(Libretto/Lyrics taken from Disney's Beauty And The Beast - The Musical)

Act 1 | Act 2

1. Overture
Prologue
(Narrator, Young Prince, Enchantress)

1a. Prologue

(The music begins. As a Voice-Over begins the Prologue: the curtain rises to reveal a young man of indeterminate age and noble bearing, standing in the doorway of a majestic castle.)

NARRATOR:
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.

(The light reveals an old Beggar Woman.)

But then, one winter's night,
An old beggar woman came to the castle
And offered him a single Rose
In return for shelter from the bitter cold.

(The actors pantomime the action as the Narrator continues.)

Repulsed by her haggard appearance,
The Prince sneered at the gift,
And turned the old woman away.
But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances,
For Beauty is found within.
And when he dismissed her again,
The old woman's ugliness melted away
To reveal a beautiful Enchantress.

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


The Prince tried to apologize, but it was too late,
For she had seen that there was no love in his heart.
And as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast,
And placed a powerful spell on the castle,
And all who lived there.

(We can see that the young man has been transformed into the 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 covers it with a glass dome for protection.)

If he could learn to love another,
And earn her 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.

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

As the years passed,
He fell into despair, and lost all hope,
For who could ever learn to love...a Beast?


Scene 1a: The Town
(Belle, Gaston, Lefou, Silly Girls, Villagers)

2. Belle

(Belle is revealed. As the Narrator finishes the Prologue, the sun begins to rise and we see the silhouette of a small town.)

(A charming, provincial French village)

BELLE:
Little town, it's a quiet village
Ev'ry 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 LADY:
Bonjour!

FISH MAN:
Bonjour!

EGG MAN:
Bonjour!

SAUSAGE CURL GIRL:
Bonjour!

BAKER:
Bonjour!

(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
Ev'ry morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town

BAKER:
Good Morning, Belle!

BELLE:
Good morning, Monsieur.

BAKER:
And where are you off to, today?

BELLE:
The bookshop. I just finished the most wonderful story
About a beanstalk and an ogre and a -

(But he’s not interested. He yells over his shoulder to his wife.)

BAKER:
That's nice. Marie! The baguettes! Hurry up!

(Belle sighs…never mind. She continues on her way. Various townspeople talk about her as she passes.)

ARISTOCRATIC LADY / LADY WITH CANE:
Look there she goes that 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 girl that Belle

HAT SELLER:
Bonjour!

SAUSAGE CURL GIRL:
Good day!

HAT SELLER:
How is your fam'ly?

MILKMAID:
Bonjour!

SHEPHERD BOY:
Good day!

MILKMAID:
How is your wife?

LADY WITH CANE:
I need six eggs!

ARISTOCRATIC LADY:
That's too expensive!

BELLE:
There must be more than this provincial life!

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

BOOKSELLER:
Ah, Belle.

BELLE:
Good morning, sir. I've come to return the book I borrowed.

BOOKSELLER:
Finished already?

BELLE:
Oh, I couldn't put it down. Have you got anything new?

BOOKSELLER:
(He chuckles.) Not since yesterday.

BELLE:
That's all right. I'll borrow . . . . this one!

BOOKSELLER:
That one? But you've read it twice!

BELLE:
Well, it's my favorite!
Far off places, daring swordfights, magic spells, a prince in disguise

BOOKSELLER:
If you like it all that much, it's yours!

BELLE:
But sir!

BOOKSELLER:
I insist.

BELLE:
Thank you. Thank you very much!

(She exits and continues through town.)

VILLAGERS:
Look there she goes that girl is so peculiar
I wonder if she's feeling well

ALL FEMALE VILLAGERS:
With a dreamy, far-off look

ALL MALE VILLAGERS:
And her nose stuck in a book

ALL VILLAGERS:
What a puzzle 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 fav'rite 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 LADY:
Now 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

EGGMAN:
Very diff'rent from the rest of us

MORE VILLAGERS:
She's nothing like the rest of us

ALL VILLAGERS:
Yes, diff'rent from the rest of us is Belle!

(We hear a loud gunshot. Lefou rushes onstage, holding a gunnysack open toward the sky…ready to catch the fallen prey.)

LEFOU:
I got it. I got it. I got…(duck drop) Wow!

(A large duck drops onstage, missing the bag entirely. He quickly picks it up, drops it into the bag as Gaston enters. He carries a large smoking gun. Gaston is a very handsome, rude, narcissistic, egomaniacal hunter who is willing to go to any lengths to get what he wants. Lefou is his dim-witted hanger-on.)

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

GASTON:
I know.

LEFOU:
No beast alive stands a chance against you. ---
And no girl, for that matter.

GASTON:
It's true, LeFou. And I've got my sights set on that one.

LEFOU:
The inventor's daughter?

GASTON:
She's the one - the lucky girl
I'm going to marry.

LEFOU:
But she's -

GASTON:
The most beautiful girl in town.

LEFOU:
I know, but -

GASTON:
That makes her the best.
(He grabs Lefou in a beefy hand and pulls him up nose-to-nose.)
And don't I deserve the best?

LEFOU:
Of course you do!

(Gaston drops Lefou and sings.)

GASTON:
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 beautiful as me
So I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle

(He strides across the stage toward Belle, crossing in front of three twittering Silly Girls. They swoon as he passes.)

SILLY GIRLS:
Look 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 alive as villagers crowd through the marketplace.)

LADY WITH BABIES:
Bonjour!

GASTON:
Pardon

BELLE:
Good day

LADY WITH CANE:
Mais oui!

ARISTOCRATIC LADY:
You call this bacon?

MILK MAID:
What lovely grapes!

BAKER:
Some cheese…

LADY WITH CANE:
Ten yards!

FISH MAN:
One pound

GASTON:
'Scuse me!

MALE VILLAGER:
I'll get the knife

GASTON:
Please let me through!

LADY WITH BABIES:
This bread -

SAUSAGE CURL GIRL:
Those fish -

LADY WITH BABIES:
It's stale!

SAUSAGE CURL GIRLS:
They smell!

ALL MALE VILLAGERS:
Madame's mistaken.



FEMALE VILLAGERS MALE VILLAGERS BELLE
Well, maybe so Good morning! There must
be more
than this
provincial
life!

ALL VILLAGERS: GASTON:
Oh, good morning! Just watch,
I'm going to make Belle my wife!

ALL VILLAGERS:
Look there she goes
The girl is strange but special
A most peculiar mad'moiselle!

ALL FEMALE VILLAGERS:
It's a pity and a sin

ALL MALE VILLAGERS:
She 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 townsfolk quickly go back to their activities. 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.)

Scene 1b: The Town
(Gaston, Lefou, Belle, Maurice)

2a. Belle Playoff

GASTON
Hello…Belle.

BELLE
Bonjour, Gaston.

(She keeps going, but he moves over to block her way.)

Excuse me.

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

BELLE
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!

GASTON
Belle, it’s about time you got your head out of these books and paid attention to more important things.

(He strikes a handsome pose.)

LEFOU
Hint…hint.

BELLE
Like you?

GASTON
Exactly! 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
Why, thank you, belle. Whaddya say you and me take a walk over to the tavern and take a look at my trophies?

BELLE
What do you say…we don’t?

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

BELLE
You can’t even imagine.

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

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

(She turns around and heads for her cottage.)

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 THUNKS Lefou on the head.)

GASTON
Yeah! Don’t talk about her father that way!

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

2b. Maurice’s Entrance

(There’s a cacophony of toots, bells and whistles as Belle’s slightly addled genius inventor father, Maurice, brings his colorful invention onstage. He waves merrily…and BOOM! Part of the invention blows up.)

