In war the most pressing visual tends to be death and the carnage that is left behind. Families grieving the loss of their loved ones overshadows the few true friendships that come out on the other side of this ugly thing called war. For Binh, a Vietnamese war veteran who fought with American forces during the Vietnam war, all he wanted was to live his dream. Binh's hope was that if America won the war, he would be rewarded for his dedication by being allowed to come with his family to America. In the midst of the war Vietnamese soldiers were brough to an American camp and that is where Binh first met Max. Max was an American soldier who just wanted to get through the war so he could get back to his kids. He wasn't expecting to meet someone who would become his best friend and someone that he would not soon forget for the rest of his life. Both men had a lot in common: sons, wives, reasons to live, and a love for wanting to get back to live out all of that. What originally brings them together is what will reunite them when they both arrive at the unveiling for the Vietnam Memorial. Having not seen each other for decades at first, they do not recognize each other. Just two old guys sitting on a bench, but eventually after a conversation they realize they had found their friend again. The men flashback to the war and what brought them so close together, they share their memories, laughs and their unwavering love and appreciation for each other and the sacrifices they both made for each other. A beautiful story of how sometimes the tragedy of war can bring two very different souls together in a way that no other experience could. Brothers in war- brothers for life.
Friendship Forged Through War
(Scene opens at the Vietnam War Memorial Wall with Binh, an elderly Vietnamese man in his mid-seventies. He walks slowly towards a bench then sits. Resting. He watches people pass him by, tips his hat to a few people. For a moment he looks up and smiles at a memory that he is having then takes out a switchblade, opens it and in his other hand pulls an apple out of his pocket. He begins to cut into the apple, eating. As this happens another elderly man, Caucasian also in his mid- seventies Max walks with a cane looking hard at a wall that is in front of him. It looks like he doesn’t find what he’s looking for. He takes an emotional moment, then takes a step back, a deep breath as he turns to leave. Max sees Binh and walks to him. Max takes a coin out of his pocket.)
Max: Thank you for your service solider.
Binh: (Not looking up) Thank you sir.
Max: This seat taken? (Binh scoots down.) Who did you come to see?
Binh: (A long beat) Hoping to see an old friend. Did you serve?
Max: I did. (He sits, takes off his hat and shows it to Binh. Binh freezes in disbelief never raising his head. He takes the hat, takes his off and looks at them side by side.) It’s a match.
Binh: (Binh looks up at him. Beat) Beautiful hat you have here sir.
Max: (Smiles) You as well. (Silence) What brings you here today?
Binh: Well I figured these old bones aren’t going to live forever.
Max: (Laughs) Mine either. Make it through so much then you end up left with nothing but a hat and a cane.
Binh: (Laughs) Ain’t that the truth. (Looks up at the place he had been staring at before. Pointing) A memorial.
Max: A memorial for all of us.
Binh: Not all of us but their hearts were in the right place.
Max: What do you mean?
Binh: I fought for and with American soldiers during the war… none of my brothers names are on the wall.
Max: I understand.