16- Red And Black

(The ABC Cafe, where the students, led by Enjolras, meet to discuss their revolutionary plans) COMBEFERRE 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! ENJORAS 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 To bring them in line! (Marius enters) Marius, you're late. JOLY Marius what's wrong with you 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, and 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 Ju-an It's better than an o-per-a! 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 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! ALL Red... MARIUS The color of desire! ALL 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 toward a larger goal Our little lives don't count at all! ALL 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!