Act 1

Prologue

The year is 1815.The French revolution is a distant memory. Napoleon has been defeated.France is ruled by a King again.

Toulon :Home port of the French navyConvicts sing in time with rhythmic pulls of the rope/oars

All Convicts : Uh-huh,Uh-huh,Uh-huh,Uh-huh,Uh-huh,Uh-huh (x2)Look down, look down Dont look them in the eyeLook down, look downYoure here until you die

Convict 1:The sun is strong its hot as hell below

All:Look down look down Theres twenty years to go

Convict 2:Ive done no wrongSweet Jesus, hear my prayer!

All:Look down, look downSweet Jesus doesnt care

Convict 3:I know shell waitI know that shell be true

All:Look down, look downTheyve all forgotten you

Convict 1:When I get freeYou wont see me here for dust!

All:Look down, look downDont lookem in the eye

Convict 2:How long, O LordBefore you let me die?

All:Look down, look downYoull always be a slave Look down, look downYoure standing in your grave

Javert :Now bring me prisoner 24601Your time is upand your paroles begunYou know what that means?

Valjean:Yes, It means Im free

Javert :No! It means you getYour yellow ticket-of-leaveYou are a thief!

Valjean: I stole a loaf of bread..

Javert:You robbed a house

Valjean:I broke a window paneMy sisters child was close to deathAnd we were starving

Javert:You will starve againUnless you learn the meaning of the law

Valjean:I know the meaning of thosenineteen yearsA slave of the law!

Javert:Five years for what you did,The rest because you tried to run.Yes, 24601!

Valjean:My name is Jean Valjean!

Javert:And Im Javert!Do not forget my name Do not forget me 24601!

Convicts:Look down, look downYoull always be a slaveLook down, look downYoure standing in your graveUh-huh,Uh-huh,Uh-huh,Uh-huh,Uh-huh,Uh-huh .

Valjean:(spoken)Freedom at last How strange the taste!(sung)Never forget the years the waste,

Nor forgive them for what theyve done.They are the guilty Everyone! The day begins and now lets seeWhat this new world will do for me!

Bishop: Come in, sir, for you are wearyAnd the night is cold out here.Though our lives are very humble What we have we have to share.There is wine here to revive you.There is bread to make you strong.Theres a bed to rest till morningRest from pain, and rest fromwrong

May the Lord bless the food we eat today.Bless our dear sister and our honored guest.

(To Valjean)Please, eat.Where are you traveling to my brother?

Valjean: (spoken)I have no home

Bishop: you can stay here as long as you need it.

Constable:

Monsignor, we caught the thief red-handed! He has the nerve to say you gave him all this!

Bishop:That is right!

But my friend, you left so early,Surely something slipped your mindYou forgot I gave these alsoWould you leave the best behind?

(to policemen)So,Messieurs,you may release him.For this man has spoken true. I commend you for your dutyNow Gods blessing go with you.

But remember this, my brother See in this some higher plan. You must use this precious silverTo become an honest man.By the witness of the martyrs,By the passion and the blood,God has raised you out of darknessI have bought your soul for God.

Valjean:What have I done?Sweet Jesus, what have I done? Become a thief in the night Become a dog on the run!They gave me a number and murdered Valjean

When they chained me and left me for deadJust for stealing a mouthful of bread!

Yet why did I allow this manTo touch my soul and teach me love?He treated me like any otherHe gave me his trustHe called me brother.My life he claims for God above...Can such things be?For I had come to hate the worldThis world that always hated me!

One word from him and Id be back Beneath the lash, upon the rackInstead he offers me my freedom!I feel my shame inside me like aknife.He told me that I have a soul...How does he know?What spirit comes to move my life?Is there another way to go?

I am reaching, but I fallAnd the night is closing in... As I stare into the void To the whirlpool of my sinIll escape now from that world From the world of Jean ValjeanJean Valjean is nothing now!Another story must begin!

At The End Of The Day

Eight years laterMontreuil-sur-Mer, 1823

Factory women:(Chorus)At the end of the day youreanother day olderAnd thats all you can say for the life of the poorAnd the righteous hurry past They dont hear the little ones crying One more day standing aboutWhat is it for?At the end of the day!

Foreman:At the end of the day you get nothing for nothing!Sitting flat on yourback doesnt buy any bread!

FACTORY WOMAN 1 :There are children back at home -FACTORY WOMAN 2 :And the children have got to befed.

Foreman:And your lucky to be in a joband have bread

FACTORY WOMAN 1,2 : (to Fantine, as a warning) And were counting our blessings!

FACTORY WOMAN 1:

Have you seen how the foreman isfuming today With his terrible breath and hiswandering hands?

Factory woman 2Its because little Fantine wontgive him his way.

