Scene One: curtain opens on a castle room; Father standing in the middle of the room alone.

Father     (shouting) Thank you. I said...thank you!. Hello! Won't anyone answer me? Hello! Never in my life have I had a finer meal or a softer bed, (looks at his clothes) and these clothes are a perfect fit. Still, (as a second thought) hello! I've seen no one, met no one, and alas, can thank no one for this fine hospitality. (begins walking off stage) Perhaps out here in the garden. (looks off stage) Hello, hello. Why look, that is the most beautiful rose I've ever seen. (walks off stage) There, I will take this to Beauty. At least she can be happy. (re-enters on stage with rose in hand.

Beast     (enters angrily) ROAR! How dare you? (Father is startled; Beast walks threateningly over to Father) How dare you steal from me? Haven't I given you food? (Father nods) Haven't I given you clothing? (Father nods) Haven't I given you shelter? (Father nods) And now you repay me by stealing from me?

Father     But sir, (looks at rose) it's only a rose. Surely with all the splendor you have here in your castle you won't miss one little rose.

Beast     How do you know what will and what will not be missed? This is my castle. And you have made a very serious mistake.

Father     (at a loss for words) I'm sorry sir, I didn't know. Please sir, I will repay you.

Beast     For your crime, you must die!

Father     DIE? For one rose? Oh kind sir, you don't understand. The rose was for my daughter. You see, once I was a very wealthy man. I had ships that sailed the seas and brought fortunes from all corners of the earth. But misfortune soon found me and either by shipwreck or pirates all my ships were lost at sea.

Beast     Don't waste time, man. What does this have to do with my rose?

Father     Please, let me finish. Only a few days ago I received word that one of my ships had come safely to prot. All of my daughters asked me for jewels and clothing before I set out to inquire about the ship. All except one, that is. She's the one I call Beauty. She asked for only one red rose and my safe return. When I arrived at the city, I found that all the stories of my recovered fortune were false. I left the city penniless. Sir, I was on my way home when a terrible storm overtook me. I was cold and hungry and lost when suddenly I stumbled upon your castle. Your kind hospitality renewed my spirits and then when I saw th rose, I thought to myself, "Well at least Beauty will receive her treasure." Sire, I am truly sorry!

Beast     Ah, yours is a very sad story indeed. So sad, in fact, that I will spare your life.

Father     Oh thank you, sire.

Beast     Wait, I haven't finished yet. You still must pay for what you have done. You still must pay for what you have done. I said that I would spare your life, but only if you bring one of your daughters to this castle.

Father     (shocked) But sire, I could never force one of my daughters to come here just to save my life!

Beast     No! You must not force her. She must come of her own free will. If none of your daughters consent to come on those terms, you must return to become my servant for life. No go, and take your rose with you.

(curtain may or may not close during this scene break)

Scene two: Curtain opens on same set; Beauty enters followed by Father

Father     Please Beauty, It's not too late, please go home. I will stay here.

Beauty     Father, we've been through this before. It's my fault that you picked the rose, not yours. So I must be the one to stay. (looks around) Besides, I can tell the creature isn't all bad, his castle is so beautiful.

Beast     (enters during the last speech) Thank you Beauty. I do hope that you will be happy here. Beauty, have you come here of your own free will?

Beauty     I have your, ah....(at a loss for words)

Beast     Call me Beast. I will depart now so you may say goodbye to your father. It's time for him to leave. (exits)

Father     Beauty, I beg you, go from this terrible place right now, while there is still some time. Go home, Beauty, and live in safety.

Beauty     Father, you are such a kind may. Thank you for your concern, but please don't worry. I'll be fine here. Now, let's not talk of it anymore. You must leave soon and I want only to look at you so I can remember everything about you. (Father and Beauty embrace)

Father     Beauty, I....(resigns himself) I love you too. Goodbye, dear Beauty. (Father exits very slowly and sadly)

Beauty     (watches him exit) Goodbye Father, I'll miss you very much. (lays down and begins to sob; sobs for awhile, then falls asleep daintily snoring)

Prince     (enters, he is a dream) Oh beautiful maiden, even though I can only come to visit you in your dreams I am so pleased that you have come. Every night while you sleep I shall come to speak to you. I promise to come every night. Beauty, I am being held prisoner in this castle and I'm hoping that you will free me. One last thing before I go, Beauty, do not be fooled by disguises. (Prince floats off stage)

Beauty    (wakes, looks around) Wait! Don't go! Oh please come back! (coming to her senses) But it was only a dream. Wasn't it? (sighs)

Beast     (enters) Good morning. Did you sleep well?

Beauty     Yes Beast, thank you.

Beast     Is there anything you need? Anything I can get you?

Beauty     Everything I need seems to be here. Sometimes I just think of something I want and before I blink, there it is.

Beast     Beauty, do you love me? Will you marry me?

Beauty     (shocked) Why Beast? What can I say?

