By the river

During the Great Depression, two farm workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, camp by a river in California before starting work on a nearby ranch. George is small and sharp. Lennie is huge and strong but has the mind of a child and loves to stroke soft things.

They had to flee their last job after Lennie grabbed a woman’s dress and frightened her. George tells Lennie that if trouble ever comes, he must hide by this river.