(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!