Daily Dialogue — November 14, 2018

“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?”

— American Beauty (1999), written by Alan Ball

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Drive-Thru Window.

Trivia: Alan Ball based Lester’s story on aspects of his own life. Lester’s re-examination of his life parallels feelings Ball had in his mid-30s; like Lester, Alan Ball put aside his passions to work in jobs he hated for people he did not respect. Scenes in Ricky’s household reflect Ball’s own childhood experiences. Ball suspected his father was homosexual and used the idea to create Col. Fitts, a man who “gave up his chance to be himself”. Ball said the script’s mix of comedy and drama was not intentional, but that it came unconsciously from his own outlook on life. He said the juxtaposition produced a starker contrast, giving each trait more impact than if they appeared alone.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Herewith, a fast food drive-thru subplot in two parts. Scene 1: Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) seeks employment at Mr. Smiley’s.

Scene 2: Lester busts his wife having an affair.