Breakdown

53 scenes · 6 story beats · 6 plot threads · 22 characters

The Shawshank Redemption

Prison, Drama, Crime Fiction

Logline: Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency

Theme: The Power of Hope / Friendship

Medium: Feature film

Credits: Frank Darabont

Act I

1.INT. car - night
2.INT. courthouse - dayStory Beat: Inciting Incident
3.INT. boardroom - shawshank prison - day
4.EXT. prison yard - day
5.INT. processing station - dayTheme: Symbolized
6.INT. PRison - DAY
7.INT. prison cafeteria - MORNING
8.int. shower . day
9.EXT. PRISON YARD - dayTheme: Explored
10.int. laundry room - dayTheme: Challenged
11.INT. PRISON
12.ext. prison yard - dayTheme: Explored
13.ext. PRISON YARD - dayStory Beat: Plot Point 1Theme: Challenged

Act II

14.INT. andy's cell - nightTheme: Symbolized
15.int. cinema - dayTheme: Challenged
16.INT. prison
17.ext. work dutyTheme: Explored
18.INT. ANDY'S CELL - day
19.int. LIBRARY - DAYTheme: Explored
20.int. PRISON CAFETERIA / int. wardens officeTheme: Explored
21.int. library - day
22.int. LIBRARY - DAYTheme: Challenged
23.int. PRISON - DAY

Act III

44.ext. prison - afternoon
45.int. prisonNotes: Flashback/MontageTheme: Symbolized
46.int. bank - morning
47.int. wardens office - dayTheme: Symbolized
48.int. WARDENS OFFICE - DAYTheme: Explored
49.ext. PRISON YARD - DAY
50.int. prison / ext. open roadNotes: Montage
51.int. BOARDROOM - SHAWSHANK PRISON - dayTheme: Symbolized
52.I/E. local townStory Beat: ClimaxTheme: Stated

Plot threads

Red's Prison Sentence
- Red has his 20 year parole hearing rejected
- Red believes he deserves to be in prison
- Red believes himself to be also 'institutionalized' like Brooks
- Red's 30 year parole is rejected
- Red wonders if prison life is all there is for him
- Red is released after 40 years
- Andy invites Red to Mexico
Andy's Crime
- Andy is found guilty for killing his wife and her lover
- Another man killed his wife, potentially exonerating Andy
- Norton will not help Andy
- Norton covers up any chance for Andy's freedom
Bog's Posse
- Bog introduces himself to Andy
- Bog assaults Andy
- Bog severely beats Andy
- Bog won't bother Andy anymore
Andy's Escape
- Andy gets smuggled a rock hammer
- Andy carves his name into his cell wall
- Andy asks for a smuggled poster
- Norton allows Andy's poster to remain
- Andy speaks as if he's leaving somewhere
- Andy asked Heywood for some rope
- Andy manages Norton's paperwork, suit, and shoes
- Andy has escaped
- Montage of how Andy escaped
Andy & Norton
- Andy begins doing Norton's tax returns
- Andy begins laundering Norton's money
- Andy sets up a fake social security
- Norton wants Andy to remain in prison to continue his laundering
- Norton and Hadley murder Tommy
- Andy refuses to do Norton's laundering and is punished into submission
- Andy is back working for Norton
- Andy switches Norton's documents
- Andy steals Norton's laundered money
- The game is over for Norton
Mexico
- Andy tells Red about Mexico
- Andy made it to Mexico
- Red finds Andy's treasure
- Andy and Red live in Mexico

Characters

Andy Dufresne30 · White · Male · HeroWhat does your character want?: To leave Shawshank PrisonHow will your character attempt to get it?: By tunneling through the walls in secret for 19 years
Red40 · Black · Male · Sidekick(Ally)What does your character want?: To stay in prison as that is the only life he knowsHow will your character attempt to get it?: Not putting in effort at his parole hearingsWhat does your character need?: HopeHow will your character realize it?: When Andy leaves the prison and is inspired in his absence
Warden Norton50 · White · Male · Villain
Captain Hadley30 · White · Male · Villain
Heywood40 · White · Male · Sidekick(Ally)
Tommy30 · White · Male · Student
Bogs Diamond30 · White · Male · Villain
Brooks Hatlen70 · White · Male · Mentor
Da40 · White · Male
Skeet40 · White · Male
Jigger30 · White · Male

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