The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Full Libretto
Please note that this entire script is copyright to the Walt Disney Company and James Lapine. The lyrics are copyright to Stephen Schwartz. Used without permission. If requested by any of the above, it shall be immediately taken down. Please note that "a beat" is theatre-language for "a pause." Also note that this script is described as "In Progress, January 21, 1999" and hence, does not necessarily reflect the final show. Having said that, enjoy! :-)
ACT ONE
PROLOGUE
CHORUS
OLIM OLIM DEUS ACCELERE
HOC SAECULUM SPLENDIDUM
ACCELERE FIAT VENIRE OLIM
AH AH AH
AH AH AH
AH AH AH AH AH AH
AH AH AH
AH AH AH
AH AH AH AH AH AH
(Light comes up on CLOPIN, a nineteenth-century magician and conjurer. With the sweep of his hand he produces a miniature version of the city of Paris.)
CLOPIN
MORNING IN PARIS, THE CITY AWAKES
TO THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME
THE FISHERMAN FISHES, THE BAKERMAN BAKES
TO THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME
TO THE BIG BELLS AS LOUD AS THE THUNDER
TO THE LITTLE BELLS, SOFT AS A PSALM
AND SOME SAY THE SOUL OF
THE CITY'S THE TOLL OF THE BELLS
THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME...
(The bells of Notre Dame sound in the tiny model.)
CLOPIN
Listen, they are beautiful, aren't they? The bells. So many colors of
sound, so many changing moods. But, they do not ring all by themselves.
No, there is a bellringer.
(A purple scarf magically falls from above into his hands.)
Now, you think this is just an ordinary scarf, don't you? No, this scarf belonged to a magical woman who - along with the famous bellringer - once brought Paris to its knees. You see, this is not only the tale of a beautiful woman - it is also the tale of a man and a monster.
(The set transforms to the docks near Notre Dame.)
CLOPIN (Cont.)
DARK WAS THE NIGHT WHEN OUR TALE WAS BEGUN
ON THE DOCKS NEAR NOTRE DAME...
(Four GYPSIES appear.)
GYPSY MOTHER
Hush little one...
CLOPIN
FOUR FRIGHTENED GYPSIES SLID SILENTLY
UNDER THE DOCKS NEAR NOTRE DAME...
GYPSY MOTHER
(genly) Please, please be quiet.
CLOPIN
BUT A TRAP HAD BEEN LAID FOR THE GYPSIES...
(A few SOLDIERS stand far in the distance. They look to CLAUDE FROLLO, the Minister of Justice, for orders. He signals them to move towards the GYPSIES; FROLLO follows slowly behind.)
CLOPIN (Cont.)
AND THEY GAZED UP IN FEAR AND ALARM
AT A FIGURE WHOSE CLUTCHES
WERE IRON AS MUCH AS THE BELLS
THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME
CHORUS
KYRIE ELIESON
CLOPIN
One of the most powerful officials in Paris was the Minister of Justice.
JUSTICE FROLLO WAS A MAN
WITH MORALS SO PRISTINE...
CHORUS
KYRIE ELIESON
CLOPIN
THAT HE SWORE HE WOULD MAKE ALL OF PARIS JUST AS CLEAN
FROLLO
You there! (to his SOLDIER) What is she hiding?
GYPSY MOTHER
Please sir, I only came into the city seeking help for my baby.
FROLLO
Baby? A likely story. What have you stolen? (to SOLDIER) See
what that gypsy has in her hands.
(As the SOLDIER reaches for the infant, she begins to run.)
CLOPIN
And the poor woman ran for her life.
CHORUS
DIES IRAE
DIES IRAE
(She ascends the steps of the church and pounds on the doors.)
GYPSY MOTHER
Sanctuary! Please give us sanctuary!
CHORUS
DIES ILLA
DIES ILLA
SOLVET SAECULUM IN FAVILLA
AH AH AH
AH AH AH
(FROLLO approaches the woman and grabs the bundle. She tries to hold on to her baby. In the tug-of-war, she loses her balance, falls - striking her head on the stone stairs. FROLLO looks to the bundle - which begins to cry. He examines it.)
FROLLO
This is a child of Satan! I shall send it back where it belongs.
CHORUS
AH AH AH AH AH AH
(He moves to a nearby well and raises the baby over it.)
(The ARCHDEACON enters.)
CLOPIN
Stop! Cried the Archdeacon.
ARCHDEACON
(Seeing the fallen woman) What have you done? What have you in
your hands?
FROLLO
An unholy demon that this woman has borne.
(The ARCHDEACON goes to the ground and cradles the dead GYPSY MOTHER in his arms.)
ARCHDEACON
Lord help us! She's dead!
FROLLO
Dead?
ARCHDEACON
SEE HERE THE INNOCENT BLOOD YOU HAVE SPILT
ON THE STEPS OF NOTRE DAME...
FROLLO
I was merely enforcing the law. I never meant to hurt her.
ARCHDEACON
NOW YOU WOULD ADD THIS CHILD'S BLOOD TO YOUR GUILT
ON THE STEPS OF NOTRE DAME...
FROLLO
This misshapen monster can have no life here!
ARCHDEACON
YOU CAN LIE TO YOURSELF AND YOUR MINIONS
YOU CAN CLAIM THAT YOU HAVEN'T A QUALM
BUT YOU NEVER CAN RUN FROM
NOR HIDE WHAT YOU'VE DONE FROM THE EYES
THE VERY EYES OF NOTRE DAME!
(The ARCHDEACON points up to the rows of the statuary.)
CHORUS
KYRIE ELIESON
CLOPIN
AND THE SAINTS LOOKED DOWN ON FROLLO
FROM THEIR STONE FACADE
CHORUS
KYRIE ELIESON
CLOPIN
AND HE KNEW HE MUST DO PENANCE
IN THE EYES OF GOD...
FROLLO
(a beat) You're right, father. God has sent me this challenge.
I will take this... thing and look after it. But I ask a favour of you
in return.
ARCHDEACON
What is it?
FROLLO
I have no home to speak of. Let him live here, in the church.
ARCHDEACON
Live here? Where?
FROLLO
Anywhere. The bell tower, perhaps. And let us agree never to speak of
what has happened here today. In return, I will raise the child as my
own.
ARCHDEACON
Very well.
FROLLO
SEE THIS LOATHSOME CRETURE
FROM WHOM LESSER MEN WOULD FLEE...
I will ennoble him...
I WILL KEEP AND CARE FOR HIM
AND TEACH HIM AT MY KNEE
TO THINK LIKE ME...
CLOPIN
And he gave the child a thoughtless name... a name that means "half-formed"
- Quasimodo.
(Transition in which QUASIMODO magically grows from infant to adult as he ascends the facade of Notre Dame from its doors to its bell tower, into the world of colour.)
CLOPIN (Cont.)
NOW...
HERE IS A RIDDLE TO GUESS IF YOU CAN
SING THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME
WHO IS THE MONSTER AND WHO IS THE MAN?
(QUASIMODO ring the bells.)
CHORUS
SING THE BELLS, BELLS, BELLS, BELLS, BELLS
BELLS, BELLS, BELL, BELLS
CLOPIN
OF NOTRE DAME!
CHORUS
AH AH AH
AH AH AH
AH AH AH AH AH AH
AH AH AH AH AH AH