- [first lines]
- Richard Barras: Well, Fenwick, will the men work tomorrow?
- Robert Fenwick: Not if its to be in Scupper Flats, Mr. Barras.
- [indicating a well-dressed union official]
- Richard Barras: Even against your union?
- Robert Fenwick: The union isn't being asked to work in Scupper Flats. On the other side of that coal seam is a million tons of flood water ready to rush right down on top of us.
- Richard Barras: You don't think I'd take a chance in floodin' me own mine, do you, Fenwick?
- Robert Fenwick: Well, show us the plans of them old workings, then!
- Mrs. Sunley: I once thought I could teach somebody a lesson and it ended with me marrying your father.
- Jenny Sunley: I could marry Joe Gowlan tomorrow just by raising my little finger. But I'm not going to raise it.
- Joe Gowlan: You're going to college are you? Well, I'm going to look after myself, see. Aye, you can smile alright Davey but where is your high-mindedness going to get you? Wasting your time, fighting for the miners? By gum, what an ambition!
- Joe Gowlan: There's only one Joe Gowlan in Tynecastle!
- Davey Fenwick: There's only one Joe Gowlan anywhere...
- Martha Fenwick: Sitting up all night! Stuffing your head with that highfalutin rubbish! You and your scholarships!