Scene: Rooftop

(SONG: Crutchie on the Roof - CRUTCHIE)

Scene: Newsie Square, Pulitzer's Office, Katherine's Office, Jack's Office (he has an office now lol), Refuge

(SONG: The World Remade - ALL)

(Jack makes his way to Newsie Square on his way "home". The Newsies see him and heckle him.)

Albert: (to himself) Man, you helps someone up in the woild, and what's they do? Drops you on the street like you doesn't matter.

Tommy Boy: Seriously! Like, hello, we all strike together, and he's the only one what gets a reward?

(SONG: Gainfully Ignored - NEWSIES minus DAVEY, LES, CRUTCHIE)

Scene: Seller's Alley

(Jack, walking to the World's offices one day, encounters the SELLER.)

Seller: Might I offer you a Cheezit, kind sir?

Jack: I'm not sure what that is, but okay. Looks special.

Seller: Oh, it's mighty special.

(SONG: Seller's Song - Jack, Seller)

Scene: Meeting Street

(Jack encounters Davey coming his way as he is walking home.)

Jack: Ohno ohno brain be normal please

(Davey sees him. No hellos, conversation, etc.)

(They pass - music starts.)

(SONG: After Santa Fe/After the Strike - Davey, Jack)

(Later, they pass again.)

Jack: (working up courage) So... how was your day?

Davey: It was okay. Les was very annoying today - he really wants to keep working, even after Pops goes back to work.

Jack: (trying to relate) Sorry, that must be rough. Want a Cheezit?

Davey: A-a what?

(Jack shows him.)

Davey: Uh, sure.

(Davey turns into a lamp.)

(SONG: What?!?! - Davey, Jack)

Scene: Newsie Square

(The Newsies find out that Davey has become a lamp.)

Buttons: How dare you do this!

Romeo: go and sit in a hole

Race: (spits) The Woild shore is yer erster, ain't it?

(SONG: (You Were) King of New York - Newsies)

(Jack flees, heading for Medda's Theater).

Scene: Backstage of Medda's Theater

(Jack grabs a paintbrush and starts to angrily paint.)

Jack: mrgha ffrgha stupid rrrrrrrgh (etc.)

(Medda watches him silently, then finally speaks up.)

Medda: I don't agree with them, you know.

Jack: (startled) HAAgh hi Medda.

Jack: All I wanted was to make a kind gesture towards Davey, tell him—uh, well, y'know... (fades out awkwardly)

Medda: I get it.

Scene: Newsie Square

Les: That was... weird.

Crutchie: Yeah. I just... don't understand... how he could be so mean... after all he did to help us.

(SONG: Crutchie on the Roof)

Les: (unsure) Uh... (realization) Wait. With my brother gone... I can do whatever I want, right?

Crutchie: No- that's not- wait- GET DOWN!

Les: TOOOOOOOOOOOO LATE!

(SONG: Freedom)

Scene: Backstage of Medda's Theater

Medda: (unwillingly being a therapist) Well, it's... good that you tried?

Jack: What's the point? My buddies- my family- they hate me! And it's only because I- I was trying to... ugh.

Davey: You know, you didn't need to do that. I liked you anyway.

(SONG: Beyond the Shade/Well this is Awkward - Jack, Davey, Medda)

Medda:...

Scene: Seller's Alley

Race: Mgfrgrfrg that stupid IDIOT how dare he make us think he really CARED about us and all he wanted was MONEY all along-

Seller: ELLO GOOD SIR

Race: AUGH EXPLETIVE WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?

Seller: That... doesn't matter. Permayhaps you'd like to buy something?

Race: Actually, I-

Seller: Ah, no need to embarass yourself! Sir! You are most certainly a bit... down on your luck. Don't worry, anything you want is free.

(SONG: The Seller's Song (Reprise) - Seller, Race)

Race: (after selecting the Cheezit) Okay. How does it taste?

Seller: I don't know, maybe TRY. IT.

Race: Um... okay?

Spot: HOLD IT! Race, what's the first rule of the streets?

Race: Don't touch dead pigeons.

Spot: (sigh) Other first rule.

Race: oHHHHHH. Don't get yourself swindled.