FACTORY WOMEN/FOREMAN: At the end of the day its anotherday overWith enough in your pocket to lastfor a week Pay the landlord, pay the shopKeep on working as long as youre ableKeep on working till you drop Or its back to the crumbs off the table Well, youve got to pay your way At the end of the day!

FACTORY WOMAN 1:And what have we here, littleinnocent sister?

Factory Woman 2:Come on, Fantine, lets have allthe news. (reading)Dear Fantine, you must send us more money,Your child needs a doctor, Theres no time to lose

FANTINE :Give that letter to meIt is none of your business.With a husband at homeAnd a bit on the side!Is there anyone hereWho can swear before God She has nothing to fear?She has nothing to hide?

(fighting)

VALJEAN:What is this fighting all about?Will someone tear these two apart?This is a factory, not a circus.

Now come on, ladies, settle down.I run a business of repute.I am the mayor of this town

(to the foreman)Deal with this, ForemanBe as patient as you can.

FOREMAN:Now someone say how this began!

FANTINE/FACTORY WOMAN 5:At the end of the day shes theone who began it!

FACTORY WOMEN:Theres a kid that shes hiding in some little town.And the boss wouldnt like it.

FANTINE:Yes, its true theres a childAnd the child is my daughter And her father abandoned us, Leaving us flat.Now she lives with an innkeeper man and his wifeAnd I pay for the child.Whats the matter with that?

FACTORY WOMEN:At the end of the day shell be

nothing but troubleAnd theres trouble for all when theres trouble for one!(While were earning our daily breadShes the one with her hands in the butter)

You must send the girl awayOr were all going to end in the gutterAnd its us wholl have to payAt the end of the day!

FOREMAN:I might have known a snakecould bite!I might have known the cat had claws!I might have guessed your little secret!Ah yes, the virtuous Fantine Who keeps herself so pure and cleanYoud be the cause, I had no doubtOf any trouble hereabou

(Fantine slaps/pushes him away?)

FACTORY WOMEN:Shell be nothing but troubleagain and again!You must sack her today!Sack the girl today!

FOREMAN: (spoken)Right, my girl! On your way!

FANTINE:Msieur Mayor, help me! I have achild!

I Dreamed A Dream

FANTINE:

(Spoken)There was a time when men werekind,When their voices were soft And their words inviting. There was a time when love was blindAnd the world was a songAnd the song was exciting. There was a time...Then it all went wrong.(Sung)I dreamed a dream in time gone by,When hope was highAnd life worth livingI dreamed that love would never die.I dreamed that God would be forgiving.Then I was young and unafraid And dreams were made and used and wasted.There was no ransom to be paid,No song unsung, no wine untasted.But the tigers come at nightWith their voices soft as thunderAs they tear your hope apartAs they turn your dream to shame.He slept a summer by my side,He filled my days with endless wonder.He took my childhood in his strideBut he was gone when autumn came.And still I dream hell come to me!That we will live the years together...But there are dreams that cannot beAnd there are storms we cannot weather...

I had a dream my life would be So different from this hell Im livingSo different now from what it seemed!Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

The Docks/Brawl

Fantine gets harassed by the factory workers and the foreman

Fantine slaps him(Spoken)Foreman:By Christ youll pay for what youve done!This rat will make you bleed, youll see!I guarantee Ill make you suffer! For this disturbance of the peace For this insult to life and property!

Fantine:I beg you, dont report me, sir.Ill do whatever you may want.

Foreman:Make your excuse to the police! Javert!

JAVERT:Tell me quickly whats the story.Who saw what and why and where?

Let him give a full description, Let him answer to Javert!

Foreman:Javert, would you believe it?I was walking, it was darkWhen this woman here attacked meYou can see shes left her mark!

JAVERT:She will answer for her actionsWhen you make a full report. You may rest assured, Msieur,That she will answer to the court.

FANTINE:Theres a child who sorely needsme,Please, msieur, shes but thathigh.Holy God, is there no mercy?If I go to jail shell die

JAVERTI have heard such protestationsEvery day for twenty years. Lets have no more explanations,Save your breath and save yourtears.Honest work just rewardThats the way to please the Lord

ValJean:(entering)A moment of your time, Javert.I do believe this womans tale.

JAVERT:

Monsieur le Mayor!

VALJEAN:Youve done your duty. Let herbe.She needs a doctor, not a jail.

JAVERT:Monsieur le Mayor!

FANTINE:Can this be?

VALJEAN: Where will she endThis child without a friend?

Ive seen your face before.Show me some way to help you.How have you come to griefIn such a place as this?

