SCENE 18: ABC CAFÉ/RED AND BLACK
INT: dawn
[Early the next morning.]
[The ABC Cafe, where the students, led by Enjolras, meet to discuss their revolutionary plans]
COMBEFERRE
[lays out a map of paris. Points at Notre Dame]
At Notre Dame the sections are prepared!
FEUILLY
[points at Rue De Bac]
At rue de Bac they're straining at the leash!
COURFEYRAC
[points at various locations on the map]
Students, workers, everyone
There's a river on the run
Like the flowing of the tide
Paris coming to our side!
ENJORAS
[thinks to himself]
The time is near
So near it's stirring the blood in their veins!
And yet beware
[walks up to the group over the map. Speaks]
Don't let the wine go to your brains!
[circles a building on the map; supposedly the police headquarters]
For the army we fight is a dangerous foe
With the men and the arms that we never can match
It is easy to sit here and swat 'em like flies
But the national guard will be harder to catch.
[bangs a fist onto the table]
We need a sign
[stands up on a chair]
To rally the people
To call them to arms
To bring them in line!
[Marius enters]
[Enjolras rolls his eyes]
Marius, you're late.
JOLY
[ walks up to Marius. Seeing an ill like look on his face]
What's wrong today?
You look as if you've seen a ghost.
GRANTAIRE
[ sways, drunkenly, over To Marius, handing him a bottle of wine]
Some wine and say what's going on!
MARIUS
[waves away the bottle with his hand and sits down. A dreamy look on his face]
A ghost you say... a ghost maybe
She was just like a ghost to me
One minute there, and she was gone!
GRANTAIRE
[Sways in the spot where he stands. Laughing. jokingly]
I am agog!
I am aghast!
Is Marius in love at last?
I've never heard him `ooh' and `aah'
You talk of battles to be won
And here he comes like Don Ju-an
It's better than an o-per-a!
[lifts the bottle of wine and stumbles backwards over a chair]
ENJOLRAS
[rolls his eyes]
[gets off the chair]
It is time for us all
To decide who we are
[walks to a window and looks out]
Do we fight for the right
To a night at the opera now?
[turns around to face his friends]
Have you asked of yourselves
What's the price you might pay?
[walks over to them]
Is it simply a game
For rich young boys to play?
The color of the world
Is changing day by day...
[stands on a chair]
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!
MARIUS
[sighs]
Had you been there tonight
You might know how it feels
To be struck to the bone
In a moment of breathless delight!
Had you been there tonight
You might also have known
How the world may be changed
In just one burst of light!
And what was right seems wrong
And what was wrong seems right!
GRANTAIRE
[raises his bottle up, still laying on the floor]
Red...
MARIUS
[stands up]
I feel my soul on fire!
GRANTAIRE
[sits up drunkenly. Then stands up on a chair]
Black...
MARIUS
My world if she's not there!
ALL
Red...
MARIUS
The color of desire!
ALL
Black...
[Grantaire sways; standing on the chair; drinking]
MARIUS
The color of despair!
ENJOLRAS
[puts a hand on Marius’ shoulder]
Marius, you're no longer a child
I do not doubt you mean it well
But now there is a higher call.
Who cares about your lonely soul?
We strive toward a larger goal
Our little lives don't count at all!
ALL
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!
[Grantaire stumbles off the chair, and falls back to the floor drinking from his wine bottle]
ENJOLRAS
[walks over to Courfeyrac; who is standing next to the table with the map]
Well, Courfeyrac, do we have all the guns?
Feuilly, Combeferre, our time is running short.
[spies Grantaire still drinking]
Grantaire, put the bottle down!
Do we have the guns we need?
[Feuilly has run into the backroom]
GRANTAIRE
Give me brandy on my breath
And I'll breathe them all to death!
COURFEYRAC
[points at St. Antoine]
In St. Antoine they're with us to a man!
COMBEFERRE
[waves a hand over Notre Dame]
In Notre Dame they're tearing up the stones!
FEUILLY
[Runs back into the room carrying rifles; dropping some as he runs. Luckily; they are unloaded]
Twenty rifles good as new!
