American Beauty Page #15

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Carolyn leans over and open the glove compartment. She takes

out her GLOCK

TAPE VOICE:

Remember, you are only a victim if

you choose to be a victim...

INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - JANE'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Angela is sprawled across the bed. Jane stands across the

room from her.

JANE:

I don't think we could be friends

anymore.

ANGELA:

You are way too uptight about sex.

JANE:

Just don't f*** my dad, all right?

Please?

ANGELA:

Why not?

There is a KNOCK on the door. Jane sits up, alarmed.

JANE:

(angry)

Dad! Leave us alone!

RICKY (O.S.)

It's me.

Jane jumps up and opens the door and lets him in.

RICKY:

(to Jane)

If I had to leave tonight, would you

come with me?

JANE:

What?

RICKY:

If I had to go to New York. To live.

Tonight. Would you come with me?

JANE:

Yes.

ANGELA:

You guys can't be serious.

(to Jane)

You're just a kid. And he's like, a

mental case. You'll end up living in

a box on the street.

JANE:

I'm no more a kid than you are!

(to Ricky)

We can use my plastic surgery money.

RICKY:

We won't have to. I have over forty

thousand dollars. And I know people

in the city who can help us get set

up.

ANGELA:

What, other drug dealers?

RICKY:

Yes.

ANGELA:

Jane, you'd be out of your mind to

go with him.

JANE:

Why do you even care?

ANGELA:

Because you're my friend!

RICKY:

She's not your friend. She's somebody

you use to feel better about yourself.

ANGELA:

Go f*** yourself, psycho!

JANE:

You shut up, b*tch!

ANGELA:

Jane! He is a freak!

JANE:

Well, then so am I! And we'll always

be freaks and we'll never be like

other people. And you'll never be a

freak because you're just too perfect.

ANGELA:

Oh, yeah? Well, at least I'm not

ugly.

RICKY:

Yes, you are. And you're boring. And

you're totally ordinary. And you

know it.

Angela stares at him, stunned, then starts toward the door.

ANGELA:

You two deserve each other.

And she exits, SLAMMING the door behind her. Jane turns to

Ricky and he takes her in his arms.

INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Angela sits on the stairs, shaken, crying.

EXT. BURNHAM HOUSE - GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

We're MOVING SLOWLY toward the Burnham's GARAGE WINDOW through

the RAIN.

Through the window, we see Lester, wearing only his

sweatpants, performing bench presses.

INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

Through the window, we see the Colonel standing outside,

watching. We ZOOM slowly in on him as he watches, transfixed.

EXT. BURNHAM HOUSE - GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

His POV:
Lester finishes his last rep, then racks the weights

and sits up, sweaty and out of breath. He runs his free hand

over his chest...

And then he glances at us, suddenly aware he's being watched.

INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

Lester and the Colonel stare at each other through the window.

EXT. BURNHAM HOUSE - GARAGE - MOMENTS LATER

The RAIN is coming down in sheets now, and there is a sharp

CLAP of THUNDER. We're directly outside the GARAGE DOOR as

it slowly lifts to reveal Lester smiling at us.

LESTER:

Jesus, man. You're soaked.

INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

Lester pulls the Colonel inside. The Colonel moves stiffly

and seems preoccupied, slightly disoriented.

LESTER:

You want me to get Ricky? He's in

Jane's room.

The Colonel just stands there, looking at Lester.

LESTER:

You okay?

COLONEL:

(his voice thick)

Where's your wife?

LESTER:

Uh... I don't know. Probably out

f***ing that dorky prince of real

estate a**hole. And you know what? I

don't care.

The Colonel moves closer towards him.

COLONEL:

Your wife is with another man and

you don't care?

LESTER:

Nope, our marriage is just for show.

A commercial, for how normal we are.

When we are anything but.

He grins... and so does the Colonel.

LESTER:

You're shaking.

He places his hand on the Colonel's shoulder. The Colonel

closes his eyes.

LESTER:

We really should get you out of these

clothes.

COLONEL:

(a whisper)

Yes...

He opens his eyes and looks at Lester, his face filled with

an anguished vulnerability we wouldn't have thought possible

from him. His eyes are brimming with tears. Lester leans in,

concerned.

LESTER:

It's okay.

COLONEL:

(hoarse)

I...

LESTER:

(softly)

Just tell me what you need.

The Colonel reaches up and places his hand on Lester's

cheek... and then kisses him. Lester is momentarily stunned,

and then he pushes the Colonel away. The Colonel's face

crumples in shame.

LESTER:

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm sorry. You got

the wrong idea.

The Colonel stares at the floor, blinking, and then he turns

and runs out the open garage door into the rainy night.

INT. MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 - CONTINUOUS

Carolyn is still listening to the same MOTIVATIONAL TAPE.

She holds the GLOCK in her hand.

TAPE VOICE:

"I refuse to be a victim." When this

becomes your mantra, constantly

running through your head--

Carolyn switches the TAPE OFF and puts the gun in her purse.

CAROLYN:

I refuse to be a victim.

EXT. FREEWAY - CONTINUOUS

The Mercedes pulls away from the shoulder.

INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Lester enters, opens the refrigerator and grabs a BEER.

Suddenly we HEAR MUSIC coming from the other room. Lester

opens his beer and starts toward the family room.

INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - FAMILY ROOM - CONTINUOUS

His POV:
AS we MOVE SLOWLY around a corner, Angela comes

into view, standing at the STEREO, holding a CD case.

She's been crying; her face is puffy, and her hair mussed.

She regards us apprehensively... then puts on a slightly

defiant smile.

ANGELA:

I hope you don't mind if I play the

stereo.

Lester leans against the wall and takes a swig of his beer.

LESTER:

Not at all.

(then)

Bad night?

ANGELA:

Not really bad, just... strange.

LESTER:

(grins)

Believe me. It couldn't possibly be

any stranger than mine.

She smiles. They stand there in silence; the atmosphere is

charged.

ANGELA:

Jane and I had a fight.

(after a beat)

It was about you.

She's trying to be seductive as she says this, but she's

pretty bad at it.

Lester raises his eyebrows.

ANGELA:

She's mad at me because I said I

think you're sexy.

Lester grins. He is sexy.

LESTER:

(offering beer)

Do you want a sip?

She nods. Lester holds the bottle up to her mouth and she

drinks clumsily.

He gently wipes her chin with the back of his hand.

LESTER:

So... are you going to tell me? What

you want?

ANGELA:

I don't know.

LESTER:

You don't know?

His face is very close to hers. She's unnerved--this is

happening too fast...

ANGELA:

What do you want?

LESTER:

Are you kidding? I want you. I've

wanted you since the first moment I

saw you. You are the most beautiful

thing I have ever seen.

Angela takes a deep breath just before Lester leans in to

kiss her cheek, her forehead, her eyelids, her neck...

ANGELA:

You don't think I'm ordinary?

LESTER:

You couldn't be ordinary if you tried.

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