FANTINE:Msieur, dont mock me now, IprayIts hard enough Ive lost my pride.You let your foreman send me away..Yes, you were thereAnd turned aside.I never did no wrong. VALJEAN:Is it true what Ive done-

FANTINE:My daughters close to dying.

VALJEAN:- to an innocent soul?

FANTINE:If theres a God above

VALJEAN:Had I only known then!

FANTINE:Hed let me die instead.

VALJEAN:In His name my task has just begun.I will send her to the hospital.I will see it done!

Javert:Monsieur le Mayor!

Cart Crash

Man: help! help me

Valjean helps him.

Javert:Can this be true?I dont believe what I see!A man your ageTo be as strong as you are!A memory stirs... You make me think of a manFrom years agoA man who broke his parole. He disappeared.

VALJEAN:Say what you must.Dont leave it there.

JAVERT:Forgive me, sir.I would not dare -(moves to the side receiving a letter)

Monsieur le MayorI have a crime to declare! I have disgracedThe uniform that I wear.Ive done you wrong,Let no forgiveness be shown. Ive been as hardOn every rogue I have known.

I mistook you for a convict I have made a false reportNow I learn theyve caught the culpritHes about to face the court.

Well of course the thiefdenies it,Youd expect that from a con.But he couldnt run for ever,

No, not even Jean Valjean.

Valjean:

You say this man denies it all,And gives no sign of understanding or repentance?You say this man is going to trial,And that hes sure to be returned to serve his sentence?

Come to that can you be sure that I am not your man!

Javert:I have known the thief for ages Tracked him down through,thick and thinAnd to make the matter certainTheres the brand upon his shoulder

He will bend he will break This time there is no mistake(moves out)

Valjean:They think that man is meThis man could be my chance!Why should I right this wrong? When I have come so farAnd struggled for so long?

If I speak I am condemned.If I stay silent, I am damned!

I am the master of hundreds of

workersThey all look to me. Can I abandon them?How would they live If I am not free?If I speak they are condemned. If I stay silent, I am damned!

Who am I?Can I condemn this man to slavery?Pretend I do not feel his agony? This innocent who bears my face,Who goes to judgement in my place...Must I lie?How can I ever face my fellow men?How can I ever face myself again?

My soul belongs to God, I know,I made that bargain long ago. He gave me hope when hope was gone!He gave me strength to journey on!Who am I?Who am I?Im Jean Valjean!

(To Javert)

And so, Javert, you see itstrueThat man bears no more guilt than you!Who am I?24601!

Fantines Death

Fantine:Cosette, its turned so cold!Cosette, its past your bedtime! Youve played the day awayAnd soon it will be night.

Come to me, Cosette, the light isfading.

Dont you see, the evening star appearing? Come to me, and rest against my shoulder,How fast the minutes fly away and every minute colder?

VALJEAN:Dear Fantine, Cosette will be here soon! Dear Fantine, she will be by yourside

FANTINE:(trying to get out of bed) Come Cosette, the night has grown so cold!

VALJEAN(putting her back in bed) Be at peace! Be at peace ever more.

FANTINE: My Cosette

VALJEAN:shall live in my protection.

FANTINE:Take her now!

VALJEAN:Your child will want for nothing.

FANTINE:Good msieur, you come from Godin heaven

VALJEAN:And none shall ever harm Cosetteas long as I am living.

FANTINE:Take my hand...The night grows ever colder.

VALJEAN:Then I will keep you warm.

FANTINE:Take my childI give her to your keeping.

VALJEAN:Take shelter from the storm.

FANTINE:For Gods sake, please stay tillI am sleeping...And tell Cosette I love her And Ill see her when I wake...

Javert:Valjean, at lastWe see each other plain! Msieur le MayorYoull wear a different chain!

VALJEAN: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 mercys name, three days are all I need,Then Ill return, I pledge my word!Then Ill return...

JAVERTYou must think me mad!Ive hunted you across the years.Men like you can never changeA man such as you!

Javert:Men like you can never changeMen like you can never changeNo, 24601

Valjean:All i did was steal some breadYou know nothing of the world

Javert:Come with me 24601Now the wheel has turned aroundJean ValJean means nothing now

ValJean:I am warning you Javert

Javert:Dare you talk to me of crimeEvery man is born in sin Every man must choose his wayYou know nothing ofJavert I was born inside a jail.

I was born with scum like you.I am from the gutter too.

(Valjean escapes)

Little Cosette

(cosette sweeping the floor walks over to the pail)

Cosette:There is a castle on a cloudI like to go there in my sleep.Arent any floors for me to sweep not in my castle on a cloud

There is a lady all in whiteHolds me and sings a lullaby.Shes nice to see and shes soft totouch (holding doll to her ear and whispering)

She says, Cosette, I love you very much.I know a place where no ones lostI know a place where no one cries. Crying at all is not allowed,Not in my castle on a cloud

MADAME THENARDIER(appearing through the curtain)

Now look whos here!

