The Shawshank Redemption Quotes
[ after Tommy told the story of how he got arrested ]
Andy Dufresne : Maybe it's time for you to switch careers.
Tommy Williams : Huh?
Andy Dufresne : What I mean is, you don't seem to be a very good thief, maybe you should try something else.
Tommy Williams : Yeah, well, what the hell do you know about it Capone? What are you in for?
Andy Dufresne : Me? My lawyer fucked me. Everybody's innocent in here. Didn't you know that?
Andy Dufresne : Maybe it's time for you to switch careers.
Tommy Williams : Huh?
Andy Dufresne : What I mean is, you don't seem to be a very good thief, maybe you should try something else.
Tommy Williams : Yeah, well, what the hell do you know about it Capone? What are you in for?
Andy Dufresne : Me? My lawyer fucked me. Everybody's innocent in here. Didn't you know that?
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Fat Ass : You don't understand, I'm not supposed to be here!
Captain Hadley : I'm not gonna to count to three. I'm not even gonna count to one. You will shut the FUCK up or I'll sing you a lullaby!
Captain Hadley : I'm not gonna to count to three. I'm not even gonna count to one. You will shut the FUCK up or I'll sing you a lullaby!
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Red : I could see why some of the boys took him for snobby. He had a quiet way about him, a walk and a talk that just wasn't normal around here. He strolled, like a man in a park without a care or a worry in the world, like he had on an invisible coat that would shield him from this place. Yeah, I think it would be fair to say... I liked Andy from the start.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Prisoner : When do we eat?
Captain Hadley : You eat when we say you eat. You shit when we say you shit. You piss when we say you piss. You got that, you maggot dick motherfucker?
Captain Hadley : You eat when we say you eat. You shit when we say you shit. You piss when we say you piss. You got that, you maggot dick motherfucker?
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
[ Playing checkers ]
Red : King me.
Andy Dufresne : Chess. Now there's a game of kings.
Red : What?
Andy Dufresne : Civilized. Strategic...
Red : ...and a total fuckin' mystery. I hate it.
Red : King me.
Andy Dufresne : Chess. Now there's a game of kings.
Red : What?
Andy Dufresne : Civilized. Strategic...
Red : ...and a total fuckin' mystery. I hate it.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Tommy Williams : So I'm backing out the door, right, and I got the TV, like this; it was a big old thing, I couldn't see shit; suddenly I hear this voice, "Police, kid, hands in the air." You know, I was standing there, holdin' on to that TV, so finally the voice says, "You hear what I said, boy?" And I say, "Yes sir, I sure did, but if I drop this fucking thing you got me on destruction of property too."
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Red : [ narrating ] Tommy Williams came to Shawshank in 1965 on a two-year stretch for B&E. That's breaking & entering to you. Cops caught him sneaking TV sets out the back door of a JC Penney. Young punk. Mr. Rock and Roll. Cocky as hell.
Tommy Williams : Hey, c'mon, old boys! You're movin' like molasses! Makin' me look bad!
Red : [ narrating ] We liked him immediately.
Tommy Williams : Hey, c'mon, old boys! You're movin' like molasses! Makin' me look bad!
Red : [ narrating ] We liked him immediately.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Red : [ narrating ] There's a harsh truth to face. No way I'm gonna make it on the outside. All I do anymore is think of ways to break my parole, so maybe they'd send me back. Terrible thing, to live in fear. Brooks Hatlen knew it. Knew it all too well. All I want is to be back where things make sense. Where I won't have to be afraid all the time. Only one thing stops me. A promise I made to Andy.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Red : Well, if it was a toothbrush I wouldn't ask questions, I'd just quote a price, but then a toothbrush is a non-lethal object, isn't it?
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Heywood : The Count of Monte Crisco...
Floyd : That's "Cristo" you dumb shit.
Heywood : ...by Alexandree Dumb-ass. Dumb-ass.
Andy Dufresne : Dumb-ass? "Dumas". You know what it's about? You'll like it, it's about a prison break.
Red : We oughta file that under "Educational" too, oughten we?
Floyd : That's "Cristo" you dumb shit.
Heywood : ...by Alexandree Dumb-ass. Dumb-ass.
