Stallone used to work double shifts in the rainbow mines, but, when his best friend Willis came down with Sparklelung (which is much more terrible than it sounds and generally fatal) he decided to leave the mines and search for a better life in America.
Unfortunately he left alone leaving his girl, Jenny back home. He tries to give her a call whenever he stops to take his hat off.
He's currently looking for work, so one day he can afford to bring Jenny to America and begin a new life.