(beat)

You know, a place like that, I'd need a man who can get things.

Red stares at Andy, laughs.

RED

Jesus, Andy. I couldn't hack it on the outside. Been in here too long. I'm an institutional man now. Like old Brooks Hatlen was.

ANDY

You underestimate yourself.

RED

Bullshit. In here I'm the guy who can get it for you. Out there, all you need are Yellow Pages. I wouldn't know where to begin.

(derisive snort)

Pacific Ocean? Hell. Like to scare me to death, somethin' that big.

ANDY

Not me. I didn't shoot my wife and I didn't shoot her lover, and whatever mistakes I made I've paid for and then some. That hotel and that boat…I don't think it's too much to want. To look at the stars just after sunset. Touch the sand. Wade in the water. Feel free.

RED

Goddamn it, Andy, stop! Don't do that to yourself! Talking shitty pipedreams! Mexico's down there, and you're in here, and that's the way it is!

ANDY

You're right. It's down there, and I'm in here. I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying.

Red snaps a look. What the hell does that mean? Andy rises and walks away. Red lunges to his feet.

RED

Andy?

ANDY

(turns back)

Red, if you ever get out of here, do me a favor. There's this big hayfield up near Buxton. You know where Buxton is?

RED

(nods)

Lots of hayfields there.

ANDY

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.

(beat)

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.

RED

What? What's buried there?

ANDY

You'll just have to pry up that rock and see.

Andy turns and walks away.

INT -- MESS HALL -- DAY (1966)

RED

I tell you, the man was talkin' crazy. I'm worried, I truly am.

SKEET

We ought to keep an eye on him.

JIGGER

That's fine, during the day. But at night he's got that cell all to himself.

HEYWOOD

Oh Lord. Andy come down to the loading dock today. Asked me for a length of rope. Six foot long.

SNOOZE

Shit! You gave it to him?

HEYWOOD

Sure I did. I mean why wouldn't I?

FLOYD

Christ! Remember Brooks Hatlen?

HEYWOOD

How the hell was I s'pose to know?

JIGGER

Andy'd never do that. Never.

They all look to Red.

RED

Every man's got a breaking point.

EXT -- PRISON YARD -- ANGLE ON P.A. -- DUSK (1966)

VOICE (over P.A.)