1995
In 1958, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg has an affair with Hanna Schmitz, an older tram conductress, to whom he reads classic literature until she abruptly disappears. Eight years later, Michael, now a law student, discovers Hanna on trial as an SS guard, realizing she is illiterate when she confesses to a crime to hide it, leading to her life imprisonment. Michael secretly sends Hanna recordings of himself reading, inspiring her to learn to read and write in prison, but she commits suicide days before her parole after twenty years. Michael delivers Hanna's money to Ilana Mather, a concentration camp survivor, who donates it to a Jewish literacy foundation, and Michael later visits Hanna's grave with his daughter.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Michael Berg reflects on his past relationship with Hanna, a former SS guard he fell in love with as a teenager.
Open full beat sheetMichael Berg is listed as Protagonist. Starts as a 15-year-old boy, later a 51-year-old man. Dark-haired, saturnine, intellectual. In the parsed data, Michael Berg is connected to 60 scenes, 43 dialogue lines, 45 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
60 scenes / 43 dialogue linesHanna Schmitz is listed as Love interest / Defendant. Mid-thirties, ash-blonde hair, tram conductress, later revealed to be an illiterate former SS guard. In the parsed data, Hanna Schmitz is connected to 34 scenes, 25 dialogue lines, 31 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
34 scenes / 25 dialogue linesProfessor Rohl is listed as Law Professor. Distinguished, greying academic. In the parsed data, Professor Rohl is connected to 12 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 32.
12 scenes / 4 dialogue linesIlana Mather is listed as Holocaust survivor. Elegant, prosperous woman in her fifties. In the parsed data, Ilana Mather is connected to 5 scenes, 24 dialogue lines, 24 text mentions, first appearing around scene 64.
5 scenes / 24 dialogue linesCarla Berg is listed as Michael's mother. Concerned, traditional mother. In the parsed data, Carla Berg is connected to 5 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
5 scenes / 2 dialogue linesSophie is listed as Michael's school friend. Virginal, brown hair. In the parsed data, Sophie is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 31.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesEmily Berg is listed as Michael's younger sister. Observant, critical. In the parsed data, Emily Berg is connected to 4 scenes, first appearing around scene 6.
4 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMarthe is listed as Law student. Long-haired, hippyish student. In the parsed data, Marthe is connected to 4 scenes, first appearing around scene 44.
4 scenes / 0 dialogue linesLouisa Brenner is listed as Prison official. Modern, professional. In the parsed data, Louisa Brenner is connected to 3 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 63.
3 scenes / 3 dialogue linesPeter Berg is listed as Michael's father. Balding, abstracted man. In the parsed data, Peter Berg is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 6.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesHolger Schluter is listed as Michael's friend. School peer. In the parsed data, Holger Schluter is connected to 3 scenes, first appearing around scene 33.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBrigitte is listed as Michael's lover (1995). Attractive, younger woman. In the parsed data, Brigitte is connected to 2 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
2 scenes / 5 dialogue linesJulia is listed as Michael's daughter. Sympathetic young woman, approx 23. In the parsed data, Julia is connected to 2 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 66.
2 scenes / 5 dialogue linesThomas Berg is listed as Michael's older brother. Superior, detached. In the parsed data, Thomas Berg is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 6.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesGerhard Bade is listed as Colleague. Lawyer in his fifties. In the parsed data, Gerhard Bade is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 30.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesMichael prepares breakfast for himself and Brigitte in 1995, discussing his plans to see his daughter.
Michael Berg, BrigitteBrigitte leaves the apartment; Michael reflects on the past.
Michael Berg, Brigitte15-year-old Michael feels ill on a tram in 1958.
Michael BergMichael vomits in an archway and is helped by Hanna.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzHanna walks Michael home.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzThe Berg family eats dinner; Michael is clearly unwell.
Michael Berg, Carla Berg, Peter Berg, Emily Berg, Thomas BergMichael is diagnosed with scarlet fever.
Michael Berg, Carla Berg, Emily BergMichael recovers and tells his mother about the woman who helped him.
Michael Berg, Carla BergMichael visits Hanna to thank her.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael returns to help Hanna with coal and they become intimate.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael faces family scrutiny over his whereabouts.
Michael Berg, Carla Berg, Peter Berg, Emily Berg, Thomas BergMichael asks Hanna for her name.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael reads to Hanna.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael is humiliated when Hanna ignores him on the tram.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael confronts Hanna about being ignored.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael reads The Odyssey to Hanna while she bakes.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael reads Shakespeare to Hanna in the bath.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael reads Huckleberry Finn and they laugh together.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael reads Lady Chatterley's Lover, which Hanna finds disgusting.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael reads Tin-Tin and proposes a bicycling trip.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael works on his stamp collection at dawn.
