The Quiet American

After recuperating in a hospital, Fowler returns to his apartment. Phuong helps him inside as he has lost his key. He reads a telegram from his employer telling him that he has a new assignment. He then reads a letter from Helen, in which she describes his tendency to fall in love with women and then abandon them. She criticizes Fowler’s emotional manipulation and asks whether—if she grants him a divorce—he would actually marry Phuong. Helen’s words make Fowler feel “physically sick” (153). He can tell that he has hurt her, and when Phuong asks him what the letter says, he lies. He tells her that Helen has not yet decided about the divorce. Fowler reflects on his ability to emotionally disengage with the world. This has helped him as a war reporter but not in the conflict with the women in his life. As he reads on, he confirms that Helen has denied him the divorce. Fowler does not read the final page of the letter and reiterates to Phuong that Helen is still considering it.

Phuong tries to cheer him up. She adopts an optimistic tone and then prepares his opium pipe. He smokes the opium and lies to her again, telling her that Helen is seeking legal advice in preparation for a divorce. Phuong leaves briefly to buy a set of silk scarves. Later, Fowler writes to Pyle to say that Helen has “more or less agreed” to a divorce (156). He tells Pyle to stop worrying about Phuong, as he will now take care of her. Fowler asks Phuong to mail the letter. He is pleased that she will stay with him while he is in Vietnam.

As Fowler returns to his regular routine, he visits his assistant, Dominguez, in the hospital. Dominguez is sick, but he passes along a tip concerning a Chinese man named Mr. Chou, who may have a story for Fowler. He gives few details save for the address of a warehouse in Cholon. Dominguez also mentions that he witnessed Pyle delivering a briefing to “visiting congressmen” from America. He overheard Pyle describe the need for a Third Force, which he titled “national democracy.”

Fowler visits Chou’s warehouse. He tries to communicate with the family inside but faces a language barrier. Eventually, a thin Chinese man arrives, and Fowler tries to introduce himself. The thin man is replaced by a younger man in Western clothing who says that he is Mr. Heng, Chou’s manager. He invites Fowler to talk in the warehouse, claiming that Chou has a poor memory. There, Heng shows Fowler a set of iron drums with an “American trade name,” which were found in the possession of Mr. Muoi (167), who has been linked to General Thé. He hints at a “kind of connection” between American manufacturing, General Thé, and Pyle (168). Fowler, remembering that Britain is politically neutral in this war, adopts a nonplussed demeanor. Heng, revealing himself to have communist sympathies, wants Fowler to publish a story suggesting that American plastics are being secretly supplied to one side of the conflict.

Later, Fowler is awoken by Pyle hammering on his front door. He has Phuong at his side. Inside, Pyle disputes Fowler’s “pack of lies” (171). He knows that Fowler has been denied a divorce by Helen, that Fowler lied to Phuong, and that Fowler’s employers have recalled him to England. Claiming that he is aggrieved on Phuong‘s behalf, Pyle tells Fowler that he must end his relationship with her. As Phuong quietly looks through “a pictorial record of the queen’s life“ (173), Fowler seethes at the simplistic Pyle but realizes that neither of them truly knows Phuong. He tells Pyle that he should try to pursue a romance with Phuong but hints that he knows about his clandestine plastic manufacturing. Pyle feigns ignorance. He insists that he will treat Phuong with respect. Fowler suggests that they let Phuong decide who she wants to be with, though Pyle dismisses this, saying she is too “childish” to make her own decision. Fowler tells Pyle to leave. Pyle tries to tell Phuong that Fowler has been disloyal to her, but she cannot understand his English.