14. THE MORNING OF THE DRAGON
(It is three years later. Saigon has been renamed Ho Chi Minh City. A street pageant is celebrating the glorious victory of North Vietnam and the Third Anniversary of Reunification.)
FIRST GROUP
On silent feet it came
Breathing a sheet of flame, it came
Closing in on its rightful prey
Burning a hundred years away
The morning of the dragon truth lit up the street
The tiger we were stalking walked on paper feet
And in the clear white heat of dawn
Was gone. . .
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FIRST GROUP |
SECOND GROUP |
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From every door they came These children born of war, they came Sharing a secret word, which they Waited a hundred years to say |
Victory |
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FIRST GROUP |
SECOND GROUP |
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The morning of the dragon truth lit |
The morning of the dragon all the |
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FIRST GROUP |
SECOND |
THIRD GROUP |
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On silent feet it came |
Victory |
May all our children learn The tide of right will turn |
FIRST GROUP
The morning of the dragon truth lit up the street
The tiger we were stalking walked on paper feet
And in the clear white heat of dawn
Was gone …
(Two soldiers enter with the ENGINEER)
ENGINEER
Three years of school was nice
In rice fields, planting rice
You did good work you see
Re-educating me
SOLDIERS
Who lives a lie must change or die
ENGINEER
Three years – how quick they moved
Look how the world’s improved
Saigon, that queen of sin
Renamed for Ho Chi Minh
SOLDIERS
Who lives a lie must change or die
ENGINEER
But men, will always be men
They washed out my brain
I’m still who I am
Deep inside, I know what I know
Wherever I go, I speak Uncle Ho
And think Uncle Sam
SOLDIER #1
Your name is Trahn Van Dinh
ENGINEER
At your service
SOLDIER #1
You’re called the Engineer
ENGINEER
Yes sir
SOLDIER #1
The people’s Commissar
ENGINEER
Am I free?
SOLDIER #1
Has ordered you back here
SOLDIERS
Who lives a lie must change or die
(THUY, now the people’s commissar, enters)
SOLDIER #2
We found the man that you wanted so bad
SOLDIER #3
And Commissar, you were perfectly right
SOLDIER #2
He had been take up north to a camp
SOLDIER #3
We brought him down under cover of night
SOLDIER #2
Once he had served the American clique
SOLDIER #3
Selling our sisters and daughters for gold
SOLDIER #2
Notice we caught him in less than a week
SOLDIER #3
When we get orders we do what we’re told
THUY
Alright, alright
That’s it, that’s all
You’ve done your job
That’s it
Now go back
I’ll take over now
(The soldiers leave)
THUY
Kim …
Find my cousin for me
I know she worked for you
You knew who her friends were
One of them is the clue
Sniff her out, you know how
Think now what would she do?
ENGINEER
I never saw her again
I am a different man
I’ve been enlightened since then
But …
Men must help other men
And seeing it’s you
I’ll work to the bone
THUY
I’ll give you 48 hours
If you want to stay free
Don’t come back here alone
(The ENGINEER leaves)
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FIRST GROUP |
SECOND |
THIRD GROUP |
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On silent feet it came |
Victory |
May all our children learn The tide of right will turn |
FIRST GROUP
The morning of the dragon truth lit up the street
The tiger we were stalking walked on paper feet
And in the clear white heat of dawn
Was gone …
15. I STILL BELIEVE
KIM
Last night I watched him sleeping
My body pressed to him
And then he started speaking
The name I heard him speak…was Kim
Yes I know that this was years ago
But when moonlight fills my room I know
You are here… still
I still
I still believe
You will return
I know you will
My heart
Against all odds
Holds still
Yes, still
I still believe
I know as long as I can keep believing, I’ll live
I’ll live
Love cannot die
You will return
You will return
And I alone know why
(In a bedroom on the other side of the world, in America. A woman is sitting beside CHRIS who is sleeping. She is ELLEN, CHRIS’s wife)
ELLEN
Last night I watched you sleeping
Once more, the nightmare came
I heard you cry out something
A word that sounded like… a name
And it hurts me more than I can bear
Knowing part of you I’ll never share
Never know
But still
I still believe
The time will come
When nothing keeps us apart
My heart, forever more
Holds still
(CHRIS wakes up from his sleep with a cry. ELLEN takes him in her
arms and calms him)
ELLEN
It’s all over, I’m here
There is nothing to fear
Chris, what’s haunting you?
