ACT 1 1 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
CLOPIN (robed):
Morning in Paris The city awakes To The Bells Of Notre Dame
CONGREGATION:
The fisherman fishes The baker-man bakes To The Bells Of Notre Dame
PHPEBUS (robed):
To The Bells As Loud As The Thunder
CONGREGATION:
To The Little Bells Soft As A PSALM
ESMERELDA (robed): And Some Say The Soul Of The City The Toll Of
The stage is ďŹ lled with the light of Notre Dame and the Congregation face the audience and carry out the opening chords.
CONGREGATION:
The Bells The BELLS OF NOTRE DAME
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2
CONGREGATION:
On the Morning of January 6th, 1482, the good citizens of Paris gathered at the cathedral to listen to the sermon… (DOM CLAUDE FROLLO enters, robed. He stands centerstage, addressing the CONGREGATES of Notre Dame)
FROLLO:
…of Dom Claude Frollo…
CONGREGATION:
…archdeacon of Notre Dame, before whom the congregation stopped beneath the lofty arches of the church.
as he
FROLLO:
Congregants, we gather here, in this vast symphony of stone, on the
morning of the Feast of Fools. Our streets will soon be filled with those unsavory elements: criminals, foreigners, and gypsies, who have infested our city, and are on this one day free to roam without being subject to arrest. Beware the temptations of those less devout than we. We must fight the urge to indulge ourselves. 3 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
sinners
sinners
sinners
sinners sinners
sinners
For remember,
sinners
sinners
sinners
sinners
sinners we are all
born
sinners
sinners
sinners
sinners
sinners. sinners
sinners
sinners
sinners sinners
sinners
sinners
sinners sinners
sinners
sinners
sinners
sinners The Hunchback of Notre Dame 4
CONGREGATION:
Long years ago did this story beginin this place called notre dametwo orphan brothers were both taken in by the grace of notre dame
FROLLO (de robes):
Claude, the older who cared for his brother
JEHAN (from the CONGREGATES, also de robes): Young jehan, full of beauty and charm
BOTH:
And they lived and they grew and awoke to the music of bells
ALL:
The Bells Of Notre Dame
CHORUS:
Kyrie Eleison
FROLLO:
Oh dear brother meet these arches and this sacred dome
CHORUS:
Kyrie Eleison
FROLLO:
We are blessed to find our sanctuary and our home
5 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
JEHAN:
(lovingly picks up his brother and hugs him)
Come with me dear brother! I’m heading into town for a little fun. FROLLO: No, Jehan, you must stay home and write out your catechism. JEHAN:
Noooo, you must come with me to the bar! FROLLO:
Jehan! I am NOT going to lie for you again if you stay up late. JEHAN: Yes you will. Brother dear! (He kisses FROLLO’s cheek) You are so good to me. (JEHAN exits)
CONGREGATION:
Righteous claude frollo was ever more drawn like a son to Notre Dame
JEHAN(entering):
Not like his profligate brother jehan who’d have none of Notre Dame
CONGREGATION:
Though as brothers they loved one another Frollo watched in despair and alarm as Jehan who grew wild and defied and defiled all the lawsthe laws of Notre Dame (Jehan now has a bottle of liquor and has arrived back at the cathedral, late at night) The Hunchback of Notre Dame 6
FROLLO: Jehan, Where have you been? Why weren’t you in evening mass? JEHAN: It’s your birthday today! We must celebrate! I brought you a gifts--he’s a friend of mine. (He reveals FLORIKA) FROLLO: A gypsy girl in our room? JEHAN: Florika---she is a beauty, isn’t she? This is my brother, Claude. FLORIKA: Happy birthday…Claude. Don’t be shy. I can see you want to. I can see it in your eyes. Ha ha! I can feel it, too!