BELLE
(Alarmed) Papa!

GASTON
Some genius!

LEFOU
What’s a genius?

(Gaston THUNKS him again.)

GASTON
(He puts Lefou out of earshot of Belle and Maurice.)
Now, Lefou, I want you to go out into the woods and bring me back the biggest, healthiest deer you can find.

LEFOU
Not the woods! Anything but the woods!
You know I hate the woods.

GASTON
Just get me a deer for my wedding feast!

LEFOU
But I hate the woods!
It’s dark and spooky, and there’s bugs and spiders!

(Gaston picks Lefou up and they exit.)

BELLE
Papa, are you all right?

MAURICE
I’m fine. But I can’t for the life of me figure out…why that happened?! If that isn’t the stubbornest piece of… (He kicks it.) OW!

BELLE
Papa…!

MAURICE
I’m about ready to give up on this hunk of junk!

BELLE
Oh, you always say that.

MAURICE
I mean it this time!
I’ll never get this bone-headed contraption to work!

BELLE
Yes, you will. And you’ll win first prize at the Faire tomorrow.

MAURICE
(sulking) Hmmph!

BELLE
And become a world famous inventor.

MAURICE
You really think so?

BELLE
You know I do. I always have.

MAURICE
Well, 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.

(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 invention – turning, twisting, tinkering.)

MAURICE
So…tell me, did you have a good time in town today?

BELLE
I got a new book.

MAURICE
You do love those books.

BELLE
Well…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?

MAURICE
Don’t I always?

BELLE:
Do you think I'm...odd?

MAURICE:
My daughter odd?

(He reappears with a silly looking work helmet with goggles.)

Where did you get an idea like that?

3. No Matter What

BELLE:
I don't know. It's just that, well, people talk.

MAURICE:
They talk about me, too.

MAURICE:
No, I’m not odd, nor you
No family ever saner
Except one uncle who...well, maybe let that pass
In all you say or do
You couldn't make it plainer
You are your mother's daughter; therefore you are class

BELLE:
So I should just accept
I'm simply not like them

MAURICE:
They are the common herd
And you should take my word
You are unique: creme de la creme
No matter what you do
I'm on your side
And if my point of view
Is somewhat misty-eyed
There's nothing clearer in my life
Than what I wish and feel for you
And that's a lot...
No matter what

BELLE:
No matter what they say
You make me proud
I love the funny way
You stand out from the crowd

MAURICE:
It's my intention my invention
Shows the world out there one day
Just what we've got...

BELLE:
No matter what

MAURICE:
Now some may say all fathers just exaggerate

BELLE:
That ev'ry daughter's great?

MAURICE:
You are!

BELLE:
And ev'ry daughter tends to say her father's tops

MAURICE:
She pulls out all the stops
To praise him

BELLE:
And quite rightly!

MAURICE:
No matter what the pain
We've come this far
I pray that you remain
Exactly as you are
This really is a case of father knowing best

BELLE:
And daughter too!

MAURICE:
You're never strange

BELLE:
Don't ever change

BOTH:
You've all I've got
No matter what.

3a. No Matter What - Reprise

MAURICE
Now…what do you say we give her a try?

BELLE
All right.

MAURICE
You get the logs…All right…stand back. Here we go.

(He pulls lever and the invention slowly chugs to life.)

BELLE
It works!

MAURICE
It does? It does!

BELLE
Papa, you did it! You really did it! You’ll win First Prize at the Faire tomorrow, I know it!

MAURICE
Who knows, maybe I will at that!

BELLE
Oh, I almost forgot!
(She puts a scarf around his neck)
I made you a scarf for good luck.

MAURICE
Now I know I’ll win. Ant 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.

MAURICE
Bye bye, Belle.

BELLE
Be careful!


Scene 2: The Forest
(Maurice, Wolves)

(As he sings, his mood begins to change from jaunty to nervous.)

MAURICE:
First prize is nearly mine
It's quite my best invention
So simple, yet complex;
So massive, yet so small
This triumph of design
Will be my old-age pension

(He looks around, concerned)

That is, provided I can find the fair at all
I must have missed a sign...
I should have paid attention...Drat!

(He looks back. We hear a howl.)

That's not a nightingale, and not a mating call.

(Another howl.)

Wolves!

4. The Wolf Chase #1

(Suddenly, wolves appear. They advance on him, growling and snarling.)

MAURICE
Stay back…back! Help! Someone help me! Get back! Help!

(Maurice drops the scarf and makes a run for it. The castle door is revealed. Maurice bangs on the door.)

MAURICE
Let me in! Let me in!

(The door opens)

Scene 3: The Castle Interior
(Maurice, Cogsworth, Lumiere, Babette, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Beast)

(The castle interior is revealed. Maurice steps inside, awed by size and scale of the place. It appears hollow, lifeless, and empty, like a deserted cathedral.)

MAURICE
Hello?

(His voice echoes in the vastness.)

MAURICE
Hello?

(Maurice proceeds cautiously, looking around. As he does, the lights come up to reveal an ornate human-sized Candelabra and a mantle clock. The Candelabra, MONSIEUR LUMIERE, is a charming, very French Maitre D’ who fancies himself a ladies man. COGSWORTH, the mantle clock, is an officious manic English Major Domo. Someone wound him up way too tight and he’s never wound down. Lumiere and Cogsworth stand side-by-side, motionless, but whispering feverishly, as Maurice wanders past them.)

COGSWORTH
Well, now you’ve done it! I told you not to let him in!

LUMIERE
We could not leave him for the wolves!

MAURICE
Is anyone home?

COGSWORTH
If we keep quiet, maybe he’ll go away.

MAURICE
Is someone here?

COGSWORTH
Not a word, Lumiere, not one word!

MAURICE
I don’t mean to intrude, but I’ve lost my way in the woods and I need a place to stay for the night.

LUMIERE
Poor fellow. Oh, Cogsworth, have a heart. Monsieur, you are welcome here!

(Lumiere flicks on one of his candle hands. It bursts into flame. Cogsworth quickly steps forward and blows the flame out.)

MAURICE
I heard that! I know there’s someone here and I’ll thank you to step out where I can see you!

(Lumiere steps out.)

LUMIERE
Allo!

MAURICE
AH!

(Startled, Maurice jumps back.)

COGSWORTH
And good-bye!

(Cogsworth starts pushing him toward the door.)

MAURICE
Wait…wait…wait! You’re a clock! And you’re talking!

COGSWORTH
Astonishing, isn’t it? And quite inexplicable. Good-bye.

(He continues pushing him toward the door.)

LUMIERE
Cogsworth! I’m surprised at you. Where are your manners…?

COGSWORTH
We’ve got to get him out of here before the Master finds out!


MAURICE
This is incredible! How is this accomplished?

(He pokes and prods Cogsworth curiously.)

COGSWORTH
Really sir…if you’d just… (Maurice pokes him in the eye.) Ow!

COGSWORTH
Stop that! Hee-hee…stop it…stop it, I say!

(Maurice opens Cogsworth’s pendulum door.)

COGSWORTH
Really, sir…do you mind?

(He slams the doors shut. Maurice stops his investigation and scratches his head.)

MAURICE
Well, I’m stumped. Maybe it’s some kid of a new-fangled scientific gadget.

COGSWORTH
I…sir…a not a gadget!

MAURICE
I beg your pardon. I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just that I’ve never seen a ta...a tal…a talking…AAAACHOOOO!

COGSWORTH (arch)
Bless you.

LUMIERE
You’re chilled to the bone, Monsieur. Come. Warm yourself by the fire.

COGSWORTH
No! I forbid it!

