Green Mile Part 3

The door closes.
Paul falls down on the floor.

COFFEY
Boss, I needs to see you down here.

PAUL
This is not a good time, John Coffey...
...not a good time at all.

COFFEY
But l needs to see you, boss.
I needs to talk to you.

Paul is grunting. He stands in front of Coffey's cell.

COFFEY
Closer.

DELACROIX
Boss, you know you ain't supposed to do that.

PAUL
Mind your business, Del. What do you want, John Coffey?

COFFEY
Just to help it.

Coffey takes hold of Paul.
Del shouts for help to other guards.

COFFEY
Don't be afraid.

DELACROIX
Help! Help! John Coffey's killing Boss Edgecomb! Help!

PAUL
What are you doing?

DELACROIX
Help! Boss Howell! Help! Boss Stanton! Somebody, come!
Help!

The light bulb on the wall glows and pops.
Paul is grunting.

PAUL
Aah!

John grabs Paul's clothes and pulls him closer.

DEL
Help! Boss Howell! Boss Stanton! Somebody, come!
John Coffey's killing Boss Edgecomb!

PAUL
Del, for chrissakes, shut up!

John coughs. Paul is confused.

PAUL
What did you just do to me?

JOHN
I helped it. Didn't l help it?
I just took it back, is all.
Awful tired now, boss. Dog-tired.

DELACROIX
Boss, what that man do to you?

INT. TOILET
Paul urinates.

PAUL
Ahh.

INT. PAUL'S HOME
Paul gets home. At home, a woman is singing on the radio.

JAN
Hey, honey. How you feeling?

PAUL
Oh, not too bad.

JAN
What did the doctor say?

PAUL
Oh, you know doctors. Gobbledygook, mostly.

Paul touches Jan.

JAN
Gobbledygook. Having stew tonight. What are you doing?


PAUL
What does it feel like?

JAN
Well, l know what it feels like. It feels great.

They sleep together, and it is morning.

JAN
Paul.

PAUL
Yeah?

JAN
Not that I'm complaining...

PAUL
Uh-huh.

JAN
...but we haven't gone four times in one night since we were 19.

PAUL
Yeah, we did, at your mom's.

JAN
Mm-hmm.  Wanna tell me what's going on?

PAUL
Well...see, the thing is...l never actually made it in to Dr. Bishop's yesterday.

Paul is calling.

PAUL
Brutal, Paul. Listen. I'm thinking of taking the morning
off sick. You cover the fort for me? That's swell. Thanks.
Yeah, no, l'm sure I'll feel better. Okay. Okay.

JAN
You're sure you ought to do this?

PAUL
I'm not sure what l'm sure of.

EXT. HAMMERSMITH HOME
Paul goes to Mr. Hammersmith's house by a car.
He arrives and talks to Mr. Hammersmith on the terrace.

MRS. HAMMERSMITH
Burt, you got some company. Can l offer you a cold drink?

PAUL
Oh, yes, ma'am. A cold drink would be fine. Thank you.
Mr. Hammersmith, your office said I might find you at home.
Hope l'm not troubling you.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
Well, that depends, Mr...?

PAUL
Paul Edgecomb. l'm E Block supervisor up on Cold Mountain.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
The Green Mile. Yeah, l've heard of it. Lost a few clients
your way.

PAUL
I'd like to ask you about one of them.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
Have a seat.

PAUL
Thank you.

Paul sits down on a chair.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
Which client? Now you got my curiosity aroused.

PAUL
John Coffey.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
Ah. Coffey. He causing you problems?

PAUL
No. Can't say he is. He doesn't like the dark and cries
on occasion...but other than that....

MR. HAMMERSMITH
He cries, does he? Well, got a lot to cry about, l'd say.
You know what he did.

PAUL
I read the court transcript.

Mrs. Hammersmith comes with a drink.

PAUL
Thank you, missus.

MRS. HAMMERSMITH
My pleasure. Kids! Lunch is about ready.
Y'all come on up.

CHILDREN
Coming, Mama!

MR. HAMMERSMITH
What exactly are you trying to find out?

PAUL
I've wondered if he did anything like that before.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
Why? Has he said anything?

