The film opens with Priest Vallon (Liam Nesson) shaving, he cuts his cheek and then hands the blade to his son Amsterdam, who is about to wipe the blood. Vallon tells him to leave it there, and his son puts away the blade in a black cloth with a sliver cross clasp (important later). He then says a prayer to St. Michael, puts a medallion over Amersterdam's head, grabs a steel cross, and marches out of his cave with Amersterdam. They walk past people making and finishing their weapons, including a woman with "Catwoman" claws named Hellcat Maggie. Vallon, his son, and the rest take communion as they continue exiting the caves. They finally reach the top level of an old brewery. They stop and Vallon asks a man named Monk if he will join them. Monk says he'll fight for pay. Vallon promises him ten dollars, so Monk agrees picks up his wooden club, and kicks open the door, revealing the snow-filled Five Points section of New York City, 1846.
Vallon and his crew, aka the Dead Rabbits, leave the brewery and make their way onto the street. Amsterdam runs to join children on the steps of a nearby building, while the Dead Rabbits await the arrival of the Native. A few moments later, men dressed in blue, led by Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis), a ruthless New Yorker with a glass eye, walk onto the street, clearly outnumbering the Rabbits. Bill tells Vallon that New York has been ruined by the Irish who will work for less pay than the slaves and should return home. Vallon recants that it's a free country, and is then joined by more men.
Moments later, they begin fighting. Monk is mashing people in the head, Maggie is biting a man's ear off, and people's legs are getting broken while others are being stabbed. Bill and Vallon slowly make their way towards each other, but as Vallon draws near Bill directs one of his men to attack Vallon. Vallon kills the man, but is stabbed by Bill in the process. Vallon tries to fight back, but is stabbed in the rib. Vallon falls to the ground, and a horn is blown. All of the men stop fighting and stand around the dying Vallon. Amsterdam pushes his way to his father's side. Bill makes a speech about how all the fighting is done and how he has slain Vallon. Vallon looks at his son, tells him to always stay focused and then asks Bill to finish him, which Bill obliges, leaving the knife on Vallon's chest. Bill says that Vallon may not be touched so that he may reach Heaven with honor. Monk tells him to wait, goes over to Vallon's body and takes something from his pocket, and then offers Amsterdam his condolences. As they haul Vallon away, Bill's men ask what they should do with the boy. He tells them to put him in a school so he could get an education. Amsterdam quickly grabs the knife from his father's chest, threatens Bill's men, and runs inside the brewery. As the men chase him, a boy hits one of them in the shin, causing him to fall. Amsterdam runs down to his cave, opens a secret compartment in the ground, and places the medallion and dagger inside. Bill's men grab him.
Sixteen years pass and Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio) is being given a blessing and a Bible by a priest. He is still in New York but in an orphanage on a nearby island. As he leaves, he looks at an Asian man, walks over a bridge, and tosses the Bible in the ocean.
Bill the Butcher is walking through a hallway of Tanemey Hall to the office of Boss Tweed (Jim Broadbent), who is running for some sort of political office. Tweed is discussing how they can get more voters and other things. Then it cuts to Amsterdam walking on the docks as more Irish are disembarking a ship. Particularly an old woman who is hit in the face by something one of Bill's men threw and is yelling for her to get back on the boat. She falls to the floor, and is helped up by a gentleman and some children.
Amsterdam passes them by and is greeted by a man who welcomes him, offers him bread, and reminds him to vote for Tweed. Amsterdam is also asked to draft in the army, but refuses. Other Irish are offered money, 3 meals a day, and other luxuries for their families if they join right away and ship out immediately. They agree, register, change, and board a boat.
Amsterdam makes his way to his cave and opens the compartment. He takes out the dagger and the medallion. He is interrupted by Johnny Sirocco (Henry Thomas) and Jimmy Spoils (Larry Gilliard Jr.) as he says a prayer. They tell him to give them his possessions, and when he refuses, Jimmy tries to attack him, but Amsterdam knocks him over and almost breaks his nose. Johnny pulls out a knife, which Amsterdam turns against him. Johnny notices the medallion. Amsterdam leaves the cave and goes out to the street. Johnny follows him and asks if hes the priests son. Amsterdam answers yes, and Johnny begins to update him on the Five Points. He tells him how Maggie tried to open a pub, but drank herself out of business; how Monk owns a barber shop; and how Bill celebrates Priest Vallons death every year.
Johnny is then bumped into by Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz). He introduces her to Amsterdam. When she comments to them that they are terrible at conversation, Amsterdam recants that they are deep thinkers. She wishes them a good day and hopes the God shines on them and joins her friends. Johnny swears that Jenny likes him, but Amsterdam informs him that she stole his watch. Johnny searches his pockets, looks up, and tries to make it seem like it happens often.
Later that night, a house is on fire. The sirens of Tweeds firemen can be heard closing in. A man covers a fire hydrant with a barrel and sits on it. Tweeds men come and he begins campaigning. Then another group of firemen come and the two groups start to fight. Johnny takes advantage, grabs Amsterdam, and enters the burning building in search of valuables. Amsterdam finds watches, while Johnny becomes mesmerized by a music box. A beam falls and traps him in. He calls for Amsterdam, who grabs more jewelry and heads out. He returns, jumps over the beam with a blanket, grabs Johnny, and helps him out of the house. Just as they are leaving, Bills men come, the barrel is removed from the hydrant, and they begin to put out the fire.
