The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Storyette Version)

One stormy night, in the shadow of Notre Dame, some gypsies tried

To sneak into Paris by boat. But a trap had been laid, and the

Evil Judge Frollo was waiting to arrest the gypsies. One of the

Women, clutching a bundle, ran to the cathedral for help. In her

Haste, she tripped on the steps and fell to the ground. Frollo

Thinking the bundle held stolen goods, was surprised to hear it cry

FROLLO: A baby?

Then he saw its face

FROLLO: A monster!

Frollo was about to drop the bundle down a well when

I stepped from the cathedral and commanded him to

Stop. He drew the child back, his hand quivering

FROLLO: What must I do?

I stepped forward

I: Care for the child, and raise it as your own

Frollo was not pleased, but he agreed on the condition that

We keep the child in the cathedral. Frollo gave the child

A cruel name, a name that means "half-formed." Quasimodo

The years passed. Quasimodo, now a young man, had become the

Bellringer of Notre Dame. He spent his time alone in the bell

Tower, building a tiny model of the city where he longed to be

QUASIMODO: But I'd never fit in out there. I'm not normal

Although Frollo was the only visitor to the bell tower

Quasimodo was often heard talking to the stone

Gargoyles, whom he called Hugo, Victor and Laverne

Quasimodo loved watching festivals in the town square below

His favorite was the Feast of Fools, a celebration in which

The men wore masks. But this year, he took one look and went

Back into the tower. Seeing this, Laverne shook her head sadly

LAVERNE: What good is watching the party if you

Never get to go? Here, get away from me! Go on

You bunch of buzzards! He's not made of stone like us

Inside, Quasimodo found Judge Frollo in the doorway. As always

Frollo made him promise never to leave the tower. And so Quasimodo

Had to be satisfied playing with the people of his toy city

But in the square, another young man shouldered

His way through a crowd of real people. His name

Was Phoebus, and he had just arrived in Paris

PHOEBUS: Excuse me, gentlemen, I'm looking

For the Palace of Justice. Would you...

Suddenly, he stopped, and his eyes met the gaze of a young

Gypsy. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen

Before Phoebus could say anything, two soldiers came up

To the young woman and accused her of stealing. She ran

And Phoebus moved his horse to block the soldiers' way

PHOEBUS: Oh dear, I'm sorry! Naughty horse, naughty!

One of the soldiers drew a dagger

SOLDIER: I'll teach you a lesson, peasant!

Phoebus pulled back his cloak to reveal

A captain's uniform. The soldier bowed

SOLDIER: At your service, sir!

The soldiers led Phoebus to the Palace of Justice

Where Frollo welcomed him as the new captain of the guard

FROLLO: You've come to Paris in her darkest hour, captain

The gypsies live outside the normal order. I believe they

Have a safe haven within the walls of this very city

A nest, if you will. They call it the Court of Miracles

Frollo ordered Phoebus to find the

Gypsies' nest and crush them like ants

Quasimodo, in the meantime, had grown tired of his toy city

And longed for the real thing. Swinging down from the tower

He crashed into one of the festival tents. When he looked up

He was staring into the lovely face of the young gypsy woman

Whose name was Esmeralda. Quasimodo struggled to his feet

QUASIMODO: I didn't mean to. I'm sorry

But in that moment, everything had changed. Quasimodo was in love

A short time later, everyone gathered for the festival's

Big event, a contest to choose the ugliest man in the city

Who would be crowned the King of Fools. As the crowd watched

Esmeralda went down a row of contestants, taking off

Each mask. When she got to Quasimodo, the people gasped

Then the gypsy leader recognized him

LEADER: We asked for the ugliest face in Paris, and

Here he is. Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame!

A few people in the crowd lifted him onto their shoulders

And Frollo's men started laughing and throwing food at him

SOLDIER: You think he's ugly now? Watch this!

Frollo looked on, but refused to help. He was furious that

Quasimodo had disobeyed him. Finally, Esmeralda stepped in

Seeing what Frollo had done, she called to him angrily

ESMERALDA: You mistreat this poor boy the same way

You mistreat my people. The only fool I see is you!

