The Grapes of Wrath Page #36

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The three men stroll past Wilkie and Jule, whose eyes follow

them.

JULE:

Them's our fellas.

WILKIE:

How you know?

JULE:

Jes' got a feelin'. They're kinda

scared too. Follow 'em an' get a

holt of Jackson. See if he knows

'em. I'll stay here.

Wilkie moves after them.

We see the DANCE FLOOR. The musicians are at it and the

fiddler is calling turns.

FIDDLER:

Swing your ladies an' a dol ce do.

Join han's roun' an' away we go!

Swing to the right an' a swing to

the lef'. Break, now break--back to

back!

Well in front, among the older folks and children who surround

the floor, are Ma and Rosasharn, clinging close. A young man

stops in front of them.

MA:

(quietly)

Thank you kin'ly but she ain't well.

As Rosasharn's eyes drop. Ma bends toward her, a shy smile

on her face.

MA:

Maybe you wouldn't think it, but

your pa was as nice a dancer as I

ever seen, when he was young.

(With a little sigh)

Kinda makes me think a ol' times.

The three men stroll into sight and stand watching the

dancing. One glances at Ma and Rosasharn but does not speak.

Ma has smiled back at him.

WILKIE AND JACKSON are seen; removed somewhat from the dance

floor they are peering in the direction of the three men.

JACKSON:

I seen 'em before. Worked at

Gregorio's with 'em. But I never ast

'em.

WILKIE:

Awright. Keep your eye on 'em. Jus'

keep 'em in sight, that's all.

(He moves quickly

away)

We find ourselves INSIDE TIM WALLACE'S TENT. The five members

of the central committee, Tim Wallace, chairman, look grave

as a 15-year-old boy reports.

BOY:

I seen 'em, Mr. Wallace. A car with

six men parked down by the euc'lyptus

tree an' one with three men on the

main road. They got guns, too. I

seen 'em.

TIM:

Thank you, Willie. You done good.

(As Willie exits)

Well, it looks like the fat's in the

far this time.

FIRST MAN:

(angrily)

What them deppities want to hurt the

camp for? How come they can't leave

us be?

SECOND MAN:

What we oughta do, we oughta git us

some pickhandles an'--

TIM:

(quickly)

No! That's what they want. No sir.

If they can git a fight goin', then

they can run in the cops an' say we

ain't orderly--

(He stops as Wilkie

enters followed by

Tom)

WILKIE:

They're here. We got 'em spotted.

There is a grim pause at this news. Tim's eyes go hard.

TIM:

(to Tom)

You sure you got ever'thing ready?

TOM:

(calmly)

Ain't gonna be no trouble.

TIM:

(worriedly)

You ain't to hurt them fellas.

WILKIE:

(grinning)

You don't have to worry. We got

ever'thing arranged. Maybe nobody'll

even see it.

TIM:

Just don't use no stick nor no knife,

no piece a arn. An' if you got to

sock 'em, sock 'em where they won't

bleed.

TOM:

Yes, sir.

TIM:

Awright. An' if she gets outa han',

I'll be in the right han' corner,

this side the dance floor.

TOM:

(blandly)

Ain't gonna get outa han'.

Wilkie makes a mocking military salute as he and Tom exit.

The committee men look worriedly after them.

FIRST MAN:

Mighty sure a themselves, looks like.

TIM:

All I hope, I hope they don't kill

nobody.

In front of the JOAD TENT, dressed to kill, is Al, ready for

the festivities. He wears a tight-fitting wool suit, a tie

on his shirt, yellow shoes, and his hair is damp and slicked

down. He rubs his hands together in anticipation as he strolls

in the direction of the dance floor.

At ANOTHER TENT, a blonde girl sits on a box as Al enters.

Casually he throws open his coat, revealing a vivid striped

shirt. This is designed to stun his quarry.

AL:

Gonna dance tonight?

(The girl

ostentatiously ignores

him)

I can waltz.

GIRL:

(aloofly)

That's nothin'--anybody can waltz.

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