Johnny then takes Amsterdam to meet his friends Fuzzy, Jimmy, and some others. There they show everything they stole from the burning building until Happy Jack (John C. Reilly) arrives. He was one of the Dead Rabbits whos now a crooked police officer. He takes few pieces and leaves.
The next day, Amsterdam and Johnny then take the rest to a pub/ brothel, where Bill plays cards. Johnny walks up to Bill and give him the money, but Amsterdam stays further back. He notices a drawing of his father on the wall. Bill asks Amsterdam what his name is. Amsterdam replies. Bill then calls himself New York, and tells Johnny how they can make more money.
Later that night, Fuzzy, Jimmy, Amsterdam, and Johnny are rowing through the harbor until they reach a ship. When they board it, they find that it has already been robbed. They continue to search for anything that might have been left until Amsterdam notices a man dressed in a Union uniform coming out with a rifle. He warns Jimmy and everyone else to hit the deck. A shot is fired, but only into the air because the man was dying. The man falls forward to reveal a knife in his back. Everyone is in the rowboat waiting when a body falls inside it. Its the Union soldier. Amsterdam threw it in and he then jumps into the boat. He is then shown trading the body for money. The headline in the newspaper reads something about a gang who sells body to science. Bill applauds Amsterdams quick thinking, but his right hand man, Mr. McGloin doesnt agree. They begin calling each other names and eventually begin fighting. Amsterdam is clearly winning when the fight is broken up. During the scuffle, the drawing of Priest Vallon fell to the ground. Bill picks it up, looks at it, and puts it back on the wall. He then takes Amsterdam and Johnny on a tour of the Five Points as Happy Jack is giving a rich family a tour. Monk also walks by greets Bill, and pushes up Amsterdams hat to get a look at Amsterdams face.
Amsterdam comes across Jenny again when she bumps into him. He immediately begins checking his pockets, but realizes too late that she took his medallion. He follows her onto a bus-type thing. He sees her brilliantly steal a mans pocket watch, and then follows her to the home of a wealthy family where she poses as a maid and steals some things. When shes done, he pulls her to the side and asks for his medallion. She threatens him with a knife and cuts him on his neck slightly before he takes it from her. She then opens her blouse and shows him all the medallions shes got. He takes his gives her back the dagger, and begins walking with her.
Later, Im not sure when, he goes with Johnny to a dance. Jenny is seated with her back to the men and is holding a mirror. She passes up three men, including Johnny, before choosing Amsterdam.
They begin dancing, and later go to the docks where they are about to have sex. She mentions Bill and he wonders what she gives him in return. When he realizes, he gets up and leaves.
Amsterdam then begins working for Bill. He is even shown by Bill how to hurt or kill people by stabbing them in certain areas. Bill also makes Amsterdam, Fuzzy, Jimmy, and Johnny boxing bet collectors. When a boxing match is broken up by the police, Amsterdam finds a place where the police cannot break it up. Bill gives him all the glory, but his joy is interrupted when he sees Jenny leave with Johnny.
Later at a showing of Uncle Toms Cabin, the audience begins throwing vegetables at the stage. An assassin uses this to try to kill Bill. Amsterdam notices, warns Bill, and tackles the guy to the ground, but not before he gets a shot off. He shoots Bill in the shoulder. Bills men shoot him in return. Bill then asks the guy who sent him, but the man dies before he can answer. Amsterdam then runs off and begins crying. Monk finds him, and tells him that his father tried helping the Irish, not the Natives. Amsterdam reminds Monk of taking money from Priest Vallon when he died. Monk then hands him the black cloth with the cross clasp, and says he took it for safe-keeping.
Later that night, Bill, Amsterdam, Tweed, and others are drinking in the brothel. Jenny comes by and cleans Bills wound then goes upstairs to her room. Amsterdam angrily follows her and grabs her. She tells him shell bite him if he tries to kiss her. She lunges a few times, and they eventually kiss and sleep together. Johnny witnesses this and runs off.
Amsterdam awakes to find Bill watching him. He asks Bill if it was okay that he slept with Jenny. Bill says he doesnt mind. Bill then begins talking about how Priest Vallon spared his life, and how Bill removed his own eye and sent it to Vallon. He then describes the day he killed Vallon. Bill then leaves.
Amsterdam tells Jenny if she wants to know anything about him, she should ask. She explains how Bill took her in and how he never put his hands on her until she told him to. Later that night, Monk sees Amsterdam throwing a dagger into a block of wood. Its as if Amsterdam were practicing for something.
Johnny is then seen talking to Bill. He tells Bill about Amsterdam being Vallons son. Bill reacts violently, nearly killing Johnny, but he listens. Meanwhile, Amsterdam is seen walking into an Asian-themed restaurant. He tries to call Johnny as he walks to his table, but Johnny pays no mind. He sits, and Jenny comes to him. An announcer then comes and begs Bill to perform with his daggers. He asks for his apprenticeJenny. She steps onto the stage and Bill begins throwing knives, all nearly missing her. It gets to a point where he is seriously scaring her, and even cuts her neck. He then walks to his table, says some words about Vallon, and lifts up his drink of fire. Amsterdam then throws a dagger at Bill, who hits it.
His men grab Amsterdam, and Bill then wounds him by stabbing him. He then has Amsterdam put on a table, nearly stabs him a couple of times, then hits Amsterdam several times in the face with his head.
