Int. E block - night

Paul returns to find Wild Bill making up a song in his cell:

BILLY

(singing)

Barbecue! Me and you! Stinky,

pinky, phew-phew-phew! Weren't

Billy or Jilly or Hilly or Roy--it

was a French-fried faggot named

Delacroix!

PAUL

You're about ten seconds away from

spending the rest of your life in

the padded room.

Billy falls silent. Paul continues down the Mile to Coffey's

cell. Coffey's on his bunk, face streaked with tears. He

wipes his eyes with the heels of his hands like an exhausted

child.

COFFEY

Poor Del. Poor old Del.

PAUL

Yes. Poor old Del. John, are you

okay?

COFFEY

I could feel it from here.

PAUL

What do you mean? You could hear

it? Is that what you mean?

COFFEY

He's out of it now, though. He's

the lucky one. No matter how it

happened, Del's the lucky one.

Paul realizes he won't get a coherent answer.

PAUL

Where's Mr. Jingles?

COFFEY

(points vaguely)

Ran down there. Don't think he'll

be back.

(beat)

Awful tired now, boss. Dog tired.

Coffey lays down, turns to face the wall.

PAUL

Me too, John. Me too.

CUT TO:

INT. PAUL'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Paul enters in darkness, hangs his hat. He drifts into the

kitchen, clicks on the radio. SOFT MUSIC BEGINS: Gene Austin

singing " Did You Ever See A Dream Walking? "

He pours a drink at the kitchen table, takes a sip, lays the

glass down. Jan sleepily appears from the darkness behind

him, entering the kitchen. He realizes she's there, glances

back.

She can sense the weight on his soul. She comes to him, folds

his head into her arms. They stand that way, he drawing

strength and she giving it, as the music plays on...

DISSOLVE TO:

SEQUENCE WITH MUSIC:

INT. CHURCH - MORNING

CAMERA TRACKS the pews to find Paul and Jan seated together

in the congregation, voices raised in hymn...

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - MORNING

Paul's Model T comes sputtering up the road. He and Jan are

taking a drive, still in their Sunday best...

EXT. HAL'S HOUSE - MORNING

Paul and Jan wait at the front door. Jan holds a baking dish.

PAUL

I hate this.

JAN

I know.

The door opens. Hal, looking tired, ushers them inside...

EXT. BACKYARD - MORNING

...and they walk outside to find MELINDA MOORES sitting in

the sun, frail and wasted, a blanket on her knees. She'd be

beautiful if not for the cancer killing her.

Paul is shocked at her appearance, hides it as best as he

can. Jan covers this for him--she drops to Melinda's side

with a warm smile and a kiss, takes the woman's frail hands

in hers.

Paul catches Jan's eye. The look he gives her says it all--I

don't know what I'd do without you...

DISSOLVE:

...and we find Paul and Hal talking quietly over beers while

the women visit b.g.:

HAL

She's having one of her good days.

I thank God for that.

PAUL

What a bad day?

HAL

(beat)

Sometimes she's...not herself

anymore. She swears.

PAUL

Swears.

HAL

It just pops out, the most awful

language you can imagine. She

doesn't even know she's doing it.

I didn't know she'd ever heard

words like that...and to hear her

say them in her sweet voice...

(gazes off)

I'm glad she's having a good day,

Paul. I'm glad for you and Jan.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. PAUL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Paul is wide awake, staring at the dark. Jan can sense him

brooding. She rolls over sleepily.

JAN

Honey? If you don't say what's on

your mind, I'm afraid I'll have to

smother you with a pillow.

PAUL

I'm thinking I love you. I'm

thinking I don't know what I'd do

if you were gone.

JAN

Oh.

PAUL

(beat)

I'm also thinking I'd like to have

the boys over tomorrow.

Off Jan's look, we

CUT TO: