Miss.Saigon

Miss Saigon Miss Saigon L I B R E T T O ACT ONE 1. OVERTURE/BACKSTAGE AT DREAMLAND (A Friday night in April 1975. Backstage at an after-hours club in Saigon. Vietnamese bar-girls are getting into costumes.) GIRLS One of us will be Miss Saigon ENGINEER I spread the word - it's Miss Saigon GIGI Who's left to screw who hasn't gone ENGINEER Shut up! And get your hot pants on GIGI Each day more GI's disappear ENGINEER There's still some left and they'll all be here ALL GIRLS A girl can trust the Engineer (THE ENGINEER brings in a new girl, KIM) ENGINEER Surprise! I found this new girl, get her dressed From the country untouched GIGI Just give that virgin act a rest ALL GIRLS (mocking the new girl) "You are my first American" (they laugh) ENGINEER Allez! Allez! Allez! Why does it take all day? Get your asses on stage... I'm raising cash tonight GIRLS Tonight I will be Miss Saigon ENGINEER They say Saigon has weeks I say it's time to pack GIRLS Tonight I will be Miss Saigon ENGINEER Each day these little buns of theirs are worth less and less I need a visa fast, and I'm not looking back (the ENGINEER looks through the door into the club.) ENGINEER Son of a bitch, they're here! I can still engineer It's like the old days, my little gamines GIRLS Oh sure! ENGINEER You know who's out here? A gang of marines! GIRLS They're here? ENGINEER We'll pick 'em clean that's what this contest's about GIRLS Yes, sir! ENGINEER One of these boys might be your ticket out (turns to KIM) Why is she in that dress? Ah! It's my new princess Ah, yes! A bride will give the guys a treat Lower your eyelids and play sweet Men pay the moon to get fresh meat Allez! Allez! Allez! Get out and do your song! Don't make the show too long Voila! On stage all! Welcome to... Dreamland!!! 2. THE HEAT IS ON IN SAIGON ("Dreamland" is a club filled with American Marines, civilians and south Vietnamese officers. The girls parade around and get the crowd to buy raffle tickets: the winner of the "beauty contest" will be the prize.) AMERICANS The heat is on in Saigon The girls are hotter 'n' hell One of these slits here will be Miss Saigon God, the tension is high, not to mention the smell The heat is on in Saigon Is there a war going on? Don't ask, I ain't gonna tell (Two friends, CHRIS and JOHN, are among the Marines. JOHN is with one of the girls) ENGINEER Ah, monsieur Chris! monsieur John! You've come to win Miss Saigon JOHN I gotta get my friend laid As a last souvenir CHRIS I love you, pal, but your bullshit I've had up to here ENGINEER, CHRIS and JOHN The heat is on in Saigon JOHN But 'til they tell us we're gone I'm gonna buy you a girl CHRIS You can buy me a beer (The girls leave the men and move onto the stage) MIMI See my bikini, it's just the right size YVETTE Don't you enjoy how it rides up my thighs? Look from behind, it'll knock out your eyes YVONNE I'll show you: my special trophy of war MIMI For a Marine, I'll show more AMERICANS You won't get up off the floor The heat is on in Saigon Don't tell me I'm reassigned, all that chickenshit sucks Tonight I'm out of my mind, not to mention ten bucks GIGI If I'm your pin-up, I'll melt all your brass Stuck on your wall, with a pin in my ass If you get me, you will travel first class I'll show you, we will make magic, cheri ENGINEER You buy more tickets from me The winner gets her for free CHRIS The meat is cheap in Saigon I used to love getting stoned, waking up with some whore I don't know why I went dead, it's not fun anymore (The ENGINEER pushes KIM forward) KIM I'm seventeen, and I'm new here today The village I come from seems so far away All of the girls know much more what to say But I know I have a heart like the sea A million dreams are in me CHRIS Good Jesus, John, who is she? AMERICANS (AND CROWD) The Cong is tight'ning the noose Is it a week or a day or an hour that we got? Tonight could be our last shot got to put it to use (The GIRLS come off the stage and mingle with the men.) ALL, INCLUDING GIRLS Tonight I bet that you and I will get along Forget about the threat, forget the Viet-Cong ALL MEN Mimi, Gigi, Yvette or Yvonne Gonna buy me a beer, and elect Miss Saigon (The ENGINEER holds the election by holding his hand over each girl's head for applause. When KIM is judged, CHRIS claps loudly, which makes her notice him.) ENGINEER Yvonne, Yvette, Mimi, Kim, Gigi (GIGI wins) ENGINEER Attention, s'il vous plait! By popular demand Miss Gigi Van Tranh Is elected Miss Saigon! (The ENGINEER puts a cheap tiara on GIGI and a ribbon which says "Miss Saigon".) AMERICANS The heat is on in Saigon And things are not going well But still at midnight, the party goes on A good-bye party in hell ENGINEER And now who wins this pussycat? (The ENGINEER holds a bowl; GIGI picks up a ticket.) GIGI Number 66! (It is one of the Marines. He cheers with his friends. The scene freezes.) 