First They Killed My Father Page #2

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Then Loung sees something else coming. Trucks.

Minutes later, the mud-covered old trucks heave and bounce as

they pass slowly in front of Loung. Green, gray and black,

these cargo trucks sway back and forth on bald tires,

spitting out dirt and engine smoke as they roll on.

5.

In the back of the trucks, men wearing faded black long pants

and long-sleeve black shirts, many with tire shoes and with

red sashes cinched tightly around their waists and red

scarves tied around their foreheads, stand body to body. Most

look young and all are dark-skinned, like the peasant

workers.

With long rifles in their arms or strapped across their

backs, they look over the crowds the way the king does when

he passes by. There is no cheering for them.

Loung waves at the soldiers even though she doesn’t know

exactly why. She sees more trucks coming.

INT. PHNOM PENH APARTMENT -DAY

Loung runs up to the apartment stairs. Her little legs run as

fast as they can but the stairs feel like they go on forever.

INT. PHNOM PENH APARTMENT -DAY

Loung finds Pa on the balcony with Meng and Kim. They seem

tense. She watches them.

EXT. PHNOM PHEN APARTMENT -DAY

LON NOL MILITARY COMMANDER

My brothers, we must avoid any

effusion of blood. Put your guns

down. We will negotiate with our

brothers from the other side. We

are all Khmer. We all love our

country, our nation. We will…

A KR takes the megaphone brutally.

KHMER ROUGE WITH MEGAPHONE

Angkar has won throughout the

country over the Khmer Republic.

Lon Nol are traitors. Angkar need

not negotiate with anyone or any

group. The traitors must accept

defeat. Give up your guns. There

will be no negotiation

The Clique of Lon Nol soldiers form a group.

KHMER ROUGE WITH MEGAPHONE (CONT’D)

America will bomb the city. You

must leave now! Take as little as

you can. No one can stay here.

(MORE)

6.

KHMER ROUGE WITH MEGAPHONE (CONT’D)

The United States will bomb the

city! Leave and stay in the

countryside for three days!

Loung doesn’t understand.

Loung stares at a man holding a megaphone standing on a jeep.

A KR soldier fires shots to open a door and clear out a

building. Loung claps her hands over her ears and hides her

face against Keav’s chest. People push and shove one another

in a frenzy.

Ma now standing behind Loung has heard.

MA:

Loung quickly, go eat your lunch.

OMITTED:

INT. PHNOM PENH KITCHEN - DAY

Loung goes into the kitchen. Her lunch is waiting for her.

Everyone else has already eaten. She sits and eats.

After a few minutes, Ma rushes into the kitchen with Keav and

begins to toss aluminum bowls, plates, spoons, forks, and

knives into a big pot. The silverware clangs noisily, making

Loung jittery. Then picking up a cloth bag, she throws bags

of sugar, salt, dried fish, uncooked rice, and canned foods

into it.

MA:

We will be leaving for a few days.

Gather your things.

LOUNG:

But Ma?

MA:

Gather your things.

Loung shovels down a few more bites and gets up.

INT. PHNOM PHEN APARTMENT - DAY

Loung follows Ma into the bedroom where she sees her and Keav

sewing jewelry into a jacket lining.

7.

She then moves from the bedroom to the living room, taking

pictures of her family and the Buddha off the walls and

piling them into her arms.

In the bathroom, Kim throws soap, shampoo, towels, and other

assorted items into a pillowcase.

MA:

(to Loung)

Are you finished yet?

Loung nods “no”.

MA (CONT’D)

Hurry and change your shirt. The

one you’re wearing is dirty.

INT. PHNOM PENH APARTMENT LOUNG’S ROOM - DAY

Loung pokes her head into her bedroom and spies Chou shoving

clothes into a bag. On the bed, Geak sits quietly playing

with a handheld mirror while Chou throws our brushes, combs,

and hairpins into her school bag.

Loung goes through her clothes and picks a yellow shirt. Chou

is packing her red dress. Loung remembers to pack her

matching one.

OMITTED:

EXT. PHNOM PENH STREETS - DAY

The family head out of the apartment. The chaos of the city.

People push and shove one another to evacuate the city.

Everywhere, people are on the move. Little children cry.

Women and men carry their belongings in cloth bags on their

backs and their heads. They walk with short, brisk steps,

demanding their children stay together, to hold each other's

hands, to not get left behind.

A lone radio has been abandoned in the chaos. Loung listens

to the song as she passes.

Loung moves to the Mazda parked outside but she is pulled

away from it and towards the old family truck in the back.

The family pile into the truck. The old pickup truck creaks

and squeaks as Khouy throws a cloth bag and water can onto

its floor. In front, Pa ties a large white cloth to the

antenna while Meng ties another piece to the side mirrors.

8.

I/E. TRUCK - DAY

The traffic is moving very slowly.

Loung looks out. Their truck inches on in the streets,

allowing them a safe view of the scene.

EXT. PHNOM PENH STREETS - DAY

Families on the move. Chaos. The KR soldiers are everywhere.

There are so many of them around, giving orders into their

bullhorns cradling rifles in their arms.

Loung notices the other children. The fear on their faces.

Small mountains of guns fill the sidewalk as government

soldiers turn over their weapons to the men in black. The

soldiers are then put into a truck and driven off.

Loung buries her face into Keav's chest, her arms tight

around her waist. Chou sits silently on the other side of

Keav, her eyes shut. Beside them, Khouy and Meng sit stone-

faced, watching the exodus.

(FACT- TWO MILLION PEOPLE EVACUATED THE CITY WITHIN 72 HOURS)

I/E. TRUCK - DAY

Later - Loung burrows under her scarf to hide from the sun.

Her eye lids struggle to stay open. Her POV of her hair

whiping about her face. The sun shining on it. Keav wraps the

end of Loungs scarf over her mouth an nostrils to keep the

dust out.

KEAV:

Don’t look over the truck. Keep

your head down.

Loung pretends to follow her sisters orders but peeks over

the edge.

Loung sees a doctor assisting a pregnant woman out of the

hospital. A KR soldier telling the doctor to evacuate people

more quickly. The doctor begs him. He moves him aside and

guides staff and patients out with his rifle. She sees a

hospital evacuated. Some people being pushed in carts or

hospital beds by their relatives.

Soldiers in black knocking on doors with their gun buts and

evacuating people from their homes.

9.

OMITTED:

EXT. PHNOM PENH - DAY

High wide shot of the chaos of the city. The truck slowly

makes it’s way through the crowded streets.

I/E. TRUCK - DAY

As they move further from the city, the high rise apartments

disappear and thatched-roofed huts take their place. The

paved boulevard gives way to dusty roads. Tall elephant grass

and prickly brown bushes have replaced the tall trees.

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