Screenplay: The Glory of Spring

by Vivian Do:

MY LAI - 1968

BLACK SCREEN. Sounds of bullets pepper the air. Screams are heard from women, young and old. Babies cry in the distance.

INT. HUT - DAY

A 16-year-old girl named VINH XUAN wakes up to the cacophony of sounds. She has been sleeping on a straw mat. The room is bare, except for a few cooking tools, a bag of rice, and some lamps in the corner. Her mother is sitting underneath a window, holding her barely 6 month old baby sister--her face silently screams one of utter terror.

Vinh crawls next to her mother and just barely peeps her head above the windowsill. She sees nothing but the rice paddies for a long time. Suddenly, she sees a little girl (10-years-old) sprinting across the field.

CUT TO:

CLOSE-UP of little girl while she is running. HEAVY BREATHING. A gunshot is heard.

CUT TO:

Vinh sees the little girl fall forward and SPLASH into the rice paddy. She doesn’t move. Vinh’s mom grabs her arm and pulls her to the ground.

Vinh

(in Vietnamese)

Ma! Ma! What is happening?

Tears stream down Vinh’s face.

Mrs. Le

(in Vietnamese)

I don’t know! But keep quiet. I think the communists are here.

She continues to cradle the baby so that she won’t cry. Footsteps are suddenly heard near the house. Vinh and her mom look at each other.

Mrs. Le

(in Vietnamese)

We have to leave! If the Viet Cong find us, they will surely kill us.

The baby, sensing fear, begins to hiccup and wail. Mrs. Le shushes and cradles her. They wait until well after the sounds of the boots fade away. Quietly, they scoot to the entrance of the house.

EXT. HUT - DAY

The mother and daughter’s heads peer around the doorway. They glance back and forth a few times and then quickly shuffle out. Vinh spots the body of the dead girl from earlier and then sees 4-5 more bodies further down the road. They sprint to the jungle area behind their house.

INT. JUNGLE - DAY

They run through the jungle. They hear more gunshots, more screams, more cries. Ahead of the path, they hear American voices. They run back and cross a road.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The three are at the edge of the jungle and are about to cross the dirt path to get to the other side. They see 20-30 dead, mutilated bodies on the ground. 50 feet away stands a group of American privates and one officer.

Pvt. #3

Hey! Hey! Come back here!

The soldiers begin running toward the Le’s. They run across the path into the trees.

INT. JUNGLE - DAY

They run again. The baby continues to wail. Mrs. Le stumbles but quickly recovers. She runs with a limp. An American soldier, 19, emerges and stands in the way of the path. He raises his M16.

Vinh

(in English)

No! Please no shoot!

The soldier, PRIVATE TIM BEAMER, raises the rifle slightly over the women’s shoulders, aiming it behind them.

Pvt. Beamer

STOP! What are you DOING? Have you all gone completely mad?

The Le’s turn around to see the soldiers from earlier close behind. The one in the front, OFFICER HANCOCK, raises his gun. Pvt. Beamer steps in front of the three, protecting them.

Off. Hancock

Move, Private! We were ordered to search and destroy and goddammit we are going to search and destroy every single one of these gooks.

Pvt. Beamer

You’re killing women and children! Don’t you see? They lied to us! There are no VC here! There aren’t even soldiers here! (Yelling.) I CAME HERE TO FIGHT A FUCKING WAR, AND I STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M FUCKING FIGHTING FOR. DO YOU? I SURE AS HELL DON’T. AND NOW WE’RE KILLING BABIES. BABIES! DO YOU EVEN--

Off. Hancock begins shooting. He misses the Private, who turns around and pushes the Le’s off the path and helps them run away. Shouting is heard behind them.

A yelp is heard. Mrs. Le has twisted her ankle and is on the ground with the baby. The Pvt. turns around to try to help but is shot at again by the closely approaching posse. He guards Vinh.

Vinh

(in Vietnamese)

Ma! Ma get up!

Mrs. Le

(in Vietnamese)

Vinh! Run! Go with that man and get out!

Vinh

(in Vietnamese)

No! Ma I won’t leave without you! (Crying.)

