CHARLOTTE: Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince and princess lived in a shining castle. The princess was kind, loving and her actions reflected her heart while her little brother the Prince 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 appearances, for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. The princess tried to apologize for her brother and 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, the princess was trapped in not one mirror but alla nd anything that has a reflection. Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his twenty-first year. If he could learn to love another, and earn her 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?

(Fade up on the home of BELLE. She exits the front door and begins her walk into town.)

BELLE: 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!

BELLE: 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: Good morning, Belle! (BELLE jumps over to the bakery)

BELLE: Morning monsieur!

BAKER: Where are you off to?

BELLE: The bookshop! I just finished the most wonderful story, about a beanstalk and an ogre and...

BAKER: (Ignoring her) That's nice...Marie, the baguettes! Hurry up!

TOWNSFOLK: Look there she goes, that girl is strange no question Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?

WOMAN 1: Never part of any crowd

BARBER: Cause her head's up on some cloud

TOWNSFOLK: No denying she's a funny girl, that Belle! (BELLE jumps on the back of a wagon and rides through town)

DRIVER: Bonjour!

WOMAN 2: Good day!

DRIVER: How is your family?

WOMAN 3: Bonjour!

MERCHANT: Good day!

WOMAN 3: How is your wife?

WOMAN 4: I need six eggs!

MAN 1: That's too expensive!

BELLE: There must be more than this provincial life! (BELLE enters the bookshop)

BOOKSELLER: Ah, Belle!

BELLE: Good morning. I've come to return the book I borrowed.

BOOKSELLER: (Putting the book back on the shelf) Finished already?

BELLE: Oh, I couldn't put it down! Have you got anything new?

BOOKSELLER: (laughing) Not since yesterday.

BELLE: (on ladder of bookshelf) That's all right. I'll borrow... this one.

BOOKSELLER: That one? But you've read it twice!

BELLE: Well it's my favorite! (BELLE swings off side of ladder, rolling down it's track) Far off places, daring swordfights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!

BOOKSELLER: (handing her the book) Well, if you like it all that much, it's yours!

BELLE: But sir!

BOOKSELLER: I insist!

BELLE: Well thank you. Thank you very much! (leaves bookshop)

MEN: (looking in window, then turning to watch her) Look there she goes That girl is so peculiar! I wonder if she's feeling well!

WOMEN: With a dreamy far-off look!

MEN: And her nose stuck in a book! ALL What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle! (BELLE sits on the edge of a fountain, singing to the sheep and the washing woman in the background, who leaves)

BELLE: 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: Now it's no wonder that her name means 'beauty' Her looks have got no parallel!

MERCHANT: But behind that fair facade I'm afraid she's rather odd Very different from the rest of us... ALL: She's nothing like the rest of us Yes different from the rest of us is Belle (GEESE flying overhead, one is shot and plummets to the ground. LEFOU runs over, holds out the bag, and misses catching the prize. He returns to GASTON)

LEFOU: Wow! You didn't miss a shot, Gaston! You're the greatest hunter in the whole world!

GASTON: I know!

LEFOU: Huh. No beast alive stands a chance against you...and no girl for that matter!

GASTON: It's true, Lefou, and I've got my sights set on that one! (pointing to BELLE)

LEFOU: The inventor's daughter?

GASTON: She's the one! The lucky girl I'm going to marry.

LEFOU: But she's-

GASTON: The most beautiful girl in town.

LEFOU: I know-

GASTON: And that makes her the best. And don't I deserve the best?

LEFOU: Well of course, I mean you do, but I mean...

GASTON: Right from the moment when I met her, saw her I said she's gorgeous and I fell Here in town there's only she (BELLE walks by and away) Who is beautiful as me So I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle

BIMBETTES: Look there he goes, isn't he dreamy Monsieur Gaston, oh he's so cute Be still my heart, I'm hardly breathing He's such a tall, dark, strong and handsome brute (BELLE walks easily through the crowd of people in the town, GASTON struggles to catch up to her)

MAN 1: Bonjour!

GASTON: Pardon!

MAN 2: Good day!

MAN 3: Mais oui!

WOMAN 1: You call this bacon?

WOMAN 2: What lovely grapes!

MAN 4: Some cheese!

WOMAN 3: Ten yards!

MAN 4: One pound

GASTON: 'xcuse me!

MAN 4: I'll get the knife!

GASTON: Please let me through!

WOMAN 4: This bread!

MAN 5: Those fish!

WOMAN 4: It's stale!

MAN 5: They smell!

MAN 6: Madame's mistaken!

BELLE: There must be more than this provincial life!

ALL: Well maybe so...

GASTON: Just watch I'm going to make Belle my wife! (TOWNSFOLK gather around GASTON, and eventually surround him)

ALL: Look there she goes a girl who's strange but special A most peculiar mademoiselle It's a pity and a sin She doesn't quite fit in!

