PAUL:「No game. See for yourself.」
narrator:Beat. Percy stalks past them, heads out onto the Mile. Paul and Brutal just wait, saying nothing. Brutal picks up the rag left by Percy, resumes polishing chores on Old Sparky. Paul stretches, cracks his neck. The silence heavy...
 until Percy reappears.
PERCY:「You switched them! You switched them somehow, you bastards!」
BRUTAL:「I always keep a spare mouse in my wallet for occasions such as this.」
PERCY:「You're playing with me, the both of you! Just who the hell do you think you are--」
narrator:Brutal grabs him , slams him bodily into the electric chair. Paul bends close, gets right in Percy's face.
PAUL:「We're the people you work with, Percy, but not for long. I want your word.」
PERCY:「My word?」
PAUL:「I put you out front for Del, you put in your transfer to Briar Ridge the very next day.」
PERCY:「What if I just call up certain people and tell them you're harassing me? Bullying me?」
PAUL:「Go ahead. I promise you'll leave your share of blood on the floor.」
PERCY:「Over a mouse? You think anyone's gonna give two shits?」
PAUL:「No. But four men will swear you stood by while Wild Bill tried to strangle Dean to death. About that people will care, Percy. Even your uncle the governor will care.」
BRUTAL:「Thing like that goes in your work record. Work record can follow a man around a long, long time.」
narrator:Percy looks from one man to another, knowing he's trapped.
PAUL:「I put you out front, you put in your transfer. That's the deal.」
narrator:Percy thinks it over, nods. He tries to get up, but Paul keep him pinned...and pointedly offer his hand.
PAUL:「You make a promise to a man, you shake his hand.」
narrator:Percy hesitates, shakes Paul's hand...
 HIGH WIDE ANGLE OF EXECUTION CHAMBER
 and Paul pulls him out of the electric chair as we
 DISSOLVE TO:
 SAME ANGLE AS ABOVE - NEXT NIGHT
 Witnesses are trickling in, filling the seats. A storm is brewing, sending FLASHES OF LIGHTNING across the floors.
 INT. DEL'S CELL - NIGHT
 Del sits with Mr. Jingles in his lap, stroking the mouse between the ears. Paul, Brutal, and Harry appear at the bars.
DEL:「Hey, boys. Say hi, Mr. Jingles.」
PAUL:「Eduard Delacroix, will you step forward?」
DEL:「Boss Edgecomb?」
PAUL:「Yes, Del?」
DEL:「Don' let nothin' happen to Mr. Jingles, okay?」
narrator:Paul nods--I promise. Del rises, steps to Paul.
DEL:「Here, take him.」


narrator:Del lifts his hand. Mr. Jingles steps off onto Paul's shoulder with no hesitation. Gently:
PAUL:「Del. I can't have a mouse on my shoulder while...you know.」
John Coffey:「I'll take him, boss. Jus' for now. If Del don' mind.」
DEL:「Yeah, you take 'im, John. Take him til' dis foolishment done--bien! (to Paul and Brutal) After, you take him down to Florida? To dat Mouseville?」
BRUTAL:「We'll do it together, most likely. Maybe take a little vacation time.」
narrator:Paul moves to Coffey's cell. The mouse skitters off Paul's shoulder onto Coffey's hand.
DEL:「People pay a dime apiece to see him. Two cents for the kiddies. Ain't dat right, Boss Howell?」
BRUTAL:「That's right, Del.」
DEL:「You a good man, Boss Howell. You too, Boss Edgecomb. Wish I could'a met you bot' someplace else.」
narrator:Del gives Mr. Jingles one last look, starts to cry.
DEL:「Au revoir, mon ami. Je t'aime, mon petit.」


narrator:And they start to walk the Mile...
 EXECUTION CHAMBER
 Sweltering in the damp heat. Rain is pissing down, drumming the tin roof. People glance up uneasily as THUNDER BOOMS. A FAT LADY is staring grimly at the electric chair.
 FAT LADY Hope he's good and scared. Hope he knows the fires are stoked, and that Satan's imps are waiting.
 ANGLE ON DOOR
 Del enters, horrified to see Percy waiting at Old Sparky. Paul gives Del's arm a reassuring squeeze, leads him forward...
 IN A TIGHT SERIES OF SHOTS:
 The clamps are applied. The straps are drawn tight.
PERCY:「Roll on one.」
narrator:The lights brighten on a RISING HUM. Witnesses look up.
 ON THE MILE
 Coffey looks up as the overheads flare hotter and hotter, whispers to the mouse in his hands:
John Coffey:「You be still, Mr. Jingles. You be so quiet and so still.」
narrator:RESUME EXECUTION CHAMBER
PERCY:「Eduard Delacroix, you have been condemned to die by a jury of your peers, sentence imposed by a judge in good standing in this state. You have anything to say before sentence is carried out?」


narrator:Del tries to speak. Doesn't quite manage the first time. Licks his lips and tries again.
DEL:「I sorry for what I do. I give anything to take it back, but I can't. God have mercy on me. (whispers to Paul) Don' forget 'bout Mouseville.」
narrator:Paul and Brutal nod--and are stunned as:
PERCY:「No such place. That's just a fairy tale these guys told you to keep you quiet. Just thought you should know, faggot.」
narrator:The stricken look in Del's eyes tells us a part of him had known all along. Paul and Brutal would both like to deck Percy right about now, and he knows it--he gives them a "what are you gonna do about it" smile.
 Nothing they can do. Paul nods to Harry, who takes the black mask from the back of the chair and rolls it down over Del's head, leaving the top of his shaved head exposed.
 PERCY
 takes the sponge and bends down to the bucket of brine. The other don't see it, but we do:
 Percy only pretends to dip the sponge and soak it. It never touches the water. He straightens up and places the sponge atop Delacroix's head, hiding it with his hands.
 The cap is lowered. Paul and the others haven't yet realized what's happened. THUNDER BOOMS and LIGHTNING CRASHES as Percy hides a smile, steps back to address the condemned:
PERCY:「Electricity shall now be passed through your body until you are dead, in accordance with state law. God have mercy on your soul.」
narrator:TIGHT ON PAUL
 as realization starts to dawn. He stares at the bucket, then across the floor to Delacroix, coming to terms with the evidence of his eyes--there's no water on the floor or dripping down the sides of Del's neck.
 Paul's eyes widen. A stunned beat of horror. He starts to open his mouth to scream "NO!", but Percy beats him to it with:
PERCY:「Roll on two.」
narrator:Van Hay flicks the switch. WHAM. The electricity hits home and Del rocks forward, riding the current.
 Then things start to go horribly wrong.
 The HUMMING loses its steadiness and starts to waver with a CRACKLING SOUND. Tendrils of smoke begin curling from under the cap, a mixture of burning hair and sponge. Brutal shoots Paul a horrified look. Paul responds with a harsh whisper:
PAUL:「It's dry!」
narrator:Delacroix begins twisting and jittering in the chair, his masked face snapping violently from side to side, his legs pistoning up and down in his restraints.
 There's a MUFFLED POP from under the cap, like a pine knot exploding in a hot fire. Smoke starts coming through the fabric of the mask, puffing upward. Del is being cooked alive. Paul spins to the partition, hollering--
PAUL:「JACK!」
narrator:but Brutal grabs his arm, whispers fiercely:
BRUTAL:「Don't you tell him to stop. Don't you do it. It's too late for that.」


