Matewan (1987)

1. Damn

2. Shootin' coal!

3. Shootin' coal!

4. Danny What in God's name are you doing?

5. I got a shot set up back there

6. Word come down from Turley

7. Tonnage rate?

8. They brung it down to 90 cent a ton

9. - Down? - Them dagos are holding fast in Number 3

10. He says take it or leave it

11. Sephus, what are we going to do?

12. It were 1920 in the southwest field,

13. and things was tough.

14. The miners was trying to bring the union to West Virginia,

15. and the coal operators and theirgun thugs was set on keeping them out.

16. Them was hand-loading days.

17. Theypaid you by the ton,

18. and they didn't care no more for a man than they done for a draft mule.

19. Them was hard people, your coal miners then.

20. They wasn't nobodyyou wanted to cross.

21. Get back Get back

22. Get back Get back

23. So push come to shove,

24. and pretty soon we had us a war down there in Mingo County,

25. which in them days was known as Bloody Mingo.

26. And that's where it all come to a head, there on Tug Fork,

27. in the town ofMatewan.

28. We done it, Mama We're going to have the union!

29. Just got to stop for a little repair

30. Sorry for the inconvenience

31. It's the Bolshevists, is what

32. Some of them fellas went over to the war there, and they come back red

33. It's just like a disease It spreads

34. Well, they shipped in all kinds of Italians, right off the boat

35. They're still bringing coal out of there

36. I'd sure hate to get a whiff of that mine shaft

37. What the hell are we stopping for?

38. Step down, gentleman This here'll be your new home

39. How come we ain't getting off in town?

40. Just get in line

41. Get out of here!

42. - Get back! - Get on the train!

43. Ah, my nose!

44. I'm going to kill him! When I get him, I'll kill him

45. Hey, get on the train! Get on!

46. Come on, Few!

47. Come on, Few! Come on!

48. Come on, Few! Give me your hand right here

49. Get out of here!

50. Get out of here! Don't come back, boy

51. Don't you ever come back

52. Hey, when do we get to Matewan?

53. You don't want to go there, mister Ain't nothing but crazy people

54. Hi

55. Hi

56. Everybody was here,

57. then they got word and they gone on up the line a ways

58. Some kind of union business

59. Yeah, I saw

60. You best steer clear of it

61. My name's Bridey Mae Tolliver

62. Uh, Joe Kenehan

63. You know Radnor's boardinghouse?

64. Big white house, right on past the coal dock

65. She's a real sourpuss, though, Elma Radnor

66. Thank you

67. You going to be in town long?

68. Ah, it depends

69. I'll see you around

70. I hope so

71. These picks and shovels are to be considered a loan

72. from the Stone Mountain Coal Company

73. Their cost will be deducted from your first month's pay

74. Tool-sharpening provided by the company is 25 cents a month

75. Use of the wash house is 75 cents a month

76. Medical doctor provided by the company is $2 a month,

77. special procedures extra

78. Your train ride here, provided by the company,

79. will be deducted from your first month's pay

80. Your pay will be issued as company scrip,

81. redeemable for all goods and services at the Stone Mountain company store

82. Purchases of any items available at the company store

83. from outside merchants will result in firing without pay

84. What's to keep you all from jacking up them prices at your store?

85. Name?

86. Johnson They calls me Few Clothes

87. Powder, fuses, lamps, headgear, all appropriate clothing

88. will be available at the company store,

89. and Stone Mountain will generously advance you a month's supply of these items,

90. payment to be deducted

91. I'm gonna take you over to camp now where you'll be living

92. There's some Italian gentleman there very eager to meet you

93. Rentals will be for one room, $250 a month

94. Company rule, no more than two people to one room, children included

95. Electricity, where that is feasible, will be $1 a month

96. Coal for heating will be supplied by the company

97. Mrs Radnor?

98. Yes?

99. My name is Joe Kenehan

100. I'm going to be in town for a bit and your place here was recommended

101. What do you do?

102. I guess I'm looking for work

103. You with the company?

104. The company?

105. You ain't with the company, there ain't no work

106. Look, mister, don't act the lamb with me What's your business here?

107. Mama!

108. - Mama, it's Hillard - Oh, Lord

109. Them scabs done it, up the line a mile

110. They was all colored this time They bust his nose!

111. - You got ice? - In the back

112. Go fetch me two chunks, about this big, and a rag

113. You a doctor?

114. No, but I've seen my share of broken noses

115. Now just point it up in the air, buddy, just like you're watching the clouds

116. We'll get that bleeding stopped

117. I got my licks in

118. - You say what? - He said he got his licks in

119. Seems to be all the men around here care about

120. Wives and kids are starving, so long as they get their licks in

121. It's just frustration, is all,

122. when you can't take care of them you care about

123. - I know, it ain't their fault - Here you go

124. This freezes up all them little veins inside

125. It's just so they close up and they don't let any more blood out

126. - You a doctor? - No

127. I'm just a guy looking for a place to stay

128. $5 a week, cash

129. That includes dinner and clean sheets

130. Hope I'm not making a mistake

131. Name is Joe Kenehan

132. Lay back your head

133. Oh, mostly I worked for the railroads, laying track

134. Kansas, Missouri

135. I went out west for a bit, worked in a lumber camp

136. A little of whatever pays an honest dollar

137. I'm a coal miner Least till we come out I was

138. Had me over in Section 3 I was a trapper boy

139. - Ain't you a little young? - I'm almost 15

140. There's some in there younger than me

141. With the strike now, I mostly work on running this place

142. I help a little, don't I?

143. It's going to be a long one

144. That superintendent at Stone Mountain,

145. he said he'd go broke before he'd let one union sonofabitch

146. so much as step into his coal mines

147. - Danny - Oh, sorry, ma'am

148. But that's what he said

149. - Daniel's a preacher - Is that so?

150. You ought to hear him testify

151. What church you with?

152. Round here there's the missionary folks They's the hardshell Baptists

153. Then there's the free will folks, which is your softshell Baptists

154. Right now I preach for both

155. Oh, I'll get it

156. Daniel's going to preach tonight over at the missionary

157. I never was religious myself

158. It's Sephus, Mama

159. Hello, Elma

160. - Mrs Knightes - Hello, Sephus

161. I come to have a word with your new boarder

162. if he don't mind

163. Excuse me

164. Claims he's the fella the union sent us

165. Can you prove it?

166. Don't take nothing to have a card printed up

167. You'll just have to trust me

168. Who wrote The Iron Heel?

169. Jack London

170. Where's Joe Hill buried at?

171. All over the world They scattered his ashes

172. Which eye is Big Bill Heywood missing?

173. - His right one - How did Frank Little die?

