ACT ONE

Curtain opens amidst loud cheering.  About 40 people are on stage, all dressed rather drabbily.  The scene is in a marketplace with a brick wall around it.  People are assembled as if to watch a play.

Gringoire:Gentlemen, citizens we shall begin forthwith with the play.

Woman:Please, look, it's the Archdeacon.  (He enters from the right.)

Gringoire:(To his small cast.)  Why the devil do you stop?  Go on.

Jean:Yes, but who's that ugly man with him?

Townswoman:That must be the bell ringer of Notre Dame.

Townswoman:What is that monstrosity on his back?

Townswoman:That must be his hump and he only has one eye.

Jean:Yea, he must be a cyclops.

Off stage orchestra music plays the refrain from WATCH THE LOVELY LADY and Esmeralda hikes her skirt up and begins to frolic and dance around her cooking fire.  The goat gets up on its hind legs and begins to dance with her. 

As the music dies down, the priest walks off the stage.

Claude Frollo Archdeacon: Oh, my, to be vowed to celibacy when such desirableness pervades the essence of my very soul.  (He looks heavenward.)  May the God of my Lord Jesus Christ forgive me for withdrawing my vow.  This girl I simply must possess, such loveliness could not have been given even to Eve.  God these thoughts, for so long I've served the church and your people, but I can't get this girl out of my mind.

The lights come back up and the courtyard is once again filled with merchant wagons, soldiers and the bell tower of Notre Dame, sound out nine.

Gringoire walks up to a lady with a bakery cart.

Gringoire:Do I suppose I could trouble you for some Christian charity?  My pockets are empty but

Madame:(Yells.)  My daughter, God bring back my baby.

Lady:Pay no attention to her.  The Egyptians made off with her baby 16 years ago.  Now she does nothing but cry out and pray day after day.

Gringoire:Perhaps I'll share my bread with her.

He walks over to the barred window.

Gringoire:Would you care for a bit of bread?

She pokes her head out and she looks like a witch.  Her hair is long and straggly.  She grabs and begins to eat like she hasn't eaten in days.

Madame:Is that drink?  (She points to his flask.)

Gringoire:Just a little of the vine.

Madame:Well, don't be slow about it.  Fetch it here.

He hands her the flask.

Gringoire:(Lifts the bottle.)  Hang the hunchbacked cyclops.  Let him taste the noose.

Captain Phoebus:It's best you be off to your home.  The streets are alive with evil tonight.

Gringoire:Curse these branching streets.  The devil must have made them in the image of his fork.  I have no home.  (He lifts his wine bottle.)  Just the bottom of this bottle and my reflection in it.  That is the only home I have this night.

Captain Phoebus:God have mercy on your soul to be out this God forsaken night.  It's as if the very bowels of hell have opened up and spilled their inhabitants here.

Gringoire:What will become of the hunchback?

Captain Phoebus:He'll stand trial.  Although I feel he's been played the fool once too often.  Who knows what he would have done to the poor girl, had we not arrived in time.  The very sight of him would kill most young ladies with fright.  Bon soire.  Monsieur . . . Bon soire.

King:The name knave.  Though art in the presence of three mighty sovereigns.  Myself, King of Slunes, supreme ruler of the realm of Slang and Mathia Spicali Duke of Egypt and Bohemia and Guillame Rousseau Emperor of Galilee . . . We are thy judges.  Thou has entered into our territory without being one of us.  Thou must be punished unless thou art a codger, thief, beggar or a vagrant.  Art thou any of these?  Justify thyself or those will be hanged.

Gringoire:I am but the author . . .

King:Silence, thou shalt be hanged, as you deal by our people among you so we too deal by yours among us.  The law which you make for the vagabonds, the vagabonds shall make for you.  It is but proper that an honest man should be seen grinning through a hempen collar.  Divide up what thou has with the wenches.  Thou has four minutes to settle the affairs of thy soul.

Gringoire:But sir, I was the poet whose work was presented in the great hall.

into our brotherhood thou must prove that thou art fit for something.  Can thou pick a pocket?

Gringoire:Anything you say.

The king makes a sign.  Several of the vagabonds bring up a scarecrow in a red outfit and bells dangling from him.  They hold it up high under a stool.

King:Get up on that.

Gringoire:I shall break my neck.

King:Get up fool.  Cross thy right leg over thy left and stand on tiptoe.

