Boyhood · written by Richard Linklater · 2014

Mason and Samantha wrestle in the back seat until Olivia starts a silence game as they approach Houston.

Scene 18 of 160 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Samantha
Mom

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 12 min into a 3:02 film

The story so farBefore scene 18

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.
Scene 12
Olivia announces the Houston move so she can return to college and support the family, uprooting Mason from his first home and friends.
Just before
Scene 15
Olivia asks Mason to touch up the marks in their empty bedroom before they leave.
Scene 16
As Samantha talks on the phone about leaving friends, Mason paints over the height marks on his bedroom doorjamb.
Scene 17
The family says goodbye to the house and neighborhood; Mason watches Tommy arrive too late to stop their departure.
Scene 18
This scene

18INT. CAR - DAY

Mason and Samantha are restless and energetic, letting their childish energy get the best of them as they wrestle, hit, and squeal at each other in the back seat of the car. It is all well-intentioned though, as the two share a laugh after Mom tells them to quiet down.

SAMANTHA

Eeeee! Don't!

MOM

Hey! Hey, what's happening back

there? Stop, put the barrier up.

SAMANTHA

Ahh! Stop! No!

Mason punches the pillow barrier between himself and Samantha, while his Mom speaks.

MOM

Hey, put the pillow between you.

Make a barrier, come on. Stop.

We're gonna play a game called The

Game of Silence. Whoever can stay

quiet for the longest period of time

wins. You guys think you can do

that? Okay, go!

The family's car moves on toward the Houston skyline just as dusk arrives.