50 Greatest Old Time Radio Drama Shows

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In this gripping second episode of our classic serial adaptation of John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath," we follow the Joad family as they embark on their arduous journey westward during the Great Depression. The episode opens with Tom Joad recounting the devastating drought that forced his family off their land in Oklahoma. As they travel along Route 66, the Joads encounter other displaced families, each with their own tales of hardship and hope. The journey is fraught with challenges, including the death of Grandpa and the breakdown of their vehicle, but the family remains determined to reach California, where they hope to find work and a better life.

As the Joads make their way through the harsh landscapes of New Mexico and Arizona, they face the harsh realities of life as migrant workers. They encounter hostility from locals and law enforcement, and the family is forced to make difficult decisions to stay together. The episode captures the resilience and spirit of the Joad family as they navigate the uncertainties of their journey, highlighting the themes of survival, family, and the pursuit of the American Dream. With powerful performances and a poignant narrative, this episode brings Steinbeck's timeless story to life, offering listeners a vivid portrayal of a pivotal moment in American history.

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E Radio four news.  

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And now on BBC Radio four, the second of three episodes of our classic serial to commemorate the centenary of John Steinbeck.   Set in the depression of the nineteen thirties, it reflects the language of the migrant workers of the period.  

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The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck,   dramatized for radio by Steve Chambers,   with John Schwab as Tom Jones.   Episode two,   The Journey West.  

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The terrible drought began while I was doing time for killing a man.   The rains failed for two solid years, turned the red and gray Oklahoma soil to dust,   choked the young corn, left us with nothing.   Couple of weeks before I got parole,   the bank foreclosed on our loan, sent in a diesel tractor,   pushed over our home, and evicted us from land we'd settled for three generations.  

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Parts of this land, my only bare hands. I ain't giving enough.  

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All across the plains, the same thing happened.   Families forced to sell everything,   buy an old jalapia, head west for a fresh start.   250,000   people on Route 66.   My family, the Joads, one of them.   Me,   my kid brother Al,   ma, pa,   grandma, and grandpa,   my sister Rosa Sharon, and her new husband, Connie Rivers,   little Ruthie Winfield,   uncle John, still tortured by the death of his wife years before, reverend Casey, who didn't believe no more, and brother Noah, who was born slow and didn't say much. 13 folks and all they could carry piled on a cut down old Hudson super six, creaking along.   Grandpa, who shot the lights out of the tractor that pushed over our house, didn't wanna go.  



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What do you mean we're all packed up ready? We gotta go. I ain't saying for you to stay. You go right alone.  

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But me, I'm a state.  

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This here is my country.  

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Family got him drunk and took him anyways.   Didn't matter none.   First evening, he took a stroke and died before we could make camp.   Couldn't pay the government death tax, so he said a few words over him, buried him in an unmarked grave, and ate our first supper.  

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Sure is nice eating pig. Yes, sir. Might as well eat it, mister Wilson. Can't get nothing for him.  

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Folks call me Ivy, Ivy Wilson. What they call you? Pa  

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or old Tom, kinda my son Tom. And again, Ma gets ordinary. She calls me all kind of names.  

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How long you folks been on the road, mister Wilson?   Ivy?  

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Oh, me and Sarah,  

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we ain't been lucky. We've been three weeks from home already. God almighty.  

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We aim to be in California in ten days or less. Ain't that so well? Well, I don't know, pa. With a load we're packer, we may be never gonna get there. Not if there's mountains to go over.  

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Sounds like grandpa's dying, finally took roosting grandma. Should I go and lay with her for a spell, mom? Yes. Rose is Sharon. She needs somebody.  

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How come you didn't get a better car, Ivy?  

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My brother Will and me,   we had Fordy side side by side.   We sold everything, and Will, he bought a vehicle.   He's a practicing his driving,   mistook the gas for the brake,   went clean through a fence.   Didn't have no no car no more. Nothing more to sell. Had to leave him behind. Killed?   No.   Matter in hell.   And me and Sari, well,   we couldn't wait.   Only had $85 to go on. So that's how you come to buy your car. It didn't go a hundred mile when a tooth in the rear end bust.   It costs $30 to get it fixed, and then we gotta get a tire and  

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and Sarah got sick. Then don't you go blaming me, Ivy Wilson.   It ain't my fault we bought a rep. I'm no Sari.  

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And she just won't run. Starts and farts and then peters out. Well, runs a minute and then dies, mister Wilson? Well, can't keep her going no matter how much gas I give her. Now she won't move at all. Well, I think you've got a plugged gas line, and I'll blow her out for you. Take a look at her now. Oh, I'll sure thank you for a hand. I'll come with you. I'll I can handle it, Tom.  

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Makes a fella feel like a kid when he can't fix nothing. How's a good hand with a car? When we get to California,   I aim to get me a nice car. Getting there is the trouble. Oh, she's worth it, Paul.   I seen handbills, how they need folks to pick fruit in good wages. Yeah. We've seen them handbills.  

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Got one right here.   Pea pickers wanted in California.   Good wages   all season.   800 pickers wanted.  

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That's the same handbill I've seen.  

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You suppose they got all 800 already? I suppose they did. California's  

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the second biggest state in the union. There's plenty of places else.  

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You fix her already out. We'll do her in the morning.  

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But but me and Tom, I got something to say. You you tell them, Tom.  

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It's like this.   We got an overload in mister and missus Wilson eight. Now, some of us folks could ride with them and and take some of their last shots. Well, we wouldn't break no springs and we could get up them hills. And me and Tom, we'd keep the Wilson's car on.  

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Sure.  

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We'd be proud.   Wouldn't we, Sarah? Well, long as we wouldn't be a burden on you folks. Wouldn't be no burden at all, ma'am. I only got about $30 left. I ain't taking charity. Each will help each and we'll get to California.  

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If I get sick again, you just go on and get there. We ain't gonna be a burden. We're gonna see you get through.  

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Grandpa died in your tent.   Reminds me,  

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I'm gonna give you a new quilt. Yours is spoiled. I'll wash it. Can't never get the smell of death from a quilt. I'm proud to help, missus Joad. Feels right.   Ain't felt so   safe in a long time.  

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I gotta ask. Rosa Sharon? I thought you was with grandma.  

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Baby keeps kicking, ma.   I'm scared.  

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Rosa Sharon,   can't you get through nine months without sorrow? Will it hurt? A child born out of sorrow will be a happy child. Now, isn't that so, miss Wilson? Yes. And I hear born out of too much joy will be a doleful boy.  

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I'm all jumpy inside.  

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We ain't none of us jumping for fun.   How's grandma?  

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She's sleeping quiet. We got to get some sleep too. Grandpa.  

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It's like he's dead a year.  

