Les Miserables Page #3

- You are too modest.

And you must allow me

to do some favor in return.

Your name, sir.

I must know your name.

It is Madeleine, monsieur. It's Madeleine.

And you owe me no favor-

But, Monsieur Madeleine, please, you must.

Your clothes-At least let me-

It's nothing.

Just some dirt, monsieur.

-Please, monsieur, I must be in Orlans tomorrow-

- Orlans?

But that is perfect.

I'm returning there myself within the hour.

You must allow me to drive you.

I will not take ''no'' for an answer. It is agreed?

It is agreed.

Perfect.

He will go with us,Jacques.

You are a fellow citizen,

Monsieur Madeleine?

- I do not recall the name.

- Why, I was on my way there

to look for work, monsieur.

Then I could ask for nothing better.

I am not without influence

in Orlans.

What is your line of work, monsieur?

I'm a... potter, monsieur.

Amazing.

I too.

That is one of my shops.

Nothing, I assure you,

to my factory in Orlans.

As a matter of fact,

I had come here to arrange its sale.

But, come, come.

It will interest you.

I have some matters to dispose of

before we depart. Come.

- Were I not a loyal citizen, I-

- Monsieur! Monsieur!

Your money, monsieur- 408 francs.

And your candlesticks.

You will not consider selling them?

- No. No, I'm sorry, monsieur, but no.

- As you wish, monsieur.

I was about to say, but were I not

a loyal citizen of Orlans, I would stay away-

a violent, dirty place, sir.

This town would suit you

far better.

But I have business in Orlans.

Look around.

See what you think of our product.

We'll leave as soon

as I complete some papers.

Robert.

- You wish something, monsieur?

- Only to look at your shop.

- You're interested in buying, perhaps?

- No.

- But you've formed an opinion of our little shop.

- The product is poor.

Uh-huh.

Well, now that you've expressed an opinion

and bothered my men, perhaps you'll wait outside.

- Why, no, monsieur.

- I think so.

So be it.

Uh, monsieur, a-a question.

Why is it that one piece is thick

and another thin?

- One piece is well glazed, another not.

- It is always so.

- Each man has a different skill.

- And the product has always been bad.

- True.

- Why not let each man do what he's best at?

- The best potter turn, the best glazer glaze-

- No, no, monsieur.

Our artisans have always-

Perhaps you're right.

How did you-

- I'm a man with brains, which I use.

- You could be a potter.

If you were a man of means

as well as brains...

I would suggest you buy the shop

and try your ideas.

Buy?

Now, run along,Jacques.

Tell Pierre we're ready to go.

Sorry to take so long, monsieur...

but if we are to reach Orlans tonight,

we must start.

I-I've decided to take your advice

and remain in this pleasant town, sir.

- Oh?

- And there's a little business

I'd like to discuss with you.

Well, I'm delighted! Delighted.

Come along, monsieur.

[ Man ] It's this very pattern that has made us

famous throughout all of France.

Our factory

is the finest in the district...

our town the most prosperous.

My friends, the time is now.

Hear! Hear!

- Well, Robert?

- Well what?

Well, we thought you would,

uh, ask him to sign.

[ Sniffs ] I might have known

the wine wasn't entirely free.

- [ All Laughing ]

- Why don't you ask him yourselves?

- Well-

- Robert.

You know how Monsieur Madeleine

dislikes any kind of display.

His good works, his charity-

he doesn't want to hear about them.

We were afraid we might

embarrass him, Robert.

- I think you're just afraid of him.

- [ All Laughing ]

Please, Robert.

You are his friend. Persuade him.

Without his agreement,

we are nothing.

All right.

But I think you all

ought to be back in the nursery.

[ All Laughing ]

Bills, bills.

Money seems to go

one way, Rene- out.

But there are several overdue accounts,

Monsieur Madeleine.

- If you would allow me to press-

- They'll pay in good time, Rene.

- What else?

- Well, there's the draft

to the Convent of the Child Mary.

But I thought at the moment,

as we were low on cash-

- I didn't think a few days would make any-

- We're in excellent shape.

But even if we were not-

- Every month. Yes, Monsieur Madeleine.

- [ Door Opens ]

Am I interrupting?

When I'm busy,

there's nothing I like better than interruptions.

All right, Rene.

[ Sighs ]

What now?

We're to petition the king

in regards to the charter of the city.

The council respectfully

requests you to sign it.

City, eh?

We're coming up in the world.

So it would seem.

Well?

It's ridiculous, Robert.

To make me mayor?

Why, it's impossible.

- Have to ask somebody else.

- But why?

Because I couldn't do it.

Because-

- What do they want me for?

- Who else would they get?

There aren't more than 20 people

in the town...

who don't depend on this factory

for their existence.

And six years ago

it was a mud hole.

- Six years.

What do they know about me before that?

- What difference does it make?

- They know who you are now.

- It makes a difference to me, Robert.

- It doesn't to me.

- You've only known me for six years.

- How do you know what I was before?

- Why should I care?

Robert, I'm going to

show you something...

something I've never

shown anyone before.

You don't have to.

You knew about this?

You remember when you first came to this shop

and bested me in a trial of strength?

I saw the marks of the collar

on your neck then.

- Well, then?

- That's years ago. It's all forgotten now.

Not by me.

You see that? Orlans. I never re-

I never reported.

It's not just that I'm an ex-convict.

I'm a parole violator.

Any day, any night,

they can take me and send me back.

- This time it'll be for life.

- Which they haven't done.

You've been here for six years,

you've never hidden.

Do you think anyone would recognize you

as the man who came here six years ago?

I wouldn't even

recognize you myself.

Robert, you're

the most cheerful liar I've ever seen.

All right, I am.

But you've been living

with these thoughts now for years.

Would they be any worse

if you were mayor?

Besides which, it'll give you something

to talk about if they do take you back.

You make it sound almost cheerful.

I must think about it, Robert.

Tell the council I'll consider it.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]

- ## [ March ]

- [ Cheering, Chattering ]

Is Monsieur Madeleine

your new mayor?

[ Man ]

Our first mayor.

That's his pottery over there, isn't it?

Indeed,yes, monsieur.

- [ Door Opens ]

- Yes, Rene?

Just because they're officials, some people

think you have nothing to do but receive them.

- Who is it?

- He wouldn't give me his name.

Just insisted he see the mayor personally.

I see. Well, he probably didn't realize

our importance. Let him come in, Rene.

Yes, monsieur.

InspectorJavert, monsieur.

Assigned directly to this city

by the commissioner in Paris.

The state police are highly efficient.

The king saw fit to charter us

as a city only three days ago.

In troubled times,

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