PAUL
No, but a man who does a thing like that ... has often developed
a taste for it over time. It occurred to me...that it might be easy
enough to follow his back trail. Find out. A man his size, and colored
to boot, can't be that hard to trace.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
You'd think so, but you'd be wrong. Believe me, we tried.
Like he'd dropped out of the sky.

PAUL
How can that be?

MR. HAMMERSMITH
We're in a depression. A third of the country's out of work.
People are drifting by the thousands, looking for jobs, for greener grass.
Even a giant like Coffey wouldn't get noticed everywhere.
Not until he kills a couple of little girls.

PAUL
He is...strange, l admit. But there doesn't seem to be any real violence
in him. I know violent men, Mr. Hammersmith. I deal with them day in and
day out.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
You didn't come to ask me whether he killed before.
You came to see if l think he did it at all.

PUAL
Do you?

MR. HAMMERSMITH
One seldom sees a less ambiguous case.
He was found with the victims in his arms.

PAUL
And yet you defended him.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
Everyone is entitled to a defense.

Mrs. Hammersmith calls to her children that are playing on a swing.

MRS. HAMMERSMITH
Kids! Lunch!

MR. HAMMERSMITH
Y'all listen to your mama!

The children get off the swing.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
I'll tell you something. And you listen close too, because it might
be something you need to know.

PAUL
I'm listening.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
We had us a dog. Just a sweet mongrel. You know the kind.
Well, in many ways, a good mongrel dog is like a Negro.




MR. HAMMERSMITH
You get to know it. Often, you get to love it. It is of no particular use...
but you keep it around because you think it loves you. If you're lucky,
Mr. Edgecomb, you never have to find out any different. My wife and l were
not so lucky. Caleb, come here for a second. Come here. Please, son.


Mr. Hammersmith's son comes.  His face is scarred, and he is blind in one eye.

MR. HAMMERSMITH
He still has the one good eye. I suppose he's lucky...not to be completely blind.
We get down on our knees and thank God for that much at least.
Right, Caleb? Okay, go on in now.

Mr. Hammersmith looks at Paul.

That dog attacked my boy for no reason. Just got it in his mind one day.
The same with John Coffey. He was sorry afterwards. Of that l have no doubt.
But those little girls ...stayed raped and murdered. Maybe he'd never done
it before. My dog never bit before. But l didn't concern myself with that.
I went out with my rifle, grabbed his collar and blew his brains out.
Is Coffey guilty? Yes, he is. Don't you doubt it. And don't you turn your back
on him. You may get away with it once or even a hundred times...but in the end
...you'll get bit.

INT. PRISON
Delacroix is reading a book. Paul is walking the green mile.
Mr. Jingles is running to jail cell before from the box.

DELACROIX
Oh, me! Oh, my!

PAUL
John. John.

Paul gives Coffey some corn bread.

COFFEY
I'm smelling me some corn bread.

PAUL
It's from my missus.

Coffey gets up.

PALL
She wanted to thank you.

COFFEY
Thank me for what?

PAUL
Well, you know. For helping me.

COFFEY
Helping you with what?

PAUL
You know.

COFFEY
Oh. Was your missus pleased?

PAUL
Several times.

Paul passes Coffey the bread.

DELACROIX
Oh, John, I can smell that from over here. I surely can.

COFFEY
Can l give Del and Mr. Jingles some?

PAUL
Well, it's yours, John. You can do with it as you please.

Coffey passes Paul a piece of bread.

COFFEY
Here. This for Del and Mr. Jingles.

WILD BILL
Hey! What about me? I'm gonna get some too, ain't l?

PAUL
It's yours, John. As you please.

COFFEY
I think I'll just keep the rest, then.

Paul passes Delacroix a piece of bread.

PAUL
Courtesy of the gentleman across the way.

DELACROIX
Oh, John, that's so very fine of you. I thank you. Mr. Jingle thank you.
My mama would thank you too, but she dead.

COFFEY
Welcome.

WILD BILL
Hey! What about me? Don't you hold out on me, you big dummy nigger.

Wild Bill laughs. Paul approaches his cell.

WILD BILL
Ooh, here come the boss man.

PAUL
You'll keep a civil tongue on my block.

Wild Bill spits on Paul's face.

PAUL
You get that one for free. But that's the last one.

WILD BILL
That's it? Just that little itty-bitty one?

Wild Bill speaks to the guards.