174. Butte, Montana They hung him from a railroad trestle

175. Well, you know your stuff

176. - I was with the Wobblies - Me too, back when it meant something

177. - One big union - Not around here, buddy

178. C E Lively

179. This is my restaurant

180. The fellas are waiting

181. They don't give a damn whether we live or die,

182. just so long as they get their coal out of the ground

183. They had us pulling pillars and the roof was working,

184. you know, like it does before it's going to fall down

185. If I say, "I ain't dying in here" and walk away,

186. they'll put me down in some damn puddle in a two-foot seam

187. and no air to breathe

188. A man can't mine coal that way

189. They're just pushing us further than we can go

190. The checkweighman, he'll take 50 pounds off your load for slate

191. when there ain't a pebble in it

192. "It's down in the bottom," he'll say, where there ain't no looking for it

193. Then they raise the prices at the company store

194. the same goddamn week that they lower the tonnage rate

195. And they still ain't rock-dusted that damn hole

196. Who am I talking about?

197. - Jesus - I can't hear you

198. - Jesus! - I still can't hear you

199. - Jesus! - Jesus Christ, our Lord

200. Do you know his name? Have you seen his glory?

201. Have you felt the warming comfort of his precious love?

202. - Praise Jesus! - Praise Jesus!

203. Praise his holy name! Praise his blessed spirit!

204. Praise his everlasting love!

205. Jesus Christ, our Lord

206. Listen to me now, listen to me

207. The Prince of Darkness

208. is upon the land

209. - Amen - Now, in the Bible

210. his name is Beelzebub,

211. Lord of the Flies

212. Right now on Earth today

213. his name is Bolshevist, socialist, communist, union man!

214. Lord of untruth, sower of evil seed,

215. enemy of all that is good and pure,

216. and this creature

217. walks among us

218. What are we going to do about it?

219. First thing we got to have is all of these niggers and all these dagos

220. that come in here to take our jobs thrown out of the mines

221. Mines! Hell! They got them in our houses, they're sitting at our tables right now,

222. and they're sleeping in our beds

223. while we're out living under a piece of canvas at the back of the holler

224. I been a union man my whole life

225. I know the story with these coal operators and their gun thugs

226. The only thing they understand is the bad end of a bullet

227. If we show them we'd just as soon blow up their damn mines

228. as see them worked by a bunch of scabs, then they're going to listen

229. Someone's coming It's Ellix He got someone

230. Where'd you find him?

231. He come right up on the steps

232. They told me that C E Lively's is where the union men meet

233. So?

234. I got business with the union

235. That so?

236. What's your name, son?

237. They calls me Few Clothes

238. I didn't come here looking for no trouble

239. A man's got to eat

240. So why don't you go eat, back where you come from?

241. They told me that there was jobs here

242. - Go home, nigger - God damn, scab

243. You watch your mouth, peckerwood

244. I been called nigger, and I can't help that's the way white folks is,

245. but I ain't never been called no scab!

246. And I ain't fixing to start up now

247. I'll go ton for ton loading coal with any man here

248. And when I do, I expect the same dollar for the same work

249. You get out of this holler alive, son, you'll be doing good for yourself

250. Union men, my ass

251. You want to be treated like men?

252. You want to be treated fair?

253. Well, you ain't men to that coal company

254. You're equipment,

255. like a shovel, a gondola car, or a hunk of wood brace

256. They'll use you till you wear out or you break down,

257. or you're buried under a slate fall, and then they'll get a new one

258. And they don't care what color it is or where it comes from

259. It doesn't matter how much coal you can load

260. or how long your family has lived on this land

261. If you stand alone, you're just so much shit to those people

262. You think this man is your enemy?

263. Huh?

264. This is a worker

265. Any union keeps this man out ain't a union,

266. it's a goddamn club

267. Now they got you fighting white against colored,

268. native against foreign, holler against holler,

269. when you know there ain't but two sides to this world,

270. them that work and them that don't

271. You work, they don't

272. That's all you got to know about the enemy

273. You say you got guns

274. Well, I know that you all are brave men,

275. and I know you could shoot it out with the company if you had to

276. But the coal company don't want this union,

277. the state government don't want it,

278. the federal government don't want it

279. And they're all of them just waiting for an excuse to come down

280. and crush us to nothing

281. Fellas, we're in a hole full of coal gas here

282. The tiniest spark at the wrong time is going to be the end of us

283. So we got to pick away at this situation slow and careful

284. We got to organize and build support

285. We got to work together

286. Together!

287. Till they can't get their coal out of the ground without us

288. 'cause we're a union!

289. 'Cause we're the workers, damn it! And we take care of each other

290. How can we shut the mines down if we don't dynamite them?

291. The men walk out

292. All of them!

293. Fat chance

294. And every man that walks out on his own steam,

295. we take into the union

296. All the dagos and all the colored?

297. That's what a union is, fellas

298. You better get used to it

299. So this fella owns a vineyard,

300. goes out first thing one morning, and he hires some workers

301. Says he'll give them a dollar for the day, which was decent wages in biblical times

302. Then he's at the marketplace and he sees some other fellas,

303. and he hires them

304. And some more at noon and 2:00 and 5:00,

305. and every time it's the same deal, a dollar for the day

306. He's hiring all day long, right up till one hour before quitting time

307. Look, we're real sorry to barge in on you like this,

308. but it's come to a point where we got to talk to you

309. Now, I know you people got it hard coming to a new country

310. You don't know the rules

311. Don't know how things work

312. They don't know shit about mining coal, that's for sure

313. They been dying like flies in that Number 3 hole

314. What's he saying?

315. But how it is, you don't have a whole lot of choice in this thing

316. You know what a union is?

317. Well, what the situation is, we need everybody—

318. We join the union, they shoot us

319. We no join the union, you shoot us

320. Well, that's one way of looking at it

321. - What does he want? - He wants us to join the union

322. The union! The union again!

323. Rosaria

324. That dago's driving me crazy

325. - Now what's he playing? - Shh

326. Now who's that?

327. Peckerwood's gone past

328. Union man be over in a few minutes

329. What we talking to him for?

330. You want to walk back to Alabama?

331. Sun goes down, he sends for his foreman,

332. he says to go pay off the workers,

333. starting with the ones he picked up just an hour ago,

334. and to pay every one of them the same dollar a day

335. Of course, the fellas that went out first is roped off about this

336. So they get to agitating,

337. complaining so loud that the owner come up and he says,

338. "Look it, we dealt for a dollar, and that's what you get

339. And what I pay anybody else is none of your lookout, so there "

340. Now, that's all the gospel story says,

341. except for the moral Jesus drew out of it

342. And so Jesus says,

343. "Thus it will be in the kingdom of heaven—

344. the first will be last, and the last will be first "

