The Journey of Natty Gann

[ crowd shouting, arguing ]

Calm down !

What do you mean,

calm down ?

[ shouting continues ]

Shut up !

It ain't fair-- 25 cents a day.

That's slave wages !

They said there'd be work !

They're lyin' to us again.

Get in there, dad.

Hey, Sol !

[ man ]

what the hell's goin' on ?

[ leader ]

Sol, tell us what you know.

Well, we talked to 'em.

But they won't give

an inch.

[ crowd groans ]

fact is, they're talkin'

about layin' off more guys.

[ crowd protests ]

Hey, Louie !

Frankie !

Shut up !

[ boy ] you got it ?

[ girl ]

yeah, I got it.

Let's see it.

Hey ! She got it !

I said I would.

[ door opens, closes ]

[ unzipping ]

shh. Hold your ears.

What ?

Don't listen.

Don't be dumb.

I've heard a man pee before.

Yeah ? Where ?

None of your business.

[ shouting ]

we want to work.

[ crowd agreeing ]

we need to work.

We have a right to work.

[ shouting ]

that's what I told 'em.

Your dad sure is givin'

'em hell up there.

Yeah.

My dad says he's a red.

Huh ?

He says they ought to

ship him back to Russia

'cause he's a commie.

He is not.

Well, my dad says he is.

Well, your dad's

as dumb as you are.

Are you callin' my dad dumb ?

You callin' my dad a commie ?

Yeah. You want to make

something out of it ?

Yeah !

Well, come on. Try it !

[ grunting ]

Hey ! Frankie !

Natty !

Stop it, you guys.

Quit fightin' !

Well, I think you'll live.

Dad ?

What's a commie ?

Is that what the fight

was about ?

Frankie's dad says

you'll go to Russia

'cause you're a commie.

Are you ?

Goin' to Russia ?

You know what I mean.

Are you ?

No. I'm no red.

I just fight

for what I believe in.

Me too.

In the men's room ?

It's as good a place as any.

I don't think your mother

would have approved very much.

Are you sorry

you got stuck with me ?

Yeah.

What ?

Sorriest damn day

in my life.

Yeah.

[ laughs ]

that's it.

Keep that left up.

That a girl.

Natty.

Go to sleep.

Collar.

Right.

Mornin', Sol.

Mornin', Connie.

Got the want ads ?

Thanks.

Hey, Sol. Did you hear

about this golfer ?

Just came on the radio ?

Mmm.

Lightning strikes his

metal shoes and kills him.

Shocking, huh ?

[ laughs loudly ]

She's disgusting.

No worse than some.

Mornin', Sam.

Yeah.

Same old story.

Somethin's bound

to break soon.

Got to.

Right ?

Right.

See ? Now, go on.

Get outta here.

You stay outta trouble.

Hear me ?

Okay.

Any more back home ?

Just her and me.

No ma.

That's tough, huh ?

Just the way it is.

(music) [ comical cartoon music ]

[ screaming ]

[ rattle ]

someone's comin'.

[ rattle ]

[ whines, yips ]

You, you, you and you.

Come here.

Oh, yeah. And you.

[ bell dinging,

people chattering ]

[ vendor ]

blankets !

[ man ]

lady, I'm not in the business

of givin' things away.

This is quality merchandise.

You can't get it anymore.

Fifteen cents is as low as

I go. That's rock bottom.

[ woman ]

well, ten cents is

as far as I go.

I'll give 15 cents

for it, mister.

Wait a minute, kid !

This is my pot, right ?

Fifteen cents ?

She was here first.

I'm sorry. Fifteen cents.

Here.

Nice move, kid.

Oh, no, Natty.

[ puppy yips ]

Do I look like

an animal shelter ?

Don't worry, I'll keep this one.

That's what you said

the last time.

My dad'll let me.

Just look at this mug.

Yeah. But what is he

gonna be when he grows up ?

A dog.

