American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Ricky plays Jane his film of a windblown plastic bag and explains the beauty that made him feel safe.

Scene 90 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Ricky
Jane

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 56 min into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 90

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 87
Jane and Ricky discuss death and beauty as a funeral procession passes.
Scene 88
Jane meets Barbara, who apologizes for the spotless kitchen.
Scene 89
Ricky takes Jane into the Colonel's study and shows her the hidden Nazi plate.
Scene 90
This scene

90INT. FITTS HOUSE - RICKY'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

On VIDEO: We're in an empty parking lot on a cold, gray day. Something is floating across from us... it's an empty, wrinkled, white PLASTIC BAG.

We follow it as the wind carries it in a circle around us, sometimes whipping it about violently, or, without warning, sending it soaring skyward, then letting it float gracefully down to the ground... Jane and Ricky sit on the bed, watching his WIDE-SCREEN TV.

RICKY

It was one of those days when it's

a minute away from snowing. And

there's this electricity in the

air, you can almost hear it, right?

And this bag was just... dancing

with me. Like a little kid begging

me to play with it. For fifteen

minutes.

That's the day I realized that

there was this entire life behind

things, and this incredibly

benevolent force that wanted me to

know there was no reason to be

afraid. Ever.

A beat.

RICKY (CONT'D)

Video's a poor excuse, I know. But

it helps me remember... I need to

remember...

Now Jane is watching him.

RICKY (CONT'D)

(distant)

Sometimes there's so much beauty in

the world I feel like I can't take

it... and my heart is going to cave

in.

After a moment, Jane takes his hand. Then she leans in and kisses him softly on the lips. His eyes scan hers, curious to see how she reacts to this...

JANE

(suddenly)

Oh my God. What time is it?