The Hunchback of Notre Dame Page #3

What's the matter?

He doesn't want to pay his daily share.

Come with me.

Leave him alone.

You know what the rules are.

Pay up your share or...

I'll give you a count of three

to change your mind.

One...

...two...

...three.

- Who's that?

- A stranger.

They said they caught him

prowling around the court.

How did he get in? Is the guard asleep?

Let me see him.

Bow down.

You're standing before

the King of Beggars.

Who are you?

Permit me to introduce myself.

Maitre Gringoire...

...doctor of the seven liberal arts.

Do you know where you are?

The Court of Miracles...

...where the blind can see...

...and the lame can walk.

Do you know what happens to people

who come in here uninvited?

- I can imagine.

- Let me hang him.

He's a spy.

He's a doctor.

I'm a poet, whose play was done

at the festival.

Anyone caught here who's not

a beggar or a thief, must hang.

No, no, you can't do this to me.

I haven't done anything.

- It's a rule.

- I'm not a spy. You can't!

No!

What a pity.

My ballad could make you immortal.

What?

What did you say?

- Say it again.

- I mean...

I mean, I...

I intended to write a poem in your honor,

to glorify your reign.

- Let me hang him, please.

- Quiet!

Are you trying to cheat me?

Keep me alive and you will live in history.

Imagine, my Clopin, in history.

Don't put your oar in.

Besides, I belong here naturally.

Being a poet, I'm already a vagabond,

and I can learn quickly to be a thief.

And I will amuse you with such rhyming

eloquence as you've never dreamed of.

Good intentions are not enough.

They've never put an onion in a soup, yet.

You'll have to undergo a test.

Then we'll see if you're good for anything.

Get the bellboy ready.

Bring him down.

And now then, up you go, up.

Stand on the stool. One leg.

- I'll break my neck.

- Then you'll save us the hanging.

Try to take a purse out of that pocket,

but if one single bell jingles...

... you've failed.

- And then?

- Then you hang.

Can you do it?

I'm above that sort of thing.

I cut throats, I don't cut purses.

Try it.

Don't tinkle. Please, little bells...

... don't jingle.

My life...

...depends on you.

There must be something easier

I could... I could try.

Surely...

... get right up and take

the bellboy's place.

Too bad.

And I'd almost come to like him.

Clopin.

Why not give him a chance

to marry one of the girls?

Wait!

Let me hang him.

Girls...

Poet for sale, poet for sale...

Poet for sale...

What does that mean?

If one of our girls will marry you,

you are free...

... and I can't hang you.

A charming idea.

Going...

Going...

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

And thank you, my friend.

- Gone.

- Gone.

That neck.

Wait, wait...

Are you going to hang that man?

Surely.

Unless you take him for your husband.

I'll take him.

Well...?

What, do you want her or not?

My rope, my rope...

The wedding cup.

Take it from Esmeralda...

...drink and break it.

And he had such a nice neck.

Let's escort them to the bridal chamber.

"Ta-ra ta-ta, ta-ra ta-ta

Under the gallows tonight

"Ta-ra ta-ta, ta-ra ta-ta

Beggars are wed tonight

"Happy are the cats and mice

"Even the lice

"Ta-ra ta-ta, ta-ra ta-ta

Under the gallows tonight

"Ta-ra ta-ta, ta-ra ta-ta

Beggars are wed tonight

"Happy are the cats and mice

"Even the lice

"Jump and sing until it's light

"This is a beggar's wedding night."

We must have a light.

Here is flint and tinder.

- Now, a little wood.

- Let me help you.

No, it's a woman's part to build the fire.

But it was a man

who first brought it to earth.

Who?

- Prometheus.

- Who is that?

A god who stole it from heaven

by holding a rod to the sun...

...until it burned into flames.

He created creatures out of clay...

...and blew his breath into them

and they came to life.

Then, they too, could make fires...

...to warm their bodies.

As we do?

Just as we do.

Oh, Esmeralda, I feel...

How can I tell you how I feel?

This day, first people ridiculed me...

...then I found you...

...then I lost you.

And now...

...here we are together...

...married.

For such a miracle, I waited

through the dark and endless night.

When before...

...my days I hated...

...now I welcome Phoebus light.

Phoebus, king of day...

Esmeralda...

What did I say to hurt you?

Nothing.

You must tell me.

Who is Phoebus?

Phoebus, the sun god.

The sun god.

Why do you ask?

I love a man named Phoebus.

Phoebus?

Not that captain who saved you

from the Hunchback?

Yes.

So you don't love me.

It was nothing but pity, pity, pity.

I'm sorry if I hurt you.

Well, since you won't have me...

... have me as your husband,

maybe you'll have me for your friend.

My friend?

Do you know what friendship is?

Like brother and sister...

...like two petals on the same flower.

And love?

That's to be two,

and at the same time, one.

I love you, Esmeralda...

...so I am ready to live with you

as it shall please you...

...as husband and wife,

if you think good...

...or as brother and sister,

if you like it better.

I'm enough of a philosopher to hold

everything in the proper equilibrium.

- The what?

- The proper balance.

You're a juggler.

No, I'm sorry. I can't juggle.

But you can learn. I'll teach you.

Look.

That's wonderful.

I could never do it.

Try it.

It's no use.

Don't talk.

Balance it.

No use.

Something must have happened.

The whole court is...

What's the matter?

He has an order to arrest all the Gypsies.

No, only the girls.

Round them up, round them up.

Good morning, Your Honor.

What is it?

The Gypsy girls are ready

for your inspection.

The one I'm looking for is not here.

Release them.

Did you find in which prison

Quasimodo is being held?

- Not yet, Your Honor.

- Why not?

- Find out at once.

- Yes, Your Honor.

Quiet.

Quiet.

Speak up, prisoner. The judge is deaf.

Your name?

Your age?

Your profession?

Emile, have you...

... got all the prisoner's answers down?

You are accused of...

...disturbing the peace...

...abducting a woman...

... and resisting the king's guards.

What is your defense?

Quick and to the point.

Quasimodo.

So you plead guilty.

Twenty-five, next month.

For that, you shall be whipped.

Bellringer of Notre Dame.

Your Honor, the prisoner is deaf.

He hears nothing.

That's different.

For that insolence...

...you shall spend another hour

on the pillory.

Next case.

"We hereby announce that Quasimodo,

the bellringer of Notre Dame...

"...is to receive 50 strokes

with the cat-o'-nine-tails...

"...for his attack upon a woman.

"Thereafter, he will be exposed

for one full hour to public disgrace."

And to think that yesterday

on the same spot...

...they crowned him their king.

Today...

That's life.

He's getting what he deserves.

If all the nobles got what they deserve,

we wouldn't have enough pillories.

It's a shame, flogging that cripple.

Poor wretch.

Master Pierrat.

One...

...two...

...three...

...four...

...five...

I can't stand it, Clopin.

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