The Shawshank Redemption · written by Frank Darabont · 1994

Norton shoots himself as the officers break into his office.

Scene 218 of 249 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Climax
Red

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:45 into a 1:57 film

The story so farBefore scene 218

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.
Scene 206
After years of preparation, Andy breaks through the sewer pipe and escapes into the storm.
Just before
Scene 215
Norton takes a revolver from his desk drawer as officers approach.
Scene 216
The district attorney’s party advances through the prison corridors.
Scene 217
Norton loads his revolver as officers demand he open the door.
Scene 218
This scene

218INT -- NORTON'S OFFICE -- DAY (1966)

...so do the bullets. Norton is riveted to the door. For every key, he loads another bullet. Methodical and grim. He gets the final bullet in just as the right key slams home. The door bursts open. Men muscle in. Somebody SHOUTS. Troopers dive in all directions as Norton raises the gun -- -- and jams it under his chin. His head snaps back as the wall goes red. His swivel chair does a slow half-turn and creaks to a final stop. Troopers rise slowly, gazing in horror.

RED (V.O.)

I like to think the last thing that

went through his head...other than

that bullet...was to wonder how the

hell Andy Dufresne ever got the

best of him.

PUSH SLOWLY to the wall to reveal Mrs. Norton's framed sampler trickling blood and brains...and we get our final Bible lesson for today: "HIS JUDGMENT COMETH AND THAT RIGHT SOON."