Of Mice and Men (opera) George, at the urging of Candy and Lennie, reads the want ad aloud to them once again as the curtain falls. SCENE ONE. Lennie is disconsolate at having inadvertently killed his puppy, and is hiding it in the loft of the barn when Curley's wife enters, carrying a suitcase and obviously preparing to leave the ranch. She and Lennie begin to confide their dreams and fantasies to each other, neither aware the other is speaking: hers, a glamorous career as a movie star; his, to have pets on his farm. Lennie tells her of his love of stroking soft things,
Of Mice and Men George meets Lennie at the place, their camping spot before they came to the ranch. The two sit together and George retells the beloved story of the dream, knowing it is something they'll never share. He then shoots and kills Lennie, with Curley, Slim, and Carlson arriving seconds after. Only Slim realizes what happened, and consolingly leads him away. Curley and Carlson look on, unable to comprehend the subdued mood of the two men. Steinbeck emphasizes dreams throughout the book. George aspires to independence, to be his own boss, to have a homestead, and, most important, to be "somebody". Lennie