Les Misérables (TV Mini Series)

Episode #1.1 (2018)

Dominic West: Jean Valjean

Photos 

Quotes 

• Bishop : What can we do for you, my son?

  Jean Valjean : I want something to eat and a bed for the night. I've got money. I can pay. A woman told me to knock on your door.

  Bishop : Then you've come to the right place. We have a bed for you, and we were just about to eat. Would you set another place at the table, Madame Magloire?

• 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!

• Old Lady : What are you doing there, my friend?

  Jean Valjean : Trying to sleep. What does it look like?

  Old Lady : Why don't you go to an inn?

  Jean Valjean : I did. They wouldn't take me. No one would take me. They shut their doors against me.

  Old Lady : [indicating another building]  Have you tried knocking on that door?

  Jean Valjean : Which one?

  Old Lady : The house with the light in the window.

  Jean Valjean : No.

  Old Lady : Knock there.

• Bishop : You have suffered a great deal, my friend.

  Jean Valjean : Chained and shackled night and day, beaten for a word, beaten for a look, beaten for nothing. For 19 years. And now the yellow passport, so they've still got me. But this is, uh...

  [looking around] 

  Jean Valjean : Different. This is like I'm dreaming. Is this a trick?

  Madame Magloire : Monsieur, the bishop treats everyone the same.

  Bishop : Yes, God tells us to love our fellow men.

  Jean Valjean : How can I love my fellow man when he treats me worse than a dog? It's easy for you. You can afford to be kind and gentle. You can afford to share your food and wine. Am I right?

  Bishop : Yes, of course you're right. Absolutely right, it is easy for me. But consider this: even if the world has done you a great injustice, does it really serve you to have a heart full of bitterness and hatred?

  Jean Valjean : How can I not have a heart full of bitterness and hatred? I'd like to see you after 19 years in the hulks. So don't preach to me about God and love!

  Bishop : Yeah, I beg your pardon, forgive me. I should have... considered your feelings. But you don't think it possible that kindness and love can change a man?

  Jean Valjean : No.

• Sergeant : This man was arrested ten miles away with a quantity of silverware in his knapsack, which I believe to be the property of the church.

  Bishop : Ah, thank you, sergeant, for bringing him back to me. Welcome back. I'm glad to see you. You forgot to take the candlesticks, didn't you?

  Jean Valjean : [confused]  What?

  Bishop : Well, didn't he tell you that I said he could have the silverware?

  Sergeant : He refused to answer when questioned, Monseigneur.

  Bishop : Well, that was his right. But, uh... no harm done. Of course, you were doing your duty. So all is well. You can go now.

  Sergeant : Let him go free?

  Bishop : That's right. And thank you for your trouble. You may go now.

  Sergeant : If you say so, Monseigneur.

  Bishop : I do. Good day to you.

• Bishop : [giving his silver candlesticks to Valjean]  Here you are. Put them in your knapsack.

  Madame Magloire : Monseigneur, what does this man want with our candlesticks?

  Bishop : I assume he's going to sell them for as much as he can get.

  [Valjean takes them] 

  Bishop : Don't forget, don't ever forget, you promise to use the proceeds to become an honest man.

  Jean Valjean : I don't remember that.

  Bishop : Nevertheless, it's what you want, isn't it? To lead a good life?

  Jean Valjean : No. I don't know.

  Bishop : Jean Valjean, my brother, you do not belong to evil anymore, you belong to good. I have bought your soul with that silverware and these candlesticks.

  Jean Valjean : No.

  Bishop : Nothing to be done about it, I'm afraid. You belong to God now, Jean Valjean. Go in peace. God be with you.

• Bishop : It's good?

  Jean Valjean : Yeah, it's good.

  Bishop : You were very hungry, I think. Let me pour you some more wine.

  Jean Valjean : You're a funny sort of priest. We had priests in prison. Not like you. You say I don't have to pay for any of this?

  Bishop : What is mine is yours, monsieur.

  Jean Valjean : I've got money. 109 francs. And five sous.

  Bishop : And how long did it take you to earn that?

  Jean Valjean : 19 years.

  Bishop : 19 years?

  Jean Valjean : 19 years of hard labor. Well, the five sous I earned today. It should have been seven, but... he cheated me. Yellow passport, people take advantage.

• Bishop : This is my bedroom here. And this is where you'll sleep. Tomorrow morning, you'll have a cup of warm milk, straight from our very own goat.

  Jean Valjean : You give me a bed right next to yours? Are you crazy? How do you know I'm not a murderer?

  Bishop : Well, that's the Good Lord's business, not mine. Or to put it another way, I'll take my chance with you, my friend.