Stop! FROLLO:
7 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
FATHER DUPIN: Claude? JEHAN: It’s Father Dupin! Help me hide her! (Within the CONGREGATION acting as a stone wall, they hide her. FATHER DUPIN hides her)
FATHER DUPIN: What is going on in here? JEHAN: Nothing, Father! FATHER DUPIN: Is it nothing, Claude? FROLLO: Tell him, Jehan. If you won’t, I will! (Pulls FLORIKA out of the hiding place and throws her to the floor)
CHORUS:
Kyrie Eleison
FATHER DUPIN:
You must leave, jehan, this holy refuge where you’ve dwelled.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 8
JEHAN:
Leave? But
Father Father
FATHER DUPIN:
Sorry claude, but I’ve no choice your brother is expelled
FROLLO: Jehan… JEHAN: What
9 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
did y
ou th
ink?
ouldn’t
ey w That th
send
y? me awa
o you
Who d
?
le are
e peop
thes think
FROLLO:
These people have given us a home and comfort and safety!
JEHAN:
Comfort?!
You
mfort? call this co
is safety?
You call th
Well, you can have it! You’re welcome to it.
JEHAN AND FLORIKA: And Jehan and the girl left.(They exit) CONGREGATION: And Frollo didn’t hear from his brother for several years.
Meanwhile…
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 10
Frollo ascended Uncommonly fast through the ranks The ranks of notre dame Till he was named the archdeacon at last And gave thanks to notre dame And then one awful day got a message
10 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
FROLLO: I’m Father Claude Frollo. I was told to come to this place. WOMAN: Oh, we’ve heard about you. JEHAN: FROLLO:
And the name that it bore was “JEHAN”
CONGREGATION:
And concealing his face frollo stole to a placefar away…away from Notre Dame
(laying in a bed and dying)
Hello, brother dear.
FROLLO: Jehan! Oh, thank God! Where have you been? JEHAN: I’ve been traveling…hounded from city to city with my beautiful Florika. FROLLO: The gypsy girl --- you’re with her? JEHAN: She died three months ago --- from the pox. It was a terrible thing to watch her suffer. FROLLO: Jehan, let me take you back. I’ll bring you home. (He holds him in his arms).
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 11
FROLLO:
Brother dearest, come with mewhere we will find a remedy and Notre Dame once more will be your sanctuary healing you will be my goal not just your body, but your soul we’ll be together in our holy sanctuary.
JEHAN:
Enough, Claude! Enough of your pieties!
It’s too late for me anyway. But if you have truly discovered charity at this late date, there is someone you can help. (A member of the CONGREGATION hands FROLLO a baby wrapped in a blanket)
FROLLO: A baby? Yours? A…a monster! It’s God’s judgement on you! The wicked shall not go unpunished! JEHAN: I should have known! I was a fool to think you’d look after him!
12 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
FROLLO: Look after him? Me? JEHAN: He has no one else! FROLLO: But he’s a gypsy child! JEHAN: …And mine. Take him…if you can find it in your heart.(Dies) FROLLO: Jehan? Jehan?!(He rushes into the night with the baby) (FROLLO runs to the front of the stage and raises the baby, ready to throw it into the abyss)
CHORUS:
Kyrie Eleison
CONGREGATION:
And the saints regarded Frollo From their stone facade
CHORUS:
Kyrie Eleison And he felt their gaze As if it were the eyes of God
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 13
FROLLO:
Oh Lord, you’ve sent me a test. This child is my cross to bear. I may not have saved my brother, but I will save this…thing. But a monster like this must be kept hidden. FROLLO:
See this lonesome creature from whom lesser men would flee I will keep and care for him and teach him at my knee to think like me.
CONGREGATION: And Frollo gave the child a name. A cruel name that means half-formed… FROLLO:
Quasimodo! CLOPIN:
Now here is a riddle to guess if you cansing The Bells Of Notre Dame (QUASIMODO enters in common attire)
QUASIMODO:
What makes a monster and what makes a man? (During this, he smears paint on his face to give the illusion of a deformity and the actor transforms into the hunchback. His tunic is placed on him as well.)
