by David Hare
Chesneau Sir …
Ambassador The North will stop short and I will negotiate. But it’s essential I do that from strength.
Chesneau is about to interrupt again.
That is why I need a new aid allocation. I’ve asked for seven hundred million this week. The President has promised he will get it from Congress. (He sits back.) Until then we are going to sit tight.
Chesneau (very quiet now) But sir … with respect … you didn’t get it last time. In effect you’re gambling with thousands of lives.
Ambassador We are going to prove our absolute friendship.
Chesneau Even if it costs our friends their own lives?
There is a pause. The debate is over. The Ambassador speaks, full of sorrow.
Ambassador Bob. I don’t like to see you hysterical. I know the work has gotten very hard. I don’t like to see you join the conspiracy. (He looks up at him, a moment.) You of all people.
His own melancholy is so apparent that Chesneau cannot reply.
Well … there we are.
Ockham looks up, shifting as if the meeting is over. But the Ambassador has turned into himself and is staring at his desk.
Ockham Well …
The Ambassador looks up.
Ambassador I lost a son.
Chesneau Yes. I’m sorry, sir.
Ambassador My son was killed fighting. He died here. Six years ago. (He looks at Chesneau.) No, well, Bob, thanks for the offer. But I don’t think we’ll be leaving right now.
48. INT. APARTMENT. NIGHT
Darkness. Then Barbara’s face, just hit with a streak of light as she unlatches the door. Chesneau is standing outside on the landing.
Chesneau Hi, how are you?
He smiles. She looks at him a moment.
I wanted to see you.
She opens the door.
Barbara Come in. The curfew …
Chesneau Oh it’s all right.
She closes the door behind him and goes on past him back into the apartment which is darkened, unlit.
I’m afraid I’ve been drinking. One or two of the Agency …
He stands a moment at the door, apologetically, holding a couple of bottles in his hand. She has gone to sit down at the far end of the apartment on a wooden chair.
Have you been sleeping?
Barbara I’m sitting in the dark.
There is a pause. He moves into the darkened room.
Chesneau It’s been very bad. Things are bad lately. There’s an airlift out of Danang. Hue gone, Danang going …
Barbara I heard the World Service tonight.
He stands a moment. She is not looking at him.
Chesneau Listen, I’m sorry … I’ve not been coming to see you. I’m sure … you must be angry, I know. It’s just … it gets to be impossible …
Barbara Why do you behave as if I’m your wife?
Chesneau What?
Barbara (quietly, with no apparent bitterness) It’s unattractive. Pouring out excuses. ‘I’m sorry, darling, I’m drunk …’ I’m your girlfriend, there’s no responsibility. And thank goodness, no need to report.
Chesneau looks at her a moment, not understanding her mood.
Chesneau Barbara, I’m sorry, I felt you’d be angry …
Barbara Yes, well, I am. Things are coming to an end. That means going into work hasn’t been easy. It’s not very pleasant, the look people have. Today there was a girl, a teller, she’s been working at the bank, I suppose, two years, she came to me to ask if I could help get her out. I said, well, there’s a friend of mine … (She looks at him quickly, then away.) … he can get papers, I think.
Chesneau Yeah, it’s not … it isn’t too easy. For the moment we’re playing things down.
He pauses, miserably. Barbara is looking down at her hands.
I mean, of course I will for a friend of yours, Barbara. We’re trying not to let panic set in.
He goes on, apologetically. She doesn’t turn.
That’s why the radio doesn’t quite come through with things. All the news of the military defeats. We don’t want things to get too conspicuous. People might take to the streets.
Barbara Well, I’m sure. You must lie to them. Lying’s got you this far.
Chesneau Barbara, you know I have always protested …
Barbara Yes of course … (She turns to him at last.) You’ve protested to me.
There is a pause.
