The Grapes of Wrath Page #33

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TOM:

Are you aimin' to tell me that the

fellas that run this camp is jus'

fellas--campin' here?

CARETAKER:

That's the way it is.

TOM:

(after a pause)

An' you say no cops?

CARETAKER:

(shaking his head)

No cop can come in here without a

warrant.

TOM:

(marveling)

I can't hardly believe it. Camp I

was in once, they burned it out--the

deputies an' some of them poolroom

fellas.

CARETAKER:

They don't get in here. Sometimes

the boys patrol the fences, especially

dance nights.

TOM:

You got dances too?

CARETAKER:

We got the best dances in the county

every Saturday night.

TOM:

Say, who runs this place?

CARETAKER:

Government.

TOM:

Why ain't they more like it?

CARETAKER:

(shortly)

*You* find out, I can't.

TOM:

Anything like work aroun' here?

CARETAKER:

Can't promise you that, but there'll

be a licensed agent here tomorrow

mornin', if you want to talk to him.

TOM:

(leaving)

Ma's shore gonna like it here. She

ain't been treated decent for a long

time.

CARETAKER:

(as Tom is at the

door)

That cut you got?

TOM:

(evenly)

Crate fell on me.

CARETAKER:

Better take care of it. Store

manager'll give you some stuff for

it in the morning. Goodnight.

TOM:

Goodnight.

As he exits we see the GOVERNMENT CAMP, with Tom coming out

of the shack, amazement still on his face. As he walks slowly

down the main camp street we share the revelation of the

place to him. It is nearly daylight. Roosters crow in the

distance. The street is neat and orderly in a military way,

its cleanliness in sharp contrast to anything he has known

before. Inside the tents people are stirring. In front of

one tent a woman is cooking breakfast. A baby is in her arms.

TOM:

Good mornin'.

WOMAN:

Mornin'.

As he walks on, Tom draws a breath of exultation. As he moves

on, looking around, we see the EXTERIOR OF SANITARY UNIT NO.

4, a cheap frame building the purpose of which is pretty

obvious. Ruthie, warily alert lest she be caught, is peering

in the door. She looks a long time and then she runs out of

the scene.

WINFIELD is seen asleep in a quilt on the ground when Ruthie

enters and rousts him out.

RUTHIE:

(in an excited whisper)

Git up. I got sump'n to show you.

WINFIELD:

(sleepily)

Whatsa matter?

RUTHIE:

(tugging him)

It's them white things, made outa

dish-stuff, like in the catalogues!

He stumbles after her.

THE EXTERIOR OF SANITARY UNIT NO. 4. Ruthie is putting on a

bold front as she leads Winfield into sight but she is still

alert for interference.

RUTHIE:

Come on. Ain't nobody gonna say

anything.

WINFIELD:

Won't they ketch us?

He follows her into the unit, big-eyed with excitement and

apprehension. There is a silence. Then:

RUTHIE'S VOICE

Them's where you wash your han's.

Another silence. Then:

WINFIELD'S VOICE

What's these?

RUTHIE'S VOICE

(uncertainly)

Well, I reckon you *stan'* in them

little rooms--an' water come down

outa that there little jigger up

there--take a bath!

Another silence. Then:

WINFIELD'S VOICE

(excitedly)

Jes' like in the catalogues, ain't

they!

RUTHIE'S VOICE

(proudly)

I seen 'em b'fore you did.

WINFIELD'S VOICE

What's this?

RUTHIE'S VOICE

(in alarm)

Now don't you go monk'ing--

There is the sound of a toilet flushing. It is a cheap toilet

and it is a loud flush which eventually ends in a long

refilling of the tank just as loudly. There is a paralyzed

silence. Then:

RUTHIE'S VOICE

Now you done it! You busted it!

WINFIELD'S VOICE

I never--

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