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A half million people moving over the country.   A million more ready to move.   10,000,000 feeling the first unease.   One family camps in the ditch, meets another family.   But here is the node.   Two men are not as lonely as one.   I have a little food,   plus   I have none   becomes we have a little food,   and the thing is on its way.  

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How's she doing, Al? Okay, ma. Keeping up with Tom in our old truck. Oh,  

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I  

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had a lovely sleep. You slept through most of the Panhandle Road, Sharon. Where are we now?  

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New Mexico.   Them's the Rockies in the distance.  

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Well, when we get there, y'all gonna pick fruit and live in the country, ain't you? We ain't there yet.  

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Don't know what it's like. We gotta see.  

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Me and Connie don't wanna live in the country no more. Wait. You gotta live with the family. Me and Connie, we got it all planned. Yeah. Hush a minute, will you? Something wrong, Al?  

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You hear that, ma?  

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Sort of rattle?  

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Don't sound no different to my ears. And I'm gonna have electric iron, and and the baby'll have all new stuff. Now, Rose is Sharon.  

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I don't want you to go away from us.   It ain't good for folks to break up.  

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I thought we could all go in town.   And when Connie gets his store, maybe Al could work for him. Oh, me work for Connie?  

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Well, how about him come working for me?  

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He ain't the only son of a bitch who can study nights. I wonder how grandma's feeling today.   What tarnation,   ma? You said you couldn't hear nothing. I couldn't.  

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But I ain't no mechanic. You can hear it now, can't you? Are we stopping now? I ain't got no choice. I'll pull over Tom.  

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Okay, Al.  

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Come ahead. Okay, Tom.  

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Easy now.  

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How long are we gonna be stuck here, Tom?  

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I've gotta tear the pan off and get the rod out and get a new part and fitter. A good day's job.  

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Oh, Jesus. Tomorrow's Sunday. Yeah. Are we stuck here till Monday then? Probably won't get her fitted for Tuesday. Here's us all eating and gotta buy gas and oil.   I'm scared we'll run out of money so we can't get there at all. You Joe's been real nice to us.  

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Now you just pack up and get along. We can't just leave you and miss Wilson.   Grandpa died in your tent.   We almost got a kin bond.  

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I got me an idea.   You folks take the truck and move on. Oh, leave you behind, Tom? Well, this car is twice as fast as our truck. Well, I'll stop here and fix this car and, drive day and night and catch up. Well, how are you gonna find us? We'll be on the same road, ma. 66 right on through. California ain't the whole world. Well, looks an awful big place on the map. Well, if we don't meet on the road, you'll be working and stuff will be easy. We're gonna find you. Mister Wilson, is your car you got any objections? Can I stay and give your boy a hand? Well, Casey can help me. Yeah. Sweet's me. You get along. You can be working, laying in a little money.  

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If that's the way, we better get a shovel and maybe squeeze in a hundred miles before we stop. I ain't gonna go, Pa.  

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We got to. Only way you're gonna get me to go is to whoop me, and I got this here jack handle.  

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We made up our mind, Ma. We're gonna cry and beg, Pa.  

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I'll light into you, and you ain't sure you could whoop me anyways.   I'll knock you belly up with a bucket. I swear to holy Jesus' sake, I will. Just never seen her so sassy. You made up your mind. Will you come on and whoop me? Just tries, But I ain't going. Oh, goddamn,   sassy. And she ain't young neither. Ma, what's eating you? You gone jackrabbit on us? What do we got left in the water? Nothing but us. We come out and grandpa, he reached for the shovel shelf right off, and now you wanna bust up the folks. We was gonna catch up with you, Ma. Ma. Well, suppose we was camped and you went on by. How'd we know?  

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We got a bitter road.  

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Grandma's sick. She's up there on the truck, a point for the shovel herself. Thought we could be making some money. It wouldn't do no good. All we got is the family unbroke.   I ain't scared while we're all here, but I'm a going cat wild with this here piece of bar of iron if my own folks bust up. We can't camp here. Ain't no water. Ain't much shade here, and grandma needs shade. Alright.   We'll go along and stop. First place, there's water and shade, and the truck will come back and take you into town and get your part, and it'll bring you back. I ain't leaving you out here alone. Paul, if you was to rush at one side and me the other and then rest pile on and grandma jumped down on top,  

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maybe we can get Ma without more than two, three of us getting killed.  

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Hard to say, Tom.   Now put away that jack handle, Ma,  

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before you hurt somebody. We ain't splitting up then. I reckon you filled your flush,   Ma. You just set Pa back on his heels. Sure did.  

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You better have this jack handle, Tom.   I don't know what come over me.  

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Al,   you drive the the folks on and get them camp, then bring her back here. Okay. Me and the preacher will get the pan off while you're gone. You heard him. Come on. Pound up. Let's get moving. You got a helicopter.  

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I know. I've never seen it like that. Take that whole bench.  

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Oh, wow.  

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Well, how's she coming, Tom?  

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Soon as the oil's out,   you can help me drop the pan off. Okay.   Say, Casey. You're getting sour.   You've been awful goddamn quiet last few days. Well,  

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I'm all worried up, Tom. Jesus.  

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When I first come up with you, you was making a speech every half hour. So  

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what's eating you? Man, I just gotta get married.  

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Well, grab a hold, Casey.   I'll tap her loose. Okay.   Who are you gonna marry?  

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Hell. I ain't got no one in mine, Tom.  

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But I'm a I'm a lusting after the flesh.   It just can't stop. Me neither.  

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Day I come out of McAllister, I was smoking.   Run me down a horror girl like she was a rabbit.  

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Won't tell you what happened.   I know what   happened.  

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Here she comes, Casey. Got it.  

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Okay.   There she is.  

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Give me that wrench. Alright.   See if I can tear out the rod.   Oh.  

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Damn this.  

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Should've cut my hand. One, I should hold that and you you wrap up your hand.  

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Don't have to worry no more.   Never have fixed no car in my life without cut myself.   There.   There, my god.  

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Rod's out at least.   Boy, your hand's bleeding like a sun, bitch, John. A bit of piss of mud will stop that.  

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John,  

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I've been keeping   track of cars on the road. There's   hundreds of families like us   all the going west.  

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There's a whole country moving.   We'll be moving too.   That that should stop her bleeding.  

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There's gonna come something out of all these folks that are going west.  

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I'm just putting one foot in front of the other like I did at McAlester.   Thought it'd be something different when I came out. Suppose all these here folks and everybody,  

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suppose they can't get no jobs out there, Tom. Goddamn it, Casey. How do I know?   You got the right out, Tom?  

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Yeah.   Where'd you take the folks? Come to a camp.  

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Got shade,   water, and pipes.   Cost half a dollar to stay there. 50¢ to sit down?  

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What for?  

