Les Miserables Page #4

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I`m in a hurry, inspector.

Monsieur, a serious....

A grave violation of the public trust

has been committed.

An inferior has shown a complete

lack of respect for the law.

-He must be exposed and punished.

-Who is the offender?

I am.

I slandered you, monsieur. I`m here

to ask that you demand my dismissal.

Inspector Javert,

what are you talking about?

You may say I can resign. resignation

is honourable and I don`t deserve it.

I must be punished.

You treated me unjustly over the--

About the woman.

This time you must treat me justly.

You must dismiss me.

God's sakes, Javert. For what?

I denounced you to

the Paris prefect of police.

I swore that you were a convict.

-You said I was what?

-A convict.

I had no proof.

Only a memory of this man,

Jean Valjean...

...whom I guarded 20 years ago

in prison.

I denounced you

without a shred of evidence.

-You denounced me?

-Yes.

I was a fool.

They told me I was wrong, you couldn`t

be Jean Valjean, and they were right.

I`ve just returned from Arras,

where I saw the real Jean Valjean.

-The real Valjean?

-Yes.

Two weeks ago, a man

who called himself Carnot...

...was arrested outside Arras

for poaching apples.

At the prison, a convict

took one look at him and said:

`"I know this man. We were in prison

in Toulon 20 years ago.

He`s Jean Valjean."

I didn`t believe it.

I went there to see for myself.

Well, there`s no question.

Carnot is Valjean.

I apologise, monsieur.

I look at you now...

...and it`s obvious

you`re not a convict.

So now you don`t think

I`m a convict?

Of course I don`t. I`ve seen Valjean

with my own eyes.

Must have been out of my mind

to think you could be a criminal.

-This man, he admits to being Valjean?

-Of course not.

He pretends to be a half-wit

who can`t understand the charges.

Valjean has broken parole.

That calls for life imprisonment.

-When is the trial?

-Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

-How long will it take?

-No more than an afternoon.

-Tomorrow.

-The evidence is overwhelming.

I returned so that you could dismiss

me and press charges for slander.

I must consider.

I was just on my way home.

Walk with me, Javert.

You are a stern man,

but you`re honourable.

-I want you to remain prefect.

-That`s impossible.

You`ve exaggerated your offence.

I`ve not exaggerated, monsieur.

I resented you.

I chafed at your authority.

And out of revenge, I slandered you.

If a subordinate of mine had done

that, I would have broken him.

You must punish me, monsieur,

or my life will have been meaningless.

Then blame me, Javert.

-You, monsieur le maire?

-I order you to forgive yourself.

Blame me for that mercy.

You will remain prefect.

Those are my orders.

Will you go get her today?

Yes. Tonight.

Is something wrong?

I`m going to do my best.

I`m going to get better for my girl.

But if he chooses to take me,

will you look after Cosette?

-I know I have no right--

-You and Cosette...

...will always be safe with me.

I swear it.

-Is this the courthouse?

-Yes, sir.

Thank you.

-May I go in?

-I can`t let you in. It`s full.

It`s full? There are no seats?

Jammed. We`ve got two great cases.

-So I can`t get in?

-No. Not a chance.

Unless.... Unless monsieur

is a public official.

There is a seat reserved for them

right beside the judge.

Best seat in the house.

I am the mayor of Vigau.

Gentlemen, you`ll be so kind

to remain seated...

...while my lords, the judges,

re-examine the prisoner`s records.

The prisoner to remain standing

at the bar.

-It is an honour, monsieur le maire.

-Welcome, sir.

Thank you.

-Continue the examination.

-You pretend to be simple...

...so I give you a simple question

to answer.

Are you or are you not

the convict Jean Valjean?

In the first place....

What`s the first place?

Answer the question.

You`re wicked. That`s what I was going

to say. Only I forgot your name.

I`m a man who....

Oh, what`s the word for it?

I`m one of those

who doesn`t eat every day. I`m....

I`m hungry. That`s the word.

You`ve already been found

guilty of poaching.

-Answer the prosecutor`s question.

-Did he ask a question?

Are you or are you not Jean Valjean?

Well, you say I was born

in Faverolles.

That`s very clever, telling me where

I come from. It`s more than I know.

My parents were tramps.

Monsieur le president...

...in view of the shrewdly contrived

denials of the accused, who is trying...

...to pass himself off as an idiot...

-...I call the witness Brevet to the stand.

-So ordered.

Brevet. I remind you...

...that what you say

may destroy a man`s life.

You must be absolutely certain

of your testimony.

My memory is good.

-The best thing I have.

-The accused will rise.

-Do you recognise this man?

-Yeah.

I was the first to recognise him.

I ought to get credit--

-Never mind who was first. Who is he?

-That`s Jean Valjean.

We served 1 9 years together

in prison.

He looks older of course.

Looks stupider too.

-That`s probably age.

-Monsieur le president, I call...

-...the convict Lombard to the stand.

-You may step down.

The accused should remain standing.

I repeat my warning: A man`s life

can be destroyed by your answer.

Do you recognise the accused?

I can`t help but recognise him.

We did five years on one chain.

What`s the matter with you, eh?

No hello, eh? Did you miss me, eh?

Hello.

I call Bertin to the stand.

I warn you as well:

Your answer can ruin a man.

Do you recognise the accused?

Yeah. He`s Jean Valjean.

Monsieur le president...

...may I address the court?

Yes, sir. Yes, certainly,

monsieur le maire.

Brevet, Lombard, Bertin.

Look at me.

Do you recognise me?

I recognise you, Brevet.

You were an informer in Toulon.

I see you`re still a snitch.

-Valjean.

-Hello, Brevet.

And you, Lombard.

Don`t look at my fancy clothes.

Don`t look at my scraped chin.

Look at my eyes.

You called yourself godless, right?

You got a scar on your shoulder. I gave

it to you the night you tried to kill me.

-When I pinned you over the stove.

-It is you.

Show the court your scar.

Bertin, the hollow of your left arm.

There`s a date tattooed,

1 789, the year of the revolution.

Show them.

I know these men, monsieur

le president. And they know me.

I am the man you want.

I am Jean Valjean.

-It`s him!

-Oh, my God!

Monsieur le maire,

I know you to be a kind man...

-A kind--? A kind man?

-...but this?

In prison, I was as ignorant,

mean and devious...

...as these men here, but not kind.

I wish I could keep my mouth shut and

let this poor wretch suffer for me, but....

Continue with the investigation.

You will find further proof

that I am Valjean.

I need you in the office right away.

-Monsieur, you`re back.

-I don`t have the child yet.

-I`ll leave in an hour. How is she?

-Her cough`s worse.

There`s more blood now. She's....

I think she`s just holding on

to see her daughter.

-Wait.

-I have an urgent message for Javert.

-I`ll take it.

-To be delivered by hand.

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