Jenny then takes Amsterdam away to a cave where she nurses him back to health. When he feels better, he hangs a dead rabbit in the middle of the Five Points. Bill sends Happy Jack to kill Amsterdam, but Amsterdam kills Jack instead. Amsterdam and his men now dressed in red are gathering strength, even to the point where Tweed asks for their help in getting votes. He makes a deal with them to allow them to have an Irish sheriff and he will get all Irish votes. They choose Monk, who wins. This upsets Bill, who challenges Monk outside his barber shop. When Monk suggests they go inside and turns his back, Bill throws a butcher knife into Monks back. He then takes Monks club (which has 44 carvings in it to mark how many people Monks killed), carves an X into it, and jabs it into the butcher knife, killing Monk. This pushes Amsterdam over the edge, and he agrees to a challenge with Bill. In a neutral area, they discuss the terms and the day.
The day arrives and Amsterdam cuts himself on the cheek as his father had done. He looks at Jenny, who tells him that shes leaving for San Francisco today with or without him. He tells her it will be over tomorrow, but she leaves.
Across town, the draft officers are going around telling citizens that unless they pay $300 they have to join the army. A riot breaks out, and crowds start pillaging the streets. They even break into the house of the rich family that previously visited the Five Points. Jenny and Jimmy are even attacked in the process. The violence gets so bad that they call the army in, and ships begin firing cannons at the city just as the Dead Rabbits and the Natives begin their showdown. --
The cannons break up the two groups, leaving only Amsterdam and Bill to fight. Because of a thick cloud of smoke, Bill cuts Amsterdam twice. Another cannon knocks Bill and Amsterdam to the ground. Amsterdam takes this opportunity and stabs and kills Bill. Jenny finds him and, that night, they mourn all the friends they lost in the draft riots. Tweed is only upset because he lost so many votes.
Jenny and Amsterdam then bury Bill next to Priest Vallon, which overlooks the city skyline. From this area, years begin to pass, showing the growth of skyscraper and ending on the Twin Towers.
Vallon and his crew, aka the Dead Rabbits, leave the brewery and make their way onto the street. Amsterdam runs to join children on the steps of a nearby building, while the Dead Rabbits await the arrival of the Native. A few moments later, men dressed in blue, led by Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis), a ruthless New Yorker with a glass eye, walk onto the street, clearly outnumbering the Rabbits. Bill tells Vallon that New York has been ruined by the Irish who will work for less pay than the slaves and should return home. Vallon recants that it's a free country, and is then joined by more men.
Moments later, they begin fighting. Monk is mashing people in the head, Maggie is biting a man's ear off, and people's legs are getting broken while others are being stabbed. Bill and Vallon slowly make their way towards each other, but as Vallon draws near Bill directs one of his men to attack Vallon. Vallon kills the man, but is stabbed by Bill in the process. Vallon tries to fight back, but is stabbed in the rib. Vallon falls to the ground, and a horn is blown. All of the men stop fighting and stand around the dying Vallon. Amsterdam pushes his way to his father's side. Bill makes a speech about how all the fighting is done and how he has slain Vallon. Vallon looks at his son, tells him to always stay focused and then asks Bill to finish him, which Bill obliges, leaving the knife on Vallon's chest. Bill says that Vallon may not be touched so that he may reach Heaven with honor. Monk tells him to wait, goes over to Vallon's body and takes something from his pocket, and then offers Amsterdam his condolences. As they haul Vallon away, Bill's men ask what they should do with the boy. He tells them to put him in a school so he could get an education. Amsterdam quickly grabs the knife from his father's chest, threatens Bill's men, and runs inside the brewery. As the men chase him, a boy hits one of them in the shin, causing him to fall. Amsterdam runs down to his cave, opens a secret compartment in the ground, and places the medallion and dagger inside. Bill's men grab him.
Sixteen years pass and Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio) is being given a blessing and a Bible by a priest. He is still in New York but in an orphanage on a nearby island. As he leaves, he looks at an Asian man, walks over a bridge, and tosses the Bible in the ocean.
Bill the Butcher is walking through a hallway of Tanemey Hall to the office of Boss Tweed (Jim Broadbent), who is running for some sort of political office. Tweed is discussing how they can get more voters and other things. Then it cuts to Amsterdam walking on the docks as more Irish are disembarking a ship. Particularly an old woman who is hit in the face by something one of Bill's men threw and is yelling for her to get back on the boat. She falls to the floor, and is helped up by a gentleman and some children.
Amsterdam passes them by and is greeted by a man who welcomes him, offers him bread, and reminds him to vote for Tweed. Amsterdam is also asked to draft in the army, but refuses. Other Irish are offered money, 3 meals a day, and other luxuries for their families if they join right away and ship out immediately. They agree, register, change, and board a boat.
Amsterdam makes his way to his cave and opens the compartment. He takes out the dagger and the medallion. He is interrupted by Johnny Sirocco (Henry Thomas) and Jimmy Spoils (Larry Gilliard Jr.) as he says a prayer. They tell him to give them his possessions, and when he refuses, Jimmy tries to attack him, but Amsterdam knocks him over and almost breaks his nose. Johnny pulls out a knife, which Amsterdam turns against him. Johnny notices the medallion. Amsterdam leaves the cave and goes out to the street. Johnny follows him and asks if hes the priests son. Amsterdam answers yes, and Johnny begins to update him on the Five Points. He tells him how Maggie tried to open a pub, but drank herself out of business; how Monk owns a barber shop; and how Bill celebrates Priest Vallons death every year.
