Snow Orchid Book

THE STORY: Rocco Lazarra has been in a rehab institution since a suicide attempt uncovered a manic-depressive disorder. Now, medically stabilized and converted to a calm and moral individual, he returns to the family he humiliated and abused for over twenty years. He brings a new hobby with him, too: orchids. His deeply religious wife, Filumena, who has a fear of leaving the house, is not sure what to expect from him. Sebbie, the older son, is her mainstay but there has always been bad blood between him and Rocco. Blaise, the younger son, the one they call, the American, doesn't remember the bad days and sympathizes as he uncovers Rocco's lithium and Valium. But Sebbie accuses his father of being cool only because of the drugs. Rocco's response is to dump his medication into the rigatoni and to reveal to Blaise his suicide attempt. He goes on to tell him about orchids and the lessons of hope they can impart. With nothing resolved between Sebbie and Rocco, Filumena fears that Sebbie will now leave home. Sebbie tries to get Filumena to leave with him, but she refuses, and he readies to leave for Texas with Doogan, his boyfriend. Rocco learns of Sebbie's homosexuality and attempts to communicate with him but Sebbie goads his father into a fit of rage before leaving for good. There will be no forgiveness for Rocco now, but in the end, he and Blaise coax Filumena to step out of the door for the first time into a snow white America.