What A Waste

(A street filled with vendors in Patpong in Bangkok, outside a sleazy
night-club called 'Le Moulin Rouge' where the ENGINEER is doorman
and barker. Other DOORMEN compete with him for the attention of
crowds of TOURISTS.)
ENGINEER
check it out!
DOORMEN
girls! I got girls!
DOORMEN
gorgeous girls!
DOORMEN
very nice!
TOURISTS
hey, wow! Oh look! We gotta see!
DOORMEN
girls! I got girls!
DOORMEN
gorgeous girls!
DOORMEN
very nice!
TOURISTS
I'm glad my wife's not here with me!
ENGINEER
what a waste!
to pay for my keep
I'm rounding up sheep
to fleece here in Bangkok
I'm disgraced
I can't get ahead
there's nothing as dead
as peace here in Bangkok
ten cents an hour, that's all they pay
I'll have to swim to the USA
(to some TOURISTS)
if you're looking for fun
original sin
if you want to put out
then you gotta come in
(TOURISTS pass. He tries to make them take his leaflets.)
DOORMEN
girls! I got girls!
DOORMEN
gorgeous girls!
DOORMEN
very nice!
DOORMEN ENGINEER (to TOURISTS)
girls! gee, isn't Bangkok really neat?
I got girls! the things they're selling on the street
girls! fresh dog, if that's what you'd enjoy
worth the price a girl, or if you want a boy
DOORMEN and the ENGINEER
come, come to me
first drink is free
ENGINEER
(to two Japanese TOURISTS)
don't be a lump, you can hump
for a small extra fee
hump - 'humpy, humpy'
ENGINEER
I'm depressed
for hustling amours
to Japanese tours
is no treat in Bangkok
I'm the best
but selling these runts
for sexual stunts
leaves me beat in Bangkok
ten cents an hour...
(The CLUB OWNER, the ENGINEER'S boss, passes.)
CLUB OWNER
you said you'd fill my place up - where are they?
ENGINEER
they're coming, Boss
CLUB OWNER
Just get to work, half-breed!
ENGINEER
...screw the Siamese
look how they're ripping off... refugees
(to another PASSER-BY)
ENGINEER
if you're looking for fun
original sin
if you want to put out
then you gotta come in
DOORMEN ENGINEER
girls! hey boys, don't stand around like wimps
I got girls! watch out, those guys, they're really pimps
girls! you want some thrills, come-on and grab it!
half the price! three girls, two gerbils, and a rabbit
DOORMEN
hey, come to me!
(unfolding folders of photos)
DOORMEN
look what you'll see!
ENGINEER
hey, that's a joke, mine blow smoke
for a small extra fee
VENDORS
come try the streets in every venue
with tricks, you'll pick from off the menu
ENGINEER TOURISTS
hey, Joe, try taking a little excursion
you'll all feel good from a little perversion oh yeah!
massage requiring total immersion oh wow!
some strange positions they say are Persian oh no!
ENGINEER
drinks are on me
first girl is free
what can I say? You get me
for a small extra fee!
(JOHN enters looking for KIM. The VENDORS surround him.)
ENGINEER
(handing a leaflet to John)
you want a girl sir? you'll like one of these
JOHN
you have a Kim here, can I see her please?
ENGINEER
you pick 'em well. . .
monsieur John, is that you?
JOHN
the Engineer!
Jesus Christ! you're here too
ENGINEER
of all my friends, you're the one that I miss
JOHN
I'm looking for Kim
ENGINEER
I love you so, you and your buddy Chris
JOHN
I'm here about him
Kim has a child born in...
BOTH
seventy-five
ENGINEER
I filled that out and it's you who arrive
you'll find the end of your quest here in our little dive
I'm impressed
American clerks, a system that works
there's really no other
JOHN
listen, spare me the gas
is there really a child?
ENGINEER
yes, we're blessed
and Kim's on a trip
for citizenship, and I am her brother
JOHN
you're her brother, my ass
come on, take me inside
ENGINEER
look Kim, who got our application
I said I'd bring us all salvation
oh my god! monsieur John!
yes, of course he sent you
JOHN
not in here, is there someplace near we could talk?
(to one of the customers)
Take your hands off! We're finished! Go find someone else!
JOHN
come with me, there's a lot I've got to say first
Chris is here! say he's here! oh my god, it's all true
ENGINEER
I suggest, whatever may be
you leave it to me
just play little mother
JOHN
what I need to find out
she can tell me alone
can you take me to Chris?
I can leave here right now
we've been here for so long
took this job to survive
one month at sea
I was sure we'd drown
but I thought about Chris
and we didn't go down
I've done terrible things
but we're safe and you're here
so perhaps all the gods
have begun to forgive
CLUB OWNER
did the gentleman order champagne?
ENGINEER
she was about to get it
CLUB OWNER
you better get back on the chain, or get out
KIM ENGINEER
monsieur John I'm so sick of that prick
quick before he gets wise
look at this let John look at your kid
come see love see the lids of his eyes
come see Chris let John have his surprise
ENGINEER
look Uncle Sam
how nice I am
I doing all this just for Tam
an American boy
(KIM brings JOHN to her room and shows him TAM)
look John, this is his son
don't they have the same the smile
he's been waiting for his father
for a long, long while