Gangs of New York Page #26

JOHNNY:

Something like that, yeah.

BOSS TWEED:

Well fine, step up to history then and tell us what you have in mind.

CUT TO:

96 EXT. POLLING PLACE/PARADISE SQUARE DAY

START CLOSE ON:
telegraph wire, HUMMING with the election returns. And,

below it--far below--Johnny, Killoran and a couple of TAMMANY BOYOS,

looking up at the wire.

BOYO 1

I ain't goin' up there. I got my election suit on.

JOHNNY:

This election'll be over unless we get up there.

KILLORAN:

"We?" This was your notion, you go up there.

BOYO 2

(looking at polling place)

Him. He looks likely, and he ain't workin'.

He points over at Sheeny Mike Kurtz, who is observing the action at the

polls.

JOHNNY:

(calls to him)

Sheeny Mike, you want to make ...

(to Boyo 1)

...how much?

BOYO 1

A dollar.

JOHNNY:

(to Sheeny Mike)

Five dollars? Just to help us?

SHEENY MIKE:

(a bit wary)

What's the pitch, Johnny? Amsterdam wouldn't like it, working with Tammany.

BOYO 2

Well, now, if Amsterdam wouldn't like it ...

JOHNNY:

(interrupting)

He knows about it. Welre working a whole new scheme. But I won't tell him

youlre helping, if that's the way you want it. And you can keep the full

five. Just start climbing.

SHEENY MIKE:

(beat)

Where's the ned?

Boyo 2 hands Sheeny Mike five bucks, which he pockets as Boyo 1 gives him

a large pair of SHEARS. Mike wipes his palms on his pants and STARTS UP

the pole.

For Killoran and the Tammany Boyos, this is like a circus stunt. They

watch Mike's ascent with pleasure.

Sheeny Mike is quite pleased with himself as he nears the top of the pole.

He turns to look at Johnny and the Tammany group below. A couple of

SPECTATORS have stopped to watch as well.

Mike gets to the top of the pole, REACHES OUT--STRETCHES OUT-toward the

telegraph wire with the shears...

... strains... reaches ... MAKES THE CUT.

On the ground, Johnny looks relieved. The Boyos offer a partmocking round

of applause.

In the spirit of things, Sheeny Mike TURNS to acknowledge the applause.

Just briefly. But long enough so he's distracted. He sees the upturned

FACES fill suddenly with fear, and he TURNS when he HEA.RS a sharp, odd

WHISTLING NOISE.

A LIVE TELEGRAPH WIRE is coming at him. He doesn't even have time to

scream. The wire hits him, whipping around him as JOLTS OF NT leap through

his body and he FALLS to the ground.

CUT TO:

97 EXT. PARADISE SQUA.RE DAY

HANDS pick up the lifeless body of Sheeny Mike and start to carry it

off... past Amsterdam and Jenny, who stand on one side of it, watching...

and Johnny, who is on the other.

JOHNNY:

He was working a Tammany job, Tammany will see to him.

AMSTERDAM:

He wasn't Tammany. Not like you.

JOHNNY:

He made the right choice.

AMSTERDAM:

You don't know what you're saying! You killed one of our own. One of your

family!

JOHNNY:

(slowly)

I didn't know he was going to die, Amsterdam. And don't tell me what's my

own and what isn't. You're not my family. And I swear, I swear on the

Virgin Mother's eyes ... I know what I'm doing, Amsterdam. It's you that's

always been blind.

(they look at each other)

I'll say my farewells.

Johnny KNEELS down beside Mike's body, brushes the hair from his brow.

JOHNNY:

You still smell like drink.

He nods to the Rabbits to carry the body on and, as he RISES a half-dozen

NEWSBOYS DASH into the square, carrying fresh copies of the Tribune and

crying...

NEWSBOYS:

New Tammany victory! Fernando Wood elected to third term! Tammany ticket

prevails by narrow margin! Boss Tweed vows

Armageddon for crime!

JOHNNY:

(looking at Amsterdam and Jenny)

Can't you hear the future?

He walks away from the gang, through the rushing Newspaper Boys.

CUT TO:

98 INT. SPARROW'S CHINESE PAGODA

The place has been cleared out for a war council: Amsterdam with a couple

of Dead Rabbits, and Bill the Butcher with a few Natives. They sit at a

round poker table with a green felt top.

JIMMY SPOILS:

We say the Square is the place. Let Barnum sell the tickets for a share of

the price...

NATIVE SECOND:

(interrupting)

A small share.

JIMMY SPOILS:

And the Rabbits and Natives will split the majority portion equal.

NATIVE SECOND:

Who works the crowd?

AMSTERDAM:

Nobody. This is a day of honor. No pickpockets, no lush-rollers, nothing.

BILL THE BUTCHER

I'll cut their hands off. After the fight.

NATIVE SECOND:

We got to fix positions for everyone so there won't be no other fighting.

I know for fact the Roach Guards has sworn blood against the Black Birds,

and the Forty Thieves don't tolerate the Chichesters.

As these delicate negotiations continue, the only two outsiders in the

place, Mother Joyce and a Bartender, are listening intently on the far

side of the room.

BARTENDER:

Amsterdam will make the Butcher a fine banquet.

MOTHER JOYCE:

My ned's on the boy. He's got the youth, and he's got the hunger.

BARTENDER:

Is he so hungry you'll put up a hundred?

MOTHER JOYCE:

Two.

CUT TO:

99 EXT. PARADISE SQUARE DAY

OFFICIALS stand on a high wooden platform facing a JEERING CROWD. Banners

announce a "DRAFT LOTTERY." OFFICIALS are preparing to draw the first

numbers as Boss Tweed gives out with a speech.

BOSS TWEED:

Your honor... yes, and the law of the land... lies in the balance. The

Conscription Act of 1863 was handed down by President Lincoln himself ...

CROWD MEMBER:

(shouting)

If Lincoln signed it, then let Lincoln fight!

CROWD MEMBER 2

It's an army of the poor fighting for a bunch of rich slackers!

CROWD MEMBER:

Tammany's been our voice, let Tammany pay the exemption for all!

A YOUNG MEMBER of the crowd steps forward as Boss Tweed turns to look at

those backing him on the platform: Killoran, a CAVALRY OFFICER in fancy

dress ... and, out of sight of the crowd, Johnny Sirocco. Their

expressions are not reassuring.

YOUNG CROWD MEMBER

Your first payment, m'lords.

The Young Crowd Member hurls a STONE through the front window of a nearby

store. The CROWD cheers and runs to sack the store, and others SURGE

toward the platform. Johnny'and Killoran grab a fearful Tweed and rush him

to safety. But the Cavalry Officer stands his ground with sword and

pistol. He SHOOTS.

That STOPS them. But only for a fractured, eerie moment. Then they jump on

the Cavalry Officer, PULL him to the ground, begin to KICK and BEAT him.

CUT TO:

100 EXT. STREET/JACOB'S LADDER NIGHT

A building burns at the end of the street, spreading a silhouette of smoke

and flame in the air...

... as a LION CHARGES down the street, growling, scattering RIOTERS in its

wake. It's a mad, frightening sight, like a fulfillment of the Biblical

prophecy produced by P.T Barnum, whose Museum is burning in the distance.

SCREAMS, YELLS, CURSES and GROANS. CRIES of pain and fear as RIOTERS jump

out of the way of the wild animal, then course up the street toward

Broadway burning in the distance.

From ABOVE, on the roof of Jacob's Ladder, Amsterdam and Jenny watch the

madness below.

AMSTERDAM:

(watching lion)

That must be the vanguard of Barnum's army.

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