American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

After asking Angela about Jane and studying his family photo, Lester is shot at the kitchen table by an unseen assailant.

Scene 146 of 163 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act three

Climax
Five-Act Structure: Climax
Angela
Lester

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:31 into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 146

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 143
Angela tells Lester she is a virgin; he stops, covers her and comforts her instead of exploiting her.
Scene 144
Carolyn's Mercedes turns onto Robin Hood Trail in the rain.
Scene 145
Carolyn sees the Burnham home's red door in her rear-view mirror.
Scene 146
This scene

146INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

Angela, once again fully clothed, sits at the kitchen counter. She's eating a turkey sandwich.

ANGELA

Wow. I was starving.

Lester puts a jar of mayonnaise back in the refrigerator.

LESTER

Do you want me to make you another

one?

ANGELA

No, no, no. I'm fine.

He turns to her and cocks an eyebrow.

LESTER

(concerned)

You sure?

ANGELA

I mean, I'm still a little weirded

out, but...

(sincerely)

...I feel better. Thanks.

A long beat, as Lester studies her, then:

LESTER

How's Jane?

ANGELA

What do you mean?

LESTER

I mean, how's her life? Is she

happy? Is she miserable? I'd really

like to know, and she'd die before

she'd ever tell me about it.

Angela shifts uncomfortably.

ANGELA

She's... she's really happy. She

thinks she's in love.

Angela rolls her eyes at how silly this notion is.

LESTER

(quietly)

Good for her.

An awkward beat.

ANGELA

How are you?

LESTER

(smiles, taken aback)

God, it's been a long time since

anybody asked me that.

(thinks about it)

I'm great.

They just sit there, smiling at each other, then:

ANGELA

(suddenly)

I've gotta go to the bathroom.

She crosses off. Lester watches her go, then stands there wondering why he should suddenly feel so content.