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Once upon a time, a young prince lived in a shining castle. On a cold night, a beggar arrived and offered him a rose in return for shelter. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, he turned the beggar away. All at once, the old woman's ugliness disappeared, revealing a beautiful enchantress. The enchantress placed a spell on the castle, which turned all the servants into living objects. Then she turned on the heartless prince and transformed him into a hideous beast.
She left the rose behind where it would bloom until the prince's 21st birthday. If the prince could learn to love another and earn that person's love in return before the last petal fell, the spell would be broken. If not, he would remain a beast for all time. In a quiet village nearby, there lived a beautiful young woman named Belle. Belle loved to read. She always had her nose stuck in a book. The town folk considered her quite odd. Still, Belle's beauty caught the eye of a handsome hunter named Gaston. He stopped her on her way out of the bookshop.
It's time you paid attention more important things, like me. Gaston and his toady Lefou loved to make fun of Belle's father Maurice, who was an inventor. My father's not crazy, Belle insisted. He's a genius. Back home, Maurice just shrugged the insults off. Don't worry, Belle, he said. And he hopped on his horse Philippe and headed off to sell his invention at the fair. But Maurice ended up lost in a misty forest. He heard howling and a pack of wolves sprang from the trees. Philippe reared and ran away. Maurice raced through the forest. He ran right through a tall gate and slammed it shut on the angry wolves.
Looming above Maurice was a huge castle. He crept inside and called out, Hello? I need a place to stay for the night. Then Maurice heard a voice by his feet. Of course, monsieur. You are welcome here. Maurice looked down to see a suave talking candlestick. This is impossible, gasped the inventor. Why, you're alive. The candlestick, who was called Lumiere, and a talking clock called Cogsworth led Maurice inside. Just as Maurice settled in by the fire, a hulking figure roared from the shadows.
It was the beast. Maurice pleaded with him. Please, I needed a place to stay. But the beast locked him away in the tallest tower. Back at home, Belle a visit from Gaston. Belle, he said, there's not a girl in town who wouldn't love to be in your shoes because I want to marry you. But Belle knew that handsome though Gaston was, inside he was nothing more than a conceited bully. Belle wanted more than a provincial life. She wanted adventure. An adventure found her in the form of Philippe who returned alone.
Philippe, where's Papa? Belle leaped onto the horse and galloped into the forest. She spotted the castle in the distance. Belle snuck inside and wandered the deserted hallways. She found her father locked in the tower. Papa, she cried. We have to get you out of there. But the beast's voice rumbled out of the shadows. What are you doing here? Belle gasped. She had never seen anything like the beast. But Maurice was ill. And Belle knew he would not survive long in this cold cell.
Please let my father go, she implored the beast. Take me instead. The beast was taken aback by her bravery. You would take his place? Belle promised to stay with the beast forever if he released Maurice. Flee from the castle, Maurice raced to the village tavern where Gaston and his admirers lounged about. I need your help, Maurice begged. A horrible beast has Belle locked in the dungeon. The crowd just laughed. Crazy old Maurice. But Gaston got an idea.
He just had to put it into motion. Inside the castle, the beast showed Belle to her room. You can go anywhere you like, except the west wing. This made Belle curious. What's in the west wing? But the beast just snarled. It's forbidden. Belle fled to her bedroom. I'll never escape from this prison or see my father again. Lumiere and the enchanted household objects were desperate to cheer her up. Later that night, when Belle was feeling a little better, Lumiere led her into the dining room.
The enchanted objects prepared a spectacular meal with impeccable service in true French fashion. It was a singing, dancing cabaret of cutlery and crockery. Belle was delighted. Later, Belle wandered into the west wing. She found the enchanted rose and reached out to lift its glass cover. But the beast stopped her. I warned you never to come here. Get out. Belle fled the castle, leapt atop Philippe, and galloped toward the village. For a moment, she thought she was free. Then she heard the wolves.
The pack emerged with slavering jaws. Fangs snapping, they pulled Belle from her horse. Belle snatched up a club and batted a wolf off poor Philippe, but there were too many. Belle's eyes widened as a wolf snarled and lunged for her throat. But a mighty paw swiped the wolf out of the air. It was the beast. With a roar, he sprang to Belle's defense and took on the entire pack. Though his neck and arms were raked by teeth and claws. The beast drove the pack whimpering into the night. And he collapsed wounded in the snow. Belle knew she could escape but she could not leave him.
Instead Belle led the beast back to the castle and tended his wounds. He was a difficult patient and Belle had to chide him. You should learn to control your temper. The servants all gasped but to their surprise the beast obeyed. Then in a quiet moment Belle thanked him for saving her life. The beast was surprised that she would treat him so tenderly. To show how grateful he was he led Belle to the castle library.
Belle's breath caught in her throat. She never imagined so many wonderful books existed. Slowly Belle and the beast grew closer. They walked in the snow and dined and read books together. Belle realized that despite his gruff appearance the beast was kind and gentle. The servants all wondered if this might be something new that wasn't there before. One night after dinner Belle taught the beast how to dance.
They glided gracefully across the floor. The beast had never been happier. He wanted Belle to be happy too. He knew she missed her father so he brought her a magic mirror. When Belle wished to see her father Maurice appeared in the glass. Maurice was in a sorry state lost looking for Belle. The beast let Belle go to her father even if it meant he would never be human again. He handed Belle the mirror. Take it with you so you'll have a way to look back and remember me. Soon Belle found her father, but a group of men grabbed Maurice. Gaston threatened to send Maurice to an insane asylum unless Belle married him.
Belle was disgusted. I'll never marry you. My father's not crazy. I can prove it. She showed Gaston the beast in the magic mirror. Gaston was enraged that Belle would ignore him and care for this beast. He whipped the villagers into a mob. I say we kill the beast. The townsfolk stormed the castle, but the servants mounted a mad counter defense and terrified the villagers with their lively antics.
Gaston forced the beast onto the roof. He told the beast that Belle abandoned him, hoping it would goad the beast into violence. Instead, it made the beast too sad to fight back. Disgusted, Gaston prepared to finish the beast off. Belle arrived at the castle just in time. When the beast saw his beloved, it renewed his strength, and he turned the tables on Gaston. The beast could easily have flung Gaston from the rooftops. Instead, he showed kindness Gaston wasn't capable of and spared his opponent.
The beast climbed toward the balcony where Belle waited to pull him to safety, but Gaston had one last dirty trick in store and struck the beast with his knife while his back was turned. The beast faltered, and Gaston's treachery was his undoing. Without the beast to cling to, he tumbled from the battlements. The beast collapsed. Belle ran to his side. No, she cried. Please. As the last petal fell from the enchanted rose and fluttered to rest, Belle whispered, I love you. At once, the beast was surrounded by a shimmering glow. Light shot from the
beast's fingertips, and he was transformed into a handsome prince. The prince reached for her and said, Belle, it's me. And when Belle looked into his kind eyes, she saw that it was true. It is you. The love Belle and the beast shared had broken the spell, and they all lived happily ever after.
