City of Orphans

At the Roof Garden Dance Hall, a man eating alone in the corner has the air of a classic gangster and a Colt pistol concealed in his pocket. He wears a fancy watch that he continually checks, obviously waiting on someone who is late, and he holds a photograph of Bruno. The man and Bruno had an altercation once before, and he is withholding turning Bruno in for theft in return for a favor. Bruno is angry that he is being blackmailed, but the man reminds him of what his fate could be if he were caught and arrested. He tells him to keep the money he stole from the newsies saying it was a poor effort. He begins to discuss the power of the newspaper in the community. Whoever controls the paper holds a lot of influence; therefore, he must control the newsies. His boss wants control of The World to control the narrative about himself. The police have been bought off, and all that is left is the paper. They plan to meet again tomorrow at 10 o’clock. The man is cruel to Bruno. He leaves in a cab headed for the Waldorf Hotel.

Maks begins the day after a sleepless night. Mama is already up setting the fire, and she, too, appears to have spent the night worrying, so Maks helps with the chores. Their rent is due, and they do not have the money. Mama has dressed Willa in hand-me-downs, and Maks notices she is smiling for the first time. Maks will visit Emma, reassuring her that the family is consulting a lawyer for help, and then report all the details to Papa at the factory. Maks gathers his brothers to help them wash, eat, and get ready for school. Mama whispers to Maks that he should ask her to stay with them permanently. Willa tells the boys she is going home and not returning. Maks tells Willa of his mother’s proposal that she come to live with them. Her reaction is a mixture of shock and anger that turn to sorrow. She finally breaks and, through tears, tells Maks that her mother died and her father abandoned her. As she sobs, Maks says, “This city, people always dying. Last year, in our building, seven people died. Kids, a mother, a father. Agnes’ school told her it’s bad water, bad milk, bad dirt, bad smoke. Ain’t nothing you done bad” (99). Not knowing how to deal with her emotions, Maks turns his attention towards getting the food to Emma.

The Tombs has imposing guards standing watch outside as many people have gathered awaiting admittance. A short, poorly dressed man with wild facial hair catches Maks’s eye. He does not fit in with the others. Maks visits his newsie friend Chimmie. Newsies are gathered at The World awaiting their papers. Willa asks how the children live. Some have homes, but most are homeless like her, sleeping in drainpipes and something called a rope house. Maks’s friends nickname Willa Joan of Arc and agree Bruno is a problem that will need to be addressed sooner than later. Chimmie gives them the address for detective Bartleby Donck. They return to The Tombs, and Maks goes in alone and is searched multiple times before being allowed admittance. The way the cells are stacked on one another reminds Maks of animal cages. The prison is full of chaotic sounds, mostly of women crying out in anguish. The guards are unkind, and the doors are kept closed to prevent suicide. Emma is laying on the floor of her cell almost unrecognizable to Maks. She is filthy and overwhelmed at his presence. They hold hands through the cell bars as Maks tells her they are doing all they can to help. She explains that a watch was stolen and the chain was found under her pillow. She swears she did not take the watch and does not know who would have set her up to be accused. She devours the food he brought since the prisoners are not fed. Maks promises Mama will come soon. He does not want to leave her and asks the guard if she can get a better cell. Mockingly, the guard says, “You want ’em, you grease palms” (116). Maks has no spare money for a bribe. 

Willa left The Tombs while Maks was inside fearing the Plug Ugly Gang would find her, and she walks through the city, past the East River, where she works sorting through garbage. She flashes back to her childhood, thinking of her mother’s love and comfort and when she began to fall ill. Willa cares for her mother and works extra hard to help the family. Her mother gives Willa her wedding ring as she is dying. Willa’s father is often gone, and he is cold and unkind to her. After her mother’s death, she feels responsible, and her father makes her feel even worse. He leaves one day, never to return, and Willa is forced to move out after another immigrant family takes over their flat. She stays near home hoping for her father to return, but when he does not, she becomes a beggar. This had been her life for five months before she met Maks. Willa emerges from her memories and decides to go inside the Geless home asking for a bath.