271 RED'S POV 271

...and CAMERA rockets into the hole, getting sucked down an
endless tunnel at impossible speed, the ROAR of air mixing
with his drawn-out SCREAM, closer and closer to the light...

...and erupting out the other side into total silence and a
beautiful white beach. The Pacific Ocean before us. Enormous.
Mind-blowing. Beautiful beyond description. All we hear now
are the gentle sound of waves.

RED (V.O.)
...dreams where I am lost in a warm
place with no memory.

A lone figure stands at water's edge. CAMERA KEEPS MOVING,
coming up behind him and TRACKING AROUND to reveal -- Red.

RED (V.O.)
An ocean so big it strikes me dumb.
Waves so quiet they strike me deaf.
Sunshine so bright it strikes me
blind. It is a place that is blue
beyond reason. Bluer than can
possibly exist. Bluer than my mind
can possibly grasp.

272 AERIAL SHOT 272

Nothing for a million miles but beach, sky, and water. Red is
a tiny speck at water's edge. Just another grain of sand.

RED (V.O.)
I am terrified. There is no way home.

273 INT -- RED'S CELL -- NIGHT (1966) 273

Red wakes from the nightmare. He gets out of bed. Moves to the
barred window of his cell. Peers up at the stars.

RED (V.O.)
Andy. I know you're in that place.
Look at the stars for me just after
sunset. Touch the sand...wade in
the water...and feel free.

FADE TO BLACK

274 AN IRON-BARRED DOOR 274

slides open with an enormous CLANG. A stark room beyond.
CAMERA PUSHES through. SIX MEN AND ONE WOMAN sit at a long
table. An empty chair faces them. We are again in:

INT -- SHAWSHANK HEARINGS ROOM -- DAY (1967)

Red enters, sits. 20 years older than when we first saw him.

MAN #1
Your file says you've served forty
years of a life sentence. You feel
you've been rehabilitated?

Red doesn't answer. Just stares off. Seconds tick by. The
parole board exchanges glances. Somebody clears his throat.

MAN #1
Shall I repeat the question?

RED
I heard you. Rehabilitated. Let's
see now. You know, come to think of
it, I have no idea what that means.

MAN #2
Well, it means you're ready to
rejoin society as a--

RED
I know what you think it means. Me,
I think it's a made-up word, a poli-
tician'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?

- -----

MAN g2
Well...are you?

RED
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.
(beat)
"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.

The parole board just stares. Red sits drumming his fingers.

CLOSEUP -- PAROLE FORM

A big rubber stamp SLAMS down -- and lifts away to reveal the
word "APPROVED" in red ink.

275 EXT -- SHAWSHANK PRISON -- DAY 275

TWO SHORT SIREN BLASTS herald the opening of the main gate. It
swings hugely open, revealing Red standing in his cheap suit,
carrying a cheap bag, wearing a cheap hat. He walks out, still
looking stunned.

276 INT -- BUS -- DAY 276

Red rides the bus, clutching the seat before him, gripped by
terror of speed and motion.

277 EXT -- BREWSTER HOTEL -- LATE AFTERNOON 277

Red arrives at the Brewster, three stories high and even less
to look at than it used to be.

27B INT -- BREWSTER -- LATE DAY 278

A BLACK WOMAN leads Red up the stairs toward the top floor.

279 INT -- RED'S ROOM -- LATE DAY 279

Small, old, dingy. An arched window with a view of Congress
Street. Traffic noise floats up. Red enters and pauses,
staring up at the ceiling beam. Carved into the wood are the
words: "Brooks Hatlen was here."

280 INT -- FOODWAY MARKET -- DAY 280

Loud. Jangling with PEOPLE and NOISE. We find Red bagging
groceries. Registers are humming, kids are shrieking. Red
calls to the STORE MANAGER:

RED
Sir? Restroom break sir?

MANAGER
(motions him over)
You don't need to ask me every
time you go take a piss. Just go.
Understand?