American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Lester orders fast food and applies for a counter job to avoid responsibility.

Scene 84 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Drive-Thru Girl
Lester
Counter Girl

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 51 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 84

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.
Scene 79
Jane asks Ricky to stop filming her, and chooses to walk with him after their earlier school encounter.
Just before
Scene 81
Carolyn and Buddy have sex and play out their king-and-queen fantasy.
Scene 82
Lester sings 'American Woman' as he drives through town.
Scene 83
Lester sings along inside the Camry on his way to the fast-food restaurant.
Scene 84
This scene

84EXT. MR. SMILEY'S - CONTINUOUS

Lester continues singing along to "AMERICAN WOMAN," as the Camry pulls into the parking lot of a FAST FOOD RESTAURANT. Lester pulls up to the drive-thru speaker box.

DRIVE-THRU GIRL (O.C.)

(over speaker box)

Smile you're at Mr. Smiley's.

Lester turns down the volume on the stereo.

LESTER

What?

DRIVE-THRU GIRL (O.C.)

Would you like to try our new bacon

and egg fajita just a dollar twenty-

nine for a limited time only.

LESTER

Uh... no. But thank you.

(reading menu)

I'll have a Big Barn Burger, Smiley

fries, and an orange soda.

DRIVE-THRU GIRL (O.C.)

Please drive up to the window,

thank you.

He pulls the car around to the WINDOW, where a teenage GIRL wearing a headset is waiting.

DRIVE-THRU GIRL (CONT'D)

Smile, you're at Mr. Smiley's,

that'll be four eighty-nine,

please.

Lester pays her. As she hands him his food, he notices a SIGN in the corner of the window that reads:

NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS

COUNTER GIRL

Would you like some Smiley Sauce?

LESTER

No. No, actually... I'd like to

fill out an application.

She stares at him, confused by his age and attire.

COUNTER GIRL

There's not jobs for manager, it's

just for counter.

LESTER

Good. I'm looking for the least

possible amount of responsibility.