CUT TO:
SCENE 36: SEWERS/DOGS EAT DOG
INT:
[Thénardier is picking through the corpses, of the fallen on the barricade, in the sewers]
THENARDIER
Here's a hint of gold
Stuck into a tooth
[pulls out pliers]
Pardon me M'sieur
[plucks the gold tooth off]
You won't be needing it no more.
[pockets the tooth]
Shouldn't be too hard to sell.
Add it to the pile
Add it to the stock
Here among the sewer rats
A breath away from Hell
You get accustomed to the smell.
[stands up a moves to another corpse; picking off all the valuables]
Well someone's got to clean 'em up, my friends
Bodies on the highway
Law and order upside down
Someone's got to collect their odds and ends
As a service to the town!
[Valjean arrives, carrying Marius. Valjean collapses]
[Thenardier robs marius]
Here's a tasty ring
Pretty little thing
Wouldn't want to waste it
That would really be a crime
[stands up pocketing the ring]
Thank you sir, I'm in your debt
Here's another toy
Take it off the boy
His heart's no longer going
And he's lived his little time
But his watch is ticking yet!
Well, someone's got to clean them up, my friends
Before the little harvest
Disappears into the mud
Someone's got to collect their odds and ends
When the gutters run with blood.
[he moves on to Valjean]
It's a world where the dog eats the dog
Where they kill for bones in the street
And God in His Heaven
He don't interfere
'Cause he's dead as the stiffs at my feet
I raise my eyes to see the heavens
And only the moon looks down
The harvest moon shines down!
[He turns over Valjean's body, recognizes him, and runs.]
[Valjean regains consciousness]
[Eventually, Valjean picks up Marius again and walks through the sewers.]
EXT: NIGHT
[As Valjean emerges from the sewers carrying Marius, he is met by Javert; who was now wearing his inspector clothing.]
VALJEAN
It's you, Javert!
I knew you wouldn't wait too long
The faithful servant at his post once more!
This man's done no wrong,
And he needs a doctor's care.
JAVERT
I warned you I would not give in
I won't be swayed
VALJEAN
Another hour yet
And then I'm yours
And all our debts are paid.
JAVERT
The man of mercy comes again
And talks of justice
VALJEAN
[overlapping Javert]
Come, time is running short
Look down, Javert
He's standing in his grave
Give way, Javert
There is a life to save.
JAVERT
[overlapping]
Take him Valjean,
Before I change my mind
I will be waiting
24601.
[Valjean carries Marius off]
SCENE 37: JAVERT’S SUICIDE
[Javert walks the deserted streets until he comes to a bridge over the river Seine. Looks over the Parapet into the water]
JAVERT
Who is this man?
What sort of devil is he
To have me caught in a trap
And choose to let me go free?
It was his hour at last
To put a seal on my fate
Wipe out the past
And wash me clean off the slate!
All it would take
Was a flick of his knife.
Vengeance was his
And he gave me back my life!
Damned if I'll live in the debt of a thief!
Damned if I'll yield at the end of the chase.
I am the Law and the Law is not mocked
I'll spit his pity right back in his face
There is nothing on earth that we share
It is either Valjean or Javert!
[Takes off his hat]
How can I now allow this man
To hold dominion over me?
This desperate man whom I have hunted
He gave me my life. He gave me freedom.
I should have perished by his hand
It was his right.
It was my right to die as well
Instead I live... but live in hell.
And my thoughts fly apart
Can this man be believed?
Shall his sins be forgiven?
Shall his crimes be reprieved?
[he throws his hat off the bridge]
And must I now begin to doubt,
Who never doubted all these years?
My heart is stone and still it trembles
The world I have known is lost in shadow.
Is he from heaven or from hell?
And does he know
That granting me my life today
This man has killed me even so?
[He carefuly steps over the side of the parapet, standing on a small ledge, holding onto the railing, looking into the water]
I am reaching, but I fall
And the stars are black and cold
As I stare into the void
Of a world that cannot hold
I'll escape now from the world
From the world of Jean Valjean.
There is nowhere I can turn
There is no way to go on....
[He throws himself into the swollen river]
CUT TO:
SCENE 38: TURNING
EXT: DAWN
[Women walk through the streets where the barricade was]
WOMAN ONE
[picks up a small red flag that belonged to a small child]
Did you see them
Going off to fight?
WOMAN TWO
[walks up to her, picking up another small red flag]
Children of the barricade
Who didn't last the night?
WOMAN THREE
[looking at all the dead in the streets]
Did you see them
Lying where they died?