3. THE MOVIE IN MY MIND GIGI They are not nice, they're mostly noise They swear like men, they screw like boys I know there's nothing in their hearts But every time I take one in my arms It starts: The movie in my mind The dream they leave behind A scene I can't erase And in a strong GI's embrace Flee this life Flee this place The movie plays and plays The screen before me fills He takes me to New York He gives me dollar bills Our children laugh all day And eat too much ice cream And life is like a dream Dream The dream I long to find The movie in my mind KIM I will not cry, I will not think I'll do my dance, I'll make them drink When I make love, it won't be me And if they hurt me, I'll just close my eyes KIM GIRLS And see They are not nice, they're mostly noise The movie in my mind They kill like men, they die like boys The dream that fills my head They give their cash, they keep their hearts A man who will not kill But every night again it starts KIM Who'll fight for me instead He'll keep us safe all day So no one comes at night To blow the dream away Dream The dream I have to find The movie in my mind ALL GIRLS And in a strong GI's embrace Flee this life Flee this place KIM A world that's far away Where life is not unkind The movie in my mind 4. THE TRANSACTION (The ENGINEER approaches JOHN) ENGINEER Hey monsieur John, how'd you like to get rich? Go home in style. . .? JOHN Yeah okay, what's the pitch? ENGINEER A U.S. visa to help me out Lend me a bit of your embassy clout JOHN There isn't a chance pal, you're too well known Look, what I want is that girl in the dress ENGINEER You have a good eye Her name is Kim, she's my new princess You give her a try? JOHN It's my friend Chris Who's the one feeling down MARINE I ordered a beer! ENGINEER She'll get him up, It's her first night in town But I have to warn you She don't come cheap It's got to be twenty for my princess JOHN Twenty dollars?? ENGINEER She's sort of a virgin, well more or less For twenty more you get a room and key For fifty bucks, she's got the whole night free MARINES No one gives us a buzz Like the Engineer does (JOHN approaches CHRIS with Kim) JOHN Stop drooling white boy You're losing your cool You like this jail bait CHRIS John, open your eyes This is the end of the line This whole rotten scene This little girl, we could be in the sack For what it costs me to buy a Big Mac John, it's time to go back - You know what I mean JOHN I'm starting to cry pal You're so out of touch The trouble with you is you think too much Ooh Ol' Dr. John knows what you need alright I've bought you a present She's yours all night MARINES No one gives you a hit Like the Engineer's shit!! (Across the room, the ENGINEER speaks to KIM.) ENGINEER See little princess, I was right You got the biggest score tonight You caught that sergeant by the nose You stay with him until he goes Call him Chris He'll like that KIM That marine Wants his beer ENGINEER You said you needed a job You said you'd turn a trick You'd better prove it, and quick! (he leads KIM to CHRIS) ENGINEER Voila! 5. THE DANCE (A MARINE begins to play the saxophone. CHRIS and KIM start to dance. For a long time they don't speak. Finally:) KIM My name is Kim (trying to do her job) I like you Chris CHRIS Don't talk like that KIM What did I say? CHRIS You shouldn't be here (CHRIS hands KIM some money) Get the hell out ... ENGINEER What's going on? You don't like her? CHRIS Oh, yes I do KIM I like him too ENGINEER Take her away KIM Take me away Don't say a word Just come with me 6. WHY GOD WHY? (KIM leads CHRIS out of the Club, and into a tiny cubicle, which has in it only a bed, a table, and a small window overlooking the moonlit city. Later in the night, CHRIS is dressed and standing at the window. KIM is asleep. Outside, Saigon still bustles.) CHRIS Why does Saigon never sleep at night? Why does this girl smell of orange trees? How can I feel good when nothing's right? Why is she cool when there is no breeze? Vietnam You don't give answers, do you friend? Just questions that don't ever end Why God? Why today? I'm all through here, on my way There's nothing left here that I'll miss Why send me now a night like this? Who is the girl in this rusty bed? Why am I back in a filthy room? Why is her voice ringing in my head? Why am I high on her cheap perfume? Vietnam Hey