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Everybody's so goddamn tired and wore out.   Grandma ain't got no sense no more. She's been baying like a moonlit hound dog.   Just talk like she's talking to grandpa. 50¢ to camp under a tree. That's what Pa said.   Says next thing they'll sell you a little tank of air.   But Ma says they gotta be there. Casey,   somebody gotta stay with this car or should get stripped. Ma'll stay, Tom. Well, this here's some red and wheat Ma sent, and I gotta jug water here.  

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She don't forget nobody. We'll get back just as soon as we can. Well, I'll be here. Now you you stay out of trouble, ma'am. Well, Maya says the same thing. She says to tell Tom, don't drink nothing and don't get no arguments and don't fight nobody. She got plenty to get worked up about without me giving her no trouble. Well, won't we should bring you a beer case? A pod crap of litter lizards if we buy beer. Well, you better get going or you won't be getting what you're going for.  

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See you then.  

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By day, the cars of the migrant people crawled west on the Great Highway.   As the dark caught them, they clustered like bugs   by shelter in the water.   They were not farm people anymore,   but migrant people.  

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Yeah.  

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This is the camp, Tom. You bringing the car in? No, indeed. I'll leave it on the highway. You fellas want camp here? Nope. We got folks here. Hi, Paul. Thought she was gonna be all week, Tom. We'll get her fixed. Yeah. We give his pig lucky. We can get going first thing in the morning. That's good. If you wanna pull in here and camp, it'll cost you four bids.   What the hell?   We can sleep in the ditch side of the road. It won't cost nothing. Deputy sheriff comes on by in the night. Got a law about vagrants in this state. If I pay you 4 bits, I ain't a vagrant. That's right. Deputy ain't your brother-in-law by any chance. No. He ain't. Time ain't come when us local folks gotta take no talk from you goddamn bums neither.  

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When did we get to be bums, mister?   We ain't asked you for nothing. Easy, Tom. And we ain't asking no nickels for the chance to lay down and rest neither. Come off it, Tom. Sure, Pa.   I don't wanna make no trouble.   That's good.   It's a hard thing to be called a bum.   I'd go for you and your deputy with my mess.  

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Ain't no good in it. Ain't you got half a buck? Yeah.  

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But I'm gonna need  

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it. Can't set it out just for sleep. We all gotta make a living. Yeah. Only I wish there was some way to make her without taking away from somebody else. Look, mister, we paid. Is there a fellow as part of our folks? Can't he stay? Half Half a dollar a car. He ain't got a car. Car's out on the road. He came in a car.   Everybody leave their car out there and come in my place for nothing.  

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Me and Casey will drive along the road and meet you in the morning.   That alright with you, mister? If the same number stays that come and pay, yeah.  

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How's grandma, Paul?  

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Sleeping now, but your ma's real worried about her. Howdy.  

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Yeah. Hey. You fellas cropping?  

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Sure. We was sharecropping.   Used to own the place. Same as me. We'll get out west, and we'll get a piece of growing land with water. Uh-huh.   Got money then? No. But there's plenty of us to work, and we're all good men. Get good wages out there, and we'll put them together.  

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Gonna pick peaches in California? Sure. We gotta take what they  

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got.  

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You going out there to pay oh, Christ.  

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Good wages. What's so goddamn funny about that?   I've been there.   I'm a coming back.  

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Brother, starving home. What the hell are you talking about? I got a handbill that says they got good wages. How many men your bill say they want? 800 and that's one little plate. This fellow wants 800 men.  

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So he prints up 5,000 of them things, and maybe two, three thousand folks, crazy with worry, gets moving account of this here bill. It don't make no sense.   Not till you see the fellow that put out this here bill.   Now maybe he needs 200.   So he speaks to 500 and maybe a thousand men turn up.   Then he says, I'm paying 20¢ an hour. That's not what it says on this handbill. You ain't one of these here troublemakers.  

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I swear to god I ain't. Time's gonna come when we string them all out.   Man wants to work, okay.  

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If you don't, the hell with it.  

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Why are you coming back? A year to find out.  

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The two kids dead.   My wife too.   But I can't tell you. You shoulda knew that. Nobody couldn't tell me neither.  

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What did they die of?  

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Carner said it was heart failure.   Them little fellas laying in the tent, their bellies puffed up,   shivering and whining like pups, and me running around trying to get work.   Not for money.  

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Jesus Christ. For just for a cup of flour and a spoon of law. Water. You stay in here. No. I'm going.  

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I'm a going home. Well, get in.  

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Sport call it yuckety. Good luck to you folks. Yeah.  

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Shit. Listen. A lot of shittles fellas on the road. Suppose he's telling the truth. He's telling the truth. Alright.  

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The truth for him. Is that the truth for us, Casey?  

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Can't rightly say it, Tom. Yeah. About time you fellas was going if you ain't paying.   Me and Casey will wait for you down the road, Pa. Didn't you hear me? I'm gonna close-up. Yeah. No more half bucks rolling down the road, I guess.  

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Don't you go sassing me. I remember you. You're you're one of these troublemakers. Damn right.  

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I'm Boshevsky.  

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Well,  

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there's too damn many of you kind of guys. There's a regular army of us heading down the road, mister.  

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Good night, Paul. Good night, Tom. Casey. Good night.  

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The cars of the migrants moved slowly westward,   up into the mountains of New Mexico,   on into the high country of Arizona.   Spouting steam, they labored up the slopes to Flagstaff,   then down over the great plateaus.   The wrecked vehicles crawled up the jagged ramparts in the night,   came slowly down in the dawn, and saw the Colorado River below them.   They crossed the river into the broken rock wilderness the other side and stopped.   This was California.  

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We made it, ma.   We're in California.  

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Oh, we still got the Mojave Desert to cross Rosas Sharon. Mhmm. That's why we gotta rest up before we try it. We done the hardest part. Everything's downhill from here on in. Will Joad. Willie.  

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Hush now, grandma. You come here.  

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I'll catch him. I'll take the hair off of him. Just lie still and get some rest, grandma.   Fanner, will you, Rosa Sharon, try and keep her cool? Wipe your feet, Will.  

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You're dirty.  

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You ain't never gonna get clean.   She's awful sick, ma.  

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Is she gonna I don't know.   Maybe we can just get her where it ain't so hot.  

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Doesn't seem fair.  

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Oh, when you're young, everything that happens is a thing all by itself.   How do you mean, mom? Well, you're gonna have a baby, Rosa Sharon,   and that's gonna hurt you.   And the hurt will be a lonely hurt. That's what I'm scared of.  

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Barren and dying,   there's a time of change.   And when that comes, barren is a piece of all barren.   And dying, a piece of all dying, and barren and dying   is two pieces of the same thing.   And then things ain't so lonely anymore.  

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I wish to know that more.  

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More. I wished I could tell you so you'd know, but I can't.  

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Maybe grandma would like to be among them singers.   Should we take her over? Oh, she's tired.   Needs her rest. Thought you like going to meetings, man. Them's Jehovahites.  

