This Is The Hour

[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 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 - it's time to move on
If you don't need me, I'd rather be gone
Two kids in love don't need strangers around

[Thuy]
Just get out

[Engineer]
Right! I won't make a sound

(grabs his sack and leaves)

[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 a reason
I will show you now

(KIM pulls back the curtain and out runs a scared two year old boy. KIM hugs him.)

Look, Thuy, this is my son
He has kept me alive
Now you see why
I must tell you "No"

[Thuy]
No one must ever see
This thing you're showing me
Your 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!
The 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

[Kim]
You will not touch
Him

[Thuy]
He is my enemy
It's he turns you from me

[Kim]
Don't touch my boy

[Thuy]
Erase him from your life
Even your memory

[Kim]
He's what I live for

[Thuy]
He's one drop in a flood
Left here to taint our blood

[Kim]
He's my only joy

[Thuy]
Our marriage bond was sworn
Forget that he was born

(KIM pulls out a gun)

[Thuy]
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

[Kim]
Don't touch my
Little boy

And do not test
My will

[Thuy]
You're the corrupted one Go on and shoot - don't wait
To save your bastard son You must not hesitate

[Kim]
Im warning you
For him
I'll kill

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
You 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)

[Soldiers]
This is the hour
This is our land
We found the power
In our brother's hand
And from a storm
Pierced with light
Fierce and white
The lightning came
A bright'ning flame
To end the night

(A gigantic statue of Ho Chin Mihn 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 our land

(In the room, KIM stares and THUY's body)

(KIM puts the gun, her family shrine and a few valuables in a sack and, taking TAM by the hand, escapes)