The Green Mile Page #3

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ELAINE:

We should report him.

PAUL:

That might just provoke him all

the more, make things worse for

everybody.

ELAINE:

It's not everybody he has it in

for, Paul. It's you.

(off his look)

What did you do to provoke him in

the first place? Nothing. He's

just an abusive bully, and should

be made to stop.

PAUL:

Ellie, please...

Pete

is at the TV, switching channels while:

ELDERLY LADIES:

...no, the Movie Classic channel

is further down...past the Home

Shopping...keep going...

He finds the Movie Classic channel, which is playing an old

black and white musical--"Top Hat," with Fred Astaire and

Ginger Rogers. A delighted reaction:

ELDERLY LADY #2

Oh! This is wonderful...

Paul

idly shifts his gaze to the TV...and his expression goes

slack with recognition and dismay. Elaine sees the look in

his eyes.

He glances away...even briefly considers walking out...but in

the end, he can't help himself. The past just caught up with

him with a freight-train wallop, and, for one, he decides to

ride the rails...

He looks back at the TV. On screen, Fred and Ginger have

begun their famous "Cheek to Cheek" number, with Astaire

singing in that sublime, easy-go-lucky way of his:

FRED ASTAIRE:

Heaven, I'm in heaven...and my

heart beat so that I can hardly

speak...

SLOW PUSH IN on Paul, watching. He'd like to take his eyes

off the screen, but the movie has him in a grip tighter than

Brad Dolan's. Elaine is watching him with puzzled concern:

ELAINE:

Paul? What is it?

No response. All he can hear is that music, all he can see

are those dancers. The figures on TV are gliding with

ghostlike grace in their silvery, phosphor-dot world of long

ago...

Paul abruptly bursts into tears.

The room goes quiet, everything comes to a standstill. All

eyes turn, some concerned, others merely curious. Paul just

sits sobbing into his hands, shoulders heaving.

ELAINE:

Paul...my God...

ORDERLY:

(rushing over)

What is it? What's wrong?

PAUL:

It's okay...I'll be okay...

Another orderly appears--Brad Dolan. He puts his hand on

Paul's shoulder and leans close, feigning concern.

BRAD:

S'matter, Paulie? Why the boo-hoo-

hoo? Something nasty happen?

Elaine shoves his hand away, eyes flashing with anger.

ELAINE:

Mr. Edgecomb will be perfectly

fine without your help, thank you.

Brad back off with a "hey, suit yourself" gesture. Elaine

helps Paul to his feet and leads him out.

CUT TO:

INT. SUN ROOM - DAY

Paul is staring out the windows, pensive and drained. It's

raining now, pattering the glass and the lawn beyond. Elaine

waits across from him, wishing he would speak. Softly:

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