Spot: Yeah. And ya just did.

(SONG: Magic Snack - Race, Spot)

Race: Uh... thanks. That was... weirdly nice of you.

Spot: Whuh- what are you - what do you- NEVER MENTION THIS AGAINNNNNNNNNN

Scene: Manhattan Street

Les: Okay I know I just talked about how great it is that my brother's gone, but where is he? ...And where's Jack?

Crutchie: Jack pretends not to want to be found, but he really does. It's just that he hasn't had too many people want to find him.

Les: So, we gonna go get 'em?

Crutchie: Yeah, we are.

Les: (After a bit) Hey, Katherine!

Katherine: Hi, Les, what's going on?

Les: Jack turned Davey into a lamp!

Katherine: .... Wot?

Crutchie: Yeah, we don't really understand it either.

Katherine: Well, luckily for you, this is the kind of story I'm sure EVERYONE will be interested in! And if Jack's missing (again), I... I'd like to see that he's okay.

Scene: Medda's Theater (Backstage)

Katherine: Hello?

Les: Miss Medda?

Jack: (quietly) Aw, crap.

Medda: (also quietly) What should I say?

Jack: (still quiet) That I'm not here! They can't find me here!

Medda: (LOUDLY) Did you come looking for Jack?

Katherine: Yes, how'd you know?

Crutchie: Is he here?

Medda: No, he didn't come here. Hasn't been for a while now, actually.

Katherine: Alright, well, this is a waste of time. It's not like I don't have better things to do.

Les: Maybe he just needs some time. He'll come back.

Crutchie: The way the others were acting... You think it's safe for him to be wandering the city right now? What if the other neighborhoods find out about this mess?

Les: Brooklyn would kick his—

Davey: LES! LANGUAGE! (quietly) Oh shoot.

Jack: (frustrated sigh)

Katherine: Did you hear that?

Les: I didn't know ghosts didn't like butts.

Katherine: It's not a ghost, you idiot. That was Davey.

Crutchie: wait how can he talk he's a lamp?

Katherine: I don't know. But what I do know is that magical or not, lamps can't move on their own.

Les: So Jack IS here!

Katherine: Hey, look at that! (Loudly) Jack, your ruse was so poorly constructed a ten-year-old saw through it!

Les: I'm almost eleven! (Beat) Wait, ruse?

Crutchie: That's a little opinionated, don't you think?

Katherine: (angry breaths) If I come backstage in ten seconds and you're back there, Jack, your life is forefeit.

Crutchie: ForfeiholdwhatwaitKatherineno

Katherine: Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six.

Davey: You're dead.

Katherine: Five.

Jack: I know.

Katherine: Four.

Davey: Maybe we just come clean.

Katherine: Three.

Jack: Are you kidding me? That would ruin everything.

Katherine: Two.

Davey: Do you really care what the World thinks?

Katherine: One.

Jack: ..............No.

Katherine: BAM!

Jack: Hi.

Davey: We... need to talk.

Katherine: What?

Jack: Yeah. We, uh, that is to say, me and Davey,

we...

(SONG: Look What Happened - Jack, Davey, Katherine)

Katherine: You know what, fine. If you care so much, you can have each other. But don't think this will be forgiven. (Menacing whisper) I can be very persuasive... and powerful.

(Katherine stomps away.)

Les: (cheerily) And this is why I don't get into relationships.

Jack: Listen, you two. If anyone asks, you didn't see me.

Crutchie: Why? I could probably—

Jack: I'm goin to avoid alla this until it blows over.

Les: Jack, that won't work. Did you forget who Katherine's dad is?

Jack: No, I didn't, and that is exactly why I need to disappear. If Katherine convinces Pulitzer of anything, I have no chance.

Crutchie: Just so you know, I don't agree with this.

Jack: I figured.

Crutchie: But... I'll do it.

Medda: Jack, you could stay here.

Jack: Medda, you've done a lot for me. But this is where I go when anything goes wrong.

Medda: That's true.

Jack: Katherine might come back. I need to just lie low.

(Jack leaves the theater.)

Scene: Medda's Theater (Alley)

Oscar: (jumpscare) You really need to spend less time having emotional conversations.

