Original subtitles

THE MINER'S PRAYER — W. CALVERT

EVERY DAY WHEN WE RISE UP, LORD, WE KNOW THAT ALL TOO WELL.

LET'S JUST OPPOSE ONE, DER HELLSCHEN GRUB'

WE'RE TRYING TO LIVE AS BEST WE CAN

HOW IT WEAVES DEEP IN THE HEART, INTO THE SOUL.

WITH SOOTY FACES AND CALLOUSED HANDS FULL OF CLAY,

LET'S WORK IN THE DARK TUNNELS, BARELY ABLE TO STAND.

WITH WORK AND EFFORT , THE COAL IS MINED

AND WE QUIETLY PLEAD “LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.”

Can you do that?

Hey! There was some shaking back there !

Watch out for the hammer, the thing must hold!

Yeah, don't worry, there's nothing happening.

Oh, crap!

Hey! That's where methane escapes!

Tell John to turn off the generator in .

All men should stop working. Come on!

Methane! Methane! Hurry!

-Come on, go, go! - The mining train is no longer running!

-Hurry up with the curtains! -It's coming, I can smell it!

I've got it! Up with it!

-It's all right now. - Up with the damn thing!

Go, go, go!

-All the way up! - Get over there!

-Nice firm! - It must be tight!

Hurry guys!

-Watch your heads! Shit!

I've got the site! You've gotta get down there! Let's go!

Go, go, go!

I think it's over.

Ok

All right, men. Is everyone okay?

Good job, guys.

Is everything okay?

The weather speed is good, it is rising again.

Our Father, who you are in heaven

-Good job John, good job. - Hallowed be your name.

Give us our daily bread today;

And forgive us our debt, just as we forgive our debtors.

For thine is the kingdom and power and the glory for eternity.

It's all good.

We're sitting here and going around in circles.

None of us have a reasonable suggestion.

-We need a solution. - We should vote.

I can use it to pay my bills, do you understand?

And I don't care what my brother finds down there .

-I'm sorry, John. -Yes.

I need the salary, I can't lose my job.

We need to provide for all our families, you know?

I need the job too, okay? We all need that.

Paycheck gets you crap

If you die two miles underground, Kenny.

There is more methane in our mine than in any other mine here.

When you call MSHA

And they come here and look at the damn mine

Do they shut everything down, methane or not!

And what should he do then?

Smitty, what are you going to do? Tiny, what's up with you?

-Shit, there's nothing else to do here. - The mine is a time bomb, Kenny!

And all of us are sitting right in the middle of them.

-God will protect us. -JESUS LOVES YOU.

-BUT I'M HIS FAVORITE. -God won't protect us in hell!

You've all seen it. layer by layer.

It's getting worse and worse, bigger and bigger.

Zeke, if I die underground

Will my family receive the insurance sum.

Me up here without a job... Yes, man, I'm worthless there.

Well, men, the sump pump in this section doesn't make it anymore. Ok?

And when it fails, we drown. Do you want to add this to the list?

On to the list with everything else crap?

I'm still standing here, for 15 years.

I'm not afraid, and neither should you.

What kind of logic is that , Ken?

Everyone who wants to keep digging for coal says “Yes!”

Yes

Yes

-Yes. -Yes.

Yes

Yes

Yes

So

Kenny.

Ryan shouldn't go down there with us.

-Have a good evening. -What my boy is doing

-Don't give a damn about you, big brother! -Hey, hey, hey!

-Calm down. -Take it easy.

Come on, look at me! We've voted, okay?

We're still working. We're going to provide for our families. Yes?

Now we're going into town, having a few drinks.

And since John doesn't drink, you're going to pay, boy. Ok?

-What are you saying, huh? -Yes!

Do you feel like it? Come on, men!

Let's celebrate properly!

MINE 9

There is our grill master.

Hi, church lady. I'm sorry I'm late.

How was the service?

-It was good. -Yes?

-Yes. - You'll get dirty from the money.

