The Roths’ ongoing conversations about the reality of the threats of anti-Semitic government emissaries and agencies are frustrating for all of them. Herman wants to express himself and defend his rights, while Bess wishes that Herman would help their family to be less conspicuous. Sandy discounts the whole thing as hogwash and calls his parents “paranoid ghetto Jews,” which betrays his own internalized anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, Philip is stuck at the center of it all, and he’s too young to do anything but watch his family descend into chaos and animosity. In this way, the OAA’s agenda to break up Jewish families is working.