The Grapes of Wrath Page #71

---

MA:

(shaking her head)

Don't matter. Just got to go--an'

keep a-goin', till we get plenty a

distance away from here.

The TRUCK is rattling along the highway.

Next, it is day, and the TRUCK is still churning along.

In the FRONT SEAT, Tom is driving, his cap pulled as far

down as possible over his wounded cheek. Rosasharn has taken

Pa's place and is leaning wearily against Ma's shoulder.

ROSASHARN:

Ma... you know, if Connie was here I

wouldn't min' any a this.

MA:

I know, honey, an' just as soon as

we get settled Al's gonna set out

an' look for him. How 'bout gas,

Tommy?

TOM:

Full up. Uncle John come through

with five bucks he been hol'in' out

on us since we lef' home.

The TRUCK keeps moving along.

Then it is night, and the TRUCK is still making distance.

On a COUNTRY ROAD, in grey dawn, with a deafening clank under

the hood, the Joad truck pulls to a stop off the side of the

road. Al is driving. Asleep in Tom's arm in the front seat,

Ma stirs awake as Al turns off the ignition and gets out. He

lifts the hood.

TOM:

She's hotter'n a heifer.

AL:

Fan-belt's shot.

He pulls out the pieces. Tom gets out and takes off the

radiator cap. There is a geyser of steam. In the back of the

truck the others stand looking on, sleepy-eyed.

TOM:

(looking around)

Picks a nice place for it, too, don't

she?

They all look around. At first they find nothing in sight.

Al and Tom look at each other in disgust.

TOM:

Any gas?

AL:

Gallon or two?

TOM:

(whistling)

Well, looks like we done it this

time awright!

ROSASHARN:

(standing in truck)

Tommy.

(Pointing)

Some smoke up there.

All look. Tom climbs on the running board the better to see.

TOM:

Looks like about a mile. Reckon she'll

make it?

AL:

She got to make it.

MA:

(as they get back in)

What is it?

TOM:

Don't know--but it's better'n this.

As Al starts the truck, the scene dissolves to a weather-

beaten wooden sign: "PERMANENT CAMP NO. 9" "DEPT. OF

AGRICULTURE"

We see the GATE TO THE GOVERNMENT CAMP, a wide gate in a

high wire fence, with a caretaker's shack to one side of the

gate. The caretaker stands beside his shack as the Joad truck

swings off the road, hits an unnoticed rut that bounces the

whole truck off the ground, and stops.

CARETAKER:

(mildly)

You hit 'er too fast.

In the FRONT SEAT Al leans angrily out of the driver's window.

Tom is keeping his face away from the caretaker's line of

vision.

AL:

What's the idea of that?

CARETAKER:

(chuckling)

Well, a lot a kids play in here. You

tell folks to go slow and they liable

to forget. But let 'em hit that hump

once and they don't forget!

Al starts climbing out. Pa jumps down from the truck.

AL:

Got any room here for us?

CARETAKER:

(nodding)

You're lucky. Fellow just moved out

half-hour ago.

(Pointing)

Down that line and turn to the left.

You'll see it. You'll be in No. 4

Sanitary Unit.

MA:

What's that?

CARETAKER:

Toilet and showers and washtubs.

MA:

You mean you got *washtubs?* An'

runnin' water?

CARETAKER:

Yes, ma'am.

(To Al)

Camp committee'll call on you in the

morning and get you fixed.

AL:

(quickly)

Cops?

CARETAKER:

No. No cops. Folks here elect their

own cops.

(To Ma)

The ladies' committee'll call on

you, ma'am, about the kids and the

sanitary unit and who takes care of

'em.

(To Al)

Come inside and sign up.

As Ma, Pa, and Al look at each other in almost incredulous

bewilderment, Tom climbs out of the truck.

TOM:

Take 'er on down, Al. I'll sign.

PA:

We gonna stay, ain't we?

TOM:

You're tootin' we're gonna stay.

(He follows the

caretaker into the

shack)

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote