Skye flicks the TV on and the Newsies watch in anticipation at the screen

DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

NEWSIES

Everyone whoops and cheers as the title appears on the screen

(The stage shows a rooftop with two boys sleeping on it, Crutchie is shown waking up and getting dressed)

Crutchie grins and exclaims "Tha-that's me!"

Jack: Hey, where you going? The morning bell ain't rung yet. Go back to sleep.

Crutchie: 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.

Crutchie snorts, "Ain't that the truth."

Jack: Oh, quit gripin'. You know how many fellows fake a limp for sympathy, right? That bum leg of yours is a gold mine.

"It's what I tell him everyday." Jack says, rolling his eyes.

(Crutchie hobbles over to the ladder)

Crutchie: 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.

(Crutchie falls off and dangles off the ladder with one hand)

Everyone's breath hitches in their throat.
Jack yells out "Dammit Crutchie, this is why we're always concerned for you!"

Crutchie: Woah! (Gasps)

(Jack races over to help Crutchie up)

Jack: Do you wanna bust your other leg, too?

Crutchie: No, I wanna go down.

A slight chuckle floats around the room

Jack: (Stammers) You'll be down there soon enough! Take a moment. Drink in my . . . My penthouse. High above the stinkin' streets of New York.

Spot smirks "Some penthouse alright." Jack responds with a glare at the King of Brooklyn.

Crutchie: You're crazy.

Jack: Oh, what, 'cause I like a breath of fresh air? 'Cause I like seeing the sky and the stars?

Crutchie: Yeah, you're seeing stars, all right.

Skye sings out "I see stars, so many stars tonight. You could make diamonds dull, you are so beautiful. Race got an extreme case of deja vu.

Jack: (sighs) Them streets down there . . . They sucked the life right outta my old man. Years of rotten jobs, stomped on by bosses.

Jack looks down with a sad look. Katherine tries to comfort him, "Jack, I had no idea."

Jack: 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!

Crutchie: But . . . But everyone wants to come here.

Skye looks up "Yep, like me."

Jack: 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 strong life in a big city. Give me a big life. . . In a small town

Every single Manhattan Newsie simultaneously groaned or buried their face in their pillow. "If I had to hear that song one. More. time." Race groaned, his voice muffled by the pillow.

"It's not that bad, I like it!" Said Skye, confused as to why the Newsies think it's annoying.

"It become bad when you listen to the same old tune every morning" said Albert.

"Oh."

(Singing)
Jack: 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

"Where's Jack, I only see angsty Jack." Skye commented.

Jack: And while I ain't never been there, I can see it clear as day. If you want, I bet you could see it, too.

"And here we go." Specs said in a bored voice.

(Jack chuckles)
Jack: Close your eyes, come with me. Where it's clean and green and pretty. And they went and made a city outta clay.

"Crutchie, you must be a saint!" Smalls exclaimed. "I would've soaked him by now."

Jack: (chuckles softly) Like the minute that you get there, folks will walk right up and say "Welcome home son, welcome home to Santa Fe!"

"The little details that the directors put in is incredible!" Katherine said in awe. "You can actually see the paint stains on Jack's hand!"

Jack: Plantin' crops, splittin' rails, swappin' tales around the fire. Oh, 'cept for Sunday when you lie around all day.

"That-that actually sounds quite nice." Davey interjected.

Jack: Soon your friends are more like family and they's beggin' you to stay.

"Foreshadowing" Katherine whispered

Jack: Ain't that neat? Livin' sweet, in Santa Fe.

Crutchie: You got folks there?

Jack: (Scoffs) Ain't got no folks nowhere. What, you?

Crutchie: (Scoffs) I don't need folks. (Chuckles) I got friends. (Chuckles)

"Crutchie, you're too pure for this world." Said Romeo.

Jack: Hey. Hey! How's about you come with me, hum? Oh, no one cares about no bum leg in Santa Fe. No, you just . . . Just hop a palomino! You ride it in style.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the infamous Jack Kelly." Skye said, gesturing to musical Jack pretending to ride a horse

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

Jack: Hey! I bet a few months of clean air, and you, you could toss that crutch for good!

"I don't think that's how it works" Les murmured before being shushed by his old brother.

"Let the boy dream, Les."

(Singing)
Jack and Crutchie: Santa Fe, you can bet! We won't let them basterds beat us.

"Everytime Crutchie, Davey, or Jojo curses, an angel gets its wings." Said Skye. (#Cinnamonrollscancursetoo)

Jack and Crutchie: 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!

"Harmonies!" Exclaimed Skye, who was fangirling over their voices.

Jack: Work the land, chase the sun!

Jack and Crutchie: Swim the whole Rio Grande just for fun!

Crutchie: Watch me stand! Watch me run . . .

There was a sniff heard from somewhere in the room and the Newsies turned around to Skye with tears slowly streaming down her face.

"Are you- are you crying?" Asked a concerned Elmer.

"It's- it's emotional, okay?"

(Crutchie suddenly drops his smile and looks away)

Jack: Hey, hey. Don't you know that We's a family? Hey, would I let you down? Huh? No way.

(Jack swings his arm around Crutchie's shoulder)

Jack: Just hold on, kid. 'Til that train makes Santa Fe.

(The Morning Bell tolls in the distance)

Jack: (Sighs) Time for dreamin's done.

Crutchie: Yeah?

Jack: Yeah.

"Excuse you, the time for dreaming is never done." Skye retorted.

Jack: Hey, Specs!

Specs perks up.

Jack: Racer, Henry, Albert, Elmer!

The mentioned Newsboys perk up as their name is called.

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

"Sorry Jack, not all of us get as early as this idiot." Jojo laughs out as he punches Race lightly on the shoulder.

TBC
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Chapter two is done! Hope you enjoy!

Written 02/22/2020
Words: 1138