I won't get dirty from the money. The pastor asked about you, you know?

Oh really?

Was he asking about my soul or another donation?

Be nice.

I wish you would let me take that thing off.

-Okay, honey. - In the next life.

Go say hello.

-Say hello. -Yes, ma'am.

Do you also want to become a miner?

Do you know what? Pay close attention at school.

Let's see what you achieve then. What does that sound like?

Hey, go to the other and enjoy your party.

A football helmet suits boy better than a safety helmet.

Yes, I think so.

Morning, Uncle Zeke.

You leave the “Uncle Zeke” when we're in the mine, okay?

Yes, sir, yes.

That down there isn't like the first day in kindergarten.

I hope your boots are waterproof.

This mine is far deeper below ground than the water level is.

The water level was what?

This is the lowest point, , where the water is.

It's geology.

A stream is no deeper than 18 meters.

Rivers, lakes, springs no deeper than 60 meters.

We mine coal at a depth of 600 meters.

-So we're dealing with water. -Okay. I'm still confused.

I've already told him that. I've told you three or four times.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, come on.

I don't want to hear any of this complacent nonsense.

Don't make me look like an idiot .

I don't want to be here with you right now.

-I've had it with your crap. -I made it all possible for you!

Don't touch me, have had enough of your crap!

Come back, boy! Boy!

Hey, he's 18, okay?

-Okay? -Yes, he is 18!

-We were both at war when we were 18, John! - I know, Kenny.

I guess the boy has your blood in him.

Now sit down.

I told you not to drink before your shift, Kenny.

That's what I said.

-Stop! Ryan! -What then?

That didn't have to be the case.

My dad isn't like your parents, Misty.

What don't you understand about that?

I don't have time to wait for you in this damn town.

I can't go with you either.

I don't even have gas money, you know ?

Happy birthday, Russell.

-What do you say, Russell? - Thank you!

Grace.

Hi

Hi, Susie.

Hi

Are you aware of class reunion ?

Yes

Are you going?

Have a good day, Teresa.

You and “Salvia” would be better off watching my husband .

Have a nice day!

Shame on you Daniel, that you're going down there again.

You should all be ashamed!

I won't stay here for another minute !

Russell, get to the car now. Let's go!

Two hours, men. Two more hours.

-Teresa, wait. -What is it?

The pump on nine gives up the ghost.

I'm going to initiate work order .

Work assignments mean crap here, Teresa, everybody knows that.

We don't even have the mine defense.

You mine too little coal, therefore the savings.

What nonsense!

We mine more god damn coal than the other mines in the area!

I'm sorry

But there's more methane in the old mine than I've seen in 30 years.

-Where is the outdoor foreman? -Still sick.

And not a substitute?

When these pumps fail, and they will

My men will drown, two miles underground.

If they don't burn down there first.

What do you want to do?

Report it to MSHA?

What happens when I call them?

What happens when they show up here?

They close the mine, and we're all screwed.

-Is that what you want? - Everyone on your crew starts on time.

Did you understand?

I've got it.

I am aware

that you could close the mine due to from my call.

And my men aren't of the same opinion, hear me?

But if something were to happen, , there would be no mine defense.

We also don't have a foreman.

Apparently the company is more interested in its coal reserves

and the machines as for his miners.

Okay, well, we'll take care of the case first Monday morning.

No, I'm calling to have you help us today, not Monday!

I understand you

but we can't just close a mine at your request

without having checked them.

My men are going into this mine today, do you understand?

I'm aware of that, but it'll have to wait until Monday morning.

Yes, sir. Thank you so much.

It's all right.

Hey! Boy!

Cleats 23, John.

-It's getting worse and worse. -Yes, I remember that.

Hey, kid.

Look, has your dad ever told you about Matt and Ben Fellows?

No

He didn't say anything?

No, he didn't say anything.

Oh, well, they both worked in this mine here back then .