14 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
ALL:
Sing the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells,the bells of Notre Dame
FROLLO:
Up!(He points to the bells).
(The bells ring. QUASIMODO swings from the bells, and speaks over their chiming.)
QUASIMODO: Oh Marie! You’re in very good voice today! Jacqueline, we need to fix your clapper! C’mon, Gabriel! Pour your flood of sound into the square! Oh, it’s a holiday! Sing, my bells! Sing till you are all quite out of breath! (Distant sound of birds chirping. QUASIMODO goes to them.)
QUASIMODO: Ah, morning, my little birdies!’ (The GARGOYLES are members of the CONGREGATION, but have small chimes and bells that they ring whenthey speak)
GARGOYLE: Don’t you wish you could be like those birds and just fly away? QUASIMODO:
Ooh, me? No. No! GARGOYLE: But how beautiful it must be out there! GARGOYLES: Why not? QUASIMODO:
It’s too dangerous! The Hunchback of Notre Dame 15
GARGOYLE: The boy is right. Don’t encourage him! GARGOYLES: Why shouldn’t we? CONGREGATION: For Quasimodo, the cathedral was not only his home, but his universe. It was people with figures of marble; with kings and saints, monsters and demons. The saints blessed him, and the monsters protected him! QUASIMODO: Today…is the Feast
of Fools!
GARGOYLES: YEAH! YAY! GARGOYLE: Quasimodo, why don’t you try going down there? QUASIMODO: You know I’ve never gone outside. GARGOYLE: You can leave any time you want! GARGOYLE: Master won’t allow it!
16 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
QUASIMODO: No, last year, he said “Someday, maybe.”. GARGOYLE: He always says “Someday.” Never today! GARGOYLE: Besides, you shouldn’t have to ask for permission to go outside! Just put one foot in front of the other! GARGOYLES: And sneak out! QUASIMODO: I can’t! (FROLLO enters carrying a basket with two cups and bread)
FROLLO: Quasimodo?(He taps him on the shoulder) Good morning, Quasimodo. QUASIMODO:
(At the sight of his master, he scrunches up, and looks up toward FROLLO)
Morning, master.
FROLLO: Were you talking to someone?
QUASIMODO: No! Just…my friends.
FROLLO: Sanctus christi (the blood of Christ)
FROLLO: Mhm, your friends. And what are your friends made of?
QUASIMODO: Amen.
QUASIMODO: Stone. FROLLO: And can stone talk back? QUASIMODO: No!(slaps his hand) FROLLO: That’s right. What kind of conversation is that? It takes two people to communicate, my boy. And who is that other person for you?
FROLLO: In nominee patri, fill et spiritu sancta (In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit). I brought you a special
treat today. Strawberry?
(QUASIMODO goes to grab one from him)
FROLLO: Ah! Ah! (Smacks him away)Self-control, Quasimodo. It’s important to master the art. (QUASIMODO tentatively takes the strawberry and puts it in his mouth)
QUASIMODO: You. You, Master.
FROLLO: And of manners, too!
FROLLO: Right, again.(Frollo presents bread and wine to QUASIMODO) Corpus christi
QUASIMODO: (spits it out) Thank you, master.
QUASIMODO: Amen.
(FROLLO gestures to him that it is okay to eat it. QUASIMODO immediately devours it)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 17
FROLLO: QUASIMODO:
FROLLO: QUASIMODO: FROLLO: QUASIMODO: FROLLO: QUASIMODO: FROLLO: QUASIMODO: FROLLO:
Now shall we tell today’s story?
Yes! Yes! Stories from our home’s beautiful statues! And we were up to…? Flight into Egypt! That’s right. What do you remember about that story? …Joseph fled into Egypt. (laughs) Yes, he did. With his wife, Mary, and…?
