Belle, whose father is imprisoned by the Beast, offers herself instead, unaware her captor to be an enchanted prince.

[first lines]
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. 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. 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. 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. 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 she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his 21st year. 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. As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast?
Beast: [Struggling] You - You came back.
Belle: Of course I came back. I couldn't let them... Oh this is all my fault. If only I had gotten here sooner.
Beast: Maybe... Maybe - it's better... it's better this way.
Belle: Don't talk like that. You'll be alright. We're together now; everything's going to be fine, you'll see.
Beast: And at least - I got to see you - one last time.
[the Beast dies]
Belle: No, No! Please. Please... Please don't leave me.
[Belle sobs]
Belle: I love you.
[the last rose petal falls]
Gaston: It's not right for a woman to read. Soon she starts getting *ideas*, and *thinking*...
Beast: I want to do something for her... but what?
Cogsworth: Well, there's the usual things: flowers... chocolates... promises you don't intend to keep...
Belle: [singing] Ohhh, 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.
[singing]
Gaston: Lefou, I'm afraid I've been thinking...
Lefou: A dangerous pastime?
Gaston: I know.
Lumiere: Ma chère mademoiselle. It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And now, we invite to relax, let us pull up a chair, as the dining room proudly presents... your dinner.
Gaston: How can you read this? There's no pictures!
Belle: Well, some people use their imagination.
Beast: [pounds on Belle's door yelling] I thought I told you to come down to dinner!
Belle: I'm not hungry!
Beast: [yelling to Belle] You'll come out, or I'll-I'll-I'll break down the door!
Lumiere: Master, I could be wrong, but that might not be the best way to win the girl's affections.
Cogsworth: Please. Attempt to be a gentlemen.
Beast: But, she's being so *difficult*!
Mrs. Potts: Gently... gently...
Beast: [calmly] Will you come down to dinner?
Belle: No!
Beast: [points at door] Hmm?
Cogsworth: Ah-ah-ah, suave, genteel.
Beast: [suavely] It would give me great pleasure...
[tries to hold in his anger]
Beast: if you would join me for dinner.
Cogsworth: [clears throat and mutters] We say please.
Beast: Please?
Belle: No, thank you!
Beast: [yells] You can't stay in there forever!
Belle: Yes, I can!
Beast: [yells] Fine! Then go ahead and *starve!* If she doesn't eat with me, then she doesn't eat at all!
[storms down through the hallway and slams the door behind him]
Mrs. Potts: Oh dear. That didn't go very well at all, did it?
Belle: [singing] 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...
Cogsworth: As you can see, the pseudo-façade was stripped away to reveal the minimalist Rococo design. Note the unusual inverted vaulted ceilings.
[as he, Lumiere, and Belle walk past the knights in armor, they turn their heads to follow them]
Cogsworth: This is yet another example of the late neoclassic Baroque period. And, as I always say, "If it's not Baroque, don't fix it!"
[notices the knights with their heads turned]
Cogsworth: As you were!
[the knights turn their heads back forward]
[Belle is washing the Beast's wounds]
Beast: [roaring] Aaargh! That hurts!
Belle: If you'd hold still, it wouldn't hurt as much!
Beast: Well if you hadn't have run away, this wouldn't have happened.
Belle: If you hadn't *frightened* me, I wouldn't have run away!
Beast: Well *you* shouldn't have been in the west *wing*!
Belle: Well, *you* should learn to control your temper. Now, hold still. This might sting a little.
[presses cloth to wound; the beast growls in pain]
Belle: By the way, thank you for saving my life.
Beast: [stops growling] You're welcome.
Gaston: This is the day your dreams come true.
Belle: What do you know about my dreams, Gaston?
Gaston: Plenty! Here, picture this: A rustic hunting lodge, my latest kill roasting on the fire, and 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: And do you know who that little wife will be?
Belle: Let me think...
Gaston: You, Belle!
Belle: Gaston, I'm-I'm speechless. I really don't know what to say.
Gaston: Say you'll marry me!
Belle: I'm very sorry, Gaston... but... but I just don't deserve you!
Beast: [singing] She glanced this way, I thought I saw... And when we touched, she didn't shudder at my paw. No, it can't be; I'll just ignore... But then, she's never looked at me that way before...
Cogsworth: Well Your Highness, I must say everything is going just swimmingly. I knew you had it in you, ha ha!
Beast: [sadly] I let her go.
Cogsworth: Yes, yes, splen - You what? How could you do that?
Beast: I had to.
Cogsworth: Yes, but, but, but but why?
Beast: Because I love her.
Prince Adam: Belle... it's me!
