I can't believe it! An old woman came to my door and asked for shelter. She's nothing but an old hag! Why should I, Prince Brandon, let an old hag come in to my castle in the middle of the night on Christmas! Does the woman have no manners? Coming to the castle of a prince!
"I'll give you this rose in exchange for a place to sleep this night," she said, offering me a rose. A rose? For a place to stay? And that place is a castle? She must be crazy.
"No!" I yelled. "Go away and leave me alone!"
The old hag began to change. Now a beautiful young lady stood before me dressed in shimmering white. "On second thought, come in, come in. Stay as long as you like," I said with a bow.
"No, you fool! You would not let an old lady who was in desperate need of a place to stay but you'll let an enchantress stay in your castle? You are nothing but a beast. You'll remain a beast and your servants household objects until a maiden falls in love with you in beast form. This rose will mark the time that has past. In five years all of the petals will have fallen. You have until then for a maiden to fall in love with you. If not, you will remain a beast for the rest of your days!"
I felt myself begin to change. No! How will I make a girl fall in love with me if I am an ugly beast?
I ran inside. All of my servants were household objects. A teapot, a candelabra, a clock, a teacup. I tuned and looked in the mirror behind me. No! I was a hideous beast.
I ran upstairs to my room. I though myself down on my bed like a little child, sobbing. I would be a beast for the rest of my life. Never again would I be a handsome prince. I would never be loved by a lass. I would never marry. Never.