[1823, Montreuil-sur-Mer. Outside the factory, owned by
the Mayor, Monsieur Madeleine (Valjean in disguise).]
The Poor
At the end of the day you`re another day older
And that`s all you can say for the life of the poor
It`s a struggle, it`s a war
And there`s nothing that anyone`s giving
One more day, standing about, what is it for?
One day less to be living.
At the end of the day you`re another day colder
And the shirt on your back doesn`t keep out the chill
And the righteous hurry past
They don`t hear the little ones crying
And the winder is coming on fast, ready to kill
One day nearer to dying!
At the end of the day there`s another day dawning
And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise
Like the waves crash on the sand
Like a storm that`ll break any second
There`s a hunger in the land
There`s a reckoning still to be reckoned
And there`s gonna be hell to pay
At the end of the day!
[The foreman and workers, including Fantine, emerge.]
Foreman
At the end of the day you get nothing for nothing
Sitting flat on your butt doesn`t buy any bread
Workers
There are children back at home
And the children have got to be fed
And you`re lucky to be in a job
And in a bed!
And we`re counting our blessings!
Women
Have you seen how the foreman is fuming today?
With his terrible breath and his wandering hands?
It`s because little Fantine won`t give him his way
Take a look at his trousers, you`ll see where he stands!
And the boss, he never knows
That the foreman is always in heat
If Fantine doesn`t look out
Watch how she goes
She`ll be out on the street!
Workers
At the end of the day it`s another day over
With enough in your pocket to last for a week
Pay the landlord pay the shop
Keep on grafting as long as you`re able
Keep on grafting till you drop
Or it`s back to the crumbs on the table
You`ve got to pay your way
At the end of the day!
Girl
What have we here, little innocent sister?
Come on Fantine, let`s have all the news!
[She grabs the letter from Fantine.]
Dear Fantine you must send us more money...
Your child needs a doctor...
There`s no time to lose!
Fantine
Give that letter to me
It is none of your business
With a husband at home
And a bit on the side
Is there anyone here
Who can swear before God
She has nothing to fear?
She has nothing to hide?
[They fight over the letter. Valjean rushes over to
break up the squabble.]
Valjean (as M. Madeleine)
What is this fighting all about?
Will someone tear these two apart?
This is a factory, not a circus!
Now come on ladies, settle down
I run a business of repute
I am the Mayor of this town
[To the foreman...]
I look to you to sort this out
And be as patient as you can---
[He goes back into the factory.]
Foreman
Now someone say how this began!
Girl
At the end of the day she`s the one who began it
There`s a kid that she`s hiding in some little town
There`s a man she has to pay
You can guess how she picks up the extra
You can bet she`s earning her keep sleeping around
And the boss wouldn`t like it!
Fantine
Yes it`s true there`s a child
And the child is my daughter
And her father abandoned us leaving us flat
Now she lives with an innkeeper man and his wife
And I pay for the child
What`s the matter with that??
Women
At the end of the day she`ll be nothing but trouble
And there`s trouble for all when there`s trouble for one
While we`re earning our daily bread
She`s the one with her hands in the butter
You must send the slut away
Or we`re all gonna end in the gutter
And it`s us who`ll have to pay
At the end of the day!
Foreman
I might have known the bitch could bite
I might have known the cat had claws
I might have guessed your little secret
Ah, yes, the virtuous Fantine
Who keeps herself so pure and clean
You`d be the cause I had no doubt
Of any trouble hereabout
You play a virgin in the light
But need no urgin` in the night.
Girl
She`s been laughing at you
While she`s having her men
Women
She`ll be nothing but trouble again and again
Workers
You must sack her today
Sack the girl today!
Foreman
Right my girl!
On your way...
