The Shawshank Redemption · written by Frank Darabont · 1994

After forty years, Red faces the parole board and is finally approved.

Scene 226 of 249 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Man #1
Red
Man #2

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:48 into a 1:57 film

The story so farBefore scene 226

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.
Scenes 167–218
Andy escapes with evidence and exposes the warden, returning to the outside world on his own terms.
Just before
Scene 223
Red watches the field and considers how the prison feels emptier without Andy.
Scene 224
Red dreams of Andy behind the poster and longs to reach him.
Scene 225
Red wakes and speaks toward the stars, imagining Andy by the sea.
Scene 226
This scene

226INT -- SHAWSHANK HEARINGS ROOM -- DAY (1967)

Red enters, sits. 20 years older than when we first saw him.

MAN #1

Your file says you've served forty

years of a life sentence. You feel

you've been rehabilitated?

Red doesn't answer. Just stares off. Seconds tick by. The parole board exchanges glances. Somebody clears his throat.

MAN #1 (CONT'D)

Shall I repeat the question?

RED

I heard you. Rehabilitated. Let's

see now. You know, come to think of

it, I have no idea what that means.

MAN #2

Well, it means you're ready to

rejoin society as a--

RED

I know what you think it means. Me,

I think it's a made-up word, a poli-

tician's word. A word so young

fellas like you can wear a suit and

tie and have a job. What do you

really want to know? Am I sorry for

what I did?

MAN #2

Well...are you?

RED

Not a day goes by I don't feel

regret, and not because I'm in here

or because you think I should. I

look back on myself the way I

was...stupid kid who did that

terrible crime...wish I could talk

sense to him. Tell him how things

are. But I can't. That kid's long

gone, this old man is all that's

left, and I have to live with that.

(beat)

"Rehabilitated?" That's a bullshit

word, so you just go on ahead and

stamp that form there, sonny, and

stop wasting my damn time. Truth

is, I don't give a shit.

The parole board just stares. Red sits drumming his fingers.

CLOSEUP -- PAROLE FORM