American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Lester secretly dials Angela after finding her number in Jane’s book; Jane discovers the address book open after he flees.

Scene 37 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Angela
Jane

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 20 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 37

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 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
Jane locks the door, checks that Ricky is gone, then smiles.
Scene 37
This scene

37INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - JANE'S BEDROOM - THE NEXT MORNING

CLOSE on an ADDRESS BOOK: A man's hand flips to the H page and then his finger stops at the name Angela Hayes. Lester, dressed for work, goes through Jane's address book. We HEAR the SHOWER running in the adjacent bathroom. He grabs Jane's phone and dials, then stands with the receiver to his ear, nervous.

ANGELA

(over phone line)

Hello? Hello?

Lester is frozen, unable to speak. Suddenly, the SHOWER is turned off in the next room. Lester hangs up and exits quickly. A moment, then the PHONE RINGS. Jane emerges from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her torso, drying her wet hair. She picks up the PHONE.

JANE

Hello?