Les Miserables

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1

As long as ignorance and misery

exist in this world,

stories such as this one

will not be told in vain

Victor Hugo

1802.

A chain of galley slaves on their

way to the penal colony of Toulon.

The last galleys of the king

had rotted long ago

in the port waters.

But the last convicts remained

for everybody galley slaves.

They were kept busy with

hard labor, often of no use.

That's what they called

"going to penal servitude."

Go ahead, fast.

You, move.

Father and son come to inspect.

Good morning, chief.

See this one? One couldn't tell,

but he tried to escape two times.

Fire in the hole!

Watch it, you guys over there!

It's over for them.

They were here for life.

Now they are at peace.

Hey, there.

Stay there.

Come here. Lift your foot.

You've filed your chain,

you bastard.

You want to escape?

You'll do three more years.

Meanwhile, off to the pontoon,

double-chained to the bench.

Go ahead, take him away!

This convict

was called Jean Valjean.

He had been condemned

to five years of penal colony

for stealing one loaf of bread.

Jean Valjean tried

two more times to escape...

and when, at last,

came the day of his release...

Go ahead!

He had served 19 years.

Here are your things.

You go to the shower,

the hairdresser,

the delouser.

Here is your count.

One hundred and nine francs

and 15 sous.

Sign here.

No, it's not my count.

I calculated, it is 140 francs.

Less 24 francs

for Sundays and holidays,

and 5 francs of city taxes.

Go ahead, sign.

Here is your passport.

You will have to go

to the local police station

wherever you go.

Otherwise... you'll be arrested

and sent back here.

Understood?

Hey... if you get caught

stealing again, you'll get life.

If you threaten with a knife,

even with a stick--

armed in any way--

it's death penalty.

Think about that, unless you

want to come back and see us.

Freedom. Yes, they were

given back their freedom,

but their old convict's passport

that had to be stamped everywhere

was bound to their steps

like ball and chain.

It was almost impossible

for them to find work

and the houses and the inns

remained closed for them.

Not far from there,

in the little town of Digne,

in the department of Basses-Alpes,

a Carriage bearing the coat

of arms of the papacy

was coming on the place

de I'Evch.

The visitor wanted to spend

the night in the bishop's property.

They told him

that Monseigneur Myriel

had left the palace

because it was going to be

changed into an hospital,

and that he was living over there.

The little house on the square.

- Is Bishop Myriel here?

- He went to do his visits.

He shouldn't be long,

if you want to come in.

- Thank you.

- Look, here he comes.

- Where?

- On the donkey.

What? This poor little priest?

You are right, Father,

we tell him often his sister and me.

His Grace doesn't

take enough care of himself.

He never keep any money

for himself.

If you could reason him

a little bit...

Good evening.

- Your Eminence.

- Please, don't.

It is the first time I ever met

a bishop with this sort of carriage.

Yes, I understand why Your

Eminence would be shocked.

If you will allow me.

He trotted a fair amount.

You think a humble priest

shows too much pride

by borrowing a mount which

has been used by our Lord.

But I do it by necessity,

I assure you, and not by vanity.

- I don't doubt it.

- Come.

Come in, Your Eminence, come in.

He is hungry.

But maybe you are, too.

I wanted to stop in your house

tonight with my people but

- I am afraid...

- Don't be afraid.

Your escort can go to the inn,

but I insist on keeping you.

I have an excellent bed for you.

Can I have a look at it?

I have such a hard time to sleep.

- Please. Excuse me.

- Thank you.

The supper will be ready in a minute.

When there is enough for three,

there is enough for four.

You would deprive me of

a great honor if you refuse.

You know how proud I am.

- Here is my bedroom.

- Thank you.

Be careful, there is a small step.

Here you are.

We'll be neighbors.

It is stocked

with fresh oat straws.

It still smells like harvest.

Thank you,

but this trip exhausted me.

I need to rest.

If you don't mind,

I'll go to the Mayor's house.

- I am not a monk.

- As you wish.

We are serving the same cause

but not in the same battalion.

The same night...

Come in.

Good evening.

I am sorry, they told me

to come knock on this door.

Can I have some soup

and a place to sleep?

Of course, come in.

My name is Jean Valjean

and I come from the galleys.

Yes, lady, the galleys.

Come in.

I left Toulon three days ago.

Today I covered the miles on foot.

I am tired.

Give me your things.

Mrs. Magloire will

put down an extra plate.

We will have supper in a moment.

We will make your bed

while you'll have your supper.

- Come in.

- I have money.

I am not an innkeeper.

Keep your money, sir,

you will need it.

You are the priest of the village.

I can't put anything past you.

Miss Baptistine, my sister,

and Mrs. Magloire, my governess.

Go ahead, give this

gentleman a chair!

Mrs. Magloire, go look for

the silverware. We have a guest.

Silverware.

The same that would have

been used for the cardinal.

How could they have better

shown an unexpected guest

that here he was not

considered a galley slave,

but a man?

These ladies are very happy

to have you among us.

When we have a guest,

we embellish daily life a bit.

And we drink wine.

- Can I serve the soup, Your Grace?

- Of course.

This gentleman

said he was hungry.

Give me a chair.

I am not tall enough

to reach the shelf.

You are surprised to see this

wealth in the house of a man

who should be the poorest

in the land?

This silverware comes from my

grandmother. I am attached to it.

Ah, it's a weakness, I know it.

In the name of the Father and the Son

and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Could you give me

the ladle, please?

Give me your plate, sir. You are

probably eager to go to bed.

Mrs. Magloire... you will put

white sheets on the alcove bed.

The next day, as always,

Monseigneur Myriel

began his day

by visiting his garden.

He was leaving Mrs. Magloire

responsible for the vegetables

and taking care

of the owers himself.

He used to say that beauty

is as important as utility,

maybe more so.

Monseigneur! Monseigneur!

The silverware basket!

I had put it away last night,

but it disappeared!

Do you know where it is?

Yes, here it is.

But it's empty!

And the silverware, the big ladle--

where are they?

This I don't know.

It is the man from last night,

the convict!

He is not in his room anymore.

I was bringing him a glass of milk.

His bed is empty.

Good thing I took the candlesticks

up to my bedroom.

Go ahead, move, go on!

Monseigneur! Look what

this man had in his bag.

We called him out to check his

passport and to search him.

This is what he had.

As we knew that last night

you had him for dinner,

well, we arrested him.

What did you answer

back to them?

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