The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

Michael watches Sophie and friends swim, then runs away when Sophie calls after him.

Scene 81 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Sophie

Act oneAct two

Begins 31 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 81

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 78
Hanna and Michael make intense love; she grips his head, then releases him.
Scene 79
After sex, Hanna tells Michael he must return to his friends.
Scene 80
After Michael leaves, Hanna washes out the milk bottles, picks up her luggage, and leaves the empty apartment.
Scene 81
This scene

81EXT. SWIMMING LAKE. DAY

MICHAEL is sitting on the pier watching as HOLGER, RUDOLF and SOPHIE swim competitively out to a pontoon, then turn back, full of energy and high spirits. MICHAEL watches for a while, then suddenly he gets up and starts to run away from them all.

SOPHIE

Michael. You all right?

But MICHAEL is running away across the lakeside beach.