Beauty And The Beast

A quick note: this is LONG. I think it's good, but like I just said it is long, so if you're in a hurry, I think everyone would be happier if you waited and read it later when you're not in a hurry. :) Thank you!

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although the prince had everything his heart desired, he was spoiled, selfish, and unkind.

Then, one day, an old beggar woman appeared at his door and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearence, the prince sneared at the gift and turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be decieved by appearences, 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 begged for forgiveness, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart.

As punishment she turned the prince into a hideous beast and placed a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there.

Ashamed of his monsterous form, the beast concealed himself in the castle with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world.

The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, that would bloom for many years. If the beast could learn to love another, and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, the spell would be broken. If not, then he would be forced to remain a beast for all time.

As the years passed, he fell into dispair, for who could ever learn to love a beast?

"Little town," A beautiful young woman sang, "It's a quiet village. Every day, like the one before. Little town, full of little people waking up to say . . ." 

"Bonjour!" "Bonjour!" "Bonjour, Bonjour Bonjour!" "There goes the baker with his tray like always, the same old bread and rolls to sell. Every morning just the same, since the morning that we came, to this poor provincial town!"

"Good morning Belle!" "Good morning, sir." "Where are you off to?" "The book shop, I just finished the most wonderful story about a beanstock, and an ogre, and-"

"That's nice. Marie, the baggetts, hurry up!"

"Look there she goes that girl is strange, no question! Dazed and distracted, can't  you tell? With a dreamy far off look, and her nose stuck in a book, yes different from the rest of us is Belle!" The villagers sang to one another laughing.

Then they ignored Belle and began talking to one another. "Bonjour!" "Good day!" "How is your family?" "Bonjour!" "Good day!" "How is your wife?" "I need six eggs!" "That's too expensive!" From a bit away Belle rolled her eyes and sang: "There must be more than this provincial life!"

"Ah, Belle!" the bookseller sighed when she saw her biggest customer. "Good morning, I came to return the book I borrowed." "Finished already?" "Oh, yes. I couldn't put it down! Have you got anything new?" "Not since yesterday," the bookseller laughed. "Oh, that's alright. I'll borrow the one you have there," Belle said, gesturing at the book the bookseller had laid on the ground. "That one? But you've read it twice!" "Well it's my favorite." "If you like that much, then it's yours!" "But ma'am-" "I insist!" "Well thank you, thank you very much!"

When Belle started to walk away, she dropped the book. As she bent to pick it up, the villagers began to sing softly to each other. "Look there she goes that girl is so peculiar! I wonder if she's feeling well. Never part of any crowd, 'cause her head's up on some cloud, no denying she's a funny girl that Belle!"

Away from the other villagers, Belle read her book in peace. "Oh," she sang "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 'till chapter three!"

The tall lady and the baker's wife started gossiping. "Now it's no wonder that her name means beauty, her looks have got no parallel!" the baker's wife sang. "But behind that fair fascade," the tall lady countered, "I'm afraid she's rather odd!" "She's different from the rest of us, she's nothing like the rest of us, yes different from the rest of us is Belle!" They sang  in unison.

Just then the most admired and handsom man in town, Gaston, entered with his ridiculous side-kick, Le Fou. "Wow, Gaston, you didn't miss a shot! You're the greatest hunter in the whole world!" Le Fou gushed. "I know," Gaston said pompously. "No beast alive stands a chance against you, and no girl for that matter." "It's true, Le Fou, and I've got my eyes set on that one!" Gaston gestured toward Belle, who was walking back to town. "The inventor's daughter?" Le Fou asked. "She's the most beautiful girl in town!" "I know, but-" "And don't I deserve the best?" "Of course you do!"

Gaston burst into song, "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, who is as beautiful as me, so I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle!" 

The baker's wife and the tall lady, both of whom had huge crushes on Gaston broke in. "Look there, he goes, isn't he dreamy? Misour, Gaston, oh he's so cute! Bestill, my heart, I'm hardly breathing! He's such a tall, blonde, strong and handsome brute!"

And suddenly the village was nothing but a huge crowd. Gaston tried to make his way over to Belle but couldn't get through. "Bonjour!" Somebody yelled. "Pardon!" Gaston roared at the book seller. "This bread is stale!" "Madam's mistaken!" the baker insisted, pulling his wife away from the complaining customer. Belle rolled her eyes. "There must be more than this provincial life!" she sang. From across the crowd, Gaston sang back "Just watch, I'm going to make Belle my wife!"

