Bound for Glory

In 1936 Guthrie performs his guitar at a gas station while customers listen. A man offers $1 to anyone who can address his worries, and Guthrie provides a satisfying answer that earns the money. The moment foreshadows his later role as a working-class troubadour.

Guthrie begins painting a sign but abandons the task—the family's only reliable source of income—in favor of pursuing music. This decision strains his wife Mary and highlights the precarious finances of the Depression era. The choice sets Guthrie on a road of travel and performance rather than steady work.

At a local bar Guthrie performs for a woman named Sue Ann and ends up spending the night with her. The encounter shows his romantic escapades amid constant travel and hardship. It also underscores his restless life on the road.

On his porch, Guthrie meets Heavy Chandler, a recently released mental patient, and encourages him to express his thoughts through painting. The moment reinforces Guthrie's belief in art as a healing outlet and his empathy for others. It also foreshadows his habit of turning conversations into creative acts.

After performing at a square dance, a dust storm forces everyone indoors. The disruption illustrates the harsh, unsettled conditions of the era and the way nature mirrors the characters' instability. Guthrie uses the moment to reflect on his own path.

Guthrie tells Mary that he needs to leave to seek work, and he eventually departs, leaving a note behind. The separation underscores the tension between family stability and the pull of labor opportunities during the Depression. Mary stays behind as Guthrie continues his travels.

Guthrie rides a train with Slim Snedeger and other hobos; a fight erupts. Railroad enforcers compel those without money to disembark, and Slim can afford the fare while Guthrie cannot. He continues on foot as they part ways, epitomizing the precarious life of the unemployed.

A middle-class couple gives him a ride, but Guthrie offends them and they drop him off along the road. The encounter highlights class tensions and his outsider status. He moves on to find food and shelter elsewhere.

In another bar, Guthrie earns a meal by playing the piano and spends the night with a waitress. The scene shows how music provides short-term aid and companionship during endless travel. He remains committed to performing despite the fluctuations of luck.

Guthrie travels with a family bound for California until border police demand $50 for entry. He leaves the family and camps with nearby hobos instead, continuing his journey westward. The encounter underscores the barriers faced by migrants seeking a better life.

In Los Angeles, Guthrie meets Luther and Liz Johnson, a migrant couple struggling to find work. He offers to paint a sign at a soup kitchen, but their payment is simply a bowl of soup, illustrating how scarce resources are. The scene highlights the paltry rewards for labor in a city that offers little opportunity.

Ozark Bule, a union organizer, arrives and Guthrie helps him escape disruption, which leads to a radio job where his songs about workers gain some popularity. However, station owner Mr. Locke demands that Guthrie avoid songs about unions, and Guthrie ultimately resists and is dismissed. The sequence marks a turning point as Guthrie refuses to compromise his message.