The Green Mile Quotes
The lives of guards on Death Row are affected by one of their charges: a black man accused of child murder and rape, yet who has a mysterious gift.
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 it 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 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.
Brutus "Brutal" Howell: [a rehearsal execution] Arlen Bitterbuck, you have been condemned to die by a jury of your peers, sentence imposed by a judge in good standing in this state. Do you have anything to say before the sentence is carried out?
Toot-Toot: [gleefully] Yeah! I want a fried chicken dinner with gravy on the taters, I want to shit in your hat, and I got to have Mae West sit on my face, because I am one horny motherfucker!
Toot-Toot: [gleefully] Yeah! I want a fried chicken dinner with gravy on the taters, I want to shit in your hat, and I got to have Mae West sit on my face, because I am one horny motherfucker!
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.
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.
Old Paul Edgecomb: 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 lept through 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 Billy had done. When John did that; when he took my hand, a part of the power that worked through him spilled into me.
Elaine Connelly: He... what? He infected you with life?
Old Paul Edgecomb: That's as good a word as any. He infected us both, didn't he, Mr. Jingles? With life. I'm a hundred and eight years old, Elaine. I was forty-four 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 Elly. Another century come to past, but I've... I've had to see my friends and loved ones die off through the years... Hal and Melinda... Brutus Howell... my wife... my boy. And you Elaine... you'll die too, and my curse is knowing that I'll be there to see it. It's my attonement you see; it's my punishment, for letting John Coffey ride the lightning; for killing a miracle of God. You'll be gone like all the others. I'll have to stay. Oh, I'll die eventually, that I'm sure. I have no illusions of immortality, but I will wished for death... long before death finds me. In truth, I wish for it already.
Elaine Connelly: He... what? He infected you with life?
Old Paul Edgecomb: That's as good a word as any. He infected us both, didn't he, Mr. Jingles? With life. I'm a hundred and eight years old, Elaine. I was forty-four 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 Elly. Another century come to past, but I've... I've had to see my friends and loved ones die off through the years... Hal and Melinda... Brutus Howell... my wife... my boy. And you Elaine... you'll die too, and my curse is knowing that I'll be there to see it. It's my attonement you see; it's my punishment, for letting John Coffey ride the lightning; for killing a miracle of God. You'll be gone like all the others. I'll have to stay. Oh, I'll die eventually, that I'm sure. I have no illusions of immortality, but I will wished for death... long before death finds me. In truth, I wish for it already.
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: 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.
Melinda Moores: I dreamed of you. I dreamed you were wandering in the dark. And so was I. And we found each other. We found each other in the dark.
[reaches out her necklace to him]
Paul Edgecomb: Take it, John. It's a present.
Melinda Moores: 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: [leans forward so she can hang it around his neck] Thank you, ma'am.
Melinda Moores: Thank you, John.
[reaches out her necklace to him]
Paul Edgecomb: Take it, John. It's a present.
Melinda Moores: 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: [leans forward so she can hang it around his neck] Thank you, ma'am.
Melinda Moores: Thank you, John.
John Coffey: [whispers] Boss? Needs ta see ya down here...
Paul Edgecomb: [rolling around the floor in pain from his urinary tract infection] This is not a good time... John Coffey.
[moans]
Paul Edgecomb: Not a good time at all.
John Coffey: But I needs ta see ya, Boss. I needs ta talk t'ya.
[Paul reluctantly gets up and stammers towards John]
John Coffey: Closer...
Paul Edgecomb: I'm alone here right now, John. Figure this is close enough.
John Coffey: Boss, please. I got to whisper in your ear.
Eduard Delacroix: [as Paul moves up closer] Boss? You know you not s'pose to do that...
Paul Edgecomb: Mind your business, Del!
[Paul moves up closer in front of John's cell]
Paul Edgecomb: [exhaustively] What do you want, John Coffey?
John Coffey: [Coffey stares at Paul] Just to help.
