SCENE 10: CONFRONTATION
INT: hospital room
JAVERT
Valjean, at last,
We see each other plain
`M'sieur le Mayor,'
[points his baton at Valjean]
You'll wear a different chain!
[advances toward Valjean]
VALJEAN
[circles the bed as Javert follows]
Before you say another word, Javert
Before you chain me up like a slave again
Listen to me! There is something I must do.
This woman leaves behind a suffering child.
There is none but me who can intercede,
In Mercy's name, three days are all I need.
[stops circling the bed]
Then I'll return, I pledge my word.
Then I'll return...
JAVERT
[stops]
You must think me mad!
I've hunted you across the years
A man like you can never change
A man such as you.
[they start to circle the bed; Valjean always on the opposite side of Javert]
VALJEAN
[(in counterpoint)]
Believe of me what you will
There is a duty that I'm sworn to do
You know nothing of my life
All I did was steal some bread
You know nothing of the world
You would sooner see me dead
But not before I see this justice
done
I am warning you Javert
I'm a stronger man by far
There is power in me yet
My race is not yet run
I am warning you Javert
There is nothing I won't dare
If I have to kill you here
I'll do what must be done!
JAVERT
[(in counterpoint to the above)]
Men like me can never change
Men like you can never change
No,
24601
My duty's to the law - you have no
Rights
Come with me 24601
Now the wheel has turned around
Jean Valjean is nothing now
Dare you talk to me of crime
And the price you had to pay
Every man is born in sin
Every man must choose his way
You know nothing of Javert
I was born inside a jail
I was born with scum like you
I am from the gutter too!
[Valjean breaks a chair and threatens Javert with the broken piece. Turns to Fantine]
VALJEAN
[to Fantine]
And this I swear to you tonight
JAVERT
[to Valjean]
There is no place for you to hide
VALJEAN
Your child will live within my care
JAVERT
Wherever you may hide away
VALJEAN
And I will raise her to the light.
VALJEAN AND JAVERT
I swear to you, I will be there!
[They fight, Javert is knocked out. Valjean escapes]
CUT TO:
SCENE 11: CASTLE ON A CLOUD - empty tavern
INT: empty tavern
[Young Cosette, around the tender age of eight, is working as a drudge in the Thénardier's inn at Montfermeil, sweeping the floors. She rest the broom against a table, and sits in a chair]
YOUNG COSETTE
There is a castle on a cloud,
I like to go there in my sleep,
Aren't any floors for me to sweep,
Not in my castle on a cloud.
There is a room that's full of toys,
There are a hundred boys and girls,
Nobody shouts or talks too loud,
Not in my castle on a cloud.
There is a lady all in white,
Holds me and sings a lullaby,
She's nice to see and she's soft to touch,
She says "Cosette, I love you very much."
I know a place where no one's lost,
I know a place where no one cries,
Crying at all is not allowed,
Not in my castle on a cloud.
Oh help! I think I hear them now,
and I'm nowhere near finished sweeping and
scrubbing and polishing the floor.
[Young Eponine, around the same age, who is carrying a porcelain doll, comes into the room]
Oh, it's her!
[Mme. Thenardier follows her daughter]
It's Madame!
MME. THENDARDIER
Now look who's here
The little madam herself!
Pretending once again she's been `so awfully good,'
Better not let me catch you slacking
Better not catch my eye!
Ten rotten francs your mother sends me
What is that going to buy?
[pushes a large bucket’s handle into young cosette’s hand]
Now take that pail
My little `Mademoiselle'
And go and draw some water from the well!
[Turns away from young cosette, talking to herself]
We should never have taken you in in the first place
How stupid the things that we do!
Like mother like daughter, the scum of the street.
Eponine, come my dear, Eponine, let me see you
[Young Eponine comes skipping over; She is wearing a blue hat]
You look very well in that new little blue hat
There's some little girls who know how to behave
And they know what to wear
And I'm saying thank heaven for that.
[Turns back around to see Young Cosette still there]
Still there Cosette?
