American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Carolyn and Lester argue in the car about whether Jane wants them at the game.

Scene 28 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Lester
Carolyn

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 15 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 28

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 25
Carolyn pitches the backyard to two women and offers tiki torches.
Scene 26
Alone in the sunroom, Carolyn cries briefly, then composes herself for the next clients.
Scene 27
Jane waits for her parents at the basketball game; she tells Angela they are trying to take an active interest in her.
Scene 28
This scene

28INT. MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 - CONTINUOUS

Carolyn drives. Lester is slumped in the passenger seat.

LESTER

What makes you so sure she wants us

to be there? Did she ask us to

come?

CAROLYN

Of course not. She doesn't want us

to know how important this is to

her. But she's been practicing her

steps for weeks.

LESTER

Well, I bet money she's going to

resent it. And I'm missing the

James Bond marathon on TNT.

CAROLYN

Lester, this is important. I'm

sensing a real distance growing

between you and Jane.

LESTER

Growing? She hates me.

CAROLYN

She's just willful.

LESTER

She hates you too.

Carolyn stares at him, unsure of how to respond.