Introducing: 'Saigon' — Chapter 1 – The Final Set

My name is Trim and this is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us. The United States will not stand by and allow any power, however, great take over another time.

O allow.

God, who got from natural excursion, has brought only.

Come you to get out with you wand a bad very babler sounds babler.

That can be no peace without justice, and that can be no justice without peace.

Chapter one.

In nineteen thirty five, a tennis match was played in Saigon Serk sportieth, but it was far from an ordinary tennis match. It was the final of the Saigon City Championship and the first time ever a Vietnamese national had

Bonjour, I have a room booked. The name's Joseph Sherman. Joseph, I, yes, Joseph, But my god, it really is you.

So good to see you again, Mona mee.

God.

You haven't changed the.

Beats, neither of you. But how did you even know I was coming?

You made the morning's papers look Senator Sherman's returns to Saigon ten years after tragedy.

Let me see that. Okay, well that's unexpected.

It made me think about well they were good times, but about your father too. What about coffee du cafes? You believe? Yes? Now, what are you to, Joseph? Tell me everything.

I'm actually here writing a piece for the chronicle. But honestly, what I really wanted to do was having excuse to come back.

What about you now? I'm with the Jean de Marie.

The Gendarmerie. I never saw you as a policeman. You're always a bit of a rebel.

I'm the sort of Frenchman who wants to keep law in order by embracing Vietnamese culture, not fighting it.

See that sounds like Paul I knew when I was Gosh, what were we fifteen sixteen.

On that hunting trip. I just turned sixteen.

Pretty young when you think about it.

Well, there have been some exciting times while you've been away.

You mean the battle for independence.

Yes, that was ugly. Luckily we brought everything back under control, though I'm.

Sure you did, although I doubt you've really changed the way the Vietnamese feel.

No, but we have stopped the violence. They're learning to be civilized now. In fact, you should come out to the circus partif today there is a tennis match on the men's singles final. Actually, May, what's the time we have to go now? Absolutely more drink up. The whole city is treating this tennis match like a proxy fight between the locals and their French masters. That's how they express their feelings. Now, you see on the tennis court, much more reasonable and in fact, you love this the

You mean our Kim. It's a skinny, shy kid who followed us everywhere.

That's him.

That's incredible. I'd be good to see him again.

He's become quite a plain boy.

You don't say.

And you remember Kim's sister.

Land, Yeah, and she never said much. She's a little girl.

Right, Well, she's a real beauty now shes suplay. Come on, we're.

Here, well, Land, you sounds smitten.

She's twenty now and she wears the Audai like an angel. So beautiful. Well, a man can dream, Joseph and plan, but I have to impress her father more than her. That's the first step. Yes, of course, this way, members enclosure.

Excuse him?

What yes, JEPPI.

Captain of course, excuse enjoy the match.

Your name obviously opens gates.

It's because of my father than me. Oh, he's in the administration.

What's happening over there?

That's him. That's Kim in the middle of all those young women. I told you he's a bit of a playboy.

Now it's not a skinny, shy kid anymore.

Well not anymore. Oh, we're over here. Excuse me to play?

Thank you?

Excuse him.

They threaded their way to the members enclosure, which was a roped off section of the best seats square, Joseph Land.

It is Joseph, isn't it Joseph Sherman.

You remember him?

Of course, I've read you were back. Oh, and such a pleasure to see you again, Monster.

Devo likewise likewise, but you were just I never would have recognized you.

Yes, I was just a little girl when you were here the first time. But it's so good to see you again.

Sorry, I'm amazed you remember me.

You made quite an impression a teenage American boy who was so kind to his friend's little sister.

Good. I hope seeing me again doesn't spoil the memory.

No, on the contrary, So can you watch the.

Match with us, Lamb, I would love to. Well, let me present Joseph to your father and we'll be down in a minute.

I'll save us some seats.

Well.

Well, yeah, you were right.

She's beautiful, I told you, and in need of a good French husband, according to her father, Monsieur tan van Hue And oh, come on, I'll introduce you.

He's over there with my father. Father Monsieur, please allow me to introduce Joseph Sherman out here from the United States.

But not the senator's youngest. So you're back after all this time. What a pleasant surprise. What happened on that trip was so tragic.

Yes, it was a tragedy, but time heals all wounds. Maybe maybe do you still take coups out hunting?

No? No, I never did.

After No, my father's now the deputy chief of.

Congratulations.

Though, I imagine keeping the peace and Saigon is a tough job.

Well, it's simply a question of balance, monsieur.

Ah, you're too modest, monsieur. It is only through your constant vigilance that our streets are peaceful and the people prosperous and pleased.

To hear you acknowledge her efforts.

But of course, the civilizing influence of French culture has helped all of Vietnam.

I wish you could explain that to your younger generation.

Time they will learn to appreciate what France has given us.

Well, I'm not sure they want to, or maybe they can't. Your son went to Paris and all he learned was how to play tennis as afuce women.

Maybe any how to eat well. You cannot have acquired the physique has now from rice and moods.

Anyway, this afternoon will be interesting. Let's see if your boy can addle pressure. I hope he knows who he is up against today.

Of course, Monsieur Pinot is the champion. My boy just wants to put up a good showing.

Come on, Joseph, they're getting ready to start. We should find our seats.

Father, enjoy the game, monsie okay out.

Gonzilo Pino began the game strongly with fast serves down the middle of the tegue. But while he quickly raced to a three love lead, those who knew the game soon saw a pattern developing.

These rallies are getting longer.

Yes, I think my brother is fitter.

Soon it was five to four, and although Pino was serving for the set, fatigue was taking its toll and Pino's mistakes were mounting.

