SCENE 23: AT THE BARRICADE
Ext: mid-afternoon the next day
[At the location of where the barricade will be built. In the Rue de Villette]
ENJOLRAS
[Enjolras is addressing the revolutionaries]
Here upon these stones
We will build our barricade
In the heart of the city
We claim as our own!
Each man to his duty
And don't be afraid.
Wait! I will need a report
On the strength of the foe.
JAVERT
[disguised as a rebel]
I can find out the truth
I know their ways
Fought their wars
Served my time
In the days
Of my youth.
PROUVAIRE
Now the people will fight
GRANTAIRE
And so they might
Dogs will bark
Fleas will bite.
LESGLES
They will do what is right!
[Marius spots a “boy“]
MARIUS
Hey, little boy, what's this I see?
[looks closer and sees that it’s eponine; disguised in men‘s clothing]
God, Eponine, the things you do!
[tries to push her out of the area]
EPONINE
[stops]
I know this is no place for me,
Still, I would rather be with you!
MARIUS
Get out before the trouble starts.
Get out, 'Ponine, you might get shot!
[goes to walk away]
EPONINE
I've got you worried now, I have
That shows you like me quite a lot!
MARIUS
[stops]
[has an idea]
[turns to face Eponine]
There is a way that you can help
You are the answer to a prayer!
[reaches in her pocket and pulls out a lett]
[hands her the letter]
Please take this letter to Cosette
And pray to God that she's still there!
EPONINE
[takes the letter]
Little you know!
Little you care!
[she runs off]
CUT TO:
Ext: mid-afternoon
[She walks to the Rue Plumet; She slips through the gates where she meets Valjean]
EPONINE
[looking at the ground]
I have a letter M'sieur
It's addressed to your daughter, Cosette
It's from a boy at the barricade, Sir,
In the Rue de Villette.
VALJEAN
[approaches]
Give me that letter here, my boy.
EPONINE
[backs away]
He said to give it to Cosette
VALJEAN
You have my word that my daughter will know
What this letter contains.
[He gives her a coin when she gives him the letter]
Tell the young man she will read it tomorrow
And here's for your pains
Go careful now, stay out of sight
There's danger in the streets tonight.
[Eponine slips back out of the gate]
[He opens the letter... and reads it]
[Eponine listens]
"Dearest Cosette, you have entered my soul
And soon you will be gone.
Can it be only a day since we met
And the world was reborn?
If I should fall in the battle to come
Let this be my goodbye...
Now that I know you love me as well
It is harder to die...
I pray that god will bring me home
To be with you.
Pray for your Marius. He prays for you!"
[Valjean goes in, leaving Eponine alone]
SCENE 24: ON MY OWN
Ext: Dusk
EPONINE
[walks down a street. The streets are empty]
And now I'm all alone again
Nowhere to turn, no one to go to
I did not want your money, sir
I came out hear ‘cos I was told too
And now the night is near
Now I can make believe he's here.
CUT TO:
[runs her hand along the parapet of a bridge over the Seine River]
Sometimes I walk alone at night
When everybody else is sleeping
[she looks up at the last lights of the setting sun and sees an illusion of him]
I think of him and then I'm happy
With the company I'm keeping
EXT: night
[the night comes and the street lamps turn on]
The city goes to bed
And I can live inside my head.
On my own
[she see Marius’ illusion again, this time it’s next to her]
Pretending he's beside me
All alone, I walk with him till morning
[the illusion disappears]
Without him
[wraps her arms around herself]
I feel his arms around me
[closes her eyes]
And when I lose my way I close my eyes
And he has found me
[it starts to rain, the pavement wet and shimmering]
In the rain the pavement shines like silver
[the street lamps shine in the river]
All the lights are misty in the river
CUT TO:
[she has walked into a small public park]
[she looks up to see the stars shine through the trees]
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight
[she sees Marius’ illusion again]
And all I see is him and me for ever and forever
[looks away]
And I know it's only in my mind
That I'm talking to myself and not to him
And although I know that he is blind
Still I say, there's a way for us
I love him
But when the night is over
CUT TO:
Ext: Dawn
[time had seemed to fly by, it was dawn; she looks back at the illusion, but it‘s not there]
He is gone, the river's just a river
Without him the world around me changes
[the trees loose their leaves and wither as if in a season time-lapse]
The trees are bare and everywhere
[She exits the Park; out of nowhere, people are crowding the street; Passing eponine as if she is not there; the people pass in time-lapse motion]
The streets are full of strangers
[Time seems to stop of the crowd disappers]
I love him
But every day I'm learning
All my life I've only been pretending
[stops in the middle of a intersection of three streets]
Without me his world will go on turning
A world that's full of happiness
That I have never known!
