American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Lester rides to school asleep and recognizes he may recover what he has lost.

Scene 10 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Lester

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 4 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 10

After becoming infatuated with his teenage daughter’s friend, a dissatisfied suburban father quits his job and pursues a more vivid life, unsettling his family and drawing him into the orbit of a troubled teenage neighbor.

Scene 2
Lester surveys his street and life as an ordinary suburban world he already experiences as death.
Just before
Scene 7
Carolyn chats with the Jims while Lester watches and recalls when she used to be happy.
Scene 8
Jane studies a plastic-surgery site and her profile as Lester describes her insecurity and his reluctance to lie about her future.
Scene 9
Carolyn honks Jane into the car as Lester admits his family sees him as a loser.
Scene 10
This scene

10INT. MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 - A SHORT TIME LATER

Carolyn is driving; Jane stares out the window. Lester is asleep in the back seat.

LESTER (V.O.)

I have lost something. I'm not

exactly sure what it is, but I know

I didn't always feel this...

sedated. But you know what? It's

never too late to get it back.