GROUP 1: But she really is a funny girl

GROUP 2: A beauty but a funny girl

ALL: She really is a funny girl! That Belle!

GASTON: Hello, Belle.

BELLE: Bonjour Gaston. (GASTON grabs the book from BELLE) Gaston, may I have my book, please?

GASTON: How can you read this? There's no pictures!

BELLE: Well, some people use their imaginations.

GASTON: Belle, it's about time you got your head out of those books (tossing book into the mud) and paid attention to more important things...like me! The whole town's talking about it. (The BIMBETTES, who are looking on, sigh. BELLE has picked up the book and is cleaning off the mud) It's not right for a woman to read-soon she starts getting ideas... and thinking.

BELLE: Gaston, you are positively primeval. GASTON: (Putting his hand around her shoulders) Why thank you, Belle. Hey, whaddya say you and me take a walk over to the tavern and have a look at my hunting trophies.

BELLE: Maybe some other time.

BIMBETTE 1: What's wrong with her?

BIMBETTE 2: She's crazy!

BIMBETTE 3: He's gorgeous!

BELLE: Please, Gaston. I can't. I have to get home and help my father.

LEFOU: Ha ha ha, that crazy old loon, he need all the help he can get! (GASTON and LEFOU laugh heartily)

BELLE: Don't you talk about my father that way!

GASTON: Yeah, don't talk about her father that way! (He conks LEFOU on the head.)

BELLE: My father's not crazy! He's a genius! (Explosion in background. GASTON and LEFOU continue laughing. BELLE rushes home and descends into the basement.)

BELLE: Papa?

MAURICE: How on earth did that happen? Dog gonnit! (He pulls the barrel off his waist, along with his pants.)

BELLE: Are you all right, Papa?

MAURICE: I'm about ready to give up on this hunk of junk! (kicking machine)

BELLE: You always say that.

MAURICE: I mean it, this time. I'll never get this boneheaded contraption to work.

BELLE: Yes, you will. And you'll win first prize at the fair tomorrow

MAURICE: Hmmmph!

BELLE: ...and become a world famous inventor!

MAURICE: You really believe that?

BELLE: I always have.

MAURICE: 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?

BELLE: I got a new book. Papa, do you think I'm odd?

MAURICE: My daughter? Odd? (Appears from under machine with bizarre goggle contraption on his head distorting his eyes) Where would you get an idea like that?

BELLE: 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.

MAURICE: What about that Gaston? He's a handsome fellow!

BELLE: He's handsome all right, and rude and conceited and...Oh Papa, he's not for me!

MAURICE: Well, don't you worry, cause this invention's going to be the start of a new life for us. (Comes out from under machine) I think that's done it. Now, let's give it a try. (MACHINE whirs and chops wood, just as it should)

BELLE: It works!

MAURICE: It does? It does!

BELLE: You did it! You really did it!

MAURICE: Hitch up Phillipe, girl. I'm off to the fair! (Log strikes him in the head, knocking him out. Fade to later in the day)

BELLE: Good bye, Papa! Good luck!

MAURICE: Good bye, Belle, and take care while I'm gone! (MAURICE and PHILLIPE continue on their journey until they become lost)

MAURICE: We should be there by now. Maybe we missed a turn. I guess I should have taken a...wait a minute. (Lifts lantern to illuminate sign giving directions to Anaheim 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)

MAURICE: Come on, Phillipe! It's a shortcut. We'll be there in no time! (PHILLIPE and MAURICE continue through the dark.)

MAURICE: 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)

MAURICE: 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 MAURICE on the edge of the cliff.) Phillipe? Oh no! (He looks up and sees WOLVES growling at him. MAURICE 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.)

MAURICE: Help! Is someone there? (The gate opens, and MAURICE runs in. He slams the gate in the faces of the WOLVES. Leaving his hat on the ground as the rain begins to fall, MAURICE runs to the castle and bangs on the door. It creaks open and he enters, cautiously.)

MAURICE: Hello? Hello? (Watching from a table near the entrance are LUMIERE and COGSWORTH)

LUMIERE: (Barely whispering) Old fellow must have lost his way in the woods.

COGSWORTH: (Also whispering) Keep quiet! Maybe he'll go away.

MAURICE: Is someone there?

COGSWORTH: Not a word, Lumiere. Not one word!

MAURICE: I don't mean to intrude, but I've lost my horse and I need a place to stay for the night.

LUMIERE: (looking at COGSWORTH like a child having just found a lost puppy) Oh Cogsworth, have a heart.

