Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption

Red speaks about two items that Andy had requested from him. The first are half a dozen rock blankets that Andy would use to polish the rocks he finds in the yard. Second, Andy asks for a large poster of Rita Hayworth. Red points out that Andy is particularly excited about the poster. Red discusses how posters are among the most requested items inmates ask to have smuggled into the prison. Generally, the guards tend to be lenient with inmates having posters. Red uses an analogy of a pressure cooker that has steam release mechanisms. The guards allow the posters to help keep the inmates subdued.

Red gets around to telling the story of May 1950, the event that keep “the sisters” away from Andy once and for all. Red insists that the story he is about to tell is true, although in his eyes, it is so unbelievable that he can understand if someone who hears it thinks of it as a legend. The administrators of the prison had commissioned a capital improvement project which involved tarring the roof. Andy and Red are part of a lucky group of prisoners who work on the roof.