The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

Rohl challenges students’ assumptions about justice and inherited guilt, arguing the law is narrow; Michael says he is no longer sure.

Scene 103 of 196 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act two

Rohl
Dieter
Marthe
Michael

Act oneAct two

Begins 40 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 103

As a law student, Michael sees Hanna, his former lover, on trial for war crimes and must face the secret that shaped their teenage relationship.

Scenes 1–6
In 1995, Michael prepares breakfast for Brigitte, then is alone in his apartment and looks out the window.
Scenes 7–24
The sick schoolboy Michael accepts Hanna’s help and returns to her.
Scenes 25–35
Michael enters an intimate relationship with Hanna, organized around his reading to her.
Scenes 36–96
Michael alternates between time with Hanna and school; their reading ritual and cycling trip continue while he also spends time with friends.
Scene 97
Michael sees Hanna in court and learns she served as a camp guard.
Just before
Scene 100
The train races through the German countryside.
Scene 101
At a student party, Marthe sings while Dieter notices Michael alone on the balcony.
Scene 102
Michael smokes on the balcony and watches a couple making love in a nearby room.
Scene 103
This scene

103INT. LECTURE ROOM. HEIDELBERG LAW SCHOOL. DAY

The small STUDENT GROUP is now rattling around informally in the big lecture room.

ROHL

I need to correct an impression.

Dieter said yesterday this was

about justice. But is it?

If it were about justice you might

ask why has it taken so long? The

war ended twenty years ago.

Remember, there’ve been no

significant trials between

Nuremburg in 1946 and the Auschwitz

trials a couple of years ago.

That’s a long gap. What’s the

reason for the gap?

ROHL waits a moment for a STUDENT to answer.

DIETER

I’d have thought it was obvious.

ROHL

Say.

DIETER

Cowardice. It’s cowardice, isn’t

it? It’s bad conscience. It’s the

big cover-up.

ROHL

Go on.

DIETER

After the war. The German people

didn’t want to look at what they’d

done.

ROHL

Is that right?

DIETER

Because they had too much to hide.

All our parents are liars. All

right, mine are. So it’s left to

us, isn’t it?

ROHL

How so?

DIETER

Because we’re not implicated.

ROHL

Aren’t you? Good. So that’s all

right then.

Everyone laughs.

MARTHE

No, but seriously, Dieter’s right.

My parents, I can’t even talk to

them. I don’t love them. How could

I? How could anyone love them?

Because they’ve told themselves so