I remember you so many evenings, lying there. A chance to talk about your work. Then you’ve gone back into the Embassy …
Chesneau Barbara …
Barbara Done nothing. And now you’re inventing a fresh set of lies. (She turns away.) ‘Oh whatever we do we mustn’t tell the people. Just get the palefaces out of this mess …’
Chesneau That isn’t fair. That’s not fair to us. The whole thing is just … to keep things in hand.
There is a miserable silence.
Barbara (very quietly) This girl said to me, ‘I know you’ll betray us.’ I said, ‘Oh I don’t think that’s true.’ She said, ‘Oh please you mustn’t be offended …’ (She turns and looks at him.) ‘… I know what you do is always for the best.’
She gets up and goes out of the room. In the distance a light comes on and she passes out of sight. Chesneau alone in the room holding his beer. Then Barbara’s voice calling through.
These people know. They know what’s happening. The more you lie, the worse it will get.
Chesneau turns slightly.
Chesneau We don’t know for sure that everything’s over.
Barbara’s face reappears in the doorway.
Barbara In that case you’re the only people who don’t.
49. INT. CORRIDOR. DAY
The main corridor in the CIA. Empty. The noise of people at work in the offices. Then after a few seconds the most almighty explosion not far away. The whole corridor shakes. At once people come running, Judd first.
Judd Jesus Christ, what the hell is happening?
50. INT. UPSTAIRS CORRIDOR. DAY
The Ambassador appears, hands on hips, furious in the deserted corridor upstairs.
Ambassador What the hell is going on here?
51. INT. STAIRWELL. DAY
The enormous stairwell at the centre of the Embassy. The Ambassador appears on the stairs. Above him, a door is opened at the very top of the well, and an anxious American Marine is seen staring up into the sky. The Ambassador yells up from the railing three floors below.
Ambassador Soldier, what’s happening?
The Marine calls back down.
Marine There’s just one fighter, sir. He’s bombing the Presidential Palace, it’s like.
A very loud voice through the whole building, screaming at full pitch.
Voice Hey. Get away from the windows. Everyone. Get down on the floor.
52. INT. CORRIDOR. DAY
The corridor now with forty people lying dead-still on the ground, as for a post-nuclear exercise. A pause. Then the whine of an approaching jet and another tremendous explosion. The corridor shakes again. Then the sound of the jet disappearing into the distance. Silence. Nobody moves.
Then the first person sits up.
53. INT. OCKHAM’S OFFICE. DAY
A couple of minutes later. A jump in sound as from outside you can hear people sorting themselves out, calling to one another, as Chesneau comes into the room. Ockham is already on the phone at his desk, apparently as calm as ever.
Ockham (phone) OK. All right.
Chesneau What the hell was that about?
Ockham looks up briefly.
Ockham (phone) OK. Yeah. I understand.
Chesneau Jack.
Ockham nods and puts down the phone.
Ockham Some mad pilot. A cowboy. Decided to fight the war on his own.
He shrugs slightly and turns back to his desk to sit down. Judd has come in to join them.
What can you do? There’s very little damage …
Chesneau Nobody knew what
the hell was happening. (He has begun to shout.) Nobody had any idea how to deal with it.
Ockham No, well, of course.
He looks at him, very quiet, his calm for the first time seeming unnatural, almost pathological.
It was a surprise.
He reaches for a bottle of whisky from a drawer in his desk. Chesneau looks at him, rattled by his elaborate calm.
Chesneau Jack, I thought we had radar defences. This town is meant to be ringed. That maniac came clear through the airspace …
Ockham Yes, I know.
Chesneau We’re just sitting here. (He looks up to the ceiling.) When is that mad bastard in that office going to realize we need to get out?
A pause. Ockham looks at Judd, who is looking at the floor.
Ockham Bob, understand you have my permission. If you’re unhappy, you’re free to resign.
54. EXT. BASEBALL GROUND. DAY
Chesneau stands in the bleachers watching the lunchtime baseball in the Embassy compound. Judd has followed him out.
