 When George shouts to Lennie to protect himself, Lennie crushes Curley's hand.After extracting a promise from Curley that George and Lennie won't be fired, Slim and Carlson exit with Curley and his wife, who has been humiliated in front of the men.George, at the urging of Candy and Lennie, reads the want ad aloud to them once again as the curtain falls.