a/n- what i would give to be in this cast^^
Katherine, Davey, Les, and Tiger left the rest of the newsies and checked the two places Jack would be. First, his 'penthouse in the sky' aka the roof of the Lodging House and once they didn't find him they checked Medda's Theatre.
As they entered the building from the backstage door, they heard mumbled talking from the stage.
"That's Jack and Medda."
Tiger informed the others. After hearing that Davey dashed to see the stage with Tiger close behind him.
"Hey! How about letting a pal know your alive!"
Davey yelled down to Jack from the balcony.
"Or a sister!"
Tiger yelled catching up to Davey.
"Maybe I didn't wanna be found."
Jack grumbled back to them as Tiger rolled her eyes at him walking down the stairs, this time Davey was behind her.
"God Jack you're so predictable!"
Tiger told him as she hit the bottom of the stairs and reached to where Jack was.
"Huh says you."
Jack scoffed at her sarcastically. Then pulling her into a hug.
"Hey, hey what happened?"
Jack asked looking at the big bruise on her face from Oscar.
"It's okay, I'm okay. How are you?"
Tiger said reassuring him as she pulled away from him.
He looked at her skeptically.
"Don't worry, Jack. Racer got em good."
Davey told him from behind the two. Jack smirked while nodding his head then suddenly his face went back to solemn.
"Jack, what's wrong? What happened?"
Tiger asked concerned cupping Jack's face in her hand as he leaned into it, he then reached down into his pocket showing a crumpled up letter.
"Crutchie's in the refuge."
Jack told her giving her the crumpled up letter that Crutchie wrote him.
How are you? I'm okay
Guess I wasn't much help yesterday
Snyder soaked me real good with my crutch
Oh yeah, Jack, this is Crutchie, by the way
These here guards, they is rude
They say "jump", boy, you jump or you're screwed!
But the food ain't so bad, 'least so far, 'cause so far, they ain't brung us no food!
Ha, ha
I miss the rooftop
Sleeping right out in the open
In your penthouse in the sky
There's a cool breeze blowin', even in July
Anyway, so guess what!
There's this secret escape plan I've got!
Tie a sheet to bed, toss the end out the window
Climb down then take off like a shot!
Maybe though, not tonight
I ain't slept, and my leg still ain't right
Hey but, Pulitzer, he's goin' down!
And then Jack, I was thinking we might just go, like you was sayin'
Where it's clean and green and pretty
With no buildings in your way
And you're riding Palominos, every day!
Once that train makes Santa Fe.
Damn this place
I'll be fine, good as new
But there's one thing I need you to do
On the rooftop you said that a fam'ly looks out for each other
So you tell all the fellas from me, to protect one another!
The end
Your friend
Your best friend-
Your brother
Crutchie
P.S- give this to Tiger too, she was as much family to me as she was you. I'll always love you guys and I'll never forget how you two were always there.
"God..."
Was all Tiger was able to say about the letter.
"We have to hel-"
Tiger started as her voice was weak and cracking.
"I tried! They beat him up so bad he couldn't come up to the window!"
Jack yelled frustrated, wiping a single tear away.
"Jack come on! We made front page news! Above the fold! Oh yeah! You heard that right! Above. The. Fold."
Davey told him interrupting.
"Yeah and just like that all the newsies were back out again sellin' like da strike never even happened."
Jack told them holding his head frustrated.
"Yeah! And I was out there with them. And then I saw the look on Wiesel's face and he was actually scared! And I stopped. And I put down my newspapers and so did the others!"
Davey told him happily. Tiger tried to reach for Jack but he smacked her hand away lightly.
"Jack-"
Tiger tried again.
"No! Theys won."
Jack cut her off again, pacing back and forth.
"Oh relax no one died!"
Davey yelled.
"Oh! So that's your goal huh? What about Crutchie?! He can't last there!"
Jack yelled back frustrated.
"So can we get the theatre!?"
Les yelled running into the theatre with Katherine behind him.
"Relax I haven't asked yet!"
Davey told him.
"We'll hurry up! I gotta tell my girl if wes gotta date yet!"
Les told him, running to them on the stage with Katherine right behind him.
Tiger and Katherine both shared shocked faces to the boy.
"Les! I thought I was your girl? Does this mean... you don't want me anymore?"
Tiger fake cried to him bending down on her knees so she was the same height as him.
"Oh it's okay Tiger. I'm sure Racer'll take good care of you! But I know I'm hard to forget."
Les winked. Causing Katherine and Tiger to gasp.
"Okay that's enough of you."
Tiger said pulling Les's hat over his face, standing back up again.
"God! Where can a man go to get away from you people!"
Jack yelled trying to get away from them, turning back to his painting.
"You're not gonna get away from us that easy pal, we're inevitable."
Davey told him pulling Jack back by his shoulder.
"So what I came here to ask was, can we have the theatre? To throw a rally for all the newsies! And Brooklyn said we can count on them now!"
Davey told Jack excitedly trying to get through to him but Jack just scoffed.
"No! No theys won! Yous gotta be insane to do that."
Jack told him, pointing to the others as well.
