Act Two
The Brooklyn Girls'
Lodging House…
All the girls are gathered in the main bunkroom. Lotus Blossom is getting dressed up. Sugar is brushing through her blonde hair and Shimmer is being her usual perky self, and trying on some clothes she had "borrowed" from Illusion. Illusion doesn't notice or care about that and floats out the window without a word.
"I t'ink I'se gonna get me hair dyed," Sugar says sweetly.
"Brown?" Shimmer suggests
"Good idea. I'm goin' on a date afta' da rumble!"
"Wit' who?"
"Guess?"
"I dunno."
"Someone's back in town…"
"NO! Seriously?"
"Yeah"
"There isn't gonna be a rumble," Lotus Blossom interrupts.
'What are you a fortune teller?" Sugar laughs.
"So where's Blade taking you afta' da rumble dat ain't gonn be a rumble?" Shimmer asks.
"Blade's takin' me nowhere."
"Oh, so yer getting' dressed up jist fer us?"
"No, can youse keep a secret."
"I'm not fer secrets," Sugar says shaking her head.
"I'm runnin' away, wit a Manhattan boy."
"She's out of her mind!"
"Yep, I'se crazy."
"She's not," Shimmer laughs, "But she is up ta somet'ing."
"I am?"
"What is goin' on wit you?"
Lotus Blossom [sings]
I feel pretty,
Oh so pretty,
I feel pretty an' witty an' bright,
And I pity any goil who isn't me tonight.
I feel charming,
Oh so charming,
It's alarming how charming I feel,
An' so pretty dat I hardly can believe I'm real.
See the pretty goil in that mirror there:
Who can dat attractive goil be?
Such a pretty face,
Such a pretty dress,
Such a pretty smile,
Such a pretty me!
I feel stunning
An' entrancing,
Feel like running an' dancing fer joy,
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy!
Shimmer and Sugar
Have you met my good friend of Brooklyn?
The craziest girl on the block?
You'll know her da minute you see her,
She's the one who is in an advanced state of shock.
She thinks she's in love.
She thinks she's in France.
She isn't in love,
She's merely insane.
It must be da heat
Or some rare disease,
Or too much ta eat
Or maybe it's fleas.
Keep away from her,
Send for Bladino!
This is not the goil dat we know!
Modest and pure,
Polite and refined,
Well-bred and mature,
And out of her mind!
Lotus Blossom:
I feel pretty,
Oh so pretty
Dat the city should give me its key.
A committee
Should be organized ta hona' me.
I feel dizzy,
I feel sunny,
I feel fizzy an' funny an' fine,
And so pretty,
Miss America can jist resign!
See the pretty goil in dat mirror dere:
Shimmer and Sugar:
What mirror where?
Lotus Blossom:
Who can that attractive goil be?
Shimmer and Sugar:
Which? What? Where? Whom?
Lotus Blossom:
Such a pretty face,
Such a pretty dress,
Such a pretty smile,
Such a pretty me!
ALL
I feel stunning
And entrancing,
Feel like running an' dancing fer joy,
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy!
"Lotus?" Blade asks.
"It's Blade," Sugar says
"We'll wait outside," Shimmer suggests
"Please," Lotus Blossom says quietly to friends. They exit out onto the fire escape.
"Lotus?" Blade asks only louder
"I'm in here," Lotus Blossom put a sheet over her dress. Blade comes in and is quite beat up. "You've been fightin' Blade?"
"Yes, I'se sorry"
"Dat's not like you."
"No,"
"Why?"
"It jist happened so fast."
"You must wash up."
"In a minute, I've gotta tell ya somet'in. At da rumble…"
"Dere was no rumble."
"Dere was."
"Yer wrong."
"No; dere was. Nobody meant fer it ta happen..."
"...Tell me."
"It's bad…you see... " Blade looks very troubled.
" Maybe it'll be easier fer you ta say it very fast."
"Dere was a fight…An' Spot… An' somehow a knife…an' Spot an' someone…" Blade stops and takes her hand.
