The Reader · written by David Hare · 2008

Michael asks to take Julia on a trip and proposes collecting her tomorrow at ten; she smiles, and he hugs her before she goes inside.

Scene 92 of 196 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Julia
Michael

Act oneAct two

Begins 34 min into a 1:21 film

The story so farBefore scene 92

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 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
Driving through rainy Berlin, Michael and Julia exchange tentative thanks and promise to meet soon.
Scene 92
This scene

92EXT. CAR. DAY

MICHAEL lets JULIA out, and is watching her safely to her door from the car.

JULIA

Good night, Dad.

MICHAEL suddenly gets out himself.

MICHAEL

Julia, wait. I want to ask you a

favour.

JULIA

What favour?

MICHAEL

I want to take you on a trip. I

want to show you something.

JULIA

When?

MICHAEL

Tomorrow, maybe. Can I pick you up

in the car?

JULIA doesn’t need to say anything.

MICHAEL

At ten, say.

JULIA smiles.

MICHAEL

Then good.

MICHAEL hugs her, his heart aching with love. JULIA goes in to her place. MICHAEL is left standing still in the plaza outside, not moving. Underneath the sound of what follows, thirty years previously.