Boat People Page #2

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I'll punish you when we get home.

Take the pay.

What are you doing? My noodles!

Where are you going? Who's paying?

Forget it...

Such bad luck...

what do you kids think you're doing?

Put it down. That's mine.

- Forget it. - What's the hell!

- It's dirty. Let them eat.

- Little beggars!

You are too kind. That's mine.

Tastes good!

None for you, I want it all.

Greedy! If you drop it.

There won't be any.

Don't be afraid. I'm a foreign friend.

Your Cultural Bureau

lets me take photos.

Little boy, eat up!

Go on eating!

Can I take one of you holding him?

Just ignore me...

is that your father?

Uncle, take a picture of my mother.

Get up and take a picture, mommy.

Who is it?

Come and be in a picture, mommy.

What's the matter?

Go back to sleep, mother. It's right.

Go away and let mother sleep.

Mommy.

Who are you? What are you doing here?

I'm a reporter from Japan.

I'm here to see how you live.

You're a foreigner?

Mister, the government doesn't let us

mix with foreigners.

You'll get us into trouble

if you take photos here.

Don't worry. I have

the Cultural Bureau's permission.

You may have, but we don't.

What's all this? Who are you?

Nikon, you Japanese?

I can sell it for you

if you want.

Ah Nhac, go away!

Please go, Mister.

You really can't do this.

I'd really like to photograph them.

I'll go to talk with the Cultural Bureau.

No, don't! You'll get us all executed!

Don't make things worse!

...I can handle it.

What'd you actually want, Mister?

I just want to photograp you.

I don't understand why tour mother

is so alarmed.

There's no way

the government would let us

be photographed.

You may be okay, but we ain't.

You can stroll away and get on

with yourjob...

But we'll get jumped on.

I had on idea...

Look, I'll tell you what.

You don't have to snap us here.

Go out on the street.

Pretend I'm just a guy on the street.

Okay?

Okay!

Yeah, but what do we get out of it?

I can pay you!

D'you hear that?

I don't mind if there's no risk.

Give whatever your like.

They are still children.

That's settled, then.

Tomorrow morning at 8.

We'll meet you on the main street.

On the corner of the alley.

Fine!

- It's a deal! - Okay!

I must go.

My name is Akutagawa.

What's yours?

I'm second brother.

He's Van Lang, I'm Van Nhac

and she's Cam Nuong

...I must go

I'm sorry to have worried you today.

I played that right.

The Japs are good tippers.

Better than the Yanks.

We'll score a packet.

Where did this come from?

It's mine... it's mine...

It's just sait water. What good is that?

I want some noodles.

When I'm earning regularly,

I'll buy you fish.

I like fish eyes!

Oh, you're all here.

Mrs. Pham!

Have you thought about

our little talk yesterday?

Hey, we're in business again.

I'm sick.

But who's to know that?

Wouldn't you like to earn

This is no way for you to live.

Let me take you there tonight.

A few years ago, whan I was dasperate,

I went with a Korean soldier,

and had Second Brother.

Cam Nuong isn't young any more.

What if she finds out?

Hurry up!

I'm sorry about this morning.

It's alright, I telephoned Officer Nguyen...

and he told me you preferred

to work alone.

That's right.

I arranged for you to visit a school today.

I had no office work,

so I've been waiting for you.

You've been here all day?

Did you get any good pictures?

Very good!

Mr. Akutagawa, even though I'm not

accompanying you...

you're still my responsibility

as long as you're here.

If you need my help with anything,

please contact me.

I will.

Then I won't keep you any longer.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Sister, mommy isn't back yet.

I'm hungry. I want some noodles.

Be patient.

Look, Sister, mommy's cooked

some rice and vegetables!

Strange... Where did she the money?

Borrowed it!

I'll get some bowls.

Don't forget Daddy.

Come on, put me down.

Remember Daddy.

Daddy!

How did you know I'd be here?

Ah Nhac brought me here.

What are those people doing?

They're Chinese. The government

wants them to register.

Hey, what are you doing? No photos!

Who are you?

A reporter from Japan.

Show me your pass.

In order? Believe me now?

Got any ciggies? Give me one.

That's okay.

Hey, you haven't paid me yet...

you haven't paid!

Damn it!

Park the bike without paying money.

Damn it!

My mother ran a stall

until she fell ill.

I want to run one myself,

when I've saved enough.

But it's tough.

Gotta get up at 5 to buy

the vegetables wholesale.

What's wrong with your mother?

I don't know.

I think she misses Dad too much.

They loved each other very much.

When did your father die?

In the war, just a month

before Liberation.

He was in the army.

Mum had just Second Brother.

It's fresh, and the price is reasonable.

Quick. The suger-cane stall

will be closed!

How much?

It was cheaper yesterday.

It's not expensive. He's charging

more over there!

Go and ask him if you don't believe.

I have the sweetest cane.

If you're not buying, I'll close.

It'll be 80 cents tomorrow.

No, bargain with him!

Bargain? We've bargained already.

I'll sell these on the main road later.

Wanna come?

Yes, I'll keep an eye on you.

Out of sight, quick.

They're taking strong men.

Damn, I dropped my basket.

If you want photos, go upstairs.

Come with me.

Come on up!

Why don't you photograph

the sea and clouds?

Why photograph people?

They're so ugly.

Who's ugly?

People don't look good.

Sometimes they do. That's why

I photograph them.

I need to piss. Don't watch.

It feels real good to piss in the sea.

Take you... you're quite good-looking.

Is your mother rich?

I have no mother.

How about your father?

The Americans killed my whole family

in the war.

I was only one year old.

I was raised in an orphanage.

So you were very poor.

How come you're so well off now?

I left the orphanage at 15

I studied and got a part-time job

at the newspaper.

It's a good job. Lots of travel.

But I'm not rich.

I hope I'll grow up like you.

Not taking pictures, but traveling all over.

No reason why not.

Be sure to look up when you come to Tokyo.

Ah Nhac, Ah Nhac!

They'll send you to the Economic Zones.

You saw, the door was sealed up.

No-one lives there.

Come on!

What you got there?

Waiter!

What do you want?

Two bowls of noodles, one to go.

Ok, just a few minutes.

Take one back for Second Brother.

See you tomorrow!

Bye!

Are you coming to the "chicken farm"?

What "chicken farm"?

Come with me!

This is still okay. The used-clothes place

would take it.

They search the bodies

before they shoot them.

Even the gold teeth are gone.

Dad, you should check his arse

for gold bars.

To Minh! You're back!

How did you get out?

I hurt my leg. They let me out

to get it treated.

This is To Minh.

He's been in a New Economic Zones.

Hi.

Who's he?

A Japanese reporter.

He's photographing my sister.

Look, a Nikon,

I could get 1,000 US for that.

I could get 1,500 for it.

You're my teacher!

I thought you wanted photos.

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