At the height of the planning stage for their revolution, the students of Les Amis de l'ABC hold a meeting.

“Red and Black” serves as a proper introduction to Enjolras as a character, as well as their revolt… Read More [COMBEFERRE]

Enjolras!

At Notre Dame

The sections are prepared

[FEUILLY]

At rue de Bac

They're straining at the leash

[COURFEYRAC]

Students, workers, everyone

There's a river on the run

Like the flowing of the tide

Paris coming to our side

[ENJOLRAS]

The time is near

So near it's stirring the blood in their veins

And yet, beware

Don't let the wine go to your brains

For the army we fight is a dangerous foe

With the men and the arms that we never can match

It is easy to sit here and swat 'em like flies

But the national guard will be harder to catch

We need a sign

To rally the people

To call them to arms

And to bring them in line!

[MARIUS enters.]

Marius, you're late

[JOLY]

What's wrong today?

You look as if you've seen a ghost

[GRANTAIRE]

Some wine and say what's going on

[MARIUS]

A ghost you say, a ghost maybe

She was just like a ghost to me

One minute there, then she was gone

[GRANTAIRE]

I am agog

I am aghast

Is Marius in love at last?

I've never heard him "ooh" and "ah" (Ha ha ha)

You talk of battles to be won

And here he comes like Don Ju-an

It's better than an opera

[ENJOLRAS]

It is time for us all

To decide who we are

Do we fight for the right

To a night at the opera now?

Have you asked of yourselves

What's the price you might pay?

Is it simply a game

For rich young boys to play?

The color of the world

Is changing day by day

Red—the blood of angry men

Black—the dark of ages past

Red—a world about to dawn

Black—the night that ends at last!

[MARIUS]

Had you been there tonight

You might know how it feels

To be struck to the bone

In a moment of breathless delight

Had you been there tonight

You might also have known

How your world may be changed

In just one burst of light

And what was right seems wrong

And what was wrong seems right

[GRANTAIRE]

Red

[MARIUS]

I feel my soul on fire

[GRANTAIRE]

Black

[MARIUS]

My world if she's not there

[STUDENTS]

Red

[MARIUS]

The color of desire

[STUDENTS]

Black

[MARIUS]

The color of despair!

[ENJOLRAS]

Marius, you're no longer a child

I do not doubt you mean it well

But now there is a higher call

Who cares about your lonely soul?

We strive towards a larger goal

Our little lives don't count at all

[STUDENTS]

Red—the blood of angry men

Black—the dark of ages past

Red—a world about to dawn

Black—the night that ends at last

[ENJOLRAS]

Well, Courfeyrac, do we have all the guns?

Feuilly, Combeferre, our time is running short

Grantaire, put the bottle down!

Do we have the guns we need?

[GRANTAIRE]

Give me brandy on my breath

And I'll breathe them all to death

[COURFEYRAC]

In St. Antoine, they're with us to a man

[COMBEFERRE]

In Notre Dame, they're tearing up the stones

[FEUILLY]

Twenty rifles, good as new

[GAVROCHE rushes in, shouting.]

[GAVROCHE, spoken]

Listen!

[JOLY]

Twenty rounds for every man

[GAVROCHE, spoken]

Listen to me!

[JEAN PROUVAIRE]

Double that in Port St. Cloud

[GAVROCHE, spoken]

Listen, everybody!

[LESGLES]

Seven guns in St. Martin

[GAVROCHE, spoken]

General LaMarque is dead!

[ENJOLRAS]

LaMarque is dead

LaMarque, his death is the hour of fate

The people's man

His death is the sign we await

On his funeral day, they will honour his name

It's a rallying cry that will reach every ear

In the death of LaMarque they will kindle the flame

They will see that the day of salvation is near

The time is here

Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer

Let us take to the streets with no doubt in our hearts

But a jubilant shout

They will come one and all

They will come when we call