Johnny is then bumped into by Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz). He introduces her to Amsterdam. When she comments to them that they are terrible at conversation, Amsterdam recants that they are deep thinkers. She wishes them a good day and hopes the God shines on them and joins her friends. Johnny swears that Jenny likes him, but Amsterdam informs him that she stole his watch. Johnny searches his pockets, looks up, and tries to make it seem like it happens often.
Later that night, a house is on fire. The sirens of Tweeds firemen can be heard closing in. A man covers a fire hydrant with a barrel and sits on it. Tweeds men come and he begins campaigning. Then another group of firemen come and the two groups start to fight. Johnny takes advantage, grabs Amsterdam, and enters the burning building in search of valuables. Amsterdam finds watches, while Johnny becomes mesmerized by a music box. A beam falls and traps him in. He calls for Amsterdam, who grabs more jewelry and heads out. He returns, jumps over the beam with a blanket, grabs Johnny, and helps him out of the house. Just as they are leaving, Bills men come, the barrel is removed from the hydrant, and they begin to put out the fire.
Johnny then takes Amsterdam to meet his friends Fuzzy, Jimmy, and some others. There they show everything they stole from the burning building until Happy Jack (John C. Reilly) arrives. He was one of the Dead Rabbits whos now a crooked police officer. He takes few pieces and leaves.
The next day, Amsterdam and Johnny then take the rest to a pub/ brothel, where Bill plays cards. Johnny walks up to Bill and give him the money, but Amsterdam stays further back. He notices a drawing of his father on the wall. Bill asks Amsterdam what his name is. Amsterdam replies. Bill then calls himself New York, and tells Johnny how they can make more money.
Later that night, Fuzzy, Jimmy, Amsterdam, and Johnny are rowing through the harbor until they reach a ship. When they board it, they find that it has already been robbed. They continue to search for anything that might have been left until Amsterdam notices a man dressed in a Union uniform coming out with a rifle. He warns Jimmy and everyone else to hit the deck. A shot is fired, but only into the air because the man was dying. The man falls forward to reveal a knife in his back. Everyone is in the rowboat waiting when a body falls inside it. Its the Union soldier. Amsterdam threw it in and he then jumps into the boat. He is then shown trading the body for money. The headline in the newspaper reads something about a gang who sells body to science. Bill applauds Amsterdams quick thinking, but his right hand man, Mr. McGloin doesnt agree. They begin calling each other names and eventually begin fighting. Amsterdam is clearly winning when the fight is broken up. During the scuffle, the drawing of Priest Vallon fell to the ground. Bill picks it up, looks at it, and puts it back on the wall. He then takes Amsterdam and Johnny on a tour of the Five Points as Happy Jack is giving a rich family a tour. Monk also walks by greets Bill, and pushes up Amsterdams hat to get a look at Amsterdams face.
Amsterdam comes across Jenny again when she bumps into him. He immediately begins checking his pockets, but realizes too late that she took his medallion. He follows her onto a bus-type thing. He sees her brilliantly steal a mans pocket watch, and then follows her to the home of a wealthy family where she poses as a maid and steals some things. When shes done, he pulls her to the side and asks for his medallion. She threatens him with a knife and cuts him on his neck slightly before he takes it from her. She then opens her blouse and shows him all the medallions shes got. He takes his gives her back the dagger, and begins walking with her.
Later, Im not sure when, he goes with Johnny to a dance. Jenny is seated with her back to the men and is holding a mirror. She passes up three men, including Johnny, before choosing Amsterdam.
They begin dancing, and later go to the docks where they are about to have sex. She mentions Bill and he wonders what she gives him in return. When he realizes, he gets up and leaves.
Amsterdam then begins working for Bill. He is even shown by Bill how to hurt or kill people by stabbing them in certain areas. Bill also makes Amsterdam, Fuzzy, Jimmy, and Johnny boxing bet collectors. When a boxing match is broken up by the police, Amsterdam finds a place where the police cannot break it up. Bill gives him all the glory, but his joy is interrupted when he sees Jenny leave with Johnny.
Later at a showing of Uncle Toms Cabin, the audience begins throwing vegetables at the stage. An assassin uses this to try to kill Bill. Amsterdam notices, warns Bill, and tackles the guy to the ground, but not before he gets a shot off. He shoots Bill in the shoulder. Bills men shoot him in return. Bill then asks the guy who sent him, but the man dies before he can answer. Amsterdam then runs off and begins crying. Monk finds him, and tells him that his father tried helping the Irish, not the Natives. Amsterdam reminds Monk of taking money from Priest Vallon when he died. Monk then hands him the black cloth with the cross clasp, and says he took it for safe-keeping.
Later that night, Bill, Amsterdam, Tweed, and others are drinking in the brothel. Jenny comes by and cleans Bills wound then goes upstairs to her room. Amsterdam angrily follows her and grabs her. She tells him shell bite him if he tries to kiss her. She lunges a few times, and they eventually kiss and sleep together. Johnny witnesses this and runs off.
Amsterdam awakes to find Bill watching him. He asks Bill if it was okay that he slept with Jenny. Bill says he doesnt mind. Bill then begins talking about how Priest Vallon spared his life, and how Bill removed his own eye and sent it to Vallon. He then describes the day he killed Vallon. Bill then leaves.
Amsterdam tells Jenny if she wants to know anything about him, she should ask. She explains how Bill took her in and how he never put his hands on her until she told him to. Later that night, Monk sees Amsterdam throwing a dagger into a block of wood. Its as if Amsterdam were practicing for something.