Won’t you let me inside
What you so want to hide!
I need you too!
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KIM |
ELLEN |
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For still I still believe As long as I Can keep believing I’ll live I’ll live You will return And I know why I’m yours Until we die |
I will hold you all night, I will make It all right You are safe with me And I wish you could tell what you don’t Want to tell What your hell must be You can sleep now You can cry now I’m your wife now For life Until we die |
(In America, CHRIS holds ELLEN; in Vietnam, KIM is alone in
her room.)
16. BACK IN TOWN
(The ENGINEER enters, looking for KIM)
ENGINEER
Coo-coo princess, look who’s here
Your resurrected Engineer
Don’t ask me how I tracked you down
Who has the sharpest nose in town?
I’m here to throw a rope before you drown
For men, will always be men
You change the regime
The lust doesn’t stop
You and I will team up again
Together we’ll reap
The cream of the crop
KIM
Engineer, I don’t want you here
I gave up that life
You must understand
ENGINEER
Out that door is a big shot who waits
Like a pup to come up
And eat out of your hand
Kim, the good times are back
KIM
Don’t go on
It’s too late
ENGINEER
Not too late for my star!
KIM
Please let me hide in peace
ENGINEER
Better to screw the police
Enter, Monsieur Commissar
(THUY enters)
THUY
Three years I’ve been away
I kept faith we would meet
ENGINEER
Me, I found her for you
THUY
You, out in the street
(The ENGINEER and the others leave)
THUY
I knew in time faith would weave a design
Tying your life and mine into one
Each day I’d wait
Like a soldier must wait
Trusting victory to come with the sun
After the fight in the still of the night
I would picture my bride, bright as jade
You’ll be my wife
We will build a new life
And fulfill the vow our fathers made
KIM
My father’s vow I can’t honor today
And I pray in my heart he’ll forgive
What you want now are some words I can’t say
If I lied to you how can I live?
THUY
Don’t say anymore!
Not a word!
You can change
You can learn
Look at me
Don’t decide too soon
KIM
Somewhere deep in my soul
Shines the smallest of lights
And no wind blows it out
It burns steady and strong
Through the darkest of nights
Dju vui vay
Yu doi my
Dju vui vay
Vao nyay moy
I made a promise once with these words
Which neither time nor distance has changed
He will come to me, still
THUY
You must be mad, your American Jack
Has gone for good and he’ll never come back
They ran away with the skin they could save
The ones who stayed here are dead in a grave
(The ENGINEER re-enters)
ENGINEER
Come on now, princess, get off your cloud
I’m sorry, sir, she was talking so loud
The Commissar is a powerful man
A girl with brains makes a life where she can
Princess remember your place
Don’t make people lose face
THUY
Why do you look away?
I can end all this shame
All you need say is, “yes”
(From outside, soldiers are heard marching by)
You hear those soldiers out there
They’ll do whatever I say
KIM
I cannot change how I feel!
THUY
Come inside!
I think you can change before my eyes
This me-my has just been found
She hid the day we closed the bars
Show her that we don’t forget
No one is cured here without scars
SOLDIER #1
You are a woman who lived without shame
SOLDIER #2
You’re an infection left over from war
SOLDIER #3
You have dishonored the national name
SOLDIER #4
Re-education will cure the disease
SOLDIER #5
You must be shown what we do to a leach
SOLDIER #6
See how we teach an American’s whore
ENGINEER
I have heard hundreds of speeches like these
Take it from me you don’t want to hear more
THUY
It’s time to act
My friends it’s time
SOLDIERS
Her face betrays her crime
She must pay, and her partner too
THUY
Get out!!