"Mush, What happened ta Mush?" Blade stops at the mention of that name, he yanks off the sheet revealing that she is dressed to go out, "Blade, is Mush all right?"
"He killed yer brudda!" Blades screams and runs from the room leaving a stunned girl behind him.
"Yer lying'," Lotus Blossom screams. Blade comes back into the room an goes to where Spot kept his things. He comes up with an object wrapped in a plaid shirt. Coldly, Blade unwraps a brand new slingshot, which he quickly puts in his pocket and runs out. Lotus Blossom sits on her bunk and says some sort of prayer. "Please make it not be true…I will do anything for it not to be true…"
As she whispers those words over and over again, Mush appears at the fire escape window and quietly climbs in, passed the two other girls who stare wide-eyed, their friend isn't as insane as they thought. Mush stands limp, watching Lotus Blossom. Suddenly aware that someone else is in the room, she stops and looks up at him for a long moment. Then she jumps up and much weaker than usual beats her fists on his chest. "Killer, killer, killer," she screams.
"I tried ta stop it; I did try. I don't know how it went wrong...I didn't mean ta hurt him; I didn't want to; I didn't know I had. But Blink... Blink was like me brudda. So when Spot killed him…" Lotus Blossom lifts her head, in surprise." Spot didn't mean it either. Oh, I don't know he didn't! Oh, no. I didn't come to tell you jist for you ta forgive me so I couldn't go ta the police…"
"No!"
"Whatever you want, I'll do…"
"Stay. Stay with me."
[Music starts.]
"We'll be all right. I know it. We're toget'a now."
"But it's not us! It's everyt'in around us!"
"Den we'll find some place where nothing can git to us; not one of dem, not anyt'ing. And…
[He sings.]
I'll take you away, take you far far away out of here,
Far far away till the walls and the streets disappear,
Somewhere there must be a place we can feel we're free,
Somewhere there's got to be some place for you and for me.
[As he sings, the walls of the lodging house begin to move off, and the city walls surrounding them begin to close in on them. Then the Lodging house it self goes, and the two lovers begin to run, battering against the walls of the city, beginning to break through as chaotic figures of the gangs, of violence, fail around them. But they do break through, and suddenly-they are in a world of space and air and sun. They stop, looking at it, pleased, startled, as boys and girls both sides come on. And they, too, stop and stare, happy, pleased. Their clothes are soft and pastel versions of what they have worn before. They begin to dance, to dance play: no sides, no hostility now; join, making a world that Mush and Lotus want to be in, belong to, share their love with. As they go into the steps of a gentle dance, a voice is heard singing.]
Sugar, Shimmer, Jack, and David [sings]
There's a place for us,
Somewhere a place for us.
Peace and quiet and open air
Wait for us
Somewhere.
There's a time for us,
Some day a time for us,
Time together with time to spare,
Time to look, time to care,
Someday!
Somewhere.
We'll find a new way of living,
We'll find a way of forgiving
Somewhere,
Somewhere...
There's a place for us,
A time and place for us.
Hold my hand and we're half way there.
Hold my hand and I'll take you there
Someday,
Somehow,
Somewhere!
[The lovers hold out their hands to each other; the others follow suit: They are surprised to see what appears to be Sugar and Shimmer in the world as well, with the once leader of Manhattan and his lieutenant. And they form what is almost a procession winding its triumphant way through this would-be world, as they sing the words of the song with wonderment. Then, suddenly, there is a dead stop. The harsh shadows, the fire escapes of the real, tenement world cloud the sky, and the figures of Blink and Spot slowly walk on. The dream becomes a nightmare: as the city returns, there are brief reenactments of the knife fight, of the deaths. Lotus and Mush are once again separated from each other by the violent warring of the two sides. Lotus tries to reach Spot, Mush tries to stop Blink; the lovers try to reach each other, but they cannot. Chaotic confusion and blackness, after which they find themselves, back in the lodging house, clinging to each other desperately. With a blind refusal to face what they know must be, they reassure each other desperately as they sing.]