Johnny is then seen talking to Bill. He tells Bill about Amsterdam being Vallons son. Bill reacts violently, nearly killing Johnny, but he listens. Meanwhile, Amsterdam is seen walking into an Asian-themed restaurant. He tries to call Johnny as he walks to his table, but Johnny pays no mind. He sits, and Jenny comes to him. An announcer then comes and begs Bill to perform with his daggers. He asks for his apprenticeJenny. She steps onto the stage and Bill begins throwing knives, all nearly missing her. It gets to a point where he is seriously scaring her, and even cuts her neck. He then walks to his table, says some words about Vallon, and lifts up his drink of fire. Amsterdam then throws a dagger at Bill, who hits it.
His men grab Amsterdam, and Bill then wounds him by stabbing him. He then has Amsterdam put on a table, nearly stabs him a couple of times, then hits Amsterdam several times in the face with his head.
Jenny then takes Amsterdam away to a cave where she nurses him back to health. When he feels better, he hangs a dead rabbit in the middle of the Five Points. Bill sends Happy Jack to kill Amsterdam, but Amsterdam kills Jack instead. Amsterdam and his men now dressed in red are gathering strength, even to the point where Tweed asks for their help in getting votes. He makes a deal with them to allow them to have an Irish sheriff and he will get all Irish votes. They choose Monk, who wins. This upsets Bill, who challenges Monk outside his barber shop. When Monk suggests they go inside and turns his back, Bill throws a butcher knife into Monks back. He then takes Monks club (which has 44 carvings in it to mark how many people Monks killed), carves an X into it, and jabs it into the butcher knife, killing Monk. This pushes Amsterdam over the edge, and he agrees to a challenge with Bill. In a neutral area, they discuss the terms and the day.
The day arrives and Amsterdam cuts himself on the cheek as his father had done. He looks at Jenny, who tells him that shes leaving for San Francisco today with or without him. He tells her it will be over tomorrow, but she leaves.
Across town, the draft officers are going around telling citizens that unless they pay $300 they have to join the army. A riot breaks out, and crowds start pillaging the streets. They even break into the house of the rich family that previously visited the Five Points. Jenny and Jimmy are even attacked in the process. The violence gets so bad that they call the army in, and ships begin firing cannons at the city just as the Dead Rabbits and the Natives begin their showdown. --
The cannons break up the two groups, leaving only Amsterdam and Bill to fight. Because of a thick cloud of smoke, Bill cuts Amsterdam twice. Another cannon knocks Bill and Amsterdam to the ground. Amsterdam takes this opportunity and stabs and kills Bill. Jenny finds him and, that night, they mourn all the friends they lost in the draft riots. Tweed is only upset because he lost so many votes.
Jenny and Amsterdam then bury Bill next to Priest Vallon, which overlooks the city skyline. From this area, years begin to pass, showing the growth of skyscraper and ending on the Twin Towers.
Memorable quotes for Gangs of New York :
Amsterdam Vallon: Lord, place the steel of the Holy Spirit in my spine and the love of the Virgin Mary in my heart.
Boss Tweed: You killed an elected official?
Bill: Who elected him?
Boss Tweed: You don't know what you've done to yourself.
Bill: [taps his glass eye with a knife] I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. So because you are lukewarm, I will spew you out of my mouth. You can build your filthy world without me. I took the father. Now I'll take the son. You tell young Vallon I'm gonna paint Paradise Square with his blood. Two coats. I'll festoon my bedchamber with his guts. As for you, Mr. Tammany-fucking-Hall, you come down to the Points again, and you'll be dispatched by my own hand. Get back to your celebration and let me eat in peace.
Bill: Who elected him?
Boss Tweed: You don't know what you've done to yourself.
Bill: [taps his glass eye with a knife] I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. So because you are lukewarm, I will spew you out of my mouth. You can build your filthy world without me. I took the father. Now I'll take the son. You tell young Vallon I'm gonna paint Paradise Square with his blood. Two coats. I'll festoon my bedchamber with his guts. As for you, Mr. Tammany-fucking-Hall, you come down to the Points again, and you'll be dispatched by my own hand. Get back to your celebration and let me eat in peace.
[after someone speaks to him in Irish Gaelic]
Boss Tweed: They don't speak English in New York any more?
Boss Tweed: They don't speak English in New York any more?
Bill: How old are you, Amsterdam?
Amsterdam Vallon: I'm not sure, sir. I never did quite figure it.
Bill: I'm forty-seven. Forty-seven years old. You know how I stayed alive this long? All these years? Fear. The spectacle of fearsome acts. Somebody steals from me, I cut off his hands. He offends me, I cut out his tongue. He rises against me, I cut off his head, stick it on a pike, raise it high up so all on the streets can see. That's what preserves the order of things. Fear.
Amsterdam Vallon: I'm not sure, sir. I never did quite figure it.
Bill: I'm forty-seven. Forty-seven years old. You know how I stayed alive this long? All these years? Fear. The spectacle of fearsome acts. Somebody steals from me, I cut off his hands. He offends me, I cut out his tongue. He rises against me, I cut off his head, stick it on a pike, raise it high up so all on the streets can see. That's what preserves the order of things. Fear.
Bill: Mulberry Street... and Worth... Cross and Orange... and Little Water. Each of the Five Points is a finger. When I close my hand it becomes a fist. And, if I wish, I can turn it against you.
