Original subtitles

[birds chirping]

[man] Hey, I wanna ask you something.

I want you to be honest, all right?

Okay.

You got any regrets?

[acoustic guitar music]

♪ Oh, coal river ♪

♪ Won't you wash my bones away ♪

♪ I'm slaving for the company ♪

♪ And I can't get any pay ♪

♪ Well, mining coal ♪

♪ Ain't a way to make a life ♪

♪ And I can't feed the hunger ♪

♪ Of three kids and a wife ♪

♪ Now the hollers are empty ♪

♪ And the company left town ♪

♪ And there ain't no more mountain ♪

10-1, 10-1.

You dead or alive down there, buddy?

If you are dead, can I keep the truck? Over.

[walkie-talkie crackles]

I'm in the main tunnel.

Ain't no one been in here in a hundred years

And no you don't get to keep no damn truck.

Over.

-What's it like down there? -[debris falling]

-It's spooky. Over. -[walkie-talkie crackles]

Keep your eyes on the prize, brother. Nut up and shut up!

- Over. -[walkie-talkie crackles]

Easy for you to say.

[ominous music]

[chain rattles]

[ominous music]

[faint rustling]

[water dripping]

-[walkie-talkie crackles] -Some strange shit down here.

But there's coal, alright. Over.

Hallelujah, how much we talking? Over.

Sealed shut. Old gas seal, maybe.

[ominous music]

Jesse, you copy?

There's something...

Something is inside there.

[ominous music builds]

[door creaks]

[boom and rumbling]

[over walkie-talkie] Jesse, get the hell out of there, Jesse!

[ominous music builds]

[explosion]

[child imitates engine revving]

[woman] You've seen with your own eyes what they're doing next door at Rock Creek.

Dynamiting the mountain.

-Spitting lead into the air. -[rumbling]

Arsenic into the river.

They ain't here to hire us.

They're here for the land.

So we get new homes.

Ain't nothing special about this holler over any other.

We got elderly. We got young.

Not everybody can up and move on.

[Bo] When we got money. We'll figure it out.

[distant explosion]

I got offered 50 large.

Now when am I gonna see another $50,000 in this lifetime?

If you sell,

if any of us sells,

they'll use court precedent to sue to get the rest of the plots,

just like they done at Hobet.

Now maybe you get 50 grand in your pocket,

but the rest of us, we'll be lucky if we get five.

You gonna sell out your Ma?

Your cousin?

-Your uncle on the plot over? -KC.

Your folks've been here longer than any of us.

What do you say?

I saw coal dust on the patio today.

Coming down out of the sky like it was snow.

The same black dust that got into my daddy's lungs.

Chase, he turns ten tomorrow.

He was out there playing in it.

It ain't right.

[somber music]

We'll put it to a vote.

[ominous music]

[on TV] Just two hours ago, Allied Air Forces

began its attack on military targets in Iraq and Kuwait.

These attacks continue as I speak.

Hey, Meemaw.

[on TV] Ground forces are not engaged.

This conflict started August 7th.

[mailbox opens]

[on TV] ...a small and helpless neighbor.

Kuwait, a member of the Arab League...

-[KC] Any good news? -[on TV] ...was crushed.

[explosion, ground shaking]

[utensils clatter]

[on TV] We will also destroy his chemical weapons facilities.

[wind howls]

[distant explosion]

[distant explosion]

[birds chirping]

[lighter ignites]

[lighter snaps shut]

Thanks.

What if we did get out?

You heard Doc.

We'd be selling out everyone we know.

Josie can't travel, not with her lungs.

But this here land might be worth a lot more than they're letting on.

[Jesse] I went down that old wildcat mine down the holler.

There's coal down there, KC, maybe a lot.

You went down there and you didn't tell me?

Look, you said you're worried about Chase. I am too. I just...

I want to know our options.

I'm sorry, alright?

I should have told you.

This here's your family land. You gotta be the one to decide.

This is the only home I've ever known.

To let them win after all they've done?

[insect buzzing]

We gonna figure it out.

Don't you go down that mine again.

I won't.

Promise me.

Yeah, I do.

Okay.

[uplifting music]

You're annoying.

[laughs]

[uplifting music continues]

[coughing]

You all right, bud?

