A WALL-MOUNTED GUN SAFE

is unlocked, shotguns pulled out. The men load up, heading

down the Mile as:

PAUL

One more time--what do you say if

somebody comes by?

DEAN

Coffey got upset, so we put him in

the restraint room. They hear any

noise, they'll think it's him.

They come to Coffey's cell.

COFFEY

We goan for the ride now?

PAUL

That's right.

The cell is unlocked. Coffey emerges. Paul motions them

along, still grilling Dean:

PAUL

What about us?

DEAN

You're over in Admin, going over

Del's file. Brutal and Harry are

in the laundry doing their wash--

A skinny white arm suddenly shoots out from Wild Bill's cell

and grabs Coffey by the wrist. The men gasp, shocked to see

Billy on his feet, grinning and weaving like a punch-drunk.

Coffey's reaction is beyond simple surprise; he's actually

trembling at Billy's touch as if some electrical circuit were

engaged. His eyes are wide and horrified, as if he'd just put

his hand in a basket full of snakes. He tries to pull away,

but Billy has him tight, that mysterious circuit blazing.

BILLY

(slurring wildly)

Where you fink you're goin'?

Coffey responds softly, with utmost horror:

COFFEY

You're a bad man.

BILLY

S'right, nigger. Bad as you'd want.

Paul plucks Billy's hand off Coffey's arm--and Coffey

flinches back as the circuit is broken.

BILLY

Whooeee. Whole room's spinning.

Like I'm shit-ass drunk. I have me

some shine or what?

He turns and staggers back to his bunk, muttering all the way:

BILLY

Niggers oughtta have they own

'lectric chair. White man oughtn't

havta sit in no nigger 'lectric

chair, nossir...

He goes face-first onto his bunk. Coffey is still staring.

COFFEY

He's a bad man.

INT. EXECUTION CHAMBER - NIGHT

Coffey is brought in...and freezes in horror at the sight of

Old Sparky. A whisper:

COFFEY

They're still in there. Pieces of

them, still in there. I hear them

screaming.

All eyes go to the electric chair. It sits shrouded in shadow

like an ominous throne. Never before has this place felt so

haunted to the men. It makes the hairs on the neck stand up.

PAUL

John, come along! Right now,

y'hear? C'mon! Toward that door!

Coffey finally responds, pulling away...

INT. E BLOCK ACCESS TUNNEL - NIGHT

...and they come down the steps. They realize Coffey will

have to stoop all the way down the tunnel. Paul pats the

gurney.

PAUL

Lie down on this.

(off Coffey's look)

It'll be easier for you and no

harder for us.

Coffey eases carefully onto the gurney, lying on his back.

His knees hang over the edge and his toes touch the ground,

but it works. They push him along, traversing the pools of

light.

Coffey actually starts to smile. He reaches out his arms,

fingertips touching the tunnel walls as they go by.

COFFEY

Say. This is fun.