Mrs. Le is shot in the leg. She yells out. The baby screeches. Others, including PRIVATE J. ROBERT O’CONNOR shoot at Pvt. Beamer and Vinh.

Pvt. Beamer

(Turns to Vinh.) Run! I’ll try to protect them. Just run! Chay di!

Vinh nods with tears in her eyes. Beamer turns back and shoots at the officer and privates. She runs, but turns around just in time to see Beamer fall.

INT. JUNGLE - CONTINUOUS

Beamer’s body is riddled with bullets by the Officer as he turns around. At the same time, Pvt. O’Connor stands over Mrs. Le and the baby. He has a wild look in his eyes. He raises his M16, points it at Mrs. Le’s head.

CUT TO:

O’CONNOR’S PERSPECTIVE. Mrs. Le stares fearfully at him from the ground. (Muffled sound, only tinny ringing is heard. Scene slows down.) Muffled gunshot. A blossom of red appears in the center of her forehead. (Sound is heard again and everything speeds up.) O’Connor hears crying, shoots the baby. This time, the blood isn’t a blossom--it’s messier. He looks up and makes eye contact with a frozen Vinh.

CUT TO:

VINH’S PERSPECTIVE. She makes eye contact with the rabid O’Connor. She sees him raise his gun again. She runs.

Shots of Vinh running through the forest, broken by trees. She does not look back. She doesn’t know where she’s going, she only knows that she needs to run. She finally stumbles into the main part of the My Lai village.

EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

Everywhere Vinh looks, she sees dead bodies. Piles of them. Some have just been shot. Others have been decapitated, limbs cut off. Vinh walks around, taking in everything. Next to the Nguyen’s house is a mound of ears--at least 30. She stumbles to the Do’s house in disbelief, only to see the burnt bodies of 8 children, lined up by height and all still in an upright, cross-legged position. Vinh runs the opposite direction and sees old Mr. Pham’s exposed dead body. A wire is attached to his genitals and the other end is connected to an electrical box. Vinh turns around again and sees a girl about her age completely naked. She is unrecognizable as her body has been so badly raped and mutilated--she has no eyes, no mouth, and no ears.

The camera spins in 360, following Vinh’s face as she turns and turns in the same spot in the center of the village. She falls into a fetal position and begins to sob. An American man, WARRANT OFFICER HUGH THOMPSON, is seen in the distance and approaches, running.

Thompson gently shakes Vinh, who is still crying. She looks up and immediately crab walks away from him. He puts his gun down.

WO Thompson

(Gently.) Hi. Hey there. I’m Officer Thompson. I want to help you, okay? Help? Please? (Vinh is still frozen.) I have a helicopter. It can get us out of here. Okay? Do you want to leave? (Sensing her unresponsiveness.) Saigon? Do you want to go to Saigon? (Vinh nods.) Okay, let’s get out of here.

Thompson helps Vinh get up, but she falls back down. He picks her and his gun up and begins to jog. Eventually, they get to the helicopter and he tries to put her down. She refuses to let go. They sit and wait until the craft gets full. The radio informs Thompson that every civilian is either dead or on the helicopter.

Pilot

(Loudly, over the sounds of the blades.) Thompson, we ready to fly out?

WO Thompson

Yeah. Yeah, we’re ready.

CUT TO BLACK. Only chopper sounds are heard.

EXT. SAIGON - NIGHT

SAIGON - 1975

THE STREETS ARE LINED WITH PROSTITUTES. We see varying shots of different couples: drunk American soldiers and scantily clad Vietnamese girls leaning against one another, escorting each other home. Catcalls and phrases like “love you long time” are heard. Several prostitutes loiter around, smoking cigarettes.

We see Vinh, dressed more moderately, leaning against a dark alleyway. She watches as her girlfriends cross by, clinging onto men, walking unsteadily in stilettos and mini-skirts. One especially pretty friend waves. Vinh waves back. Her friend’s customer sees Vinh.

Drunk Soldier

(Slurred.) Why, helLO there pretty lady. Why don’t you join us? (Laughs, turns to kiss his companion.)

