Boyhood · written by Richard Linklater · 2014

Dad invites Mason to pee on the campfire as a joke about returning what they take from the earth.

Scene 88 of 160 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Dad
Mason

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:23 into a 3:02 film

The story so farBefore scene 88

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 85
Hiking together, Dad advises Mason to ask questions and listen when he likes a girl.
Scene 86
Dad and Mason make s'mores and debate whether another Star Wars story could exist after Return of the Jedi.
Scene 87
Dad sings and plays "L.A. Freeway" inside the tent.
Scene 88
This scene

88EXT. CAMPSITE - DAY

Dad is standing over the campfire, peeing on it. Mason steps out of the tent.

DAD

Good mornin'.

MASON

Mornin'.

DAD

You gotta pee?

MASON

Sure.

DAD

Ah. Hit the campfire. Ancient, uh,

Native American custom. You're gonna

give back to the Earth what you take

from it and you don't burn the forest

down.

Mason pees onto the fire.