Strike (Jack Kelly)

The Final Strike

(a/n: ONE MORE CHAPTER AFTER THIS ONE!!!)

"Sorry, Mr. Pulitzer will have to call you back." Hannah says

"I'm sorry, we will have to call you back." Seitz says

"I'm can't talk, he'll call you back"

"Silence those phones!" Pulitzer shouts

"The entire city is-" Seitz says but was interrupted by a phone he silences it quickly. "Sorry. The entire city is shut down! No one is working anywhere, and everyone is blaming you."

"They're all calling. The mayor, the publisher, the manufacturers. And such language!" Hannah says. Jack and Daisy enter the office, brushing past Bunsen. Jack slaps the paper on Pulitzers desk and sits down. Daisy standing behind him.

"How ya doin' this mornin', fellas?" Daisy says

"You're behind this? We had a deal Mr. Kelly!" Pulitzer says angrily.

"And it came with a money-back guarantee" Jack says flipping the money onto the desk." oh, and thank you for the lesson on the power of the press."

"Did you read this, boss? These kids put out a pretty good paper! Very convincing." Seitz says

"It was written by my daughter." Pulitzer says

"And me." Daisy adds

"I would sign 'em before some other paper grabs 'em" Jack states

"I demand to know who defied my ban on printing strike-related material!" Pulitzer exclaims.

"We're your loyal employees." Daisy says

"We would never take our business elsewhere." Jack adds.

"That old printing press in the cellar..." Seitz realizes.

"I gave you the offer of a lifetime, Mr. Kelly. Anyone who does not act in his own self interest is a fool!" Pulitzer exclaims. Davey and Spot enter the office.

"What does that make you?" Davey asks. "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?"

"Because guys like Joe don't talk to nobody like us" Daisy states

"But a very wise reporter once told me: Bein' boss don't mean you got all the answers, just the smarts enough to snatch the right one when you hear it." Jack says

"Now is the time to Seize The Day. Stare down the odds and seize the day. Minute by minute, thats how you win it. We will find a way, but let us seize the day" Newsies sang in unison. The four Newsies looks out the window at the boys below, singing

"Have a look out, Mr. Pulitzer. In case you ain't figured it out, we got you surrounded." Spot says

"New York is closed for business. Paralyzed. You can't get a shoe shine. You can't get a message, ride an elevator, cross the Brooklyn Bridge-- you can't even get out of your own building. So, whats your next move?" Daisy asks

"Mr. Pulitzer, the mayor is here, along with your daughter and... you'll never believe who else." Bunsen says running in

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

"Governor Roosevelt!" Pulitzer exclaims, astonished.

"Joseph, Joseph, Joseph... What have you done now?" Roosevelt asks

"Wait until you hear my explaination--" Pulitzer says.

"Thanks to Miss Medda Larkin bringing your daughter to my office, I already have a thorough grasp on the situation-- Graphic illustrations included! 'Bully', is the expression I usually emplot to show approval, but in your case, I simply mean 'bully'!" he says and points to Jack and Daisy "And are these the two of whom you spoke? How are you, kids? I was told we once shared a carriage ride Mr. Kelly."

"Pleasure's mine, Mr. Governor." Jack says and shakes his hand. He turns to Daisy, and Davey and freaks out.

"Well, come along, Joe. Don't just stand there letting those children sing endlessly, give them the good news!" Roosevelt states

"What good news?" Pulitzer asks

"That you've come to your senses and rolled back up the prices. Unless, of course, you want a full state-centered investigation into your employment practices?" Roosevelt declares

"You wouldn't!" Pulitzer declares.

"After the pressure you wielded to keep me from office, I'd do it with a smile! Come along Joseph? There is one thing worse than a hard heart, and that's a soft head. Think of the happiness you'll bring those children. He doesn't do happiness does he?" Roosevelt says

"Mr. Kelly, Miss. Williams, if I may speak to you alone please." Pulitzer says.

"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground. You can do this." Roosevelt says to the two.

"I cannot put the price back where it was. I'm sorry , there are other considerations." Pulitzer says

"We get it, Joe." Daisy says "You used the same face in front of all these folks."

"We ain't stupid, but I'm a constituent with a legitimate gripe!" Jack says

"What if I reduce the raise by half, and get the others to do the same? It's a compromise we can all live with." He states

"But... you eat our losses. From now on, every pape we can't sell, you buy back. Full price." Daisy declares

"That's never been on the table! And what's to keep newsies from taking hundreds of papers they can't sell? My costs will explode!" Mr. Pulitzer says

"No newsie is gonna break his back carryin' around papes they can't sell; but if they take a few extra and have with no risk, he might sell those and then your circulation will begin to grow!" Jack explains

"It's a compromise we can all live with!" Daisy says mocking Pulitzer

"That's not a bad head you got on your shoulders kids." Pulitzer states.

"Deal." Jack and Daisy say, going for a spit shake.

"That's disgusting." Pulitzer says

"Well that's just the price of doin' business" Daisy says and Pulitzer returns the shake.