[Amsterdam goes to wipe blood off razor]
Priest Vallon: No son, never. The blood stays on the blade. One day you'll understand.
Priest Vallon: No son, never. The blood stays on the blade. One day you'll understand.
Bill: At my challenge, by the ancient laws of combat, we are met at this chosen ground, to settle for good and all who holds sway over the five points: us natives, born rightwise to this fine land, or the foreign hordes defiling it.
Crowd: Yeah.
Priest Vallon: By the ancient laws of combat, I accept the challenge of the so called "natives." They plague our people at every turn, but from this day out, they shall plague us no more. For let it be known, that the hand that tries to strike us from this land shall be swiftly cut down.
Crowd: YEAH.
Crowd: Yeah.
Priest Vallon: By the ancient laws of combat, I accept the challenge of the so called "natives." They plague our people at every turn, but from this day out, they shall plague us no more. For let it be known, that the hand that tries to strike us from this land shall be swiftly cut down.
Crowd: YEAH.
Bill: Is this it priest, the Pope's new army, a few crusty bitches and a hand full of rag tags?
Priest Vallon: Now, now, Bill, you swore this was a battle between warriors, not a bunch of miss nancies, so warriors is what I brought.
[various Irish Gangs proceed to appear]
Priest Vallon: Now, now, Bill, you swore this was a battle between warriors, not a bunch of miss nancies, so warriors is what I brought.
[various Irish Gangs proceed to appear]
Amsterdam Vallon: Jenny was a Bluget, a girl pickpocket and a turtledove. A turtledove picks out a fine house, disguises herself as a housemaid and robs you blind. It takes a lot of sand to be a turtledove.
Amsterdam Vallon: When you kill a king, you don't stab him in the dark. You kill him where the entire court can watch him die.
Boss Tweed: You know why he wears short sleeves? So they can see he's got nothing stashed. I hope that never becomes the fashion.
Bill: Here's the thing... I don't give a ten-penny fuck about your moral conundrum, you meat-headed shit-sack... That's pretty much the thing.
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: Well that was bloody Shakespearian. Do you know who Shakespeare is? He wrote the King James Bible.
Bill: My father gave his life, making this country what it is. Murdered by the British with all of his men on the twenty fifth of July, anno domini, 1814. Do you think I'm going to help you befoul his legacy, by giving this country over to them, what's had no hand in the fighting for it? Why, because they come off a boat crawling with lice and begging you for soup.
Boss Tweed: Remember the first rule of politics. The ballots don't make the results, the counters make the results. The counters. Keep counting.
Bill: A *real* native is someone who is willing to die fighting for his country. There's nothing more to it.
Bill: On the seventh day the Lord rested, but before that he did, he squatted over the side of England and what came out of him... was Ireland. No offense son.
Amsterdam Vallon: Nah, none taken, sir. I grew up here. All I ever knew of Ireland was from the talk of the others at the orphan asylum.
Bill: And which part of that excrementitious isle where your forebears spawned?
Amsterdam Vallon: I've been told Kerry, I lost proof of it in my language at the asylum.
Amsterdam Vallon: Nah, none taken, sir. I grew up here. All I ever knew of Ireland was from the talk of the others at the orphan asylum.
Bill: And which part of that excrementitious isle where your forebears spawned?
Amsterdam Vallon: I've been told Kerry, I lost proof of it in my language at the asylum.
Amsterdam Vallon: New York loved William Tweed... and hated him but for those of us trying to be thieves, we couldn't help but admire him.
Boss Tweed: You may or may not know, Bill, that everyday I go down to the waterfront with hot soup for the Irish as they come ashore. Its part of building a political base.
Bill: I've noticed you there, you may have noticed me.
Boss Tweed: Indeed I have. Throwing torrents of abuse to every single person who steps off those boats.
Bill: [gleefully] If only I had the guns, Mr. Tweed, I'd shoot each and every one of them before they set foot on American soil.
Bill: I've noticed you there, you may have noticed me.
Boss Tweed: Indeed I have. Throwing torrents of abuse to every single person who steps off those boats.
Bill: [gleefully] If only I had the guns, Mr. Tweed, I'd shoot each and every one of them before they set foot on American soil.
Bill: You. Whatever your name is... what is your name?
Amsterdam Vallon: Amsterdam, sir.
Bill: Amsterdam... I'm New York... don't you never come in here empty handed again, you gotta pay for the pleasure of my company.
Amsterdam Vallon: Amsterdam, sir.
Bill: Amsterdam... I'm New York... don't you never come in here empty handed again, you gotta pay for the pleasure of my company.
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: I've got forty-four notches on my club. Do you know what they're for? They're to remind me what I owe God when I die. My father was killed in battle, too. In Ireland, in the streets, fighting those who would take as their privilege what could only be got and held by the decimation of a race. That war is a thousand years old and more. We never expected it to follow us here. It didn't. It was waiting for us when we landed. Your father tried to carve out a corner of this land for his tribe. That was him, that was his dead rabbits. I often wondered... if he had lived a bit longer, would he have wanted a bit more?
Irish Singer: [singing] Well, meself and a hundred more, to America sailed o'er, with our fortunes to be made, so we were thinkin' / When we got to Yankee land, they shoved a gun into our hands / Saying "Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln."/ There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar, and I wish I was back home in dear old Dublin.
