American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Carolyn repeats that she will sell the ugly house today.

Scene 19 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Carolyn

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 11 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 19

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.
Just before
Scene 16
Ricky films Lester's failed attempt to talk with Jane through the greenhouse window.
Scene 17
Lester notices the old amusement-park photo of his once-happy family.
Scene 18
Carolyn arrives at a stale listing and finds Buddy Kane's sold sign beside hers.
Scene 19
This scene

19INT. SALE HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

The interior of this house is ugly, oppressive and tasteless. Carolyn opens the front door, breathes deeply and solemnly announces:

CAROLYN

I will sell this house today.

She neatly arranges her sales materials on a desk, then strips down to her undergarments.

MONTAGE:

We see Carolyn, working with fierce concentration as she: Cleans glass doors that overlook the patio and pool; Doggedly scrubs countertops in the kitchen; Perches on a stepladder to dust a cheap-looking ceiling fan in the master bedroom; And vacuums a dirty carpet that will never be clean. Throughout all this, she keeps repeating to herself:

CAROLYN (CONT'D)

I will sell this house today. I

will sell this house today. I will

sell this house today.