Gangs of New York (2002)

Brendan Gleeson: Walter 'Monk' McGinn

Photos 

Quotes 

• 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?

• 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] 

• Walter 'Monk' McGinn : Well that was bloody Shakespearian.

  Amsterdam Vallon : What?

  Walter 'Monk' McGinn : Do you know who Shakespeare was, Sonny? He was the fellow who wrote the King James Bible.

• 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 : Citizens of the Five Points! Mr. Bill Cutting is attempting to draw me into an argument that would no doubt end in bloodshed and the compromising of my office. Well, what do you think? Shall I engage in silence, this relic of the ancient law? Or, shall I be your chosen voice in a new testament, in the new world?

• Walter 'Monk' McGinn : This man is trying to draw me into an argument!

• Walter 'Monk' McGinn : Is that meself looking as sober as the day I was born?

• Walter 'Monk' McGinn : You're a thick, ignorant Irish welp! Just like your father.