Script based on Of Mice and Men
by Kay W.

Scene opens with George, Lennie, and Candy sitting around the television set staring intensely at an old baseball game recording.  George has suckered Candy, who suffers from alzhiemers, into betting his week’s worth of cigarettes on the losing team, and for effect George pretends to be watching the game for the first time.  Lennie, as usual has no idea what is going on.

George: Yeah!  Bring ‘em home!

Lennie looks at George with wide eyes and tries to figure out why everyone is so excited.  After a moment of glancing between George, Candy and the tape, Lennie taps George on the shoulder again.  

George: What?  What is it?

Lennie: continues tapping George.  George?  George…

George: Wh- turns to Lnnie.  Speaks loudly.  What da ya want?

Lennie: stops tapping George.  George…Wha-wa-wha’s goin’ on George?  Wha’s goin’ on?

George: loudly We’re watchin’ the game…louder, pointing to the television.  The GAME.  Turns back to the television set.

Lennie looks at the television for a moment.  Nods and mouths “oh”, then settles back in his chair.  George returns to his re-run.  Lennie looks around the room, fidgeting with his hands for a while, and becomes restless again.  He looks at the television set and then back at George.  Still not satisfied, he leans forward and begins tapping George on the shoulder again.

Lennie: Ge-George?  George?

George: sighs annoyedly.  What?  Turns to Lennie.  What is it?

Lennie: timidly.  Why you watch’n da game?  Wh-why George?

George: loudly.  Because, it’s fun.  Turns back to the television set.  Says in a normal tone.  Now watch it quietly you dumb bastard.

Lennie sat back again and tried to become more interested in what was going on around him.  Lennie began parroting George, shouting whenever George shouted, raising or shaking his arms at the television like George did whenever he disagreed with the umpire.  He soon grew bored of this game too and leaned forward to tap George again, but changed his mind.  He sat back and looked about the room again.  When nothing seemed too terribly interesting, or at least not enough to preoccupy him, Lennie decided to talk to George again.  He leaned forward and hesitantly tapped George’s shoulder.

Lennie: hesitantly.  Ge-George?  George…?

George: rolls his eyes and mutters a curse.  Jesus Lennie, what now?  Turns to Lennie, speaking louder.  What?!

Lennie: quickly withdraws his hand.  Still speaking hesitantly.  George?  How come they’s doin’ that George?  H-how comes?

George: irritated.  Because, that’s how it works.

Lennie: How what works, George?

George: The game, Lennie, points to television again and speaks loudly THE GAME!

Lennie: nods and mouths “oh”.  But is still not satisfied.  George?

George: losing his temper.  What?!

Lennie: frightened by his friend’s out burst.  Well, well why?  Wh-how come George?

George: shakes his head annoyed.  Quietly.  Jesus Christ Lennie.  Looks at Lennie and speaks loudly.  Go find somethin’ to do.  Louder.  Somethin’ to do.

Lennie: O-okay George, sure.

Lennie gets up from his chair and walks over to a barred window.  Out side the “good behavior” patients are enjoying their aimless walks inside the caged off playground.  A few of the male workers are playing basketball on an old beat up court with a limp rim and no net.  One or two of more “normal” patients watch and cheer from the sideline.  Lennie smiles and laughs gleefully.  Once he sees Lennie has found a new source of entertainment, George turns back to the television and continues his con.  He yells at the umpire for calling a “bogus” call.

Crooks: looks up from his magazine behind the nurse’s station.  Never rising from his seat.  Y’all keep down out there.

Curley’s wife enters through the main entrance.  She is dressed in a standard nurse’s uniform, a single white dress which she has modified to show more of her legs.  She has pinned a red carnation onto her slightly unbuttoned collar and sports her red knee high go-go boots.  She walks over to where Crooks is seated.

Curley’s Wife: Mornin’.

Crooks slides lower into his chair and raises his magazine to cover his face.

Curley’s Wife: Well fine then.  You’re not the only person in this place now are you?  There’s plenty here for me to choose.  Spotting George, she leaves the counter and walks over to where George and Candy are sitting.  Both of them try to ignore her.  Howdy fellas.  She smiles and seats herself on the arm of George’s chair.  George shifts uncomfortably.  And how are we today?  There is no answer.  

Lennie, who has lost interest the events outside in the caged playground, has been gawking at Curley’s wife since she walked through the doors.  His eyes are glittering with delight, his face as blank as ever, his brow is twisted with thought, and his jaw slightly open revealing Lennie’s true simplicity.  It is almost as if Lennie is determined to memorize her every detail, and if he doesn’t, in his mind she’ll slip away.

Candy: looking up from the game at Curley’s wife.  Go on now, we don’t want no trouble.

