American Beauty Page #13

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CAROLYN:

Jane, hurry up. I've got a very

important appointment--

JANE:

Mom, is it okay if Angela sleeps

over tonight?

Jane looks at Lester to see how he reacts. He doesn't.

CAROLYN:

Well, of course, she's always welcome.

(on her way out)

You know, I thought maybe you two

had a fight. I haven't seen her around

here in a while.

And she's gone. Jane continues staring at her father. Finally,

he glances over at her.

LESTER:

What?

JANE:

(nervous)

I've been too embarrassed to bring

her over. Because of you, and the

way that you behave.

LESTER:

What are you talking about? I've

barely even spoken to her.

JANE:

(angry)

Dad! You stare at her all the time,

like you're drunk! It's disgusting!

LESTER:

(angry himself)

You better watch yourself, Janie, or

you're going to turn into a real

b*tch, just like your mother.

Jane is stunned. She quickly rises, trying to get out of the

kitchen before she starts crying.

ANGLE on Lester, and the immediate regret in his eyes.

LESTER:

(under his breath)

F***.

INT. FITTS HOUSE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

We're outside Ricky's room, MOVING slowly toward the open

door, through which we can see Ricky, standing at his bureau

mirror, combing his hair.

The scars on his face are almost gone now.

A REVERSE ANGLE reveals the Colonel standing outside the

door looking in, watching Ricky with great tenderness. Then

Ricky looks up at him, and the Colonel is suddenly self-

conscious.

COLONEL:

(brusque)

You ready to go?

RICKY:

Oh, I don't need a ride. I'm going

to go in with Jane and her mom.

EXT. FITTS HOUSE - FRONT PORCH - MOMENTS LATER

Ricky emerges from the house, followed by the Colonel, who

watches his son as he heads toward the Burnham house.

His POV:
Carolyn waves from the Mercedes, flashing an

insincere smile.

Jane leans forward from the passenger seat and glares at us.

As Ricky starts to get in the car, Lester emerges from the

house in his sweatpants.

LESTER:

Yo, Ricky. How's it going?

RICKY:

Pretty decent, Mr. Burnham.

Ricky pulls his door shut, but not before Lester mouths "call

me" and Ricky gives a slight nod in acknowledgment.

CLOSE on the Colonel's face: he looks confused.

As the Mercedes backs out of the driveway, Lester glances

over at him.

Lester's POV:
The Colonel watches the car driving off, then

looks at us.

His face tightens.

LESTER studies him for a moment, then grins and salutes before

going inside the house.

CLOSE on the Colonel, deeply troubled.

INT. FITTS HOUSE - RICKY'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

The door swings open silently and the Colonel enters. He

starts going through Ricky's bureau. He opens the DRAWER in

which we know Ricky keeps his marijuana, but he doesn't

discover its false bottom. He stands and looks around, his

eyes finally landing on:

The DIGICAM and a stack of CASSETTES on a shelf. The camera

is still connected to the TV.

The Colonel turns on the TV, examines the Digicam and presses

"play." The TV's blank screen suddenly gives way to...

On VIDEO:
Barbara Fitts sits at the kitchen table, staring

off into space.

The Colonel watches, at first baffled, then impatient. He

takes the cassette out of the Digicam and inserts another.

On the TV screen we see...

On VIDEO:
Through the Burnham's GARAGE WINDOW, we see Lester

step out of his pants and briefs. Then, naked except for his

black socks, he grabs the dumbbells and starts lifting them,

watching his reflection in the window as he does...

The Colonel sinks slowly onto Ricky's bed, mesmerized.

INT. MR. SMILEY'S - LATER

Lester, wearing a Mr. Smiley's uniform, is happily flipping

burgers on a grill.

CO-WORKER

Hey Lester, I need that Super Smiley

with cheese, A.S.A.P.

LESTER:

You need more than that, my little

hombre.

Lester looks up suddenly when he HEARS:

CAROLYN (O.S.)

(over speakers)

What's good here?

BUDDY (O.S.)

(over speakers)

Nothing.

CAROLYN (O.S.)

(over speakers)

Then I guess we'll just have to be

bad, won't we?

(then)

I think I'll have a double Smiley

Sandwich and curly fries, and a

vanilla shake.

BUDDY (O.S.)

(over speakers)

Make that two.

COUNTER GIRL (O.S.)

(over speakers)

Please drive around thank you.

Lester's face darkens, then... he smiles. He puts his spatula

down.

EXT. MR. SMILEY'S - CONTINUOUS

The Mercedes pulls around to the DRIVE-THRU WINDOW. Carolyn

drives; Buddy sits beside her.

CAROLYN:

I think we deserve a little junk

food, after the workout we had this

morning.

BUDDY:

(nuzzles her neck)

I'm flattered.

They are too involved with each other to notice Lester

watching them from the drive-thru window.

LESTER:

(overly cheerful)

Smile! You're at Mr. Smiley's!

Carolyn almost jumps out of her skin.

Lester leans out of the drive-thru window, grinning at her,

holding bags filled with fast food. The Counter Girl stands

next to him, staring blankly.

LESTER:

Would you like to try our new beef

and cheese pot pie on a stick, just

a dollar ninety-nine for a limited

time only?

Carolyn struggles to appear nonchalant.

CAROLYN:

(re:
Buddy)

We were just at a seminar.

(then, all business)

Buddy, this is my--

LESTER:

Her husband. We've met before, but

something tells me you're going to

remember me this time.

COUNTER GIRL:

(to Carolyn)

Whoa. You are so busted.

CAROLYN:

(flustered)

You know, this really doesn't concern

you.

LESTER:

Actually, Janeane is senior drive-

thru manager, so you kind of are on

her turf.

(to Carolyn, quietly)

So. This makes sense.

CAROLYN:

(miserable)

Oh, Lester--

LESTER:

Honey, it's okay. I want you to be

happy.

(then)

Would you like Smiley Sauce with

that?

CAROLYN:

Lester, just stop it!

LESTER:

Uh-uh. You don't get to tell me what

to do. Ever again.

Carolyn closes her eyes, defeated, then grabs the wheel,

shifts gears and drives off.

EXT. TOP HAT MOTEL - A SHORT TIME LATER

The sky is filled with ominous gray clouds. Wind whips garbage

across the parking lot as Carolyn's Mercedes pulls in next

to Buddy's Jaguar.

INT. MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 - CONTINUOUS

Carolyn grips the wheel tightly, staring straight ahead.

Buddy looks at her unhappily.

BUDDY:

I'm sorry. I guess we should cool it

for a while. I'm facing a potentially

very expensive divorce.

CAROLYN:

Oh, no. I understand completely.

(sarcastic)

In order to be successful, one must

project an image of success. At all

times.

She regrets it the second it's out of her mouth, and turns

to him. He just looks at her sadly, then gets out of the car

and shuts the door. She starts to CRY. As before, she SLAPS

herself, hard.

CAROLYN:

Stop it. Stop it!

She closes her eyes tight, trying to stop the tears, then

suddenly SCREAMS as loud as she can.

EXT. TOP HAT MOTEL - CONTINUOUS

Buddy's Jaguar speeds off, leaving the Mercedes alone in the

parking lot.

We can still HEAR Carolyn's muffled SCREAMING. There is a

sound of distant THUNDER.

INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - GARAGE - THAT NIGHT

It's RAINING outside. We HEAR ROCK MUSIC as Lester pumps

iron. He puts the weights down and looks at his REFLECTION

in the window:

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