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68INT -- SHAWSHANK PRISON LIBRARY -- DAY (1949)

Brooks leads Andy into the bleakest back room of all. Rough plank shelves are lined with books. Brooks' private domain.

BROOKS

Here she is, the Shawshank Prison

Library. Along this side, we got

the National Geographics. That

side, the Reader's Digest Condensed

books. Bottom shelf there, some

Louis L'Amours and Erle Stanley

Gardners. Every night I pile the

cart and make my rounds. I write

down the names on this clipboard

here. Well, that's it. Easy, peasy,

Japanesey. Any questions?

Andy pauses. Something about this doesn't make any sense.

ANDY

Brooks? How long have you been

librarian?

BROOKS

Since 1912. Yuh, over 37 years.

ANDY

In all that time, have you ever had

an assistant?

BROOKS

Never needed one. Not much to it,

is there?

ANDY

So why now? Why me?

BROOKS

I dunno. Be nice to have some

comp'ny down here for a change.

HADLEY (O.S.)

Dufresne!

Andy steps back into the outer rooms and finds Hadley with 91 another GUARD, a huge fellow named DEKINS.

HADLEY (CONT'D)

That's him. That's the one.

Hadley exits. Dekins approaches Andy ominously. Andy stands his ground, waiting for whatever comes next. Finally:

DEKINS

I'm Dekins. I been, uh, thinkin'

'bout maybe settin' up some kinda

trust fund for my kids' educations.

Andy covers his surprise. Glances at Brooks. Brooks smiles.

CONTINUED: (2)

ANDY