[Man] Get off the fence now! This is for US citizens only!
[Phones Ringing]
[Man] Do you have any relatives here?
[Gunfire, Explosions]
[Panting]
[Airplane Approaching]
[Man Yelling]
[Vehicle Drives By]
[Birds Chirping]
[Horn Honking]
[Speaking Vietnamese]
[Honking Continues]
Welcome to America, and welcome to Camp Pendleton
My name is Gunnery Sergeant Jim Lance,
the senior staff NCO in charge of this camp
At this time, I need each of you
to move to the Quonset huts that you were assigned to
There is one cot per person and one locker per family
I repeat, I need each of you to check in to the Quonset huts you were assigned to
Do not switch huts at this time
No one is allowed to leave this camp without permission
Anyone who speaks English, please translate for the others
Whoa, whoa
[Shutter Clicks]
Lance Corporal, let's go
[Horn Honks]
Minh!
[Honking Continues]
Minh!
[Lance On Bullhorn] Welcome to America, and welcome to Camp Pendleton
My name is Gunnery Sergeant Jim Lance
Why don't you go back? It's faster if I search alone
[Speaking Vietnamese]
The milk here is too bitter She won't drink it
I will ask for some sugar
[Man On Radio] In other related news,
today the 18th AR VN Division and the Airborne Division of the South
succeeded in holding off numerous assaults from the North Vietnamese Army
The battle is for the city of Xuan Loc, located 40 kilometers northeast of Saigon
This is the first time in a month that the AR VN
has seriously attempted to halt the Communist offensive
This is good news, maybe too late
The AR VN had recently lost Da Nang without a fight
and gave the N VA little resistance in Qui Nhon
The N VA offensive then continued south
to overtake Binh Dinh, Tuy Hoa and other coastal towns
with little or no resistance from the AR VN
An American commander today stated that maybe we underestimated
the South's will to fight on their own
The fierce stand at Xuan Loc is a courageous effort for the AR VN,
yet most experts believe that it is too late
Just 40 kilometers from Saigon and no American support,
it's only a matter of time before the N VA
take control of Xuan Loc and head for Saigon
But while the shops and restaurants may open in Saigon as usual,
many civilians are planning their escape
or just stirring their coffee, endlessly waiting
The fortunate few with US dollars and connections to the Americans
have been purchasing visas for as much as 8,000 US dollars
For others, prayer is the only hope
What are you kids doing here?
What have I told you about walking off by yourselves?
We are looking for our mom She promised to meet us here in America
You're right
She will meet us here
But right now we need to go get lunch
Afterwards, I will help you find her
You promise? 'Cause if I don't find her, no one will look out for her
Don't worry She is all right
Anh, where did you get that?
Let's go
[Man] Form one line, everybody There'll be enough for everyone
People stay in order, please
Hey, Tai!
- How are you? - Fine
For your piece of chicken, I bet you they are serving chicken
How do you know?
I can see the long lines
Where did you get the bike?
From one of the marines
It's for my new business
Whatever you want, I can get
I'm providing us with a taste of the dream
Think about it
What else are people going to do with all of that gold they brought over?
How did you get the items in?
I'll tell you a secret
There is this cook Addie
He's my middle man
Hey, Tung! I have the watch Do you want it?
Come see me later!
Look at the document! Look at it!
Take a look December of 1972
Do you know her?
Hey, Addie, my friend!
- You got the goods? - Duc, my man, I got you covered
You come see me after lunch, all right?
That's Addie
He called me "my man" Do you understand what that means?
He's my friend Don't be afraid Every chance you get
practice English with a real American
You're not going to be in here forever
- [Man Chanting In Vietnamese] - [Tapping Wood]
[Chanting And Tapping Continue]
[Tapping Continues]
[Owl Hooting]
Please don't leave me here alone
Take us with you
Don't speak nonsense
I've taken you this far, why should I leave you?
- [Man Mumbling] - [Tapping Continues]
[Continues Mumbling]
We will notify you right away
Could you please announce this?
Do you know if they have made it out of Vietnam?
I don't know
We get many requests to announce names
We'll do the best we can
You can write a letter and we'll send it to the different camps across America
We have found many people that way
Thank you
[Woman Speaking Vietnamese]
[Laughing]
[Baby Crying]
Take a good look and tell me she can't have baby food
I already told you, lady, she was born in 1972
that makes her three years old
December of '72
That's twenty-eight months!
Now
do you want to give me the baby food, or do you want me to make a scene?
What's going on?
I want baby food for baby
Why don't you give to her? What's the big deal?
Thank you Thank you very much
People like you are the reason why we are here!