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They's good people, but they's   howlers and jumpers.   The way I'm feeling, I couldn't stand it.  

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I just fly all apart. Praise the Lord. Praise him. Easy, grandma. Hallelujah. It's alright.   Sweet Jesus.   I'm ready.   Jesus.  

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It done good.   Grandma's sleeping, ma.  

[00:23:56] Unknown:

Who's in here? What is it you want, mister? What do you think I want? I wanna know who's in here. It's just the three of us in here. Me and grandma and my girl. Yeah?  

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Uh-huh.  

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Where's your men? Well, they went down to the river to clean up. We was driving all night. Where'd you come from? Right near Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Well, you can't stay here. Well, we aimed across the desert tonight. Better.  

[00:24:18] Unknown:

If you're here tomorrow this time, I'll run you in. Now, mister Oh. You keep your voice down. Hey. Now   you put that skillet down.  

[00:24:26] Unknown:

I'm a deputy. Oh, sure you got a tin button and a gun. I'm just doing my job. Scaring women.   I'm thankful that men folks ain't here. They'd tear you to pieces. In my country, you watch your tongue. You ain't in your country now. You're in California, and we don't want you goddamn Okies settling down. Okies? Yeah. Okies.  

[00:24:44] Unknown:

And if you're here  

[00:24:46] Unknown:

tomorrow, I'll run you in. You'll need a posse before you run me in.  

[00:24:50] Unknown:

What's an Okie, mom? Never mind, Rosa Sharon.  

[00:24:56] Unknown:

You think of the baby   and try and get some rest, will you?  

[00:25:04] Unknown:

Yeah. I got it, Tommy.  

[00:25:07] Unknown:

Water sure feels good, don't you, Paul? Yep. Can't say last time I had a bath. Last one I had was in McAlester.  

[00:25:14] Unknown:

What's the matter, Noah? Don't you like the river?   Sure, Pa. I like it fine. Come on in there and splash around, son.  

[00:25:23] Unknown:

I think I'll mosey on down a ways.  

[00:25:26] Unknown:

Maybe do a little fishing.  

[00:25:27] Unknown:

Yeah. Don't go too far now.   Well, Tom, we made it. Haven't got in the desert yet, and I hear she's a son of a bitch. Gonna try tonight, punk. I don't know, Al. Just good to get a little rest, especially grandma.   And I'd kinda like to get across her and get settled into a job because here's a murder country. She don't look so prosperous. Wait till we get to California and see nice country then. Jesus Christ, Paul, this here is California.  

[00:25:54] Unknown:

It sure feels good to sit here in this water.  

[00:25:56] Unknown:

Wonderful to ever get to a place where folks can live without fighting.  

[00:26:01] Unknown:

Casey. Yeah.   Come on in. I don't mind if I do, Tom. Don't mind moving. Where have you been, creature? We missed you. Well,  

[00:26:10] Unknown:

got talking to a guy camped up a ways. Going west like us? Yep.   Going back home.  

[00:26:17] Unknown:

Said he couldn't make no living out there. Where's home? Manhandle,  

[00:26:21] Unknown:

dear pamper. Did he make a living there? Nope. At least he can starve with folks he knows instead of a bunch that hates him. He's a second fella talk like that. Cool. You say why these fellas hate him, Casey?   I had an idea, Tom. Don't have to be the truth.   We're going there, so I guess we're gonna find out.  

[00:26:40] Unknown:

Fellas like to know what he's getting himself into.  

[00:26:43] Unknown:

Tell us what he said. Well, he reckons the country other side of Bakersfield's   real purdy.   Oil orchards and grapes and, this land land fallow, but can't have none of it. Good land and they ain't working her? Yeah. We'll do her. Yeah. Man says you plant a little corn wrong place and go to jail.   Camp on the roadside, they'll move you on.   Holy okeys.   What's that, Casey? Well, it used to mean you was from Oklahoma.   Now it means you're a dirty son of a bitch.   Scum.   There's 300,000   of our people living out there living like hogs.   Everything California   is owned.  

And them as it owns it, it's gonna hang on to it.   Well, ain't it nice out there at all? Sure, Al, but you can't have none of it. It's a grove of oranges, and a guy with a gun got the right to kill you if you even touch one. Well, holy Moses. They're owned by a newspaper fella. Got a million acres. What in the world can he do with a million acres? Got guards everywhere to keep folks out,   rides around in a bulletproof   car.   And he showed me newspaper pictures of him. Fat,   little yean eyes and a mouth like an asshole.   He's scared he's gonna die.  

Guess he's crazy. How crazy and mean? Don't seem like he's having no fun. Seems like a fella's mean and lonely and old and disappointed.  

[00:28:08] Unknown:

He's scared of dying alright. What's he disappointed about if he got a million acres?  

[00:28:13] Unknown:

He needs a million acres to make him feel rich.   Seems to me he needs it because he feels awful poor inside himself.  

[00:28:21] Unknown:

Are you preaching, Casey?  

[00:28:24] Unknown:

Kinda sounds like a sermon donut. But if a fellow's willing to work hard, he can cut her, can't he?  

[00:28:31] Unknown:

I don't know, mister Joad.  

[00:28:33] Unknown:

John, you never was a fellow to say much, but I'll be goddamn if you've opened your mouth twice since we left home. I keep my own count. Oh, what do you say about what Casey's been saying?  

[00:28:44] Unknown:

Don't think nothing about it. We're going there, ain't we?   None of this here at talk gonna keep us from going there?   Uncle John don't talk much, but he talks since. Yeah. Yes, sir. Yeah. He does. What we going on tonight, Pa? Might as well get her over, Al. Well, I'm I'm going up in the brush and get some sleep. Oh, yeah.  

[00:29:05] Unknown:

Alright. Oh,  

[00:29:06] Unknown:

boy.   Hey. There. You splashing me, Doug?  

[00:29:22] Unknown:

Caught any fish?  

[00:29:25] Unknown:

It's time.   I'd like to just stay here by the water, Tom.   Stay forever.   You ever get hungry?   You ever get sad?  

[00:29:37] Unknown:

Well, you should get some sleep,   or leave it tonight.  

[00:29:41] Unknown:

Laying in the water all life long,   lazy as a brute sound in the mud.  

[00:29:46] Unknown:

Didn't you hear what I said, Noah? You wanna get out of that sun before she scorches  

[00:29:51] Unknown:

you? I ain't going, Tom.  

[00:29:53] Unknown:

What do you mean, Noah?  

[00:29:55] Unknown:

I ain't gonna lead this here water.   I'm gonna walk down this river. You're crazy.   Got myself a piece of line.   I catch a   fish. A fella can't starve beside a nice river.  

[00:30:11] Unknown:

How about the family? Can't help it, Tom.  