Gringoire:Why do you insist that I shall break some of my limbs?

King:Silence, fool.  You talk too much.  Here's what you must do.  You must pluck this bag of coins out of the pocket without any of the bells ringing.  And if you do that, you shall be a vagabond.

The hangman is fastening the rope around Gringoire's neck.  Ladies are filing past him.

Gypsy Lady:Have you any money?

Gringoire:Not a sous.

King:Very well, then.  Let the hanging begin.

HANG HIM - Refrain.

Esmeralda:Wait, wait.  If no one else will have him, he can marry me.

Gringoire:Oh merciful God.  The girl of my very dreams.

King:Release him.  Our sister Esmeralda has decided to marry him.  Let's toast to their happiness.

He raises his glass to boisterous applause.

After a few minutes, the stage empties out except for Gringoire and Esmeralda.

Quasimodo:(Smiles at everyone.)  I wouldn't have harmed her.  (Crowd breaks up in further laughter.)

Judge:Sentence is 40 lashes on the pillory and for making a mockery of this court.  An additional hour in public penance.  (Pounds his gavel.)  Next.

The guards lead Quasimodo away.  

Stage changes and Quasimodo is tied to the pillory.  The whipping begins.  Crowd begins to jeer.

Crowd:Son of the devil.  One eyed cyclops.  Stupid oaf, he has no idea why they are doing this to him.

After the lashes, the torturer wiped the lashes between his fingers and turned the hourglass over.  Quasimodo calls out for water.

Song begins.

WATER

My tongue is dry
My throat is burning
My hands are tied
My knees are hurting
Show me some pity
Lord have mercy

I need water
One cool cup of water
Just need to quench my thirst
Water, I couldn't feel much worse

Don't despise me
I'm not so guilty
It's not my fault
I was born this way
Show me some pity
Lord have mercy

I need water
One cool cup of water
Just need to quench my thirst
Water, I couldn't feel much worse

Esmeralda walks up with a cup of water.

Gringoire:It's madness to punish one who can't understand his crime.  What a curse to our humanity.

The crowd, upon hearing his words, begins to slip away.  The executioner turns the hourglass over.

Executioner:This crime is paid for.  The prisoner may be released.

The hunchback is untied and a piece of burlap thrown over him.  He hobbles away off stage.  Just as he is getting off the stage, he stops when he sees Claude Frollo Archdeacon.  Claude Frollo Archdeacon looks down in shame.

Claude Frollo Archdeacon:  But you entice me so with every movement of your leg, every gesture of your arm.  Even your very words are an intoxicant.  How can you say you are not a witch?  Who else can cast a spell like this over one's soul?

Esmeralda:We are all enticed when we feed on fantasies too long.  The very feelings of love are an intoxicant.  Isn't your God a God of love?  I can't be your lover, dear priest.  I am already married and I too am in love with Captain Phoebus.  He has smitten my heart in the same way that I have smitten yours.

Claude Frollo Archdeacon:  You would not have me?  I will leave all here.  We could go to the South - Marseilles.  You would be well provided for.  I am not a poor man.  My priesthood has brought me many temporal rewards.

Esmeralda:You are much too old for I.  My heart belongs to another, Captain Phoebus.

Claude Frollo Archdeacon:  If that be so, come, I know where he is lodging.  I will take you to him.  And you

Judge 2:Is not your goat possessed by the devil?

Esmeralda:Yes, yes, he is.

Judge 3:Does thou not celebrate the black mass and bewitch young children with your magic?

Esmeralda:Yes, I confess.  Please just let me die.  (She breaks down crying.)

Claude Frollo Archdeacon:  Having confessed to your crime, I decree that thou shouldest at first light tomorrow be taken to the steps of Notre Dame to do your penance, and after that, you and your goat shall be hanged.  Remove the prisoner to her cell.  (The goat bays.)  And put that cursed Son of Satan in with her.  And may you live to bewitch no others, gypsy dancer.

Refrain from: CONFESS
Curtain closes.

Intermission.

Quasimodo looks over the crowd and shouts SANCTUARY.

Song begins.

Hide me in your great cathedral walls.
Save me from this fate, I never caused
Shelter me with kindness
From this angry crowd
It's not fair that I should die.
I've done nothing wrong.

I can feel your heart beat on the door
I know you're innocent for sure
Save your many teardrops
I won't let you die.
Close your eyes, don't be afraid
I'll be by your side.

