66 pages 2 hours read

Stephen King

The Green Mile

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1996

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Part 5, Chapters 5-9

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 5: Night Journey

Chapter 5 Summary

Dean puts a sedative into a cup of R.C. Cola, which Paul then offers to Wharton, for supposed good behavior. The thirsty Wharton drinks it quickly, unaware it is filled with sedatives. When it seems as if Wharton is near unconsciousness, the guards reveal to Percy the straightjacket they are about to put him in. Percy resists at first until Brutal twists his ears and puts him in submission. Percy is afraid at first that the guards are going to put him in the same cell as Wharton out of revenge for messing with Delacroix’s execution. Paul is appalled that this is where Percy’s mind goes, knowing that if their positions were different, Percy would do exactly that to all of them. They put Percy in the restraint room as planned, taping his mouth shut when Percy threatens to have them all fired. Back at E Block, they release Coffey from his cell. As Coffey makes his way down the corridor, Wharton reaches out to grab his arm. The guards are surprised Wharton is able to fight off the strong dosage of sedatives. Coffey looks at Wharton with disgust and calls him a “bad man” (379). Eventually, the guards pry Wharton’s hand off of Coffey and are able to move forward.