MUSIC BEGINS as we ride toward the light at the end of the tunnel, the RATTLE of the gondola car beneath us. The VOICE of an old man, PAPPY, begins to reminisce --

PAPPY (VO)

Hit were 1920 in the southwest field and things was tough. The miners was trying to bring in the union to West Virginia and the coal operators and their- gun thugs was set on keepin em out. Them was hand-loading days -- they paid you by the ton and they didn't care no more for a man than they done for a draft mule.