narrator:Paul turns back, helpless. The other guards are trading wild looks, unable to believe what's happening. Even Percy looks aghast--he was expecting something, but not this.
 Del begins SCREAMING--the wild, hysterical sound of an animal being shredded alive in a hay baler. The HUMMING goes uneven and ragged, the lights rising and falling...
 ON THE MILE
 as Del's screams rise and fall with them, echoing up the corridor. Coffey's shaking and screaming too, as if feeling Del's pain. Mr. Jingles squirms out of his grasp and goes squeaking in terror toward the restraint room door...
BILLY:「HE'S COOKIN' NOW! THEY COOKIN' HIM GOOD! NEAR ABOUT DONE, I RECKON!」
narrator:RESUME EXECUTION CHAMBER
 Wrong. Del's nowhere near about done. He's slamming back and forth in the chair hard enough to shake the platform, twisting hard against the leather restraints. We hear BONES BREAKING. A WOMAN'S SCREAMS. Witnesses start rising to their feet:
 WITNESSES What the hell's happening to him?...Are those clamps going to hold?...Christ, the smell!...Is this normal?
 The mask bursts into flame on Delacroix's face. Van Hay hollers through the wire mesh, horrified:
 VAN HAY SHOULD I KILL THE JUICE?
PAUL:「NO! ROLL, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, ROLL!」
narrator:Harry scoops up the bucket of water to throw it.
PAUL:「No water! No water! You crazy?」
narrator:Harry backs off with a look of dazed understanding--you don't throw water on a man getting juiced. Right. He drops the bucket, races to get the chemical fire extinguisher instead.
 The flaming mask peels away, revealing Del's charring face. His eyeballs are misshapen globs of burning white jelly blown out of their sockets. The ATTENDING DOCTOR faints dead away.
 Pandemonium now in the room. People shouting and hurrying to exit, chairs falling over, women screaming:
 FAT LADY Stop it, stop it, oh can't you see he's had enough?
 Hal grabs Paul by the shoulder, spins him around.
HAL:「Why don't you shut it down?」
PAUL:「He's still alive! You want me to shut down while he's still alive?」
narrator:Hal is horrified at the thought. Del is jittering and screaming, rocking from side to side, smoke pouring from his nostrils and mouth, his tongue sizzling purple-black.
 The witnesses are crowding and shoving to get out, but the back door is locked. All they can do is cluster there.
 Paul sees Percy with his head turned away. He grabs him, forces his head around.
PAUL:「You watch, you son of a bitch!」
narrator:Harry steps up, the extinguisher in his hands. Waiting. Del finally slumps over. He still vibrating, but now it's just the effect of current flowing through his body.
PAUL:「Kill it!」


narrator:Van Hay kills the current. The HUMMING DIES. Brutal grabs the extinguisher from Harry, shoves it into Percy's hands.
BRUTAL:「You do it. You're running the show, ain't you?」
narrator:Percy, sick and dazed, aims the extinguisher and hoses the smoking corpse. Hal is near the back, calming the crowd:
HAL:「It's all right, folks, it's all under control. Just a power surge from the storm, that's all, nothing to worry about...」
PAUL:「Dean, get doc's stethoscope.」
narrator:Dean drops to the doctor's bag, digs through it, hands up the stethoscope. Paul plugs them into his ears. People are moaning and sobbing at the back of the room:
 MAN Oh my God! Is it always like this? Why didn't somebody tell me? I never would have come!
 Paul wipes some foam away from Delacroix's chest, places the stethoscope pad to the raw flesh. He nods to Brutal--it's over.
 CUT TO:
 INT. ACCESS TUNNEL - NIGHT
 Paul and the others bring the stretcher down, lay the corpse on the gurney. Percy starts stammering excuses:
PERCY:「I didn't know the sponge was supposed to be wet--」
narrator:Brutal hauls off and slugs him. A scuffle ensues as the others grab Brutal and pull him off.
PAUL:「Brutal, no!」
BRUTAL:「What do you mean, no? How can you say no? You saw what he did!」
PAUL:「Delacroix's dead, nothing can change that, and Percy's not worth it!」
BRUTAL:「So he just gets away with it? Is that how it works?」
narrator:Hal comes lunging down the stairs, furious:
HAL:「What the fuck was that? Jesus Christ, three witnesses puked all over the floor up there! And the smell! I got Van Hay to open both doors, but that smell won't come out for five damn years, that's what I'm betting! And that asshole Wharton is singing about it! I can hear him!」
PAUL:「quietly) Can he carry a tune, Hal?」
narrator:This pulls the plug on the moment--Hal snorts, triggering laughter among the men, a wild release of tension and fear. Everybody starts feeling a bit saner again as it dies down:
HAL:「Okay, boys. Okay. Now what the hell happened?」
narrator:All eyes go to Percy. Hal turns, sees Percy's bloody lip.
HAL:「Percy? Something to say?」
PERCY:「I didn't know the sponge was supposed to be wet.」
narrator:Beat. A look of utter contempt from Hal.
HAL:「How many years you spend pissing on the toilet seat before somebody told you to put it up?」
PAUL:「Percy fucked up, Hal. Pure and simple.」
HAL:「Is that your official position?」


PAUL:「Don't you think it should be?」
narrator:Hal considers it, nods.
PAUL:「He'll be putting in a transfer request to Briar Ridge tomorrow. Moving on to bigger and better things. Isn't that right, Percy?」
narrator:Percy nods. Hal steps close, gives him a tight, icy smile.
HAL:「You're a little asshole, and I don't like you a bit. (off Percy's look) Have that transfer request on my desk first thing.」
narrator:Hal heads back up the stairs. Brutal shoves Percy aside and wheels Delacroix's body down the tunnel.
 INT. E BLOCK - NIGHT
 Paul returns to find Wild Bill making up a song in his cell:
BILLY:「singing) Barbecue! Me and you! Stinky, pinky, phew-phew-phew! Weren't Billy or Jilly or Hilly or Roy--it was a French-fried faggot named Delacroix!」
PAUL:「You're about ten seconds away from spending the rest of your life in the padded room.」
narrator:Billy falls silent. Paul continues down the Mile to Coffey's cell. Coffey's on his bunk, face streaked with tears. He wipes his eyes with the heels of his hands like an exhausted child.
John Coffey:「Poor Del. Poor old Del.」


PAUL:「Yes. Poor old Del. John, are you okay?」
John Coffey:「I could feel it from here.」
PAUL:「What do you mean? You could hear it? Is that what you mean?」
John Coffey:「He's out of it now, though. He's the lucky one. No matter how it happened, Del's the lucky one.」
narrator:Paul realizes he won't get a coherent answer.
PAUL:「Where's Mr. Jingles?」
John Coffey:「points vaguely) Ran down there. Don't think he'll be back. (beat) Awful tired now, boss. Dog tired.」
narrator:Coffey lays down, turns to face the wall.
PAUL:「Me too, John. Me too.」


narrator:CUT TO:
 INT. PAUL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
 Paul enters in darkness, hangs his hat. He drifts into the kitchen, clicks on the radio. SOFT MUSIC BEGINS: Gene Austin singing "Did You Ever See A Dream Walking?"
 He pours a drink at the kitchen table, takes a sip, lays the glass down. Jan sleepily appears from the darkness behind him, entering the kitchen. He realizes she's there, glances back.
 She can sense the weight on his soul. She comes to him, folds his head into her arms. They stand that way, he drawing strength and she giving it, as the music plays on...
 DISSOLVE TO:
 SEQUENCE WITH MUSIC:
 INT. CHURCH - MORNING
 CAMERA TRACKS the pews to find Paul and Jan seated together in the congregation, voices raised in hymn...
 EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - MORNING
 Paul's Model T comes sputtering up the road. He and Jan are taking a drive, still in their Sunday best...
 EXT. HAL'S HOUSE - MORNING
 Paul and Jan wait at the front door. Jan holds a baking dish.
PAUL:「I hate this.」
JAN:「I know.」
narrator:The door opens. Hal, looking tired, ushers them inside...
 EXT. BACKYARD - MORNING
 and they walk outside to find MELINDA MOORES sitting in the sun, frail and wasted, a blanket on her knees. She'd be beautiful if not for the cancer killing her.
 Paul is shocked at her appearance, hides it as best as he can. Jan covers this for him--she drops to Melinda's side with a warm smile and a kiss, takes the woman's frail hands in hers.
 Paul catches Jan's eye. The look he gives her says it all--I don't know what I'd do without you...
 DISSOLVE:
 and we find Paul and Hal talking quietly over beers while the women visit b.g.:
HAL:「She's having one of her good days. I thank God for that.」
PAUL:「What a bad day?」
HAL:「beat) Sometimes she's...not herself anymore. She swears.」
PAUL:「Swears.」
HAL:「It just pops out, the most awful language you can imagine. She doesn't even know she's doing it. I didn't know she'd ever heard words like that...and to hear her say them in her sweet voice... (gazes off) I'm glad she's having a good day, Paul. I'm glad for you and Jan.」
narrator:DISSOLVE TO:
 INT. PAUL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
 Paul is wide awake, staring at the dark. Jan can sense him brooding. She rolls over sleepily.
JAN:「Honey? If you don't say what's on your mind, I'm afraid I'll have to smother you with a pillow.」
PAUL:「I'm thinking I love you. I'm thinking I don't know what I'd do if you were gone.」
JAN:「Oh.」
PAUL:「beat) I'm also thinking I'd like to have the boys over tomorrow.」


