American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Angela imagines Ricky as a dangerous obsessive, while Jane remains intrigued by him.

Scene 59 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Angela
Jane

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 36 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 59

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 56
Lester panics in the hallway when Angela hears something and flees.
Scene 57
Jane and Angela investigate the noise; Angela spots something outside the window.
Scene 58
Jane and Angela see Ricky's flaming 'JANE' message in the driveway.
Scene 59
This scene

59INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - JANE'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

ANGELA

It's that psycho next door. Jane,

what if he worships you? What if

he's got a shrine with pictures of

you surrounded by dead people's

heads and stuff?

JANE

Shit. I bet he's filming us right

now.

ANGELA

(intrigued)

Really?