Subset a df using an if statement - Pandas

I am hoping to create and return a subsetted df using an if statement. Specifically, for the code below, I have two different sets of values. The df I want to return will vary based on one of these values.

Using the code below, the specific value will be within normal and different. The value in place will dictate how the df will be subsetted.

Below is my attempt. The value in place will only ever be a single value, so it won't match the lists in full. Is it possible to return the df when the value in place is equal to a single value with these lists?

I'm hoping to return df1 to be used for subsequent tasks.

import pandas as pd

df = pd.DataFrame({
    'period' : [1.0, 1.0, 2.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 7.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0],                                
    })

place = 'a'

normal = ['a','b']
different = ['v','w','x','y','z']

different_subset_start = 2
normal_subset_start = 4
subset_end = 8

if place == different:
    print('place is different')
    df1 = df[(df['period'] >= different_subset_start) & (df['period'] <= subset_end)].drop_duplicates(subset = 'period')
    return df1
elif place == normal:
    print('place is normal')
    df1 = df[(df['period'] >= normal_subset_start) & (df['period'] <= subset_end)].drop_duplicates(subset = 'period')
    return df1
else:
    print('Incorrect input for place. Please check value')
#return(df1)

separate script

print(df1)

Intended output would be to return df1 to be used later.

   period
2     2.0
4     3.0
5     4.0
6     5.0
7     7.0
9     8.0