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

Raleigh asks Margot whether she plans to come home; she cannot give him an answer and he collapses in despair.

Scene 74 of 143 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Raleigh
Margot

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Begins 1:05 into a 1:59 film

The story so farBefore scene 74

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.
Scene 63
Eli tells Richie that Margot is troubled by his love and reminds him that she is his sister, making the relationship an active family conflict.
Just before
Scene 71
The dark ballroom has a yellow tent with a lamp glowing inside.
Scene 72
Richie sleeps in a tent in the ballroom, where Chas challenges his efforts to reconnect with Royal.
Scene 73
Eli climbs out of the house and runs away after Royal calls to him; Margot and Etheline discuss his clippings, then Raleigh appears at the window.
Scene 74
This scene

74EXT. GARDEN. DAY.

The backyard. Margot and Raleigh sit at a metal table drinking tea.

RALEIGH

How long do you intend to stay here?

MARGOT

I don’t know.

RALEIGH

Are you ever coming home?

MARGOT

(pause)

Maybe not. But --

RALEIGH

You’re joking.

MARGOT

No. But --

RALEIGH

I want to die.

Raleigh crumples into a ball on the ground and stays there. Margot puts her hand on his back.

MARGOT

Raleigh, please. For God’s sake.

Raleigh sits up suddenly.

RALEIGH

Have you met someone else?

MARGOT

(pause)

I couldn’t begin to even think about

knowing how to answer that question.

Raleigh stands up and walks away.