The Grapes of Wrath Page #53

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We see the JOAD TENT. Behind their truck, a tarpaulin is

stretched over a rope from tree to tree. Granma lies asleep

on a quilt, stirring fitfully. Ma sits on the ground at her

head, fanning her with a piece of cardboard. Rosasharn lies

flat on her back, hands clasped under her head, looking up

at the stars. The music comes to them pleasantly.

ROSASHARN:

Ma... all this, will it hurt the

baby?

MA:

Now don't you go gettin' nimsy-mimsy.

ROSASHARN:

Sometimes I'm all jumpy inside.

MA:

Well, can't nobody get through nine

*months* without sorrow.

ROSASHARN:

But will it--hurt the baby?

MA:

They use' to be a sayin': A chile

born outa sorrow'll be a happy chile.

An' another:
Born outa too much joy'll

be a doleful boy. That's the way I

always heard it.

ROSASHARN:

You don't ever get scairt, do you,

Ma?

MA:

(thoughtfully)

Sometimes. A little. Only it ain't

scairt so much. It's just waitin'

an' wonderin'. But when sump'n happens

that I got to do sump'n--

(simply)

--I'll do it.

ROSASHARN:

Don't it ever scare you it won't be

nice in California like we think?

MA:

(quickly)

No. No, it don't. I can't do that. I

can't let m'self. All I can do is

see how soon they gonna wanta eat

again. They'd all get upset if I

done anymore 'n that. They all depen'

on me jus' thinkin' about that.

(After a pause)

That's my part--that an' keepin' the

fambly together.

As the music ends we see a GROUP ON THE PORCH STEPS. The men

murmur approbation of Connie's playing.

PA:

(with quiet pride)

Thas my son-in-law.

FIRST MAN:

Sings real nice. What state y'all

from?

PA:

Oklahoma. Had us a farm there, share-

croppin'.

TOM:

Till the tractors druv us out.

FIRST MAN:

We from Arkansas. I had me a store

there, kind of general notions store,

but when the farms went the store

went too.

(Sighing)

Nice a little as you ever saw. I

shore did hate to give it up.

PA:

(profoundly)

Wal, y'cain't tell. I figure when we

git out there an' git work an' maybe

git us a piece a growin' lan' near

water it might not be so bad at that.

OTHER MEN:

Thas right... Payin' good wages, I

hear... Ever'body got work out

there... Can't be no worse...

As they talk, a SECOND MAN, standing on the edge of the group,

begins to grin bitterly. He is much more ragged than the

others.

SECOND MAN:

You folks must have a pot a money.

The GROUP turns to look at the Man.

PA:

(with dignity)

No, we ain't got no money. But they's

plenty of us to work, an' we 're all

good men. Get good wages out there

an' put it all together an' we'll be

awright.

The Man begins to snigger and then to laugh in a high

whinneying giggle which turns into a fit of coughing. All of

the men are watching him.

SECOND MAN:

Good wages, eh! Pickin' oranges an'

peaches?

PA:

(quietly)

We gonna take whatever they got.

TOM:

What's so funny about it?

SECOND MAN:

(sniggering again)

What's so funny about it? I just

*been* out there! I been an' *seen*

it! An' I'm goin' *back* to starve--

because I ruther starve all over at

once!

PA:

(angrily)

Whatta you think you're talkin' about?

I got a han'bill here says good wages,

an' I seen it in the papers they

need pickers!

SECOND MAN:

Awright, go on! Ain't nobody stoppin'

ya!

PA:

(pulling out handbill)

But what about this?

SECOND MAN:

I ain't gonna fret you. Go on!

TOM:

Wait a minute, buddy. You jus' done

some jackassin'! You ain't gonna

shut up now. The han'bill says they

need men. You laugh an' say they

don't. Now which one's a liar?

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