Gangs of New York Page #3

On the side of the square, arranged to get a good view of the impending

combat, is a group of STREET KIDS, girls and boys, none older than eight.

They talk and laugh excitedly among themselves, picking their own

favorites among the gangs as if the warriors were players on a team.

BILL THE BUTCHER

On the challenge of the Native Americans, to settle for good and all who

holds sway.

VALLON:

Bene.

BILL THE BUTCHER

By the ancient laws of combat, we offer our bodies to the ghosts of those

warriors who have gone before us. Valor is avid for glory, and glory is in

our wounds.

VALLON:

But this time can you bear to look on the glory when it comes, Bill? Can

you see it clear with your single eye?

BILL THE BUTCHER

Whoever fights untouched in battle has skill, but the warrior who returns

wounded has been touched by God.

VALLON:

It wasn't God who touched your eye.

BILL THE BUTCHER

It was God gave me guidance. Will you be able to look on the death blow

like a gladiator, and not look away? No honorable man turns an eye from

his death.

VALLON:

I don't expect a death blow from your hand, Butcher. Let's have at it.

BILL THE BUTCHER

There is another matter.

VALLON:

Say it out and quick, before spring gets here.

BILL THE BUTCHER

No Native American Warrior will dishonor himself with the blood of the

halt and maimed.

VALLON:

So?

BILL THE BUTCHER

So we would like to know whether Squire Jack Mulraney of the Dead Rabbits

can smile out of both sides of his face.

A pause of a single second. Then HAPPY JACK takes the dead rabbit off the

tip of his pike and hurls it across the square. It lands right at BILL THE

BUTCHER's feet.

In a flash, BILL THE BUTCHER opens his coat. Inside, on a special belt he

carries a CLEAVER, a CARVING KNIFE and other instruments of the butcherls

trade, all stained with blood and gristle. Now the MAN standing next to

him removes the broad BELT from around his coat. The brass buckle is

sharpened to a point, the leather studded with glass.

The gallery of Street Kids tenses for action: they are thrilled.

VALLON reaches up to the CROSS, pulls off the top piece, to disclose,

underneath, a gleaming sword point. He folds the arms of the cross down,

like the blades of a jackknife.

VALLON:

Prepare to receive the Lord.

And the air is full of screams and battle cries as the two gangs hurl

across Paradise Square into BATTLE.

VALLON draws first blood. He impales a Native American on the sword end of

his cross and turns to fight again.

Amsterdam and Shang exchange a glance of frightened, worried wonder.

Then a Native American rushes at them, shouting for blood. The boys act

together. Amsterdam dives down in front of the man, sending him sprawling.

Shang BLUDGEONS the fallen warrior, using his lead-filled rat like a

blackjack as Amsterdam kicks him savagely; the Native collapses

unconscicus at their feet. Before the boys can thank one another, however,

they are separaten by the SURGING GANGS all around them.

BILL THE BUTCHER leaves his meat CLEAVER imbedded in the middle of a man's

skull, then WADES through the combat as if shielded by a charm.

The gallery of Street Kids is thrilled by this display and reacts with

CHEERS.

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