[00:30:14] Unknown:

Can't leave this water. Well, how about ma?  

[00:30:18] Unknown:

You know how it is, Tom.   Folks is nice to me and all, but   they don't really care for me. You're crazy.   No.  

[00:30:27] Unknown:

I know how I am.  

[00:30:29] Unknown:

Kinda slow and different.  

[00:30:32] Unknown:

And I know they're sorry, but but I ain't going. Now looky here, Noah. I can't go. It ain't no use, Tom.   I'm sad.  

[00:30:42] Unknown:

I can't help   it. You tell mom. Come back, Noah.  

[00:30:47] Unknown:

I'm going down the river.  

[00:30:49] Unknown:

I gotta go.   Noah?  

[00:30:54] Unknown:

Noah?  

[00:30:58] Unknown:

Tommy,   there was a policeman here.   Says we can't stay here.  

[00:31:03] Unknown:

I was scared you'd hit him if he talked to you. When did I go and hit a policeman for? But he talked so bad. I nearly hit him myself with a skillet.  

[00:31:12] Unknown:

You'd turn him to some kind of hellcat, Ma.  

[00:31:15] Unknown:

I knowed you when you was gentle. Now, this here policeman called us Okies.  

[00:31:19] Unknown:

Said he's gonna run us in if we's here tomorrow. What's the matter of you two? We gotta go, Paul. I thought we was gonna rest. Well, we ain't.   And there's something else I gotta tell you both.   Noah,   he ain't a goin' on. What? He wants to stay with the river.  

[00:31:35] Unknown:

Why? I'll eat. Says he'll catch fish. What the hell's the matter with him? I don't know, Pa.  

[00:31:42] Unknown:

Says he's got to. Why? Why? Noah will be alright, Ma. He's a funny kind of fella. It's my fault.  

[00:31:49] Unknown:

I made him strange. Lost my head when he was being born.   Pa, it ain't your fault. Midwife was late. Ma was screaming a blue fit. And Noah's head was sticking out, and I just wanted it to be over.   So I pulled,   pulled his head and neck right out of shape.   Midwife arrived, tried to put him right, but he never was. Seems like I can't faint no more.  

[00:32:12] Unknown:

At least too much.  

[00:32:14] Unknown:

We can't leave him. We got to go on, Pa.  

[00:32:19] Unknown:

Mister Wilson,  

[00:32:21] Unknown:

how's Sarri? Yeah, that's what I was coming to say.  

[00:32:24] Unknown:

She's pretty bad.   Got a rest. Top says he'll run us in if we're here tomorrow. Just have to jail us in.  

[00:32:31] Unknown:

Sarah ain't going to get across that desert alive. Maybe we better wait and all go together. Oh,   well, you you've been nice to us.   You've been kind, but you can't stay here. But you and missus Wilson ain't got nothing. Never had nothing when you took us up, mister Jobe.   Now you folks get going.   Don't you make me get mean. Well, he's pretty well packed. With the load, we'll take our old truck boiler head off.  

[00:32:54] Unknown:

We gotta have plenty of water. But what about grandma? She's sleeping. Tom, you and Al, I'm a hoist her up on her mattress. Sure thing, Paul. Al?   Give me your hand. Everybody else, tell the Lord.  

[00:33:05] Unknown:

Good luck to you, Jotes. Thanks,   Lord.  

[00:33:09] Unknown:

Mister Wilson,   I want you to take a couple of dollars and some pork and potatoes. I ain't gonna do it. You you ain't got much. Now we've got enough to get there, and we'll have work right off. He ain't gonna do it. I'll get mean if you try. You give me them bills, Pa. Now, mister Wilson, we're leaving these bills under the pork pan.  

[00:33:29] Unknown:

Now if you don't get them, somebody else will. I'm,  

[00:33:33] Unknown:

going into my tent.   Comfort's area.  

[00:33:38] Unknown:

Come on, Paul.   Ma, time to get aboard. Coming, Tom.  

[00:33:49] Unknown:

Goodbye, mister and missus Wilson.   Good luck to your boat. Okay, Tom. Let's go.  

[00:34:12] Unknown:

Sun's gone, and it's still hotter than hell. Yeah. Al's gonna find it hard sleeping. Man, none of them up top's gonna sleep easy, Tom. He's the only one got to drive later, Casey. That's right, uncle John.  

[00:34:24] Unknown:

Desert's a hard place.   Lots must have died.  

[00:34:29] Unknown:

Well, we ain't exactly come out clean.  

[00:34:31] Unknown:

Think we'll ever see them Wilsons again. I got a hunch, Uncle John.  

[00:34:36] Unknown:

Nobody ain't gonna see missus Wilson for long.   Attaboy.   Val sure picked well when he picked this here Hudson. Yeah. Made it up the hill without blowing. Yeah. Gonna coast down for a while. Let her cool off some.  

[00:34:49] Unknown:

Casey,   you're you're a fella who ought to know what to do. You've been a preacher. Oh, look, John. Everybody take a crack at me because of that.  

[00:34:58] Unknown:

Preacher ain't nothing but a man. Yeah. But he's a kind of a man. Else, he wouldn't be a preacher. Well, he's got you there, Casey. You still don't mind to preach a sermon every chance you get. I've been thinking.  

[00:35:10] Unknown:

You think a fella could bring bad luck to folks?   I don't know. See, I was married.   Fine, good girl. In the family way. And one night, she gets a pain in her stomach, and she says,   you better go for a doctor.   I told her, you ate too much. Take a dose of painkiller.   Next day, she's out of her head.   Died at four in the afternoon.   Appendicit   bust in it. I told Casey about what happened, John. Before she died, she gave me a look.   I tried to make it up, tried to be good,   but I can't.   I get drunk and go wild, but I can't never forget that look.  

[00:35:53] Unknown:

I killed her.   Everybody   goes wild, John.   I do too. Yeah. But you ain't got a sin on your soul like me. For sure, I got sins. Everybody's got it. Sin is something you ain't sure about.   And people that sure about everything ain't got no sin.   So if I was God, I'd kick their ass right out of heaven.  

[00:36:13] Unknown:

I got a feeling I'm bringing bad luck to my own folks.   Got a feeling I ought to go away and let them be. I don't think there's luck or bad luck, John.  

[00:36:24] Unknown:

Only one thing in this world I'm sure of,   nobody's got a right to mess with a fella's life.   No. He's gotta do it all his self.   You think it was a sin to let my wife die like that? For anybody else, it was a mistake. If you think it was a sin, well, it's a sin.   Ella build his own sins right up from the ground. Hell, John,  

[00:36:46] Unknown:

you just work in your end.   You sit in the cab with me and the preacher while everybody else gets some sleep.   And you must be dog tired.  

[00:36:54] Unknown:

You're a good boy, Tom. But I gotta give what Casey said of going over.   Sure.  

