BACKBEAT LOVE

Chapter 10

(Everyone met in Times square to figure out what they are gonna do with the strike)

Jack: Well the first thing we have to do is show Pultizer and the other big wigs that we mean
business so let's go over to the D.O and get the scabs to join.
Jeffrey: Scab?
Morgan: It's when someone is working for the people who are striking.
Jeffrey: Oh.
Jack: So let's go!
(Everyone heads in the D.O, They take their places to block the scabs. the first couple drop their
papes and on the floor and join the newsies. A scab pushes Jack.)
Jeffrey: Easy Jack, we should remain calm.
David: He's right, don't do anything you don't want to regret.
Jack: Like what?
(Another scab pushes another scab right on Jack and that's when all hell breaks loose, Morgan ducks as
a scab goes after her with his fist. She kicks him in the leg and then when he's her height, she balls
up her fist and decks him. Jeffrey blocks a few punches, he pulls Morgan out of the way. Morgan watches
as the fight continues. The newsies tip over the newspaper wagons and papes they fly everyone. Crutchy
sits on top of one of the piles and is shredding and tearing them up, laughing)
Morgan: Jack look out!
(Jack turns and dodges the scab. Just then the police come and everyone starts to scatter)
Morgan: Crutchy, get out of there, hurry!
(Every one scatters, except Crutchy who doesn't notice it.)
Race: Crutchy, get out of there!
(Crutchy suddenly realizes it, but he's cornered by the police and the Delancey brothers.)
Crutchy: Hey there guys.
(The Delancey brothers knock the crutch out of his hand and drag him away. Morgan had come back and saw
what was going on, she ran from the corner and told Jack what had happened.)
Jack: We have to get Crutchy out of the Refuge, that's where they are taking him.
Jeffrey: Refuge?
Jack: It's jail for kids.
David: How?
Jack: Just leave it to me, Morgan you should go back to the Jacob's apartment.
Morgan: Why?
Jack: It might be dangerous and we don't want you to get caught, don't worry I have an idea.
Morgan: I don't get to have any fun.
Jeffrey: Besides this is a guy thing.
(Jack looks at Jeffrey with that "You shouldn't of said that" look. Morgan leaves grumbling under her
breath. she heads to the Jacobs apartment.)
Jack: You shouldn't of said that.
(Jeffrey just shrugs his shoulder)
Jack: Yeah, but don't forget she handled herself really good when the fight broke out, I saw her deck
a guy and knock him out..
(Jeffrey didn't say anything as they headed to the lodging house to get what they needed. Back with
Morgan as she arrived at the Jacobs and lied to them that David was with Jack and a few others playing
cards. Morgan got up and went into the room, she tried to ignore the throbbing in her shoulder, she laid
on the bed on her good side and pulled out the photos that they had taken in 1961, she sighed as she slipped
it back into her pocket before anybody saw it. Les came in and sat next to her. Morgan got up and sat up
indian style on the bed.)
Les: Morgan when will the strike be done with, I want to sell again.
Morgan: I don't know Les, but aren't you suppose to be in school?
Les: Yeah, but since papa hurt his hand, he was fired and we have to work now.
Morgan: I see, do you have any books to read?
Les: I have a few, will you read me a story?
Morgan: Sure, do you want me to read you a story after supper too?
Les: Will you?
Morgan: Sure.
(Morgan watched Les go and bring back a book, it was Huckaberry Finn, one of her favorite books)
Morgan: Great book, this happens to be one of my favorite books Les.
Les: Sarah left off on chapter 3.
(Morgan opened the book and went to chapter 3, she started to read out loud to Les. It had been years
since she had read to the younger ones in the orphanage and it brought back memories. David, Jeffrey, Jack
and a few other newsies headed to the refuge, they had to be careful. Jack carried a rope and they snuck
on top of the roof. Once there, David and Jeffrey tied the rope around Jack and started to lower him. Once
at the barred window, Jack tapped it softly. Jack saw Crutchy and waited for him. Jack notice that Crutchy
was limping badly with his crutch to the window, he also noticed Crutchy having a hard time opening the
window all the way up. Jack could feel the anger rising in him. Jeffrey watched the scene below. )
Crutchy: Hiyah Jack, whatcha doing hanging around here?
Jack: Guess who's on the roof?
Crutchy: Who?
Jack: Jeffrey and David.
Crutchy: Hiyah you two!
David: Shh
Jeffrey: Yeah, you want us to get caught?
Jack: Go get your stuff Crutchy, we're gonna get you out of here.
Crutchy: Well I ain't walking so good, Oscar and Morris, kinda worked me over.
Jack: Did they hurt ya?
(Crutchy nodded, he ignored the pain in his bad leg)
Jack: Well then, we'll carry you out.
Crutchy: I don't want nobody carrying me, ya hear?
(Just as Jack was about to say something, Snyder the warden was coming, Jack swung himself over to the
side and latch onto something. Crutchy grabbed Snynder's arm and directed him into another direction.)