[John suddenly reaches out of the prison bars, grabs Paul and aggressively holds him up close. Thinking he is being attacked, Del starts screaming for the other guards as Paul instinctively tries to reach for his revolver]
Paul Edgecomb: [struggling in Coffey's grasp] What... are... you... doing?
Paul Edgecomb: [rolling around the floor in pain from his urinary tract infection] This is not a good time... John Coffey.
[moans]
Paul Edgecomb: Not a good time at all.
John Coffey: But I needs ta see ya, Boss. I needs ta talk t'ya.
[Paul reluctantly gets up and stammers towards John]
John Coffey: Closer...
Paul Edgecomb: I'm alone here right now, John. Figure this is close enough.
John Coffey: Boss, please. I got to whisper in your ear.
Eduard Delacroix: [as Paul moves up closer] Boss? You know you not s'pose to do that...
Paul Edgecomb: Mind your business, Del!
[Paul moves up closer in front of John's cell]
Paul Edgecomb: [exhaustively] What do you want, John Coffey?
John Coffey: [Coffey stares at Paul] Just to help.
[John suddenly reaches out of the prison bars, grabs Paul and aggressively holds him up close. Thinking he is being attacked, Del starts screaming for the other guards as Paul instinctively tries to reach for his revolver]
Paul Edgecomb: [struggling in Coffey's grasp] What... are... you... doing?
Hal: [after Del's execution] WHAT IN THE BLUE FUCK WAS THAT? There's puke all over the floor up there. And that smell! I had Van Hayes open both doors but that smell's not going out for five damn years that's what I'm bettin'. And that asshole, Wharton, is singing about it. You can hear him up there!
Paul Edgecomb: Can he carry a tune?
Hal: Okay, boys, what in the hell happened?
Paul Edgecomb: An execution. A successful one.
Hal: How in the name of Christ can you call that a success?
Paul Edgecomb: Eduard Delacroix is dead.
[to Percy]
Paul Edgecomb: Isn't he?
Paul Edgecomb: Can he carry a tune?
Hal: Okay, boys, what in the hell happened?
Paul Edgecomb: An execution. A successful one.
Hal: How in the name of Christ can you call that a success?
Paul Edgecomb: Eduard Delacroix is dead.
[to Percy]
Paul Edgecomb: Isn't he?
John Coffey: Poor old Del.
Paul Edgecomb: Yeah. Poor old Del. John, you okay...?
John Coffey: I could feel it from here.
Paul Edgecomb: What do you mean? You could hear it. Is that what you mean? You could hear it.
John Coffey: He out of it now, though. He the lucky one. No matter how it happened, Del the lucky one.
Paul Edgecomb: Where's Mr. Jingles?
John Coffey: He run away under that door. Don't think he'll be back. He felt it too, through me. Didn't mean to hurt him none. All that hurt just spill out. Awful tired now, boss. Dog-tired.
Paul Edgecomb: Me too, John. Me too.
Paul Edgecomb: Yeah. Poor old Del. John, you okay...?
John Coffey: I could feel it from here.
Paul Edgecomb: What do you mean? You could hear it. Is that what you mean? You could hear it.
John Coffey: He out of it now, though. He the lucky one. No matter how it happened, Del the lucky one.
Paul Edgecomb: Where's Mr. Jingles?
John Coffey: He run away under that door. Don't think he'll be back. He felt it too, through me. Didn't mean to hurt him none. All that hurt just spill out. Awful tired now, boss. Dog-tired.
Paul Edgecomb: Me too, John. Me too.
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!
[pause]
Percy Wetmore: How's that sit?
[Brutal suddenly grabs Percy by the throat and pins him to the wall]
Percy Wetmore: Try it! You'll be on the bread lines before the week is out!
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!
[pause]
Percy Wetmore: How's that sit?
