Daily Dialogue — December 17, 2018

Andy: That’s the beauty of music. They can’t get that from you… Haven’t you ever felt that way about music?
Red: I played a mean harmonica as a younger man. Lost interest in it though. Didn’t make much sense in here.
Andy: Here’s where it makes the most sense. You need it so you don’t forget.
Red: Forget?
Andy: Forget that… there are places in this world that aren’t made out of stone. That there’s something inside… that they can’t get to, that they can’t touch. That’s yours.
Red: What’re you talking about?
Andy: Hope.
Red: Let me tell you something, my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane. It’s got no use on the inside. You better get used to that idea.
Andy: Like Brooks did?

— The Shawshank Redemption (1994), screenplay by Frank Darabont, short story by Stephen King

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Warning suggested by Lois Bernard.

Trivia: Frank Darabont watched Goodfellas (1990) every Sunday while shooting this film, and drew inspiration from it, on using voice-over narration and showing the passage of time.

Dialogue On Dialogue: This warning from Red to Andy marks a key point in the movie in establishing Red’s baseline with regard to hope.

Compare to the movie’s end scene:

Red’s final words: “I hope.”