American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Carolyn flatters Buddy and arranges lunch as their attraction becomes mutual.

Scene 48 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Carolyn
Buddy

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 30 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 48

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 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
Ricky introduces himself to Lester at the bar and asks whether he gets high.
Scene 48
This scene

48INT. HOTEL BALLROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Carolyn and Buddy are deep in conversation. Christy has wandered off. Carolyn is nervous; Buddy seems amused.

CAROLYN

You know, I probably wouldn't even

tell you this if I weren't a little

tipsy, but... I am in complete awe

of you. I mean, your firm is, hands

down, the Rolls Royce of local Real

Estate firms, and your personal

sales record is, is, is very

intimidating. You know, I'd love to

sit down with you and just pick

your brain, if you'd ever be

willing. I suppose, technically,

I'm the "competition," but...

I mean, hey, I don't flatter myself

that I'm even in the same league as

you...

BUDDY

I'd love to.

CAROLYN

(shocked)

Really?

BUDDY

Absolutely. Call my secretary and

have her schedule a lunch.

CAROLYN

I'll do that. Thank you.

They look at each other for a beat, then look away. This situation is loaded and they both know it.