Jack: How the heck did you even (sees who it is)

All right. You know what? I've had enough bullcrap for one day. Let's go.

(Oscar, Morris, and Jack fight. Jack gets hit really hard oh no)

Morris: That'll teach ya!

Spot: (from a fire escape) That kind of punch ain't gonna teach nothing.

Race: Are you suggesting we get ourselves an ~education~?

Spot: Brooklyn's taught me enough. Let's show these boys how it really gets done.

(SONG: Brooklyn's Got Your Back - Spot, Race, Jack)

Race: actually i'm from manhattan but spot thought that would be really cool and i just went along with it

Jack: Respect.

Spot: Respect... is a thing we currently don't have for you, but nobody but nobody gets beat up in an alley when I'm not involved.

Jack: Aw, c'mon!

Race: You might have led us, but my loyalty's to the newsies first, not you.

(They leave.)

Scene: Pulitzer's Office

(Katherine storms into the office.)

Pulitzer: Oh, hello, Katherine.

Hannah: Are... are you okay?

Katherine: I need to discuss with you... a certain member of your staff.

Seitz: Is Johnson making trouble in the print room again?

Bunsen: Wait... the newsies aren't striking again, are they?

Katherine: (pained sigh) If only it were that simple.

Pulitzer: What seems to be the trouble?

Katherine: Your cartoonist is an idiot.

Bunsen: Kelly?

Seitz: I think he's rather brilliant.

Katherine: (pssh) You would.

Seitz: Dang, okay.

Hannah: So what's the trouble with Jack?

Katherine: He... I thought we had a thing going. He let me think we had something. And now he's throwing it all away. There've got to be consequences for that sort of crime, right?

Pulitzer: That seems like a problem for... not us? I don't think your relationship drama is exactly front-page material.

Katherine: You're the most powerful man in the city. You've got to be able to do something.

(SONG: The World Don't Stop)

Pulitzer: All right, do what you want. Just don't expect me to raise you an army or anything.

Katherine: Oh, that's fine. I can take care of that.

(Katherine leaves.)

Hannah: ...Why does she need an army?

Pulitzer: (sighs disapprovingly)

Scene: Newsie Square

(Katherine comes into Newsie Square.)

Les: Hi, Katherine! What are you doing here?

Katherine: Has anyone seen Jack since the theatre yesterday?

Race: Spot and I saw him get absolutely soaked by the Delanceys, yeah.

Katherine: What?

Spot: Don't worry, we soaked 'em back.

Katherine: W H A T ?

Crutchie: ...You're not happy about this, are you.

Katherine: Why would I be? Jack's a liar and a cheat, and the hardest fighters in the city go and help him?

Race: We didn't do it because we respect him or anything.

Katherine: Good. Because you shouldn't. He abandoned you, after all. Who says he really cared about you in the first place?

(SONG: The Mob Song)

Crutchie: Les, go warn Jack. This could end very badly.

Les: But we don't know where he is!

Crutchie: Then go find him! Before these guys do!

Scene: Manhattan Alley

Les: Oh, finally! Thank goodness we found you before anyone else.

Jack: Les, what's happening out there?

Les: Katherine's got all the newsies riled! They're scouring the city trying to find you.

Jack: (groan) Man, she doesn't mess around, does she?

Les: Well... they were already pretty mad at you.

Jack: Yeah, fair.

Les: So what are we—

(Spot runs into the alley.)

Spot: Jack! Les! What are you doing?!

Les: I'm warning him!

Jack: Why?

Spot: The situation out there's gotten... worse.

Jack: What? We need to get back there!

Les: Did you not hear anything I said?

Spot: There's no time! We have to go!

Scene: Newsie Square

(Sound of pounding feet. Jack, Spot, and Les run into the square. Race and Crutchie are in a cage and Katherine is sitting casually on the fountain. Oscar and Morris stand to one side like bodyguards)

Jack: KATHERINE!

Katherine: Oh, hiiiiii! Look who finally showed up.

Jack: This is between us. Leave Crutchie out of it.

Crutchie: (quietly hyperventilating)

Spot: And what'd Race ever do to you?