Baby Jesus! That’s right now, who hid them? Who protected them? Saint Aphro-(he keeps trying to pronounce the name.) (laughs, but speaks clearly)
Aphrodisius. Saint Aphrodisius. As I have hidden and protected you. (Nearby horns are heard)
18 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
FROLLO: Oh, ugh. Well I suppose I must stop stalling. (Goes to look down upon the square in disgust)
Look at them down there, like horrible vermin! Scuttling about. And all to see the gypsies sing and dance. QUASIMODO: Gypsies? You told me gypsies not allowed to sing, dance. FROLLO: They aren’t except on this one day: The Feast of Fools. QUASIMODO: Feast of Fools. FROLLO: It’ll be the last time if I have anything to say about it. QUASIMODO: Last time? FROLLO: I petitioned the king to stop next year’s festival. QUASIMODO: But then, I can never go. FROLLO: Why our king allows the gypsies here in the first place is beyond me. Through borders porous as a sieve We let them come And let them live It’s almost as if they were given Sanctuary How it fills me with disgust To walk amongst them Yet I must I loath to leave you And our trusty Sanctuary.
QUASIMODO:
What if I came with you?
I’m strong, I could protect you. The Hunchback of Notre Dame 19
FROLLO:
e?
tect m
pro You
QUASIMODO:
Like Saint Aphro-(tries to pronounce it again) FROLLO:
(laughs at Quasimodo)
I’m
20 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
sorr
y, m
y bo
y. I
Aph r o disius.
don
't m
ean
to la
ugh
at yo
u. B
ut th
e tru
th is
, tha
t’s w
hat
othe
rs w
ill d
o. A
nd w
orse
.
The world is cruel The world is wicked It’s I alone whom you can trust In this whole city I am your only friend I who keep you, feed you Teach you, dress you I who look upon you Without fear How can I protect you, boy Unless you always Stay in here Away in here?
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 21
FROLLO:
Now, remember what I’ve taught you, Quasimodo. You are deformed
QUASIMODO:
QUASIMODO:
Only a monster
I am deformed
FROLLO:
FROLLO:
And you are ugly
Why invite their curses And their consternation? Stay in here Be faithful to me
QUASIMODO: And I am ugly
FROLLO:
And these are crimes For which the world Shows little pity You do not comprehend
QUASIMODO: I’m faithful
FROLLO:
Be grateful to me
QUASIMODO:
QUASIMODO:
I’m grateful
You are my defender
FROLLO:
FROLLO:
Do as I say Obey
Out there They’ll revile you as a monster
BOTH:
QUASIMODO:
And stay in here
I am monster
FROLLO: Out there They will hate and scorn and jeer
22 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
FROLLO: Remember Quasimodo, this is your sanctuary.(He exits)
QUASIMODO: My sanctuary.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 23
Safe behind these windows And these parapets of stone Gazing at the people down below me All my life I watch them As I hide up here alone
Hungry for the histories They show me All my life I memorize their faces Knowing them as they will never know me All my life I wonder How it feels to pass a day Not above them But part of them
And out there Living in the sun Give me one day Out there All I ask is one To hold forever Out there Where they all live unaware What I’d give What I’d dare Just to live one day Out there 24 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Out there among the millers And the weavers And their wives Through the roofs and gables I can see them Everyday they shout and scold And go about their lives Heedless of the gift it is to be them If I were in their skin I’d treasure every instant
Out there Strolling by the seine Taste a morning Out there Like ordinary men Who freely walk About there Just one day and then I swear I’ll be content
With my share Won’t resent Won’t despair Old and bent I wont care I’ll have spent one day Out there
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 25
(The CONGREGATES become TOWNS PEOPLE and bring on the flags and the stage for the Feast of Fools)
ALL:
Come one, come all Leave your looms and milking stools Coop the hens and pen the mules Come one, come all Close the churches and the schools It’s the day for breaking rules Come and join the feast of… Fools!
QUASIMODO:
OUT HERE! ALL:
So exciting Colors, crowds and smells
QUASIMODO:
OUT HERE! ALL:
Where this place is noisy as the bells!
