American Beauty · written by Alan Ball · 1999

Carolyn tries to teach Jane self-reliance, then slaps her when Jane rejects the sentiment.

Scene 92 of 163 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Jane
Carolyn

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:00 into a 1:37 film

The story so farBefore scene 92

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.
Scenes 76–90
Lester quits and takes a fast-food job while Jane and Ricky begin connecting in parallel.
Just before
Scene 89
Ricky takes Jane into the Colonel's study and shows her the hidden Nazi plate.
Scene 90
Ricky plays Jane his film of a windblown plastic bag and explains the beauty that made him feel safe.
Scene 91
At dinner Lester announces his new job, provokes Carolyn and smashes an asparagus plate before changing their dinner music.
Scene 92
This scene

92INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - JANE'S BEDROOM - THAT NIGHT

Jane is sitting on her bed. There is a KNOCK at the door.

JANE

Go. Away.

CAROLYN (O.C.)

Honey, please let me in.

Jane rolls her eyes, crosses to the door and lets Carolyn in.

CAROLYN (CONT'D)

I wish that you hadn't witnessed

that awful scene tonight. But in a

way, I'm glad.

JANE

Why, so I could see what freaks you

and Dad really are?

CAROLYN

Me?

She stares at Jane, then starts to cry.

JANE

Aw, Christ, Mom.

CAROLYN

(tearful)

No, I'm glad because you're old

enough now to learn the most

important lesson in life: you

cannot count on anyone except

yourself.

(sighs)

You cannot count on anyone except

yourself. It's sad, but true, and

the sooner you learn it, the

better.

JANE

Look, Mom, I really don't feel like

having a Kodak moment here, okay?

Carolyn suddenly SLAPS Jane, hard.

CAROLYN

You ungrateful little brat. Just

look at everything you have. When I

was your age, I lived in a duplex.

We didn't even have our own house.

Embarrassed, she quickly leaves. Jane looks in a mirror and rubs her cheek, then crosses to the window and looks out.