Act II

Upon These Stones - Building the Barricade

Enjolras is addressing the revolutionaries.

Enjolras:
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 Eponine, who is dressed as a boy.

Marius:	Hey, little boy, what's this I see? God, Eponine, the things you do!
Eponine:	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!
Eponine:	I've got you worried now, I have That shows you like me quite a lot!
Marius:	There is a way that you can help You are the answer to a prayer! Please take this letter to Cosette And pray to God that she's still there!
Eponine:	Little you know! Little you care!

She walks to the Rue Plumet, where she meets Valjean.

Eponine:
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:
Give me that letter here, my boy.

Eponine:
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.

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.

He opens the letter... and reads it.

"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.

On My Own

Sometimes I walk alone at night
When everybody else is sleeping
I think of him and then I'm happy
With the company I'm keeping
The city goes to bed
And I can live inside my head.

On my own
Pretending he's beside me
All alone, I walk with him till morning
Without him
I feel his arms around me
And when I lose my way I close my eyes
And he has found me

In the rain the pavement shines like silver
All the lights are misty in the river
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight
And all I see is him and me for ever and forever

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
He is gone, the river's just a river
Without him the world around me changes
The trees are bare and everywhere
The streets are full of strangers

I love him
But every day I'm learning
All my life I've only been pretending
Without me his world will go on turning
A world that's full of happiness
That I have never known!

I love him
I love him
I love him
But only on my own.

["Building the Barricade"]

The barricade is now complete.

Students:	Now we pledge ourselves to hold this barricade
Marius:	Let them come in their legions And they will be met
Enjolras:	Have faith in yourselves And don't be afraid
Grantaire:	Let's give 'em a screwing That they'll never forget!
Combeferre:	This is where it begins!
Courfeyrac:	And if I should die in the fight to be free Where the fighting is hardest There will I be
Feuilly:	Let them come if they dare We'll be there!

Javert's Arrival

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!

Javert climbs over the barricade.

Javert:
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

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:
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.

Little People

And little people know
When little people fight
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
When the pup grows up!

Grantaire:	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!
Courfeyrac:	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:	Shoot me now or shoot me later Every schoolboy to his sport Death to each and every traitor I renounce your people's court!
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:	Take this man, bring him through There is work we have to do!

Javert is bundled away as the first shots ring out.
Eponine enters, wounded.

Joly: There's a boy climbing the barricade!

Marius:	Good God! What are you doing? 'Ponine, have you no fear? Have you seen my beloved? Why have you come back here?
Eponine:	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! Oh God, it's everywhere....

A Little Fall of Rain

Marius:
But you will live, 'Ponine - dear God above,
If I could heal your wounds with words of love.

Eponine:
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

Eponine: So don't you fret, M'sieur Marius I don't feel any pain A little fall of rain Can hardly hurt me now	Marius: (in counterpoint) Hush-a-bye, dear Eponine, You won't feel any pain A little fall of rain Can hardly hurt you now
Marius: I'm here Eponine: That's all I need to know
Eponine: And you will keep me safe And you will keep me close	Marius: (in counterpoint) 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... grow...

She dies. Marius kisses her, then lays her on the ground.

Enjolras:	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.

Night of Anguish

Joly:	Here comes a man in uniform What brings you to this place?
Valjean:	I come here as a volunteer
Joly:	Approach and show your face.
Sentry:	You wear an army uniform.
Valjean:	That's why they let me through.
Joly:	You've got some years behind you sir.
Valjean:	There's much that I can do.
Joly:	You see that prisoner over there?
Grantaire:	A volunteer like you!
Combeferre:	A spy who calls himself Javert!
Grantaire:	He's going to get it too...
Sentry:	They're getting ready to attack!

The First Attack

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!

Drink With Me (The Night)

Enjolras: Marius, rest.

Feuilly:	Drink with me to days gone by Sing with me the songs we knew
Prouvaire:	Here's to pretty girls who went to our heads.
Joly:	Here's to witty girls who went to our beds.
All:	Here's to them and here's to you!

