The first interruption of their happy and sunny mood is the confrontation with the Brooklyn Boys. Their leader Spot Conlon is powerful and proud, not to mention handsome. There are others in his group and they confront the Manhattan boys. David tries to escape the warfare, but Spot and some others halt his attempts and soak him. The Manhattan boys find him and a free-for-all ensues. Blink runs to David to see if he's okay and makes sure to check David's pulse, because he knows that's what Jack would have done. Two policeman stops the fight; the goon named Snyder and the plainclothes reporter-like Denton.
"Knock it off," Snyder screams.
"You boys are allowed to kill each other but not on my beat, How many times do I have to tell you that," Denton says calmly.
"Why if it ain't our man Denton," Blink says faking innocence.
"Good Day Denton," the Manhattan boys say in unison.
"An' Snyder," Spot says in false awe.
"Good day Snyder," the Brooklyn boys say in unison. Both policeman roll their eyes and Denton and glares at the Brooklyn boys.
"Which on of 'em soaked ya David?" Denton asks. David looks to Blink who responded with seriousness in his lie -
"Actually sir, we'se all t'ink dat dis was done by one of da bulls."
"Two bulls," Specs adds lowering his glasses.
"At least!" David cries.
"Impossible," Snyder says shaking his head, "There's a difference between being a scab and obeying the law."
"Yes, sir you've told us, but it's 5 to 1 on who can figure it out," Racetrack responded off-handedly.
"Maybe our buddy Snyder, should git da prize," Crutchy laughed
"Don't buddy me Crutchy, Not get outta here," Snyder said softly.
"Let's go Brooklyn," Spot growls, he and the Brooklynites exit. The policemen glare at the exiting characters, it is obvious they don't like dealing with them any more than the Manhattan boys do. Then the policemen also leave the scene.
"Good-bye boys," Specs says in an obviously false voice.
"They make a very nice couple," David laughs.
"You hoodlums don't own the streets," Crutchy says imitating Snyder.
"Go play in Central Park!" Specs and Crutchy continue imitating the officer-
"Keep off the grass"
"Stay outta the house," Les joins in.
"Keep of the block,"
"Get outta here," David adds
"We do own da streets, Manhattan square off," Blink shouts, "Acemen" Racetrack, Crutchy, and Specs line up. "Rocketmen" The others get in line. "Rank and file" David trudges into position with Les not too far behind.
"Gee your ears got blood on it," Les says to his brother in an overly dramatic tone.
"I'm a casual, Les"
"They branded you."
"Which one did it," Blink asks angrily.
"Spot."
"Ouch," says Les, overly dramatic again. And he looks around at the others, "Our dad says that them Brooklynites are ruinin' free enterprise."
"An' what're we doin' 'bout it?" Crutchy asks his fellow newsies. A girl pushes through the crowd in an outfit that is somewhat similar to those the Manhattan newsboys wear. Her reddish-brown hair is messed up a little, but her green eyes glow. She was in the fight before, perhaps we caught a glimpse of her, and her name is Shivas.
"Gassin', crabbin-" She grumbles
"You still around," David asks sort of annoyed at her presence.
"Listen, I was in dat fight," she growls at David and then turns to Blink and Race, " I was moida."
"Come on Shivas"
"How 'bout getting' me in da gang now huh?" Shivas asks grinning and then David makes a crude comment and she lunges for him, "I'll soak ya!" Blink pulls her back.
[He sings:]
When you're a newsie,
You're always a newsies
From your first day of papes
To your last sellin' day.
When you're a newsie,
If the spit hits the fan,
You got brothers around,
Yer a family man!
Yer neva alone,
Yer neva disconnected!
Yer home with your own:
When company's expected,
Yer well protected!
Then you are set
Wit a capital N,
Which you'll neva forget
Till they cart you away.
When you're a newsie,
You stay
A newsie!
"I can guarantee, Mush will be wit' us." Blink spoke out.
[Crutchy sings with Les:]
When you're a newsie,
You're the top cat in town,
You're the gold-metal kid
With the heavyweight crown!
[David, Crutchy, and Skittery sing:]
When you're a newsie,
You're the swingin'est thing.
Little boy, you're a man;
Little man, you're a king!
