American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Carolyn drives home repeating that she refuses to be a victim and prepares to confront Lester.

Scene 140 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Carolyn

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:29 into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 140

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 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
Angela admits her fight with Jane was about Lester; he says he wants her, and she asks whether she is ordinary.
Scene 140
This scene

140INT. MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 - CONTINUOUS

Carolyn drives, her face resolute.

CAROLYN

I refuse to be a victim. I refuse

to be a victim. I refuse to be a

victim...

(angry)

Lester, I have something I have to

say to you...