Someone used to cradle them
And kiss them when they cried.
WOMAN FOUR
Did you see them lying side by side?
WOMAN FIVE
[looks around]
Who will wake them?
WOMAN SIX
[comes out of a house]
No one ever will.
WOMAN TWO
[clutches the small red flag to her chest]
No one ever told them
That a summer day can kill.
WOMAN SEVEN
[singing from a window of a one story building]
They were schoolboys
Never held a gun...
Fighting for a new world
That would rise up like the sun.
WOMAN THREE
Where's that new world now the fighting's done?
WOMAN FOUR
Nothing changes.
WOMAN SEVEN
[exit’s the building she was in]
Nothing ever will.
WOMAN EIGHT
Every year another brat, another mouth to fill.
WOMAN SEVEN
Same old story. What's the use of tears?
WOMAN FIVE
What's the use of praying if there's nobody who hears?
ALL
[all the women stand together]
Turning, turning, turning, turning, turning
Through the years.
Turning, turning, turning through the years
Minutes into hours and the hours into years.
Nothing changes. Nothing ever can
Round about the roundabout and back where you began.
Round and round and back where you began!
[the women part on their own paths]
CUT TO:
SCENE 39: EMPTY CHAIRS AT EMPTY TABLES
INT: tavern
[Marius, recovering from his wounds; he imagines he is back at the ABC café. He is sitting at a table]
MARIUS
There's a grief that can't be spoken.
There's a pain goes on and on.
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone.
Here they talked of revolution.
Here it was they lit the flame.
Here they sang about `tomorrow'
And tomorrow never came.
From the table in the corner
They could see a world reborn
And they rose with voices ringing
I can hear them now!
The very words that they had sung
Became their last communion
On the lonely barricade at dawn.
Oh my friends, my friends forgive me
[The ghosts of those who died on the barricade appear; They sit at chairs, as if nothing happened.]
That I live and you are gone.
There's a grief that can't be spoken.
There's a pain goes on and on.
Phantom faces at the window.
Phantom shadows on the floor.
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friends will meet no more.
[The ghosts fade away]
Oh my friends, my friends, don't ask me
What your sacrifice was for
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friends will sing no more.
SCENE 40: EVERYDAY
[the room fades back from the café into the dull dreary recovery of Cosette’s home]
INT: room
[Cosette arrives to help Marius in his recovery, thus bringing him to reality]
[Marius stands up]
COSETTE
[grabs his hands]
Every day
You walk with stronger step
You walk with longer step
The worst is over
MARIUS
[smiles]
Every day
I wounder everyday
Who was it brought me here
From the barricade?
COSETTE
[Makes him sit down]
Don’t think about, Marius!
With all the years ahead of us!
I will never go away
And we will be together
Every day.
Every day
We’ll remember that night
And the song that we sang
A heart full of love
A night full of you
The words are old
But always true
Oh, god for shame
You did not even not even know my name!
MARIUS
[stands up next to her]
Dear Mademoiselle
I was lost in your spell.
[valjean has entered the room, unobserved by the young couple]
COSETTE
A heart full of love
No fear no regret
‘My name is Marius Pontmercy’
MARIUS
Cosette, Cosette
COSETTE
I saw you waiting and I knew.
MARIUS
Waiting for you.
At your feet.
COSETTE
At your call.
MARIUS & COSETTE
And it wasn’t a dream
Not a dream after all.
VALJEAN
[interjections]
She was never mine to keep
She is youthful, she if free
Love is the garden of the young
Let it be
Let it be
A heart full of love
This I give you this day
[They notice Valjean]
MARIUS
[walks to him]
M’sieur, this a day
I never can forget.
Is gratitude enough
For giving me Cosette?
Your home shall be with us
And not a day shall pass
But we will prove our love
To you, whom we shall call
A father to us both
A father to us all
[Cosette leaves]
SCENE 41: VALJEAN’S CONFESSION
VALJEAN
Not another word my son,
[Valjean sits down at a table]
[Marius sits across from him]
There's something now that must be done.
You've spoken from the heart
And I must do the same
There is a story, sir,
Of slavery and shame
That you alone must know.
I never told Cosette
She had enough of tears
She's never known the truth-
The story you must hear
Of years ago.
There lived a man whose hame was Jean Valjean
He stole some bread to save his sister's son.
For nineteen winters served his time
In sweat he washed away his crime.
Years ago
He broke parole and lived a life apart
How could he tell Cosette and break her heart?
It's for Cosette this must be faced
If he is caught she is disgraced
The time has come to journey on
And from this day he must be gone
Who am I?
