This Is the Hour

(The ENGINEER, in a peasant clothes, Is brought back to the city from a re-education camp by THUY's soldiers. THUY instructs him to find KIM in exchange for his 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) 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! I have a husband Real as the sun in the sky I cannot live with a lie Do you see now who has power Do you still think crazy things? Chris will come to me like the phoenix And he'll take me off on his wings You're a traitor to your country If I am, then let it be I am talking of life or death now I am talking of staying free 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 Just get out Right! I won't make a sound (Grabs his sack and leaves) And as for you Come with me 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" No one must ever see This thing you're showing me Your bastard fouls our name My baby's not to blame For what I've done You must decide upon Which side you're really on You whored to make this kid That isn't what I did Don't touch my son 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) No You will not touch him Don't touch my boy He's what I live for He's my only joy 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) Of course you have a gun And now you'll shoot your cousin' And it's a U.S. gun Don't touch my Little boy And do not test A gun that lost the war My will You're the corrupted one Go on and shoot - don't wait To save your bastard son You must not hesitate 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... You don't know how to kill 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) 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)