Grantaire:
Drink with me to days gone by
Can it be you fear to die?
Will the world remember you
When you fall?
Could it be your death
Means nothing at all?
Is your life just one more lie?

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:
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 sleep.

Bring Him Home

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.

Dawn of Anguish

Enjolras:
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.

Feuilly:
Drink with me to days gone by
Sing with me the songs 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!

The Second Attack

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!
Enjolras:	I won't let you go, it's too much of a chance!
Marius:	The same is true for any man here!
Valjean:	Let me go. He's no more than a boy. I am old, I have nothing to fear.
Gavroche:	You need somebody quicker and I volunteer!
Gavroche climbs the barricade.
Lesgles:	Come back Gavroche, don't you dare!
Joly:	Someone pull him down at once!
Gavroche:	Look at me, I'm almost there!

The Death of Gavroche

He dies.

The Final Battle

Enjolras:	Let us die facing our foes Make them bleed while we can
Combeferre:	Make 'em pay through the nose
Courfeyrac:	Make 'em pay for every man!
Enjolras:	Let others rise To take our place Until the earth is free!

Increasingly heavy gunfire. Marius is shot. Enjolras is killed at the summit of the barricade. 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. Not finding it, he realizes that Valjean must be in the sewers, so he goes off to where he must emerge.

Dog Eats Dog

Thénardier:
Here's a hint of gold
Stuck into a tooth
Pardon me M'sieur
You won't be needing it no more.
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.

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, and collapses. Thénardier robs Marius.

Here's a tasty ring
Pretty little thing
Wouldn't want to waste it
That would really be a crime
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.

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 leaves. Eventually, Valjean picks up Marius again and walks through the sewers. As they emerge, they meet Javert.

The Sewers

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:
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.

Javert's Suicide

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!

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?

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?

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.

Turning

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

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.)
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.

Every Day

Cosette:
Every day
You walk with stronger step
You walk with longer step-
`The worst is over.'

Marius:
Every day
I wonder every day
Who was it brought me here
From the barricade?

Cosette:
Don't think about it, 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 vow that we made:

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 know my name!
Marius:
Dear Mad'moiselle
I was lost in your spell.

Valjean enters, unnoticed.

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
Both:
And it wasn't a dream
Not a dream after all

Valjean: (interjecting, to himself)
She was never mine to keep.
She is youthful, she is free.
Love is the garden of the young
Let it be... let it be...
A heart full of love
This I give you on this day.

They notice Valjean.

Marius:
M'sieur, this is a day
I can never 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.

Valjean's Confession

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:
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.

The Wedding Chorale

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:	The Baron and Baroness de Thénard wish to pay their respects to the groom!
Thénardier:	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:	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. Thénardier:	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:	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.
Thénardier:	So it goes, heaven knows Life has dealt me some terrible blows.
Mme. Thénardier:	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.
Thénardier:	There's a tale I could tell
Mme. Thénardier:	Information we're willing to sell...
Thénardier:	There's a man that he slew I saw the corpse clear as I'm seeing you! What I tell you is true!
Mme. Thénardier:	Pity to disturb you at a feast like this But five hundred francs surely wouldn't come amiss.
Marius:	In God's name say what you have to say.
Thénardier:	But first you pay! 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:	I know this! This was mine! Surely this is some heavenly sign!
Thénardier:	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, come Cosette, This day's blessings are not over yet!
Marius and Cosette leave.

Beggars at the Feast

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.

M. and Mme. Thénardier:
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!

Epilogue

Valjean:
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: 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: (interjecting) 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:
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:
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:
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.
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.
Your mother gave her life for you
Then gave you to my keeping.

The other spirits, including Eponine appear.

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.

Fantine and Eponine:
Take my hand
And lead me to salvation.
Take my love,
For love is everlasting.
Valjean, Fantine, and Eponine:
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God!

Finale

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.

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!

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...
Tomorrow comes!

The curtain falls.

Act I
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