Gangs of New York Page #17

Bill STOPS. The odds are shifting, the stakes are climbing. Even the

Chinese STOP GAMBLING. For the first time all evening the room is

absolutely STILL. Even the Dead Rabbits have turned, at the door, to see

what will happen.

Tweed and the Butcher LOCK EYES: neither blinks. Then after a moment ... a

very long moment ... a calm, bemused Tweed RAISES his glass.

BOSS TWEED:

I only wanted to thank you, Bill, for the customary good job today... and

an equally bright future for us both.

Another pause. Bill does not look placated. The whole place seems ready to

explode...

... until Boss Tweed RISES to his feet, and RAISES his glass higher.

BOSS TWEED:

Will you drink with me, Bill, as a friend? An honored friend.

Bill weighs the proposition... then looks to his men, NODS his head to

call them off. He GRABS a glass off a table to join Tweed's toast.

The MUSIC begins again. The gambling recommences. Patrons take their

seats. The Dead Rabbits help Amsterdam out the door.

Monk Eastman sidles up to Bill the Butcher.

MONK EASTMAN:

If there's one thing I can't abide, it's fighting for free.

He takes the Butcher's glass from his hand, raises it in salute, DRINKS

DEEP and hands it back to him.

At the door of the Pagoda, a badly beaten Ansterdam starts FLAILING and

fighting by brute instinct. He HITS Jenny, and she goes down. Johnny

grapples with him as Jenny PICKS HERSELF up and struggles to help SUBDUE

Amsterdam.

JENNY:

Go easy! Go easy. It's over.

JOHNNY:

He knew what he was doing, hitting you.

JENNY:

Let's get him up.

She grabs Amsterdam's arm and, with Johnny's help, tries to HOIST him back

to his feet.

JENNY:

(Looking at Amsterdam's bloody face)

Therels too damn little of him left to know anything.

They start across Paradise Square, holding him up...

... as the rest of the Dead Rabbits join to help them... all growing

smaller in the distance against the primeval nighttime landscape of the

Five Points...

... and the Bouncer CLOSES the door.

DISSOLVE TO:

66 INT. DON WHISKERANDOS BARBER SHOP DAY

Another DOOR OPENS, and Amsterdam stands on the threshold. A week or so

has passed since the big night at Sparrow's Pagoda, but Amsterdam's face

still shows the marks of Bill's beating.

Don Whiskerandos is ministering to Monk Eastman with a straight razor,

giving him a close and careful shave. Monk is thoroughly relaxed, doesn't

even glance over when the door opens, hardly reacts when Don Whiskerandos

says ....

DON WHISKERANDOS

Someone's here for you.

MONK EASTMAN:

That so? What's he look like?

DON WHISKERANDOS

He looks pretty damned sorry.

MONK EASTMAN:

(looks at Amsterdam)

Indeed.- Can I buy you a shave?

AMSTERDAM:

No thanks.

MONK EASTMAN:

Face is too sore, eh? I understand.

AMSTERDAM:

No. I'm beholden enough to you as it is. I don't like to be beholden.

MONK EASTMAN:

We're all even, son. There's nothing more between us.

AMSTERDAM:

I'd like it if there was.

MONK EASTMAN:

Are you proposing employment?

AMSTERDAM:

A collaboration. The Dead Rabbits got to get strong before we make another

move. I figure you're the one to make us strong. There's a lot we can

learn from you.

MONK EASTMAN:

Boyo, I'm a freebooter and a mercenary, not a teacher. I can't learn

nothing from you and I can't earn nothing from you either.

AMSTERDAM:

The Dead Rabbits is going to be glorious again. We're going to reign over

the Points.

MONK EASTMAN:

And Bill Poole's Natives? What will they have to say?

AMSTERDAM:

Nothing. They won't have tongues left to speak.

MONK EASTMAN:

Don't worry about what theylll have in their mouths. You think about what

they got in their hands.

(beat)

Listen, son... take a word from a man who was honored to fight beside your

father. Temper yourself like a sword, and pay attention to balance. Anger

spoils an edge.

AMSTERDAM:

Then you say no?

Monk SIGHS and points to a huge WAR CLUB which hangs in a place of honor

above the shop mirror. It has deep marks running along its front, like

NOTCHES-

MONK EASTMAN:

You see my instrument there? First notch represents two dollars and fifty

cents. That's how much I got for my first kill. There are forty-eight more

notches after it, and my fee has grown with each one. I can accommodate

you alright, but you got to afford me. So do business with me or do it on

your own.

AMSTERDAM:

Everything I got is still to come. So I guess it's on my own, then.

MONK EASTMAN:

Fair enough. You'll find independence a fine thing, a fierce thing.

Although I do hold money preferable to all.

(Amsterdam turns to leave)

But I'm sure we'll have news of each other.

AMSTERDAM:

Bound to.

As he shuts the door of the shop, Monk Eastman gestures to Don

Whiskerandos for another hot towel.

CUT TO:

67 EXT. STREETS OFF PARADISE SQUARE DAY

A large wagon bearing a Tammany banner and carrying dozens of small sacks

of coal moves slowly down the narrow street. Boss Tweed sits on the front

seat, next to the driver, as his minions HAND him coal sacks. Tweed

distributes them with a smile to the NEEDY who trot next to the wagon.

BOSS TWEED:

(to the people as they grab the coal)

Tammany's here to take the chill off the winter and the weight off your

heart. It's Tammany can make this city a fit place, with the help and vote

of all you good people...

As he continues, Bill the Butcher JUMPS onto the wagon and sits down

beside him. Boss Tweed hardly gives him a glance.

BILL THE BUTCHER

You sent me word.

BOSS TWEED:

We could use help here. Grab a sack.

BILL THE BUTCHER

I keep my hands clean.

BOSS TWEED:

(now he looks at him)

So I've observed.

BILL THE BUTCHER

(tense)

Better be on your mark to talk like that to me. It was you stopped me at

the Pagoda. I would have cut Monk inside out.

BOSS TWEED:

What if you hadn't? Think of the embarrassment. And what if you had?

Consider the waste. Next time you're in a dust-up like that, think ahead

and make proper plans. It'd be a grand source of revenue, whoever prevails.

BILL THE BUTCHER

It touches my heart how you always. have our best interests in mind.

BOSS TWEED:

Our mutual interests. That's why I want you to contact Monk Eastman.

(Bill's incredulous)

I want you to extend a proposition. I want him to join US.

BILL THE BUTCHER

What?

BOSS TWEED:

Oh, not Tammany, of course not. We could no more have him there than you.

But he should throw in with the Native Americans, become aware of our

Arrangement and ... well, use his influence, shall we say, to enrich us

all.

BILL THE BUTCHER

You're saying I can't do everything you need? You don't think the Natives

has been doing good and right? You think there's something more he can do

that I ...

BOSS TWEED:

(interrupting)

It's none of that, Bill. None of that. His independence is like a rebuke

to Tammany. And an insult to you.

BILL THE BUTCHER

Then you should have let me have him at Sparrow's.

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