Hennebeau announces to the miners that new work sites will be opened, but there are fewer of them than teams and the price of a skip is set too low. As anger rumbles, Etienne tries to convince the local residents to set up a solidarity fund. The Maheu family's grandfather is no longer fit for work, putting a severe strain on the already strained family budget. The Maheudes suggest that Etienne come and live with them in exchange for rent, a decision that does not sit well with Catherine.