As Belle walked away, the village became full of song. "Look there she goes a girl who's strange, but special, a most peculiar madmosele! It's a pity and a sin, she doesn't quite fit in. 'Cause she really is a funny girl, a beauty but a funny girl. She really is a funny giiiiiirl, that Bellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllle!"

At that moment, Gaston finally caught up with Belle. "Hello," he said. "Bonjour Gaston." "Belle, today I'm going to make all your dreams come true." "What could you possibly know about my dreams, Gaston?" "Plenty. Picture this: a rustic mountain cabin. You, my little wife, massaging my feet. The boys playing on the floor with the dogs. We'll have six or seven." "Dogs?!" Belle asked. "No, boys." "Imagine that." "Belle, don't you understand?" Gaston asked, "I'm asking you to marry me!" "Oh, well, uh, thanks for the offer, but no." Gaston left, clearly dejected.

After Gaston was gone, Belle's father, Maurice came by. "Hi Belle!" he called cheerfully. "Hi, papa. Where are you going?" "I thought I'd go for a little walk in the woods. It's a beautiful day out." "Oh, that sounds nice," Belle said with a smile. "I'll be back in an hour or so," Maurice said as he walked to the nearby forest.

Seven hours later, that afternoon, Belle was getting worried. It had grown icey and cold, and she her father hadn't returned. She went to the village and asked if anyone had seen her papa, and the baker had some information. "I saw SOMEONE in the woods today," he said, "he, or she, didn't see me, but a little after I left I heard wolves howling, and a scream and running." "And you didn't do anything about it?" Belle asked. "No, I might've gotten my white shirt dirty!" "Oh, papa! That must have been him. I have to go find him!" Belle rushed to the forest, and found Maurice's footprints.

After following her father's footprints for as long as she could, Belle came across a huge castle. She entered, hoping to see her father. "Papa!" Belle cried. She was right, he was here! Something was wrong, though.

"Belle!" "Oh Papa! Your hands are like ice! Who has done this to you?" Before he could answer, a voice rang out. "What are you doing here?" "I have come to rescue my father,"Belle answered bravely. "Who are you?" "I am the master of this castle, and this man was trespassing!" "But he's just an old man! You have to let him go." Belle paused. "What if I stayed instead?" "You would do that? You take his place?" Belle hesitated. "Step into the light."

Belle cringed. "Belle," Maurice said seriously, "I'm old, I've lived my life." "You have my word," Belle said, ignoring her father. "Take him to the village!" The beast yelled, shoving Maurice to a statue, who grabbed him and went away.

Belle burst into tears and the beast watched. After a moment a strange man entered and whispered to the beast, "Since Madenmosele will be with us for, ahem, quite some time, perhaps you could offer her a more comfortable room?" The beast growled. "Follow me."

"This is your room. Remember, this is your home now. You are free to go any where EXCEPT the west wing." "What's in the west-"

"IT'S FORBIDDEN! You are never to set foot there, do you understand?" "Yes."

"Great. Oh, one more thing, you WILL join me for dinner tonight. That is NOT a request!" The beast slammed the door on the way out.

As soon as he was gone, Belle burst into tears once again. 'Oh, Papa!' She thought, 'Oh Papa, I'll never see you again!"

Once she had a bit more self-control, she began to sing. "Yes I mad the choice, for Papa I will stay. But I don't deserve to loose my freedom in this way you, monster. If you think that what you've done is right, well then, you're a fool. Think again."

"Is this home? Is this where I should learn to be happy? Never dreamed that a home could be dark and cold! I was told everyday in my childhood, even when we grow old.

"Home should be where the heart is, never were words so true. My heart's far, far away, home is too. What I'd give, to return, to the life that I knew lately, and to think I complained of that dull provincial town."

"Is this home? Am I here for a day or forever? Never dreamed, that a home could be dark and cold. I was told, everyday in my childhood, even when we grow old, home should be where the hear is, never were words so true. My heart's far, far away, home and free!"

"Nothing like a spot of tea to make the world seem a bit brighter!" A strange looking teapot said kindly as she walked in. "Ah!" Belle screamed, "Who are you?" "Mrs. Potts, dear. Very pleased to make your aquantaince." "This can't be happening!" Belle said, putting her head in her hands.