Good guys, but well, since you're underground for the first time

I thought you should know something about them.

-Why? -Why?

When Matt and Ben spent the first eight days down here

They came out of here after every shift and said they had seen something

And it was on... What was it? The ninth... the ninth day?

On the ninth day, they said:

“Do you ever come back down here guys, you're going to die.”

Stop

Were they downstairs again?

Hey Daniel!

- Dad, did they come down here again? -Daniel will tell you in a minute.

Well, they had no choice. They needed work, right?

Yes, but then we said, “Hey, if you make it 10 days

That's fine then.”

Yes, in moments like this, , you're eye to eye with God.

Yes, or with Satan himself.

What happened then?

What happened to them?

Should I tell him?

The tunnel collapsed.

Both boys were dead.

One second they're standing here and the next they were dead.

Mining coal is risky, boy.

You must have your husband down here. Understood?

Yes, sir.

The story of the two boys, , who worked and died down here...

That was a lie. No offense!

All men start hallucinating when they inhale methane.

Heaven, hell, angels, demons, I know men who have seen it all.

Bergmann, Bergmann, has its bright light with it.

Works in a mine shaft, dark as night.

What are you doing before you get back in?

I'm asking the Lord, , if he'll let me come out again.

-Yes, wait for the methane, boy! -And again!

Bergmann, Bergmann, has its bright light with it.

Works in a mine shaft, dark as night.

What are you doing before you get back in?

I'm asking the Lord, , if he'll let me come out again.

Hey Ryan.

Now listen to me.

You need to know the escape routes out of here, in case anything happens.

Okay, yes.

This is the entire mine.

North side, south side.

-You get in here from three points. -Yes.

Well, the primary escape route

The route we drove in is via the entrance rails.

The second escape route is through the mine ventilator at the top,

-along the conveyor belt. - On the band.

The band. It's right here. The conveyor belt runs this way.

Ok

Well, if all of that doesn't work, swing your ass over here.

-That's the main northern chamber. -Sir... sir.

Right here, here is the northern main chamber.

-Northern main chamber. -There is an escape chamber there.

-There's air, tools, everything like that. -An escape room?

-Chamber. The escape chamber. chamber.

Your daddy says “safety coffin.”

-Why safety coffin? security coffin.

Well, because the cursed thing is in the shape of a damn coffin.

-Okay? -Yes.

And if you need it, , you're probably already dead.

But when poop is vaping,

Then I guarantee you, they call it the “escape chamber.”

Hey Listen carefully.

I've been doing this for almost 30 years.

Your family worked underground for two centuries.

-Yes. -It'll be all right, boy.

-Yes. -Okay.

And now Daniel, , shows you how to attach the rock anchor.

Yes, sir.

Now turn it off!

Yo, hey!

Turn it off! Turn off!

Hey, yo!

Do we want to slowly reverse or what?

No, we still need three full loads of today.

Could also be smaller loads, if necessary.

And don't drop so much coal next to it!

Screw on the damn money!

-The dust will kill us! -Yes, you're right.

Tiny, you have to fix the dust suppression system now.

And wet us before we go down in flames.

Yes, sir, it's my turn.

Have a look here.

-This is the plate, okay? -Yes, okay, good.

Do you see this here? That is... Hey, focus

- or you'll hurt yourself down here. Yes? -Yes.

As a result, mines don't fall on our heads.

Drill a hole, put in plate and secure the thing. Understood?

Yes, yes, sure.

Come on up!

Get up! Only the screw came out again!

-Come on up! -Yes.

Get used to it, happens all the time.

-Shit! -Hey, breathe in!

-Is everything okay here? -Yes, yes, everything is okay here.

Fix that. If you need help, just ask.

-Hey, Rooster! -Yo!

Start the machine. Minor change of plan:

-We'll continue at the first entrance. -Okay!

Ryan, you're continuing with the walls, come on.

Hey, boss, I'm going to the generator, okay?

-Yes, well, but hurry up. -Yes.