[Belle stares into his eyes for a minute]
Belle: It is you!
Beast: Oh, it's no use. She's so beautiful, and I'm... Well, look at me!
Mrs. Potts: Oh, must help her to see past all that.
Beast: I don't know how.
Mrs. Potts: Well, you can start by making yourself more presentable. Straighten up. Try to act like a gentleman.
[Beast stands up straighter]
Lumiere: Ah, yes. When she comes in give her a dashing, debonair smile. Come, come, show me the smile.
[Beast gives a big, forced smile]
Mrs. Potts: But don't frighten the poor girl!
[giving Beast advice on how to impress Belle]
Lumiere: Impress her with your rapier wit.
Mrs. Potts: But be gentle.
Lumiere: Shower her with compliments.
Mrs. Potts: But be sincere.
Lumiere: And above all...
Mrs. Potts, Lumiere: You must control your temper!
Cogsworth: [singing] Well, perhaps there's something there that wasn't there before.
Chip: What?
Mrs. Potts: [singing] There may be something there that wasn't there before.
Chip: *What's* there, Mama?
Mrs. Potts: Shh. I'll tell you when you're older.
[kisses Chip]
Chip: Do I still have to sleep in the cupboard?
Lumiere: [trying to prepare the Beast for his dinner with Belle] Voila! Oh, you look so... so...
Beast: [fur done up in curls and bows] Stupid.
Lumiere: Not quite the word I was looking for, but perhaps a - little more off the top.
Cogsworth: [Clears throat] Your lady awaits.
Cogsworth: Couldn't keep quiet, could we? Just had to invite him to stay, didn't we?
[imitates Lumiere]
Cogsworth: 'Serve him tea. Sit in the master's chair. Pet the pooch!'
Lumiere: I was trying to be hospitable.
Cogsworth: Enchanted? Ha-ha ha-ha! Who said anything about the castle being enchanted? Ha-ha-ha...
[to Lumiere]
Cogsworth: It was you, wasn't it?
Beast: Who are you? What are you doing here?
Maurice: I-I-I was lost in the woods, and-and...
Beast: You're not welcome here!
Maurice: I-I-I'm sorry.
Beast: What are you staring at?
Maurice: N-nothing.
Beast: So, you've come to stare at the BEAST, haven't you?
Maurice: Please, I meant no harm. I-I just need a place to stay.
Beast: *I'll* give you a place to stay.
Maurice: No, no! Please! No, no!
Chip: Mama, there's a girl in the castle!
Mrs. Potts: Now Chip, I won't have you making up such stories. Now into the tub.
Chip: But mama!
Featherduster: Madame! There is a girl in the castle!
Chip: See! I told you.
Additional Voice: [singing] I need 6 eggs.
Additional Voice: That's too expensive!
Belle: Who's there? Who are you?
Beast: The master of this castle.
Belle: I've come for my father. Please, let him out! Can't you see? He's sick!
Beast: [Yelling] Then he shouldn't have trespassed here!
Belle: But he could die! Please, I'll do anything!
Beast: There's nothing you can do! He's my prisoner.
Belle: Oh there must be some way I can... wait! Take me instead.
Beast: You! You would take his place?
Maurice: Belle, no! You don't know what you're doing!
Belle: If I did, would you let him go?
Beast: Yes. But you must promise to stay here forever.
Belle: Come into the light.
[the Beast reveals himself, Belle gasps and turns away]
Maurice: No, Belle! I won't let you do this!
[Belle looks at him, then rises]
Belle: You have my word.
Beast: Done!
Gaston: If I didn't know better, I'd think you had *feelings* for this monster.
Belle: He's no monster, Gaston, *you* are!
Villagers: [singing] We don't like what we don't understand, in fact it scares us, and this monster is mysterious at least...
Lumiere: Master...
Beast: [growling softly] What?
Lumiere: Since the girl is going to be with us for quite some time, I was just thinking - you might want to offer her a more comfortable room.
Beast: [growls, then walks past]
Lumiere: Then again, maybe not!
Beast: [upon catching Belle in the forbidden west wing] Why did you come here?
Belle: I'm-I'm sorry.
Beast: I warned you never to COME HERE!
Belle: I didn't mean any harm.
Beast: [yells] Do you realize what you could have done?
[throws a table]
Belle: [cowering] Please... stop...
Beast: Get out!
Belle: [dashes out of the room] No!
Beast: GET OUT!
Belle: Gaston, you are positively primeval.
Gaston: Why thank you, Belle. What would you say if you and I took a walk over to the tavern and took a look at my trophies?
Belle: Maybe some other time.