Andy Dufresne : Dumb-ass? "Dumas". You know what it's about? You'll like it, it's about a prison break.
Red : We oughta file that under "Educational" too, oughten we?
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
[ after Brooks held a knife to Heywood's throat ]
Andy Dufresne : I just don't understand what happened in there.
Heywood : Old man's crazy as a rat in a tin shithouse, is what.
Red : Oh Heywood, that's enough out of you!
Ernie : I heard he had you shittin' in your pants!
Heywood : Fuck you!
Red : Would you knock it off? Brooks ain't no bug. He's just... just institutionalized.
Heywood : Institutionalized, my ass.
Red : The man's been in here fifty years, Heywood. Fifty years! This is all he knows. In here, he's an important man. He's an educated man. Outside, he's nothin'! Just a used up con with arthritis in both hands.
Andy Dufresne : I just don't understand what happened in there.
Heywood : Old man's crazy as a rat in a tin shithouse, is what.
Red : Oh Heywood, that's enough out of you!
Ernie : I heard he had you shittin' in your pants!
Heywood : Fuck you!
Red : Would you knock it off? Brooks ain't no bug. He's just... just institutionalized.
Heywood : Institutionalized, my ass.
Red : The man's been in here fifty years, Heywood. Fifty years! This is all he knows. In here, he's an important man. He's an educated man. Outside, he's nothin'! Just a used up con with arthritis in both hands.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Red : I'd like to think that the last thing that went through his head, other than that bullet, was to wonder how the hell Andy Dufresne ever got the best of him.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Red : One day, when I have a long gray beard and two or three marbles rollin' around upstairs, they'll let me out.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
[ Tommy and Red are talking about Andy ]
Tommy Williams : What's he in here for, anyway?
Red : Murder.
Tommy Williams : [ Impressed ] The hell you say!
Tommy Williams : What's he in here for, anyway?
Red : Murder.
Tommy Williams : [ Impressed ] The hell you say!
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Andy Dufresne : I have no enemies here.
Red : Yeah? Wait a while. Word gets around. The Sisters have taken quite a likin' to you. Especially Boggs.
Andy Dufresne : I don't suppose it would help if I told them that I'm not homosexual.
Red : Neither are they. You have to be human first. They don't qualify.
Red : Yeah? Wait a while. Word gets around. The Sisters have taken quite a likin' to you. Especially Boggs.
Andy Dufresne : I don't suppose it would help if I told them that I'm not homosexual.
Red : Neither are they. You have to be human first. They don't qualify.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Floyd : Takin' bets today, Red?
Red : Smokes or coins, better's choice.
Floyd : Smokes. Put me down for two.
Red : All right, who's your horse?
Floyd : That little sack o' shit. Eighth, eighth from the front. He'll be first.
Heywood : Aw, bullshit. I'll call that action. You out some smokes, son, let me tell you!
Floyd : Well, Heywood, you so smart, you call it!
Heywood : I'll take the chubby fat-ass there. Fifth from the front. Put me down for a quarter deck.
Red : Smokes or coins, better's choice.
Floyd : Smokes. Put me down for two.
Red : All right, who's your horse?
Floyd : That little sack o' shit. Eighth, eighth from the front. He'll be first.
Heywood : Aw, bullshit. I'll call that action. You out some smokes, son, let me tell you!
Floyd : Well, Heywood, you so smart, you call it!
Heywood : I'll take the chubby fat-ass there. Fifth from the front. Put me down for a quarter deck.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Heywood : It's a fine morning, ain't it? You know why it's a fine morning, don't ya? Come on, set 'em down. I want 'em all lined up, just like a pretty little chorus line. [ the cons pull out cigarettes and hand them over to Heywood, who lines them up in front of him. He takes a long whiff ]
Heywood : Ah, yes. Richmond, Virginia.
Floyd : Smell my ass.
Heywood : Ah, yes. Richmond, Virginia.
Floyd : Smell my ass.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Andy Dufresne : What was his name?
Heywood : What did you say?
Andy Dufresne : I was just wondering if anybody knew his name.
Heywood : Fuck do you care, new fish? Doesn't fuckin' matter what his name was. He's dead.
Heywood : What did you say?
Andy Dufresne : I was just wondering if anybody knew his name.