(Ignoring him, Lumiere takes Maurice’s arm and leads him across the stage to a large overstuffed chair. Cogsworth rushes after them.)


COGSWORTH
Lumiere…as head of this household, I demand that you stop right there!

(Maurice sinks into the overstuffed chair)

Ohhh, not the Master’s chair! I’m not seeing this. I’m not seeing this.

(Babette, the Feather duster enters.)

BABETTE
Oooh la la…what have we here? Do my eyes deceive me or is this a man? It’s been so long since I’ve seen a real man. (aside) No offense, Lumiere. Bonjour Monsieur.

(She plops into Maurice’s lap.)

Mind if I sit here?

MAURICE (embarrassed)
Oh! Well! Hello!

COGSWORTH
All right! This has gone far enough! I’m in charge here and…!

MRS. POTTS
Coming through!

(Cogsworth turns around to find a teacart rolling right toward him pushed by Mrs. Potts. Mrs. Potts pushes the teacart next to Maurice. She’s a sweet, kind-hearted teapot. Her son, Chip, is a Teacup riding on the cart.)

MRS. POTTS
How would you like a nice spot of tea, sir? It will warm you up in no time.

MAURICE
Oh, yes please!

COGSWORTH
No! No tea! He’ll be here all night…no tea!

(Mrs. Potts pours into Chip. Cogsworth throws up his arms in dismay.)

MRS. POTTS
There you are.

MAURICE
This is just what I need….AH!

(Maurice moves to pick up the teacup and gasps.)

CHIP
I think I scared him Mama.

MAURICE
Hey there, little fella! What’s your name?

CHIP
Chip.

MAURICE
Figures.

BABETTE
Care for a blanket, monsieur?

(She throws a blanket over his shoulder and giggles flirtatiously.)

I just love older men.

LUMIERE
Babette, you are always trying to make me jealous. Well, it’s not going to work this time.

BABETTE
Me! What about you? With Simone?

LUMIERE
Jacques?

BABETTE
Michelle?

LUMIERE
Pierre?

BABETTE
Veronique?

LUMIERE
Veronique!

COGSWORTH
Lumiere! Listen to me! We’ve got to get him out of here! Do you have any idea what the Master will do if he finds out we let a stranger in…

LUMIERE
Calm yourself, Cogsworth. The Master will never have to know.

4a. Maurice & the Beast

(Suddenly, we hear a loud roar. Everyone gasps.)

LUMIERE (a nervous laugh)
As I was saying, he is bound to find out sooner or later.

CHIP
Should we hide, Mama?

LUMIERE
No…no…remain calm. There is absolutely no reason to panic.

COGSWORTH
Lumiere is right. There’s absolutely no reason to panic. (to Maurice) May I borrow this?

(He takes Maurice’s blanket and throws it over his own head.)

BEAST
There’s a stranger here!

LUMIERE
Master, allow me to explain, the gentleman was set upon by wolves…

BEAST
Who let him in?

(Everyone quakes in fear. Cogsworth peeks out from under his blanket.)

COGSWORTH
M…Master…May I take this opportunity to say, I was against it from the start!

BEAST
Who dared to disobey me?

MRS. POTTS
Oh, dear!

BEAST
You have all betrayed me!

(Beast enters. Maurice is frozen with fear in his chair.)

BEAST
Who are you?

MAURICE
M…Maurice.

BEAST
What are you doing in my castle?

MAURICE
I lost my way in the woods…

BEAST
You are not welcome here!

MAURICE
I’m sorry. I…I’ll just be on my way.

(He looks up and for the first time, he gets a good look at the Beast’s face. It’s a gruesome sight. Maurice gasps with horror.)

BEAST
It’s hideous, isn’t it?

MAURICE
Oh no, I wasn’t…

BEAST
You’ve come to stare at the Beast, haven’t you?

MAURICE
No. No! I meant no harm! I was merely looking for a place to stay!

BEAST
I’ll give you a place to stay…

(He raises his huge claw. Blackout.)


Scene 4a: Exterior of Belle’s Cottage
(Silly Girls, Gaston, Belle)

(We hear the sounds of hysterical sobbing. The lights come up to reveal Gaston and the three Silly Girls.)

SILLY GIRL #1
It can’t be true! I don’t believe it.

SILLY GIRL #2
Why would you go and do a thing like that?

SILLY GIRL #3
I can’t bear it! I simply can’t bear it!

SILLY GIRL #1
Oh, Gaston, say it isn’t so!

GASTON
It’s so.

SILLY GIRLS
WAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

GASTON
Girls…I’m just getting married. Don’t tell me a little thing like that’s going to change your feelings for me?

SILLY GIRL #1
Oh no!

SILLY GIRL #2
No!

SILLY GIRL #3
Never!

GASTON
And we’ll still have our little…(mispronouncing it)…rendezvous. Won’t we?

SILLY GIRL #1
Oh yes!

SILLY GIRL #2
Yes!

SILLY GIRL #3
Always!

GASTON
Good. (rubbing his hands together) Well…if we’re going to have a wedding, I guess I’d better propose to the bride!

(He laughs…a big hearty booming laugh. The girls burst into a new round of tears.)

4b. Gaston’s Crossover

SILLY GIRLS
WAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

GASTON
Run along now.

(They go off, still sobbing.)

GASTON
Belle! Oh, Belle…anyone home?

(She comes around the corner of the house carrying a flowerpot. She spots Gaston, makes a face and ducks back.)

GASTON
Helllloooooo!

(There is no getting out of it. Belle reappears with a fake smile on her face.)

BELLE
Gaston? What a …pleasant surprise.

GASTON
Isn’t it though? I’m just full of surprises. For you…Mademoiselle.

BELLE
A miniature portrait…(looking closer)..of you. You shouldn’t have.

GASTON
Don’t mention it. You know, Belle there isn’t a girl in town who wouldn’t love to be in your shoes. This is the day your dreams come true!

BELLE
What could you possibly know about my dreams, Gaston?

GASTON
Plenty!

5. Me!

GASTON:
You've been dreaming, just one dream
Nearly all your life
Hoping, scheming, just one theme:
Will you be a wife?
Will you be some he-man's property?
Good news! That he-man's me!

This equation, girl plus man
Doesn't help just you
On occasion, women can
Have their uses too
Mainly to extend the fam'ly tree
Pumpkin, extend with me!

GASTON:
We'll be raising sons galore

BELLE:
Inconceivable!

GASTON:
Each built six foot four!

BELLE:
Unbelievable!

GASTON:
Each stuffed with ev'ry Gaston gene!

BELLE:
I'm not hearing this!

GASTON:
You'll be keeping house with pride!

BELLE:
Just incredible!

GASTON:
Each day gratified

BELLE:
So unweddable!

GASTON:
That you are a part of this idyllic scene.

GASTON:
Picture this:
A rustic hunting lodge, my latest kill roasting over the fire, my little wife massaging my feet, while the little ones play on the floor with the dogs. We'll have six or seven!

BELLE:
Dogs?

GASTON:
No, Belle! Strapping boys...like me!

BELLE:
Imagine that!

GASTON:
I can see that we will share
All that love implies
We shall be a perfect pair
Rather like my thighs
You are face to face with destiny!
All roads lead to...
The best things in life are...
All's well that ends with me!
Escape me? There's no way
Certain as "Do, Re,"
Belle, when you marry...


GASTON:
So Belle, what’ll it be?
Is it "yes", or is it "oh, yes"?

BELLE:
I...I just don't deserve you!

GASTON:
Who does?
ME!

BELLE
But thanks for asking!

(And she ducks into the house. The Silly Girls return.)

