Gangs of New York Page #28

AMSTERDAM:

Five thousand people in the street done it! Boss Tweed done it! Abe

Lincoln done it! There's nothing you can do about any one of them but stay

with us. You'll have a little of your own back.

JIMMY SPOILS:

How's that?

AMSTERDAM:

These riots are a gift. They...

... he PAUSES just for a moment as he sees a hand on the last rung of the

outside ladder leading to the roof: it's Jenny, returning.

AMSTERDAM:

... they've made everything clear, as you might say.

(to Jenny)

Are you with us, then?

JENNY:

Until I can get out. I'll go with you...

(straight at Amsterdam)

...meantime.

AMSTERDAM:

Good. We're going for the Armory at Canal Street.

JIMMY SPOILS:

The Armory! We'll have to beat the militia to get there.

AMSTERDAM:

There's a way through the lines. Jen, did you see the cops and militia?

JENNY:

I can show you from here where they are. I doubt they'll get to the Armory

in force before midday tomorrow.

AMSTERDAM:

We'll get there first. We'll take everything we can carry, and destroy the

rest so no one else has the use of it, the militia, the Natives, nobody.

Then we'll turn to real business. We'll go down to the Battery.

JIMMY SPOILS:

Why, we going to take a sail to Europe?

AMSTERDAM:

No. But we could, after this. We're going...

(slowly, savoring this)

...we're going to take the banks. The government banks.

(awed silence from all)

Are we not?

JENNY:

(beat; steps forward)

Seems we are.

One by one, then in small groups, the entire gang FOLLOWS her. They are

uncertain, reluctant, even frightened at the audacity of the scheme. But

they stand with Amsterdam.

CUT TO:

108 INT. MAIN ROOM/TAMMANY HALL NIGHT

The crowded main room of Boss Tweed's domain, jammed with anxious

POLITICOS and OFFICIALS, as well as a harried group of TELEGRAPH OPERATORS

who receive news of the riots from all over Manhattan. There is a huge map

of the city against one wall: the place has been converted from a

political princedom to an operational headquarters. Johnny Sirocco and

Bill The Butcher are there. Other guests include the GOVERNOR, Mayor

Fernando Wood, and a badly shaken Horace Greeley.

GREELEY:

They attacked me! I had every sympathy for them at first...

BOSS TWEED:

Too much sympathy, Horace. Writing these riots were a rising against

"unjust laws and unsuitable law-givers." The shame!

GOVERNOR:

I suspended the draft at noon but the mobs only grew more virulent. It is

a criminal rising of the lowest class, of the Gangsters and rabble who

have been allowed by Tammany to run lawless!

BOSS TWEED:

It was Tammany and the rabble that elected you, Governor. And it's Tammany

and the gangs who'll stop it. Isn't that so, Bill?

BILL THE BUTCHER

(nods at Johnny)

I won't say nothin' in front of him. Who knows what business he's here on?

BOSS TWEED:

He's here on our business and my invitation. He's already been of great

help. What's the opposition strength, John?

To answer, Johnny yanks back a CURTAIN drawn across a high window. The

view, looking downtown, is one of almost continual ILLUMINATION-- every

place the eye falls, CANDLES burn in sympathy for the rioters.

JOHNNY:

Each candle is against you, gents.

MAYOR:

"Against you," sir? Don't you mean "us".

JOHNNY:

(diplomatic)

Some of us come from those people, Mayor. I'll not deny they still claim

part of me.

MAYOR:

Which part? Perhaps your heart.

BOSS TWEED:

Gentlemen, I'm sorry you find it necessary to question the loyalty of my

friend here, and by extension, my own judgement. So as proof ... John,

where will the mob go? What will the gangs do?

(Johnny is uneasy about answering)

Go on, tell them what you told me.

JOHNNY:

There's no telling about the mob. Or the small gangs. But the Dead Rabbits

... if I was Amsterdam...

BOSS TWEED:

(interrupting)

As indeed you nearly was. Were.

JOHNNY:

... if I was ... I'd figure to take the Rabbits to the Armory.

BOSS TWEED:

Would you agree with that, Bill? Wouldn't you do the same? If you were

fighting against the militia instead of beside them?

BILL THE BUTCHER

Beside them? What are you talking... ?

BOSS TWEED:

(interrupting)

You will have to fight beside them to take the Armory. It cannot fall into

unfriendly hands.

BILL THE BUTCHER

I can't stand with the militia against the people. I could never work the

Points no more if I did.

BOSS TWEED:

We're all of us swept up in a great tide of events, Bill. Have you learned

to swim?

From Bill's face, struggling to make sense of this, knowing Tweed's right

but not wanting to believe it, we ...

DISSOLVE TO:

109 INT. MAIN ROOM/TAMMANY HALL NIGHT

... Johnny's face, as Tweed talks to him. It is later, and the Butcher has

left. The activity is still frantic all around, but Tweed speaks in

unhurried tones.

BOSS TWEED:

I'm sure that Bill will do his usual splendid job. But after that ...

well, I'm afraid he's grown away from us.

(Johnny looks puzzled)

He shows distressing signs of... shall we say, free-thinking. Crime

flourishes in chaos, and these riots could encourage Bill to overstep

himself. He no longer inspires in me the same trust... well, that you

might. If you can prove yourself further.

109 CONTINUED:

JOHNNY:

You already said in front of everyone you trusted me.

BOSS TWEED:

In vital things. Would I be talking to you now otherwise? Vital things,

but small things. Are you equal to greater responsibility and opportunity?

JOHNNY:

Such as what?

BOSS TWEED:

Ridding me of Bill the Butcher.

(Johnny is startled)

He may question your loyalty to me, but Bill would never believe you had

the sand to go against him. He'd never expect it. Do you have the sand?

From Johnny's face, struggling to make the right answer, we...

DISSOLVE TO:

110 INT. JACOB'S LADDER

... Ansterdam's face, as he looks up from preparing a brace of pistols for

the next day's scheme.

AMSTERDAM:

Let him in.

Johnny enters the common room of Jaccb's Ladder, where the Dead Rabbits

have gathered to ready themselves. As they work over their weapons and

prepare battle dress, Johnny walks through their midst. They do not

acknowledge him... except for Jenny.

JENNY:

Did you miss us, John?

JOHNNY:

Not a bit.

AMSTERDAM:

(rising to meet him)

Are you here to spy?

JOHNNY:

I don't have to spy.

Amsterdam leads Johnny off to a shadowy corner of the room where they can

talk privately.

JOHNNY:

(as they walk)

I know what you're doing. I told Tweed what you're doing.

AMSTERDAM:

You don't know what I'm doing.

JOHNNY:

You're going after the Armory.

AMSTERDAM:

Am I now? Why do you think that?

JOHNNY:

'Cause that's what I would do, and you and I think alike.

AMSTERDAM:

No more. And it don't seem worth a visit to tell me something you already

think I'm doing.

JOHNNY:

There's something else alright. Tweed's arranged to kill Bill the Butcher.

AMSTERDAM:

(disbelieving)

Who could Tweed get to do that?

JOHNNY:

One of his own.

AMSTERDAM:

There's no one around him...

JOHNNY:

(interrupting)

Listen, it don't matter who, it's going to be done, that's all! Tweed

ain't going to wait around

for you and Bill to settle yourselves. I'm telling you so you have a

chance.

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