[Gavroche rushes in shouting]
GAVROCHE
Listen!
JOLY
[opens a cabinet with ammunition in it]
Twenty rounds for every man!
GAVROCHE
[stands up on a table]
Listen to me!
JEAN PROUVAIRE
Double that in Port St. Cloud!
[Enjolras inspects one of the rifles]
GAVROCHE
Listen everybody!
LESGLES
Seven guns in St. Martin!
[everyone turns to gavroche who has just jumped onto a table]
GAVROCHE
General Lamarque is dead!
ENJOLRAS
[drops the rifle he was inspecting; stunned]
Lamarque is dead.
[now has an idea]
Lamarque! His death is the hour of fate.
The people's man.
His death is the sign we await!
[stands up on a table]
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!
CUT TO:
SCENE 19: DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING?
EXT: noon
ENJOLRAS
[standing on a bench in the middle of the street with the rest of the L‘AMIS DE L‘ABC]
[some people walk about the street]
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 people in the street crowd the benches]
COMBEFERRE
[stands up on the bench next to Enjloras]
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:
[stands on the bench besides Enjolras’ and Combeferre’s]
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!
ALL THE STUDENTS
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
[stands up on the bench next to Courfeyrac]
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!
[the people in the street join in the chanting]
ALL
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!
CUT TO:
SCENE 20: I SAW HIM ONCE/IN MY LIFE/A HEART FULL OF LOVE
Ext: mid after noon
[Cosette is consumed by thoughts of Marius, with whom she has fallen in love with at first glance.]
COSETTE
[sitting on a bench in her gated garden]
I saw him once
Then he was gone
We were like to dreamers at night
Who meet as in a trance then part again!
Two phantoms in the shadows of the moon
Can people really fall in love so soon?
He walked alone
He seemed alone like me
Could he have know
That moment was my destiny?
I had to runaway,
And it was like a dream
I saw him once
The dream was true!
I saw him once
And once will do!
[Stands up; shaking her head]
How strange
This feeling that my life's begun at last
This change,
Can people really fall in love so fast?
What's the matter with you, Cosette?
Have you been too much on your own?
[walks to the gate of the garden]
So many things unclear
So many things unknown.
[looks out the gate]
In my life
There are so many questions and answers
That somehow seem wrong
[turns around and leans against the gate]
In my life
There are times when I catch in the silence
The sigh of a faraway song
And it sings
Of a world that I long to see
Out of reach
Just a whisper away
Waiting for me.
[walks back to the bench]
Does he know I'm alive?
Do I know if he's real?
Does he see what I saw?
Does he feel what I feel?
[stops before she reaches the bench]
In my life
I'm no longer alone
Now the love in my life
Is so near
[Valjean stands in the shadows watching her]
[Cosette sits back down on the bench]
Find me now, find me here!
[Valjean realises that that his “daughter” is changing very quickly]
[Valjean, after watching Cosette from the Shadows, approaches her]
VALJEAN
Dear Cosette,
You're such a lonely child
[He sits on the bench beside her]
How pensive, how sad you seem to me
Believe me, were it within my power
I'd fill each passing hour
How quiet it must be, I can see
With only me for company.
COSETTE
[turns, while sitting, to face him]
There's so little I know
That I'm longing to know
Of the child that I was
In a time long ago...
[stands up; her back to him]
There's so little you say
Of the life you have known
Why you keep to yourself
Why we're always alone
So dark! So dark and deep...
The secrets that you keep!
[turns around to face him]
In my life
I have all that I want
[sits back down on the bench]
You are loving and gentle and good
But Papa, dear Papa,
In your eyes I am just like a child
Who is lost in a wood
VALJEAN
[shakes his head]
No more words
No more words. It's a time that is dead
There are words
That are better unheard,
Better unsaid.
COSETTE
[stands up defensively]
In my life
I'm no longer a child and I yearn
For the truth that you know
Of the years... years ago!