QUASIMODO:
Somehow, I can wander Through this helter-skelter without fear now No one sees I’m here now
Out here in the world! 26 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
CONGREGATION: As Quasimodo turned into the square, he saw before him a ragged beggar who approached a haughtylooking gentleman. CLOPIN:
(disguised as beggar goes up to gentleman and picks his pocket)
Take pity, whatever you can spare!
GYPSY: First purse of the day!(CLOPIN takes off his disguise) CLOPIN: And plenty more to come! Clopin Trouillefou, ladies and gents! GYPSIES: King of the Gypsies! CLOPIN: Wild boar among domestic swine. Gypsies, let’s get to work! (Members of the CONGREGATION become GYPSIES)
CLOPIN:
Once a year We throw a party here in tow Once a year We turn all paris upside down Every man’s a king and every king’s a clown Once again it’s topsy turvy day It’s the day the devil in us gets released It’s the day we mock the prig and shock the priest Everything is topsy turvy at the feast of fools, Ha!
ALL:
Topsy Turvy The Hunchback of Notre Dame 27
CLOPIN:
Beat the drums and blow the trumpets
ALL:
Topsy Turvy Join the bums and thieves and strumpets Streaming in from chartres to calais
CLOPIN:
Scurvy knaves are extra scurvy On the 6th of Janu-ervy
ALL:
All because it’s Topsy Turvy day (Dance break, which eventually Quasimodo joins.) (At this point, captain Phoebus enters in military garb)
PHOEBUS: Into this crowd stood a young cavalier. Captain Phoebus de Martin, at your service. CONGREGATION: Whose dashing manner and bold swagger could not but conceal a haunted look in his eyes. PHOEBUS: New to Paris, just back from the front. CONGREGATION GIRL: One of those handsome fellows that all the girls take a liking. PHOEBUS: Thank you, ladies. Might one of you enjoy showing me around? GIRL: Oh, Captain, we’re not those kinds of girls 28 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
PHOEBUS:
I like all kinds of girls. Four years at the front Give a man a zest For a little rest And recreation For the chance to hunt For the spiciest In the way of rest And recreation Give me your girls of pleasure Your grapes of merlot Show me you wares and measure One large sample Sample them at my leisure This three day furlough Should be ample I have bore the bruntof a soldier’s test. Now I’ve made my way To where I get to play And rest and recreaThe Hunchback of Notre Dame 29
(CLOPIN enters and attempts to pick PHOEBUS’s pocket. He notices and points his sword at CLOPIN’s neck)
PHOEBUS: You’re quick, but I’m quicker. CLOPIN: (laughs) I don’t want any trouble. PHOEBUS:
Nor do I, believe me. (CLOPIN staggers away and the action is frozen. PHOEBUS is taken back to war times) Four years at the front Four years at the front
CONGREGATION MEN:
Cannon fodder lying in the fill below the castle.Is this the third week Or the fourth week of the siege? The air filled with the stench of bodies in a trench Whoever pays the most I call my liege Summoned here to paris now, I’m far away from battle The clotting blood and rotting wounds Of dead and dying men
30 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
PHOEBUS AND MEN: And whatever I do. I’ll make sure this is true.
PHOEBUS:
I will never go back again. (He snaps back to reality) Darling, to be blunt You are with the best That’s why I‘ve been blessed With this promotion I’Ve been working hard Now I’m gonna be Captain of the guard Ain’t that a notion? Like other true knights I’ve got ambition But for a few nights Fun is my mission So what do you say? You care to share a day? Of rest and recreation!
(A GYPSY man runs on stage, having been chases by a NOBLEMAN. PHOEBUS captures him) NOBLE:
Come back here! PHOEBUS: Hold on. What’s your rush? GYPSY: I did nothing wrong! PHOEBUS: No? Then why run from it so fast? GYPSY: Take pity. I’m just a poor fellow! The Hunchback of Notre Dame 31
PHOEBUS: Than a pity you’d be as well placed as a
NOBLE: They work in pairs. I couldn’t catch the other one.
