Boyhood · written by Richard Linklater · 2014

At Carol's home, Samantha asks what will happen to Randy and Mindy; Olivia admits she does not know and breaks down.

Scene 76 of 160 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Mom
Carol
Samantha
Abby

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:06 into a 3:02 film

The story so farBefore scene 76

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.
Scenes 24–74
Mason enters successive new family arrangements: Dad’s return, Olivia’s marriage to Bill, and finally escape from Bill’s house.
Just before
Scene 73
Bill swerves through traffic while the frightened children scream and ask what he is doing.
Scene 74
Olivia returns with Carol and announces she is leaving Bill; he tries to block the children, then lets them go.
Scene 75
In Carol's van, Samantha asks where they are going, and Olivia tells the children not to look back.
Scene 76
This scene

76INT. CAROL'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Mason and Carol's son, LEE, play a boxing game on Nintendo Wii, while her daughter, ABBY, sings in the background. Mom brings the boys a snack.

MOM

Hey, Lee and Mason. Take a break.

Here's a snack.

Abby continues to sing. The room is tense.

CAROL

Hey, Abby, why don't you come help

me with this, huh?

SAMANTHA

Why couldn't Randy and Mindy come

with us?

MOM

I'm not their legal guardian, honey.

That would be kidnapping. I can't

just...

SAMANTHA

Well, what's gonna happen to them?

What happens when their legal guardian

is dangerous and abusive?

MOM

You know, I don't know honey. I

called their mom. I called the Child

Protective Services. You know, I

have you and your brother. We were

in a dangerous situation. You're my

responsibility.

SAMANTHA

Are we ever gonna see them again?

MOM

I don't know. And I hope so.

SAMANTHA

How much longer are we gonna be here?

Mom fights back tears.

MOM

Not long. We're...

(starts crying)

Oh, I don't -- I don't know. I don't

have the answer to everything.

CAROL

Hey, listen. We are happy to have

you here as long as you want. As

long as you need. This is fun for

us, isn't it?

ABBY

Mm-hmm.

CAROL

Yeah, it's like having a big sister?

Like having a brother.

MOM