SILLY GIRL #1
So…how’d it go?

GASTON
You know that Belle…always playing hard-to-get.

SILLY GIRLS
SHE TURNED YOU DOWN??

GASTON
For now. But I’ll have Belle for my wife. Make no mistake about that!

SILLY GIRL #1
Well, gee…if she turned him down, then maybe I still have a chance.

SILLY GIRLS
Get out of my way! OW! Stop it! Let go! Oh no, you don’t! He’s mine!

(After they’ve gone, Belle cautiously peers out of the cottage door.)

Scene 4b: Exterior of Belle’s Cottage
(Belle, Lefou)

6. Belle (Reprise)

BELLE:
Is he gone? Oh, can you imagine? He asked me to marry him.
Me, the wife of that boorish, brainless . . .

BELLE
"Madame Gaston!" Can't you just see it?
"Madame Gaston!" His "little wife", ugh!
No sir! Not me! I guarantee it
I want much more than this provincial life!
I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell
And for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more than they've got planned

(Belle’s song is interrupted by Lefou who hurries in looking for Gaston. He has Maurice’s scarf.)

LEFOU
Hey Belle! Have you seen Gaston?

BELLE
You just missed him. Wait a minute, where did you get that scarf?

LEFOU
This? In the woods. Pretty nice, huh?

BELLE
This belongs to my father!

LEFOU
Yeah, well. Finders-keepers.

BELLE
Lefou, I want to you to think hard and tell me exactly where you found that.

LEFOU
No!

BELLE
Think!

LEFOU
Somewhere in the woods.

BELLE
Harder!

LEFOU
Near the crossroads, okay? Ow!

BELLE
Then he’s still out there somewhere! Lefou, you have to take me back!

LEFOU
Not the woods again!

BELLE
Don’t you see? Something must have happened. You have to take me back!

LEFOU
Not on your life!

(He goes off.)

BELLE
Then I’ll find him myself!

6a. Then I’ll Find Him Myself

(She runs off.)





Scene 5a: Interior of Castle
(Cogsworth, Lumiere, Belle, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Babette)

(Cogsworth and Lumiere enter in mid-argument)

COGSWORTH
Couldn’t keep quiet, could we? Just had to invite him to stay, didn’t we? Serve him tea, sit in the Master’s chair…

LUMIERE
I was trying to be hospitable!

COGSWORTH
Rubbish!

LUMIERE
Ah, Cogsworth, can you blame me for trying to maintain what’s left of our humanity? Look at us. Look at you!

COGSWORTH
What about me?

LUMIERE
You always were insufferable. But every day, you become just a little ore inflexible…a little more tightly wound…a little more ticked off!

COGSWORTH
Please, spare me the stupid puns.

LUMIERE
At least, we are not as far gone as some of the others. You saw what happened to Michelle.

COGSWORTH
She always was too vain about her looks. And that’s exactly what she’s become.

LUMIERE
A vanity.

COGSWORTH
Little drawers, mirror…the works.

LUMIERE
And poor Jean-Claude.

COGSWORTH
Who?

LUMIERE
Jean-Claude. You remember him, not too bright, dumb as…

COGSWORTH
(guessing) …a brick?

LUMIERE
The whole wall.

COGSWORTH
Jean-Claude’s a brick wall?

LUMIERE
(He nods.) That’s him in the kitchen, behind the stove.

COGSWORTH
Tsk…tsk.

LUMIERE
And you know Guillaume…the houseboy?

COGSWORTH
That mealy-mouthed little bootlicker! I’ve never liked him. He’s always groveling at the Master’s feet.

LUMIERE
He’s a doormat.

COGSWORTH
Perfect.

LUMIERE
It’s happening faster with some of the others, but we are not far behind. Slowly but surely, as every day passes, we will all gradually become…things.

COGSWORTH
But why did we have to get dragged into this whole spell business? It’s not like we threw that poor old beggar woman out on her ear.

LUMIERE
No, but are we not responsible too? For helping to make him the way he is?

COGSWORTH
I suppose so.

LUMIERE
All I know is…I will eventually melt away to nothing. I only hope there’s something left of me if the Master ever breaks the spell.

(Cogsworth pats him on the back in a brief moment of friendship.)

COGSWORTH
Hold on, old man. We’ve got to hold on.

(Belle comes wandering through.)

BELLE
Hello? Is anyone here? Hello?

LUMIERE
It’s a girl!

COGSWORTH
Yes, of course, I can see it’s a girl!

LUMIERE/COGSWORTH
It’s a girl!!!

(They bolt to follow her. Lumiere wins. Cogsworth is right behind him.)

LUMIERE
(calling) Mademoiselle!

COGSWORTH
Now Lumiere, let me do all the talking.

LUMIERE
(Ignoring him) Yoohooo…

COGSWORTH
As head of the household, I should do most of the talking!

LUMIERE
(Calling) Cherie!

COGSWORTH
A word. Just a word!

(as he goes off)

That’s all I’m asking for!

(They exit as Mrs. Potts enter with Chip)

CHIP
Mama, you’re not gonna believe what I saw…not in a million years…not in a trillion million thousand years!

MRS. POTTS
Yes, dear.

CHIP
No, really…this is the greatest thing…it’s the thing that everybody’s been waiting for since…since…since…I don’t know when!

MRS. POTTS
Alright, Chip, what is it?

CHIP
There’s a girl in the castle!

MRS. POTTS
Bless my soul, wouldn’t that be lovely?

CHIP
But there is! I saw her!

MRS. POTTS
Now Chip, I’ll not have you making up wild stories. Getting everyone’s hope up for no reason.

(Babette rushes in.)

BABETTE
Mrs. Potts, did you hear? There is a girl in the castle!

CHIP
See? It told ya! And she’s real pretty too!

BABETTE
Well, I don’t know about that.

(Babette and Mrs. Potts exit as Lumiere and Cogsworth re-enter)

LUMIERE
This is the one! The girl we have been waiting for. She has come to break the spell!

COGSWORTH
Wait a minute…wait a minute…let’s not be hasty!

LUMIERE
Isn’t it wonderful? After all these years! Oh happy, happy day!

(He grabs Cogsworth and kisses him on both cheeks. Cogsworth pushes him away with disgust.)

COGSWORTH
Stop it! Stop that!

LUMIERE
We should tell the others, no?

(Lumiere hurries off.)

COGSWORTH
Yes, I mean no! I mean…wait a minute! Wait a minute!

(He hurries off after Lumiere. Belle comes back through.)

Scene 5b: Interior of Castle
(Belle, Maurice, Beast, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Wardrobe)

6b. Belle in the Castle

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

(The lights come up on Maurice, behind bars in a call.)

MAURICE
Belle? Is that you?

BELLE
Papa!

(Belle rushes to Maurice. She clings to him through the bars.)

MAURICE
How did you find me?

(He coughs from the chill.)

BELLE
Your hands are like ice! We have to get you out of here!

MAURICE
Belle, you must leave this place.

BELLE
Who’s done this to you?

(The Beast appears, a shadowy form.)

MAURICE
There’s no time to explain. You must go…now!

BELLE
I won’t leave you here!
(She feels his presence and whirls around.)
Who’s there?
(She can hear him panting….animal-like.)
BELLE
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
(He growls.)
I am the mast of the castle! I do not take order from anyone. Throw her out!

(The caryatid stands up, grabs Belle.)

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
He came into my home uninvited and now he’ll suffer the consequences.

BELLE
Please…I’ll do anything.

MAURICE
Belle!

BEAST
There’s nothing you can do!

BELLE
Wait please!

BEAST
I said there is nothing you can do!

BELLE
Take me instead!

