The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

Hanna admits joining the monthly prisoner selections and says new arrivals meant the guards had to move others on because there was not room.

Scene 104 of 196 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act two

Judge
Hanna

Act oneAct two

Begins 43 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 104

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 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
Rohl challenges students’ assumptions about justice and inherited guilt, arguing the law is narrow; Michael says he is no longer sure.
Scene 104
This scene

104INT. COURTROOM. MANNHEIM. DAY

ROHL is leaning forward, attentive. HANNA is standing, opposite the JUDGE, who holds up a book called MOTHER & DAUGHTER : A STORY OF SURVIVAL.

JUDGE

Miss Schmitz, you’re familiar with

this book...

HANNA

Yes...

JUDGE

Parts of it have already been read

out in court.

It’s an American publication, which

has been translated. It’s by a

survivor, a prisoner who survived,

Ilana Mather...

HANNA

Yes I know. I know Ilana Mather.

JUDGE

She was in the camp, wasn’t she,

when she was a child? She was with

her mother.

The judge waits. HANNA seems arrogant, defiant.

JUDGE

In the book, she describes a

selection process. At the end of

the month’s labour, every month,

sixty inmates were selected. They

were picked out to be sent from the

satellite camp back to Auschwitz.

That’s right, isn’t it?

HANNA

Yes, it’s right.

JUDGE

And so far, each of your fellow

defendants has specifically denied

being part of that process. Now I’m

going to ask you. Were you part of

it?

HANNA

Yes.

There is a stir among the other DEFENDANTS and in the court. They start talking to their LAWYERS.

JUDGE

So you helped make the selection?

HANNA

Yes.

JUDGE

You admit that? Then tell me, how

did that selection happen?

HANNA shrugs slightly, as though it were obvious.