The Green Mile

Paul Edgecomb:
A big man is ripping your ears off Percy. I'd do as he says.

Paul Edgecomb:
Your name is John Coffey?

John Coffey:
Yes sir boss. Like the drink, only not spelled the same.

Paul Edgecomb:
Oh, you can spell can you?

John Coffey:
Just my name boss.

John Coffey:
I tried to take it back, Boss.

Paul Edgecomb:
What did you just do to me?

John Coffey:
I helped it. Didn't I help it? I just took it back, is all. Awful tired now, boss. Dog tired.

Dean Stanton:
What did you do?

John Coffey:
I helped Del's mouse become a circus mouse, and go to that place Boss Howell was talking about down in...

Brutus "Brutal" Howell:
Florida?

John Coffey:
Yes. Boss Percy bad. He stepped on Del's mouse. I took it back though.

Bill Dodge:
I think this boy's cheese has done slid off his cracker.

Paul Edgecomb:
What do you want me to do John? I'll do it. You want me to let you walk out of here and see how far you get?

John Coffey:
Now why would you want to do a foolish thing like that?

Paul Edgecomb:
When I die and I stand before God awaiting judgment and he asks me why I let one of HIS miracles die, what am I gonna say, that it was my job?

Old Paul Edgecomb:
I guess sometimes the past just catches up with you, whether you want it to or not.

Old Paul Edgecomb:
They usually call death row the Last Mile, but we called ours the Green Mile, because the floor was the color of faded limes. We had the electric chair then. Old Sparky, we called it. I've lived a lot of years, Ellie, but 1935 takes the prize. That was the year I had the worst urinary infection of my life. That was also the year of John Coffey and the two dead girls.

John Coffey:
Do you leave a light on after bedtime? Because I get a little scared in the dark sometimes. If it's a strange place.

Paul Edgecomb:
The man is mean, careless, and stupid. Bad combination in a place like this.

Paul Edgecomb:
Men under strain can snap. Hurt themselves. Hurt others. That's why our job is talking, not yelling. You'll do better to think of this place like an intensive care ward in a hospital.

Percy Wetmore:
I think of it as a bucket of piss to drown rats in. That's all. Anybody doesn't like it can kiss my ass.

Percy Wetmore:
Adios, Chief. Drop us a card from hell, let us know if it's hot enough.

Brutus "Brutal" Howell:
He's paid what he's owed. He's square with the house again, so keep your goddamn hands off him.

Paul Edgecomb:
What do you want, John Coffey?

John Coffey:
Just to help.

Paul Edgecomb:
I just can't see God putting a gift like that in the hands of a man who would kill a child.

Paul Edgecomb:
John, do you know where we're taking you?

John Coffey:
Help a lady?

Brutus "Brutal" Howell:
That's right. But how do you know?

John Coffey:
Don't know. To tell the truth, Boss, I don't know much'o anything.

Melinda Moores:
Why do you have so many scars? Who hurt you so badly?

John Coffey:
Don't hardly remember, ma'am.

Melinda Moores:
What's your name?

John Coffey:
John Coffey, ma'am.

Melinda Moores:
Like the drink, only not spelled the same.

John Coffey:
No, ma'am. Not spelt the same at all.

Melinda Moores:
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.

Paul Edgecomb:
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.

Old Paul Edgecomb:
We each owe a death, there are no exceptions, I know that, but sometimes, oh God, the Green Mile is so long.

Paul Edgecomb:
On the day of my judgment, 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. I know you hurtin' and worryin', I can feel it on you, but you oughta quit on it now. Because I want it over and done. I do. 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. I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world everyday. There's too much of it. It's like pieces of glass in my head all the time. Can you understand?

Paul Edgecomb:
Yes, John. I think I can.

John Coffey:
You know, I fell asleep this afternoon and had me a dream. I dreamed about Del's mouse.

Paul Edgecomb:
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! 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 bust, we was.

Paul Edgecomb:
What happens on the mile stays on the mile. Always has.

Arlen Bitterbuck:
Do you believe that if a man repents enough for what he done wrong, than he'll get to go back to the time that was happiest for him and live there forever? Could that be what heaven's like?

Paul Edgecomb:
I just about believe that very thing.

Arlen Bitterbuck:
I had a young wife when I was eighteen. We spent the summer in the mountains, made love every night. After we would talk sometimes till the sun came up, and she'd lay there, bare breasted in the fire light... that was my best time.

John Coffey:
People hurt the ones they love. That's how it is all around the world.

John Coffey:
There's lotsa people here that hate me, lots. I can feel it. It's like bees stingin' me.

Brutus "Brutal" Howell:
Well feel how we feel then. We don't hate you. Can you feel that?

Lady in nursing home:
It's interesting.

Man in nursing home:
Interesting? Buncha inbred trailer trash. All they ever talk about is f***ing.

