Denton opens it.)
JACK:
Did you mean what you wrote here? ‘Bout all these sweat shop kids listening to me?
DENTON:
I don’t write anything I don’t mean. Come on in. I’m just packing a few things.
(They enter. David closes the door.)
DENTON:
So, yes, I mean it. The city thrives on child labor. A lot of people make money that way. They’re terrified that the newsies strike will spread.
JACK:
Well, there’ really not much chance of that as long as they got the power
DENTON:
Sometimes, all it takes is a voice, one voice. Then a thousand. Unless it’s silenced.
JACK:
Why can’t we spread the strike? Have another big rally and get the word out to all the sweatshop kids? Why not?
DAVID:
What are we going to do? Print an ad in the newspaper?
JACK:
No! We’ll do better than that. We’ll make our own paper. We tell ‘em they gotta join us. Isn’t that a good idea?
DAVID:
Yeah, it is. But what do we know about printing a newspaper?
JACK:
Nothing, but our man Denton…
DAVID:
Yeah, but our man Denton has something more important to do. He’s going to be an ace war correspondent, right Denton?
DENTON:
All right. Where do we start?
(They sit at a table)
JACK:
Alright, we gotta move fast. Now, we’ll need the newsies to circulate.
DENTON:
There’s something else that we need. We need a printing press.
JACK:
Just so happens I know a guy with a printing press.
(Jack, Sarah, David and Denton enter the basement of the World building.)
SARAH:
You’ve been living here?
JACK:
Shh. They’re right above us. Weasel catches us here, we’re all in the slammer.
(Jack uncovers a press)
DENTON:
Alright! A Platen press. Looks like old man Pulitzer never threw anything away.
DAVID:
Is it going to work?
DENTON:
It better. We have a deadline.
(They start printing their papers.)
DENTON:
This is the story you wanted to write, well tonight is the night that you can
JACK:
Just get this done and by dawn’s early light you can finish the fight you began
DAVID:
This time we’re in it to stay
SARAH:
Think about seizing the day
JACK:
Think of that train as she rolls into old Santa Fe
Tell her I’m on my way
NEWSIES:
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’re begging for bread to survive
Joe, if you’re still counting sheep
Wake up and read ‘em and weep
You’ve got your thugs
With their sticks and their slugs
Yeah, but we got a promise to keep

Once and for all
Something tells me the tide will be turning
Once and for all
There’s a fire inside me that won’t stop burning
Now that the choices are clear
Now that tomorrow is here. Watch how the mighty will fall
For once and for all!
(Jack hands bundles of papers to the newsies. Denton and Jack crawl out the window.)
DENTON:
It’s awfully nice of Mr. Pulitzer to let us use his press
JACK:
Yeah, I just hope I get to thank him for it someday.
(The newsies spread out and hand the papers to various work kids.)
NEWSIES:
This is for kids shining shoes on the streets
With no shoes on their feet everyday
This is for guys sweating blood in the shops
While their bosses and cops look away
This is to even the score
We ain’t just newsies no more
This ain’t just kids with some pie in the sky
This is do it or die
This is war!