"Well, now. What shall we dress you in for dinner?" Mrs. Potts asked. "That's very kind of you, but I'm not going to dinner." "Well of course you are!" Mrs. Potts laughed, "You heard what the master said." "He may be your master, but he's not mine," Belle said angrily. Then, feeling badly about it, said, "I'm sorry, this is just happening so fast." "That was a very brave thing you did, my dear, with your father." "I'm going to miss Papa so much!" Belle was once again on the brink of tears. "Cheer up, child. Things may seem bleak now, but everything will work out." 

Mrs. Potts began to sing beautifully. "I hope that we'll be friends, though I don't know you well, if anyone can make the most of living here then Belle it's you! And who knows, you may find, home here too!"

Meanwhile, back in the village at the local tavern, Gaston had just entered. "Who does she think she is!" he yelled. "Dismissed, rejected, publicly humiliated. It's more than I can bear."

"Bear!? WHERE?!" Le Fou screamed, ducking behind Gaston. "Oh le fou, I'm disgraced." "Who, you? Never. Gaston, you've got to pull yourself together.

"Gosh it disturbs me to see you Gaston, looking so down in the dumps.Every guy here'd like to be you Gaston, even when taking your lumps. There's no man in town as admired as you, you're everyone's favorite guy!"

"Everyone's awed and inspired by you, and it's not very hard to see why!"

"Noone's slick as Gaston, noone's quick as Gaston, noone's neck's as incredibly thick as Gaston's!" "As a specimen yes I'm intimidating."

"My what a guy that Gaston! Give five hurrah's, give twelve hip hips, Gaston is the best and the rest is all drips!"

"Noone fights like Gaston, douses lights like Gaston!"

"In a wrestling match nobody bites like Gaston!" Le Fou exclaimed, causing everyone to jump back.

"For there's noone as burly and brawny." "As you see, I've got biceps to spare!" "Not a bit of him scraggly or scrawny!" "That's right! And every last inch of me's covered with hair!"

"My what a guy, that Gaston!" 

Gaston hopped up on the bar, using Le Fou as a stool. "OOOOH!"

"AAAAAAAAAAH"

"WOW!"

"My what a guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuy" "WHAT A GUY!" "Gaaaaaastooooooooooooooon!"

Suddenly, Maurice ran in. "Help!" he cried. "They've got her, they've got her locked in a dungeon!" "Who?" Le Fou asked. "Belle!" "Woah, slow down Maurice," Gaston reqested, "Who's got Belle locked in a dungeon?" "A beast! A terrible, monsterous beast!" The people in the tavern looked at each other for a moment, and then burst out laughing. "Fine, I'll just go back there and rescue her myself!"  

"Oh, good old, crazy Maurice," the bartender chuckled. "Yeah," a horseman agreed, "He's always good for a laugh. Everyone except for Gaston and Le Fou decided to leave for the night.

"Ha ha, crazy ole' Maurice," Gaston chuckled. "Hmmm, crazy old Maurice." Gaston burst into song, "Le Fou I'm afraid I've been thinking." "A dangerous pastime." "I know, but that wacky old coot is Belle's father, and his sanity's only so-so. Now the wheels in my head have been turning, since I first saw that looney old man. Now I promised myself I'd be married to Belle and right now I'm evolving a plan!"

"If I pssst. Then we psst." "No, would she?" Le Fou asked. "Guess!" "Now I get it, let's go."

"Nooooooo oooone, plots like Gaston takes cheap shots like Gaston plans to persecute harmless crackpots like Gaston. So his marraige we soon will be celebrating. My what a guuuuuuuy, Gaston!"

Back at the castle, the beast was distressed. "It's time for dinner, WHERE IS SHE?" "I'll go check on her," Cogsworth, an exeptionally strange woman offered. "Won't be a minute." She hurried up the stairs.

"Master," Lumiere said to his employer, "Have you perhaps thought that this girl could be the one to break the spell?" "Of course I have, I'm no fool." "Good. So, you fall in love with her, she falls in love with you and *POOF* the spell is broken! We'll be human again by midnight!"

"Lumiere, I'm afraid it's not that easy," said Mrs. Potts joining in on the conversation. "These things take time." "But we don't have time!" Lumiere exclaimed. "The rose has already begun to wilt." They noticed that Cogsworth had returned.

