The Grapes of Wrath Page #27

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BOOKKEEPER:

Want to work?

TOM:

Sure, but what is this?

BOOKKEEPER:

That's not your affair. Name.

TOM:

Joad.

BOOKKEEPER:

How many men?

TOM:

Four.

BOOKKEEPER:

Women?

TOM:

Two.

BOOKKEEPER:

Kids?

TOM:

Two.

BOOKKEEPER:

Can all of you work?

TOM:

Why, I guess so.

BOOKKEEPER:

Okay. House 63. Wages 5 cents a box.

No bruised fruit. Move along and go

to work right away.

He moves to the next car. The Joad truck starts...

AT HOUSE 63, as the Joad truck pulls up, two deputies

approach. They look closely into each face as the Joads pile

out. One of the deputies has a long list in his hand.

FIRST DEPUTY:

Name.

TOM:

(impatiently)

Joad. Say, what is this here?

SECOND DEPUTY:

(consulting list)

Not here. Take a look at his license.

FIRST DEPUTY:

542-567 Oklahoma.

SECOND DEPUTY:

Ain't got it. Guess they're okay.

(To Tom)

Now you look here. We don't want no

trouble with you. Jes' do your work

and mind your own business and you'll

be all right.

(The deputies walk

away)

TOM:

They sure do want to make us feel at

home all right.

Ma and Rosasharn step inside the house. It is filthy. A rusty

tin stove resting on four bricks is all the one room contains.

Ma and Rosasharn stand looking around at it. Finally:

ROSASHARN:

We gonna live here?

MA:

(after a moment)

Why, sure. It won't be so bad once

we get her washed out.

ROSASHARN:

I like the tent better.

MA:

This got a floor. Wouldn't leak when

it rains.

OUTSIDE, a clerk with glasses appears, pushing a cart loaded

with three-gallon buckets.

CLERK:

Name?

TOM:

(patiently)

It's still Joad.

CLERK:

(doling out the buckets)

How many?

MA:

(at the door)

Six.

(To Tom)

All y'all go. Me an' Rosasharn'll

unload.

With their buckets they shuffle away toward the peach trees--

Tom, Pa, Uncle John, Al, and the two children struggling

with the enormous containers.

The scene dissolves to the INTERIOR OF HOUSE 63 at night, a

lantern lighting the scene. Sitting wherever they can, the

Joads have finished their supper of hamburgers. And grateful

they are too, for the meat.

TOM:

(wiping his mouth)

Got any more, Ma?

MA:

No. That's all. You made a dollar,

an' that's a dollar's worth.

PA:

That!

MA:

They charge extry at the comp'ny

store but they ain't no other place.

TOM:

I ain't full.

MA:

Well, tomorra you'll get in a full

day--full day's pay--an' we'll have

plenty.

PA:

(rising)

You wouldn't think jus' reachin' up

an' pickin'd get you in the back.

TOM:

Think I'll walk out an' try to fin'

out what all that fuss outside the

gate was. Anybody wanta come with

me?

PA:

No. I'm jus' gonna set awhile an'

then go to bed.

AL:

Think I'll look aroun' an' see if I

can't meet me a girl.

TOM:

Thing's been workin' on me, what

they was yellin' about. Got me all

curious.

JOHN:

I got to get a lot curiouser than I

am--with all them cops out there.

TOM:

(laughing)

Okay. I be back a little later.

MA:

You be careful, Tommy. Don't you be

stickin' your nose in anything.

TOM:

(leaving)

Okay, Ma. Don't you worry.

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