Chapter 3: Wake Up & Smell the Coffin
September 5, 2006
3 PM
"The way I see it Bob, out of this wonderful book of yours, we can make 3 very good movies that will make a profit."
Robert Lee Dougherty is confused. He thought this other man wanted the film rights just to his unpublished book, but now its three movies from his book? He can barely comprehend all that he is hearing for this would-be buyer talks very fast.
"Think of it this way Bob. The central protagonist of this trilogy I'm proposing would of course be Swan. The first movie would be about how Swan, Cleon and Vermin join the Destroyers, until they see how Virgil is screwing them. They split to create their own rightful cut of the money with their own gang the Warriors. They recruit the rest of the serious lieutenants. Cowboy, Fox, Cochise, Ajax, Rembrandt, and Snow. Then by the third act, they match the power of the Destroyers in terms of muscle and numbers. By the end of film one, the Warriors defeat Virgil and rule Coney Island under one flag, and Swan is Cleon's trusted second-in-command. I know this basic idea might skew over several important facts and details, but it would make for a gripping action-drama narrative. "
While he has the urges to be disappointed and angry about the simplying the past of his former comrades, alive and dead, at his heart Robert is a writer. Besides, simplying the truth for the sake of the dramatic cinema narrative worked out well for Nicholas Pileggi on GOODFELLAS and CASINO, right?
"Ok Mister, if that is your first movie, what would the other two films consist of?"
"Well, the second movie would be about the night that Cyrus was shot, when the Warriors are trapped behind enemy lines, 100,000 hardcore soldiers wanting to kill all 9 Warriors. More action-adventure than drama, but the movie ends on the beaches of Coney, where Swan defeat the Punks, who are destroyed by the Riffs."
"Well, thing is, I have Walter Hill that really wants to make that particular portion of the story."
"Is he the guy that directed LONG RIDERS?"
"Yeah"
"Right, well imagine the third movie, the last of this trilogy. Obviously it would be about the Warriors and the rest of the Riff-led coalition fighting the New Alliance for control of the city, and inevitably fighting the United States government, who of course are backing the NA forces. Now you, as Stonewall, would be introduced, as the chronicler of the Warriors' entire history. With Swan through the two previous movies, you are the person that becomes his top advisor and the guy that would create ultimately the Warriors myth that survives to this day in New York City. We see the fate of the remaining Warriors..."
Dougherty's ego is the first to respond.
"I like this idea. Lets talk about it over lunch tomorrow."
"Well, before we go into a serious film relationship like this, I want you to write the screenplay for this trilogy. Second, Leo wants to be Swan."
Dougherty put the phone down for a moment. Swan was wise but tough, a rare combination for a street soldier in the old days. Can that TITANIC punk even pull it off? Nah.
"Well, Mr. Scorsese, lets talk about it tomorrow at lunch. 1 o'clock at Hatfields. Good?"
October 17, 1979
5:40 PM
On a street corner somewhere in New York City, a blood in Jones Street Boys regalia is talking into a public pay phone. The problem is that his British accent doesn't match the uniform.
"Hey, don't yell at me! It wasn't me who bragged to me that wasting those Warriors punks in that Mustang will be easier than those dumb Scousers at the car wash back in April. Of course they got lucky. Quit panicking, we will take them down. All right, bye."
click
The blonde foreigner walked out of the booth. Waiting for him was a man with heavy black beard and long hair, a person that doesn't match his JSB treads. "I told you we should have used shotguns."
Meanwhile…
The car from out of hell continues to tear up the Warriors street kingdom. The brakes are out, and unless the boys can figure something out quickly, their remains will be picked up with a sponge.
In the panic of what could be the last moments of their lives, Snow gets an idea.
"Ajax, I know how we could stop."
"How?"
"Get to the Broadwalk."
"What?!?!"
"Do it!"
The Ford Mustang penetrates into Coney Island itself, and Ajax just barely avoided accidentally running over a pair of Warriors by the shinny chin of his chin. Ajax takes a sharp turn, and now chaos on wheels is driving on the Broadwalk.
Snow is ready as he puts his seat belt on. "Ajax, get buckled and hang the hell on. Turn as tight as possible when I yell turn."
Ajax buckles his seat belt. If his eyes could be seen right now, someone would sight a glimpse of fear. He takes a breath.
"TURN!"
Ajax turns the wheel.
Vermin and Cowboy are on the boardwalk, and worried as hell. The radio-ed report by Rembrandt reported that Snow's car was wrecked and running for home. Now the reports from the other sentries on Coney are that the car is out of control.
They see the Mustang straight ahead. Cowboy squeezes hard on his Stetson hat when the Mustang takes a radical sharp right turn and keeps turning. Vermin is about to ask Cowboy what is Snow and Ajax trying to do when the car flips over. The two Warriors helplessly watch as the Mustang, with all the velocity it generated, now tips over and over. They count 4 total 360 degree spins that the car goes through in the air before finally resting upside down on the Boardwalk.
They rush to the scene of this disaster.
20 Warriors all run to the flipped totaled car, all trying to peer to see if the occupants are alive. A young civilian woman runs over to try to help, but several of the Warriors stare at her. She gets the message, and runs away.
"Ugh, this was your great idea?"
Snow doesn't have the urge to deal with Ajax's complaining. No wait…
"Screw off"
Vermin is the first on the scene.
"Ajax, are you ok?"
"Is your sister not a whore? No we're not fine. Get us out of there!"
Cowboy finally enters the scene. Ten more Warriors are coming up to the rear from the distance.
"Cowboy, what took you so long?"
"Sorry Vermin, I lost my hat again. I really need to get a strap or something…"
Ajax made his final rebuttal. "Or I could staple it to your skull!"
Next Chapter: The Revenger's Revolver