The Green Mile

Paul Edgecomb: I guess sometimes the past just catches up with you, whether you want it to or not. Silly. Elaine Connelly: Was it the film? It was, wasn't it? Paul Edgecomb: I haven't spoken of these things in a long time, Elaine. Over 60 years. Elaine Connelly: Paul, I'm your friend. Paul Edgecomb: Did I ever tell you that I was a prison guard during the Depression? Elaine Connelly: You've mentioned it. Paul Edgecomb: Did I mention that I was in charge of death row? That I supervised all the executions? [Elaine shakes her head] Usually, death row was called "the last mile"; we called ours "the Green Mile". The floor was the color of faded limes. We had the electric chair, "Old Sparky," we called it. Oh, I've lived a lot of years, Ellie, but 1935, that takes the prize. That year, I had the worst urinary infection of my life, and that was also the year of John Coffey and the two dead girls. Percy Wetmore: Dead man! Dead man walking! We got a dead man walking here! Paul Edgecomb: Percy!

The Green Mile (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Paul: 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. [falls asleep on his bed]

The Green Mile (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Paul: Percy, you want to think about what you were doing just now? Percy: [looks at Paul] I was trying to get the mouse. Are you blind? Harry Terwilliger: You also scared the living crap out of me and Bill. Not to mention the inmates. [nods towards the inmate cells] Percy: So what? They aren't in cradle-school, in case you didn't notice. [to Paul] Although you treat them that way half the time. Brutus: We don't scare 'em any more than we have to, Percy. They're under enough strain as it is. Paul: Men under strain can snap. Hurt themselves and 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 of a hospital. Percy: I think of it as a bucket of piss to drown rats in, that's all. [scans their faces] Anybody doesn't like it, hmm? You can kiss my ass. [Brutus grabs him by his collar and pushes him up against the wall] Don't. Yeah, you try it. Go on, try it. You'll be on the bread lines before the week is out. Paul: [p

The Green Mile (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Percy Wetmore: Now, don't start in on me. It was just a mouse. Never belonged here in the first place. Paul Edgecomb: The mouse is fine. Just fine. You're no better at mouse-killing than you are...at anything else around here. Huh? [laughs] I heard the goddamn thing crunch. Paul Edgecomb: Aren't you glad Mr. Jingles is okay? After all those talks we had about keeping the prisoners calm? Aren't you relieved? Percy Wetmore: What kind of game is this? Paul Edgecomb: It's no game. See for yourself. Percy Wetmore: You switched 'em! You switched 'em somehow, you bastards! Brutus Howell: [grinning] I always keep a spare mouse in my wallet for occasions such as this. Percy Wetmore: Yeah, you playing with me, huh? Both of you! Just who the hell you think you are? Huh? [Brutal grabs Percy and both he and Paul pin him against the electric chair] Paul Edgecomb: We're the people you work with, Percy. But not for long! Percy, I want your word! Percy Wetmore: My word? Paul Edgecomb: I put you out fro

The Green Mile (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Paul Edgecomb: You all saw what he did to the mouse. Brutus Howell: I coulda gone the rest of the day without you bringin' that up. Dean: I coulda gone the rest of the year. Paul Edgecomb: He did the same thing to me. He put his hands on me...and he took my bladder infection away. Jan Edgecomb: It'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 Edgecomb: I am. Jan Edgecomb: [barely suppressing a grin] Oh, yeah. Brutus Howell: Well, if you say, I accept it. What's it got to do with us? Jan Edgecomb: You're thinking about Melinda. Brutus Howell: Melinda? Melinda Moores? Jan Edgecomb: Yes Paul. You really think you can help her? Paul Edgecomb: It's not a bladder infection. Or even a busted mouse. But there might be a chance. Harry Terwiliger: Hold on, now. You're talking about our jobs. Sneak a sick woman into a cellblock? Paul Edgecomb

The Green Mile (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

I think Mr. Jingles happened by accident. I think when we electrocuted Del, and it all went so badly... well, John can feel that you know... and I think a part of... whatever magic was inside of him just slipped into my tiny friend here. As for me, John had to give me a part of himself; a gift the way he saw it, so that I could see for myself what Wild Bill had done. When John did that; when he took my hand, a part of the power that worked through him spilled into me. That's as good a word as any. He infected us both, didn't he, Mr. Jingles? With life. I'm 108 years old, Elaine. I was 44 the year that John Coffey walked The Green Mile. You mustn't blame John. He couldn't help what happened to him... he was just a force of nature. Oh, I've lived to see some amazing things Ellie. Another century come to past, but I've... I've had to see my friends and loved ones die all through the years... Hal and Melinda, Brutus Howell, my wife, my boy. And you Elaine. You'll die too, And my curse is k

The Green Mile (film), CC BY-SA 4.0