Newsies (1992)

David Moscow: David Jacobs

Photos 

Quotes 

• Joseph Pulitzer : Anyone who doesn't act in their own self interest is a fool.

  David Jacobs : Then what does that make you?

  Joseph Pulitzer : What?

  Jack Kelly : Oh, this is my pal, Davey. The Walkin' Mouth.

  David Jacobs : You talk about self-interest, but since the strike, your circulation's been down 70%. Everyday you're losing thousands of dollars just to beat us out of one lousy tenth of a cent. Why?

  Jack Kelly : You see, it ain't about the money, Dave. It Joe gives in to nobodies like us, it means we got the power. And he can't do that, no matter what it costs.

• David Jacobs : Why'd ya come back?

  Jack Kelly : Well, I guess I can't be somethin' I ain't.

  David Jacobs : What, a scab?

  Jack Kelly : No, smart.

• David Jacobs : You're a liar! You lied about everything. You lied about your father being out west, 'cause he's not out west! You didn't even tell me your real name!

  Jack Kelly : So? What you wanna do about it Dave?

  David Jacobs : I don't understand you.

  Jack Kelly : Oh, so let me spell it out for ya. You see, I ain't got nobody tucking me in at night, like you. It's just me, I gotta look out for myself, all right?

  David Jacobs : You had the Newsies!

  Jack Kelly : Oh, what'd being a Newsie ever give me but a dime a day and a few black eyes? You know, I can't afford to be a kid no more, Dave. For the first time in my life, I got money in my pockets. Real money. Money, you understand? I got more on the way and as soon as I collect, I'm gone, I'm away, all right?

  David Jacobs : Well, that's good! That's good because we don't need you! We don't need you! All those words you said, those were mine.

  Jack Kelly : Yeah, but you never had the guts to put them across yourself, did ya?

  David Jacobs : I do now.

• David Jacobs : My father taught us not to lie.

  Jack Kelly : Well, mine told me not to starve; so we both have an education.

• David Jacobs : I've never been to Brooklyn - have you guys?

  Boots : Spent a month there one night.

• Jack Kelly : One thing's for sure, if we don't sell papes, then nobody sells papes. Nobody comes through those gates until they put the price back to where it was.

  David Jacobs : You mean like a strike?

  Jack Kelly : Yeah, like a strike!

  David Jacobs : Are you out of your mind?

  Jack Kelly : It's a good idea!

  David Jacobs : Jack, I was only joking. We can't go on strike, we don't have a union.

  Jack Kelly : But, if we go on strike, then we are a union, right?

  David Jacobs : No! We're just a bunch of angry kids with no money.

• Jack Kelly : Extry, extry, read all about it! Ellis Island in flames!

  David Jacobs : Hey, where's that story?

  Jack Kelly : Page nine. Thousands Flee in Panic!

  David Jacobs : "Trash Fire Next To Immigration Building Terrifies Seagulls"?

  Jack Kelly : Terrified Flight from Inferno!

• Spot Conlon : I've been hearing things from little birds. Things from Harlem, Queens, all over. They been chirpin' in my ear. Saying Jacky-boy's Newsies is playing like they're going on strike.

  Jack Kelly : Yeah, well we are.

  David Jacobs : But we're not playing. We are going on strike.

  Spot Conlon : Oh yeah? Yeah? What is this, Jacky-boy? Some kind of walking mouth?

  Jack Kelly : Yeah, it's a mouth. A mouth with a brain, and if you got half a one, you'll listen to what he's got to say.

  David Jacobs : Well, we started the strike, but we can't do it alone. So, we're talking to Newsies all around the city.

  Spot Conlon : Yeah, so they told me. But what'd they tell you?

  David Jacobs : They're waiting to see what Spot Conlon is doing, you're the key. That Spot Conlon is the most respected and famous Newsie in all of New York, and probably everywhere else. And if Spot Conlon joins the strike then they join, and we'll be unstoppable. So you gotta join, I mean... well, you gotta!

  Spot Conlon : You're right Jacky-boy, brains. But I got brains too, and more than just half a one. How do I know you punks won't run the first time some goon comes at ya with a club? How do I know you got what it takes to win?

  Jack Kelly : Because I'm telling you, Spot.

  Spot Conlon : That ain't good enough Jacky-boy. You gotta show me.

• Jack Kelly : You only took 20 papes; why?

  David Jacobs : It's a bad headline.

  Jack Kelly : Well, dat's da foist thing ya gotta learn - headlines don't sell papes. Newsies sell papes.

• David Jacobs : He called you Sullivan.

  Jack Kelly : Yeah, well, my name's Kelly. Jack Kelly. You think I'm lyin'?

  David Jacobs : You have a way of improving the truth.

• Jack Kelly : We gotta get the word out to every newsie in the city! We need some of those...

  David Jacobs : Ambassadors?

  Jack Kelly : Yeah, yeah. Okay, you guys gotta go out and be, uh, am-bastards.

• David Jacobs : All right, everyone just remain calm!

  Jack Kelly : Let's soak 'em for Crutchy!

• David Jacobs : Come on, keep running!

  Jack Kelly : You shouldn't have done this, Dave. They could put you in jail!

  David Jacobs : I don't care.

  Jack Kelly : C'mere.

  [pushes him against the wall] 

  Jack Kelly : What about your family? What happens to them if you go to jail? You don't know nothin' about jail. Now, thanks for what you done, but you get out of here.

  David Jacobs : I don't understand.

  Jack Kelly : I don't understand either, but just get outta here!

  [pushes him away] 

  David Jacobs : No!

  Jack Kelly : Go!

• David Jacobs : What do you think your doing?

  Jack Kelly : Runnin'!

• David Jacobs : From now on, we trust no one but the Newsies.

• David Jacobs : [to Jack]  You're a liar! You lied about everything. You lied about your father being out west, cause he's not out west! You didn't even tell me your real name!

• David Jacobs : All those words you said, those were mine.

  Jack Kelly : Yeah, but you never had the guts to put them across yourself, didja?

  David Jacobs : I do now.

• David Jacobs : I've never been to Brooklyn. Have you?

  Boots : I spent a month there one night.