[Brutal suddenly grabs Percy by the throat and pins him to the wall]
Percy Wetmore: Try it! You'll be on the bread lines before the week is out!
Percy Wetmore: [while tapping Arlen's burned face after being electrocuted] Adios, Chief! Drop us a card from Hell, let us know if it's hot enough...
Brutus "Brutal" Howell: [Brutus grabs Percy's arm and pushes him away from Arlen's body] He's paid what he's owed; he's square with the house again, so keep your goddamn hands off him!
Brutus "Brutal" Howell: [Brutus grabs Percy's arm and pushes him away from Arlen's body] He's paid what he's owed; he's square with the house again, so keep your goddamn hands off him!
Burt Hammersmith: Let me tell you something. And you listen close too, because it might be something you need to know.
Paul Edgecomb: I'm listening.
Burt 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. 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'll never have to find out any different. My wife and I were not so lucky. Caleb, come here for a second. Come here. Please, son.
[he turns his son's face to Paul to reveal Caleb is missing an eye]
Burt 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.
[turns back to Paul]
Burt Hammersmith: That dog attacked my boy for no reason. Just got it in his mind one day. Same with John Coffey. He was sorry afterwards. Of that, I have no doubt. But those little girls stayed raped and murdered. Maybe he'd never done it before. My dog never bit before, but I didn't concern myself with that. I went out there 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.
Paul Edgecomb: I'm listening.
Burt 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. 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'll never have to find out any different. My wife and I were not so lucky. Caleb, come here for a second. Come here. Please, son.
[he turns his son's face to Paul to reveal Caleb is missing an eye]
Burt 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.
[turns back to Paul]
Burt Hammersmith: That dog attacked my boy for no reason. Just got it in his mind one day. Same with John Coffey. He was sorry afterwards. Of that, I have no doubt. But those little girls stayed raped and murdered. Maybe he'd never done it before. My dog never bit before, but I didn't concern myself with that. I went out there 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.
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 fucked up, Hal, pure and simple.
Hal: Is that your official position?
Paul Edgecomb: Don't you think it should be?
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 fucked up, Hal, pure and simple.
Hal: Is that your official position?
Paul Edgecomb: Don't you think it should be?
John Coffey: I'm smellin' me some cornbread.
Paul Edgecomb: It's from my mises. She wanted to thank you.
John Coffey: Thank me for what?
Paul Edgecomb: Well, you know...
[whispering]
Paul Edgecomb: For a helping me.
John Coffey: Helping you with what?
Paul Edgecomb: You know.
[Paul points to his groin]
John Coffey: [John smiles] Ohh. Was your misses pleased?
Paul Edgecomb: [Paul nods] Several times.
Paul Edgecomb: It's from my mises. She wanted to thank you.
John Coffey: Thank me for what?
Paul Edgecomb: Well, you know...
[whispering]
Paul Edgecomb: For a helping me.
John Coffey: Helping you with what?
Paul Edgecomb: You know.
[Paul points to his groin]
John Coffey: [John smiles] Ohh. Was your misses pleased?
Paul Edgecomb: [Paul nods] Several times.
Eduard Delacroix: [In the electric chair, about to be executed] Don't forgot about Mouseville.
[Paul nods and smiles]
Percy Wetmore: [whispering] Hey!
[Del looks at Percy]
Percy Wetmore: There's no such place!
[Paul and Brutus exchange appalled looks]
Percy Wetmore: It's just a fairytale these guys told you to keep you quiet. Just thought you should know... faggot!
[Paul and Brutus look shocked]
[Paul nods and smiles]
Percy Wetmore: [whispering] Hey!
[Del looks at Percy]
Percy Wetmore: There's no such place!
[Paul and Brutus exchange appalled looks]
Percy Wetmore: It's just a fairytale these guys told you to keep you quiet. Just thought you should know... faggot!
