BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
PROLOGUE (THE ENCHANTRESS)
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 for many years.
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?
BELLE
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:
TOWNSFOLK
Bonjour! Bonjour! Bonjour! Bonjour! Bonjour!
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 -
BAKER
That's nice. Marie!
The baguettes!
Hurry up!
TOWNSFOLK
Look there she goes that girl is strange, no question
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?
WOMAN
Never part of any crowd
MAN
'Cause her head's up on some cloud
TOWNSFOLK
No denying she's a funny girl that Belle
MAN I
Bonjour!
WOMAN I
Good day!
MAN I
How is your fam'ly?
WOMAN 2
Bonjour!
MAN 2
Good day!
WOMAN 2
How is your wife?
WOMAN 3
I need six eggs!
WOMAN 4
That's too expensive!
BELLE
There must be more than this provincial life!
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
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!
TOWNSFOLK
Look there she goes that girl is so peculiar
I wonder if she's feeling well
With a dreamy, far-off look
And her nose stuck in a book
What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle
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!
WOMAN
Now it's no wonder that her name means "Beauty"
Her looks have got no parallel
SHOPKEEPER
But behind that fair facade
I'm afraid she's rather odd
MAN
Very diff'rent from the rest of us
TOWNSFOLK
She's nothing like the rest of us
Yes, diff'rent from the rest of us is Belle!
LEFOU
I got it Gaston!
Wow! 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.
And don't I deserve the best?
LEFOU
Of course you do!
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
BIMBETTES
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!
WOMAN 1
Bonjour!
GASTON
Pardon
BELLE
Good day
WOMAN 2
Mais oui!
WOMAN 3
You call this bacon?
WOMAN 4
What lovely grapes!
MAN 1
Some cheese
WOMAN 5
Ten yards!
MAN 1
one pound
GASTON
'scuse me!
CHEESE MERCHANT
I'll get the knife
GASTON
Please let me through!
WOMAN 6
This bread -
WOMAN 7
Those fish -
WOMAN 6
it's stale!
WOMAN 7
they smell!
MEN
Madame's mistaken.
WOMEN
Well, maybe so
TOWNSFOLK
Good morning!
Oh, good morning!
BELLE
There must be more than this provincial life!
GASTON
Just watch,
I'm going to make Belle my wife!
TOWNSFOLK
Look there she goes
The girl is strange but special
A most peculiar mad'moiselle!
WOMEN
It's a pity and a sin
MEN
She doesn't quite fit in
TOWNSFOLK
'Cause she really is a funny girl
A beauty but a funny girl
She really is a funny girl
That Belle!
NO MATTER WHAT
BELLE
Papa, do you think I'm...odd?
MAURICE
My daughter odd?
Where did you get an idea like that?
BELLE
I don't know.
It's just that, well, people talk.
MAURICE
They talk about me, too.
MAURICE
No, we're not odd, its true
No fam'ly 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.
NO MATTER WHAT (REPRISE)
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
That is, provided I can find the fair at all
I must have missed a sign...
I should have paid attention...
Drat! (Wolf howls)
That's not a nightingale, and not a mating call.
Wolves!
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
Oh so gratified
BELLE
So unweddable!
GASTON
That you are a part of this idyllic scene.
(spoken)
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....
(spoken)
So Belle, what would it be?
Is it "yes", or is it "oh, yes"?
BELLE
I...I just don't deserve you!
GASTON
Who does? ME!
BELLE (REPRISE)
BELLE
Is he gone?
Oh, can you imagine?
He asked me to marry him.
Me, the wife of that boorish, brainless . . .
"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
HOME
BELLE
Yes, I made the choice
For papa, I will stay
But I don't deserve to 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 were 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 space
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
But I know that I can't
All my problems going back
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!
HOME (REPRISE)
MRS. POTTS
Cheer up child.
It will turn out alright in the end, you'll see.
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!
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 AND CHORUS
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!
LEFOU AND CHORUS
My what a guy, that Gaston!
