American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

A baffled manager doubts Lester can adapt, but Lester points to his past fast-food experience.

Scene 85 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Manager
Lester

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 52 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 85

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 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
Lester orders fast food and applies for a counter job to avoid responsibility.
Scene 85
This scene

85INT. MR. SMILEY'S - A SHORT TIME LATER

Lester sits at a booth with the MANAGER, a greasy kid wearing a white short sleeve shirt and a tie covered with the Mr. Smiley's logo. He looks over Lester's application, baffled.

MANAGER

I don't think you'd fit in here.

LESTER

I have fast food experience.

MANAGER

Yeah, like twenty years ago.

LESTER

Well, I'm sure there have been

amazing technological advances in

the industry, but surely you have

some sort of training process. It

seems unfair to presume I won't be

able to learn.

The Manager sighs and runs a hand through his greasy hair, wondering what he could possibly have done to deserve this.