BtaurY AND THE Btasr 7

ACT ONE

Otterture#1 Arcltestrn

PROTOGUEn? ..52

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(The music begins. As s Voice-Oaer Nsrrator begins the Prologue; the curtsin rises to

reaeal a young man of indeterminate age and noble bearing, standing in the doorzuay of a

majestic castle.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)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.

(Tlrc light reaeals an old Beggar Woman.)

But thery one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offeredhim a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold.

(The actors pantomime the action as the Narrntor continues)

Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the Prince sneered at the gift and turned theold woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances for beautyis found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness meltedaway to reveal......a beautiful Enchantress.

(She is transformed into an Enchantress. He falls to his knees, begging forgiaeness.)

The Prince tried to apologize, but it was too late. For she had seen that there was nolove in his heart. As punishment, she transformed him......into a hideous Beast and placed a powerful spell on the castle and a1l who livedthere.

QVe can see that the young man has been transformed into tlrc Beast. He holds the

Magic Mirror.)

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 appears)

The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom for many

years.

(The Beast col)ers it with a glass dome for protection.)

If he could learn to love another and earn their 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.

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2 Bnaurv AND THE Brtsr

(The Beast gazes at the Rose,..trapped, forlorn and hopeless.)

(NARRATOR)As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever leamto love a Beast?

(Belle is ranealed. As the Narrator finishes the Prologue, the sun begins to ise and we see

the silhouette of a small town.)

SCENE ONE: THE TOWN

(A charming, proaincial French aillage)

BELLE

LITTLE TOWN, IT'S A QUIET VILLAGE

EVERY DAY LIKE THE ONE BEFORE

LITTLE TOWN FULL OF LITTLE PEOPLE

WAKING UP TO SAY...

(Villagers enter and begin to bustle about their daily business.)

ARISTOCRATIC LADYBONIOUR!

FISH MANBONIOUR!

EGG MANBONIOUR!

SAUSAGE CURL GIRLBONJOUR!

BAKER

BONIOUR!

(The Baker carries a tray of rolls)

BELLE

THERE GOES THE BAKER WITH HIS TRAY LIKE ALWAYS

THE SAME OLD BREAD AND ROLLS TO SELL

EVERY MORNING IUST THE SAME

SINCE THE MORNING THAT WE CAME

TO THIS POOR PROVINCIAL TOWN

BAKERGood morning, Belle!

#2 Bella Bcllt:

Breurv AND THE Bt t sr 3

]am

I we see

BELLEMorning, Monsieur.

BAKERWhere you off to?

BELLEThe bookshop. I just finished the most wonderful story about a beanstalk and an

ogre and...

(But he's not interested. He yells oaer his shoulder to his wife)

BAKERThat's nice. Marie! The baguettes! Hurry up!

(Belle sighs...neuer mind. She continues on her way, Various townspeople talk about her as

she passes.)

ARISTOCRATIC LADY/LADY with CANE

LOOK THERE SHE GOES

THE GIRL IS STRANGE, NO QUESTION

DAZED AND DISTRACTED, CAN'T YOU TELL?

LADY with BABY/SAUSAGE CURL GIRL

NEVER PART OF ANY CROWD

CANDLE MAN/FISH MAN,CAUSE HER HEAD'S UP ON SOME CLOUD

SOME VILLAGERS

NO DENYING SHE'S A FUNNY CIRL, THAT BELLE

HAT SELLER

BONJOUR.

SAUSAGE CURL GIRL

GOOD DAY.

HAT SELLER

HOW IS YOUR FAMILY?

MILKMAIDBONJOUR.

SHEPHERD BOY

GOOD DAY.

Bcllt

HOW IS YOUR WIFE?

MILKMAID

4 Bteurv AND THE Bta.sr

LADY with CANE

I NEED...SIx EGGS.

ARISTOCRATIC LADYTHAT'S TOO EXPENSIVE!

BELLE

THERE MUST BE MORE THAN THIS PROVINCIAL LIFE!

(Belle walks to the Book Shop. Akindly Bookseller turns around, pleased to see her.)

BOOKSELLERAh, Belle!

BELLE

Good morning. I've come to retum the book I borrowed.

BOOKSELLERFinished already?

BELLEOlu I couldn't put it down. Have you got anything new?

BOOKSELLER

(He chuckles.)

Not since yesterday.

BELLEThat's all right.I'll borrow...this one!

BOOKSELLERThat one? But you've read it twice!

BELLEWell, it's my favorite. Far-off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince indisguise...

BOOKSELLERIf you like it all that much...it's yours.

BELLEBut sir!

BOOKSELLERI insist.

