“And maybe some of them boys wanna get caught!” I heard Viola Davis scream this line for two days right outside my window while this was filmed. I watched Viola and Meryl rehearse this scene over and over from my living room. I was in awe and couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. My fond memories of the Bronx.

god , this was like watching royalty acting

This scene is incredible...Viola Davis shows more range and emotion in 7 minutes than most actors can in 2 hours...Best moment in the film

To outshine the great Meryl Streep is near impossible, but Viola Davis does so in this scene. What an actress.

This clip should be renamed, "How to get an Oscar nomination in 7 minutes 41 seconds. --by Viola Davis"

These two women acted the HELL outta this scene!!

The absolute layers and depth to Viola's performance. You can see every conflict going through her mind

“Let him have him then” I know nothing about acting, but this scene engraved in my head

she had ONE SCENE and she was nominated for an oscar. GENIUS

If Viola has snot, you know it's an all time great movie scene.

"Let him have him then!" Shocked me the first time, but 5 times later I cannot help but sympathise. This is her only chance to get her son a future, however horrible it may be.

Great scene. Never gets old. The emotional contrast is excellent. Streep openly displays her emotions throughout the scene, showing her character's drive, her constant fervor. Davis is subdued for long stretches, and then she has these occasional powerful outbursts when it becomes overwhelming. She's trying so hard to keep her head down and get through this difficult life, in a world that doesn't care about people like her, but we can see that she's just barely holding on. Hats off to both these incredible actors.

Dang Viola Davis ain't playing. Anyone who can hold your eye in a scene with Meryl is bringing it. I absolutely love Viola. An amazing talent and beauty.

When this scene began, Meryl Streep was already a legend. By the time the scene was over, Viola Davis was one too.

I honestly feel like this is one of the best acted scenes in movie history. I’m not saying it’s number one, but it’s beyond impressive.

Meryl Streep is a virtuoso. This performance shows her mastery over her facial expressions and speech. Such an accomplished and nuanced performer.

she had only one scene in this movie and her performance was so powerful that it earned her an Oscar nomination for supporting actress! viola davis proves that an actor doesnot need 2 hours of screen time to captivate the audience. it could be done in 7 minutes with an oscar nomination under your belt. wow. viola is undoubtedly today's best actress.

the two queens of acting damn viola got me tearing over a clip even tho i haven't even seen the movie

This is the scene in the story that changed everything for me about the story. We finally see that Meryl Streep's character is flawed. In her quest to be right, she has the potential to seriously harm others. And my god, Viola Davis. She is the greatest living American actress, in my book..

I love this scene because it shows two completely different woman, who both share the same goal in wanting to protect Donald from being harmed, but both ended up having two very different and contrasting opinions on what is the best way to protect Donald from any harm. I can completely understand why Mrs. Miller’s made the decision she did while also still on the side of Sister Aloysius’s. At the end of they day, they both just want to protect the boy the best way they can.

'it's just till June' broke my heart.

This clip shows the striking contrast between privileged and underprivileged and desperate ... sometimes when you're desperate to get through and survive, you're prepared to deal with anything. Even if it kills you.

This scene sealed her fate as a great actress. I'm so proud of you Viola

I watched this movie on a plane and this scene made me yell “WHAT DID SHE SAY?” I forgot I was on the plane and had to apologize. These two women were just phenomenal. I was sickened and disgusted. Which tells you how amazing both of these legends were.

"...if Viola Davis isn't nominated by the Academy, an injustice will have been done. She goes face to face with the pre-eminent film actress of this generation, and it is a confrontation of two equals that generates terrifying power." - Roger Ebert

"You cant hold a child responsible for what God gave him to be." and I cried.

Both of these women should have won their respective third and first Oscars for this. Meryl’s best performance in 15 years and this 7 minute scene ECLIPSES Viola’s entire screen time in Fences. Ferocious and layered. This scene always leaves me shaking and with goosebumps.

"Why you gotta know something like that for sure when you don't !" The acting is sublime.....just amazing. One is moving with a purpose and one is trying to protect. One is out for blood and the other is trying to save her son by any means. The line gets murky and that is when you know they have done their jobs. There is room for doubt!