Katherine: It's simple. He helped Jack.

Les: W-what are you going to do to them?

Katherine: That depends entirely on how this conversation goes. Jack, you and I are going to have a little talk-

Jack: You're gonna talk AT me, you mean.

Katherine: Mmmmmmm... yeah, probably.

Davey: Katherine?

Katherine: OHthat'sstillweird- What?

Davey: Why? Just... what is the point of all this?

Jack: If you're that mad at me, why not just settle it between us?

Katherine: I'm so glad you asked.

(SONG: First New York)

Katherine: Alright, enough talk. Just capture him already, boys.

Jack: OK OK WE'RE LEAVING NOW

Les: But Race and Crutchie! We can't leave them!

Jack: Heckie darnit you're right!

Oscar: (snrk) "Heckie darnit"?

Morris: How you gonna get the cage open, genius?

Spot: I've got two fists and my face, give me five minutes and it'll be busted.

Oscar: Sure you've got that much time?

(Spot punches the cage door and it swings open.)

Jack: It wasn't even locked??

Spot: See, I'm just disappointed now.

Morris: Enough tomfoolery already. Let's get 'em!

(Exit pursued by muscle men)

Scene: Manhattan Alley

Race: Thanks for saving us, I guess.

Jack: You're welcome. Do you believe me now?

Spot: No. And if we see you again, we won't help next time.

Jack: Are you joking??

Race: Does my face look like I'm joking?

Spot: Your face always looks like you're joking.

Davey: Fellas, don't go...

Race: BYE, LOSERS

Les: Well, great. We lost the only two people who actually know what's going on.

Davey: Sorry, have you met those two?

Les: At least they're honest with people!

Davey: Honest? When have I ever been dishonest?!

Les: How about when you didn't tell me you had a crush? Or when you told me Pop wasn't going to get better and we'd have to work this job for longer? Or when...

Davey: Les, what on earth?

(A portal opens to the void.)

Les: You want to know when you weren't honest with me?

Davey: I-

Les: You told me everything would be okay.

Davey: Les-

Les: And now everything's going wrong, and I can't understand it.

Davey: LES-

Les: Are you even the good guys?

(Les throws Davey into the portal.)

Jack: LES???

Les: (crying) I'm sorry I'm sorry I don't know why I did that I'm just so scared-

(Les runs home.)

(Sad piano riffs)

Scene: Manhattan Alley

Jack: I asked myself a year ago when a guy could catch a break... apparently it's never.

Crutchie: Jack, maybe we should-

Jack: When are people going to stop leaving me all the time?

Crutchie: Jack do you need help-

Jack: What? No! My (ex?) girlfriend just hates me, and the guy I actually probably liked is a lamp and WHO KNOWS where he could be now! I just...

Crutchie: ...You can't run away again.

Jack: Are you serious? Running's the only reason I'm alive, Crutchie.

Crutchie: I know. Trust me.

Jack: Then why-

Crutchie: We need to keep moving.

Jack: But you just said-

Crutchie: Oh, we're not running away.

Crutchie: We're gonna fix this.

Scene: Seller's Alley

(Jack and Crutchie are unaware that this is the Seller's alley until he calls to them from his little stall/black market deal place)

Seller: Enjoyed that Cheez-It?

Jack: (about to go super saiyan) You- you never said it would turn people into lamps!

Seller: Ah, so that's what that did.

Jack: Did you not know that?

Seller: I rarely know what my wares do.

Jack: That seems illegal.

Seller: (smugly) Rich coming from you~♪

Crutchie: How do you even know about that?

Seller: Your reporter friend was quite talkative when I was trying to sell-

Jack: YOU SOLD SOMETHING TO HER??

Seller: ye-yes

Crutchie: What was it?

Seller: A necklace. It was quite lovely, she seemed to enjoy it - until she put it on and nearly bit my head off.

Jack: YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T MIND ADDING A FEW THINGS TO THAT CRIMINAL RECORD RIGHT NOW

Seller: wait-

(Song: You Messed Up)

(SHWING- Davey appears!)

Davey: Hey, whoa. Let's all just calm down for a second, okay?

Jack: HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM??