The Royal Tenenbaums · written by Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson · 2001

At the hotel, Royal works as an elevator operator; Richie joins him and asks for advice about his love for Margot.

Scene 111 of 143 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Save the Cat: Break into Three
Royal
Richie

Find another scene in The Royal Tenenbaums

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:35 into a 1:59 film

The story so farBefore scene 111

After losing his hotel room, Royal claims he has only weeks to live so he can move back in with his estranged family; as the truth unravels, he must find a way to be useful and earn a place in their lives.

Scenes 1–39
Royal is absent from the children’s adult lives, and their family remains shaped by his betrayals and abandonment.
Scenes 40–47
Royal wants a path back to Etheline and the children, and claims impending death will give him one.
Scenes 48–50
He returns to the house and openly asks his children for a chance to make things right.
Scenes 51–90
Royal tries to reconnect through schemes, misjudgments and genuine care, learning that affection alone cannot erase old injuries.
Scenes 91–92
Royal admits to Etheline that he hoped to win her back and remove Henry, revealing the motive behind his return.
Scenes 92–110
Royal loses the household and faces separation again; Richie’s suicide attempt exposes the family’s deeper pain.
Just before
Scene 108
Richie returns to the dark ballroom and finds Margot waiting near his tent.
Scene 109
Richie and Margot acknowledge their love and agree to keep it secret; she leaves him alone in the tent.
Scene 110
The next morning, Richie restores the stuffed boar’s head to its place in the hallway.
Scene 111
This scene

111INT. ELEVATOR. DAY.

The elevator at the Lindbergh Palace. Royal is dressed in his elevator-operator uniform. He takes three well-dressed businessmen down to the lobby. He looks exhausted and depressed. The doors open. One of the businessmen hands Royal a dollar as they walk out into the lobby.

ROYAL

Thank you, sir.

Royal sees Richie standing in front of the elevator. Royal looks surprised. The doors of another elevator open. Pagoda is the operator. Richie looks at him. Pagoda hesitates. He waves to Richie. Richie waves back.

ROYAL (CONT’D)

Going up?

Richie looks back to Royal. He nods. He steps into Royal’s elevator.

ROYAL (CONT’D)

What floor?

RICHIE

It doesn’t matter.

Royal closes the doors and pulls a lever. The elevator goes up. Royal stands with his back to Richie.

RICHIE (CONT’D)

So you’re elevator operators now.

ROYAL

Yeah. We just started, but we’ll get a

bump when we join the union.

RICHIE

What made you decide to do that?

ROYAL

Well, we’re broke. But, in answer to

your question, I guess I’m trying to

prove I can pay my dues and what-not. I

just hope somebody knows.

Richie nods. Silence.

RICHIE

You asked me why I choked out there that

day.

Royal turns around quickly and looks to Richie. He nods.

RICHIE (CONT’D)

Well, I think I know the answer, and I

wanted your advice.

Royal looks surprised and moved. He says quietly:

ROYAL

Sure.