Format: Movie
Released: 2001
Screenplay By: Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson
Directed By: Wes Anderson
Run Time: 103 minutes
Character(s): Royal, Etheline, Richie, Chas and Margot Tenenbaum. And Eli Cash. And Henry Sherman. And Raleigh St. Clair.
New Role: A Family Man
Plot summary of The Royal Tenenbaums continues below…
Story Structure Analysis: The Royal Tenenbaums
DRAMATIC PHASE ONE: THE SETUP
All of the main characters are introduced. The story world and its mechanics are established. Foundations are laid for the main throughline, subplots and central conflict.
ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION
A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition as he pursues an Initial Goal. But when there is a Disturbance to his routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation and must assume a New Role.
Estranged father Royal Tenenbaum (the imperfect situation) is ordered to vacate his hotel (oppressive opposition) and must find somewhere else to live (initial goal). But when he learns his ex-wife may be planning to remarry (the disturbance), he fakes a terminal illness (the dilemma) to be able to spend time with his family (the new role).
The Imperfect Situation: Royal Tenenbaum has been estranged from his wife Etheline and their children for decades. Though he and Ethel are separated, they never divorced and she has never made an attempt to remarry. While their three children were heralded as geniuses when young, they have all struggled in adulthood. Once a renown tennis prodigy, Richie has abandoned the sport. Chas has been so impacted by the death of his wife that he has become overprotective of his sons. Once a successful playwright, Margot hasn’t written a play in years.
Initial Goal: Royal needs to find somewhere to live.
Oppressive Opposition: Unable to practice law for years, Royal racks up tremendous debt. He is notified he has days to get out of his hotel and learns that his ex-wife may be getting remarried. He hasn’t spoken to his children in years.
Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance: 14 minutes (13.5%) – Etheline’s accountant and business manager Henry proposes to her. She tells him she will think about it. The family butler Pagoda overhears and calls Royal at the hotel. When Royal hears the news he vows to stop it. Chas shows up unexpectedly to his childhood home to move back in because he thinks his house isn’t safe for his kids.
Etheline visit’s Margot at Raleigh’s request because she’s been spending six hours a day in the bathroom. Etheline invites Margot to stay at the Tenenbaum’s residence for awhile. It’s revealed she’s having an affair with Eli.
Turning Point One – The Dilemma: 21 minutes (20.3%) – Royal surprises Ethel outside of the house and asks to spend time with the family. When she refuses, he tells her he is dying. Ethel tells Henry and the kids who tell those close to them. When Richie receives word he makes arrangements to come home as soon as possible.
When Richie arrives back in America, Margot comes to collect him and they have an emotional reunion. All of Ethel’s children are now back at the house after seventeen years.
The New Role: Royal attempts to become the family man he never was.
Act Run Time: 27 minutes (26.2%)
ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION
The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal. But when he receives a Reality Check, he makes a Commitment to his New Role.
Act Start Time: 27 minutes (26.2%)
Royal reconnects with his children after many years (the unfamiliar situation) but his self-centered nature prevents them from opening up to him (incidental opposition) as he tries to win them over (transitional goal). But when he’s officially kicked out of his hotel (the reality check) he dupes Richie into convincing the family to let him move back into the house (the commitment).
The Unfamiliar Situation: Royal and his children interact with each other. Something that hasn’t happened in decades, but even back then, Royal was no good at communicating with his children.
Transitional Goal: Royal tries to get his family, particularly his children, to like him.
Incidental Opposition: Royal’s social ineptitude with his children prevents him from connecting with them. Henry has a genuine connection with Etheline. Chas doesn’t trust Royal due to their past relationship.
Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check: 35 minutes (33.9%) – Royal takes all the children to the Cemetery his mother is buried at. For Chas and Margot it is the first time they’ve been. We learn why Richie choked in his final match; Margot was in attendance with her new husband, Raleigh. We also learn more about Chas and Royal’s tenuous history. We see how Royal shot a young Chas with a BB gun while they were supposed to be on the same team, and how Chas later sued his father and got him disbarred. Margot tells Richie she heard about the letter he wrote Eli confessing he’s in love with her.
Richie confronts Eli about the letter. He learns Eli is on drugs pretty much all the time.
Turning Point Two – The Commitment: 42 minutes (40.7%) – Royal is officially kicked out of the hotel. He calls Richie to convince the family to let him move back in. Chas is displeased but Ethel rules that Royal can stay.
Act Run Time: 17 minutes (16.5%)
DRAMATIC PHASE TWO: CONFRONTATION
The character is thrown in the middle of the Central Conflict and is placed at direct odds with the forces of antagonism. He undergoes a series of successes and failures as he works toward resolving the main throughline.
ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT
The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal. But when there is a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth.
Act Start Time: 44 minutes (42.7%)
Royal’s flagrant and sloppy deception (the central conflict) earns the ire of Chas and Henry (intentional opposition) as he tries to rekindle his romance with Etheline (false goal). But when he insults Henry and accuses him of trying to steal his woman (the turn), Henry does some investigating and exposes Royal’s lies to the family (the moment of truth).
The Central Conflict: Royal’s lies and manipulations vs. Chas and Henry distrust
False Goal: Royal tries to rekindle the flame with his ex-wife.
Intentional Opposition: Chas tries to have Royal physically removed from the house but temporarily relents at the request of Royal’s “doctor”. When Royal insults Henry, the latter begins investigating Royal’s medical condition. When Royal’s deceit is revealed, he loses the trust of his entire family.
Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: 54 minutes (52.4%) – Royal cozies up to Etheline on a walk through the park. Unbeknownst to them, Henry is spying on them from a distance. Later, Henry asks Etheline to tell Royal about their engagement. He confesses he doesn’t think Royal is really sick but Ethel is skeptical and backs out of their evening plans. Pagoda tells Royal who taunts and insults Henry the next day. Their argument causes Etheline to scold Henry. Henry investigates Royal’s medication and makes some calls to the hospital. He confronts Pagoda about it. With the family all together, Henry exposes Royal’s lie. He was suspicious because his wife died of stomach cancer like Royal purports to have.
Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: 61 minutes (59.2%) – The family doesn’t even have to kick Royal out. Having been exposed, he packs up to leave. Before leaving he comes clean, telling the family the last six days have been the best six days of his life. He tells Ethel he thought he could win her back and get rid of Henry. Before leaving he tells Richie that his “illness” had a profound effect on him and that he feels like a different person.
Act Run Time: 21 minutes (20.3%)
ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN
The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal. But when an unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and discovers a Newfound Resolve.
Act Start Time: 65 minutes (63.1%)
Richie attempts suicide (the doomed plan) by slitting his wrists (self-inflicted opposition) while Royal is respectively keeping his distance from the family (penultimate goal). But when the family learns the depths of Richie’s misery and Margot’s secretiveness (the lowpoint), Royal tells Richie to follow his heart if he and Margot are truly in love (the newfound resolve).
The Doomed Plan: After learning of Margot’s many lovers, Richie slits his wrist.
Penultimate Goal: Richie attempts to kill himself. Royal tries to make an honest living and respect his family’s wishes.
Self-Inflicted Opposition: Richie tries to kill himself. Royal can’t visit him in the hospital due to betraying his family’s trust.
Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: 69 minutes (66.9%) – After hearing the report of Margot’s sordid past, Raleigh and Richie are deflated. Richie goes into the bathroom, cuts his hair and shaves off his beard. Thinking of Margot, he decides to use the razor to cut his wrists and kill himself. Raleigh’s test subject, Dudley, stumbles upon Richie’s dying body and he is rushed to the hospital.
Royal arrives at the hospital desperate to see his son but is denied entry. As he contemplates how to break into the hospital, Pagoda spots Richie getting on a bus.
Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: 76 minutes (73.7%) – Richie takes the bus back to the house and climbs in through the window. He finds Margot in his childhood tent. They discuss her secret past. They confess their love for one another and kiss. Before Margot leaves she tells him she thinks they’ll just have to be secretly in love.
The next day, Richie rehangs Royal’s boar’s head and goes to visit his dad at the hotel where he learns Royal and Pagoda are working as elevator operators. Richie tells Royal he is in love with Margot. Royal is taken aback but essentially tells him to go for it if they are in love. They two have a heart to heart moment on the roof before Mordecai the falcon flies down to Richie.
Act Run Time: 20 minutes (19.4%)
DRAMATIC PHASE THREE: RESOLUTION
The character and the forces of antagonism engage in a final confrontation to resolve the Central Conflict. The main throughline and all additional subplots are resolved. The new status quo is established.
ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT
The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal. But just when it seems All is Lost, he makes a Final Push against the forces of antagonism and either succeeds or fails.
Act Start Time: 85 minutes (82.5%)
Royal attempts to make amends with his family (the longshot) despite Henry and Ethel’s frantic wedding reception (ultimate opposition) as he tries to be a genuinely good person (ultimate goal). But when Eli nearly runs over Chas’ kids (all is lost) Royal pulls them out of the way and finally earns Chas’ appreciation (the final push).
The Longshot: Royal tries to make amends with his family.
Ultimate Goal: Royal tries to be a genuinely good person.
Ultimate Opposition: Chas’ kids are nearly killed by a drugged up Eli, but Royal pulls them from the car’s path. It is only through this act that Royal is able to finally get through to Chas that his intentions are honest.
Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: 92 minutes (89.3%) – On the day of Etheline and Henry’s wedding, Eli comes speeding down the street high on drugs and crashes his car into the house. He almost hits Chas’ boys but Royal pulls them out of the way, though Eli does run over the dog. Richie tells Chas that Royal saved them. Chas chases down Eli seemingly to kill him. Richie tries to intervene but is struck. Chas realizes he completely lost his mind and ruined the wedding. Eli admits he has a problem when he learns he killed the dog.
Turning Point Five – The Final Push: 94 minutes (91.2%) – Royal apologizes to Henry for his past behavior. Henry accepts. Because the priest is injured the wedding is postponed. Royal gives Chas a new dog for the boys and apologizes properly. Chase seems to finally come to terms with Royal’s desire to make amends.
Act Run Time: 13 minutes (12.6%)
ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION
Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation.
Act Start Time: 98 minutes (95.1%)
Henry and Ethel are married. Royal is welcomed back into the family (the new situation).
The New Situation: Royal is now a part of his children’s lives. The Tenenbaum children seem to each come out of their respective slumps.
Act Run Time: 5 minutes (4.8%) – Richie and Margot meet at Mordecai’s coup on the roof of the house. Ethel and Henry are married by a judge 48 hours after their original wedding was crashed. Margot releases a new play to mixed reviews. Raleigh goes on tour with Dudley. Eli checks into rehab. Richie begins teaching kids tennis. Royal, Chas and boys hang out until Royal has a heart attack at 68. Chas rides with him in the hospital and is the only witness to his death.
The family goes to Royal’s funeral. No words are spoken, but it is generally agreed upon by everyone that Royal would have found the event to be most satisfactory.
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