David Crigler’s Reviews > Coffey on the Mile > Status Update

Pau shares proof of Coffey's innocence with fellow guards and Janice. Janice visits Paul on his night off to talk about John’s execution and the reality of his innocence. Paul stands in for John during an execution rehearsal. Paul visits John alone in his cell before. The guards experience intense moral shame and physical sickness as they prepare for it. John is executed in the electric chair. Paul is very sad.

Janice convinces Paul that the guards already know the heavy truth about John Coffey's impending execution and innocence. Paul breaks his silence and tells his colleagues the horrifying reality that Billy Wharton, not John Coffey raped and murdered the Detterick twins. The group struggles with the reality of executing an innocent, miraculous man whom they have grown to care for.

They take a weak Coffey back after all this. Percy finds them and they tell him to shut up and not say anything. John grabs Percy and transfers the sickness to him. Percy goes insane and shoots Wharton. He is inflicted by the tumor leading to him going to Briar Ridge.

Paul is writing his memoir at Georgia Pines. He gets harassed by Brad Dolan again who tells him he can’t be there writing and staying up. Elaine defends him and tells Brad to go away. Paul asks Elaine if she will read what he’s written.