Fantine's Death: Come To Me Lyrics

Fantine is lying in a hospital bed, deliriously dreaming of her daughter Cosette

FANTINE
Cosette, it's turned so cold
Cosette, it's past your bedtime
You've played the day away
And soon it will be night.

Come to me, Cosette, the light is fading
Don't you see the evening star appearing?
Come to me, and rest against my shoulder
How fast the minutes fly away and every minute colder.

Hurry near, another day is dying
Don't you hear, the winter wind is crying?
There's a darkness which comes without a warning
But I will sing you lullabies and wake you in the morning.

Valjean enters

VALJEAN
Oh, Fantine, our time is running out
But Fantine, I swear this on my life

FANTINE
Look, M'sieur, where all the children play

VALJEAN
Be at peace, be at peace evermore.

FANTINE
My Cosette...

VALJEAN
Shall live in my protection

FANTINE
Take her now

VALJEAN
Your child will want for nothing

FANTINE
Good M'sieur, you come from God in Heaven.

VALJEAN
And none shall ever harm Cosette
As long as I am living.

FANTINE
Take my hand. The night grows ever colder.

VALJEAN
Then I will keep you warm.

FANTINE
Take my child. I give her to your keeping.

VALJEAN
Take shelter from the storm

FANTINE
For God's sake, please stay till I am sleeping
And tell Cosette I love her
And I'll see her when I wake...

She dies with a smile. Javert arrives

=============

BAMATABOIS
Here's something new. I think I'll give it a try.
Come closer you! I like to see what I buy...
The usual price, for just a slice of your pie

FANTINE
I don't want you. No, no, m'sieur, let me go.

BAMATABOIS
Is this a trick? I won't pay more!

FANTINE
No, not at all.

BAMATABOIS
You've got some nerve, you little whore
You've got some gall.
It's the same with a tart as it is with a grocer
The customer sees what he gets in advance
It's not for the whore to say `yes sir' or `no sir'
It's not for the harlot to pick and to choose
Or lead me to a dance!

He hits her with his stick, she claws at his face, drawing blood

FANTINE
I'll kill you, you bastard,
try any of that!
Even a whore who has gone to the bad
Won't be had by a rat!

BAMATABOIS
By Christ you'll pay for what you've done
This rat will make you bleed, you'll see!
I guarantee, I'll make you suffer
For this disturbance of the peace
For this insult to life and property!

FANTINE
I beg you, don't report me sir
I'll do whatever you may want

BAMATABOIS
Make your excuse to the police!

Javert enters, accompanied by constables

JAVERT
Tell me quickly what's the story
Who saw what and why and where
Let him give a full description
Let him answer to Javert!
In this nest of whores and vipers
Let one speak who saw it all
Who laid hands on this good man here?
What's the substance of this brawl?

BAMATABOIS
Javert, would you believe it
I was crossing from the park
When this prostitute attacked me
You can see she left her mark

JAVERT
She will answer for her actions
When you make a full report
You may rest assured, M'sieur,
That she will answer to the court.

FANTINE
There's a child who sorely needs me
Please M'sieur, she's but that high
Holy God, is there no mercy?
If I go to jail she'll die!

JAVERT
I have heard such protestations
Every day for twenty years
Let's have no more explanations
Save your breath and save your tears
`Honest work, just reward,
That's the way to please the Lord.'

Fantine gives a last despairing cry as she is arrested by the constables.
Valjean emerges from the crowd

VALJEAN
A moment of your time, Javert
I do believe this woman's tale

JAVERT

VALJEAN
You've done your duty, let her be
She needs a doctor, not a jail.

JAVERT
But M'sieur Mayor!

FANTINE
Can this be?

VALJEAN
Where will she end -
This child without a friend?

I've seen your face before
Show me some way to help you
How have you come to grief
In a place such as this?

FANTINE
M'sieur, don't mock me now, I pray
It's hard enough I've lost my pride
You let your foreman send me away
Yes, you were there, and turned aside
I never did no wrong

VALJEAN
Is it true, what I have done?

FANTINE
My daughter's close to dying...

VALJEAN
To an innocent soul?

FANTINE
If there's a God above

VALJEAN
Had I only known then...

FANTINE
He'd let me die instead

VALJEAN
In His name my task has just begun
I will see it done!

JAVERT
But M'sieur Mayor!

VALJEAN
I will see it done!

JAVERT
But M'sieur Mayor!

VALJEAN
I will see it done!

VOICES
Look out! It's a runaway cart!