Boyhood · written by Richard Linklater · 2014

Mason shows Dad his arrowheads and specimens while Samantha interrupts to share basketball photos and stories.

Scene 27 of 160 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act one

Mason
Dad
Samamtha
Samantha

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 24 min into a 3:02 film

The story so farBefore scene 27

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.
Just before
Scene 24
At the bowling alley, Samantha celebrates a strike while Mason gutters and Dad tells him life has no bumpers.
Scene 25
A TV news report describes the Fallujah ambush; Dad calls it a disaster.
Scene 26
Mason asks Dad whether he and Olivia will get back together; Dad says that is not entirely up to him.
Scene 27
This scene

27INT. MASON'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Mason shows Dad his collection of arrowheads and a long feather, all laid out on top of a skateboard. Mason describes each of the pieces to his Dad.

MASON

I got that one at Dripping Springs...

DAD (O.S.)

Mmhmm.

MASON

And um, my friend Rodney gave me

that one.

DAD (O.S.)

Yeah?

MASON

And I bought that one.

DAD

You bought this one?

MASON

Yeah.

DAD

You found this at Dripping Springs?

MASON

Uh-huh!

DAD

Wow! What else do you got?

MASON

Well, um, these are snake vertebrae.

DAD

Snake vertebrae? That's disgusting.

Huh? Mason, I don't want you

collecting snake vertebrae anymore.

They both share a laugh.

DAD (CONT'D)

Is this the feather I sent you?

MASON

Yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, it is.

Samantha enters the room carrying photos and a stuffed animal. She sits down next to Dad, interrupting Mason.

SAMAMTHA

Oh, Dad! Um, I forgot to show you

these, um, these basketball pictures.

DAD

You're on a basketball team?

SAMAMTHA

Yeah!

DAD

Wow! Check you out!

MASON

Yeah, and these are-- these are beaver

claws.

DAD

Beaver claws?

SAMANTHA (O.S.)

I know. That's me.

DAD (O.S.)