Prologue

CHORUS

Look down, look down

Don't look 'em in the eye

Look down, look down

You're here until you die

1ST CONVICT

The sun is strong

It's hot as hell below

CHORUS

Look down, look down

there's twenty years to go.

2ND CONVICT

I've done no wrong

Sweet Jesus, here my prayer

CHORUS

Look down, look down

Sweet Jesus doesn't care

3RD CONVICT

I know she'll wait

I know that she'll be true

CHORUS

Look down, look down

They've all forgotten you

4TH CONVICT

When I get free

You won't see me

'Ere for dust

CHORUS

Look down, look down

Don't look 'em in the eye.

5TH CONVICT

How long, O Lord

Before you let me die?

CHORUS

Look down, look down

You'll always be a slave

Look down, look down

You're standing in your grave.

JAVERT

Now bring me prisoner 24601

Your time is up

And your parole's begun

You know what that means.

VALJEAN

Yes, it means I'm free.

JAVERT

No! It means you get

Your yellow ticket-of-leave

You are a thief.

VALJEAN

I stole a loaf of bread.

JAVERT

You robbed a house.

VALJEAN

I broke a window pane.

My sisters child was close to death

And we were starving.

JAVERT

You will starve again

Unless you learn the meaning of the law.

VALJEAN

I know the meaning of those 19 years

A 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 I am Javert

Do not forget my name

Do not forget me

24601

CHORUS

Look down, look down

You'll always be a slave

Look down, look down

You're standing in your grave.

VALJEAN

Freedom is mine. The earth is still.

I feel the wind. I breathe again.

And the skies clear.

The earth is waking.

Drink from the pool. How clean the taste.

Never forget the years, the waste.

Nor forgive them

For what they've done.

They are the guilty- everyone.

The day begins...

And now let's see

What this new world,

Will do for me!

FARMER

You'll have to go

I'll pay you off for the day

Collect your bits and pieces there

And be on your way.

VALJEAN

You have given me half

What the other men get

This handful of tin

Wouldn't buy my sweat!

LABOURER

You broke the law

It's there for people to see

Why should you get the same

As honest men like me?

VALJEAN

Now every door is closed to me

Another jail. Another key. Another Chain.

For when I come to any town

They check my papers

And they find the mark of Cain.

In their eyes

I see their fear

\"We do not want you here.\"

INNKEEPERS WIFE

My rooms are full

And I've no supper to spare

I'd like to help a stranger

All we want is to be fair.

VALJEAN

I will pay in advance

I will sleep in a barn

You see how dark it is

I'm not some kind of dog.

INNKEEPER

You leave my house!

Or feel the weight of my rod.

We're law-abiding people here

Thanks be to God.

VALJEAN

And now I know how freedom feels

The jailer always at your heels

It is the law!

Ths piece of paper in my hand

It makes me cursed throughout the land

It is the law!

Like a curse

I walk the street,

The dirt beneath their feet...

BISHOP

Come in, Sir, for you are weary

And the night is cold out there.

Though our lives are vey humble

What we have, we have to share.

There is wine here to revive you.

There is bread to make you strong.

There's a bed to rest 'til morning.

Rest from pain, and rest from wrong.

VALJEAN

He let me eat my fill.

I had the lion's share.

This silver in my hand

Costs twice what I had earned

In all those nineteen years-

That lifetime of despair

And yet he trusted me-

The old fool trusted me-

He'd done his bit of good

I played the greatful serf

And thanked him like I should.

But when the house was still,

I got up in the night

Took the silver,

Took my flight!

CONSTABLE 1

Tell his reverence your story.

CONSTABLE 2

Let us see if he's impressed.

CONSTABLE 1

You were lodging here last night.

CONSTABLE 2

You were the honest Bishop's guest.

And than out of Christian goodness.

When he learned about your plight

CONSTABLE 1

You mantain he made a present of this

sliver

BISHOP

That is right.

But my friend you left so early

Surley something slipped your mind.

You forgot I gave these also.

Would you leave the best behind?

So, Messieurs, you may release him

For this man has spoken true.

I commend you for your duty

And God's blessing go with you.

(to VALJEAN)But remember this, my brother

See in this some higher plan.

You must use this precious silver

To become an honest man.

By the witness of the martyrs

By the Passion and the Blood

God has raised you out of darkness

I have bought your soul for God!