Living respectably as a provincial mayor and factory owner, Valjean hires the single mother Fantine. Trouble follows that reunites him with his old adversary Javert.
Marius mans the barricades, where a hostile Valjean intercepts him. They end up fleeing together through the sewers of Paris. Cosette's story reaches its conclusion. So does Javert's.
Now a young woman, Cosette moves to Paris under Valjean's protection. There, she meets the handsome law student Marius, who unwittingly brings a nightmare to life.
Valjean saves an innocent man at enormous personal cost. Again evading justice, he tracks down Fantine's daughter Cosette. Pursued by Javert, they need a miracle to escape.
After serving a draconian prison term for stealing bread, Jean Valjean is released. He resorts to petty crime, but Bishop Myriel teaches him a valuable lesson.