The Mahattanites are in gear,
Our cylinders are clickin'!
The Brooklyn boys'll steer clear
'Cause ev'ry of 'em
'S a lousy chicken!
Here come the Manhattan
newsies
Like a bat out of hell-
Someone gets in our way,
Someone don't feel so well.
Here come the Manhattan newies:
Little world, step aside!
Better go underground,
Better run, better hide.
We're drawin' the line,
So keep your noses hidden!
We're hangin' a sign,
Says "Visitors forbidden"-
And we ain't kiddin'!
Here come the Manhattan newsies,
Yeah! An' we're gonna beat
Ev'ry last buggin' gang
On the whole buggin' street!
On the whole
Ever-!
Mother-!
Lovin'-!
Street!
Later at the lodging house Blink is trying to talk
to a brown haired boy named Mush.
"Why?"
"Cause it's me askin'! This is important!"
"Very important; Acemen, Rocketmen."
"What's wit you, we've been friends since eva'. I'se a victim of disappointment in you. "
"No, now go back to the otha's, an' play nice."
"The Manhattan newsies are da greatest!"
"Were, Jack's gone, an' t'ings aren't the same."
"I know, but have ya found somet'ing betta'?"
"No really, but-"
"But what?"
"I've always been reachin' fer somet'ing"
"Fer what?"
"I don't know yet, but it's right dere…I can feel it."
"What is it? Tell me!"
"I don't know, it's somet'ing like da kick I used to get from been' a newsie."
"Or from being buddies," Blink muttered softly hoping that Mush wouldn't hear him.
"We're still buddies."
"Da kick comes from people."
"But not from been' a newsie."
"Dis ain't all because a Joka' is it?"
"My yer perceptive…"
"Boy, she don't desoive you, an' if dats da only reason ya don't wanna be wit us anymore-"
"What time?"
"Ten?"
"Ten it is…I'll live to regret dis."
"Who knows, maybe what yer waiting' fer'll be at da ball." Blink smiles and then leaves the room.
"Who knows," Mush mutters after Blink has left.
Could be!...
Who knows?...
There's something due any day;
I will know right away,
Soon as it shows.
It may come cannon-balling down thru the sky,
Gleam in its eye,
Bright as a rose!
Who knows?...
It's only just out of reach,
Down the block, on a beach,
Under a tree...
I got a feeling there's a miracle due,
Gonna come true,
Coming to me!
Could it be? Yes it could.
Something's coming, something good,
If I can wait!
Something's coming, I don't know what it is,
But it is
Gonna be great!
With a click, with a shock,
Phone'll jingle, door'll knock,
Open the latch!
Something's coming, don't know when but it's soon-
Catch the moon,
One-handed catch!
Around the corner,
Or whistling down the river,
Come on-deliver
To me!
Will it be? Yes, it will.
Maybe just by holding still,
It'll be there!
Come on something, come on in,
don't be shy,
Meet a guy,
Pull up a chair!
The air is humming,
And something great is coming!
Who knows?
It's only just out of reach,
Down the block, on a beach...
Maybe tonight...
In a small dress shop in Brooklyn, A young woman whose name is Illusion is remaking a white communion dress into a party dress for her friend. Illusion has auburn hair down to her shoulder blades or maybe a little lower, and crystal blue eyes. Illusion is a bright young lady with a sharp tongue. Her friend is Lotus Blossom Conlon; a bright, enthusiastic, obedient child, with the temper, and stubborn strength of her brother. Her long dark hair fell down her back, just above her waist, and the aqua eyes of her family heritage sparkled with a bit of anger, she is a bit upset about the dress.
"Please Illusion, I can make da neck a little lowa'," Lotus Blossom says trying to grab the dress away from Illusion.
"Stop it Lotus," Illusion snaps back.
"One inch, how much difference can one inch make?"
"Too much."
"You sound like yer mudda'! I can't dance in dat dress!"
"Spot made me promise."
"Ai! Spot! He's t'inks he's so special, me brudda does. He's too protective of me. Doesn't he want me to meet a nice boy?"
"What about that one dat likes you so much, I t'ink his name's Blade."
"No Illusion, when I look at him not'ing happens."