narrator:Off Jan's look, we
 CUT TO:
 INT. DINING ROOM- DAY
 Brutal, Harry, and Dean are seated at the table with Paul and Jan. Serving plates are being passes, everybody digging in:
 THE MEN (various, ad-lib) Ma'am, you sure know how to fry up some fine chicken...Brutal, don't hog the taters now...Try that corn yet? It's something special...
 Paul softly interjects:
PAUL:「You saw what he did with the mouse.」
narrator:This stops everybody cold. Dean puts his chicken down, wipes his hands. Looks are traded in the silence.
BRUTAL:「I could'a gone the rest of the day without you bringing that up.」
DEAN:「I could'a gone the rest of the year.」
PAUL:「He did it to me too. He put his hands on me and took my bladder infection away.」
narrator:The men absorb this. Brutal glances to Jan.
JAN:「When he came home, he was...all better.」
DEAN:「You're talking about an authentic healing. A praise-Jesus miracle.」
PAUL:「I am.」
BRUTAL:「If you say it, I accept it. But what's it got to do with us?」
narrator:Jan looks to Paul, realization starting to dawn:
JAN:「Melinda? Oh, Paul...」
BRUTAL:「Melinda? Melinda Moores?」
narrator:Paul nods--that's who we're talking about.
JAN:「You really think you can help her?」
PAUL:「It's not a bladder infection, or even a busted-up mouse. But there might be a chance.」
HARRY:「Hold on now. You're talking about our jobs. Sneak a sick woman onto a cellblock?」
PAUL:「Hal would never allow that. You know him, he wouldn't believe something unless it fell on him.」
BRUTAL:「So you're talking about taking John Coffey to her. That's more than just our jobs, Paul.」
DEAN:「Damn right. That's prison time if we get caught.」
HARRY:「Let's not discuss this like it's even an option. Brutal, help me out here...」
narrator:Brutal lets out a deep breath, considering. He looks to Paul.
BRUTAL:「I'm sure she's a fine woman...」
JAN:「The finest.」
PAUL:「What's happening to her is an offense, Brutal. To the eyes and the ears and the heart.」
BRUTAL:「I have no doubt. But we don't know her like you and Jan do...do we?」
PAUL:「That's why it's a lot to ask.」
HARRY:「It is. Let's not forget Coffey's a murderer. What if he escapes? I'd hate losing my job or going to prison, but I'd hate having a dead child on my conscience even more.」


PAUL:「I don't think that'll happen... (beat, softly) ...in fact, I don't think he did it at all.」
narrator:The men are stunned by this. Off their looks:
PAUL:「I just can't see God putting a gift like that in the hands of a man who would kill a child.」
DEAN:「Well, that's a tender notion, but the man's on death row for the crime. Plus, he's huge. If he tried to get away, it'd take a lot of bullets to stop him.」
BRUTAL:「We'd all have shotguns in addition to sidearms. I'd insist on that. (to Paul) He tried anything, we'd have to take him down. You understand.」
PAUL:「I understand.」
BRUTAL:「beat) So. Tell us what you had in mind.」
narrator:FADE TO BLACK
 IN BLACKNESS, A TITLE CARD APPEARS:
 Night Journey"
 CUT TO:
 INT. INFIRMARY BUILDING/DISPENSARY - NIGHT
 A FLASHLIGHT BEAM plays across a glass cabinet, scanning the contents. The beam pauses. A hand enters frame, unlocks the cabinet, pulls out a bottle of morphine tablets...
 and WE ANGLE TO Brutal as he shakes half a dozen pills onto his palm, pockets them, replaces the bottle on the shelf. He turns and slips five bucks to a NIGHTSHIFT ORDERLY.
BRUTAL:「I was never here.」
narrator:ORDERLY Shit, for five bucks, you was never nowhere.
 INT. E BLOCK ACCESS TUNNEL - NIGHT
 A MORPHINE PILL is being crushed to powder on the stainless steel gurney. TILT UP to Paul crushing the pills. Brutal carefully scrapes the powder onto a small sheet of paper...
 INT. PAUL'S INNER OFFICE - NIGHT
 Percy is parked in Paul's chair with his feet up, reading a book titled: "CARING FOR MENTAL PATIENTS."
 INT. E BLOCK - NIGHT
 Harry and Dean are playing cards at the duty desk, tension thick, cards slapping softly as the seconds tick by. Paul and Brutal finally show up toting bottles of RC cola:
BRUTAL:「Fellas thirsty? Fresh out of the icebox.」
DEAN:「Oh, thanks. That's swell.」
HARRY:「Yeah, hot in here.」
narrator:They begin popping the caps off, swigging cola. The sound of it brings Billy to his bars.
BILLY:「Hey. Hey, I'm'a get some too.」
BRUTAL:「My ass you get some too.」
PAUL:「You think you deserve any?」
HARRY:「checks a clipboard) Day report says he's been okay.」
BILLY:「Hell, yes, I been behaved. C'mon, now, don't be stingy hogs.」


narrator:Paul shrugs to Brutal--why not? Brutal pops the top off a bottle, passes it to Paul. Paul grabs a tin cup, sets it on the desk...and we see it contains the morphine powder. He pours the cola, swirls it around...
 ANGLE THROUGH COFFEY'S BARS
 as Coffey looks up, sensing something happening. He peers up the Mile as Paul walks to:
 BILLY'S CELL
 Billy reaches for the cup, but Paul keeps it out of reach.
PAUL:「You gonna stay behaved?」
BILLY:「C'mon, you clunk, gimme that.」
PAUL:「You promise me, or I'll drink it myself right here in front of you.」
BILLY:「C'mon now, don't be that way. I be good.」
narrator:Paul lets him take the cup. Billy knocks it back, draining it in three huge swallows. He lets out an awesome belch.
PAUL:「Cup.」
BILLY:「We'll break out the fire hose and take it anyway. And you will have drunk your last R.C. cola. Unless they serve 'em down in hell.」
narrator:Billy's smile fades. He hands the cup through the bars. Paul takes it, turns and heads back to--
 THE DUTY DESK
 where Brutal, Harry, and Dean have been watching the entire exchange with their hearts in their throats...
 DISSOLVE:
 and we find Billy staring glassy-eyed at the ceiling. He keels over on his bunk. ANGLE to Paul and Brutal stepping to the bars with Harry and Dean.
PAUL:「Anybody wants to back out, now's the time. After this, there's no turning back. (off their looks) So? We gonna do this?」
narrator:A voice comes softly from down the way:
John Coffey:「Sure. I'd like to take a ride.」


narrator:Their heads come slowly around, staring at Coffey in shock.
BRUTAL:「to Paul) Guess were all in.」
narrator:INT. PAUL'S OFFICE - NIGHT
 Percy looks up from his book as the door opens. Paul enters with Brutal and Harry, ominously hemming the desk.
PERCY:「What is this?」
narrator:Paul pulls the canvas straitjacket from behind his back.
PAUL:「Payback.」
narrator:Percy jumps up and tries to the execution chamber, but Harry grabs him, spins him back. A wild scuffle ensues as:
PERCY:「Let go of me! Let go!」
PAUL:「Settle down, Percy!」
narrator:Percy tries to jerk away, crashes into the desk. The book he was reading falls to the floor--
 and a "Tijuana Bible" is revealed within the pages. It's a pornographic cartoon book of the type popular in the '30's, featuring crude drawings of famous cartoon characters or movie stars engaged in outlandish sexual acts. This one has Olive Oyl getting it doggy-style from Popeye. The word balloon over his head features his famous laugh: "Uk-uk-uk- uk!"
BRUTAL:「Oooo, Poicy! What would your mother say?」
PERCY:「Let go, you ignoramus! I know people! Big people!」
PAUL:「So you've said. C'mon, stick out your arms like a good boy.」
PERCY:「I won't. And you can't make me.」
BRUTAL:「You're dead wrong about that, you know.」
narrator:Brutal grabs Percy by the ears, twisting hard. Percy lets out a shriek--not just of pain, but a dismayed understanding that he's not going to bluster his way out of this one.
BRUTAL:「You gonna put your arms up? I'll rip your ears off. Use 'em for tea caddies. You know I will.」
PAUL:「The man's ripping your ears off, Percy. I'd do as he says.」
narrator:Percy jerks his arms up before him. They get the straitjacket on him within seconds. Percy turns to Paul on the verge of tears. Softly:
PERCY:「Please, Paul. Don't put me in with Wild Bill. Please.」
PAUL:「You would think that.」
narrator:Paul gives him a hard, angry shove...
 INT. E BLOCK - NIGHT
 and they bring him down the Mile to the restraint room door. Brutal takes Percy's holster and baton.
BRUTAL:「You'll get 'em back, don't worry.」
PERCY:「That's more than I can say about your jobs. All your jobs! You can't do this to me! You can't!」
narrator:Paul steps forward with a roll of strapping tape.
PAUL:「Let you in on a little secret. We can and we are.」