Once and for all
We’ll be there to defend one another
Once and for all
Every kid is a friend
Every friend a brother
Five thousand fists in the sky
Five thousand reasons to try
We’re going over the wall
Better to die than to crawl
Either we stand or we fall
For once
Once and for all!
(Denton is with Teddy Roosevelt, who has just read the Newsies Banner)
ROOSEVLET:
Disgraceful, Denty. Those poor boys.
DENTON:
I thought you’d feel this way, Governor.
ROOSEVELT:
And I did nothing, until now.
DENTON:
Good.
(They shake hands and Roosevelt is handed his hat and walking stick. LATER THAT DAY- The newsies have gathered around the Horace Greeley statue None of the work kids have showed up.)
MUSH:
So, when’s the others coming, kid?
JACK:
They ain’t coming. Ain’t gonna be nobody but us.
SNITCH:
Come on, Jack.
SPECS:
Have hope, Jack.
(Les walks away from the group.)
LES:
When the circulation bell starts ringing, will we hear it?
RACETRACK:
Nah.
What if the Delancey’s come out swinging, will we hear it?
LES:
No!
RACETRACK:
That a boy!
WORK KIDS:
When you’ve got a million voices singing
Who can hear a lousy whistle blow?
And the World will know!
(Work kids come in from all directions. The newsies cheer. Spot enters, leading in all of the Brooklyn kids.)
SPOT:
Brooklyn!
NEWSIES & WORK KIDS:
The World will feel the fire
And finally know!
(Everyone cheers. The newsies and Sarah make their way threw the crowd.)
WORK KIDS:
Strike! Strike! Strike! (etc.)
(The newsies make their way to the front of the World Building.)
RACETRACK:
Dear me. What have we here?
(Seitz and a group of policemen are by the entrance, looking out into the crowd. INSIDE- Pulitzer is at his desk. Seitz brings in Jack and David. Jonathan grabs his arm and whispers.)
JONATHAN:
It’s awful. Everyone’s calling. Mr. Hearst, and Mr. Bennett, and the mayor in such awful language. The city’s at a stand still and they all blame the chief. It’s like the end of the World, only I didn’t say that.
(Jack and David go to Pulitzer’s desk, where Jack pulls out a copy of the newspaper.)
JACK:
Extry, extry, Joe. Read all about it.
PULITZER:
I promised that if you defied me, I’d break you. I’ll keep that promise, boy. Now, I gave you a chance to be free. I don’t understand. Anyone who doesn’t act in their own self interest is a fool.
DAVID:
Then what does that make you?
PULITZER:
What?
JACK:
Oh, this is my pal, Davey. The Walkin’ mouth
DAVID:
You talk about self interest, but since the strike, your circulation’s been down 70%. Everyday you’re losing thousands of dollars just to beat us out of one lousy tenth of a cent. Why?
JACK:
You see, it ain’t about the money, Dave. It Joe gives in to nobodies like us, it means we got the power. And he can’t do that, no matter what it costs. Am I right, Joe?
PULITZER:
I sent for the police. They must be here by now. Send them in, Seitz
JACK:
I’m not going back to jail, Joe. Look out here. Right out here is where the power is.
(Jack opens the window. All the kids are still yelling Pulitzer covers his ears)
PULITZER:
Close the window! Close the window! Go home! Go home! Go home!
JACK:
I can’t hear you , Joe!
PULITZER:
Go home! Go home to your mothers and fathers! Go home!
JACK:
I don’t hear ya!
PULITZER:
Now you listen to me!
JACK:
Maybe you should listen!
PULITZER:
No, no! You listen to me!
JACK:
No! You listen!
PULIZTER:
Close the window and shut up!
JACK:
There’s a lot of people out there and they ain’t just gonna go away. They got voices now and they’re goin’ be listen to. Putting them in jail is not going to stop them! That’s the power of the press, Joe.
(He closes the window. Pulitzer takes his hands away from his ears)
JACK:
So thanks for teaching me about it.
SEITZ:
Those kids put out a pretty good paper there Chief.
(Pulitzer picks up the paper and reads it.)
PULITZER:
I ordered a printing ban on all strike matters. Now, who defied me? Who’s press did you use to print this on? Who’s?
JACK:
Well, we only use the best, Joe. So, I just want to say, thanks again.
(Outside, Seitz’s opens the gates. David starts to come out, Jack is behind him.)
SPOT:
Hey, fellas, they’re over here!
(The newsies gather around and start asking questions. Jack bends over and whispers in Les’s ear.)
JACK:
The strike’s over. We beat ‘em.
(Jack lifts Les onto his shoulders and look out towards all the children.)
JACK:
We beat ‘em!
(The crowd cheers. All the newsies hug and pat each other on the back Weasel, Oscar and Morris put on their hats and leave. A paddy wagon pulls up. Snyder is sitting in the front seat with two cops.)
LES:
Jack! Jack, it’s the bulls. It’s the bulls. Let me down!
SWIFTY:
Down Jack. Get down!
KID BLINK:
Hide Jack
DENTON:
Jack, it’s over. No, no. You don’t have to run. Not anymore. Not from the likes of him. Come on, Come on.
(A cop opens the paddy wagon and the kids from the Refuge come out. The last one is Crutchy. A cop leads Snyder into the paddy wagon. Crutchy taps him on the back.)
CRUTCHY:
Ah, remember what I told ya, Mr. Snyder. The first thing ya do in jail, make friends with the rats. Share what you got in common.
(Snyder climes in. A police officer is about to close the door.)
CRUTCHY:
Officer, may I please?
POLICE OFFICER:
Sure kid.
(Crutchy hands his crutch to a kid. He slams the door and locks it. He gets his crutch back and goes over to Jack and the others.)
JACK:
Heya Crutchy.
DENTON:
You won’t be seeing much of him anymore. Say goodbye Warden.
NEWSIES:
Goodbye Warden!
(The paddy wagon pulls away)
CRUTCHY:
Oh, Jack, you ought tah seen it! He comes stormin’ into the Refuge waving his walking stick like a sword and he’s leading in this army of lawyers and cops.
JACK:
Who comes stormin’ in?
CRUTCHY:
You know, your friend. Him! Teddy Roosevelt
(The newsies are amazed)
DENTON:
The Governor’s very grateful that you brought this problem to his attention. I said you might need a lift somewhere. He’d be happy to oblige. Anywhere you want. And this time, you ride inside.
JACK:
So, can he drop me at the train yards?
DENTON:
Yeah, if that’s what you want.
(They make their way to Roosevelt’s carriage. Jack shakes his hand and climes in. Boots throws Jack a bag. David, Les and Sarah watch sadly. The work kids follow the carriage as it leaves, leaving the newsies alone. The circulation bell begins to ring.)
MUSH:
Try Bottle Alley or the harbor
RACETRACK:
Try Central Park, it’s guaranteed
CRUTCHY:
Try any banker, bum or barber
KID BLINK:
They almost all knows how tah read
BOOTS:
Summer stinks
SKITTERY:
And winter’s waiting

