Scene 10

The scene begins in the streets of Paris, filled with beggars, working class, whores, and others struck by poverty. Among them is the young boy GAVROCHE, who goes from worker to worker, begging money cheerfully. The screen shows the caption "1832, Paris".

Look Down

Beggars/Working Class
Sung
Look down and see the beggars at your feet
Look down and show some mercy if you can
Look down and see the sweepings of the street
Look down, look down,
Upon your fellow man!

Gavroche (Approaching a worker, holding out his hand for money)
Sung
'Ow do you do? My name's Gavroche.
These are my people. Here's my patch.
Not much to look at, nothing posh

The worker pushes/kicks him away

Nothing that you'd call up to scratch.
This is my school, my high society

Approaches a second person

Here in the slums of Saint Michele
We live on crumbs of humble piety
Tough on the teeth, but what the hell!

Person gives him a coin

Think you're poor?
Think you're free?
Follow me! Follow me!

Beggars
Sung
Look down and show some mercy if you can
Look down, look down, upon your fellow man!

An old beggar woman finds a young prostitute occupying her pitch

Old Beggar Woman
Sung
What you think yer at?
Hanging round me pitch?
If you're new around here, girl
You've got a lot to learn!

Young Prostitute
Sung
Listen you old bat...
Crazy bloody witch...
'Least I give me customers
Some pleasure in return!

Old Beggar Woman
Sung
I know what you give!
Give 'em all the pox!
Spread around your poison
Till they end up in a box.

The young prostitute moves to hit the old beggar woman. Her pimp steps in and pulls her back

Pimp
Sung
Leave the poor old cow,
Move it, Madeleine.
She used to be no better
Till the clap got to her brain.

Enjolras, Marius, and other students enter the streets

Beggars
Sung
When's it gonna end?
When we gonna live?
Something's gotta happen now or
Something's gonna give
It'll come, it'll come, it'll come
It'll come, it'll come, it'll come

Enjolras (surveying the scene with dismay as other students comfort the poor and give them fliers)
Sung
Where the leaders of the land?
Where are the swells who run this show?

Marius
Sung
Only one man - and that's Lamarque
Speaks for these people here below.

Beggars (gathering around the students desperately)
Sung
See our children fed
Help us in our shame
Something for a crust of bread
In Holy Jesus' name

Urchin
Sung
In the Lord's Holy name.

Beggars
Sung
In his name, in his name, in his name...

Marius
Sung
Lamarque is ill and fading fast!
Won't last the week out, so they say.

Enjolras
Sung
With all the anger in the land
How long before the Judgment day?
Before we cut the fat ones down to size?
Before the barricades arise?

Gavroche notices Marius and Enjolras and approaches them, grinning

Gavroche
Spare a coin for a poor hungry boy, sirs?

Marius (recognizing him)
Gavroche!

Gavroche
How goes the recruiting?

Enjolras
Could be better. But still, there's anger in the air yet. General Lamarque is the last man in our blasted government who cares about the poor. I think soon the oppressed will be more than willing to take a stand.

The Thenardier family and gang enter the streets. Though they can't be heard, Thenardier can be seen arguing with the gang members, sending them to stand in the shadows of a building. He and his wife and Eponine - now a young woman, though poorly dressed and toughened – stand to the other side. He and Eponine yell at each other and he pushes her away. Gavroche notices them.

Gavroche
Oh lord…

Marius
What?

Sees them

Oh. Thenardier.

Gavroche
You ought to stay away from the lot of them. Ever since that shifty inn of his closed down and he started that gang, he's become a lot more dangerous. Ah well, suit yourself.

The students begin to leave the street. One of them attempts to hand a flier to Mm Thenardier as he passes. She is seen taking a swipe at him and he steps away and leaves quickly

Enjolras
Marius?

Eponine, sulking since her father shoved her away, notices Marius and brightens noticeably. She quickly walks toward him, smiling. Marius notices her too and smiles, though in a way more friendly than romantic.

Marius
Hey Eponine! What's new? I haven't seen you around lately.