MAURICE
No!

BEAST
What did you say?

BELLE
Take me instead.

MAURICE
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
Forever?

BEAST
Forever! Or he dies in the dungeon!

BELLE
That’s not fair…Wait! Come into the light.

BEAST
Make your choice!

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

BELLE
You have my word.


BEAST
Done.

BELLE
Papa!

(Beast roar)

MAURICE
No, no, I’m begging you! Please spare my daughter!

(The Beast drags Maurice out of the cell.)

BEAST
Take him to the crossroads.

BELLE
WAIT! No, not yet!

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

BELLE
Papa!

(Maurice is dragged away)

LUMIERE
(whispering) Master…

(The Beast roars angrily, Lumiere slinks away. There’s a beat…and Lumiere comes back.)

Master, please! (treading on eggshells) Since the girl is going to be with us for quite some time…you might want to offer her a more comfortable room.

BELLE
You didn’t let me say good-bye!

BEAST
What?

BELLE
I’ll never see him again..and I didn’t even get to say good-bye.

(The Beast studies her for a moment, confused by this outpouring of emotion.)

BEAST
I’ll…show you to your room.

(He turns to go, but she doesn’t follow.)

BELLE
My room? But I thought…

(He turns back, confused, irritated.)

BEAST
Do you want to stay in that dungeon?

BELLE
No.

BEAST
Then follow –
(He reaches for her. She recoils from his hand in fear. He stops, then…)
You follow me!

Scene 5c: Interior of Castle
(Belle, Beast, Mrs. Potts, Wardrobe)

(During the following, the Beast leads Belle through the dark, dreary castle. The Beast explains the rules of the castle in a gruff tone.)

This is your home now. You’re free to go anywhere you like…except the West Wing.

BELLE
Why, what’s in the West…?

BEAST
IT’S FORBIDDEN! You are never to set foot in there…do you understand?

(She doesn’t answer fast enough to suit him.)

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!

BELLE
Yes!

(He moves on. Belle watches him.)

BEAST
This is your room. I hope you’ll be comfortable here. If you need anything, my servants will attend you.

(He motions impatiently for her to go in. Belle steps inside.)

And, one more thing. You will join me for dinner.

(Belle turns away.)

That is not a request!)

(The Beast turns and exits.)




7. Is This Home?

(The lights come up in the Interior of Belle’s room. As she looks around at the strange, unfamiliar surroundings, she can no longer hold back the dark despair that threatens to overwhelm her. She sings)

BELLE:
Yes, I made the choice
For papa, I will stay
But I don't deserve to lose 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
Ev'ry day in my childhood:
Even when you grow old
Home should be where the heart is
Never where words so true!
My heart's far, far away
Home is too

[Is this home
Is this what I must learn to believe in
Try to find
Something good in this tragic place
Just in case
I should stay here forever
Held in this empty place
Oh, that won't be easy
I know the reason why
My heart's far, far away
Home's a lie]

What I'd give to return
To the life that I knew lately
And to think I complained
Of that dull provincial town
BELLE
Is this home?
Am I here for a day or forever?
Shut away
From the world until who knows when
Oh, but then
As my life has been altered once
It can change again
Build higher walls around me
Change ev'ry lock and key
Nothing lasts, nothing holds
All of me
My heart's far, far away
Home and free!

(The song ends…and there’s a brisk knock at the door.)

BELLE
Who is it?

MRS. POTTS
Mrs. Potts, dear. I thought you might like some tea.

BELLE
Come in.

(Mrs. Potts toddles in.)

MRS. POTTS
Nothing like a nice warm cup of tea to make the world seem a bit brighter.

BELLE
But…you’re…you’re…!

MRS. POTTS
(firmly) Mrs. Potts, dear. Very pleased to make your acquaintance.

(Belle is so stunned she backs up into a wardrobe behind her.)

WARDROBE
Careful, darling!

(Belle turns around to see MADAME DE LA GRAND BOUCHE, a grand, larger-than-life wardrobe. Belle gasps.)

BELLE
Wh…who are you?

WARDROBE
Madame de la Grand Bouche. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?

BELLE
Sorry.

WARDROBE
You see! They’ve forgotten all about me. One can be and I quote, “The toast of Europe. The brightest star ever to grace the stage,” but fall under one little spell…

MRS. POTTS
Sssssh!

BELLE
Wait. This is impossible!

WARDROBE
I know it is…but here we are! Well now, what shall we dress you in for dinner?
(She lifts up Belle’s sleeve.)
This is nice. But how would you like to borrow one of my gowns? Let’s see what I’ve got in my drawers…
(She opens her drawers and pulls out bloomers. She reaches in again in and takes out a gown.)
Ah, here we are. I wore this the night I performed at the Royal Opera. The King himself was there! Of course, I wouldn’t have a prayer of fitting into it now. Take it!

BELLE
That’s very kind of you. But I’m not going to dinner.

WARDROBE
Don’t be silly. Of course, you are. You heard what the Master said.

BELLE
(adamant) He may be your master…but he’s not mine! (a beat) I’m sorry. This is just happening so fast.

(Mrs. Potts and Wardrobe look at one another, feeling badly for her. They approach…gently.)

7a. Is This Home - Tag

MRS. POTTS
That was a very brave thing you did, my dear.

WARDROBE
We all think so.

BELLE
I’m going to miss my papa so much!

MRS. POTTS:
Cheer up child. I know things may seem bleak right now, but you mustn’t despair. We’re here to see you through.

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!

Scene 6a: The Tavern
(Gaston, Lefou, Cronies, Silly Girls)

(Gaston, sullen and morose, enters. Gaston’s cronies and his female admirers look on as Lefou approaches.)

8. Gaston

GASTON:
Who does she think she is?
That girl has tangled with the wrong man!

LEFOU:
Darn right.

GASTON:
No one says "no" to Gaston! Dismissed! Rejected!
Publicly humiliated! Why, it's more than I can bear.

LEFOU:
More beer?

GASTON:
What for? Nothing helps. I'm disgraced.

LEFOU:
Who, you? Never! Gaston, you've got to pull yourself together.

LEFOU:
Gosh it disturbs me to see you, Gaston
Looking so down in the dumps
Ev'ry guy here'd love to be you, Gaston
Even when taking your lumps
There's no man in town as admired as you
You're ev'ryone's favorite guy
Ev'ryone's awed and inspired by you
And it's not very hard to see why
No one's slick as Gaston, no one's quick as Gaston
No one's neck's as incredibly thick as Gaston's
For there's no man in town half as manly
Perfect, a pure paragon!
You can ask any Tom, Dick or Stanley
And they'll tell you whose team they prefer to be on
(Lefou is joined by Gaston’s cronies. The group begins to sing and sway in an effort to cheer up their idol, Gaston. And, gradually, it starts to work.)

CRONIES
No one's been like Gaston
A king pin like Gaston

LEFOU:
No one's got a swell cleft in his chin like Gaston

GASTON:
As a specimen, yes, I'm intimidating!

ALL:
My, what a guy, that Gaston!
Give five "hurrahs!"
Give twelve "hip-hips!"

LEFOU:
Gaston is the best
And the rest is all drips

ALL:
No one fights like Gaston
Douses lights like Gaston

LEFOU:
In a wrestling match nobody bites like Gaston!

SILLY GIRLS:
For there's no one as burly and brawny

GASTON:
As you see I've got biceps to spare

LEFOU:
Not a bit of him's scraggly or scrawny

GASTON:
That's right!
And ev'ry last inch of me's covered with hair

CRONIES:
No one hits like Gaston

OTHER CRONIES:
Matches wits like Gaston

LEFOU:
In a spitting match nobody spits like Gaston

GASTON:
I'm especially good at expectorating!
Ptoooie!

