[1823, Montreuil-sur-Mer.]

[Outside the factory owned by the Mayor,]

[Monsieur Madeleine (Jean 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 winter 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 from the factory]



[FOREMAN]

At the end of the day you get nothing for nothing

Sitting flat on your butt doesn't buy any bread



[WORKER ONE]

There are children back at home



[WORKERS ONE AND TWO]

And the children have got to be fed



[WORKER TWO]

And you're lucky to be in a job



[WOMAN]

And in a bed!



[WORKERS]

And we're counting our blessings!



[WOMAN TWO]

Have you seen how the foreman is fuming today?

With his terrible breath and his wandering hands?



[WOMAN THREE]

It's because little Fantine won't give him his way



[WOMAN ONE]

Take a look at his trousers, you'll see where he stands!



[WOMAN FOUR]

And the boss, he never knows

That the foreman is always in heat



[WOMAN THREE]

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 off the table

You've got to pay your way

At the end of the day!



[GIRL (Grabbing a letter from Fantine)]

And what have we here, little innocent sister?

Come on Fantine, let's have all the news!



[Reading the letter]



Ooh..."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 (M. Madeleine) rushes on to break up the squabble.]



[VALJEAN]

Will someone tear these two apart

What is this fighting all about?

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



[WOMAN]

You must sack her today



[WORKERS]

Sack the girl today!



[FOREMAN]

Right my girl. On your way!