Of Mice and Men
Scene #1 · Chapter 1
George and Lennie rest by the Salinas River before starting work at a nearby ranch. George becomes frustrated when Lennie produces a dead mouse from his pocket, throwing it across the river. To calm Lennie after their argument, George recites their shared dream of owning a small farm where Lennie can tend rabbits. Lennie repeatedly asks George to describe the dream, finding comfort in the familiar words about living "off the fatta the lan'."
This scene establishes the dream as the central hope that sustains both men through their difficult lives as migrant workers. George's recitation becomes a ritual that defines their relationship and sets up the tragic ending where he will repeat these same words. The dream also distinguishes them from other ranch hands who have no future beyond their next paycheck.
And when it rains in the winter, we’ll just say the hell with goin’ to work, and we’ll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an’ listen to the rain comin’ down on the roof—Nuts!
Chapter 1 · George Milton
“An’ live off the fatta the lan’,” Lennie shouted.
Chapter 1 · Lennie Small
O.K. Someday—we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs and——
Chapter 1 · George Milton
With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.
Chapter 1 · George Milton
Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place.
Chapter 1 · George Milton