Original subtitles

1977.

The world struggled centered in the countries of Southeast Asia.

Russian trained and led military forces dominated the Indochina world with few

exceptions.

One exception was Thailand.

Its shores and boundaries became the central haven of more than 4 million

boat people refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia,

and Laos.

Laos is separated from Thailand by the broad, dangerous, and powerful Mekong

River.

More than one out of every eight men, women, and children of Laotian heritage

has been killed since 1977 trying to cross the Mekong River to Thailand

and freedom.

avoid the fast, dirty water on the surface.

It'll be dark, deeper, I know, but you'll have clear water, clear enough to

reach a couple of you if you like.

You'll only have one tank, both you and Pio, for the whole mountain range.

Now, she'll be too unfamiliar and inexperienced to handle a separate set

of gears.

You must watch the air pressure gauge carefully.

One tank will barely get you there and poke you back.

Avoid it when you can, okay?

Come down to the wooden steps so the refugees leave.

Right, for sure.

Depending on the current, it'll take me an hour to cross the river.

use of very small unless they've scored a direct hit you can make it

to be alive without all the pain and the terrible choices.

The night of March 5th, 1977, General Sergei Koppler, a Russian and East

German heritage, the head of the secret police of the Pathé Lao, received a

report that a refugee boat full of Laotians was on its way across the

Mekong River, escaping to Thailand.

to Bangkok.

Letter I was writing to my family.

Just going over for a good time, you know.

Dear mother and father, I'm quite busy these days with the story I'm doing

about the history of the Buddha temple throughout the NCM.

I also make frequent trips to see my friends.

I'm gradually building the biggest collection of photographs of the culture

of Laos.

Life is pleasant here.

There's an old Laotian legend, wars and politics fade away, but love is forever.

How are all these news reports getting out of last?

You know.

My instinct tells me.

You know.

Everything I write goes through your censorship.

Keep my nose clean. That's the way the government lets me stay.

How did you know about this, Ben?

The oceans talk a lot.

They canceled all the night ferries. I was just looking for a free ride.

Just want to have some fun, that's all.

You'll not leave Laos again.

Your pass was canceled.

You say Laos is your home.

From now on, stay home.

Sir, it's down to the party. Let's talk it in.

Walk, folks!

We are out!

Copy!

Walk, folks!

Everybody here? Yes, sir.

If you study these stories... With careful

translation.

And I assume you have.

you'll reach an unavoidable conclusion.

Some of this information, particularly Newsweek and Associated Press, can only

come from perfect law sources.

From an informer who's supplying, as you see, names, photographs, descriptions,

and top-secret documents.

To someone who gets the stories out of the country.

Better inform her.

Listen.

Only those of us who knew this information now spread all over the

world.

I'll find which of you it is.

You and all your family will be...

And your children.

There will be no bad seed left.

I've never lied to you.

Taste the frogs, you're going to love them.

I expect to see them all gone. You eat some of them too. Go back out, they're

gone.

How's everybody doing, all right?

That's my best girl.

Most beautiful lady here.

Everybody eating up already?

I think

General

Comfort is sure you're the one you know.

Maybe he's not so sure after the other night on the escape ship.

I almost bought it.

Where were the papers?

Under the ship.

Sealed between the beams.

Luckily they looked every place but there.

Steve, I want you to be very, very careful with these.

These documents contain a list of all of the names of the secret council of Laos.

Newsweek's waiting for it.

So is Associated Press and the London Times. Now, if anything happens,

anything strange at all, dump them.

If they get a hold of these, it's over for all of us.

I've known you for three years and never figured you out yet.

When the Americans were bombing here, you were fighting them.

When the old government was ruling, you were fighting them.

Now the Russians have set up the battle at Laos here and you're still fighting.

Didn't anybody tell you I'm a Laotian?

Just a funny look at one, that's all.

Keo, I have a special job for you.

You're the only one I can trust to do it well.

No, thank you, General.

I want you to prepare a new tourist brochure.

But you have many who can do that.

I need all the time I have to get through medical school and run the

cultural center.

I know how busy you are, Keo.

Too busy, in fact, for the General of the Secret Intelligence of Laos.

I am grateful for the many attention of the Honorable General.

But I have no time for myself.

Or what I might want.

You are remarkable.

I admire anyone who is as dedicated to our cause as you are.

But I'm not talking now about myself.

But about the security of our country.

There's a spy on my staff, Keo.

A spy who's giving top secret information to someone who's

transmitting it out of Laos.

I believe I know the transmitter.

The young man who has been following you.

Who has fallen in love with you.

And I can't blame him for that.

John Aaron.

You know how men from the English-speaking countries are?

I'm afraid I don't.

They're so naive, so romantic, until they get what they want.

I want you to be with this man.

I'm assigning him to work on the brochure with you.

