Beauty and the Beast:
Story




   Act I

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 appearances, for beauty is to be 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. As punishment, she transformed him into a hideous BEAST and placed a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom for many years. If he could learn to love another and earn their love in return before the last petal fell, the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a Beast for all time.

In a little town, a quiet provincial village where "every day is like the one before," we meet BELLE, a young woman who lives there with her father. Although Belle is admired by the villagers for her beauty, she is seen as odd and peculiar, ". . . with a dreamy far off look, and her nose stuck in a book, what a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle."

Enter GASTON, a handsome, egotistical man who has fallen for Belle. He vows, to Belle's obvious disapproval, that he is going to marry her -- the most beautiful girl in town and the only one worthy of being his wife. So confident is Gaston that Belle will accept his proposal, he sends his flunky Lefou into the woods to capture a deer for the wedding feast. Meanwhile, Belle slips away and goes home to her father, MAURICE, an eccentric inventor. Maurice is putting the final touches on an invention that he is confident will make his fortune. Sensitive to the looks and comments she endures from the villagers, Belle asks him if he thinks she is odd. Her father assures her that she is not -- after all, she is her mother's daughter, and NO MATTER WHAT, he is on her side.

Having finally succeeded in making his invention work, Maurice sets off for the fair, hoping to win first prize, and he takes with him a scarf Belle gives him for good luck. But soon, while lost in the woods, his invention breaks down and wolves begin to chase him. Lost and frightened, he stumbles upon a castle and pounds on the door.

Inside, he discovers to his amazement that the castle is populated with once human ENCHANTED OBJECTS, who, as the Prince's servants, have also been cruelly affected by the beggar woman's spell. LUMIERE, a candelabra, COGSWORTH, a mantle clock, and MRS. POTTS, a teapot, proceed to make Maurice feel welcome and comfortable while at the same time attempting to keep his presence hidden from the castle's master, the Beast.

It doesn't work. The Beast roars into the room and accuses Maurice of wanting to "stare at the Beast." Maurice apologizes, but to no avail. When he claims that all he wanted was a place to stay, the Beast tells him, "I'll give you a place to stay," and throws him in the dungeon.

Back in town, having made all the arrangements for his wedding to Belle, Gaston decides it's about time to propose to the lucky bride-to-be. He paints a vivid picture of life married to Belle (ME), but she turns him down flat and Gaston leaves humiliated, now even more determined to have Belle for his wife. As Lefou shows up looking for Gaston, Belle notices that he is wearing her father's scarf and demands that Lefou tell her where he found it. Lefou confesses that he picked it up in the woods near the crossroads. When he refuses to take Belle there, she goes to look for her father herself. Belle comes upon the Beast's castle and lets herself in. As she cautiously explores the dark interior, looking for her father, Lumiere and Cogsworth worry that they are losing more and more of their humanity each day, as the terrible spell continues to transform them into objects. But, when they discover Belle's presence, their hopes are ignited as they anticipate she might be the one to help their master break the spell.

Belle finds Maurice locked up in a cell. He urges her to leave, just as the Beast appears. Belle begs the Beast to let her father go, finally offering to become the Beast's prisoner in exchange for her elderly father's freedom. The Beast accepts her offer and makes her promise to stay there forever. He sends Maurice off before father and daughter can say goodbye.

The Beast leads Belle to her new quarters in the castle and tells her that this is now her home. He says she can go anywhere in the castle she likes -- except the West Wing -- and then demands that Belle join him for dinner. As Belle mourns the loss of her father and her freedom (HOME), Mrs. Potts and MADAME DE LA GRANDE BOUCHE, the wardrobe, try to cheer her up.

Meanwhile, at the tavern in town, Gaston is pouting about Belle's rejection. Lefou and some of the villagers remind him how admired he is (GASTON). During the revelry, Maurice arrives, frantic and begging for help to rescue Belle from the Beast. No one takes him seriously, and Gaston has him thrown out. When one of the villagers mentions that "crazy old Maurice, he's always good for a laugh," Gaston hatches a new plot, which he confides to Lefou. Back at the castle, the Beast anxiously awaits Belle at dinner. But, still angry and upset at her predicament, Belle stays in her room. Furious, the Beast confronts Belle and tries to bully her into joining him, but she remains defiant. He tells her that she is forbidden to eat at all, and storms off to the West Wing. In his quarters, using his magic mirror, the Beast looks in on Belle as she declares to Madame de la Grande Bouche that she wants nothing to do with him. Distraught by her refusal to see him as anything but a monster, the Beast reflects on his past mistakes, asking HOW LONG MUST THIS GO ON?

Feeling hungry, a courageous Belle finds her way to the kitchen, where, despite the Beast's order, Mrs. Potts insists on feeding her. Lumiere declares that with a proper dinner comes a little music and leads the objects in a spectacular floor show for Belle's entertainment (BE OUR GUEST).

Belle is now too excited to sleep, so Cogsworth and Lumiere give her a tour of the castle. Belle slips away from her guides and makes her way to the West Wing, where she discovers the enchanted rose. Just as she is about to touch it, the Beast, frightened at what might happen, bellows at her to stay away. Belle runs out of the castle. The Beast, realizing what he has done, mourns her departure and his own shrinking humanity (IF I CAN'T LOVE HER).


Go to Act II


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