The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

In the rain, sick Michael vomits in a courtyard; Hanna, a tram conductress, cleans him and comforts him until he calms.

Scene 7 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Inciting Incident
Save the Cat: Catalyst
Hanna
Michael

Act oneAct two

Begins 2 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 7

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.
Just before
Scene 4
In 1995, Michael stands at his apartment window, looking out.
Scene 5
Michael impulsively gets up, rings the bell, and leaves the tram at the next stop.
Scene 6
Michael closes the apartment window in 1995.
Scene 7
This scene

7EXT. BANHOFSTRASSE. DAY

1958. It has come on to rain. MICHAEL is walking along the street, looking more and more sickly. There is an archway leading to a courtyard, and impulsively he darts inside to get out of the rain. He begins to vomit. Opposite him is a wood workshop open to the yard. A uniformed TRAM CONDUCTRESS walks past.

MICHAEL’S body is turned away, his face invisible, his hand over his mouth. She puts down her ticket machine on the pavement and seizes him by the arm.

HANNA

Hey. Hey!

HANNA SCHMITZ has ash-blonde hair and is in her mid-thirties. She disappears. He’s sick again. She reappears with a bucket of water to sluice down the pavement. She wipes his face down with a wet cloth. Then she fills another bucket.

HANNA

Hey, kid. Hey.

MICHAEL

I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

Effortlessly, HANNA takes MICHAEL in her arms. She holds his head against her breasts. MICHAEL buries himself and slowly he stops sobbing. Then he lifts his head.

HANNA

Where do you live?