The little madam herself, Pretending once again Shes 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?Now take that pail,My little Mademoi-selle,And go and draw some water from the well.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 comes in)

Eponine, come my dear.Eponine, let me see you.You look very well in that little blue hat!Theres some little girls who know how to behaveAnd they know what to wearAnd Im saying thank heaven for that!

Still there, Cosette?Your tears will do you no good!I told you to fetch some waterfrom the well in the wood

COSETTE(singing through the gap)

Please do not send me out alone.Not in the darkness on my own

MADAME THENARDIER(singing through the gap)

Enough of that, or Ill forget tobe nice!You heard me ask for something,And I never ask twice!

The Innkeepers Song

(cleaning the tables and arranging the chairs)

(kicking)Wakey Wakey Were opening

THENARDIER(to customers)Welcome, msieurs! Sit yourself downAnd meet the best Innkeeper in town!As for the rest All of them crooks Rooking the guests And cooking the books Seldom do you see Honest men like meA gent of good intent Whos content to be

All:Master of the house! Doling out the charmReady with a handshake And an open palm!Tells a saucy taleMakes a little stirCustomers appreciate a bonviveur

Thenardier:

Glad to do a friend a favour Doesnt cost me to be niceBut nothing gets you nothing Everything has got a little price!

All:

Master of the house!Keeper of the zoo! Ready to relieve em Of a sou or two -(serving wine) Watering the wineMaking up the weight

Thenardier:Picking up their knick-knacks When they cant see straightEverybody loves a landlord Everybodys wonder friend!I do whatever pleases - Oh say! Wont I bleedem in the end!

All:

Master of the house!Quick to catch your eyeNever wants a passer-byTo pass him by!

Servant to the poorButler to the great Comforter, philosopher and lifelong mateEverybodys boon companion Everybodys chaperone

THENARDIER:But lock up your valises Oh hey! Wont I skin you to the bone!

All:Master of the house!Quick to catch your eye Never wants a passer-by To pass him by!Servant to the poor Butler to the greatComforter, philosopher andlifelong mateEverybodys boon companion

Givesem everything hes got

Thenardier:Dirty bunch of geezersHeh Hey! What a sorry little lot!

All/Madame Thenardier:Master of the house!Comforter, philosopher -Dont make me laugh!Servant to the poorButler to the great -Hypocrite and toady -And inebriate!Everybody bless the landlord!Everybody bless his spouse!

THENARDIER Everybody raise a glass!

All:yea!Everybody raise a glass to themaster of the house!

The Bargain:

(scene focuses on cosette in the side stage)

Valjean: (seeing cosette afraid)

Hush now, do not be afraid of me.Dont cry. Show me where you live.Tell me, my child, what is yourname?

Cosette:Im called Cosette.

Valjean:Cosette!?

(to the Thenardiers)I found her wandering in the woodThis little child, I found her trembling in the shadows.And I am here to help Cosette, And I will settle any debt you may think proper.I will pay what I must pay To take Cosette away.

(to Cosette)

Now your mother is with God.Her suffering is over,And I speak here with her voice, And I stand here in her place,and from this day, and ever more

Cosette shall live in myprotectionI will not forget my vowCosette shall have a father now

Thenardier:

What to do? What to sayShall you carry our treasure away?What a gem! What a pearl!Beyond rubies is our little girl! How can we speak of debt?Lets not haggle for darling Colette!

MADAME THENARDIERCosette!

THENARDIERCosette Dear Fantine gone to rest Have we done for her child what is bestShared our bread - shared each bone Treated her like shes one of our own!Like our own, msieur!

VALJEANYour feelings do you credit, sir.And I will ease the parting blow. Let us not talk of bargains and bones and greed.(showing the money)Now may I say we are agreed?

MADAME THENARDIER That would quite fit the billIf she hadnt so often been ill,Little dear, cost us dear! Medicines are expensive, msieur.

Valjean:No more words!Heres your price!Fifteen hundred for your sacrifice.Come, Cosette, say goodbye. Lets seek out some friendlier sky.Thank you both for Cosette It wont take you too long to forget.

Come Cosette Come my dearFrom now I will always be hereWhere I go you will beWill you be like a papa to me

Yes cosette Yes its True Ill be like a father and mother to you!

(Takes her and leaves)

THENARDIERNot bad!

MADAME THENARDIER Not enough!

Javert strides into the inn

JAVERTWheres the child Cosette?

MADAME THENARDIER Shes gone with a gent,Didnt tell us where they went,Didnt leave his home address.

JAVERTNo!