[00:37:02] Unknown:

Hope them folks up above is getting some rest.   Wonder how grandma is.  

[00:37:13] Unknown:

Oh,   sweet   baby Jesus.  

[00:37:17] Unknown:

Take me. Oh, Chanel.  

[00:37:20] Unknown:

Try and sleep. How's grandma doing, love?  

[00:37:23] Unknown:

Alright. I guess Rose is Sharon.   What you thinking about Rose Sharon?  

[00:37:30] Unknown:

I'm so tired, Connie.   Seems like we wouldn't know we're gonna do nothing but move.  

[00:37:40] Unknown:

How'd you like to be alone now, Rose of Sharon?   Just two of us? Don't touch me, Connie.  

[00:37:47] Unknown:

You make me crazy as a loon.  

[00:37:50] Unknown:

Maybe, when everybody's asleep.  

[00:37:52] Unknown:

Wait until they get to sleep then.  

[00:37:55] Unknown:

I can hardly stop.  

[00:37:57] Unknown:

Me neither.   Please.   Stop, honey.   You make me crazy.   Now we won't get to sleep.  

[00:38:10] Unknown:

I love you, Rose of Cher. I love you too.  

[00:38:14] Unknown:

Now you move away frack it crazy.  

[00:38:20] Unknown:

I ain't sleepy yet.  

[00:38:23] Unknown:

Let's talk about when we get there.   Keep our hands still.  

[00:38:30] Unknown:

Well,   I'll get to study in nights right off.  

[00:38:34] Unknown:

How long before you be making big money and we got ice?  

[00:38:38] Unknown:

Can't really tell.   Fella ought to be studied up pretty good before Christmas.  

[00:38:43] Unknown:

Soon as you get studied up, we could get ice and stuff.  

[00:38:46] Unknown:

Use hot now.   Where'd you go any ice around Christmas for?  

[00:38:53] Unknown:

I'd like ice anytime.   Don't,   Connie.   You want me to, don't you?   You get me crazy.  

[00:39:08] Unknown:

I gotta have you go to shit.  

[00:39:10] Unknown:

Connie,   I love you so.  

[00:39:20] Unknown:

It's gonna be alright, grandma.  

[00:39:23] Unknown:

You know the family got to get across.  

[00:39:37] Unknown:

Slow  

[00:39:43] Unknown:

down,  

[00:39:44] Unknown:

damn it. You gotta stop, mister   agricultural   inspection.  

[00:39:48] Unknown:

In the middle of the desert?  

[00:39:50] Unknown:

You're through the worst.  

[00:39:53] Unknown:

You got any vegetables or seeds?   No.  

[00:39:57] Unknown:

What time is it? About an hour to sun up?  

[00:40:01] Unknown:

We gotta look over your stuff. You gotta unload.  

[00:40:04] Unknown:

We ain't got none. Don't tell them, ma.  

[00:40:07] Unknown:

Look, mister.   We got a sick old lady.   We gotta get her to a doctor. We can't wait. Yeah? Well, we gotta look you over. I swear we ain't got anything. I swear. It didn't take long to look over her, Ma. No. No. No. No. Tommy, grandma is awful sick. You don't look so good yourself. Well, shine your torch up there. Take a look at her if you don't believe me.  

[00:40:29] Unknown:

Yeah. By god.   She's awful sick, ain't you? I told you.   We swear you got no seeds, fruits, or vegetables,   no corn,   oranges? No. No. I swear it.   Well, then go ahead   and get a doctor in Barstow.   Only eight miles. Thank you, mister.   Good luck.  

[00:40:50] Unknown:

Grandma alright, ma? She looks pretty bad. She's fine, Tommy. Now let's get going. She don't look fine. And when you get to Barstow, you just drive on. We got to get across. You sure you're okay, ma? Your flighty's a dog with a flame's ear. Just get a going and don't stop, Tommy. I can't figure you. First grandma's sick. Now she's alright, which isn't long. She's fine, I tell you. Now let's get going, Tommy.   Okay.  

[00:41:31] Unknown:

Jesus Christ.  

[00:41:33] Unknown:

Look at the valley, Paul.   Vineyards,   orchards,  

[00:41:37] Unknown:

trees set in roves. There's peach trees, walnut groves, oranges. And them little white houses your ma got her heart set on. Hell, Tom. I never knowed anything was like her. Come on, everybody.   Come and see. What is it, Pa? The promised land, Rose Of Sharon. California.  

[00:41:53] Unknown:

Let me through. I wanna see.  

[00:41:55] Unknown:

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

[00:42:00] Unknown:

Ma, come here. What's all the hollering for, Tom?   We made it.  

[00:42:05] Unknown:

My God, Ma.   You sick?   You say we're across?   Just feast your eyes on the valley.  

[00:42:15] Unknown:

Thank God.  

[00:42:19] Unknown:

The family's here.   Oh, I gotta settle while. You sick, ma? No. Just tired. Didn't you get no sleep? No. Is grandma bad, ma?   I wish I could wait and not tell you.   I wished it could all be nice.  

[00:42:36] Unknown:

Then grandma's bad.  

[00:42:38] Unknown:

Grandma's dead.   Oh. When?   Before they stopped us last night. So that's why you didn't want them to look? I was afraid we wouldn't get across.   I told grandma we couldn't help her.   Couldn't stop in the desert.  

[00:42:54] Unknown:

Jesus Christ.   You laying there with her all night long.  

[00:42:58] Unknown:

She was a dying Connie  

[00:43:00] Unknown:

right when we was How'd we know Rosa Sharon? She can get buried in a nice green place with trees around.  

[00:43:08] Unknown:

You as a woman so great with love, missus Joad,  

[00:43:12] Unknown:

you scare me. Don't touch me, preacher.   I'll hold up if you don't touch me.  

[00:43:18] Unknown:

I I guess we gotta go to the corner.   Get grandma buried decent.   How much money we got left, Paul?  

[00:43:25] Unknown:

About $40, Tom. Jesus.  

[00:43:28] Unknown:

Are we gonna start clean? It is so  

[00:43:31] Unknown:

pretty.   Oh, I wish they coulda saw it. They wouldn't have saw nothing that's there.  

[00:43:36] Unknown:

It was too old.  

[00:43:38] Unknown:

Who's really seeing it is Ruthie and Winfield.  

[00:43:40] Unknown:

We gotta go now.  

[00:43:42] Unknown:

Keep on going. Can I sit up front?  

[00:43:45] Unknown:

I don't wanna go back there no more.   Sure thing, mom.   I'm tired.   Awful tired.   Grandma would've liked a grass plot  

[00:44:03] Unknown:

surrounded by trees. Wasn't nothing else to do. Didn't have enough.  

