Gangs of New York Page #30

AMSTERDAM:

Help us, we got wounded!

GUARD 1

We can't leave the post.

AMSTERDAM:

Open the damn doors then! We're bad hurt!

GUARD 1

Where's the others?

AMSTERDAM:

Just behind us! But I got our major here wounded so bad half his guts is

out!

Guard 1 SIGNALS for the doors to be opened to the Armory as the Detachment

draws close to the emplacement.

GUARD 1

God, it's good to see you!

AMSTERDAM:

Likewise.

Ainsterdam SHOOTS him where he stands as the Rabbits OVERWHELM the

emplacement.

AMSTERDAM:

(shouting)

Move fast! We got to get out with everything we can before the militia

gets here!

As the Armory Guards return fire, the Boy Jenny carried in the previous

scene RUNS for the telegraph pole and starts to CLIMB. A SHOT makes the

wood fly inches from his face...

... as the Rabbits storm into the Armory, FIRING wildly.

The Boy reaches the top of the telegraph pole and CUTS the wire. He

shinnies back down the pole as the wire SWINGS ineffectually in the air

and we ...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. Y HALL/MAIN ROOM 119

..a telegram, held in Killoran's hand. He passes it to Tweed.

KILLORAN:

It's from the Armory Guards. That's the last before the wire went dead.

BOSS TWEED:

(reading, furious)

If the Rabbits are already at the Armory, where the hell is Bill and the

militia?

He THROWS the telegram onto the floor, where it joins a whole SEA of

yellow telegraph forms. They are shin-high; there must be thousands of

them.

KILLORAN:

They got to be near.

JOHNNY:

So long as they're near, it's alright. The Rabbits can take the Armory,

but they can't hold it. If Bill can get into position, he can make sure

they don't get out.

BOSS TWEED:

Alright then, John, you pray to any God you choose that's the fact of it.

If Bill thinks he can best the Natives, that is your opportunity. That is

your moment.

(Johnny hesitates)

Are you a Bible man? The Book says in Revelations, "I saw a new heaven and

a new earth." If the hand of God's not on you to fulfill that prophecy,

then the hand of Tweed will be. Go on and God bless.

Johnny looks like he is about to say something, but he stops; looks at

Tweed a moment longer; then nods acknowledgment and leaves.

GOVERNOR:

I don't believe he can do it, Tweed.

BOSS TWEED:

Oh, I think he can. Whether it's one man against another or a mob against

the city, the mathematics remain the same. You never enjoyed the

enlightenment of poverty, did you, Governor? If you had, you'd know you

can always hire half the poor to kill the other half.

CUT TO:

120 EXT. ARMORY DAY

A TREMENDOUS VOLLEY of GUNFIRE, as if to illustrate the Tweed theory of

class warfare. Bodies fall in the street. Bodies fall from the Armory. The

building is under siege by the main unit of the MILITIA and by Bill the

Butcher and the Natives. The Dead Rabbits are trapped.

Johnny SNAKES through the Native American lines, over dead bodies, moving

towards Bill, who he sees a hundred yards away...

... running over corpses of comrades and enemies toward the MILITIA

COMMADER. As SHOT WIDENS, the carnage is revealed. Bodies of Natives, in

their uniform dusters, and Rabbits, in their tamlas, lie side by side in

the street.

120 CONTINUED:

FIRING continues from both sides as the Butcher shouts at the Militia

Commander.

BILL THE BUTCHER

We move now and we can drive them out! We press them and they'll break!

MILITIA COMMANDER

I can't spare the men or stand the risk! We stay fast and smoke lem out!

BILL THE BUTCHER

Tweed put me in charge of this! I say we move, and by the crucified Christ

we will move!

(turns to his men)

Native Americans, come with me! Any militia that wants to live upright

instead of die hunkered down, come with us!

Bill STALKS through the lines, rallying the men. And Johnny starts to

FOLLOW.

BILL THE BUTCHER

We'll show you gladiators' greatness! Come on!

The men start to JOIN the Butcher; even some militia fall in. Johnny SLIPS

through the men gathering near the Butcher. He's closer to Bill than ever.

Bill starts to mount their BARRICADE. There is MOVEMENT and commotion all

around him as Natives and militia fall into rough formation. It threatens

to obscure Bill from Johnny's view. Shield him.

He has to make his move. NOW. He DRAWS a revolver as militia and Natives

pass in front of him... he AIMS ... he's anxious, confused ... his HAND

shakes ... he fires... too soon! ...

... and HITS a Native, who falls dead. Right near Bill.

The Butcher turns in the direction of the shot, SEES Johnny. Their eyes

lock. Johnny FIRES again ... WINGS Bill ...

... and Bill SHOOTS him. Johnny FALLS with the first shot. Bill's above

him now, looking down at him.

BILL THE BUTCHER

Was it Tweed or your friend put you to this?

JOHNNY:

Tweed.

Bill SHOOTS him again, point blank. Johnny screams.

BILL THE BUTCHER

You'd lie to save your friend.

JOHNNY:

(in terrible pain)

No. There's no friends for me.

BILL THE BUTCHER

Me the same. Pity us both.

He EMPTIES his revolver into Johnny.

BILL THE BUTCHER

(to his men)

Hold your fire!

(toward the Armory)

In there! Hey in there! I want to talk to Amsterdam!

The Militia Commander is aghast at this proposition and starts forward,

gun in hand. But a Native STOPS him.

Amsterdam's face APPEARS in a front window of the Armory.

AMSTERDAM:

Go on, then, talk.

BILL THE BUTCHER

You and me.

AMSTERDAM:

(beat)

Come ahead then. And bring my friend's body.

Bill the Butcher SLINGS Johnny's body over his shoulder as easily as if it

were an empty sack of flour...

... and starts walking thraugh the lines toward the Armory. The Militia

watches in disbelief, the Natives in confusion. The Dead Rabbits keep the

Butcher in their sights. But no one fires. No one moves.

And Bill the Butcher enters the front doors of the Armory.

CUT TO:

121 INT. ARMORY DAY

As the Butcher is admitted through the huge doors which clang SHUT quickly

behind him. It's a scene of devastation inside-dozens of dead and wounded

everywhere. And enough rifles and munitions to sink Manhattan island.

Bill the Butcher stands dead center in the middle of the Armory floor as

Amsterdam walks toward him. The Butcher DROPS Johnny's body in a heap at

his feet.

BILL THE BUTCHER

Your friend made different friends lately.

AMSTERDAM:

Tammany's put us all in the same place. You want to get out alive?

BILL THE BUTCHER

It don't matter to me. I got enemies outside, enemies in here. The militia

can move on me anytime. You could drop me before I get to the door.

AMSTERDAM:

I don't want to lose you so easy. You'll never get past the militia unless

you come with the Dead Rabbits.

BILL THE BUTCHER

You'd lay aside what's between us?

AMSTERDAM:

I'm not forgetting where I put it.

BILL THE BUTCHER

If you do, I'll remind you.

(he turns, leaves)

AMSTERDAM:

What's your call, Bill?

BILL THE BUTCHER

I'm considering where's my better chance.

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