"What do you want to happen?"
"I don't know, jist somet'ing. What happens when you look at Spot?" Illusion avoids the question, because she knows her answer will not help the situation. "If you don't fix the dress, I tell yer mudda 'bout you an' Spot at Medda's."
"I will rip dis ta shreds."
"No, but you could manage to lowa' da neck."
"Next year-"
"I hate dis dress."
"Den don't wear it an' don't come to da dance." Lotus Blossom grabs the dress away from Illusion.
"Couldn't we at least dye it red?"
"No, now try it on." Lotus Blossom goes into another room, but you can still hear her.
"White is for babies."
"I'll tell ya what," Illusion takes a pair of costume wings off of a shelf and hands them into the other room. "Well?" Lotus Blossom comes out, she has the wings on the back of the white dress.
"Awww, it is beautiful. Yer wonderful ta me Illusion." Just then Spot walks in followed by a suitor to Lotus Blossom, and Spot's friend Blade.
"Are youse ready?" Spot asks.
"Come in Spot," Illusion says in a sweet voice.
"Is dis beautiful dress or what?"
"Yes," he kisses her cheek, "very"
"I didn't quite hear you correctly," Illusion whispers. Spot smiles and kisses her as well, only very differently. Blade comes in shyly and looks around.
"This is a shop for ladies," he mutters.
"Our ladies," Spot says correcting him. Lotus Blossom twirls around showing off her dress, of course she has the family's ego of sorts.
The dance is in the ballroom of the mansion on the Upper East Side. It is the home of Prince Bumlets and his lady; Berries. She is a fine upper-class courtier, with long black hair that frames her olive face. She loves parties and holds them often, for this one she has invited all the former colleagues of her husband. Gangs from all different places in New York are there.
Lotus Blossom enters with Illusion, Spot and Blade. Spot and Illusion are both dressed in trademark red and Blade is in the nicest suit he could find, which isn't too nice. As she looks around delighted, the Manhattan boys catch sight of Spot who is being greeted by Raven, his lieutenant and the others from Brooklyn. There is a moment of tension, but Berries intervenes.
"Alright boys and girls, Attention please," She says in a pleasant voice, "Thank you it is a great turnout here tonight. We all wanna make friends and everything, so lets play some icebreakers. Form two circles, girls in one and guys in the other."
"Where are you?" Someone in Queens's colors says. Berries laughs at the flattery and continues-
"When the music stops, the boy will dance with the girl he is facing ok?" No one moves. "It wouldn't hurt you to try."
"Oh it hoits, more den you know," Crutchy says limping forward. Snyder steps up and everyone backs off. Blink steps forward and beckons to his girl, Secret. She is a beautiful young girl with long light brown hair, and bright green eyes. She comes forward to take her place with Blink. Spot, who comes forward as well, leading Illusion as though he were presenting the most magnificent lady in the entire world, meets the challenge. The other kids follow, forming the two circles Berries had requested.
Promenade music starts and the circles start
revolving.
During it, Mush enters and is momentarily embraced
by Blink, who is delighted that his best friend did turn up. The dance builds
wilder and wilder, until, at the peak, everybody is dancing and shouting.
"Go, Mambo!" It is at this moment that Mush and Lotus Blossom-at
opposite sides of the hall-see each other. They have been cheering on their
respective friends, clapping in rhythm.
"No," Lotus Blossom whispers shaking her head.
"Have we met before?"
"I don't t'ink so."
"Are you some kinda-"
"Angel? No."
"I felt, I knew that something new was going to happen-"
"My hands are cold," Lotus Blossom interrupts. She takes his hands, "Yours too." She moves her hand to his face, "so warm" and he put his hand on her face.
"Yours too," Mush whispered.
"Of coise, dey are the same."
"Are you joking me," Mush's mind drifted back to the girl he once had a crush on, a girl named Joker. She had messed with his emotions, and left him.
"I would neva' joke dat way." Mush stops and kisses her hands. Suddenly the lights flare up, and Spot is right there.
"Go home," Spot growls.
"Slow down, Spot."
"Stay away from me sista'."
"…Sister." Blink came up to them.
"Couldn't you see dat he was one of dem?" Spot says to Lotus Blossom.