Paul Edgecomb:
We'll be doing this for real tomorrow night and I don't want nobody to remember some stupid joke like that and get it going again. You ever try to not to laugh in church when something funny gets stuck in your head? Same goddamn thing.

John Coffey:
That's a smart mouse, Del, he's like a circus mouse.

Eduard Delacroix:
Correct, that's just what he is too. He's a circus mouse. When I get outta here, he's gonna make me famous.

Paul Edgecomb:
Now how about a preacher? Someone to say a little prayer with?

John Coffey:
Don't want no preacher. You can say a prayer if you like.

Paul Edgecomb:
Me? I suppose I could if it came to that.

Toot-Toot:
Gettin' to my knees. Prayin'. Lord in Heaven, sorry for all the bad sh*t I've done, all the people I've trampled on, I hope they forgive me, I won't do it again, that's for sure.

Brutus "Brutal" Howell:
You all right in there?

Paul Edgecomb:
Yeah, for a man pissing razor blades.

Paul Edgecomb:
John, do you know where we're taking you?

John Coffey:
Help a lady?

Brutus "Brutal" Howell:
That's right. But how do you know?

John Coffey:
Don't know. To tell the truth, Boss, I don't know much o' anything.

Hal:
Percy. Something to say?

Percy Wetmore:
I didn't know the sponge was supposed to be wet.

Hal:
How many years you spend pissing on a toilet seat before someone told you to put it up?

Paul Edgecomb:
Percy f***ed up, Hal, pure and simple.

Hal:
Is that your official position?

Paul Edgecomb:
Don't you think it should be?

Paul Edgecomb:
Is his head properly shaved?

Dean Stanton:
Nope, it's all dandruffy and smells.

Paul Edgecomb:
I'll take that as a yes.

Harry Terwilliger:
We thought he was doped.

Paul Edgecomb:
You didn't ask?

Paul Edgecomb:
Well I don't think that's a mistake you'll be needing to make again anytime soon is it?

Percy Wetmore:
Deranged killer? He look more like a limp noodle to me. Hey!

Percy Wetmore:
You've been declared competent, son, 'know what that means? 'Means you gonna ride the lightning. Ha ha.

Dean Stanton:
Percy, shut up and give us a hand.

Harry Terwilliger:
Can you believe this? The son of a b*tch pissed on me!

William 'Wild Bill' Wharton:
Y'all like that? I'm currently cooking up some turds, to go with it. Nice soft 'uns. Uhhh! Have'em out to y'all tomorrow.

Jan Edgecomb:
Honey, if you don't tell me what's on your mind, I'm afraid I'll have to smother you with a pillow.

Brutus "Brutal" Howell:
He's enormous!

Paul Edgecomb:
Can't be bigger than you.

William 'Wild Bill' Wharton:
What are you looking at, you limp noodle? Ya wanna kiss my ass? Ya wanna suck my dick?

Brutus "Brutal" Howell:
He's chokin'. Whatever he sucked out of her, he's choking on!

Paul Edgecomb:
I wanna hear about this new inmate, aside from how big he is!

Brutus "Brutal" Howell:
Monstrous big!

Eduard Delacroix:
I thank you. Mr. Jingles thank you, my mom would thank you too but she's dead.

Paul Edgecomb:
Seeing a man die isn't enough for you, you gotta be close enough to smell his nuts cook?

Percy Wetmore:
You switched 'em. You switched 'em somehow, you bastards.

Brutus "Brutal" Howell:
Yeah I always keep a spare mouse in my wallet for occasions such as this.

Paul Edgecomb:
We all know who your connections are Percy. You ever threaten a man on this block again we're all gonna have a go. The job be damned.

Percy Wetmore:
You done?

Paul Edgecomb:
Get all this sh*t back in the restraining room, you are cluttering up my mile.

Paul Edgecomb:
Toot, one more remark like that I'll have Van Hay roll on two for real. And I'll have one less crazy old trustee in the world.

Harry Terwilliger:
Paul, we're not gonna have some Cherokee medicine man in here whoopin', hollerin' and shaking his dick are we?

Paul Edgecomb:
Well actually...

Toot-Toot:
Still prayin'! Still prayin'! Gettin' right with Jesus!

Harry Terwilliger:
Do it quietly you old gink!

Paul Edgecomb:
As I was saying, I don't think they actually shake their d*cks Harry. Be that as it may Mr. Bitterbuck is a Christian, so I have the Reverend Schuster coming out.

Dean Stanton:
Oh he's good. He's fast too. Doesn't get 'em all worked up.

Wild Bill Wharton:
You love your sister? You make any noise, you know what happens. I'm gonna kill her instead of you. Understand?

Earl the Plumber:
I been fixing the plumbing in here for ten years. I ain't never had to wear no damn tie before.