Who am I?
MARIUS
[realizes]
You're Jean Valjean!
What can I do
That will turn you from this?
Monsieur, you cannot leave.
Whatever I tell my beloved Cosette
She will never believe!
VALJEAN
Make her believe
I have gone on a journey
A long way away.
Tell her my heart was too full for farewells
It is better this way.
Promise me, M'sieur, Cosette will never know...
MARIUS
I give my word.
VALJEAN
...what I have spoken, why I must go.
MARIUS
For the sake of Cosette, it must be so.
[stands up]
CUT TO:
SCENE 42: WEDDING CHORALE
[Marius, who had healed profoundly, and Cosette lead a wedding procession]
CHORUS
Ring out the bells
Upon this day of days!
May all the angels
Of the Lord above
In jubilation
Sing their songs of praise!
And crown this
Blessed time with
Peace and love.
[The procession becomes a dancing celebration. A waltz is played]
MAJOR DOMO
[atop the main staircase with a gaudy overdressed couple; it is obvious that they are the Thenardiers]
The Baron and Baroness de Thénard wish to pay their respects to the groom!
[The Thenardiers approach Marius and Cosette]
THENARDIER
I forget where we met
Was it not at the Chateau Lafarge
Where the Duke did that puke
Down the Duchess's de-coll-etage?
MARIUS
[stands proud and smug]
No, `Baron de Thénard'
The circles I move in are humbler by far.
Go away, Thénardier!
Do you think I don't know who you are?
MME. THENARDIER
[nudges her husband in the stomach and whispers to him]
He's not fooled. Told you so.
Show M'sieur what you've come here to show.
Tell the boy what you know!
[Applause from the dancers as the waltz finishes]
MARIUS
[disgusted]
When I look at you, I remember Eponine.
She was more than you deserved, who gave her birth
But now she is with God and happier, I hope,
Than here on earth!
The waltz starts up again.
THENARDIER
[sighs]
So it goes, heaven knows
Life has dealt me some terrible blows.
MME. THENARDIER
[pleading]
You've got cash and a heart
You could give us a bit of a start!
We can prove, plain as ink
Your bride's father is not what you think.
THENARDIER
There's a tale I could tell
MME. THENARDIER
Information we're willing to sell...
THENARDIER
There's a man that he slew
I saw the corpse clear as I'm seeing you!
What I tell you is true!
MME. THENARDIER
Pity to disturb you at a feast like this
But five hundred francs surely wouldn't come amiss.
MARIUS
[rolls his eyes]
In God's name say what you have to say.
THENARDIER
[jabs a finger at Marius’ chest]
But first you pay!
[Slings and arm around Marius’s shoulders]
What I saw, clear as light,
Jean Valjean in the sewers that night.
Had this corpse on his back
Hanging there like a bloody great sack.
I was there, never fear.
Even found me this fine souvenir.
[Thénardier shows Marius a ring]
MARIUS
[Marius grabs the ring]
I know this! This was mine!
This is surely some heavenly sign!
THENARDIER
One thing more, mark this well
It was the night the barricades fell.
MARIUS
Then it's true. Then I'm right.
Jean Valjean was my savior that night!
[Marius punches Thénardier and then throws money at him]
As for you, take this too!
God forgive the things that we do.
Come my love,
[he takes Cosette’s hand]
come Cosette,
This day's blessings are not over yet!
[Marius and Cosette leave in a hurry]
SCENE 43: BEGGARS AT THE FEAST
[The Thénardiers try to walk away but silver wear they tried to hide in their clothing clank to the floor. Thenardier shakes his finger at a butler. They look around at all the feasts.]
[The try to walk away again but a silver platter falls out of Mme. Thenardier’s dress]
[they laugh maniacally; turning around]
THENARDIER
Ain't it a laugh
Ain't it a treat?
Hob-nobbin' here
Among the elite?
[points at random people]
Here comes a prince
There goes a Jew.
This one's a queer
[laughs]
But what can you do?
Paris at my feet
Paris in the dust
And here's me breaking bread
With the upper crust!
[The Thénardiers starts waltzing; it’s makeshift dancing, clumsy, and entirely incorrect; a prancing waltz type dance]
Beggar at the feast!
Master of the dance!
Life is easy pickings
If you grab your chance.
Everywhere you go
Law-abiding folk
Doing what is decent
But they're mostly broke!
Singing to the Lord on Sundays
Praying for the gifts He'll send.
[Thenardier grabs the Major Domo’s staff; taps the end on the floor.]
