The Shawshank Redemption · written by Frank Darabont · 1994

Unable to sleep, Red longs for the safety of familiar prison routines.

Scene 240 of 249 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:53 into a 1:57 film

The story so farBefore scene 240

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 237
A child’s toy gun triggers Red’s memories as he bags groceries.
Scene 238
Red retreats to the restroom, trying to calm himself.
Scene 239
Red sees guns in a pawnshop window and considers violating parole to return to prison.
Scene 240
This scene

240INT -- RED'S ROOM -- NIGHT

Red lies smoking in bed. Unable to sleep.

RED (V.O.)

Terrible thing, to live in fear.

Brooks Hatlen knew it. Knew it all

too well. All I want is to be back

where things make sense. Where I

won't have to be afraid all the

time.

He glances up at the ceiling beam. "Brooks Hatlen was here."

RED (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Only one thing stops me. A promise

I made to Andy.