American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Lester runs down Robin Hood Trail, enjoying his stronger body.

Scene 105 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:10 into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 105

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.

Scenes 1–13
Lester is trapped in a suburban routine of corporate work and a marriage performed for appearances.
Scenes 14–31
Family estrangement and his attraction to Angela expose how urgently Lester wants to feel alive.
Scenes 32–75
Lester follows the desire into risky fantasy, exercise and open defiance of Carolyn.
Scenes 76–90
Lester quits and takes a fast-food job while Jane and Ricky begin connecting in parallel.
Scenes 91–102
Lester wins control of his daily life and openly rejects the family's old rules.
Just before
Scene 102
Lester lounges with a remote-control car as he and Carolyn argue about his new life and her attachment to possessions.
Scene 103
Jane and Ricky discuss his hospitalization and her anger at Lester; she jokes about hiring Ricky to kill him.
Scene 104
Lester says each day but the day you die is a new beginning, then runs from the house.
Scene 105
This scene

105EXT. ROBIN HOOD TRAIL - A SHORT TIME LATER

We're now at street level, as Lester runs toward us. He carries a WALKMAN and wears EARPHONES, and we HEAR ROCK MUSIC as he runs. The endorphins have kicked in, and Lester grins, reveling in the sheer physical pleasure of his body.