FROLLO:
FROLLO: Arrest him.
feather in a pig’s
ass!
My goodness, sir! PHOEBUS: Beg pardon, your grace. NOBLE: This gypsy picked my pocket! FROLLO: Search him, Lieutenant. FREDERIC: Nothing, sir.
32 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
PHOEBUS: On what charge? FROLLO: Plying his trade! If it were up to me, he wouldn’t be allowed on the streets at all. He’d be hunted for sport like the gypsy dog he is. Take him away. PHOEBUS: Archdeacon Frollo? I’m Captain Phoebus de Martin.
FROLLO:
(finally notices him)
Oh, Captain! Only just arrived and you all ready catch your first criminal. You waste no time. Welcome to the Cathedral Guard. PHOEBUS: I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve you. (He attempts to kiss FROLLO’s hand, who lowers it ever so slightly)
FROLLO: Glad to hear it. Your early arrival is most auspicious. The pestilence of these gypsies grows more dangerous every day.
FROLLO:
Captain you and I Have a task we share Stopping them and their Proliferation Paris looks to us
PHOEBUS: …To us
(The TOWNS PEOPLE gather in the streets and set up the stage, as a woman enters, robed)
ALL:
Come one, come all
CLOPIN:
FROLLO:
To rid her streets of crime
Hurry, hurry Here’s your chance See the mystery and romance
PHOEBUS:
ALL:
…To rid her streets of crime
Come one, come all
FROLLO:
CLOPIN:
This is war and thus…
BOTH:
There is no time…for rest and recreation
See the finest girl in france Make an entrance to entrance Dance la esmerelda…! Dance!
(ESMERELDA is revealed and she dances. The crowd claps and cheers) The Hunchback of Notre Dame 33
ESMERELDA:
Hey, soldier boy I see how you starehey, butcher man I see you admire Come gather ‘round Hey Jacques and Pierre Come see me dance To the rythm of the tambourine Flash of an ankle Flip of a skirt Feel them excite And flame and inspire Come see me dance Hey what can it hurt It’s just a dance To the rhythm of the tambourine (ESMERELDA dances and tosses FROLLO one of her scarves. FROLLO, PHOEBUS, and QUASIMODO are mesmerized by this gypsy dancer.)
PHOEBUS:
This girl, who is she?
QUASIMODO:
This girl, who is she? Frollo: she dances like a devil…
PHOEBUS:
She dances like an angel…
QUASIMODO: An angel…
PHOEBUS:
She dances like fire…
FROLLO: Such fire… 34 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
ALL:
Who is she?
ESMERELDA:
Come on Paris! Before we get old Come feel the heat Come taste the desire Feel them within you Crimson and gold Gold like the coins You will toss into my tambourine When I dance to the rhythm of the tambourine (Her act has ended. Cheers from the Townspeople)
CLOPIN(pulls her aside):
Welcome to Paris, Esmerelda As I was told you come with useful tools (Taking her tambourine full of coins) You’ll thrive in Paris, Esmerelda Long as you learn to follow our rules (hands her one coin and attempts to take the rest)
ESMERELDA:
(taking her money back)
I’m afraid I’ve never been good at following rules, Monsieur. CLOPIN: So I’ve heard. Just stay out of trouble, otherwise you’ll find yourself on the way to the next town. GYPSY: We’re ready. CLOPIN: Make yourself useful and line up the men. Now, ladies and gentlemen, the Peace de Resistance! The Hunchback of Notre Dame 35
CLOPIN:
Here it is, The moment you’ve been waiting for Here it is,you know exactly what’s in store Now’s the time we laugh Until our sides get sore Now’s the time We crown
ALL:
The king of fools
CLOPIN:
You remember last year’s king!
CLOPIN:
So make A face that’s horrible And frightening Make a face as gruesome As a gargoyle’s wing For the face that’s ugliest Will be the king of fools Why?
