Of Mice and Men

George Milton and Lennie Small manage to escape a posse that is pursuing them. They hop on a freight train headed for the San Joaquin Valley, hoping to find work and a better life.

The pair spend the night in a thicket along the Salinas River, where George shares his dreams with Lennie. He imagines a future where they own a little farm of their own, a dream that keeps them motivated.

Before continuing on their journey, George warns Lennie to return to the river if he ever gets into serious trouble. This foreshadows the conflicts that will arise because of Lennie's simple-mindedness.

George and Lennie arrive at the Jackson ranch and find work, hoping it will be a step toward their dream. They meet other ranch workers, including Candy, who will play a crucial role in their future.

Lennie quickly draws the ire of Curley, the ranch owner's son, who is a bully and dislikes larger men. This enmity creates tension on the ranch and sets the stage for later confrontations.

Candy, an older worker at the ranch, befriends George and Lennie, warning them about Curley’s jealous nature regarding his wife. This advice underscores the dangerous dynamics present on the ranch.

George shares their shared dream of owning a farm with Candy, who offers to pitch in his life savings to help make it a reality. This moment brings hope to all three men, albeit briefly.

Curley, in a fit of jealousy and rage over his wife, begins to attack Lennie. Although terrified at first, Lennie eventually retaliates by crushing Curley's fist, a pivotal moment that escalates tensions.

Later that night, Mae encounters Lennie, George, and Curley in the quarters of Crooks. She taunts Curley about his injury, further complicating the relationships between the characters.

In retaliation for the incident with Lennie, Curley orders Mae to leave. This emotional turmoil sets up a tragic turn of events involving Lennie and Mae.

Mae encounters Lennie in the barn while he mourns the death of his puppy, which he accidentally killed. This moment shows Lennie's inner turmoil and his desperate need for comfort.

Lennie, wanting to touch something soft, engages in conversation with Mae. However, when she panics and tells him to stop, he inadvertently kills her in a tragic accident as he tries to quiet her.

Remembering George's warning, Lennie flees to the thicket near the river after the incident with Mae. This reflects his instinctual drive to seek safety in a familiar place.

As Curley organizes a posse to hunt for Lennie, George takes matters into his own hands and steals a pistol. He understands the dire situation and must make a heartbreaking decision.

George finds Lennie at the river, where he instructs him to look across the water as he describes their dream farm one last time. In a moment filled with sorrow, George shoots Lennie to save him from the mob.