The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

Alone, Michael takes down the Odyssey and reads aloud to himself.

Scene 146 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Michael

Act oneAct two

Begins 1:03 into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 146

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.
Scenes 97–104
At the trial, Michael finds Hanna among the defendants and hears her admit involvement in selections.
Scenes 106–137
Testimony reveals Hanna’s role; Michael’s discovery of her illiteracy cannot prevent her conviction.
Just before
Scene 143
Julia sleeps in Michael’s arms on the train as he looks down at her affectionately.
Scene 144
Michael guides Julia across a busy Berlin street, holding her hand.
Scene 145
Michael returns Julia to Gertrud, admits he wanted to reconnect with his mother, and is told contact must be reciprocal.
Scene 146
This scene

146INT. MICHAEL’S APARTMENT. KREUZBERG. NIGHT

MICHAEL standing in the empty room. It’s eerily silent. He goes to his bookcase. He runs his fingers along the spines, as HANNA once did. He takes out a paperback of the Odyssey. He looks at it a moment, then he starts to read to himself.

MICHAEL

“Sing to me of the Man, Muse, the

man of twists and turns

Driven time and again off course,

once he had plundered

The hallowed heights of Troy...

He sits back.