WILD BILL
I guess I'm gonna have to pay you out for the rest.

Wild Bill pees on Harry's leg.

WILD BILL
Yee-haw!

Harry gets angry.

WILD BILL
Good shot, weren't it?
The look on your face!

Wild Bill laughs.

HARRY
Do you believe this? That son of a bitch pissed on me.

WILD BILL
Did y'all like that?I'm currently cooking up some turds to go with it.
Nice soft ones. Have them out to y'all tomorrow.

Wild Bill provokes the guards.  Paul speaks to Brutus, indicating the padded room.

PAUL
We've been meaning to clean out that room for a while, haven't we?

BRUTUS
Oh, yeah.

Brutus agrees with Paul. The guards are moving the furniture out of the padded room.

WILD BILL
Hey! Hey! Be careful with that. That's fragile. Hey. Hey! What's it now?
What's it now? Moving day? Y'all wanna come in here and dust a little?
You can shine my knob for me while you're at it. You can come in here on
your legs...but you'll go out on your backs. Billy the Kid gonna guarantee
you that. Come on, fuck-stick. No sneaking up on me this time. We'll go man-to-man.

Brutal opens the door of the jail cell.
Behind them, Harry is holding a fire hose.

HARRY
Piss on me?

Harry sprays Wild Bill with the full force of the water hose.
After trying to fight it, Wild Bill is dead tired and coughing.
The guards pull Wild Bill out of his cell.

BRUTUS
Come on, Wild Bill. Little walky-walky.

WILD BILL
Don't you call me that! Wild Bill Hickok wasn't no range rider!
He was just some bushwhacking John Law! Dumb son of a bitch sat
with his back to the door, killed by a drunk.

BRUTUS
Oh, my suds and body. A history lesson. You never know what you'll get
at work every day on the Green Mile.

Wild Bill is laughing. Brutal and Paul raise him.

BRUTUS
Thank you, Wild Bill.

Wild Bill is yelling at Brutal.

WILD BILL
Not in there. Not in there. I'll be good. Honest injun, I will. I will.


BRUTUS
Christ, he's pitching a fit.

PAUL
He'll be fine, boys. Trust me on this.
One, two, three.

Paul and Brutal throw Wild bill in the padded room.

WILD BILL
Hey. Hey!

Wild Bill is tackling the door.

WILD BILL
Hey, fellers. Hey, it's not funny. All I wanted me was a little
corn bread, you motherfuckers! All I wanted me was a little corn
bread!

The door opens.

WILD BILL
I learned my lesson. I'll be good.

Toot is cleaning the green mile.

WILD BILL
Hey, Toot. Give you a nickel for that Moon Pie.

Wild Bill exchanges a coin for the pie. He eats the pie.
His mouth is full of pie. Brutal is walking the mile.
and stops in front of Wild Bill's jail cell. Wild Bill
spits pie at Brutal's face. He laughs.

WILD BILL
Ooh, ooh. Little Black Sambo! Yes, sir, yes, sir. How do you do?

BRUTUS
Hope your bags are packed.

Brutal wipes his face with a handkerchief.

WILD BILL
My bags are packed! I'm ready to go! Where are we going? Let's go!


They throw Wild Bill in the padded cell again.

WILD BILL
No! No! No! Let me out of here!
Let me out of here!

DEAN
That Moon Pie thing was pretty original. Gotta give him that.

BRUTUS
Oh, yeah.

PAUL
Del, grab up your things. It's a big day for you and Mr. Jingles.

DELACROIX
What you talking about?

PAUL
Important folks heard about your mouse. Wanna see him perform.
Not just prison guards either. One's a politician all the way
from the state capitol.

DELACROIX
You fellas coming?

HARRY
No, we got other fish to fry just now, Del.
But you knock them for a loop. You knock them
for a loop, Del.

COFFEY
Just like Mr. Harry says.

PAUL
Let's move briskly. There's not much time.
All right, rehearsing now!

HARRY
Gotta move our ass. Ain't got much time.

EARL
I been fixing the plumbing here for 10 years.
Ain't never had to wear no damn tie before.

HAL
Well, you're the VlP today, Earl, so just shut up.

Delacroix knocks on the door.

HAL
All right, everybody have a seat. This is great.

HARRY
All right.