Chesneau It’s not even me, it’s not me I’m thinking of …
Judd No …
Chesneau I don’t give a shit what happens to us.
He sits down on one of the benches and gets out a sandwich. Judd sits beside him.
It’s those thousands of people who helped us. We made them a promise. And it’s getting too late. The Ambassador dreams of some personal triumph. Ockham moves his furniture out …
Judd I didn’t know that.
Chesneau Sure. Things. Joan’s cat …
He nods at Joan who is approaching them.
Objects. Money. Everything but the people can go.
Joan opens her handbag to give a note to Judd. Inside Chesneau sees a .45 pistol.
New gun, Joan.
Mackintosh I got it in case we ever get caught. (She smiles at Judd.) Frank and I … we have an agreement. We’re going to shoot each other in the head.
She goes. Chesneau watches her leave, but Judd has turned and is looking at Chesneau, as if preparing to say something difficult.
Judd Bob, I’ve been wanting to say to you, you don’t get anywhere by being awkward.
Chesneau Awkward?
Judd Lately you’ve become very loud. Whether you’re right or wrong, it’s not very effective. You’re not going to make anyone want to change their mind. Jack Ockham, for God’s sake, he’s as eager to start the evacuation as you are. More eager. But he also knows the way to persuade the Ambassador is never going to be by raising his voice. I’m not quite sure why you do it. What your motives are for this bitterness, Bob. It’s self-indulgent. And it doesn’t have the effect you require.
There is a pause.
I say this from personal friendship.
Chesneau (quietly) Is this what everyone feels?
55. INT. BANK. DAY
The bank besieged with people desperate to trade their piastres. Much argument with tellers. People behind the counters working flat out. A Teller brings a packet to Barbara’s desk where she is working.
Teller This has been delivered by hand.
Barbara Thank you.
The Teller goes. Barbara looks at the packet, opens its top, takes the merest second’s glance, then gets up and goes over to another of the tellers, a girl of 17 on a high stool. At once Lhan gets up and follows Barbara to a small filing office at the side of the main hall.
Lhan, come in here …
56. INT. FILING OFFICE. DAY
Continuous. They go in, Barbara closing the door, then she takes the packet and empties it out on a small table.
Lhan Thank you.
Inside the packet are an air ticket and a passport which Barbara hands across, as she looks in the ticket.
Barbara Here’s your passport as well.
Lhan Thank you, Miss Dean. (Lhan is delighted. She gestures outside.) I have the dollars.
Barbara That’s all right. You’ll need them where you’re going. The flight is today. You must leave the bank early.
Lhan All right. (She takes the ticket from Barbara. Then pauses.) Miss Dean, I have an aunt. Also … she has two brothers.
Barbara looks at her a moment, then leans across and kisses her with great affection. Then she leaves the room, but not encouragingly.
Barbara Leave their names. I’ll see what I can do.
57. INT. SHREDDING ROOM. DAY
At once a great noise as Ockham moves down a line of eight paper-shredders which are being fed continuously with thousands of documents, which are being unloaded by teams of assistants. We are in a large filing room, almost like a steel vault, whose contents have been ransacked and poured out on to the floor. As Ockham moves down the line, assistants come up to him with individual bundles for his personal approval.
Ockham Yeah, all that. (He looks briefly at the next bundle.) Get rid of it. (The next.) Yeah. Yeah. Sure, that as well. Anything with names we got to get rid of it. (He speaks even before the next assistant has reached him.) If it’s got names, then it must go.
58. INT. INCINERATOR ROOM. DAY
An inferno of heat and noise. A terrible whine from the machines. Three men dressed only in trousers are shovelling piles of shredded paper into the incinerators. There are carts of shredded paper waiting to go. The fire inside is fierce. Ockham stands near the men, shouting at the top of his voice to be heard.
Ockham It’s hot.
Man Yeah. Ventilation. (He points up to the ceiling.) I don’t think it’s working.
