Les Miserables - Cosette (Screenplay)

Light · February 21, 2010, 02:20:12 AM

Here's a short screenplay I wrote for my English class as a project (I got an A, mofos). It's an adaptation of the Cosette section in Victor Hugo's epic novel "Les Miserables". Yeah. Enjoy.

FADE IN. EXT. DOCKS - STORMY - MIDDAY.

The massive ship known as the ORION is floating atop waters
next to a docking port. Stormy clouds levitate over the
skies, as far as the eye can see. A voice shouts.

OFFICER (O.S.)
Alright, move it! This ship won't
wait for any of you!

An OFFICER is in front of the ship, with many convicts lined
up in front of him. The officer starts shouting numbers,
indicating the convicts who will board the ship.

OFFICER
9303!... 9376!... 9388!...

CLOSE UP: JEAN VALJEAN

The officer continues to shout out numbers as we see a
scruffy, older man with a melancholy disposition, named JEAN
VALJEAN. He looks down, waiting for the inevitable calling
of his name.

JEAN VALJEAN (V.O.)
I suppose you're wondering why I'm
in such a position as this. Let's
just say that I once led a criminal
lifestyle... and even when I change
my ways, I find myself staring at
the same exact fate. I have been
known by many names. Outside of
prison walls, people have called me
Monsieur Madeleine, or Monsieur le
Mayor. In the galleys, I was once
known as 24601, or at the current
moment-

OFFICER
...9430!...

Jean Valjean steps forward, the chains that bind his arms
and legs clinking as he does so. Despite being elderly, he
appears to be very lean and muscular.

As he walks away to board the ship, he resumes thinking.

JEAN VALJEAN (V.O.)
Numbers and aliases, that's all
everyone has thought of me for as
long as I can remember. Despite all
this, I still know my true name. My
name is Jean Valjean.

2.

EXT. ON THE SHIP ORION - STORMY

The officer has all the convicts chosen lined up in front of
him, with additional, regular crew members scattered around
the ship, working on different tasks. The ship is still at
the docks, swaying back and forth with intensity.

OFFICER
(shouting)
Alright, you dogs! You'll be sent
to do the more rigorous tasks in
repairing this ship!

CLOSE UP: JEAN VALJEAN'S SIDE

Jean Valjean begins to think again as the officer gives out
orders.

JEAN VALJEAN (V.O.)
I am in debt to a woman named
Fantine. I denied her the ability
to continue working at her job, and
in doing so, she became a
prostitute in order to pay for her
only child, who is currently
staying with an innkeeper and his
wife.

FLASHBACK

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - AFTERNOON

A young woman - no more than thirty - is lying in a hospital
bed as Jean Valjean sits on a stool by her side. The woman,
named FANTINE, weakly looks over at the man sitting next to
her.

FANTINE
Monsieur le Mayor... please take
care of my child. I am all she has
to love in this world...

JEAN VALJEAN
You don't have to worry. Your child
will be raised with love under me.

Fantine sighs in relief.

FANTINE
Thank you, monsieur... thank you
for taking my Cosette... you come
from God on high...

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

Fantine closes her eyes and drifts off into a deep sleep.

FLASHFORWARD

EXT. SHIP - CONTINUOUS

Valjean stares out into the sea, noticing another ship dock
right next to them.

CLOSE UP: SIDE OF THE OTHER SHIP

The word "Algesiras" is engraved in large, bold letters on
the side of the ship.

CLOSE UP: VALJEAN

Valjean watches the ship go by.

JEAN VALJEAN (V.O.)
I had already sworn to myself that
I would become an honest man; I had
been living the life of one for
some fifteen years. But that moment
changed everything once more; I
would need to risk all that I had
in order to pursue a greater good.

OFFICER (O.S.)
...Do I make myself clear?!

WIDE: SHIP

All of the convicts shrug and nod as Valjean snaps back to
the current situation.

OFFICER
Alright then, get to work!

EXT. SHIP - LATER

The workers - regular men and convicts alike - are all
hammering, hoisting, and working on repairing the ship.
Orders are constantly being given as the men struggle to
work against the fierce winds and trying conditions.

Lightning FLASHES in the background, with the booming sound
of thunder rumbling not far behind.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 4.

SUDDENLY: Cries and shouts are heard from both on the boat
and those spectating on the docks. Jean Valjean, from
amongst the working crowd on the ship, looks up and sees a
TOPMAN dangling from the top of a beam, over the edge of the
water.

CROWD WALLA
My God... Will someone anyone save
him?! No fool would ever try his
hand at saving that man! He's good
as dead!

A spark flashes in Valjean's eye. He begins to climb up the
rigging. The crowd gasps in horror.

CROWD WALLA
Look at that madman! What the hell
does he think he's doing? He'll get
himself killed!

EXT. SHIP - UPPER LEVEL, BEAM - CONTINUOUS

Valjean makes his way up the rigging, rather perilously, and
manages to get across the beam to where the topman is.
Valjean crouches down with as much strength as he can allow
as his cap is blown off his head. His hair - or what little
is left of it - is completely white. He reaches his hand out
to the struggling topman below him.

JEAN VALJEAN
Grab my hand!

TOPMAN (V.O.)
A convict for life...

The topman reaches up with one hand to grab onto Valjean's.

TOPMAN (V.O.)
And yet he risks his life for me?

The crowd is stunned and silent as the topman is helped up
to the beam. Valjean carries the topman over to the rigging,
where his crew mates are waiting. Cheers are let out as the
topman returns to his men.

Valjean looks away and finds... his cap! It had blown off
earlier, and is now hooked onto the edge of the beam,
dangling above the ocean below.

Valjean, without fear, makes his way across the beam to
retrieve the cap. He leans down to grab the cap... and a
sudden gust of wind causes him to lose his footing and send
him toppling over board.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

He falls in between the two docked ships. A dull splash is
heard. Seconds pass. Nothing comes up.

Silence.

FADE TO BLACK

INT. INN - DINING ROOM - MANY MONTHS LATER

CARD - THREE MONTHS LATER

The dark and damp innards of a small inn are dimly lit by
candles adorning the walls. Loud drunks are carousing as the
innkeeper and his wife - the THENARDIERS - grin and laugh
with a select few others, the presence of evil oozing out of
their stature.

THENARDIER
(shouting over the drunks)
Did you hear about that convict
that drowned about three months
ago? Poor sap; heard he was helping
another man who was stuck on some
rigging.

DRUNK #1
Yeah, probably wanted to get into
his pockets!

LAUGHTER.

MME. THENARDIER
Serves him right, anyway; scum of
the earth like him don't deserve to
be graced with our presence!

DRUNK #2
I'll drink to that!

THENARDIER
And what, that'll be your tenth
toast of the evening?!

More LAUGHTER.

THENARDIER
No, no... I'm afraid we're ready to
close up the eatery for the night.

DRUNK #2
But one final toast-

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 6.

The drunk clambers onto the top of a table, swaying from
side to side, his beer mug in hand. He raises it up
reverently, as if it were made of gold. As he begins to
speak, the room grows eerily silent.

DRUNK #2
(shouting, gathering
attention)
One last toast for t

Magnum · February 22, 2010, 06:54:51 PM

I'm getting my friends and we are doing this. Just figured I would forewarn you ^_^

Light · April 13, 2010, 05:01:33 PM

Quote from: Magnum on February 22, 2010, 06:54:51 PM
I'm getting my friends and we are doing this. Just figured I would forewarn you ^_^

You mean you're going to have people hanging off of ships? Awesome.

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Les Miserables - Cosette (Screenplay)

Light

Magnum

Light