The Hunchback of Notre Dame

I tell you, it isn't human.

It's a monkey without hair.

If this is how they're making babies now, what's to become of us?

Now, what's the matter here?

Someone's left a foundling.

It's a monster. Look.

It's only got one eye. The other's a wart.

That's no wart! That's an egg with a devil inside.

Who left it here? They should have burnt it!

I will adopt this child.

But it's a demon. It's deformed!

How can you?

In charity. My investment in charity.

Investment?

One must never be found lacking in charity at the gates of heaven.

Wait, Father, what you going to call it?

What I see.

The approximation of a human.

Quasimodo.

Quasi...

And by this document, Dom Claude Frollo,

the Church invests in you the office of archdeacon of Notre Dame.

Thank you, My Lord.

By your extraordinary devotion to the Church,

you have proven yourself worthy of the position.

We embrace you. We...

It would seem

the very bells of Notre Dame are aware of your new position.

Not the bells, Your Eminence. It's my ward, Quasimodo.

He's our bell ringer, you see.

And the bells are like his children.

He even talks to them.

In return, they have shattered his ear drums.

But, then, one more affliction, what can it matter to him?

Go in peace, Dom Claude.

Your devoted servant.

Attention!

To all loyal subjects of our sovereign,

King Louis XI, His Majesty proclaims this day

the Festival of Fools!

All the good people of Paris are invited to join in the festivities.

You are welcome to attend the Festival of Fools!

What's going on here? Why have we stopped?

A gypsy girl, Your Worship. We caught her dancing in the streets.

Then arrest her. See that she's taken at once.

Yes, Your Worship?

Bring her here.

Please.

Please, please! I haven't done anything!

Be quiet.

I have no money. I must dance to eat, to live.

What is your name?

Esmeralda.

You are a gypsy?

They tell me so. I don't know.

She's a witch! No!

Save me! Save me!

Release her.

Your Excellency. Let her go.

Did you see that?

How he looked at you.

Your Worship, Your Worship! Yes?

Quasimodo has gone. He left the tower. I can't find him anywhere.

There's a festival today. We should have locked him in.

Hey, watch what you're doing with that pole.

Be off with you.

Come on, have a go at it.

- Hey. - Come on, my boy.

Oh, it's a bleeding bear.

Don't be afraid. He's got no teeth.

Come on, then, let's get on with it.

Comrades!

Citizens of Paris!

Silence, please! Listen to me.

I now present to you the greatest of morality plays.

Give us a mystery! Come on!

It is written by the greatest of morality poets,

your humble servant.

The curtain parts.

No!

Listen!

I am the god of commerce!

Fight! Give us a fight!

Silence!

Give us a fight! Give us a fight!

Listen!

I can't! What's the matter?

She refuses to dance.

How can we pick their pockets if they're not watching her dance?

They'll arrest me. Who?

The man of the Church. He's warned me.

No.

Oh, no, my sweet. I've seen the way he looked at you.

He wouldn't touch a hair on your head.

Please don't! Dance! You will dance!

They take some money for that? Have you any money?

Hey, hot lips!

Esmeralda!

Make way for the Throne of Fools!

What's that?

They choose the ugliest human in all of Paris.

Why? For the King of Fools.

Take heed to the meaning of life.

Oh. I've heard enough of this chafe. Come on.

Wait!

Come back. Our play is not finished.

Well? Do we continue?

Do we?

It's a goddess.

It's a gypsy.

I will write a sonnet for her. I will write 10,000 sonnets.

Yeah, but for now? Do we continue?

Behold the choosing of the King of the Fools!

Let the ugliness begin!

Oh, no.

Let go, you wart!

Hey, it's the bell ringer. It's Quasimodo.

Where?

Oh, come on, then.

He'll get first prize.

- Get him in there. - Here with it.

Come on, there. Get him inside.

Don't look at the hunchback!

Let all pregnant women beware!

Or those that wish to be!

My, is he lovely!

God's cross! Holy Father! I've never seen him this close.

Don't look him in the eye!

Well, that's the rarest ugliness I ever beheld.

Make him the King!

The King of the Fools!

Yes. Make him the King.

Quasimodo!

By the holy cross.

Bring him round!

You, Quasimodo,

I shall now crown thee King of the Fools!

Long live the King of the Fools!

Oh, look. Look, I've got a crown for you.

And look. Look over there.

It's a throne for the King of the Fools.

Do you understand?

We would make you our king.

He can't hear. He's deaf.

Because of the bells.

They've shattered his ear drums.

Here!

Your crown!

Long live the King!

To cast aside all evil and all temptation.

Guide me in the ways of righteousness. Amen.

Excellency?

Yes?

Forgive me for intruding, but we have just had word.

It's Quasimodo. They have made him King of Fools.

What?

Make way for the King of Fools!

Seize her.

You have been warned, and now you will pay for it.

The King of Fools! The King of Fools!

Set him down.

Get off, you ugly ox. Get off!

Later. We need your consent.

My consent? To what?

The gypsy girl.

Knowing the consequences, she deliberately disobeyed your edict,

and we caught her dancing in the streets again.

Where is she now?

You've brought her here?

She's to be taken at once to the Bastille. We need only your consent.

Excellency?

I will speak with her.

As you wish.

I am innocent.

Get up. I told him they'd arrest me.

I said get up.

Is it so terrible to dance in the streets?

You take me for a fool?

I don't understand.

There is a demon. A demon that speaks through your lips.

No! Please, God! Do not blaspheme.

I swear by all that's holy, I've never harmed anyone.

Let me go. Please.

If you go, if you leave this cathedral,

you will be taken straight to the Bastille.

There is no hope for you, unless...

Here in this cathedral, you may claim sanctuary.

Sanctuary?

The courts, the magistrates, they cannot touch you here.

But how could I live here?

In the bell tower.

There is a place for you to sleep.

I will see that you are cared for.

You?

I will pray for you.

Come.

Come along.

There, now, you see?

A room of your own.

You only have to do what I say,