345. Now, it's clear from this parable

346. that Jesus hadn't heard nothing about the union

347. If he was walking the Earth today

348. and seen the situation we got with these coal operators,

349. he'd have changed his tune

350. "A man deserveth an hourly wage," he'd say,

351. "for though the pit be gassy and the face full of slate,

352. a man still toileth by the sweat of his brow

353. and wants a better deal here on Earth,

354. no matter what I got in store for him in the hereafter "

355. - Praise Jesus - Praise Jesus

356. Kenehan

357. Out kind of late, aren't you?

358. I met some people, and we got to talking

359. Talking

360. Yeah

361. Who are you?

362. Name is Sid Hatfield

363. I'm chief of police around here

364. It ain't against the law to talk, is it?

365. Depends

366. I take care of my people

367. You bring them trouble, you're a dead man

368. Sleep tight, Kenehan

369. Hi

370. Well, look at this, Griggsy

371. They got up a little reception committee for us

372. What is your name, honey?

373. Bridey Mae Tolliver

374. You like to watch the trains come and go, Bridey Mae?

375. - Yeah - Yeah?

376. - And the people what come into town - Ah

377. There been a lot of new people coming here lately?

378. A few

379. Fella named Joe Kenehan show up?

380. Maybe

381. Are you married, Bridey Mae?

382. I was

383. He got killed in the mine

384. Oh, that's too bad

385. Did you hear that, Griggsy? He got killed in the mine

386. It's a shame

387. Was your husband a union man while he was living?

388. No He said it wouldn't never take hold down here

389. He sounds like a smart fella

390. I think that you are real pretty You know that, Bridey Mae?

391. Thank you

392. Don't you think she's pretty, Griggsy?

393. You are the best-looking mountain trash I've seen in a long while

394. We'll see you around

395. Let's roll, Griggsy

396. The sooner we get out of this shithole, the better

397. I was putting up blackberries

398. when Trammell Blankenship come shouting up the holler

399. that the Number 5 had blown

400. I remember I took the pot off the stove top

401. and washed up my hands before I went down

402. It took two days to dig through

403. Then when they brung them up, you couldn't tell which was which

404. They found blood on the walls from fellas trying to claw their way out

405. Mrs Elkins, Mrs Mounts, Bridey Mae, me

406. we all lost our men in that fire

407. Danny was seven then

408. Now he's back in that same hole

409. How'd it start?

410. Coal dust gets hanging in the air down there, and there's a spark

411. They could spray the walls down, but the company says that'd cost too much

412. Hey, was, uh was Sid Hatfield ever a miner?

413. Not for long He don't like to be closed in, Sid

414. He was always real friendly, smiling, Sid

415. Then the war come,

416. and Cabell Testerman got to be the mayor

417. He made Sid chief of police, and then the girl that Cabell marr—

418. Well

419. I don't want you using Danny on no crazy union business

420. A man has to stand up for what he believes in

421. Danny ain't no man

422. Look here, mister, you're going to be moving on

423. Win or lose, you'll walk on out of this holler We got to stay here

424. I intend to leave a union when I go

425. My husband used to talk union

426. I seen where it got him

427. Mama! People out front, Mama

428. - Sorry, mister, we're full up - Not anymore you're not, sonny

429. - Stone Mountain sent us down here - We're still full up

430. Can I help you gentleman?

431. They're trying to push their way in here I said it wasn't no use

432. I don't see where you got any say

433. My mama says you can't stay here, then you can't, that's all

434. Danny! Keep out of this

435. Look, I only got one room left

436. Then somebody's going to have to move, don't they?

437. Let me see your register

438. You ain't seeing nothing

439. Lady, we're here as guests of the Stone Mountain Coal Company

440. They own this house

441. Good morning

442. You fellas moving in?

443. - Yeah - No

444. Well, you won't find a better night's sleep anywheres in town

445. It's a shame I got to move over to the hotel

446. It's business, you know

447. So you mind if I settle my bill, ma'am?

448. Danny, you sign these two gentleman in

449. Don't think the company isn't going to hear about this

450. Boy, sometimes you got to bend so as you don't break

451. Food's awful at the hotel

452. Mattresses got lumps, probably cooties too

453. I'll be all right

454. I'll get my things

455. Thank you

456. Now, if you want to stay alive down here, you got to listen up

457. Get ahold of something solid, and give the top a little poke

458. Now, if you get a nice ringing sound, you're all set

459. Got a nice solid top over your head

460. You get a kind of hollow sound,

461. like a drum,

462. that slate's sagging a bit,

463. and you got to put in another post

464. You dig coals a long time, eh?

465. I've been going underground since I was ten You?

466. We make shoe Everybody in same factory in Milano, make shoe

467. Shoes

468. You make shoes?

469. Shoes

470. Soon as they get their union, they'll send us packing

471. It could be

472. But you try and head out of here now,

473. you be owing all that money like they say,

474. company shoot you for a thief

475. We just some slaves up here They own our black asses

476. Gentlemen

477. Hey, Few, I got a question for you

478. Yeah?

479. Now, suppose they let us in this union like they say

480. We going to have to work with them Italian people?

481. The bosses have the guns

482. - The miners have guns, too - Maybe, maybe not

483. I just don't want my family to starve

484. The miners have families, too

485. Let's vote

486. - Renato? - Yes

487. - Clemente? - No

488. - Gianni? - Hmm

489. Come on, babies

490. Come on and get it now Come on Come on

491. Come on, there

492. Come on Come on

493. - Oh, boy - All right

494. - Taking a walk? - Hi

495. I'm going up to the coal camp

496. I'll meet those new fellas when they come off their shift

497. You're doing union business, ain't you?

498. How you like Mrs Radnor's?

499. Well, there wasn't room

500. I'm at the hotel now

501. Isn't she a sourpuss though?

502. Mr Kenehan! They's evicting in town, Mr Kenehan

503. It's Baldwins It's them Baldwin thugs

504. This is town property

505. Who are you?

506. I'm the mayor

507. Well, pleased to meet you

508. My name is Bill Hickey This is Tom Griggs

509. We're carrying out an eviction for Stone Mountain

510. You can do what you want up at the coal camp,

511. but this is town property

512. Stone Mountain holds the deeds on these houses, Cabell

513. You need a writ for eviction

514. You the law around here?

515. Well, good Then you can help us

516. Now, these people are trespassing on company property

517. They all signed a contract that they wouldn't join any union

518. You, uh, you Baldwin-Felts agency?

