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