You never know, kid.

He might grow up to be

a lion or a tiger.

Maybe one of them

great big walruses.

Walrus.

Something wrong ?

Yeah, you're payin' them guys

half what they're worth.

I didn't hear them

complain.

'cause they're scared.

You're a troublemaker,

Gann.

But I've got something

for you.

Hey, wait. This here says

Washington state.

That's clear across country !

Steady work, Gann.

A real break.

Bus leaves today, 6:00.

I got a kid, now.

What about my kid ?

That's not my problem, buddy.

I got one seat on a company

bus. Take it or leave it.

Well ?

[ paper crumpling ]

Hey, what are you, nuts ?

You walk outta here,

you don't work. Ever !

You in a position

to do that, Gann ?

[ train passing ]

[ vendor ]

apples, here.

Apple, lady ?

- Hey, Louie !

- Yeah ?

You seen Natty ?

Not since morning.

- You know where she is ?

- No idea.

Seen Natty ?

No.

No.

Seen Natty ?

Uh-uh.

Ah, Jimmy.

Have you seen Natty ?

No.

Don't worry, Sol.

She'll turn up.

She always does.

Yeah, but I only got

an hour left.

I don't know, Sherman.

I just don't know.

Sol, you got no choice.

It's a job.

Yeah.

[ sighs ]

It's not gonna be that hard,

Connie.

She's a good kid.

She practically takes care

of herself.

All you got to do is just make

sure that she's eatin' right...

And that she's getting

to sleep at night--

just look after her.

Okay.

Just watch out for her,

okay ?

After I get some money,

I'll send it to you first thing.

And all you gotta do

is just buy her a ticket

and put her on the train.

It'll be extra

for takin' her

to the station.

And if you're not payin' me

in advance, Sol, it's gonna

be nine bucks, not seven.

Okay, okay. Anything you say.

It's a deal, Connie.

- You'll do it.

- Sol, I said I'd do it.

[ sighs ]

I'll do it.

Thanks... Connie.

[ driver ]

okay, buddy.

You comin' or not ?

Hey !

Hey, kid, come here.

I got somethin' for you. Sol

give it to me before he left.

Left ?

Yeah, left. Gone.

Arrivederci.

[ sighs ]

left.

[ puppy whines ]

What was that ?

Nothin'.

[ Sol ]

dear Natty.

I got a job...

At a lumber camp

in Washington state.

They're shippin' me out

today. I wanted to see

you first.

But maybe that would

have been tougher.

You mind Connie.

I'll send for you

as soon as I can.

Love, dad.

P.S. This was your mom's.

I think you should have it.

Anything for me ?

No. Nothing.

(music) [ big band music on radio ]

(music) you're mean to me (music)

(music) why must you be mean-- (music)

[ puppy whimpering softly ]

(music) you love to see me cryin' (music)

[ slam ]

Where the hell do you

think you're going ?

Out.

Oh, at this hour.

Just for a walk.

You stop right where

you are, young lady.

Upstairs, that's

where you're goin',

miss smarty-pants.

Come on. Maybe he lets

you run wild, but not me.

Understand ?

It's different with me.

Go on, move it !

You're not the boss of me.

Bull crackers ! Now

get upstairs. Move it.

[ exhales ]

what am I gonna do ?

What if he never sends

for her ? What if...

He just leaves her here

with me ?

Oh... God.

You ever ride the rails,

Sherman ?

- What you say, girl ?

- You ever ride the rails ?

Girl, what are you

thinkin' about ?

Nothin'.

Good. Because it's hell

out there on them rails.

Fats Chessman got both

of his legs chopped off

under the iron wheel.

Oklahoma Slim got

a big scar on his throat...

Where someone tried

to cut him for his shoes.

You can get your guts spilled

out there if you don't know

what you're doin'.

Do you understand ?

Do you understand ?

[ woman ]

what's goin' on ?

[ man ] another eviction.

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