519. That's right

520. Presently employed by the Stone Mountain Coal Company

521. This is from Mr Turley here

522. and this is from our boss, Mr Thomas Felts

523. I've met Mr Felts

524. Well, good, we won't have any problem

525. I wouldn't pee on him if his heart was on fire

526. Neither of these will do for a writ

527. You'll have to see a judge in Charleston

528. What if we ain't got time to go to Charleston?

529. Then you'd better find some

530. Now, I can't do nothing about what you pull outside town limits,

531. but you bother these people under my jurisdiction,

532. I'll put you under arrest

533. Yeah?

534. You and whose army?

535. All you men own a gun, go home and get it

536. You're deputies as of now

537. The rest of you people stick close We'll need witnesses

538. I'm giving you ten minutes to get those people's belongings back in the house

539. If the rest of the boys was here, you wouldn't be so cocky

540. If the rest of the boys was here, I'd give you five minutes

541. Now, move it

542. You can't win, you know

543. This is going to happen with you, without you

544. You can't stop it

545. All right, boys, let's put it back in

546. This ain't our day

547. Attaboy, Sid!

548. You all right, honey?

549. Some of them turning yellow

550. I never seen a lawman buck a company gun before

551. He's mostly a real nice feller, Sid

552. I want to be mayor of a town, not mayor of a cemetery

553. Contention makes him nervous though

554. We got a motion on the floor here

555. And this is coal miners only

556. All them in favor of keeping them scabs out of the mines tomorrow morning

557. using whatever force it looks like is necessary

558. raise your hands

559. It's settled then

560. Pass them peas, boy

561. Pass the peas, Danny

562. The boy deaf or dumb or what?

563. Daniel ain't dumb Daniel's a preacher

564. That right, boy? You a preacher?

565. Who do you preach to, boy?

566. Squirrels?

567. Daniel preached at the meeting last night

568. It was a good number of souls there

569. You a soul saver, boy?

570. You want to have a go at me and Griggsy We ought to be a real challenge

571. He's a squirrel preacher, is what

572. Stands up on a stump out in the woods and testifies to the holy rodent

573. - Danny! - You in a hurry to meet your maker, boy?

574. - Ain't no guns allowed at table - Sit down, Danny

575. You do what your pretty mama says, preacher

576. You put that away now, mister

577. Pack it away, Griggsy

578. Look, we're going to be here a while, little lady

579. You can have it the easy way or the hard way

580. Now, how about them peas?

581. Boy's getting on my nerves

582. Oh, Lord!

583. They told me they would talk to the fellas

584. I saw their faces last night, Joe They wasn't buying it

585. We're playing right into the company's plans

586. The men voted, Joe Now, what more do you want?

587. Sephus!

588. I seen the lights on the hill

589. They're sneaking them in for a night shift

590. Let's go, fellas

591. Hillard told me you was sent from the union

592. Uh-huh

593. I bet you seen hundreds of strikes

594. Yeah

595. I got thrown clear out of the missionary the other night,

596. talking the union from the pulpit

597. Is we getting close?

598. Up there

599. Here they come!

600. - They're down the hill! - Over here!

601. When our fellas put their lanterns out, you just hit the dirt

602. I think this belongs to you

603. Yeah I'm with him

604. Hooray for the dagos!

605. All of you union men, let's welcome our new brothers

606. From now on

607. Stone Mountain don't move one piece of coal

608. unless it's a union man that moves it

609. Let's get out of here

610. Glad you could join us

611. In them days, the coal company owned your camp houses,

612. they owned your land,

613. they owned most of the town and the people who run it.

614. If you wasn't for the company,

615. there wasn't too manyplaces you could go that was still on the map.

616. The union didn't have too much they could give to the people back then.

617. "All we got in common is our misery, " Joe Kenehan used to say,

618. "and the least we can do is share it."

619. Coming through!

620. Come on

621. What are you staring at?

622. She got the evil eye, that one

623. Oh, Mama

624. Don't you let me catch you peeking over there

625. She got the evil eye if I ever seen it

626. Well, what do we got here?

627. We brung you some food Mama stole it from the company

628. Quiet, Danny

629. Well, we can use everything you got

630. You people are crazy You ain't never going to win this thing

631. Then what are you helping us for?

632. I got work to do

633. We appreciate your help

634. I ain't never seen everybody all together like this

635. Company don't stand a chance

636. Jessie

637. What's the pitch?

638. Well, I was just saying to the mayor here

639. how we're all trying to do our jobs,

640. you and me and him

641. And nobody is paying us enough to be dodging no bullets for it

642. Um, now,

643. Mr Felts has authorized me to make it more attractive

644. for you gentlemen to cooperate

645. Town ain't for sale, mister

646. What about you?

647. Now, I figure that little show you were putting on out there the other day

648. was just for bargaining power

649. Or are you going to be stupid too?

650. Either of you shit hogs lift a finger in town limits,

651. I'll put you away

652. Damn hillbillies always got to do it the hard way

653. You boys are going up against some pretty big people

654. Don't push your luck

655. How's Jessie these days?

656. Oh, she's okay, Sid

657. You think they're bluffing?

658. Nope

659. Neither am I

660. Now, the way the relief fund works is kind of tricky

661. 'cause of all the different situations we got going around the country

662. I mean, we're stretched real thin

663. There's a lot of strategy to who gets what and when

664. I report to the strike committee,

665. and they evaluate the progress we're making here

666. and the political situation,

667. and then they release the strike fund to us

668. You mean they'd cut us off?

669. - No, the amount that we get is based on— - What if they think we're going to lose?

670. Look, the strike committee considers what's best for the union as a whole,

671. - but that doesn't mean— - Politics, boys

672. Going to play union, you got to play politics

673. I'm sure Joe don't like that no more than you do

674. Come Come closer

675. - I don't like it one damn bit - Me neither

676. I didn't get into this thing so I'd have one more boss to tell me what to do

677. The union isn't your boss, it's you

678. Then why we got to wait

679. for some hunkies up in Pittsburgh to give us the word to move?

680. 'Cause it's a democracy

681. It's like the United States A democracy

682. That's a joke

683. Quiet

684. Get down, they're shooting!

685. Go away!

686. - Stay put, they'll cut you down - The hell with that!

