The Reader

On the first day of Easter vacation, Michael gets up at four in the morning and gets on the streetcar. Hanna has the early shift, but she doesn’t come into his car. Michael intensely stares at her, and Hanna looks his way but stays put. At a stop in the country, Michael pulls the cord and the streetcar halts, but neither Hanna nor the driver looks at him.

Later in the day, Michael and Hanna meet at her house. They go over what happened on the streetcar. Michael thought she’d be happy to see him, and Hanna thought he got in a separate car to avoid her. Michael apologizes, but Hanna claims Michael lacks the power to trouble her.

Hanna takes a bath and Michael leaves, only to return 30 minutes later. She invites him into the tub and nods when he asks her if she loves him. Michael and Hanna have more fights, but Hanna doesn’t want to discuss them, and she doesn't read Michael’s letters about them.

One week after Easter, Michael and Hanna go on a four-day bike trip. Michael wants to pay for Hanna. He has extra pocket money due to his bout with hepatitis, and he sells his stamp collection for additional funds.