American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Lester's voice reflects on rediscovering surprises as the camera approaches the jogging Jims.

Scene 70 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Lester

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 41 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 70

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 67
Lester gets up while Carolyn sleeps and walks toward the bathroom.
Scene 68
Lester imagines Angela in a rose-petal bath, then reveals he is masturbating beside Carolyn.
Scene 69
Lester and Carolyn fight over their dead marriage and his refusal to accept her terms.
Scene 70
This scene

70EXT. ROBIN HOOD TRAIL - EARLY MORNING

We're FLYING high above the neighborhood. Below us we see the two Jims, jogging. We APPROACH them steadily.

LESTER

It's a great thing when you realize

you still have the ability to

surprise yourself. Makes you wonder

what else you can do that you've

forgotten about.