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

Etheline asks why Royal deceived the family; he admits he hoped to win her back and remove Henry before leaving the house.

Scene 91 of 143 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Etheline
Royal

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Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:19 into a 1:59 film

The story so farBefore scene 91

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.
Scenes 51–90
Royal tries to reconnect through schemes, misjudgments and genuine care, learning that affection alone cannot erase old injuries.
Just before
Scene 88
Henry calls Colby General to verify Royal’s doctor and patient information.
Scene 89
Henry carries the medicine upstairs to confront the people involved in Royal’s story.
Scene 90
Henry challenges Royal’s cancer story and reveals that the hospital is fictitious; Royal removes his medical tubes, Chas calls a taxi, and Royal says the past six days were the best of his life.
Scene 91
This scene

91INT. HALLWAY. DAY.

Royal comes out of Richie’s room with his suitcases. Etheline stands at the end of the hall.

ETHELINE

Why’d you do this to us, Royal?

Royal stops.

ETHELINE (CONT’D)

What was the point?

ROYAL

(pause)

I thought maybe I could win you back.

Or, anyway, I thought I could get rid of

Henry and keep things status quo.

ETHELINE

But we hadn’t spoken in seven years.

ROYAL

I know. Plus, I was broke, and I got

kicked out of my hotel.

ETHELINE

(pause)

You’re a bastard.

Royal nods. Etheline stares at him angrily, with tears in her eyes.

ETHELINE (CONT’D)

Goodbye, Royal.

Royal turns and walks down the stairs.