Les Misérables (TV Mini Series)

Episode #1.1 (2018)

David Oyelowo: Javert

Photos 

Quotes 

• Javert : Well, now, 24601. What was all that about today? You saving that guard's life. Why?

  [Valjean stays silent] 

  Javert : If you were trying to get yourself an earlier release, you tried in vain. There's no hope of that. No hope at all. Sorry to disappoint you. Is that what you hoped to achieve by it?

  [Valjean still stays silent] 

  Javert : Your strong-man act. What for? Make a fool of me? I'm right, aren't I? Let me tell you something that might surprise you. I could have been a criminal. I was born in prison. My parents were criminals. Men like us have only two choices: to prey upon society or to guard it. You chose the former, I chose the latter. And I can tell you, if I'd chosen to be a criminal, I would have been a hell of a lot better one than you've turned out to be. 19 years for a loaf of bread.

  [laughing] 

  Javert : You've got twelve months left to serve. My guess, you'll be back in here before another year's gone by. And next time, it'll be for life. Whatever you think, you can never win.

• Jean Valjean : What about my savings? 171 francs.

  Javert : 109.

  Jean Valjean : 171. I kept a record in my head.

  Javert : A common error. The prisoner's calculated the sum from the number of days of imprisonment, not the number of working days. After deductions of days not worked, that is to say, Sundays, public holidays, and contributions for the annual Christmas dinner... the sum comes to 109 francs.

  [tossing a pouch to him] 

  Javert : Spend it wisely.

  [giving him his ticket of leave] 

  Javert : Here's your passport. You are required to show this to authorities in every town and village you pass through. You have your name back, monsieur 24601. I wonder if you can remember what it is.

  Jean Valjean : Jean Valjean.

  Javert : Are you sure about that?

  Jean Valjean : [loudly and firmly]  JEAN VALJEAN!