687. Keep your head down, son

688. They're going to make a night of it

689. It's ruined

690. Sarah, come over here with that

691. You got a little piece of bullet left in there

692. Company doctor said he wouldn't come out,

693. but there's a fella in Pikeville on the Kentucky side

694. that'll treat union men on the sly

695. He'll be here by noon

696. Will he treat colored?

697. If he treats union, he'll treat colored

698. - More water, Danny - Yes, ma'am

699. You just hold this up there against that real gentle

700. - Don't press hard - Hey, Elma

701. you seen any of the men?

702. Only them that's wounded

703. - How's she doing? - Not bad

704. At least nobody got killed

705. No thanks to you

706. Take it easy, buddy

707. Morning, Joe

708. Hey, Bridey You seen any of the fellas?

709. Not a one

710. He's real nice-looking

711. He likes me, I can tell

712. How?

713. I just know men, that's all

714. That'd make a cat laugh

715. - If you want to make that kind of slop— - Let me go, you old witch!

716. Your food is for pigs!

717. - No, even pigs wouldn't eat it - This is the United States

718. We do things different

719. Listen to me

720. - You can learn something here - Your food is poison

721. How do they eat that swill without dying?

722. - Ladies, what's the problem? - This idiot won't let me make polenta!

723. I thought she'd make corn bread with it You should see the slop she made

724. She can poison her own people, but half of this is mine

725. Mrs Elkins, now, these people got their own way of doing things

726. Well, that is a waste of good cornmeal if you ask me

727. She makes up this porridgely kind of mess I wouldn't feed it to the pigs

728. Listen!

729. The soldiers

730. They're coming back to kill us

731. Where's all the men gone to?

732. That changes the whole picture

733. What I'm saying is, unions is fine for some things,

734. but for other things, a man's got to go on his own

735. Of course, that's up to you

736. Fausto?

737. You make sindacato, you do what the sindacato say

738. I listen to Joe

739. Few Clothes?

740. We going to be shooting white folks, right?

741. That's the idea

742. People hear about black folks shooting white folks,

743. no matter what it's for,

744. there's going to be hell to pay

745. You got a point

746. Well, then

747. if you gentlemen will excuse us

748. Let's go

749. You people have been put out of Stone Mountain Mine housing

750. and some of you have seen fit to take along certain items

751. of food, furniture, and clothing that don't belong to you

752. but belong to the company

753. As of the day of the strike,

754. your scrip ceased to be legal tender,

755. meaning that any item of food, clothing, and furniture

756. not paid for in cash money

757. must be turned over to me and my deputies

758. I suggest that you all cooperate

759. See, my boys

760. they didn't get much sleep last night,

761. so they're kind of jumpy

762. Besides, we got the law on our side

763. You ain't no law! You got to slip around the real law

764. You just got guns is all

765. You just thugs—

766. Yeah, maybe you're right, sonny We just got guns

767. You still got to hand in them goods

768. Yellow scab-herder—

769. Hillard, you get up from there

770. Hey, you got a list of goods?

771. Don't need one

772. How you gonna know what belongs to the company and what don't?

773. He's the red, Hickey

774. He's the agitator

775. Everybody, see I don't got a gun on me?

776. What good do you think that's going to do you, red?

777. You shoot me, folks'll know it was murder

778. Well, that's some cold comfort

779. Now, you listen to me, red

780. We was hunting

781. You folks are making an awful lot of commotion

782. You scared all the game away

783. This your machine?

784. Heard it last night too

785. It's an offense to the ear

786. Hold it, pops, you're talking to the law here

787. He ask you anything?

788. Where'd you get that thing, pal? The Spanish War?

789. Nope

790. War Between the States

791. You all get in this machine and get back into town where you belong

792. Ain't but one law out here,

793. and that's the law of nature

794. Let's get the hell out of here

795. Folks, try and keep the noise down, you'll do fine

796. Help yourself to the bird and the rabbit

797. but you see any hogs, they's probably ours

798. We'd appreciate it if you'd leave them be

799. Good day to you

800. Are you okay, Joe?

801. Yeah, I'd be all right if it weren't for my ribs

802. Who were those people?

803. Rossums, mostly, and a Shuttleworth

804. - They miners? - You never find them folks near a hole

805. They had most of their land stole by the company

806. - They's hill people - Foothill people, really

807. Your genuine hill people

808. They can be dangerous

809. Now, the thing you got to remember, son, is your fuse burns one foot per minute

810. Make it too long, they might see it

811. Make it too short, we'll all be meeting you on the other side

812. Damn it

813. Air shaft Number 4

814. Go out the back way

815. We seem kind of lonely here tonight

816. Where's all our other friends tonight, Miss Elma?

817. They get tired of the chuck or what?

818. I think that old biddy went on strike, laid down her teeth in protest

819. They're just particular about who they eat with

820. What about you, Miss Elma?

821. Are you particular?

822. If Stone Mountain didn't hold the lease here—

823. If Stone Mountain didn't hold the lease,

824. you'd be peddling poontang down in Cinder Bottom,

825. so just shut your mouth about it

826. Where's the little preacher tonight?

827. Bitch got no table manners

828. Elma?

829. You know where Danny is?

830. No I don't know where anybody is

831. - And nobody wants to tell me either - Mmm

832. You okay?

833. Yeah, I'm just tired, is all

834. I been working all day This place

835. I been working

836. The day they burned my husband, I started,

837. and I been working, and it

838. It don't never stop

839. I get so tired,

840. and there ain't nobody

841. Look, it's hard

842. It's hard being on your own

843. You don't know nothing about it

844. We're in business, buddy Let's get the boys

845. - What is it? - Sounds like dynamite up at the mine

846. Might be that Number 5 shaft

847. Might be some shooting

848. Hillard!

849. Hillard!

850. You seen my boy? Anybody seen my boy, Hillard?

851. That'll be the Baldwins

852. Hillard!

853. Anybody seen my Hillard?

854. It's Baldwins up the hill!

855. Shoot low, boys! Cut them down

856. They're up behind us!

857. Get him!

858. You fellas get on out of here I'll hold them back

859. Reece! Reece, get up!

860. Sephus, come on!

861. Okay, boys, spread out He's here somewhere

862. - I got him! He's over here! - Hold on, hold on, boys It's me

863. Hold your fire, boys It's C E

864. You all right?

865. You'd better get back to camp

866. Judas

867. Hold his leg

868. Hold it Hold

869. I'm just going to pull this back from your leg, boy

870. Now, give me back that knife, Hillard

871. Hey, what happened?

872. We was sold Them Baldwins come up from behind

873. Known right where we was laying out

874. They know'd when the men was out of camp today too

875. How's she feeling, buddy?

876. You made it

877. - I thought we'd lost you back there - I got off a couple of rounds,

878. buried myself in the leaves

879. I seen Reece Hadley go down though Sephus get back?

880. I don't think so

881. You see what happens, you pick up a gun?

882. All I see is them niggers and dagos weren't there tonight,

883. and we was sold, and somebody going to pay

884. Something bad's happening out there

885. - Those guns - Hunting party, that's all

886. Now, where was I?

887. "Time to put all shyness "

888. Time to put all shyness aside

889. and admit to our heartfelt attraction

890. I'm not sure how you spell "attraction "

891. How about

892. "heartfelt desires"?

