Q1) "Is there any way to break a lease?"
A2) There is no way that any of us can answer that without knowing EXACTLY what the lease says. Or even WHERE he is (see the RED text at the top of the screen!!!).
Q2) "How can the rental company penalize him if he has no money to give them?"
A2) They can take him to court and get a judgment. Then, with judgment in hand, they can seize his car, part of his wages, his boat, his airplane, his new stereo, his..... whatever the law allows.
Q3) "Is there any chance they'll just let it go?"
A3) Of course there is. We just don't what those chances are.. could be 100%... could be 0.001%.