look I mean you no offense But why does nothing here make sense? Why God? Show your hand Why can't one guy understand? I've been with girls who knew much more I never felt confused before Why me? What's your plan? I can't help her, no one can I liked my mem'ries as they were But now I'll leave rememb'ring her (CHRIS leaves some money on a table and goes out into the street. CHRIS is accosted by Vietnamese who beg for help leaving the country. He pushes them.) When I went home before No one talked of the war What they knew from TV Didn't have a thing to do with me I went back and re-upped Sure Saigon is corrupt It felt better to be Here driving for the embassy 'Cause here if you can pull a string A guy like me lives like a king Just as long as you don't believe anything (CHRIS stops, then goes back into KIM'S room.) Why God? Why this face? Why such beauty in this place? I liked my mem'ries as they were But now I'll leave rememb'ring her Just her 7. THIS MONEY IS YOURS (KIM wakens. CHRIS hands her the money he had left.) CHRIS This money's yours Please take it all Hey, you want more? KIM No, no, I don't want anything CHRIS Hey, what's wrong with you? KIM I've not done this before CHRIS That can't be true! KIM CHRIS All the girls lie! They just want to get out of here Maybe you're not like that But I don't know who you are KIM Do you want one more tale of a Vietnam girl? Want to know I was bound to a man I don't love? Do you want to be told how my village was burned? Want to hear how my family was blasted away? How I ran from the rice field and saw them in flames? How my parents were bodies whose faces were gone? I have had my fill of pain I will not look back again I would rather die CHRIS Can I see you tonight? KIM Well, I'll be at the club Selling "beaucoup amour" CHRIS No, you won't How would you like... KIM How would I like...? CHRIS How would you like Living with me? It feels good like this So that's how we should be So would you like? KIM Yes, I would like! CHRIS Okay, it's set No more to say Screw the Engineer You're the one good thing That I've found out here 8. SUN AND MOON KIM You are sunlight and I moon Joined by the gods of fortune Midnight and high noon Sharing the sky We have been blessed, you and I CHRIS You are here like a mystery I'm from a world that's so different From all that you are How in the light of one night Did we come so far? KIM Outside day starts to dawn CHRIS Your moon still floats on high KIM The birds awake CHRIS The stars shine too KIM My hands still shake CHRIS I reach for you BOTH And we meet in the sky! KIM You are sunlight and I moon Joined here Bright'ning the sky With the flame Of love BOTH Made of Sunlight Moonlight KIM Tomorrow will be the full moon I can bring friends to bless our room With paper unicorns and perfume If you want me to CHRIS Unicorns? sure. . . 9. THE TELEPHONE SONG (It is the middle of the next day. CHRIS is on the telephone.) CHRIS John, is that you, buddy? Listen to me Do I sound diff'rent? How else could I be? Last night I spent a whole lifetime in paradise. Hey, tell the CO I'm taking all of my leave We're gonna play house, oh John, it's like Christmas eve We have sworn we won't see the sun for forty-eight hours (JOHN at the Embassy, in the midst of chaos: files being packed or burned, typewriters crated, etc.) JOHN What are you saying? Are you out of your mind? All leaves are canceled, you could be left behind Saigon is falling apart, and you'd better be here Here is the news, since you've been on the moon Cities in the boondocks are dropping like flies Wives and civilians will be shipping out soon Crowds around the Embassy have tears in their eyes Thieu has resigned, the new regime may not hold People at the place think we'll send the marines We are sending nothing from what I've been told Buddy, are you there? Do you know what this means? Sure! Time to fall in love! CHRIS John, listen fast, you did not get this call You're the one who bought the girl for me after all "Once you're a friend, you're a friend through and through" When you are in trouble, then I'll cover for you JOHN Not this time, the town's too hot For one Kongai whore Ol' buddy, I will not get you killed CHRIS She is no whore, you saw her too She's really more, like... the April moon JOHN April fuckin' moon!! CHRIS She's been hurt, you see Both her parents died What else could she be? JOHN Sweet as that, and she's an orphan too! How can a guy fight that? You got one day, not two Then be back! 10. THE DEAL (At another location, CHRIS and the ENGINEER) ENGINEER My friend We had a deal for Kim, but that's