Les Miserables

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 15, 18 October 1935, Page 57

Les Miserables

VICTOR

HUGO'S

From the screen play by w. P. ‘Lipscomb starring

FREDRIC MARCH CHARLES LAUGHTON.

WHAT HAS GONE BELKORE. / dean Valjean, fugitive from the (: French authorities and one Juvert in { particular, plans to escape once and for all to England. His plans are interrupted by a students’ law reform revolt which sweeps over the...entire city. He attempts to rescue its ringleader, young Marius, in love with hisward, Cosette. Javert. appears on the scene, decides Jean is the "man higher up," senses his opportunity ta right all prenious humiliations and goes. after him with a vengeance, "Pighting for his life in the Faubourg St. Germain-troops al] around .himhe and his stupid students, getting themselves slaughtered--for what? I’d have kept him out of it, but when he didn’t hear from his sweetheart he didn’t care what happened. Now he’s in it-trapped in a -blind alley: determined to die for his silly cause. Aren't men fools?" "New (continuing), when will this Cosette be back?" "She’s here-but I’m trying to get her * to go to Dngland to-night." "England? And he’s never to see ber , again perhaps?’ To her it is a flash of hope that she may be able to part these two. "Lf we tell her where he is she'll want to go to him." "She couldn't get there. You might, but she couldn't." CHAPTER 6. Plans to Rescue Marius. "Why should 1 go to him?" "Don’t you want to save bim-for your daughter?" | "Why should I? She belongs to meto me. I have 2 right-she’s all 1 have --why, he may be beyond help already. Nothing to be gained, nothing, I well you. What's this boy to me that I should risk , my life-for him?" \ Eponine looks up at him and nods. Then adds in a quiet voice: "I know just how you feel, but it seems that they love each other. What ste we going to do about that, you and [7 That defeats us both, doesn’t it?-Well, shall I tell her or will you?" He looks down at Hponine. ‘The eunning, crafty look in his eyes goes away. This girl has the courage and is shewing him the only way out for him to "ake, A knock at the door interrupts chem. A coachman comes in and announces the horses in readiness for the flight to Calais, Jean is between Wponine and the coachman. He looks from one to the other. He decides, ; 4 "Cosette! Cosette!" (then to Epenine) "Can you show me the way-can we get him out?" "YT know the way in, but heaven knows if we'll ever get him out." _ dean is uow galvanised into ‘action,

"Cosette!" he repeats as the girl appears in the doorway of the room where she has completed packing, "we've found Marius! We're going to him now." "Let me go with you!’ gasps Cosette eagerly. : "It’s impossible-you must stay ere. He -dismisses -the coachman ywith a word as, he and WHponine disappear through the door into the streets of ‘error. Free at Last. Jean-and HWponine come out: ‘They are in the light for a brief second as: they look: around cautiously. Javert has the house spotted from an opposite window. "Valjean!" To a‘ gendarme, "Come on, follow, that’s the man I want." As they start off, two students fighting with a gendarme emerge from a doctway. Instinctively the gendarme with Javert stops to aid his comrade and Jayert goes on alone. Through narrow streets around dark corners and then up a dozen or so stone steps rush Jean and Hponine. "Quick! ..-Tle's- following: us-get up the stair-we’re there!" gasps Eponine. Javert arrives just as they disappear into the building. He fires with a command to "Stop!" The street where Marius and his cOmpanions are barricaded is a blind alley. A house nearby is afire and over the barricade of doors, paving stones, etce., the defenders are firing, one by one. Wounded are strewn about the streets. Javert is caught in the dead-end passage when q student steps behind him, Joined by others. breathless, disheyvelled, they bar the way. "Police! Spy!" is the warning «iy, "Spy, possibly: police, certainty" is Javert’s calm reply. "Wal We've got one of them, The guillotine will run here and now!" shouts one, fingering a wicked-looking blade. "Tie’s Mine." . "Let me. This man has persecuted me for 10 years--he’s mine!" It's Jean’s voice. "Do it then!" The knife is thrust into his hand. "T’ll do it as it was done in the ga!leys -the pistol in the mouth." Cries in the distance attract the «thers and they rush off, leaving Jean and "avert alone: Jean turns to his old eneluy, this thoughts flooded with revenge. "Now, Javert, the hunt ends." "Wnd it then." "Tt had to be one of us. You hyunded Ine; you pursued me-it’s you who ‘rive me to this-you and your law!" *. -"T)o your part. T’ve done mine, I stand hy everything T’ve done, I take what comes." "(Continued on page 58.)