Enjolras
Marius, the meeting…

Eponine
You can always find me around here.

Marius
Just be careful the police don't catch you.

Enjolras
Oh, never mind. See you there.

He leaves

Eponine
You look well. I like your hair

Reaches out to touch it

Marius (laughing slightly, obviously not understanding her)
You're so funny.

Eponine furiously walks away from a very confused Marius and then looks sad. In the background, a seventeen-year-old Cosette and older Valjean enter. They are well-dressed and give money to the poor. Thenardier and Mm Thenardier notice them with interest.

Eponine (sadly, about Marius)
Little you know, little you see.

Mm Thenardier strides over to Eponine and grabs her by the arm

Mm Thenardier
Right, Eponine, keep your eyes open and look out for the Law.

Eponine begins to walk off as Mm Thenardier steals a loaf of bread from a nearby vendor's stall and wraps it in a blanket, rocking it like a baby. Marius looks confused and starts to investigate. Eponine stops him.

Eponine
Marius, don't interfere!

Marius
Eponine, what's going on?

Eponine
Leave! You'll be in trouble if you stay!

She starts to leave again.

Marius(trying to follow her)
Eponine, what's going on?

Eponine (running)
Leave me alone!

Confused, Marius begins to walk back towards the scene. Meanwhile, Cosette has moved to give money a group of beggars close to Thenardier's gang. The gang leers at her and she nervously backs up and bumps into a distracted Marius. He looks up quickly.

Marius
Oh, I'm terribly sorry, really…

Cosette
No, it's alright…

They stand there looking at each other for a minute. Then,

Valjean
Cosette?

Cosette (to Valjean)
Coming, Papa! (To Marius) Excuse me…

She leaves. Marius stares after her. Meanwhile, Thenardier calls out to Valjean, pretending to cry.

Thenardier (indicating to his wife rocking the bread)
Oh M'sieur please, please, our baby hasn't eaten at all today! Spare a sou, in the lord's name!

Valjean (reaching for money)
Don't worry sir.

Hearing Valjean's voice, Thenardier suddenly looks up suspiciously

Thenardier
Hold a minute…where've I seen you before?

Valjean
Sir, please…

Thenardier
Shut it, you! (His face lights up) I remember now! You're that bugger that up and took Cosette away!

Valjean (alarmed)
M'sieur please, lower your voice…

Thenardier reaches out and grabs Valjean's button-down shirt. He stumbles and his hands jerk, pulling open the shirt to reveal the "24601" brand on Valjean's chest. Valjean pulls himself free and re-buttons the shirt as Thenardier laughs.

Valjean
Are you mad sir? You don't know what you're doing!

Thenardier
You're a jailbird! A con just like me!

Thenardier motions with his head and his gang moves out to surround Valjean. Marius pulls Cosette away.

Cosette
Papa!

Valjean
Cosette, stay away!

Eponine comes running in, panicked and out of breath.

Eponine
Everyone run! Javert and the constables are coming!

The beggars scream and run. Gavroche hides behind some barrels. Thenardier's gang release Valjean in the confusion and he moves towards Cosette.

Valjean
Cosette!

Eponine (softly, seeing Cosette)
Cosette…

Remembering the police, she quickly ducks into an old alleyway just as Javert arrives. Thenardier, Mm Thenardier, and the gang attempt to run but are cornered by constables. Valjean does not try to run, but is careful to look to the ground and avoid eye contact with Javert. He keeps Cosette close to him.

Javert
What next? What happened?

Marius (picking up the dropped wrapped loaf of bread and approaching Javert)
Inspector, that man…

He indicates to Thenardier.

Tried to con that gentlemen!

He indicates to Valjean.

Javert (To Thenardier, obviously knowing the answer)
Where you trying to con him?

Thenardier (indignantly)
Well not if you're going to get fussy about it.

While this conversation is going on, Valjean takes Cosette and quickly and quietly leaves the street. In the process, Cosette drops her shawl on the ground where it lies unnoticed.

Javert (turning to speak to Valjean)
M'sieur, on your word I'll see this man suitably… (sees Valjean is gone) What on earth? Where did he and that girl go?

Marius, seeing Cosette is gone, runs off trying to find where she went

Thenardier (eagerly)
He's the one you ought to arrest, Inspector. 'Es got a lovely tattoo on his chest that one does. What was it? 2 – 4 – 6 – 0 – 1, something like.

Javert (amazed)
Valjean…after all these years…

Mm Thenardier (smoothly)
Seeing as there seems to be no victim, dear Inspector, may we leave?

Javert (nodding fiercely to the constables, who step back from Thenardier's gang)
Everyone about your business, CLEAR THIS GARBAGE OFF THE STREET!

The Thenardier's and their gang run off. Javert storms off, followed by the constables. With the streets empty, Gavroche sneaks out of his hiding place

Gavroche
Sung
That inspector thinks he's something
But it's me who runs this town
And my theatre never closes
And my curtain's never down

He begins to creep away

Trust Gavroche, have no fear
Don't you worry, Auntie dear
You can always find me here…

Eponine carefully comes out of the alleyway. She walks over and picks up the shawl. She seems lost in thought.

Eponine
Oh my god, Cosette…I remember you now. When we were children. Now look what became of me…

Marius comes running back. Eponine quickly turns, hiding Cosette's shawl behind her back. She smiles and tries to seem cheerful.

Eponine
Close one, eh? That Inspector'll need to be quicker to catch me!

Marius
Eponine, who was that girl?

Eponine
Girl?

Marius
The one with that man who ran off! I must know!

Eponine (sourly)
Probably some two-a-penny thing.

Marius (not hearing Eponine)
Eponine, please help me find her!

Eponine (softening)
You really want that?

Marius
Yes! Please find where she lives. But be secretive about it.

Eponine (smiling sadly)
Alright, don't you worry. I'll find her. 'Ponine knows her way around.

Scene 11

The students are gathered in the ABC Café, planning a revolt following the death of General Lamarque. The students are riled up and their leader, Enjolras, is trying to restore order.

Enjolras
Attention everyone! Remember our goal here! We need to remember, what are we here for? What do we need?

Grantaire (drunkenly)
More wine!

There is laughter among the students

Enjolras
That's enough! This mission will take all of our cunning. Have asked ourselves the price we must pay?

The room quiets

Have you? Have you considered that we could all die for this cause? Or is this just a game to you all? If we make a mistake, do you think we can all just start over?

He pauses

Feuilly, have we guns enough?

Feuilly
Twenty guns, good as new.

Jean
Double that in St. Cloud.

Enjolras
And in St. Martin?

Lesgles
Seven.

Enjolras
Excellent. How goes our support?

Courfeyrac
St. Antoine and Notre Dame are with us to the last man.

There is some cheering among students

Combeferre
When do we strike?

Enjolras
Soon enough. We need a sign, to rally the people of France to us.

Marius enters, dreamily

Marius, you're late.

Joly
What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost.

Marius
A ghost? Perhaps. She was there for a minute and then disappeared.

There is some murmuring and laughter among the students. Grantaire stands up on his seat unsteadily.

Grantaire
My god, has Marius finally fallen in love? (To Enjolras) Looks like we're to have our first casualty…Marius is dying of a bleeding heart!

The students break out laughing. Grantaire moves to step back down to the floor and nearly falls off the chair. Several of the students catch him and help him down.

Enjolras
Quiet everyone! (To Marius, who still looks dazed.) Marius, have you forgotten our cause? Now is no to be lovesick. (To the room) Remember everyone; the colors of the world are changing day by day.

Red and Black

Enjolras (Waving a red tablecloth)
Sung
Red - the blood of angry men!
Black - the dark of ages past!
Red - a world about to dawn!
Black - the night that ends at last!

The students cheer appreciatively. Marius at last responds.

Marius
Enjolras, you've never fallen in love before. You don't know what it feels like.

He closes his eyes

Like heavenly light striking you to the core of your bones. In an instant, my world felt changed.

GRANTAIRE grabs the tablecloth from Enjolras and waving it while laughing

Grantaire
Sung
Red!

Marius
Sung
I feel my soul on fire!

Grantaire
Sung
Black

Marius
Sung
My world if she's not there!

All Students
Sung
Red!

Marius
Sung
The color of desire!

All Students
Sung
Black!

Marius
Sung
The color of despair!

The students laugh and Enjolras calls for order. Finally, when things are quiet, he turns to Marius

Enjolras
Marius, I know you mean well. But you're no longer a child and there is a higher calling. Our individual lives mean nothing now. We must stand up for the people of France!

All Students
Sung
Red - the blood of angry men!
Black - the dark of ages past!
Red - a world about to dawn!
Black - the night that ends at last!

There is more cheering as Enjolras gives orders

Enjolras
We must be ready for when the army comes! The National Guard will be our greatest challenge. We must prepare for the battles to come. (To Grantaire, who is still drinking.) Grantaire put that bottle down!

Grantaire
Let me fight with brandy on my breath! One whiff and they'll fall dead like flies!

There is laughter. Gavroche enters excitedly, but is unnoticed in the commotion. He runs through the noisy crowd shouting "Listen!" Finally, he stands on a chair and waves his arms shouting. The room quiets as they look at him

Gavroche
General Lamarque is dead.

There are murmurs among the students, several of whom bow their heads/remove their hats in respect. Finally, Enjolras comes forward.

Enjolras
Sung
Lamarque is dead
Lamarque…his death is the hour of fate…
The people's man
His death is the sign we await

Turning to his friends

On his funeral day they will honor his name.
It's a rallying cry that will reach every ear!
In the death of Lamarque we will kindle the flame
They will see that the day of salvation is near!
The time is near!
Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer
Let us take to the streets with no doubt in our hearts
But a jubilant shout
They will come one and all
They will come when we call!

People's Song

Enjolras
Sung
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Combeferre(coming up next to Enjolras)
Sung
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?

Courfeyrac
Sung
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!
All
Sung
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Feuilly
Sung
Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!
All
Sung
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

The students finish by cheering and waving the red tablecloth banner

Scene 12

Javert and one of the constables are in the police station. It is dark, nighttime. Javert is sorting papers at his desk.

Javert
After all of these years, Valjean has surfaced again… Who would have thought it possible…

Constable
Inspector, you've hunted Valjean longer than anyone ever would. Is he that dangerous?

Javert
Once a thief, forever a thief. He robbed once, he'll rob again. Or kidnap. Or even kill. I don't know. I don't intend to give him a chance to try any of those. That's why I must capture him immediately.

Constable
The police have other problems to worry about. You know that, right?

Javert
Ah yes, that group of students. What was their group's name?

Constable
"Friends of the ABC".

Javert
Oh yes, that's right. From what my sources tell me, they intend to start a revolution. Overturn the government. Completely shred law and order.

Constable
Are you prepared?

Javert
In the unlikely event that they do revolt? Yes, I've got something planned.

Constable (Leaving)
Should it come to that, I wish you luck.

He leaves the building. Javert looks out the window at the starry sky.

Stars

Javert
Sung
There, out in the darkness
A fugitive running
Fallen from God
Fallen from grace
God be my witness
I never shall yield
Till we come face to face
Till we come face to face

He knows his way in the dark
Mine is the way of the Lord
And those who follow the path of the righteous
Shall have their reward
And if they fall
As Lucifer fell
The flame
The sword!

Stars
In your multitudes
Scarce to be counted
Filling the darkness
With order and light
You are the sentinels
Silent and sure
Keeping watch in the night
Keeping watch in the night

You know your place in the sky
You hold your course and your aim
And each in your season
Returns and returns
And is always the same
And if you fall as Lucifer fell
You fall in flame!

And so it has been for so it is written
On the doorway to paradise
That those who falter and those who fall
Must pay the price!

He bows his head

Lord let me find him
That I may see him
Safe behind bars
I will never rest
Till then
This I swear
This I swear by the stars!