The Grapes of Wrath Page #19

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MA AND GRANDMA are seen again. The old woman lies still,

breathing noisily. Ma continues to pat her.

MA:

(whispering)

'S awright, honey. Everything's gonna

be awright.

Then we see the TRUCK still churning along Highway 66 by

night. CASY is asleep in the truck, his face wet with sweat.

CONNIE AND ROSASHARN are huddled together, damp and weary.

ROSASHARN:

Seems like we wasn't never gonna do

nothin' but move. I'm so tar'd.

CONNIE:

(sullenly)

Women is always tar'd.

ROSASHARN:

(fearfully)

You ain't--you ain't sorry, are you,

honey?

CONNIE:

(slowly)

No, but--but you seen that

advertisement in the Spicy Western

Story magazine. Don't pay nothin'.

Jus' send 'em the coupon an' you're

a radio expert--nice clean work.

ROSASHARN:

(pleadingly)

But we can still do it, honey.

CONNIE:

(sullenly)

I ought to done it then--an' not

come on any trip like this.

Her eyes widen with fright as he avoids meeting her glance.

MA AND GRANDMA lie side by side. Ma's hand is on Grandma's

heart. The old woman's eyes are shut and her breathing is

almost imperceptible.

MA:

(whispering)

We can't give up, honey. The family's

got to get acrost. You know that.

JOHN'S VOICE

Ever'thing all right?

Ma does not answer immediately. Her head lifted, she is

staring at Granma's face. Then slowly she withdraws her hand

from Grandma's heart.

MA:

(slowly)

Yes, ever'thing's all right. I--I

guess I dropped off to sleep.

Her head rests again. She lies looking fixedly at the still

face.

The scene dissolves to an INSPECTION STATION, near Daggett,

California, at night. Obeying a sign that reads: "KEEP RIGHT

AND STOP," the Joad truck pulls up under a long shed as two

officers, yawning, come out to inspect it. One takes down

the license number and opens the hood. The people aboard the

truck bestir themselves sleepily.

TOM:

What's this here?

OFFICER:

Agricultural inspection. We got to

go over your stuff. Got any vegetables

or seed?

TOM:

No.

OFFICER:

Well, we got to look over your stuff.

You got to unload.

MA gets down off the truck, her face swollen, her eyes hard.

There is an undercurrent of hysteria in her voice and manner.

MA:

Look, mister. We got a sick ol' lady.

We got to get her to a doctor. We

can't wait.

(Almost hysterically)

You can't make us wait!

OFFICER:

Yeah? Well, we got to look you over.

MA:

I swear we ain't got anything. I

swear it. An' Granma's awful sick.

(Pulling him to the

truck)

Look!

The officer lights his flashlight on Granma's face.

OFFICER:

(shocked)

You wasn't foolin'! You swear you

got no fruit or vegetables?

MA:

No, I swear it.

OFFICER:

Then go ahead. You can get a doctor

at Barstow. That's just eight miles.

But don't stop. Don't get off.

Understand?

Ma climbs back up beside Granma.

TOM:

Okay, cap. Much oblige.

The truck starts.

MA:

(to John)

Tell Tom he don't have to stop.

Granma's all right.

The TRUCK moves away on Highway 66.

The scene dissolves to the TEHACHAPI VALLEY, by day. Taking

it from the book, there is a breath-taking view of the valley

from where Highway 66 comes out of the mountains. This is

the California the Joads have dreamed of, rich and beautiful,

the land of milk and honey. It is just daybreak, with the

sun at the Joad's back. They have pulled off the side of the

road and stopped, just to drink in the sight. They are looking

almost reverently at the sight before them as they climb

stiffly out of the truck.

AL:

Will ya look at her!

PA:

(shaking his head)

I never knowed they was anything

like her!

One by one, they climb down.

TOM:

Where's Ma? I want Ma to see it.

Look, Ma! Come here, Ma!

He starts back. MA is holding to the rear of the truck, her

face stiff and swollen, her eyes deep-sunk, her limbs weak

and shaky.

TOM:

(shocked)

Ma, you sick?

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