"Les Miserables" (Continued from previous page.) A shadowy form moves and Javert steps out into the light. Jean can’t bring himself to do it. There is a terrific struggle going on within him. He shakes his head. "Go, before the others do what I can’t." "You fool, you know what'll happen, I shall take you in the end. You know I will-you know I must. I can’t help myself-I am what I am."

*"T take what comes. Go!" Jean remains iooking after Javert, then fires the pistol into the air, He izturns to the barricade. Bponine tries to pull him down from his exposed positicn and herself falls dead. Mounted gendarmes begin to attack With drawn sabres, There is a scrimmage Marius is felled with a blow on the head. Jean pulls him down through a half-open . manhole into the sewers, picks up the unconscious boy and staggers along down the tunnel in water up to his knees. Marius comes to enough to nod to Jean and flounder along himself. Jean »oatters through the steel gate that bars them from the river and they pass through, Through dark alleys they wind their way back ‘to Jean’s house’ in the Rue Druond. Cosette, on her knees before a small altar, rises and comes forward to Marius eagerly. For a moment it looks as though she-has forgotten everything Jean has done, Jean closes the door on them and backs into the hall. He senses the presence of another person. "Javert! You’re here, I know itwhere are you? "I’m ready. All I ask is a few moments to say good-bye." "The law allows you nothing." Jean’ raises his head to Javert, a face so agonised, helpless and hopeless that

even Javert is moved. He nods slowly. He knows this man has gaved his life but still he can’t help himself. "It’s not I-it’s the law that wants you -the law. I can’t help myself" of his weakness). "Go ahead, I’ll wait." Jean goes in. "Cosette, I’ve ‘come to: say good-bye. It has to be-there are reasons. My dear, what little I could do I have done-in my poor, stupia way I have tried to do what I could. Now I give her to you (to Marius)-iet her be as precious to you as she has been to me. Look after him, Cosette. Look after her." His face is bathed in perspiration from the struggle going on within him. He turns, looks back and takes down the two eandlesticks which he has kept with him all this time. "Keep these always." He fiugers them. \ "Silver, they say-but more than gold to me." { Cosette kisses him and clings to him, overcome with emotion. He moves over to Marius with her, "Love each other-there’s scarcely anything more in the world but that? Re member, as was once told me-life is to give, not to take. What I give-take, and give again." The door clicks and he is gone. It is over. He has given up Cosette aad now he has to face the other-the galleys. He tries to move to the door to the street, but his strength cracks and he drops to one knee.

"Father of all-I’ve done what could -take what You will-lI’ve given all I can-I’m ready !". . With a great effort he rises and marches toward the open doorway to thé street, his hands in front of hiw, his wrists drawn together to receive Javert’s handcuffs, his eyes half-closed, repeating in a whisper the word "Give." .) * Javert Disappears. 4 v But there is no Javert. The moonlit street beyond is empty. To Jean it is unbelievable-Javert is gone. He has left him. We can almost hear the voice of the old bishop over the scene, "Well done, my son. Well done!" His eyes go up to the heavens-to the voice-his face lights up with a smile as if the whole soul were lifted-at last he is free, ‘ Bxcited cries of "Down here! Down here! Hurry!" snap him out oat his trance. Through a narrow openiug in the street opposite is an alley leading to the river. There is a small crowd gath-ered-others are coming up. _ Jean pulls himself together and as if. drawn by a magnet races to the scene, ) "What is it?" "Suicide-must be-" "I tried to stop him," adds another oulooker, "but ‘he pushed me away. and jumped in-the river’s ip flood." Still another: "Look! It’s a policeman’s cloak-" A gendarme takes it and looks it over. Jean immediately recognises it as Javert’s. He turns and looks at the river, The water is swirling past. He now realises that Javert has left him for good. He is free, indeed-free to go back to Cosette and Marius, THE END.