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 seem 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

KIM THUY
you will not touch him he is my enemy
it's he turns you from me
don't touch my boy erase him from your life
even your memory
he's what I live for he's one drop in a flood
left here to taint our blood
he's my only joy our marriage bond was sworn
forget that he was born

(KIM pulls out a gun)

KIM THUY
of course you have a gun
don't touch my little boy and now you'll shoot your cousin'
and it's a U.S. gun
and do not test my will a gun that lost the war
you're the corrupted one
I'm warning you, for him I'll kill 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
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

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.)