[looks down one of the streets and see the barricade being built. She see Marius from afar]
I love him
[tries to reach out to him]
I love him
[smiles brightly, still reaching out to him]
I love him
[her face saddens, her arms drop to her sides, and she looks at the ground]
But only on my own.
CUT TO:
SCENE 25: BUILDING THE BARRICADE
Ext: noon
[The barricade is now complete]
[The barricade is made up of everything; and anything. Chairs, tables, street signs, etc. it is roughly ten feet high. Blocking off a whole street]
STUDENTS
[stand on the barricade]
Now we pledge ourselves to hold this barricade.
MARIUS
[raises a gun]
Let them come in their legions
And they will be met!
ENJOLRAS
[raises their flag]
Have faith in yourselves
And don’t be afraid.
GRANTAIRE
[raises a bottle]
Let’s give ‘em a screwing
They never forget!
[tries to drink from it but it is grabbed away by Courfeyrac; who was going to use it to create a makeshift bomb out of the wine bottles.]
COMBEFERRE
This is where it begins!
COURFEYRAC
[stores the bottle away]
And if I should die in the fight to be free
Where the fight is hardest
There will I be!
FEUILLY
Let them come if they dare!
STUDENTS
We’ll be there
EXT: nation guard side of the barricade
ARMY OFFICER
[with loud hailer]
You at the barricade listen to this
No one is coming to help you to fight
You're on your own
You have no friends
Give up your guns - or die!
EXT: civilian side of the barricade
Enjolras
Damn their warnings, damn their lies
They will see the people rise!
Students
Damn their warnings, damn their lies
They will see the people rise!
SCENE 26: JAVERT’S ARRIVAL
[Javert climbs over the barricade]
JAVERT
[breathless]
Listen my friends
I have done as I said
I have been to their lines
I have counted each man
I will tell what I can
[sits on a chair that was pulled out for him]
Better be warned
They have armies to spare
And the danger is real
We will need all our cunning
To bring them to heel.
ENJOLRAS
Have faith
If you know what their movements are
We'll spoil their game
There are ways that a people can fight
We shall overcome their power
JAVERT
[calls them all around him]
I have overheard their plans
There will be no attack tonight
They intend to starve us out
Before they start a proper fight
Concentrate their force
Hit us from the right.
SCENE 27: LITTLE PEOPLE
GAVROCHE
[runs up to them]
Liar!
[bows to Javert]
Good evening, dear inspector
Lovely evening, my dear.
I know this man, my friends
[Points at Javert]
His name is Inspector Javert
[Javert tries to get away but is pushed back in the seat by civilians]
So don't believe a word he says
'Cause none of it's true
This only goes to show
What little people can do!
And little people know
[Pokes Javert on his pug nose]
When little people fight
[crosses his arms]
We may look easy pickings
But we've got some bite
So never kick a dog
Because he's just a pup
We'll fight like twenty armies
And we won't give up
So you'd better run for cover
[He gives Javert the “arm“]
When the pup grows up!
GRANTAIRE
[laughs, ruffling Gavroche‘s hair]
Bravo, little Gavroche, you're the top of the class!
PROUVAIRE
So what are we going to do
With this snake in the grass?
ENJOLRAS
Tie this man and take him
To the tavern in there
The people will decide your fate
Inspector Javert!
[Javert is tied tightly to the chair; the chair is lifted, with Javert sitting on it, and brought into the tavern]
CUT TO:
INT: tavern
[the chair is set on the floor]
COURFEYRAC
[grabs a rifle off a table]
Take the bastard now and shoot him!
FEUILLY
Let us watch the devil dance!
LESGLES
You'd have done the same, Inspector,
If we'd let you have your chance!
JAVERT
[spits at the ground at their feet]
Shoot me now or shoot me later
Every schoolboy to his sport
Death to each and every traitor
I renounce your people's court!
[he is gagged]
COMBEFERRE
Though we may not all survive here
There are things that never die
GRANTAIRE
What's the difference, die a schoolboy,
Die a policeman, die a spy?