Everybody out!!
ENGINEER
Are you waiting for them to kill me?
Did you not get what he said?
There’s a big screw loose inside you
I will rip it out of your head
That’s a mad dog on the rampage
If you think he’ll change, save your breath
Just say “yes”, I don’t care if you love him
Princess, life has it all over death!
KIM
I have a husband I love
Real as the sun in the sky
I cannot live with a lie
THUY
Do you see now who has the power?
Do you still think crazy things?
KIM
Chris will come to me like the Phoenix
And he’ll take me off on his wings
THUY
You’re a traitor to your country
KIM
If I am, then let it be
KIM, THUY and the ENGINEER
I am talking of life or death now
I am talking of staying free
ENGINEER
So there it is now, I’ll be moving on
If you don’t need me, I’d rather be gone
Two kids in love don’t need strangers around
THUY
You just get out!
ENGINEER
Right! I won’t make a sound
(grabs his sack and exits)
THUY
And as for you, come with me
KIM
No!
There is a secret
That you don’t know
There is a force here
I never show
You say it’s treason
To keep my vow
Season after season
I survived somehow
If you want the reason
I will show you now
Tam!
(TAM comes out from behind the curtain and runs to KIM)
Look, Thuy, this is my son
He has kept me alive
Now you see why
I must tell you “no”
17. THUY’S DEATH / YOU WILL NOT TOUCH HIM
THUY
No one must ever see
This thing you’re showing me
That bastard fouls our name
KIM
My baby’s not to blame
For what I’ve done
THUY
You must decide upon
Which side you’re really on
You whored to make this kid
KIM
That isn’t what I did
Don’t touch my son
THUY
You must see how it is when you’re my wife
Having that child of his brands us for life
No alternative! This child cannot live!
(THUY pulls a knife, threatening the boy.)
KIM
No!
You will not touch him
Don’t touch my boy
He’s what I live for
He’s my only joy
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KIM |
THUY |
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You will not touch him Don’t touch my boy He’s what I live for He’s my only joy |
He is my enemy It’s he turns you from me Erase him from your life Even your memory He’s one drop in a flood Left here to taint our blood Our marriage bond was sworn Forget that he was born |
(KIM pulls out a gun)
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KIM |
THUY |
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And do not test my will I’m warning you, for him I’ll kill |
Of course you have a gun And now you’ll shoot your cousin And it’s a U.S. gun A gun that lost the war You’re the corrupted one Go on and shoot! Don’t wait To save your bastard son You must not hesitate |
KIM
The earth moves where I stand
I feel the turning of a wheel
I feel nothing in my hand
Not even the feel of steel
Uou will not take my child…
THUY
You don’t know how to kill
KIM
I have no other choice
What I must do I will
(She shoots THUY and, at the same moment, the street pageant continues in the street outside.)
CROWD
This is the hour
This is our land
We found the power
In our brother’s hand
And from a storm
KIM
No!
CROWD
Pierced with light
Fierce and white
The lightning came
A bright’ning flame
To end the night
(A gigantic statue of Ho Chi Minh is raised in the square outside.)
One man to heed us
Each girl, each boy
One voice to lead us
In a song of joy
This is the hour
This is the land
(In the room, KIM stares at THUY’S body.)
(KIM puts the gun, her family shrine and a few valuables in a sack and, taking TAM by the hand, escapes.)
18. IF YOU WANT TO DIE IN BED
(The ENGINEER is making his way furtively through the city.
SOLDIERS seem to be everywhere.)
ENGINEER
If you want to die in bed
Follow my example
When you see a cloud ahead
It’s time to show your class
Hit the door before
They make a target of your ass
If you want to die in bed
In times of revolution
When the flag they fly is red
Let pride fill up your chest
Meanwhile pack a sack
And take the first boat heading west
(He enters the abandoned backroom of what was once “Dreamland”, opens a trapdoor in the floor and removes a tin box. He opens it.)
My precious souvenirs
Of all the golden years
Rolex watches in steel
That look practically real
I’ll need a little stock
To start me in Bangkok!