[swearing in Irish immigrants as citizens at the harbor]
Army Recruiter: That document makes you a citizen, and this one makes you a private in the Union army. Now get out there and serve your country.
Army Recruiter: That document makes you a citizen, and this one makes you a private in the Union army. Now get out there and serve your country.
Amsterdam Vallon: Suppose you back an Irish candidate, of my choosin', and I'll deliver all the Irish vote?
Boss Tweed: That will only happen in the reign of Queen Dick.
Boss Tweed: That will only happen in the reign of Queen Dick.
[as Monk McGinn runs for Sheriff]
Boss Tweed: That man was right born for this.
Amsterdam Vallon: He's killed 44 men, and laid low a couple hundred more.
Boss Tweed: Is that right? We should have run him for mayor.
Boss Tweed: That man was right born for this.
Amsterdam Vallon: He's killed 44 men, and laid low a couple hundred more.
Boss Tweed: Is that right? We should have run him for mayor.
Killoran: Monk's already won by three thousand more votes than there are voters.
Boss Tweed: Only three? Make it twenty, thirty. We don't need a victory. We need a Roman triumph.
Boss Tweed: Only three? Make it twenty, thirty. We don't need a victory. We need a Roman triumph.
[speaking of Bill the Butcher]
Jenny: When I was twelve years old, my mother was dead, and I was livin' in a doorway. He took me in. Took care of me, in his way. After they cut out the baby... well, he doesn't fancy girls that's scarred up. But you might as well know in your own mind that he never laid a hand on me until I asked him to.
Jenny: When I was twelve years old, my mother was dead, and I was livin' in a doorway. He took me in. Took care of me, in his way. After they cut out the baby... well, he doesn't fancy girls that's scarred up. But you might as well know in your own mind that he never laid a hand on me until I asked him to.
Young Johnny Sirocco: Oy! Boyo!
Young Amsterdam Vallon: Johnny.
Young Johnny Sirocco: What you doin', boyo?
Young Amsterdam Vallon: There's a battle. The natives against the dead rabbits.
Young Johnny Sirocco: Which side are you on?
Young Amsterdam Vallon: What do you think?
[points behind him]
Young Amsterdam Vallon: Dead rabbits.
Young Amsterdam Vallon: Johnny.
Young Johnny Sirocco: What you doin', boyo?
Young Amsterdam Vallon: There's a battle. The natives against the dead rabbits.
Young Johnny Sirocco: Which side are you on?
Young Amsterdam Vallon: What do you think?
[points behind him]
Young Amsterdam Vallon: Dead rabbits.
[last lines]
Amsterdam Vallon: ...And no matter what they did to build this city up again, for the rest of time, it will be like no-one even knew we was ever here.
Amsterdam Vallon: ...And no matter what they did to build this city up again, for the rest of time, it will be like no-one even knew we was ever here.
Amsterdam Vallon: In the end, they put candles on the bodies so's their friends, if they had any, could know them in the dark. The city did this free of charge. Shang, Jimmy Spoils, Hell-cat, McGloin, and more. Friend or foe, didn't make no difference now. It was four days and nights before the worst of the mob was finally put down. We never knew how many New Yorkers died that week before the city was finally delivered. My father told me we was all born of blood and tribulation, and so then too was our great city. But for those of us what lived and died in them furious days, it was like everything we knew was mildly swept away. And no matter what they did to build this city up again... for the rest of time... it would be like no one even knew we was ever here.
Bill: Everything you see belongs to me, to one degree or another. The beggars and newsboys and quick thieves here in Paradise, the sailor dives and gin mills and blind tigers on the waterfront, the anglers and amusers, the she-hes and the Chinks. Everybody owes, everybody pays. Because that's how you stand up against the rising of the tide.
Boss Tweed: Bill, I can't get a days work done for all the good citizens coming in here to harass me about crime in the Points. Some even go so far as to accuse Tammany of connivance in this so-called rampant criminality. What am I to do? I can't have this. Something has to be done.
Bill: What do you have in mind?
Boss Tweed: I don't know. I think maybe we should hang someone.
Bill: Who?
Boss Tweed: No one important, necessarily. Average men will do. Back alley amusers with no affiliations.
Bill: How many?
Boss Tweed: Three or four.
Bill: Which?
Boss Tweed: Four.
Bill: What do you have in mind?
Boss Tweed: I don't know. I think maybe we should hang someone.
Bill: Who?
Boss Tweed: No one important, necessarily. Average men will do. Back alley amusers with no affiliations.
Bill: How many?
Boss Tweed: Three or four.
Bill: Which?
Boss Tweed: Four.
Boss Tweed: That's the building of our country right there, Mr. Cutting. Americans aborning.
Bill: I don't see no Americans. I see trespassers, Irish harps. Do a job for a nickel what a nigger does for a dime and a white man used to get a quarter for. What have they done? Name one thing they've contributed.
Boss Tweed: Votes.
Bill: Votes, you say? They vote how the archbishop tells them, and who tells the archbishop? Their king in the pointy hat what sits on his throne in Rome.
Bill: I don't see no Americans. I see trespassers, Irish harps. Do a job for a nickel what a nigger does for a dime and a white man used to get a quarter for. What have they done? Name one thing they've contributed.
Boss Tweed: Votes.
Bill: Votes, you say? They vote how the archbishop tells them, and who tells the archbishop? Their king in the pointy hat what sits on his throne in Rome.
Priest Vallon: Now, son, who's that?
