It doesn't make sense.

The communists don't kill townspeople.

- It is not in their interest.

- Maybe another faction.

There are so many of them.

Each with their own army.

What's that book you're always reading?

York Harding.

The Dangers To Democracy.

- An American?

- Yeah.

He was out here a couple of years back.

- Was he here long?

- I don't know.

I heard him lecture once.

Joe actually met him.

He put forward the idea

of a third force to run Vietnam.

- Not the communists and not the French.

- Not the Americans?

No. We're not colonialists.

Something that could

really help these people.

- You have a gun, either of you?

- No.

They shall attack again tonight.

You don't want to be taken alive.

Believe me.

Shoot yourselves.

- Thank you.

- Thanks.

Stay inside that bunker.

- Do you want something to eat?

- No, thank you.

Come on.

You didn't come up

to check your medical team.

Joe Tunney sent you, right?

A little intelligence work.

I've never have been very good

at keeping secrets.

There is another reason

why I came up here.

- It's you.

- Me?

Yeah.

You said that you might be

coming up here.

The thing is, it's about Phuong.

Well, I guess it started

that night when we were

at the Arc en Ciel

and I was dancing with her.

I didn't think you ever got close enough.

And then I had dinner

with her and her sister

that Saturday and...

just when I was sitting there looking at her,

it all just became so clear to me.

I see.

Look, Tom, none of this was planned.

There's no way...

I never ever used to believe in

love at first sight.

But after seeing those other girls

in that awful place

and thinking that Phuong

could easily become one of them,

I want to protect her.

What did she say when you

offered her your protection?

- I haven't told her yet.

- You haven't?

No. I didn't think it would be right.

I wanted to speak with you first.

Look, if you two were married

that would be completely different.

I can never marry her. Oh, shit!

My wife would never give me a divorce.

She's a Catholic.

They're getting closer. They're walking in.

Dear Thomas - I guess I'll be

back in Saigon ahead of you.

And I wanted to reassure you

that I won't go to see Phuong

until after you return.

If you can make the next transport out, you

should be back by the end of the week.

I can check in with your assistant

to see if you made it.

If so, I'll come around to see you

both together on Friday.

Say . ?

Anyone due to go out to Hong Kong?

Someone from Reuters, I believe.

Type this up and ask him

to cable it to London for me.

- Your big story?

- Yes.

Massacre at Phat Diem.

Nobody did it, of course.

Not the French, not the communists...

But there are rumours.

- What's going on?

- I forgot.

- What?

- It's a rally.

- A new political party.

- Bloody hell.