SIDE 1

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

Hello? Is anyone here? Please, I'm looking for my father.

(MAURICE is revealed in a cell behind bars. A STATUE stands guard nearby.)

MAURICE

Belle? Is that you?

BELLE

Papa!

(BELLE rushes to MAURICE.)

MAURICE

(coughs from the chill)

How did you find me?

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.