The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

While Hanna bakes bread, Michael reads her the Odyssey and describes it as a journey.

Scene 48 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Act oneAct two

Begins 19 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 48

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 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
Hanna asks Michael to read before they make love; he begins Schiller’s Intrigue and Love.
Scene 48
This scene

48INT. HANNA’S APARTMENT. DAY

HANNA is baking bread. MICHAEL is on a chair beside her with a book.

MICHAEL

The Odyssey by Homer.

HANNA

What’s an odyssey?

MICHAEL

It’s a journey. He sets out on a

journey.

He starts to read.

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.

Many cities of men he saw and

learned their minds,

Many pains he suffered, heartsick

at the open sea,

Fighting to save his life and bring

his comrades home...