American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Lester panics in the hallway when Angela hears something and flees.

Scene 56 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Angela

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 35 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 56

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 53
Angela tells Jane that Lester is attractive, while Jane resents her interest.
Scene 54
Lester eavesdrops as Angela says she wants him, then flees before she notices.
Scene 55
Jane covers her ears as Angela elaborates her sexual fantasy about Lester.
Scene 56
This scene

56INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Lester, still listening, looks like he's about to implode.

ANGELA (O.C.)

(laughs)

I would!

I would suck your dad's big fat

dick, and then I would fuck him

'til his eyes rolled back in his

head!

(then)

What was that noise? Jane.

Jane's SINGING stops.

ANGELA (O.C.) (CONT'D)

I swear I heard something.

Panicked, Lester scurries down the hall.