The Grapes of Wrath Page #30

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THE SECOND DEPUTY is seen bending over the body of the man

Tom laid out.

SECOND DEPUTY:

Where's that flash?

THIRD DEPUTY:

Here.

The light flashes on the man's face.

THIRD DEPUTY:

(awed)

Boy, he's *good* and dead! You see

that fella that done it?

SECOND DEPUTY:

I ain't sure--but I caught him one

across the face, and believe me, I

give him a trade-mark *he* ain't

gonna be able to shake off easy!

TOM is seen crashing through the bushes, his face bloody.

The scene fades out.

THE EXTERIOR OF HOUSE 63 fades in. It is day. Ma comes down

the street with a bundle under her arm and enters the house.

INSIDE HOUSE 63, Rosasharn sits by the window as Ma enters.

MA:

Anybody ask anything?

ROSASHARN:

No'm.

MA:

Stand by the door.

Rosasharn takes her post at the door as Ma kneels on the

floor beside Tom, puts down the rag bundle, and gets a basin.

Tom, who is under a quilt, is with his back alone visible.

She speaks softly, guardedly, as she bathes his face.

MA:

How's it feel, Tommy?

TOM:

Busted my cheek but I can still see.

What'd you hear?

MA:

Looks like you done it.

TOM:

(soberly)

I kinda thought so. Felt like it.

MA:

Folks ain't talkin' about much else.

They say they got posses out. Talkin'

about a lynchin'--when they catch

the fella.

TOM:

They killed Casy first.

MA:

That ain't the way they're tellin'

it. They're sayin' you done it fust.

TOM:

(after a pause)

They know what--this fella looks

like?

MA:

They know he got hit in the face.

TOM:

(slowly)

I'm sorry, Ma. But--I didn't know

what I was doin', no more'n when you

take a breath. I didn't even know I

was gonna do it.

MA:

It's awright, Tommy. I wisht you

didn't do it, but you done what you

had to do. I can't read no fault in

you.

TOM:

I'm gonna go away tonight. I can't

go puttin' this on you folks.

MA:

(angrily)

Tom! They's a whole lot I don't

understan', but goin' away ain't

gonna ease us.

(Thoughtfully)

They was the time when we was on the

lan'. They was a bound'ry to us then.

Ol' folks died off, an' little fellas

come, an' we was always one thing--

we was the fambly--kinda whole an'

clear. But now we ain't clear no

more. They ain't nothin' keeps us

clear. Al--he's a-hankerin' an' a-

jibbitin' to go off on his own. An'

Uncle John is just a-draggin' along.

Pa's lost his place--he ain't the

head no more. We're crackin' up,

Tom. They ain't no fambly now.

Rosasharn--

(a glance at the girl)

--she gonna have her baby, but *it*

ain't gonna have no fambly. I been

tryin' to keep her goin' but--Winfiel'--

what's he gonna be, this-a-way?

Growin' up wild, an' Ruthie, too--

like animals. Got nothin' to trus'.

Don't go Tom. Stay an' help. Help

me.

TOM:

(tiredly)

Okay, Ma. I shouldn't, though. I

know I shouldn't. But okay.

ROSASHARN:

Here come a lot of people.

Tom puts his head under the quilt. Ma turns, faces the door,

her body protectively between Tom and whatever threatens.

BOOKKEEPER'S VOICE

How many of you?

MIGRANT'S VOICE

Ten of us. Whatcha payin'?

OUTSIDE HOUSE 63, the bookkeeper has encountered the

newcomers.

BOOKKEEPER:

House 25. Number's on the door.

MIGRANT:

Okay, mister. Whatcha payin'?

BOOKKEEPER:

Two and a half cents.

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