First They Killed My Father Page #11

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PA:

Could you please wait a moment so

that I can pack my things?

The soldiers nod to Pa. Pa and Ma go inside the hut.

Loung stares at a dirty ax hanging on the side of the

soldiers belts. There is something on it. It could be dirt it

could be blood. There is also rope on the belt of one KR. The

soldier smiles at her. Loung looks away.

She notices the Man with the birthmark. He looks guilty and

turns back into his hut.

Loung moves to the wall and looks through the slats in the

wall. She sees her father embracing her mother in a way she

has never seen. So deeply loving and intimate. She holds him

so tight as if she could keep him with her forever if only

she never let go. (To discuss what he packs and what he

leaves behind. Possibly a strand of Keav’s hair)

Tears fall from her face. Pa wipes her tears and lifts her

head. He needs her to be strong. He gives her one last kiss.

Loung looks away. Her focus returns to the soldiers in front

of her.

Moments later, Pa comes out alone. Inside, Loung hears Ma

sobbing quietly. Opposite the soldiers, Pa straightens his

shoulders, and for the first time since the Khmer Rouge

takeover, he stands tall. Thrusting out his chin and holding

his head high.

Looking up at him, Loung sees his chest inflates and exhales

deeply, and his jaw is square as he clenches his teeth.

Loung reaches up her hand and lightly tugs at his pants leg.

Pa puts his hand on her head and tousles her hair.

48.

Suddenly he surprises her and picks her up off the ground.

His arms tight around her, Pa holds her and kisses her hair.

Loung’s feet dangling in the air, she squeezes her eyes shut

and wrap her arms around his neck, not wanting to let go.

PA (CONT’D)

(whispers)

My beautiful girl.

His lip quivers into a small smile.

Pa puts Loung down. He walks slowly to Chou and takes Geak

from her arms. Looking into her face, he cradles her and

gently rocks her back and forth before bending and gathering

Chou into his arms also. His head high and his chest puffed

out like a small man, Kim walks over to Pa and stands quietly

next to him. Letting go of Chou and Geak, Pa stoops down and

lays both hands on Kim's shoulders. As Kim's face crumbles,

Pa's face is rigid and calm.

PA (CONT’D)

Look after your Ma and your sisters

and yourself.

Pa walks away with a soldier on either side of him. Loung

stands and waves to him. She watches Pa's figure get smaller

and smaller, and still she waves to him, hoping he will turn

around and wave back. He never does. She watches until his

figure disappears into the horizon. When she can no longer

see Pa, Loung turns around and goes.

Loung looks inside their hut, where Ma sits in the corner of

the room crying.

In her heart she knows the truth, but her mind cannot accept

the reality of what this all means. Loung watches as Chou and

Kim go to her to ask what has happened.

OMITTED:

INT. RO LEAP HUT - NIGHT

Loung lies on her back. Outside the wind blows in the

branches, and the leaves rustle and sing to each other. The

clouds part, and the moon and stars shine and give life to

the darkness. Time stands still this night.

IMAGES IN LOUNG’S HEAD AS SHE IMAGINES WHAT HAPPENED TO HER

FATHER:

49.

EXT. FOREST - NIGHT

A dark hole in the ground. There are already many dead people

in the mass grave, their bodies sprawled on top of each

other. Their black pajama clothes are soaked with blood.

A soldier leads a man to the edge of the hole, his arms tied

behind his back. It’s Pa. The soldier pushes on Pa's

shoulders, making him kneel. The soldier has blindfolded him.

Pa prays silently. The soldier raises the ax above his head.

Pa is killed.

INT. RO LEAP HUT - NIGHT

Tears fall from Loung’s eyes.

She slides next Chou. Beside them, Kim holds on tight to

Geak.

Loung’s mind swirls with pain and anger. The pain spasm

convulses as if it is eating away her linings. Turning on her

side, she digs her hands into her stomach and squeezes it

violently to make the physical pain stop. Then the sadness

surrounds her. Dark and black it looms over her, pulling her

deeper and deeper into it. HER EYES GROW COLD.

She can still hear the faint noise of Ma's muffled cries

outside, but now does not feel her pain. She is becoming

numb.

INT. RO LEAP HUT - MORNING

Ma is up before anyone else the next morning. Her face is all

puffy, her eyes are red and swollen shut.

Loung watches as Ma folds Pa’s clothes and puts them and his

few other belongings in a loving pile and tucks them away.

She notices Kim. He helps Geak change. He is different

somehow. As if he now knows he must be the man of the house.

He straightens up as if making the decision. The loudspeakers

announces. Loung watches Kim walk to work.

50.

EXT. RO LEAP - EARLY MORNING

DRY SEASON:

Ma and the other women harvest the rice.

EXT. RO LEAP CORNFIELD - MORNING

Stalks of corn in the sunlight. Loung looks over at Kim who

is nearby working with the other young boys. He looks at the

men guarding the corn. He watches as they stand nearby

enjoying cigarettes.

One Chlop looks at Loung. She stares back defiantly. He only

winks, making it worse.

INT. RO LEAP HUT - NIGHT

Loung watches- Kim won’t hear no. He is determined. He takes

a krama and heads out the door. Chou and Loung don’t try to

stop him. They watch as he goes.

Ma looks afraid. She doesn’t move.

Later-

Kim is still not back. (Find a visual way to show passage of

time.) Loung looks to Ma who is holding Geak for comfort.

Chou sits in the corner of the room, staring out into her own

world.

Suddenly Kim climbs into the hut. He is smiling and carrying

a bag of fresh corn. Loung rushes to help him carry it into

the house. Seeing Kim, Ma puts Geak down so she can greet

him. They stay very quiet so not to attract attention.

Loung edges herself closer and closer to the bags of corn.

Her nose inhales the aroma. Her eyes fixate on the yellow

ears.

MA:

(to herself)

They have turned us into thieves.

51.

Loung hears this but can’t listen. Her stomach is too empty

to feel anything but happy for the food.

EXT. RO LEAP - NIGHT

(discuss how it is cooked) The clouds are moving furiously

fast, blocking any moonbeams from touching the earth. Ma

passes around the corn. Kim plays with Geak who seems a bit

livelier.

Later- Ma tells a story as she combs knots out of Geak’s

hair.

She tells the story. She smiles at Kim. The story is for him.

Loung and Ma share a smile. It’s been a while since she has

felt that connection.

INT. RO LEAP HUT - NIGHT

The following night, Loung watches Kim sling a bag (or scarf)

over his shoulders and climb down the steps of the hut.

His knees buckle when he reaches the ground. Quickly, he

straightens himself before anyone notices.

Loung grabs a bag, slings it over her shoulder and follows

behind him.

EXT. RO LEAP - NIGHT

The sky is very dark.

His small feet carry him into the darkness. Kim looks behind

him frightened upon hearing a noise. He breathes a deep sigh

of relief when he realizes it’s Loung. He gestures for her to

stay quiet.

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