Vinh

No, I am okay. Thank you.

Drunk Soldier

Well that’s too bad. (Pauses.) Whassa matter? You look like someone jus’ killed your cat. Don’t she look like someone jus’ kill ‘er cat?

Vinh

I am okay. Thank you.

Drunk Soldier

Okay then. (Hiccups.) Les go.

Vinh’s friend and the drunk soldier leave. Next to a closed coffee shop, on the curb, sits a SAD SOLDIER. Vinh sees him from across the street and is instantly struck by how sad he seems. Sorrow surrounds him like a cloud, a feeling that has burdened Vinh for the past 4 years. She is attracted to the sadness and something else, too. He looks vaguely familiar but she is unsure of how they met. Vinh never approaches her customers, but something about this man seemed different. She crosses the street and sits down next to him.

Sad Soldier

I’m not interested.

Vinh

(Surprised.) Oh. That’s okay. My feet were tired. I wanted to sit down. Is it okay if I sit here?

Sad Soldier

(Rudely.) What do you want?

Vinh

(Confused.) I want to sit down.

Sad Soldier

Bah. Do whatever you want. All you sluts are the same. (Takes a swig from a beer bottle.)

Vinh

(Now hurt.) I’m sorry. I just--I noticed how sad you are. I’m sad also. I’m sorry, I will leave now. (Gets up.)

Sad Soldier

Wait. (Hesitates.) How come you’re sad?

Vinh

(Quietly.) I--I am so alone. I have been for a very long time (Sad Soldier looks at her expectantly.) I moved to Saigon 4 years ago and I have no family here. I do not have a home. That’s why I want to go to America. But I don’t have much money, so I work these streets every night. (Pauses.) If my mother was alive, she would be very ashamed of me. Very ashamed.

Sad Soldier

I’m so sorry. I understand. I’m alone too. (Silence.) Here, why don’t you sit back down? I’ll be your friend tonight.

Vinh

Thank you.

She sits down and the two talk well into the night. Sad Soldier shares his liquor with her. The two chat, laugh, and cry together. She tells him of her plans to escape to America by boat. He tells her of his plans to work in Vietnam and build orphanages. They both ignore talks of the war, the communists, and the North’s inevitable victory. Eventually, the streets empty.

Vinh

Why are you still in Vietnam? I thought American soldiers left.

Sad Soldier

We did. I mean, they did. I went AWOL.

Vinh

A wall? What wall?

Sad Soldier

No. (Laughs.) AWOL means I left my unit. Without permission.

Vinh

Oh. (Pauses.) Why would you do that?

Sad Soldier

I didn’t agree with what they were doing. (Rubs eyes.) My unit and I, we did terrible things. Terrible. I regret everything I ever did with them. I regret all the killings, all the burning, all of it. (Puts head in hands.) So I left. I left without telling them and now I’m stuck here with no way back home. (Looks at Vinh.) But now I’m here to stay, to help rebuild a country that I helped destroy. But yes, I’m like you--no home, no family, just alone.

Vinh

I’m sorry. But we are friends tonight, yes?

Sad Soldier

Yeah. Yeah, we are. (Smiles.)

The two stare at each other for a long time. DAY BREAKS. They both lean in and kiss.

Vinh

Will I see you again?

Sad Soldier

Of course. My name’s John. What’s yours?

Vinh

Xuan.

John

Like “spring.” What a beautiful name.

The bustling sounds of cars, bicycles, and people selling their wares on the streets begin to grow as day grows. The two part ways.

We see Vinh search for John over the next two weeks:

EXT. BEN THANH MARKET - DAY

Vinh glances around while she buys fruits and vegetables. She speaks to a vendor and they slyly exchange cash, all while looking around to make sure no one is listening. We cannot hear their conversation but we see small, concealed hand gestures that resemble boats and ocean waves.

EXT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

Vinh looks up excitedly when she sees the back of a man who resembles John, but when he turns around she is disappointed. It is not him.

EXT. SAIGON - NIGHT

Vinh begrudgingly takes on customers every night. She always looks around before entering the brothel or a house. She counts her money and puts it in a hidden pouch under her clothes.