[00:44:08] Unknown:

I'm glad she didn't live see what we come to.   Camping in this here Hooverville.   Mind if I said a while, you folks? Sure, John. We were just talking about mom. I just can't get it out of my head what store she set by a nice funeral. You ain't to feel bad, boss. That's right.  

[00:44:26] Unknown:

Embalming in a coffin and a preacher and a plot in a graveyard   would've took 10 times what we got. We done the best we could.  

[00:44:35] Unknown:

No use letting the little fellas go hungry, I guess.  

[00:44:39] Unknown:

Well, there goes Rosa Sharon   again.   Don't seem like she can keep nothing down for long. Having a hard time like most folks around here.  

[00:44:51] Unknown:

We ought to help Tom and them unpack, but   every time I stir it, I throw it up, Connie.  

[00:44:57] Unknown:

I know, Rose is Sharon.  

[00:45:00] Unknown:

Now what's the matter with you, Connie?   We ain't said hardly a word since we arrived.  

[00:45:05] Unknown:

If I'd known California would be like this, I wouldn't have came.  

[00:45:09] Unknown:

What'd you done instead?  

[00:45:11] Unknown:

I'd have studied nights about tractors back home and got me a $3 job. You're gonna study nights about radios,  

[00:45:19] Unknown:

ain't you?  

[00:45:20] Unknown:

Sure.  

[00:45:21] Unknown:

Soon as I get on my feet, get a little money. You ain't giving it up, Connie. Of course not. But  

[00:45:27] Unknown:

I didn't know there was places like this that we gotta live in. Stay.  

[00:45:31] Unknown:

Study like you said. I'm just saying.  

[00:45:36] Unknown:

Would have been better maybe stay home, study about tractors.  

[00:45:39] Unknown:

We gotta have a house before the baby comes.  

[00:45:42] Unknown:

Bella can live awful nice on $2 a day. Go to the picture show every night too. Where are you going now?  

[00:45:49] Unknown:

Thought I'd   take me a stroll.  

[00:45:52] Unknown:

Get some air.  

[00:45:59] Unknown:

Look at that, Tom.  

[00:46:01] Unknown:

Brand new Chevrolet coupe. Ain't camping here. That's for sure.   Dom? Al?   Who's to come and visit? Dunno, Casey. Cops, maybe. Yeah.  

[00:46:15] Unknown:

You men?   Gather around.  

[00:46:19] Unknown:

So,   what are you selling, mister?  

[00:46:23] Unknown:

You men wanna work.  

[00:46:24] Unknown:

Yeah. I do. Yeah. I wanna work. Where's it at?  

[00:46:27] Unknown:

Tulare County. Fruits opening up. Need a lot of pickers. You doing the hiring?  

[00:46:33] Unknown:

I'm contracting the land. What are you paying?  

[00:46:36] Unknown:

Can't tell exactly. About 30¢.  

[00:46:38] Unknown:

Why can't you tell? You took the contract, didn't you? Sure. But it's key to the price. Well, you tell us where and when and how much we get, and you sign that, and I'll go. Yeah. I'll go do that. Yeah. I'll go. Put me there. You telling me how to run my business. If we're working for you, it's our business too. Deputy,   come here a minute.  

[00:46:59] Unknown:

Take a look at this guy. He was right, Tom. He's a cop.   What he do?  

[00:47:04] Unknown:

He's talking red,  

[00:47:06] Unknown:

agitating trouble. I ain't done nothing. Yeah. Seems like I've seen you before.   Last week when that used car lot was busted into. Yeah. I wasn't even in the state last week. Yeah. Maybe you're wanted someplace else.  

[00:47:19] Unknown:

Get in that car. You got nothing on him, deputy. You'd like to go in too, you just open your mouth once more.   Come to think of it, there was two fellas hanging around that lot. You men don't wanna listen to these goddamn  

[00:47:33] Unknown:

reds.  

[00:47:34] Unknown:

Now who wants to work? I can't hardly eat on those wavies. If you don't work, you're a goddamn red. If you do, you're a goddamn fool. You're a damn fat ass deputy. If you can't catch around and you got reds out here, there'll be a bunch of guys down with pink handles.   Somebody might get hurt. If you men don't wanna work, well, that's your business. Ain't a place for them in this county.  

[00:47:55] Unknown:

Right. Now you  

[00:47:57] Unknown:

get in a car for I plug  

[00:47:59] Unknown:

you. I don't take kindly to fellas pulling a gun on me.   Let go of my arm.  

[00:48:05] Unknown:

Mm-mm. You red bastards is real sneaky. I ain't going nowhere, deputy.   Except to meet your maker. Now get in that car.   Oh, god. I warned you. Alright. Now Who talk you right on the ground?  

[00:48:19] Unknown:

There goes the contractor.  

[00:48:21] Unknown:

Place will be full of cops before you know it. Jesus, Tom. He done busted a deputy's job. You better run for a time. I don't want to, Casey. He'll fingerprint.   I'll send you back. Jesus.  

[00:48:30] Unknown:

I forgot. Now hurry. He's coming around. Shit.  

[00:48:33] Unknown:

Stop or I'll shoot.  

[00:48:36] Unknown:

I got it.  

[00:48:38] Unknown:

Oh, you've done it now, Casey. You damn near kicked his head off. I had to for you to kill Thomas.  

[00:48:44] Unknown:

We ain't done shot a woman over yonder. Shot her fingers just bite off. Hey, go quick, ass. Before he comes to, go to the tent. You don't know nothing. Well, how about you? Somebody gotta take the blame. I got no kids. Now you get it. Well, I ain't taking orders. You mess on this, and your whole family's gonna get in trouble. Ma,   maybe they'll send Tom back to McAllister.  

[00:49:03] Unknown:

Okay.   But you're a damn fool, preacher. Sure. Why not? Now get.  

[00:49:12] Unknown:

What the hell's going on here? I knocked out your van there.  

[00:49:16] Unknown:

Why? I got tough and I hit him. And he started shooting. Hit a woman down the line, so I hit him again. What'd you do in the first place? Talk back.  

[00:49:25] Unknown:

Joe,  

[00:49:26] Unknown:

is this the guy that hit you?  

[00:49:28] Unknown:

I think there was another guy.  

[00:49:30] Unknown:

Jesus. I'm gonna be sick. Was there another guy? Uh-uh. No. Just me. Yeah. Pretty soon, it'll be four guys jumped him and a whole posse. Get in the car. Hey. Now wait. There's a woman down the road like to bleed to death from his bad shooting. We'll see about that later. Now get in the car. Yeah. Okay. Sure. But what about that woman he shot? We'll send a doctor out before we burn the camp down.  

[00:49:51] Unknown:

Okay.   Pound up.   Move out.  

[00:50:08] Unknown:

Paul, where's Al?  

[00:50:09] Unknown:

I'm going to tell Tom he can come out of hiding.   What the hell made Casey do that? He knowed about sin.  

