Gangs of New York Page #24

JENNY:

You think you can be free that easy? You need your way so clear, and

you''' use anything to clear it. Anyone, too. Me, everybody, we're all

just a way for you to settle your damned ghosts.

AMSTERDAM:

You're part of me now, like the gang is part of me and my father both. If

I can bring us to glory, then my father... like The Book says...my father

can enter his house justified.

As Amsterdam continues to talk we ...

DISSOLVE TO:

91 MONTAGE

The growth of the Dead Rabbits, as we continue to HEAR Amsterdam speak

passionately to Jenny. We first see the Rabbits surrounding and

OVERTURNING a fire wagon; this starts as a live action scene but soon

BLEEDS into SEPIA, then freezes like an old magazine illustration.

AMSTERDAM (V.O.)

All of us is set on the same road together. The gang can have everything

they ever wanted and get me what I want while they're doing it. We're not

interfering with each other, we're helping each other. It's all the same,

we're all one together.

We CONTINUE with sepia illustrations: of Dead Rabbit morts picking pockets

and purses along a crowded Broadway; climbing onto a wagon distributing

newspapers and tossing off the occupants, taking over the route

themselves; swarming all over a merchant ship in the harbor as the captain

doles out protection money to have his cargo unloaded.

AMSTERDAM (V.O.)

We'll all have a share of the profit like we'll all have a portion of the

fame. If we come to be notorious, that only means we're strong, and if

we're strong that means we're ready.

A sepia illustration of a fire wagon rounding a corner, refurbished and

manned by Rabbits, all wearing striking uniforms with short capes called

TAMLAS. (N.B.:
they will be seen wearing the tanlas from these uniforms

during all gang activity throuqhout the rest of the film. Only Johnny,

Amsterdam and Jenny do not wear them.)

The sepia illustration turns to live action as the fire wagon TEARS around

Paradise Square, SCATTERING everyone in its path, the Dead Rabbits

laughing, their tamlas FLYING behind them.

AMSTERDAM (V.O.)

And I'll know that time, know it right off when it comes. Just like I knew

you.

The live action DISSOLVES TO...

... the last image in the montage: an ILLUSTRATION of Amsterdam, a

half-decade older, turned out in fancy clothes, but with all his

fierceness intact. This is a magazine illustration, and there is a dated

headline over his picture: "Fresh Scourge of the Five Points." The date

reads "June, 1863.11

AMSTERDA.M (V.O.)

And just like that, there'll be no way of stopping till it's ended.

From this illustration, we quickly...

DISSOLVE TO:

92 EXT. RIVER DAY

... Amsterdam, as he is in the picture, but in live action, SPRINGING to

his feet and YELLING at a couple of PRIZEFIGHTERS doing battle in a ring.

AMSTERDAM:

Now! Finish him now!

Far up the sparkling Hudson, a RAFT floats slowly upstream. It's a huge

thing (perhaps half a city block in size) crowded with SPORTSMEN. They

form a LARGE RING around two mammoth PRIZEFIGHTERS who are brawling with

bare knuckles. Amsterdam and Johnny are among the spectators.

JOHNNY:

Our man will take him in another five. What puts you in such a hurry?

FIGHTER 1 fetches FIGHTER 2 a powerful roundhouse punch that sends him

CRASHING to the deck. As soon as he hits the floor, a CARD GIRL appears

carrying a sign announcing "Round 37.11 SECONDS drag the stupefied Fighter

2 to his corner, while two BOYS minister to Fighter 1, SUCKING THE BLOOD

off his knuckles.

A GONG sounds to announce the appearance, in the center of the ring, of

the fight promoter, a florid and fulsome P.T. Barnum .

BARNUM:

I want to extend thanks and admiration not only to our two combatants

today, but to their sponsors, the Dead Rabbits ...

(indicates one side of the ring)

... and the Native Americans.

He FLINGS an expansive arm toward the opposite side of the ring, where

Bill the Butcher sits with Daniel Killoran and a large group of Natives.

Amsterdam and the Butcher eye each other with all the old animosity: it's

almost ceremonial now, part of the Tradition.

BARNUM:

Their generous support allows me to bring you this splendid exhibition.

With their indulgence I'd like to remind you also of the further wonders

that await you at my new Museum, located on Broadway...

There are BOOS from the crowd at such untoward commercialism.

BARNUM:

... P.T Barnum's gallery of wonders from worlds natural and unnatural,

from nature and from myth!

(continued boos)

And to encourage you also in the view that new Albany ordinances

forbidding sportive violence on land shouldn't dampen your enthusiasm for

wagering. Bets down, entlegen, and you gents..

(indicated fighters)

... fists up!

The Fighters come to center ring, circle each other, then start slugging.

A flurry of punches, and Fighter 2 GOES DOWN again. As he hits the deck,

the round automatically ends and the between-rounds ritual takes place

again.

JOHNNY:

Dobbs will take him this round. That'll be something. The Natives has

never lost before.

AMSTERDAM:

Because there's never been a Dead Rabbit fighting before.

JOHNNY:

That'll shame them thorough.

AMSTERDAM:

There'll be worse than shaming. We only got the Natives in range.

It's time to squeeze the trigger, John.

The next round begins and the Fighters set to, MAULING each other

furiously.

JOHNNY:

Don't push the Natives too far, Amsterdam. Otherwise it'll be Tammany

pushing back.

AMSTERDAM:

That don't matter any more.

JOHNNY:

It does matter, and it's going to matter even more. Tammany's the heart

and future of this city. If the Rabbits is going to keep growing, we're

going to have to throw in with Tammany some way.

The action in the ring is FURIOUS. The Crowd cheers. Fighter 1 seems about

to go down, but recovers and starts returning punishment to Fighter 2.

JOHNNY:

They got that Conscription Act from Washington keeping them busy, but they

won't leave us alone forever. And the Natives is strong as they ever been!

In the ring, Fighter 1 drives Fighter 2 to the deck again, and this time

KNOCKS HIM COLD.

AMSTERDAM:

(indicates Fighter 1)

You call that strong, John?

In the ring, a couple of agitated NATIVE AMERICANS are trying to get at

the Rabbit-sponsored winner. RABBITS start to RUSH the ring but Amsterdam

WAVES them back.

AMSTERDAM:

(to Johnny)

This is our time now!

BARNUM:

(trying to make official announcement)

The winner... gentlemen, please! ... the winner in the 39th round is the

Dead Rabbits champion, High Water Dobbs ... please, gentlemen!

The unofficial ring COMBAT continues, knocking Barnum about, as the new

champ throws marauding Natives around like empty flower sacks. Amsterdam

iumps into the fray, PUSHES some Natives away. They start for him but the

champ stands them off while Amsterdam WHISPERS to Barnum.

BARNUM:

Just a moment, please, gentlemen! There's a word for us all. Amsterdam

promises ...

(Amsterdam whispers to him briefly)

... something large, something grand, something epic. The greatest these

are my own words, of course the greatest righting of the gravest wrong

ever done in the Five Points.

Rate this script:3.0 / 2 votes