The Magician of Sacramento
Summary: This classic tale, once twisted by Disney, takes on a new form. The beautiful city of Paris becomes bustling Sacramento, while deformed Quasimodo transforms into the rejected magician Patrick Jane. Be prepared to see the Hunchback of Notre Dame presented a way you have never seen before. Disney would never approve if it was told like this. AU/Jisbon
A/N: Just so you all know, I have read the original Hunchback of Notre Dame. I prefer Disney's version because a lot of messed up stuff happens in the original. Don't worry, Disney has nothing on this. All the physiological aspects of the RJ hunt will be here, just presented in a new format. I wanted to take a short break from my other story because I'm getting stuck. I hope this experience will enlighten me. Enjoy!
Note: Italicized/bolded lines are singing by the narrator, but if you haven't seen the movie, I suggest you treat them like poetry. Just Italicized lines are still singing, but they are being sung by characters.
I can't link it, but they have the bells of Notre Dame instrumentals on YouTube. It makes it more fun to read!
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Morning in Sacramento , the city awkes
To the sound of passing cars
The business man hustles, the bureaucrat waits
To the sounds of passing cars
To the big streets thick with people
To the little streets withering away
And some say the soul of the cities' the people within
The streets of Sacramento
A suited man stands on the side of the street, while a crowd of children gather round. Minelli smiles at them, and they return the gesture.
"Look around, they're beautiful, no?" Asks Minelli pointing to the tall buildings lining the street. "So many colors and sounds, so many changing shapes. Because, you know, they don't run all by themselves."
The children giggle with wonder. "They Don't"
"No little ones." Minelli chuckles. "Up there high, high in the dark attic, lives the mysterious magician."
"Who?" the children whispered "How did he come to be there?"
"I will tell you." Minelli murmurs solemnly. "It is a tale, a tale of a man and a murderer."
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The Scene wipes to a dreary night. A band of carnies proceed quietly down the Sacramento River, hoping to avoid detection. The infant, clutched in the arms of a young woman, begins to cry.
Dark was the night when our tale was begun
On the docks of Sacramento
"Shut it up, will you!" A beefy carnie cried.
"We'll be spotted." Backed up another.
The Infant's mother brought her daughter closer to her chest.
"Hush little one." She cooed.
A man grabbed her and the child, bundling them together in his arms.
"It'll be okay." He whispered. "Don't you cry Charlotte."
Four frightened carnies slid silently under
The docks of Sacramento
The man navigating the boat turned to the weary travelers.
"Five hundred dollars for safe passage into Sacramento." He hissed.
But a trap had been laid for the carnies
And they gazed up in fear and alarm
At a figure whose clutches
Were cold as much as steel
In front of the carnies stood a hooded figure. When he pulled back his hood, a battered face was lit up by the harsh candle light.
"Minister Red John!" The beefy Carnie cried.
Minister Red John longed to purge the city
Of vice and sin
And he saw corruption everywhere, except within
"Bring these carnie vermin to the head of CBI" Red John sneered.
The infant's mother gathered her child in her arms, attempting to keep her hidden.
"You there!" A minion cried. "What are you hiding!?"
"Stolen goods no doubt." Red John spat. "Take them from her."
Sensing her last opportunity, Angela yanked on her husband's arm. Together, they ran.
They pass through the clutches of Red John, sprinting quickly past the docks towards the city. The couple bounced hurriedly through the streets, heading toward the cathedral of visualize, the heart of Sacramento. Red John followed them on horseback, still coveting the mysterious goods. The family reached the doors of the cathedral, beginning to shout and bang for help.
"Sanctuary!" Angela Cried.
"Please give us sanctuary." Repeated her husband.
Minister Red John finally caught up to them pounding at the cathedral door. He used his staff to beat the head of the blonde husband, thoroughly enjoying his wince of pain. The minister ripped the bundle out of Angela's arms, and kicked her, sending her crashing to the cement steps, where she was knocked unconscious. Charlotte began to cry.
"A baby." Red John shutters.
"You monster." The blonde man cried, rushing to the battered body of his wife.
Red John stared into the face of the infant, a silver glow in his eyes. He immediately dropped her, sending down her body against the hard ground. The crying stopped instantly. The minister rushed to the body of the mother. Next the weeping blonde man, Angela lay stiff. The minister raised his staff, ready to finish the man off as well.
"STOP!" Cried a voice.
Out of the shadows walked an elder man, his eyes filled with sorrow. Red John recognized him immediately, the Holy Archdeacon Brett Stiles. Stiles began to cry out to the minister.
"See there the innocent blood you have spilt
On the steps of visualize"
"I am guiltless." Smirked Red John. "They ran, I perused."
"Now you would add this man's blood to your guilt
On the steps of visualize"
"My conscience is clear." The minister chuckled.
"You can lie to yourself and your minions
You can claim that you haven't a qualm
But you can never run
Nor hide what you've done
From the people
The very people of Sacramento"
And for one time in his life of power and control
Red John felt a twinge of fear for the public's toll
"What must I do?" Red John asked.
"Hide the man." Stiles responded. "Take him to the CBI"
"But where?" Shot the minister.
"Anywhere." Said the archdeacon. "Just so he's kept locked away where no one else can see."
"The CBI attic, perhaps." Red John whispered. "And who knows—our lord works in mysterious ways. Even this cursed carnie may yet prove to be use to me."
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The children gasped and instinctively huddled closer to Minelli.
"What next?" They asked.
"Red John stole the husband and brought him to stay in the attic of the CBI." Responded Minelli. "The man had a name that revealed his past, so the minister fashioned him a new one. He gave him a cruel name. A name that keeps him plain and hidden in the shadows… Jane."
Now here is a riddle to guess if you can
Ask the people of Sacramento
Who is the outcast and who is the man?
Ask the people, people, people, people
People, people, people, people
People of Sacramento.
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What did you guys think? Too AU for you? I hope not, I had a ton of fun writing this. So far it's pretty close to script, but be prepared for it to stray more away as the story progresses. Please review and tell me if this is something you'd be interested reading more about. Thank you all and I hope I have another chapter up in the next two days!
Key* (So far)
Jane- Quasimodo
Red John-Minister Frollo
Minelli-Clopin
Brett Stiles-Archdeacon