Daily Dialogue — January 3, 2014

Carolyn Burnham: My husband, Lester.
Buddy Kane: It’s a pleasure.
Lester Burnham: Oh, we’ve met before, actually. This thing last year, Christmas at the Sheraton…
Buddy Kane: [pretends to remember] Oh yeah, yes…
Lester Burnham: It’s OK, I wouldn’t remember me either.
Carolyn Burnham: [laughs nervously] Honey, don’t be weird.
Lester Burnham: OK honey, I won’t be weird. I’ll be whatever what you want me to be.

Lester kisses Carolyn wildly, then looks at the Real Estate King.

Lester Burnham: We have a very healthy relationship.
Buddy Kane: I see.
Lester Burnham: Well, don’t know about you guys, but I need a drink.

— American Beauty (1999), written by Alan Ball

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Party.

Trivia: The self-help tapes that Carolyn listens to are made by a “Dr. Alan Ball”. Alan Ball is the film’s screenwriter.

Dialogue On Dialogue: From a plot standpoint, this scene exists to intersect Lester with Ricky Fitts, specifically Ricky’s pot. However it’s interesting to consider this little moment and Lester’s behavior from the perspective of Carolyn. She is all about image. She even says so in the lead-up to this bit of business with Buddy Kane. Imagine the pins and needles she must be on knowing what a loose cannon she has in the way of a spouse, forced to bring him to this business party. And Lester’s behavior does nothing to assuage her concerns.