Give five "hurrahs!" Give twelve "hip-hips!"
LEFOU
Gaston is the best
And the rest is all drips
CHORUS
No one fights like Gaston
Douses lights like Gaston
LEFOU
In a wrestling match nobody bites like Gaston!
BIMBETTES
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
CHORUS
No one hits like Gaston
Matches wits like Gaston
LEFOU
In a spitting match nobody spits like Gaston
GASTON
I'm espcially good at expectorating!
Ptoooie!
CHORUS
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!
CHORUS
Oh, ahhh, wow!
My what a guy, that Gaston!
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!
CHORUS
My what a guy, Gaston!
GASTON (REPRISE)
GASTON
Crazy old Maurice, hmmm?
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 . . . (whisper)
LEFOU
Yes?
GASTON
Then we . . . (whisper)
LEFOU
No! Would she . . .
GASTON
(whisper) Guess!
LEFOU
Now I get it!
BOTH
Let's go! 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
BOTH
Just as long as I (you) get what I (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!
HOW LONG MUST THIS GO ON?
BEAST
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?
BE OUR GUEST
LUMIERE
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
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!
LUMIERE AND CHORUS
Beef ragout
Cheese souffle
Pie and pudding "en flambe"
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
We tell jokes!
I do tricks
With my fellow candlesticks
CHORUS
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
CHORUS
Be our guest! 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
It's a treat for any dinner
Don't belive me? Ask the china
Singing pork! Dancing veal!
What an entertaining meal!
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-shoein'
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!
CHORUS
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!
IF I CAN'T LOVE HER
BEAST
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.
SOMETHING THERE
BELLE
There's something sweet
And almost kind
But he was mean and he was coarse and unrefined
But now he's dear, and so unsure
I wonder why I didn't see it there before
MME. DE LA GRANDE BOUCHE
Come along dearie.
Let's get you off those wet things.
BEAST
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
BEAST
Belle, I have something to show you.
But first, you have to close your eyes.
It's a surprise!
BELLE
May I open them?
BEAST
Alright, alright. Now!
BELLE
I can't believe it!
I've never seen so many books in my whole life!
BEAST
You like it?
BELLE
It's wonderful!
BEAST
It's yours!
BELLE
New and a bit alarming
Who'd have ever thought that this could be?
True that he's no Prince Charming
But there's something in him that I simply didn't see
(spoken)
Oh, this is one of my favorites!
It's "King Arthur."
Have you ever read it?
BEAST
No.
BELLE
You don't know what you're missing.
I'd love to read this again.
Wait...you can read this first.
BEAST
No, that's alright
BELLE
No, really, you read it
BEAST
Oh, no, you...
BELLE
No, you
BEAST
No! I can't...
BELLE
You never learned to read?
BEAST
Only a little, and long ago
BELLE
Well, it just so happens that this is the perfect book to read aloud. Come here, sit by me
LUMIERE
Well, who'd have thought?
MRS. POTTS
Well, bless my soul
COGSWORTH
Well, who'd have known?
MRS. POTTS
Well, who indeed?
LUMIERE
And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?
MRS. POTTS
It's so peculiar. Wait and see
LUMIERE AND COGSWORTH
We'll wait and see
ALL THREE
A few days more
There may be something there that wasn't there before
COGSWORTH
Perhaps there's something there
That wasn't there before
CHIP
What?
MRS. POTTS
There may be something there that wasn't there before
CHIP
What's there, Mama?
MRS. POTTS
Ssh. I'll tell you when you're older.
Come along now. Let's give them some privacy...
CHIP
Mama?
MRS. POTTS
Yes, Chip
CHIP
Will I ever get to be a boy again?
MRS. POTTS
I hope so
CHIP
When will I know?
MRS. POTTS
Soon. If it's to be. It will be very soon now. Come along, son.