Mush and Lotus:
Hold my hand and we're halfway there.
Home my hand and I'll take you there
Someday,
Somehow,
Somewhere!
A fence with loose boards; angles between buildings, softly, from behind the fence, the Manhattan gang whistles. A pause, then the answering whistle, softly, from around a corner. Now a loose board flips up and Les wriggles through the fence. He whistles again, timidly, and David comes.
"They got you yet?" David asks worriedly
"No, you?" Les replies.
"Hell, no."
"You seen Mush?"
"Nobody has."
"Geez..."
"You been home yet?"
"Uh uh."
"Me either, our folks are probably worried sick"
" Yeah, Just hidin' around?"
"Uh huh."
"David... did you get a look at 'em?"
"Look at who?"
"Ya know. At the rumble…Blink and Spot" David doesn't reply. Instead he looks around wistfully.
"I wish it was yesterday."
"Wadaya say we run away?"
"What's the matter? You scared?"
"...Yeah."
"You cut it out, ya hear? You're only makin' me scared and that scares me!" There is a police whistle in the distance. David grabs Les. "Jack always said – 'Last thing ever is to let the bulls know you're scared or anythin'."
"Hey, you two!" Snyder screams at David and Les
"Play it big with the baby blues," David whispers to his brother.
"OK." Les says petrified.
"Big, not scared, big!" Again a whistle. Elaborately casual, they start sauntering off as Snyder appears.
"Yeah, you." Snyder screams again.
"Why, it is Warden Snyder, Les," David says trying to sound innocent.
"Top of the evening, Warden Snyder," Les adds shaking.
"I'll crack the top of your skulls if you punks don't stop when I whistle."
"But we stopped the very moment we heard," David says
"You wanna get hauled down to the refuge?"
"Indeed not, sir."
"I'll make a little deal. I know you was rumblin' under the highway…"
"We was at the playground, sir," Les interrupts
We like the playground. It keeps us deprived kids off the foul streets," David adds
"It gives us comradeship…"
"A place for pleasant pastimes…"
"OK, wise apples, down to the refuge," Snyder growls at the two.
"Which way?" Les says with a worried laugh.
"This way!" David screams. He pushes Snyder so that he falls to the ground. Les starts running one way and David the other. Snyder hesitates and then runs after one of them, blowing his whistle like mad. The moment he is gone, David and Les appear through the fence, followed by the other Manhattan newsies.
"Get da lead out, fat boy!" Crutchy screams after Snyder.
"Easy. He'll come back an' drag us down ta da refuge," Racetrack says. He looks like he's lost his best friend, and to tell the truth he has right to, because he has.
"I already been."
"We both already been," Skittery says solemnly.
"What happened?" David asks.
"A bit fat nuthin'!"
"How come?"
"Da Bulls'll believe everythin' they read in the papes."
"To them we ain't human. We're cruddy juvenile delinquents. So that's what we give 'em," Crutchy adds matter-of-factly.
"Hey, you!" Specs says imitating Snyder.
"Me, Warden Snyder?" Crutchy says
"Yeah, you! Gimme one good reason for not draggin' ya down ta da refuge, ya punk."
Crutchy:
Dear kindly Warden Snyda'
You gotta understand,
It's just our bringin' up-er
That gets us out of hand.
Our mothers
Our fathers
Dey simply don't exist.
ALL:
Golly Moses, natcherly we're punks!
Gee, Warden Snyda', we're very upset;
We never had the love that every child oughta get.
We ain't no delinquents,
We're misunde'stood.
Deep down inside us dere is good!
Crutchy:
Dere is good!
ALL :
Dere is good, dere is good,
dere is untapped good.
Like inside, the woist a us is good.
Skittery [imitating Snyder]
Dat's a touchin' good story.
Crutchy:
Lemme tell it to the world!
Specs [imitating Snyder]
Just tell it to da judge.
