The Molly Maguires

-(INDISTINCT CHATTERING) -(FIDDLING CONTINUES)

Lagen

Interested in a run of the cards?

Nothing against it.

It's penny poker, nickel on a payout.

Nothing like music to help you forget the day's troubles.

He's out of tune.

Poor old scut, can't tell the difference.

He's deaf as a post since a load of coal fell on him in '56.

You visiting here?

-l'm looking for a job. -Tens.

-In the mines? -Right.

From your hands, I'd say you never dug coal.

-Right again. -Tens bets a nickel.

-It's mine. Won the nickel. -Beats me.

It's your deal.

It's terrible hard work down there.

Not the sort of work a man generally comes seeking with hands like yours.

They're the only hands I've got.

You're cheating.

You're cheating.

-You're mistaken. -I saw you too.

Dealing from the bottom of the deck.

-l'd have dealt myself a better hand. -You cheated.

Well, there's no need for the false accusations if it's a brawl you want.

Which one of you do I get?

Oh!

Sorry I had to hit you so hard.

It was important to make it look real. More sympathy for you.

Easier for them to accept you. Nothing personal.

Well, you've made a good start.

The fight was a clever idea.

They'll respect you now.

About all they do respect around here is a blow on a hard head.

This gang is crazy, McParlan. They lost a strike,

and they think they can win what they lost with gunpowder.

That's not crazy, it's only Irish.

I don't find it amusing.

WeII,

you're Welsh, Captain.

Now,

we know there is an organization,

the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Nothing wrong. They're legal. The Irish looking after their own.

But inside them there's another bunch, see,

using the Hibernians as cover,

calling themselves the Molly Maguires

after some gang of cutthroats back in Ireland.

They're all over the coalfields.

I sent in agents at other mines, had two found at the bottom of shafts

and one never found at all.

It's your turn here.

I'll do the job for you.

The leaders, that's who I want.

I think I know who they are.

I think they're here, in this very town.

But thinking's not enough. I got to get them red-handed.

Oh, you'll have them.

You treat them lightly, you'll end up like my other men.

I didn't volunteer to fail.

I've failed enough in this country already.

The streets haven't exactly been paved with gold for me.

But I've had my fill of empty pockets, Captain.

I'm tired of being at the bottom of the barrel.

I'm tired of always looking up.

I want to look down.

I want the Molly Maguires.

Just bring me the evidence, that's your job.

Get in with them, and bring me enough evidence so we can hang the bastards.

They'll let you out in the morning.

-(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS) -(DOG BARKING)

My satchel.

It was left behind when I was carried out last night.

There's a train leaving in 20 minutes.

Where do I get a room around here?

What do you want?

I'll settle for a room.

Who are you?

I'm looking for work. I need a place to stay.

They told me at the Emerald House you had a room for rent.

-You were the one fighting last night. -I'm not the one who started it.

What's your name?

James McKenna.

It's $1.50 a week, room and board.

Right.

You can smoke in here, but not downstairs.

My father's ailing.

Supper's at 6:00. If you're late, you'll not be served.

Please do your drinking in a saloon.

Excuse me, what's your name?

Miss Mary Raines.

Well, I'll try not to be too much of a burden, Miss Mary Raines.

You'll be paying for it.

I'm looking for work.

-Any experience? -A bit.

-Where are you from? -Here, there.

Well, you look strong enough.

-5:00 tomorrow morning. -5:00.

Make sure you report sober.

Enough now, you're leaving me nothing to wash.

-She's a good girl. -I can see that.

Only one left to me now.

I've buried a wife and two sons. She's all that's left.

-You're still left. -Aye.

When did you first go down in the mines?

Forty-two years ago. First Ireland, and then here.

There's not many last that long.

There's always them that's worse off than you.

I went down first when I was 12, did you know that?

I've done what God intended for me. I'll go to him asking no favor.

I don't believe in going before you're called.

You're prattling too much. -I'm only being polite.

You know what the doctor said. It brings on the coughing.

Eh.

Do you play dominoes?

-Do you play dominoes? -Yes.

I'll tell you, you'd have better luck with the Queen.

-That one's got ambitions. -So have I.

-(MARY STOPS SINGING) -(JAMES CONTINUES)

Here's pasties and tea for your lunch.

Thank you.

The tea will be cold by the time you drink it.

There's no way of keeping it hot.

You needn't have risen this early on my account.

I know, I'm paying for it.

Fire!

Total wages for the week, $3.85. Next!

McKenna. James McKenna.

Aye, McKenna.

Coal mined, 14 cars at 66 cents a car. Total, $9.24.

Deduct

two kegs of powder at $2.50 a keg, five dollars.

Two gallons of oil at 90 cents a gallon, $1.80.

Repair two broken drills, 30 cents.

Pickax, shovel, cap and lantern, $1.90.

Total deductions, $9.

Total wages for the week, 24 cents. Next.

Next.

Frank McAndrew.

McAndrew.

Coal mined, 30 cars at 66 cents a car, $19.80.

Deduct three kegs of powder at $2.50 a keg, $7.50.

Ground rental for a home, $2.

Groceries, $2.80.

Take care of them blisters.

Try rubbing a little grease into them.

I'll try that.

-Ulster, right? -Right.

There's a way an Ulster man has of speaking.

-Have you been long in America? -Long enough.

I've not seen much of America.

Oh, I've been to Philadelphia,

but there's more to it than that, I'm sure.

Have you traveled much in the country?

-A bit. -Doing what?

A little of this, a little of that.

I'm naturally nosy.

Well, you know, we don't often get strangers here.

You might try changing your reception committee.

And what else do we know about this great nation of ours,

the United States of America,

whose 100th birthday we're soon to celebrate?

We know it was founded by exiles,

immigrants, people like many of you here,

who came from across the ocean, seeking a better life.

And our hearts go out to those people.

We identify with them.

For they, too, were far from the land of their birth.

They, too, were scorned,

and exploited,

and subject as you are subject

to the terrible temptation of violence.

And it becomes easy when we think of those people,

to think only of the bloody and violent struggle they made

in order to create this nation.

It's an easy step from there

to the belief that violence is the way

to change bad conditions into good conditions.

An easy step,

and a false one.

Last night, a colliery was attacked by a gang of men.

The watchman was beaten, the mine flooded.

The men escaped without being recognized.

But they left their calling card in the bloody nature of what they did.

They were Molly Maguires.

I've been your priest for six years now.

Have you any notion of how many last rites I've performed

for men killed and crippled,