Gangs of New York

Roles

• Walter "Monk" McGinn - Adult (36-50), Senior (>50), Male

About this piece

I got 44 notches on my club....

Summary

Set in New York in 1863, it is the story of Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young thief who returns to the "Five Points" area of New York where years before he witnessed the killing of his father in a gang war. The man who killed his father was Bill "The Butcher" Cutting (Daniel Day Lewis). As he comes back he joins The Butcher's gang and plans revenge.. His chance finally arrives when Bill "The Butcher" and his gang celebrate their victory at a local theater. Amsterdam pulls out a knife but he is too slow. The Butcher beats him, stabs him and almost kills him. In this scene Amsterdam is in a basement, recovering from his wounds with the help of his girlfriend Jenny (Cameron Diaz). Walter "Monk" McGinn walks in and talks to the ailing Amsterdam. He used to be one of his father's men who famously used a club to kill in their battles. Every time he killed somebody he would put a notch on the club....he remembers the time Amsterdam's father was alive and how all the violence started.

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