BELLEWell, thank you. Thank you very much!

(She exits and continues through town.)

Be tu?Y aND Trtr Brasr 5

r.)

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VILLAG ERS

LOOK THERE SHE COES--THAT CIRL IS SO PECULIAR

I WONDER IF SHE'S FEELING WELL

ALL FEMALE VILLAGERSWITH ADREAMY FAR-OFF LOOK

ALL MALE VILLAGERSAND HER NOSE STUCK INABOOK

ALL VILLAGERSWHAT APUZZLE TO THE REST OF US IS BELLE

(Belle sits on a fountain, engrossed in her book.)

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.

ARISTOCRATIC LADYNOW IT'S NO WONDER THAT HER NAME MEANS'BEAUTY'

HER LOOKS HAVE GOT NO PARALLEL

HATSELLER

BUT BEHIND THAT FAIR FACADE

I'M AFRAID SHE'S RATHER ODD

EGGMANVERY DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF US

MORE VILLAGERSSHE'S NOTHING LIKE THE REST OF US

ALL VILLAGERSYES, DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF US IS BELLE

pVe hear a loud gunshot. Lefou rushes onstage, holding a gunnysack open toward the

sky...ready to catch the fallen prey.)

LEFOUI got it. I got it. I got ...

(duck drop)

Wow.

6 Br,turv AND THE Bttsr

(Alarge duck drops onstage, missing the bag entirely. He quickly picks it up, drops it intothe bag as Gaston enters. He carries a large smoking gun. Gaston is a aery handsome, rude,

narcissistic, egomaniacal hunter who is willing to go to any lengths to get zahat he wants.

Lefou is his dim-witted hanger-on.)

LEFOUYou didn't miss a shot, Gaston. You're the greatest hunter in the whole world!

GASTONI know.

LEFOUNo beast alive stands a chance against you!And no girl for that matter.

GASTONIt's true, Lefou. And I've got my sights set on that one.

LEFOUThe inventor's daughter?

GASTONShe's the one. The lucky girl I'm going to marry.

LEFOUBut, she's...

GASTONThe most beautiful girl in town.

LEFOUI know, but...

GASTONThat makes her the best.

(He grabs Lefou in abeefy hand and pulls him up nose-to-nose.)

And don't I deserve the best?

LEFOUWell, of course you do!

(Gaston drops Lefou and sings.)

GASTONRIGHT 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 BEAUTIFULAS ME

SO I'M MAKING PLANS TO WOO AND MARRY BELLE

Bntury ,rND tnt, BEAsr 7

rc it intocme, rude,

e wants.

(He strides across the stage toward Belle, crossing in lront of three haittering Silly Girls.They szloon as he passes.)

SILLY GIRLSLOOK 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!

(The stage comes aliae as Villagers crowd through the marketplace.)

LADY with BABIESBONIOUR!

GASTONPARDON

BELLE

GOOD DAY.

LADY with CANEMAIS OUI!

ARISTOCRATIC LADYYOU CALL THIS BACON?

MILK MAIDWHAT LOVELY GRAPES!

BAKERSOME CHEESE...

LADY with CANE...TEN YARDS!

FISH MAN,..ONE POUND

GASTON,SCUSE ME!

MALE VILLAGERI'LL GET THE KNIFE.

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GASTONPLEASE LET ME THROUGH!

LADY with BABIES

THIS BREAD...

SAUSAGE CURL GIRLTHOSE FISH...

LADY with BABIES

...IT'S STALE!

SAUSAGE CURL GIRLS

...THEY SMELL!

ALL MALEVILLAGERS

MADAME'S

MISTAKEN

GOOD MORNING!

OH,

GOOD MORNING!

FEMALEVILLAGERS

WELL,

MAYBE SO!

GOOD MORNING!

BELLETHERE MUST BE

MORE THAN THIS

PROVINCIAL LIFE!

GASTONIUST WATCH,

I'M GOING TO MAKE

BELLE MY WIFE!

OH,

GOOD MORNING!

ALL VILLAGERSLOOK THERE SHE GOES...

A GIRL WHO'S STRANGE BUT SPECIAL

A MOST PECULIAR MADEMOISELLE

ALL FEMALE VILLAGERSIT'S A PITY AND A SIN

ALL MALE VILLAGERSSHE DOESN'T QUITE FIT IN

ALL VILLAGERS,CAUSE SHE REALLY IS A FUNNY GIRL

A BEAUTY BUT A FUNNY GIRL

SHE REALLY IS A FUNNY GIRL

THAT BELLE!

