The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

Hanna asks Michael to read before they make love; he begins Schiller’s Intrigue and Love.

Scene 47 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Act oneAct two

Begins 19 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 47

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.
Just before
Scene 44
Stranded in the countryside, Michael watches the tram leave and starts walking back toward town.
Scene 45
Michael confronts Hanna on the stairs about her behavior; she enters without answering.
Scene 46
Michael questions Hanna’s lack of response on the tram and says he cannot live without her; she asks if he thought they could make love there, then nods forgiveness and love.
Scene 47
This scene

47INT. BEDROOM. HANNA’S APARTMENT. DAY

MICHAEL is sitting on the side of the bed. HANNA comes in, wrapped in a towel.

HANNA

Do you have a book?

MICHAEL

Oh. Well I do. I took something

with me this morning.

HANNA

What is it?

MICHAEL

It’s another play.

MICHAEL gets it out of his pocket. HANNA has lain down on the bed, completely content.

HANNA

We’re changing the order we do

things. Read to me first, kid. Then

we make love.

MICHAEL sits at the foot of the bed and starts to read.

MICHAEL

Intrigue and Love, a play by

Friedrich Schiller...