Your tears will do you no good!
I told you fetch some water from the well in the wood!
YOUNG COSETTE
[Pleads]
Please do not send me out alone
Not in the darkness on my own!
MME. THENDARDIER
[pushes her towards the door]
Enough of that, or I'll forget to be nice!
You heard me ask for something,
And I never ask twice!
[Young Eponine pushes Cosette out.]
SCENE 12: MASTER OF THE HOUSE
INT: tavern
[Thénardier says good night to his daughter as the inn fills up for the evening]
DRINKER ONE
[Pushes her husband through the entrance to the tavern/inn]
Come on you old pest
DRINKER TWO
[calls to Thenradier]
Fetch a bottle of your best
What's the nectar of the day?
[Thenardier enters with a flask of wine]
THENARDIER
[Places a the flask on their table]
Here, try this lot
Guaranteed to hit the spot
Or I'm not Thenardier
[walks into back room. His wife, Mme. Thenardier, is putting ‘things’ into a mincer. Hands her a necklace he kicked off a customer]
DRINKERS
[ a table of drunks all call over to Thenerdier]
Gissa glass a rum
[ another table of drunks all call over to Thenerdier]
Landlord, over here!
THENARDIER
[to himself]
Right away, you scum
[Turns is back to the cameras and pisses in a flask]
[to customer]
Right away, m'sieur!
[Runs out to Drinker one with the flask and hands it to him]
DINER ONE
[takes a drink from the flask and spits it out. Wipes her mouth with sleeve]
God this place has gone to hell
DINER TWO
[rolls her eyes]
So you tell me every year
DRINKER THREE
[nudges guy next to him and whispers]
Mine host Thenardier
He was there so they say,
At the field of Waterloo
DRINKER FOUR
[replies]
Got there, it's true
When the fight was all through
DRINKER FIVE
[pipes up from across the table]
But he knew just what to do
Crawling through the mud
So I've heard it said
Picking through the pockets
Of the English dead
DRINKER SIX
[laughs]
He made a tidy score
From the spoils of war
THENARDIER
[In the backroom talking to Mme. Thenardier]
My band of soaks
My den of dissolutes
My dirty jokes, my always pissed as newts.
My sons of whores
Spent their lives in my inn
Homing pigeons homing in
They fly through my doors
And their money's as good as yours
[Pats her on the shoulder and walks back out into the tavern, with a bowl. Places it in front of a female costumer. Hands a bottle of wine to the guy next to her]
DINER TWO
[ uses her spoon to lift a slimy, hair, and lumpy piece of meat out of the stew]
Ain't got a clue
What he put in this stew
Must have scraped it off the street
DINER ONE
[takes a swig from the bottle and spits it out all over the girl in front of him]
God what a wine!
Chateau Neuf de Turpentine
Must have pressed it with his feet!
DRINKERS
[Drunks all around the tavern call to him]
Landlord over here!
Where's the bloody man?
One more for the road!
Thenardier, one more slug o' gin.
GIRL
Just one more, or my old man is gonna do me in.
THENARDIER
[Thenardier greets a new customer, who walked through the door]
Welcome, M'sieur
[Shows him to a table]
Sit yourself down
And meet the best
Innkeeper in town
As for the rest,
All of 'em crooks
Rooking their guests
And cooking the books.
Seldom do you see
Honest men like me
A gent of good intent
Who's content to be
Master of the house
Doling out the charm
Ready with a handshake
And an open palm
Tells a saucy tale
Makes a little stir
Customers appreciate a bon-viveur
Glad to do a friend a favor
Doesn't cost me to be nice
[walks over to another table and takes the coins off of them]
But nothing gets you nothing
Everything has got a little price!
Master of the house
Keeper of the zoo
Ready to relieve 'em
Of a sou or two
[walks back into backroom]
Watering the wine
Making up the weight
Pickin' up their knick-knacks
[hands Mme. Thenardier another necklace.]
When they can't see straight
Everybody loves a landlord
Everybody's bosom friend
I do whatever pleases
Jesus! Won't I bleed 'em in the end!