[coughs]

Alright. It's your birthday tomorrow

You're gonna be ten years old.

Imagine that.

How about you and me, we go down the New River gorge

tomorrow and catch some trout?

Okay.

[coughs]

[music intensifies]

[coughs heavily]

[coughing continues]

[explosion]

[machines clatter]

[Jesse] We got some back taxes we can't can't pay.

Bank is threatening foreclosure.

[rattling]

Look, son, I'mma level with you.

The price on condemned land,

if we take it through eminent domain,

it ain't much.

But if there is coal underneath there,

and we can do a direct sale,

well then we can talk turkey! [laughs]

KC would never agree to that.

[Lawson] That's a damn shame.

[clears throat]

Hey, do you hunt?

-Buck season's coming up. -Yeah.

[Lawson] Well, let me show you something.

[clears throat]

6.3 tons on that big boy!

Can you believe that?

[Lawson] See, that right there is me,

and that man next to me, you might recognize

from being on TV on account that he sits on the US Senate.

Have you ever been on a safari, Jesse?

[scoffs]

-No. -No.

No, I figure you ain't never even left the county. Have you?

That right?

Hell, you can't even pay your mortgage.

Fuck this.

[camera thuds]

-What's that? -That is an offer.

[Lawson] Look, son, we're gonna take the land either way.

Just a matter of when.

And how long before that bank moves in?

What? A few weeks?

And they gonna take it anyway.

And leave you with nothing?

Just help us get what we need, Jesse.

And you'll be compensated.

And the real question is,

how can you go home and look that pretty little wife

of yours in the eye if you don't?

[ground shakes]

♪ Dark is the coal dust and deepest of night ♪

♪ The only grave you will know ♪

♪ For the cold night is coming ♪

♪ It'll call you inside ♪

♪ And fill you with trouble ♪

What are you doing?

♪ Dark is the coal dust ♪

♪ That burns in your lungs ♪

♪ The only breath you will know ♪

♪ For the old dark is coming ♪

♪ It'll turn you to stone ♪

♪ And fill you with trouble ♪

[explosion]

[debris falling]

♪ Come home ♪

♪ Come home ♪

♪ Come home to your love ♪

[paper burns]

♪ I'll feel the fire that burns in your eyes ♪

♪ And leave all your ♪

♪ Trouble ♪

Time for bed.

But I wanna go fishing.

What did I tell you?

[sighs] If ifs and buts were candy and nuts,

every day would be Christmas.

That's right.

Go.

[TV playing]

-[object rattles] -I don't wanna hear it.

You've been waiting to say "I told you so" since the day we were married.

So what? He dealt a little dope when he was a kid.

Did a little time. Who didn't around here?

[dishes rattle]

-I'm gonna go look for him. -[object rattles]

That ain't kind and that ain't true.

-[bell jingles] -We'll talk when you can be nice.

[object rattles heavily]

[ominous music]

[engine shuts off]

[loud music playing]

[knock on door]

[knocks heavily]

[loud music continues]

Is Jesse in there?

-Why don't you fuck off? -[door slams]

Jesus, KC!

I told you, he ain't here.

How old is she?

How am I supposed to know?

Maybe when we go ask Sheriff Henley, then?

Hey, that ain't funny.

Do I look like a fucking clown?

-He's with Bo Brown. Okay? -Where?

Jesus, KC. I don't know.

Probably drunk.

He'd be home sooner if you quit hounding him.

Hey, look, I didn't sell nothing, okay? I swear.

Don't you start.

Shit, Jesse. What did you do?

[car engine turns on]

[heavy object thuds]

[water drips]

[heavy object thuds]

[door creaks]

[Jesse] You got the carbon monoxide detector?

About that...

[Bo] Woah now, settle down.

What the hell you got in there?

I couldn't get my hands on a CMD.

So I brung old Dusky here.

[cat meows]

That's a cat, Bo.

Yeah. Ain't you never heard of a cat in a coal mine?

It's a canary, dumbass. It's a bird.

Yeah, I caught me a bird too.

But Dusky ate it.

Anyway, I figure it's the same in principle.

-[cat growls] -Out your damn gourd.

Well come on.

