Newsies are gathering outside Irving Hall. Inside, Jack, David and Spot are on stage. Jack quiets everyone.
JACK: Carryin' the banner!
The newsies stand up and cheer.
MEANWHILE- In Pulitzer's study, men are sitting at a table, playing cards. Pulitzer leads the mayor around the table.
PULITZER: You know Gordon, mayor. Mr. Bennett of the Tribune. Mr. Taylor of the Times. Of course, you know Mr. Hearst. This is a new member of our little group, Mr. Gammon. He just came back from Europe. Mr. Gammon owns the New York Sun.
Back in the theater, Jack is giving a speech.
JACK: So, we've come a long way, but we ain't there yet and maybe it's only gonna get tougher from now on. But that's fine, we'll just get tougher with it. But also, we gotta get smart and start listening to my pal David, who says 'stop soakin' the scabs'.
RACETRACK: What are we supposed to do to the bums? Kiss 'em?
SPOT: Any scab I see I soak 'em. Period.
DAVID: No, no. That's what they want us to do.
If we get violent, it's just playing into their hands.
SPOT: Hey, look. They're gonna be playing with my hands, alright. 'Cuz it ain't what they say, it's what we say. And nobody ain't gonna listen to us unless we make 'em.
Newsies in the crowd take different sides and start to argue.
ANNE: Specs, I have a bad idea about this
RACETRACK: really Anne?
ANNE: yes! You let my only family get taken to the refuge!
Anne shoves racetrack. Racetrack shoves her back
JACK: You got no brains. Why we starting to fight each other? It's just what the big shot's wanna see. That we're street rats! Street rats with no brain's. No respect for nothing, including ourselves! So, here's how it's gonna be. If we don't act together, then we're nothing. If we don't stick together, then we're nothing. And if we can't even trust each other, then we're nothing.
KID BLINK: Tell 'em Jack!
JACK: So, what's it gonna be?
RACETRACK: We're with you Jack.
JACK: So, what about you, Spot?
SPOT: I say that what you say is what I say.
The spit-shake. All the newsies cheer. The curtains open and Medda enters. The cheering gets louder.
MEDDA & NEWSIES: High times, hard times
Sometimes the living is sweet And sometimes there's nothing to eat But I always land on my feet
So when there's dry times I wait for high times and then I put on my best And I stick out my chest And I'm off to the race's again!
MEDDA: Hello, newsies. What's new?
Outside, the Crib and police are gathering. Snyder enters.
MEDDA: So your old lady don't love you no more
So you're afraid there's a wolf at your door
So you've got street rats that scream in your ear
MEDDA & NEWSIES:
You win some, you lose some my dear,
Oh... High times, hard times
Sometimes the living is sweet
And sometimes there's nothing to eat
But I always land on my feet
So when there's dry times
I wait for high times and then
I put on my best
And I stick out my chest
And I'm off to the races again
MEDDA: I put on my best!
NEWSIES: I put on my best!
MEDDA: And I stick out my chest
YOU ARE READING
Anne and Mary
FantasyAfter running for years, Anne finally finds herself a job, and a home.