Crutchy: [to Racetrack]
Dear kindly Judge, yer Hona',
My parents,
They didn't wanna have me,
But somehow I was had.
Leapin' lizards, that's why I'm so bad!
Race [imitating a judge]
Right!
Warden Snyda', you're really a square;
This boy don't need a judge, he needs an
analyst's care!
It's just his neurosis dat oughta be curbed.
He's psychologic'ly disturbed!
Crutchy
I'm disturbed!
ALL
We're disturbed, we're disturbed,
We're the most disturbed,
Like we're psychologic'ly disturbed.
Race [speaks, still acting part of the judge]
Hear ye, Hear ye! In the opinion of this court, dis child
is depraved on account he ain't had a
normal home.
Crutchy:
Hey, I'm depraved on account I'm
deprived!
Race [as Judge]
So take him to a headshrinka'.
David [as psychiatrist]
Yes!
Warden Snyder, you're really a slob.
This boy don't need a doctor, just a good honest job.
Society's played him a terrible trick,
And sociologically he's sick!
Crutchy:
I am sick!
ALL
We are sick, we are sick,
We are sick sick sick,
Like we're sociologically sick!
David [speaks as psychiatrist]
In my opinion, this child don't need
to have his head shrunk at all. Juvenile
delinquency is purely a social disease!
Crutchy:
Hey, I gots a social disease!
David [as psychiatrist]
So take him to a social worker!
Crutchy [to Les]
Dear kindly social worka',
They say bein' a newsie ain't honest work,
Go ta school boy,
Which means like be a schmuck.
It's not I'm anti-social,
I'm only anti-dat.
Glory Osky, that's why I'm a jerk!
Les [as a female social workers]
Eek!
Warden Snyder, you've done it again.
This boy don't need a job, he needs a year in the pen.
It ain't just a question of misunderstood;
Deep down inside him, he's no good!
Crutchy:
I'm no good!
ALL
We're no good, we're no good,
We're no earthly good,
Like the best of us is no damn good!
Race [as judge]
Da trouble is he's crazy,
David [as psychiatrist]
The trouble is he drinks.
Les [as social worker]
The trouble is he's lazy.
Race [as judge]
Da trouble is he stinks.
David [as psychiatrist]
The trouble is he's growing.
Les [as social worker]
The trouble is he's grown.
ALL
Snyda', we gots troubles of our own!
Gee, Warden Snyda',
We're down on our knees,
'Cause no one wants a fella with a social disease
Gee, Warden Snyda',
What are we to do?
Gee, Warden Snyda',
Snyd you!
[At the end of the song, Shivas appears over the fence]
"Buddy boys!" She calls
"Ah go wear a skirt." Skittery says to the female newsie.
"I gots scabby knees, listen…"
"Come on, we gotta make sure those Brooklynites know we're on top," Skittery starts
"Geez, Skittery, ain't we had enough?" Race questions, his eyes sad
"Race, da question ain't whether we had enough…" Shivas begins.
"What do you know?" Crutchy says off-handedly
"I know I gotta git a skirt." She starts off, but Racetrack runs in front of her.
"Come on, Shivas, tell me."
"Ah, what's the freak know?" Skittery laughs.
"Plenty. I figgered somebody oughta infiltrate Brooklyn territory and spy around. I'm very big with shadows, ya know. I can slip in an' out of 'em like wind through a fence."
"Boy, is she ever makin' the most of it!"
"You be you fat A, I am!"
"Go on. Wadd'ya hear?" Race coaxes.
"I heard Blade tellin' the Brooklynites somethin' bout Mush and Spot's sista. The Blade said 'If it's da last t'ing I do I'se gonna git Mush.'"
"What'd I tell ya? Them Brooklynites won't stop!" Crutchy says with a growl.
"Easy, Crutchy," Specs says calmly.
"It's bad enough now…" Racetrack says sadly.
"Yeah!" Les screams
"You forgetting? Mush came through for us Manhattanites we've got to find him an' protect him from Blade." David says.