[walks back out into the tavern with two bottles of wine]
THENARDIER & DRINKERS & DINERS
[Thenardier hands the bottles to greedy drunks]
Master of the house
Quick to catch yer eye
Never wants a passerby
To pass him by
Servant to the poor
Butler to the great
Comforter, philosopher,
And lifelong mate!
Everybody's boon companion
Everybody's chaperone
THENARDIER
But lock up your valises
Jesus! Won't I skin you to the bone!
[Walks up to another new customer as he enters; shows him to a table]
Enter M'sieur
Lay down your load
Unlace your boots
And rest from the road
[Taking his bag]
This weighs a ton
Travel's a curse
But here we strive
To lighten your purse
Here the goose is cooked
[random customer spits out their food]
Here the fat is fried
[another customer chocks on his food, then coughs it up]
And nothing's overlooked
Till I'm satisfied...
Food beyond compare
Food beyond belief
[walks into back room. Mme. Thenardier is still working on the mincer.]
Mix it in a mincer
And pretend it's beef
Kidney of a horse
Liver of a cat
Filling up the sausages
With this and that
[walks back out into Tavern, showing a customer to a room]
Residents are more than welcome
Bridal suite is occupied
Reasonable charges
[walks back into backroom]
Plus some little extras on the side!
Charge 'em for the lice
Extra for the mice
Two percent for looking in the mirror twice
Here a little slice
There a little cut
Three percent for sleeping with the window shut
When it comes to fixing prices
There are a lot of tricks he knows
How it all increases
All those bits and pieces
Jesus! It's amazing how it grows!
[walks back into tavern]
THENARDIER & DRINKERS & DINERS
Master of the house
Quick to catch yer eye
Never wants a passerby
To pass him by
Servant to the poor
Butler to the great
Comforter, philosopher,
And lifelong mate!
Everybody's boon companion
Gives 'em everything he's got
THENARDIER
Dirty bunch of geezers
Jesus! What a sorry little lot!
MME. THENARDIER
[she is in the backroom talking to herself]
I used to dream
That I would meet a prince
But God Almighty,
[comes out of the backroom and into the tavern]
Have you seen what's happened since?
[no longer talking to herself]
[She sits in an empty chair. The drinkers and diners listen to her, laughing. While her husband tries to ignore her. It is a love hate relationship]
`Master of the house?'
Isn't worth me spit!
`Comforter, philosopher'
- and lifelong shit!
[the customers circle her to hear more]
Cunning little brain
Regular Voltaire
Thinks he's quite a lover
But there's not much there
What a cruel trick of nature
Landed me with such a louse
God knows how I've lasted
Living with this bastard in the house!
[Throws her hands up in the air in an -ugh!- fashion]
THENARDIER & DRINKERS & DINERS
Master of the house.
MME. THENARDIER
[Stands up and a gives the finger to the door to the main room of the tavern]
Master and a half!
THENARDIER & DRINKERS & DINERS
Comforter, philosopher
MME. THENARDIER
[laughs while talking]
Ah, don't make me laugh!
THENARDIER & DRINKERS & DINERS
Servant to the poor. Butler to the great.
MME. THENARDIER
[rolls her eyes]
Hypocrite and toady and inebriate!
THENARDIER & DRINKERS & DINERS
Everybody bless the landlord!
Everybody bless his spouse!
THENARDIER
Everybody raise a glass
MME. THENARDIER
[ walks into tavern and gives Thenardier the arm]
Raise it up the master's ass.
ALL
Everybody raise a glass to the master of the house!
SCENE 13: THE BARGAIN/WALTZ OF TREACHERY
INT: empty tavern at night
VALJEAN
[enters the empty tavern with Young Cosette]
I found her wandering in the wood
This little child, I found her trembling in the shadows
[hands on cosette’s shoulders]
And I am here to help Cosette
And I will settle and debt you may think proper
I will pay what I must pay
To take Cosette away.