Did you hear that?

It's collapsing, boss!

Go, go! Get out, get out! Hurry!

Dad!

Hey John! We need to get out of here!

Come on, hurry up!

Kenny!

Kenny! Kenny! We need to get out of here!

They're dead! Come on!

Go, go!

Hey! Hey!

Get out of there!

Most dear.

It hit us.

Yes, it really hit us.

Ryan!

Ryan!

Ryan. Ryan.

-Are you okay? - Are you okay, boy.

Is everything okay?

Damn it!

-God saved us. -God saved us, yes?

Well, then thank him for bringing this crap to us!

-We've lost Harper. Tiny -Miller is dead.

-It's okay, boy. -We should pray for the three men.

Very calmly.

-Where is Daniel? - I saw him. It doesn't look good.

-Shit! No! -Hey, I'm on my conscience.

-I'm going to die down here because of you! -Hey! Look, boy!

-Listen carefully! Pull yourself together now! - Stop it now!

Who knows which direction the explosion came from?

I think there was a bang in the tunnel back there .

-I think it was there. -Kenny is right. He's right, but...

My back pointed somewhere towards the mouth hole.

-Yes, I think it popped behind me. -Hey, no matter which path we choose,

We're a long way from the main chambers.

Yes, we are.

-Shit. -Okay.

We'll split up to and find the others, okay?

And when they're dead, we'll put them down, so others can find them later.

We grab their lamps, self-rescuers, dust masks, tools...

Anything we can find and help us get out of here, okay?

Spread out. Let's get started.

-Okay, call for them then! -Hey, men!

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

No, no...

Daniel?

Oh, Tiny.

He's lying there like a newborn baby.

Go ahead.

Our Father, who you are in heaven...

One last luck on.

I'm taking you home, bro.

Your kingdom is coming.

Thy will be done, as it is in heaven on earth.

Give us our daily bread today.

And forgive us our debt, just as we forgive our debtors.

And don't tempt us .

I'm so sorry, man!

Go on, go, go, go.

... but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and power and glory in eternity.

Amen. God bless you, Tiny.

I'm sorry I'm sorry, pal.

Okay, let's go. Get out of here.

What is...?

-What about Daniel and Smitty? -Smitty is over here behind me.

I suggest you leave it there.

All right, collect everything you can find,

And put it in this bag.

If I'm right about explosion and we find the northern chamber

Let's stay there and hope that someone finds us.

Alright, let's go. Be careful, men.

-Everything okay? -Yes.

He was a good guy.

Come on, boy! Go ahead!

Let's go!

There's a rescue rope here.

Can you feel the air?

-Yes, very good. -And keep going.

Look where you're stepping.

-Do you feel that, Zeke? -What then?

The fan is still on.

That's a good sign, little brother, that's good.

Yes

God damn it!

Good grief, the whole damn control panel was destroyed!

And where do we have to go long?

Well, I guess we need another way, John.

Maybe we'll find route to the thoroughfare.

No, no, if there's a fire down here

Then there will definitely be there under the old factory. Come on!

Oh, for god sakes, Kenny, really?

We're screwed anyway, doesn't matter.

John!

What

Don't you dare.

You've been dry for ten years now, do you remember ?

-Yes. -Do you remember?

Yes!

Do you remember how tough that fight was?

Yes

We're getting out of here.

And then what?

Very good

Take it, boy.

You've earned it.

-Guys, I've got something to tell you. -What?

I called MSHA.

Told them we don't have mine defense and that with the methane.

I told them about the pumps, I told them everything.

Shit, then you killed us, we're not getting out of here ourselves.

Teresa would have sent the second shift, , to dig us out.

Then the boys should also put themselves at risk of , yes? Is that what you are like?

-That's what you want, yes? -What do you mean?

I'll tell you what it means.

If MSHA knows that we don't have a mine defense,

Don't send men into a ticking time bomb.

-That's what it means. -What?

By the book, Zeke!