Heywood : Fuck do you care, new fish? Doesn't fuckin' matter what his name was. He's dead.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
[ Warden Norton finds the bible in his safe after Andy escapes and finds the message Andy left for him ]
Andy Dufresne : Dear Warden, You were right. Salvation lies within. [ Norton flips through a couple of pages to find the outline of the rock hammer that was hidden in the Book of Exodus within the Bible, and then drops it on the floor in shock ]
Andy Dufresne : Dear Warden, You were right. Salvation lies within. [ Norton flips through a couple of pages to find the outline of the rock hammer that was hidden in the Book of Exodus within the Bible, and then drops it on the floor in shock ]
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Red : [ narrating ] Two things never happened again after that. The Sisters never laid a finger on Andy again... and Boggs never walked again. They transferred him to a minimum security hospital upstate. To my knowledge, he lived out the rest of his days drinking his food through a straw.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
[ first lines ]
District Attorney : Mr. Dufresne, describe the confrontation you had with your wife the night that she was murdered.
Andy Dufresne : It was very bitter. She said she was glad I knew, that she hated all the sneaking around. And she said that she wanted a divorce in Reno.
District Attorney : Mr. Dufresne, describe the confrontation you had with your wife the night that she was murdered.
Andy Dufresne : It was very bitter. She said she was glad I knew, that she hated all the sneaking around. And she said that she wanted a divorce in Reno.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Heywood : Red? You saying Andy's innocent? I mean *for real* innocent?
Red : Yeah, it looks that way.
Heywood : Sweet Jesus. How long's he been in here?
Red : Since '47, what is that... 19 years.
Red : Yeah, it looks that way.
Heywood : Sweet Jesus. How long's he been in here?
Red : Since '47, what is that... 19 years.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
[ Tommy receives a letter from the Board of Education ]
Red : You gonna open it, or stand there with your thumb up your butt?
Tommy Williams : Thumb up my butt sounds better.
Red : You gonna open it, or stand there with your thumb up your butt?
Tommy Williams : Thumb up my butt sounds better.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Andy Dufresne : Red. If you ever get out of here, do me a favor.
Red : Sure, Andy. Anything.
Andy Dufresne : There's a big hayfield up near Buxton. You know where Buxton is?
Red : Well, there's... there's a lot of hayfields up there.
Andy Dufresne : One in particular. It's got a long rock wall with a big oak tree at the north end. It's like something out of a Robert Frost poem. It's where I asked my wife to marry me. We went there for a picnic and made love under that oak and I asked and she said yes. Promise me, Red. If you ever get out... find that spot. At the base of that wall, you'll find a rock that has no earthly business in a Maine hayfield. Piece of black, volcanic glass. There's something buried under it I want you to have.
Red : What, Andy? What's buried under there?
Andy Dufresne : [ turns to walk away ] You'll have to pry it up... to see.
Red : Sure, Andy. Anything.
Andy Dufresne : There's a big hayfield up near Buxton. You know where Buxton is?
Red : Well, there's... there's a lot of hayfields up there.
Andy Dufresne : One in particular. It's got a long rock wall with a big oak tree at the north end. It's like something out of a Robert Frost poem. It's where I asked my wife to marry me. We went there for a picnic and made love under that oak and I asked and she said yes. Promise me, Red. If you ever get out... find that spot. At the base of that wall, you'll find a rock that has no earthly business in a Maine hayfield. Piece of black, volcanic glass. There's something buried under it I want you to have.
Red : What, Andy? What's buried under there?
Andy Dufresne : [ turns to walk away ] You'll have to pry it up... to see.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Andy Dufresne : [ reading letter from Brooks ] "I doubt they'll kick up any fuss. Not for an old crook like me. PS: tell Heywood I'm sorry I put a knife to his throat. No hard feelings, Brooks."
Red : [ pause ] He should've died in here.
Red : [ pause ] He should've died in here.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Warden Samuel Norton : [ after Andy escapes ] Well?
Red : Well what?
Warden Samuel Norton : I see you two all the time, you're thick as thieves, you are. He musta said *something*.
Red : Honest, Warden, not a word.
