(Exterior: Long Shot. Camera pans across a sea of rusted mobile homes stretching deep into the horizon. As the camera moves in for a closer view, we see a ragged band of dirty children playing hop scotch in the dusk. We hear a shot fired in the distance. The children stop playing and listen attentively as more shots are fired. Soon, we see rockets flaring up in the sky, sparkling and twisting into fantastic shapes and colors of red, white, and blue.)

CHILD ONE: Oooh, pretty!

CHILD TWO: Pretty lights! Pretty lights!

(The children dance in a circle, delighted by the noise and fanfare. The camera cuts to the door of a mobile home. A grizzled, gray haired man and woman step outside to admire the fireworks. They are dressed in cheap cotton pants and shirts. Across the front of their shirts are stitched the same words: "Coca Cola is Mother****ing Good! Drink the God**** Coke, Yo!")

GRANDPA JOAD: Yep, the fourth of JU-ly. Mighty good to see the country celebrating.

GRANDMA JOAD: Reckon the gov'mint will give us our three gallons, Pa?

GRANDPA JOAD: Hope so. They promised us three gallons a gas at Christmas. Wouldn't do to lie on Jesus birthday, now would it?

Medium Shot: Two children run toward GRANDPA and GRANDMA JOAD: They are carrying something in a bag; they are very excited.

PANASONIC JOAD (he is a boy of about fourteen): Look what we found, Grandpa! (He dumps the bag upside down and several corroded cell phones and Ipods fall on the ground.) Ain't these the talking machines, Gramps?

GRANDPA JOAD: (he picks up the devices; then breaks into a broad, toothless grin.) Panny, you know what you got there?

PANASONIC: I dunno. If they ain't the talkin' machines, maybe they be—what do you call 'em—digitalis watches?

GRANDMA JOAD: (She cackles in glee): No, they ain't no watches, Panasonic Samsung Joad! Them's phones! And them other ones is for music.

SNAPPLE JOAD: (she is a dirty faced little urchin of six or seven. In a pleading voice): Tell us about the rap music, Grandpa! Tell us about the S.U.V.s and the fast food and the bling...