Back on stage in Philadelphia, this episode provided a climax for one act when a royal entourage of puppets created a dreamlike reflection gliding through the water. A clatter of percussion instruments reverberated as the king on his ornamental barge presented the magic sword to a golden turtle.
"The meaning," said one member of the troupe, "proves that the Vietnamese people are a peace-loving people. We don't like war. We just defend our country, and so we give back the sword. We don't want to identify the invaders, only to express the aspiration of Vietnamese people to live in peace.