ALL:
Topsy Turvy!
CLOPIN:
Ugly folks, forget your shyness
ALL:
Topsy Turvy
CLOPIN:
You could soon be called, ‘your highness’
ALL:
Put the foulest features on displaybe The king of Topsy Turvy day 36 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
ESMERELDA:
(sees QUASIMODO hiding behind the stage)
Hey, aren't you gonna join in the competition.
(Takes off QUASIMODO’s hood and is startled by his face)My God!
ALL:
Topsy Turvy
ESMERELDA: Wouldn’t you like to be crowded king for a day? ALL:
Topsy Turvy
ESMERELDA: Why not? Take advantage of what you’ve got. ALL:
Topsy Turvy (She leads QUASIMODO to the stage, and he puts his face through the scenery. Gasps from the crowd.)
TOWNSPERSON: He’s hideous! TOWNSPERSON: Is that a mask? TOWNSPERSON: It’s his face! TOWNSPERSON: Who is that?! TOWNSPERSON: It must the hunchback! TOWNSPERSON: From the bell tower! The Hunchback of Notre Dame 37
TOWNSPEOPLE: Archdeacon Frollo’s pet/No wonder he keeps him hidden/His secret friend! (FROLLO is humiliated now. Laughs from crowd.)
CLOPIN: Ladies and gentlemen! We’ve asked for the ugliest face in Paris, and we’ve found him! Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame! (uncomfortably) Everybody…
ALL:
Once a yearwe throw a partyhere in town
CLOPIN:
Hail to the king
ALL:
Once a yearwe turn all parisupside down
CLOPIN:
Oh, what a king!
ALL:
Once a year The ugliest will Wear a crown
CLOPIN: ALL:
Girls, give a kiss.
Once a year On Topsy Turvy day!
CLOPIN:
We’ve never had king like this! (He leaves the stage, giving ESMERELDA a look)
38 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
ALL:
It’s the day we do the things That we deplore On the other three hundred and sixty-four Once a year we love to drop in Where the beer is never stoppin’ For the chance to pop some popinjay And pick a king who’ll put the top in Topsy Turvy day, Topsy Turvy Mad and crazy Upsy-daisy Topsy Turvy day, hey!
TOWNSPERSON: (carrying a tomato)You think he’s ugly now? Well, watch this! (He throws it at QUASIMODO’s face and laughs)
Now, that’s ugly!
TOWNSPERSON: Hail to the King!(mock bows) TOWNSPERSON: Long live the King!(throws food) TOWNSPERSON: Bon appetite (throws food) CONGREGATION: The crowd had never done this before. Not in all the years of the Feast of Fools, but they had never seen a creature so horrible! And it drove them wild! (The crowd springs onto QUASIMODO, while FROLLO watches in disgust. They strip him of his cape and hit him over the head. Then, they dunk his face into a bucket of water)
TOWNSPERSON: Tie him down! The Hunchback of Notre Dame 39
(They grab ropes and attempt to tie QUASIMODO down. He hurls one of them off of the stage. At last, they have him pinned down and begin to whip him.)
QUASIMODO:
(seeing FROLLO)
Master, help me! PHOEBUS: Permission to stop this cruelty, your grace. FROLLO: Not just yet, Captain, a lesson needs to be learned here. ESMERELDA:
(seeing the cruelty)
Stop, please! No! CLOPIN:
(trying to stop her)
What are you doing? Are you crazy?!
I’m warning you, Esmerelda!
ESMERELDA:
(breaking away from CLOPIN to the front of the stage)
No! STOP!
40 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
(The townspeople break away from QUASIMODO and let go of their ropes. QUASIMODO starts to cry)
ESMERELDA: I’m so sorry. (She rushes to him, and he turns away thinking she will hurt him)
ESMERELDA: No, please, don’t be afraid. QUASIMODO: Wat-water. (She gives him water)
QUASIMODO: …Thank you.
