Of Mice and Men Synopsis
An agricultural valley in northern California, 1930s
ACT I
George and Lennie, a pair of migrant workers, are on the run from the police. Lennie, who has an intellectual disability, landed the pair in hot water when he tried to feel a girl’s soft dress. George expresses his frustration—his life would be much easier if he didn’t have to look after Lennie. He notices that his companion is hiding something and discovers it’s a mouse that Lennie accidentally petted to death. To comfort Lennie, George tells him about the farm they hope to buy one day—a place they can finally call home.
The following evening, hotheaded ranch owner Curley waits impatiently in the bunkhouse where his employees live. George and Lennie were supposed to start work that day but never showed up. Curley’s Wife, starved for attention, enters and begs her husband to take her out. George and Lennie finally arrive and are greeted by the ranch hands, including the elderly Candy Curley’s Wife returns and tries to flirt with the men. Suddenly, everyone smells the stink of Candy’s old dog. The ranch hands insist Candy put the poor beast out of its misery, and the assistant foreman Carlson takes the dog out and shoots him.
ACT II
Several days later, George finds a newspaper ad for a farm that fits what he and Lennie are looking for. Candy overhears their excitement and offers to go in with them on purchasing the property. As the three imagine their bright future together, Curley’s Wife interrupts them. When Curley discovers his wife in the bunkhouse, he jealously tries to pick a fight with Lennie, who breaks Curley’s hand. Slim the foreman suggests a deal—if Curley doesn’t fire George and Lennie, they promise not to tell anyone how he was injured.
INTERMISSION
ACT III
The following afternoon, Lennie is hiding in the ranch’s barn—he accidentally killed the puppy Slim gave him and doesn’t want George to know. Curley’s Wife enters carrying a suitcase, ready to escape her life on the ranch. She shares her dream of becoming a Hollywood film star, and Lennie relates his plans for the farm. He tells Curley’s Wife about his love for soft things, and she lets him feel her hair. But when his stroking becomes too rough, she tries to free herself, and he accidentally snaps her neck. Realizing he’s done something awful, Lennie slips away. The ranch hands discover the dead body of Curley’s Wife, and Slim urges George to act fast—he has to steal a pistol and get to Lennie before Curley does.
George finds Lennie down by the river as Curley and a lynch mob are heard approaching. Distracting Lennie with a description of their farm that will never be, George holds up the gun and pulls the trigger.