EXT. SAIGON - DAY

Vinh is going about her daily business when she hears a familiar voice.

John

(Excitedly.) Xuan!

Vinh

(Disbelief.) John!

John

I have something important to tell you! (Gestures for her to leave with him.)

INT. ALLEY - DAY

Vinh

Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in so long. (She caresses his face.)

John

I know, I’m so sorry. But I found you a way to America! (Leans in to her face excitedly.) I ran into an old buddy of mine who was in my unit and he has this little wooden boat. He had a kid with a Vietnamese girl in the countryside and now he’s helping her family and his kid get to Thailand. I asked if he could take you and he said yes, but you absolutely cannot tell ANYONE. (Kisses her.) You’re going to America Xuan!

Vinh

(Tears up.) But what about you?

John

I can’t go back. I’m a deserter. Worse, have you heard how soldiers are treated back home? They aren’t heroes, Xuan, they’re disrespected, spat on, ignored...(Sighs.Speaks slowly.) Plus, you’ll find someone more deserving of you over there. I’ve done horrible things, okay? But you’ve got your whole life ahead of you. You haven’t seen the things I’ve seen, and you’ll never have to.

Vinh

(Desperately.) But I don’t care! I love you! And what is it that Americans always say, “forgive and forget?” I forgive you, John. I forgive you I forgive you I forgive you (Cries into his chest.) You’re the only person I have loved in so long. I forgive you.

John

(Holds her.) Shhhhh, it’s okay. (Whispers under breath.) I love you too.

FADE OUT.

EXT. JUNGLE PATH - NIGHT

John leads the way as he and Vinh quickly walk through the jungle to get to the beach. Crickets chirp and occasionally shouts in Vietnamese are heard from Viet Cong troops in the distance. The North is closing in on Saigon.

EXT. BEACH - NIGHT

Eventually, the two emerge onto a beach. It is nearly pitch black, except for the single ray of moon reflected on the ocean waves.

John

(Whispers loudly.) Dan? Dan! Where are you? (Silence.) Xuan, wait here, I’ll go find--

Dan

O’Connor? That you? The boat’s a ways down from here, I couldn’t risk the damned VC finding it.

A man, DAN, emerges from the jungle a few yards left of Vinh and John. As he approaches, his family comes out as well: a young woman, a 5-year-old boy in her arms, her parents, and a pair of twins (the woman’s older siblings, presumably). Their faces are still very dark.

John

Dan! Thank god. (Pulls him in for a hug.) I brought my friend, the one I told you about? Xuan, meet Dan and his family.

John turns around, but Xuan has started backing away. She recognizes Dan’s face, also known as OFFICER HANCOCK, the man who killed PRIVATE BEAMER.

Vinh

How--how do you know this man?

Vinh looks at John. She reacts as if she has been punched in the gut. She finally recognizes that John is PRIVATE O’CONNOR, the man who killed her family.

Vinh

You--it’s you? (Tears well up.) You and that man are friends? (Shakily points to Hancock.)

John

(Confused.) Yeah...Xuan, what’s wrong? (Reaches out his hand.)

Vinh

You...I forgave you. (Raises voice.) I forgave you. And...(Starts sobbing.)

John

What is it?

Vinh

(Screams.) YOU KILLED MY FAMILY. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? YOU KILLED THEM. IT WAS YOU.

Now it’s John’s turn to act as if he’s been punched in the gut. Viet Cong voices are heard a little more clearly now, but still at a distance.

John

That girl, that was you? (Runs hands through hair.) Oh God, oh God, OH GOD. I’m so sorry Xuan I didn’t KNOW. This is what I was trying to tell you. I didn’t know. I didn’t understand. I was just a KID! They were making me do terrible things and I left because I couldn’t take it anymore. I started having nightmares and look--(raises his hands, which are rubbed nearly raw)--I scrub my hands every day, still expecting BLOOD. I STILL SEE BLOOD. There’s no blood, I know there’s no blood, but I feel it. I see it. I smell it every day. And I just want to get it off. 7 years and I still can’t get it off.

