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.

C.E.
Who wrote The Iron Heel?

JOE
Jack London.

SEPHUS
Where's Joe Hill buried?

JOE
All over the world. They scattered his ashes.

C.E.
Which eye is Big Bull Heywood missing?

Joe thinks for a moment, covers one of his eyes to check --

JOE
Left one.

SEPHUS
How'd Frank Little die?

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

C.E. and Sephus exchange a look --

C.E.
If you're a spy you know your stuff.

JOE

I was with the Wobblies.

SEPHUS

Me too. Back when it meant something.

JOE

(grins) One Big Union.

C.E.

Not around here, buddy.

HICKEY
We got this from Mr. Turley here, and this from our boss, Mr. Thomas Felts.

SID
I've met Mr. Felts.

HICKEY
(smiles) Well then, we don't have any problem --

SID
I wouldn't pee on him if his heart was on fire. Neither of these'll do for a writ. You'll have to see the judge in Charleston.

LONG SHOT

The miners fall in a few yards behind the marching strikebreakers. Guards drop back to protect their rear, rifles ready --

TRACKS

Looking down over the shoulders of the guards at the machine gun. We TRACK IN tight as Few Clothes steps up to the muzzle of the gun and looks down on the guards --

FEW
This here belongs to you.

He sticks his shovel into the dirt at his feet, turns and faces his men. Fausto steps up by him, raising his shovel in the air --

FAUSTO
Viva il sciopero!

PAPPY (VO)

In them days the coal company owned your camp houses, they owned your land, they owned most of the town and the people who run it.