PERCY
Eduard Delacroix, electricity shall
 now be passed through your body...
...until you are dead...
...in accordance with state law.
God have mercy on your soul.
Roll on two.


VAN HAY
That's that.


PAUL
Very good. Very professional.
Let's do it again.


INT. WAITING ROOM

VAN HAY
You got all the words right.
It sounded just fine.

PERCY
Thank you.

DEAN
Yep. It's hard to keep a straight face
when Toot's acting the goat.
You got that chin strap tight
because his head will buck--

PAUL
All right, break it up.

Del returns to his cell. He is laughing.

PAUL
So?

DELACROIX
Oh, they love Mr. Jingles. They laugh over there.
They cheer. They clap their hands.

PERCY
Well, that's just aces. Isn't that something?
You done good, old-timer. We're happy for you.
Yeah, we are.

Percy is laughing.

PERCY
Boo!


Delacroix slips and falls down.


DELACROIX
Aah!

BRUTUS
Percy, you shit.

PERCY
Come on. Del, get up. Del, you numb-wit.
I didn't mean nothing by it.
I was just playing. Come on, now.
I was just having-- Aah!

Wild Bill grabs Percy.

WILD BILL
Ain't you sweet.

PAUL
Wharton.

WILD BILL
Soft like a girl.

PAUL
Let him go.

WILD BILL
I'd rather fuck your asshole...than your sister's
pussy, l think.

PAUL
Wharton!

Paul points a gun at Bill and holds it ready.
Wild Bill sets Percy free.

WILD BILL
I let him go. I was just playing. I let him go.
I'd never hurt a hair on his pretty little head.
Your noodle ain't limp at all, lover boy. I think
you sweet on old Billy the Kid. Ooh, but smell you.

Del is laughing.  Percy has urinated on himself.

DELACROIX
Look. He done piss his pants.

Percy is horrified.

PERCY
Oh, my God.

DEL
Look what the big man done. He bust other people with
a stick.

Brutus pushes Del inside his cell.

BRUTUS
Come on, get in.

Del speaks French.

DELACROIX
Somebody touch him, he make water
in his pants like a little baby.

BLUTUS
Del! Learn when to shut up.

PAUL
All right, now.

Paul tries to hold Percy's arm.

PERCY
Don't touch me. You....You talk about this to anyone...
l'll get you all fired. I swear that to God.

PAUL
What happens on the Mile stays on the Mile. Always has.

Del is still laughing at Percy.

PERCY
Yeah, you keep laughing, you French-fried faggot!
You just keep on laughing!

DELACROIX
Wetmore a good name for you! Percy Wetmore do a dance.
Listen to him squishing in his pant.

Later, Paul and Del are talking about what to do with
Mr. Jingles.

PAUL
Well, what about Dean? He's got a little boy.
He'd love to have a pet mouse, I bet.

DELACROIX
How could a boy be trusted with Mr. Jingle?
Maybe forget to feed him. How he keep up with
his training? I mean, he just a boy, n'est-ce pas?

PAUL
Mmm. All right. l'll take him, then. Me.

Del speaks.

DELACROIX
Thank you kindly, but...you live out in the woods.
Mr. Jingle, he be...He be scared to live out in the big woods.

BRUTAL
How about Mouseville?

DELACROIX
Mouseville?

BRUTAL
Tourist attraction down in Florida. Tallahassee, l think.
ls that right, Paul? Tallahassee?

PAUL
Yeah. Tallahassee. It's just down the road a piece
from the dog university.

BRUTAL
You think they'd take Mr. Jingles? You think he's got the stuff?

PAUL
Well, he is pretty smart.

DELACROIX
What is Mouseville?

BRUTAL
Tourist attraction, l said. They got this big tent you go into.

DELACROIX
You have to pay?

BRUTAL
Are you shitting me? Course you pay. Dime apiece. Two cents for
the kids.Inside the tent they got this...mouse city...made out of...
...old boxes and toilet paper rolls, little windows so you can look in.
Plus, they got the Mouseville All-Star Circus. Yeah, there's mice
that swing on trapezes. Mice that roll barrels. Mice that stack coins.

DELACROIX
Yeah, that's it. That's the place for Mr. Jingles. You gonna be a circus
mouse after all. You're gonna live in a mouse city down in Florida.