American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

The Colonel watches Ricky get ready and hides his tenderness when Ricky says he will ride with Jane's family.

Scene 107 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Colonel
Ricky

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:12 into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 107

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 104
Lester says each day but the day you die is a new beginning, then runs from the house.
Scene 105
Lester runs down Robin Hood Trail, enjoying his stronger body.
Scene 106
Jane confronts Lester about his fixation on Angela; he insults her and regrets it.
Scene 107
This scene

107INT. FITTS HOUSE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

We're outside Ricky's room, MOVING slowly toward the open door, through which we can see Ricky, standing at his bureau mirror, combing his hair. The scars on his face are almost gone now.

A REVERSE ANGLE reveals the Colonel standing outside the door looking in, watching Ricky with great tenderness. Then Ricky looks up at him, and the Colonel is suddenly self-conscious.

COLONEL

(brusque)

You ready to go?

RICKY

Oh, I don't need a ride. I'm going

to go in with Jane and her mom.