You always do everything according to the damn rules!

-We've voted! -Yes, we have!

We're on our own down here , men.

And if you want to live, , we need to stick together.

Understood, little brother?

John, you grab rescue rope and get us upstairs, understand?

Yes, sir. Come on, Kenny.

-Go on and on. -Okay, boss.

Number 9, do you hear me?

Number 9, do you hear me?

Damn it!

NORTHERN CHAMBERS

MSHA, Mine Safety and Health.

Hi, it's Teresa Lang, Salvia mine manager.

-This is an emergency. - I'll forward it.

The electricity!

We need to slow down.

I can't breathe.

Oh, there's smoke coming, men. Get out of here, there's smoke coming!

-Go, go! Go, go! - Go, go!

Raise the curtain! Raise the curtain!

Raise the curtain!

Raise the curtain! Up with it!

Nice firm! Just like that!

Cover the hole there, covers the hole!

Get in there!

Hey Ryan. Grab your hammer.

Hit the rock anchors three times. Okay?

Yes

Then wait a few seconds, hit it again.

You do that over and over again.

It's unlikely but they might hear us up there.

-Where? Right here? - Right on the plate.

OK.

Wait a minute, listen.

Okay, go ahead.

We need help!

-Hey! Help! -Listen, listen!

Save yourself that. We need every bit of air here.

-Ryan. Ryan, look at me. -Oh god.

Mine, coal mine.

-Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, take a deep breath! coal mine...

Come on, take a deep breath... Breathe

-Coal mine. -Breathe.

Oh God, I can't anymore!

coal mine.

coal mine.

-John! -I don't want to die here.

- James Elroy on the phone. Mr. Elroy.

I'm reporting a possible methane explosion underground at Salvia Mine 9.

The power is off and the tracking system is not working.

-Where did the explosion come from? - It must come from the old factory.

We don't have a mine defense and of the foreman called in sick.

I want you to stop all efforts, understand?

They won't do anything!

You're waiting there, we'll tell you what's happening when and where!

Yes, sir.

-Smoke! - Go on, put on your self-rescuers.

The curtain is useless.

I can't breathe.

-How does that work? - Put that in.

Breathe, breathe!

Good, good

Okay, men, listen up.

From now on , no one is going to take off their mask.

OK? No talking, nothing at all, the gas can kill you in seconds.

All right?

We have less than an hour of oxygen.

-Just an hour? -It's getting angry down here, gentlemen.

-An hour? - Exactly.

-Let's go on. - An hour. Just an hour.

We can do that.

An hour, a ridiculous hour. That's when we're dead.

An hour, just an hour.

Pit phone!

Unit two on surface, unit two on surface, do you hear me?

I understand, Unit Two. How many are you down there?

Four!

We're four miners. I repeat: Four!

We're on our way to the northern main chamber in the tunnel system.

-We're 50 meters above the... - Get off!

It hurts so bad!

Pull him back! The leg, the leg!

Calm down, John.

-Are you okay? - Yes, yes.

There is a weather door.

Don't look! Don't look!

Ryan, you're helping John!

Yes, yes, sir.

We must try to get through this weather door.

Kenny!

Kenny!

There was a methane explosion in mine 9.

Four of the nine miners are caught two miles underground.

They've been wearing their self-rescuers for a good 30 minutes now.

I won't let get any worse happening here.

We're going to get these men out of there, Teresa, I promise you, okay?

-Do you have dynamite around here? - There are six poles in the shed.

Okay, good. Leave them there for now.

How low can we get with the communication line?

Two miles.

Okay, we'll go down there, when it's safe, all right?

You only have 30 minutes of oxygen left!

If we're wrong, we won't lose nine men, but 12.

I lost eleven men once when the same thing happened in .

Hey! Kenny!

Stop! Stop it!

It's okay, little brother.

It's okay, John. You're okay John, it's okay.

We don't have a choice, is the only way out of here.

On three. One, two...

John!