[Paul and Brutus look shocked]
William 'Wild Bill' Wharton: [Eduard has just been executed, and Paul comes up to the Mile to find Wild Bill sitting on his bed, ripping out chunks of his pillow and throwing the feathers around, singing loudly] Barbecue, me and you! Stinky pinky, pew, pew! Or dilly, Jilly, Hilly or Bob! It was a french-fried Cajun named Delacroix!
Paul Edgecomb: [Paul roughly hits his baton against Wild Bill's bars] You are about ten seconds away from spending the rest of your life in the padded room!
[Wild Bill, who never takes an order or refuses to give out mayhem, stops immediately]
Paul Edgecomb: [Paul roughly hits his baton against Wild Bill's bars] You are about ten seconds away from spending the rest of your life in the padded room!
[Wild Bill, who never takes an order or refuses to give out mayhem, stops immediately]
William 'Wild Bill' Wharton: [Percy, zombie-like, approaches Wild Bill] Boy, watchu lookin' at? Watchu lookin' at? You limp noodle. Ya wanna kiss my ass? Ya wanna suck my dick?
[the two stare at each other for a moment. Two tears fall from Percy's eyes before he pulls out his gun and shoots Wild Bill]
[the two stare at each other for a moment. Two tears fall from Percy's eyes before he pulls out his gun and shoots Wild Bill]
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 dicks 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.
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 dicks 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.
Paul Edgecomb: What do you want me to do John? You want me to let you run out of here, see how far you can get?
John Coffey: Why would you do such a foolish thing?
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 it was my job? My job?
John Coffey: Why would you do such a foolish thing?
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 it was my job? My job?
Hal: It's a tumor, Paul. A brain tumor.
[pause]
Hal: They got X-ray pictures of it. The size of a lemon, they said... way deep down inside where they can't operate.
[pause]
Hal: I haven't told her. I can't think of how.
[he starts crying]
Hal: For the life of me, Paul, I can't think of how to tell my wife... she's going to die!
[pause]
Hal: They got X-ray pictures of it. The size of a lemon, they said... way deep down inside where they can't operate.
[pause]
Hal: I haven't told her. I can't think of how.
[he starts crying]
Hal: For the life of me, Paul, I can't think of how to tell my wife... she's going to die!
Klaus Detterick: [opening scene]
[We see a large group of poor white men running through a meadow with shotguns and barking dogs following them]
Klaus Detterick: [screen cuts to black] KATIE! CORA!
William 'Wild Bill' Wharton: [whispers heavily] Ya like your sister? Ya make any noise, ya know what happens?
[We see a large group of poor white men running through a meadow with shotguns and barking dogs following them]
Klaus Detterick: [screen cuts to black] KATIE! CORA!
William 'Wild Bill' Wharton: [whispers heavily] Ya like your sister? Ya make any noise, ya know what happens?
Percy Wetmore: What's up his ass?
Paul Edgecomb: You, always, you Percy.
Percy Wetmore: What I got a hate in you boy, that the way it is around here?
Paul Edgecomb: Why don't you just move on and take that job down in Briar Ridge? Oh yeah, I know all about it. Sounds to me like a pretty good job.
Percy Wetmore: Yeah, I might just take it too, soon as you put me up front. Yeah you heard me, I want Brutal's spot for the next execution.
Paul Edgecomb: Seeing a man die, now that's not enough, you gotta be close enough to smell his nuts cook.
Percy Wetmore: I just wanna be up front that's all. Come on, one time. And you know what, you can get rid of me, I swear.
Paul Edgecomb: And what if I say no?
Percy Wetmore: Well, I might just stick around for good, might make me a career of this... boss.
Paul Edgecomb: You, always, you Percy.
Percy Wetmore: What I got a hate in you boy, that the way it is around here?
Paul Edgecomb: Why don't you just move on and take that job down in Briar Ridge? Oh yeah, I know all about it. Sounds to me like a pretty good job.
Percy Wetmore: Yeah, I might just take it too, soon as you put me up front. Yeah you heard me, I want Brutal's spot for the next execution.
