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Gringoire: Accursed Parisians! There they are hoarding all the space around the fire! Move aside! I want to get warm, too!
(As Gringoire gets closer, the crowd opens somewhat to a semicircle, and he notices that the people are not gathered around the fire, but around a dancing girl, Esmeralda, who is dancing with scarves to Gypsy music. Gringoire and the crowd are transfixed as she dances.)
Frollo: Sacrilege! Profanation!
(Esmeralda spins around to face Frollo again.)
Esmeralda: Tis you, that villainous man who follows and watches me!
(She twirls and then goes around the crowd with the tambourine collecting money. She gets to Gringoire who reaches in his pockets and realizes he has no money. He is about to tell her this when a Sister Gudule enters, shouting angrily.)
Sister Gudule: Take yourself off, you Gypsy grasshopper?
(Esmeralda turns around in alarm, saving Gringoire from embarrassment. She backs away from Gudule. Gringoire tries to run away but stops when he hears Esmeralda begin to sing. She may pick up a guitar or sing with background music. Suggested songs are Scarborough Fair, Greensleeves, or other Renaissance songs. Gudule shouts during Esmeralda’s singing.)
Gudule: Hold your tongue, you cricket of hell?
(Suddenly, the King of Fools procession enters from stage right. Quasimodo looks happy that people are finally accepting him. The procession parades around the stage. A very angry Frollo steps out in front of Quasimodo. Everyone is silent as Quasimodo falls on his knees in front of him. Frollo rips off the crown, and then he and Quasimodo communicate with various angry gestures, during which Frollo looks at Esmeralda twice, followed by Quasimodo shaking his head, and saying no, looking very sad. Frollo then shakes him by the shoulder, and they begin to exit stage right. People begin to follow, but Quasimodo growls at them, scaring them away. The crowd disperses out several exits.)
Gringoire: Well, that was interesting. But where the deuce shall I find some supper?
(He thinks for a bit, and then he sees Esmeralda and Djali walking off.)
Gringoire: Hmm. Why not? She must lodge somewhere, and the gypsies have kind hearts, so they may give me some food.
(As he follows her, Esmeralda notices him and quickens her pace. As she turns around a corner, she shrieks. Gringoire hurries over to her and sees that Quasimodo is trying to drag her away. Frollo watches from the shadows.)
Gringoire: Leave her be! Help! Gentlemen of the watch!
(Quasimodo throws Gringoire to the ground, grabs Esmeralda and begins to run away. Djali runs after them, bleating angrily. Phoebus and his 3 or 4 guards enter, stopping Quasimodo.)
Phoebus: Halt! Hand over that woman!
(Phoebus grabs Esmeralda and gets her behind him as Quasimodo runs to grab her again. The Guards surround him with swords and tie his hands with rope. He growls and bites at them. Frollo has disappeared. Esmeralda turns Phoebus around by his shoulder.)
Esmeralda: What is your name, Monsieur?
Phoebus: (bowing) Captain Phoebus de Châteaupers, at your service, my beauty!
Esmeralda: Thank you, kind sir. I am forever indebted to you.
(Esmeralda instantly flees and exits center stage. Phoebus starts to pursue her, but then remembers Quasimodo.)
Phoebus: Let’s take him away, men…You certainly are the King of Fools!
(Guards exit with Quasimodo, pushing him to walk.
Gringoire: That devil of a hunchbacked Cyclops! Now where’d that Gypsy girl go? I still need somewhere to eat and then rest.
(Gringoire looks around to see which way she went, and then exits. Gypsy beggars scatter around the stage, and Gringoire reenters. He passes several beggars, who beg him for food or money. He refuses all of them. A “blind” beggar, Clopin, approaches.)
Clopin: May I have the means to buy some bread, sir?
Gringoire: My apologies, monsieur. I have no money, nor food. And the clothes I wear are the only ones I have.
(As Gringoire begins to walk away, all the Gypsy beggars leap up and grab Gringoire.)
Gringoire: Forgive me, I didn’t mean to offend you! Please…let me go!
Gypsy #1: Oh, shut it up!
Gringoire: Why are you accosting me. I have as little as you...Where am I?
Gypsy #2: You are in the Court of Miracles. Now be quiet!
(More Gypsy beggars enter from all around.)
Gypsy #3: Let the King judge him!
(All the beggars cheer in agreement. The “blind” beggar then takes off his disguise to reveal himself to be Clopin. The Gypsy beggars cheer at his entrance and he bows.)
Gringoire: I recognize you! You interrupted my play!
Clopin: That I did—and just in time, before the crowd died of boredom.
Gringoire: How terribly rude! Who are you, anyway?
Clopin: Who am I? I am Clopin, King of the Gypsies and Judge of this trial…Now, present your defense!
Gringoire: My what? What is even going on? I have done nothing wrong. I just want to find some food and a place to stay!
Clopin: You have done nothing but wrong. You bored me earlier today with your play; you refused to give us anything; and now you’re acting like a complete fool! Let yourself be hanged, and don't be troublesome and kick up such a row over it!
Gringoire: What! It is worth my trouble… One moment! Listen to me! You aren’t going to condemn me without having heard me?
(The crowds’ cries drown him out.)
Clopin: Silence! We don’t want the King’s guards to stop us!
Gringoire: Merci! I do not deserve this! Be kind, your grace!
(Esmeralda suddenly emerges from the crowd.)
Esmeralda: Wait! You are going to hang this man?
Clopin: Yes…unless you take this man as your husband for four years.
Esmeralda: I see…Well then…I’ll take him.
(The crowd grumbles, disappointed, and throws Gringoire to the ground. He looks relieved but confused.)
Clopin: Very well, you shall now be husband and wife for four-years-time. Now, leave my sight before I change my mind!
(Esmeralda rushes Gringoire off stage right. Lights dim as set changes. Lights up on Esmeralda’s home. Gringoire and Esmeralda enter stage right.)
Gringoire: I can’t thank you enough for saving me, and “marrying” me, but why did you do it?
Esmeralda: You yelled for that Captain Pheobus to save me from that hunchback…and no one should be hanged for writing a bad play.
Gringoire: It was not a bad play!
Esmeralda: Whatever. Here’s some food.
(Esmeralda gets a plate of food and hands it to Gringoire and begins to walk to her bed.)
Esmeralda: Good night. I’m going to bed now. You may sleep on that mat.
Gringoire: Wait! I think I should introduce myself. I’m Pierre Gringoire. Thank you for saving me and welcoming me into your home. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.
(Esmeralda doesn’t respond. She walks halfway to her bed, then stops and turns around.)
Esmeralda: Phoebus… What does that word mean?
Gringoire: It is a Latin word that means “sun”. It’s also the name of a god.
Esmeralda: A god…
(She walks over to her bed.)
Esmeralda: [mockingly] Goodnight, my “husband.”
Gringoire: Goodnight, Esmeralda.