Well, maybe I should stay here.

[cat meows]

Give me the cat then.

Why?

Because what if there's gas?

I don't want no harm to come to her.

It's Dusky.

-Bo, give me the cat. -No.

Give me the cat, Bo. Give me the cat.

You're scaring her.

[cat meows]

-[water drips] -[cat meows]

-[cat meows] -It's okay, Dusky.

It's all right.

[rope tightens]

[ominous music]

Tug twice if you get in trouble.

This place is huge.

[Bo] You see any coal?

[ominous music continues]

It's all coal.

[camera shutter clicks]

[camera shutter clicks]

[ominous music continues]

[music intensifies]

[debris clatters]

Bo?

[ominous music]

Is that you?

Well lookie here.

-Finders keepers. -[cat meows]

Oh!

Dusky.

[ground rumbles]

[rope tightens]

Oh, shit.

[rope snaps]

[music intensifies]

[ominous music]

[footsteps approaching]

[Bo] Oh, shit!

[screaming]

[KC] He's been missing since yesterday.

Well, how long do I gotta wait to report it?

Look, it ain't like him.

Yeah.

Yeah, okay.

I understand.

Shit.

[vehicles approaching]

What the hell?

[ominous music]

[trucks pass by]

[ominous music]

[miners talking]

Hey!

Well, howdy, ma'am. This here's a company mine.

For right now, I'm gonna have to ask you to keep off the property.

You're Dorsey Cayton.

You used to drive with my daddy Jeb.

You must be KC.

Yeah.

So you know for a fact that this ain't your land,

and you got no right to be here.

All I know is what's right here in black and white.

You can take it up with the home office, but I can't do nothin' for ya.

And I can't let you pass.

-Is Jesse in there? -[Dorsey] Jesse?

What you want with that junkie?

Wait...

Don't tell me you went and married him.

[laughs]

Hey, I'm kiddin'.

What's the matter? You can't take a fuckin' joke?

Get out of my way.

[body thuds]

[grunts in pain]

You know, they used to talk about you on the pit.

Jeb's little girl had something of a reputation.

A real fuckin' skank!

Fuck you.

What I heard, you like to squeal like a stuck fuckin' pig!

[Dorsey imitates snorting]

[hooting and hollering]

[truck approaching]

[truck engine stops]

Oh, hi. Ma'am, can you just have a seat in the corner?

Ma'am, excuse me.

Ma'am, excuse me.

Your goddamn thugs are on my land,

and my goddamn husband is missin'.

[receptionist] I am so sorry, sir.

KC, we've been tryin' to get hold of you.

-Why don't you sit down? -Where's Jesse?

Sit?

For my sake.

Now listen, I don't know how to tell you this,

but it seems like you ain't got word, so here it is.

I got a call a few hours ago from the boys runnin' GPR.

Your Jesse was in that mine during a partial collapse.

-What? -Now I want you to know

I am doing everything in my power to try to save that boy.

Did you send him down there?

-Point of fact, he volunteered. -You're lying.

And even if you ain't, I want you off my land.

I'll find him myself.

Look, let me put this to you simple.

[paper rustles]

It ain't your land no more, KC.

I made Jesse an offer, and he took it.

[paper rustles sharply]

[paper crumples]

That's all right, we got copies.

It's a fuckin' forgery.

-Prove it. -I will, I'll sue you.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, and it'll be your word against his.

And without him there in court to testify,

well, good luck.

[distant explosion]

[bangs table]

[car door slams]

Fuck.

[grunts]

[heavy breathing]

[heavy breathing]

[heavy breathing]

[sobbing]

[TV playing]

[on TV] You know, it's hard to believe.

It's hard to believe when we haven't kept

this issue from every time.

When we have men and women standing preaching and teaching,

it is hard to believe that men are at low sight on heaven

and that's about a good boy.

[coughing]

[coughing]

Told you so.

[TV continues playing]

[phone ringing]

[phone ringing]

Manhattan is expecting a report.

You know what's at stake for our investors.

Now look, things work different down here.

You gotta work the people.

Our bosses know this and that is why they put me in charge of it.

Results, Lawson.

[crickets chirping]

[paper rustles]

Jesse?

[crickets chirping]

Hey, who's there?

