1946
Banker Andy Dufresne is wrongly convicted of murder in 1946 and sentenced to two life sentences at Shawshank Prison, where he endures brutality and befriends fellow inmate Red. Andy uses his financial skills to manage the prison's finances and launder money for Warden Norton, while secretly digging an escape tunnel for nearly two decades. After Norton murders an inmate who could prove Andy's innocence, Andy escapes through his tunnel, exposes Norton's corruption, and flees to Mexico. Red is eventually paroled and, following Andy's instructions, travels to Zihuatanejo, Mexico, where the two friends are joyfully reunited on the beach.
Save the Cat beat sheet
The Shawshank Redemption follows banker Andy Dufresne’s wrongful imprisonment and gradual adaptation to prison life, his friendship with Red, and his ultimate escape.
Open full beat sheetEllis Boyd 'Red' Redding is listed as Narrator/Friend. Long-term inmate, known for being able to procure contraband. In the parsed data, Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding is connected to 72 scenes, 73 dialogue lines, 73 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
72 scenes / 73 dialogue linesAndy Dufresne is listed as Protagonist. Mid-20's, wire rim glasses, three-piece suit, former vice-president of a large Portland bank. In the parsed data, Andy Dufresne is connected to 68 scenes, 73 dialogue lines, 77 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
68 scenes / 73 dialogue linesSamuel Norton is listed as Antagonist. Warden of Shawshank, colorless man in a gray suit, believes in discipline and the Bible. In the parsed data, Samuel Norton is connected to 16 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
16 scenes / 17 dialogue linesTommy Williams is listed as Supporting. Young inmate, cocky, later becomes Andy's student. In the parsed data, Tommy Williams is connected to 15 scenes, 21 dialogue lines, 21 text mentions, first appearing around scene 49.
15 scenes / 21 dialogue linesHeywood is listed as Supporting. Inmate, member of Red's group. In the parsed data, Heywood is connected to 14 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 32.
14 scenes / 4 dialogue linesByron Hadley is listed as Antagonist. Captain of the guard, brutal and corrupt. In the parsed data, Byron Hadley is connected to 10 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
10 scenes / 11 dialogue linesBrooks Hatlen is listed as Supporting. Senior inmate, prison librarian for 37 years. In the parsed data, Brooks Hatlen is connected to 6 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 32.
6 scenes / 6 dialogue linesBogs Diamond is listed as Antagonist. Leader of 'The Sisters', a group of predatory inmates. In the parsed data, Bogs Diamond is connected to 5 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 34.
5 scenes / 5 dialogue linesA man and woman engage in a passionate sexual encounter in a cabin.
The camera moves from the cabin into the woods, revealing a parked car.
Andy Dufresne sits in his car, drunk and watching the cabin, preparing a revolver.
Andy DufresneAndy walks toward the cabin, devastated by the sounds of the lovers.
Andy DufresneAndy testifies about the night of the murders.
Andy DufresneThe D.A. delivers his closing argument to the jury.
Andy DufresneThe jury deliberates and decides on a verdict.
The judge sentences Andy to two life sentences.
Andy DufresneRed appears before the parole board and is rejected.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingRed observes the arrival of new inmates.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, HeywoodAndy arrives at Shawshank Prison.
Andy Dufresne, Byron HadleyRed and the other inmates bet on the new arrivals.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, HeywoodWarden Norton addresses the new inmates.
Samuel Norton, Byron HadleyThe new inmates undergo a medical examination.
Andy DufresneThe new inmates attend a Bible reading.
The new inmates are locked in their cells.
Andy Dufresne, Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingAndy settles into his cell.
Andy DufresneExterior shot of the prison at night.
Red listens to the sounds of the prison.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingLights out in the cellblock.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingThe inmates taunt the new fish.
HeywoodRed watches the cellblock.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingFat-Ass breaks down.
HeywoodHeywood celebrates winning the bet.
HeywoodHadley beats Fat-Ass.
Byron HadleyRed reflects on the night's events.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingMorning count.
Andy Dufresne, Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingBreakfast in the mess hall.
Andy Dufresne, Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, Brooks Hatlen, HeywoodAndy works in the laundry.
Andy DufresneBogs and the Sisters confront Andy.
Andy Dufresne, Bogs DiamondAndy lies awake.
Andy DufresneAndy approaches Red to ask for a rock-hammer.
Andy Dufresne, Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, HeywoodAndy gives Red money for the rock-hammer.
Andy Dufresne, Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingRed receives the money.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingContraband is smuggled into the prison.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingLeonard hides the package.
Red receives the package.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingRed inspects the rock-hammer.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingRed passes the rock-hammer to Andy.
Andy Dufresne, Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, Brooks HatlenRed receives a thank you note.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingAndy works in the laundry.
Andy DufresneBogs and the Sisters attack Andy.
Andy Dufresne, Bogs DiamondAndy is cornered by Bogs and the Sisters, who beat him and force a rag into his mouth.