ENJOLRAS
[walks into the tavern]
Take this man, bring him through
There is work we have to do!
[walks out of the tavern]
[The first shots ring out on the national guard side of the barricade.]
[all grabs rifles; and run out of the tavern to take their positions on the barricade]
CUT TO:
Ext: early after noon
JOLY
[looks over the barricade to see if anyone was shot]
There's a boy climbing the barricade!
[It is Eponine; she climbs over the barricade, wounded]
MARIUS
[runs to Eponine]
Good God! What are you doing?
'Ponine, have you no fear?
Have you seen my beloved?
Why have you come back here?
EPONINE
[Breathlessly]
Took the letter like you said
I met her father at the door
He said he would give it
[She collapses in his arms]
Don't think I can stand any more.
MARIUS
Eponine, what's wrong? I feel...
There's something wet upon your hair
[There is blood on his hands]
Eponine, you're hurt
You need some help!
[sees the blood on her shirt]
Oh God, it's everywhere....
[Marius sinks to his knees, holding Eponine close
to him]
SCENE 28: A LITTLE FALL OF RAIN
EPONINE
[deliriously]
Don't you fret, M'sieur Marius
I don't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
You're here, that's all I need to know
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
And rain will make the flowers grow.
MARIUS
[holds her close]
But you will live, 'Ponine - dear God above,
If I could heal your wounds with words of love.
EPONINE
[pulls closer to him, feeling safe]
Just hold me now, and let it be.
Shelter me, comfort me
MARIUS
You would live a hundred years
If I could show you how
I won't desert you now...
EPONINE
The rain can't hurt me now
This rain will wash away what's past
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
I'll sleep in your embrace at last.
The rain that brings you here
Is Heaven-blessed!
The skies begin to clear
And I'm at rest
A breath away from where you are
I've come home from so far
[In counter point with Marius]
So don't you fret, M'sieur Marius
I don't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
That's all I need to know
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
MARIUS
[in counterpoint]
Hush-a-bye, dear Eponine,
You won't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt you now
I'm here
I will stay with you
Till you are sleeping
EPONINE
And rain...
MARIUS
And rain...
EPONINE
Will make the flowers...
MARIUS
Will make the flowers...
[Eponine’s eyes roll to the back of her head as she goes limp; her head resting against his shoulder]
grow...
[Marius kisses her on the forehead, then lays her on the ground; closing her eyes.]
ENJOLRAS
[steps forward with the rest of the students]
She is the first to fall
The first of us to fall upon this barricade
MARIUS
Her name was Eponine
Her life was cold and dark, yet she was unafraid.
COMBEFERRE
We fight here in her name
PROUVAIRE
She will not die in vain.
LESGLES
She will not be betrayed.
[They carry her body off to the Tavern. Where they lie her on a table. The first of the casualties to come]
CUT TO:
SCENE 29: NIGHT OF ANGUISH
Ext: - dusk
[Valjean walks through the barricade, dressed as a soldier]
JOLY
[is looking over the barricade briefly and sees Valjean arrive]
Here comes a man in uniform
[Joly aims is rifle at Valjean]
What brings you to this place?
VALJEAN
I come here as a volunteer
JOLY
Approach and show your face.
STUDENTS ON LOOKOUT
[all with their rifles aimed at Valjean]
You wear an army uniform.
VALJEAN
That's why they let me through.
JOLY
[thinking; smirks]
You've got some years behind you sir.
VALJEAN
There's much that I can do.
JOLY
[nods his head to javert]
You see that prisoner over there?
GRANTAIRE
[points a wine bottle at Valjean while keeping a pistol on Javert; to keep him in place]
A volunteer like you!
COMBEFERRE
[also has a pistol aimed at Valjean and one at Javert]
A spy who calls himself Javert!
GRANTAIRE
He's going to get it too...
STUDENTS ON LOOK OUT
[shouts to the students below]
They're getting ready to attack!
SCENE 30: FIRST ATTACK
[Enjolras gives Valjean a rifle]
ENJOLRAS
Take this and use it well!
But if you shoot us in the back,
You'll never live to tell.
STUDENT ONE
Platoon of sappers advancing toward the barricade!
STUDENT TWO
Troops behind them, fifty men or more!
ENJOLRAS
Fire!
[The barricade erupts in gun fire.]
