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AUDITION SCENE2

FANTINE, JAVERT, JEAN VALJEAN

Fantine has lost her job at Valjean’s workshop and her need to send money to pay the Thenardier’s, who care for her daughter Cosette, has meant that she has fallen into prostitution. She has just been arrested by Javert for attacking a gentleman (it was actually self- defence). She is desperate not to go to jail, she begs with all her heart. This scene begins with her despair and she must convince Javert to let her go.

Javert has arrested Fantine and will not be convinced that the gentleman was in the wrong. He is a dedicated policeman with a profound sense of duty. He is stern forbidding and lacking in compassion. He cannot understand Jean Valjean’s decision to Fantine her but has no choice to eventually obey him as Valjean is his superior. Javert does not yet know that Valjean is prisoner 24601.

Jean Valjean is Mayor of the town and therefore above Javert. He has enormous compassion and seeing Fantine’s absolute despair he knows he must see to it that she and her daughter are saved.

This intense scene requires total emotional commitment. For Valjean and Javert it becomes a battle of status, for Fantine her child’s life is at stake. Be brave, there is no right or wrong if you mean every word you say.

JAV: Girl, you will be in the lock up where you deserve. You’re up for 6 months.

FAN: Six months! Six months jail! But what will happen to my daughter, my Cosette? Monsieur Javert I beg your mercy, I swear to you I was not in the wrong. I have explained how it happened, if you had been there when it started you would have seen! I swear by the Lord above that I was not in the wrong. Have pity on me Monsieur…

JAV: That’s enough! I’ve heard you out. You’ve got six months.

FAN: Have mercy sir, my Cosette needs me. It’s not greed that has made me what I am it’s desperation, please Monsieur, I am a good woman and I must help my daughter. If the Thenardier’s don’t get their money they will dump her on the streets, please don’t put me in jail I beg you, Good Monsieur Javert, take pity on us.

JAV: No more you harlot. You’ve got six months, the Eternal Father himself could do nothing more.

JEAN: Inspector Javert let this woman go.

JAV: Monsieur le maire, that can’t be done.

JEAN: Why’s that?

JAV: This wretched woman insulted a gentleman. This miserable creature will serve her six months.

JEAN: Inspector Javert, I wish you to release her. I know what I am doing.

JAV: And I, Monsieur le maire, do not believe what I am hearing. 2

JEAN: (strongly) Then make do with obeying.

JAV: (matching Valjean’s strength) I’m obeying my duty to the law. My duty tells me that this woman will do six months behind bars.

JEAN: (intensely) Listen to me carefully. She will not do a single day. I order this woman to be set free.

JAV: But Monsieur le maire, allow me …

JEAN: Not another word.

JAV: But…

JEAN: Get out.

(Audition scene 2 Javert, Fantine, Jean Valjean)