" No, I only saw him," Lotus Blossom's voice sounded as if she was in a trance.
"He only wants one t'ing from you."
"That's a lie," Mush cut in.
"Cool it," Blink said actually trying to break Spot and Mush up.
"Get away," Blade said joining the fight.
"You keep out a dis ," Mush shouted and then turned to Lotus Blossom, " Don't listen to them."
Spot pushed Mush against the wall, "She will listen to her brudda before-"
"If you characta's
"Guys," Bumlets pleads, "Don't do this here." The fight breaks up and the music starts again. The groups split up, Spot, Blade, Illusion, and Lotus Blossom on one side and Mush, Blink, and Racetrack on the other.
"I warned you," Spot yells at his sister. She
doesn't look sorry, she is just looking across the gym.
On the other side of the gym Blink smiles and points Mush out to Racetrack, "He's wit us fer sure now." Mush doesn't hear, for he is staring at Lotus Blossom who stops for a moment. Blade grabs her arm, and pulls her away.
"Come on Lotus Blossom," Blade says worriedly.
"Lotus Blossom…" Mush whispers completely unaware that Spot was crossing the gym to him, but Blink intercepts.
"We don't want you," Spot growls
"But we want you, for a war council, Manhattan and Brooklyn."
"Da pleasure is all mine, but I'll not leave da ladies here alone. I'll met youse in half an hour."
"The Manhattan Lodging House, and not'ing goes on before." Spot nods and walks off to Illusion.
"Spread the word Race," Blink commands lightly.
"Right"
"Let's get the goils and kick it…come on Mush."
"Lotus Blossom…" Mush is completely unaware of almost anything.
"Mush!"
"We'll see him at da lodging house," Racetrack says with a soft smile.
In a Brooklyn alley, by the docks, Mush is singing while he searches for where Lotus Blossom lives. "Lotus Blossom…"he sings.
"Be quiet," Lotus Blossom whispers appearing out on a fire escape.
"Lotus!"
"Quiet!"
"Come down."
"No!"
"Lotus…"
"Please, if Spot…"
"He's at da dance still, come down."
"He'll be bring Illusion home soon."
"Jist fer a minute."
"A minute is not enough."
"fer an hour den."
"I can't"
"Foreva'!"
"Quiet!"
"Den I'se comin' up."
"Lotus Blossom!" shouts a girl's voice.
"I'm comin'!" Lotus Blossom calls back.
"Lotus Blossom…" Mush begins climbing up the fire escape.
"Stop! It is dangerous."
"I'm not one a dem."
"You are, jist as I am one a dem," gestures at the view of Brooklyn.
"To me, you are-" Lotus Blossom puts her hand over his mouth as she hears more people calling for her inside.
"Lotus Blossom," another girl begins to peer her head out the window. Lotus Blossom rushes to it.
"I'll be right dere Shimmer, I've jist gotta clear somet'ing up out here, k?" The curly haired brunette nods, flashes a smile at who she supposes is Blade and returns inside.
"I like her, She will like me." Lotus Blossom laughs and smiles at Mush. "You see?"
"I see you."
In my eyes, in my words and in everything I do,
Nothing else but you
Ever!
And there's nothing for me but you,
Every sight that I see is you.
Always you , every thought I'll ever know,
Everywhere I go, you'll be.
All the world is only you and me!
suspended in space.
Tonight, tonight,
It all began tonight,
I saw you and the world went away.
Tonight, tonight,
There's only you tonight,
What you are, what you do, what you say.
Today, all day I had the feeling
A miracle would happen-
I know now I was right.
For here you are
And what was just a world is a star
Tonight!
Tonight, tonight,
The world is full of light,
With suns and moons all over the place.
Tonight, tonight,
The world is wild and bright,
Going mad, shooting stars into space.
Today the world was just an address,
A place for me to live in,
No better than all right,
But here you are
And what was just a world is a star
Tonight!
"Blossom, it's curfew," calls another voice, which sends the pair crashing back to reality.
"Wait fer me," Lotus Blossom says as she goes inside. She stops suddenly and turns to Mush, "When will I see you again?"
"Tamorrow."
"I work at da dress shop, come dere."