[A woman looks out a window of her flat. The window is too close to the barricade; she is caught in the crossfire. She falls out of her window to the streets below. The streets are littered with dead bodies. Most of them civilians; caught in the crossfire]
FEUILLY
Sniper!
[Valjean shoots a sniper who is aiming at Enjolras]
[The gun fire decreases; then stops. The students run up the barricade to look over]
LESGLES
See how they run away!
GRANTAIRE
By God we've won the day!
ENJOLRAS
[waves all on the barricade off of it; incase there were more snipers]
[all walk into the tavern]
INT: Tavern
They will be back again,
Make an attack again.
[To Valjean]
For your presence of mind
For the deed you have done
I will thank you M'sieur
When our battle is won.
VALJEAN
Give me no thanks M'sieur
There is something you can do.
ENJOLRAS
If it is in my power.
VALJEAN
Give me the spy Javert
Let me take care of him!
JAVERT
[eyes widen]
[tries to stand up; but is tied to the chair]
[he had worked the gag off]
The law is inside out
The world is upside down
ENJOLRAS
Do what you have to do,
The man belongs to you.
[Javert is untied from the bench; but, his hands are tied behind his back]
[Valjean pulls Javert behind the Tavern]
[Enjolras walks out of the tavern to address the others]
EXT: put side the tavern
The enemy may be regrouping. Hold yourself in
readiness.
Come my friends, back to your positions.
The night is falling fast.
[all go to watch over the barricade]
CUT TO:
EXT: alley
VALJEAN
We meet again.
JAVERT
You've hungered for this all your life;
Take your revenge!
How right you should kill with a knife!
[Valjean cuts the ropes which bind Javert.]
VALJEAN
You talk too much,
Your life is safe in my hands.
JAVERT
Don't understand
VALJEAN
Get out of here.
JAVERT
Valjean, take care!
I'm warning you...
VALJEAN
Clear out of here.
JAVERT
Once a thief, forever a thief
What you want you always steal!
You would trade your life for mine.
Yes, Valjean, you want a deal!
Shoot me now for all I care!
If you let me go, beware,
You'll still answer to Javert!
VALJEAN
You are wrong, and always have been wrong.
I'm a man, no worse than any man.
You are free, and there are no conditions,
No bargains or petitions.
There's nothing that I blame you for
You've done your duty, nothing more.
If I come out of this alive, you'll find me
At number fifty-five Rue Plumet
No doubt our paths will cross again.
[Valjean fires his gun into the air, Javert leaves quickly. He walked back to the barricade]
EXT: Barricade
[Muted applause from the students who think Javert has been shot; the students bang their rifle butts on the ground]
ENJOLRAS
Courfeyrac, you take the watch
They won't attack until it's light
Everybody stay awake
We must be ready for the fight
For the final fight
Let no one sleep tonight!
[Courfeyrac stands guard outside the tavern]
[The students have retired into the tavern.]
CUT TO:
INT: tavern
[Marius stands next to the door]
ENJOLRAS
[Enjolras Places a hand on Marius’ shoulder]
Marius, rest.
SCENE 31: NIGHT/DRINK WITH ME
[Marius sits on a chair while Enjolras stands guard next to the door]
[The students pass around shot glasses, bottles, and mugs]
FEUILLY
[lifts his shot glass]
Drink with me to days gone by
Sing with me the songs we knew
[downs the liquid in the shot glass]
PROUVAIRE
[raises a bottle]
Here's to pretty girls who went to our heads.
[takes a swig from the bottle]
JOLY
[raises a bottle]
Here's to witty girls who went to out beds.
[takes a swig from the bottle]
ALL THE STUDENTS
[lift bottles]
Here's to them and here's to you!
GRANTAIRE
[melancholy and drunk]
[raises his bottle]
Drink with me to days gone by
Can it be you fear to die?
[Enjolras turns his head to look at him]
[drinks from his bottle]
Will the world remember you
When you fall?
Could it be your death
Means nothing at all?
[Enjolras turns his head back to watching the barricade from the doorway. Not wanting to hear of believe what Grantaire is saying. He is the Robespierre of the group; he barely cared about his own life; he only wanted to make France better. At any cost]
[Grantaire’s eyes follow Enjolras]
Is your life just one more lie?
[drinks from his bottle]
[falls backwards; passing out]
ALL
Drink with me to days gone by
To the life that used to be
WOMEN
At the shrine of friendship, never say die
MEN
Let the wine of friendship never run dry
ALL
Here's to you and here's to me
MARIUS
[Sits in a corner drinking, and contemplating]
Do I care if I should die
Now she goes across the sea?