[Man On PA] Attention No one is allowed to leave the camp without a sponsor
Anyone attempting to leave without the proper authorization
will be put on probation and possibly deported
[Woman On PA Speaking Vietnamese]
Tonight at the outdoor theater, we will be showing The Death of Captain Vasquez
Show time is at 8 pm sharp
[Woman On PA Speaking Vietnamese]
[Shutter Clicks]
Hey, wait a minute
Is there something I can do for you?
Anything I can get you?
No
But maybe I could do something for you
[Chuckles]
Do you realize that we put this place up in less than 48 hours,
and that by the time the last porta-potty is installed,
we're gonna be able house over 15,000 people?
And the thing I can't understand is how we could do all this
and mess up so badly over there
Actually, there is something you can do for me
I have all these situations arising with the refugees
constantly in the requests and the problems
Given the fact that you speak both languages,
what would you say to being my camp manager?
Job pays $500 a day
- Yes, I can do that - Great
If you show up at my office at 0800 tomorrow,
we'll go over all the details
- Ohjim Lance - My name is Tai
Thank you
[Man On Radio] And now news from Vietnam
US Army attaché Colonel Wahle
recently outlined four evacuation plans
for Americans currently in Vietnam
Option one and two were step-by-step airlifts
Option three was a combination air and sea lift,
while option four, if needed, will be a heliborne lift from Saigon itself
Americans in Vietnam...
[Children Playing]
Hey
Are you one of those everyone's talking about?
The ones who lost their mother?
Mighty Mouse
I like Mighty Mouse
You mind if I sit down here for a second?
My name's Addie You got a name, kid?
Well, the way I see it,
you don't have any friends here
It might help if you were a little more social, kid
[Woman On PA Speaking Vietnamese]
Hey, kid!
Come here for a second
See you around, kid
What's your bet, Tai?
Two dollars
Hey, I tell you what
I've got big dreams in this country
Me too I'm going to own a Cadillac
You know what I heard?
That in America
the lowest they can pay you is two dollars and ten cents an hour
But what kind of degree would you need?
None Anyone can wash windows
I don't believe you
It's the truth
A man in our tent told us so
He has a nephew who came here to study
and he washes windows in the summer
It doesn't matter
My dream is going to be bigger than washing windows
- And what dreams are those? - I'm not sure
But you guys see this mole?
It has got to bring me fortune sooner or later
It has not brought me love
Maybe I could start something called
Little Saigon
Imagine a little community
with shops and restaurants
A home away from home
It sounds big and expensive
Such big plans!
How do you know we can even make it out of here?
What do we have to lose?
We lost everything already
Duc's right
I'll be happy washing windows
Little Saigon needs Vietnamese people
Out there, I'm not sure we'll ever see each other again
They're spreading us across America
Hey, guys, listen
[Man] After the last American was airlifted out of Phnom Penh, the country's capital,
the Khmer Rouge arrived and began the exodus of death
Anyone with good clothes, soft hands or a well-fed look
were shot and left to die along the roadside
In other related news...
Why don't you turn that off?
Why do you keep listening to that? It's depressing
What's depressing
is that we could share the same fate
Tai, why did the Americans have to abandon us?
It's over
You ignorant child! What do you know?
Did you ever fight in the war?
Do you still have loved ones left behind in Vietnam?
Do you ever feel guilty for being here?
Didn't you listen?
The Americans are already planning different evacuation plans
with one directly from Saigon
You know nothing
Those are only precautions
Our brothers will fight until the end
We will win
What do you think we are doing here?
Do you think they set this up only to send us back?
Tai, what if I want to go back?
My mother, father, brothers and sisters are still left in Vietnam
You are crazy
I mean it!
I'm serious, Tai
Can the Americans send me back?
What about your wife and son?
You are all traitors!
America is very rich and it may have everything
but I'll tell you what
it doesn't have the taste of our blood
Hien, what are you doing?
I'm begging you
Please stop it
Let's all go to see the movie
I'm not going to be seen with that whore
Why are you doing this?
A whore does not need clothes
Be careful of what you say
Are you protecting her?
You are being loud
Where is your money to buy my silence?
What about her?
Too bad she doesn't know that you are not the same rich man she married
Everyone knows that you sneak out in the middle of the night to be with her
People look at me with shame!
They look at your fancy clothes, your makeup
Look around
do you see anyone else around here like you?
You used to admire a woman with class
That was before that country whore walked into your life
Please hold down your voice
She is my wife
But I am your first!
I'm the mother of your first son and pregnant with your second child
She is a country whore who used you to come here
and you feel right into her trap and took her entire family over
I have no one here!
