American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Jane locks the door, checks that Ricky is gone, then smiles.

Scene 36 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 20 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 36

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 33
Girls laugh in Angela's BMW outside the Burnham home.
Scene 34
Jane and Angela pass a joint and discuss Angela’s attention from men and her hope of becoming a model.
Scene 35
Ricky secretly films Jane arriving home; she notices him and flips him off.
Scene 36
This scene

36INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - FOYER - CONTINUOUS

Jane enters, closes and locks the door. She quickly TURNS OFF THE LIGHT that's been left on for her, then peeks through a window.

Her POV: There's no sign of Ricky. Jane turns back into the room, her heart racing... and smiles.