This Is the Hour

Lyrics

[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 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 & 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 [ENGINEER grabs his sack and leaves.] [THUY] And as for you Come with me [KIM, spoken] No! [KIM] 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 TAM, 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 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 TAM.] [KIM, spoken] No! [KIM] You will not touch him Don't touch my boy He's what I live for He's my only joy [KIM & THUY] You will not touch (He is my enemy) Him (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 (He's one drop in a flood) For (Left here to taint our blood) He's my only (Our marriage bond was sworn) Joy (Forget that he was born) [KIM pulls out a gun.] [THUY] Of course you have a gun [THUY & KIM] And now you'll shoot your cousin (Don't touch my little boy) And it's a U.S. gun A gun that lost the war (And do not test my will) You're the corrupted one Go on and shoot (I'm warning you) Don't wait (For him) To save your bastard son You must not hesitate (I'll kill) [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 [KIM shoots THUY. The street pageant continues 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 light Fierce and white The lightning came A brightening flame To end the night [A gigantic statue of Ho Chin 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 our 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.]