ALL:
Ten points for Gaston!

GASTON:
When I was a lad I ate four dozen eggs
Ev'ry morning to help me get large
And now that I'm grown I eat five dozen eggs
So I'm roughly the size of a barge!

ALL:
(Gaston poses)
Oh, ahhh, wow!
My, what a guy, that Gaston!

(Dance break)

ALL:
No one shoots like Gaston
Makes those beauts like Gaston

LEFOU:
Then goes tromping around wearing boots like Gaston

GASTON:
I use antlers in all of my decorating!

ALL:
My what a guy!

LEFOU:
What a guy!

ALL:
Gaston!

Scene 6b: The Tavern
(Gaston, Lefou, Maurice, Cronies, Silly Girls)

GASTON
Drinks on Lefou!

(Maurice enters, panicked)

MAURICE
Help! Help! Someone help me!

8a. Gaston (Reprise)

GASTON
Maurice?

(Maurice runs from person to person, frantically begging for help, but not making much sense.)

MAURICE
Please I need your help! He’s got her! He’s got her locked in a dungeon…

CRONY
Who?

MAURICE
Belle…we must go at once…not a minute to lose!

GASTON
Whoa. Slow down, Maurice. Who’s got Belle locked in a dungeon?

MAURICE
A Beast! A horrible monstrous beast!

(There’s a beat as Gaston and the villagers stare at him with disbelief. Then, everyone bursts into laughter, particularly Gaston. One of Gastons’ cronies leans over Maurice.)

GASTON
Is it a big beast?

MAURICE
Huge?

CRONY
With spooky yellow eyes?

MAURICE
Yes! Yes!

CRONY
…with a long ugly snout?

MAURICE
Hideously ugly!

LEFOU
…and sharp cruel fangs?

MAURICE
Yes! Yes! Will you help me? Will you help me?

GASTON
All right, old man. We’ll help you out.

(He looks at his cronies and jerks his thumb toward the door.)

MAURICE
(relieved) Oh, thank you…thank you…

(The cronies lift Maurice up by his arms, carry him off)

All right then, I’ll go back there and get her out myself!

CRONY 1
Crazy ol’ Maurice.

CRONY 2
He’s always good for a laugh.

(The cronies exit leaving Gaston and Lefou musing.)

GASTON:
Crazy old Maurice, hmmm?
(The idea dawns.)
Crazy old Maurice!
LeFou, I'm afraid I've been thinking

LEFOU:
A dangerous pastime

GASTON:
I know.
But that whacky old coot is Belle's father
And his sanity's only "so-so"
Now the wheels in my head have been turning
Since I looked at that loony, old man
See, I've promised myself I'd be married to Belle
And right now I'm evolving a plan

GASTON:
If I . . . (whispers)

LEFOU:
Yes?

GASTON:
Then we . . . (whispers)

LEFOU:
No! Would she . . .? (whispers)

GASTON:
Guess!

LEFOU:
Now I get it!

BOTH:
Let's go!

(Gaston gets up and dances with Lefou.)

No one plots like Gaston

GASTON:
Takes cheap shots like Gaston

LEFOU:
Plans to persecute harmless crackpots like Gaston

GASTON:
Yes, I'm endlessly, wildly resourceful

LEFOU:
As down to the depths you descend

GASTON:
I won't even be mildly remorseful

LEFOU:
Just as long as you get what you want in the end

GASTON:
Who has brains like Gaston?

LEFOU:
Entertains like Gaston?

BOTH:
Who can make up these endless refrains like Gaston?
And his marriage we soon will be celebrating
My what a guy
Gaston!

(Gaston and Lefou exit.)

(The lights come up on the castle.)
Scene 7a: Fireplace
(Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth, Lumiere, Beast, Belle)

(As Cogsworth enters, we see that he now has a gigantic winding handle attached to his back which he is entirely unaware of. Mrs. Potts and Lumiere enter hurriedly.)

MRS. POTTS
Well, what is it?

COGSWORTH
Is dinner ready, Mrs. Potts?

MRS. POTTS
Just about. I haven’t the foggiest idea what she likes to eat, so I’ve cooked up everything in the kitchen.

COGSWORTH
Good…good.

(He turns around…and both Mrs. Potts and Lumiere notice the handle. They gasp.)

COGSWORTH
Yes, well? Don’t just stand there gaping, get back to work!

LUMIERE
You tell him.

MRS. POTTS
I can’t.

COGSWORTH
Tell me what?

LUMIERE
Now don’t get upset, but you’ve got..something on your back.

COGSWORTH
What on earth are you talking about?

(Lumiere takes him and puts him in front of the mirror. Cogsworth gasps with horror.)

AH!
(Looking closer) What is it?

LUMIERE
It appears to be a winding handle, of sorts.

COGSWORTH
Well, get it off me!

LUMIERE
(trying to pull it off) It won’t come off.

COGSWORTH
What do you mean it won’t come off? It wasn’t there last night when I went to bed. Where did it come from? Why is this happening to me?

MRS. POTTS
It’s the spell, I’m afraid.

LUMIERE
Just try to relax…

COGSWORTH
Relax! Relax! How can I relax with this appendage on my back? Is there no dignity left for me? And what’s going to go next…my mind?

LUMIERE
Calm down. It will be all right.

COGSWORTH
I’m frightened, Lumiere.

LUMIERE
I know, my friend. But you are not alone.

MRS. POTTS
We’re all in this together.


Scene 7b: Fireplace / Belle’s Room
(Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth, Lumiere, Beast, Belle)

(Beast enters.)

BEAST
It’s time for dinner. Where is she?

COGSWORTH
Perhaps I should see about her. Won’t be a minute.

BEAST
I told her to come down! What’s taking so long?

MRS. POTTS
Try to be patient, sir. The girl has lost her father and her freedom all in one day.

LUMIERE
Master…have you thought that perhaps this girl could be the one to break the spell?

BEAST
Of course, I have!
(grumbling)
I’m not a fool.

LUMIERE
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!

MRS. POTTS
Lumiere, it’s not that easy. These things take time.

LUMIERE
But we don’t have time! The rose has already begun to wilt!

BEAST
It’s no use. She’s so beautiful and I’m…well, look at me!

LUMIERE
(sotto to Mrs. Potts)
He has a point.

MRS. POTTS
Shhh!
(to the Beast) Master, you must help her to see past all that.

BEAST
I don’t know how!

MRS. POTTS
Well, you could start by trying to make yourself more presentable.
(She pulls him upright.)
Straighten up! Try to act like a gentleman.

LUMIERE
Impress her with your rapier wit.

MRS. POTTS
But be gentle.

LUMIERE
Shower her with compliments.

MRS. POTTS
But be sincere.

LUMIERE/MRS. POTTS
And above all…

BEAST
What???

LUMIERE/MRS. POTTS
You must control your temper!

(Cogsworth re-enters.)

BEAST
Well?

COGSWORTH
What?

BEAST
Where is she?



COGSWORTH
(feigning ignorance)
Who? Oh, yes, the girl…well, actually she’s in the process of…circumstances being what they are…

(The Beast growls impatiently)

COGSWORTH
(a timid squeak)
She’s not coming.
(a squeak)
She’s not coming.

BEAST
What did you say?

COGSWORTH
(even squeakier)
She’s not coming.

BEAST
We’ll see about that!

(The Beast storms to Belle’s room. Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and Cogsworth hurry along behind.)

COGSWORTH
Your Lordship! Your grace! Your Eminence! Let’s not be hasty!

BEAST
Stay where you are! Lumiere, stand aside.

