The Grapes of Wrath Page #58

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FIRST BOY:

Just don't know any better, I guess.

NOAH is seen hiding behind a corner of the GAS STATION.

Peering out, he sees that the truck has gone. He turns to

walk away into the darkness.

The scene dissolves to a RIVER BANK at night, and Noah is

once more seated in the shallow water, splashing, looking up

at the mountains, content.

The TRUCK is rattling along U.S. Highway 66, across the

desert, in the night. In the DRIVER'S SEAT Tom is driving,

Al and Pa are by his side.

AL:

What a place! How'd you like to walk

acrost her?

TOM:

People done it. If they could, we

could.

AL:

Lots must a died, too.

TOM:

(after a pause)

Well, we ain't out a it yet.

RUTHIE AND WINFIELD huddle together in THE TRUCK, eyes wide

with excitement.

RUTHIE:

This here's the desert an' we're

right in it!

WINFIELD:

(trying to see)

I wisht it was day.

RUTHIE:

Tom says if it's day it'll cut you

gizzard smack out a you.

(Trying to see too)

I seen a pitcher once. They was bones

ever'place.

WINFIELD:

Man bones?

RUTHIE:

Some, I guess, but mos'ly cow bones.

MA AND GRANDMA are seen again. The old woman lies still,

breathing noisily. Ma continues to pat her.

MA:

(whispering)

'S awright, honey. Everything's gonna

be awright.

Then we see the TRUCK still churning along Highway 66 by

night. CASY is asleep in the truck, his face wet with sweat.

CONNIE AND ROSASHARN are huddled together, damp and weary.

ROSASHARN:

Seems like we wasn't never gonna do

nothin' but move. I'm so tar'd.

CONNIE:

(sullenly)

Women is always tar'd.

ROSASHARN:

(fearfully)

You ain't--you ain't sorry, are you,

honey?

CONNIE:

(slowly)

No, but--but you seen that

advertisement in the Spicy Western

Story magazine. Don't pay nothin'.

Jus' send 'em the coupon an' you're

a radio expert--nice clean work.

ROSASHARN:

(pleadingly)

But we can still do it, honey.

CONNIE:

(sullenly)

I ought to done it then--an' not

come on any trip like this.

Her eyes widen with fright as he avoids meeting her glance.

MA AND GRANDMA lie side by side. Ma's hand is on Grandma's

heart. The old woman's eyes are shut and her breathing is

almost imperceptible.

MA:

(whispering)

We can't give up, honey. The family's

got to get acrost. You know that.

JOHN'S VOICE

Ever'thing all right?

Ma does not answer immediately. Her head lifted, she is

staring at Granma's face. Then slowly she withdraws her hand

from Grandma's heart.

MA:

(slowly)

Yes, ever'thing's all right. I--I

guess I dropped off to sleep.

Her head rests again. She lies looking fixedly at the still

face.

The scene dissolves to an INSPECTION STATION, near Daggett,

California, at night. Obeying a sign that reads: "KEEP RIGHT

AND STOP," the Joad truck pulls up under a long shed as two

officers, yawning, come out to inspect it. One takes down

the license number and opens the hood. The people aboard the

truck bestir themselves sleepily.

TOM:

What's this here?

OFFICER:

Agricultural inspection. We got to

go over your stuff. Got any vegetables

or seed?

TOM:

No.

OFFICER:

Well, we got to look over your stuff.

You got to unload.

MA gets down off the truck, her face swollen, her eyes hard.

There is an undercurrent of hysteria in her voice and manner.

MA:

Look, mister. We got a sick ol' lady.

We got to get her to a doctor. We

can't wait.

(Almost hysterically)

You can't make us wait!

OFFICER:

Yeah? Well, we got to look you over.

MA:

I swear we ain't got anything. I

swear it. An' Granma's awful sick.

(Pulling him to the

truck)

Look!

The officer lights his flashlight on Granma's face.

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