The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

At a café, Michael orders for Hanna while a nearby group of boys jokes; Hanna watches them nervously.

Scene 56 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Act oneAct two

Begins 23 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 56

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 53
At dawn, Michael sorts his stamps while his voice reads Schiller’s declaration of fearless love.
Scene 54
Michael sells his pyramid stamp for cash and runs into the street exhilarated as his reading continues.
Scene 55
Hanna and Michael cycle down a sunny hill through the countryside.
Scene 56
This scene

56EXT. CAFE. DAY

They come to a cafe and sit down outside. They pick up the menus on the table. A WAITRESS arrives.

WAITRESS

So what would you like to have?

MICHAEL

What are you having?

HANNA

You order. I’ll have what you have.

MICHAEL starts giving the order. Next to them are a group of BOY SCOUTS, who are laughing among themselves.

BOYS

There’s sausages, sausages or

sausages. Give it to me, come on,

give it here. Let me have a look.

You always have the same thing.

They all laugh. HANNA watches them nervously.