"At sundown."
"Yes, good night."
"Good night." Mush begins to walk away.
"Mush!"
"Ssh!"
"Come to the back door."
"Si" Lotus Blossom goes inside.
On the roof, the girls and boys are gathered. "Where's Blossom?" Spot asks
"She doesn't know what she's getting into."
"Ai!"
" Illusion Storm Angel," Spot says in a soft teasing voice.
"It's jist plain Illusion now," Illusion says with a glare.
"Ophelia Wildfire, etcetera, etcetera-" Spot continues and then he turns to Blade, "She was wit you took her home?"
"Yes, she was only dancing."
"Wit a Manhattan boy." Illusion shakes her head and Spot turns to her, "You are not so cute at this moment."
"But dat Mush is," Illusion says.
"And he works," Shimmer adds.
"A newsie!" Blade says in feigned disgust.
"And what are you?" Illusion laughs
"But he's a Brooklyn newsie," Spot says coming to the rescue, "Dat makes him somet'ing special. Despite what da rest a New Yawk says. Now come on we have da war council. See ya Illusion Storm Wildfire etcetera, etcetera."
"That's a pretty name Etcetera," Shimmer comments off-handedly.
We are now in the lobby of the Manhattan lodging house. Les is reading the 'Western Jim' comic book that Jack had left him. David is playing solitaire, Shivas is huddled by the jukebox, and Crutchy is watching the street door. The atmosphere is tense.
"Where are they?" Skittery asks.
"Gee, Jack wouldn't have gotten us inta dis mess," David commented.
"Jack, I love him," Les sighed
"So marry him," Crutchy said off-handedly.
"I ain't never gonna git married," Shivas says.
"Of course not, your too ugly." David laughs. Shivas pretends to shoot him, and then David fakes a death scene.
"Could a slingshot do that?" Les questioned, everyone was suddenly silent. Then Kloppman comes in.
"Curfew gentlemen, and lady. Les, you should be home in bed."
"We're gonna have a war council here Kloppman," Les reports.
"A who?"
"To decided weapons and stuff for the rumble."
"Weapons, Couldn't you just play poker. War councils…Rumbles…When I was your age… What are ya gonna be when you grow up"
"A telephone call goil." Shivas comments with determination. Then the bell rings and Blink walks in with Secret.
"Kloppman, is Mush here?"
"No"
Racetrack follows him in with his girl Mayhem, "They're comin' any minute now."
"Blink, in a tight spot you need every man you can get," Shivas says.
"No."
Mayhem leans over to Secret and points at Shivas, " An American Tragedy." Shivas pretend to shoot her and all the girls laugh.
"When the Brooklyn guys get here you goils gotta leave," Blink says seriously.
"Maybe, maybe not," Mayhem comments.
"This ain't kid stuff Mayhem," Racetrack says with a worried look on his face.
"Secret and I ain't kid stuff eitha'."
"We've got important business comin'." This leads into a frenetic dance. It finishes, starts again when a newsie bounces in with the gang whistle. Everyone but Blink and Secret stop dancing. A moment, then Spot, Blade, and Raven enter. Shivas points out that a girl is Spot's lieutenant, but Blink doesn't care. The tinkle of the doorbell brings a moment longer. Then he pats Secret . Followed by Mayhem, she runs out, dashing past the Brooklynites. Shivas is back, huddled by the jukebox, but Blink spots her. She gives him a pleading 'let-me-stay look', but he gestures for her to go. Unlike the other girls, as she exits, Shivas shoves the Brooklynites like a big tough man.
"Set 'em up, Kloppman. Cokes all around." Blink says with a smile
"Let's get down to business." Spot growls. The two gangs take their places behind their leaders.
"We challenge youse to a rumble. All out, once and for all. Accept?"
"On what terms?"
"Whatever terms you're callin', buddy boy."
"We accept"
"Time?"
"Tamorrow?"
"The river?"
"Under the bridge." They spit-shake.
"Weapons?"
"Hmmm, Weapons?" Spot says in a sarcastic way.
"You call."
"Slingshots."