VALJEAN
[stands up]
You will learn
Truth is given by God
To us all in our time
In our turn
[Valjean leaves the garden. Leaving Cosette alone]
[Cosette sits back down on the bench; hands in her lap. She looks down at them, thinking]
[In spite of her own feelings for Marius, Eponine sadly brings him to Cosette]
MARIUS
[looks at Cosette through the bars of the gate]
In my life
She has burst like the music of angels
The light of the sun
And my life seems to stop
As if something is over
And something has scarcely begun.
[turns to eponine]
Eponine
You're the friend who has brought me here
Thanks to you I am one with the gods
And Heaven is near!
And I soar through a world that is new that is free
EPONINE
[to herself]
Every word that he says is a dagger in me!
In my life
There's been no one like him anywhere
Anywhere, where he is...
If he asked... I'd be his
MARIUS & EPONINE
In my life
There is someone who touches my life
MARIUS
[climbs the gates]
Waiting near
EPONINE
[runs forward to pull him back down off the gate; but stops in her tracks. Lowering her head]
Waiting here
[Marius goes into the garden, leaving Eponine outside the gate]
[Eponine watches them from outside the gates]
MARIUS
A heart full of love
A heart full of song
[Cosette is startled, she steps backwards]
[Marius turns away]
I'm doing everything all wrong
Oh God, for shame
[Turns back to Cosette, stepping forward]
I do not even know your name
Dear Mad'moiselle
Won't you say?
Will you tell?
COSETTE
[steps forward cautiously]
A heart full of love
No fear, no regret
MARIUS
[grabs her hand and kisses it]
My name is Marius Pontmercy
COSETTE
[blushes]
And mine's Cosette
MARIUS
[smiles; blushing. Stepping away]
Cosette, I don't know what to say
COSETTE
[smiles; stepping forward]
Then make no sound
MARIUS
[looks in her eyes]
I am lost
COSETTE
I am found!
MARIUS
A heart full of light
COSETTE
A night bright as day
MARIUS
And you must never go away
Cosette, Cosette
[they sit on the bench together]
COSETTE
This is a chain we'll never break
MARIUS
Do I dream?
COSETTE
I'm awake!
MARIUS
A heart full of love
COSETTE
A heart full of you
MARIUS
A single look and then I knew
COSETTE
I knew it too
MARIUS
From today
COSETTE
Every day
COSETTE & MARIUS
For it isn't a dream
Not a dream after all.
EPONINE
[Interjecting]
[watches them from outside the gates. A sad look on her face]
He was never mine to lose
Why regret what cannot be?
These are words he'll never say
Not to me...
Not to me...
Not to me...
His heart full of love
He will never feel this way...
EXT: SCENE 21: ATTACK ON RUE PLUMET - Dusk
[Marius and Cosette move away, deeper into the garden, as Montparnasse enters furtively]
EPONINE
[runs up to Montparnasse]
'Parnasse, what are you doing
So far out of our patch?
MONTPARNASSE
This house, we're going to do it
Rich man, plenty of scratch
[pulls Eponine to the side]
You remember he's the one
Who got away the other day
Got a number on his chest
Perhaps a fortune put away!
[pushes her away]
[goes to get the rest of the gang]
EPONINE
[looks around feverishly]
Oh Lord, somebody help me!
Dear God, what'll I do?
He'll think this is an ambush
He'll think I'm in it too!
What'll I do, what'll I say?
I've got to warn them here
I've got to find a way.
[Thenardier arrives with the rest of his gang]
[Eponine hides behind a stone pillar of the gate]
THENARDIER
This is his lair
I've seen the old fox around
He keeps himself to himself
He's staying close to the ground
I smell profit here!
Ten years ago
He came and paid for Cosette
I let her go for a song
It's time we settled the debt
This'll cost him dear
BRUJON
What do I care
Who you should rob?
Gimme me my share
Finish the job!
THENARDIER
You shut your mouth
Give me your hand
BRUJON
[catching sight of Eponine]
What have we here?
THENARDIER
[not recognizing it‘s Eponine]
Who is this hussy?