Curley’s Wife: laughs lightly.  Well I ain’t giving you any trouble.  Offended.  You think I don’t like talking to somebody every once in a while?  You think I like to sit alone all the time?  I haven’t done a thing to you…disgusted  not that I would anyways.  Now hush up, I was talking to this fellow here.

Candy turns his head back to the game, he is too intent on listening to George and Curley’s wife to pay any attention to it though.  Curley’s wife tries to flirt with George, but soon finds him even less willing than Crooks.

George: You ain’t wanted here ma’am, I ain’t interested.

Curley’s Wife: laughs girlishly.  Playfully Baloney!  I’ve seen the way ya’ll look at me when I walk by.  Don’t you tell me I ain’t wanted.

Lennie giggles in the corner.  He cannot take his eyes off of Curley’s wife.  She raises her eyes to Lennie and gives him a flirtatious half-smile, then looks back at George.  She has gone from sitting on the edge of the chair to sitting in Georges lap.

George: normally hard and cynical is beginning to blush with embarrassment.  Well ma’am-

Candy: angrily interrupts George.  I had enough!  You ain’t wanted here.  We told you you ain’t.  Now get going.

She initially ignores Candy’s loud protests and is running her fingers down Georges face.

Curley’s Wife: to Candy.  You really are quite the party pooper.  She strokes George again.

Candy: Go on.  You got a husband, an’ if sees you on us like this, he’s gonna have us all.

Curley’s wife laughs at “us”.  George growing exceedingly uncomfortable, slides Curley’s wife off of his lap, gets up and walks into the shower room.  Curley’s wife is obviously annoyed at Candy for spoiling her fun, but realizes that Candy is right about Curley, so she walks indifferently back to Crooks desk.

Curley’s Wife: to Crooks.  Be sure they get their medicines.

Crooks: nods.  Sure thing Ma’am.  

She walks back to the main entrance, and before leaving she glances back at Lennie and smiles again.  Lennie laughs and lowers his eyes with embarrassment.  She exits.  George reimerges from the shower room.  His hair and face are wet as if he were trying to wash away any evidence of Curley’s wife being any where near him.

George: to Lennie.  Jesus, what a tramp.  That Curley knows how to pick ‘em.

Lennie: not hearing George, he whispers to himself.  She’s purty…

George: looks sharply at Lennie. Speaking louder.  She’s a tramp.

Lennie: in a dream like state.  Gosh she’s purty…

George grabs a hold of Lennie’s face with both hands to get his attention.  He speaks in a normal tone in hopes that Curley or his wife will not hear.

George: fiercely Listen to me, you crazy bastard.  Stay away from her, she’s a rat trap if I ever saw one.  No matter what she says or does, you don’t even look at that bitch.  Ya hear?

Lennie: nods his head.  Sure George.  I-I ain’t gonna do notin’, honest.

George stares at Lennie for a moment to make sure Lennie understands.  Lennie lowered his eyes, ashamed that George did not believe him.  To Lennie’s delight, George sighs and looks around the room.

George: to Lennie.  Whadda ya say we play some ping pong?  George motions toward the game room, and repeats “ping pong” louder.  

Lennie nods his head excitedly.  George and Lennie cross over to the game room and position themselves on either side of the table.  George rolls up his sleeves revealing several deep scars on his wrists and arms from previous failed attempts to at suicide.  Lennie picks up a paddle grinning from ear to ear.  
George: to Lennie Awright, you serve.  He rolls the ball to Lennie.  Lennie picks it up and bounces it surprisingly softly back to George.  George, speaking quietly mostly to himself.  See now Lennie, this ain’t so bad.  To Lennie.  Good!  Lennie laughs.  You an’ me, we’re gonna bust outa here.  A couple of guys like us got no reason for staying in a hell-hole like this.  Yes sir, once we get out it’s gonna be easy street.  George becomes quiet again, wrapped in thought.  Lennie is laughing like a child does when presented with a gift.

Slim busts through the door scowling, Curley follows closely.  George puts his paddle down and walks over to the entrance of the game room slowly.  Lennie looks at George wondering why he didn’t return the serve.  Lennie walks to the side of the ping pong table and stands behind George.

Curley: defensively to Slim.  I didn’t mean nothin’ Slim.  I just ast you.

Slim: leans against the nurse’s window.  To Curley.  Well, you been askin’ me too often.  I’m gettin’ God damn sick of it!

Crooks sets his magazine down and begins following the argument intensely, hoping it will flare into something more interesting.  Curley, embarrassed to be called out by Slim in front of everyone, looks for a smaller victim.  He whirls around to Crooks.

