AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ok so Spain and I worked on this one together I jus typed up the first chapter. So here it is. Hope you enjoy it, comment and share the love. Thanks from Spain and Romano. Oh and this is for our friend Austria! We love you!
The Beginning:
Austria: Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired,the prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away, but she warned him not to be deceived by appearance, for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart, and as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast, and placed a powerful spell on the castle, and all who lived there. Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside the castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his twenty-first year. If he could learn to love another, and earn his love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair, and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love a beast?
(We have seen a progression of stained glass windows illustrating the narration, as well as Beast also known as England shredding his portrait. Now we go to the home of France. He exits the front door and begins his walk into town. He ties his medium length hair back with a blue ribbon.)
France: (singing)
Little town, it's a quiet village
Every day, like the one before
Little town, full of little people
Waking up to say...
Townsfolk 1: Bonjour!
Townsfolk 2: Bonjour!
Townsfolk 3: Bonjour!
Townsfolk 4: Bonjour!
Townsfolk 5: Bonjour!
France:
There goes the baker with his tray like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell
Ev'ry morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town...
Baker AKA Romano: Good morning, France!
[France goes over to the baker]
France: Morning monsieur!
Romano: Where are you off to?
France: The bookshop! I just finished the most wonderful story, about a beanstalk and a scary ogre and...
Romano: (ignoring him) That's nice... Marie, the baguettes! Hurry up!
[France continues on his way]
Townsfolk: Look there he goes, that boy is strange no question. Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?
Woman 1 AKA Taiwan: Never part of any crowd.
Barber AKA Denmark: Cause his head's up on some cloud.
Townsfolk: No denying he's a funny boy, that France!
[France jumps on back of a wagon and rides through town]
Driver AKA Turkey: Bonjour!
Woman 2 AKA Monaco: Good day!
Turkey: How is your family?
Woman 3 AKA Ukraine: Bonjour!
Merchant AKA Korea: Good day!
Ukraine: How is your wife?
Woman 4 AKA Belarus: I need six eggs!
Man 1 aka Russia: That's too expensive!
France: There must be more than this provincial life!
[France enters the bookshop]
Bookseller aka Spain: Ah, France!
France: Good morning. I came to return the book I borrowed.
Spain: (Putting the book back on the shelf) Finished already?
France: Actually I couldn't put it down! Have you got anything new?
Spain: (laughs) Not since yesterday.
France: (on the ladder on the bookshelf) That's all right. I'll borrow... this one.
Spain: That one? But you've read it twice!
France: Well it's my favorite! [France swings off the ladder, as it rolls down the track] Far off places, daring swordfights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!
Spain: [He gives France a funny look but hands him the book anyway] Well, if you like at all that much, it's yours!
France: But sir!
Spain: I insist!
France: Well thank you. Thank you very much! [He leaves the bookshop]
Men: [Looking in window, then turning to watch France]
Look there he goes
That boy is so peculiar!
I wonder if he's feeling well!
Women: With a dreamy far-off look!
Men: And his nose stuck in a book!
All: What a puzzle to the rest of us is France!
[France sits on the edge of a fountain, singing to the sheep and the washing woman in the background, who leaves]
France:
Oh! Isn't this amazing!
It's my favorite part because, you'll see!
Here's where she meets Prince Charming
But she won't discover that it's him 'til chapter three!
Woman 5 aka Belgium: Now it's no wonder that his name means 'beauty' His looks have got no parallel!
Korea: But behind that fair facade, I'm afraid he's rather odd. Very different from the rest of us...
All: He's nothing like the rest of us. Yes different from the rest of us is France.
[Geese flying overhead, one is shot and plummets to the ground. Poland runs over, holds out the bag, and misses catching the prize. He runs to Prussia]
Poland: Wow! You didn't miss a shot, Prussia! You're the greatest hunter in the whole world!
Prussia: I know!
Poland: Huh. No beast alive stands a chance against you... and no girl for that matter!
Prussia: It's true, Prussia, and I've got my sights set on that one! [Pointing to France]
Poland: (looks at Prussia extremely confused then looks at France) Uh... The inventor's son?
Prussia: She's the one! The lucky girl I'm going to marry.
Poland: But he's...
Prussia: The most beautiful girl in town.
Poland: I know but...
Prussia: And that makes her the best! And don't I deserve the best?
Poland: Well of course, I mean you do, but I mean...
Prussia: (sings)
Right from the moment that I met her, saw her
I said she's gorgeous and I fell
Here in town there's only she (France walks by and away)
Who is beautiful as me
So I'm making plans to woo and marry France
Bimbettes aka Baltic's:
Look there he goes, isn't he dreamy
Monsieur Prussia, oh he's so cute
Be still my heart, I'm hardly breathing
He's such a tall, dark, strong and handsome brute
[France walks easily through the crowd of people in town, Prussia struggles to catch up to him]
Russia:Bonjour!
Prussia: Pardon!
