Drama Class: Of Mice and Men
Often we think back into our past and wonder what could have been. This is one of those stories. Just to warn you this story contains spoilers for John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.
The walls were painted black. In the back there were four theater seats. I sat at one end. Another male student in the row was at the other end. A cute girl came into the classroom. The professor asked her to sit down.
She came to the back. Looked over each of us. I smiled at her. She smiled back and sat next to me. The professor went over the syllabus. We would be required to do a scene from "Of Mice and Men" with a partner. The professor gave us some time to discuss with each other.
I introduced myself and asked if she would be interested in doing a scene. She quickly agreed before I finished my sentence.
"Wonderful", I said.
We reviewed the scenes listed on the syllabus. One scene stood out for me. The death of Curley's wife. She had no objections.
I exchanged numbers with my partner. She was a waitress in addition to being a student. I told her that I would prepare the scene for us.
To provide some context to the scene Curley's wife is a seductive temptress. The men on the farm fear to approach her. Curley would beat them for such a violation. My character is Lennie Small a migrant laborer. He is huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, and wide, sloping shoulders. He is incredibly strong but also of limited mental abilities.
FADE IN
INT. BARN - AFTERNOON
A great barn piled high with new hay. The hay came down like a mountain slope. There was a level place yet unfilled with the new crop. At the sides are feeding racks. Resting horses nibbling on hay. The afternoon sun sliced through the cracks of the barn walls and lay in bight lines on the hay. There was a buzz of flies in the air. The barn was quiet and humming and lazy and warm. Lennie is seated in the hay next to a packing case. Curley's wife knelt next to Lennie. We enter the conversation already taking place.
CURLEY'S WIFE
Take Curley. His hair is jus' like wire. But mine is soft and fine. 'Course I brush it a lot. That makes it fine. Here- feel right here.
She took Lennie's hand and put it on her head.
CURLEY'S WIFE
Feel right aroun' there an' see how soft it is.
Lennie's big fingers fell to stroking her hair.
CURLEY'S WIFE
Don't you mess it up.
LENNIE
Oh! That's nice.
Lennie strokes harder.
LENNIE
Oh, that's nice.
CURLEY'S WIFE
Look out, now, you'll muss it.
Curley's wife struggles.
CURLEY'S WIFE
You stop it now, you'll mess it all up!
She jerked her head sideways, and Lennie's fingers closed on her hair and hangs on. Curley's wife begins to cry angrily.
CURLEY'S WIFE
Let go. You let go!
Lennie was in a panic. His face was contorted. She screamed then, and Lennie's other hand closed over her mouth and nose.
LENNIE
