Boyhood · written by Richard Linklater · 2014

Dad checks Mason's car and college plans by video chat; Olivia gives Mason emergency money and reminds him to finish his schoolwork.

Scene 130 of 160 · ≈ 3 min on screen · Act three

Dad
Mason
Annie
Baby
Mom

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 2:17 into a 3:02 film

The story so farBefore scene 130

As his mother’s homes and relationships change, Mason grows from a restless child into a young photographer learning to choose his own direction before leaving for college.

Scenes 1–11
Mason’s world is a child’s local orbit of school, siblings, play, and a family not yet displaced.
Scenes 12–23
The move exposes Mason’s wish to keep his friends and stay connected to his absent father while Olivia seeks a more secure life.
Scenes 24–74
Mason enters successive new family arrangements: Dad’s return, Olivia’s marriage to Bill, and finally escape from Bill’s house.
Scenes 75–123
He adapts to new homes and schools, tests independence with friends and work, and develops an eye for photography.
Scene 125
Mason says he wants to do what makes him feel alive instead of performing normality; Sheena’s response grounds that wish in the judgment everyone feels.
Just before
Scene 127
Olivia jokes with Mason about selling the house and shedding the belongings and obligations that keep her overwhelmed.
Scene 128
Mason gets into his truck and drives away from the house.
Scene 129
At his restaurant job, Mason jokes with April over leftover shrimp before manager Mr. Wood pushes him back to work and offers a fry-cook role.
Scene 130
This scene

130INT. MOM'S HOUSE - DAY

Mason sits on the stairs video chatting with Dad on his phone.

DAD

Well, so it's -- it's runnin' okay?

That alternator's not messin' up

anymore?

MASON

(Holding Phone)

No , it's fine. It's up for the

trip.

DAD

(Laughing)

Well, you gonna see your sister when

you guys are in Austin?

MASON

Yeah, she said I can stay at her

dorm, which is cool, and I guess her

roommate's out of town so it's no

big deal.

DAD

Alright, well, did you apply there

yet? Did you get that application

in to UT?

MASON

Not yet, but Sheena's pretty much

in, though.

DAD

Yeah, right. Well, if you know that's

where you wanna go, you should

probably do that early acceptance

thing. You know? I mean seriously,

let 'em know you're a man who knows

what he wants.

MASON

Yeah.

DAD

A bit of decisiveness goes a long

way in this life, alright?

MASON

Yeah.

DAD

Great. And uh, what about work?

How's that goin'?

MASON

Uh, I don't know. It's, it's alright.

Today kind of sucked, this guy didn't

show up. But it's definitely an

interesting perspective on the world.

People are slobs.

DAD

(Laughing)

Well, when people ask me about you I

say, "Oh, Mason, he's doing great.

He's got a job, he's really cleanin'