"Don't you dare walk out on me, Jack Kelly!"
Katherine stood, clutching her coat tight in her arms. Her steely eyes blazed with fire as she gored into her husband's back. This would have been all well and good….if they were at home.
About twenty of the newsies had been caught in the living room of the Lodging House when it happened. They were trapped now, unable to leave the scene for fear of setting off either Jack or Katherine. Race pretended to stare out the window. Specs tried to read. Crutchie sat looking into the fire. Romeo pretended to sleep on the couch, wrapped in a blanket.
"Don't you dare leave this house," Katherine threatened again. "You have a duty."
"A duty to what?" Jack asked scathingly. He gestured at the newsies. "Them? You?"
"So that's it, you're just going to leave?!" Katherine's voice rose. Jack walked back inside the house.
"I asked you to come with me, Ace. I asked ya twice. And you refused!"
"Because New York needs us!"
"Hell to New York!" Jack shouted. "What has this damn city ever given me?! Food, clothing? Friends? Family?! I have a chance, Ace, and I'm takin' it—"
"You are the most selfish man on this planet, Jack Kelly, and I—"
"What?" Jack asked, sarcasm dripping from his words. "How're you going to stop me?"
"I can't believe you'd throw all this away for money—"
"So would you, if all you'd ever known was bein' poor!" Jack exploded. "I got a promotion, Katherine! A PROMOTION. And you think I'm jus' goin' to throw that away?!"
"My father purposely gave you an offer like that, Kelly, and you know it—"
"Oh," Jack laughed. "It's 'Kelly' now, ain't it? Alright, Plumber, you heard me. I'm leavin'. Catchin' a train foist thing in the mornin'. With or without ya, Ace. I'm leavin'."
"You're turning your back on them just when they need you most—"
"They don't need me anymore! Ain't that right, fellas? You're gettin' by yourselves?"
Crutchie coughed.
Jack raised his voice. "Don't you dare try to guilt trip me, you—you—"
"Jack, don't leave! Please!" Katherine pleaded. Jack gave her a look of fury and raced out the door. Katherine rushed after him, stumbling over her skirts.
"Please, Jack! Come back!"
Her cries echoed through the streets of New York until they became nothing. She tried to compose herself but failed, turning to run back inside the Lodging House. The newsies all stood, facing her. Their faces were blank, expressionless, though with great self-control.
"He's gone." Katherine's lip trembled. "He left."