NARRATOR
Onceuponatime,
Inafarawayland,
AyoungPrincelivedinashiningcastle.
Althoughhehadeverythinghisheartdesired,
thePrincewasspoiled,selfishandunkind.
Butthen,onewinter'snight,
anoldbeggarwomancametothecastle
andofferedhimasinglerose
inreturnforshelterfromthebittercold.
Repulsedbyherhaggardappearance,
thePrincesneeredattheGift,
andturnedtheoldwomanaway.
Butshewarnedhimnottobedeceivedbyappearances,
forBeautyisfoundwithin.
Andwhenhedismissedheragain,
theoldwoman'suglinessmeltedawaytorevealabeautifulenchantress.
Theprincetriedtoapologize,
butitwastoolate,forshehadseenthattherewasnoloveinhisheart.
Andaspunishment,shetransformedhimintoahideousbeast
andplacedapowerfulspellonthecastleandallwholivedthere.
Ashamedofhismonstrousform,
theBeastconcealedhimselfinsidehiscastle,
withamagicmirrorashisonlywindowtotheoutsideworld.
Theroseshehadofferedwastrulyanenchantedrose,
whichwouldbloomunitlhistwenty-firstyear.
Ifhecouldlearntoloveanother,
andearntheir*loveinreturnbythetimethelastpetalfell,
Thenthespellwouldbebroken.
Ifnot,hewouldbedoomedtoremainabeastforalltime.
Astheyearspassed,
hefellintodespairandlostallhope,
Forwhocouldeverlearntolove....abeast?

(*inthemovie,changedto"her")