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.
We need a sign
To rally the people
To call them to arms
To bring them in line!

JOLY
Marius, wake up!
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 Aah.
You talk of battles to be won
And here he comes like Don Juan!
It is 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 yourselves
What's the price you might pay?
Is this simply a game
For rich young boys to play?
The colours of the world
Are 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 seen her today
You might know how it feels
To be struck to the bone
By a moment of breathless delight!
Had you been there today
You might also have known
How the 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 colour of desire!

STUDENTS
Black!

MARIUS
The colour 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!

ENJOLRAS
Red!

STUDENTS
The blood of angry men!

ENJOLRAS
Black!

STUDENTS
The dark of ages past!
Red - a world about to dawn!
Black - the night that ends at last!

COURFEYRAC
Listen, everybody!

GAVROCHE
General Lamarque is dead!

ENJOLRAS
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
With the light of rebellion ablaze in their eyes.
From their candles of grief we will kindle our flame.
On the tomb of Lamarque shall our barricades rise!
The time is here!
Let us welcome it gladly with
courage and cheer!

STUDENT
Let us take to the street with no doubt in our hearts

COURFEYRAC
But a jubilant shout!

LESGLES
They will come one and all!

STUDENTS
They will come when we call!