Norman is overwhelmed with joy when his son is born—until he notices the baby’s skin is much darker than his or his wife Sarah’s. Convinced she has been unfaithful, he confronts her in the hospital room. Sarah passionately denies cheating, insisting she has only ever been with him. Despite her pleas, Norman cannot reconcile what he sees with what he believes, and years of love, fertility struggles, and shared heartbreak suddenly feel like a lie. Devastated and angry, he storms out.

After driving aimlessly and wrestling with doubt and betrayal, Norman is called back to the hospital. A doctor, Dr. Chen, asks both parents to return and suggests there may be a genetic explanation for the baby’s appearance, mentioning dormant genes and genetic atavism—hinting that the child’s features may be the result of inherited traits rather than infidelity.

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