The Shawshank Redemption · written by Frank Darabont · 1994

After Tommy’s death, Andy decides he has had enough and prepares his escape.

Scene 196 of 249 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:37 into a 1:57 film

The story so farBefore scene 196

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.
Scenes 11–30
Andy enters Shawshank and confronts its violence, hierarchy, and rules.
Scenes 31–154
He adapts through Red’s help, builds the library, and slowly earns trust while preparing for freedom.
Scenes 155–156
Tommy reveals that another inmate confessed to the murders, offering Andy a route to prove his innocence.
Scenes 157–166
Norton refuses to help and has Tommy killed, costing Andy the legal hope he had found.
Scene 176
The morning count reveals Andy is gone, confirming that the hidden plan worked.
Just before
Scene 193
Andy carries the removed concrete into the exercise yard in his pockets.
Scene 194
A guard checks Andy’s cell at night without noticing the hidden tunnel.
Scene 195
Andy’s hammer breaks through into the shaft; he peers down from the opening.
Scene 196
This scene

196INT -- SHAFT -- NIGHT (1965)

BOOMING SLOWLY UP the shaft. Rats scurry the pipes. Suddenly, r piece of concrete the size of a quarter jumps free and plummets down the shaft as the rock-hammer pushes through. The pick withdraws, replaced by Andy's peering eye. A SERIES OF DISSOLVES (1965 through 1966) 240 takes us through the widening of the hole. First as big as a tea cup. Then a saucer. Then a dinner plate.

RED (V.O.)

Probably took him most of a year

just to get his head through.

Andy finally gets his head through, scraping his ears. He's got a penlight clenched in his teeth. He peers down into the shaft. At the very bottom, maybe 20 feet down, a big ceramic pipe runs the length of the cellblock. Beneath its coat of grime and dust, the word "SEWER" is stenciled.