4. Four Men

FOUR MEN
GRINGOIRE, PHOEBUS, Q., CLAUDE, AND ESMERALDA MEET
After the dance, Esmeralda leaves and Gringoire goes to find her. He comes upon Quasimodo trying to kidnap Esmeralda. Gringoire tries to save her but the stronger Q. pummels him and leaves him half-conscious by the roadside. Claude, the Archdeacon (who has ordered Q. to kidnap her) is again hiding in the shadows.
There is a chase and finally Es. is cornered. A slow waltz unwinds as Q. and Es. maneuver for advantage. Then Q. makes his move.
This is the first of many refusals. As Q reaches for her, she is repulsed, and he hesitates. He feels so ugly and also feels love for the girl. He reaches three times and each time she refuses.
As Q. is about to grab her, Phoebus happens on the scene. He saves Esmeralda and arrests Q. Esmeralda . . .
ESMERALDA / PHOEBUS FROZEN WALTZ
. . falls for Phoebus. Although he is a drunken swaggering egomaniac, she sees him as her ideal. She idealizes him in this dance. All of the men freeze as she dances a bright waltz around her beloved; she cannot see his faults. As the men start to move, she idealizes again and they freeze again, and she dances around her newly beloved. Then the moment unfreezes and…
Q. is taken away by Phoebus, Esmeralda leaves, Claude sneaks off, and Gringoire once more sets out after Esmeralda.