SPECS, BUMLETS & SNIPESHOOTER:
Welcome to New York

SNODDY, PIE EATER, SWIFTY, ITEY & JAKE:
Boy ain’t nature fascinating
NEWIES:
When youse gotta walk
(The newsies line up for their papers. David is first in line. He slaps down a coin.)
DAVID:
Hundred papes.
MUSH:
Alright Davey.
(The newsies hear cheers and turn to see the carriage returning. All the work kids are following.)
MUSH:
Dave, he’s back!
JACK:
Thanks for the advice, Governor. Like you said, I still got things to do. Besides, I got family here.
(He gets out of the carriage and gives Les his cowboy hat. All the newsies yell and talk at the same time.)
JACK:
So, how’s the headline today?
DAVID:
Headlines don’t sell papes, newsies sell papes.
JACK:
Come here Davey.
(Jack holds out his hand. David spits in his and shakes it. Sarah makes her way through the crowd. Her and Jack kiss. All the newsies cheer and yell. The carriage pulls away, with Roosevelt and Spot in it. Spot tips his hat and waves as he leaves.)
SARAH:
Bye Spot!
JACK:
Back to Brooklyn!
(David, Jack, Sarah, Les and Crutchy follow the carriage. Denton shakes David’s hand, then goes to the side and starts writing. The newsies, with their papers, dance as they leave.)
GROUP 1:
It’s a fine life
Carryin’ the banner
It’s a fine life
Carryin’ the banner
It’s a fine life
Carryin’ the banner
It’s a fine life
Carryin’ the banner
GROUP 2:
You got ‘em, Cowboy
You showed ‘em how boy!
You got ‘em Cowboy
You showed ‘em how boy!

THE END


DIRECTED BY Kenny Ortega
THE CAST
Jack Kelly.........Christian Bale
David Jacobs.......David Moscow
Les Jacobs.........Luke Edwards
Racetrack..........Max Casella
Crutchy............Marty Belafsky
Mush...............Aaron Lohr
Kid Blink..........Trey Parker
Boots..............Arvie Lowe Jr.
Spot Conlon........Gabriel Damon
Snitch.............Dee Caspary
Jake...............Joseph Conrad
Itey...............Dominic Maldonado
Snipeshooter.......Matthew Feilds
Specs..............Mark David
Dutchy.............Ivan Dudynsky
Snoddy.............Robert Feeney
Skittery...........Michael Goorjian
Bumlets............Dominic Lucero
Pie Eater..........David Sidoni
Swifty.............Kevin Stea
Bryan Denton.......Bill Pullman
Medda Larkson......Ann-Margret
Sarah Jacobs.......Ele Keats
Mayer Jacobs.......Jeffery DeMunn
Ester Jacobs.......Deborra Lee-Furness
Kloppman...........Marc Lawrence
Ten-Pin............Kevin Michaels
Patrick's Mother...JoAnn Harris
Toby...............Gregg Keny-Smith
Teddy Roosevelt....David James Alexander
Nuns...............Melody Santangelo, Sylvia Short, Lois Young
Joseph Pulitzer....Robert Duvall
Weasel.............Michael Lerner
Snyder.............Kevin Tighe
Seitz..............Charles Cioffi
Oscar Delancey.....Shon Greenblatt
Morris Delancey....David Sheinkopf
Judge Monahan......William Boyett
Mayor Van Wyck.....Ryan MacDonald
Police Chief.......Frank Girardeau
Captian MaSwain....Shay Duffin
Bailiff............Terry Kohl
Gammon.............I.M. Hobson