Michael BergMichael sells a stamp to fund his trip.
Michael BergMichael and Hanna cycle together.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael and Hanna eat at a cafe.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael and Hanna visit a church.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzThey listen to a choir.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzHanna is in the river while Michael writes a poem.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzMichael (1995) looks at his old notebook.
Michael BergMichael drives through Berlin.
Michael BergMichael arrives at the courthouse.
Michael Berg, Gerhard BadeFlashback to 1958, Sophie arrives at school.
Michael Berg, SophieTeacher scolds Michael for staring at Sophie.
Michael Berg, SophieMichael watches Sophie swim.
Michael Berg, Sophie, Holger SchluterMichael reads Chekhov to Hanna.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzHanna is promoted at work.
Hanna SchmitzMichael declines a party invitation.
Michael Berg, Sophie, Holger SchluterMichael and Hanna argue about his birthday.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzThey reconcile and make love.
Michael Berg, Hanna SchmitzHanna leaves the apartment.
Hanna SchmitzMichael runs away from his friends.
Michael BergMichael finds the apartment empty.
Michael BergMichael returns home to his family.
Michael Berg, Carla Berg, Peter Berg, Emily BergMichael meets his daughter Julia.
Michael Berg, JuliaMichael attends a law seminar.
Michael Berg, Marthe, Professor RohlMichael attends a trial and sees Hanna.
Michael Berg, Hanna Schmitz, Professor RohlHanna Schmitz is questioned by the judge about her role in the SS and the selection process at the camps.
Hanna Schmitz, Professor Rohl, Michael BergMichael and Rohl discuss the trial while traveling.
Michael Berg, Professor RohlRohl leads a seminar discussing the nature of justice and the law regarding the trials.
Michael Berg, Professor Rohl, Marthe, Holger SchluterHanna admits to participating in the selection process at the camp.
Hanna Schmitz, Professor Rohl, Ilana MatherIlana Mather testifies about Hanna's behavior in the camp.
Ilana Mather, Hanna Schmitz, Michael BergRose testifies about the church fire during the death march.
Hanna Schmitz, Professor Rohl, Ilana MatherThe judge demands a handwriting sample from Hanna to verify who wrote the SS report.
Hanna Schmitz, Professor Rohl, Michael BergRohl confronts Michael about skipping seminars.
Michael Berg, Professor RohlMichael tells Rohl he has information about a defendant.
Michael Berg, Professor RohlA guard informs Hanna that Michael is visiting.
Hanna SchmitzMichael loses heart and decides not to visit Hanna.
Michael BergMichael visits Marthe and they make love.
Michael Berg, MartheHanna is sentenced to life imprisonment.
Michael Berg, Hanna Schmitz, Marthe, Professor RohlMichael reads the Odyssey to record for Hanna.
Michael BergMichael visits Hanna in prison before her release.
Michael Berg, Hanna Schmitz, Louisa BrennerHanna commits suicide.
Hanna SchmitzMichael visits the prison and learns from Ms. Brenner that Hanna has died.
Michael Berg, Louisa BrennerMichael visits Hanna's cell and receives her final message and money from Ms. Brenner.
Michael Berg, Louisa BrennerMichael visits Ilana Mather in New York to deliver Hanna's money.
Michael Berg, Ilana MatherIlana watches Michael leave and places the tea tin by a photo of her mother.
Michael Berg, Ilana MatherMichael takes his daughter Julia to Hanna's grave and begins to tell her his story.
Michael Berg, JuliaThere is money in the old tea tin. Give it to Michael Berg. He should send it, alongside the 7,000 marks in the bank, to the daughter who wrote the book. It's for her. She should decide what to do with it. And tell Michael I said hello. Tell him to get on with his life.
What are you asking for? Forgiveness for her? Or do you just want to feel better yourself? My advice, go to the theatre, if you want catharsis. Please. Go to literature. Don't go to the camps. Nothing comes out of the camps. Nothing.
No. No. She taught herself to read when she was in prison. I sent her tapes. She'd always liked being read to.
Berg, I don't mean to distract you, but we're meant to studying Homer, not studying Sophia.
Does any woman ever stay long enough to find out what the hell goes on in your head?
The court finds the defendant Hanna Schmitz guilty of murder in three hundred cases.
I was almost sixteen when I took up with her. The affair only lasted a summer. But.
She left me a message, a sort of will. I'll read out the bit that concerns you.
SlugDB turns parsed screenplays into scene, character, dialogue, trivia, semantic search, Save the Cat, and API-ready analysis.
Use SlugDB when you need screenplay API data, movie dialogue search, character evidence, scene context, or MCP tools without building a scraper first.