The Green Mile Page #12

---

Paul speaks softly so the others can't hear:

PAUL:

It's from my missus. She wanted to

thank you.

Coffey nods thoughtfully, absorbing this notion. Then:

COFFEY:

Thank me for what?

PAUL:

You know. For helping me.

COFFEY:

Helping you with what?

Paul motions discreetly to his crotch.

COFFEY:

Ohhh.

(beat)

Was your missus pleased?

PAUL:

Several times.

Paul hands him the bundle through the bars. Coffey takes it,

uncovers the cornbread reverently, gazes back up.

COFFEY:

This all for me?

Paul nods. Across the way, Del is pressing his face longingly

through the bars while Mr. Jingles crawls on his shoulder.

DEL:

Oh my. John, I can smell it from

here. I surely can.

COFFEY:

(looks to Paul)

Can I give some to Del?

PAUL:

It's yours, John. You do with it

as you please.

John carefully scoops a big chunk of cornbread out with his

enormous hand, holds it through the bars to Paul.

COFFEY:

Here's for Del and Mr. Jingles

then.

BILLY:

Hey! What about me? I'm'a get some

too, ain't I

Coffey looks to Paul--do I have to?

PAUL:

It's yours, John. As you please.

COFFEY:

Well. Fine. I think I'll keep the

rest, then.

He smiles like a big kid, digging in with his fingers. Paul

crosses the Mile to Del's cell, hands him his share.

PAUL:

Courtesy of the gentleman across

the way.

DEL:

Oh, John. So very fine of you. So

very kind. Mr. Jingles t'ank you.

COFFEY:

(mouth full)

...wel'cm...

BILLY:

Hey! What about me? Don't you hold

out on me, ya big dummy n*gger!

Paul's temper flares--he steps to Billy's cell.

PAUL:

You'll keep a civil tongue on my

block.

Beat. Billy spits in Paul's face and follows it up with a big

grin--what are you gonna do about that? Paul is seething as

he wipes the spit off, but keeps his temper where it belongs.

PAUL:

You get that one for free. But

that's the last one.

Paul walks away. Billy laughs, hollering after him:

BILLY:

That's it? Just that little bitty

one? Guess I'll have to pay out

for the rest, huh?

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. E BLOCK - DAY

Harry is walking the Mile, doing a cell check and jotting on

a clipboard. He pauses, making a notation...

...and a long stream of piss hits his leg. Billy's at his

bars, peeing on him. Harry jumps back, stunned. Billy howls

with laughter, hosing his aim wildly from side to side.

BILLY:

Yeehaaw! Good shot, weren't it?

Oh, the look on your face!

Paul and Brutal come running. Harry's just flabbergasted:

HARRY:

You believe this? Son of a b*tch

pissed on me!

BILLY:

Hey, d'jall like that? I'm

currently cooking some turds t'go

with it! Nice soft ones! I'll have

'em out t'yall tomorrow!

Paul stays calm, turns to Brutal, nods at the restraint room.

PAUL:

We've been looking to clear that

room out anyway.

TIMECUT:

A STREAM OF GUARDS comes toting the last of the restraint

room stuff past Billy's cell while he heckles them from the

bars...

BILLY:

Hey! Whassit now, movin' day?

Y'all wanna come in and dust a

little? Y'can shine my knob for me

while yer at it!

...and he pauses as Paul and Brutal step to the bars. Paul

has a canvas straitjacket. Brutal pulls his nightstick.

BILLY:

You can come in here on your legs,

but you'll go out on your backs,

Billy the Kid guarantee ya that.

(motions to Brutal)

C'mon, fuckstick. No sneakin' up

on me this time. We'll go man to

man, see who's the better fel--

Brutal unlocks the cell--and sidesteps, revealing Harry

pointing a fire hose. The hose erupts, driving Billy across

the cell with bone-jarring force. They batter him half-

senseless, then cut the water. Billy collapses in a heap.