[00:50:17] Unknown:

I've been secret all my life. Done things I never told about. Well, tell them to God, John. Don't go burdening others with your sins. They ain't decent.   They're eating at me, ma. Go down to the river and stick your head under and whisper them in the stream. Where's Connie, ma? I ain't seen him in a long time. You've been a crying, Rosa Sharon. I'm feeling so good.   He shouldn't have left me. And you get a hold of yourself.   You take this here knife and go peel some potatoes. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Wait till I see him. I'll tell him.   Wine and then candy and herself.  

I ain't had time to take her in hand.  

[00:50:53] Unknown:

I got to tell. Can't keep it in no way. Tell then. Goddamn it. Who'd you kill, John?   I got me $5.   Kept her out. Steal her? No. I had her.   Old time, he was worried about what money you've got left. I don't see much sin in that, John. It's yourn. It ain't only the keeping her out.   I I kept her out to get drunk. That what's eating you? I knowed there was gonna come a time when I'd get to hurting inside, so I got to get drunk.   Figured time wasn't yet.   Then the preacher went and give himself up to save Tom.  

[00:51:32] Unknown:

I don't see why Casey saving Tom got to get you drunk. Can't rightly say, ma'am,  

[00:51:38] Unknown:

except I feel so bad and he done her so easy. If it's me, I just go off and get drunk. Preacher says a fellow makes his own sins.  

[00:51:47] Unknown:

Well, this sure feels like a sin. If you're hurting so bad, you go get yourself drunk, John. But you ain't gonna need no $5 to do it. Take two.   You ain't gonna be mad?   Christ no, John. You go along.   See you later.  

[00:52:06] Unknown:

I've never seen a man so drove, Pa. Yeah.  

[00:52:10] Unknown:

Seems like we're all driven, Ma.  

[00:52:18] Unknown:

So, Al,   ain't that Connie heading upriver?  

[00:52:21] Unknown:

Sure is.  

[00:52:22] Unknown:

Where are you supposed he's a goin'? Oh, take a crap, I guess. He's going a hell of a long way.   They took Casey time.   Be in jail now. Shouldn't have did it, Al.   Funny fella. All the time of thinking. I don't know what comes from being a preacher. They get all messed up with stuff. I guess.  

[00:52:38] Unknown:

Tom. Oh, thank God you're okay. We gotta get out of here. What the hell are for? We ain't done nothing. Except beat up a cop, Pa. Did your of you two sink, Connie?  

[00:52:47] Unknown:

Yeah.   Way to hell and gone upriver.  

[00:52:50] Unknown:

I ain't seen him in a long time, Mark. I think he's gone. What did Connie say to you?  

[00:52:56] Unknown:

Said it would be a good thing if he stayed home and studied tractors.   I don't want him to go.   I want him back.  

[00:53:06] Unknown:

Connie wasn't no good. I've seen that a long time.  

[00:53:09] Unknown:

It's too big for his overall. Don't say that, Paul. If he ain't no good, we don't want him. Rosa Sharon gonna have a little fella, and that baby is half Connie. We got no time for talking. We gotta pack and get out.  

[00:53:22] Unknown:

They're gonna burn the camp tonight. Mhmm. I ain't got Emmy to stand by and see our stuff burn up. Me neither. None of us, Jodes, has. I nearly got it today if the preacher hadn't jumped in. Well, what about John? He went off to get drunk. He won't have gone far. Be laying near that liquor store just across the highway, I bet you. I'll go and find him, Pa. Now start packing. We gotta hightail it out of here. You heard him. Let's get to it. Alright, Empa.  

[00:53:47] Unknown:

I heard what Tom is saying,  

[00:53:49] Unknown:

I heard what Tom was saying, ma. I ain't a call in that country.  

[00:53:52] Unknown:

We got two, Rosa, Sharon.  

[00:53:54] Unknown:

Tom will leave word at the liquor store. He'll find us.  

[00:53:58] Unknown:

Maybe  

[00:53:59] Unknown:

he went to get them books to study up. Maybe that's just what you've done. Thank you, little Sharon. Now view the uploader.  

[00:54:14] Unknown:

I hope John's alright, Paul.  

[00:54:17] Unknown:

Had to carry him back.  

[00:54:19] Unknown:

Had to slug him first by the look of that bruise on his cheek. Hell, Pa? Oh, John don't never come easy when he's liquored up by our nose.  

[00:54:28] Unknown:

You alright sitting in the middle there, ma? Oh, I guess so, Tom.  

[00:54:32] Unknown:

Awful tard.   I ought to get a good night's sleep for once.  

[00:54:37] Unknown:

Think we're gonna hit trouble, Tom? Al's sitting on the backboard with a monkey wrench in his hand. Oh, you grab hold of that jack handle. Thank god. Hope to god you don't need it. Tom, you promised me you wouldn't like that. I know, Ma, but them deputies. You ever see one didn't have a fat ass? If it was a law they was working with, we could take it. But they're trying to break us. You got to keep clear, Tom. The family's breaking up. Try, Ma.   But when them fat asses gets to working me over,   I sure got a hard job.  

[00:55:06] Unknown:

This is why we're headed south.  

[00:55:08] Unknown:

Where we going? Government camp. Place called Weedpatch.   They don't let no deputies in there.   I got to get away from them, Paul.   I'm scared I'll kill one if I don't. Easy, Tommy.  

[00:55:20] Unknown:

You done good once. You can do it again. After a while, I won't have no decency left. You got to have patience.  

[00:55:27] Unknown:

Now us people will go on living when them people is gone. You're taking the beating all the time, ma. Well, maybe that makes us tough.   Rich fellas come up and they die and their kids ain't no good and they die out.   But we keep on coming, Tom. They ain't gonna wipe us out.  

[00:55:44] Unknown:

You're right about that, Ma.   Look ahead.  

[00:55:48] Unknown:

Oh my lord.  

[00:55:50] Unknown:

What are those fires?  

[00:55:51] Unknown:

Roadblock. And a whole mess of people carrying shotguns. Grab a hold of that or jack handle, Pa. What are they doing in the middle of the night?  

[00:55:59] Unknown:

Guess we're about to find out,   boy.  

[00:56:26] Unknown:

In the second of three episodes of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, dramatized for radio by Steve Chambers,   Tom Joad was played by John Schwab,   Casey was Bob Sherman,   grandpa, Gary Kagan, and grandma, Liza Ross.   Ma was Pat Starr,   pa, William Roberts, and uncle John, Bill Bailey.   Al was Ryan McCluskey,   Rosa Sharon, Teresa Gallagher,   Noah, Eric Lauren, and Connie, Martin Sherman.   Wilson was John Gaurasio,   Sayre, Deborah Weston, and the cop, Stuart Milliken.   The director was Marion Nancarrow.