(Feeling their eyes on her, Belle whirls around and the tou:nsfolk quickly go back to theiractioities. The Villagers exit. Belle heads for home. Gaston and Lefou are close behind Belle.

Gaston runs around in front of her.,.striking a nonchalant pose.)

Baaurv AND THE Be ,q.s'r I

#2n Bcllt: Plnyo.ff Orcltestrn

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GASTONHello...Belle.

BELLE

Bonjour, Gaston.

(She keeps going, but he moTres oaer to block her zoay.)

Excuse me.

(She goes around him. He snatches the book out of her hand.)

Gaston. May I have my book, please?

GASTON

(flicking through it)

How can you read this? There's no pictures.

BELLE

Well some people use their imagination!

GASTONBelle, it's about time you got your head out of these books and paid attention to

more important things.

(He strikes a handsome pose.)

LEFOUHint...hint.

BELLE

Like you?

GASTONExactly! The whole town's talking about it. It's not right for a woman to read. Soon

she starts getting ideas and...thinking!

BELLE

Gaston, you are positively primeval!

GASTON\AIhy, thank you, Belle. \Alhaddya say you and me take a walk over to the tavern and

take a look my trophies?

BELLE

What do you say...we don't?

GASTONCome on Belle, I think I know how you feel about me.

t theirnd Belle.

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10 Breurv AND THE Brasr

BELLEYou can't even imagine.

(He grabs her again. She pulls his hands away.)

Gaston, please! I have to get inside to help my father,

(She turns around and heads for her cottage.)

LEFOUThat crazy old fool. He needs all the help he can get!

(Gaston and Lefou laugh heartily.)

BELLEDon't talk about my father that way!

(Gaston THUNI(S Lefou on the head.)

GASTONYeah! Don't talk about her father that way!

BELLEMy father's not crazy! He's a genius!

Orchcstrn#2b - Mnurice's Entrance

(There's a cacophony of toots, bells and whistles as Belle's slightly addled genius

inaentor father, Maurice, brings his colorful intsention onstage. He waztes merrilyand BOOM! Part of the inaention blows up.)

(BELLE)

(Alarmed)

Papa!

Some genius!

What's a genius?

(Gaston THUNKS him again.)

GASTON

LEFOU

BEAUTY AND THE Brasr 7 tl-

\t,

(Gastort picks Le_fou up and tlmt etit.)

BELLE

Papa, are you all right?

MAURICEI'm fine. But I can't for the life of me figure out. why that happenedl If that isn't the

stubbornest piece of ...

(He kicks it.)

ow!BELLE

Papa...!

MAURICEI'm about ready to give up on this hunk of junk!

BELLE

Oh, you always say that.

MAURICEI mean it this time! I'll never get this bone-headed contraption to work!

BELLE

Yes, you witl. And you'll win first prize at the Faire tomorrow.

MAURICE

(sulking)

Hmmph!BELLE

And become a world famous inventor.

MAURICEYou really think so?

BELLE

You know I do. I always have.

MAURICEWell, we'd better get cracking. This thing's not going to fix itself. Now let me see/

where did I put that dog-legged clencher?

BELLE

Papa.

Orchcst rn

72 BtaurY dND THE Bntsr

(Belle picks up a funny-looking part and holds it out to him helpfully. He takes it from Belle

and uses it to work on the inaention, turning twisting, tinkeing.)

MAURICESo...tell me, did you have a good time in town today?

BELLEI got a new book.

MAURICEYou do love those books.

BELLEWell, they take me away to wonderful places where there's adventure and mystery

and romance and...happy endings.

(a beat)

Papa...if I ask you something, will you answer me honestly?

MAURICEDon't I always?

BELLEDo you think I'm...odd?

MAURICEMy daughter! Odd?

(He reappears with a silly looking workhelmet with goggles)

Now where would you get an idea like that?

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rBe;tury AND THE Brasr

MAURICENow...what do you sav r.r,e give her a try?

BELLEAll right.

MAURICEYou get the logs...All right...stand back. Here we go.

(He pulls a leaer and the inaention slotaly chugs to life.)

BELLEIt works!

MAURICEIt does? It does!

BELLEPapa, you did it!You really did it!You'll win First Prize at the Faire tomorrow,I know it!

Who knows, maybe I will at that!

MAURICE

BraurY AND THE Btasr 1,5

BELLE

Oh,I almost forgot!

(She puts a scarf around his neck)

I made you a scarf for good luck.

MAURICENow I know I'tl win. And then, we'll get out of this town and travel to all those

places you've read about in your books. Well, I'm off!

BELLE

Goodbye Papa.

MAURICEBye bye, Belle.

BELLE

Be careful!

lvlnurictt

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