There is a duty I must heed
There is a promise I have made
For I was blind to one in need
I did not see what stood before me
Now her mother is with god
Fantine’s suffering is over
And I speak here with her voice
And I stand here in her place.
And from this day and evermore
MME. THENARDIER
[walks up to him]
Let me have your coat M’sieur
VALJEAN
[waves her away]
Cosette shall live in my protection
THENARDIER
You are very welcome here
VALJEAN
I will not forsake my vow
THENARDIER
Take a glass
MME. THENARDIER
[waves her hand at a chair]
Take a chair
VALJEAN
[shakes his head]
Cosette shall have a father now!
THENARDIER
[comforting a crying Mme. Thenardier]
What to do? What to say?
Shall you carry our treasure away?
What a gem! What a pearl!
Beyond rubies is our little girl!
How can we speak of debt?
Let's not haggle for darling Josette!
MME. THENARDIER
[whispers to her husband]
Cosette!
Thenardier
Cosette!
[wipes a fake tear away]
Dear Fantine, gone to rest...
[pulls Cosette to him; hugging her into her jacket]
Have we done for her child what is best?
Shared our bread. Shared each bone.
Treated her like she's one of our own!
Like our own, Monsieur!
VALJEAN
[raises an eyebrow]
Your feelings do you credit, sir
And I will ease the parting blow
He pays them.
Let us not talk of bargains or bones or greed
Now, may I say, we are agreed?
MME. THENARDIER
[speaks up after wiping a tear away]
That would quite fit the bill
If she hadn't so often been ill
Little dear, cost us dear
Medicines are expensive, M'sieur
Not that we begrudged a sou
It's no more than we Christians must do!
M. & MME. THENARDIER
One thing more, one small doubt
There are treacherous people about
No offense. Please reflect.
Your intentions may not be correct?
VALJEAN
No more words. Here's your price.
Fifteen hundred for your sacrifice.
[places a fifteen hundred frank note in Thenardier’s hand. Pulls Cosette away from the Thenardiers and leads her towards the door. Leaving the stund Thenardiers]
Come, Cosette, say goodbye
Let us seek out some friendlier sky.
Thank you both for Cosette
It won't take you too long to forget.
[Valjean and Cosette leave the inn]
[Thenardier throws the money in the air and makes a silent whoop.]
[ Mme. Thenardier crudely dances trying to grab at the falling money. She jumps on Thenardier‘s back as she tries to grab at the money he collected.]
CUT TO:
EXT: Night
VALJEAN:
Come, Cosette, come, my dear
[wraps a cloak around her; tying a bonnet onto her head]
From now on I will always be here
Where I go, you will be.
[hands her a doll]
YOUNG COSETTE
[Eyes light up; taking the doll]
Will there be children and castles to see?
VALJEAN
Yes, Cosette, yes, it's true.
There's a castle just waiting for you.
VALJEAN & YOUNG COSETTE
La la la la la...
CUT TO:
SCENE 14: LOOK DOWN
EXT: dusk
[1832]
[The teeming, squalid streets of Paris. Beggars, urchins, prostitutes, students, etc.]
BEGGARS
[they litter the streets]
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
[Runs up the street to a man who is obviously a strange in this part of paris.]
[takes his hat off and bows]
'Ow do you do? My name's Gavroche.
[waves a hand at the people about the street]
These are my people. Here's my patch.
[shrugs]
Not much to look at, nothing posh
Nothing that you'd call up to scratch.
[puffs his chest out and crosses his arms]
This is my school, my high society
Here in the slums of Saint Michele
We live on crumbs of humble piety
Tough on the teeth, but what the hell!
[runs to a poor elderly woman; pointing at her]
Think you're poor?
[points to a man beside the elderly woman]
Think you're free?
[runs to the middle of the street]
Follow me!
Follow me!
[runs off while fixing his hat back onto his head]
BEGGARS
Look down and show some mercy if you can
Look down, look down, upon your fellow man!
OLD BEGGAR WOMAN
[An old beggar woman finds a young prostitute occupying her pitch]
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
[points at the old beggar woman]
Listen you old bat...
