Lyric Fantine s Arrest
[Bamatabois is a well dressed gentleman.]
Bamatabois
Here s something new, I think I ll give it a try.
Come closer you! I like to see what I buy
The usual price, for just a slice of your pie
Fantine
I don t want you, no, no, m sieur, let me go.
Bamatabois
Is this a trick? I won t pay more!
Fantine
No, not at all.
Bamatabois
You ve got some nerve, you little whore
You ve got some gall.
It s the same with a tart as it is with a grocer
The customer sees what he gets in advance
It s not for the whore to say yes sir or no sir
It s not for the harlot to pick and to choose
Or lead me to a dance!
[He hits her with his stick, she claws at his face,
drawing blood.]
Fantine
I ll kill you, you bastard, try any of that!
Even a whore who has gone to the bad
Won t be had by a rat!
Bamatabois
By Christ you ll pay for what you have done
This rat will make you bleed, you ll see!
I guarantee, I ll make you suffer
For this disturbance of the peace
For this insult to life and property!
Fantine
I beg you, don t report me sir
I ll do whatever you may want
Bamatabois
Make your excuse to the police!
[Javert enters, accompanied by constables.]
Javert
Tell me quickly what s the story
Who saw what and why and where
Let him give a full description
Let him answer to Javert!
In this nest of whores and vipers
Let one speak who saw it all
Who laid hands on this good man here?
What s the substance of this brawl?
Bamatabois
Javert, would you belive it
I was crossing from the park
When this prostitute attacked me
You can see she left her mark
Javert
She will answer for her actions
When you make a full report
You may rest assured, M sieur,
That she will answer to the court.
Fantine
There s a child who sorely needs me
Please M sieur, she s but that high
Holy God, is there no mercy?
If I go to jail she ll die!
Javert
I have heard such protestations
Every day for twenty years
Let s have no more explanations
Save your breath and save your tears
Honest work, just reward,
That s the way to please the Lord.
[Fantine gives a last despairing cry as she is arrested.
Valjean emerges from the crowd.]
Valjean
A moment of your time, Javert
I do believe this woman s tale
Javert
But M sieur Mayor!
Valjean
You ve done your duty
Let her be
She needs a doctor, not a jail.
Javert
But M sieur Mayor!
Fantine
Can this be?
Valjean
Where will she end -
This child without a friend?
I ve seen your face before
Show me some way to help you
How have you come to grief
In a place such as this?
Fantine
M sieur, don t mock me now, I pray
It s hard enough I ve lost my pride
You let your foreman send me away
Yes, you were there, and turned aside
I never did no wrong
Valjean Fantine
Is it true, what I have done? My daughter s close to dying
To an innocent soul? If there s a God above
Had I only known then... He d let me die instead
Valjean
In His name my task has just begun
I will see it done!
I will see it done!
Javert
But M sieur Mayor!
Valjean
I will see it done!
Javert
But M sieur Mayor!
Voices
Look out! It s a runaway cart!
Bamatabois
Here s something new, I think I ll give it a try.
Come closer you! I like to see what I buy
The usual price, for just a slice of your pie
Fantine
I don t want you, no, no, m sieur, let me go.
Bamatabois
Is this a trick? I won t pay more!
Fantine
No, not at all.
Bamatabois
You ve got some nerve, you little whore
You ve got some gall.
It s the same with a tart as it is with a grocer
The customer sees what he gets in advance
It s not for the whore to say yes sir or no sir
It s not for the harlot to pick and to choose
Or lead me to a dance!
[He hits her with his stick, she claws at his face,
drawing blood.]
Fantine
I ll kill you, you bastard, try any of that!
Even a whore who has gone to the bad
Won t be had by a rat!
Bamatabois
By Christ you ll pay for what you have done
This rat will make you bleed, you ll see!
I guarantee, I ll make you suffer
For this disturbance of the peace
For this insult to life and property!
Fantine
I beg you, don t report me sir
I ll do whatever you may want
Bamatabois
Make your excuse to the police!
[Javert enters, accompanied by constables.]
Javert
Tell me quickly what s the story
Who saw what and why and where
Let him give a full description
Let him answer to Javert!
In this nest of whores and vipers
Let one speak who saw it all
Who laid hands on this good man here?
What s the substance of this brawl?
Bamatabois
Javert, would you belive it
I was crossing from the park
When this prostitute attacked me
You can see she left her mark
Javert
She will answer for her actions
When you make a full report
You may rest assured, M sieur,
That she will answer to the court.
Fantine
There s a child who sorely needs me
Please M sieur, she s but that high
Holy God, is there no mercy?
If I go to jail she ll die!
Javert
I have heard such protestations
Every day for twenty years
Let s have no more explanations
Save your breath and save your tears
Honest work, just reward,
That s the way to please the Lord.
[Fantine gives a last despairing cry as she is arrested.
Valjean emerges from the crowd.]
Valjean
A moment of your time, Javert
I do believe this woman s tale
Javert
But M sieur Mayor!
Valjean
You ve done your duty
Let her be
She needs a doctor, not a jail.
Javert
But M sieur Mayor!
Fantine
Can this be?
Valjean
Where will she end -
This child without a friend?
I ve seen your face before
Show me some way to help you
How have you come to grief
In a place such as this?
Fantine
M sieur, don t mock me now, I pray
It s hard enough I ve lost my pride
You let your foreman send me away
Yes, you were there, and turned aside
I never did no wrong
Valjean Fantine
Is it true, what I have done? My daughter s close to dying
To an innocent soul? If there s a God above
Had I only known then... He d let me die instead
Valjean
In His name my task has just begun
I will see it done!
I will see it done!
Javert
But M sieur Mayor!
Valjean
I will see it done!
Javert
But M sieur Mayor!
Voices
Look out! It s a runaway cart!