narrator:He slaps the tape over Percy's mouth and shoves him back into the restraint room. Percy stands breathing heavily through his nose, making muffled mmmmph-mmmph! sounds under the tape.
PAUL:「You're going to have a few hours of quiet time now, so you can reflect on what you did to Del.」
BRUTAL:「grins) If you get lonely, think about Olive Oyl... (thrusting his hips) ...uk-uk-uk-uk!」
narrator:And they slam the door, shutting Percy into darkness.
 A WALL-MOUNTED GUN SAFE
 is unlocked, shotguns pulled out. The men load up, heading down the Mile as:
PAUL:「One more time--what do you say if somebody comes by?」
DEAN:「Coffey got upset, so we put him in the restraint room. They hear any noise, they'll think it's him.」
narrator:They come to Coffey's cell.
John Coffey:「We goan for the ride now?」
PAUL:「That's right.」
narrator:The cell is unlocked. Coffey emerges. Paul motions them along, still grilling Dean:
PAUL:「What about us?」


DEAN:「You're over in Admin, going over Del's file. Brutal and Harry are in the laundry doing their wash--」
narrator:A skinny white arm suddenly shoots out from Wild Bill's cell and grabs Coffey by the wrist. The men gasp, shocked to see Billy on his feet, grinning and weaving like a punch-drunk.
 Coffey's reaction is beyond simple surprise; he's actually trembling at Billy's touch as if some electrical circuit were engaged. His eyes are wide and horrified, as if he'd just put his hand in a basket full of snakes. He tries to pull away, but Billy has him tight, that mysterious circuit blazing.
BILLY:「slurring wildly) Where you fink you're goin'?」
narrator:Coffey responds softly, with utmost horror:
John Coffey:「You're a bad man.」
BILLY:「S'right, nigger. Bad as you'd want.」
narrator:Paul plucks Billy's hand off Coffey's arm--and Coffey flinches back as the circuit is broken.
BILLY:「Whooeee. Whole room's spinning. Like I'm shit-ass drunk. I have me some shine or what?」
narrator:He turns and staggers back to his bunk, muttering all the way:


BILLY:「Niggers oughtta have they own 'lectric chair. White man oughtn't havta sit in no nigger 'lectric chair, nossir...」
narrator:He goes face-first onto his bunk. Coffey is still staring.
John Coffey:「He's a bad man.」
narrator:INT. EXECUTION CHAMBER - NIGHT
 Coffey is brought in...and freezes in horror at the sight of Old Sparky. A whisper:
John Coffey:「They're still in there. Pieces of them, still in there. I hear them screaming.」
narrator:All eyes go to the electric chair. It sits shrouded in shadow like an ominous throne. Never before has this place felt so haunted to the men. It makes the hairs on the neck stand up.
PAUL:「John, come along! Right now, y'hear? C'mon! Toward that door!」
narrator:Coffey finally responds, pulling away...
 INT. E BLOCK ACCESS TUNNEL - NIGHT
 and they come down the steps. They realize Coffey will have to stoop all the way down the tunnel. Paul pats the gurney.
PAUL:「Lie down on this. (off Coffey's look) It'll be easier for you and no harder for us.」


narrator:Coffey eases carefully onto the gurney, lying on his back. His knees hang over the edge and his toes touch the ground, but it works. They push him along, traversing the pools of light.
 Coffey actually starts to smile. He reaches out his arms, fingertips touching the tunnel walls as they go by.
John Coffey:「Say. This is fun.」
narrator:EXT. PRISON WALL - NIGHT
 A massive iron door SQUEALS open onto a little-used fenced enclosure. Paul and the others bring Coffey up from the tunnel below, emerging into the night. Coffey's breath catches as he gazes wondrously up at the stars, pointing:
John Coffey:「Look, boss! It's Cassie, the lady in the rocking chair!」
PAUL:「Shhh. John, you have to be quiet now.」
John Coffey:「whispering) You see her? You see the lady?」
BRUTAL:「We see her, John.」


narrator:Harry goes first, hugging the shadows as he pulls his keys to unlock the gate...
 WIDE SHOT OF PRISON
 while TOWER GUARDS huddle in their enclosure atop the walls. An occasional SPOTLIGHT cuts the darkness. FIREFLIES dance in the fields and trees as far as the eye can see.
 Four dark figures detach from the shadows, hurrying across the lonely country road into the fields on the far side...
 EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
 Coffey's hand scoops up some fallen leaves. TILT UP to his face as he crunches them under his nose, inhaling their smell.
 He see the guards throwing him anxious looks. He misreads this, holds out his hand so they can smell too. They do it, just to make him happy.
PAUL:「C'mon, big boy, keep moving.」
narrator:A FEW FIREFLIES come winking through frame as the group presses on...
 ANOTHER AREA/WOODS
 The trees are growing sparser, opening onto fields. MORE FIREFLIES are flitting into view, trailing in their wake...
BRUTAL:「How far is it?」
HARRY:「Just up ahead...」
narrator:Harry brings them to a thicket of trees. They start removing branches and boughs, uncovering a battered old FARMALL TRUCK hidden in the brush.
 The men pause. Even more fireflies are swirling around them, growing in number. It's getting downright weird.
 Coffey laughs softly, drawing their attention. A childlike smile has utterly transformed his face. He raises his hand, letting a firefly weave playfully in and out of his fingers.
John Coffey:「Hey there, little firefly. Where's Mrs. Firefly this evening?」


narrator:Another firefly joins the first, both now dancing and blinking around his fingers. Coffey laughs again.
John Coffey:「Oh, there you is. You come out to play too?」
narrator:The men stand gaping. The fireflies are flitting to Coffey as if to a beacon. He waves his hands slowly, fireflies blinking and trailing from his fingertips like magic dust.
 They begin orbiting his shiny bald head like tiny glowing planet orbiting a sun, their light kicking a mellow sheen off his ebony skin. Coffey's eyes meet Paul's.
PAUL:「They seem...drawn to you.」
John Coffey:「I love 'em, is why. They don't think no hurtful thoughts. They's just happy to be. Happy little lightning bugs...」
narrator:The men don't know whether to be enchanted or terrified. Harry gives Paul a look--can we go? Please?
PAUL:「C'mon, big boy. Upsy-daisy.」
narrator:Coffey clambers up on the stakebed. Paul and Brutal join him. Harry gets in behind the wheel, jabs the starter button...
 ON THE STAKEBED
 while Coffey sits with his back to the cab.
PAUL:「John? Do you know where we're taking you?」
John Coffey:「Help a lady?」


PAUL:「That's right. Help a lady. But how did you know?」
John Coffey:「Dunno. Tell the truth, boss, I don't know much'a anything. Never have.」
narrator:The truck pulls out. Coffey waves as the fireflies get left behind, dwindling away like stars.
John Coffey:「Bye, fireflies. Bye.」
narrator:WIDE ANGLE OF COUNTRYSIDE
 The truck rumbles from the fields onto a dirt road, countless fireflies swirling in its wake...
 DISSOLVE TO:
 EXT. MOORES HOUSE - NIGHT
 Headlights come over the rise. The truck appears, rumbling down toward the house. The world is isolated and still.
 IN THE TRUCK CAB
 Harry stops and cuts the engine, leaving the headlights on. Silence now, save for the trilling of crickets.
 IN THE STAKEBED
 Paul and Brutal both look terrified now that they're actually here. An urgent whisper:
BRUTAL:「We can still turn back.」
narrator:Paul hesitates, wanting to do just that, but:
John Coffey:「Boss, look. Someone's up.」
narrator:Lights are coming on inside the house. Coffey rises and steps down from the truck, pulling Paul along. Brutal follows them.


