Boyhood · written by Richard Linklater · 2014

Mason listens from the back of Olivia's psychology class as she lectures about attachment and advertises a holiday gathering.

Scene 94 of 160 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:28 into a 3:02 film

The story so farBefore scene 94

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 91
Two bullies taunt Mason about his appearance and sexuality in the restroom before leaving when another student enters.
Scene 92
Mason waits for Samantha after school, realizes she is not coming, and walks away.
Scene 93
Mason meets Jill downtown; she tells him about a friend's self-harm, books, and an upcoming party where a girl hopes to see him.
Scene 94
This scene

94INT. COLLEGE CLASSROOM - DAY

Mason walks into his mother's classroom. He takes a seat to observe from the back, while she lectures.

MOM (O.S.)

His cognitive series, his interviews

with orphans, Ethology theorists'

work... And then he in turn was

supported strongly by Harry Harlow's

rhesus monkey study. Now you guys,

you gotta think, this is the 1950's,

this was radical! This flew in the

face of traditional learning theory,

of B.F. Skinner's classical and

instrumental conditioning. Now,

Bowlby is going to argue that human

survival depends on us falling in

love. It depends on me falling in

love with my mother, and my mother

falling in love with me. And if

that doesn't happen, we're pretty

much doomed. Now think about it. A

tiger chases our tribe out of a cave.

Now an ideal mother goes, "Huh! My

baby! I love you! I'll protect

you!" Or... "Well you, why am I

going to pick you up? You're going

to slow me down. You... are... tiger

kibble!"

The class laughs.

MOM (CONT'D)

So next week we are gonna get into

Bowlby's four stages of attachment --

oh oh, uh, Professor Douglas and I --

some of you might have classes with

Elena -- she and I are hosting a

little pre-Thanksgiving get-together

at my place, so if anyone wants to

come, please stop by.

(pause)

I'm not the greatest cook...

The class laughs again.