"Really? So the guy that paints random places that he's never seen before is calling us crazy?"
Katherine laughed as Jack turned to her angrily.
"Oh! You wanna see something I've seen before? Here? How about this for ya?!"
Jack yelled turning the canvas painting of Santa Fe to a boot with the word Pulitzer on it crushing people down.
"That's what I've seen!"
Jack yelled as tears started forming in his eyes.
"And if we stand up then that! That won't happen! Not again."
Tiger told him gesturing back to the painting.
"There's no way I'm putting them kids back in danger!"
Jack told her.
"Tell me how quitting does Crutchie any good?!"
Davey retaliated.
"That's no-"
Jack started.
"Exactly!"
Davey and Tiger spoke at the same time cutting Jack off.
Davey: so here's how it goes when we win
Tiger: And we will be winning!
Davey: Make no mistake
Jack: We'll be what?
Tiger: We're already winning
Jack: Right
Davey: And we'll tell them straight out
They let Crutchie go or they keep getting pounded
Jack: Dave, what the hell?
Did they bust up your brains or somethin'?
As I recall,
Dave we all got our asses kicked
They won.
Tiger: Won the battle.
Jack: Oh come on!
Tiger: Jacky think about it
We got them surrounded
Jack: Here's what I think
Joe's a jerk
He's a rattle snake
Tiger: You're right! And you know why a snake starts to rattle?
Jack: No why?
Davey: Cause he's scared!
Jack: Sure.
Davey: Why would he send for the goons, an entire army?
Dozens of goons and cops, and-
Jack: You know you may be right
Tiger: Thank you, God!
Jack: If he wasn't afraid-
Davey: Exactly-
Jack & Davey: He knows we're winning
Jack, Davey, Tiger, Katherine: Get those kids to see
we're circling victory and watch what happens!
We're doing something no one's even tried
And yes, we're terrified
But watch what happens
Jack: You can't undo the past
Tiger: So just move on
Tiger & Katherine: And stay on track
Davey & Les: (Stay on track)
Jack, Davey, Tiger, Katherine & Les: 'Cause humpty dumpty is about to crack
Katherine: We've got faith
Davey: We've got the plan
Les: And we got Jack!
Jack & Davey & Tiger & Katherine & Les: So just watch what happens..
We're back!
Les: And I've gotta Date!
As Jack and Tiger were walking back to the lodging house they were mainly just talking about the rally and how happy they'll be when the strike is over.
"Sooo....Katherine."
Tiger started, nudging Jack with her shoulder.
"Katherine?"
Jack asked laughing, acting oblivious.
"Oh come on Jack! I know you like her!"
Tiger told him poking him in the arm annoyingly.
"Shut up! I don't like her! I- I mean yeah sure she gorgeous and smart! God she's so smart! And she has this voice that just- and her hair- and her personality, like- like how she's really stubborn and she's just wow-"
Jack started naming everything he liked.
"Sure sounds like you like her... hey coming from a girl, she likes you too. I know that look."
Tiger told him nudging him.
"Nahh no girl like her would like some newsie like me."
Jack told her kicking his feet on the ground.
"Wow. Are these words actually coming from the Jack Kelly!"
Tiger said sarcastically hitting his shoulder.
"Shut up! Enough about me and my personal life. Key word, personal! What about you and Racer?"
Jack asked her raising his eyebrows, suggestively.
"Excuse me? Your personal life? Its my job as your sister to be in your personal life!"
Tiger joked, jokingly punching his arm while also trying to change the subject.
"Uh huh... You know, you didn't answer my question, seriously though, what going on with you two?"
Jack asked, it was now his turn to nudge her.
"I- honestly I don't know. I mean he's Racer so he's always flirting with everyone you know, but when it's us I just I don't know. And I promised myself I wouldn't catch any feelings but when I'm with him- I- I don't know anymore."
"Well coming from a guy, the way Racer looks at you. It's different... It's like you're his weakness. I guess it's how I look at Katherine."
Jack told her.
"Oh! You said it! You like Katherine!"
Tiger cheered.
"Hey hey I didn't say nothin'!"
Jack told her.
"You implied it!"
Tiger cheered, hugging her brother.
"Yeah, yeah well I gotta go give it da man. Go straight to the lodging house! No detours!"
Jack told her walking the other way to the World building while waving 'goodbye' to her.
"Sooo what did Jack say?"
Racetrack asked as soon as Tiger walked into the lodging house. While all the Newsies were looking at her for an answer.
"Its on!"
Tiger announced to the newsies as they all cheered.
"He went to talk to Pulitzer about the Rally! And Davey is getting the theatre ready!"
Tiger added.
All the newsies continued to cheer and party.
"You did it Tiger!"
Racetrack told her hugging her. She hugged back and he lifted her up spinning her around. In the moment Racetrack wasn't really thinking and he kissed her. On the lips. At first it shocked her but she soon kissed right back.
Albert was the first to notice and started cheering. All the other newsies then joined. Tiger's smile was so big she started laughing against Racetrack's lips, as he did the same on hers.
Word Count: 1912