Fantine, a young woman from Montreuil, lives in Paris. She falls in love with Tholomyes, a wealthy student who gets her pregnant and then abandons her. Fantine returns to her home village with her daughter, Cosette. On the way to Montreuil, however, Fantine realizes that she will never be able to find work if the townspeople know that she has an illegitimate child. In the town of Montfermeil, she meets the Thenardiers, a family that runs the local inn. The Thenardiers agree to look after Cosette as long as Fantine sends them a monthly allowance."