- Pyle has invited himself for a drink, ostensibly to talk about his conversation with Fowler a few weeks back.
- Fowler entertains the notion that Pyle was pulling his leg. He muses on the gossip that Pyle is involved in secret government business.
- He won't tell Phuong about his approaching return to England. He doesn't want months of them quarreling.
- Fowler tells Phuong that Pyle will be by at six.
- Assuming that Pyle dislikes her and her sister—because he refused invitations from her sister—Phuong says she'll hang with her sis while he's there.
- When Phuong has gone, Fowler writes an appeal to his employer, hopeful that they'll let him stay in Vietnam as a reporter.
- Pyle shows up with his black dog. He blushes upon hearing that Phuong is away. He doesn't want to discuss Phuong behind her back.
- Fowler suggests they discuss plastic—a topic somehow connected with Pyle's secret work.
- Pyle is surprised, asks how he learned of this.
- Phuong.
- Fowler implies it's impossible to keep absolute secrets in this town.
- The two men discuss Pyle's dog, Duke, and his previous dog, Prince, named after the Black Prince.
- Fowler brings up sordid details about the Black Prince that Pyle hadn't heard. He's developing this habit of trying to shake Pyle out of his romantic, idealistic illusions.
- He tells Pyle that he had momentarily thought it would be convenient if Pyle were killed, a hero's death for Democracy.
- Pyle assumes he's kidding. Maybe he is, but you know what happens.
- Phuong returns, saying her sister was not in. Fact or fiction, we wonder.
- Pyle tries to speak to Phuong, but the language barrier makes it difficult. Fowler offers to translate.
- This pleases Pyle. He wants Fowler present for this.
- And so Phuong learns from Pyle's words and Fowler's translation that Pyle is in love with her and wants to marry her.
- Is he serious? That's Phuong's response.
- Yup. He's serious.
- Fowler adds that Pyle can marry her while he cannot.
- To this, Phuong asks Fowler if he'll be leaving.
- He answers no, thinking of his appeal letter.
- Tensions between the two men rise when Fowler insults them both. Pyle goes full speak ahead, proposing to Phuong then and there.
- She says no.
- And that's that. For now, at least.
- Pyle apologizes for any bad behavior, declines to stay for dinner, and leaves to be alone.
- Before exiting, Pyle says he'll get a transfer when he can. Might take a couple years.
- While Phuong makes him a pipe of opium, Fowler tries something new. He writes a letter to his wife, Helen, asking for a divorce. He's not hopeful. Helen's religion frowns on divorce.
- Phuong tells Fowler she'll come to England with him, as his wife or not.