by THUY'S soldiers. THUY instructs him to find KIM in exchange for its freedom. The
 ENGINEER tracks down KIM and leads THUY to her. Once more, she rejects his love,
 declaring that she's sworn herself to CHRIS. The enraged THUY, now the people's
 commissar, orders his soldiers to attack. They wreck the room and beat up the ENGINEER.)

 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, 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
 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

 (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
 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
 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)

 KIM

 THUY
 of course you have a gun

 KIM
 don't touch my little boy

 THUY
 and now you'll shoot your cousin'
 and it's a U.S. gun

 KIM
 and do not test my will

 THUY
 a gun that lost the war
 you're the corrupted one

 KIM
 I'm warning you, for him I'll kill

 THUY
 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
 pierced with life
 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