 While shopping in a used bookstore, Hannah very boldly gets the attention of Leo. They have a playful and revealing conversation. When Leo reveals something crucial about himself, Hannah is taken aback and casually disassociates herself from Leo. Exterior, like John Cassavetes  classic first feature Shadows (which was a prime influence), explores how race and ethnicity drive a wedge between people and how things aren t always as they appear racially and ethnically.