Beyond Rangoon

The trip was Andy's idea.

It was easier to say yes than argue.

...always that way with my sister.

She meant well.

A touch of the exotic east would get me away from

all the things that reminded me of what had happened.

But it didn't.

Wherever I looked, I saw only the moment

when my life ended.

Danny!

Oh my god!

...But our chances of being reborn

as a human being are very, very slim.

Please watch these steps.

They're not exactly...

...Okay...

In the Buddhist world, where suffering

is the accepted condition of man,...

...the attainment of perfect detachment

is the ultimate achievement.

Here, look what we have.

Mm! Isn't this splendid?

Look, look...

The reclining figure represents the Buddha

just before he passed into Nirvana,

...having at last divested himself

of all earthly desire,

...hence the smile of perfect contentment.

I suppose I thought I might

find something in the East...

...some kind of answer.

I stared at those stone faces...

...but nothing stirred in me.

I was stone myself.

The Buddhist may not believe in a soul

The sole of the Buddha's feet

is a different matter!

Yes, observe carefully the pictograms, ladies,

and you will see not only a record of the Buddha's life...

Andy!!

Here, hold this!

Andy!

Don't move him!

-What's his name?

-Gael.

-Ah. Parle francais?

-Oui. -Gael? Gael?

I'm a doctor. It's okay.

Ah, good, where does it hurt?

Tell me where it hurts.

-Here?

-Aye, thank God!

Alright. Sit up.

Watch him for a couple hours.

If he starts vomiting, gets dizzy,

take him to a hospital, okay?

Don't forget:
Eight o'clock,

Mandalay Lounge...

I'll be giving an illustrated lecture to prepare

us for the architectural joys of Thailand...

...a lot of wonderful slides.

-Could we have our key please?

-Could you try this number again, please?

When WE ran this country, it worked!

-My key, please!

-Hello?

-Seven days here is seven days too long!

-Hello!

-My key!

-Hello!

Excuse me?

I can't believe that child falling today

off of the Buddha!

Where was his mother?

Maybe this trip wasn't such a good idea.

Yes, it was.

It hasn't helped, though, has it?

Yes, it has.

Really, it has.

No, it hasn't.

My skin is so dry.

I know you don't want to hear this, but I think

the best thing you could do is go back to work.

I never should have been working in the first place.

What do you mean?

I could have been spending that time with Nick.

And our boy.

But we were so proud of you.

Especially Nick.

He wanted you to be a doctor.

What would he want now?

I know.

I'm sorry.

I know I promised I wouldn't talk about it on this trip.

But I did.

So.

Danny!

Danny!

Stop! I dare you!

You dare me to stop?

Oh god. What?

It's okay. Go back to sleep.

What are you doing here?

Are you American?

Yes.

Aung San Suu Kyi! Aung San Suu Kyi!

American? Are you American?

Yes.

American knows Aung San Suu Kyi?

No, I don't.

Very famous!

-She's very beautiful.

-She will lead us to democracy!

Come! Come up here! You will see

better up here! Come! Look!

Where is she?

Look! Here she comes now!

Aung San Suu Kyi! Aung San Suu Kyi!

Hello, little one.

Aung San Suu Kyi! Aung San Suu Kyi!

-What... What's the matter?

-Where did you go?!

These young men were just telling us you

could have run into some very serious trouble.

-There are many hooligans out tonight.

-I can't believe you called the police.

-This is not funny!

The colonel says, you Americans think

other nations' laws don't apply to you.

Well, here they do.

You broke curfew.

You could go to prison for that.

Yeah, well you can tell him that your country

doesn't seem to have a law against men

pointing guns at women, do you? do you?!

I want to apologize for my sister.

She means no disrespect.

W-w-well don't worry: We're on the 8:30 a.m. flight

for Bangkok in the morning and we couldn't get into

any more trouble even if we wanted to.

-You may go.

-Go! Go!

Well, thank you for, uh, your concern. I'm sure we

will be alright now. Sorry you had to come out so late.

What is wrong with your sister?!

Her husband and boy were murdered.

They were shot dead.

They're dead.

My god, I had no idea.

She just told me she wasn't married.

Well, she isn't, is she?

It's got to be here someplace.

It's not.

You had your passport when you

went out last night, right?

I'm sure I had it in my purse.

Well, I guess those people weren't

all as idealistic as you thought.

I can't believe one of them would have taken it.

What am I going to do with you?

Come on. Get dressed.

We're going to be late.

This airport is closed...

-What happened?

-They won't let her go without a passport.

-You're not serious!

-They even suggested she tried to

sell it in the streets, for God's sake!

-That's ridiculous!

-They won't even take a bribe!

-But what are we going to do?

-You're going to have to go to

the embassy and get a new one.

You'll probably get on Friday's flight.

As for us, we're getting on this one RIGHT NOW.

-I'm staying with her.

-No you're not!

You'll only get arrested.

A lot of good you'll do her in jail.

-And what would they arrest me for?

-You can't stay in this country for more than seven days.

This is a military dictatorship,

in case you haven't noticed!

Now please, say your goodbyes

and get on the plane...

...before they throw us all in jail!

Couldn't you just let her through

to say goodbye?

Andy!

She's not going anywhere!

Here, take my cash. You've got the number of The Oriental,

right? I'm going to stay there until I hear from you.

Andy, don't worry about me.

It's just a couple of days. I'll be fine.

Laura -- hey!

Don't do anything dumb!

Laura, stay in the embassy until they give you a

new passport and get on the first flight to Bangkok!

Bye.

Promise!

An American passport is worth a LOT of

money in this country, and some of our

fellow citizens have been known to sell theirs.

That's why they've been so tough on you.

-Oh, uh, this should get you out of the country.

-Thank you very much.

-Oh, here's a, uh, a plastic thing for your, uh...

-Oh, yes.

I was hoping to see a little of the countryside.

Do you have any suggestions?

It won't be the easiest time

to do anything like that.

They've just put a temporary hold

on all incoming tourist groups.

But... they're still letting people out?

Oh, sure, but right now you might be

the only tourist left in the country.

Even at the best of times,

only official tour groups are allowed beyond Rangoon.

Um, if you're stuck here tonight,

there's a little Burmese restaurant I could show you.

Why?

Well -- where are you...

Hey, come here. Let bird free.

You get good karma. 10 kyats! 10 kyats only!

Go!

I'm afraid your bird has come back.

All they know is the cage.

Forgive me for importuning you.

I am a tour guide.

I wait here for clients coming out of

the embassy -- such as you, perhaps.

I have many favorable comments in this book,

and pictures of beautiful sites.

Rate this script:3.3 / 4 votes