Dominicana

Ana continues her English lessons with Sister Lucía at the rectory. She dreads Juan’s eventual return.

Back in the D.R., Ana’s brother Yohnny has fallen in love with his cousin Juanita and refuses to go to the United States without her. Mamá attempts to separate them. Yohnny works for the United States military, who promise him a visa. Mamá finally concedes to giving Yohnny Juanita’s new address.

César takes Ana to the beach at Coney Island. They lie by the water, eat hot dogs from Nathan’s, and ride the Cyclone roller coaster. Ana is happy but haunted by the voices of her family, especially Yohnny.

Ana receives tragic news from the Dominican Republic. Yohnny was caught up in a skirmish in the capital and shot dead.

César helps Ana grieve. She writes an obituary for Yohnny, then for César, then for herself. She envisions a bright life for César, and only says of herself that she died after raising a daughter and living happily.

Ana meets César at his factory to sell her food. But César is out early; immigration passed through the factory and César was fired, even though he has legal papers. César and Ana argue in the train station, and she drops her arepitas.