[eerie music]

[snarling]

[panting]

-[Jesse] KC help me -[KC] No!

Help me Help me, KC! Help me!

-Help me KC, please! -[screaming]

[coughing]

[coughing]

[gasping]

[rain pattering]

[lightning crashing]

Chase!

Chase!

Hey, hey, little bean.

Little bean, come on.

You're all right. You're all right. Hey, Come on.

Hold still, it's gonna sting, okay?

Okay.

What's this?

[ominous music]

Where did you get this?

Chase.

The coal man gave it to me.

-[distant thunder rumbling] -Okay.

Let's get you back to bed, okay?

Okay.

[birds chirping]

[squelching]

[wind blowing]

[birds chirping]

Hey, open up.

[door creaks]

[door creaks]

Cricket?

[shaky breathing]

[gasping]

[sniffs]

Jesse's in trouble.

We gotta warn him.

It's too late.

He and Bo got trapped down a Mine Shaft.

-It can't be. -Well, it is.

It ain't KC, Bo was here.

Last night he came in,

coughing, hacking up a lung.

He was begging me for a hit, scared as shit.

I think he got me sick.

Where the hell is he now?

I called the Black Lung Clinic and they, they came and took him.

The one up in Kingwood?

-I gotta go. -KC, you been dreaming?

I've been having this one over and over.

It's, it's dark.

It's-- it's like my feet sliding into the ground.

Like, like, like it's pulling me in.

In this dream, something's hunting me.

Something from down in the mountain hollers or some--

It ain't human.

Get some rest.

[ominous music]

[coughing]

[breathing]

[receptionist] Breathing center.

[distant coughs]

[distant coughs]

[machine beeping]

Oh, shit, Bo.

[gasping]

Okay, okay, okay, okay.

-[gasping and coughing] -Here, put it back.

-No. [gasping] -It's okay.

You gotta get me out of here, KC.

[wheezing] They know I got out.

They don't want me to talk.

-Raleigh coal? -Please, KC.

What happened, Bo? Is Jesse alive?

I don't know.

That blackness in the earth,

brushed up against some greater dark.

What?

Don't let them open up the mountain, KC.

I closed it back up, but you've seen what it done to me

in just one second.

Don't let it out.

[coughing]

-Hey! -[heavy coughing]

[gasping]

-Get me out of here. -Okay! Okay!

I got Meemaw's spare breather in the truck.

I'll fetch it.

[heavy coughing]

Mrs. Scarbro.

What brings you to Kingwood today?

And you are?

My name is Eli.

Visiting a relative.

[Eli] Relative.

Would that happen to be,

Bo Brown?

[laughs]

You're blocking my truck.

Mm.

Shit.

-[car door shuts] -[light flickers]

[distant coughs]

[loud tone]

Bo?

-[grunts] -Hey!

-[beep] -[KC] Oh, no. Bo!

Bo! Oh, shit.

[sustained beep]

Hey, will somebody get the fuck in here?

[heavy breathing]

Hey!

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Stop!

Stop, stop, stop! No, no, no!

Hey!

Oh, shit.

Meemaw? Chase?

Come on, Jesse. Where'd you stash it?

Fuck.

[cocks gun]

[TV playing]

Hey, Ma.

-[sighs in relief] -[TV continues playing]

[breathing heavily]

Hey, little bean.

Go, get in.

Seatbelt!

[car engine turns on]

Where are we going?

Taking you to Doc and Tipper's to stay a while.

Why?

Keep you safe is why.

Because of the coal man?

[sniffles]

Well ain't you a little miracle.

Go on.

[car engine turns on]

[heavy breathing]

[sizzling]

[grunting in pain]

[high pitched static]

[rain pattering]

[sighing heavily]

[Jesse] What you doing, KC?

Coming to get you, that's what.

[Jesse] What you think you're gonna find down there

in all that dark?

Don't matter.

You got others that need you

more than my junky ass.

You ain't real, so I don't gotta listen to you.

It ain't gonna let you, KC.

What ain't?

That what's down the mountain.

It's hungry.

It wants out.

It's coming.

