Photograph, Portrait .........................................Samantha Scattini ’21

Portrait , Samantha Scattini ’21, digital photography

and no one wants to be seen as an outlier.

She sighs and pauses briefly, shaking her head

You want this culture so badly, but you don’t realize what it will cost you! Right now you are at the place I strived my whole life to achieve through myself and your father; you are white. You don’t have to explain yourself or your culture to anyone, because there is nothing to explain. That is a luxury I wish I had. And you’re taking it for granted. She says exasperatedly Don’t you see this is a gift we’ve given you? You are normal, finally, normal!

ANNE Normal? Is that how you see being asian, as abnormal? It’s not a disease Gram. God, this town is so messed up it made you think that you were an outcast just because you were different - And now - now you don’t even see it! UGH!! Your heritage -- it’s -- it’s supposed to be a part of me, and I feel like it’s not and I really want you to help me understand it but you’re -- you’re not even willing to try!

*Pause* Anne has tears of anger in her eyes and is looking down. Ama walks over to Anne, puts her hands on Anne’s crossed arms, and speaks softly.

AMA (Gram) I want you to succeed, I want you to succeed in this American world, and teaching you about mine won’t do you any good.

Anne doesn’t look up.

ANNE Why do you have to see it that way? It’s not all bad.

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Anne is now silently crying, she looks confused and defeated

AMA (Gram) It was for me. ANNE Did someone attack you back then? In North Carolina?

AMA (Gram) If I said so would you drop this whole crusade?

Anne looks at Ama, she doesn’t need a verbal response to know that the answer is yes. She looks back down and composes herself.

ANNE I’m gonna go upstairs and start packing. I can make my own dinner when I come back down.

Ama seems disappointed, but distances herself slightly from Anne. She speaks quietly.

AMA (Gram) Ok. Anne leaves. Ama lets out an exasperated sigh, covers her face with her hands. End Scene

Scene 8

Later that night Ama pulls out a box with all of her Taiwanese memorabilia and pictures to look at on the couch. She examines them, studying her young family in the yellowed polaroids. She starts to spread them out on the table, looking upstairs to where Anne is asleep, but then doubles back and returns them to the box. She closes the lid and stashes it away, then walks into her bedroom and closes the door.

Scene 9

Cut to the next day, Anne and Ama eat a silent breakfast, each observing the other for any signs of hostility. Anne goes upstairs to get her suitcase, and they awkwardly hug in the doorway and say their goodbyes.

ANNE Bye Gram, thanks for having me.

AMA (Gram) Of course. You drive safe, ok?

ANNE Ok.

Anne smiles, but not wholeheartedly. She walks down the driveway and gets into her car. Ama waves as she pulls out of the driveway. Anne swallows, smiles, and drives away. End Scene

Scene 10

Anne is back at home in California cutting apple slices in the kitchen when she hears the doorbell ring. She doesn’t

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