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

During a BB-gun game, Royal shoots Chas despite being on his side, leaving a pellet lodged in Chas’s hand.

Scene 4 of 143 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Royal
Chas
Narrator

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Begins 4 min into a 1:59 film

The story so farBefore scene 4

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.

Just before
Scene 1
At the family table, the children ask Royal about the separation; he admits he may not have been faithful, while Pagoda serves him a martini.
Scene 2
Etheline oversees the children’s studies and household and gives Chas money; at the children’s book press conference, Chas invites a reporter to ask a two-part question.
Scene 3
Chas runs his miniature business and finance-minded life from his bedroom, surrounded by mice, suits, exercise gear and a computer.
Scene 4
This scene

4EXT. BACKYARD. DAY.

A house in the country. Chas crouches in the bushes with a BB gun. Across the lawn, he sees two younger boys with BB guns drop down from a tree.

One of the boys is Richie, and the other has nearly-white blond hair. He is Eli. He wears Apache warpaint.

Chas gets Richie in his sights.

ROYAL

Hold it, Chassie.

Chas freezes. He looks up and sees Royal watching from the roof with a BB gun trained on him. Royal is dressed in khaki pants, sunglasses and no shirt.

CHAS

What are you doing? You’re on my team!

ROYAL

(hesitates)

There are no teams.

Royal fires. Chas screams and fires back as Royal scrambles away, laughing.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

The BB was still lodged between two

knuckles in Chas’ left hand.