He'll jump at the chance the way he's been following you.

And he'll suspect nothing.

If I can really help you, General, of course I will.

You'll have some of that sweat off, huh?

When you work in a rice field, you sweat.

For a travel brochure?

You kept it. This should be pretty good.

You've got great bones.

Bones? Mm-hmm. Cheekbones.

They're very beautiful.

Let's finish.

I'm losing the light. We'll pick it up day after tomorrow.

How about some dinner?

I have medical school tonight.

I'll miss you too.

Why did we come here?

It is not an hour list.

I had some information about those trucks. I just wanted to see them

myself.

None of them.

Why not? They're people, aren't they?

No, they're going.

Clear the case against.

Ever seen one?

No, I haven't.

Both of you people don't come back for more.

Come on.

I'll show you the part of the house.

They gave me food and clothes when I saw some of the stories.

I gotta go with my family.

But when the weekend is over

And Monday

I got

This job is over, but I want to see you again.

So there's a little sandbar between your house and my house.

Well, there's never anybody there.

So tomorrow I have to work.

I feel so proud when I see your name.

What are you working on?

Routine.

It's not the truth. It's not routine at all.

I don't want to lie to you anymore, so I'm going to have to trust you.

What are you talking about?

piece I just finished for Time magazine.

Also doing a series of articles for other Western publications.

The people of Laos have been betrayed by the petted Lao government.

Laos, a gentle, loving, peaceful country for centuries, has been turned into a

police state.

The government has broken all its promises to the people for justice,

freedom, and a better life.

You are a spy.

Kale, I'm a journalist.

It's my job to get the facts and to write the story. I'm the last Western

journalist in Indochina. If I don't print the truth, nobody will.

My God, I can't believe it.

Everything they said about you is true.

Oh, damn it, Kale. What do you expect from me?

I admire your commitment, your principles.

But by God, I've got mine.

I'm not just a playboy photographer taking pictures of temples and relics.

I'm a political journalist. That's my job.

And I don't want to lie to you anymore because I love you.

And I love this country just as much as you do.

The only difference is my eyes are open.

Look, let me show you something.

Open your eyes and you look at some truth.

The killing of your own people by your so-called liberators and concentration

camps.

Given to me by my contacts inside your own government. Go on, look at them.

Look at this.

Have you ever heard of Yellow Rain?

This was the child that we met at that Nome village when I was there with you.

This was a baby.

That village with all those beautiful, caring people.

destroyed by yellow rain.

A chemical poison dropped by planes by the Russians and their satellites all

over Indochina.

Go on, look at some more pain.

And look at some more torture.

Do you want to see pictures of men and women and children that we celebrated

with their all here?

Burned.

But not dead.

Dying an inch at a time.

Kay, is this the future you want for your people?

There's more of you people across the road.

Why do they go?

Send my personal challenger, I bring him.

He'll not refuse.

A match between us at the end of the tournament.

Our style and his.

Both are fair.

He's fought at the tournament before, hasn't he?

Two years ago.

It circulates as comments that any good Western boxer will always defeat a

Belgian boxer.

And I want Keo and her family there.

All of them.

Close to the ring.

That is better than arresting them.

Our people will be very excited.

You are a legend among Asian fighters.

I may come.

What was it Alexander the Great said before every battle?

A legend has to be renewed.

Every now and then.

I don't want to leave.

I don't want to leave.

You'll have all the water you can drink.

Food.

A clean bed.

All your Western comforts, I bring in.

If you admit what you have done, you have no right.

We decide who has the rights.

There are no immunities for like you You either

go to prison for 30 years or you sign a confession

I've done nothing

There's no point denying anything ever again

We've had you followed for a long time we have to prove that you're a spy

That you smuggled stories against our government out of lars.

That you trafficked in opium.

That you corrupt the morals of our ocean youth.

You have broken these laws hundreds of times.

Do you admit it?

If I can put you in jail, I'll kill you.

Why have you disappeared?

accomplices have been arrested, including Mr. Hammer and his wife.

Oh, Mr. Everingham has excellent taste.

His house.

His wine.

He's a woman.

He's a good photographer.

And he loves our country. That's all I know. I told you before.

Of course.

A Laotian girl like you, so committed to her country, would really have no future

in everything he does. I don't know what you're talking about, General.

Courage and a woman.

Realize you could be shot for sleeping with a spy?

You asked me to work with him. You gave me an assignment. I did my part.

I didn't ask that you sleep with him.

We have watched you for the last several weeks.

And you disappointed me.

One of the most beautiful girls in Laos.

Sleeping with this.

Western playboy, night after night.

I want the truth.

Is he an exceptional lover? Is that why? Please, stop!

of his lover. Does your brother know? Is he happy that his favorite sister is

covering him?