893. Are you sure you want to do this?

894. Heartfelt desires,

895. dearest Joseph

896. Get out of here! Shoo!

897. - Look at that Just covered with gore - Dogs didn't do all that

898. Are you drawing breath, son?

899. Baldwins We was sold

900. What's your name?

901. Bosephus

902. Sephus Purcell

903. Kin to Nimrod Purcell?

904. That's daddy's uncle

905. Say some Baldwin agents took you?

906. From behind

907. None of them Purcells ever was too bright

908. Grab his ankles, missus, and mind your dress

909. He's bleeding like a stuck pig

910. I found him, boys He's here

911. It's Reece

912. Got yourself a martyr

913. I tried to stop this

914. See any sign of Sephus?

915. We'll maybe smell him before we see him

916. They found somebody?

917. Stay right here, honey Don't want to look at that mess

918. But I got something for Mr Kenehan

919. I don't think he's in no mood to be bothered right now

920. I'll see he gets it

921. Who is it?

922. Oh, just some poor miner whose troubles is finally over

923. Don't look, honey

924. I talked to Ellix

925. He says your phonograph machine's going to be fixed in a couple days now

926. It's awful nice of you to do, Everett

927. Well, we got to take care of our favorite lady now, don't we?

928. You been so generous

929. thinking about me when that Mr Kenehan got you all so busy with the union

930. That Mr Kenehan is what I come to talk to you about

931. I got a suspicion he might not be what he says he is

932. What do you mean?

933. Bridey, did you send Kenehan some sort of letter?

934. What do you want?

935. No

936. He wouldn't

937. There's a whole crowd of fellas standing around him

938. I seen Kenehan laughing, waving that letter

939. So I come over to see what's so funny

940. A lot of fellas?

941. You mind if I have another drink, honey?

942. It ain't pretty what I got to say

943. He said some things, Bridey

944. "She been following me around ever since I got here

945. trailing after me like a dog in heat,

946. sniffing around my legs like a brood bitch

947. She don't wear no drawers", he says,

948. "so she can be ready for whatever stumbles down the pathway "

949. He didn't!

950. He didn't

951. He said you done it with one of the coloreds

952. Lying bastard

953. Bridey, I think it might be worse than that

954. I think he might be a spy in with the coal operators

955. But he's got the fellas so turned around with all his talk

956. I need for you to help me, Bridey

957. and sometimes you got to tell a little bit of a lie

958. just to get the truth across

959. We fight them with guns, we lose

960. That's the whole damn story

961. I'm not going to bullshit you fellas

962. and tell you there won't ever come a time when the people that own this state

963. send the word down to have us all murdered

964. But if we don't stand together now as workers

965. we got no hope at all

966. Help me up

967. You going somewhere?

968. This is miners' business, and you ain't no miner

969. You two come along

970. So, um

971. last night he comes up here, and, uh

972. he's all drunk and everything,

973. and I says how I didn't want to have nothing to do with him, and

974. and I would call some of you fellas for help,

975. and he says that all of you was

976. taken care of

977. Taken care of, huh?

978. When I seen that there wasn't no help, I

979. He, uh, kind of

980. forced me, he— he forced me

981. - C E - Mmm?

982. That's okay You better hear this firsthand

983. Go ahead, honey What happened then?

984. And afterwards he thrown money on the bed,

985. like I were some kind of a whore

986. You done just fine, honey

987. Now, why don't you go sit outside for a minute

988. while we figure out what we're going to do about this?