Crazy bloody witch...
'Least I give me customers
Some pleasure in return!
OLD BEGGAR WOMAN
[shoves the young prostitute]
I know what you give!
Give 'em all the pox!
Spread around your poison
Till they end up in a box.
PIMP
[pulls them apart before they start fighting]
Leave the poor old cow,
Move it, Madeleine.
She used to be no better
Till the clap got to her brain.
BEGGARS
[they still litter the streets]
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
[stand over the streets, on an old ricketty bridge, with marius]
Where the leaders of the land?
Where are the swells who run this show?
MARIUS
[overlooks the people]
Only one man - and that's Lamarque
Speaks for these people here below.
[on the streets]
BEGGARS
See our children fed
Help us in our shame
Something for a crust of bread
In Holy Jesus' name
URCHIN
In the Lord's Holy name.
BEGGARS
In his name, in his name, in his name...
[above; on the bridge]
MARIUS
[turns to Enjolras]
Lamarque is ill and fading fast!
Won't last the week out, so they say.
ENJOLRAS
With all the anger in the land
How long before the judgement day?
Before we cut the fat ones down to size?
Before the barricades arise?
[streets below]
GAVROCHE
[runs up to a new group of well to do on the street]
Watch out for old Thenardier
All of his family's on the make
Once ran a hash-house down the way
Bit of a swine and no mistake
[follows the group as they try to escape the poor wretched street boy]
He's got a gang
The bleeding layabout
Even his daughter does her share
That's Eponine, she knows her way about
Only a kid, but hard to scare
[still following them]
Do we care?
Not a cuss
Long live us.
Long live us!
[runs off]
BEGGARS
Look down and show
some mercy if you can
Look down, look down
upon your fellow man!
SCENE 15: THE ROBBERY/JAVERT’S INTERVENTION
EXT: dusk
[Thenardier assembling his gang.]
THENARDIER
Everyone here, you know your place
Brujon, Babet, Claqusous
You, Montparnasse, watch for the law
With Eponine, take care.
You turn on the tears
No mistakes, my dears
[Thenardier’s gang all run off to their locations]
MME. THENARDIER
[talks to her husband]
These bloody students on our street
[students hand out fliers]
Here they come slumming once again
Our Eponine would kiss their feet
She never had a scrap of brain
MARIUS
[runs up to Eponine]
Eponine, what's up today?
I haven't seen you much about.
EPONINE
[turns around with a huge smile on her face]
Here, you can always catch me in.
MARIUS
[shakes his head]
Mind the police don't catch you out!
EPONINE
[Takes his books from his hands and holds them behind her back]
Here, what’cha doing with all them books?
I could have been a student too!
Don't judge a girl on how she looks...
I know a lot of things I do!
MARIUS
[shakes his head, taking his books back]
Poor Eponine, the things you know
You wouldn't find in books like these.
EPONINE
[pets his hair; twirling her finger in a small ringlet]
I like the way you grow your hair
MARIUS
[steps back, a little nervously, smiling]
I like the way you always tease
EPONINE
[thinks to herself]
Little he knows!
Little he sees!
[Valjean arrives with Cosette, now grown up.]
MME. THENARDIER
[Points Valjean, not recognizing him, out to Thenardier]
Here's the old boy. Stay on the job and watch out for
the law.
[Grabs a woman’s baby and pretends it’s hers]
EPONINE
[to Marius]
Stay out of this.
MARIUS
But Eponine...
EPONINE
You'll be in trouble here
It's not your concern
You'll be in the clear
[She pushes Marius away.]
MARIUS
Who is that man?
EPONINE
Leave me alone!
MARIUS
Why is he here? Hey, Eponine!
[He begins to follow her, and bumps into Cosette.]
I didn't see you there, forgive me.
THENARDIER
[takes Valjeans arm]
Please M'sieur, come this way
Here's a child that ain't eaten today.