BABET
[rolls his eyes; pulling Eponine out from behind the pillar]
It's your brat Eponine
Don't you know your own kid
Why's she hanging about you?
THENARDIER
[pulls Eponine away from Babet]
[Pushes Eponine out of the way]
Eponine, get on home
You're not needed in this
We're enough here without you
EPONINE
[marches up to him]
I know this house
I tell you there's nothing here for you
Just the old man and the girl
They live ordinary lives
THENARDIER
[pushes her out of the way again]
Don't interfere
You've got some gall
Take care, young miss,
You've got a lot to say!
BRUJON
[laughs]
She's going soft
CLAQUESOUS
[nods]
Happens to all
MONTPARNASSE
Go home, 'Ponine,
Go home, you're in the way
EPONINE
[runs to the front of the gates, guarding them with outstretched arms]
I'm gonna scream, I'm gonna warn them here.
THENARDIER
[Grabs her arm and pulls her to him]
One little scream and you'll regret it for a year!
CLAQUESOUS
[grins evilly]
What a palaver
What an absolute treat
To watch a cat and its father
Pick a bone in the street
BRUJON
[points at eponine]
Not a sound out of you!
EPONINE
Well I told you I'd do it, told you I'd do it...
[Pulls out of Thenardier’s grip. Turns around runs to the gate; grabbing the bars. Rattling them. She screams. She is yanked off by her father.]
THENARDIER
You wait my girl, you'll rue this night
I'll make you scream, you'll scream all right
Leave her to me, don't wait around
Make for the sewers, go underground!
[The gang scatters. Eponine stays back; watching the gang run off. She turns around as Marius and Cosette run back into the garden and he hurriedly introduces Eponine]
MARIUS
It was your cry sent them away
Once more 'Ponine saving the day
[Eponine takes off]
[Turns to Cosette]
Dearest Cosette - my friend 'Ponine
Brought me to you, showed me the way!
Someone is near
Let's not be seen
Somebody's here!
[Marius leaves quickly, slipping through the gates, as Valjean enters the court yard of the house.]
VALJEAN
My God, Cosette!
[Runs to Cosette]
I heard a cry in the dark
I heard the shout of angry voices in the street.
COSETTE
[Hugs him]
That was my cry you heard, Papa,
[Looks up at him; pulling away]
I was afraid of what they'd do.
They ran away when they heard my cry.
VALJEAN
Cosette, my child, what will become of you?
COSETTE
Three men I saw beyond the wall
Three men in shadow moving fast
VALJEAN
This is a warning to us all
These are the shadows of the past
Must be Javert!
He's found my cover at last!
I've got to get Cosette away
Before they return!
[Pulls Cosette toward the entrance of their house]
We must get away from shadows
They will never let us be
Tomorrow to Calais...
And then a ship across the sea!
[He pulls Cosette up the stairs and searches through closets for their suitcases. He pulls them off a shelf and places them on the floor]
Hurry, Cosette, prepare to leave and say no more,
Tomorrow we'll away!
Hurry, Cosette, it's time to close another door
And live another day!
[they hurry to pack their suitcases]
CUT TO:
SCENE 22: ONE DAY MORE!
INT: House on Rue Plumet
VALJEAN
[stares out a window of his room. A packed suitcase in hand]
[Cosette closes her suitcase and walks out of the room]
One day more!
Another day, another destiny.
This never-ending road to Calvary;
These men who seem to know my crime
Will surely come a second time.
One day more!
CUT TO:
EXT: garden-dusk
MARIUS
[climbs over Cosette’s garden’s gate]
I did not live until today.
How can I live when we are parted?
VALJEAN
[Now standing on the balcony; doesn’t see Marius. Looking up at the sky]
One day more.
[Cosette runs out into the garden to meet marius. They grab each other’s hands]
EXT: garden-dusk
MARIUS & COSETTE
Tomorrow you'll be worlds away
And yet with you, my world has started!
EPONINE
[On the street. Back in front of the gate again. Listening to Cosette and Marius]
One more day all on my own.
MARIUS & COSETTE
[still in the garden]
Will we ever meet again?
