Lan searches frantically for Thuy and goes to the zoo to seek Hai. They find the orphanage, but are unable to claim her as neither of them are relatives. To everyone’s dismay, Minh arrives with documents proving he is Thuy’s legal guardian and takes her back to the country to work in the factory. Unwilling to live a life of servitude, however, Thuy escapes and takes a large amount of Minh's money. She goes to Hai and offers to buy his favorite elephant (so it won’t be deported to a zoo in India). Moved, but disappointed, Hai returns the money to Minh. On witnessing first-hand the life that Thuy endures, Hai offers to pay for her to live and work at the zoo where he will be her guardian. Thuy is elated but saddened that Hai and Lan are not together (due to Hai’s insecurities about not being good enough for her). In a last ditch effort, Thuy visits Lan at her apartment, but finds her gone. She leaves a note and a package before going.