989. So he don't have no sense with women So what?

990. You know how Bridey builds things up

991. Take a look at this that our friend left laying on the floor last night

992. Baldwin-Felts agency

993. What it say?

994. It's a death warrant, is what,

995. for Mr Joseph Kenehan

996. So it's "Good-bye, Mr Kenehan" tonight

997. The miners?

998. How'd you manage that?

999. That tramp that goes to meet the passenger train?

1000. - Yeah? - Seems she's got the eye for Kenehan

1001. So he put it in her head that Kenehan's been bad-mouthing her all around town

1002. He's got her down there right now crying to the miners,

1003. and he's got these papers from Bluefield

1004. I didn't leave my Colt like this

1005. You spying little bastard!

1006. What'd you hear, huh?

1007. - What did you hear? - Nothing

1008. Horseshit! Hit him, Bill!

1009. See this medal?

1010. You know how I won this, preacher boy, huh?

1011. I was sitting alone in a ditch in France,

1012. and this kraut jumps in right next to me

1013. And I took my bayonet, and I stuck him right in the face

1014. And then another jumps in, and I stick him too

1015. And another and another and another

1016. They just kept coming, one at a time, all night long

1017. And in a little bit, I got to worried that they weren't all dead,

1018. so I stuck them all again a couple times just to make sure

1019. And in the morning

1020. they said that I was a war hero

1021. Well, I'm going to stay close to you tonight, preacher boy

1022. And you let one wrong word fly,

1023. and I'm going to put one in your skull,

1024. and I'll do the same for your pretty mama

1025. You know I ain't lying, don't you, boy?

1026. Yes, sir

1027. Man who draws the short straw gets to do the job,

1028. and word don't travel beyond this room about who it is

1029. The rest of us will want a good alibi

1030. I figure in that prayer meeting tonight,

1031. right under the preacher's nose

1032. Welcome to the union, son

1033. What's the story?

1034. Ludie heard that the Baldwins was coming after you tonight,

1035. and I'm supposed to stick by you

1036. You got the shit detail again, huh?

1037. You all right, Danny?

1038. You got your sermon memorized?

1039. I bet he don't know any more scripture than I do

1040. And that ain't a whole hell of a lot, is it, Griggsy?

1041. You know any?

1042. I never got no further than, "In the beginning was the word "

1043. Guess we both doomed to the hot place

1044. The Lord relies on little shits like this one to spread his word,

1045. I don't want no truck with heaven

1046. And as for hell, well, we been to West Virginia!

1047. What in God's name you doing, son?

1048. I just got your leaks all stopped up,

1049. and here you're trying to bust them open again

1050. I got to get down there They got to know

1051. You ain't going nowhere, unless it's in a pine box

1052. Where's your sense?

1053. I got to

1054. Wish those fellas would get here

1055. Huh?

1056. If they're coming, I wish they'd hurry up

1057. I don't want any more shooting in the woods

1058. You ever use one of those?

1059. 10th Cavalry in Cuba back in '98

1060. San Juan Hill

1061. Pretty rough down there?

1062. Did what I had to

1063. It true you're a red?

1064. Yeah, I suppose it is

1065. Then how come you don't carry a gun?

1066. Well, we carry little round bombs

1067. Don't you read the papers?

1068. I want to tell you tonight about the blackness in the heart of man

1069. Going to warn you about the many and devious ways in which Satan

1070. will hide from you the truth of who your real friends are

1071. I'll do it with a story from the patriarchs

1072. Now, we all know about Joseph and how out of all Jacob's 12 children,

1073. he was the smartest and the smoothest,

1074. and how his brothers got so jealous, they pulled off his coat of many colors

1075. and whooped on him and left him out to be sold into slavery

1076. But Joseph was not your ordinary fella, even for biblical times

1077. He had a special way with him,

1078. a way of looking at the grand scheme of things

1079. So when this fella Potiphar bought him for a slave,

1080. Joseph just smiled and vowed he was going to be a good one,

1081. making the best of a bad situation

1082. He put his heart to his work and was honest and friendly in his dealings,

1083. and before you knew it, he was just about running Potiphar's households and fields

1084. and all his businesses for him

1085. The only trouble was Potiphar's wife

1086. Now, she was what you might call a loose woman

1087. When I was in Leavenworth, there was a bunch of Mennonites

1088. in because they wouldn't fight in the war

1089. It's against their religion

1090. It's also against their religion to shave their beards

1091. or wear buttons on their clothes,

1092. and they was being forced to do both by the prison guards

1093. So, they refused to work

1094. and they went on a strike, right there in Hell's Half Acre

1095. They was handcuffed to the bars of a cell house,

1096. eight hours a day for two full weeks

1097. They were put with their arms up like this

1098. so's they had to stand on their toes

1099. or those cuffs would cut into their wrists

1100. Can't nobody stay on their toes eight hours

1101. So, pretty soon their fingers would start to swell up

1102. They'd turn blue, and then they'd crack open

1103. Blood would run down their arms

1104. eight hours a day, day after day

1105. And still they wouldn't work

1106. Still they tore the buttons off their uniforms

1107. every time they were sewed back on

1108. They tore them with their teeth because their hands wouldn't close no more

1109. So now I don't claim a thing for myself

1110. But them fellas, they never lifted a gun in their lives

1111. and you couldn't find any braver in my book

1112. Wish them fellas would get here

1113. Also in Potiphar's employ at this time

1114. were a couple of spies from one of his enemies

1115. Fellas that wanted to bring him down in the world

1116. and get their hands on his fields and houses

1117. They seen the want and lust in Mrs Potiphar,

1118. and seen it would be good for their purposes

1119. to get shed of young Joseph

1120. So they come to Potiphar's wife

1121. She calls Joseph in, and she asks him one more time,

1122. "Joseph, will you lie with me?"

1123. And he says, "No, ma'am, I won't "

1124. She sets up a ruckus and grabs hold of his garment he's wearing

1125. and rends it in two before he can get clear

1126. Potiphar runs in then with his guards,

1127. and she's bawling her eyes out and shaking like a leaf

1128. "Your servant, Joseph," she says,

1129. "he come in here and tried to make me lie with him

1130. Only when I called out, he fled, leaving this here garment as evidence

1131. And not only that," she says,

1132. "he been spying and plotting against you with your enemies

1133. He means to take over here and have you killed "

1134. Potiphar had no reason to misbelieve his wife

1135. Joseph was a slave and a foreigner

1136. So he gathered up his servants and household workers,

1137. and they went and slew Joseph dead

1138. Cut him from gut to gizzard and left him bleeding in the street

1139. And Io, they never learned of Mrs Potiphar's lies

1140. and went to their maker, unrepentant, with innocent blood on their hands

1141. Draw your own conclusions

1142. - Getting awful late - Shh

1143. You hear something?

1144. - No You? - Yeah, I think I did

1145. Like somebody moaning

1146. Maybe it's the fellas

1147. I think we best go out there and have a look

1148. Few Few Clothes Few

1149. Who's that?

1150. It's Hillard

1151. Meeting's been called off

1152. Well, we better get back to camp, huh?

1153. Wait a minute

1154. Well, at least we didn't waste a trip

1155. C E! C E Lively!

1156. - Do something! - No way It won't spread

1157. - Is C E inside? - No such luck

1158. Let's find that son of a bitch

1159. Mind them windows! They're going to blow!

1160. How come they waste more food in one day

1161. than a poor worker's family has on their table in a week?

1162. Now, let me ask you,

1163. whose sweat was it that went into building those mansions?

1164. Once they seen how they'd almost done an innocent man,

1165. it was like Joe couldn't say no wrong.

1166. It's the workers, that's who

1167. We moved out into Mingo County then,

1168. spreading the word about the union,

1169. spreading like wildfire over to Red Jacket,

1170. to Ragland and Delbarton, all up and down the Tug Fork River,

1171. bringing the union out to all the folks that needed help,

1172. putting the spirit into them and trying to shut down the whole southwest field.

1173. They been helping themselves to our land and our labor for too damn long

1174. Joe Kenehan said how there was a new day coming,

1175. and sometimes I could just about see it.

1176. But it were a dangerous living for a union man,

1177. and you didn't dare turn your back.

1178. It was hard times, and it was hungry times too.

1179. The union relief was spread thin,

1180. and the hope of a new day can feed your soul,

1181. but leave your belly rumbling.

1182. Scoot

1183. They crowd us on a boat like animals

1184. Then they shoot at us

1185. And for what?

1186. To starve just like in Milan

1187. Where have you been?

1188. Who gave you that?

1189. Lady?

1190. Since there's just me and Hillard, and you got all these little ones

1191. well

1192. You know what to do with this?

1193. Hillard brung it in

1194. Rabbit

1195. It's for you

1196. You're giving it to us?

1197. I ain't going to watch no babies go hungry

1198. Now, here, you go on You take it

1199. Here's some navy beans

1200. and these here is ramps

1201. Now, you can cook with these

1202. They'll put a taste in your stew

1203. Garlic

1204. Anyhow

1205. Would you like to sit with us?

1206. Well, I

1207. figure we's all in this together

1208. You sure got some pretty babies

1209. - Who's your favorite pitcher? - Hod Eller He's from Logan County

1210. You get to play ball much?

1211. When the mines were open

1212. Joe?

1213. - Yeah? - You ever kill anybody?