Curley: sharply.  Whatta you starin’ at?!  You wanna start somethin’?

Crooks: laughs.  You lay off me.  Picks up his magazine again.  Quietly.  God damn punk.

The confrontation has caught everyone’s attention.  George and Candy are watching the two closely, anticipating their next move.  The commotion was not enough to keep Lennie’s short attention span from wandering.  Lennie laughs softly, remembering George’s promise about going to Disney Land.  Curley whips around again, fearing that his reputation has been compromised, this time his eyes fall on Lennie.  Lennie was smiling delightly with a new thought.  Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier.  

Curley: to Lennie.  What the hell you laughin’ at?

Lennie: looks blankly at him.  Huh?

Curley: You heard me.  No big son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me!  I’ll show ya who’s yella.

Lennie looked at George helplessly, and then tried to retreat but Curley was too quick and intent on fixing his reputation.  Curley’s left fist smashed into Lennies nose.  Lennie cried out in terror as blood welled from his nose.

Lennie: pleading to George.  George!  M-make ‘em stop!  Make ‘em stop!


Curley’s right fist struck Lennie’s cheek.  Lennie cried out again.

Lennie: Make ‘em lemme alone!  PLEASE!  Lennie covered his face with his huge paws.

Slim: running over with Crooks quickly.  That dirty little rat, I’ll get ‘um myself.

George: put his hand up to stop them, then cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled to Lennie.  Get him Lennie!  Don’t let him hit you!

Lennie’s face is covered in blood as he cowers beneath Curley’s vicious attacks.  George shouts again.

George: I said, GET HIM!!

Curley threw another punch that momentarily knocked the wind out of Lennie.  He tried to strike Lennie again, but Lennie caught the punch in mid air.

Lennie: sobbing.  Don’t you do that.

Curley’s fist was lost in Lennie’s big hand.  Lennie began squeezing his hand harder.

Lennie: Wh-why you go an’ do that?

Curley was flopping on the ground like a fish on the line, crying in pain.  Everyone else was too shocked at Lennie’s incredible hidden strength to help him.

Lennie: squeezing harder.  I-I ain’t done nothin’ to you…   

George: trying to pry Lennie’s hand open.  Lennie leggo of him!  Leggo Lennie!

Lennie watches in terror as the little man squirms in pain, blood dripping down his arm.  George yells for Slim and Crooks.  They try to separate Lennie’s hand from Curley’s.  George slaps Lennie repeatedly and yells in his ear “LET GO”, but Lennie tightens his grip.  Curley lay on the floor white and shrunken and crying, his struggling had become weak.  Suddenly Lennie loosens his grip and Curley’s mangled hand drops to the floor.  Lennie crouched, cowering against the ping pong table.  

Lennie: miserably.  You tol’ me George…Y-you said to…

George: puts hand reassuringly on Lennie’s quivering shoulder.  Loudly to Lennie.  You done like I said.

Lennie: I-I didn’t wanna…I ain’t mean to hurt ‘um.  


Slim and Crooks bend down to examine the damage done to Curley’s.  Aside from his crushed hand, Curley appears to be unharmed.  Curley moans in pain while the two inspect his hand.  

George: to Slim.  He alright?  

Crooks: sets what’s left of Curley’s hand down gently.  Damn…looks to me like every bone in his hand is broken.
Slim: quietly to himself.  Jesus.

Lennie: whimpering.  I didn’t mean ta…

George:  to slim.  What’s gonna happen Slim?  Lennie’s not gonna be fried for this is he?  Slim?

Slim: looks up at Lennie in terror.  Then realizes Lennie’s childlike state.  Softly to Lennie.  It’s not your fault.  But- Jesus, he ain’t hardly got a hand left.

George: to Slim.  Slim, Lennie’s not gonna pay for this is he?   Curley’s old man ain’t gonna kill Lennie?

Slim: smiles wryly.  Looks back at Curley.  You got enough sense to listen?  Curley nods.  Well then listen, the way I see it, your hand got caught between the gates.  You hear?  

Curley: nods.  I won’t tell.  

Slim: motions for Crooks to get a wheel chair.  Good.  Crooks here is gonna take you down stares to get a doctor to look at that.  Remember, you got it caught in the gates.  Slim helps Curley up into the chair and watches Crooks wheel him out.  He turns back to Lennie.  Let me see you hands.

Lennie is still cowering, his hands covering face.

George: loudly to Lennie.  Show him your hands.

Lennie looks up at George, blood from his hands smeared on his face.

George: loudly to Lennie.  Your HANDS.

Lennie unfolds his hands.  They are painted red with Curley’s blood.  

Slim: Christ almighty, I’d hat to see you mad at me.  He exits.

Scene ends.

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