(The Beast barges in to Belle’s room)

BELLE
(yelling back)
I’m not hungry!

BEAST
I am the master of this castle and I’m telling you to come to dinner.

BELLE
And I’m telling you…I’m not hungry.

BEAST
You’re hungry if I say you’re hungry.

BELLE
Don’t be ridiculous!

BEAST
What did you say?

BELLE
You can’t go around ordering people to be hungry. It doesn’t work like that.

BEAST
I can…

BELLE
Besides, it’s rude.

BEAST
(sarcastically) Oh? Rude is it? Then how about this, if you don’t come down to dinner, I will drag you by the hair…

LUMIERE
Master that may not be the best way to win the girl’s affections.

COGSWORTH
Please…attempt to be a gentleman.

BEAST
But why is she being so difficult?

(He crosses to Belle.)

Why are you being so difficult?

BELLE
Why are you being such a bully?

BEAST
Because I want you to come down to dinner!

BELLE
So…you admit you’re being a bully.

MRS. POTTS
Deep breaths, Master…deep breaths.

BEAST
I’ll give her one last chance. Would you be so kind as to join me for dinner?

COGSWORTH
(under his breath) Aahaahaaa….P…P…

BEAST
(gritting his teeth) Please.

BELLE
No, thank you.

BEAST
Fine! Then starve!

(He begins to storm out of the room.)

LUMIERE
Master, please!

BEAST
If she doesn’t eat with me…she doesn’t eat at all!

(He roars and storms off angrily.)

LUMIERE
What were we thinking? We will never be human again.

COGSWORTH
So, it appears.

(There’s a long moment as they sink into despair.)

MRS. POTTS
Well, what would you two have us do? Give up? I can’t give up until I hear the sound of my boy’s laughter as he runs through these halls again!

COGSWORTH
Quite right Mrs. Potts! We mustn’t give up while there’s still a chance. Lumiere, stand watch at the door and if there’s the slightest change, inform me at once.

(Lumiere, with a mock salute.)

LUMIERE
Oui, mon Capitan.

(Cogsworth and Mrs. Potts exit.)

Scene 7c: Belle’s Room / Beast’s Lair
(Beast, Belle, Wardrobe)

(The lights dim in Belle’s room and come up on the Beast’s lair.)

BEAST
I ask nicely but she refuses! What…what does she want me to do…beg?

(He picks up the Mirror.)

Show me the girl!
(The Magic Mirror glows. The lights come up on Belle’s room.)

8b. How Long Must This Go On?

WARDROBE
I know the Master can be temperamental, but underneath all that matter fur, he’s not such a bad fellow. Why don’t you give him a chance?

BELLE
Why should I? Did he give my father a chance?

WARDROBE
Well, no. But once you get to know him…

BELLE
I don’t want to get to know him! I don’t want to have anything to do with him!

(The Beast is stung by her words. The lights fade in Belle’s room.)

BEAST:
I’m just fooling myself. She’ll never see me as anything…but a monster.

How long must this go on? This cruel trick of fate?
I simply made one careless wrong decision
And then the witch was gone, and left me in this state
An object of revulsion and derision
Hated...Is there no one who can show me
How to win the world's forgiveness?

(He looks to the Rose. One more petal falls. He groans.)

No! What did they say? Shower her with compliments…impress her with your wit…Act like a gentleman. Act like a gentleman. Act like a gentle man!

(He exits.)


Scene 7d: Fireplace
(Babette, Lumiere)

(The lights come up on Lumiere asleep at his post…snoring loudly. Babette approaches. She reaches out to Lumiere and we see that her hands are now feathers.)

BABETTE
Lumiere…oh Lumiere…!

LUMIERE
Ah, Babette. Come to me, my little fluff.

(He takes her hand and kisses it, but gets a mouth full of feathers.)

Agh – agh ahchoo!

BABETTE
It’s my hands, isn’t it? You do not love me anymore!
(sobbing)
Oh, this horrible horrible spell…
(sneezes)

LUMIERE
Ah, cherie…you cut me to the wick! Do you think a little think like that would change my feeling for you? Now you really…
(lascivious) …tickle my fancy!

(She giggles and pushes him away.)

BABETTE
Oh no.

LUMIERE
Oh yes.

BABETTE
Oh no.

LUMIERE
Oh yes.

BABETTE
Oh no…no…no! I’ve been burnt by you before!

(She runs out with Lumiere right behind. After they’ve gone, the lights come up on Belle’s room.)

Scene 7e: Belle’s Room
(Belle, Wardrobe)

BELLE
(sheepish) Actually Madame, I am a little hungry.

WARDROBE
I’ll ring for Mrs. Potts and sing you an aria while we wait.

BELLE
That’s all right. I’ll go myself.

WARDROBE
But what about the Master? He’s really not going to like this!

BELLE
(she smiles) I know.

(Belle goes out.)

WARDROBE
Oh dear…oh dear.

Scene 7f: Dining Room
(Mrs. Potts, Chip, Cogsworth, Lumiere, Belle, Dinnerware)

(The lights come up on another area. Mrs. Potts and Cogsworth enter.)

MRS. POTTS
I like this girl. I like her spunk.

COGSWORTH
Well, if you ask me, she was just being stubborn. After all, he say ‘please.’

MRS. POTTS
I think that may be the first time I’ve ever heard him use that word.

COGSWORTH
I believe you’re right.

MRS. POTTS
You see! She’s already starting to have a good influence on him.
(Belle approaches.)
Oh there you are dearie. Glad to see you out and about.

COGSWORTH
I am Cogsworth, head of the household.

(Lumiere comes running in.)

LUMIERE
Cogsworth! The girl! She’s gone! I swear my eyes never left the…Enchantee, mademoiselle.

(He kisses her hand.)

COGSWORTH
This is Lumiere…Stop it! Stop that!
(to Belle) If there is anything we can do to make you stay more comfortable. Anything …anything at all!

BELLE
I am a little hungry.

COGSWORTH
Except that.

MRS. POTTS
Cogsworth!

COGSWORTH
Well, you heard what the Master said!

MRS. POTTS
Oh pish tosh! I’m not about to let the poor child go hungry!

COGSWORTH
Fine. Glass of water, crust of bread and then…

LUMIERE
Cogsworth! I am surprised at you. She’s not a prisoner, she’s our guest! We must make her feel welcome here!

COGSWORTH
All right, dinner. But keep it down! If the Master finds out it’ll be our necks!

LUMIERE
Of course…of course! But what is dinner without a little music?


COGSWORTH
MUSIC?

(A drum roll)

9. Be Our Guest

LUMIERE:
(into song)
Ma chere Mademoiselle, 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 dining room proudly presents -
your dinner!

Be our guest! Be our guest!
Put our service to the test
Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie
And we'll provide the rest

LUMIERE
Soup du jour, hot hors d'oeuvres
Why, we only live to serve
Try the grey stuff

CHIP:
It's delicious

LUMIERE:
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!

FLATWARE:
Beef ragout
Cheese soufflй
Pie and pudding "en flambй"

LUMIERE:
We'll prepare and serve with flair
A culinary cabaret!
You're alone, and you're scared
But the banquet's all prepared
No one's gloomy or complaining
While the flatware's entertaining

FLATWARE
We tell jokes!

LUMIERE
I do tricks
With my fellow candlesticks

FLATWARE:
And it's all in perfect taste, that you can bet
Come on and lift your glass
You've won your own free pass to be out guest

LUMIERE:
If you're stressed, it's fine dining we suggest

LUMIRE & FLATWARE:
Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest!

