(…)
EXT. PARKING LOT – DAY
On VIDEO: We’re watching the video Ricky showed Jane earlier, of the empty white PLASTIC BAG being blown about. The wind carries it in a circle around us, sometimes whipping it about violently, or, without warning, sending it soaring skyward, then letting it float gracefully down to the ground…
LESTER (V.O.)
I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me… but it’s hard to stay mad, when there’s so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I’m seeing it all at once, and it’s too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that’s about to burst…
EXT. – ROBIN HOOD TRAIL – DAY
We’re FLYING once again over Robin Hood Trail, ASCENDING SLOWLY.
LESTER (V.O.)
…and then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can’t feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life…
(amused)
You have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m sure. But don’t worry…
FADE TO BLACK.
LESTER (V.O.) (cont’d)
You will someday.
Alan Ball (script writer), Sam Mendes (director), American Beauty (extract of the script, final takes), 1999
Source of the entire script: http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/AmericanBeauty_final.html