The Shawshank Redemption · written by Frank Darabont · 1994

Red rides south, hopeful but uncertain whether he will reach Andy.

Scene 248 of 249 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:56 into a 1:57 film

The story so farBefore scene 248

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 245
Red packs his room and decides to seek Andy.
Scene 246
Red leaves a message beside Brooks’s carving and walks away with his bag.
Scene 247
Red buys a bus ticket to McNary, accepting the risk of violating parole.
Scene 248
This scene

248EXT -- TRAVELING SHOT -- DAY (1967)

A gorgeous New England landscape whizzes by, fields and trees a blur of motion. ANGLE SHIFTS to reveal a Greyhound Sceni- Cruiser barreling up the road, pulling abreast of us. CAMERA TRAVELS from window to window, passing faces. We finally come to Red gazing out at the passing landscape.

RED (V.O.)

I find I am so excited I can barely

sit still or hold a thought in my

head. I think it is the excitement

only a free man can feel, a free

man at the start of a long journey

whose conclusion is uncertain...

THE BUS 297

ROARS past camera, dwindling to a mere speck on the horizon.

RED (V.O.)

I hope I can make it across the

border. I hope to see my friend and

shake his hand. I hope the Pacific

is as blue as it has been in my

dreams.

(beat)

I hope.