The Green Mile (1999)

Did I mention that I was in charge of death row? That I supervised all the executions? Usually, death row is called "The Last Mile." We called ours "The Green Mile." The floor was the color of faded limes. We had the electric chair. "Old Sparky," we called it. Oh, I've lived a lot of years, Ellie, but 1935, that takes the prize. That year, I had the worst urinary infection of my life. It was... It was also the year of John Coffey and the two dead girls.

Getting to my feet! Walking the Mile. Walking the Mile. Walking the Green Mile. Walking the Mile. Walking in the Mile. Sitting down now. Sitting down. I'm taking a seat in Old Sparky.

The Green Mile. Yeah, I've heard of it. Lost a few clients your way.

Oh, my suds and body. A history lesson. You never know what you'll get at work every day on the Green Mile. Thank you, Wild Bill.

It's as good a word as any. He infected us both, didn't he, Mr. Jingles. With life. I'm 108 years old, Elaine. I was 44 the year that John Coffey walked the Green Mile. You mustn't blame John. He couldn't help what happened. He was just a force of nature. Oh, I've lived to see some amazing things, Ellie. Another century come to pass. 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 atonement, you see. It's my punishment for letting John Coffey ride the lightning. For killing a miracle of God.

I lie in bed most nights thinking about it. And I wait. I think about all the people I've loved now long gone. I think about my beautiful Jan... how I lost her so many years ago. And I think about all of us walking our own Green Mile... each in our own time. But one thought more than any other keeps me awake most nights: If he could make a mouse live so long, how much longer do I have? We each owe a death. There are no exceptions. But, oh, God... sometimes... the Green Mile seems so long.