Beast     Answer honestly, please.

Beauty     Then the answer is no. I'm sorry Beast.

Beast     (very sadly) Very well Beauty. I will ask you these two questions every day. I want you to answer honestly and without fear. (both exit-during this scene break the curtains may either remain open or be closed)

Scene three: curtains open on same set, Beauty is on stage.

Beauty     Why, the Beast is late today. (little laugh) Well, Beauty, what's this? Are you missing your Beast? Oh I have gotten to look forward to his visits. He has taught me much in the two, or is it three, no it has been six months since I arrived. Six months. My of my, every day I visit with the Beast, every night I dream of the handsome prisoner. Oh I wish I knew what it all meant. If only Father were here. He would tell me. Oh Father, I do miss you so.

Beast     (enters) Good morning Beauty.

Beauty     Oh hello Beast.

Beast     Why Beauty, you sound so sad.

Beauty     I suppose I'm a bit homesick.

Beast     Beauty, do you love me? Will you marry me?

Beauty     I'm sorry Beast, the answer is still no.

Beast     (sighs sadly( Very well, what shall we talk about this morning?

Beauty     I really don't feel like talking this morning Beast.

Beast     Beauty, of Beauty, please tell me why you are so sad.

Beauty     Oh Beast, I miss my father and my sisters so much. And isn't it silly, I even miss the little farm house I used to live in. Beast, would it be possible, I mean could you, would you let me go home?

Beast     Oh Beauty, please don't ask me such a difficult question. If you were ever to leave me I would surely die of a broken heart.

Beauty     Oh please Beast. I won't leave forever, I promise. I'm very fond of you. If only I could see my father for one week, I would return with my heart overjoyed. Please Beast!

Beast     Beauty, I could never refuse you. You may go home for one week. When your week is over think of me and you will return. (curtains close slowly) But Beauty, if you stay away longer than one week, I will die of a broken heart.

Scene four: curtain opens on farmer's cottage; Father and Beauty are on stage.

Beauty     Oh Father, everything is so wonderful; the air, the smells, oh I could dance and sing. La la la la la la. Come Father, dance with me. (Father and Beauty dance) La la la la la la la.

Father     (steps away) Why Beauty, wherever did you learn to dance like this?

Beauty     (dancing to herself) La la la la la la (talks as if she were in a dream) It was the Beast, he taught me to dance. Father, he has taught me so much. Do you know Father, the Beast is really quite nice, gentle, caring.........

Father     Beauty! You sound as if you cared about that horrid creature.

Beauty     (stops dancing suddenly) He isn't horrid Father. He is the most loving person, er, creature I've ever met.

Father     Beauty!

Beauty     Father, there is something else too. Every night I have a dream.

Father     Yes Beauty?

Beauty     There is this prince, at least I think he is a prince. He comes and talks to me like the Beast talks to me. But Father, the prince is a prisoner in the castle. At least that's what he says in the dream. And Father, I am confused, how could someone as warm and loving as the Beast ever keep anyone captive?

Father     Oh Beauty, I wish I could help.

Beauty     Father how long have I been here?

Father     Well, let's see, I think you've been here seven, no eight days....eight days.

Beauty     Eight days! Father, what about the Beast. I promised I would return in one week. Father, I must go. (begins to run) Oh Beast, please, I am coming. Please don't die Beast. (curtain begins to close) I love you!

Scene five: curtains open on same castle set as before; Beast is lying on the opposite side of Beauty's entrance.

Beauty     (enters, does not see Beast) Beast! Beast! Oh please answer me! Where are you, Beast?!

Beast     (gasping) Beauty!

Beauty     (sees him, runs to his side) Oh Beast! I'm back. Beast, oh Beast please don't die! I love you! I want to marry you!

Beast     (in a puff of baby powder, the Beast disappears)

Beauty     BEAST! Where have you gone?

Prince     (enters behind Beauty) Your Beast is no more Beauty.

Beauty     You? But how did you.....? Where is my Beast?

Prince     I am your Beast, dear Beauty.

Beauty     No, no, you're not my Beast. Oh where is he?

Prince     Listen to me Beauty. Many years ago a witch put a spell on me because I was vain and spoiled. She changed me into the Beast and decreed that I should have to stay until a maiden consented to marry me of her own free will. You, Beauty have broken that spell.

Beauty     But where is my Beast? I love him, not you. How could you ever be as kind and as good as he was?

Beast     Beauty, I have learned much in my lonely years as the Beast. But it was you, dear Beauty that taught me the greatest lesson of all. Don't you see how wonderful you are? All the qualities you loved about the Beast; his warmness, his kindness, his generosity. Beauty, you are all these things too. The Beast needed someone like you to recognize that beneath his ugliness he was a loving, caring creature. You found him. And you found me. And I promise you that I will always try to be as loving as the Beast. And Beauty, as long as you are beside me, we will live in happiness forever.

(curtain close)

The End

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