The Grapes of Wrath Page #59

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OFFICER:

(shocked)

You wasn't foolin'! You swear you

got no fruit or vegetables?

MA:

No, I swear it.

OFFICER:

Then go ahead. You can get a doctor

at Barstow. That's just eight miles.

But don't stop. Don't get off.

Understand?

Ma climbs back up beside Granma.

TOM:

Okay, cap. Much oblige.

The truck starts.

MA:

(to John)

Tell Tom he don't have to stop.

Granma's all right.

The TRUCK moves away on Highway 66.

The scene dissolves to the TEHACHAPI VALLEY, by day. Taking

it from the book, there is a breath-taking view of the valley

from where Highway 66 comes out of the mountains. This is

the California the Joads have dreamed of, rich and beautiful,

the land of milk and honey. It is just daybreak, with the

sun at the Joad's back. They have pulled off the side of the

road and stopped, just to drink in the sight. They are looking

almost reverently at the sight before them as they climb

stiffly out of the truck.

AL:

Will ya look at her!

PA:

(shaking his head)

I never knowed they was anything

like her!

One by one, they climb down.

TOM:

Where's Ma? I want Ma to see it.

Look, Ma! Come here, Ma!

He starts back. MA is holding to the rear of the truck, her

face stiff and swollen, her eyes deep-sunk, her limbs weak

and shaky.

TOM:

(shocked)

Ma, you sick?

MA:

(hoarsely)

Ya say we're acrost?

TOM:

(eagerly)

Look, Ma!

MA:

Thank God! An' we're still together--

most of us.

(Her knees buckle and

she sits down on the

running board)

TOM:

Didn' you get no sleep?

MA:

No.

TOM:

Was Granma bad?

MA:

(after a pause)

Granma's dead.

TOM:

(shocked)

When?

MA:

Since before they stopped us las'

night.

TOM:

An' that's why you didn't want 'em

to look?

MA:

(nodding)

I was afraid they'd stop us an'

wouldn't let us cross. But I tol'

Granma. I tol' her when she was dyin'.

I tol' her the fambly had ta get

acrost. I tol' her we couldn't take

no chances on bein' stopped.

With the valley for background, Ma looks down on it.

MA:

(softly)

So it's all right. At leas' she'll

get buried in a nice green place.

Trees and flowers aroun'.

(Smiling sadly)

She got to lay her head down in

California after all.

The scene fades out.

A TOWN STREET, by day, fades in. Down a town or small city

business street, with quite a bit of traffic, comes the Joad

truck being pushed by the Joad men. At the wheel, aiming at

a corner gas station, is Rosasharn, frightened and uncertain,

with Ma beside her on the front seat. In the back Ruthie and

Winfield are delighted with this new form of locomotion.

Crossing the street, a policeman falls into step with Tom.

POLICEMAN:

How far you figger you gonna get

*this* way?

TOM:

Right here. We give out a gas.

It is a two-pump station and one of the pumps has a car,

with the attendant servicing it. The Joad truck stops by the

other pump and Tom, wiping his face with his sleeve, grins

and address himself to the policeman. The others stand

listening solemnly in the background.

TOM:

Where's the bes' place to get some

work aroun' here?

(Pulling out the

handbill)

Don't matter what kin' either.

POLICEMAN:

(patiently)

If I seen one a them things I must a

seen ten thousan'.

PA:

Ain't it no good?

POLICEMAN:

(shaking his head)

Not here--not now. Month ago there

was some pickin' but it's all moved

south now. Where'bouts in Oklahoma

you from?

TOM:

Sallisaw.

POLICEMAN:

I come out from Cherokee County--two

years ago.

ROSASHARN:

(pleased)

Why, Connie's folks from Cherokee

County--

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