Saturday, October 29, 2005
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
CHAPTER ONE
Once upon a time, a selfish young prince refused to give an old beggar-woman shelter in his castle. But the old woman was really an enchantress in disguise. She turned the prince into a terrifying BEAST and cast a spell on everyone else in the castle. Then, giving the Beast a magic rose, she said, "This will bloom until your twenty-first year. If you learn to love another and earn that person's love in return before the last petal falls, the spell will be broken. If not, you will remain a beast forever."
IN a vilage near the castle, an eccentric inventor named Maurice lived with his beautiful daughter Belle. One of the young men in the village, Gaston, had decided that he would marry Belle. "After all," he told his friend Lefou, "she's the best-looking girl in town. And I deserve the best!"
But Belle refused him. She could never marry someone as arrogant and conceited as Gaston!
One day Maurice set off for a fair with his latest invention. As the night fell he lost his way and had to seek refuge in the Beast's castle.
Maurice was welcomed by some friendly enchanted objects, including Lumiere, and elegant candelabra, Cogswoth, a pompous clock, Mrs Potts, a cheery teapot, and her son, Chip a teacup.
But the Beast was furious when he discovered a stranger in his home, and he threw Maurice into the dungeon. When Maurice's horse returned home alone, Belle set off at once to search for her father.
"Oh, Papa," Belle cried when she found Maurice in the freezing dungeon, "we must get you out of here!" Sensing danger, Belle turned round. There was the Beast, towering over her.
to be continued...
; cheers, limshuyi