"Well, where is she?" "She's not coming," Cogsworth replied cautiously. "WHAT?!?!?!" "I said she's not coming!" Cogsworth repeated in a squeaky voice. The beast stomped over to the stairwell.

"I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO COME TO DINNER!" The beast screamed. "I'M NOT HUNGRY!" Belle called back. "I AM THE MASTER OF THIS CASTLE AND I AM ORDERING YOU TO COME TO DINNER!" "Uh, master," Lumiere said quietly. "I'm no expert, but that might not be the best way to win the girl's affections." "Please," Cogsworth said, "Attempt to be a gentleman." The beast started again "Would you be so kind" he said through gritted teeth, "As to join me for dinner?" "No, thank you." "FINE THEN STARVE!"

"If she doesn't eat with me, she doesn't eat at all!" the beast yelled as he stormed off. "Oh, great." Lumiere said, "We'll never be human again at this rate."

"Oh, hello dearie!" Mrs. Potts said to Belle, who had just entered. "Hello." "I am Cogsworth, head of the household," Cogsworth said, holding out her hand. "And this is Lumiere." "En chante, mademoisel." "If there is any thing we can do to make your stay more comfortable, anything at all!" "Well, I am a bit hungry." "Except that." "Cogsworth!" Lumiere chided. "You heard what the master said." "Oh, nonsense. This girl is not our prisioner, she is our guest! We must make her feel welcome!" "Oh, fine. But keep it down, if the master hears . . . ." "Oh don't worry, but what is dinner without a little music?" "Music?"

"Ma charie. mademoisel. It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And now we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair as the dinning room proudly presents, your dinner! Be our guest, be our guest, put our service to the test."

"Tie a napkin round your neck, charie and we'll provide the rest. Soup de jour, hot h'orderves, why we only live to serve. Try the grey stuff- it's delicious! Don't believe me? Ask the dishes,"

"They can sing, they can dance, after all miss- this is France! And a dinner here is never second best! Go on unfold your menu take a glance, and then, you'll be our guest, oui our guest, be our guest!"

"Beef raquout, cheese soufle, pie and puuuding en flambe."

"We'll prepare and serve with flair a culinary caberet."

"You're alone and you're scared, but the banquet's all prepared. No one's gloomy or complaining while . . "

"The flatware's entertaining!" "We tell jokes!"

"I do tricks, with my fellow candlesticks." "And it's all in perfect taste that you can bet! Go on and lift your glass, you've won you're own free pass to be our guest!" "If you're stressed, it's fine dining we suggest." "Be our guest, be our guest, be our guest!"

"Be out guest! Be out guest! Our command is your request. It's been years since we've had anybody here, and we're obsessed! With your meal, with your ease, yes indeed we aim to please. While the candle light's still glowing let us help you we'll keep going!"

"Course by course, one by one, till you shout enough I'm done! The we'll send you off to sleep as you digest!"

"Tonight you'll prop your feet up, but for now let's eat up be our guest! Be our guest!"

"Be our guest, please be our Guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssttttttttt!"

"Oh, Lumiere, that was fabulous!" Belle exclaimed. "Great," Cogsworth said, "Now off to bed!" "Oh, I couldn't possibly sleep now! It's my first night in an enchanted castle!" "Perhaps you would like a tour!" Lumiere suggested. "I don't think that's such a good idea," Cogsworth said bluntly. "Perhaps you'd like to give me a tour, Cogsworth. You seem to know everything about this place." Cogsworth was clearly flattered. "Well, as a matter of fact, I do! Now over here is a stunning example of  . . . ."

Down the hallway, the beast was trying to work up the courage to knock on Belle's door to offer her some food. 'Just act like a gentleman,' he thinks, 'This'll be good.' Just then he sees Cogsworth, Lumiere and Belle coming. He ducks behind a chair.

"And that is another stunning example of the late neoclassic baroque period, and as I always say, if it's not baroque, don't fix it!" Cogsworth laughed hard at her own joke, but Belle and Lumiere just stared. After an awkward silence, Belle says, "Oh, Lumiere, it's all so fabulous. If only he weren't here." The best, who was watching from behind the chair, muttered softly to himself, "A gentleman? I am nothing but a fool!" He tiptoed away.