Beast: [growling] There's a stranger here.
Cogsworth: [shakes Lumiere's hand in truce] Well, Lumiere, old friend. Shall we let bygones be bygones?
Lumiere: Of course, mon ami. I told you she would break the spell!
Cogsworth: I beg your pardon, old friend, but I believe *I* told *you*.
Lumiere: No, you didn't. *I* told *you*!
Cogsworth: You most certainly did not, you pompous, paraffin-headed peabrain!
Lumiere: En garde, you... you overgrown pocket watch!
Gaston: Take whatever booty you can find, but remember: the Beast is mine!
Featherduster: [to Lumiere] I've been burnt by you before!
Gaston: [singing] Here in town there's only she, who is beautiful as me, so I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle.
Gaston: I'd like to thank you all for coming to my wedding. But first I'd better go in there and propose to the girl.
Villagers: [singing] It's a pity and a sin / she doesn't quite fit in / 'cause she really is a funny girl / a beauty but a funny girl / she really is a funny girl... that Belle!
Gaston: [singing] I use antlers in all of my decorating!
Lefou: [singing] Gaston is the best, and the rest is all dr-ips!
[accidentally splashes a mug of beer on Gaston standing right behind him]
Gaston: Were you in love with her, Beast? Did you honestly think she'd want you when she had someone like me?
Monsieur D'Arque: I don't usually leave the asylum in the middle of the night, but he said you'd make it worth my while.
[Gaston presents him with a bag of money]
Monsieur D'Arque: Ah, I'm listening.
Gaston: It's like this: I've got my heart set on marrying Belle, but she needs a little... persuasion.
Lefou: [chuckles] Turned him down flat.
[Gaston hits him]
Gaston: Everyone knows her father's a lunatic. He was in here tonight, raving about a *beast* in a *castle*.
Monsieur D'Arque: Maurice is harmless.
Gaston: The point is, Belle would do *anything* to keep him from being locked up.
Lefou: Yeah, even marry *him*.
[points at Gaston; ducks when Gaston tries to hit him again]
Monsieur D'Arque: So you want me to throw her father into the asylum unless she agrees to marry you?
[Lefou nods eagerly]
Monsieur D'Arque: Oh, that is despicable.
[Chuckling]
Monsieur D'Arque: I love it!
[Gaston is face down in a mud wallow after Belle turns down his marriage proposal]
Lefou: So, how did it go?
Gaston: [grabs Lefou] I'll have Belle for my wife! Make no mistake about *that*!
[throws Lefou in the mud]
Lefou: [to the pig] Touchy!
[the pig oinks]
Villagers: [singing:] It's know no wonder that her name means beauty / her looks have got no parallel / But behind that fair façade / I'm afraid she's rather odd / Very different from the rest of us / She's nothing like the rest of us / Yes, different from the rest of us is Belle.
Mrs. Potts: Pardon me, Master...
Beast: Leave me in peace.
Mrs. Potts: But sir, the castle is under attack!
Villagers: [singing outside and trying to knock the door down] Kill the Beast! Kill the Beast!
Lumiere: [All the objects are trying to hold the door closed] This isn't working.
Featherduster: Oh Lumiere. We must do *something*.
Lumiere: Wait, I know!
Villagers: [Still singing outside] Kill the Beast! Kill the Beast!
Mrs. Potts: What should we do, Master?
Beast: It doesn't matter now. Just let them come.
[singing]
Gaston, Lefou: No one plots like Gaston.
Gaston: Takes cheap shots like Gaston.
Lefou: Plans to persecute harmless crackpots like Gaston!
Villagers: [singing] Raise the flag, sing the song, here we come, we're fifty strong, and fifty Frenchmen can't be wrong... Let's kill the Beast!
[Gaston and the Beast are battling on the tower]
Gaston: It's over, Beast! Belle is mine!
[the Beast strikes at Gaston, grabs him and holds him over the edge]
Gaston: Let me go! Let me go, please! Don't hurt me! I'll do anything! Anything!
[after a tense moment, the Beast drags Gaston away from the edge]
Beast: Get out.
Beast: I'll show you to your room.
Belle: My room? But I thought...
Beast: Do you wanna stay in the tower?
Belle: No.
Beast: Then follow me.
Cogsworth: [Maurice has opened his door to peek inside] Sir, close that at once! Do you mind?
Beast: You will join me for dinner!
[screaming]
Beast: That's not a request!
Doctor: Maurice is harmless.
[Gaston throws a bag of coins on the table]
Doctor: I'm listening.
Cogsworth: [Beast has released Belle, meaning there's no-one to break the spell] Now, it's too late.