The Grapes of Wrath Page #17

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In the foreground, their backs turned, the Joads stand on

and about their truck looking in a long silence at what can

be seen of California from Needles. Their silence is eloquent.

The faces of the Joads are blank with dismay, for this is an

unattractive sight indeed.

PA:

(finally)

There she is, folks--the land a milk

an' honey--California!

CONNIE:

(sullenly)

Well, if *that's* what we come out

here for...

They look at each other in disappointment.

ROSASHARN:

(timidly, to Connie)

Maybe it's nice on the other side.

Them pitchers--them little pos'cards--

they was real pretty.

TOM:

(rallying them)

Aw, sure. This here's jus' a part of

it. Ain't no sense a gettin' scairt

right off.

PA:

Course not. Come on, let's get goin'.

She don't look so tough to me!

The Joads and the landscape are seen again. Then the scene

dissolves to the BANK OF A RIVER. The camp at Needles is on

the bank of the Colorado River, among some willows. We see

the man of the family sitting chest-deep in the shallow

waters, talking, occasionally ducking their heads under,

reveling in this relief. In the background are the towering

mountains.

TOM:

Got that desert yet. Gotta take her

tonight. Take her in the daytime

fella says she'll cut your gizzard

out.

PA:

(to Al)

How's Granma since we got her in the

tent?

AL:

She's off her chump, seems to me.

NOAH:

She's outa her senses, awright. All

night on the truck keep talkin' like

she was talkin' to Grampa.

TOM:

She's jus' wore out, that's all.

PA:

(worriedly)

I shore would like to stop here a

while an' give her some res' but we

on'y got 'bout forty dollars left. I

won't feel right till we're there

an' all workin' an' a little money

comin' in.

NOAH:

(lazily, after a

silence)

Like to jus' stay here myself. Like

to lay here forever. Never get hungry

an' never get sad. Lay in the water

all life long, lazy as a brood sow

in the mud.

TOM:

(looking up at the

mountains)

Never seen such tough mountains.

This here's a murder country, just

the *bones* of a country.

(Thoughtfully)

Wonder if we'll ever get in a place

where folks can live 'thout fightin'

hard scrabble an' rock. Sometimes

you get to thinkin' they *ain't* no

such country.

They look up as a man and his grown son stand on the bank.

MAN:

How's the swimmin'?

TOM:

Dunno. We ain't tried none. Sure

feels good to set here, though.

MAN:

Mind if we come in an' set?

TOM:

She ain't our river. But we'll len'

you a little piece of her.

They start to shuck off their clothes. THE MAN, excluding

those undressing, form another scene.

PA:

Goin' west?

MAN'S VOICE

Nope. We come from there. Goin' back

home.

TOM:

Where's home?

MAN'S VOICE

Panhandle, come from near Pampa.

PA:

(in surprise)

Can you make a livin' there?

MAN'S VOICE

Nope.

The man and his son sit down in the water.

MAN:

(continuing)

But at leas' we can starve to death

with folks we know.

There is a long silence among the Joads as the man and his

son splash water over their heads.

PA:

(slowly)

Ya know, you're the second fella

talked like that. I'd like to hear

some more about that.

TOM:

Me an' you both.

The man and his son exchange a glance, as though the Joads

had touched on the deadliest of subjects.

SON:

(finally)

He ain't gonna tell you nothin' about

it.

PA:

If a fella's willin' to work hard,

can't he cut her?

MAN:

Listen, mister. I don't know

ever'thing. You might go out an'

fall into a steady job, an' I'd be a

liar. An' then, you might never get

no work, an' I didn't warn you. All

I can tell ya, most of the folks is

purty mis'able.

(Sullenly)

But a fella don't know ever'thing.

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