American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Angela admits her fight with Jane was about Lester; he says he wants her, and she asks whether she is ordinary.

Scene 139 of 163 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act three

Angela
Lester

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:27 into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 139

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.
Scenes 103–128
Jane and Ricky's plans, the Colonel's expulsion of Ricky and Carolyn's gun bring serious costs to the upheaval.
Just before
Scene 136
Carolyn repeats that she refuses to be a victim, then puts her gun away.
Scene 137
Carolyn pulls away from the freeway shoulder toward home.
Scene 138
Lester gets a beer and hears Angela playing music in the family room.
Scene 139
This scene

139INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - FAMILY ROOM - CONTINUOUS

His POV: AS we MOVE SLOWLY around a corner, Angela comes into view, standing at the STEREO, holding a CD case. She's been crying; her face is puffy, and her hair mussed. She regards us apprehensively... then puts on a slightly defiant smile.

ANGELA

I hope you don't mind if I play the

stereo.

Lester leans against the wall and takes a swig of his beer.

LESTER

Not at all.

(then)

Bad night?

ANGELA

Not really bad, just... strange.

LESTER

(grins)

Believe me. It couldn't possibly be

any stranger than mine.

She smiles. They stand there in silence; the atmosphere is charged.

ANGELA

Jane and I had a fight.

(after a beat)

It was about you.

She's trying to be seductive as she says this, but she's pretty bad at it. Lester raises his eyebrows.

ANGELA (CONT'D)

She's mad at me because I said I

think you're sexy.

Lester grins. He is sexy.

LESTER

(offering beer)

Do you want a sip?

She nods. Lester holds the bottle up to her mouth and she drinks clumsily. He gently wipes her chin with the back of his hand.

LESTER (CONT'D)

So... are you going to tell me?

What you want?

ANGELA

I don't know.

LESTER

You don't know?

His face is very close to hers. She's unnerved--this is happening too fast...

ANGELA

What do you want?

CONTINUED: (2)