"Hey, what over there?" Belle asked suddenly. "NOTHING!" Cogsworth and Lumiere shouted at the same time. "Nothing at all of any interest in the West Wing!" Cogsworth added. "Ah, so that's the West Wing," Belle said. "Nice going," Lumiere said, giving Cogsworth a push. "Perhaps you would like to see something over here!" Cogsworth said, pointing in the oposite direction. "Over here we have tapestries dating all the way back . . ." "ALL the way," Lumiere assured. Belle started to follow them, but darted away toward the West Wing. 

'What's this?' Belle thought to herself. "DON'T TOUCH THAT!" The beast roared. "I'm sorry!" Belle screamed. "I TOLD YOU NEVER TO COME HERE!" "I'm sorry!" She repeated, heading for the door. "I'll leave now."

Watching Belle leave, looking so scared, the beast felt bad. He reached out to stop her, to appologize, but his paw caught on her arm and hurt her. "OW!" She screamed, "Don't touch me!" "I'm sorry!" the beast said, horrified. "Promise or no promise, I won't stay in this castle!" Belle hurried out the door.

Belle soon found herself deep in the woods. She racked her memory for specific trees she had seen when looking for her father earlier, but nothing came to her. After wandering for almost an hour, Belle heard a howl. "Wolves!" She screamed.

Almost immediately they were upon her, circling around her, clearly intending to do her in. "Help!" Belle cried to the moon. "Help!"

Out of nowhere the beast jumped in and roard. He flung himself on one of the wolves, seriously injuring it. He let it go and it limped away.

While the beast was catching his breath, the other wolf jumped on top of him! It sunk its sharp teeth into his arm, drawing blook. The beast howeled in pain.

He took the wolf and twisted it so that its mouth couldn't reach his arm. Then he flung it away.

Then the beast collasped from exhaustion and the pain in his arm. Belle looked down at him. This was her chance, her chance to run away, but she didn't take it.

Instead she helped the beast up and the two of them limped back to the castle.

"OW!" The beast roared, "That hurts!" "Well, if you didn't move it wouldn't hurt as much." Belle retorted. "If you hadn't run away none of this would have happened!" "If you hadn't frightened me, I wouldn't have run away!" "Well you shouldn't have been in the west wing!" "And you should learn to control your temper," Belle said with satisfaction. The beast opened his mouth as if he was going to reply, but couldn't think of anything, so shuts it. "By the way," Belle said shyly, "Thank you for saving my life." "You're welcome."

"Well, now that's more like it," Mrs. Potts said as she, Cogsworth and Lumiere entered. "I knew they'd get along if they tried." "Oui!" Lumiere agreed, "But perhaps it is time we gave them a little push!" "I have just the thing!" Mrs. Potts said eagarly. "How would you two like a nice cup of tea? It'll warm you right up! Why don't you help me, master?" The beast walked over.

Belle started singing softly to herself, "There's something sweet, and almost kind. But he was mean and he was coarse and unrefined! But now he's dear, and so unsure, I wonder why I didn't see it there before."

The beast came over with a cup of tea and gave it to Belle. She drank half of it and then insisted the beast drink the other half. After a bit of playful arguing he obliged. After they were done, Mrs. Potts suggested that Belle come with her to freshen up a bit. She gratefully obliged. The beast walked over to Cogsworth and Lumiere.

"She glanced this way," he sang softly, "I thought I saw, and when we touched she didn't shutter at my paw! No it can't be, I'll just ignore, but then she's never looked at me that way before!" He turned to his faithful servants and said, "When she smiles at me, I get all choked up. My heart starts pounding, and I can't breathe!" "Good!" Cogsworth said. "That's good?" "It's excellent," Lumiere agreed. "I want to give her something, but what?" Lumiere whispered a suggestion just as Cogsworth said, "Look who's back!"

"Say something about her hair!" Lumiere muttered quietly. "It's brown," the beast said with confidence. "A compliment!" Cogsworth clarified in an annoyed voice. "Oh. What  . . . . . . nice flowers," he finally came up with. He glanced back and his servants who gave him a thumbs-up. "Thank you!" "I, um, want to give you something. But first you have to close your eyes." Belle did with a giggle. The beast led her down the hall. "Can I open them yet?" "Not yet, not yet, okay . . . .

(Not my pic from here)

"Now!"  "Oh my goodness!" Belle exclaimed, looking around at all of the books. "There must be millions of books here! I never knew so many of them existed!" "Do, do you like it?" The beast asked in a nervous voice. "I love it!" "Well, then, it's yours."

