Samantha Dorrance Interview [Excerpt]

Interviewee: Samantha Jacquelynn Dorrance

Interviewer: Dr. Candace Gastauer

Date: Wednesday, July 23

Meeting place: Virtual [Zoom]

Attendees: BD = Dr. Candace Gastauer (interviewer), SD = Samantha Dorrance (interviewee), WD = Walter T. Dorrance (conservator), ED = Eloise Dorrance (conservator)

Transcript style: Verbatim

Opening prayer: Completed

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BD: Anything?

WD: No. It’s all messed up still.

BD: You’re kidding? We just can’t seem to catch a break, can we? [inaudible 0:11] You know what? Forget it. I’m tired of fiddling with this thing. I’m just going to turn the camera off. [deep breath] Okay. Hi. Good afternoon, Mr. Dorrance. Samantha.

WD: Doctor.

SD: [inaudible 0:33]

BD: Good afternoon. Alright, let’s see now. This is our ... fourth? Is that right? Is this really our fourth interview?

WD: Yeah. Four interviews. You said at the beginning of this thing that it should only take two or three. I got a lot of other things I could be doing right now, doctor. I don’t really have time for this shit.

BD: Language, Mr. Dorrance. Please. If not for your daughter’s sake, then at least out of respect for the Lord.

WD: Look, I’m sorry, but this is fucking bullshit. I’ve talked to plenty of other schools, and none of them has jerked me around as much as you people have. All the forms and waivers and screwed up video and whatnot. I only agreed to be here today because I really want Sam in your program. Everyone says it’s the best in the country, but my patience is at its end, doctor. So we either get this done today, or I take my business elsewhere.

BD: I understand your frustration, Mr. Dorrance. I really do. And I apologize this has taken so long, but I can assure you this isn’t how things normally go. Most of the candidates I interview are very forthcoming, but Samantha’s defiance and refusal to answer any of my questions truthfully and completely has unfortunately dragged this process out much longer than I anticipated.

SD: [inaudible 2:03]

BD: I’m sorry, Samantha, I didn’t catch that.

SD: I said, I’ve answered every single one of your questions.

BD: You’ve responded to my questions, but you haven’t been completely honest with me.

SD: I’ve never lied to you. Not one time.

BD: An omission is the same as lying, Samantha. I’m just trying to get to the truth.

SD: No you’re not. All you’re trying to do is humiliate me in front of my dad, and ruin our relationship.

WD: Christ, she’s trying to help you, Sam. We all are.

SD: [crying]

WD: You can quit it with the waterworks. That crybaby pussy shit might work on your mom, but not on me. You did the crime, and now you’ve got to own up to it and do the time, and that means accepting whatever punishment God has in store for you.

SD: What have I done to make you treat me like this? I was supposed to be your friend, remember?

WD: You broke God’s law, Sam! Nothing is more important than that. Not even family.

SD: But you’re my dad! Don’t you love me anymore? Why can’t you just forgive me? All I want is for things to go back to the way they used to be.

WD: I do too. But you have to get right with God first. You’re the worst kind of sinner there is. Why can’t you see that?

SD: But I keep trying to tell you, I never had sex!

WD: Shut your lying mouth, or so help me. I saw it with my own eyes, Sam! I was there! That motherfucker had his cock all the way up your fucking ass, so don’t you sit there and lie straight to my face!

SD: But I’m still a virgin, dad! I swear!

WD: A virgin? You’re no virgin. You’re a liar, and a sinner, and a goddammed fucking sodomite, that’s what you are. Oh Christ, I can’t even stand to look at you right now. You fucking disgust me.

BD: Mr. Dorrance, please sit down.

SD: [crying] Dad, please!

WD: Don’t touch me. No daughter of mine would ever do anything so perverted. I’m not your dad, and you’re definitely not my daughter. Not right now. Not until you get right with God.

BD: Mr. Dorrance. Samantha. Please, none of this is helpful. Can we all just please sit back down? Thank you. Now Samantha, I understand how hurtful your father’s words may sound, but he’s merely speaking the truth. The revealed Word of God is quite clear on this matter. All fornication outside of the sanctity of holy matrimony is considered a mortal sin. Even to just think about it is a sin. There is no ambiguity on this matter, and no loopholes to slip through.

SD: But it’s just not fair.

BD: What’s not fair?

SD: If it’s such a big sin, then why did God make me to feel the way I do?

WD: Stop that, Samantha! Right now! You will not blaspheme in this house! God’s love is perfect, you hear me. Perfect! And he made you perfect. You chose to turn your back on him, and defy his laws. That was your choice, not his.

BD: Thank you, Mr. Dorrance. Quite right. Now, may I please continue?

WD: [inaudible 6:40]

BD: Thank you. Samantha, I want to explore this line of discussion with you a little bit more. What do you mean when you say that God made you to feel a certain way? What way is that?