Hien, you are six months pregnant
I hope I lose the child, you bastard!
I'm your wife!
She is just a country whore
I'm not going to lose face
Your second wife is a country whore
If you get her pregnant, she stays...
Where the hell are you going?
Or I'll stay with the both your kids! Do you understand me?
[Man Chattering]
[Men Chuckling]
Did you find her?
No
I'll try again tomorrow
There is a seat back here
- [Woman In Movie] Wait! - [Gunshots, Horses Neighing]
Are you alone tonight?
My sister is with my father
Uncle, I want some condensed milk
Hold on
Would you like to take a walk?
Come on
Come with me to get some milk for them
All right
I can't believe I'm doing this I don't even know you
The other day I saw you at the food line
arguing with a man
You were holding a baby
That was a week ago
I was baby-sitting
I didn't mean to get so upset
but he thought he was above us all
How long have you been at camp?
Two weeks
I came with my sister and father
We weren't sure if we would get out
but every night I would pray to the Virgin
Now that she answered my prayers
my father just wants to return
and be buried next to my mother
He still carries a picture of her in his pocket
Why didn't he stay in Vietnam?
Because of me
I wouldn't leave without him
[Laughing]
Only the children are oblivious to our pain and loneliness
They all seem happier, except for Minh
He's my nephew
All he does is search for his mother
What will I do if she doesn't come over?
She will
just keep praying
All we have left is faith
[Whistling]
[Groaning]
I'm so sorry Are you okay?
I help as a seamstress at the sewing tent
If you would let me
I can make a body for your niece's doll
Her name is Anh
She would like that
You listen to the BBC or Voice of America?
I try not to
Have you thought about what life will be like in America?
I have no plans
I'm still waiting for my sister and brother to arrive
This can't be permanent
The Americans must have a plan
How can they lose?
[Shower Running]
[Chanting]
[Vehicle Approaching]
Mommy!
[Brakes Hiss]
- Right this way people - Welcome to America, and welcome to Camp Pendleton
As you can see,
we're issuing each of you a blanket or field jacket
Once you have gathered all your belongings, please follow the marine to my right,
and he will escort you to the chow hall
where you will be fed before registration begins
At that time, you will each be assigned to your Quonset hut,
where every person will have one cot
and every family will have one locker
Now I know you are all anxious to be reunited with your families
There's a bulletin board in the Red Cross tent as well as volunteers
to assist you in these matters
Yet, there will be plenty of time for this once processing is complete
This is a difficult task and we appreciate your utmost cooperation
Thank you
Lance Corporal, let's move them out
Ladies and gentlemen, that's the last of our new arrivals for this evening
At this time, I'd like you to disperse back to your Quonset huts and tents Thank you
[Tapping Wood]
[Man Chanting]
[Man On Radio] Earlier today, the fierce battle at Xuan Loc came to an end
The AR VN defenders of Xuan Loc
fought bravely but were forced to retreat
And now with the N VA within minutes of Saigon,
defeat seems inevitable
Morale is at an all-time low and confusion surrounds Saigon
as President Thieu resigns and is replaced by Tran Van Huong
Uncle, when can we go over the mountains?
Soon
But first we have to wait for your mom
How come she's not here yet?
She will be, I promise
Let's finish up
- Say cheese - No, no
You shouldn't have done that
It's bad luck for three in picture
Well, what if a family only has three members?
They never take any pictures?
Don't do that!
Don't pee on the Quonset hut
I'm learning Vietnamese
I got the blankets you requested
Here you go Now listen
It wasn't easy, but I was able to move your file down to the bottom of the list,
so it's gonna buy you some more time
- Thank you, Jim - Okay
Oh, uh, uh... Let me ask you something
I thought the Vietnamese liked fish
Your fish has butter
Too much fattening for us We like chicken
In Vietnam, chicken is expensive
In America, fish is expensive
Ah! Good
Oh, it's you again, huh?
If you want some fish, it's too late
Are we gonna do this again, kid?
If you want something, kid, you gotta...
you gotta speak up, you gotta say something
You want something?
Huh?
It's your call I got work to do
Mighty Mouse
- You say something? - Mighty Mouse
Don't tell anybody I brought you here
This place is off-limits
This is where I spent most of my time when I'm not cooking for all of you guys
Come over here
When I first got here, I saw this empty wall,
and I thought,
"What a waste it is '"
So I started to paint it
I don't think they'll mind, as long as I repaint it when we're done
So, you like it?
