City of Orphans

Maks arrives at Newspaper Row, where all the newsies are hanging out under a single light, and announces that Willa has been taken by the Plug Uglies. Maks makes a passionate speech imploring them to join him in her rescue. They grab anything they can use as a weapon and march to Bruno’s lair. They descend on the dilapidated building, crashing through the doors and windows. It is lit with only an oil lamp, and even though there is a second story, Maks sees no staircase. Bruno and the Plug Uglies are cowering in a corner, and the army wastes no time attacking. Chaos erupts as everyone fights, and Bruno tries to escape. Someone knocks over the lamp, and the old house catches fire. Newsies and Plug Uglies alike race to escape with their lives. Maks is only concerned with finding Willa. He runs into the flames searching for a way upstairs. Maks makes it to the second level, finds Willa there tied to the bed, and frees her hands as the flames and smoke rise higher into the building. He busts out a window for air but instead creates a backdraft, making the flames only blaze more intensely.