The Shawshank Redemption · written by Frank Darabont · 1994

The guard calls lights out and darkness settles over the tiers.

Scene 19 of 249 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Guard
Red
Various Voices

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 14 min into a 1:57 film

The story so farBefore scene 19

After a banker is wrongly imprisoned for murder, he uses patience, expertise, and friendship to survive Shawshank and build a path to freedom.

Scenes 1–8
Andy’s former life and conviction frame a banker whose apparent control has vanished.
Scenes 9–10
Inside prison, Andy needs a way to survive without surrendering the inner self he is trying to protect.
Scene 11
Andy crosses Shawshank’s gate and enters the prison system that will define his life.
Just before
Scene 16
Alone in his cell, Andy dresses and takes in his confinement.
Scene 17
A passing train crosses the bleak night outside Shawshank.
Scene 18
Red listens from his cell as footsteps approach the block.
Scene 19
This scene

19INT -- CELLBLOCK FIVE -- NIGHT (1947)

LOW ANGLE. A CELLBLOCK GUARD strolls into frame.

GUARD

That's lights out! Good night,

ladies.

The lights bump off in sequence. The guard exits, footsteps echoing away. Darkness now. Silence. CAMERA CRANES UP the tiers toward Red's cell.

RED (V.O.)

I remember my first night. Seems a

long time ago now.

Red looms from the darkness, leans on the bars. Listens. Waits. From somewhere below comes faint, ghastly tittering. VOICES drift through the cellblock, taunting:

VARIOUS VOICES (O.S.)

Fishee fishee fisheeee...You're

gonna like it here, new fish. A

whooole lot...Make you wish your

daddies never dicked your

mommies...You takin' this down, new

fish? Gonna be a quiz later.

(somebody LAUGHS)

Sshhh. Keep it down. The screws'll

hear...Fishee fishee fisheeee...

RED (V.O.)

The boys always go fishin' with

first-timers...and they don't quit

till they reel someone in.

The VOICES keep on, sly and creepy in the dark...