Boyhood · written by Richard Linklater · 2014

Olivia returns to find the children excited about their visit; she and Dad step outside to argue about the changed drop-off plan.

Scene 28 of 160 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Mom
Samantha
Mason
Dad

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 26 min into a 3:02 film

The story so farBefore scene 28

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 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
Mason shows Dad his arrowheads and specimens while Samantha interrupts to share basketball photos and stories.
Scene 28
This scene

28INT. FRONT ENTRY - MOMENTS LATER

MOM

Hello!

SAMANTHA

Oh, Mason, Mom's home!

MASON

Mom's home!

Dad quickly shifts from playful to nervous.

DAD

Hey, Mom's home.

SAMANTHA

Mom, hi!

MOM

Hey.

SAMANTHA

Oh, look at this owl Daddy gave me!

Isn't it cool? See, its head spins!

And look at this bracelet! It was

made by Indians in Alaska.

MASON

And Mom, Daddy made this cool hand

carved grizzly bear and this tiki.

MOM

It's a totem. Wow.

SAMANTHA

And guess what else? We went bowling

and I made four strikes!

MASON

Yeah, and we got to ride around in

Dad's car!

MOM (O.S.)

Wow.

DAD

Hey, Liv.

MOM

Hey.

DAD

I know you wanted me to drop them

off at your mom's. I just thought

it'd be easier if I brought 'em over

here.

MOM

Well, it really screwed up my plans.

MASON

Well, we just wanted to show him our

rooms.

SAMANTHA

Yeah.

MOM

Did you guys eat anything?

SAMANTHA

Well, we had some french fries at

the bowling alley.

MOM

Did you do your homework or...

MASON

No.

SAMANTHA

Not yet.

MOM