Beauty and the beast (pressure)

The scene begins at the castle; the Prince is getting ready for a ball.]

(NARRATOR): Once upon a time, in the hidden heart of France, a handsome young prince lived in a beautiful castle.

PLUMETTE: Poof! Poof!

(NARRATOR): Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was selfish and unkind.

COGSWORTH: Master, it’s time.

AGATHE (NARRATING): He taxed the village to fill his castle with the most beautiful objects.

LUMIERE: Oui maitre

(NARRATOR): And his parties with the most beautiful people.

[Cuts to the ballroom; Cadenza begins playing "Aria" as the Prince dances with the female guests. Garderobe starts performing.]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

GARDEROBE: [SINGING]

♪ 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 ♪

♪ What a display ♪

♪ What a breathtaking, thrilling array ♪

♪ Ev’ry prince

Ev’ry dog has his day ♪

♪ Let us sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust, oh ♪

♪ Not a care in the world ♪

• [KNOCKING ON GLASS]

• [ALL GASP]

[THUNDER CRACKING]

[The doors of the ballroom fling open to reveal the beggar woman.]

(NARRATOR): 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.

PRINCE(DEEP): [LAUGHING]

[ALL LAUGH]

(NARRATOR): Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince turned the woman away.

PRINCE(DEEP: Hmm.

(NARRATOR): But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances. For beauty is found within.

[The beggar woman rises into the air and turns into the Enchantress.]

When he dismissed her again, the old woman’s outward appearance melted away.

[WOMEN GASP]

(NARRATOR): To reveal... a beautiful enchantress.

[WOMEN SCREAMING]

(NARRATOR): The prince begged for forgiveness, but it was too late. For she had seen that there was no love in his heart.

MRS. POTTS: Chip! Chip! Oh, my!

(NARRATOR): As punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast... and placed a powerful spell on the castle... and all who lived there.

[The Prince is turned into the Beast.]

[THE BEAST ROARING]

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. 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. As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love a beast?