Mr. Frank. Mrs. Van Daan, Mr. Van Daan, Peter. (Then, in explanation of their lateness) There were too many of the Green Police on the streets . . . we had to take the long way around. (Up the steps come Margot Frank, Mrs. Frank, Miep (not pregnant now), and Mr. Kraler. All of them carry bags, packages, and so forth. The Star of David is conspicuous on all of the Franks' clothing. Margot is eighteen, beautiful, quiet, shy. Mrs. Frank is a young mother, gently bred, reserved. She, like Mr. Frank, has a slight German accent. Mr. Kraler is a Dutchman, dependable, kindly. As Mr. Kraler and Miep go upstage to put down their parcels, Mrs. Frank turns back to call Anne.)

To remind the reader that the opening scene and this scene take place at different time periods .

Explanation:

"The Diary of Anne Frank" is one of the most-read personal memoir and witness accounts of the discrimination against the Jews. Though written by a young girl and covers just some years of their life in hiding, the book paints a vast picture of what life was for them then.

As given in the excerpt, the stage directions are included so that they provide extra details though not necessarily to be mentioned in the dialogues or main part. Stage directions help paint a picture of how the scene is for the readers, without the need to be integrated into the dialogue or communication.

And the given stage direction in the excerpt is to tell remind the readers of how the opening scene and this particular mentioned scene are from different periods.

Thus, the correct answer is the second option.