And only one of many has been arrested as a spy. He has pretended to

love our country and our people.

He has pretended to love you. We have all the evidence.

He has smuggled out stores attacking our government to the western world.

And he has used the whole strain of women to help him. I don't believe you!

You've only one chance to save yourself.

Tell me everything.

Every last detail.

I can let you go free.

Or have you executed.

Have you signed your confession?

What about Keo?

Tell me about Keo.

She is your lover. We know it.

You're crazy.

Listen.

My name is Keo Sirisampone.

Age 23.

Born in Vientiane.

School Lisee. Job, tourist office.

Classes, medical school, and political re-education. I swear the following to

be the truth.

I'm the mistress of John Everingham, the Western journalist.

I have gone secretly to his house and stayed until morning. He gave me money.

He bought me many things.

I felt like a... But I couldn't get away from him.

I never loved him.

You've been invited to come here to see and report the truth

of how charitable the Catholic Law Government is, even to foreign spies.

This man is known to many of you as a journalist and photographer.

Who writes non-political, non-military stories on our country.

That is why he has been allowed to remain here.

But he has not deceived us.

We have followed him until we had all the proof.

This proof is here.

Before you on the tables for you to inspect.

John Everingham.

You are a disgrace.

To our country.

And to your own country.

In other countries of the world, you would be executed as a spy.

But Laos is a gentle country.

And the gentle people.

You've been found guilty on all charges.

And so have your friends and your employees.

Tomorrow you'll be exiled from Laos.

It'll be a national holiday.

So the people of Laos will remember.

Thankful, John.

I never thought you'd get out alive.

See if you can find out about Cale for me. Of course.

Don't take any more chances.

You were lucky this time.

Goodbye.

right to come back to Laos.

You'll be killed.

It'll be my personal pleasure.

What have you done with Kea?

She's back home and with her family.

Don't you understand yet?

She was working for me all the time.

You're telling me that you're in love with a Laotian girl?

That's right.

I've got to figure out a way, a surefire way of getting her out.

With the padded Laos soldiers and the ocean patrol boats, your percentages of

crossing in Mekong alive are about zero. I don't want to gamble with her life.

Well, there's two ways to get across.

Boat or swim.

I forgot to mention she doesn't swim.

You forgot to mention she doesn't swim.

So we're going to have to figure out a new way.

We?

That's right, we.

Nobody knows more about the Mekong than swimming in the water.

What I plan to do is go across on the floor of the river.

Oh, good, good.

Oh, like hell you are. Can't be done. Why not?

Why not? Why not?

I'll tell you why not.

Right, there's equipment, condition, rifle fire, there's dead animals of all

kinds, bloody great logs.

Every living thing sweeps down that river from the foothills of the

Himalayas. And underwater, son, underwater, the visibility most of the

time is almost nil.

I mean, you couldn't even see what's coming at you.

You can be killed without even seeing what hits you.

Look, old lad, I love Sophia Loren. Oh, wow.

But I wouldn't walk across the bottom of the Mekong to get her out of Laos.

I mean, it'd just add up to two dead people instead of one, wouldn't it?

I wouldn't do it, Barry.

I want you to teach me.

We can build the equipment together.

Oh, come on. After you come on, you get two sent in your ways teaching board

decking to pretty girls.

What life is that for a British named underwater champion?

I say yes, old son, don't I? I say yes.

Drink your bloody beer.

Bottoms up.

Under the bloody river.

We're both crazy.

They'd kill you, you know.

Have you seen him?

Yesterday. He said he's going to get you out of here. God knows how.

You have to believe in him.

Believe and never stop believing.

That's the way he asked me to put it, exactly.

Thank you, Mr. Mosley.

For God's sake, don't mention my name.

I'm already going against my government.

I'm very grateful.

Different people will contact you.

The key word is... Golden triangle.

Unless you hear that word, don't talk, don't listen.

Golden triangle.

Stay and see how the picture comes out. I've got to get back.

And good luck to both of you.

Well, that should give you, with any luck, extra speed and maneuverability,

right? Have a look at those.

Yeah, they look good.

Fine.

Now, we're going to need somebody to take the place of Keogh at our diving

rehearsal. Sandy's agreed to stand in for him.

Haven't you?

I can't believe you're really going to try it. I thought Derek was putting me

on when he told me.

I appreciate your help.

Sure.

No more of these.

Cut your wind in half.

Remember, you were going in for the Laos Olympics, old lad.

You don't win or lose medals.

It's your life.

Hello before I'm ready. A month before you're ready to go into the water.

It's too long. I've got to beat the monsoons.

John, try cutting it short and you are dead.

You have got to double your lung capacity, my lad. You've got to put

power into your arms and into your legs.

Something I said, what did I say?

Where are you going?

To run.

He's gonna run.

That's my boy.

