The Last Rose of Summer

02

"Hundred papes for the wise guy."

Race and Crutchie got their papers. Weisel said, "Hey, look at this! A new kid!"

A younger boy appeared from behind the older boy and exclaimed, "I'm new too!"

"Oh, don't worry kid. It rubs right off," Race joked.

"I'll take 20 newspapers, please," Davey said.

"20 papes for the new kid," Weisel ordered.

"Hey, hey, let's see the dime," Oscar told Davey.

"Well I'll pay you when I sell them," Davey reasoned.

"Haha, funny kid."

"Come on," Weisel said. "Cash up, boy."

"But whatever I don't sell, you buy back, right?" Davey asked.

Weisel replied sarcastically, "Oh! Certainly! And every time you lose a tooth, I put a penny under your pillow. Ha! This kid's a riot. Come on, cough up the cast and move along."

Oscar handed him a paper and said, "Come on, move it along."

"Albert! Let's see your money."

"You have a very interesting face," Albert commented. "Ever think of getting into the moving pictures?"

"You really think I could?"

"Sure. Buy a ticket, they let anyone in!" The others laughed.

"Sorry, excuse me, I paid for 20, but you gave me 19," Davey said.

"See how nice I was to the new kid. What do I get for my civility?" Weisel wondered. "Ungrounded accusations?"

"I just want what I paid for."

"He said beat it," Oscar told him.

Jack walked up and counted the papers before saying, "New kid's right! Weasel, you gave him 19. I'm sure it's an honest mistake, on account of how Oscar can't count to 20 with his shoes on." Oscar lunged for Jack. He was held back by Weisel.

Weisel gave Davey a paper. "Here's your paper. Take a hike."

"Give the new kid 50 more papes."

"I don't want more papes," Davey argued.

"What kind of newsie don't want more papes?"

"I'm no charity case! Besides, I don't even know you."

"His name's Jack," Les said.

"Yeah, this here is the famous Jack Kelly! Hey, c'mere! He once escaped jail on the back of Teddy Roosevelt's carriage. Made all the papes!" Crutchie added.

Jack turned to Les and asked, "Hey, how old are you, kid?"

Les held up his hands as he said, "I'm ten!... almost."

"Well if anybody asks, you're seven. Younger sells more papes, and if we're gonna be partners..."

"Who said we want to partner?" Davey retorted.

"Sellin' with Jack is the chance of a lifetime!" Crutchie said. "You learn from him, you learn from the best."

"Well if he's the best, then what's he need with me?"

Jack turned back to Les. "Cause you got a little brudder and I don't. With that plus, we can easily sell a thousand papes a week." He said to Les and said, "Look sad, kid."

Les made a sad face and Jack grinned. "We're gonna make millions!"

"This is my brother, David. I'm Les," Les replied.

"It's nice to meet you Davey. My two bits come off the top and we split everything else 70-30," Jack decided.

Les exclaimed, "50-50! You wouldn't try and pull a fast one on a little kid."

"60-40 and that's my final offer."

"Deal."

They spit-shook and Davey said bluntly, "That's disgusting."

"That's just business," Jack answered smugly.

--

Jack turned to the newsies and cried, "Get to the streets! The sun is up, the headline stinks, and this kid ain't gettin' any younger!"

Newsies (sung):

We'll all be out there, carrying the banner man to man

We're always out there soakin' every sucker that we can.

Here's the headline: Newsies on a mission!

Kill the competition! Sell the next edition!

We'll be out there carrying the banner!

See us out there carrying the banner!

Always out there carrying the banner

Ah, ah, ah, ah, go!

(Since the video refuses to show, I'll put a link below for the time being. Apologies!)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N6DYq8hUsHo