American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Ricky and Jane find Lester dead as his voice begins recounting his life.

Scene 148 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Jane
Ricky
Lester

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:33 into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 148

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.
Scenes 129–146
As the conflicts converge at home, Lester returns to human connection by treating Angela with tenderness.
Just before
Scene 145
Carolyn sees the Burnham home's red door in her rear-view mirror.
Scene 146
After asking Angela about Jane and studying his family photo, Lester is shot at the kitchen table by an unseen assailant.
Scene 147
Ricky and Jane descend the stairs toward the kitchen.
Scene 148
This scene

148INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

Ricky opens the door from the dining room, then stops. Jane appears behind him.

JANE

Oh God.

Their POV: A pool of blood is forming on the kitchen table.

Ricky comes into the kitchen and slowly approaches Lester's lifeless body, wide-eyed but not afraid. Jane follows him, in shock. Ricky kneels, gazing at Lester's unseen face... then he smiles, ever so slightly.

His POV: Lester looks back at us; his eyes are lifeless, but he's smiling the same slight smile.

RICKY

(an awed whisper)

Wow.

LESTER (V.O.)

I had always heard your entire life

flashes in front of your eyes the

second before you die.