[The wedding band strikes up]
M. & MME. THENARDIER
But we're the ones who take it
We're the ones who make it in the end!
Watch the buggers dance
Watch 'em till they drop
Keep your wits about you
And you stand on top!
Masters of the land
Always get our share
Clear away the barricades
And we're still there!
We know where the wind is blowing
Money is the stuff we smell.
And when we're rich as Croesus
Jesus! Won't we see you all in hell!
MME. THENARDIER
[picks up the hem of her dress; bends over and flashes every with her bloomers; and runs off with her husband]
CUT TO:
SCENE 44: EPILOGUE/FINALE
INT: room
VALJEAN
[Valjean is alone in the shadows of his room. Sitting on a chair, holding a bare wooden cross for company]
Alone I wait in the shadows
I count the hours till I can sleep
I dreamed a dream Cosette stood by
It made her weep to know I die.
Alone at the end of the day
Upon this wedding night I pray
Take these children, my Lord, to thy embrace
And show them grace.
God on high
Hear my prayer
Take me now
To thy care
Where You are
Let me be
Take me now
Take me there
Bring me home
Bring me home.
[Fantine's spirit appears to Valjean]
FANTINE
[approaches him]
M'sieur, I bless your name
M'sieur, lay down your burden
You raised my child in love
And you will be with god.
VALJEAN
[sits up]
I am ready, Fantine
At the end of my days
She's the best of my life.
[Marius and Cosette rush into the room; they do not see Fantine]
COSETTE
[collapses to her knees and Valjean’s feet]
Papa, Papa, I do not understand!
Are you alright? They said you'd gone away.
VALJEAN
Cosette, my child, am I forgiven now?
Thank God, thank God, I've lived to see this day.
MARIUS
[goes on his knees next to Cosette]
It's you who must forgive a thoughtless fool
It's you who must forgive a thankless man
It's thanks to you that I am living
And again I lay down my life at your feet.
Cosette, your father is a saint.
When they wounded me
He took me from the barricade
Carried like a babe
And brought me home to you!
VALJEAN
[to Cosette]
Now you are here
Again beside me
Now I can die in peace
For now my life is blessed...
COSETTE
[grabs valjean’s hand]
You will live, Papa, you're going to live
It's too soon, too soon to say goodbye!
VALJEAN
Yes, Cosette, forbid me now to die
I'll obey,
I will try.
[He holds up an envelope and hands it to Cosette]
On this page
I write my last confession.
Read it well
When I at last am sleeping.
It's the story
Of those who always loved you.
[Valjean sinks further into his seat; expiring]
[Marius and Cosette sink to the floor, silently reading the letter in the envelope.]
Your mother gave her life for you
Then gave you to my keeping.
[The other spirits, including Eponine, appear; lining against the wall]
FANTINE
Come with me
Where chains will never bind you
All your grief
At last, at last behind you.
Lord in Heaven,
Look down on him in mercy.
VALJEAN
Forgive me all my trespasses
And take me to your glory.
[Valjean’s spirit leaves his body and joins Fantine and Eponine, taking their hands]
FANTINE & EPONINE
Take my hand
I’ll lead you to salvation.
Take my love,
For love is everlasting.
VALJEAN, FANTINE & EPONINE
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God!
[The spirits of does who died at the barricade materialize in the room]
ALL
[There voices echo as they sing the haunting tune; the ghosts are translucent. The wall and window panes can be seen behind them]
Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night?
It is the music of a people
Who are climbing to the light.
[the window in the corner of the room seems to comes closer as we pan through it. Slowly panning over the streets of paris.]
For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies.
Even the darkest night will end
And the sun will rise.
They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord.
They will walk behind the plough-share,
They will put away the sword.
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward.
[We slowly pan over an eerie cemetery littered with new graves and headstones; the head stones have the names of those who died at the barricade: the students, the police, and the innocent by-standers. A new grave is being dug; the tombstone already being carved; there is only one letter, “J”]
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!
[We pan away from the cemetery to the Rue de Villete; where the barricade still stood]
[People were taking it down]
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes...
[The sun rises over the barricade as a person holds up a large red flag; the flag of freedom; the flag the students waved]
Tomorrow comes!
[We pan backwards; past the Rue de Villete, past the cemetery, past the streets of Paris, back through window of Jean Valjean’s room. Cosette and Marius are still holding onto each other; grieving. On the floor is the note Valjean gave to them.]
[The note comes closer until it takes up the whole screen. Before we have a chance to read the letter; the words jumbled up creating new words. The credits]