Viola was in the movie for exactly two scenes, which make a total of eleven minutes. We don't even know the name of her character, she's just "Mrs. Miller". Yet, with just that, she delivered the most powerful scene of the movie. Her eyes, her mannerisms, everything just tells a crystal clear story. Like every character in this brilliantly written movie, there is a lot of mystery to her, and what we're shown just draws us in even more. Before watching the movie I thought it was ridiculous they'd give a nomination to someone with so little screentime, but I was proved wrong. Every aspiring actor out there should take note from these 2. This is acting at it's finest.

Meryl Streep is a completely different person in every performance. Each characters even have their own speech patterns and accents.

This was the first thing I'd ever seen Viola in. I was absolutely blown away. And still blown away upon watching this clip. She's superhuman.

Viola's presence in any scene she steals it even from Streep!Theres just pure talent she gives so much life to any character.

This scene should be mandatory viewing for every student of acting. The greatest actors always talk about seeking the truth in what they do. These two did it to perfection.

Viola!!!!!!! what a woman! what an actress!!!! Perfect scene! both perfect!!!!!!!!!!

2 legends in one scene.

I genuinely cannot ever remember watching just ONE scene randomly and by the end of it realizing that I had been holding my breath. And the moment Viola Davis turns and walks away, I blew the air out of my mouth like a strong gust of wind blowing by and knocking the force out of someone. Such a powerful scene between these two titans of the screen!

This is like when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force

Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Amy Adams and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, this has to be one of the strongest casts in cinema history. And even then Viola stole the film in less than 8 minutes.

I always find myself going back to this scene and thought how Meryl and Viola never won the Oscar for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. What a phenomenal performances from these two legends.

A long shoot like this. makes movies unforgettable.

Viola Davis is amazing but the writing is the unsung hero as well. Just so beautifully unraveling in its revelations and social issues of inequality vs education and opportunities. Just amazing!

"Let him have him then!" I'm sure this sentence shocked a lot of people, like me.

Viola definitely deserved an Oscar for this role!!!

Very epic acting and great scene!

6:06 thru 6:20 💔 My heart disintegrates when she asks, "Then what do you want from me?" She's married to an abusive husband who hates their son, she's worried about other kids bullying him, a nun is willing to derail his chances of going to college, AND she's running late for work. Can a sister get a damn break?

"He's got the position!" "And he's got your son!" "LET HIM HAVE HIM, THEN!!" "What!" "It's just 'til June!" "Do you know what you're saying?" "Know more about it than you!" Incredible performances.

This has been going on for centuries. And it’s sad that she had to confess her risking him being molested over being killed by his own father.

What titanic performances from both of them. But Davis is from another universe in that scene. This may be one of the best performances I have ever seen.

This doesn't look like acting it looks real, like a hidden camera in a real life.

I'd say that Meryl Streep, Viola Davis and Glenn Close are the three greatest American actresses around today. They're thespian royalty!

No words can describe how astounding this scene is! The acting, the story, everything!!!! Tension is high!!!

We all know Viola Davis was brilliant in this scene. Watching it again, I am fascinated by the choices Meryl Streep makes (acting-wise) when facing such a powerhouse blazing performance. Both of them are incredible.

Perhaps the most powerful 7 minutes on film. This is what acting is all about.

I can only remember being in the theatre watching this with tons of people. And by the time this scene was done, nobody was breathing, wondering who this woman was. It was stunning at the time and remains so

Viola Davis’ audiobook is phenomenal. Her story is inspiring and quite moving. Hearing it in her voice is divine.

I held my breath for 5 minutes watching this scene. Two of our nation’s greatest living actors.

This is a saddest scene ever. Talk about oppression 😢

Viola Davis doesn't have an artificial bone in her body. Her voice alone draws us in rather than put us off. Such a deep emotional voice. This scene is so heartbreaking to hear about the boys father and how he hates his son for being gay and beats him for it.

“The scene of the decade” - just brilliant, by the top 2 national art treasures of the decade! Someone tell me why there isn’t an award for the Best Movie/Film Scene?? Bravooooo!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Viola Davis is a brilliant Actress ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Viola was robbed of an oscar juz for this scene

My God she new her son was gay. And she didn't know what to do. My God this was painful and eye opening at the same time..

This scene blew my mind in the theater. Viola should have gotten an Oscar.

