I herded everybody into positions, shushing anybody who sniggered at Bellatrix and Voldemort, who were trying to repair the scorch mark on the rug.
"Alright people! We have wasted far too much time on donuts. So The worthless poor - er, the ensemble - begin!"
[THE POOR - er, ensemble]
At the end of the day, you're another day older
Well duh. That goes without saying.
And that's all you can say for the life of the poor
Or the ensemble, which is what our director said.
It's a struggle, it's a war
And nobody thinks we can sing!
And there's nothing that anyone's giving
-No parts that anyone's giving!
One more day standing about
In the wings
what is it for?
One day less to be living.
I stare at my ensemble. "Guys…. can we please, please keep to the lyrics? I'm sorry I said that, it wasn't meant as an insult, OK. If you feel…er… unnecessary, please don't. There are no small parts, only small actors."
"Easy for you to say." Growled Malfoy, who was obviously behind this whole thing. " And nobody will let me call my father! I should have been Marius." He scowled. Ginny looked daggers at him.
"I will not be in love with him." Said Luna. "Even if all the fanfiction says so." She smiled at him. "Nothing personal."
"OK, thanks Luna. Can we continue?"
At the end of the day, you're another day colder
Except its really hot in here. Can we turn the heat down?
And the shirt on your back doesn't keep out the chill
And the righteous
-We mean the principals-
hurry past
They don't hear the 'worthless ensemble' crying
And the Performance- is coming on fast, ready to kill
One day nearer to dying!
At the end of the day, there's another day dawning
And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise
Like the waves crash on the sand
Like a storm that'll break any second
There's a hunger in the land
There's a reckoning still to be reckoned and
There's gonna be hell to pay
That means you, Fantine!
At the end of the day!
[The foreman and workers, including Fantine, emerge from the factory]
[FOREMAN/Ron]
At the end of the day, you get nothing for nothing
Sitting flat on your butt doesn't buy any bread
Or cheese. Or cake. Life sucks.
[WORKER ONE]
There are children back at home
But I don't want a family!
[WORKERS ONE AND TWO]
And the children have got to be fed
I agree. To much responsibility.
"Yeah. We have to feed them."
"This really sucks."
[WORKER TWO]
And you're lucky to be in a job
But I hate this job. I t doesn't even pay a dollar an hour!
"I know. I need to support my illegitimate child, Cosette."
[WOMAN]
And in a bed!
Ohhhh.
[WORKERS]
And we're counting our blessings!
"One, two, three, four"
"Five,"
"Nope. Only four."
[WOMAN TWO]
Have you seen how the foreman is fuming today?
I'll bet it's got something to do with Fantine!
With his terrible breath and his wandering hands?
I hate that man!
[WOMAN THREE]
It's because little Fantine won't give him his way
Yeah, you were right, Alicia.
"Told you. Little slut-I don't mean that, Lily."
"Its fine."
"HEY! You called my wife a slut!"
"Its fine, James."
[WOMAN ONE/Hermione]
Take a look at his trousers y-
Oh ew. Do I really have to say that? That's revolting!
"Yes, you have to say it."
"I won't."
"But-"
"No."
"Fine. Katie-can you say it?"
"Yeah, sure. She can say my lines."
"Fine."
[WOMAN ONE/Now Katie Bell]
Take a look at his trousers
you'll see where he stands!
See, not that hard, Hermione.
[WOMAN FOUR-once was Katie, now Hermione]
And the boss, he never knows
That the foreman is-
Oh no! I don't want to say that either!
"Hermione!"
"Sorry! I just can't!"
"Not again."
"Can Alicia do it?"
"Fine. Now, look at your script. What will you say?"
"I'll be woman number three."
"Good."
WOMAN FOUR-once was Katie, once was Hermione, now is Alicia]
And the boss, he never knows
That the foreman is always in heat
Not that hard.
[WOMAN THREE]
If Fantine doesn't look out
Watch how she goes
She'll be out on the street!
Ouch! That wasn't very nice of me. Sorry, Lily
"Its fine."
[WORKERS]
At the end of the day, it's another day over
With enough in your pocket to last for a week
Or just a couple days.
Pay the landlord, pay the shop
Keep on grafting as long as you're able
Keep on grafting till you drop
Or it's back to the crumbs off the table
You've got to pay your way
At the end of the day!
[GIRL (Grabbing a letter from Fantine)]
And what have we here, little innocent sister?
I apologize in advance, Lily. I'm just jealous.
"Really? Of what?"
"Yeah, of your 'golden hair'
"Which I don't really have."
"Yup!"
Come on Fantine, let's have all the news!
[Reading the letter]
Ooh..."Dear Fantine you must send us more money...
Your child needs a doctor...
There's no time to lose..."
Harry gasped. "Do I need a doctor?" he yelled. "Am I sick? Whats wrong with me! Help!" he ran around in a crazy little circle. I couldn't help myself, I started to laugh. It was just that funny. Lily laughed to, and put a silencing spell on Harry. Bellatrix was taking a cell-phone video as revenge, planning to upload it to YouTube. Voldemort was doubled over in his chair, laughing hysterically, while James Potter was looking confused.
[FANTINE]
Give that letter to me
It is none of your business
Its really not. You shouldn't be so nosy.
With a husband at home
And a bit on the side!
Sorry! That wasn't very nice! But you sort of deserved it. I bet I'll get fired now. Thanks a lot.
Is there anyone here
Who can swear before God
She has nothing to fear?
She has nothing to hide?