"rocks"
"slingshots"
"cans"
"slingshots"
"Bats"
"slingshots"
"Bottles, knives, guns," Mush groans, "Youse know in da end deir gonna have deir slingshots, deal!" Everyone stares and Blink looks at Spot.
"Fair fight, no weapons" they spit shake. Spot smiles at Mush, who looks sort of frightened.
"Our man fights your best man," Blink says with a nod and taps Racetrack on the shoulder.
"but I thought…"
"We shook on it." Someone whistles and the gangs mix together. The two policemen of previous events appear. He glares at Spot, who gathers the Brooklynites and they exit.
"Where are you going to rumble?" Denton asks, there is silence. "Look boys I'm rootin' for ya." Then he exits the Lodging house angered by no one's answer. The rest of the Manhattan newsies go upstairs to the bunkroom, except Mush who waits around in the lobby. Around one that morning the door opens and a tall ash blonde figure walks in.
"Hey Mush, How's it goin'?"
"Jack?!?"
"What are you doin'?"
"I jist got back from a trip to da moon. I'll tell you somet'ing. It ain't a man up dere. It's a goil." Jack looks at Mush like he's crazy. "Did you know that heaven is in Brooklyn, Jack?" Jack's face softened.
"Aren't things hard enough Mush?"
"Hard Jack, I'm in love"
"I was in love with Sarah, you were in love with Joker when I left, but not anymore. How do you know this is love?"
"Because... there isn't any other way I could feel."
"And you're not frightened?"
"Should I be?" Mush starts upstairs
"Why? I'm frightened enough for both of you."
The next day at the dress shop Lotus Blossom is stitching a bridal veil, and Illusion comes twirling in. "The day is ova', let's go home," Illusion says with a happy laugh.
"You go, I'll lock up."
"Finish dat tamorrow."
"I'se in no hurry."
"I am, Spot and I are goin' out fer dinna' afta' da rumble."
"Dat rumble, why are dey having it?" There is a
knock on the rear door, and
"I'll lock up," Illusion says with a grin, "you go."
"We're out of this world," Mush says in a emotional voice.
"Yer out of yer heads," Illusion shook her head.
"We're twelve feet in da air."
"Will you tell?" Lotus Blossom asks worriedly.
"Tell what? I can't see what's happenin' twelve feet ova' me head." She opens the door and begins to walk out and then she turns, "Lotus Blossom, you betta' be home in fifteen minutes." Then Illusion leaves. Lotus Blossom looks worriedly at the swinging door.
"Don't worry," Mush says, "She likes us."
"But she is worried."
"She's foolish, we're untouchable, we're in da air, we'se got magic."
"Magic is also evil an' black. Are ya goin' to dat rumble."
"No."
"Yes."
"Why??"
"You must go an' stop it."
"I have stopped it, it's only a fist fight. Spot won't…"
"Any fight is not good fer us."
"Everyt'ing is good fer us, an' we are good fer everyt'ing."
"Listen, ya must go an' stop it."
"Den I will."
"Can you?"
"You don't want a fight, dere won't be a fight"
"You do got magic."
"A coise, I got you, I will come back fer you afta'."
"You can't, da aduda goils. An' Spot…" Mush turns one of the male dummies in suspenders around. "Spot, may I have yer sista's hand, Thank you fine sir."
"And yer family."
"I have none."
"A coise you do." Lotus Blossom indicates a female dummy dress in black. "She t'inks you are dead, an' you her." Mush laughs and whispers something to the dummy.
"She says yes, an' is very happy."
"A coise." Lotus Blossom takes the wedding veil and puts it on as Mush arranges the dummies. He takes one with similar colored auburn hair as Illusion dressed in pink.
"Dat is not Illusion's color."
"Best man!"
"Dat's Spot!"
"Sorry Spot," he grabs another and pulls down one of the pirate outfits on the costume shelf and situates an eye patch on the dummy. "Dere we go Blink."
"See Illusion, I told you dere was not'ing to worry 'bout." Music starts as Lotus Blossom leaves the dummy and walks up to Mush. They look at each other-and the play-acting vanishes. Slowly, and seriously, they turn to face the front, and together kneel as before an altar.
"For richer, for poorer..."
"In sickness and in health..."
"To love and to honor..."
"To hold and to keep..."
"From each sun to each moon..."
