Jeff used to work at a shipyard, feeling smothered by the sounds of other people living their lives. He realised that he wanted to go back home to the people he knew - so he returned, and found work picking cotton. But then Mr. Phillips, who owns the land, decides to mechanise the process, and brings in cotton-pickers that can do the same job for much cheaper than the actual people can. Jeff and the other workers are suddenly out of a job and unable to feed their families. The others look to Jeff to see his reaction, since he is their unofficial leader - but Jeff feels uncertain and lost. When he does not say anything, Luther steps up, and warners their employers that if they steal their jobs, the men will respond with violence. Jeff does not agree with this course of action, knowing it to be futile, but he also knows that he will show up anyway with his shotgun and stand with his men out of solidarity. On the following day, when they attempt to resist the machine-picking by firing shots, Mr. Phillips responds by calling law enforcement officials and expelling them from his land. Jeff knows it is all over. He stops Luther from firing at the policemen, and they leave. The men, now unemployed, look to Jeff to decide their next steps. He privately decides to leave them all and return to the shipyard, but does not say so to their faces. Instead, Jeff encourages them to pack their things, and then he starts walking down the road. As he walks towards the shipyard, he is reminded of the history that he shares with his men; one incident especially, when he stayed up three nights in a row with Luther trying to aid his sick mule. He realises that he cannot return to the loneliness of the shipyard, and goes back for his friends. When they ask him where they are going, he replies saying he does not know.