BRUTAL:「This is a mistake. Christ, Paul, what were we thinking?」
PAUL:「Too late now. Harry, keep John here until we call you.」
narrator:Paul and Brutal walk to the front door as the lights inside the house keep clicking on. The last one finally comes on over the stoop, the front door opens a crack...and the twin barrels of a shotgun poke out into the night.
HAL:「Who the hell goes there at two- thirty in the goddamn morning?」
PAUL:「Hal, it's us! It's Paul and Brutal--it's us!」
narrator:The door swings wider, revealing Hal's face gaunt and haggard in the yellow porch light, stunned to see them:
HAL:「Paul, what are you doing here at this hour? Jesus, it's not a lockdown, is it? Or a riot?」
PAUL:「Hal, God's sakes, take your finger off the trigger...」
narrator:Hal doesn't, aiming past them at the truck in the yard.
HAL:「Are you hostages? Who's out there? Who's by that truck?」
narrator:Coffey steps into the glare of headlights with Harry tugging on his arm, trying to hold him back. Hal cocks both hammers.
HAL:「John Coffey! Halt! Halt right there or I shoot!」
narrator:His aim wavers as a woman's voice comes from upstairs:
MELINDA:「O.S.) Hal? Who are you talking to, you fucking cocksucker?」
narrator:A frozen moment. Hal mortified. Paul gives him a look--is that Melinda?
 Hal's shotgun shifts back to Coffey--but Paul steps in front of the muzzle.
PAUL:「No one's hurt. We're here to help.」
HAL:「Help what? I don't understand. Is this a prison break?」
PAUL:「I can't explain what it is. You just have to trust me.」
narrator:Coffey comes up the steps, brushes Paul aside, stops before the warden. Hal blinks, his thoughts suddenly fuzzy--it's that benign hypnotic effect Coffey has.
HAL:「What do you...want?」
MELINDA:「Hal! Make them go away! No salesmen in the middle of the night! No Fuller brushes! No French knickers with come in the crotch! Tell them to take a flying fuck in a rolling d...d...」
narrator:We hear the sound of GLASS BREAKING, then she begins to sob.
John Coffey:「a whisper) Just to help. Just to help, boss, that's all.」


HAL:「You can't. No one can.」
narrator:Coffey pulls the shotgun gently from Hal's grasp, hands it to Paul. Coffey moves past Hal into the house...
 INT. HOUSE - NIGHT
 and comes up the hallway toward the stairs.
HAL:「Don't you go up there! Don't you do it!」
John Coffey:「Boss, you just be quiet now and let me be.」
narrator:Coffey mounts the stairs with the others at his heels, heading up toward that quavering voice:
MELINDA:「O.S.) Stay out of here! Whoever you are, just stay out! I'm not dressed for visitors, you rat's asshole!」
narrator:INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
 Coffey enters, trailed by the others. Paul pauses, horrified.
 The woman propped in bed barely resembles Melinda Moores anymore--she looks made up like a Halloween witch, her livid skin hanging in a loose trail of wrinkles, one corner of her mouth twisted. Yellowish bile stains her chin and the front of her nightgown. Her hair has gone white and straw-like, her eyes glowering at Coffey with lively, irrational interest:
MELINDA:「Oh, so big! Pull down your pants! Let's have a look!」


narrator:Hal groans with despair. Coffey just stands there for a moment, watching her from a distance, then approaches the bed...
MELINDA:「Don't come near me, pigfucker.」
narrator:but as he draws closer, a change occurs. Her features soften, her eyes become more sane and aware.
MELINDA:「Why do you have so many scars? Who hurt you so badly?」
John Coffey:「Don't hardly remember, ma'am.」
narrator:Coffey sits on the edge of the bed. The lights seem to flare hotter and brighter. Tears are forming in Melinda's eyes.
MELINDA:「What's your name?」
John Coffey:「John Coffey, ma'am. Like the drink, only not spelt the same.」
narrator:She lays back, staring at him with shining fascination. The world seems to be slowing down, growing very still indeed...
 and he starts bending slowly toward her.
John Coffey:「Ma'am?」
MELINDA:「Yes, John Coffey?」
John Coffey:「I see it. I see it.」
narrator:He comes closer...closer still...
John Coffey:「You be still now. You be so quiet and so still.」


narrator:He brushes her forehead with his lips...the gentlest whisper of a kiss...then moves his mouth down to hers. For a moment we can see one of her eyes staring past him, filling with an expression of surprise...
 and then her face is lost to view as Coffey puts his lips on hers. We hear a soft whistling sound as he begins inhaling the air deeply from her lungs. Something hot and glowing starts passing between them, drawn on his breath...
 The men watch. The house seems to shudder in that moment, as if the entire world has shifted an inch to the right...
 DOWNSTAIRS PARLOR
 and the grandfather clock stops ticking, the pendulum stopping dead, the glass face cracking neatly up the center...
 BEDROOM
 and a windowpane cracks. Then another. A picture falls off the wall. A lightbulb bursts, showering glass.
 Paul smells smoke, realizes the fringed coverlet of the bed has caught fire. Moving like a man in a dream, he reaches for the waterglass on the nightstand, douses the flames.
 Coffey keeps kissing Melinda in that deep and mysterious way, inhaling and inhaling, her hand held in his like a tiny white bird. For a moment we actually hear something screaming, as if some willful imp were being extracted by force...
 and then it's over. Coffey raises his head, revealing:
 Melinda's beautiful face. Her mouth no longer droops. Color is coming back to her hair. Her skin is shining with life.
 Coffey regards her raptly for a moment or two, then starts coughing violently.
 He turns away and drops to his knees, hacking like a man in the last stages of tuberculosis.
 Paul and his men are expecting Coffey to spit out the "bugs", but he doesn't--he just keeps coughing, deep and hard, barely finding time to snatch in the next breath of air.
 Hal goes to his wife, beyond stunned, sits at her side. She looks back at him with amazement, her face like a dirty mirror that's been suddenly wiped clean.
 John's coughing grows even worse. Brutal drops to his side and slaps his broad, spasming back.
BRUTAL:「John! Sick it up! Cough 'em out like you done before!」
narrator:Coffey just keeps retching, eyes watering from the strain, spit flying from his mouth.
BRUTAL:「He's choking! Whatever he sucked out of her, he's choking on it!」
narrator:Paul starts toward them. Coffey crawls away, pressing himself into a corner with his face against the wallpaper. He's still making gruesome deep hacking sounds, but getting it under control. He weakly waves Paul off--let me be.
 Paul looks to the bed. Hal sits with Melinda, stroking her brow. Color is blooming in her cheeks even as we watch.
MELINDA:「How did I get here? We were going to the hospital in Indianola, weren't we? We stopped and you bought me a packet of posies...」
HAL:「Shhh. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter anymore.」
MELINDA:「Did I have the X-ray? Did I」
PAUL:「Yes.」


narrator:They both look at him.
PAUL:「It was clear. There was no tumor.」
narrator:Hal bursts into tears. Melinda sits up, comforting him. Her eyes are drawn to the corner.
MELINDA:「Who is that man?」
narrator:Coffey is struggling to rise. Brutal does his best to help.
PAUL:「John? Can you turn around? Can you turn around and see this lady?」
narrator:Coffey turns. His face is ashen gray, seriously ill.
MELINDA:「What's your name?」
John Coffey:「John Coffey, ma'am.」
MELINDA:「Like the drink, only not spelled the same.」
John Coffey:「No, ma'am. Not spelt the same at all.」
narrator:She pushes the covers aside to rise. Hal tries to stop her...
HAL:「Melly, no...」
narrator:but she pushes his hand gently aside. Hal watches in wonder as she stands, takes a first tentative step...and walks to Coffey. She gazes up and touches his face.
MELINDA:「I dreamed of you. I dreamed you were wandering in the dark, and so was I. We found each other. We found each other in the dark.」


narrator:She undoes her necklace, holds it up for him. He hesitates, glances to Paul. Paul nods--it's all right. Coffey lowers his head. Melinda affixes the delicate chain around his neck.
MELINDA:「It's St. Christopher. I want you to have it, Mr. Coffey, and wear it. He'll keep you safe. Please wear it for me.」
John Coffey:「Thank you, ma'am.」
MELINDA:「Thank you, John.」
narrator:Her arms go around his neck, hugging him tightly as if she might never let go.
 EXT. MOORES HOUSE - NIGHT
 Paul and the men hustle Coffey out the front door toward the truck, helping him as best they can. He's weak as a baby, knees threatening to give out at any moment.
PAUL:「C'mon, John, stay on your feet.」
HARRY:「Christ, he goes down, we'll need three mules and a crane to pick him up again...」
narrator:They get Coffey to the truck and throw their backs into it, helping him crawl up onto the stakebed. He rolls over on his back. Harry hops up, covers him with an old blanket. Brutal pulls aside, speaking low:


