Boyhood · written by Richard Linklater · 2014

Olivia returns with Carol and announces she is leaving Bill; he tries to block the children, then lets them go.

Scene 74 of 160 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act two

Midpoint
Five-Act Structure: Climax
Mom
Bill
Carol

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:04 into a 3:02 film

The story so farBefore scene 74

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.
Scene 45
Dad asks Mason and Samantha to talk honestly during their weekends together, beginning a more mutual father-son relationship.
Just before
Scene 71
A drunk Bill writes a check and sends Mason and Randy into the liquor store to cash it.
Scene 72
The clerk gives Randy five hundred dollars for Bill's check and tells the boys to take care of their father.
Scene 73
Bill swerves through traffic while the frightened children scream and ask what he is doing.
Scene 74
This scene

74INT. HOUSE - DAY

Mom walks into the front entry, but stops there. She has a friend, CAROL, waiting behind her.

MOM

(shouting)

Samantha! Mason! Samantha!

Samantha is a the top of the stairs observing the scene. Bill approaches the front entry.

BILL

Where the hell have you been?

MOM

I'm leaving you, Bill. We're moving

out.

BILL

I doubt that.

MOM

Samantha and Mason! Come down!

BILL

No, mm-mm, don't think so. Oh, who's

this?

CAROL

I'm not here for you!

BILL

Oh, really? Oh, I know, you're here

to protect my wife from me. Well,

thank you so much, you two.

He reaches towards her.

MOM

Okay, stay back! Now behave!

BILL

Why don't you come inside here, huh?

Come inside here.

(To Samantha and Mason)

Where the hell are you goin'? Get

your ass upstairs, you're not goin'

anywhere.

MOM

Stop!

(to Samantha and Mason)

Come on!

BILL

Where the hell do you think you're

going?

Bill notices Randy and Mindy listening.

BILL (CONT'D)

Get upstairs! What the hell--

MOM

Hey!

BILL

Nobody's going anywhere, goddamnit.

MOM

Stop it!

BILL

No, goddamnit!

Bill moves to block them from leaving the house with his