COGSWORTH: Shush shush shhhhh! (COGSWORTH puts hand over LUMIERE'S mouth, who promptly proceeds to touch his lit candle hand to COGSWORTH's hand.) Ow ow Ow OW OW OUCH!

LUMIERE: Of course, monsieur, you are welcome here.

MAURICE: (looking around in confusion) Who said that? (He picks up the candlestick for light, not realizing that the speaker is in his hand)

LUMIERE: (Tapping him on the shoulder) Over here!

MAURICE: (Spins around, pulling LUMIERE to the other side) Where?

LUMIERE: (Taps MAURICE on the side of the head. MAURICE looks at LUMIERE.) Allo!

MAURICE: Oh! (Startled, he drops LUMIERE onto the floor.) Incredible!

COGSWORTH: (hopping over) Well, now you've done it, Lumiere. Splendid, just peachy-aaarrrgghh! (MAURICE picks up COGSWORTH)

MAURICE: How is this accomplished? (He fiddles with COGSWORTH)

COGSWORTH: Put me down! At once! (MAURICE tickles the bottoms of COGSWORTH's feet. He laughs. He begins to wind the spring on the back of COGSWORTH's head, twisting his face around with the clock hands. MAURICE opens the front of COGSWORTH and begins to play with his pendulum. COGSWORTH slams the door shut on his finger.) Sir, close that at once, do you mind!

MAURICE: I beg your pardon, it's just that I've never seen a clock that...aah...i mean...aah aah aah-chooo! (MAURICE sneezes in the face of COGSWORTH, who proceeds to wipe his face off using his clock hands in a very anachronistic windshield wiper manner. MAURICE sniffles, indicating the cold he has caught from being in the rain.)

LUMIERE: Oh, you are soaked to the bone, monsieur. Come, warm yourself by the fire.

MAURICE: Thank you. (LUMIERE and MAURICE head towards the den, with COGSWORTH running after them.)

COGSWORTH: No, no, no, do you know what the master would do if he finds you here. (BEAST is watching the action from an overhead walkway, and rushes off as the trio enters the den.) I demand that you stop...right...there! (COGSWORTH tumbles down the steps. MAURICE takes a seat in a large chair in front of a roaring fire.) Oh no, not the master's chair! (FOOTSTOOL rushes past COGSWORTH, barking up a storm.) I'm not seeing this, I'm not seeing this!

MAURICE: (As FOOTSTOOL rushes up to him) Well, hello there, boy. (FOOTSTOOL props himself up under the feet of MAURICE. COATRACK enters and removes his cloak.) What service!

COGSWORTH: All right, this has gone far enough. I'm in charge here, and (COGSWORTH is run over by the (once again) anachronistic IndyCar sounding teacart of MRS. POTTS)

MRS. POTTS: (Arriving by the side of MAURICE) How would you like a nice spot of tea, sir? It'll warm you up in no time. (Pours tea into cup (CHIP), which hops over into MAURICE's open hand)

COGSWORTH: (from face down position on carpet) No! No tea, no tea!

CHIP: (As MAURICE sips the tea) Ha ha! His moustache tickles, momma!

MAURICE: (Startled by the cup) Oh! Hello! (The door to the den slams open and a strong gust of wind blows into the room, extinguishing LUMIERE's flames and the fire in the fireplace. COGSWORTH dives for cover. MRS. POTTS begins to shake. CHIP jumps back onto the tea cart and takes refuge from behind his mother)

CHIP: Uh oh! (BEAST enters. We see him in full for the first time. He is on all fours. He looks around in the darkness.)

BEAST: (Growling his words) There's a stranger here.

LUMIERE: (who has relit his flames) Master, allow me to explain. The gentleman was lost in the woods and he was cold and wet... (LUMIERE's last sentence is drowned out by the very loud growl of BEAST, which puts out his flames once again. LUMIERE looks down, dejected.)

COGSWORTH: (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 would they listen to me? No, no, no! (Again, BEAST's growl drowns out COGSWORTH.) (MAURICE looks to one side of the chair, then to the other and sees BEAST.)

BEAST: Who are you! What are you doing here?

MAURICE: (Very scared and backing away from the advancing BEAST) I was lost in the woods and...(stares at BEAST)

BEAST: (Advancing on him) You are not welcome here!

MAURICE: I'm sorry

BEAST: What are you staring at?

MAURICE: (Cowering under BEAST) Noth-noth-nothing! (Turns to leave)

BEAST: (Racing around and blocking the entrance with surprising speed) So, you've come to stare at the beast, have you?

MAURICE: Please, I meant no harm! I just needed a place to stay .

BEAST: I'll give you a place to stay! (BEAST picks up MAURICE, carries him out of the room and slams the door, plunging the den, along with COGSWORTH, LUMIERE,MRS. POTTS, and CHIP into darkness. Fade out.)