[In Jack’s penthouse]
[Jack climbs up the ladder to the fire escape, tears stinging his eyes. Once in his penthouse, he paces the floor, processing what happened. In anger, he screams and stomps across the floor.]
Jack: FOLKS!
We finally got a headline:
“NEWSIES CRUSHED AS BULLS ATTACK”
Crutchie’s callin’ me,
Dumb cr*ps just too damn slow!
Guys are fightin’, bleedin’, fallin’,
Thanks to good old Cap’n Jack!
Captain Jack just wants to close his eyes and
GO!
[he takes a couple deep breaths, trying to calm himself. It doesn’t work too well, but when he sings again, he isn’t screaming. Instead of anger, he looks morose and a little scared, like a lost puppy.]
Let me go…
Far away.
Somewhere they won’t never find me,
And tomorrow won’t remind me of today.
And the city’s fin’lly sleepin’,
And the moon looks old and grey.
[he gets that faraway look again, the kind that happens when he’s thinking about his New Mexico dream home. (Here we go again)]
I get on a 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 a moon so big and yella,
It turns night right inta 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 fut’cha?!
Even at seventeen!
Breakin’ your back
For someone else’s sake!
If the life don’t seem ta suit ya,
How ‘bout a change o’ scene?
Far from da 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 gettin’ 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 dere!
[he stops, taking another deep breath and looking out over the city.]
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 nothin’
If I ain’t got
Santa Fe!
YOU ARE READING
Newsies: Live (2017)
Historical FictionSet in New York city at the turn of a century and based on a true story, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged 'newsies' who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the...
