This is a story I've had in my head since seeing Newsies the Musical over a year ago. I have a crazy love for this show, and movie from a very young age. Like most 90's theatre kids I watched it religiously. I love the character of Katherine Plumber(Pulitzer) that was written into the show. I love the connection to Nellie Bly and the inspiration pulled from her. But one thing has bothered me since watching the Musical. Why did Disney feel the need to cut out Davey and Les' sister Sarah? and Bryan Denton the reporter? Now obviously Denton makes sense because they have Katherine as a reporter. But as I watched the show I noticed that there wasn't really an adult speaking up for those poor kids. I also kept thinking that Katherine would be a little older than Jack if not in her 20's with the position she had gained at the Newspaper (Or at least in my mind). So I began thinking, what if Disney had kept the characters they decided to cut? But also had the character of Katherine as well?
This is my take on what would have happened if the movie and the musical were combined, through Katherine's point of view. Rated M for later chapters
These are characters I borrowed from Disney. Thank You Disney for creating this world! I do not own anything.
Please know that some of this is pulled from history, but some is NOT historically accurate (If it was Katherine Pulitzer wouldn't exist, as she died at the age of 3 of pneumonia. So please don't comment about that, I already know!)
There's a Story Behind the Story
Chapter 1.
Reporters are born with the need find the story. The need to make a difference. That is all Katherine ever wanted to be. She wanted to write, see the world, and share what she saw through her eyes. It was in her blood and pumped through her veins like fire. But she was a girl, and society had rules. No woman had ever written a front page headline. No woman had ever been a reporter who wrote "hard news." If she wanted to be apart of the news world, she would have to spend her time weaving her way through the flower show, or reviewing another dreadful vaudeville show. That was what women did in the news. She was stuck, and didn't know how to break through. Until one day she would fall into one of the most historic moments in history. A moment that would change her life, and many others who came after her.
Katherine Ethel Pulitzer was born to privilege. Her name last name was famous in this world. She was the only surviving child of The World Editor and News Giant Joseph Pulitzer. Unlike most girls her age she was well educated. She grew up with private tutors, boarding schools and even attend 2 years at Vassar, a new all women's college. At Vassar she started the college's first Newspaper: The Miscellany News. Also the first Newspaper to be published entirely by women. She wrote what she saw, and created worlds with her words. When the time came for her to make a life for herself her father offered her a life of wealth and leisure. Joe told her he would take care of her, and she would never have to work a day in her life. She would of course need to do her part in society by getting married, and having children. After all that's just what women do. Her father told her that he needed a man to pass his News Empire to. He had hoped one day to give it to her husband or a son she might have. So it could stay in the family.
Joseph did love his daughter. He and his wife Kate always wanted children, but they had a hard time of it. They lost one dying in childbirth, two to illness very young. When Katherine came into their world she brought a light they didn't know what missing. On the day she was born Kate was sleeping. Joe had taken Katherine to the nursery, so her cries wouldn't wake her. As he was holding her close, thinking about all the things he wanted to teach her: how to read and write, how to load a printing press, how to see the world and put it on paper. A little voice in the back of his head ate away at him.
"Who are you kidding Joe? She's a girl. She cannot do these things, society will never allow it. You will make a paria of her."
Tears filled his eyes. The world was just not made for girls to have a career, let alone a career in writing and journalism. He looked down at his sleeping daughter.
"Ohh Kitty, I'm so sorry."
Despite what society had in mind for her Joe and Kate made sure Katherine was a well educated young women. As she grew they found that she was by nature an intelligent, passionate and fiery little girl, with an iron will. She didn't give in easily and didn't let things stand in her way. Katherine stuck to her father like glue, finding his life at the newspaper thrilling.
Katherine was a common figure in her father's newspaper office. On this day 7-year-Katherine was sitting on her father's lap as he taught her how to use a typewriter. Both were giggling incessantly as Joe purposely typed silly words or miss spelling them to see if Katerine would catch the mistake.
"Your Mother and tutor would be upset with us if they saw the words I was teaching you, Kitty."
"But all words deserve to be written don't they? Even the silly ones! So we are just reporting the truth!"
She said the last part as if she was her father. Joe smiled at his baby girl. She was so intelligent even at 7. If she were born a boy there would have been no end to the life she could lead.
"Do you want to be a writer Kitty?"
"Yes Papa! But what I really want is to be a reporter and editor just like you when I grow!"
Joe thought back to that night she was born. He wanted the very best for her, but she would have to harden herself against the world. He looked at her with a very serious look and told her
"Katherine you can do anything. You can be far greater than what I've ever been. I see you making a difference in this world, but the road to that won't be easy."
"I don't enjoy when things are easy! You don't learn anything without work." He laughed at her, realizing how true that was.
"Kitty, you are wise beyond your years. you never let anyone stand in your way, not even me."
As she got older society tried to change and mold her into what they thought a privileged young woman should be. Joe and Katherine became distant from each other. Katherine was sent off to boarding school away from New York. And Joe's Newspaper was starting to lose circulation, and he was in direct competition with a new paper: The New York Journal. People were starting to have preference to which paper they wanted to buy, and currently he was losing. Joe started spending late hours at the paper. He soon became tired and irritated. When Katherine would come home they would fight more and more. Mostly because they were so similar. Butting heads because they both never wanted to concede to the other.
After hearing about a new women's college, Vassar, that offered young women a chance to achieve a higher level of education. Katherine knew she had to attend. She was trying to convince both her mother and father to let her go. She wasn't getting very far with her parents. Her father was being especially resistant.
"Papa, You know I want to be a writer, this will help me to become the best that I can."
"Katherine women do not attend college, you know that! It's just not a place for well born ladies."
"Papa! You know that's not true! Times are changing! Women are standing up and demanding to be considered as equals."
"Katherine it's time to become realistic! You need to stay here and start your life. Which will not include you traipsing around New York City like some poor working girl."
With that last comment Katherine's face went scarlett, Her mother noticing both her daughter and husband were hitting their breaking points. Katherine stormed out of the sitting room, you could hear a door slam upstairs as she locked herself in her room.
"Joe! You have always told Katherine never to settle! You encouraged her strive for more. You know how talented she is, you've said she already writes better than most men on your staff. Imagine what she could do if she was able to gain more knowledge."
"Kate the world isn't as nice to women as we'd like to think. Do you know what men would do to her if she tried to work as a reporter? They wouldn't just use words to stop her. She wouldn't be safe. If we keep her here we can watch and protect her, at least until she settles down"
Joe collapsed on the nearest chair. He started to tear up. He had heard recent stories of young ladies trying to shake up the norms of society. The World had just covered a story of a young woman who was found dead in an alleyway. She had been identified as a leader of a prominent "Votes for Women" group. The pictures that were brought in were too gruesome to show in the paper. He hadn't told Kate about the girl, because he didn't want to scare her, but right all he could see was those images. They popped into his head, but Katherine's face replaced the young women's. He looked up at his wife.
"I just don't want to lose her Kate."
"She can more than take care of herself. You just have to let her try. We just have to give her to tools to become as strong as she can."
She sat down next to her husband and cradled his head in her lap. She knew and felt his stress and how hard he had been working. She also knew his frustration was coming from a place of love.
"Do you really think she will be ok there?"
"I would be more worried about that poor school trying to take on our girl."
They both laughed.
"But she can be great. We've got to give her that chance."
He sighed and sat up. "You're right Kate, she needs to go."