"From tomorrow to tomorrow..."
"For now to forever..."
"Till death do us part."
"With this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed."
Make of our hands one hand,
Make of our hearts one heart,
Make of our vows one last vow:
Only death will part us now.
Make of our lives one life,
Day after day, one life.
Now it begins, now we start
One hand, one heart-
Even death won't part us now.
They look at each other, then at the reality of their "game." They smile tenderly, ruefully, and slowly put the dummies back into position. Though brought back to earth, they continue to sing.
Make of our lives one life,
Day after day, one life.
Now it begins, now we start
One hand, one heart-
Even death won't part us now.
Very gently, Mush kisses Lotus's hand.
"Ready," Spot says softly, his cyan eyes flashing with a strange rage.
"Ready!" Blade repeats
"Ready! " Racetrack says in a barely audible whisper. He is scared to death
"Here we go," Spot finishes. Racetrack begins to move toward him. There are encouragements called from each sides. The "fair fight" is just beginning when there is an interruption.
"Hold it!" Mush screams as he leaps over a fence and starts toward Spot.
"Get wit da gang," Blink calls to him.
"No."
"What're you doin'?"
"Maybe he has found da guts ta fight his own battles," Spot suggested with a viscous grin.
"It don't take guts if you have a battle. But we ain't got one, Spot." He spits in his hand and extends his it for Spot to shake. Spot knocks the hand away and gives Mush a shove that sends him sprawling.
"Da deal is a fair fight between Spot an'
Race.
"I'll give you a battle," Spot laughs at Mush.
"You've got one," Race says stepping between them.
"I'll take pretty boy on as a warm-up."
"Cut that-" Blink growls.
"I don't wanna fight you."
"I'm sure."
"Spot, you've got it wrong."
"Are you chicken?"
"You won't unda'stand!"
"What d'ya say, chicken?"
"Get him, Mush!" Crutchy screams
"Mush…" Race looks very worriedly at his friend
"Get him!" David even cheered him on.
"Mush, don't just stand…" Blink says wondering what is going on here.
"Yellow-bellied chicken," Spot just continues pestering
"MUSH!" Blink screams
"Moida him!" Everyone else follows suit. Spot begins to speel off some more insults but, he never finishes, for Blink hauls off and hits him. Immediately, the two gangs alert, and the following action takes on the form of a dance. As Spot comes back to his feet, he reaches for his back pocket. Blink reaches for his back pocket, and at the same instant each forth a gleaming marble and slingshot, Spot laughs at the thought of Blink and a slingshot. They jockey for position, feinting, dueling; the two gangs shift position, now and again temporarily obscuring the fighters. Mush tries to get between them.
"Hold him!" Blink screams. Racetrack and Skittery grab Mush and hold him back. The fight continues. Blink loses his slingshot, is passed something else, that couldn't possibly be a slingshot. At last, he has Spot in a position where it seems that he will be able to run him through. Mush breaks from Race's hold and, crying out, moves to stop Blink.
"Blink, don't!" He screams Blink hesitates a moment; the moment is enough for Spot-whose gracefully loads his slingshot and shoots Blink. Mush leaps forward to catch Blink. He breaks his fall, then takes what was in his had…the knife, and leaps at the triumphant Spot. All this happens terribly fast; and Mush rams Blink's knife into Spot. The free-for-all continues a moment longer. Then there is a sharp police whistle. Everything comes to a dead stop-dead silence. Then a distant police whistle: the newsies waiver, run one way or another, in panic and confusion. As the area is cleared, Mush stands, horrified, over the still bodies of Blink and Spot. He bends over Blink's body; then he rolls Spot's body over-and stares. Then Mush raises his voice in an anguished cry: "LOTUS!"
Another police whistle, closer now, but he doesn't
move. From the shadows, Shivas appears. She scurries to Mush and tugs at his
arm. A siren, another whistle, then a searchlight cuts across the playground.
Shivas's insistent tugging brings Mush to the realization of the danger. He
crouches, starts to run with her to one escape way. She reaches it first, goes
out-but the searchlight hits it just as he would go through. He stops, runs the
other way. He darts here, there, and finally gets away as a distant clock
begins to boom.