"Right!" Les screams
"OK then! Specs-cover the river!" Racetrack calls out. Specs runs off. "David-get over to the lodging house."
"I'll take the back alleys," Les offers.
"I'll cover the park," Race finishes and the others run off to their respective places.
"What about me?" Shivas pleads
"You? You git a hold a da girls an' send 'em out as liaison runners so we'll know who's found Mush where," Race told her.
"Right!" She starts to run off.
"Hey!" Race calls after her and she stops. "You done good, buddy boy."
"Thanks, Daddy-o." She grins, she's fallen in love.
Illusion comes into the bunkroom, holding back tears. She has been taught that as a Brooklyn newsie she must hold back any signs of emotion, but not the person that taught her that is gone, and she simply can't stand it. "Are you insane?" She screams at her friend, "That boy is one a dem, not only dat, but he killed yer brudda. He moida'd 'im."
[She sings bitterly.]
A boy like dat who'd kill yer brudda,
Forget dat boy an' find andudda,
One a yer own kind-
Stick ta yer own kind!
A boy like dat will give you sorrow-
You'll meet andduda boy tomorrow!
One a yer own kind,
Stick ta yer own kind!
A boy who kills cannot love,
A boy who kills has no heart.
And he's the boy who gets yer love
And gets yer heart-
Very smart, my friend, very smart!
A boy like dat wants one t'ing only,
And when he's done he'll leave you lonely.
He'll moida yer love; he moida'd mine.
Jist wait an' see!
Lotus:
Oh, no, Illusion no!
It isn't true, not fer me,
It is true for you, not fer me,
I hear yer words-
An' in me head
I know dey're smart,
But my heart, Illusion,
But my heart
Knows dey're wrong
[Illusion reprises the chorus she has just sung, as Lotus continues her song.]
An' me heart
Is too strong,
For I belong
Ta him alone, ta him alone.
One t'ing I know:
I am his,
I don't care what he is.
I don't know why it's so,
I don't want to know.
Oh no, Illusion, no-you should know betta'!
You were in love-or so you said.
You should know betta'...
I have a love, and it's all dat I have.
Right or wrong, what else can I do?
I love him; I'm his
And everyt'ing he is
I am, too.
I have a love and it's all dat I need,
Right or wrong, an' he needs me too.
I love him, we're one;
There's not'ing ta be done,
Not a t'ing I can do
But hold him, hold him foreva',
Be with him now, tamorrow
And all a my life!
BOTH
When love comes so strong,
Dere is no right or wrong,
Yer love is yer life!
"Blade has anudda slingshot... He's sendin' da boys out ta hunt fer Mush…" Illusion whispers.
"If he hurts Mush…If he touches him…I swear to you, I'll…" Lotus growls.
"You'll do what He did to Spot?"
"I love Mush."
"I know. I loved Spot." Suddenly there is a noise outside the bunkroom. The girls turn to see Denton.
"Anybody home?" He asks, then looks to the girls, "Sorry to disturb you. Guess you're disturbed enough."
"Yes. Will youse excuse me, please. I must go ta me brudda," Lotus Blossom says will resolve
"There are just a couple of questions…"
"Afta'wards, please. Lata'."
"It'll only take a minute."
"Couldn't you wait until…" Illusion starts to say, trying to get Denton away.
"No!" Then he smiles at Lotus, " You were at the dance."
"Yes."
"Your brother got in a heavy argument because you danced with the wrong boy."
"Oh?"
"Who was the wrong boy?"
"Excuse me. Illusion, me 'ead is woise. Will you go ta dat drugstore in Manhattan an' tell 'em what I need?"
"Don't you keep aspirin around?"
"Dis is somet'ing special. Will you go fer me, Illusion?"
"Yes," Illusion says quietly and goes out the bunkroom door.
" I'se sorry. Now ya asked?" Lotus says to the reporter turned officer.
"I didn't ask, I told you. There was an argument over a boy. Who was that boy?"
"Anudda from here in Brooklyn."
"And his name?"
"Jose."