BRUTAL:「He'll never sit in Old Sparky. You know that, don't you? (off Paul's look) He swallowed that stuff for a reason. I give him a few days. One of us'll be doing a cell check and there he'll be. Dead on his bunk.」
PAUL:「If that's his choice, he's earned it. (beat) Let's get him back on the Mile.」
narrator:FADE TO BLACK
 IN BLACKNESS, A TITLE CARD APPEARS:
 Coffey on the Mile"
 CUT TO:
 INT. E BLOCK - NIGHT
 Dean starts babbling with relief as they return:
DEAN:「Am I glad to see you! You were gone so long! Wild Bill's making noises like he's gonna wake up... (notices Coffey) What the hell's wrong with him?」
BRUTAL:「He's hurting, Dean. Hurting bad.」
narrator:Dean jumps in, helps them steer Coffey into his cell.
PAUL:「John, we're gonna set you on your bunk now. Ready?」
narrator:Coffey nods, sits heavily on the bunk. He lowers his head, breath rasping like a rusted hinge. The guards step out.
DEAN:「What about Mrs. Moores? Was it like the mouse? Was it a...you know...a miracle?」
PAUL:「Yes. Yes it was.」
narrator:Paul scans their faces. Smiles are traded. An exultant beat.
HARRY:「Damn. I think we got away with it.」
BRUTAL:「We still gotta convince a certain somebody to keep his trap shut.」
PAUL:「Get his stuff.」
narrator:Dean hurries off to retrieve Percy's holster and baton. Brutal unlocks the restraint room door, swings it open. Percy is revealed sitting against the wall, glaring, his mouth still taped. Paul crouches down. Brutal joins him.
PAUL:「I want to talk, not shout. I take the tape off, you gonna be calm.」
narrator:Percy nods. Paul takes hold of the tape, preparing to yank.
BRUTAL:「My mother always said if you do it fast, it won't hurt so much.」
narrator:Paul rips the tape off. Percy's eyes water with pain.
BRUTAL:「I guess she was wrong.」
PERCY:「Get me out of this nut-coat.」
PAUL:「In a minute.」
PERCY:「Now! Now! Right n--」
narrator:Paul slaps him hard, knocks him sideways. Percy looks up, blinking in surprise. Paul grabs him, yanks him back up.
PAUL:「You shut up and listen. You deserved to be punished for what you did to Del. You'll accept it like a man, or we'll make you sorry you were ever born. We'll tell people how you sabotaged Del's execution--」
PERCY:「Sabotaged!」


PAUL:「and how you pissed yourself like a frightened little girl. Yes, we'll talk, that's a given--but, Percy, mind me now...we'll also see you beaten within an inch of your life.」
narrator:Percy blinks, unable to grasp that.
PAUL:「We know people, too, are you so foolish you don't realize that? People with friends and loved ones doing time in this prison. People who'd be happy to amputate you nose or your penis just so someone they care about could get an extra three hours in the exercise yard every week. (off Percy's look) Let bygones be bygones. Nothing's hurt so far but your pride...and nobody need ever know about that except the people in this room.」
BRUTAL:「What happens on the Mile, stays on the Mile. Always has.」
narrator:A long pause. Softly:
PERCY:「May I be let out of this coat now?」
narrator:They pull him to his feet, undo the straps. He shrugs out of the straitjacket and adjusts his clothes, trying to maintain a shred of dignity.
PERCY:「My things?」
narrator:Dean hands them over. Percy smooths his hair and puts his hat on, starts strapping on his holster belt.
PAUL:「Think it over, Percy.」
PERCY:「Oh, I intend to. I intend to think about it very hard. Starting right now.」
narrator:Percy exits the restraint room. Brutal whispers to Paul:
BRUTAL:「He'll talk. Sooner or later.」


narrator:Paul nods with weary resignation--yeah, I know.
 ON THE MILE
 Percy pauses near Coffey's cell, careless as always, getting his holster buckled--and a massive black arm grabs him through the bars. His SCREAM brings Paul and the others from the restraint room.
 Coffey's face is pressed so tight between his bars it looks like he's trying to push his head through. He draws his lips back, baring his teeth in an awful sneer...
 Percy whacks him with his baton. Coffey barely seems to feel it. He curls his free hand around the back of Percy's head, pulling him ever closer...
 and Percy's screams are muffled as their mouths come together. Coffey begins exhaling as if he'd held his breath for hours. Percy jerks like a fish on a hook, but can't get away. The men jump in, try to pry Percy loose, hollering for Coffey to let him go.
 The black "insects" are flowing from Coffey to Percy, swirling into his mouth, up his nose, down his throat.
 Several lightbulbs explode in their steel cages up and down the Mile. Percy's baton drops from his nerveless fingers and clatters to the floor, never to be picked up again.
 And then Coffey steps back, rubbing his mouth as if he's tasted something bad. The color has returned to his skin.
 Percy, however, is ashen gray. His expression is blank as a sheet of paper, not a trace of awareness in his eyes.
 The men are stunned. Paul raises his hand to Percy's face, snaps his fingers. Nothing. He tries again, clapping loudly. Percy reacts slightly, eyes fluttering, swaying a bit.
PAUL:「Easy, easy. You all right?」
narrator:Percy says nothing. He turns and walks slowly up the Mile, his movements vacant and disjointed. He comes to a swaying stop at Wild Bill's cell...and turns slowly to look in.
 Wild Bill is coming painfully around, groggily clutching his head. He looks up, see Percy.
BILLY:「What'a you looking at, you limp noodle? You wanna kiss my ass or suck my dick?」
narrator:Nothing for the longest moment. Percy just staring...
 and then he pulls his gun and empties it into Wild Bill as fast as he can pull the trigger. BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM! Bill takes all six rounds in the chest, reeling back across the cell. He hits the wall and slides down, leaving a smear, his face registering a final look of stunned surprise.
 Paul and the other tackle Percy and bring him down, wrestling the gun out of his hand. Dean is almost weeping:
DEAN:「Oh God, oh God, no...」
narrator:Percy is flat on his back, staring up at nothing. The black "bugs" come drifting out of nose and mouth, swirling in the air over his head. They turn white and disappear.
 The men are speechless. Paul turns, sees Coffey sitting on the floor at his bars, watching.
John Coffey:「Punished them bad men.」


PAUL:「Why Wild Bill? Why?」
John Coffey:「I saw in his heart. When he grab my arm, I saw what Wild Billy done. Saw plain as day. Can't hide what's in your heart.」
PAUL:「What? Saw what?」
narrator:Coffey reaches toward him, straining through the bars.
John Coffey:「Take my hand, boss. You see for yourself.」
BRUTAL:「Paul, no!」
narrator:Paul hesitates, torn between reason and Coffey's pleading eyes. A whisper:
John Coffey:「My hand.」
narrator:Paul can't help it. He has to. Their hands come together. Paul lurches wildly as that circuit starts blazing between them...
PAUL:「No...please...」
John Coffey:「Gots to, boss. Gots to give you a little bit of myself. A gift, like. A gift of what's in me so you can see...」


