American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Carolyn and Buddy have sex and play out their king-and-queen fantasy.

Scene 81 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Carolyn
Buddy

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 51 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 81

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.
Scenes 32–75
Lester follows the desire into risky fantasy, exercise and open defiance of Carolyn.
Scene 76
Lester blackmails Brad for severance and quits, committing to a life outside his corporate routine.
Just before
Scene 78
Buddy tells Carolyn he is separating from his wife, and she admires his success image.
Scene 79
Jane asks Ricky to stop filming her; he agrees, and she chooses to walk with him.
Scene 80
Carolyn's Mercedes parks outside the motel beside Buddy's Jaguar.
Scene 81
This scene

81INT. TOP HAT MOTEL - CONTINUOUS

Carolyn and Buddy are in the middle of sex.

CAROLYN

Yes! Oh, God! I love it!

BUDDY

You like getting nailed by the

king?

CAROLYN

Oh yes! I love it! Fuck me, your

majesty!