The Grapes of Wrath Page #10

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TOM:

(from the door)

How about it, Ma?

MA:

I'm ready.

Tom disappears. Ma looks at the earrings, and then at the

contents of the box. She lifts out the letter again and looks

at it. Then, without drama, she drops it into the fire. She

watches it burn. Her eyes are still on the flame as she calls.

MA:

Rosasharn honey! Wake up the chillun.

We're fixin' to leave.

The flame dies down.

In the BACKYARD it is grey dawn. There is a thrill of quiet

excitement as they all stand around the loaded truck, hats

on, putting on coats. The ones missing are Ma, Rosasharn,

the children, and Grampa. Pa is in charge.

PA:

(as Ma comes out of

the cabin)

Where's Grampa? Al, go git him.

GRANMA:

(trying to climb in

the front seat)

I'm gonna sit up front! Somebody

he'p me!

Tom easily lifts her up the step. The two children come

running out of the house, chanting.

RUTHIE AND WINFIELD

Goin' to California! Goin' to

California!

PA:

You kids climb up first, on top.

(all obey as he directs)

Al's gonna drive, Ma. You sit up

there with him and Granma and we'll

swap around later.

GRANMA:

I ain't gonna sit with Grampa!

PA:

Connie, you he'p Rosasharn up there

alongside Ruthie and Winfiel'.

(Looking around)

Where's Grampa?

GRANMA:

(with a cackle)

Where he al'ays is, prob'ly!

PA:

Well, leave him a place, but Noah,

you and John, y'all kinda find

yourself a place--kinda keep it even

all around.

All have obeyed and are aboard but Pa, Tom, and Casy, who is

watching the springs flatten out.

TOM:

Think she'll hold?

CASY:

If she does it'll be a miracle outa

Scripture.

GRAMPA'S VOICE

Lemmo go, gol dang it! Lemmo go, I

tell you!

All turn. In a CORNER OF THE HOUSE Al is pulling Grampa gently

but firmly, the old man holding back, and furious. He flails

feebly at Al, who holds his head out of the way without

effort.

AL:

He wasn't sleepin'. He was settin'

out back a the barn. They's somepin'

wrong with him.

GRAMPA:

Ef you don't let me go--

Al permits Grampa to jerk loose and sit down on the doorstep.

The old man is miserable and frightened and angry, too old

to understand or accept such a violent change in his life.

Tom and Pa come up to him. The others watch solemnly from

their places in the truck.

TOM:

What's the matter, Grampa?

GRAMPA:

(dully, sullenly)

Ain't nothin' the matter. I just

ain't a-goin', that's all.

PA:

What you mean you ain't goin'? We

*got* to go. We got no place to stay.

GRAMPA:

I ain't talkin' about you, I'm talkin'

about me. And I'm a-stayin'. I give

her a good goin' over all night long--

and I'm a-stayin'.

PA:

But you can't *do* that, Grampa.

This here land is goin' under the

tractor. We *all* got to git out.

GRAMPA:

All but me! I'm a-stayin'.

TOM:

How 'bout Granma?

GRAMPA:

(fiercely)

Take her with you!

MA:

(getting out of the

truck)

But who'd cook for you? How'd you

live?

GRAMPA:

Muley's livin', ain't he? And I'm

*twicet* the man Muley is!

PA:

(on his knee)

Now listen, Grampa. Listen to me,

just a minute.

GRAMPA:

(grimly)

And I ain't gonna listen either. I

tol' you what I'm gonna do.

(Angrily)

And I don't give a hoot in a hollow

if they's oranges and grapes crowdin'

a fella outa bed even, I ain't a-

goin' to California!

(Picking up some dirt)

This here's my country. I b'long

*here*.

(Looking at the dirt)

It ain't no good--

(after a pause)

--but it's mine.

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