narrator:and Paul sees:
 The Detterick twins. Kathe and Cora. Laughing and playing hopscotch in the dust under a later afternoon sun...
 A dinner table. Family having supper late in the day, basket of biscuits being passed. Twelve year old Howie Detterick taking it, passing it on...
 An hand with a paint brush slopping bright red paint on the side of a barn...
 Kathe skipping to the head of the hopscotch squares, turning and starting back, laughing in the sun...
 The paint brush slopping more paint, dripping like blood...
 Paul jerks and twists, trying to pull away, trying to break the circuit, but he can't, not till all is seen and done:
 Marjorie Detterick calling from the porch for everybody to come eat, supper's ready...
 A hammer pausing. Klaus looking down from atop the barn...
 The Detterick twins finishing their hopscotch, gathering their jump ropes from the dust, running across the yard...
 The basket of biscuits being passed to little Cora, who takes a biscuit and passes it on...
 Klaus coming down the ladder, calling to his daughters. The little girls running past the man with the paint brush, who turns and smile as they go by...it's Wild Bill.
 The basket of biscuits is passed one last time. A hand pulls one out, raises it for a bite. It's Wild Bill, smiling at the little girls as conversation flows around the table...
 Paul screams, trying to pull away, but:
 The porch door is kicked off its hinges just before dawn, a figure looming in the doorway. Kathe wakes, her scream cut short as the man's fist punches her hard in the face...
 Paul trembles violently as if riding the lightning himself, pleading for it to stop, but there's one last thing:
 Wild Bill looms over the terrified little girls like a horrendous boogeyman, whispers to Kathe:
BILLY:「You lover your sister? You make any noise, know what happens? I'll kill her instead of you. (to Cora) And if you make any noise, I'll kill her.」
narrator:And he drags them out into the coming dawn...
 as Coffey lets Paul go. Paul is gasping, back in the real world where his men are staring at him with wide eyes.
John Coffey:「He kill 'em with they love. They love for each other. You see how it is?」


narrator:Paul nods, numb. Tears are flowing down Coffey's face. Softly:
John Coffey:「That's how it is ever' day. That's how it is all over the worl'...」
narrator:CUT TO:
 WILD BILL
 lies dead, staring with glassy eyes. A FLASHBULB POPS, rimming him with harsh blue light...
 INT. E BLOCK - DAWN
 as Hal arrives, wearing his pajama top under his overcoat. He sees the POLICE PHOTOGRAPHER taking pictures. The guards are giving statements to GROUPS OF COPS, everybody murmuring:
DEAN:「well, I dunno, he just snapped, I guess...」
HARRY:「s'right, one minute he's fine, the next--blammo...」
BRUTAL:「bastard grabbed him through the bars a few days back, scared the boy so bad he wet himself...」


narrator:Hal turns, sees:
 PERCY
 sits handcuffed on the floor of the Mile, eyes glassier than Wild Bill's. TWO COPS are trying to snap him out of it:
 COP #1 Son! Son! Can you hear me?
 COP #2 Speak up if you can hear us! We gotta ask you some questions!
 A MEDIC is raising Percy's eyelid with his thumb, shining a penlight, getting no reaction.
 MEDIC I think this boy's cheese slid off his cracker.
 HAL
 sees Paul, motions him aside to talk privately:
HAL:「I'll cover you as much as I can, even if it mean my job, but I have to know. Does this have anything to do with what happened at my house? Does it, Paul?」
narrator:Paul looks Hal in the eye. As with Bitterbuck, the lie comes easy:
PAUL:「No.」
narrator:DISSOLVE TO:
 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
 TRACKING A PAIR OF FEET shuffling into the room in hospital slippers, escorted by TWO ORDERLIES. The patient is brought to a window. The orderlies turn to leave...
 and we BOOM UP to reveal Percy, catatonic, staring out the same window where we met Wild Bill...
 EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY
 and we WIDEN SLOWLY from Percy at the window to reveal his last stop in life. It's emblazoned on the gate: BRIAR RIDGE MENTAL HOSPITAL. He finally got that transfer.
 CUT TO:
 EXT. PAUL'S HOUSE - DUSK
 TIGHT ON PAUL as softly:
PAUL:「It makes sense. I read the file. Hal even said it himself. Wharton rambled all over the state last few years, causing trouble. Hell, longer than that. Been at it since he was ten. Vandalism. Petty theft. Setting fires.」
narrator:ANGLE SHIFTS to include Jan, Brutal, Harry and Dean. They're in the brambly patch that borders the woods behind the house. The sun is setting, turning the horizon fiery.
JAN:「You saw him. You actually saw this Wild Bill person take those girls.」
PAUL:「Their father hired him on for a few days last spring, help repair the barn. Cheap labor, just another drifter...」
BRUTAL:「Only not.」
PAUL:「Sick bastard came back a month later, just before dawn. Took the girls...did what he did. Coffey found them afterwards and tried to help. It was too late.」
JAN:「absorbs this) Then you can stop it. The execution, I mean. Get Coffey a new trial.」
PAUL:「Based on what, honey? Some kind of magical vision I had?」
JAN:「Show this farmer--what's his name, Detterick?--show him a picture of Wild Bill. (off their looks) Why not? If Wharton was there...if the farmer can identify his picture and they know he was there...」


BRUTAL:「Him being there in May doesn't mean he came back and killed those girls in June. Even if he was committing other crimes.」
PAUL:「They got their killer as far as they're concerned.」
narrator:Hell, Coffey's own lawyer would come throw the switch if we let him.
JAN:「Then lie.」
PAUL:「Lie? About what?」
JAN:「Tell them Wharton confessed to the crime. Brutus, you can back him up, say you heard it too. You can say that's what set Percy off. He shot Wharton because he couldn't stand thinking of what happened to those two little girls, it snapped his mind... (seeing their looks) ...what? What now?」
DEAN:「We never reported anything like that. We would've, too, everybody knows it. It's part of our job.」
BRUTAL:「Besides, confessing don't make it so. Slugs like Wild Bill lie about everything. Crimes they committed, women they had, even the weather.」
JAN:「But he was there! He painted their barn! He ate dinner with them!」
PAUL:「All the more reason he might take credit for the crime. He's gonna fry anyway, so why not boast?」
narrator:Jan stands thinking for a moment, then:
JAN:「All right. Then you've got to get John Coffey out on your own.」
HARRY:「Ma'am?」
JAN:「You did it once, didn't you? Only this time, don't bring him back.」
narrator:Dean blinks, stunned by this notion. Gently:
DEAN:「Ma'am, your son's grown up and moved away. My kids are just starting kindergarten. Will you be the one to explain to them why their daddy's in prison?」
JAN:「Work out a plan. Make it look like a real escape.」
HARRY:「Better be a plan an imbecile could dream up. Nobody'd believe it otherwise.」
BRUTAL:「Even if we did think of something, it wouldn't do any good.」
JAN:「Why not? Just why the hell not?」
PAUL:「Because he's a six-foot-eight-inch baldheaded black man with barely enough brains to feed himself. How long you think it'd be before he was recaptured? Two hours? Six?」
narrator:Jan swipes a tear away with the heel of her hand. Softly:
JAN:「Do you mean to kill him, you cowards? Do you?」
narrator:Paul tries to take her hand. She wrenches away, furious.
JAN:「Don't touch me! Next week this time you'll be a murderer, no better than that man Wharton, so don't touch me!」


narrator:She runs off toward the house, starting to sob as we
 DISSOLVE TO:
 INT PAUL'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
 Paul is at the kitchen table in the wee hours, at his regular place, sipping his beer. Irving Berlin's "Remember" PLAYS SOFTLY on the radio. Jan comes down, looking miserable and exhausted.
JAN:「I'm so sorry I called you a coward. I feel worse about that than anything I've ever said to you in our whole marriage.」
PAUL:「Even that time we went camping and you called me Old Stinky Sam?」
narrator:She can't help smiling at that. He returns the smile, offers her a sip of beer. She takes it, sits.
JAN:「Does Hal know? That Coffey's innocent, I mean? (Paul shakes his head) Can he help? Does he have the influence to do something about this?」
PAUL:「No.」
JAN:「Then don't tell him. If he can't help, don't tell him. Ever.」
PAUL:「I won't.」
JAN:「beat) There's no way out of this for you, is there?」
PAUL:「No. I've been thinking about it, too, believe me. (beat) Tell you the truth, honey. I've done some things in my life I'm not proud of, but this is the first time I've ever felt in real danger of hell.」
JAN:「Hell? Oh Paul... (touches his face) Talk to him. Talk to John. Find out what he wants.」
narrator:CUT TO:
 INT. E BLOCK - NIGHT
 Coffey sits quietly in his cell, a solitary firefly flitting in circles around his finger. Paul and the men appear. The firefly flits away, vanishing through Coffey's tiny window.
John Coffey:「Hello, boss.」


