City of Orphans

The police are called, and the bodies are removed from the hotel. Willa and a distraught Maks sit in Packwood’s office fielding questions from the authorities. The police confirm the identities of Bruno and Brunswick, and the children are sent home in a cab paid for by Packwood. They are to alert Donck that he has found the stolen watch. Mama puts Willa to bed while Maks goes to sell his papers. All the newsies are discussing what happened at the hotel. Maks tells the entire story to his family later that day, and they are hopeful it means Emma will be exonerated.

The entire family attends the trial. Packwood will present her case to the judge as Donck is too ill to attend. He lays out all the facts of the case. Brunswick stole the watch from room 912 as Emma was cleaning it, then went into the dormitory and planted the chain under her pillow. Packwood gives credit to Donck for solving the case. The judge dismisses the case, and Emma is free to go home. The family returns home to celebrate, but Willa is still morose. Willa offers her mother’s ring to use as payment for Agnes’s medical care and discards the photo of her family.