Andy Dufresne, Bogs DiamondAndy confronts Brooks about his knife, leading to a breakdown and the revelation that Brooks' parole has been granted.
Andy Dufresne, Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, Brooks Hatlen, HeywoodBrooks struggles with life on the outside and eventually hangs himself.
Brooks HatlenAndy plays Mozart over the prison PA system, causing the prison to stop in its tracks.
Andy Dufresne, Byron HadleyAndy and Tommy discuss poetry and reading progress.
Andy Dufresne, Tommy WilliamsTommy struggles with reading.
Andy Dufresne, Tommy WilliamsAndy sits in solitary confinement after a fight.
Andy DufresneAndy teaches Tommy the alphabet.
Andy Dufresne, Tommy WilliamsAndy and Tommy discuss a book.
Andy Dufresne, Tommy WilliamsTommy practices reading.
Tommy WilliamsRed urges Tommy to work faster.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, Tommy WilliamsAndy helps Tommy with writing.
Andy Dufresne, Tommy WilliamsAndy polishes chess pieces and looks at his wall.
Andy DufresneTommy takes his exam.
Andy Dufresne, Tommy WilliamsAndy approaches Captain Hadley to offer financial advice regarding his inheritance.
Andy Dufresne, Byron Hadley, HeywoodRed tells Tommy about Andy's past.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, Tommy WilliamsTommy tells Andy and Red about Elmo Blatch.
Andy Dufresne, Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, Tommy WilliamsAndy confronts Norton about the new information.
Andy Dufresne, Samuel NortonMail call for Tommy.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, Tommy Williams, HeywoodTommy shows his wife his diploma.
Tommy WilliamsA guard tells Andy that Tommy passed his exam.
Andy DufresneTommy is called to see the Warden.
Tommy WilliamsNorton has Tommy killed.
Samuel Norton, Byron Hadley, Tommy WilliamsAndy is released from solitary.
Andy DufresneNorton threatens Andy.
Andy Dufresne, Samuel NortonAndy and Red talk about the future.
Andy Dufresne, Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingThe inmates worry about Andy.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, HeywoodInmates report for evening count.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, HeywoodAndy works for Norton.
Andy Dufresne, Samuel NortonAndy shines Norton's shoes.
Andy DufresneAndy walks to his cell.
Andy DufresneAndy enters his cell.
Andy DufresneRed watches Andy.
Andy Dufresne, Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingAndy prepares for his escape.
Andy DufresneRed waits in the dark.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingAndy is missing.
Ellis Boyd 'Red' ReddingNorton discovers Andy's shoes.
Samuel NortonNorton and Hadley search for Andy.
Samuel Norton, Byron HadleyI heard you. Rehabilitated. Let's see now. You know, come to think of it, I have no idea what that means. I know what you think it means. Me, I think it's a made-up word, a politician'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? 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. 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.
'Bout four years ago, I was in Thomaston on a 2 to 3 stretch. Stole a car. Dumbfuck thing to do. Few months left to go, I get a new cellmate in. Elmo Blatch. Big twitchy fucker. Crazy eyes. Kind of roomie you pray you don't get, know what I'm sayin'? 6 to 12 for armed burglary. Said he done hundreds of jobs. Hard to believe, high-strung as he was. Cut a loud fart, he'd go three feet in the air. Talked all the time, too, that's the other thing. Never shut up. Places he'd been, jobs he pulled, women he fucked. Even people he killed. People that gave him shit, that's how he put it. One night, like a joke, I say: "Yeah? Who'd you kill?" So he says...
One in particular. Got a long rock wall with a big oak at the north end. Like something out of a Robert Frost poem. It's where I asked my wife to marry me. We'd gone for a picnic. We made love under that tree. I asked and she said yes. Promise me, Red. If you ever get out, find that spot. In the base of that wall you'll find a rock that has no earthly business in a Maine hayfield. A piece of black volcanic glass. You'll find something buried under it I want you to have.
Nothing stops! NOTHING! Or you will do the hardest time there is. No more protection from the guards. I'll pull you out of that one-bunk Hilton and put you in with the biggest bull queer I can find. You'll think you got fucked by a train! And the library? Gone! Sealed off brick by brick! We'll have us a little book-barbecue in the yard! They'll see the flames for miles! We'll dance around it like wild Indians! Do you understand me? Are you catching my drift?
Get this tub of shit down to the infirmary. If I hear so much as a mouse fart in here the rest of the night, by God and Sonny Jesus, you'll all visit the infirmary. Every last motherfucker here.
Man's been here fifty years. This place is all he knows. In here, he's an important man, an educated man. A librarian. Out there, he's nothing but a used-up old con with arthritis in both hands.
My wife used to say I'm a hard man to know. Like a closed book. Complained about it all the time. She was beautiful. I loved her. But I guess I couldn't show it enough. I killed her, Red.
Fair enough. A rock-hammer is about eight or nine inches long. Looks like a miniature pickaxe, with a small sharp pick on one end, and a blunt hammerhead on the other. It's for rocks.
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