1214. What brought that up?

1215. Bet Sid has

1216. He were in the war

1217. Well, all I saw was workers killing workers

1218. and there wasn't any point in it

1219. They thrown you in jail 'cause you wouldn't go?

1220. Them two years kept me from killing some poor stiff

1221. that got pushed out on a battlefield by rich folks and politicians

1222. and they were worth it

1223. It's getting dark, Danny

1224. You'd better go get that coal

1225. See there, right there by the railroad trestle?

1226. That's where Cap Hatfield and his boy Joe Glenn killed three men

1227. Boy weren't but 13

1228. Used a Winchester

1229. You think it hurts much, a bullet?

1230. Beats dying in a damn coal mine

1231. Boy weren't but 13 year old, Joe Glenn

1232. - He must be in there - Coleman?

1233. He always sleeps with the lights on

1234. We just got to be quiet is all

1235. Let's get the little bastards!

1236. Over here

1237. - Grab him - Cut him off!

1238. Well, well, what we got here?

1239. Smarts a little, don't it, boy?

1240. Hillard, right?

1241. Now, how about you give us the names of your ring leaders up in Logan?

1242. Give us five names, boy, that's all Five names and we'll let you go

1243. That's fair, isn't it?

1244. Never

1245. Griggsy?

1246. Talk to us, boy

1247. Talk to us!

1248. I'll rot in hell first

1249. Have it your way

1250. Mr Lively

1251. Boy, I sentence you to death for the crime of stealing company property

1252. and being a dirty Bolshevist union man

1253. You got ten seconds to talk

1254. Talk

1255. Whew, what a smell Boy dirtied his diapers

1256. We want names, son

1257. I can't, I sworn on a Bible

1258. Then we're going to have to get down to it, son

1259. - Use the razor - Hold him, boys

1260. Just a little nick, boy

1261. Get it off your chest, son

1262. Plyant Mounts, Bill Mahan,

1263. Asa Radnor, J T Keadle

1264. Five Give us five, boy

1265. And Harley Shilton

1266. - Kill him - No!

1267. Where do them fellas he named live?

1268. Clay Hill

1269. Where's that?

1270. It's a cemetery

1271. Them are all fellas was killed in a gas fire, five, six year ago

1272. Nothing like a young boy dying

1273. to stir things up

1274. Baldwins coming into town tomorrow, Kenehan

1275. You fellas have any idea what's waiting for us?

1276. You mean they didn't tell you?

1277. I just seen a line in the papers—

1278. "Opportunity for red-blooded American men

1279. Immediate openings, high pay, travel, chance for advancement

1280. Apply Baldwin-Felts and write your own ticket "

1281. When the natives get restless someplace, they put that out

1282. Hook some more cannon fodder

1283. Ever hear of the Hatfields and the McCoys, son?

1284. Yeah, of course I have

1285. This Matewan is their stomping grounds

1286. They'll put a bullet in your brain as soon as look at you

1287. Sid, we got authorization

1288. to put these miners off company property here in town

1289. Not from me, you don't

1290. And we also got a warrant for your arrest, you give us any trouble

1291. This ain't worth shit, and you know it

1292. One way or another,

1293. we're going to carry out these evictions tomorrow morning

1294. Gentlemen

1295. They come to kill me

1296. Hillard was my friend

1297. When I first come down to the mines, it was Hillard shown me what to do

1298. He was a good coal miner, a good union man

1299. and he always took care of his mama

1300. I don't know how they could have done him like they did

1301. All he wanted to do was live decent, that's all

1302. Sometimes people say how God willed it, how everything is his plan

1303. Well

1304. I don't think he planned on Hillard laying here amongst all these Elkinses

1305. Not this young in his life

1306. I think all God plans is we get born, and we got to take it from there

1307. So you rest in peace, Hillard

1308. You rest easy 'cause we're going to take up where you left off

1309. Amen

1310. You going to tell us to turn the other cheek, Joe?

1311. Shooting is what they want now

1312. And maybe it's what we want too

1313. You expect too much of people, Joe

1314. You're still after that one big union, but most of us

1315. we can't see past this holler

1316. I need to talk to the men

1317. It wouldn't be decent now

1318. I'll call a meeting in the morning

1319. first thing

1320. Pass the word to stay out from town tomorrow

1321. Something up?

1322. Got a feeling

1323. You know how white folks is when they gets all excited

1324. How is she?

1325. How would you be?

1326. The company men came today

1327. Armed to the teeth

1328. God have mercy on us

1329. Nothing's going to bring Hillard back, you know

1330. Danny, I came here to help

1331. Sure you did

1332. First people come here to help us with some money

1333. Next we know, we got no land

1334. Then they say they're going to help us with a job and a place to live,

1335. and they stick us in some damn coal camp

1336. and let us dig out their mines

1337. Now you come here to help us bring in the new day

1338. Well, Hillard ain't going to see no new day

1339. We had about as much help as we can stand

1340. We got to take care of ourselves

1341. We got to take care of each other

1342. Joe Joe The men go to town

1343. Sid?

1344. No need for you to be in on this

1345. It's my town too They're my people

1346. You all have no right to come to this here town with all these people

1347. and drawing guns and terrorizing them

1348. The writs you have are not valid for this town

1349. - You can't get away with this - No!

1350. No Oh!

1351. Jesus, don't shoot me!

1352. I just wanted to talk

1353. I just wanted to talk

1354. I can't feel my legs

1355. Sephus!

1356. There was a trial,

1357. but there wasn't nobodygoing to pass guilty on Sid Hatfield in Mingo County.

1358. Sid got married to Mayor Testerman's widow,

1359. and then the Baldwins, they caught him unarmed

1360. walking up the steps of the McDowell County Courthouse.

1361. They shot 15 bullets into him, right in broad daylight.

1362. Then C.E. Lively stepped in and put one right through his skull.

1363. Wasn't even a trial on that one.

1364. That were the start of the great Coalfield War,

1365. and us miners took the worst of it, like Joe said we would.

1366. "It's just one big union the whole world over, " Joe Kenehan used to say.

1367. And from the day of the Matewan Massacre, that's what I preached.

1368. That was my religion.

1369. We buried Joe Kenehan with our own.

1370. My mama, she thought he wouldn't never stay,

1371. but now he's with us for always,

1372. laying up here in these West Virginia hills.