Belle picked up a book and started singing. "New, and a bit alarming. Who'd have ever thought that thiiiis, could beeeee. Truuuue that he's no prince charming, but there's something in him that I simply didn't see." She sat down and called to the beast. "King Aurthur! This is my favorite book, have you every read it?" "No," the beast said sadly. "I, I can't." "You mean you never learned to read?" "Only a little, and long ago."

"Well, then come over here and sit by me. I'll read it to you." Belle started reading in the most beautiful, confident voice. "And for the third time, Aurthur drew forth his sword!" she was heard reading a bit later by one of the servants. "That must mean he's the king!" the beast exclaimed. "Wait and see. . ." "Wow, I never knew books could do that." "Do what?" "Help me forget for a little while." Belle was confused. "Forget what?" "Who," the beast looked down at himself and sighed, "What I am." "You know, in the town I come from people think I"m odd." "You, odd?" "Yes, so I know what it's like to be different, and how lonely it can be."

"The end," Belle read a few hours later. "That was a lovely book," the beast said. "Yes, I've always thought so." "Belle?" "Yes?" "Well, I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me tomorrow night." "I would love that!" Belle exclaimed.

"Tonight is the night!" Cogsworth cried, "The night that you confess your love!" "I dont' know," the beast said doubtfully, "She's so beautiful and I'm, well look at me!" "Somehow, my prince," Lumiere said comfortingly, "You must help her to see past all that. And you must speak from the heart." "I must speak from the- I can't!" "You can do it master," Lumiere said, "I know you can."

At that moment, Belle and Mrs. Potts entered. Smiling at the slightly awkward couple, Mrs. Potts started to sing. "Tale as old as time, true as it can be! Barely even friends, then somebody bends, unexpectedly. Just a little change. Small to say the least! Both a little scared, neither one prepared, Beaty and the Beast." "Dance with me?" Belle implored. "No, I-" "Dance with her!" Cogsworth and Lumiere whisper-yelled.

Mrs. Potts continued singing. "Ever just the saaaame! Ever a supriiiise! Ever as before, ever just as sure, as the sun will rise.

"Tale as old as time, tune as old as song! Bitter sweet and strang, finding you can change, learning you were wrong.

Certain as the sun, rising in the east! Tale as old as time, song as old as ryhme,

"Beauty and the Beast! Taaaale as old as tiiiiime, sooong as old as ryhmeeee,

"Beaauuuuty aaaand

"Theeee Beast!" The servants tiptoed away to give the couple some privacy.

"Bele, what's wrong?" The beast asked. Since they had stopped dancing, Belle had seemed distant and distracted. "Oh," Belle said, "I hadn't realized it was that noticable. Well, I'm worried about my father. What if he didn't make it back to the village alright?" The beast sighed and pulled something out of seemingly nowhere.

"This is a magic mirror," he said. "It will show you anything you want to see." "I'd like to see my father," Belle said to the mirror. And suddenly, an image of her father in the woods, struggling to get along appeared in the mirror. "Oh no!" Belle cried. "He must be lost, and hurt. I should, I should,"

"You should go to him," the beast said with difficulty, "But take the mirror, so that you will never forget me." "I would never forget you!" Belle said reassuringly. Then she hurried away. Possibly, the beast thought, forever.

"So, how's it going?" Lumiere asked, walking in with Cogsworth and Mrs. Potts. "I let her go," the beast said with dispair. "YOU WHAT?" Cogsworth screamed. The beast didn't answer. "But why?" she asked, more gently this time. "I had to." Then the beast turned away. "After all these years," Mrs. Potts said, "He's finally learned to love." "Well then that's it!" Lumiere cried, "That should break the spell!" "I'ts not enough, she has to love him in return.

"Oh, Belle, thank goodness you're here!" Maurice cried, gripping his daughter for support, "The last thing I remember is falling down." "It's all right now, Papa," Belle said, "I'm here."

Suddenly, an unwelcome aquaintence appeared. "Gaston!" Belle and Maurice gasped at the same time. "What are you doing here?" "I've come to take your father to the asylum. He's a danger to himself and others." "WHAT?!" Belle cried, outraged, "Gaston, you KNOW my father's not crazy."

"He was RAVING like a lunatic about some beast." Le Fou said, jumping up. "We all heard him, right?" THe townspeople murmered in agreement.

