PHIL 1101 University April 24th 2013
FUN HOME PROJECT: THE ROLE OF FAMILY IN ONE’S SELFDISCOVERY
screenplay by Jordan Dube
FADE IN: INT. A PHILADELPHIA LUNCHEONETTE AFTERNOON Mr. BECHDEL and his daughter ALISON are at a booth sitting across from each other. A WAITRESS walks past with a pot of coffeethe whole diner is BUZZING with conversation, JUKEBOX MUSIC, and the COOK calling out orders. Mr. Bechdel and Alison are the only ones who are SILENT as they read over the MENUS. They both look up when a TRUCKDRIVING BULL DYKE enters frame. ALISON'S POV The waitress is behind the counter talking to the LESBIAN, who is standing with her back to the camera. From behind she looks like a man; OVERWEIGHT, PLAID SHIRT, SHORT HAIR. The waitress is smiling, nodding and WRITING the ORDER in a NOTEPAD. AUDIO FADES TO MUTE. MICHELLE (V.O.) In this scene on pages 118 and 119 of Alison Bechdel's Graphic Memoir "Fun Home" we see a young Alison out for lunch with her father when she recognizes herself in the first “butch” lesbian she has ever seen. This is a profound moment for Alison, who’s never seen a concrete representation of how she feels about herself. The sight of the woman with short hair wearing man’s clothes legitimizes Alison’s desire to express her body in the very same way. Because she hasn't had previous exposure to someone being openly and obviously gay, she describes the moment as joyous. The woman's defiance under the "social gaze" (keeping in mind judgment and prejudice as consequences for being out) is an expression of her freedom and Alison, for a brief moment, feels affirmed in her own facticity and transcendence. For the first time she doesn’t feel like an outlier. What’s most relevant about this scene however is what her father says next… CUT TO: Mr. Bechdel and Alison sitting in their booth. MR. BECHDEL (almost sarcastically) Is that what you want to look like?
MICHELLE (V.O.)
This is one of the few scenes throughout the memoir that Alison does not fight for, or take ownership of being more "masculine". Normally she is resisting the dresses and hair barrettes she is forced to wear. This scene speaks to the influence a parent has over their child’s becoming. No.
ALISON CUT TO:
WIDE ANGLE SHOT INSIDE THE DINER Mr. Bechdel and Alison are EATING now. Neither of them look up from their meals. MICHELLE (V.O.) This scene also resonates with me. It reminds me of an experience I had with my mother. FADE TO: INT. FAMILY HOME IN CALGARY DAY A YOUNG MICHELLE is sitting at a KITCHEN TABLE thumbing the pages of a SADDLE CLUB PAPERBACK she hasn't started reading yet. It is SUMMERTIME, the kitchen is BRIGHT and MAGPIES can be heard from outside through the OPEN WINDOWS. Her MOTHER ELIZABETH is also at the table, PAINTING HER NAILS and telling Michelle about the BBQ they're attending as a family, Sunday after Mass. When Elizabeth is done talking, Michelle jumps at the opportunity to bring up the riding lesson she had the previous Saturday. She TALKS ANIMATEDLY about the horse she has been riding, and about how well they're doing together, but Elizabeth is only HALF LISTENING.
ELIZABETH (interrupting) You are obsessed Michelle. It’s not healthy. MICHELLE Horseback riding is not an obsession. Mom. Horses are my passion. There’s a difference. ELIZABETH No. It’s an obsession. You need
help. MICHELLE (V.O.) It’s strange how something as trivial as a single, small comment can leave a very lasting, and very deep impression. The thing I remember most clearly is how her words made me feelan unpleasant mix of selfdoubt, confusion and shame. Was I obsessed? There were strong negative implications with both her wording and tone. But how could something that I love so much, which brings me so much joy and happiness be a bad thing? MICHELLE (getting upset) Mom. No I do not. And I'm not obsessed! PAN OUT to see the disagreement between mother and daughter escalate into a fight. AUDIO FADES TO MUTE. MICHELLE (V.O.) I think the authority of a parent can be powerful and absolute to a child. And the younger the child, the more this rings true. I know from personal experience, my mom’s authoritarian style of parenting lends itself to my viewing her as infallible and the source of Truth. I was raised to believe she was (almost) always right. No value was placed on critical thinking, questioning, autonomous decision making, discussion or compromise. Military obedience was rewarded in my household. You wouldn't believe my mom's favorite catchphrase even if I told you... FADE TO: EXT. CALGARY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MORNING A WIFE, HUSBAND and TWO CHILDREN sit in an IDLING CAR in the parking lot of CALGARY'S AIRPORT. They go unnoticed by the PEOPLE walking past with LUGGAGE CARTS and TRAVELLING BACKPACKS. MICHELLE'S POV IN THE CAR ELIZABETH turns around in the driver's seat to face MICHELLE and her BROTHER JONATHAN who are sitting next to each other in the backseat. The DAD KIM is seen OBLIVIOUSLY PULLING SUITCASES out of the TRUNK through the REAR WINDOW. ELIZABETH
I'm only going to go over this once. Both of you better be on your best behavior with Nanny and Poppy. You're going to help out around the house. You're going to do everything I say, when I say it. MICHELLE (V.O.) It is summer and we're on our way to visit the grandparents who live in St. John's Newfoundland. I am fifteen years old in this scene. Jonathan is fourteen. Too old to be needing the "best behavior speech"... ELIZABETH CONT. Is that understood? When I say jump you say, 'how high'. Michelle and Jonathan steal a QUICK GLANCE at each other then CROSS THEIR ARMS, NOT SAYING A WORD. ELIZABETH CONT. (raising her voice) ...Say it. How high. When I say jump you say how high! FADE TO BLACK. MICHELLE (V.O.) There was a discrepancy between the person my mom wanted me to be and who I wanted to me. There was also a discrepancy between how my mom saw me, and how I saw myself. I was unable to reconcile these differences, no matter how hard I tried, so it was the primary source of tension in our relationship while I was growing up. The knowledge of someone else's gaze can be persuasive. It took me a long time to realize that my mom was humanimperfect, capable of mistakes and being wrong. This learning curve was both difficult and liberating. I can't in good conscience leave you with such a negative depiction of my mom. Although I disagree with her parenting methods, I hold no resentment or anger towards her. She did the best she could considering her abusive relationship with my father, their divorce, and her raising my brother and I as a single mom working fulltime and going to school for her Masters. Occasional bad parenting did not make her a bad parent. We are close now that I am older, and the dynamic of our relationship has shifted from parentchild to friendship. Nowadays she accepts my decisions and who I am becoming. But it would be okay even if she didn't. Because I
learned from her that living well is impossible when we use other's opinions as the yardstick with which we measure and define our own authenticity.
END.
