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
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 bast*rd 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

Kim
Don't touch my
Little boy

And do not test

A gun that lost the war
My will

Thuy
You're the corrupted one Go on and shoot - don't wait
To save your bast*rd son You must not hesitate

Kim
Im warning you
For him
I'll kill

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
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)

Crowd
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)