Warden Samuel Norton : [ frustrated ] Lord, it's a miracle! Man up and vanished like a fart in the wind! Nothing left but some damn rocks on the windowsill. And that cupcake on the wall! Let's ask her, maybe she knows.
Warden Samuel Norton : [ to poster ] What say you there, fuzzy-britches? Feel like talking? Aw, guess not. Why should she be any different? [ hefting one of Andy's rocks ]
Warden Samuel Norton : This is a conspiracy, that's what it is. [ throwing rocks ]
Warden Samuel Norton : One... big... damn conspiracy! And everyone's in on it, including *her*! [ Throws a rock at the poster, the rock goes right through it and they hear it clattering. Norton puts his arm through the torn poster and rips it away from the wall, revealing Andy's escape tunnel ]
Red : Well what?
Warden Samuel Norton : I see you two all the time, you're thick as thieves, you are. He musta said *something*.
Red : Honest, Warden, not a word.
Warden Samuel Norton : [ frustrated ] Lord, it's a miracle! Man up and vanished like a fart in the wind! Nothing left but some damn rocks on the windowsill. And that cupcake on the wall! Let's ask her, maybe she knows.
Warden Samuel Norton : [ to poster ] What say you there, fuzzy-britches? Feel like talking? Aw, guess not. Why should she be any different? [ hefting one of Andy's rocks ]
Warden Samuel Norton : This is a conspiracy, that's what it is. [ throwing rocks ]
Warden Samuel Norton : One... big... damn conspiracy! And everyone's in on it, including *her*! [ Throws a rock at the poster, the rock goes right through it and they hear it clattering. Norton puts his arm through the torn poster and rips it away from the wall, revealing Andy's escape tunnel ]
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Heywood : Hey, Fat Ass. Fat Ass! Talk to me boy! I know you're there I can hear you breathin'. Don't you listen to these nitwits you hear me? This place ain't so bad. Tell you what, I'll introduce you around, make you feel right at home. I know a couple of big old bull queers that'd just love to make you're acquaintance. Especially that big, white, mushy butt of yours.
Fat Ass : God! I don't belong here! I want to go home!
Inmates : We have a winner!
Heywood : And it's Fat Ass by a nose!
Fat Ass : God! I don't belong here! I want to go home!
Inmates : We have a winner!
Heywood : And it's Fat Ass by a nose!
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
[ Warden Norton visits Andy in solitary ]
Warden Samuel Norton : I'm sure by now you've heard. Terrible thing. Man that young, less than a year to go, trying to escape... Broke Captain Hadley's heart to shoot him, truly it did. We just have to put it behind us... move on.
Andy Dufresne : I'm done. Everything stops. Get someone else to run your scams.
Warden Samuel Norton : [ icy ] Nothing stops. Nothing... or you will do the hardest time there is. No more protection from the guards. I'll pull you out of that one-bunk Hilton and cast you down with the Sodomites. You'll think you've been fucked by a train! And the library? Gone... sealed off, brick-by-brick. We'll have us a little book barbecue in the yard. They'll see the flames for miles. We'll dance around it like wild Injuns! You understand me? Catching my drift?... Or am I being obtuse? [ beat ]
Warden Samuel Norton : [ to Hadley ] Give him another month to think about it.
Warden Samuel Norton : I'm sure by now you've heard. Terrible thing. Man that young, less than a year to go, trying to escape... Broke Captain Hadley's heart to shoot him, truly it did. We just have to put it behind us... move on.
Andy Dufresne : I'm done. Everything stops. Get someone else to run your scams.
Warden Samuel Norton : [ icy ] Nothing stops. Nothing... or you will do the hardest time there is. No more protection from the guards. I'll pull you out of that one-bunk Hilton and cast you down with the Sodomites. You'll think you've been fucked by a train! And the library? Gone... sealed off, brick-by-brick. We'll have us a little book barbecue in the yard. They'll see the flames for miles. We'll dance around it like wild Injuns! You understand me? Catching my drift?... Or am I being obtuse? [ beat ]
Warden Samuel Norton : [ to Hadley ] Give him another month to think about it.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Andy Dufresne : I was in the path of the tornado... I just didn't expect the storm would last as long as it has.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Andy Dufresne : I understand you're a man who knows how to get things.
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption