[The lights come up, and a scrim displays the words "Toulon, 1815" as convicts march in behind in a straight line. The convicts are a bunch of random male characters from Phantom along with Erik. A few policemen (extras) march alongside the line, taking any opportunity to physically abuse the nearest prisoner. The convicts are wearing outfits that look rather like dirty burlap sacks. You can tell which one is Erik, because he's the only one wearing a mask.]
Convicts:
Look down, look down,
Don't look em in the eye
Look down, look down
You're here until you die
Firmin:
The sun is strong
It's hot as hell below
[A policeman kicks him over]
Convicts:
Look down, look down
There's twenty years to go
André:
I've done no wrong
Sweet Jesus hear my prayer
[A different policeman threatens him with the butt of his gun]
Convicts:
Look down, look down
Sweet Jesus doesn't care
Raoul: [looking a little unhappy with his outfit]
I know she'll wait
I know that she'll be true
[The first policeman just kinda glares at him, and Raoul meekly returns to his work.]
Convicts:
Look down, look down
They've all forgotten you
Reyer:
When I get free
You won't see me
Ere for dust!
[He is not harassed by one of the police]
Convicts:
Look down, look down
Don't look em in the eye
Buquet:
How long, O Lord
Before you let me die?
Erik: [from the back] I'll let you die, you old mumblemumble...
Convicts:
Look down, look down
You'll always be a slave
Look down, look down
You're standing in your grave
[Piangi enters, wearing a large hat.]
Piangi:
Now bring me prisoner 24601
Your time is up
And your parole begun
You know what that means?
Erik: [standing up]
Yes, it means I'm free
Piangi: [hands him a yellow piece of paper]
No! That means you get
Your yellow ticket of leave.
You are a thief!
Erik:
I stole a loaf of bread
Piangi:
You robbed a house
Erik:
I broke a windowpane.
My sister's child was close to death
And we were starving.
Piangi:
You will starve again
Unless you learn the meaning of the law!
Erik:
I know the meaning of those 19 years
A slave of the law!
Piangi:
Five years for what you did
The rest because you tried to run
Yes, 24601!
Erik:
My name is Jean Valjean... Jean Valjean? Psht, my name's Erik Valerik.
Piangi:
And I'm Javert... Ha! I get a cool name!
Do not forget my name
Do not forget me
24601!
Convicts: [marching out, leaving Erik Valerik behind.]
Look down, look down
You'll always be a slave
Look down, look down
You're standing in your grave...
[Erik stands in the middle of the stage, alone and free.]
Erik:
Freedom is mine. The earth is still.
I feel the wind. I breathe again
And the sky clears
The world is waking.
Drink from the pool, how clean the taste
Never forget the years, the waste
Nor forgive them
For what they've done
They are the guilty – everyone!
Hey... I know what this guy's saying.
The day begins
And now lets see
What this new world
Will do for me!
[Buquet enters dressed as a farmer.]
Buquet: Am I to be all the extras?
Authoress: Yep.
Buquet: [sighs]
You'll have to go!
I'll pay you off for the day
Collect you bits and pieces there
And be on your way!
Erik:
You've given me half
What the other men get
This handful of tin
Wouldn't buy my sweat!
Buquet: [rushing to a different part of the stage to be the Labourer]
You broke the law
It's there for people to see
Why should you get the same
As honest men like me?
Erik:
And now I know how freedom feels
The jailer always at you heels
It is the law!
This piece of paper in my hand
That makes me cursed throughout the land
It is the law!
Like a cur
I walk the street
The dirt beneath their feet...
This Jeanjean fellow thinks he has it tough, try being me for a day! A piece of paper you can hide, but your face...
[The Bishop of Digne enters]
Firmin:
Come in, sir, for you are weary
And the night is cold out there
Though our lives are very humble
What we have, we have to share
There is wine here to revive you
There is bread to make you strong
There's a bed to rest till morning
Rest from pain and rest from wrong
Erik:
He let me eat my fill
I had the lion's share
This silver in my hand
Cost twice what I had earned
In all those nineteen years
That lifetime of despair
And yet he trusted me
The old fool... heh... you're a fool, Firmin!
Firmin: At least I'm not a hideous monster.
Erik: That's arguable.
Authoress: Ahem.
Erik: Right.
The OLD FOOL trusted me
He'd done his bit of good
I played the grateful serf
And thanked him like I should
[Firmin exits]
But when the house was still
I got up in the night
Took the silver,
Took... my... FLIGHT!
I really do feel for this fellow.
[Erik runs away with Firmin's silver in his bag. He gets about two steps away from the house before a big-hatted constable captures him and drags him back to Firmin.]
André:
Tell his reverence your story
Let us see if he's impressed
You were lodging here last night
You were the honest bishop's guest... [notices Firmin] What, now you're a bishop?
Firmin: Well, my friend, you're a policeman.
André: [shrugs]
And then out of Christian goodness
When he learned about your plight
You maintain he made a present
Of this silver-
Firmin:
That is right. [turns to Erik]
But, my... friend? He's not my friend! You left so early
Surely something slipped your mind
[He gives Erik his silver candlesticks]
You forgot I gave these also
Would you leave the best behind?
So, monsieur, you may release him
For this man has spoken true
I commend you for your duty
And God's blessing go with you.
[André leaves.]
What? Did I just let the snot-nosed thief go free? André! Come back! It's the opera ghost, remember? Lock him up!
Authoress: Stop that!
Firmin: Right.
But remember this my... [shudders] brother
See in this some higher plan
You must use this precious silver
To become a honest man
By the witness of the martyrs
By the passion and the blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your soul for God.
Like he'd want it...
[He exits, leaving Erik alone.]