Denmark: Good day!
Romano: Mais oui!
Taiwan: You call that bacon?
Monaco: What lovely grapes!
Egypt: Some cheese!
Ukraine: Ten yards!
Egypt: One pound
Prussia: 'Xcuse me!
Egypt: I'll get the knife!
Prussia: Please let me through!
Belarus: This bread!
Korea: Those fish!
Belarus: It's stale!
Korea: They smell!
Turkey: Madame's mistaken!
France: There must be more than this provincial life!
All: Well maybe so...
Prussia: Just watch I'm going to make France my wife! [Townfolk gather around Prussia, and eventually surround him]
All: Look there he goes the boy who's strange but special. A most pecualiar mademoiselle. It's a pity and a sin, he doesn't quite fit in!
Group 1: But he really is a funny boy
Group 2: A beauty but a funny boy
All: He really is a funny boy! That France!
Prussia: Hello, France.
France: Bonjour Prussia. (Prussia grabs the book from France) Prussia, may I have my book, please?
Prussia: How can you read this? There's no pictures!
France: Well, some people use their imaginations.
Prussia: France, it's about time you got your head out of those books (tosses the book into the mud) and paid attention to more important things... like me! The whole town's talking about it. (the Baltics, who are watching, sigh. France picks his book up from the mud and cleans it) It's not right for a woman to read—soon she starts getting ideas... and thinking.
France: (He looks at Prussia confused but then remembers that he is an idiot.) Prussia, you are positively primeval.
Prussia: (he puts his hand around France's shoulders) Why thank you, France. Hey, whaddya say you and me take a walk over to the tavern and have a look at my hunting trophies.
France: Maybe some other time.
[The three Baltic's are still watching them]
Estonia: What's wrong with him?
Latvia: France is crazy!
Lithuania: Prussia's gorgeous!
France: Please, France. I can't. I have to get home and help my father.
Poland: Ha ha ha, that crazy old loon, he need's all the help he can get!
[Prussia and Poland laugh heartily]
France: Don't talk about my father that way!
Prussia: Yeah, don't talk about her father that way! [he conks Poland on the head]
France: My father's not crazy! He's a genius! (There's an explosion in the background. Prussia and Poland continue laughing. France rushes home and descends into the basement.) Papa?
China: How on earth did that happen? Dog gonnit! (He pulls the barrel off his waist, along with his pants.)
France: Are you all right, Papa?
China: I'm ready to give up on this hunk of junk! (kicking the machine)
France: You always say that.
China: I mean it, this time. I'll never get this boneheaded contraption to work.
France: Yes, you will. And you'll win first prize at the fair tomorrow.
China: Hmmmph!
France: And become a world famous inventor!
China: You really believe that?
France: I always have.
China: Well, what are we waiting for. I'll have this thing fixed in no time. (sliding under machine) Hand me that dog-legged clencher there... So, did you have a good time in town today?
France: I got a new book. Papa, do you think I'm odd?
China: My son? Odd? (Appears from under the machine with bizarre goggle looking contraption on his face, that distorts his eyes) Where would you get an idea like that?
France: Oh, I don't know. It's just I'm not sure I fit in here. There's no one I can really talk to.
China: What about the Prussia? He's a handsome fellow!
France: He's handsome all right, and rude and conceited and... Oh Papa, he's not for me.
China: Well, don't worry, cause this invention's going to be the start of a new life for us. (Comes out from under the machine) I think that's done it. Now, let's give it a try. (Machine whirs and chops wood, just as it should)
France: It works!
China: It does? It does!
France: You did it! You really did it!
China: Hitch up Phillipe, boy. I'm off to the fair! (log strikes him in the head, knocking him out. Fade to later in the day)
France: Good bye, Papa! Good luck!
China: Good bye, France, and take care while I'm gone! (China and Phillipe continue on their journey until they become lost) We should be there by now. Maybe we missed a turn. I guess I should have taken a... wait a minute. (Lifts his lantern to illuminate a sign giving directions to Anheim and Valencia) Let's go this way!
[Phillipe looks right, at a dark, overgrown path, then left towards a more inviting route, then begins to go left]
China: Come one, Phillipe! It's a shortcut. We'll be there in no time! (Phillipe and China continue through the dark) This can't be right... Where have you taken us, Phillipe? We'd better turn around... and... whoa... whoa boy, whoa Phillipe. Oh, oh! Look out!
[A swarm of bats fly out of a tree. Phillipe runs through the forest avoiding everything until he almost runs over the edge of a cliff]
China: Back up! Back up! Back up! Good boy, good boy. That's good, that's... back up! Steady. Steady! Hey now. Steady. (Phillipe finally bucks him off) Phillipe! (Phillipe runs away, leaving Japan on the edge of the cliff) Phillipe? Oh no! (He looks up and sees wolves growling at him. China runs away, being chased by the wolves. He stumbles down a hill, and lands at the gate of a castle. He grabs the locked gate and tries to shake it open.)
