MAN

Hal! Dave! Get your butts in here!

INT -- SHAWSHANK PRISON -- DAY (1966)

Norton walks slowly toward his office. Dazed. The morning paper in his hand. He goes wordlessly past the DUTY GUARD into his office. Shuts the door. Lays the paper on his desk.

The headline reads: "CORRUPTION AND MURDER AT SHAWSHANK." Below that, the sub-headline: "D.A. Has Ledger. Indictments Expected." Norton looks up as SIRENS SWELL in the distance.

EXT -- SHAWSHANK PRISON -- WIDE SHOT -- DAY (1966)

For the second time, State Police cruisers go rocketing up the road with SIRENS AND LIGHTS.

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

Norton opens his safe and pulls out the "ledger" -- it's Andy's Bible. The title page is inscribed by hand: "Dear Warden. You were right. Salvation lay within." Norton flips to the center of the book -- and finds the pages hollowed out in the shape of a rock-hammer.

EXT -- PRISON -- DAY (1966)

Police cruisers everywhere. A media circus. REPORTERS jostle for position. A colorless DISTRICT ATTORNEY steps forward into CLOSEUP, flanked by a contingent of S.ATE TROOPERS.

D.A.

Byron Hadley?

ANGLE SHIFTS to reveal Captain Hadley. Staring. Waiting.

D.A.

You have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right, anything you say will be used against you in court…

TROOPERS move in, cuffing Hadley's hands behind his back. The D.A. drones on. FLASHBULBS POP. Hadley says nothing. His face scrunches up. He begins to cry.

RED (V.O.)

I wasn't there to see it, but I hear Byron Hadley was sobbing like a little girl when they took him away.

Hadley sobs all the way to the car. The D.A. snaps a gaze up toward Norton's window, motions his men to follow.

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

Norton is staring out the window as they approach the building. He goes to his desk, opens a drawer. Inside lies a revolver and a box of shells.

RED (V.O.)

Norton had no intention of goin' that quietly.

INT -- PRISON CORRIDORS -- DAY (1966)

The D.A. marches along amidst a phalanx of TROOPERS.

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

Norton sits blankly at his desk, revolver before him. The doorknob rattles, a VOICE is heard:

D.A. (O.S.)

Samuel Norton? We have a warrant for your arrest! Open up!

The POUNDING starts. Norton dumps the box of bullets out on thr desk. He starts sorting them to see which ones he likes.

OUTSIDE HIS OFFICE

Troopers hustle the hapless duty guard to Norton's door as he fumbles nervously with a huge key ring.

DUTY GUARD

I'm not sure which one it is…

He starts trying keys in the lock. And as the keys go sliding in one after another…

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

…so do the bullets. Norton is riveted to the door. For every key, he loads another bullet. Methodical and grim. He gets the final bullet in just as the right key slams home. The door bursts open. Men muscle in. Somebody SHOUTS. Troopers dive in all directions as Norton raises the gun --