1832. The teeming, squalid streets of Paris. Beggars, urchins, prostitutes, students, etc.
BEGGARS
Look down and see the beggars at your feet
Look down and show some mercy if you can
Look down and see the sweepings of the street
Look down, look down,
Upon your fellow man!
GAVROCHE
'Ow do you do? My name's Gavroche.
These are my people. Here's my patch.
Not much to look at, nothing posh
Nothing that you'd call up to scratch.
This is my school, my high society
Here in the slums of Saint Michele
We live on crumbs of humble piety
Tough on the teeth, but what the hell!
Think you're poor?
Think you're free?
Follow me! Follow me!
BEGGARS
Look down and show some mercy if you can
Look down, look down, upon your fellow man!
(An old beggar woman finds a young prostitute occupying her pitch)
OLD BEGGAR WOMAN
What you think yer at?
Hanging round me pitch?
If you're new around here, girl
You've got a lot to learn!
YOUNG PROSTITUTE
Listen you old bat...
Crazy bloody witch...
'Least I give me customers
Some pleasure in return!
OLD BEGGAR WOMAN
I know what you give!
Give 'em all the pox!
Spread around your poison
Till they end up in a box.
PIMP
Leave the poor old cow,
Move it, Madeleine.
She used to be no better
Till the clap got to her brain.
BEGGARS
When's it gonna end?
When we gonna live?
Something's gotta happen now or
Something's gonna give
It'll come, it'll come, it'll come
It'll come, it'll come, it'll come
ENJOLRAS
Where the leaders of the land?
Where are the swells who run this show?
MARIUS
Only one man - and that's Lamarque
Speaks for these people here below.
BEGGARS
See our children fed
Help us in our shame
Something for a crust of bread
In Holy Jesus' name
URCHIN
In the Lord's Holy name.
BEGGARS
In his name, in his name, in his name...
MARIUS
Lamarque is ill and fading fast!
Won't last the week out, so they say.
ENJOLRAS
With all the anger in the land
How long before the judgement day?
Before we cut the fat ones down to size?
Before the barricades arise?
GAVROCHE
Watch out for old Thenardier
All of his family's on the make
Once ran a hash-house down the way
Bit of a swine and no mistake
He's got a gang
The bleeding layabout
Even his daughter does her share
That's Eponine, she knows her way about
Only a kid, but hard to scare
Do we care?
Not a cuss
Long live us.
Long live us!
BEGGARS
Look down and show some mercy if you can
Look down, look down upon your fellow man!