Miss Saigon

The Heat Is On In Saigon

Miss Saigon


Dreamland" is a club filled with American Marines, civilians and south Vietnamese 
officers. The girls parade around and get the crowd to buy raffle tickets: the winner of the 
"beauty contest" will be the prize.) 

AMERICANS 
the heat is on in Saigon 
the girls are hotter 'n' hell 
one of these slits here will be Miss Saigon 
God, the tension is high, not to mention the smell 

the heat is on in Saigon 

ESTEVEZ (A MARINE) 
is there a war going on? 

AMERICANS 
don't ask, I ain't gonna tell 

(two friends, CHRIS and JOHN, are among the Marines. JOHN is with one of the girls) 

CHRIS 
how are you doing there, John? 

JOHN 
I got the hots for Yvonne 
we should get drunk and get laid 
since the end is so near 

CHRIS 
I tell you, buddy, I've had it 
I don't want to hear 

JOHN 
the heat is on in Saigon 
but till they tell me I'm gone 
I'm gonna buy you a girl 

CHRIS 
you can buy me a beer 

(the girls leave the men and move onto the stage) 

MIMI 
see my bikini, it's just the right size 

YVETTE 
don't you enjoy how it rides up my thighs? 
look from behind, it'll knock out your eyes 

YVONNE 
I'll show you: my special trophy of war 

MIMI 
for a Marine, I'll show more 

AMERICANS 
you won't get up off the floor 

the heat is on in Saigon 
don't tell me I'm reassigned, all that chickenshit sucks 
tonight I'm out of my mind, not to mention ten bucks 

GIGI 
if I'm your pin-up, I'll melt all your brass 
stuck on your wall, with a pin in my ass 
if you get me, you will travel first class 
I'll show you, we will make magic, cheri 

ENGINEER 
you buy more tickets from me 
the winner gets her for free 

CHRIS 
the meat is cheap in Saigon 
why can't I just play the game, we lost the war long ago 
what is this bug up my ass? You tell me, I don't know 

(the ENGINEER pushes KIM forward) 

KIM 
I'm seventeen, and I'm new here today 
the village I come from seems so far away 
all of the girls know much more what to say 
but I know 
I have a heart like the sea 
a million dreams are in me 

CHRIS 
Good Jesus, John, who is she? 

AMERICANS (AND CROWD) 
the Cong is tight'ning the noose 
is it a week or a day or an hour that we got? 
tonight could be our last shot got to put it to use 

(the GIRLS come off the stage and mingle with the men.) 

ALL, INCLUDING GIRLS 
tonight I bet that you and I will get along 
forget about the threat, forget the Vi-et Cong 

ALL MEN 
Mimi, Gigi, Yvette or Yvonne 
gonna buy me a beer, and elect Miss Saigon 

(the ENGINEER holds the election by holding his hand over each girl's head for applause. 
When KIM is judged, CHRIS claps loudly, which makes her notice him.) 

ENGINEER 
Yvonne, Yvette, Mimi, Kim, Gigi 
(GIGI wins) 

ENGINEER 
attention, s'il vous plait! 
by popular demand 
Miss Gigi Van Tranh 
is elected Miss Saigon! 

(the ENGINEER puts a cheap tiara on GIGI and a ribbon which says "Miss Saigon".) 

AMERICANS 
the heat is on in Saigon 
and things are not going well 
but still at midnight, the party goes on 
a good-bye party in hell 

ENGINEER 
and now who wins her? 

(the ENGINEER holds a bowl; GIGI picks up a ticket.) 

GIGI 
number 66! 

(it is one of the Marines. He cheers with his friends. The scene freezes