The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

Driving through rainy Berlin, Michael and Julia exchange tentative thanks and promise to meet soon.

Scene 91 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Act oneAct two

Begins 34 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 91

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 88
An assistant tells Michael it is eight o’clock and his daughter has arrived; he gets up.
Scene 89
Michael meets his daughter Julia at a brasserie; they greet each other awkwardly.
Scene 90
Michael admits he was difficult and not always open with Julia; she says she had assumed his distance was her fault.
Scene 91
This scene

91INT & EXT. CAR. NIGHT

They drive through the gleaming streets. It’s been raining - Berlin is glistening. Their voices :

MICHAEL

I admit it now, I was nervous.

JULIA

I was nervous too. It’s silly isn’t

it?

MICHAEL

It is silly.

JULIA

Thank you for dinner.

MICHAEL

I’ll see you very soon.