BELLE
Knowing now, that this was indeed the legendary sword called "Excalibur," Arthur tried to pull it from the stone. He tried
once to no avail. He tried a second time, but still, he could not pull it out. Then, for the third time, Arthur drew forth the
sword...
BEAST
So that must mean he's the king!
BELLE
Wait and see
BEAST
I never knew books could do that
BELLE
Do what?
BEAST
Take me away from this place, make me forget for a little while
BELLE
Forget?
BEAST
Who I...What I am...
BELLE
We have something in common, you know
BEAST
What is that?
BELLE
In the town where I come from, the people think I'm odd
BEAST
You?
BELLE
So, I know how it feels to be...different. And I know how lonely that can be
BELLE
For the third time, Arthur drew forth the sword, and there arose from the people a great shout. Arthur is king.
BEAST
I told you so...
HUMAN AGAIN
LUMIERE
Ha ha, we, my friends.
The day we have waited for may be at hand!
MRS. POTTS
Oh, only if that were true, Lumiere!
LUMIERE
Aaah...human again
MRS. POTTS
Human again
LUMIERE
Yes, think of what that means!
LUMIERE
I'll be cooking again
Be good-looking again
With a mademoiselle on each arm
When I'm human again
Only human again
Poised and polished and gleaming with charm...
I'll be courting again
Chic and sporting again
MRS. POTTS
Which should cause sev'ral husbands alarm!
CHIP
I'll hop down off the shelf
LUMIERE
And toute suite be myself
CHIP
I can't wait to be human again
MME. DE LA GRANDE BOUCHE, MRS. POTTS ,BABETTE
When we're human again
Only human again
When we're knickknacks and whatnots no more
CHIP
Little push, little shove
They coul, whoosh fall in love
MME. DE LA GRANDE BOUCHE
Ah, cherie, won't it all be top-drawer
I'll wear lipstick and rouge
And I won't be so huge
Why, I'll easily fit through that door
I'll exude savior-faire
I'll wear gowns!
I'll have hair!
It's my prayer to be human again
COGSWORTH
When I'm human again
Only human again
When the world once more making sense
I'll unwind for a change
LUMIERE
Really? That'd be strange!
COGSWORTH
Can I help it if I'm t-t-tense?
In a shack by the sea
I'll sit back sipping tea
Let my early retirement commence
Far from fool made of wax
I'll get down to brass tacks and relax
ALL
When I'm human again
So sweep the dust from the floor!
Let's let some light in the room!
I can feel, I can tell
Someone might break the spell
Any day now!
LUMIERE/BABETTE
Shine up the brass on the door!
Alert the dustpail and the broom!
ALL
If all goes as planned
Our time may be at hand
Any day now!
MRS. POTTS, EGG TIMER, WHISK
Open the shutters and let in some air
MRS. POTTS
Put these here and put those over there
ALL
Sweep up the years
Of sadness and tears
And throw them away!
BELLE
When Guinevere heard that Arthur was slain, she went away to a convent, and no one could make her smile again. The
end.
BEAST
What a beautiful story
BELLE
Oh, I knew you would like it!
I would like to ask you something
BEAST
What's that?
BELLE
A second chance.
Would you have dinner with me tonight?
BEAST
Huh? Me? You?
Well, that would be, I mean -- Oh, yes!!
ALL
When we're human again
Only human again
When the girl fin'lly sets us all free
Cheeks a-bloomin' again
We're assumin' again
We'll resume our long lost joie de vie
We'll be playin' again
Holiday' again
And we're prayin' it's A-S-A-P
When we cast off this pall
We'll stand straight, we'll walk tall
When we're all that we were
Thanks to him, thanks to her
Coming closer and closer
And closer and...
We'll be dancing again!
We'll be twirling again!
We'll be whirling around with such ease
When we're human again
Only human again
We'll go waltzing those old one-two-threes
We'll be floating again!
We'll be gliding again!
Stepping, striding as fine as you please
Like a real human does
I'll be all that I was
On that glorious morn
When we're fin'lly reborn
And we're all of us human again!