American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Jane and Angela pass a joint and discuss Angela’s attention from men and her hope of becoming a model.

Scene 34 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Jane
Angela

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 19 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 34

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.
Just before
Scene 31
Jane and Angela meet Lester and Carolyn after the game; Angela says Jane's parents have not had sex in years.
Scene 32
Lester fantasizes about Angela in bed beside Carolyn, then wakes excited by the prospect of change.
Scene 33
Girls laugh in Angela's BMW outside the Burnham home.
Scene 34
This scene

34INT. ANGELA'S BMW - CONTINUOUS

Angela is behind the wheel, Jane in the passenger seat. They're passing a JOINT back and forth.

JANE

I'm sorry my dad was so weird

tonight.

ANGELA

It's okay. I'm used to guys

drooling over me. It started when I

was about twelve, I'd go out to

dinner with my parents. Every

Thursday night, Red Lobster. And

every guy there would stare at me

when I walked in. And I knew what

they were thinking. Just like I

knew guys at school thought about

me when they jerked off.

JANE

Vomit.

ANGELA

No, I liked it. And I still like

it. If people I don't even know

look at me and want to fuck me, it

means I really have a shot at being

a model. Which is great, because

there's nothing worse in life than

being ordinary.

An awkward beat. Jane stares at the floor.

JANE

I really think it'll happen for

you.

ANGELA

Oh, I know. Because everything that

was meant to happen, does.

Eventually.