Thanks for the replies from everyone.
Here is the update.
I used an external keyboard/mouse and monitor. This did work. I can navigate around, click on things, everything seems fine.
Because it has been a while since I worked on this, I zeroed the hard drive & reinstalled the OS so I am starting from a 'clean slate'.
Disconnected the keyboard & monitor, restarted - back to square one.
Upon restart I get the Apple logo with progress wheel. About the time the progress wheel should stop/go-away, the screen goes black.
Anyone have any ideas on this?