[brings valjean to Mme. Thenardier who is cradling a crying baby]
Save a life, spare a sou
God rewards all the good that you do.
[looks at his face]
Wait a bit. Know that face.
Ain't the world a remarkable place?
Men like me don't forget
[steps back pointing at him angrily]
You're the bastard that borrowed Cosette!
[Thenardier grabs Valjean and rips open his shirt,
revealing the number on his chest.]
VALJEAN
[stumbles backwards]
What is this? Are you mad?
No, Monsieur, you don't know what you do!
THENARDIER
[grabs his collar now very angry]
You know me, you know me.
I'm a con, just like you.
EPONINE
[runs up to them]
It's the police! Disappear!
Run for it! It's Javert!
[Javert and constables break up the fight. Valjean picks himself up and looks for Cosette, who is with Marius.]
JAVERT
Another brawl in the square
Another stink in the air!
Was there a witness to this?
Well, let him speak to Javert!
M'sieur, the streets are not safe,
But let these vermin beware
We'll see that justice is done!
Look upon this fine collection
Crawled from underneath a stone
This swarm of worms and maggots
Could have picked you to the bone!
I know this man over here
I know his name and his trade
And on your witness, M'sieur,
We'll see him suitably paid.
[Valjean and Cosette have disappeared.]
But where's the gentleman gone?
And why on earth did he run?
THENARDIER
You will have a job to catch him
He's the one you should arrest
No more bourgeois when you scratch him
Than that brand upon his chest!
[The constables search for Valjean.]
JAVERT
[ponders out loud]
Could it be he's some old jailbird
That the tide now washes in
Heard my name and started running
Had the brand upon his skin
And the girl who stood beside him
When I turned they both had gone
Could he be the man I've hunted?
Could it be he's Jean Valjean?
THENARDIER
In the absence of a victim,
Dear Inspector, may I go?
And remember when you've nicked him,
It was me who told you so!
JAVERT
Let the old man keep on running
I will run him off his feet!
Everyone about your business
Clear this garbage off the street!
[The constables drag Thenardier and his gang off to the nearest jail. Eponine manages to escape]
SCENE 16: STARS
EXT: night
JAVERT
[stays in the deserted streets, watching day turn to night and stars come out. He looks upwards towards them]
There, out in the darkness
A fugitive running
Fallen from grace
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 and so it is written
On the doorway to paradise
That those who falter and those who fall
Must pay the price!
[takes off his hat]
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!
[walks off down the street]
GAVROCHE
[on the bridge that over looked the street that javert was on. Huffs.]
That inspector thinks he's something
[points to himself]
But it's me who runs this town!
And my theater never closes
And the curtain's never down
[looks down at the streets as the poor start to come back]
Trust Gavroche, have no fear
Don't you worry, auntie dear,
You can always find me here!
[crosses his arms]
SCENE 17: EPONINE’S ERRAND
EXT: night
EPONINE
[Eponine is alone in the square after both Javert and Gavroche leave.]
Cosette! Now I remember!
[sits on a bench]
Cosette! How can it be?
We were children together
[looks in a puddle at her appearance]
Look what's become of me...
[Marius returns]
EPONINE
[runs un to him]
Good God! Ooh, what a rumpus!
MARIUS
[looking around for Cosette]
That girl, who can she be?
EPONINE
[laughs, not noticing he’s not paying any attention to her]
That cop! He'd like to jump us
But he ain't smart, not he.
MARIUS
Eponine, who was that girl?
EPONINE
[shrugs]
Some bourgeois two-a-penny thing!
MARIUS
Eponine, find her for me!
EPONINE
What will you give me?
MARIUS
Anything!
EPONINE
Got you all excited now,
But God knows what you see in her
Ain't you all delighted now
[She refuses Marius' money]
No, I don't want your money sir...
MARIUS
Eponine! Do this for me...
Discover where she lives
But careful how you go
Don't let your father know
'Ponine! I'm lost until she's found!
EPONINE
You see, I told you so!
There's lots of things I know
[Marius leaves]
'Ponine ... she knows her way around!