MISS SAIGON A musical by Alan Boubil and Claude Michel Schonberg ** 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 an 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 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) KIM 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.) ...
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