It's just a work in progress
[Woman Speaking Vietnamese]
[Man On PA] Tonight we will be showing The Rocket Man
And for those of you using the library,
please do not tear out the pages of the magazines
Is there something wrong with the way I look?
What you keep looking at me for like that?
You should mind your own business, kid
For someone who doesn't open their mouth, you know,
you talk a lot
Yes, it's starting to look like you
Who are you here with, kid? Hmm?
The man I saw you with, is that your father?
Is your mother really lost?
Your mommy, where is she?
[Speaking Vietnamese]
Is that what you call her?
Where is your me?
[Vietnamese]
Your me is in Vietnam?
You miss her, don't you?
Got it
I'm not finished with this yet
[Laughs]
Yeah, it's kinda funny
Look at this
I don't think I've had anybody ever laugh at my drawings before
Actually, I don't think I've ever...
I've never let anybody look at my drawings before
This makes you my first fan
It's nice to meet you, fan
What am I supposed to call you, huh?
I don't think that "kid" or "fan" is actually that appropriate
I'm Addie
And you, you're...
My name is Minh
It's nice to meet you, Minh
Mighty Mouse
No I'm Addie
No Mighty Mouse
I've been called many things, but
Mighty Mouse it is, kid
I think we need to get some kind of secret handshake or something
Here, put your hand up here like this
Just like that, then you're gonna twist it
like that
Grab it
Slap and snap
Thumb up in the air That means everything's okay
[Coughing]
One second [Clears Throat]
That was good, kid That was good
That was good, Mighty Mouse Come on
Again Yeah?
Slap, drop, boom
Very good
[Dripping]
You dare to not look at my face?
I dare to not fall in love with you again
[Chanting, Tapping]
I met him a year ago in the city
Our family was very poor and he came to the country and asked to marry me
I thought about my family
I thought about you
When the war hit Duc Hue
I married him and he took my whole family into Saigon
He didn't tell me he had a wife
Two months later, I officially became wife number two
I didn't know you were married
I had to take the ring off
At camp, everyone thinks I'm his sister
What about you? Is your wife here with you?
I'm not married
After you, I gave up on love
I got into business and it took up all of my time
Do you love him, your husband?
A country girl is not taught to marry for love
[Man On Radio]Just a few days after President Thieu resigned
he has left Saigon and gone into exile
Today in his first speech to a desperate people,
President Huong warns that Saigon could become...
That's strange There's nothing there
This did not flow well with the already panic-stricken Vietnamese
who are desperately searching for a way out
So there was a fight in the commissary last night that I am none to happy about
It seems that one of the refugees was accused of being a Communist
when he told people he wanted to be repatriated
What is his name?
- Quang Hai - Quang Hai
Actually, we found out later that he never wanted to come here in the first place
He just got caught up in the confusion
So what we've done is set up a designated area for any others like him
And, pending approval, they will be shipped back
He's got a war injury on his right hand
What is beyond those mountains?
Actually, I really don't know
Maybe one day we'll go together and find out
These are the extra blankets you requested
Please distribute them to those in your tent
Hey, Tai!
How are you?
Anything new?
I told you not to worry about it We're going to start tonight
I need to go to camp four Some fisherman wants a TV
Hey, how are you doing, my man?
I'm fine How are you?
Whoa! You speak very good Vietnamese!
Let's talk business! I got big profit for you
Look at my jacket, it shrunk!
You said it was made in the USA!
Give me my money back!
[Addie] Thought you might like those
I got a lot more in my locker
Last night I was thinking
After you find your mother,
and you all leave this place,
I'm gonna do a little travelin' myself
Bang, bang, bang!
I'm gonna get as far away from here as I can, you know
China, Italy, maybe New York
I always wanted to see the world
from the top of the Statue of Liberty, you know, kid?
What's wrong, kid?
Don't worry That's not me That's not me
That's an America you don't understand yet
It's bigger than those Sears and Roebuck's catalogs they been giving you,
or those movies they're showing you,
and your Mighty Mouse comics
Here Let me show you something
Here
Mother
Yes Me
Isn't she beautiful?
This is the way I think she looked 'cause
I never actually met her
Never seen any picture even
She died when I was 4, and that was 33 years ago
Father?
Yeah That's good old Pop
That's the way he looked to me
when he packed his bags and left
I was four
This scar you asked me about,
my father put it there
with his cigar butt
I don't know if he put it there to
punish me for my mother dyin'
or to remind me of him
One day he just got fed up and he left
I haven't seen him since then
Hold on a second
Look here
Little finishin' touches
- Yo - [Laughing]
Who is this with the butterfly on his nose?
Grabbing for it Reaching!
