American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Carolyn peers through the garage window and sees Lester working out.

Scene 74 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 45 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 74

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 71
Lester joins the Jims and asks them for fitness advice, saying he wants to look good naked.
Scene 72
The Colonel mocks the neighbors as Lester greets him and follows Ricky inside to borrow a film.
Scene 73
Ricky shows Lester his hidden marijuana business and explains his father's denial.
Scene 74
This scene

74EXT. BURNHAM HOUSE - LATER

Carolyn, carrying a basket of fresh cut ROSES, passes by the GARAGE WINDOW. From inside the garage, we HEAR ROCK MUSIC. Carolyn stops and SNIFFS the air, frowning. She peers through the window.

Her POV: Lester, in a T-shirt and gym shorts, lies on a new WEIGHT BENCH, doing bench presses with shiny new BARBELLS.