First They Killed My Father Page #2

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Loung likes the smile he gives her; so she again reach her

chopsticks toward the pepper dish, knocking over the salt

shaker, which rolls like a fallen log onto the floor.

Ma seems upset but Pa smiles forgivingly. What Loung loves

most about Pa is the way he smiles not only with his mouth

but also with his eyes.

Loung always restless, kicking her feet under the table.

INT. PHNOM PHEN APARTMENT - NIGHT

Keav helps to get Loung, Chou and Geak ready for bed. Loung

in her pyjamas being told to stop jumping on the bed.

(details - again important to feel her life before war)

EXT. PHNOM PENH APARTMENT -DAY

{NOTE:
This sequence will begin with the arrival of LON NOL

(Government) troops entering the city believing that a truce

has been agreed.}

At the beginning, the first to enter the city were the Lon

Nol soldiers, they put the guns down and they raised white

flags and people applauded because it was for them the end of

the war and the end of bloody fighting in the city. Later,

the Khmer Rouge soldiers entered with closed expressions on

their faces. They did not talk to anyone. Most of the Khmer

Rouge entered the city by walking, to secure the streets.

Their chiefs were riding in jeeps but very few. Some were

driving motorbikes.

It is the high heat of the afternoon. Loung plays hopscotch

with Chou and their friends on the street in front of their

flat.

Sounds of giggles are taken over by the thunder of engines in

the distance. Everyone stops what they are doing and watches

the tanks roar into the city. The Lon Nol soldiers waving

white flags. Smiling. People cheer.

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.

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