[Chuckles] All right
This one's for you
Big brother, I'm talking to you!
Why must you lie to us?
We kept fighting just like you ordered us to
while back in the city, people were fleeing
You promised you would be with us till the end
[Siren Wailing]
To fight for victory!
You are a coward for being here before all of us
Your brothers died fighting for freedom!
You are a coward and a disgrace to your country
[Man] Get in the jeep! Now!
[Engine Starts]
Why must you salute me
when you shamed away at seeing my face?
You are still a general, sir
Of what nation?
Back when I was a twenty-year-old idealist
I joined the Anti-French Resistance
But when the leadership declared themselves
the Indochinese Communist Party
I defected to the "Nationalists"
All my life, I've been committed to the goal of bringing
freedom and democracy to the Vietnamese people
Alas
in the end I have nothing but the feeling
of being betrayed twice
Do you believe America betrayed us?
That is no longer of importance
The result is the same
Tell me, young man
you did not come to talk politics with me
Anything else?
General, I need to know one thing
My brother-in-law, Captain Pham Van Cuong, was under your command
Do you have any news of his status?
Yes
Captain Cuong
He was a very brave soldier
Unfortunately
I received news he lost his life fighting for Xuan Loc city
Tonight
I feel as useless as
an uprooted old tree
that cannot be replanted
There is something I must tell you both
I have news your father died in the war
He was a very brave man
[Man Chanting]
- [Gunfire] - [Woman Screaming]
We're gonna do something different today
I'm gonna teach you how to paint
You're gonna help me finish this wall here
Move this right here
And I'm gonna get you some paint
I'm gonna set you up right over here
Here you go, right here
Now dip your brush in there,
then just paint whatever inspires you
Just draw, just paint whatever inspires you right in there somewhere
Very good
Okay, that's gonna be your side of the wall
and this'll be my side of the wall, all right?
Looks great, kid You're a natural
[Man] Forecast is hot and humid
Temperature is currently 105 degrees and rising
Are you a soldier who hasn't called home in a while?
Well, your mother wants you to call home right now
We have a special treat for all you Americans left in Vietnam
[Bing Crosby] %I'm dreaming
% Of a white Christmas
%Just like the ones I used to know
% Where the treetops glisten
%And children listen
% To hear
%Sleigh bells in the snow
- Where are you from? - [Class] Where are you from?
- Thank you very much - Thank you very much
% Of a white Christmas
% With every Christmas card I write
%May your days
%Be merry and bright
%And may all your Christmases
%Be white
[Man On Radio] It has finally happened
Operation Frequent Wind, AKA Option Four, has been realized,
and the inevitable has just occurred
At approximately 1100 hours, Vietnam time,
April 30, 1975,
Communist forces entered Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam
The N VA forces made their way through the streets of Saigon without resistance
At 1215 hours, a T-54 tank crashed through the gate of the presidential palace
We have a translated statement of what was said between the two powers
"I have been waiting since early this morning
to transfer power to you, '" stated President Minh
A North Vietnamese officer had met with the waiting President Duong Van Minh,
who had been appointed less than 48 hours earlier
He was accompanied by his improvised cabinet,
ready to transfer power
The North Vietnamese replied, "There is no question of you transferring power
You cannot give up what you did not have '"
And with that, the 10,000-day war comes to an end
and history is written
Indeed, today is a sad day
The streets of Saigon are completely deserted
The last of the Americans have left
The Americans have lost the war
In closing, we have a statement recorded earlier this week by President Ford
[President Ford] Today America can regain the sense of pride
that existed before Vietnam
But it cannot be achieved by refighting a war
- [Crying] - That is finished as far as America is concerned
[Applause]
%% [Singing In Vietnamese]
%[Singing Continues]
It's all your fault!
You abandoned us!
[Yelling Continues]
Why did you have to abandon us?
[Sobbing]
%[Bugle Playing]
I had no idea he was your father
%[Bugle Continues]
[Sobbing]
%[Ends]
- Can I join you? - Sure
So you can't sleep?
It's too quiet
I miss the old man's knocking sound
Yeah
I have been thinking about what Thuy said
And I realize that there was great loss on both sides
But I wanted to show you this
It belonged to my brother who died eight years ago,
and I've never had the courage to open it since
You see, it should have been me that died
But I got hurt, and they wouldn't let me go back
So I pushed him to go I told him it was his duty and he owed it to his country
So he went without question
He even had honor and pride in his eyes
I thought I knew my brother
I thought we were cut from the same cloth, but after I read this letter, I
realized he wasn't like me at all
Can I read it to you?