[eerie music]

[door creaks]

[growling]

[intense music builds]

[persistent honking]

[tires screeching]

[panting]

-[TV playing] -[heavy breathing]

[object rattling]

[coughs]

Give me a cigarette.

No, Meemaw, you know you can't.

You just shoot somebody?

Maybe.

You get to shoot a sumbitch. I get to have smoke.

Bo's dead.

He was sick with something.

He said something real bad got in him down there.

And Cricket had it too.

What's down that mountain?

Cigarette.

[coughs]

[lighter ignites]

[coughing]

What's down there...

[eerie music]

...it ain't the coal.

It's what drives men to dig it.

We gotta keep it caged.

Jesse's alive down there, I can feel it.

Don't you go after him, girl.

There ain't no curse here.

It's just plain greed and sickness.

I'm gonna go get him out.

And then we're all gonna get out.

I know that this is home.

But it ain't worth this.

You've got a responsibility to this land.

I got a responsibility to my family.

[twig snaps]

[heavy breathing]

-[shouting] -[heavy knocking]

What the hell, Cricket? What are you doing?

-It's after me. -What is?

Huntin me down like a goddamn whistle pig.

You calm down, there ain't nothing there.

[gasping] You look.

[panting]

You're pie-eyed is all.

See?

[heavy breathing]

Is it Raleigh after you?

The Yankee in the coat?

It ain't no Yankee.

It ain't a man at all.

You're talking crazy.

Ain't you got a gun in here?

It's in the truck.

[eerie music]

[heavy breathing]

[roof creaking]

[footsteps approaching]

[dishes rattling]

Just some critter.

[sobbing]

[door creaking]

Cricket?

Meemaw.

Meemaw.

[loud thump]

[heavy breathing]

[door creaks]

[sniffling]

[breathing heavily]

Come on out, Cricket.

Not with that booger I ain't.

There ain't no booger.

Grow a fucking sack, man.

[heavy breathing]

Come on.

I'mma get you cleaned up.

Get a little coffee in you, my God.

What?

Run.

[eerie music]

[growling]

[KC gasps]

[roars]

[splatters]

[hand thuds]

-[screaming] -[splatters]

[panting]

-[door rattles] -[panting]

-[door rattles] -[screaming]

-[door bursts open] -[screaming]

[panting]

[screaming]

[shattering]

[panting]

[roars]

-[heavy impact] -[body falls]

Git.

-[heavy impact] -[tank falls]

[KC] Hey!

[glass breaks]

[roars]

[tires screeching]

[growling]

[heavy impact]

[heavy breathing]

[panting]

-[cocking gun] -[panting]

[growls]

[growls]

[growls]

[gun firing]

[panting]

Oh, Jesus, meemaw.

No, no, no, no, no, no,

Come on. You're okay, you're okay,

[hisses]

I'll get the spare.

You're okay, you're okay, you're okay.

-Come on. -[rattling]

[Josie grunts in pain]

Come on.

You piece of shit come on.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

[gasping]

That's good!

That's good, Meemaw.

That's right.

Just breathe.

Just breathe.

[sizzling]

[cocking gun]

[gun firing]

[phone ling ringing]

-[Doc] Hey, hello. -Doc, it's KC.

[Doc] This here's Doc and Tipper's message machine.

-Go on and leave us one then. -[beeps]

Doc, it's KC, you give me a call back as soon as you can.

[phone hangs up]

[panting]

[coughs]

[heavy breathing]

[screaming]

[phone ringing]

Doc, Doc, is that you?

Is Chase all right?

[muffled heavy breathing]

Doc?

[over phone] Mrs. Scarbro, do you know who I am?

You killed Bo...

[over phone] Bo Brown carried the flame.

He did not have the will to become it.

Go to hell.

[Chase] Ma?

Chase?

You son of a bitch, what do you want?

[over phone] You know.

Where?

[over phone] You know that, too.

[sustained beep]

[car approaching]

[explosion]

[glass breaks]

♪ And then ♪

-♪ I'm born to die ♪ -[shotgun loads]

♪ To lay days high enough ♪

♪ And my ♪

[lightning strikes]

♪ Life happens here in my ♪

♪ Into a world ♪

♪ Unknown ♪

[thunder rumbles]

Let him go.

[wheezing]

The gun...

[heavy breathing]

Come.

