American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Ricky leaves dinner to return Jane's geometry book, making the Colonel uneasy.

Scene 116 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Ricky

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:17 into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 116

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 113
Buddy ends the affair over the cost of divorce; Carolyn slaps herself and screams in the car.
Scene 114
Buddy drives away while Carolyn's scream carries through the storm.
Scene 115
Lester admires his pumped arms, then discovers his marijuana is gone.
Scene 116
This scene

116INT. FITTS HOUSE - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

Ricky and the Colonel sit at the table, eating in silence. Barbara rinses off a pan at the sink, then stares at it as if she can't quite remember what she meant to do with it. We suddenly HEAR a BEEPING noise. Ricky pulls his BEEPER off his belt and checks it.

RICKY

(getting up)

I have to run next door. Jane left

her geometry book in my bag and she

needs it to do her homework.

He heads into the hall. The Colonel watches him go, uneasy.