Very Short Summary
California, 1930s. Two migrant workers arrived at a ranch near Soledad. They had fled their previous job in Weed after one of them was falsely accused of assault.
George and Lennie shared a dream of owning their own farm. At the ranch, they met Candy, an old swamper who offered to contribute his savings to their dream. However, they also encountered trouble in the form of Curley, the boss's aggressive son, and his flirtatious wife.
When Curley attacked Lennie, the larger man crushed his hand in self-defense. Meanwhile, Lennie accidentally killed his puppy while petting it. Later, he met Curley's wife in the barn, where she invited him to stroke her soft hair. When she panicked and screamed, Lennie accidentally broke her neck while trying to keep her quiet.
George found Lennie hiding by the river where he had instructed him to go if trouble arose. Knowing that Curley would lead a lynch mob to kill Lennie painfully, George decided to protect his friend one last time.
George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie's head... He pulled the trigger. The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again.
While telling Lennie about their dream farm one final time, George mercifully shot him. When the other men arrived, only Slim understood the terrible choice George had made to protect his friend from a worse fate.
Detailed Summary
Section titles are editorial.
By the Salinas River: George and Lennie's Arrival
Near the Salinas River in California, two migrant workers arrived at a clearing. They had walked a long distance after a bus driver left them miles from their destination. The taller man followed the shorter one, mimicking his actions.
While resting by the river, Lennie secretly kept a dead mouse in his pocket, wanting to pet it. George discovered this and threw it away, scolding Lennie for his behavior. He reminded Lennie about their previous troubles, particularly the incident in Weed where Lennie's innocent desire to touch a girl's dress had caused them to flee from an angry mob.
Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no fambly. They don't belong no place... They ain't got nothing to look ahead to.
As night fell, George and Lennie discussed their shared dream of owning their own land. George described their future farm, where Lennie would tend rabbits, and they would live off the land. He also instructed Lennie to return to this spot and hide in the brush if he ever got into trouble at the ranch.
The Bunkhouse: Meeting the Ranch Workers
The next morning, George and Lennie arrived at the ranch. The old swamper showed them to the bunkhouse and explained that the boss was angry about their late arrival. When the boss questioned them, George did most of the talking to protect Lennie.
Soon after, they met Curley, the boss's son, who immediately showed hostility toward Lennie. Candy warned them about Curley's aggressive nature and his new wife, who had 'the eye' for other men. George worried about potential trouble with both Curley and his wife.
Later, they met Slim, the respected jerkline skinner, who had a litter of puppies. He agreed to give one to Lennie. During a conversation with Slim, George confided about his relationship with Lennie and the incident in Weed. Meanwhile, Carlson convinced Candy to let him shoot his old dog, claiming it would be merciful.
I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog... I ought to of shot that dog myself.
That evening, Curley picked a fight with Lennie, who initially refused to defend himself. When George urged him to fight back, Lennie crushed Curley's hand. Slim convinced Curley to say his hand was caught in a machine to avoid embarrassment and prevent trouble for Lennie and George.
Crooks's Room: A Night of Conversations
One evening, while the other men went to town, Lennie visited Crooks, the isolated black stable buck, in his room. Despite initial resistance, Crooks allowed Lennie to stay. They were joined by Candy, and the three men discussed their dream of buying land together.
A guy needs somebody - to be near him... A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick.
I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an' that same damn thing in their heads... Never a God damn one of 'em ever gets it.
Curley's wife interrupted their conversation, seeking company. When Crooks asked her to leave, she cruelly reminded him of his vulnerable position as a black man. After she left, Crooks withdrew his interest in joining their dream, recognizing the futility of his hopes.
The Barn: Lennie's Fatal Mistake
The next day, Lennie accidentally killed his puppy while petting it too roughly. As he mourned over the dead pup in the barn, Curley's wife found him. She shared her lonely life and unfulfilled dreams of becoming a movie star. When she invited Lennie to touch her soft hair, the situation quickly turned tragic.
We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don't have to sit-in no bar room blowin' in our jack jus' because we got no place else to go.
Lennie stroked her hair too hard, and when she panicked and screamed, he held on tighter, eventually breaking her neck in his attempt to silence her. Remembering George's instructions, Lennie fled to their meeting spot by the river.
The Barn: Discovery and Pursuit
Candy discovered Curley's wife's body and informed George. They realized Lennie was responsible, and George understood what he had to do. Candy remained behind with the body while George joined the search party, which included Curley, who was determined to kill Lennie himself.
Carlson discovered his Luger was missing, leading the men to believe Lennie had stolen it. Curley organized a manhunt, insisting they shoot to kill. George joined them to ensure he would reach Lennie first.
Back at the Salinas River: The Final Scene
George found Lennie at their meeting spot by the river. As the search party drew closer, George told Lennie to look across the river while he recited their shared dream one last time. As Lennie enthusiastically joined in, describing the rabbits he would tend, George took Carlson's Luger and shot Lennie in the back of the head, sparing him from Curley's vengeance.
When the others arrived, George led them to believe that he had wrestled the gun from Lennie and shot him in self-defense. Only Slim understood the truth and the mercy behind George's actions, leading him away while the others remained puzzled by his apparent distress.