Oh my Lord! This woman, Viola Davis!!! What a powerhouse! She is so good! Kinda almost, too good, she is dangerously good!!! Amazing!!!

viola went one on one w/ the 3 time academy winner and slayed it.

The four actors in this movie made is sublime. Viola Davis, Meryl Streep, Amy Addams and Philip Seymour Hoffman made this film so incredibly moving, POWERFUL actors. This is one of my favorite movies ever.

Meryl Streep and Viola Davis in this clip made me feel like I was just there, amazing acting and feeling.

Viola Davis’s acting is so powerful. You look at her eyes and you see a woman trying to protect her boy; you see fear, someone who has passed thru suffering. You see an older woman who has been beaten down by racial prejudice, sexual harassment, has seen physical abuse. Her posture, her facial expression, her worry lines… You believe what she is in her role. Her acting is beyond anyone’s I’ve ever, ever seen. I have such respect for her.

"I'm talking about the boy's nature now, not anything he's done." 💔

The amount of restraint. The acting in their eyes. This is something else.

I found myself watching Viola more than Meryl, which never happens. When Meryl is in the room she is usually the only focus. Wow! Good job, Viola

I can't believe this film flew under the radar as much as it did with four supremely talented actors in it, holy cow. I mean, how often are you gonna find Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. Shew.

I saw this play on Broadway. Adriane Lenox, who played the role of the mother, won a Tony Award for this one scene, which all took place in the nun's office. I remember when she walked out the door at the end of the scene, the whole audience gave her an ovation. And Viola Davis got an Oscar nomination for this one scene. That's a well-written scene and two actresses that make the absolute most of it.

That moment when you realize that Viola Davis - an actress that you've never heard of before seeing the movie Doubt - is an acting genius.

Now that is a MasterClass. Stunning work from two legendary actresses!

i just can’t with this scene, is so fucking powerful, so sick but so understandable like… so human, i don’t know it just hurts in so many ways

This is one of the most powerfully written/acted scenes on film. The desperation of a woman who wants a future for her child.

I think Meryl Streep got a Golden Globe or something for this role and I remember her saying "Give Viola her own movie, her own award" or something and really praising her. It's nice to see Viola get her due with BSA Oscar win.

A rare occasion where the brilliance of Streep is exceeded.

Viola Davis is maybe one of the best actresses ever. She's fantastic. Brava Viola

Viola's acting was so good. every emotion is so real so raw. i believe her, i believe her emotion.

Viola Davis took a meager amount of screen time and SLAYED! A great actress!!!

Viola is always crying with snot rolling out her nose, that’s her favorite character to play 😂

I remember watching this scene and it was so heart wrenching. Both women were in very difficult positions. They both wanted what was best for the child, but the consequences of actually taking some sort of action to save the child from the abuse of the priest unfortunately was outweighed by what the boy would have to deal with if he didn't attend the school. The mother had to choose what she thought was the lesser of the choice of evils plaguing her and her son's situation. My goodness.

Viola should have won for this

"Throw the priest out then" Me: my sentiments exactly

god i'm so happy i was alive to witness these two legends acting together. this will be for the history books.

Life is very complicated. This scene is a proof of that.

As a southern gay I can't even remember the rest of the movie, but this scene has lived vividly in my mind since I saw it. So many delicate layers of realness expressed via simple polite dialogue. Left a mark on my soul when I watched it years ago.

Anybody that can upstage the great Streep in 7 minutes is a miraculous talent. Thank you for the gift of this performance, Viola Davis. You are a great artist.

They honestly both deserved to win the Oscar. Seriously amazing.

Easily one of the greatest and most underrated scenes in film history! I mean Meryl Streep and Viola Davis!?!? You’ll have nothing BUT success.

This is like a championship match of acting. I'm surprised that the camera didn't burst into flames simply from capturing all the glorious thespian feats on display during the shooting of this scene!

Both performances were wonderful! Viola and Meryl played their scene so well - I forgot this was a movie.

I gasped when she said "Well let him have him then!" I need this movie ASAP!!!

Viola Davis is magical! An angel on screen.

I have always been Meryl Streep fan. And Viola Davis just goes to my soul when she acts.

A career-making moment for Viola Davis. She had always been a working actress but the eight minutes of this scene made her a star!

Now this is acting 🎭 bravo 👏

this is the acting that we miss, superb bring back these roles and actors...