Ockham nods. Then gestures at the great piles of paper.
Ockham I’m afraid this is only the beginning. Just keep going as long as you can.
59. INT. OCKHAM’S OFFICE. DAY
Ockham is now sitting at his desk downstairs. Round the door appears a very Ivy League State Department Young Man, nervous, in a suit. Ockham looks up.
Young Man I’m sorry, sir. It’s the Ambassador. He says can you turn the incinerators off?
Ockham frowns.
He says he’s sorry, but please can you do it?
The Young Man looks nervously at Ockham.
He says the ash is falling on the pool.
60. INT. BANK. NIGHT
Quoc is sitting alone with the ledgers in the deserted bank. He is at his desk, in the back area. Barbara appears in front of him, very still.
Barbara Quoc. I’m afraid I sent Lhan off today.
Quoc Yes, that’s all right. She told me she would go.
Barbara nods slightly.
Barbara I wanted to ask … if you would like me to help you.
Quoc No.
There is a pause. Quoc stares at her impassively.
Barbara I felt I must ask.
Quoc Whatever happens, I am staying in my country. My family, my life is here.
Barbara But you hate the Communists.
Quoc No, I don’t hate them, I fear them, that’s all.
She looks at him as if about to say something important.
Barbara The bank will trade until the last moment.
Quoc Yes, of course.
Barbara I needed to say …
She stops, unable to express herself. She puts her hand suddenly over her mouth. Quoc seems simply to wait. She sees this and turns away.
Well, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have disturbed you. (She turns to go.) Good night, Quoc.
Quoc Good night, Miss Dean.
61. INT. SITUATION ROOM. NIGHT
A group of senior Embassy men in the situation room. In the DAO’s office inside the Embassy. It is late at night. The maps on the walls are dramatically lit by neon. At the centre of the room, surrounded by senior military, the Ambassador sits in deep gloom. Chesneau sits near Ockham. The Officer at the wall has just finished reporting from a large map of Military Region Three.
Officer I’m sorry, sir. There is nothing in the military situation which gives any grounds for hope. I would say … Saigon is encircled. At any moment the attack can be pressed home. (He waits a moment, then tries to go on.) In a way, I do
n’t quite know why they’re waiting …
Ambassador They’re waiting because they still want to talk. (His voice is barely raised.) Why fight your way in when you can negotiate? They don’t want to see this city destroyed.
There is silence. He is plainly on his own, yet no one wants to speak. Ockham leads quietly.
Ockham Well, in that case, there’s a precondition.
Something we’ve discussed here before. For many years. It is a condition that the North will not negotiate unless President Thieu is removed.
Ambassador And it is of course I who must do it.
There is a pause.
Oh yes, Jack. I must hold the knife.
Everyone looks at him in concealed astonishment. The military stare as he goes on.
This man who’s been loyal to us. A cup of bitterness. And you are all so keen I should drink.
Ockham looks down, embarrassed.
Ockham Well, it does seem … if we want to negotiate …
Ambassador Oh yes, of course, sound reasons I’m sure. (He gets up from the chair and moves across the room, muttering. Then he turns and faces them.) Well, so be it. It’s what you’ve always wanted. All of you. Well … you have your way.
He looks down to the floor. There is a silence.
Chesneau (neutrally, not intimidated) Does that mean, sir, we can start to evacuate?
The Ambassador turns and looks at him.
Ambassador Oh yes, Chesneau. Let hell come down.
62. INT. BAR. NIGHT
A rundown bar in the centre of town. Behind the bar the TV is on and Thieu is addressing the nation in obviously historic terms. At the bar in a line sit Chesneau, Joan Mackintosh, Frank Judd and Brad, a middle-aged American industrialist. Chesneau gets down from his stool and passes the television as he goes to the phone. He dials.
Chesneau Barbara. It’s Bob.
Barbara (voice over) Hello.
Chesneau Are you watching?