Paul Edgecomb: Seeing a man die, now that's not enough, you gotta be close enough to smell his nuts cook.
Percy Wetmore: I just wanna be up front that's all. Come on, one time. And you know what, you can get rid of me, I swear.
Paul Edgecomb: And what if I say no?
Percy Wetmore: Well, I might just stick around for good, might make me a career of this... boss.
Percy Wetmore: Well, well, well, looks like you've got yourself a new friend there, Del.
Eduard Delacroix: Don't hurt him!
Percy Wetmore: [to the guards] That the one I chased?
Paul Edgecomb: Yeah, that's the one. Del's been asking for a box' might keep it for a pet. What do you think?
Percy Wetmore: You know what? We oughta find a cigar box and some paper from the dispensary to line it with. Yeah, yeah, that should do real nice.
Paul Edgecomb: Man said get a cigar box.
Eduard Delacroix: Don't hurt him!
Percy Wetmore: [to the guards] That the one I chased?
Paul Edgecomb: Yeah, that's the one. Del's been asking for a box' might keep it for a pet. What do you think?
Percy Wetmore: You know what? We oughta find a cigar box and some paper from the dispensary to line it with. Yeah, yeah, that should do real nice.
Paul Edgecomb: Man said get a cigar box.
Percy Wetmore: [yells repeatedly as he brings John Coffey in] Dead man! Dead man walking! We got a dead man walking, here!
Paul Edgecomb: Jesus, please us! What is he yelling about?
Percy Wetmore: [continues yelling] Dead man! Dead man walking! Dead man! Dead man walking, here!
[he walks inside, leading a cuffed John Coffey]
Percy Wetmore: We got a dead man walking, here! Dead man walking! We got a dead man walking, here...
Paul Edgecomb: Percy!
[Percy stops]
Paul Edgecomb: That's enough.
Paul Edgecomb: Jesus, please us! What is he yelling about?
Percy Wetmore: [continues yelling] Dead man! Dead man walking! Dead man! Dead man walking, here!
[he walks inside, leading a cuffed John Coffey]
Percy Wetmore: We got a dead man walking, here! Dead man walking! We got a dead man walking, here...
Paul Edgecomb: Percy!
[Percy stops]
Paul Edgecomb: That's enough.
Old Paul Edgecomb: [Sitting on a table drinking coffee with Elaine after she takes him aside from the TV room] I guess sometimes the past... just catches up with you whether you want it to or not. It's silly...
Elaine Connelly: Was it the film?
[pause]
Elaine Connelly: It was, wasn't it?
Old Paul Edgecomb: I haven't spoken of these things in a long time, Ellie. Over sixty years.
Elaine Connelly: [Ellie takes Paul's hand and comforts him] Paul... I'm your friend.
Old Paul Edgecomb: Yes. Yes, you are.
[long pause]
Old Paul Edgecomb: I ever tell you I was a prison guard during the Depression?
Elaine Connelly: You've mentioned it.
Old Paul Edgecomb: Did I mention I was in charge of Death Row? That I supervised all the executions?
[Ellie shakes her head]
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.
[pause]
Old Paul Edgecomb: 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...
Elaine Connelly: Was it the film?
[pause]
Elaine Connelly: It was, wasn't it?
Old Paul Edgecomb: I haven't spoken of these things in a long time, Ellie. Over sixty years.
Elaine Connelly: [Ellie takes Paul's hand and comforts him] Paul... I'm your friend.
Old Paul Edgecomb: Yes. Yes, you are.
[long pause]
Old Paul Edgecomb: I ever tell you I was a prison guard during the Depression?
Elaine Connelly: You've mentioned it.
Old Paul Edgecomb: Did I mention I was in charge of Death Row? That I supervised all the executions?
[Ellie shakes her head]
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.
[pause]
Old Paul Edgecomb: 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...
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.
