Andy Dufresne is wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and sent to Shawshank Prison. There, he befriends another inmate named Red and demonstrates his talents for accounting, helping the corrupt warden with his finances. Over decades in prison, Andy secretly digs a tunnel to escape. When his exoneration seems imminent, the warden has the witness killed. After years of planning, Andy finally escapes through the tunnel and meets up with Red, leaving his life of crime behind at Shawshank.