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

Royal accuses Margot of cheating on Raleigh with Eli; she reminds him that she was never a genius.

Scene 75 of 143 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Royal
Margot

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Begins 1:06 into a 1:59 film

The story so farBefore scene 75

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 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
Raleigh asks Margot whether she plans to come home; she cannot give him an answer and he collapses in despair.
Scene 75
This scene

75INT. HALLWAY. DAY.

Royal watches down the stairwell as Margot comes up. He knocks on the railing. She looks up at him. Silence.

ROYAL

I don’t like the way you’re treating

Raleigh.

MARGOT

What are you talking about? You don’t

even know him.

ROYAL

I’ve met him. And I don’t think he

deserves --

MARGOT

Stay out of it.

Margot walks toward her room. Royal steps on to the landing at the top of the stairs.

ROYAL

You’re two-timing him with that

bloodsucker Eli Cash.

Margot stops. She stands still with her back to Royal.

ROYAL (CONT’D)

It’s not right, dammit. You used to be

a genius.

Margot turns to Royal. They look at each other for a long minute. She says in a quiet voice:

MARGOT

No, I didn’t.

ROYAL

(hesitates)

Well, anyway, that’s what they used to

say.

Margot goes into her room and closes the door.