Episode 298a. Bubble Guppies: Les Miserables (part 1)

Plot
Jean Valjean (Mr. Grouper), known as Prisoner 24601, runs from the ruthless Inspector Javert (Mr. Grumpfish) on a journey beyond the barricades, at the center of the June Rebellion. Meanwhile, the life of a working class girl, Fantine (Molly), with a child is at turning point as she turns to prostitution to pay money to the evil innkeeper and his wife who look after her child, Cosette (Oona). Valjean promises to take care of the child, eventually leads to a love triangle between Cosette, Marius (Gil) who is a student of the rebellion, and Eponine (Deema), a girl of the streets. The people sing of their anger and Enjolras (Goby) leads the students to fight upon the barricades.

Characters

 * Mr. Grouper as Jean Valjean
 * Mr. Grumpfish as Javert
 * Molly as Fantine
 * Oona as Cosette
 * Chuckolaptor as Thenardier
 * Witch as Madame Thenardier
 * Gil as Marius
 * Goby as Enjolras
 * Deema as Eponine
 * Nonny as Gavroche
 * Crabs, Lobsters, and Snails as Convicts, and People

Trivia

 * This might be similiar to the 2012 "Les Miserables."
 * This is the first time to have some characters die.

Story
'''The year is 1815. The French revolution is a distant memory. Napoleon has been defeated. Bubbletucky is ruled by a King again.'''

Toulon Port -

There is a iron-grey surface of the ocean, seething in the wind, towards the shore. Winter rain slices the air. Ahead, the port of Toulon, home of the French navy. A forest of tall masted warships. The great ships heave at anchor, the wind whipping their rigging. Through the sea spray, the great ribs of warships are under construction, and warships were being refitted.

'''Toulon. Home port of the French navy.'''

Toulon Dock -

Storm-lashed sea and driving rain. A great wave rises up and hammers down. As it recedes, there were figures of men heaving on great ropes, the sea water streaming down over their faces. The harsh storm light catches glints of metal: these men are convicts, chained by manacles, heads shaved, wearing red shirts with prison numbers crudely stitched onto them. The ropes run up to a ship that is being hauled ashore - a storm-damaged man-of-war, its masts broken, rising and falling on the surge. As yet another great wave rolls over the convicts, the straining ropes go down into the base of the slipway, and find the convict Jean Valjean, up to his wrist in water, chained by two sets of manacles, as the rain and spray and wind scream round him. A great brute of a man, he seems to feel nothing. The convicts sing in time with the rhymtic pulls on the rope.

Lobsters: Ha - Ha!

Lobster: Ha - Ha! Look down, look down! Don't look them in the eye!

Lobsters: Look down, look down! You're here until you die.

Lobster: No God above! And Hell alone below!

Lobsters: Look down, look down! There's 20 years to go.

Javert, the officer in charge of the convict workforce, looking on, his face rain-lashed and expressionless. He stands above the men on the top of the dock, as lines of convicts labour beneath him on the steep steps of the dock wall. Behind Javert, through the storm rain, there is a forest of half-built ships, their ribbed frames like great skeletons in the mist. Foreground convicts are at work on another ship that is almost completed, labouring in the crashing spray.

Lobster: I've done no wrong! Sweet Jesus, hear my prayer!

Lobsters: Look down, look down! Sweet Jesus doesn't care.

Lobster: I know she'll wait! I know that she'll be true -

Lobsters: Look down, look down! They've all forgotten you.

Lobster: When I get free! You won't see me! Here for dust!

Lobsters: Look down, look down! Don't look 'em in the eye.

Lobster: How long, O Lord? Before you let me die?

Lobsters: Look down, look down! You'll always be a slave. Look down, look down! You're standing in your grave.

With a last great heave the lines of convicts haul the damaged ship onto the slipway. The stern flagpole of the ship snaps in a vicious gust of wind and crashes down into the shallow water near Valjean. Javert sees and points his stick at Valjean in silent command. Valjean stares back for a beat, defying him. Then he drops down into the seething water and re-emerges with the great mast in his hands, held over his hand. His head breaks water with his bitter gaze still on Javert, as he throws the mast ashore in a deliberate display of strength. Javert nods to the guards, and they begin to form the chained men into lines to return to their prison. The storm is passing now, blown by the driving wind. Javert approaches Jean Valjean.

Mr. Grumpfish: Now Prisoner 24601. Your time is up. And your parole's begun. You know what that means?

Mr. Grouper: Yes. It means I'm free.

Mr. Grumpfish: No! It means you get. Your yellow ticket-of-leave.

Javert hands Valjean a folded yellow paper.

Mr. Grumpfish: This badge of shame. You'll show it everywhere. It warns you're a dangerous man.

Mr. Grouper: I stole a loaf of bread. My sister's child was close to death. And we were starving.

Mr. Grumpfish: You will starve again. Unless you learn the meaning of the law.

Mr. Grouper: I know the meaning of those 19 years! A slave of the law!

Mr. Grumpfish: 5 years for what you did, the rest because you tried to run. Yes, 24601!

Mr. Grouper: My name is Jean Valjean!

Mr. Grumpfish: And I'm Javert! Do not forget my name. Do not forget me - 24601!

Javert strides away to command the lines of convicts as they're marched away. Valjean walks away, hardly able to take in that he is free at least. The convicts sing as he goes.

Lobsters: Look down, look down! You'll always be a slave. Look down, look down! You're standing in your grave.

Road Out Of Toulon -

Valjean makes his way up a rising track, a worn knapsack on his back. He comes to a stop at the top of the hill, and there before him, lit by the rising sun, spreads a wide vista of fields and towns and villages, stretching into the distance, with the snow capped Alps beyond. Behind and below him lies Toulon at the sea's edge. As the musical theme ('Freedom is Mine') plays, the darkness in his face gives a way to a new hope.

Mr. Grouper: Freedom at last - How strange the taste! Never forget the years - the waste, nor forgive them for what they've done. They are the guilty - Everyone! The day begins! And now let's see! What this new world! Will do for me!

Country Road -

Valjean strides down the long rising road, pulling his thin coat close round him against the cold winter wind. He passes a long line of labourers working. He approaches the overseer.

Mr. Grouper: Monsieur can I help? A day's work?

The overseer notices shaved hair showing under his cap.

Snail: Take your hat off.

Valjean takes his hat off, revealing his shaved and scarred head.

Snail: Passport.

The overseer scans the yellow paper, and hands it back.

Snail: No work here.

Mountain Road -

Valjean slogs on up the rising track into the mountains. Snow on the ground here, and darkness falling. He looks up and sees ahead a village built on a rock cliff, its lights twinkling, the snowy mountains rising behind. The tower of its handsome church rises up like a promise of refuge. This is Digne.

Digne -

Valjean enters Digne. As he drinks from the fountain, he sees a guard standing outside the Mairie.

Mairie, Digne -

Valjean stands waiting. The officer fastidiously writes down the name of Valjean in his huge ledger and the name of the town in his passport. The officer signs and stamps the passport.

Crab: Valjean.

The officer hands back the passport. Valjean leaves.

Digne -

Valjean walks down the high street, spies the warm glow of an inn and enters.

Country Inn, Digne -