The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

Friends tell Michael of their planned birthday party; he declines because he promised someone else, and they go off angry.

Scene 74 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Act oneAct two

Begins 28 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 74

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 71
Smiling, Michael cycles back toward town.
Scene 72
Michael arrives late at Hanna’s and begins reading Chekhov; Hanna sees through his excuse about school.
Scene 73
A tram supervisor offers Hanna a promotion to office work; she looks distraught rather than pleased.
Scene 74
This scene

74EXT. SWIMMING LAKE. DAY

MICHAEL is watching SOPHIE swimming, a look of anxiety in his eye, when HOLGER touches his shoulder.

HOLGER

Get a move on, we’re leaving early

today.

MICHAEL

Why? What for?

HOLGER

We’re going back to Sophie’s. It’s

your birthday. We’re giving you a

party.

HOLGER and RUDOLF disappear to get dressed. SOPHIE appears in her swimming costume.

SOPHIE

Come on, it’s a surprise. We

thought you’d like it. We’ve been

planning it for weeks.

MICHAEL

I’m sorry. Really. I promised

someone I’d do something else.

The others are furious with him. They all go off.