Great Performances (TV Series)

Les Misérables in Concert (1995)

Colm Wilkinson: Valjean

Quotes 

• [Valjean prays to God to save Marius in the battle to come] 

  Jean Valjean : Bring him peace, bring him joy... He is young, he is only a boy... You can take, you can give! Let him be, let him live. If I die, let me die! Let him live...

• 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.

  Jean Valjean : Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory.

  Fantine , Eponine : Take my hand, I'll lead you to salvation. Take my love, for love is everlasting.

  Fantine , Jean Valjean , Eponine : And remember, the truth that once was spoken: to love another person is to see the face of God.

• Enjolras : For your presence of mind, for the deed you have done, I will thank you Monsieur when our battle is won.

  Jean Valjean : Give me no thanks Monsieur, there's something you can do.

  Enjolras : If it is in my power.

  Jean Valjean : Give me the spy Javert, let me take care of him!

  Javert : The law is inside out, the world is upside down!

  Enjolras : Do what you have to do, the man belongs to you!

  [to the others] 

  Enjolras : The enemy may be regrouping. Hold yourselves in readiness! Come on my friends, back to your positions, the night is falling fast!

  Jean Valjean : [to Javert]  We meet again.

  Javert : You've hungered for this all your life! Take your revenge... How right you should kill with a knife!

  Jean Valjean : You talk too much. Your life is safe in my hands!

  Javert : Don't understand.

  Jean Valjean : Get out of here.

  Javert : Valjean, take care, I'm warning you...

  Jean Valjean : Clear out of here!

  Javert : Once a thief, forever a thief. What you want you always steal. You would trade your life for mine? Yes, Valjean, you want a deal. Shoot me now for all I care. If you let me go beware, you'll still answer to Javert!

  Jean Valjean : You are wrong, and always have been wrong. I'm a man, no worse than any man. You are free! And there are no conditions, no bargains or petitions; there's nothing that I blame you for. You've done your duty, nothing more. If I come out of this alive, you'll find me at number fifty-five Rue Plumet. No doubt our paths will cross again. Go.

• Javert : Now bring me prisoner 24601! Your time is up and your parole's begun. You know what that means?

  Jean Valjean : Yes, it means I'm free.

  Javert : No! It means you get your yellow ticket of leave. You are a thief!

  Jean Valjean : I stole a loaf of bread.

  Javert : You robbed a house!

  Jean Valjean : I broke a windowpane. My sister's child was close to death, and we were starving!

  Javert : You will starve again, unless you learn the meaning of the law!

  Jean Valjean : I know the meaning of those nineteen years, a slave of the law!

  Javert : Five years for what you did, the rest because you tried to run; yes, 24601!

  Jean Valjean : My name is Jean Valjean!

  Javert : And I'm Javert. Do not forget my name! Do not forget me, 24601!

• Jean Valjean : [speaking to Javert]  You are wrong. And always have been wrong. I'm a man, no worse than any man. You are free, and there are no conditions. No bargains or petitions. There is nothing that I blame you for. You have done your duty, nothing more.

• Fantine , Eponine : Take my hand, I'll lead you to salvation. Take my love, for love is everlasting.

  Fantine , Eponine , Jean Valjean : And remember, the truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God.

• Jean Valjean : It's you Javert! I knew you wouldn't wait too long. The faithful servant at his post once more! This man's done no wrong, and he needs a doctor's care!

  Javert : I warned you I would not give in. I won't be swayed!

  Jean Valjean : Another hour yet, and then I'm yours, and all our debts are paid!

  Javert : The man of mercy comes again, and talks of justice!

  Jean Valjean : Come, time is running short. Look down, Javert, he's standing in his grave! Give way, Javert! There is a life to save!

  Javert : Take him, Valjean, before I change my mind! I will be waiting, 24601.

• Jean Valjean : [singing]  Who am I? Can I conceal myself for evermore? Pretend I'm not the man I was before? And must my name until I die Be no more than an alibi? Must I lie? How can I ever face my fellow men? How can I ever face myself again? My soul belongs to God, I know I made that bargain long ago He gave me hope when hope was gone He gave me strength to journey on Who am I? Who am I? I am Jean Valjean!

• Jean Valjean : One day more. Another day, another destiny, this never-ending road to Calvary. These men who seem to know my crime will surely come a second time. One day more.

  Marius : I did not live until today. How can I live when we are parted?

  Jean Valjean : One day more.

  Marius , Cosette : Tomorrow, you'll be worlds away, and yet with you, my world has started.

  Eponine : One more day all on my own.

  Marius , Cosette : Will we ever meet again?

  Eponine : One more day of him not caring.

  Marius , Cosette : I was born to be with you.

  Eponine : What a life I might have known.

  Marius , Cosette : And I swear, I will be true.

  Eponine : But he never saw me there.

  Enjolras : One more day before the storm.

  Marius : Do I follow where she goes?

  Enjolras : At the barricade of freedom.

  Marius : Do I join my brothers there?

  Enjolras : As our ranks begin to form.

  Marius : Do I stay, and do I care?

  Enjolras : Will you take your place with me?

  [Chorus joins in] 

  Enjolras : The time is now, the day is here!

  Jean Valjean : One day more!

  Javert : One more day to revolution. We will nip it in the bud. I will join these little schoolboys. They will wet themselves with blood!

  Jean Valjean : One day more!

  Thenardier , Madame Thenardier : Watch 'em run amok. Catch 'em as they fall. Never know your luck when there's a free-for-all. Here, a little dip. There, a little touch. Most of 'em are goners, so they won't miss much!

  [Chorus joins in] 

  Thenardier , Madame Thenardier : One day to a new beginning, raise the flag of freedom high. Every man will be a king, every man will be a king. There's a new world for the winning, there's a new world to be won. Do you hear the people sing?

  Marius : My place is here. I'll fight with you!

  Jean Valjean : One day more!

  [everyone sings their previous verses simultaneously] 

  Jean Valjean : One day more!

  [Verses continue] 

  Jean Valjean : Tomorrow, we'll be far away. Tomorrow is the judgment day.

  Ensemble : Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in Heaven has in store. One more dawn, one more day, one day more!