Lincoln County, New Mexico exemplifies a romanticized version of the American Wild West. It’s a place typified by outlaws who lived outside of the prescribed law rather than in a state of pure lawlessness. William H. Bonney aka Henry McCarty (Billy The Kid) played by Tom Blyth is arguably one of America’s most (in)famous outlaws. Creator Michael Hirst (Vikings, The Tudors) spoke with Creative Screenwriting Magazine about the return of his television series about him.
Billy The Kid is a semi-autobiographical show, so there is inherent concern with balancing what we historically know about this man and depicting the legend. “I begin any project by doing a lot of research with an open mind. I have a historical researcher often who feeds me information. And out of that research and information, a strong sense of a character starts to appear and evolve,” says Hirst. “I have prejudices and thoughts about it initially. But these can change as I dig deeper into the character.”
The creative process is rooted in historical evidence, but Michael Hirst is also a dramatist and storyteller. “Drama is about making choices by selecting the most interesting aspects of a character or their life, or the period that you’re talking about,” he adds. “I want to place the character in an authentic period and make them as authentic and believable as I can.”
The writer/ producer has no qualms about his process. He’s not looking to create a reimagining of Billy The Kid because the drama is so closely linked to a historical record of events. “While you’re watching a drama, you kind of forget it because you’re so engrossed in the character. You like the character, you’re empathetic. The only thing in the end that works is that an audience is gripped, interested and fascinated by them.”
Michael Hirst
Expanding Billy The Kid’s Character
The first season of Billy The Kid laid the foundation for Billy’s world, his character and conflict. It set the scene for the bloody Lincoln County War. The second season allows a further exploration into Billy’s character. There’s more bloodshed, more violence, and more romance. Billy is pushed to the extremes of his character as we witness the best and worst of him.
“The Lincoln County War is the event that made Billy famous. I knew that I was heading towards that point, so it was going to be the apex of the first triangle of the storytelling. I wanted the audience to know a lot about Billy, where he came from, who he was, who his parents were, that he was Irish, the difficulties he’d had, and the tragedies he’d suffered,” elaborates Hirst.
“Even though we change gears and the show becomes much edgier, darker, and more violent, we’ve still got Billy at the center of it; a young man who was only nineteen when he got to Lincoln County. We’ve got a man who we emphasize with, who never really wanted to be an outlaw. He wanted an ordinary life, which evaded him.”
I was more sinned against than sinning – Billy The Kid
The level of action was ramped up as we’re plunged into a world where anything could happen. Life was cheap and Billy was thrust into a leadership role after John Tunstall (Linus Roache) was stricken with smallpox.
Jesse Evans (Daniel Webber) Photo courtesy of MGM+
Billy The Kid is a blend of a boy with reckless actions and a man with wisdom beyond his years. He makes mistakes that endangers his community. In a war situation, things change quickly and they’re difficult to control, especially as the stakes rise.
A child Tom O’Folliard (Pepe Johnson) who worships Billy arrives at Lincoln County. Initially, Billy sends him home, but eventually relents because Tom persists. Despite Billy is essentially signing Tom’s death warrant. “You can see exactly why he does that. It’s because Billy’s a considerate, gentle, young man. He thinks deeply about his own background. His father basically rejected him by refusing to stay alive. That’s something that’s troubled Billy since then. And he doesn’t want to reject anyone like his father rejected him. Billy also views Tunstall as his surrogate father figure.
Billy The Kid is stoic – driven by the bigger picture and profound a sense of justice, fairness, and equity. “They’re all working together in Billy’s intelligence and imagination. He’s also defined by his utter fearlessness. He does things in the Lincoln County War that are both so brave and probably, so stupid. And he astonishes people because he always believes in himself.” No jail could hold him and few situations could contain him.
Michael Hirst compares Billy to Old Moss (Timothy Webber), the wagon driver that took them west during the first season. “I think that’s a recognition that Billy has become old Moss as well as himself, as a young guy.”
He was lauded for his extraordinary courage, as well as his company. “People who met him, loved him, even the Mexicans. He played guitar, sang, and danced. That’s the life spirit in Billy, which I’m trying to celebrate,” continues the writer.
Despite his tragic childhood, Billy The Kid lived his life to the fullest – like each day could be his last. He experienced racism for his Catholic roots, he was orphaned at a young age, and he was left to fend for himself.
Lincoln County is. in many regards. the perfect home for Billy. “For a start, it’s a nowhere place. It’s a scrappy little township, full of poor Mexican farmers with one Irish-American store owner who has a monopoly over everything and challenged by Tunstall, this Englishman who wants to make a fortune in America and live the American dream.” It’s the apparent insignificance of Lincoln County that made it so significant politically and historically.
Billy wasn’t just fighting Tunstall’s enemies (the Murphy-Riley faction) while he was recovering from small pox, he fought the secret societies that ran the country until it established a presidency. These were the corrupt hidden forces that drove many Americans off their land often through immoral banking practices.
Billy was the son of Irish immigrants so he was familiar with issues surrounding people being forced away from their homelands, especially the Mexicans. He got involved in the dirty politics of America, especially the governor of New Mexico, Thomas Catron (David Cubitt) who came to deal with the war, but was secretly the head of the rings and owned half of New Mexico. It was a terrible time for the Mexican farmers whose land was stolen by the rings.
“Lincoln County was the cultural crucible, at least the beginning of a revolution; a questioning of certain people against what was happening in America. It didn’t resolve itself anytime soon. But in due course, this movement against the rings did bear fruit. A lot of things were up for grabs in terms of the soul of America,” explains Hirst. This represents Billy.
Billy The Loving Outlaw
One might expect Billy’s heart to become hardened by his harsh circumstances. However, he constantly expressed love and gratitude during his short life. He fell in love with a Mexican woman Dulcinea Del Tobosco (Nuria Vega), her people, her culture, and her land. He even spoke fluent Spanish.
“Billy got a lot of his love and morality from his mother. He was by temperament and nature, a caring person which he just accepted,” states Hirst.
Dulcinea Del Tobosco (Nuria Vega) & Billy The Kid (Daniel Webber) Photo courtesy of MGM+
Billy was shattered when his Mexican friend was killed by an American gambler when he was younger. The he met Jesse Evans (Daniel Webber) who was originally his friend until he defected to the gang opposing Tunstall. “He was so influenced by Jesse, who was a bit older and a bit cooler.” Although their friendship crumbled, Billy didn’t become bitter.
In spite of Billy’s demise, Michael Hirst wants the audience to celebrate his life as much as he did. “I really want the audience to love Billy as much as I love him. The ending has an upbeat, a happier, more positive ending as opposed to being a tragedy.“
