American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Ricky tells Barbara he is leaving, hugs her and asks her to take care of the Colonel.

Scene 123 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Ricky
Barbara

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:22 into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 123

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 120
The Colonel mistakes Ricky rolling a joint for oral sex, then sees Jane and Angela arrive.
Scene 121
Angela compliments Lester's muscles and flirts until his direct response makes her retreat.
Scene 122
The Colonel accuses Ricky of sex with Lester, strikes him and expels him after Ricky provokes him.
Scene 123
This scene

123INT. FITTS HOUSE - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

Ricky enters to discover Barbara standing in the middle of the room, clutching a dish, frightened. She's obviously heard his argument with his father, and she looks into his eyes, searching, aware that something eventful is taking place.

RICKY

Mom, I'm leaving.

A beat.

BARBARA

Okay, wear a raincoat.

RICKY

(hugs her)

I wish things would have been

better for you. Take care of Dad.

He kisses her cheek softly, then exits out the back door, leaving her standing alone, still clutching her dish.