Ellie, Katherine and Darcy walked past the newsies.
Romeo made his way towards the trio and said to the girls, "Well hello, hello, hello, beautiful."
Jack noticed the girls and pushed Romeo to the side. "Woah, step aside, Romeo. Nothin' more concerns you here." He turned to the girls, focusing on Ellie. "Mornin' Miss. May I interest you and your friend in the latest news?"
Katherine glanced at Ellie with a frown before saying, "The paper isn't out yet."
"I would be delighted to deliver it to you two personally."
Ellie stepped closer to Jack and smiled, a hint of a smirk behind it. "I've got a headline for you. "Cheeky boy gets nothing for his troubles.""
"Ooh!" the other newsies cried.
"I'm crushed!" Jack exclaimed.
"Back to the bench, slugger," Romeo told Jack. "You struck out!"
In turn, Jack pushed Romeo.
As the trio walked away, Ellie said, "The nerve of them."
Katherine shrugged. "It was sweet."
"No, it was annoying."
"He's kind of cute."
"He's cocky and arrogant."
"I think you'll fall in love with him. And it'll be a Romeo and Juliet love story without the death."
"Ha! I doubt it."
Katherine smiled. "Don't doubt a possible future, Ellie."
"Katherine, I mean it."
---
Finch noticed that the headline was being put up.
Specs said, "I hope it's real bloody with a nice, clear picture!" He faced the headline board.
TROLLEY STRIKE ENTERS 3rd WEEK
The silence was broken with various boys saying things like, "Oh, come on! Really?! Not again!"
"The trolley strike? Again?!" Elmer complained.
"Three weeks of the same snoozer," Race whined.
Finch continued complaining and a new voice interrupted them. "Make way, step aside."
Race waved his hand in front of his nose. "Oh, dear me, what is that unpleasant aroma? I fear da sewers may have backed up during the night."
"Or could it be..." Crutchie added.
"The Delancey brudders!" the newsies cried.
Voices grew heated and Crutchie ended up being pushed to the ground.
"That is not nice, Morris!" Jack cried. "One day, you might find you got a bum gam of your own. How'd you like us pickin' on you, huh? Hey! Maybe we should find out!"
Jack swung the crutch and both the Delancey's fell as he ran.
Amidst the commotion, a bell ring.
"Just wait till I get my hands on you!" Oscar cried.
"You gotta catch me first!" Jack called as he ran.
The newsies got in line for their papers as Weisel was yelling for them to line up.
"Mornin' Weasel, you miss me?" Jack teased.
"The name's Wei-sel," He protested.
"Ain't that what I said?" Jack smirked. "I'll take the usual."
"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