"Wait! I an prove my father's not crazy. Show me the beast!" Belle said to the magic mirror, then held it up for everyone to see. The townspeople reacted, horrified. "Is he dangerous?"One man asked. "Oh no, I know he looks frightful, but he's really kind, and gentle. He's my friend." Gaston sneered. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you had feelings for this monster!" he yelled. "He's not the monster, Gaston, YOU ARE."

Gaston ignored that and turned to the crowd. "Forget the old man, I say, let's kill the beast!" "KILL THE BEAST!" the townspeople roared in unison. "We're not safe until he's dead, he'll come stalking us at night." Sang some men. "Set to sacrefice our children to his monstrous appetite!" A mother added. "He'll wreak havoc on our village if we let him him wander free!" Le Fou put in. "So it's time to take some action men, it's time to follow me!"

Everyone joined in. "Through the mist, through woods, through the darkness and the shawdows, it's a nightmare but it's one exciting ride. Say a prayer and we're there, at the draw bridge of a castle and there's something truly terrible inside. It's a beast, here's got fangs razor sharp ones. Massive paws, killer claws for the feast. Hear him roar, see him foam, but we're not coming home 'till he's dead! Good and dead! Kill the beast!"

"I won't let you do this!" Belle screamed at Gaston. "Try and stop us!" He returned. "Oh, Papa," Belle turned to her father, this is all my fault. I have to go and warn him." "I'm going with you!" Maurice exclaimed. "NO!" "Belle, I lost you once, I'm not going to loose you again."

"Let's rid the village of this hideous moster! Who's with me!" Gaston roared. "I AM." "I AM. "I AM!" "Hearts aflame, banners high, we go marching into battle unafraid although the danger's just increased. Raise a flag, sing a song, here we come we're fifty strong and fifty Frenchmen can't be wrong, let's kill the beast! Kill the beast! KILL THE BEAST!"

The villagers snuck into the beast's castle, carefully looking for the beast. By and by, they came to a hallway with a large candleabra, a gandfather clock and a rather huge teapot. "Gaston!" Le Fou whispered, "This place gives me the creeps!" "SHHHHHH!"

And then the beast's servants attacked!!! Lumiere lit one villager's pants on fire, and Mrs. Potts wacked a couple with her spout. Cogsworth got in a few hits, too.

Before long it seemed like Le Fou was the only one left, so the servants surrounded him. "Help!" Le Fou screamed as Mrs. Potts wacked him and Lumiere held his fire perilously close to his hat. What noone saw was Gaston sneaking away . . . .

"AHA!" Gaston yelled as he entered the West Wing and saw the beast. "Who do you think you are?" he continued, "You think Belle would want you? She despises you, beast!" "NO!" the beast insisted. "It's over," Gaston said with an evil smile, "Belle is mine!" He drew a knife and plunged it into the beast's back just as . . .

Belle came in. "NO!!" she screamed, but the beast had taken matters into his own hands. "Let me go!" Gaston screeched like a little girl. The beast released him and gave him a push. "Don't EVER come back!" He roared. As soon as Gaston was gone, the beast collasped from the knife wound in his back.

Belle gently put the beast's head in her lap. "Don't die," she whispered, "Please don't die." The beast ignored her words and said, "At least we got to see each other one last time." "No, no this won't be the last time!" The beast gave a sad smile and closed his eyes. "NO!" Belle screamed, "No, no, I love you!" Belle burried her face in her hands, and when she looked up . . .

The beast was no longer there! "Who, who are you?" Belle asked the man beside her. "Belle," he said gently, "Don't you recognize me?" Belle looked closer and saw that somehow, this was the beast! "It IS you!" Belle gasped.

Just then they were interupted by the entrance of the servants. "Master!" Lumiere cried, now a human. "Lumiere! Mrs. Potts! Cogsworth, oh my Cogsworth. It's wonderful to see you again!" Belle turned to her love, "Please, let's go find my father." She and the man ran off.

"Who was that young man?" Cogsworth asked when they were alone. "That was the prince!" Lumiere replied. "No!" "It most certainly was!" Mrs. Potts agreed.

Once Belle found her father, she and the prince immediately married. To this day, they live in that old castle in the woods of France, kept young by magic. They never lost their love, and they, with Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, Cogsworth and Belle's father, all lived happily ever after.

The End.