Yes
Oh, uh, that's him
[Sighs]
"Dear Unknown Grace:
"I'm sorry I don't even know your name,
"but I wanted to express my thanks
"to you for how well you fixed me up
"I'm all right now, and I will be returning to my platoon
"first thing tomorrow,
"but tonight I cannot sleep
"I'm so scared of returning to the darkness of the jungle,
"to the ambushes and the smell of dead flesh
"To be honest with you, I'm scared of dying
"I never wanted to come here I don't wanna be a hero
[Brother And Lance] "But I also don't want to return home
[Brother] "The last few days I cannot stop thinking about you
"The thought of your black hair, touching me with its length, keeps me awake at night
- [Owl Hooting] - "Your smile assures me that tomorrow will come again
"Your soft hands parting the hair from my eyes
"have caused me to feel safe
"A sense that has avoided me since my arrival
"I'll be brave and fight tomorrow
[Lance Reading] "Only so that I can return and ask you for your name
Love, Jacob"
You know, he never even had a girlfriend before, you know?
He was just a kid when he left
[Sniffles, Sighs]
Miss, please give me some water
Thank you
I just met a lady who left with my sister and brother
I put in a request for the Red Cross to announce their names
I'm afraid to be in my father's barrack
I can have you and your sister move over to my barrack
It is possible for me to add you both as my family members
You cannot do that
Our past has been taken away
There is nothing left
When we leave here
it's most important that we at least have each other
My father would not approve
We are not even married
Can we get married then?
Let's go, big sister
I need to go sign off on my father's cremation
Thuy
I promise
I will not fail you
You know what we need?
We need some grooves here Something to get it shakin'
Let's get this thing rolling
[Radio] % Get out the way %
% Papa's back on the scene %
[Addie Singing Along] % Men with a plan, y'all %
% He's a working machine % [Whistles]
% Watch him sweat
- Come on Help me out with this I need some green - He's badder than the rest
%% [Humming]
% One thing for sure %
% You know Papa understands
% That man got to do a job
%Just as good as he can
- Get the brush, get the brush, get the brush! - Ain't no sweat
% He's badder than the rest %%
I've already made my decision
Your time is wasted here
Hai
you are making a mistake
Your wife and son are here
Give your family an opportunity
My parents are still in Vietnam
My brothers and sisters are still in Vietnam
We are not going back
- I'm not going back with you - You shut up!
You go where I go and that is it!
We have been in this camp for three months
If you stay, I will find you a sponsor
[Helicopter Passes Overhead]
Tai
- I don't want to be a refugee - You were a soldier
They won't let you live your life as before
It must be raining in Saigon this time of year
You will never have a second chance
Do you remember the rain?
Have you ever been to Dalat when it rains?
What if your parents are not there?
Dalat a place for lovers
That's where I met my wife
How does that song go? About Dalat and the rain?
Can you forget about the rain? Try to save your own life!
%% [Singing In Vietnamese]
I believe we got a Picasso in here
- Where'd you learn how to paint like that? - [Giggling]
Amazing! Look at it Look at it!
[Sighs] When I was younger,
I always dreamt that a green dragon
would come and take me to find my father
Maybe this dragon will help you find your mother, Minh
Oh, yeah, I forgot
[Coughing]
[Paper Crinkling]
Got something for you
For you Open it
Go ahead Look inside
Look inside It's my favorite yo-yo when I was a kid
Mighty Mouse! Mighty Mouse!
I think you should go
Your uncle is going to be worried about you
I'll see you tomorrow Same Mighty Mouse time, same Mighty Mouse station
Pow
[Bird Squawking]
I received my official approval today
They found me a sponsor in Kansas
I will be leaving in a few days
Why don't you say something?
I'm pregnant
Does he know?
No I cannot
Why not? He is your husband
But I'm his second wife
And that means I'm nothing more than a servant
and a whore
If it wasn't for my family and me
first wife would have found a sponsor by now
I don't dare make things more complicated
How things might be different if only I didn't go back to Saigon
Don't blame yourself
If it wasn't for you
I may not be here
There, you can look at yourself in the mirror
Please don't judge me
It is very important that my younger brother and sister succeed in America
My parents are too old and I'm without skills
We are all the same
Doctors, lawyers, teachers
it all means nothing
When I first arrived here, I was so eager to leave this place
But now
I must go My husband is waiting for me
Come with me Leave him and come with me
Lucky for that old man taking his own life
otherwise I would have killed him myself
You fucking bastard!
