He presses a piece of paper against the glass. A high school diploma. Her face lights up, blinking back tears.

INT -- SOLITARY WING -- NIGHT (1966)

LOW ANGLE on steel door. Somewhere behind it, unseen, is Andy, A rat scurries along the wall. FOOTSTEPS approach slowly.

INT -- SOLITARY -- NIGHT (1966)

Andy listens in darkness. The FOOTSTEPS pause outside his door. The slot opens. An ELDERLY GUARD peers in.

ELDERLY GUARD

Kid passed. C-plus average. Thought you'd like to know.

The slot closes. The FOOTSTEPS recede. Andy smiles.

INT -- PRISON CORRIDOR -- NIGHT (1966)

We find Tommy on evening work detail, mopping the floors with bucket and pail. Mert Entwhistle comes into view.

MERT

Warden wants to talk.

EXT -- PRISON -- NIGHT (1966)

A steel door rattles open. Mert leads Tommy outside to a gate, unlocks it. Tommy looks around.

TOMMY

Out here?

MERT

That's what the man said.

Mert swings the gate open, sends Tommy through, turns and heads back inside. Tommy proceeds out across a loading-dock access for the shops and mills. Some vehicles parked. The place is deserted. He stops, sensing a presence.

TOMMY

Warden?

Norton steps into the light.

NORTON

Tommy, we've got a situation here. I think you can appreciate that.

TOMMY

Yes sir, I sure can.

NORTON

I tell you, son, this really came along and knocked my wind out. It's got me up nights, that's the truth.

Norton pulls a pack of cigarettes, offers Tommy a smoke. Tommy takes one. Norton lights both cigarettes, pockets his lighter.

NORTON

The right decision. Sometimes it's hard to figure out what that is. You understand?

(Tommy nods)

Think hard, Tommy. If I'm gonna move on this, there can't be the least little shred of doubt. I have to know if you what you told Dufresne was the truth.

TOMMY

Yes sir. Absolutely.

NORTON

Would you be willing to swear before a judge and jury…having placed your hand on the Good Book and taken an oath before Almighty God Himself?

TOMMY

Just gimme that chance.

NORTON

That's what I thought.

Norton drops his cigarette. Crushes it out with the toe of his shoe. Glances up toward the plate shop roof as --

HIGH ANGLE FROM PLATE SHOP ROOF (SNIPER POV)

-- a rifle scope pops up into frame, jumping Tommy's image into startling magnification, framed in the crosshairs.

THE SNIPER

rapid-fires a carbine -- BLAM!BLAM!BLAM!BLAM! -- his face lit up by the muzzle flashes. Captain Hadley.

TOMMY

gets chewed to pieces by the gunfire. He smacks the ground in a twitching, thrashing heap. Eyes wide and staring. Dead. Surprise still stamped on his face. Silence now. Norton turns, strolls into darkness.

INT -- SOLITARY WING -- DAY (1966)

GUARDS approach Andy's cell. The door is unlocked. Andy emerges slowly, blinking painfully at the light.

INT/EXT -- PRISON -- DAY (1966)

Andy is marched along. Convicts stop to stare.

INT -- NORTON'S OFFICE -- DAY (1966)

Andy is led in. The door is closed. Alone with Norton. Softly,