Life without Cosette
Means nothing at all.
Would you weep, Cosette,
Should Marius fall?
Will you weep, Cosette,
For me?
[Marius settles down to rest]
SCENE 32: BRING HIM HOME
[Valjean is standing over Marius in the Tavern; while the others have fallen sleep; Thinking to himself]
VALJEAN
God on high
Hear my prayer
In my need
You have always been there
He is young
He's afraid
Let him rest
Heaven blessed.
Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home.
He's like the son I might have known
If God had granted me a son.
The summers die
One by one
How soon they fly
On and on
And I am old
And will be gone.
Bring him peace
Bring him joy
He is young
He is only a boy
You can take
You can give
Let him be
Let him live
If I die, let me die
Let him live
Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home.
CUT TO:
SCENE 33: DAWN OF ANGUISH
EXT: dawn
[Dawn breaks]
ENJOLRAS
[Standing below the barricade]
The people have not stirred
We are abandoned by those
Who still live in fear.
The people have not heard.
Yet we will not abandon those
Who cannot hear
Let us not waste lives.
Let all the women and fathers of children
Go from here.
CUT TO:
INT: tavern
FEUILLY
[Making the first cheer for the day; knowing it might be their last]
Drink with me to days gone by
Sing with me the song we knew
ALL
At the shrine of friendship
Raise your glass high
Let the wine of friendship
Never run dry
If I die
I die with you!
CUT TO:
SCENE 34: SECOND ATTACK/DEATH OF GAVROCHE
[The battle recommences]
[The students are in the tavern. Frantically trying to see how their odds are]
[Enjolras runs in]
ENJOLRAS
How do we stand, Feuilly? Make your report.
FEUILLY
We've guns enough, but ammunition's short
MARIUS
Let me go into the streets
There are bodies all around
Ammunition to be had
Lots of bullets to be found!
[Runs to the exit of the tavern]
ENJOLRAS
[stops him]
I won't let you go, it's too much of a chance!
MARIUS
The same is true for any man here!
VALJEAN
[Stands up]
Let me go. He's no more than a boy.
I am old, I have nothing to fear.
GAVROCHE
[jumps on to table]
You need somebody quicker and I volunteer!
[Gavroche jumps off table; and, runs out of the tavern and climbs the barricade]
[the students run after him]
EXT: noon
LESGLES
Come back Gavroche, don't you dare!
[Gavroche climbs up the barricade]
JOLY
Someone pull him down at once!
GAVROCHE
Look at me, I'm almost there!
[climbing down the barricade; on the opponents side]
[ Gunshot ]
GAVROCHE
[Gavroche spins around and points at the Sniper]
Little people know, when
Little people fight, we
[Gunshot]
[Gavroche is wounded.]
[stumbles backwards]
May look easy pickings
But we've got some bite!
[He is hit again.]
[sways; nearly falling to his knees]
So never kick a dog
Because he's just a pup
We'll fight like twenty armies
And we won't give up
So you'd better run for cover
When the pup grows....
[Gunshot]
[He falls down the barricade; and to the pavement, unmoving, dead.]
SCENE 35: FINAL BATTLE
ARMY OFFICER
[On the nation guard side of the barricade. With a loud hailer]
You at the barricade listen to this!
The people of Paris sleep in their beds!
You have no chance!
No chance at all!
Why throw your lives away?!
EXT: civilian side of the barricade
ENJOLRAS
[raises rifle]
Let us die facing our foes
Make them bleed while we can!
COMBEFERRE
[raises rifle]
Make 'em pay through the nose!
COURFEYRAC
[raises rifle]
Make 'em pay for every man!
ENJOLRAS
[raises rifle high]
Let others rise
To take our place
Until the earth is free!
[The students climb the barricade]
[Increasingly heavy gunfire.]
[Marius is shot. ]
[Enjolras is killed at the summit of the barricade as he waves their flag]
[All on the barricade are killed, except Marius, who is wounded and unconscious, and Valjean.]
[Valjean discovers that Marius is still alive and carries him down into the sewers to escape.]
[Javert climbs over the barricade looking for Valjean's body. Failing to find it, he realizes that Valjean must be in the sewers, so he goes off to where he must emerge.]