CHORUS
Be our guest, be our guest
Get your worries off your chest
Let us say for your entree
We've an array; may we suggest:
Try the bread! Try the soup!
When the croutons loop de loop

LADIES
It's a treat for any dinner
Don't believe me? Ask the china

MEN
Singing pork! Dancing veal!
What an entertaining meal!

CHORUS:
How could anyone be gloomy and depressed?
We'll make you shout "encore!" and send us out for more
So, be our guest!

LUMIERE:
Be our guest!

CHORUS:
Be our guest!

MRS. POTTS:
It's a guest! It's a guest!
Sakes alive, well I'll be blessed!
Wine's been poured and thank the Lord
I've had the napkins freshly pressed
With dessert, she'll want tea
And my dear that's fine with me
While the cups do their soft-shoeing'
I'll be bubbling, I'll be brewing
I'll get warm, piping hot
Heaven's sakes! Is that a spot?
Clean it up! We want the company impressed

CHORUS:
We've got a lot to do!

MRS. POTTS:
Is it one lump or two?
For you, our guest!

CHORUS:
She's our guest!

MRS. POTTS:
She's our guest!

CHORUS:
She's our guest!
Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest!

LUMIERE:
Life is so unnerving
For a servant who's not serving
He's not whole without a soul to wait upon
Ah, those good old days when we were useful...
Suddenly those good old days are gone
Ten years we've been rusting
Needing so much more than dusting
Needing exercise, a chance to use our skills!
Most days we just lay around the castle
Flabby, fat and lazy
You walked in and oops-a-daisy!

Babette!

BABETTE
Come to me, my little spark!

LUMIERE
Ah-choo! Oui!

BABETTE
No!

COGSWORTH
Lumiere! This time you’ve gone too far. This is shameless! Shameless!

ALL
Hey!

LUMIERE
(as napkins enter) Allo!

NAPKINS
Hi!

LUMIERE
And now, for your continued dining pleasure – Napkins...s’il vous plait!

NAPKINS
Ooh la la!

(all together)
Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, wheee!

ALL:
Be our guest! Be our 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 candlelight's still glowing
Let us help you, We'll keep going
Course by course, one by one
'Til you shout, "Enough! I'm done!"
Then we'll sing 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 guest!

Scene 7g: Dining Room / West Wing
Belle, Cogsworth, Lumiere, Beast

BELLE
Oh, Lumiere, thank you for dinner. It was delicious.

COGSWORTH
Good show, everyone! Good show! Well done! Oh my goodness, loot at the time. Off to bed!

BELLE
Oh, I couldn’t possibly go to bed now. It’s my first time in an enchanted castle.

COGSWORTH
Enchanted! Who said anything about the castle being enchanted?
(to Lumiere) It was you, wasn’t it?

BELLE
I figured it out for myself. I’d like to look around, if that’s all right.

LUMIERE
Perhaps you would like a tour?

COGSWORTH
Wait a minute…wait a minute. I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. (Aside to Lumiere) We can’t have you know who, go poking around you know where…if you know what I mean.

BELLE
(to Cogsworth) Perhaps you’d like to take me. I’m sure you know everything there is to know about the castle.

COGSWORTH
Well…actually, I do! May I draw your attention to our hand painted ceiling complete with cherubs frolicking in delight amidst the nymphs and centaurs…

(Lights go down on Cogsworth and company as the Beast enters carrying a tray of food for Belle.)

BEAST
Act like a gentleman…act like a gentleman…This’ll be good. Oh, Belle?

(The Beast knocks again.)

BEAST
Belle?

(Lights come up again on Cogsworth’s tour…The Beast ducks back into the shadows.)

COGSWORTH
Now if you will not the unusual inverted archways, you will see that this is yet another example of the late neo-classic baroque period. And…as I always say…if it’s not baroque, don’t fix it!

(He laughs heartily. Lumiere and Belle are silent.)

May I draw your attention to the flying buttresses above the aviary…?

(Cogsworth exits)

BELLE
Oh, Lumiere it’s all so beautiful! I had no idea. If only he weren’t here!

(Lumiere and Belle exit.)

BEAST
Act like a gentleman…I am nothing but a fool.

(He goes into the West Wing. Cogsworth re-enters…Belle and Lumiere trail behind.)

COGSWORTH
…and thanks to some quick thinking on my part the disaster was averted. And that was the last time a stone of that weight was quarried in this area.

BELLE
What’s up there?

LUMIERE & COGSWORTH
NOTHING!

COGSWORTH
Nothing at all of any interest in the West Wing!

BELLE
Ah. So that’s the West Wing.

LUMIERE
Nice going.

BELLE
I wonder what he’s hiding up there.

COGSWORTH
(He laughs heartily.)
Hiding! What an idea! Hiding.

BELLE
Then it wouldn’t be forbidden, would it?

COGSWORTH
Perhaps Mademoiselle would like to see something else. We have exquisite tapestries dating all the way back to Aloysious the Pretentious…

BELLE
Maybe later.

(She moves closer to the West Wing.)

LUMIERE
(thinking quickly)
Perhaps you would like to see the gardens…or…or the library?

(Belle whirls around with sudden interest.)

BELLE
You have a library?

9a. Belle in the West Wing

LUMIERE
With books!

(Cogsworth and Lumiere back away from the stairs….drawing Belle with them. She follows, tantalized.)


COGSWORTH
Oh yes! Scads of books! Mountains of books! Forests of books! Cascades! Cloudbursts! Swamps of books!

LUMIERE
Books with pictures! Books with words!

COGSWORTH
More words than you could ever be able to read in a lifetime!

LUMIERE
Books on every subject, by every author who ever set pen to papier!

(They toddle off. Belle glances over her shoulder at the West Wing and her curiosity gets the better of her. She turns back and heads up the stairs. Belle enters the Beast’s lair. She shudders as she steps through. Something catches her eye and she turns. It’s the Rose. She moves closer…awestruck. Fascinated, Belle moves as if to life the dome as the Beast enters.)

BEAST
DON’T TOUCH THAT!

BELLE
I’m sorry!

(Belle backs away fearfully as he sees that the Rose is unharmed, his fear begins to abate and fury rises up in its place. He slowly advances on her…eyes burning with rage.)

BEAST
What are you doing here?

BELLE
I…

BEAST
I told you never to come here!

BELLE
I know but…


BEAST
Do you realize what you could have done? Get out!

BELLE
No…

BEAST
YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO BE THERE! NO RIGHT!

(As she tries to run past him, he grabs her arm and pulls off her sleeve as she falls backwards.)

BEAST
Oh…no…

BELLE
Don’t touch me!

BEAST
No, I…

BELLE
Promise or no promise. I won’t stay here!

(Belle runs out)

(The Beast is left alone with his remorse and self-recrimination.)

10. If I Can't Love Her

BEAST:
I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to frighten you. I didn’t mean to hurt. You don’t understand. There’s so little left of me…So little left…

And in my twisted face
There's not the slightest trace
Of anything that even hints of kindness
And from my tortured shape
No comfort, no escape
I see, but deep within is utter blindness
Hopeless, as my dream dies
As the time flies
Love a lost illusion
Helpless
Unforgiven
Cold and driven
To this sad conclusion

No beauty could move me
No goodness improve me
No power on earth, if I can't love her
No passion could reach me
No lesson could teach me
How I could have love her and made her love me too
If I can't love her, then who?

Long ago I should have seen
All the things I could have been
Careless and unthinking, I moved onward

No pain could be deeper
No life could be cheaper
No point anymore, if I can't love her
No spirit could win me
No hope left within me
Hope I could have loved her and that she'd set me free
But it's not to be
If I can't love her
Let the world be done with me.

Act 1 | Act 2