Sanctuary far above the maddening crowd
Sanctuary where the steeples meet the clouds.
Sanctuary where the eagles fly
Sanctuary or I'll die

The lights go off and Esmeralda is lying on a straw mattress.  The moon is shining in over the tower.

Music starts.

ONCE UPON A TIME

Once upon a time I fell
Asleep upon a cloud
I woke up when the morning sun
Beat down upon my brow
I'm not quite sure I'm dreaming
Or whether I'm awake
My heart's tied to a sunbeam
I'm alive for one more day

I'm trapped within cathedral walls
Sanctuary from the fire
Yet yonder lives the only one
Whose love I do desire
I'm banished from my captain
Like a worn out shoe
I wish these walls would crumble
And I could fly away
Fly away

Esmeralda walks back and forth while singing the song.  Quasimodo looks at her from behind a pillar.  Several times she leans on the pillar and he shrinks back so he won't be noticed.  When she finishes the song, he walks up to her.

Quasimodo comes onto the stage.  He takes a long look at Claude Frollo Archdeacon and Esmeralda cowers at his side.  

Claude Frollo Archdeacon:  We'll see how long you stay in sanctuary.  You should swing from the gallows.  The king can lift your sanctuary protection.  When he does, you will beg at my feet and not me at yours.

Esmeralda:Cold will be the day in hell, when I would beg you for anything.  The Archdeacon of Notre Dame a common assassin.  My, how the lofty have fallen.  All your pious acts, your pretense at holiness thrown away in a fit of jealous passion.  Surely you should look at your own blackened heart and not attempt to blame your sins on another.  You called me a servant of Satan, but it is you alone who serves Satan.  Whether I live or whether I die, it is given to God alone to decide that.  All I know is that death would be preferable to a life with you.  You'd best think back of the vows you made when you pledge yourself to God, for even I, being no priest, know that

Lights dim and scene changes.

A motley group are gathered in a tavern.  They are gaily laughing.  Smoke is in the air and there are bawdy women going from table to table pouring drinks.  A juggler is providing some entertainment.  A small fight breaks out.

Fighter:I'll slit you open from ere to ere if you don't give me the ten sous ye owe me.

Fighter Two:Owe ye?  (Grabs his cane and whacks him over the head.)  I owe you nothing.  (The first fighter falls over from the blow.  Those around laugh.)

Gringoire comes through the door.

Gringoire:I've just been at the Parliament.  They have revoked Esmeralda's sanctuary and they plan to hang her in the morrow.  Pour me a drink, my fellows.  We are going on a rare expedition.  We'll lay siege to the church, break open the door and save the damsel from the judges, the priests, and burn the Archdeacon in his bed.  Our cause is a righteous one.

IT'S LIKE A DREAM

Dear God, I can't believe it's you.
I can't let them take you from me now.

Mama, I've been sentenced to be hung
Hide me please before they come.

My child, help me pull these bars away.
You're safe with me, everything's O.K.

It's like a dream
You've come back to me.
It's like a dream
I've been saved.
It's like a dream.
Hold me in your arms
This moment's like a dream
Where everything comes true.
This moment's like a dream
Because I'm holding you.
Forever.  Forever.
Forever like a dream.

Soldier:Hast thou seen a gypsy girl pass this way?  I know that thou sees all.  We are seeking the sorceress to hang her.  Why are these bars bent?

Madame:It was a cart that ran into them a fortnight ago.  I've not seen any gypsies.  Now go away.

Soldier:Very well, here comes Captain Phoebus.  He will ask you why the bars of your window are broken so.

Madame:They have always been so.

Soldier:If it was a cart, the bar would be bent in and not out.  Captain Phoebus, the old woman is obviously lying.

Captain Phoebus:Very well, hook some ropes up to the window and pull them out and have a look.  I shall be off.

Captain Phoebus begins to go off stage.  Esmeralda goes to the window.

Esmeralda:Phoebus, Phoebus, my love, you are well.  Help me, Phoebus.  Save me.

He continues off the stage.

Soldier:Take her out of there and hang her.

Madame:She is no witch.  She is my daughter.  Sir, I have prayed earnestly for 15 years and now you would destroy what God has restored to me.  If it were for myself, I would not ask, but for the girl not yet 16, give her time to see the sun.