The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

An assistant tells Michael it is eight o’clock and his daughter has arrived; he gets up.

Scene 88 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Act oneAct two

Begins 33 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 88

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 85
At dusk, Michael undresses and slips into the deserted lake, lying almost motionless in the water.
Scene 86
In 1995, Michael sits alone in the courthouse, thinking.
Scene 87
Michael submerges his head in the lake as sunlight flashes across the water.
Scene 88
This scene

88INT. COURTHOUSE. DAY

1995. MICHAEL still sitting thoughtfully by himself in the empty court. Then he looks up. An ASSISTANT has appeared.

ASSISTANT

Mr Berg. It is eight o’clock. Your

daughter.

MICHAEL

Thank you.

He gets up.