I have to say I'm a little surprised that Coal Valley merits a full-time Mountie.
That makes two of us. My original posting was in Cape Fullerton, but that suddenly changed.
Oh. I imagine Coal Valley will be a little quieter for you than a busy shipping port like that.
Wait, you know the place?
Very well. My father's done business in Cape Fullerton for many years.
And what's your father's name?
William Thatcher, the shipping tycoon?
Well, I don't think of him that way, but yes, I suppose he is.
Now it's all making sense.
Miss Thatcher, a week ago I had never even heard of Coal Valley. And while I was planning my trip to Cape Fullerton, I was told I was being re-assigned here. Re-assigned at the request of a very powerful man.
What? That a very wealthy man's daughter may be why I have to eat coal dust for the next God knows how long? I'm absolutely sure that's why I'm here. To keep William Thatcher's princess from stubbing a toe in a town she had no business coming to.
To be candid, sir, I think you're way off base with that remark. And just so we're clear, even if my father did pull strings to get you here, I don't need you. I can take care of my own stubbed toes thank you very much.
You know, on second thought, it's obvious I won't have to be here long because you won't last a month in a town like this.
Well, Constable Thornton, I think you better settle in and get used to a steady diet of coal dust.
Shouldn't you be in school, son?
GGabe
I'm not your son. I'm just walking. It's not crime to walk, is it?
No, but truancy is a crime, young man--
Boy should be in class. Tell me, do you normally allow your students to wander around the streets during school hours?
Gabe was running an errand for me, if you must know.
Yes! School business. Thank you for your concern, constable, but we are perfectly fine.
You're recruiting more miners? You got 'em.
Respectfully, ladies, is this some kind of joke?
No joke, Mr. Gowen. You need workers. We need roofs over our children's heads.
You lost your husbands. What happens to your children if they lose you? Who puts roofs over their heads then?
CMCat Montgomery
Mr. Gowen, we're offering to do this with our eyes open. And we're counting the cost. We have to try. Coal Valley is our home.
All we're asking for is a chance. Everybody knows you still have shafts blocked. Tell us which one you want open. If we have it cleared and timbered between now and the evictions--
You get to stay in your homes? What happens if you don't?
We leave quietly. We'll even give the row houses a proper spring cleaning before we vacate.
You have two weeks. As well, none of the men who work for me may help you. I will not compromise their safety.
...
CSCharles Spurlock
I'm flabbergasted that you agreed to this.
We both know that they won't last more than a week before they quit.
Well, if little miss princess here can give it her best, so can the rest of us.
What do you mean rest of us?
...
CSCharles Spurlock
I'm not sure how to say this but, all the women are going into the mine.
CSCharles Spurlock
No, all the women....They're plannin' on workin' round-the-clock shifts.
Jack! Wait a moment! One of my students, Rosaleen Sullivan, she will not speak, she simply will not say a word. I've been working with her, and I believe she was on the verge of a breakthrough when we saw a man, Wendell Backus--
Slow down for a second. Big city folk rattle a mile a minute. I'm just a country boy who needs to understand this.
I'm concerned for one of my students.
Rosaleen Sullivan who doesn't speak and why do you think Mr. Backus has something to do with that?
When she saw him, he stared at her, and it was like her blood froze. It just happened again. She saw him...and she just crawled back into her shell.
...
