[The ABC Cafe, where the students, led by Enjolras,

meet to discuss their revolutionary plans.]



Combeferre

At Notre Dame

The sections are prepared!



Feuilly

At rue de Bac

They're straining at the leash!



Courfeyrac

Students, workers, everyone

There's a river on the run

Like the flowing of the tide

Paris coming to our side!



Enjolras

The time is near...

So near.. it's stirring the blood in their veins!

And yet beware...

Don't let the wine go to your brains!

For the army we fight is a dangerous foe

With the men and the arms that we never can match

Oh, it's easy to sit here and swat 'em like flies

But the national guard will be harder to catch.

We need a sign

To rally the people

To call them to arms

To bring them in line!



[Marius enters.]



Marius, you're late.



Joly

What's wrong today?

You look as if you've seen a ghost.



Grantaire

Some wine and say what's going on!



Marius

A ghost you say... a ghost maybe

She was just like a ghost to me

One minute there, and she was gone!



Grantaire

I am agog!

I am aghast!

Is Marius in love at last?

I have never heard him 'ooh' and 'aah'

You talk of battles to be won

But here he comes like Don Ju-an

It's better than an o-per-a!



Enjolras

It is time for us all

To decide who we are...

Do we fight for the right

To a night at the opera now?

Have you asked of yourselves

What's the price you might pay?

Is it simply a game

For rich young boys to play?

The color of the world

Is changing

Day by day...

Red - the blood of angry men!

Black - the dark of ages past!

Red - a world about to dawn!

Black - the night that ends at last!



Marius

Had you been there tonight

You might know how it feels

To be struck to the bone

In a moment of breathless delight!

Had you been there tonight

You might also have known

How the world may be changed

In just one burst of light!

And what was right

Seems wrong

And what was wrong

Seems right...



Grantaire [mocking...]

Red...



Marius

I feel my soul on fire!



Grantaire

Black...



Marius

My world if she's not there...



All

Red...



Marius

The color of desire!



All

Black...



Marius

The color of despair!



Enjolras

Marius, you're no longer a child

I do not doubt you mean it well

But now there is a higher call

Who cares about your lonely soul

We strive toward a larger goal

Our little lives don't count at all!



All

Red - the blood of angry men!

Black - the dark of ages past!

Red - a world about to dawn!

Black - the night that ends at last!



Enjolras

Well, Courfeyrac, do we have all the guns?

Feuilly, Combeferre, our time is running short.

Grantaire, put the bottle down!

Do we have the guns we need?



Grantaire [drunk]

Give me brandy on my breath

And I'll breath 'em all to death!



Courfeyrac

In St. Antoine they're with us to a man!



Combeferre

In Notre Dame they're tearing up the stones!



Feuilly

Twenty rifles good as new.



[Gavroche rushes in, shouting.]



Gavroche

Listen!



Jean Prouvaire

Double that in Port St. Cloud!



Gavroche

Listen everybody!



Lesgles

Seven guns in St. Martin!



Gavroche

General Lamarque

Is dead!



Enjolras

Lamarque is dead.

Lamarque! His death is the hour of fate.

The people's man.

His death is the sign we await!

On his funeral day they will honor his name.

It's a rallying cry that will reach every ear!

In the death of Lamarque we will kindle the flame

They will see that the day of salvation is near!

The time is hear!

Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer

Let us take to the streets with no doubt in our hearts

But a jubilant shout

They will come one and all

They will come when we call