Boyhood · written by Richard Linklater · 2014

Bill insists Olivia back his punishments for the children's unfinished chores; Samantha challenges the rule and Olivia says Bill draws too many lines.

Scene 43 of 160 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act two

Mason
Mom
Samantha
Bill

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 41 min into a 3:02 film

The story so farBefore scene 43

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.
Scene 30
Mason and Olivia cross the college campus that becomes their new life in Houston, leaving his childhood home behind.
Scene 32
Olivia and Bill return from their honeymoon to a newly joined household, placing Mason inside the family structure that dominates the next chapter.
Just before
Scene 40
Bill pours vodka into an opaque cup and hides the bottle in the laundry room.
Scene 41
Bill scolds Samantha for leaving chores unfinished while she and Mindy load the dishwasher.
Scene 42
Bill checks Mason and Randy's yard work and tells them to finish it the next day.
Scene 43
This scene

43INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

Mom is doing work at the kitchen table, as Samantha and Mason kiss her goodbye.

MASON

Bye, Mom.

MOM

(to Mason)

Bye, baby. I love you.

SAMANTHA

Bye, Mama.

MOM

(to Samantha)

Bye, honey. Have fun with your dad.

BILL (O.S.)

Just a minute, Mason.

(to Mom)

The boys didn't finish raking the

leaves. Samantha did not finish

dusting. So tomorrow, when they

come home, instead of swimming and

all the other little stuff that they

want to do, they're gonna do their

chores. Right?

MOM

Right! Okay, guys, you had this

conversation, you understand?

The boys nod.

MOM (CONT'D)

Tomorrow?

The girls nod.

MOM (CONT'D)

Okay.

BILL

Thank you. I just wanted you to

back me up on that so I'm not the

only one yelling at them all the

time.

MOM

Okay, I back you up. You guys got

that?

Mason nods.

MOM (CONT'D)

We all agree, everybody agrees, right?

Tomorrow, chores?

Samantha nods.

BILL

Well, they don't hear it, you know.

It goes in one ear and out the other.

SAMANTHA

But Dad, I mean, dusting is pointless.

BILL

It's not pointless, you just don't

like to do it.

SAMANTHA

But I mean, who dusts anymore?

BILL