He's sitting right in front of me, sir
I understand
Yes, sir
What happened today, Tai, will not happen again
I need you to keep your eyes and your ears open
and report to me any Communist wrongfully being kept here
and those who may be of high risk,
and they will be put in designated areas
Those men were not Communists
- Their loyalties separated them - I don't care
I will tolerate absolutely no violence
and absolutely no hierarchies in this camp
Everybody is to be treated equal Do you understand?
Now
I think your nephew might want these
This man, he looks familiar
His name is Addie Singer
Worked in the mess hall as a volunteer since day one
No friends Except your nephew, I suppose
Anyway, all of these drawings were found hanging in his locker
when he was found dead in his room this morning
Some terminal illness that no one knew anything about
- Is that all, sir? - One more thing
How's the lady doing? The one whose father died
Just like the rest of us
No special treatment
Tai
I can only imagine
just how difficult this must be for you and your people
But you need to know that we are trying to help
And we are your friends
I know
Somehow, I just don't get that feeling
You should try speaking to us without your bullhorn
I wish you the best of luck
We are relying on you to build Little Saigon
Duc, you better rock, my man, or you're gonna miss that flight
- You're a good man, Lance Thanks, Lance - You too Good luck
Remember, you still owe me money
Everything is going to be all right
So, what do you think?
Isn't it about time for you to start looking to rebuilding your life?
I can move your file to the top
If you want
You think
%[Guitar]
[Man On Radio] With the war officially over,
54,000 Americans have lost their lives
- %% [Humming] - Today, many families are still waiting
for the return of their American heroes
Experts believe there are as many as 2,400 men
listed as MIA 's and PO W's in Southeast Asia
[Chattering, Laughter]
%[Children Singing In Vietnamese]
- [Cheering] - [Man] There you go!
One for you
Let me help you with some of the workload
You're busy enough sewing clothes for all the people
Besides, the work takes my mind off things
It's good to see him smiling again
I am to blame
if their mother does not arrive
Don't say that
I regret
that I was allowed three seats on the plane
Selfishly, I wanted one to be mine
My sister never said a word
she only asked
if the other two seats could be for her children
I don't know what I'll tell Minh
I promised him that his mother would come
Don't lose hope
It's fading fast
[Cheering, Whooping]
Maybe it's time we all leave the camp together
What about your father?
It's been three months
This will be best for Minh
and when his mother arrives
they can notify us
Please be sure
I am
if you still want to marry me
- [Fireworks Whistling] - [Whooping, Cheering]
[Baby Fussing]
Now that our son is born
I want to leave here as soon as possible
I will ask them for help
Don't worry I need you
I need you to help with the baby
This is a new song that I've been working on
It's about my memories of our country
and our life in this new place
%% [Guitar]
Oh Saigon
I have lost you in my life
Oh Saigon
My best time is far away
What is left is some sad memory
The dead smile on my lips
Bitter tears in my eyes
Oh Saigon, on the street
Is the sun still shining
On our path
Is the rain still falling
In the park
Is my lover still there
Going under the trees
Smiling or crying lonely
Here
I am the bird losing her way
Day by day
My time just passes by
The life of an exile is painful
[MP] Excuse me, ma'am It's time for you to go now
O Saigon I call you
Yes, please, can you come with me? Time to go
- [Yelling In Vietnamese] - Come on now!
Come on! Come on, ma'am, we have to go!
- [Yelling Continues] - Come on! Hey!
- It's okay - What is going on? What are you doing to them?
[MP] We have orders to remove them
My sons!
Let go of her! Let go of her!
Why are you taking me away from them?
Let go now or I will arrest you!
Come on!
I'm not going to leave you!
My sons!
%[Guitar, Singing Continues]
[Vehicle Drives Away]
I thought you were our friend!
Corporal, could you step out?
Roger that, Gunny
I could have you arrested for what you did
Do you realize I put my career on the line to save your ass?
You were not there to hear their cry
My people just came from war, and you just brought them back
The moment you stepped foot in this camp, you were on your way out
This is not a home, Tai
You could have told them not to do it You could have talked to me first
There was absolutely nothing you could have done
- How do you know? - I know because I know
I know these people were never going to leave
I found three different sponsors for every one of them, and they all found a way to stay
So, you come in the middle of the night and grab them like animals
That is my job, and those are the rules
You always follow rules Now I have families who are afraid to sleep tonight
And I have 16,000 refugees right outside,
and 400 more that just arrived this morning
There is absolutely no space
I give up my space I will help you build new tents
- Whatever it takes - That is not the point!
- What is the point? - The point is this is a camp
Those who get sponsors must leave,
and that is final!
You know why they don't want to go?
I heard a lot of reasons
Is one of the reasons because they are scared?
