Thenardier

Ain't it a laugh?

Ain't it a treat?

Hob-nobbin' here

Among the elite?

Here comes a prince

There goes a Jew.

This one's a queer

But what can you do?

Paris at my feet

Paris in the dust

And here I'm breaking bread

With the upper crust!

Beggar at the feast!

Master of the dance!

Life is easy pickings

If you grab your chance.

Everywhere you go

Law-abiding folk

Doing what is decent

But they're mostly broke!

Singing to the Lord on Sundays

Praying for the gifts He'll send.



M. and Mme. Thenardier

But we're the ones who take it

We're the ones who make it in the end!

Watch the buggers dance

Watch 'em till they drop

Keep your wits about you

And you stand on top!

Masters of the land

Always get our share

Clear away the barricades

And we're still there!

We know where the wind is blowing

Money is the stuff we smell

And when we're rich as Croesus

Jesus! Won't we see you all in hell!



[Valjean is alone in the shadows, with a bare wooden

cross for company.]



Valjean

Alone I wait in the shadows

I count the hours till I can sleep

I dreamed a dream Cosette stood by

It made her weep to know I die.

Alone at the end of the day

Upon this wedding night I pray

Take these children, my Lord, to thy embrace

And show them grace.



God on high

Hear my prayer

Take me now

To thy care

Where You are

Let me be

Take me now

Take me there

Bring me home

Bring me home.



[Fantine's spirit appears to Valjean.]



Fantine Valjean (interjecting)

M'sieur, I bless your name I am ready, Fantine

M'sieur, lay down your burden At the end of my days

You raised my child in love She's the best of my life.

And you will be with god.



[Marius and Cosette rush into the room, but they do not

see Fantine.]



Cosette

Papa, papa, I do not understand!

Are you alright? They said you'd gone away.



Valjean

Cosette, my child, am I forgiven now?

Thank God, thank God, I've lived to see this day.



Marius

It's you who must forgive a thoughtless fool

It's you who must forgive a thankless man

It's thanks to you that I am living

And again I lay down my life at your feet.



Cosette, your father is a saint.

When they wounded me

He took me from the barricade

Carried like a babe

And brought me home to you!



Valjean (to Cosette)

Now you are here

Again beside me

Now I can die in peace

For now my life is blessed



Cosette

You will live, Papa, you're going to live

It's too soon, too soon to say goodbye.



Valjean

Yes, Cosette, forbid me now to die

I'll obey

I will try

On this page

I write my last confession

Read it well

When I at last am sleeping.

It's a story

Of those who always loved you

Your mother gave her life for you

Then gave you to my keeping.

[The other spirits appear.]



Fantine

Come with me

Where chains will never bind you

All your grief

At last, at last behind you.

Lord in Heaven

Look down on him in mercy.



Valjean

Forgive me all my trespasses

And take me to your glory.



Valjean, Fantine, and Eponine

Take my hand

And lead me to salvation

Take my love

For love is everlasting.

And remember

The truth that once was spoken

To love another person

Is to see the face of God!