Les Miserables Page #4

it is the duty of the police...

to be particularly efficient,

Monsieur le Maire.

- Yes, I suppose so, Inspector-

-Javert.

Ah, yes, here it is.

EtienneJavert.

Born, Marseilles.

Entered police service, Marseilles.

The galleys, I presume.

Yes, sir. My work there

led to this promotion.

So I see.

Your record is excellent.

Police work is my life,

Monsieur le Maire.

- I pride myself on being a good officer.

- That's very good.

Only I'm afraid you'll get

little practice here, InspectorJavert.

- We're a quiet town.

- I have heard this.

Yet there is crime

everywhere, monsieur.

And filth also,

if one looks hard enough.

I am sworn only to uphold

the laws of France.

And I shall be delighted to assist you.

I only suggest that you do not look for evil

where none exists.

If I did that, sir, I should be guilty

of personal immorality...

and I would resign.

Then we understand each other.

- I trust we shall work well together, Inspector.

- Thank you.

I will try to bother you

as little as possible.

- Good day, Inspector.

- Good day.

[ People Laughing, Chattering, Faint ]

- Button that tunic!

-Just checking the lock, sir.

Eh.

Get back on patrol.

Yes, sir.

[ Chattering Continues ]

- Is anything wrong?

- I'm a gloomy drinking partner tonight, Robert.

- They're better without me.

- Monsieur le Maire.

- M- Monsieur le Maire?

- Come on.

Monsieur le Maire. Monsieur le Maire.

You did not-

- You did not have the drink with me.

- Tomorrow, possibly.

- Come on back in here.

- Let me alone!

[ Muttering ]

[ Door Closes ]

[ Spits ]

[ Man ]

Nobody drinks with me.

- Hello, petite.

- Please, monsieur, let me pass.

- You- You know me, Fantine.

- Only too well. Let me pass.

- Pretty fancy tonight, aren't we?

- Let me pass.!

Certainly, Countess.

One moment, little alley cat!

[ Laughing ]

Let go, you country lout!

- Let me go!

- [ Laughing ]

- Country lout, let me go!

- [ Chattering ]

Stop that!

- Take her in charge!

- Please, Inspector-

Lock her up!

MonsieurJavert.

I-I-I swear to you,

I was not to blame, MonsieurJavert.

You must believe me.

I-I lost my temper.

Where is he now?

Why isn't he here?

I'll ask his pardon.

Please, monsieur, he knows me.

He knows I meant him no harm.

It was only that-

[ Coughing ]

Monsieur, you must hear me.

I'm ill.

I-I should be home in bed.

I have a fever.

Look at me, MonsieurJavert.

I am ill.

Can't you see?

They will care for you in prison.

No.

Please. Please, MonsieurJavert,

you must hear me.

I-I will tell you everything.

I have a child.

She is kept for me

by an innkeeper and his wife.

But I must pay for her.

More and more, they make me pay.

If I don't pay,

they will throw her out into the streets.

Don't you understand?

If I don't pay, she will starve!

Pierre.

Take her away.

Oh, no, no. Please, monsieur.

You must listen to me!

My child! My Cosette!

- [ Crying ]

- Wait!

Monsieur. Monsieur, you've changed your mind.

You will let me go?

Monsieur le Maire,

my office is honored.

Monsieur le Maire.

He- He's the cause of all my trouble.

I dare you to deny to MonsieurJavert

that those gossiping cats in your factory...

had me discharged

when they found out I had a child.

I worked in his factory when I first came from Paris.

Every sou I made went for Cosette's care.

I worked hard!

I minded my own business!

- I knew nothing of this.

- You lie! I'm on the streets because of you.

Silence, woman!

You're talking to Monsieur le Maire.

Monsieur le Maire. Monsieur le Maire.

I spit on Monsieur le Maire.!

- Get her out of here!

- Wait. What will you do with her, Inspector?

Have no fear. For disturbing the peace,

she will be sentenced to six months.

- Six months?

- And for the insult to your person-

- Forget the insult to my person.

- Very well. But there is the other charge.

- The woman is obviously ill.

- She will be treated in the prison hospital.

- She is not going to prison.

- You misunderstand.

This woman has violated the curfew

and disturbed the peace...

by attacking a citizen of the town.

The man was drunk

and a notorious rake.

Had she not been on the streets,

the incident would not have occurred.

- She will serve six months.

- She will not serve one single day.

Apparently, you do not understand.

This is a matter of law.

- This is a matter of justice-

- They're one and the same.

This is a police matter,

and I am chief of the district.

- I detained this woman.

- This is a matter for the commune

of which I'm a magistrate.

I say the woman goes free.

Release her.

As you wish.

- Come.

- MonsieurJavert.

- I- I will not go to prison?

- No.

I cannot undo what happened to you

at my factory...

but I can see that you're cared for.

If you tell me where your child is,

I'll bring her to you.

Cosette?

You will bring Cosette to me?

I will bring her to you.

Good night, Inspector.

Good night, Monsieur le Maire.

Oh! I'm sorry, monsieur, but the shoes-

I am not used to them.

They're a nuisance anyway,

except on rainy days.

- [ Knocking ]

- Come in.

Madame Fantine, you have guests.

Monsieur Madeleine,

I- I did not know you were coming.

M-My hair is-

This is Cosette.

But, monsieur, you're mistaken.

This is not my child.

She's lovely,

but- but Cosette- Cosette was-

That was six years ago, Fantine.

Your little girl is no longer a child.

[ Gasps, Sobbing ]

[ Crying ]

[ Crying Continues ]

Cosette.

Don't cry, Mama.

Don't cry.

Let me cry a little...

for all the years we were apart.

You did not tell me

she was so beautiful, monsieur.

No, I... suppose I-

Monsieur,

is my mother going to die?

- Why do you ask that?

- Is she?

We said last night that everyone

must always tell the truth, didn't we?

Then I must tell you

that I- I think she will.

She's had a hard

and unhappy life, Cosette.

She'll be happier wherever she is...

and she'll be happier knowing

that you are safe and well.

Does your mother know

she's going to die, Cosette?

I think so, monsieur.

When you see her tomorrow, tell her

I'll do my best to raise you as a good father...

stand between you and all harm.

Let's make her as happy as we can

and not think about dying on such a morning.

- Agreed?

- Agreed.

Well, an unexpected pleasure, Inspector.

- I thought to see you in your office.

- Well, I'm here.

-Join me?

- Well, only for a moment.

- I, uh- I'm rather pressed for time.

- Oh.

I'm afraid I won't be able to

attend the council meeting.

- I'm on my way to Arras.

- We shall miss you, Inspector.

But police business, of course.

A case of theft.

The man was taken stealing apples.

A very serious crime, Inspector.

Were it only that,

there'd be no need for me to go.

However,

there is a question of identity.

Yes.

The man is believed to have been in my charge

in the galleys at Marseilles.

[ Chuckles ]

If it is the same man...

he's also a parole violator.

A parole violator, you say?

- And you are to establish his identity.

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