SIDE 1

(Feeling the VILLAGERS’ eyes on her, BELLE whirls around. They go back to their activities then exit. BELLE heads for home. GASTON runs in front of her and strikes a pose.)

GASTON: Hello... Belle.

BELLE: Bonjour, Gaston. (GASTON blocks BELLE’s way.) Excuse me. (GASTON snatches Belle’s book.) Gaston. May I have my book, please?

GASTON: (flipping through the book) How can you read this? There’s no pictures.

BELLE: Well some people use their imagination!

GASTON: Belle, it’s about time you got your head out of these books and paid attention to more important things. (GASTON strikes a handsome pose.)

LEFOU: Hint... hint.

BELLE: Like you? Gaston, please! I have to get inside to help my father.

LEFOU: That crazy old fool. He needs all the help he can get! (GASTON and LEFOU laugh heartily.)

BELLE: Don’t talk about my father that way!

GASTON: (GASTON thunks LEFOU on the head.)Yeah! Don’t talk about her father that way!

BELLE: My father’s not crazy! He’s a genius!

SIDE 2

BELLE: Your hands are like ice! Who has done this to you?

(The BEAST appears in the shadows.)

MAURICE: Belle, you must leave this place.

BELLE: I won’t leave you here! (senses the BEAST) Who’s there? (hears the BEAST panting) I know someone’s there. Who are you?

BEAST: The master of this castle.

BELLE: Then, you’re the one who’s responsible for this! Release my father at once!

BEAST: I do not take orders from anyone. Get out!

BELLE: No! Wait! Forgive me. Please, let him out. Can’t you see he’s not well?

BEAST: Then he should not have trespassed here.

BELLE: But he’s an old man. He could die!

BEAST: There’s nothing you can do!

BELLE: Wait, please... take me instead!

MAURICE: No! Belle, you don’t know what you’re doing.

BEAST: You would do that? You would take his place?

BELLE: If I did, would you let him go?

BEAST: Yes. But you must promise to stay here... forever.

MAURICE: No!

BELLE: Come into the light. (The BEAST draws near. BELLE cringes.)

MAURICE: Belle, listen to me. I’m old... I’ve lived my life.

BELLE: You have my word.

BEAST: Done. (pulls MAURICE from the cell; to the STATUE:) Take him to the village. (The STATUE comes to life and grabs MAURICE.)

BELLE: Wait! No, not yet!

(The BEAST growls. The STATUE drags MAURICE away.)

MAURICE: Let her go! Let her go! Belle! Belle!

BELLE: Papa! (BELLE collapses in tears.) I’ll never see him again... and I didn’t even get to say good-bye.