Summary

The Sympathizer and Bon head backstage, where they put on their farmer costumes for the show. The Chairman gives an empty speech, and is followed by the Vietnamese ambassador, who gives a similarly vapid overture. The Sympathizer and Bon are painfully squatting as they wait for the speeches to end in the style that is customary to Vietnamese farmers. BFD is introduced as a guest of honor. The Sympathizer knew he would be here, as his aunt had mentioned that BFD wanted to curry favor among the left-wing Vietnamese population in Paris. BFD proceeds to give a long speech both apologizing for and praising French colonialism in Vietnam. There is intermittent applause. The show begins, and follows a mawkish plot about a Vietnamese refugee who comes to France and uplifts himself and marries a white French woman through his hard work...