Once upon a time in the hidden heart of
France, a handsome young Prince lived in a beautiful castle...
Although he had everything his heart
desired, the Prince was selfish and unkind.
The Prince was being groomed by his servants. The Maid was painting an exotic animal mask on the Prince's face with a feather brush. A tall valet drapes the Prince with an elaborately bejeweled coat.
He taxed the village to fill his
castle with the most beautiful objects...
The maid dusts his wig with powder
while a Majordomo holds a pocket watch, indicating that they are running late.
Master, it's time. Said The Majordomo
With a haughty wave, the Prince instructs his Footman to bring more light.
Oui, maître. Said the Footman
A candelabra is lifted to the preening Prince as he looks at himself in an ornate hand mirror.
and his parties with the most beautiful people.
The ornate room is filled with beautiful people from all corners of the world, each on display for the Prince's pleasure. A circle of eligible maidens bow their heads.
Seated in a throne chair dominated by a majestic coat of arms, the Prince snaps his fingers impatiently at an Italian Maestro, who smiles, revealing comically rotten teeth.
The maestro sits at a harpsichord and motions to his wife, a holding a tiny bichon frisé. As the music begins, the Prince steps forward.
The diva fills the room with a voice as big as her frame. The Prince performs a roundelay with several debutantes
Oh how divine. Glamour, music and magic combine See the maidens so anxious to shine Look for a sign that enhances Chances She'll be his special one said Diva
The dance speeds up. The Prince connects momentarily with a beautiful woman, but quickly moves on when his eye catches someone even more dazzling
What a display! What a breathtaking thrilling array
(Diva coos to the dog)
Every prince, every dog has his day Let us sing with passion, gusto Fit to bust - oh
Not a care in the world Diva said.
KNOCK KNOCK.
The Prince stops. Then a gust of wind blows open the windows. Sconces flicker and go dark. The figure enters in silhouette, hobbling on a cane.
Furious, the Prince grabs a lit candelabra from the Footman. He rudely pushes through the crowd, sweeping people from his path. He crosses to the windows, finally revealing an old beggar woman shivering from the rain. She looks to the Prince with hope and offers him a red rose.
Then, one night, an unexpected intruder arrived at the castle, seeking shelter
from the bitter storm. As a gift, she
offered the Prince a single rose. Said the Narrator
The prince's hand waves her off. The woman begs on her knees. The Prince motions to the staff.
Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the
Prince turned the woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by
appearances, for beauty is found within.
The majordomo and footman approach to usher her out. The woman lowers her head as if to cry
And when he dismissed her again, the old
woman's outward appearance melted away to reveal
...a beautiful Enchantress.
The wind picks up inside the room. Frightened, the Prince falls to his knees.
The Prince tried to apologize but it was too late. For she had seen that there was no love in his heart.
As the Prince begs for mercy, his body begins to transform.
His jewelry pops off. His clothing rips as he grows larger.
As punishment, she transformed him
into a hideous beast...
The guests scream in horror and flee. But pushing his way through the crowd, A young boy slips into the ballroom, watching in wonder as the prince's shadow twists into the shadow of a hideous beast.
The boy's mother frantically follows him inside
Chip! Chip! Oh my... said the mother.
just as the doors slam shut, leaving the staff, the
entertainers and the dog trapped in the room.
... and also placed a powerful spell on the
castle and all who lived there.
Years later, the enchanted castle stands isolated. The property is surrounded by an ice hedge. The only sound is the grim winter wind.
As days bled into years, the Prince
and his servants were forgotten by the world. For the Enchantress had erased all memory of them from the minds of the people they loved.
a portrait is hanging in the West Wing but soon a giant paw slashes it. At the highest window of the west wing, we see the Beast.
The Rose, already wilting, floats before him. To protect it, the beast has covered it with a glass bell jar.
But the rose she had offered was truly
an enchanted rose. If he could learn to love another and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell, the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time.
another petal drops.
As the years passed, he fell into
despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast?
YOU ARE READING
Beauty and the Beast
RomanceAdeline is the eldest daughter of Maurice and the older sister to Calliope. Went her father "steals" a Rose he's in a castle with a Beast who is under a spell. When she trades spots with him she has to stay forever. Will she be able to do that and w...
