Thunder Road

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Each year, the millions of gallons | of illegal whisky

manufactured | in the south-eastern United States

represents millions of dollars in taxes | lost to the American people.

The A & TTU, in their continuing | service to their country,

have within one year captured | over 10,000 stills

and impounded over 3,000 of the powerful | vehicles used by the transporters -

those wild and reckless men | who transport illegal whisky

from its source to its point of distribution.

This is the story of a transporter | and his opposite number -

an agent of the US Treasury.

- Raider One calling Raider Base. | - Go ahead, Raider One.

This one's gone on. | Lost him and he's loaded.

He's driving a 1950 Ford two-door coupe. | He's got a racing mill under his hood.

- What licence? | - Never mind that.

I'll bring you his plate - | it's hanging on our car.

- The kingpin again? | - That's right. A real stampeder.

Over and out.

His luck can't hold out forever.

Yeah, Mike. We got time on our side. | Let's head back to the barn.

Oh, let me tell the story

I can tell it all

About the whippoorwill | who ran illegal alcohol

His daddy made the whisky

The son he drove the load

And when his engine roared | they called the highway Thunder Road

Sometimes into Asheville

Sometimes Memphis town

The Revenuers chased him, | but they couldn't run him down

Each time they thought they had him, | his engine would explode

And he'd go by like they | were standing still on Thunder Road

Thunder, Thunder | Over Thunder Road

Thunder was his engine | and white lightning was his load

Moonshine, moonshine | To quench the devil's thirst

The law they never got him

Cos the devil got him first

- You got a new car. | - Repaint job.

- Hi, Robin. | - Hi, Roxy.

New bumper. | Must have been a close one.

It was pretty close.

That was a good idea of yours | putting that drop lever on.

There's a Treasury agent | with three bumpers hanging on his car.

- Whose car is that? Niles Penland? | - He brought some stuff up for Mom.

- Coming to the dance tomorrow, Luke? | - Not tomorrow. I'll be in Memphis.

- But Robin will keep you company. | - You have to high-speed 'em?

Yeah. I pushed her hard, | so look everything over good.

That right rear tyre's frayed. | Change that. Keep a list.

Don't fuss. I reckon I know | as much about this car as you do.

You know more about it, | but I have to sit in it.

- How's your papa, Niles? | - He's still got the misery in his legs.

I think it's that poison-oak salve | he's been using.

- Hi, Luke. How's it going? | - Pretty fair.

- You loaded? | - Yeah. For Knoxville.

How about giving Roxy a tote back?

Lt'd be a purdee pleasure. Come on, Roxy.

You take it easy, Niles.

Watch him, Roxy. | You gotta watch him every minute.

- Where's Papa? | - Up the hill.

Why don't you buy yourself | some new clothes, Ma?

You don't have to dress | like you're going to a funeral.

The money you make | might as well be counterfeit.

If I buy anything I'd like to, | the news'll be all round.

Somebody will ask me where I got it. | You know that.

Co on and get some sleep.

I have to make it real early in the morning. | If I'm not up by six, give me a shake.

Robin.

Cood food, good meat, | it's getting late, let's eat.

Now get up and do it right.

Heavenly Father, we thank thee | for the gifts we are about to receive.

Yes? This is her.

What?

Thank you for calling, Roxanna.

Niles Penland was ambushed and killed | last night outside of Knoxville.

Poor Mr Penland. He worshipped that boy.

You think the Revenuers | have started that kind of stuff?

No, they wouldn't do it. Never have.

I'd better go up and talk to Papa.

Son.

Hey, Papa.

- Well, son? | - Niles Penland finally bought it last night.

Cot ambushed and killed | down on the Knoxville road.

So it begins.

Seen a corpse bird yesterday.

First one I seen in years. | Knew it was an ill omen.

I peg the guilt squarely on Mr Kogan.

Exactly who is this Kogan fellow, Papa?

Oh, Mr Kogan is a man with a big idea.

Wants to combine all the stills | in the valley, take all our makings.

Claims he's got territory round Memphis | and north Tennessee wrapped up now.

Says he'll guarantee us 4,000 a week.

You go on driving, you get the same pay | as you do now - maybe more.

Well, he's free with his money.

Maybe not so free either.

When he pays, he knows all the stills, | our stash locations, the retailers.

He come prepared. Seemed to know who | the folks were making moon around here.

After he left me, he talked to the Penlands, | Buchanans, the Couges.

Like me, they all said they'd let him know.

- What do you make of it? | - It's a shade harder than what I think.

Turning into the same rimption | they had in Phoenix City.

I don't think we oughta mess | with Mr Kogan's proposition.

You might be right.

While I draw this fleeting breath

When my eyes shall close in death

When I rise to worlds unknown

See thee on thy judgment throne

Rock of ages, cleft for me

Let me hide myself in thee

Let us pray.

I ask your blessings | on all these sinful sheep

who are gathered under your roof today | to worship thee.

And, Lord, be merciful | to one of our recent departed ones -

Niles Penland, son of Jessie Penland.

And, O Lord, | bless the men of this congregation

who were unable to attend | because of pressing business. Amen.

Amen.

And now let's sing hymn 297.

There ain't no point | in making a long speech.

Niles Penland's dead.

If you'd get rid of that plug, Elmo, maybe | we could understand what you're saying.

I was saying there ain't no call | to make a long speech.

Niles Penland's dead, | but he may not be the last one.

It appears that this fellow Kogan | is out to put us in his pocket -

no matter how rough he has to make it.

And the Revenue boys are tightening up.

Now, I want some opinions | as to what we oughta do.

What does Luke think | is the best thing to do?

He'd fight Kogan till hell freezes over.

How should we go about it?

Well, Luke and me has discussed it | a good bit.

We'd start by rechecking every man who's | hauling or making moon in the valley -

still men, watchers, walkers and catchers.

When we were | absolutely sure of our men,

we'd move every still to a scared location, | buy new transporter cars.

And we'd have the drivers change their | road approach to every delivery point,

carry weapons in every car.

That in itself is a violation,

but Mr Kogan intends to shoot us | off the road, if he has to.

Seems to me you're gonna | have to come to this eventually.

Unless you're gonna fight a tornado | with a peach-tree switch.

You're talking | about spending a lot of money.

Stacey, you make as much money as us.

If your folks'd dig up | the cash they've got buried,

you could equip a whole fleet.

Wait! No offence, Vernon, but maybe | your son is responsible for this grief.

He come out of the service with | a good record and went back to driving.

But he's got a machine-gunner's outlook | and death don't faze him much.

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