The Grapes of Wrath Page #29

---

TOM:

They won't. They're a-gettin' five

an' they don't care about nothin'

else.

CASY:

But jus' the minute they ain't strike-

breakin' they won't get no five!

FRANK:

(bitterly)

An' the nex' thing you know you'll

be out, because they got it all

figgered down to a T--until the

harvest is in you're a *migrant*

worker--afterwards, just a bum.

TOM:

Five they're a-gettin' now, an' that's

all they're int'rested in. I know

exackly what Pa'd say. He'd jus' say

it wasn't none a his business.

CASY:

(reluctantly)

I guess that's right. Have to take a

beatin' before he'll know.

TOM:

We was outa food. Tonight we had

meat. Not much, but we had it. Think

Pa's gonna give up his meat on account

a other fellas? An' Rosasharn needs

milk. Think Ma's gonna starve that

baby jus' cause a bunch a fellas is

yellin' outside a gate?

CASY:

(sadly)

Got to learn, like I'm a-learnin'.

Don't know it right yet myself, but

I'm tryin' to fin' out. That's why I

can't ever be a preacher again.

Preacher got to *know*.

(Shaking his head)

I don't. I got to *ask*.

JOE:

(sticking his head in

tent)

I don't like it.

CASY:

What's the matter?

JOE:

Can't tell. Seems like I hear sump'n,

an' then I listen an' they ain't

nothin' to hear.

FRANK:

(rising)

'Tain't outa the question, y'know.

(He exits)

CASY:

All of us a little itchy. Cops been

tellin' us how they gonna beat us up

an' run us outa the country. Not

them reg'lar deppities, but them tin-

star fellas they got for guards.

(After a pause)

They figger I'm the leader because I

talk so much.

Frank's head sticks in the door. His voice is an excited

whisper.

FRANK:

Turn out that light an' come outside.

They's sump'n here.

Quickly Casy turns the light down and out. He gropes for the

door, followed by Tom and the other man.

IN FRONT OF THE TENT:

CASY:

(softly)

What is it?

FRANK:

I dunno. Listen.

There are night sounds but little else to be distinguished.

CASY:

Can't tell if you hear it or not.

You hear it, Tom?

TOM:

(softly)

I hear it. I think they's some guys

comin' this way, lots of 'em. We

better get outa here.

JOE:

(whispering)

Down that way--under the bridge span.

Casy leads the way softly. THE BRIDGE SPAN is seen from the

stream as Casy, Tom, and the other man wade carefully toward

it.

UNDER THE BRIDGE it is almost black as they creep through

the culvert. Just as Casy and Tom step out from under the

bridge on the other side, a blinding flashlight hits them,

lighting them like day.

VOICE:

There they are! Stand where you are!

Halted, uncertain, they stand as three men with stars on

their coats and pickhandles in their hands slide down the

EMBANKMENT. Two of them hold lighted flashlights.

DEPUTY:

That's him! That one in the middle,

the skinny one! Chuck! Alec! Here

they are! We got 'em!

There are faint responses from a distance. CASY AND TOM are

alone. The others have fled. The deputies approach, their

lights on Casy and Tom.

CASY:

Listen, you fellas. You don't know

what you're doin'. You're helpin' to

stave kids.

DEPUTY:

Shut up, you red--

He swings the pickhandle. Casy dodges but the stick cracks

his skull. He falls face down out of the light. The deputies

watch for a moment but Casy doesn't stir.

SECOND DEPUTY:

Looks like to me you killed him.

DEPUTY:

Turn him over. Put the light on him.

Bending over, their bodies hide Casy.

TOM, seen close, is breathing hard, his eyes glistening.

DEPUTY'S VOICE

Serves him right, too.

As the deputies straighten up, Tom steps forward, grabs the

pickhandle from the man who felled Casy, and swings. The

blow strikes the deputy's arm, sending his flashlight flying,

and the scene is in semi-darkness as Tom swings again. There

is a grunt and a groan as the deputy goes down. Then all is

confusion. Backing away, swinging the pickhandle, Tom bolts,

splashes a few yards through the stream, turns and gains a

better start by throwing the pickhandle at his pursuers.

They duck, and Tom disappears into the night. The other men

rush through the scene in pursuit.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote