American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Ricky introduces himself to Lester at the bar and asks whether he gets high.

Scene 47 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Lester
Ricky

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 29 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 47

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 44
Angela boasts about a photographer; Jane questions Angela's claim that Ricky was institutionalized, then Ricky approaches Jane and introduces himself.
Scene 45
The Colonel, Barbara and Ricky watch television in silence after Barbara forgets what she said.
Scene 46
Lester embarrasses Carolyn at a realtor event with a sexual kiss, then leaves for a drink.
Scene 47
This scene

47INT. HOTEL BALLROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Lester stands at the bar. A bartender pours him a drink.

LESTER

Whoa. Put a little more in there,

cowboy.

The bartender complies. Lester takes his drink and turns to face the center of the room.

His POV: Carolyn is talking to Buddy and Christy. She's on: smiling, animated, LAUGHING too loud at their jokes.

Lester shakes his head. Ricky approaches him, wearing a waiter's uniform, carrying a tray of empty glasses.

RICKY

Excuse me. Don't you live on Robin

Hood Trail? The house with the red

door?

LESTER

(suspicious)

Yeah.

RICKY

I'm Ricky Fitts. I just moved into

the house next to you.

LESTER

Oh. Hi, Ricky Fitts. I'm Lester

Burnham.

RICKY

Hi, Lester Burnham.

A beat. Lester looks away, scans the crowd, then downs the rest of his drink in one gulp. Ricky just stands there, watching him. Finally Lester turns back to Ricky: what does this kid want?

RICKY (CONT'D)

Do you party?

LESTER

Excuse me?

RICKY

Do you get high?

Lester's surprised, but instantly intrigued.