You let go my Mama!

Stop it, stop it.

Chase, no, you be good.

You already took our land, you took our home.

Just let us go.

Don't you want to see your Jesse again?

Where is he?

We are...

family.

And family must be united.

[grunts heavily]

What the fuck?

[screaming]

Run, Chase!

[screaming]

[gun firing]

-[bullet impact] -[body thuds]

[birds chirping]

You got any regrets?

Yeah, I got my share.

But I guess you ain't one of them.

[panting]

[lighter ignites]

[panting]

[lighter ignites]

[distant rumbling]

[panting]

Chase?

[distant rumbling]

Chase!

[heavy breathing over walkie-talkie]

Jesse?

Hold on, okay?

[walkie-talkie beeps]

[sparkler ignites]

[grunts]

[grunts]

[grunts]

Stay back.

[grunts]

I said stay fucking back.

[roars]

[roars]

[roars]

[sparkler falls]

[scuffling]

[roars]

[scuffling]

[screaming]

[heavy impact]

[grunts]

[jackhammer rattles]

[screaming]

[jackhammer drills]

[screaming]

[screaming]

[jackhammer drills]

[screaming]

[roars]

[roars]

[jackhammer drills]

[screaming]

[gasping]

[squelching]

[grunting]

Chase.

I found Daddy.

[jackhammer starts]

KC.

[gasping]

I'm sorry.

For what I've done.

We should have just gone.

There ain't no leavin it.

Oh, come on.

You gotta try.

[panting]

Time to go, little man.

Jesse...

[grunting]

[roars]

Go.

[panting]

[grunts]

Go!

[heavy grunting]

To hell with you!

[screaming]

[roars]

[grunting]

Go.

[coughing]

[coughing]

[gasping]

[heavy breathing]

[TV Announcer] There was a huge explosion.

There's been a lot of dynamite involved.

[somber guitar music]

[Lawson, on TV] Rest assured, we will continue

to fight for clean coal jobs for Americans

and we will be moving forward with the trout mountain dig

at the soonest viable opportunity.

Jesse?

Fight ain't over yet.

They'll just keep coming again and again.

You're a good girl, KC Scarbro.

Make your family proud.

[sobbing]

[sobbing]

[sobbing continues]

♪ Well you ain't got no life anymore ♪

♪ You stay in a dark coal mine ♪

♪ Working away every day ♪

♪ With your wife and kids on your mind ♪

[coughing]

♪ You wake up in the morning and grab your hard hat ♪

♪ Pray that you make it back home ♪

♪ Your body is aching and you just can't take it ♪

♪ Mining that dark black hole ♪

♪ Dark black coal take my soul ♪

♪ Owe it to you anyways ♪

♪ Just don't let my children become the victims ♪

♪ Of the mountain's evil ways ♪

♪ And you miss being younger ♪

♪ A boy with a hunger ♪

♪ To get far away from this town ♪

♪ You never knew how ♪

♪ Why or when ♪

♪ Just knew that you'd make it somehow ♪

♪ Now 20 years older shoulder to shoulder ♪

♪ The boys who were just like you ♪

♪ Spending their lives underground ♪

♪ Proving their collars are blue ♪

♪ Dark black coal take my soul ♪

♪ Owe it to you anyways ♪

♪ Just don't let my children become the victims ♪

♪ Of the mountain's evil ways ♪

♪ Dark black coal take my soul ♪

♪ Owe it to you anyways ♪

♪ Just don't let my children become the victims ♪

♪ Of the mountain's evil ways ♪

♪ Don't go down ♪

♪ To dig the company's grave ♪

♪ Don't go down ♪

♪ Don't go down that dark hole ♪

[soft music]

♪ Don't go down ♪

♪ Where no love nor light can live ♪

♪ Don't seek your doom beneath the ground ♪

♪ Don't go down that dark hole ♪

[soft music]

♪ Don't go down ♪

♪ And fill your lungs with coal ♪

♪ Wherever you rock and brace of earth ♪

♪ Could cleave you from your soul ♪

♪ Don't take the foreman's dollar ♪

♪ He's just paid you to die ♪

♪ Don't sign the company's papers ♪

♪ Don't go down that dark hole ♪