(ESMERELDA takes a handkerchief out and wipes QUASIMODO’s face, who whimpers)
ESMERELDA: Shhh.
(She takes out a knife, and cuts him free from the ropes)
Go! Please!
(Quasimodo rushes to the side)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 41
CLOPIN:
NSP
TOW
:
ON ERS
t ha
are
W
42 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
our fun
h!/
do
!
PLE:
SPEO
N TOW
Yea
u yo
?! You’re ruinin g all ing
You
Gy
psy
wh
ore
!/G
yps
yw
hor
e!
(rushes to ESMERELDA)
I warned you, didn’t I?! (With a flash and puff of smoke, the two disappear)
FROLLO: Witchcraft! TOWNSPERSON: (sees QUASIMODO)
There he is! Get him! FROLLO: Stop this at once! We must show kindness to this… creature! As our savior did when he healed the Lepers. WTime to go home. The performance is over! PHOEBUS:
(shouting at the people)
He said to go!
(The crowd disperses. They hiss and spit at QUASIMODO, who goes to his master. FROLLO backs away)
FROLLO:
See how its cruel? See how its wicked? See how i’ve sheltered you From having to go through this? How could you do this to me?
QUASIMODO: Forgive, master. Won’t ever leave again… FROLLO:
Now boy, you see You don’t belong With normal men You are happy when You’re in your sanctuary
QUASIMODO: Sanctuary…
FROLLO:
Your sanctuary
BOTH:
Never to come Out here…
QUASIMODO: Here…
FROLLO: Again.
FROLLO:
(to PHOEBUS)
Take the boy inside The Hunchback of Notre Dame 43
(PHOEBUS goes to grab QUASIMODO’s arm, who pushes him away and enters the cathedral. FROLLO sees ESMERELDA’s scarf laying on the ground. He picks it up and exits the stage. Who is this girl? He thinks)
CONGREGATION:
So the poor hunchback Retreated back in through The doors of Notre Dame And there followed the Gypsy girl who’d never been Through the doors of Notre Dame And she stopped and Beheld all the beauty Like a beggar receiving an alms And each window and pillar And arch seemed to fill her With light
ESMERELDA:
The light of Notre Dame (She is amazed by the beauty. FROLLO enters the cathedral and sees her and hides her scarf.)
FROLLO: So a gypsy dares to enter this holy place? ESMERELDA: Why not? FROLLO: Because your kind aren’t allowed here. ESMERELDA: (upset)Why do you hate us so much? What did we ever do to you?! FROLLO: More than you know…What are you doing in here? ESMERELDA: I came here to find that boy. It was my fault he was up on the stage in the first place. FROLLO: The boy doesn’t need your help. He’s my charge.
God loves even a monster. 44 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
ESMERELDA: He’s no less human than the rest of us. FROLLO: Some of us are less human. In the moral sense. ESMERELDA: (knowingly)Do you mean me? FROLLO: You dance in public without shame or modesty. ESMERELDA: I dance because I enjoy it (smiles). Others enjoy it, too, and give me money. FROLLO: As they would a woman of your repute. Do you also deny possessing black magic? ESMERELDA: If I had the power of magic, why wouldn’t I use it to help myself and my people?! FROLLO: (beat)You’re clever. You twist the truth just as you twist your body and dance. ESMERELDA: Your grace, there must be some charity inside you. If you’ve helped that boy, then surely you can extend that kindness to others almost as unfortunate. How you would wish others to treat you, could you not treat them? FROLLO: Our Lord Jesus said something very similar. (He walks toward her and she backs away)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 45
46 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
(The bells ring for midnight mass.)
FROLLO: You see him on the cross there, gazing down on us? (He hears the choir)
Midnight mass is starting. I must go. My child, though your people are lost, maybe something within you can be saved. Stay. Perhaps you’ll see what true beauty is and we‌.We can continue this conversation afterwards.(He leaves) The Hunchback of Notre Dame 47