[They fight over the letter. Valjean (M. Madeleine) rushes on to break up the squabble.]
[VALJEAN]
Will someone tear these two apart
What is this fighting all about?
Its against the rules, you curs!
This is a factory, not a circus!
Oh. To bad.
Now, come on ladies, settle down
I run a business of repute
I am the Mayor of this town
I am?
"Yup."
"Wow, I've done quite well for myself."
[To the foreman]
I look to you to sort this out
And be as patient as you can-
Somehow I think that isn't going to happen….
[He goes back into the factory]
[FOREMAN]
Now someone say how this began!
[Valjean Comes back out of the factory]
"Don't interrupt me, lowly servant."
"Yes, your highness.
[jean Valjean goes back in, annoyed.]
[GIRL]
At the end of the day
She's the one who began it!
There's a kid that she's hiding
"You snitch!"
"Sorry."
"You better be!"
In some little town
"Called Montfermeil"
There's a man she has to pay
"Called Thénardier."
You can guess how she picks up the extra
You can bet she's earning her keep
Sleeping around
"I don't! I swear!"
And the boss wouldn't like it!
[FANTINE]
Yes it's true there's a child
named Cosette.
And the child is my daughter
Well Duh.
And her father abandoned us
Son of a bitch! I hate him!
"HEY!"
"Not you James, Felix."
"Oh…I get it now."
Leaving us flat
Now she lives with an innkeeper man
And his wife
They are terrible! They mistreat her so much!
And I pay for the child
Way to much money.
What's the matter with that?
[WOMEN]
A lot.
At the end of the day
She'll be nothing but trouble
And there's trouble for all
When there's trouble for one!
While we're earning our daily bread
She's the one with her hands in the butter
You must send the slut away
Sorry, Lily! That was really, really, rude.
"And ironic."
"Yeah, that to."
Or we're all gonna end in the gutter
That's a bit overreacting, don't you think?
And it's us who'll have to pay
At the end of the day!
[FOREMAN/George]
I might have known the bitch could bite
Sorry Lily!
I might have known the cat had claws
I might have guessed your little secret
Ah yes, the virtuous Fantine
"But I AM!"
"What?"
"Virtuous."
"Oh yeah…right, what about Felix."
"'It was a first love, a pure love-'"
"Don't quote the book."
"Well-"
Who keeps herself so pure and clean
You'd be the cause I had no doubt
Of any trouble hereabout
You play a virgin in the light
But need no urgin' in the night.
Oh. Sorry, Lily. I really am! Truly!"
[GIRL]
She's been laughing at you
While she's having her men
"HEY!"
"Sorry lily."
[WOMEN]
She'll be nothing but trouble again and again
[WOMAN]
You must sack her today
[WORKERS]
Sack the girl today!
[FOREMAN]
Right my girl. On your way!
You heard me! On your way! Out.
"Phoey."
[FANTINE]
There was a time when men were kind,
Well, James always was.
And their voices were soft,
And I couldn't hear them…
And their words inviting.
There was a time when love was blind,
It's never blind. There's always a catch…Don't look at me like that, Snape!
And the world was a song,
You mean like this one?
And the song was exciting.
Oh. Not like this, then,
There was a time when it all went wrong...
Yeah. I agree. I hate this song.
I dreamed a dream in time gone by,
When hope was high and life, worth living.
Do you mean hope was high on drugs? Because that would just be weird.
I dreamed that love would never die,
-Don't worry James- I still love you.
"Good."
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
Then I was young and unafraid,
Except of He-Who-must-not-be-named
And dreams were made and used and wasted.
He killed me! HE KILLED MY DREAM OF A FAMILY!
There was no ransom to be paid,
Except when they kidnapped harry. That sucked.
"That never happened."
"Oh. Yeah. Just a fanfiction I read, sorry."
No song unsung, no wine, untasted.
I've never like wine.
But the tigers come at night,
I mean, then Voldemort came at night
With their voices soft as thunder,
As they tear your hope apart,
And he killed me and my James..
And they turn your dream to shame. -and death-eth-e-e-eth-EH (Big high note I can't hit!)"
He slept a summer by my side,
Well, more then that. We were married in June…
He filled my days with endless wonder...
And annoyance.
"HEY!"
"Sorry, dear."
He took my childhood in his stride,
I think he was actually my age. But really immature.
But he was gone when autumn came!
Yeah, because Voldemort killed him.
And still I dream he'll come to me,
On his broom
That we will live the years together,
With our darling son Ha-ar-ar-ry
But there are dreams that cannot be,
And there are storms we cannot weather!
It was storming that Halloween…
I had a dream my life would be
Fun. Enjoyable. But its not.
So different from this hell I'm living,
I'm in heaven, actually. With James.
So different now from what it seemed...
Now life has killed-
I mean, Voldemort has killed
The dream I dreamed...
The music petered out as Lily sank to the ground.
"Nice job!"
"Thanks, Andy."
"Great!"
"Thank you, James."
Hermione ran up to me.
"Is Lovely Ladies next?"
"Yup."
"I have to go to the bathroom."
"Oh no you don't."
"I-"
"Is this about being a whore?"
She nodded. "Well, how about you and I go have a little chat. Come on."
We went to the broom closet. As we left, I could hear Lily say
"I don't think I can do this."
"Oh yes you can."
"I suck!"
"NO you don't.."
"Yes I do. I'll never make it on Broadway!"
"Who said anything about Broadway? You're British! you should be aiming for the west-"
However, the door closed before I could hear anything more.