Bill Dodge:
Well you're a VIP today, Earl, so just shut up.

Harry Terwilliger:
Piss on ME?

William 'Wild Bill' Wharton:
Where y'all think you're goin'?

John Coffey:
You a bad man.

William 'Wild Bill' Wharton:
That's right, n*gger. Bad as you'd want.

John Coffey:
I's tired, Boss...pow'ful tired.

“When I die and I stand before God awaiting judgment and he asks me why I let one of HIS miracles die, what am I gonna say, that it was my job?”

I got all you can use of what you want

John Coffey:
He kill them wi' their love. Wi' their love fo' each other. That's how it is, every day, all over the world.

Old Man [Disgusted at watching people arguing on The Jerry Springer Show at the retirement home]:
Why do we always watch this stuff?

Old Woman:
It's interesting.

Old Man:
"Interesting"? A bunch of inbred trailer trash? All they ever talk about is f***ing.

[Rehearsing Bitterbuck's execution, with Toot-Toot standing in for him]

Brutal:
Arlen Bitterbuck, 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?

Toot-Toot:
Yeah. I want a fried chicken dinner with gravy on the taters, and I want to sh*t in your hat, and I got to have Mae West sit on my face 'cause I'm one horny motherf***er!

Paul:
[After John enters his cell for the first time] Percy, they're moving house in the infirmary. Why don't you go see if they could use some help?

Percy Wetmore:
Well, they got all the men they need.

Paul:
Why don't you just go and make sure?

Percy:
Uh-uh.

Paul:
I don't care where you go, Percy, just as long as it's not here at this very moment. [Percy nods and walks down the Mile; Del grins at him as he walks by, so Percy smacks Del's fingers with a nightstick and makes Del scream in pain]

Eduard Delacroix:
[crying] God, he bust my finger!

Percy:
I wiped that grin off ya sh*t-poke face, didn't I?!

Paul:
Goddamn it, Percy, get the hell off my block! [Percy looks at him, nods and leaves]

[Paul has the men over for lunch, as he hatches his plan for Moores' terminally-ill wife]

Paul:
You all saw what he did to the mouse.

Brutus:
I coulda gone the rest of the day without you bringin' that up.

Dean:
I coulda gone the rest of the year.

Paul:
He did the same thing to me. He put his hands on me...and he took my bladder infection away.

Jan:
'S true. When he came home that day, he was... [pauses and half-smiles] all better. [Paul gives her a sly look]

Dean:
Aw, wait. You're talkin' about a...an authentic healin'? A praise-Jesus miracle?

Paul:
I am.

Jan:
[barely suppressing a grin] Oh, yeah.

Harry:
Now, w-what if he escapes? I'd hate to lose my job or go to prison...but I'd hate worse to have a dead child on my conscience.

Paul:
I don't think that's gonna happen. In fact...I don't think he did it at all. I do not see God putting a...gift like that, in the hands of a man who could kill a child.

Elaine [Feeding a slow but still active Mr. Jingles]:
He...infected you with life?

Paul:
That's as good a word as any.

Paul Edgecomb:
Goddamn it, Percy, get the hell off my block!

Paul Edgecomb:
[grabs Percy, who is trying to turn away from the botched execution he caused] No, you watch, you son-of-a-b*tch!

Paul Edgecomb:
Elaine — you'll die, too. And my curse is knowing that I'll be there to see it. It's my atonement, you see — it's my punishment for lettin' John Coffey ride the lightning. For killing a miracle of God. You'll be gone like all the others, and I'll have to stay. Oh, I'll die eventually; of that, I'm sure. I have no illusions of immortality. But I will have wished for death long before Death finds me. In truth, I wish for it already.

Paul Edgecomb:
Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not. Time takes it all, bears it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again.

Paul Edgecomb:
I think about all of us. Walking our own Green Mile, each in our own time.

John Coffey:
You be still, now ... you be so quiet and so still.

John Coffey:
Why, they's angels. Angels, just like up in heaven.

John Coffey:
Heaven … I'm in heaven … heaven …

William "Wild Bill" Wharton:
Barbecue! Me and you! Stinky-pinky, Pew-Pew-Pew! Weren't Billy, Jilly, Hilly, or Pa! It was a French-fried Cajun named Delacroix! WOO!

William "Wild Bill" Wharton:
All I wanted me was a little corn bread, you motherfuckers! All I wanted me was a little corn bread!

William "Wild Bill" Wharton:
You can come in here on your legs, but you'll go out on your backs. Billy the Kid gonna guarantee ya that.

Percy Wetmore:
Dead man walking, we got a dead man walking here.

Percy Wetmore:
Adios, Chief. Drop us a card from Hell. Let us know if it's hot enough, you motherfuckin' sonavabitch.