Young Amsterdam Vallon: Saint Michael.
Priest Vallon: Who's that?
Young Amsterdam Vallon: Saint Michael!
Priest Vallon: And what did he do?
Young Amsterdam Vallon: He cast Satan out of Paradise.
Priest Vallon: Good boy!
Young Amsterdam Vallon: Saint Michael.
Priest Vallon: Who's that?
Young Amsterdam Vallon: Saint Michael!
Priest Vallon: And what did he do?
Young Amsterdam Vallon: He cast Satan out of Paradise.
Priest Vallon: Good boy!
Bill: We hold in our hearts the memory of our fallen brothers whose blood stains the very streets we walk today. Also on this night we pay tribute to the leader of our enemies, an honorable man, who crossed over bravely, fighting for what he believed in. To defeat my enemy, I extinguish his life, and consume him as I consume these flames. In honor of Priest Vallon.
Boss Tweed: You're a good one for the fighting, Bill. But you can't fight forever.
Bill: I can go down doing it.
Boss Tweed: And you will!
Bill: What did you say?
Boss Tweed: I said, you're turning your back on the future.
Bill: Not our future.
Bill: I can go down doing it.
Boss Tweed: And you will!
Bill: What did you say?
Boss Tweed: I said, you're turning your back on the future.
Bill: Not our future.
Bill: I killed the last honorable man, 15 years ago. Since then it's... You seen his portrait downstairs?
Amsterdam Vallon: Mm-hmm.
Bill: 'S your mouth all glued-up with cunny juice? I asked you a question!
Amsterdam Vallon: [angrily] I said I *seen* it, sir.
Bill: [smiling] Oh, you got a murderous streak in you!
Amsterdam Vallon: Mm-hmm.
Bill: 'S your mouth all glued-up with cunny juice? I asked you a question!
Amsterdam Vallon: [angrily] I said I *seen* it, sir.
Bill: [smiling] Oh, you got a murderous streak in you!
McGloin: Father! Jesus, did you know there's a nigger in ya church?
[the priest hits him in the head with his staff]
[the priest hits him in the head with his staff]
Amsterdam Vallon: It's a funny feeling being taken under the wing of a dragon. It's warmer than you'd think.
Jenny: [after running into Johnny] Look where you are going, Johnny!
[notices Amsterdam]
Jenny: You look stunned and poorly, sir.
[both of the men are silent and nervous]
Jenny: [sarcastic] Quite a pair of conversationists, aren't you.
Amsterdam Vallon: Maybe not. We're deep thinkers.
Jenny: [chuckles] Well then. Gentlemen, I leave you in the grace and favour of the Lord.
[walks off]
[notices Amsterdam]
Jenny: You look stunned and poorly, sir.
[both of the men are silent and nervous]
Jenny: [sarcastic] Quite a pair of conversationists, aren't you.
Amsterdam Vallon: Maybe not. We're deep thinkers.
Jenny: [chuckles] Well then. Gentlemen, I leave you in the grace and favour of the Lord.
[walks off]
Bill: He ain't earned a death! He ain't a death at my hands! No, he'll walk amongst you marked with shame, a freak worthy of Barnum's Museum of Wonders. God's only man, spared by the Butcher.
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: [Pins Amsterdam to the wall] That's it, that's it! Tear my head off and destruct the world! Just like the rest of the stupid Irish in this country! That's why I never ran with your dad!
Amsterdam Vallon: Get off me you crazy bastard!
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: [Leans in and whispers a line of Gaelic. Then, in English] It means, 'If you're not strong you'd better be smart.' Now I don't know if you're being too clever or too dumb, but whichever it is just remember this much. For all his faults, your father was a man who loved his people.
[Releases Amsterdam and walks away]
Amsterdam Vallon: Get off me you crazy bastard!
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: [Leans in and whispers a line of Gaelic. Then, in English] It means, 'If you're not strong you'd better be smart.' Now I don't know if you're being too clever or too dumb, but whichever it is just remember this much. For all his faults, your father was a man who loved his people.
[Releases Amsterdam and walks away]
Priest Vallon: Well well, Monk. Are you with us or not?
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: For the last time Vallon, I'm with you if the money's right.
Priest Vallon: I'll give you ten per notch.
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: Ten?
Priest Vallon: You have my word.
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: [Picks up his shillelagh] Ten per notch?
Priest Vallon: Per *new* notch.
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: [Looks at the notches already there, and loops his weapon around his wrist] Then I'm your man.
[Turns around and kicks the door open]
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: For the last time Vallon, I'm with you if the money's right.
Priest Vallon: I'll give you ten per notch.
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: Ten?
Priest Vallon: You have my word.
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: [Picks up his shillelagh] Ten per notch?
Priest Vallon: Per *new* notch.
Walter 'Monk' McGinn: [Looks at the notches already there, and loops his weapon around his wrist] Then I'm your man.
[Turns around and kicks the door open]
Amsterdam Vallon: The earth turns, but we don't feel it more. And one night you look up. One spark and the whole sky is on fire.
Amsterdam Vallon: Our name is called "The Dead Rabbit's to remind all of our suffering, and as a call to those who suffer still to join our ranks. However far they may have strayed from our common home across the sea. For with great numbers must come great strength in the salvation of our people.
Amsterdam Vallon: The past is a torch that lights our way. Where our fathers have shown us the path, we shall follow. Our faith is the weapon most feared by our enemies. For thereby shall we lift our people up against those who would destroy us.
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