Sergeant-Major Morris greets Herbert and Mr. and Mrs. White. They start to talk about taking a trip to India and Fakirs.
Sergeant-Major Morris gives the White family a monkey paw, and tells them about the purpose of the paw and how a Fakir put a spell on it.
Mr. White takes the paw but isn't sure about what he should wish for. Herbert tells his father to wish for 200 pounds, and Mr. White listens to him and wishes for the money.
The next morning, the White family talks about the paw and the 200 pounds. Herbert leaves the house shortly after, leaving Mr. and Mrs. White together at the dinner table.
Mrs. White sees a man through her window and lets him in. The man says that Herbert was caught in machinery, but he wasn't in any pain. Mrs. White realizes what the man means, and knows that her son is gone.
The man then says that a certain sum will be provided as compensation for the loss of their son. Mr. and Mrs. White are given £200. The two remember that £200 was what they wished for, and in order to get it something had to happen. Losing Herbert was the way they earned their money.