Viet Cong voices get closer. Vinh is still backing away. Dan’s family holds onto each other.

John

Xuan come back. Please. I’m sorry. It was so long ago. Please.

Vinh looks at him briefly, then turns and sprints into the jungle.

INT. JUNGLE - NIGHT

Shots of Vinh running through the forest, broken by trees. She does not look back. She doesn’t know where she’s going, she only knows that she needs to run. From a distance, she can hear John running after her and yelling her name. Viet Cong voices are extremely near now.

EXT. RICE PADDY - NIGHT

Vinh breaks into a clearing. Her feet splash into the wet rice paddy. Suddenly, Viet Cong shouting is heard. A lanky, 16-year-old emerges from the woods, carrying a rifle.

Viet Cong

(in Vietnamese)

Hey lady! You! Stop!

Vinh turns around. The boy has the gun pointed at her.

Viet Cong

(in Vietnamese)

(Shakily.) Are you a Southerner? Huh? Get down you...you...you bitch!

From behind, John tackles the boy to the ground and wrestles him. They exchange punches, but John overpowers the boy and knocks him unconscious.

John

Xuan, let me explain. (He raises his hands in surrender.) I was instructed to kill in Pinkville, I was under the orders of Lieutenant Calley to search and destroy anyone we suspected to be a communist. And when he said ‘anyone’ he meant ‘everyone.’ I was 18. 18-year-old boys don’t question orders, they just do what they’re told. I was just a kid from North Carolina who wanted to serve his country and I--

Vinh

But you could have disobeyed your orders! You could have been like the soldier who tried to save me. Instead, YOUR friend killed him! (Breaking.) YOU took away everything I had. YOU’RE the reason why I shame myself every night. YOU’RE why I have no home, no family, NOTHING.

In the background, we see the boy come to and start towards the gun. Neither Vinh nor John notice him.

Vinh

I don’t know why I want to go to America! All you Americans do, you Americans are like the French. Grandpa told me about the French. He said they came to Vietnam and took our country, that they treated it like it was theirs. They killed and they raped and they burned and they fathered children with Vietnamese women only to abandon them. The French are the reason why we even have a civil war at all. The only difference between the Americans and the French is that you speak English.

John

That’s not true! We came because we wanted to help--

Vinh

So did the French! And they began to destroy our country and our governments--

John

Because your country can’t seem to fucking govern itself!

Vinh

Because you all refused to let us figure it out on our own! We did just fine after the Chinese until white people came along and put their hands in everything--

John

But you said you forgave me--

BANG. A blossom of red appears on John’s chest. The boy collapses again and dies. Vinh’s eyes grow wide. John looks down. He looks back up at Vinh and falls to his knees.

John

Xuan...

Vinh looks at John in horror. She is torn between running to him and running away. A group of VC voices are heard approaching.

John

Xuan, please. (Crying.) Please.

A Southern man and his daughter enter the clearing. They see the three bodies and freeze. Vinh and John simultaneously look over. Recognizing John as an American, the father is relieved.

Southern Man

American? We on our way to boat to Canada! You know where it is? (No response. Notices blood on John.) Sir, are you okay?

The man and his daughter jog over to examine John’s wound. Viet Cong voices are very close. The man looks up at Vinh fearfully.

Southern Man

We go before Viet Cong here! Come, come with us!

John looks at Vinh. Vinh looks at the man, then his daughter.

John

Xuan, you have to go.

Southern Man

Yes, yes, go! We go! We go now!

The father and daughter begin to run. Vinh hesitates, then follows. When she gets to the edge of the jungle, she contemplates looking back. She doesn’t and continues moving.

CUT TO:

John O’Connor is still on his knees. He is still longingly looking in Vinh’s direction. The VC emerge from behind him about 300 yards away. John closes his eyes.

CUT TO BLACK.

---

Photo Description and Source:

American Soldier With M79 Grenade Launcher Helping Civilians Take Cover From Vietcong Sniper In Canal Near Bao Trai, 1.1.66, Imgur.com

http://sites.austincc.edu/caddis/vietnam-wars/