-John! -John!

Listen to me! John is dead!

We need to get through this weather door. Everything is flooded here.

So pay attention! One, two, three!

Everyone ready?

Ok

Okay okay okay I've got you, I've got you.

Don't worry, it's okay. I've got you.

Ok

The water flows out here. We must move on.

-Come on, men, we've got to go. - It's John! It's John!

No, John is dead. John is dead.

-Let's go. - No!

We must move on. Right away. is coming!

I'm fine. Everything is great.

-Are you okay? -Yes, it's all good.

Well then, one by one.

And be careful with the communication line.

Go on, go on.

Is everything okay back there?

Good

12% oxygen, 15% methane.

Come on up.

Hey, this is the escape room.

Damn it! They don't work!

-It's all useless! -What's up?

They're empty.

No oxygen for us.

Hello? Hello?

Unit two on the surface.

Does anyone hear me?

Unit two on the surface. I repeat:

Unit two on the surface.

Come on!

Come on!

We need help! We need help! Come on now!

Damn it!

It is dead.

Boy...

Sorry for bringing you down here.

Keep breathing. Breathe as long as you can.

That's all you need to do.

Lie down.

-It's okay. Dad...

It's okay. Get some rest.

Oh my god...

Dad?

Dad? Dad!

All men start hallucinating when they inhale methane.

Heaven, hell, angels, demons, I know men who have seen it all.

Zeke?

Zeke, is that you?

-Zeke, it's me, Daniel. -Daniel?

Yes, it's me, it's me!

What happened?

I came up here to the chamber, then everything suddenly collapsed.

Daniel!

We're not going to be able to move these boulders.

It's funny, Zeke. I had a dream.

I had a dream that you were the one who saved me.

Do you still have air in there?

Yes

Yes, I've got breath, but I'm losing a lot of blood here.

-And I can't feel my arm. -We have, I don't know

Maybe five or ten more minutes of oxygen, Daniel.

Five or ten...

Five...

Do you see a telephone, Daniel?

I think a few meters away was one.

Zeke.

I'm...

... wants you to know something, man.

You've always been a tough guy.

I need you to do me a favor, man.

I want you to cut off my damn arm.

So I can help get us out of here.

I know one of you has a saw, okay?

-So do it. -What?

Daniel, you can't think clearly.

Yes I'm not staying here and listening to you die

And watch me bleed to death

If only I could get out of here, to help in any way!

You've gotta do it, man!

I'm counting to three!

Okay, okay. I'm counting to three, okay?

And you, you cut the damn thing off !

-No, no, Ryan! -He says it's our only chance.

-He's talking crazy. -He's our only chance. Ok?

But he'll bleed to death first!

Hey, hey!

Wait a minute, man, wait!

Oh, my goodness, please.

Please get me out of here! Please help me.

Please help me!

You're coming to your mom, boy.

Will you give me a sticker?

Give me a sticker for the helmet, boy. I love you.

Give your mommy a hug for me, okay?

Daniel!

Kenny? Do you hear me?

-We'll free you now. -Okay, let's do it on three!

Ok

All right, let's go.

One

Two

Three!

Come on up, Uncle Zeke.

Wait! Wait, wait, wait! Wait, wait!

I might be able to get out already.

Damn crap.

-Main chamber! - They're on their way. How many are you?

We're trapped! You must blow up the boulder!

Dynamite!

Right away!

Northeast wall.

You must blow them up with dynamite!

Dynamite!

Dyna...

12% oxygen, 18% methane.

Three cleats and we measure again.

-Keep coming. Keep coming. -Sure, boss.

Mr. Elroy?

Mr. Elroy, Can you hear me?

-I can hear you. Teresa? - You must blow up the wall.

She collapsed and the men are trapped.

I've got dynamite and I'm coming down to you.

No!

They stay on the surface.

I'm coming down now, right now!

We need to get back.

Damn it!

-Teresa? -Elroy.

Elroy!

