The ENGINEER, in 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 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