Frollo ordered Phoebus to arrest her, but she took off running

Through the crowd with her goat, Djali.She ran to the cathedral

But Phoebus followed. When Frollo caught up, he grinned in triumph

That's when I stepped in as the Archdeacon of Notre Dame

"Frollo, you will not touch her!"

Frollo glared at Esmeralda

"You've chosen a magnificent prison, but it is a prison

Nonetheless. Set one foot outside, and you're mine."

He stormed off, with Phoebus close behind

Esmeralda looked up and saw Quasimodo watching from the stairway

"Wait! I'd like to talk to you."

She followed him to the tower where, shyly, he showed her his

Toy village and introduced her to the bells. Then he helped her

Escape Frollo's soldiers by carrying her down the side of the

Tower. In exchange, she gave him the special necklace she always

Wore, saying it would lead him to safety if he ever needed it

When Judge Frollo heard that she had escaped, he was enraged

"I'll find her if I have to burn down all of Paris!"

He summoned Phoebus, and together they searched the city

Frollo suspected a miller and his family of hiding

Esmeralda, and he ordered Phoebus to burn down their

House. When Phoebus refused, the judge got even angrier

"Insolent coward. The sentence for insubordination is death."

The soldiers prepared to execute Phoebus, but Esmeralda

Watching in secret, threw a rock at Frollo's horse. It reared

Dumping Frollo to the ground. Phoebus broke free, hopped onto

The horse, and rode off in a hail of arrows. As he crossed the

River, one of the arrows struck him, and he fell into the water

Esmeralda slipped into the river and pulled him to safety

Phoebus was unconscious, but still breathing. She had to get help

But where? That's when she thought of her friend Quasimodo

Back at the cathedral, Quasimodo looked

Down at the streets of Paris far below

"Any sign of her?"

Victor couldn't believe it

"Oh, it's a lost cause! She could be anywhere!"

Suddenly, Esmeralda appeared in the

Doorway, supporting the injured Phoebus

"I knew he'd be safe here. Please, can you hide him?"

Quasimodo agreed. As he watched them exchange tender

Looks, he knew that his love for Esmeralda was doomed

Just then, Quasimodo heard hoofbeats in the square below

"Frollo's coming! You must leave. Quick, follow me!"

He took Esmeralda out the back way, then hid Phoebus

And turned to face his master. Frollo was livid

"I know you helped her escape! Well, never you mind

Quasimodo. I know where her hideout is, and

Tomorrow at dawn I attack with a thousand men."

The minute Frollo left, Phoebus came out of his hiding place

"We have to find the Court of Miracles before daybreak

If Frollo gets there first... are you coming with me?"

Quasimodo stared at the floor

"I can't. You do what you think is right."

Phoebus staggered off. The gargoyles glared at

Quasimodo until finally he ran to catch up

"Phoebus, I'm coming with you. I'm doing it for her."

Quasimodo, remembering the special necklace Esmeralda had

Given him, used it as a map. It led them to a cemetery

Where they went down a dark stairway. At the bottom, they

Found themselves surrounded by gypsies. The gypsy leader smiled

"You're very clever to have found our hideaway

Unfortunately, you won't live to tell the tale."

Quasimodo and Phoebus were taken to the Court of Miracles to be

Hanged. Just as the lever was about to be pulled, Esmeralda arrived

"Stop! They're our friends!"

Phoebus warned the gypsies of Frollo's attack

Giving all the credit to Quasimodo

"Without his help, I would never have found my way here."

A voice rang out

"Nor would I!"

It was Frollo and his soldiers. He hadn't really known where the

Hideout was. Instead, he had tricked

Quasimodo into leading him there

By the next day, Phoebus and the gypsies were in prison. Quasimodo

Was chained inside the bell tower, and Esmeralda was in the square

Sentenced by Judge Frollo to burn at the stake. The gargoyles

Pleaded with Quasimodo to do something, but he just shook his head

"What difference would it make?"

Then Frollo lit the fire, and something in Quasimodo snapped

"No!"

Using all his strength, he broke the chains. Swinging down

Quasimodo scooped up the unconscious Esmeralda, taking

Her back to the tower. In the confusion, Phoebus was able

To free himself and the gypsies. Frollo called to his men

"Seize the cathedral!"

They destroyed it