Chapter 2
George warns Lennie not to talk. Lennie talks. The boss is angry that Lennie and George have shown up a day late and suspects George of taking advantage of Lennie. Curley shows up looking for his wife. He starts messing with Lennie. Candy tells Lennie and George that Curley is the boss's son, knows how to box, and likes to pick on big people. George warns Lennie to stay away from Curley. Curley's flirtatious wife shows up looking for Curley. Lennie thinks she's pretty. George warns Lennie to stay away from her.
Slim appears followed by Carlson. Slim tells Carlson his dog had nine puppies and he had to drown four of them so there'd be enough food for the others. Carlson recommends that Candy shoot his dog and take one of Slim's puppies. Lennie asks for a puppy.
Chapter 3
Slim returns to the bunkhouse with Lennie after work. George tells Slim, who admires the two's friendship, Lennie's history, how they became friends, and how they got run out of Weed. Lennie enters the bunkhouse secretly carrying his new puppy. George orders him to return the puppy to its mother.
Carlson urges Candy to shoot his old dog. Slim concurs. Carlson takes the dog outside and shoots it Curley enters looking for his wife. He suspects she's having an affair with Slim and goes to look for him. George and Lennie talk about their farm. Candy is intrigued and offers his life savings if he can be part of it.
Curley returns, still angry, and picks a fight with Lennie. Curley uses Lennie's face as a punching bag. George orders Lennie to defend himself. Lennie grabs Curley's hand and crushes it with ease. Slim takes Curley to the doctor and tells him if Lennie and George are fired, he'll be the laughingstock of the ranch.
Chapter 4
The workers have gone to the cathouse except for Lennie, Crooks, and Candy. Lennie stands at the doorway of Crooks' room, who tells him to go away. Lennie, not being the smartest man on the ranch, stays. Finally Crooks invites him in and makes fun of him until Lennie gets angry.
Lennie tells Crooks about the farm. Candy comes in and blabs about the farm. Crooks, skeptical but desperate, asks if he can work on the farm. They're all feeling good until Curley's wife shows up. She insults the men and threatens Crooks that she could have him lynched if he doesn't shut his mouth.
Chapter 5
Chapter 5 begins with Lennie stroking his dead puppy, He worries what George will say. Curley's wife comes in, She tells Lennie about her dreams of stardom. Lennie's too dumb to follow the conversation.
Lennie talks about rabbits and explains how he likes feeling soft, furry things (he leaves the part out about him always accidentally killing soft, furry things). She offers to let Lennie stroke her hair. He becomes excited and holds on to it. She panics, He covers her mouth so he won't get in trouble. Lennie breaks her neck. Lennie runs to the riverbed
Candy comes in the barn, sees the dead body, and gets George. George leaves so as not to be suspected. Candy alerts the others. George comes in last. Carlson reports his gun missing. The mob suspects that Lennie stole it. The mob searches for Lennie.
Chapter 6
Lennie arrives at the riverbed. He hallucinates seeing Aunt Clara and a giant, talking rabbit. George arrives and reassures Lennie. The mob approaches. George shoots Lennie in the back of the head with Carlson's gun. The mob arrives. Slim is the only one who understands what happened.
