The sequence opens looking down an old logging road. Small saplings lean out over the ruts in the earth, while proud pines stand sentinel as far as can be seen. In the distance, approaching the camera, is a team of horses, drawing a high, canvas-covered, load. The tinkling of harness and rigging are heard and the steam rolling out of the beast’s nostrils is evident. As they near the viewer, the driver, a bald old man with one eye and a scruffy beard, comes into view. He hops from his perch to the ground, his belly flapping under a set of grease-stained long johns, and, taking the reins with him, he directs the mares around a bend in the road with a series of nonsensical interjections.
GEE! HAW! HAW THERE BESS! WHOA NAN! GEE! GEE!
As the wagon passes, it is now apparent that Cletus was riding on the back of it. He disembarks, and begins walking up the road, toward camera, as he holds his axe over his shoulder; a huge tree at his back.
The tag team titles are a few matches away, and there's fresh tracks on the trail. The champs looked pretty impressive at Cyberslam, and no one is going to deny that they’ve been training hard, but there’s many a ship lost within sight of harbour, if you take my meaning.
Cletus raises his axe to strike
Even the strongest tree can be cut down!
The axe connects with the wood and dense thud is heard.
Even the thickest wood can be broken!
Another strike brings a snapping noise.
A third, fourth and fifth, and the tree begins to moan, as the wood bends.
An agonizing cry, an animal in its death throes, is heard and Cletus stops and cocks his ear.
Even the toughest of creatures can be slaughtered.
Cletus turns back to the camera, shards of wood sticking in his beard
Two weeks in a row we walked away and you boys were carried out; that’s a good night for The Logging Crew. You might say that you ain’t scared, but that’s a spoon ye'll sup sorrow with yet.
Big Jim now wanders into frame, covered in blood and holding ragged pieces of freshly butchered meat. His pulp hook is hanging on his shoulder.
And if you want blood boys, that’s fine with us. Only, don’t be surprised if it’s running out of you. See, you shoot a man and he's just a target, but you get him with the pulp hook...you're close enough to smell him.
Jim inhales deeply
Wordlessly, Cletus nods toward the tree. Big Jim puts down the meat with as much care as a mother putting her babe in the cradle. He fetches an axe himself and begins hacking at one side while Cletus chops at the other.
Camera begins to pull back and fade out
Cletus sings as the axes strike home
I landed in New Brunswick in a lumbering country
TWACK! KER-CHUNK!
I's hired to work in the lumber woods on the Sou-West Miramichi.
TWACK! KER-CHUNK!
I's hired to work in the lumber woods where they cut the tall spruce down
TWACK! KER-CHUNK!
While loading teams with yarded logs I received a deadly wound.
The screen goes black and the sound of the tree crashing to the ground is heard.