EPONINE
One more day with him not caring.
MARIUS & COSETTE
[sit on the bench]
I was born to be with you.
EPONINE
[walks away]
What a life I might have known.
MARIUS & COSETTE
[sighs]
And I swear I will be true!
EPONINE
[stops; still near the gate]
But he never saw me there!
CUT TO:
EXT: street
ENJOLRAS
[walks to the where the barricade would be built]
One more day before the storm!
MARIUS
[had left cosette and was a few steps behind Enjolras]
Do I follow where she goes?
ENJOLRAS
[continues to walk]
At the barricades of freedom.
MARIUS
[thinking out loud]
Shall I join my brothers there?
ENJOLRAS
[turns around to face Marius]
When our ranks begin to form
MARIUS
Do I stay; and do I dare?
ENJOLRAS
[speaks to Marius]
Will you take your place with me?
PEOPLE OF PARIS:
[about the streets, looking out windows, etc]
The time is now, the day is here
CUT TO:
EXT: House on Rue Plumet
VALJEAN
[on the balcony of his house]
One day more!
CUT TO:
EXT: street
JAVERT
[leading a group off Nation Guardsmen to their headquarters]
One more day to revolution,
We will nip it in the bud!
I will join these little schoolboys,
They will wet themselves with blood!
CUT TO:
INT: House on Rue Plumet
VALJEAN
[out on the balcony of his house]
One day more!
CUT TO:
INT: sewers
M. & MME. THENARDIER
[In the sewers; planning a raid]
Watch 'em run amuck,
Catch 'em as they fall,
Never know your luck
When there's a free for all,
Here a little `dip'
There a little `touch'
Most of them are goners
So they won't miss much!
CUT TO:
EXT: street-dusk
STUDENTS
[walking down a street]
One day to a new beginning
PEOPLE OF PARIS:
[following the students]
Raise the flag of freedom high!
STUDENTS
[continue down the street]
Every man will be a king
PEOPLE OF PARIS
[following the students]
Every man will be a king
STUDENTS
[arrive where the barricade will be]
There's a new world for the winning
PEOPLE OF PARIS
[Stops behind the students]
There's a new world to be won
ALL
Do you hear the people sing?
MARIUS
[stands beside Enjolras]
My place is here, I fight with you!
CUT TO:
INT: House on Rue Plumet
VALJEAN
[overlooks the city street of Paris from his balcony]
One day more!
CUT TO:
EXT: street/garden
BLENDED SPLIT SCREEN
MARIUS & COSETTE
[sing to each other, even though they are not in the same place]
I did not live until today.
CUT TO:
EXT: street
EPONINE
[walking down a street]
One more day all on my own!
CUT TO:
EXT: street/garden
BLENDED SPLITSCREEN
MARIUS & COSETTE
How can I live when we are parted?
CUT TO:
INT: police headquarters
JAVERT
[overlapping]
[dressing as a student to infiltrate their barricade]
I will join these people's heros
I will follow where they go
I will learn their little Secrets,
I will know the things they know.
CUT TO:
INT: House on Rue Plumet
VALJEAN
One day more!
CUT TO:
EXT: street/garden
BLENDED SPLITSCREEN
MARIUS & COSETTE
Tomorrow you'll be worlds away
CUT TO:
EXT: street
EPONINE
What a life I might have known!
CUT TO:
EXT: street/garden
BLENDED SPLITSCREEN
MARIUS & COSETTE
And yet with you my world has started
CUT TO:
INT: police headquarters
JAVERT
[overlapping]
One more day to revolution
We will nip it in the bud
We'll be ready for these
Schoolboys
CUT TO:
INT: sewers
THENARDIERS
[overlapping]
Watch 'em run amok
Catch 'em as they fall
Never know your luck
When there's a free-for-all!
CUT TO:
INT: House on Rue Plumet
VALJEAN
Tomorrow we'll be far away,
Tomorrow is the judgment day
ALL
[Everyone stops what they were doing]
Tomorrow we'll discover
What our God in Heaven has in store!
One more dawn
One more day
One day more!