Crutchy: You know Snyder I was thinking...
(Once in the clear Jack hurried back up on the roof and followed the boys back down)
Jack: Crutchy won't last in there long.
Jeffrey: It's that bad?
Jack: Oh it's bad and with Crutchy it's even worse.
David: So what are we gonna do?
Jack: Nothing right now, but tomorrow we're gonna make sure the big wigs know that we mean business.
(Jack and Jeffrey walked with David to the apartment, he had invited them to stay for dinner)
Jeffrey: How?
Jack: By getting our pictures in the New York Sun with the help of Bryon Denton.
(Jack, Jeffrey and David arrive at the apartment. Morgan was in the other room reading to Les, but when
she heard the door, she stopped, marked it and then closed it up.)
Morgan: We can finish this chapter after dinner ok?
Les: You just want to see if Jack's here.
(Morgan smiled shyly and then got up, she came out to see that Jack and Jeffrey were there with David.)
Morgan: So did you have fun playing cards?
Jeffrey: It was ok.
David: Is it ok if Jack and Jeffrey stay for dinner?
(Sarah arrived home carrying her basket)
Sarah: I'm home, today was so busy, I have so much work to do.
Esther: Everyone wash up for dinner, Morgan will you help me set the table?
Morgan: Sure.
(Morgan grabs the plates and sets them down. Sarah comes out to help, while the boys go to the fire escape)
David: Think Pulitzer and the others will listen to us?
Jack: I don't know, but it's worth a try.
Jeffrey: We have to win the strike, think Spot and his newsies will show up soon?
Jack: I don't know, it depends on how well we do.
David: I just want this whole thing over with.
Jack: We all want that, but nobody wants to pay 10 cents a hundred for papes.
Jeffrey: Except the scabs.
David: Yeah, the scabs.
(Morgan finishes her meal and asks to be excused, she walks out on the fire escape. Jack has follows
her out to the fire escape)
Jack: Sorry you couldn't go with us to rescue Crutchy.
Morgan: So did you rescue him?
Jack: No, he couldn't leave, the Delancey brothers messed up his leg pretty badly.
Morgan: Those assholes.
Jack: Assholes?
Morgan: Sorry, it's another word for somone being a jerk.
Jack:Oh, He doesn't want anybody carrying him out.
Morgan: Very stubborn if you ask me.
Jack: Yeah, but he's been that way for as long as I've known him.
Morgan: Oh.
Jack: So what's your story with Jeffrey?
Morgan: It's a long one and you wouldn't believe me if I told you.
Jack: I like you Morgan, you're different from the girls around here.
Morgan: You're different from the boys where I come from.
(Jack leans in, he kisses Morgan, Morgan kisses Jack back, the kiss lastsa long time, until someone
clears their throat and they break the kiss. Morgan and Jack look to see Jeffrey standing in the window
with his hands on the windowsill.)
Jeffrey: It's late we have to get back to the lodging house Jack.
Jack: Good night Morgan, see you tomorrow?
Morgan: See you tomorrow Jack.
(Morgan smiles when he sees Jack slip down from the fire escape, Jeffrey followed him, but not before
giving Morgan his disapproving look.
Morgan watched them walk away and then went back inside, she got ready for bed and went to read Les the
rest of the chapter.
David listened to Morgan as she read softly. Later when Morgan was the only one awake yet, she touched
her lips where Jack had kissed her, she was confused, because she had feelings for Jeffrey a certain way
and she had feelings for Jack in a different way. She was so confused.
Morgan turned to her stomach, her shoulder throbbed alittle bit and she tried to push it out of her mind,she had alot of thoughts racing through her mind and after a half hour she finally fell asleep.
Jack and Jeffrey walked in silence, Jeffrey could not believe that Jack had kissed Morgan, finally he
couldn't hold it in)
Jeffrey: So how do you feel about Morgan?
Jack: I like her alot.
Jeffrey: What's the big idea kissing her.
Jack: I don't know what came over me, it's like when I'm with her, I get these strange feeling, it's never happened to me before.
Jeffrey: Well a peice of advice, don't get involved with her, you're only get hurt, besides we're only
passing through and we're headed up to New hamspire.
(Jeffrey lied)
Jack: You two are not staying in New York very long?
Jeffrey: No.
Jack: Oh.
Jeffrey: Look, I know you like Morgan, but it's just not a wise thing to get involved with her ok?
Jack: So what should I do, stay away from her?
Jeffrey: You know Sarah likes you alot, you should see about her instead of Morgan, at least Sarah will
still be here, when Morgan and I are long gone.
Jack: Not unless I end up going to Sante Fe after the strike is over like I plan.
Jeffrey: Then you shouldn't get involved with any girl.
(Jack walked the rest of the way in silence, he was confused. Jeffrey actually thought he was helping Jack
in the long run. Later that night, Jeffrey rolled on his side to look up at Jack sleeping.)
Jeffrey: I'm sorry Jack, but it's for your own good.
(Jeffrey whispered as he finally fell asleep, hoping it would be restful sleep.)