The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

At the courthouse, Michael dons his robe and hurries in with Gerhard and an assistant carrying documents.

Scene 65 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Gerhard
Michael

Act oneAct two

Begins 25 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 65

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 62
Michael leaves his apartment building and gets into his Mercedes.
Scene 63
Michael drives through a rebuilding Berlin while listening to the Bach music from the church.
Scene 64
Michael parks, gets out, and walks purposefully across the street.
Scene 65
This scene

65INT. LOBBY. COURTHOUSE. DAY

An ASSISTANT meets MICHAEL with his robe which he pulls on as he walks quickly through an elaborate lobby. GERHARD BADE, also in his fifties, also robed, falls in step.

GERHARD

You all right, Michael?

MICHAEL

I’m fine.

GERHARD

You’d better hurry. You know what

she’s like.

A robed ASSISTANT is waiting outside the door with documents he hands to MICHAEL. They all go in.