The Shawshank Redemption · written by Frank Darabont · 1994

Dressed to leave, Brooks prepares to mail his letter and carry out his plan.

Scene 96 of 249 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Brooks

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 54 min into a 1:57 film

The story so farBefore scene 96

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.
Scene 31
Andy and Red begin the friendship that will carry the film’s argument about hope and connection.
Scene 51
Andy tells Red that prisoners retain an inner life and hope, though Red warns hope can be dangerous.
Just before
Scene 93
Brooks wakes frightened from a bad dream in his unfamiliar room.
Scene 94
Brooks imagines robbing the Foodway so he can be sent back to prison.
Scene 95
Brooks packs his few possessions and writes to his prison friends.
Scene 96
This scene

96INT -- BROOKS' ROOM -- SHORTLY LATER (1954)

Brooks is dressed in his suit. He finishes knotting his tie, puts his hat on his head. The letter lies on the desk, stampe3 and ready for mailing. His bag is by the door.

BROOKS (V.O.)

I don't like it here. I'm tired of

being afraid all the time. I've

decided not to stay.

He takes one last look around. Only one thing left to do. He steps to a wooden chair in the center of the room, pulls out a pocketknife, and glances up at the ceiling beam.

He steps up onto the chair. It wobbles queasily. Now facing the beam, he carves a message into the wood: "Brooks Hatlen was here." He smiles with a sort of inner peace.

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

I doubt they'll kick up any fuss.

Not for an old crook like me.

TIGHT ON CHAIR 120

His weight shifts on the wobbly chair -- and it goes out from under him. His feet remain where they are, kicking feebly in mid-air. His hat falls to the floor. ANGLE WIDENS. Brooks has hanged himself. He swings gently, facing the open window. Traffic noise floats up from below.