If you want to die in bed
Forget about your karma
When your life hangs by a thread
Don’t cry about the fates
Grab a stash of cash
And plan a rest’rant in the States
Let me stop for a bit
This was my greatest hit
Miss Saigon in her crown
I made queen of the town
I got ’em paying more
For just another whore
Here I come, USA
Your next champ’s on his way
For men will always be men
The rules are the same
For kings or for clerks
Give me Francs, or Dollars or Yen
I’ll set up a game
I know how it works
Why was I born of a race
That thinks only of rice
And hates entrepreneurs?
Me, I belong in a place
Where a man sets his price
And you pay, and he’s yours
I should be… American!
Where every promise lands
And every businessman knows where he stands
First stop Bangkok then I roam
Cross that ocean white with foam
To the place that’s my heart’s true home
America!
If you want to die in bed
En route to your nirvana
You grab a chance and plunge ahead
And go where people win
Heaven’s there… but, shit!
You need a visa to get in!
19. KIM AND ENGINEER
(KIM bursts into the ENGINEER’S shack, carrying TAM)
KIM
Engineer!
Thuy is dead!
He was going to kill my baby and I shot
ENGINEER
You did what?
Who is that?
You’ll be followed! Get him out of here! Good-bye!
KIM
We must leave!
Tam and I!
We must set off for America tonight
ENGINEER
Oh, right!
Just like that!
Tell me how, and while you’re at it, tell me why
KIM
I hear the voice of my soldier
Telling me to bring… his son
ENGINEER
You’re telling me this half-breed brat
Is born the son of a marine?
Let me see his western nose
This bastard is… the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen!
A passport in my hand
My new life can begin
Your brat’s American
So they must let us in!
In!
The playground of mankind!
The movie in my mind!
I’m your dear brother from now on
And all our family is gone
Boy, kiss your brand-new uncle Tran
This kid is okay
He is our entree
To the USA
With these two little diamonds to bait my hooks
I’ll book us on a cruise “boat-people” deluxe
Don’t worry ’bout the sharks out in the Mekong bay
The pirates taking us are more scary any day
You just stay here and hide
Don’t show your face outside
Take care of our little dear
I will go “engineer”
(He runs out.)
(In the street)
ENGINEER
If you want to die in bed
Don’t care too much for country
Hit the open sea instead
And float there like a cork
Uncle Ho, ho ho ho!
I’ll have to call you from New York
20. I’D GIVE MY LIFE FOR YOU
KIM
You who I cradled in my arms, you
Asking as little as you can
Little snip of a little man
I know I’d give my life for you
You didn’t ask me to be born, you
why should you learn of war or pain
To make sure you’re not hurt again
I swear I’d give my life for you
I’ve tasted love beyond all fear
And you should know it’s love that brought you here
And in one perfect night
When the stars burned like new
I knew what I must do
I’ll give you a million things I’ll never own
I’ll give you a world to conquer when you’re grown
You will be who you want to be, you
Can choose whatever heaven grants
As long as you can have your chance
I swear I’ll give my life for you
Sometimes I wake up
Reaching for him
I feel his shadow brush my head
But there’s just moonlight on my bed
Was he a ghost? was he a lie
That made my body laugh and cry?
Then, by my side, the proof I see:
His little one, gods of the sun, bring him to me!
You will be who you want to be, you
Can choose whatever heaven grants
As long as you can have your chance
I swear I’ll give my life for you
No one can stop what I must do
I swear I’ll give my life for you.
(A CHORUS of VIETNAMESE gathering to leave the country)
FIRST GROUP
No place, no home
No life, no hope
No chance, no change
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SECOND GROUP |
FIRST GROUP |
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No regret, no return |
No place, no home |
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SECOND GROUP |
FIRST GROUP |
THIRD GROUP |
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No regret, no return No goodbye, no regret No return no goodbye No regret… |
No place, no home |
One day, one night |
(the ENGINEER, KIM and TAM join the boat people)
CURTAIN