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

After Henry says he does not believe Royal is dying, Etheline declines their planned theatre outing and goes back inside.

Scene 84 of 143 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Henry
Etheline

Find another scene in The Royal Tenenbaums

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:12 into a 1:59 film

The story so farBefore scene 84

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 81
Chas sees blood on Uzi’s forehead after the boys return with Royal, then pulls Royal into the closet.
Scene 82
Chas orders Royal to stay away from his children; Royal finds the missing stuffed boar’s head under a closet shelf.
Scene 83
Royal thanks Etheline for raising their children and admits his failures; Henry overhears him ask about her love life.
Scene 84
This scene

84EXT. SIDEWALK. EVENING.

Etheline and Henry come down the front steps of the Tenenbaum house. Henry is dressed in black tie. The ends of a pair of theatre tickets stick out of his breast pocket. Pagoda holds a gypsy cab for them at the curb.

HENRY

I’d like you to talk to Royal about us,

if you don’t mind.

ETHELINE

(hesitates)

I don’t think the timing’s right for

that, Henry.

HENRY

Well, I’d agree if I thought he was

really going to die in six weeks. But I

don’t.

Etheline stops at the bottom of the steps. Silence.

ETHELINE

Well, I hope you’re right.

(pause)

Actually, I don’t believe I’m going to

join you tonight. I’ll call you in the

morning.

Etheline turns around and goes back up the steps. Henry watches her. He looks sad and stunned. Pagoda watches Henry. Etheline goes inside and closes the door.