-Teresa! - You must go into the northeast tunnel.

Get back upstairs!

-Let's go! - Let's go!

-Northeast tunnel, let's go! Hurry!

Kenny.

Kenny...

Tell Grace

that I found my way to faith through them.

Come on.

It must be here!

Give me the rods. Just a pound.

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Is anyone in there?

In ten seconds , we'll blow up the wall.

Move away from the wall.

Ten

Nine.

Eight

seven

Six

Five

Four

Three

We need more time!

Hey

Hi Thank you so much

Hi, Grace.

-Hi. -How are you?

-Good. It's good to see you. - You too.

How are you, Daniel?

How are you today, huh?

Hey!

-Am I not getting a hug? -Hi, Grace. Hi

-Hey. Are you eating enough too? -Yes, sure, yes.

You're not even coming to visit me anymore.

Yeah, well, been busy since we've been living on this farm.

Are you warm?

Does Susie take care of you?

-Hey. -Hey.

-Oh, it's nice, but I don't need anything. -Okay.

-I'm going to my son. -Okay, good.

-Oh, hi, dad. boy.

Yes

-Everything okay? -Yes.

Listen up here.

Danny and I want to thank you so much for coming.

It is a very special day for us. Russell's tenth birthday.

I know it's hard.

We'll never forget those, , who aren't with us today.

The one we've lost.

Bergmann, Bergmann, has its bright light with it.

Works in a mine shaft, dark as night.

What do you do before you get back in? I ask the Lord...

God...

... whether he'll let me get out again.

Bergmann, Bergmann, has its bright light with it.

Works in a mine shaft, dark as night.

What are you doing before you enter again?

I'm asking the Lord, , if he'll let me come out again.

Bergmann, Bergmann, has its bright light with it.

Works in a mine shaft, dark as night.

What are you doing before you enter again?

I'm asking the Lord, , if he'll let me come out again.

Stevie Lowney. For about 20 years.

I'm Travis Hurly.

I've been working underground for 7.5 years.

David Beverly. It will soon be 20 years.

Cooke. I've worked in coal mines for 42 years.

My name is Dan Justice and I've been working in coal mines for 45 years.

Patrick Boggs. I've been a miner for 13 years.

My name is Nathaniel Stacey.

I've been working underground for 10 months.

My dad was a miner. I then followed in his footsteps.

It is a family tradition.

It's in my blood.

My dad did that too.

As I said before, I was born there.

It's a lifestyle that I was born into

and I accepted it.

Real miners always do their job, do what they have to do

and are always there for each other, come what may.

-There aren't many of us anymore. -That's right.

It is a way of life.

It's in my blood. Love it.

The job is dirty and dangerous, but it pays the bills.

He works six days a week and I work six, sometimes seven.

And we're always here 13 to 15 hours a day

So you don't have family life. We must fight for it

Spend an hour or two with the family.

It's really exhausting for the body.

It is so time-consuming.

You spend more time here than with your family.

You spend ten or twelve hours a day here .

A few hours with the family,

Then it's time to go to bed, continues the next day.

These are your best friends.

You work and talk together.

You spend more time with them than with your own family.

You can imagine what kind of connection you have

and what people mean to .

No matter what it is, they'll help you. All you have to do is ask.

-That's right. -You call and someone will come.

He won't run away, but to you.

When I'm underground, I know I get help when I need it.

They're there. They don't get angry.

They help me and I do the same for them.

It's my family.

It's harder than many people think.

You get up — in many jobs you work five, six days a week —

But here you're three or four kilometers underground

and I don't know whether you see daylight every day.

That's how the day goes.

Lots of people work somewhere in the office

and have no worries or anything.

And you never really know underground. Anything can happen there.

Where I lived back then, exploded the UB mine.

That was six kilometers from my house.

29 men were killed.

I knew 90% of them.

It is simply dangerous. Everyone has to watch out for everyone.

When you start , you either love it or you hate it.

That's really all I know.