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

Margot and Eli end their affair on a bridge; Eli admits she loved Richie, and a detective photographs them.

Scene 97 of 143 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Eli
Margot

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Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:24 into a 1:59 film

The story so farBefore scene 97

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 94
Royal and Pagoda arrive at the Y after Royal is expelled from the house.
Scene 95
Royal asks Pagoda for money to pay for their room, then accepts that they will have to manage without it.
Scene 96
Etheline and Henry try to share a romantic evening, but she becomes uneasy and leaves before dessert.
Scene 97
This scene

97EXT. BRIDGE. DAY.

A footbridge over the river. Margot waits in the middle of the bridge. Eli walks towards her from the opposite bank. His face is smeared with dirt and traces of paint. His clothes look severely dishevelled. He stops a few feet away from Margot.

ELI

I’m not in love with you any more.

MARGOT

I didn’t know you ever were.

ELI

Let’s not make this any more difficult

than it already is.

MARGOT

(pause)

OK.

ELI

OK, what?

MARGOT

OK, I’m not in love with you, either.

ELI

I know. You’re in love with Richie.

Which is sick and gross.

Silence. Margot nods.

MARGOT

Do you send my mother your clippings?

Eli hesitates.

MARGOT (CONT’D)

And your grades in --

ELI

Please, stop ridiculing me.

Eli turns away and looks sadly out at the river. Margot goes over and stands beside him.

ELI (CONT’D)

You never gave me the time of day until

I started getting good reviews.

MARGOT

Your reviews aren’t that good.

ELI

But the sales are.

CUT TO:

A second bridge, two hundred yards away. A large man in a coat and tie takes photographs of Margot and Eli with a telephoto lens.