Waited for a long time, Gale.

Is Erringham still inside your head?

I made a mistake.

I knew you would realize it in time.

He's a different kind of man, Keogh.

He looks strong on us.

But we are stronger.

We belong together.

But one night is not what I want.

I've learned a great deal about you, General.

You are our leader of the future.

I know you're married.

But I want to be a woman.

I want to have a house where you can come anytime you wish.

I want to help you any way I can.

don't want it to be for one night.

Find a house.

Arrange everything.

You'll be ready to move?

I want my family to know you first.

I want to be respected.

You know I'm not a prostitute.

I am a woman who can help you with all your ambition, General.

I will be proud to be your woman.

And I want you to be proud of me.

Nothing like the little red engine. Deep breath, lad.

Take some deep breaths and do it again.

I know. Because I bloody well told you so.

That was nice.

You're not getting away from the die market quick enough.

It's got to be faster.

If they'd been real grenades, six out of ten would have blown you to pieces,

right? So you've got to get down faster, John.

Faster!

Now, this is the last chance we've got to test the equipment.

So I want you to be as rough as you can, all right?

And you, my darling, don't you take any chances. Take care.

Have you read the Golden Triangle?

Yes. Thank you for coming.

John says about four weeks more.

It has to be sooner. The general is forcing me into his house.

John broke his collarbone diving. He shouldn't try the crossing until it

starts to grow back together.

I'll contact him my next trip across.

Don't give up, Cale.

John's afraid of that.

He said you're to wear the red skirt and white blouse with your bathing suit

underneath.

Take your little sister.

to the point opposite the temple.

Pretend to fish.

Keep combing your hair so he can see you quickly.

Don't be afraid.

He'll place the breathing tube in your mouth.

You can breathe easily. It'll all happen very fast.

I'll contact you, give you the date and time, but go to the sandbar every day

fishing so the soldiers will be used to seeing you there.

Do you understand?

And John said to tell you that he reads your letters.

Over and over again.

They keep him going.

I always love him.

No matter what happens.

Don't give up.

Ever.

Do you, even you, Clyde, believe it's possible for John to do this?

Don't waste a moment and don't head straight back to Thailand, because that

is what they will count on.

Keep this meeting up, damn it.

We must stop.

Are you hurt?

You're all right, mate. You're all right.

I saw her, Skipper.

Just for a moment, I saw her.

Yeah. I saw some grenades, too.

Some of them almost came across this side of the river.

I was so close and I couldn't hit her.

Next time, son. Next time.

You're going back?

Kato's back there.

Did you hear about the strange incident on the edge of the river?

Two days ago.

There are incidents every day.

And killings.

I've seen them.

Because my little sister Shujin wants me to take her fishing every day when I'm

not working. She doesn't want me to leave home.

I understand you're there very often.

Do you ever catch anything?

Once in a while.

Enough to keep you and your little sister.

Hoping.

You know how children are.

They always imagine the best.

It's unfortunate children have to grow up.

Two days ago, one of my patrol boat captains thought he saw a man.

A diver.

Come up out of the river.

Fifty yards from where you and your little sister were fishing.

When you bring new life to a country, those who defy authority are traitors.

They are executed.

Every one of them.

Tell me, do you ever have word of your old friend, John Everingham?

How would I get a word?

My mail is censored.

Exactly like everyone else.

I want an answer, not a question.

My boat captain saw this diver come out of the water and raise his arm in

your direction.

I believe it was Everingham.

If it was.

I'm sure he's dead.

My men grenaded the whole area.

And grenades under the water, Keogh, crush the life out of anyone.

More than 60 yards. General, you are a great fencer with words.

I am not.

So please say what you want to say.

The president of Romania, Ceausescu, is paying me an official visit in a few

weeks. On May 27th.

I'm giving a higher-level diplomatic dinner for him at the Long Sung Hotel.

Several Russian and Vietnamese military commanders and occupational government

heads will be there.

It'll be an important night for my career.

I'm through waiting, Keo.

My men will move you into my house on the morning of May 27th.

You will go with me to my state reception.

And our real life together will begin.

You'll be ready?

Of course, General.

I'm tired of waiting, too.

Bring her off right after the patrols change.

Get out a range of the soldiers with their guns and grenades and bring her

back.

It is now 7.02.

Good luck, John.

Do me a favor, Chuck.

Bring her back.

These rehearsals are killing me.

Okay.

I trust you will treat Gail well.

She's a very special young woman.

She's a royal blood, I understand.

Now she'll live as she should.

Everything she wants.

You see, she's very important to me.

We are all very grateful for your interest in her.

May she visit us sometimes?

Of course.

The tunnel is shortly closed.

Gare should be back by now.

She took her little sister fishing.

She? On the shore?

Where did they go? What part of the beach?