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

Richie visits Eli, who admits to sharing Richie’s private letter with Margot.

Scene 61 of 143 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Eli
Richie

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Begins 55 min into a 1:59 film

The story so farBefore scene 61

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.
Just before
Scene 58
At the cemetery, Royal divides flowers between his mother’s and Rachael’s graves while the family reflects on the past.
Scene 59
Young Margot loses part of a finger when an Indiana farmer chops a log; she later explains the injury to Ari and Uzi.
Scene 60
A flashback shows Chas suing Royal over stolen money and bonds after Royal controlled his accounts as a minor.
Scene 61
This scene

61INT. ELI CASH’S TOWNHOUSE. DAY.

Eli walks into the vestibule smoking a joint which he keeps in his mouth at all times like a cigarette. He opens the front door. Richie stands on the top step.

ELI

Oh, my Lord. Look at you.

Eli embraces Richie. They smile sadly at each other.

CUT TO:

Richie and Eli walking into the front room of the house. It is furnished like a house in the English countryside, with antiques and potted flowers and old rugs.

RICHIE

Did you tell Margot about that letter I

wrote you?

ELI

(hesitates)

Why? Did she mention it?

Richie does not respond.

ELI (CONT’D)

Yes, I did.

RICHIE

Eli, that was meant to be just between

you and me.

ELI

I know. I’m sorry. Why would she have

repeated that, I wonder?

RICHIE

Well, I would ask you the same question.

ELI

(pause)

Rightly so.