The Paper Menagerie - IAT202 Final Project

Summary

The script explores themes of work, relationships, and family. It begins with a work-related conversation where a person is asked about returning to the office. The tone shifts to a personal reflection from a parent to their son, sharing feelings of distance and longing. The parent wishes to connect with their son, who is starting high school, but feels shut out as the son spends more time with friends and less at home. The script highlights the parent's love and desire for closeness, despite generational and emotional gaps.

Takeaways

• 🎵 The transcript starts with background music.
• 📞 A phone conversation occurs where one person is asked if they are coming to work, with plans to arrive later.
• 🗂 The person asks to leave files on their desk and discusses possibly extending a merger.
• 👨‍👦 The tone shifts to a personal message from a father to his son, reflecting on their relationship.
• 🏫 The father mentions that today was the son's first day of high school, while the father never had a chance to attend high school due to becoming an orphan at 10.
• 💬 The father wishes he could ask the son more about his life, but feels distant and misunderstood.
• 🚶‍♂️ The son often goes straight to his room after school, and the father wonders if everything is okay.
• 🍽 The father expresses a desire for the son to join him for dinner more often, but the son often eats alone or with friends.
• 🏠 Despite living together, the father feels they barely see each other and that there’s a growing distance between them.
• ❤️ The father ends the message by expressing love for his son.

Q & A

What is the relationship between the speaker and the person they are addressing?

The speaker appears to be a parent addressing their son, expressing feelings of distance and concern for their relationship.

Why does the speaker feel distant from their son?

The speaker feels distant because their son often retreats to his room after school, rarely eats with them, and prefers to spend time with friends instead of at home.

What past experience does the speaker share about their own life?

The speaker shares that they became an orphan at the age of 10 and never had the money to attend high school, highlighting the difference between their upbringing and their son's current life.

How does the speaker feel about their son having the opportunity to attend high school?

The speaker expresses gratitude and happiness that their son has the opportunity to attend high school, something they themselves never had.

What does the speaker wish their son would do more often?

The speaker wishes their son would talk to them more about his life and spend more time at home, especially during dinner.

How does the speaker try to understand their son's life?

The speaker acknowledges that they grew up in a completely different environment and admits that they don't fully understand their son's life, which is a source of tension.

What does the speaker hope for in their relationship with their son?

The speaker hopes to become closer to their son, to understand him better, and to spend more time together as a family.

Why does the speaker mention the origami?

The mention of origami seems unrelated to the rest of the script, possibly as an introduction or transition, but it is not expanded upon in the emotional part of the dialogue.

What emotional tone does the speaker convey in their message?

The speaker conveys a tone of sadness, longing, and love. They are clearly hurt by the emotional distance between them and their son, but they still express care and affection.

What does the speaker's final statement, 'I love you son,' signify?

The speaker's final statement reinforces their deep love and emotional connection, despite the challenges in their relationship and communication.