PAUL:「Hello, John.」
narrator:Brutal unlocks his cell. Paul enters.
PAUL:「I guess you know we're coming down to it now. Another couple of days. (beat) Is there anything special you'd like for dinner that night? We can rustle you up most anything.」
narrator:Coffey gives it some careful thought.
John Coffey:「Meatloaf be nice. Mashed taters with gravy. Okra, maybe. I's not picky.」
PAUL:「What about a preacher? Someone you could say a little prayer with?」
John Coffey:「Don't want no preacher. You can say a prayer, if you want. I could get kneebound with you, I guess.」
PAUL:「Me?」
narrator:Coffey gives him a look--please.
PAUL:「S'pose I could, if it came to that.」
narrator:Paul sits, working himself up to it:
PAUL:「John, I have to ask you something very important right now.」
John Coffey:「I know what you gonna say. You don' have to say it.」


PAUL:「I do. I do have to. (beat) John, tell me what you want me to do. You want me to take you out of here? Just let you run away? See how far you can get?」
John Coffey:「Why would you do such a foolish thing?」
narrator:Paul hesitates, emotions swirling, trying to find the right words.
PAUL:「On the day of my judgement, when I stand before God, and He asks me why did I kill one of his true miracles, what am I gonna say? That is was my job? My job?」
John Coffey:「You tell God the Father it was a kindness you done. (takes his hand) I know you hurtin' and worryin', I can feel it on you, but you oughtta quit on it now. Because I want it over and done. I do.」
narrator:Coffey hesitates--now he's the one trying to find the right words, trying to make Paul understand:
John Coffey:「I'm tired, boss. Tired of bein' on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. Tired of not ever having me a buddy to be with, or tell me where we's coming from or going to, or why. Mostly I'm tired of people being ugly to each other.」


narrator:I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world ever' day. There's too much of it. It's like pieces of glass in my head all the time. Can you understand?
 By now, Paul is blinking back tears. Softly:
PAUL:「Yes, John. I think I can.」
BRUTAL:「There must be something we can do for you, John. There must be something you want.」
narrator:Coffey thinks about this long and hard, finally looks up.
John Coffey:「I ain't never seen me a flicker show.」


narrator:CUT TO:
 TIGHT ON COFFEY'S FACE
 gazing with wide-eyed, open-mouthed wonder, the light of a motion picture projector flickering on his skin...
 INT PRISON AUDITORIUM - NIGHT
 while Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance up there on the big screen, images flowing in magical black and silver tone.
 FRED ASTAIRE (singing) Heaven, I'm in heaven...and my heart beats so that I can hardly speak...
 Paul and the men are scattered about in the otherwise empty auditorium, also watching.
 PROJECTION BOOTH
 Toot operates the projector, peering through the tiny window into the theater. He yawns, glances at his watch. Late.
 IN THE AUDITORIUM
 Fred and Ginger are now in the most passionate and graceful part of the dance. Irving Berlin's music swells.
 COFFEY
 can't believe what he's seeing. He's so excited his breath is caught in his throat. Softly:
John Coffey:「Why, they's angels. Angels. Just like up in heaven...」


narrator:DISSOLVE TO:
 INT. E BLOCK - NIGHT
 FOUR PAIRS OF FEET come marching up the Green Mile.
 ANGLE ON COFFEY
 Paul appears at the bars with Brutal, Harry, and Dean. Nothing is said. Coffey knows why they're here. He rises as Brutal unlocks the cell, slides the door open. Coffey steps out, looks around at their dazed and sad faces.
John Coffey:「I be all right, fellas. This here's the hard part. I be all right in a little while.」
narrator:Paul indicates St. Christopher medal around John's neck:
PAUL:「John, I should have that just for now. I'll give it back after.」
narrator:John lets him take the necklace. Paul pockets it. They start to walk the Mile as:
John Coffey:「You know, I fell asleep this afternoon and had me a dream. I dreamed about Del's mouse.」
PAUL:「Did you, John?」
John Coffey:「I dreamed he got down to that place Boss Howell talked about, that Mouseville place. I dreamed there was kids, and how they laughed at his tricks! My!」
narrator:He laughs at the memory of it, then grows more serious:


John Coffey:「I dreamed those two little blonde- headed girls were there. They 'us laughing, too. I put my arms around 'em and sat 'em on my knees, and there 'us no blood comin' outta their hair and they 'us fine. We all watch Mr. Jingles roll that spool, and how we did laugh. Fit to bus', we was.」
narrator:Behind them, Dean stifles a sob.
 PAUL'S INNER OFFICE
 Coffey kneels. Paul joins him, self-conscious and uncertain.
PAUL:「What should we pray for, John?」
John Coffey:「Strength?」
narrator:Paul nods--strength it is. Dean surprises Brutal and Harry by also kneeling. Brutal and Harry hesitate...then join them.
PAUL:「God, please help us finish what we've started, and please welcome this man, John Coffey--like the drink, but not spelled the same-- into heaven and give him peace. Please help us to see him off the best we can and let nothing go wrong. Amen.」
narrator:Paul starts to rise, but Coffey takes his hand.
John Coffey:「I know a prayer I once heard. Can I say it?」
PAUL:「You go right ahead, John. Take all the time you need.」


narrator:Coffey closes his eyes, frowning in deep concentration.
John Coffey:「Baby Jesus, meek and mild, pray for me...」
narrator:And Paul sees:
 Kathe and Cora Detterick kneeling together in the enclosed porch that night, just before their bedtime:
 KATHE AND CORA ...and every child. Be my strength, be my friend...
 And then the vision is gone as:
John Coffey:「be with me until the end. Amen.」
narrator:Coffey rises, offers Paul his hand, helps him up.
 EXECUTION CHAMBER
 Full house tonight. Bill Dodge is waiting at Old Sparky.
 Silence as Coffey is led in, all eyes on him. Klaus and Marjorie Detterick are in the front row. She mutters:
MARJORIE:「Die slow, you bastard.」
narrator:COFFEY
 is faltering as Paul and Brutal bring him to the chair.
John Coffey:「They's a lot of folks here hate me. A lot. I can feel it. Like bees stinging me. It hurts.」
BRUTAL:「Feel how we feel, then. We don't hate you--can you feel that?」
narrator:Coffey tries to take comfort in it, but flinches as:


MARJORIE:「Kill him twice, you boys! You go on and kill that raping baby- killer twice, that'd be fine!」
narrator:She dissolves into tears. Klaus pulls her against his shoulder, looking dazed by the whole thing.
 Paul and Brutal turn John around, sit him down. Paul notices Dean crying again, his back to the witnesses. They kneel to apply the leg clamps, while Brutal and Harry secure the arms.
PAUL:「Wipe you face before you stand up, Dean.」
narrator:Dean nods, wiping his face with the sleeve of his coat. They rise, stepping back. This time, Paul's out front:
PAUL:「Roll on one.」
narrator:Van Hay cranks the generator. The lights flare hotter and brighter. It's just like in Melinda's bedroom the night Coffey cured her with a kiss. Airless and bright, dreamlike.
MARJORIE:「Does it hurt yet? I hope it does! I hope it hurts like hell!」
PAUL:「John Coffey...you have been condemned to die in the electric chair by a jury of your peers...sentence imposed by a judge in good standing in this state. Do you have anything to say before sentence is carried out?」
narrator:John hesitates, nods.
John Coffey:「I'm sorry for what I am.」


MARJORIE:「You ought to be! Oh, you monster, you damn well ought to be!」
narrator:Brutal takes the mask from the hook to draw it over Coffey's head. Coffey looks to Paul with terrified, pleading eyes.
John Coffey:「Please, boss, don't put that thing over my face. Don't put me in the dark, I's afraid of the dark.」
PAUL:「All right, John.」
narrator:Brutal puts the mask back, proceeds with the sponge.
 IN TIGHT ANGLES
 The cap is lowered, the straps drawn. Coffey is breathing fast, terrified, muttering under his breath:
John Coffey:「heaven...I'm in heaven... heaven...heaven...heaven...」
narrator:THE WITNESSES
 sit and wait, barely breathing.
 JACK VAN HAY
 is poised at the switch, wondering why the order won't come.
 PAUL
 is staring at Coffey, unable to say the words.
BRUTAL:「whispers) Paul. You have to say it. You have to give the order.」
narrator:Paul can't. He reaches out and touches Coffey's hand. Their fingers clasp. In that moment, staring into his eyes, Paul hears the last thought that ever goes through Coffey's head:


John Coffey:「whispered V.O.) He kill 'em with they love. That's how it is ever' day. All over the worl'...」