Paul and Brutal drag him semi-conscious from his cell and get

the straitjacket on him. He comes around as they draw the

straps tight and pull him to his feet.

PAUL:

C'mon, Wild Bill. Little walky

walky.

BILLY:

Don't you call me that! Wild Bill

Hickock wasn't no range rider! He

was just a bushwackin' John Law!

Dumb sonovabitch sat with his back

to the door and kilt by a drunk!

BRUTAL:

Oh, my suds and body! A history

lesson! You just never know what

you're gonna get when you come to

work everyday on the Green Mile.

Thank you, Wild Bill.

Billy lets out a scream of rage and throws himself at Brutal.

Brutal, bored, shoves him back toward Paul, who then propels

him down the Mile toward the open restraint room door. Billy

sees where they intend to put him, resorts to pleading:

BILLY:

Oh, not in there! C'mon now, I'll

be good! Honest Injun I will! No!

No! Ummmmhhhh...urg...ah!

He suddenly drops to the floor, bucking and jerking wildly,

spewing drool. Harry's eyes go wide.

HARRY:

Holy Christ, he's pitchin' a fit!

Paul reaches down and unceremoniously starts dragging Billy

kicking and writhing the rest of the way.

PAUL:

He'll be fine, boys. Trust me on

this one.

Brutal helps Paul toss Billy headlong into the padded room.

They slam the door...

RESTRAINT ROOM:

...and Billy staggers to his feet in the straitjacket,

inarticulate with rage, starts throwing himself against the

door, screaming at the top of his lungs.

BILLY:

ALL I WANTED ME WAS A LITTLE

CORNBREAD, YOU MUTHERFUCKERS!

FADE TO:

INT. E BLOCK - NEXT DAY

Paul and Brutal unlock the restraint room. Billy looks up

from the corner, pale and drained. Softly:

BILLY:

I learnt my lesson. I'll be good.

CUT TO:

INT. E BLOCK - DAY

Billy's back in his cell, quiet for a change. Toot-Toot is

outside the bars, mopping the floor. Billy notices a

chocolate Moon Pie in Toot's shirt pocket.

BILLY:

Pssss. Hey. Give'ya nickel for

that Moon Pie.

Toot looks around. Nobody's watching, and a nickel's a

nickel. He steps to Billy's bars, swaps the Moon Pie for the

money.

Toot hurries away. Billy unwraps the Moon Pie, makes sure

he's not being watched...and crams the entire thing into his

mouth...

DISSOLVE:

...and here comes Brutal strolling down the Mile, doing a

cell check and jotting on a clipboard. He pauses, seeing:

Billy at his bars. Just standing there staring. His cheeks

bulging way out.

Brutal steps closer, fascinated...what the f*** is that.

Billy waits until he's just a bit closer--

--and he slams his fists against his own cheeks, propelling

a disgusting spew of liquefied chocolate sludge into Brutal's

face. Billy falls back onto his bunk, shrieking with laughter:

BILLY:

Li'l Black Sambo, yassuh, boss,

yassuh, howdoo you do?

BRUTAL:

(beat, calmly)

Hope your bags are packed.

TIMECUT:

...and once again, Billy gets dragged to the restraint room,

kicking and screaming all the way. They toss him in, slam the

door. Brutal turns, still wiping traces of sludge off.

PAUL:

The Moon Pie thing was pretty

original. Gotta give him that.

Brutal nods. They walk away as we

FADE TO:

INT. E BLOCK - DAY

Paul and Brutal appear at Del's bars with Harry and Dean.

PAUL:

Del, grab your things. Big day for

you and Mr. Jingles.

DEL:

Whatchoo talkin' bout?

PAUL:

Important folks heard about your

mouse, wanna see him perform. Not

just guards, either. One of them's

a politician all the way from the

state capital, I believe.

Del swells with pride upon hearing this. He scrounges up Mr.

Jingles props, steps from his cell, looks to Harry and Dean.

Rate this script:4.0 / 5 votes