The Green Mile Quotes

[Percy, zombie-like, approaches Wild Bill]
William 'Wild Bill' Wharton: What are you looking at, you limp noodle? Ya wanna kiss my ass? Ya wanna suck my dick?

Movie: The Green Mile
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 slept 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 have 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 torment 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. I'll die eventually, that I'm sure. I have no illusions of immortality, but I will await your death... long before death finds me. In truth, I wish for it already.

Movie: The Green Mile
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.

Movie: The Green Mile
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.

Movie: The Green Mile
Paul Edgecomb: Toot, one more remark like that I'll have Van Hay roll on two for real. And I'll have one less crazy old trustee in the world.

Movie: The Green Mile
Paul Edgecomb: A big man is ripping your ears off Percy. I'd do as he says.

Movie: The Green Mile
Paul Edgecomb : A big man is ripping your ears off Percy. I'd do as he says.

Movie: The Green Mile
Paul Edgecomb : Your name is John Coffey?
John Coffey : Yes sir boss. Like the drink, only not spelled the same.
Paul Edgecomb : Oh, you can spell can you?
John Coffey : Just my name boss. J-O...

Movie: The Green Mile
John Coffey : I couldn't help it, boss. I tried to take it back, but it was too late.

Movie: The Green Mile
Paul Edgecomb : What did you just do to me?
John Coffey : I helped it. Didn't I help it? I just took it back, is all. Awful tired now, boss. Dog tired.

Movie: The Green Mile
Dean Stanton : What did you do?
John Coffey : I helped Del's mouse become a circus mouse. Gonna live in a mouse city. Down in...
Brutus "Brutal" Howell : Florida?
John Coffey : [ John nods ]
John Coffey : Boss Percy bad. He mean. He stepped on Del's mouse. I took it back though.

Movie: The Green Mile
Bill Dodge : I think this boy's cheese has done slid off his cracker.

Movie: The Green Mile
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?

Movie: The Green Mile
Old Paul Edgecomb : I guess sometimes the past just catches up with you, whether you want it to or not.

Movie: The Green Mile
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.

Movie: The Green Mile
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.

Movie: The Green Mile
Paul Edgecomb : The man is mean, careless, and stupid. Bad combination in a place like this.

Movie: The Green Mile
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.

Movie: The Green Mile
[ 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!

Movie: The Green Mile
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.

Movie: The Green Mile
Paul Edgecomb : What do you want, John Coffey?
John Coffey : Just to help.

Movie: The Green Mile
Paul Edgecomb : I just can't see God putting a gift like that in the hands of a man who would kill a child.

Movie: The Green Mile
Paul Edgecomb : John, do you know where we're taking you?
John Coffey : Help a lady?
Brutus "Brutal" Howell : That's right. But how do you know?
John Coffey : Don't know. To tell the truth, Boss, I don't know much'o anything.

Movie: The Green Mile
Melinda Moores : Why do you have so many scars?
John Coffey : Don't really remember, ma'am.

Movie: The Green Mile
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.

Movie: The Green Mile
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.

Movie: The Green Mile
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.

Movie: The Green Mile
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.

Movie: The Green Mile
[ last lines ]
Old Paul Edgecomb : We each owe a death - there are no exceptions - but, oh God, sometimes the Green Mile seems so long.

Movie: The Green Mile
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.

Movie: The Green Mile