The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

At dawn, Michael sorts his stamps while his voice reads Schiller’s declaration of fearless love.

Scene 53 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Michael’S Voice

Act oneAct two

Begins 21 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 53

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 50
Michael acts out Huckleberry Finn while Hanna sews; they laugh together.
Scene 51
Hanna condemns the sexual passage Michael reads from Lady Chatterley’s Lover, then tells him to continue.
Scene 52
Michael proposes a cycling trip; Hanna remarks that he likes planning, throws the guidebook aside, and they begin making love.
Scene 53
This scene

53INT. BEDROOM. BERG APARTMENT. DAWN

First light. Dawn breaking outside the window. MICHAEL is working at his desk, the surface covered in stamps, his collection book open. He picks one with a pyramid on it and looks at it. Underneath, MICHAEL’S VOICE reading Intrigue and Love by Schiller.

MICHAEL’S VOICE

“I’m not frightened. I’m not

frightened of anything. Why should

I be? I welcome obstacles, because

they’ll be like mountains I can fly

over to be in your arms. The more I

suffer, the more I’ll love...