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

Richie and Margot reject Royal on the sidewalk; Pagoda stabs him with a penknife, then helps him into a cab.

Scene 93 of 143 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Royal
Richie
Margot
Pagoda

Find another scene in The Royal Tenenbaums

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:20 into a 1:59 film

The story so farBefore scene 93

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.
Scenes 91–92
Royal admits to Etheline that he hoped to win her back and remove Henry, revealing the motive behind his return.
Just before
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
Etheline asks why Royal deceived the family; he admits he hoped to win her back and remove Henry before leaving the house.
Scene 92
As Royal leaves, he tells Chas to take it easy on the boys and says he does not want this to happen to Chas.
Scene 93
This scene

93EXT. STREET. DAY.

Richie and Royal stand on the sidewalk. Royal’s suitcases are beside him. Margot and Henry stand at the top of the steps, in the front doorway.

ROYAL

You know, Richie, this illness, this

closeness to death. It’s been very

profound for me. I feel like a

different person. I really do.

RICHIE

Dad. You were never dying.

ROYAL

(smiles)

But I’m going to live.

Richie shakes his head. He turns away and goes up the steps, past Margot and Henry, into the house. Royal and Margot look at each other. Royal points to Henry.

ROYAL (CONT’D)

He’s not your father.

MARGOT

(pause)

Neither are you.

Margot closes the door. Royal puts his hands in his pockets. He stares into space. He begins to cry. A gypsy cab pulls over to the curb. Royal waves to the driver.

The front door of the house opens. Pagoda comes down the steps with two suitcases. He looks furious.

ROYAL

How you doing, pal?

Pagoda drops his suitcases to the ground.

PAGODA

You son of a bitch.

Pagoda’s teeth flash as he goes over to Royal and stabs him with a penknife. Royal screams. He clutches his side. He falls on the ground. The gypsy cab driver watches blankly.

ROYAL

Goddammit! That’s the last time I get

knifed by you! You hear me?

Pagoda helps Royal to his feet. He collects his suitcases. Royal leans on Pagoda as they get into the gypsy cab. Royal says to the driver:

ROYAL (CONT’D)

The 375th Street Y, please.

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