(The ABC Cafe, where the students, led by Enjolras,
meet to discuss their revolutionary plans)
COMBEFERRE
At Notre Dame the sections are prepared!
FEUILLY
At rue de Bac they’re straining at the leash!
COURFEYRAC
Students, workers, everyone
There’s a river on the run
Like the flowing of the tide
Paris coming to our side!
ENJORAS
The time is near
So near it’s stirring the blood in their veins!
And yet beware
Don’t let the wine go to your brains!
For the army we fight is a dangerous foe
With the men and the arms that we never can match
It is easy to sit here and swat ’em like flies
But the national guard will be harder to catch.
We need a sign
To rally the people
To call them to arms
To bring them in line!
(Marius enters)
Marius, you’re late.
JOLY
What’s wrong today?
You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.
GRANTAIRE
Some wine and say what’s going on!
MARIUS
A ghost you say… a ghost maybe
She was just like a ghost to me
One minute there, and she was gone!
GRANTAIRE
I am agog!
I am aghast!
Is Marius in love at last?
I’ve never heard him `ooh’ and `aah’
You talk of battles to be won
And here he comes like Don Ju-an
It’s better than an o-per-a!
ENJOLRAS
It is time for us all
To decide who we are
Do we fight for the right
To a night at the opera now?
Have you asked of yourselves
What’s the price you might pay?
Is it simply a game
For rich young boys to play?
The color of the world
Is changing day by day…
Red – the blood of angry men!
Black – the dark of ages past!
Red – a world about to dawn!
Black – the night that ends at last!
MARIUS
Had you been there tonight
You might know how it feels
To be struck to the bone
In a moment of breathless delight!
Had you been there tonight
You might also have known
How the world may be changed
In just one burst of light!
And what was right seems wrong
And what was wrong seems right!
GRANTAIRE
Red…
MARIUS
I feel my soul on fire!
GRANTAIRE
Black…
MARIUS
My world if she’s not there!
ALL
Red…
MARIUS
The color of desire!
ALL
Black…
MARIUS
The color of despair!
ENJOLRAS
Marius, you’re no longer a child
I do not doubt you mean it well
But now there is a higher call.
Who cares about your lonely soul?
We strive toward a larger goal
Our little lives don’t count at all!
ALL
Red – the blood of angry men!
Black – the dark of ages past!
Red – a world about to dawn!
Black – the night that ends at last!
ENJOLRAS
Well, Courfeyrac, do we have all the guns?
Feuilly, Combeferre, our time is running short.
Grantaire, put the bottle down!
Do we have the guns we need?
GRANTAIRE
Give me brandy on my breath
And I’ll breathe them all to death!
COURFEYRAC
In St. Antoine they’re with us to a man!
COMBEFERRE
In Notre Dame they’re tearing up the stones!
FEUILLY
Twenty rifles good as new!
(Gavroche rushes in shouting)
GAVROCHE
Listen!
JOLY
Twenty rounds for every man!
GAVROCHE
Listen to me!
JEAN PROUVAIRE
Double that in Port St. Cloud!
GAVROCHE
Listen everybody!
LESGLES
Seven guns in St. Martin!
GAVROCHE
General Lamarque is dead!
ENJOLRAS
Lamarque is dead.
Lamarque! His death is the hour of fate.
The people’s man.
His death is the sign we await!
On his funeral day they will honor his name.
It’s a rallying cry that will reach every ear!
In the death of Lamarque we will kindle the flame
They will see that the day of salvation is near!
The time is near!
Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer
Let us take to the streets with no doubt in our hearts
But a jubilant shout
They will come one and all
They will come when we call!