At the lodging house David and some of the Manhattan newsies are there as Shivas and the other newsies run in.
"Where's Mush?" Crutchy asks worriedly.
"Downstairs with Jack." David replies.
"Ya warn him about Blade?" Race asks, he is petrified, and has right to be.
"Jack said he'd tell him."
"Yeah! Da Bulls'll get hip, if Blade and the Brooklynites don't." Shivas whispers. Suddenly the bunkroom window opened and the Brooklyn girls (Illusion, Shimmer, and Sugar) enter thinking they are sneaking in. There is cold silence, as the Manhattan newsies all stare at them.
"I'd like to see Jack," Sugar asks.
"He isn't here." David says solemnly.
"Where is he?
"He's gone to the bank."
"The banks are closed at night. Where is he?" No one answers and Illusion growls at them. She begins to head down the stairs.
"Where you going?" Race asks startled and still petrified, and still having the right.
"Downstairs to-see Jack. Come on girls."
"Didn't we tell ya he ain't here?"
"I'd like to see for myself." Some off the boys step in front of her and begin making rude comments. Illusion growls at them in a low voice, but the don't budge." I've got ta give a friend a yers a message. I gots ta tell Mush…"
"He ain't here," Race says quickly.
"I know he is." Race looks very worried at this moment, but David intercepts.
"Who's the message from?"
"Never mind."
"Couldn't be from Blade, could it?"
"I want to stop Blade! I want to help!"
"Spot's goil wants ta help?" Shivas asks with a confused look on her face. Some of the boys start insulting Illusion again. The taunting breaks out into a wild, savage dance, with epithets hurled at the girls especially Illusion, who is encircled by the whole pack, aside from a few pityers. At the peak, she is shoved so that she falls in a corner. Suddenly Jack enters from the downstairs door and yells.
"Are you all insane?" There is dead silence. Illusion gets up and looks at them.
"Spot was right... If one of you was bleeding in the street, I'd walk by and spit on you." She says trying not to cry. She flicks herself off and makes her way toward the window.
"Don't let her go!" Race pleads, "She'll tell Blade dat Mush…" Skittery grabs her; she shakes loose.
"Let go!" She gestures for the other girls to leave, they do, but not before flashing looks of displeasure and disappointment to the boys of Manhattan. Illusion turns to them and growls in a low voice, "I'll give ya a message for your Manhattan buddy! Tell the moida'er dat Lotus is neva gonna meet him! Tell him Blade found out an'-an' shot her!" She goes out the window and dramatically slams it shut. There is a stunned silence.
"What does it take to get through to youse? When do you stop? You make this world lousy!" Jack screams at them all.
"Dat's the way we found it," Skittery sighs. Jack shakes his head and heads out.
In a storeroom in the basement of the lodging house Mush is sitting on a crate whistling as Jack comes down with some money.
"This is for you," Jack says quietly, so that no one will hear.
"Thanks. I'll pay ya back as soon as I can."
"Forget that."
"I won't; I couldn't. Jack, you've done so much fer me, Lotus and I maybe we should go back ta Santa Fe wit you? Maybe, maybe not, I don't care, you've done so much fer me already. If we have kids, we'll name 'em all afta' you, even da goils, Jaclyn , that's actually a pretty name…"
"Wake up!" Jack screams at Mush and slaps him.
"Jack? You okay?"
"Why do you live like there's a war on? That's why I wanted out of here. Why did you do this?"
"I told you how it happened, Jack. Lotus understands. Why can't you?"
"I never had someone like her"
"I have, and I'll tell you one thing, Jack, even if it only lasts a day, it's worth the world."
"That's all it did last."
"What?"
"That was Illusion upstairs… Lotus is dead. Blade found out about you and her…and shot her." Mush looks at Jack, stunned and numb. He shakes his head, as though he cannot believe this. Jack holds out his hands to him, but Mush backs away, then suddenly turns and runs out the door, into the night. In the darkness, we hear Mush's voice.
