Boyhood · written by Richard Linklater · 2014

Dad and the children identify butterflies at a museum, and a butterfly lands on Mason.

Scene 46 of 160 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Mason
Samantha
Dad

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 47 min into a 3:02 film

The story so farBefore scene 46

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 43
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 44
Dad arrives to collect Mason and Samantha from Bill's house for the weekend.
Scene 45
Dad pulls over to make the children talk about their lives, then accepts Mason's suggestion that their conversations should happen more naturally.
Scene 46
This scene

46EXT. BUTTERFLY MUSEUM - DAY

Dad, Samantha, and Mason are pointing out different butterflies they find, using a nature chart. A butterfly lands on Mason's shoulder.

MASON

Hey, check this out.

SAMANTHA

That would be a... That would be a

Magnificent Owl. Caligo Atreus.

DAD

What's that one? Look at this.

Dad opens his hands and shows them a butterfly in his palms.

SAMANTHA (O.S.)

Whoa.

DAD

What kind is that?

SAMANTHA

That looks like a Zebra Longwing.

DAD

Alright.

SAMANTHA

Cool.

DAD

This one's incredible. That's the

owl one, right?

SAMANTHA

Yeah. Magnificent Owl.

DAD

I think he went pee-pee on you, bud.

Dad laughs.