Such you could feel the crowd behind him.

Vietnam out to win this set.

Kim did when the first sat and quickly established a lead in the second. As the French champion, Monsieur Pino grew more and more exhausted, until finally, on one point, he dived to reach the ball and crashed heavily to the ground.

I think gets his knee.

Hopefully he can run.

What Why is the crowd so angry? Kim's playing wonderful tennis.

He's sitting the ground strokes from one corner to the other. He's making Pino run when he's injured.

He's playing well. What's wrong with that? Isn't that the point?

The problem is he's humiliating his opponents and whipping up the crowd.

Now, what's going on? What are they saying?

There's some trouble in the crowd. They're chanting old French are dogs. The umpire needs to stop the match, Aret match, monsieur. Oh my god, what's happening. I've got to go and help break it up. It's getting ugly. I don't think you should be here, Joseph. Can you escort us?

Of course, Len you know the way.

Yes, that's up outside.

Joseph hailed a horse drawn malabar.

Uh.

Where are we going, land.

Squad?

Let me help you there you go.

Thank you, mister Sherman for being kind enough to take care of me. I'm sorry you had to see such ugly things happen. Unfortunately, the hearts of many Vietnamese are filled with hatred.

Not at all.

I'm glad to help man, and I have to say I I envy Paul.

You envy.

Oh.

Oh, no, Captain de Voix is a good friend, mister Sherman. But that is all.

Oh well, he's he's very fond of you, he told me so, and.

My father admires him greatly. He believes he's a fine young man. Yes, yes, he will be most unhappy with Kim Paul will be no, my father, he will be very upset. Oh, please stay with me until he returns home.

Oh, yes, of course, it will be my pleasure.

Please this way.

Oh, this is beautiful man, Thank you.

How long will you be staying in Psycho sureman?

Oh well, I was heading to Hanoi on Tuesday, so at the moment, only two or three days. But I could extend that Hanoi. Yes, I've been granted access to the court records of earlier Vietnamese emperors. I'm here to write a feature article on Vietnam.

Oh, but after the tragedy of your first visit.

That wasn't Vietnam's fault. That was all my father's doing. He dreamt he he was a great white hunter, that he could be the king of the jungle and shoot his way through a herd of wild bison. He was warned to be careful and he wasn't. So yes, he cost him his life.

So sad for a young boy to lose his father.

Thank you.

I I remember you cried for him.

No, I cried for you, the little boy who lost his father. Joseph. There's something I've been meaning to ask you.

Yes see, I will do it all again tomorrow. I want you all you want to do. Father, any French slave, we miss you.

No miss you, and it is about respect.

Mister Sherman, you just leaveing, monsieur, thank you for looking after my daughter, my pleasure.

I will see you out.

Mister Charman, thank you.

I won that game.

Father.

I want it be honest, Kim.

You want it for you. You only pretend to be a committed nationalist.

I am a committed nationalist.

You're a privileged playboy.

The privilege I have bought you mean that you don't have to work for anything. You can just eat and train and then win a tennis match so you can sleep with all the women you want.

You dress it up as nationalism.

All I wanted to do was to embarrass the French dogs who have robbed our country.

Nonsense.

Do you think I'm blind? You have endangered our business and our family for nothing, for cheap sex. You hide behind these slogans of nationalism, but you have no real commitment to that cause at all.

You have not shown any real commitment to anything.

I have bred a shallow, selfish sun who cannot make any sacrifice at all. Yes, losing today would have been a sacrifice. Yes, it would have been a sacrifice for your family.

Leave my house, get out, ah.

Father, Ah, none.

I trust you enjoyed the afternoon with Captain Devereux.

Very much, and mister Sherman was also kind to me.

I hope Captain Devereux did not consider Kim's actions reflected any any United Family posture.

No, Father, not at all. He knew how upset you would be, and I thought it best to offer no comment, not without hearing your advice first.

It's very wise, mane. It is important you stay in Captain Devereux's favor.

Yes, of course, father, What was that Kim? Should I go and check?

No, do not see him. He is leaving this house, leaving he treats the family, He treats me with total contempt ever since he got home from Paris, and after today and all that complete disrespect, he has to.

Go I understand. Is there anything else I can do for you? Father?

No, I have business to attend to.

We dine at six.

This was a family divided in a country divided, and their paths would soon be swept up in the hurricane of history.

Three thousand three, Duty.

Old on import.

I thought you'd be here. I told you to go. Huh, and I will when I'm ready.

Hey, Hey, what are you doing?

H is that is that blood on it?

You've got blood everywhere.

Don't worry.

I'm going, but not without a gift. Something you can remember me by.

What What is this?

Your future? The family heritage?

What have you done?

My manhood?

And Mensieur Hugh realized the bloody mess in the bag was his son's screwtum he had castrated himself.

No, you don't think I can make a sacrifice. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam.

Well this is me.

This is what I am now.

So you just go on hiding here in fear of being a problem.

You'd this.

He's of the family, father, not me. Goodbye.

It was the last time Kim would ever see his father, and the impact of that explosive afternoon would ripple down the years in ever expanding ways. Never again would one tennis match change so much for so many.

Saigon is a production of Thoroughbred Studios, gold Hog Productions and iHeart Podcasts, starring Kelly, Marie Trent and Rob Benedict. Based on the best selling novel Cygone by Anthony Gray, It is created for audio by Greg Hadrick and Jeremy Fox, written by Greg Hadrick and directed by John Scott Dryden. Original music is by Sasha Putnam, with additional performances by Normgnir and Letty big Cheer. Editing and sound design is by Elouise Whitmore. The series producer is Emma Hern. The