I Still Believe

(In a small room, home to a number of Vietnamese: KIM, in early morning light)

KIM
last night i watched him sleeping
my body pressed to him
and then he started speaking
the name i hear him speak . . . was kim
yes, i know that this was years agobut when moonlight fills my room, i know
you are here . . . still

i still -
i still believe
you will return
i know you will
my heart
against all odds
holds still

yes, still
i still believe
i know as long
as i can keep believing, i'll live
i'll live
love cannot die
you will return
you will return
and i
alone know why

(In a bedroom on the other side of the world - in America. A woman is sitting beside CHRIS who is sleeping. She is ELLEN, CHRIS's wife.)

ELLEN
last night i watched you sleeping
once more, the nightmare came
i heard you cry out something
a word that sounded like . . . a name
and it hurts me more than i can bear
knowing part of you i'll never share
never know

but still
i still believe
the time will come
when nothing keeps us apart
my heart,
forevermore
holds still

(Chris wakes up from his sleep with a cry. ELLEN takes him in her arms and calms him.)

ELLEN
it's all over, i'm here
there is nothing to fear
chris, what's haunting you?
won't you let me inside
what you so want to hide!
i need you too!

KIM (ELLEN)
for still
(i will hold you all night)
(i will make it all right)
i still believe
(you are safe with me)
as long as i
(and i wish you could tell)
(what you don't want to tell)
can keep believing
(what your hell must be)
i'll live
i'll live (you can sleep now)
you will return (you can cry now)
(i'm your wife now)
and i know why
i'm yours (for life)
until we die (until we die)

(In America, CHRIS holds ELLEN; in Vietnam, KIM is alone in her room.)