MELINDA. Like the drink, only not spelled

What's your name?

COFFEY

John Coffey, ma'am.

MELINDA

Like the drink, only not spelled

the same.

COFFEY

No, ma'am. Not spelt the same at

all.

She pushes the covers aside to rise. Hal tries to stop her...

HAL

Melly, no...

...but she pushes his hand gently aside. Hal watches in

wonder as she stands, takes a first tentative step...and

walks to Coffey. She gazes up and touches his face.

MELINDA

I dreamed of you. I dreamed you

were wandering in the dark, and so

was I. We found each other. We

found each other in the dark.

She undoes her necklace, holds it up for him. He hesitates,

glances to Paul. Paul nods--it's all right. Coffey lowers his

head. Melinda affixes the delicate chain around his neck.

MELINDA

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.

COFFEY

Thank you, ma'am.

MELINDA

Thank you, John.

Her arms go around his neck, hugging him tightly as if she

might never let go.

EXT. MOORES HOUSE - NIGHT

Paul and the men hustle Coffey out the front door toward the

truck, helping him as best they can. He's weak as a baby,

knees threatening to give out at any moment.

PAUL

C'mon, John, stay on your feet.

HARRY

Christ, he goes down, we'll need

three mules and a crane to pick

him up again...

They get Coffey to the truck and throw their backs into it,

helping him crawl up onto the stakebed. He rolls over on his

back. Harry hops up, covers him with an old blanket. Brutal

pulls aside, speaking low:

BRUTAL

He'll never sit in Old Sparky. You

know that, don't you?

(off Paul's look)

He swallowed that stuff for a

reason. I give him a few days. One

of us'll be doing a cell check and

there he'll be. Dead on his bunk.

PAUL

If that's his choice, he's earned

it.

(beat)

Let's get him back on the Mile.

FADE TO BLACK

IN BLACKNESS, A TITLE CARD APPEARS:

" Coffey on the Mile"

CUT TO:

INT. E BLOCK - NIGHT

Dean starts babbling with relief as they return:

DEAN

Am I glad to see you! You were

gone so long! Wild Bill's making

noises like he's gonna wake up...

(notices Coffey)

What the hell's wrong with him?

BRUTAL

He's hurting, Dean. Hurting bad.

Dean jumps in, helps them steer Coffey into his cell.

PAUL

John, we're gonna set you on your

bunk now. Ready?

Coffey nods, sits heavily on the bunk. He lowers his head,

breath rasping like a rusted hinge. The guards step out.

DEAN

What about Mrs. Moores? Was it

like the mouse? Was it a...you

know...a miracle?

PAUL

Yes. Yes it was.

Paul scans their faces. Smiles are traded. An exultant beat.

HARRY

Damn. I think we got away with it.

BRUTAL

We still gotta convince a certain

somebody to keep his trap shut.

PAUL

Get his stuff.

Dean hurries off to retrieve Percy's holster and baton.

Brutal unlocks the restraint room door, swings it open. Percy

is revealed sitting against the wall, glaring, his mouth

still taped. Paul crouches down. Brutal joins him.

PAUL

I want to talk, not shout. I take

the tape off, you gonna be calm.

Percy nods. Paul takes hold of the tape, preparing to yank.

BRUTAL

My mother always said if you do it

fast, it won't hurt so much.

Paul rips the tape off. Percy's eyes water with pain.

BRUTAL

I guess she was wrong.

PERCY

Get me out of this nut-coat.

PAUL

In a minute.

PERCY

Now! Now! Right n--

Paul slaps him hard, knocks him sideways. Percy looks up,

blinking in surprise. Paul grabs him, yanks him back up.

PAUL

You shut up and listen. You

deserved to be punished for what

you did to Del. You'll accept it

like a man, or we'll make you

sorry you were ever born. We'll

tell people how you sabotaged

Del's execution--

PERCY

Sabotaged!

PAUL

--and how you pissed yourself like

a frightened little girl. Yes,

we'll talk, that's a given--but,

Percy, mind me now...we'll also

see you beaten within an inch of

your life.

Percy blinks, unable to grasp that.

PAUL

We know people, too, are you so

foolish you don't realize that?

People with friends and loved ones

doing time in this prison. People

who'd be happy to amputate you

nose or your penis just so someone

they care about could get an extra

three hours in the exercise yard

every week.

(off Percy's look)

Let bygones be bygones. Nothing's

hurt so far but your pride...and

nobody need ever know about that

except the people in this room.

BRUTAL

What happens on the Mile, stays on

the Mile. Always has.

A long pause. Softly:

PERCY

May I be let out of this coat now?

They pull him to his feet, undo the straps. He shrugs out of

the straitjacket and adjusts his clothes, trying to maintain

a shred of dignity.

PERCY

My things?

Dean hands them over. Percy smooths his hair and puts his hat

on, starts strapping on his holster belt.

PAUL

Think it over, Percy.

PERCY

Oh, I intend to. I intend to think

about it very hard. Starting right

now.

Percy exits the restraint room. Brutal whispers to Paul:

BRUTAL

He'll talk. Sooner or later.

Paul nods with weary resignation--yeah, I know.