(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. . .
FIRST GROUP SECOND GROUP
from every door they came victory
these children born of war, they came victory
sharing a secret word, which they victory
waited a hundred years to say
FIRST GROUP SECOND GROUP
the morning of the dragon truth lit the morning of the dragon all the
[up the street [walls fell down
the tiger we were stalking walked brother greeted brother in a
[on paper feet [sudden light
and in the clear white heat of dawn and in the endless night
it's gone was gone
FIRST GROUP SECOND THIRD GROUP
on silent feet it came victory may all our children learn
breathing a sheet of flame, it came victory
closing in on its rightful prey victory the tide of right will turn
burning a hundred years away
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)
THUY and SOLDIERS
FIRST GROUP SECOND THIRD GROUP
on silent feet it came victory may all our children learn
breathing a sheet of flame, it came victory
closing in on its rightful prey victory the tide of right will turn
burning a hundred years away
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. . .
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