Int. Execution chamber - day

The steel cap is lowered over Toot's head, the straps

tightened. TILT UP to Percy as:

PERCY

Roll on two.

Behind his partition, Van Hay mimes flipping the switch.

VAN HAY

That's that.

A pause. Percy looks anxiously to Paul, who's trading glances

with the other guards. Finally:

PAUL

Very good. Very professional.

Percy smiles. Harry and Dean step up, slapping his back and

shaking his hand...

INT. E BLOCK - DAY

...and they're still chatting a short time later, waiting for

Del's return. Percy actually looks happy for a change,

feeling genuinely accepted for the first time...

Billy is watching from his cell. Just watching.

The door opens. Del returns with Mr. Jingles on his shoulder,

escorted by Brutal. Brutal is toting the cigar box and spool

like a magician's assistant carrying the boss' props.

PAUL

Well?

DEL

They love Mr. Jingles! They laugh

and cheer and clap they hands!

PERCY

Well, that's just aces. Pop back

in your cell, old-timer.

The generosity of Percy's tone catches Del completely off

guard. Del gives him a look of almost comical mistrust...

...and the old Percy comes back. He bares his teeth in a mock

snarl and curls his fingers as if to grab Del. It's a joke,

but Del doesn't know that--he jerks back in fear and trips

over Brutal's big feet. Del goes down hard, hitting the

linoleum with the back of his head. Mr. Jingles jumps clear,

goes squeaking down the Mile. Del sits up, painfully

clutching his head. Brutal helps him up...

BRUTAL

Percy, you shit.

...and moves him toward his cell. Percy is actually moved to

apologize--he starts after them with a half-laugh, drifting

much too close to Wild Bill's side of the Mile...

PERCY

Del! Hey, you numb wit, I didn't

mean nothin' by it! You all ri--

...and Wild Bill's arms thrust out, grabbing Percy and

slamming him back against the bars with an arm around his

throat. Percy squeals like a pig in a slaughter-chute,

thinking he's gonna die. The guards scramble, drawing their

clubs--as Billy strokes Percy's hair and whispers in his ear:

BILLY

Ain't you sweet. Soft. Like a

girl. I druther fuck your asshole

than your sister's pussy, I think.

Billy kisses Percy's ear--and his hand drops down to squeeze

Percy's crotch. Paul pulls his sidearm, taking aim...

PAUL

Wharton!

...and Billy lets go, stepping back with his hands raised,

laughing. Percy darts across the Mile in terror and cringes

against the cell opposite, breathing so loud and fast it

almost sounds like sobbing.

BILLY

I let 'im go, I'us just playin'

and I let 'im go! Never hurt a

hair on his purty head!

(grins at Percy)

Your noodle ain't limp at all,

loverboy! I think you sweet on ol'

Billy the Kid...

(sniffs his fingers)

...oooh, but smell you.

Down at his cell, Del starts laughing shrilly. Everybody else

starts to realize it, including Percy himself...he looks

down, sees the huge dark stain spreading at his crotch.

DEL

Lookit, he done piss his pants!

Look what the big man done! He

bus' other people wid 'is stick,

mais oui some mauvais homme, but

someone touch him, he make water

in his pants jus' like a baby!

Percy just stares. Brutal shoves Delacroix into his cell.

BRUTAL

Shut up, Del.

Paul steps to Percy, puts a hand on his shoulder. Percy

shakes his hand off, looks around at their faces, whispers:

PERCY

You talk about this to anyone,

I'll get you all fired. I swear

that to God.

PAUL

What happens on the Mile, stays on

the Mile. Always has.

The men nod solemnly. Nobody's going to talk about this.

Percy looks at Delacroix still snorting in his cell, points

at him.

PERCY

You keep laughing, you French-

fried faggot. You just keep

laughing.

Del falls silent. Percy turns and storms away as we