FLOYD
He didn't say that!
BROOKS
God is my witness. And Dekins, he just blinks for a second, then laughs his ass off. Afterward, he actually shook Andy's hand.
HEYWOOD
My ass!
BROOKS
Shook his fuckin' hand. Just about shit myself. All Andy needed was a suit and tie, a jiggly little hula girl on his desk, he would'a been Mister Dufresne, if you please.
RED
Makin' yourself some friends, Andy.
ANDY
I wouldn't say "friends." I'm a convicted murderer who provides sound financial planning. That's a wonderful pet to have.
RED
Got you out of the laundry, didn't it?
ANDY
Maybe it can do more than that.
(off their looks)
How about expanding the library? Get some new books in there.
HEYWOOD
How you 'spect to do that, "Mr. Dufresne-if-you-please?"
ANDY
Ask the warden for funds.
LAUGHTER all around. Andy blinks at them.
BROOKS
Son, I've had six wardens through here during my tenure, and I have learned one great immutable truth of the universe: ain't one of 'em been born whose asshole don't pucker up tight as a snare drum when you ask for funds.
INT -- MAIN BUILDING HALLWAY -- DAY (1949)
DOLLYING Norton and Andy up the hall:
NORTON
Not a dime. My budget's stretched thin as it is.
ANDY
I see. Perhaps I could write to the State Senate and request funds directly from them.
NORTON
Far as them Republican boys in Augusta are concerned, there's only three ways to spend the taxpayer's hard-earned when it come to prisons. More walls. More bars. More guards.
ANDY
Still, I'd like to try, with your permission. I'll send a letter a week. They can't ignore me forever.
NORTON
They sure can, but you write your letters if it makes you happy. I'll even mail 'em for you, how's that?
INT -- ANDY'S CELL -- NIGHT (1949)
Andy is on his bunk, writing a letter.
RED (V.O.)
So Andy started writing a letter a week, just like he said.
INT -- GUARD DESK/NORTON'S OUTER OFFICE -- DAY (1949)
Andy pops his head in. The GUARD shakes his head.
RED (V.O.)
And just like Norton said, Andy got no answers. But still he kept on.
INT -- PRISON LIBRARY/ANDY'S OFFICE -- DAY (1950)
Andy is doing taxes. Mert Entwhistle is seated across from him. Other off-duty guards are waiting their turn.
RED (V.O.)
The following April, Andy did tax returns for half the guards at Shawshank.
INT -- PRISON LIBRARY -- ONE YEAR LATER (1951)
Tax time again. Even more guards are waiting.
RED (V.O.)
Year after that, he did them all… including the warden's.
EXT -- BASEBALL DIAMOND -- DAY (1952)
A BATTER in a "Noresby Marauders" baseball uniform WHACKS the ball high into left field and races for first.
RED (V.O.)
Year after that, they rescheduled the start of the intramural season to coincide with tax season…
INT -- PRISON LIBRARY/ANDY'S OFFICE -- DAY (1952)
The Batter sits across from Andy. The line winds out the door.