"Blade? Blade? Come an' git me too, Blade."
Now we see the same place that we began with a New York street surrounded by middle class tenements, but it is now jagged with shadows. Mush stands in the emptiness, calling, whirling around as a figure darts out of the shadows and then runs off again.
"Blade?... COME ON: GET ME TOO!" Mush calls out into the night.
"Mush…" Shivas whispers from the dark.
"Who's dat?"
"Me: Shivas"
"Git outa here. HEY, BLADE! COME GET ME, DAMN YOU!"
"What're ya doin', Mush?"
"I said get outa here! BLADE!"
"Look, maybe if you an' me just…"
"It's not a game no more! Can't any a youse get dat?"
"But da gang…"
"Yer a girl: be a girl! Beat it." Shivas runs off and Mush continues screaming, "BLADE, I'M CALLING FOR YOU, BLADE! HURRY! IT'S CLEAR NOW. THERE'S NOBODY BUT ME. COME ON! Will you, please? I'm waiting for you. I want you to…" Suddenly, at the other end of the street a figure steps out of the dark. He stops and peers as light starts to glow on it. He utters an unbelieving whisper. "Lotus…Lotus Blossom?"
"Mush…" She holds out her arms toward him and another figure appears: Blade. As they run to each other, there is a snap of a slingshot. Mush stumbles, as though he has tripped. Lotus catches him and cradles him in her arms as he falters to the ground. During this Jack, Race, and David run on; then Raven, Shimmer, Illusion, Sugar and other Brooklyn newsies. Blade stands very still, bewildered by the slingshot dangling from his hand. More newsies from both Manhattan and Brooklyn and the other girls run on.
"I didn't believe hard enough," Mush whispers, "Not here. Dey won't let us be."
"Then we'll get away."
"Yes, we can. We still…" He shivers, as though a pain went through him. She holds him closer and begins to sing-
Hold my hand and we're halfway there.
Hold my hand and I'll take you there,
Someday,
Somehow...
Mush has started to join in on the second line and Lotus sings harder, as though to urge him back to life, but his voice falters and he barely finishes the line. She sings on, a phrase or two more, then stops, his body quiet in her arms. Lotus stands still for a moment, and then, as she gently rests Mush on the floor. Lightly, she brushes Mush's lips with her fingers. Behind her, Race, full of rage at the lose of his two best friends and in font of a group of Manhattan newsies, moves to lead them toward Blade. But then Lotus speaks, her voice cold, sharp. "Stay back."
The shawl she has had around her shoulders slips to the ground as she gets up, walks to Blade and holds out her hand. He hands her the slingshot. She speaks again, in a flat, hard voice. "How do ya fire dis, Blade? Spot neva' taught me. Do you jist put one a dose rocks in here an'…" She points it at him suddenly; he draws back. She has all of them in front of her now, as she holds the slingshot out and her voice gets stronger with anger and savage rage. "How many rocks do we have left, Blade? Enough for you?" Lotus then points at someone else" And you?" She pauses a moment and then begins again. "All a youse? WE ALL KILLED HIIM; and me brudda an' Blink. I, too I CAN KILL NOW BECAUSE I HATE NOW." She has been pointing the slingshot wildly, and they have all been drawing back. Now, again, she holds it straight out at Blade. "How many can I kill, Blade? How many-and still have one rock left for me?" She breaks into tears, hurls the slingshot away and sinks to the ground. Denton walks on looks around and starts toward Mush's body. Like a madwoman, Lotus races to the body.
She kisses him gently. Music starts as Race, Jack, Raven, and Sugar lift up Mush's body and start to carry him out. Then Shimmer walks out with David the others fall in behind to make a procession, the same procession they made in the dream ballet, as Les comes forward to pick up Lotus's shawl and put it over her head. She sits quietly, like a woman in mourning, as the music builds, the light starts to come up and the procession makes its way down the street. At last, she gets up and, despite the tears on her face, lifts her head proudly, and triumphantly turns to follow the others.
The Curtain Falls.