They are afraid Like I am afraid
Afraid of how their lives will be like tomorrow
Afraid of never seeing their friends and loved ones again
As your brother was afraid
You remember that,
don't you?
[Children Chattering, Laughing]
- Uncle? - I don't know when she's coming
So stop asking me!
I will let you know when she gets here
Are they going to come and take us away too?
Of course not
We leave here when we want to
No one is going to come and take us away
Uncle?
It's not your fault that Mom is lost
What are you doing here?
I have something I want to show you
- What? - It's a surprise Come on
Stay here I'll be back soon
See you, little fella
Okay
- Thank you - Sure
Everyone!
I saw America today!
I mean the cars All the beautiful cars on the big open roads
Did you see any Cadillacs?
Everywhere I turned
Everyone owns a car
After that, I went to this market
so big that I got lost in it
They have everything and all kinds of fruits and vegetables
But do they have "ot hiem pepper"?
No
but you can grow them here
Afterwards
I went to a neighborhood that was so clean
with big houses
perfectly aligned
But you know what most impressed me?
What?
I was in this restaurant drinking coffee
and through the window I saw this young man
He was maybe 20 years old %
He was washing cars in this new car lot
I asked my friend
How much does he get for washing car?
[Lance's Voice] $210 an hour
That is minimum wage, and they cannot pay you any less than that
If they cannot pay us less than
$210 per hour
then we all can make it
We no longer need to be afraid of what's out there
I've seen it, and much is true about America
Stop being afraid
We can make it
I understand those tears
I will never forget the day my husband brought you home
You made me feel old and unattractive
I knew time wasn't on my side
so I tried desperately to give him another child
But once I got pregnant, he lost interest in me
He hasn't touched me since
I forgot what it feels like to be touched, to be kissed
You came and took my womanhood away from me
Maybe this is meant to be
now that you cannot leave with us
You said you needed me
If we wait for your family
it could take months
I have no other choice
Fate has always been cruel to me
But like our country
I will endure
[Man Speaking Vietnamese]
[Man Continues Speaking In Vietnamese]
[Applause]
%[Disco]
%Higher
% This room is taking me higher
- Higher, high - Higher and
- This room is taking me - High
%High, high
% Yeah
%All you people to the dance floor
% Come and have a good time
%Room starts shakin' Vibes are racin'
% This energy high
%Don't you want my body Don't you wanna dance
%Move Just shake your pants
%Disco light and move right
%Jump on in This girl is takin' me
%High, high
- Higher than - High
%[Stops]
I told her not to go
but she wanted to make sure
As the boats were pulling out
she jumped off and ran back to the city
I had no choice
but to go after her
A week after receiving news
that her husband had died in battle
we tried to escape one more time
But now our sister had turned into a living ghost
She had refused to eat
and had lost all faith in God
We shared this five-meter boat with about a hundred people
You couldn't bring anything along
No food, no water, just the shirt on your back
I gave her my hand to squeeze
She would do it every so often
just to let me know that she was with me
A week later
people started to die
The elders first
then the children
People would wake up next to their loved ones
and realized they had died in their sleep
Our sister was turning pale
A day later
she stopped squeezing my hand
And in order for the boat to speed up
we had no choice but to throw the dead overboard
Don't hold back out there, my friend
How I can repay you?
You have done so much for everyone
I'll tell you what
You just promise me
that you're gonna do better than $210, okay?
Oh
- A little something to remember when - Ahh!
I will miss you, Tai
- Lance Corporal - Yeah, Gunny
- Camera Wanna do a photograph? - Roger that
- Okay - Okay
- Say cheese! - [Shutter Clicking]
Minh, what did you do with the photo?
I pinned it on the wall
So when Mom comes, she'll know we were here
Lance Corporal, take the jeep back
- Aye, Gunny - [Engine Starts]
%Lookin' for an angel to carry me home
%Hope that she comes soon Can't wait to know
%I'm tired and I'm lonely Wanna go home
%I can't wait to go home
%See the tear in the corner of her eye
% Touch of your hair as you kiss me good-bye
%I long for your warmth in the cold summer nights
%So I can fly away
% Waitin' for an angel Hope it won't be long
% Gonna find me a resting place in my mother's arms
% Waitin’ for an angel to carry me home
%Home to your lovin' arms
%Angel, can you hear me Answer my plea
% Come down and take me away
% With thee
% Take my hand
%Set me free
%So I can fly away
% Waitin’ for an angel Hope it won't be long
% Wanna find me a resting place in my mother's arms
% Waitin’ for an angel to carry me home
%Home to your lovin’ arms
%Home to my mother's arms
{{{ the end }}}