China: Help! Is someone there?
[The gate opens, and China runs in. He slams the gate in the faces of the wolves. Leaving his hat on the ground as the rain begins to fall, China runs to the castle and bangs on the door. It creaks open and he enters, cautiously.)
China: Hello? Hello?
[Watching from a table near the entrance are Italy and Germany]
Italy: (barely whispering) Old fellow must have lost his way in the woods.
Germany: (also whispering) Keep quiet! Maybe he'll go away.
China: Is someone there?
Germany: Not a word, Italy. Not one word!
China: I don't mean to intrude, but I've lost my horse and I need a place to stay for the night.
Italy: (Looking at Germany like a child having just found a lost puppy) Oh Germany, have a heart.
Germany: Shush shush shush! (Germany puts a hand over Italy's mouth, who promptly proceeds to touch his lit candle hand to Germany's hand.) Ow ow ow Ow OW OUCH!
Italy: Of course, monsieur, you are welcome here.
China: (Looking around in confusion) Who said that? (He picks up the candlestick for light, not realizing that the speaker is in his hand. The candlestick even has a little curl on it for hair)
Italy: (tapping him on the shoulder) Over here!
China: (spins around, pulling Italy to the other side) Where?
Italy: (Taps China on the side of the head. China looks at Italy.) Allo.
China: Oh! (Startled, he drops Italy onto the floor.) Incredible!
Germany: (hopping over) Well, now you've done it, Italy. Splendid, just peachy... aaarrrgghhh! (China picks up Germany)
China: How is this accomplished? (He fiddles with Germany in his clock form)
Germany: Put me down! At once! (China tickles the bottoms of Germany's feet. He laughs. He begins to wind the spring on the back of Germany's head. China opens the front of Germany and begins to play with his pendulum. Germany slams the door shut on his finger) Sir, close that at once, do you mind! I beg your pardon, it's just that... aah... I mean... aah aah aah-chooo! (China sneezes in the face of Germany, who proceeds to wipe his face off using his clock hands in a very anachronistic windshield wiper manner. China sniffles, indicating the cold he has caught from being in the rain.)
Italy: Oh, you are soaked to the bone, monsieur. Come, warm yourself by the fire.
China: Thank you.
[Italy and China head towards the den, with Germany running after them.]
Germany: No, no, no, do you know what the master would do if he finds you here. (England is watching the action from an overhead walkway, and rushes off as the trio enters the den) I demand that you stop... right... there! (Germany tumbles down the steps. China takes a seat in a large chair in front of a roaring fire.) Oh no, not the master's chair! [Footstool rushes past Germany, barking up a storm.] I'm not seeing this, I'm not seeing this!
China: (As Footstool rushes up to him) Well, hello there, boy. (Footstool props himself up under the feet of China. Coatrack enters and removes his cloak.) What service!
Germany: All right, this has gone far enough. I'm in charge here, and (Germany is run over by the (once again) anachronistic IndyCar sounding teacart of Mrs. Hungary)
: (Arriving by the side of China) How would you like a nice spot of tea, sir? It'll warm you up in no time. (Pours tea into a cup (Chibitalia) which hops over into China's open hand)
Germany: (From face down position on carpet) No! No tea, no tea!
Chibitalia: (As China sips the tea) Ha ha! His moustache tickles, momma!
China: (he gets startled by the cup) Oh! Hello!
[The door to the den slams open and a strong gust of wind blows into the room, extinguishing Italy's flames and the fire in the fireplace. Germany dives for cover. Mrs. Hungary begins to shake. Chibitalia jumps back onto the tea cart and takes refuge behind his mother.)
Chibitalia: Uh oh!
[England enters. We see him in full for the first time. He is on all fours. He looks around in the darkness.)
England: (Growling his words) There's a stranger here.
Italy: (Who has relit his flames) Master, allow me to explain... the gentleman was lost in the woods and he was cold and wet...
[Italy's last sentence was drowned out by the very loud growl of England, which puts out his flames once again. Italy looks down, dejected]
Germany: (Coming out from under a rug) Master, I'd like to take this moment to say... I was against this from the start. I tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen to me? No, no, no! [Again, England's growl drowns out Germany]
[China looks to one side of the chair, then to the other and sees England]
England: Who are you! What are you doing here?
China: (Very scared and backing away from the advancing England) I was lost in the woods and... (stares at England)
England: (advancing on him) You are not welcome here!
China: I'm sorry.
England: What are you staring at?
China: (Cowering under England) Noth-noth-nothing! (Turns to leave)
England: (racing around blocking the entrance with surprising speed) So, you've come to stare at the beast, have you?
China: Please, I meant no harm! I just needed a place to stay.
England: I'll give you a place to stay! (England picks up China, carries him out of the room and slams the door, plunging the den, along with Germany, Italy, Mrs. Hungary, and Chibitalia into the darkness.)