on ice I'm sorry, sergeant, but I've changed the price I need a visa from your embassy You get me that, you'll get the girl for free CHRIS Cut the crap, this money's all I got I don't give visas out, is this a deal or not? You tell me (CHRIS draws his revolver and aims at the ENGINEER) ENGINEER Okay, okay, the money...it will do Yoo bad, I had a Rolex watch for you I'll get my papers in another way I'll make a rich man of some attache (CHRIS leaves) With little shits like him, you take the bucks and run He gave me six weeks income, I'll be gone in one 11. THE WEDDING CEREMONY GIRLS One of us girls is moving on One girl will get out of Saigon GIGI So now who's really Miss Saigon GIRLS TV and stereo she gets And Elvis Presley on cassettes (KIM and CHRIS enter) GIRLS Look how he bought her a new dress You did a job on him I guess KIM He simply asked me I said, "yes" GIRLS Come on, let's bless the new princess GIRLS Dju vui vay Yu doi my Dju vui vay Vao nyay moy KIM Will you give me life smile today Look with favoring eyes on this man Show your daughter's heart your forgiveness And send to us From your home above Your blessing on our love GIRLS KIM (echoing) Dju vui vay Dju vui vay Yu doi my Yu doi my Dju vui vay Dju vui vay Vao nyay moy GIRLS CHRIS Dju vui vay It's pretty but what does it mean? GIRLS KIM Yu doi my It's what all the girls sing at weddings (CHRIS looks up, startled) GIRLS KIM Dju vui vay They didn't know what else to sing GIRLS CHRIS Vao nyay moy It's the prettiest thing that I've ever heard (Friends arrive carrying beer and a platter of food. The party gathers around the bed, and GIGI leads a toast to KIM.) GIGI To Miss Saigon! GUESTS Miss Saigon! 12. THUY'S ARRIVAL (The door opens. A stranger enters.) THUY You're here, at last I've come to take you home All night, I ran I made it through the line Kim, tell your friends, it's time to go away This life, it ends You're safe with me today CHRIS This girl is mine! THUY Yours? CHRIS Now THUY You? TOGETHER Who are you? KIM Stop! THUY Who is this man? This American man? Do none of you see what's ahead? Have you gone mad? These are losers and whores Who will soon all be gone or be dead CHRIS Get out of here KIM You have no right to be here I'm not a prize you can claim We were promised at thirteen The woman I am now is not the same THUY Our parents bound us together, and that is our fate You knew I'd come back to get you Why didn't you wait? KIM My parents got themselves killed in the week you changed sides If there were promises all of them died when they died (CHRIS and THUY pull guns. The girls scream.) (GIGI and the GIRLS leave quickly) THUY Kim, leave this man behind KIM go on! And shoot! I will not change my mind! THUY You are still mine! KIM Not anymore! THUY You're mine until we die! THUY Saigon Is doomed And so is your GI CHRIS Get the hell out! THUY You broke your father's word This is your curse! (THUY runs out. CHRIS runs out after him but he's gone.) CHRIS What a party that was! KIM You're going to leave me now CHRIS Yes, I'm going to leave And take you out with me 13. THE LAST NIGHT OF THE WORLD CHRIS In a place that won't let us feel In a life where nothing seems real I have found you I have found you KIM In a world that's moving too fast In a world where nothing can last I will hold you I will hold you CHRIS Our lives will change, when tomorrow comes KIM Tonight our hearts drown the distant drums CHRIS And we have music all right Tearing the night A song Played on a solo saxophone A crazy sound KIM A lonely sound BOTH A cry that tells us love goes on and on Played on a solo saxophone It's telling me To hold you tight And dance like it's the last night of the world CHRIS On the other side of the earth There's a place where life still has worth I will take you KIM I'll go with you CHRIS You won't believe all the things you'll see I know 'cause you'll see them all with me BOTH If we're together that's when We'll hear it again A song Played on a solo saxophone A crazy sound A lonely sound A cry that tells us love goes on and on Played on a solo saxophone It's telling me To hold you tight And dance like it's the last night of the world KIM Dreams Were all I ever knew CHRIS Dreams You won't need when I'm through BOTH Anywhere we may be I will sing with you Our song. . . (they dance together in the balcony) BOTH . . .played on a solo saxophone So stay with me And hold me tight And dance Like it's the last night of the world 14. THE MORNING OF THE DRAGON (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 one 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