Paul Edgecombe: This big man is about to pull off your ears. Aren't you going to listen to him?
John Coffey: I tried to take it back, Boss.
Bill Dodge: I think this boy's cheese has done slid off his cracker.
PAUL EDGECOMB: What do you want me to do John? I'll do it. You want me to let you walk out of here and see how far you get?
John Coffey: Now why would you want to do a foolish thing like that?
Paul Edgecomb: When I die and I stand before God awaiting judgment and he asks me why I let one of HIS miracles die, what am I gonna say, that it was my job?
Paul Edgecomb: So your name's John Coffey?
John Coffey: Yes, boss like the drink, only not spelled the same.
Paul Edgecomb: You can spell?
John Coffey: No.
Paul Edgecomb: What happens on the green mile stays on the green mile.
Old Paul Edgecomb: I guess sometimes the past just catches up with you, whether you want it to or not.
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.
Paul Edgecomb: Your name is John Coffey.
John Coffey: Yes sir, boss, like the drink, only not spelt the same.
John Coffey: Do you leave a light on after bedtime? Because I get a little scared in the dark sometimes. If it's a strange place.
Paul Edgecomb: The man is mean, careless, and stupid. Bad combination in a place like this.
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. How's that sit?
[a rehearsal execution]
Brutus "Brutal" Howell: 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!
Percy Wetmore: Adios, Chief. Drop us a card from hell, let us know if it's hot enough.
Brutus "Brutal" Howell: He's paid what he's owed. He's square with the house again, so keep your goddamn hands off him.
Paul Edgecomb: What do you want, John Coffey?
John Coffey: Just to help.
Paul Edgecomb: What did you do, big boy? What did you do to me?
John Coffey: I helped it. Didn't I help it?
Paul Edgecomb: Yes, but... how?
John Coffey: [shrugs] Just took it back, is all. Awful tired now, boss. Dog tired.
Paul Edgecomb: I just can't see God putting a gift like that in the hands of a man who would kill a child.
John Coffey: Tell the truth, boss, I don't know much'a anything. Never have.
Melinda Moores: Why do you have so many scars? Who hurt you so badly?
John Coffey: Don't hardly remember, ma'am.
Melinda Moores: What's your name?
John Coffey: John Coffey, ma'am.
Melinda Moores: Like the drink, only not spelled the same.
John Coffey: No, ma'am. Not spelt the same at all.
Melinda Moores: 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.
Paul Edgecomb: I've done some things in my life I'm not proud of, but this is the first time I've ever felt in real danger of hell.
Paul Edgecomb: We each owe a death, there are no exceptions, but sometimes, oh God, the Green Mile is so long.
Paul: On the day of my judgement, when I stand before God, and He asks me why did I kill one of his true miracles, what am I gonna say? That is 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: Yes, John. I think I can.
John Coffey: You know, I fell asleep this afternoon and had me a dream. I dreamed about Del's mouse.
Paul: 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: What happens on the mile stays on the mile. Always has.
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, barebreasted in the fire light... that was my best time.
[Edgecomb gives Coffey some cornbread]
Paul Edgecomb: My wife made it to thank you.
John Coffey: For what, boss?
Paul Edgecomb: [points to his groin] You know.
John Coffey: Oh, was she pleased?
Paul Edgecomb: Yeah. Several times.
John Coffey: People hurt the ones they love. That's how it is all around the world.
John Coffey: There's lotsa people here that hate me, lots. I can feel it. It's like bees stingin' me.
Brutus "Brutal" Howell: Well feel how we feel then. We don't hate you. Can you feel that?
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