Fairy Tale: Beauty And The Beast read by Jennifer Grey and Clark Gregg for Speakaboos

Summary

In a tale of love and enchantment, Beauty, the kind-hearted daughter of a merchant, sacrifices her freedom to save her father from a fearsome Beast. Living in the Beast's castle, she discovers his hidden kindness and they form a bond. Beauty's love, seeing past his cursed appearance, breaks the spell, revealing the prince within. The story teaches the importance of inner beauty and true love's power to overcome even the darkest of enchantments.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The story is set in a far-off country where a merchant lives with his family in a cottage in the forest.
• 🛍️ The merchant's children often ask for gifts when he returns from his business trips, but his oldest daughter, Beauty, only wishes for his safe return.
• 🌹 Beauty requests a rose from her father, as they do not grow in the forest where they live.
• 🚢 The merchant's ship is damaged in a storm, and he is unable to sell any goods, leaving him without money for gifts.
• ⛈️ During a thunderstorm, the merchant seeks shelter in a mysterious castle and unknowingly takes a rose, which belongs to the Beast.
• 🐉 The Beast confronts the merchant for taking the rose and initially threatens him, but after hearing the merchant's story, offers a deal.
• 💔 The Beast's deal is that one of the merchant's daughters must come to the castle in place of her father, or else the merchant will never see his family again.
• 👸 Beauty volunteers to go to the castle to fulfill her father's promise, showing her courage and selflessness.
• 🏰 Beauty discovers that the castle is magical and filled with wonders, and she begins to see the Beast in a different light as he shows kindness and thoughtfulness.
• 💔 Beauty initially rejects the Beast's love, but after returning home and having dreams about him, she realizes her true feelings and returns to the castle.
• 🌟 The story concludes with the Beast being transformed back into a prince, and he and Beauty are united in love, signifying the importance of inner beauty over appearances.

Q & A

What did the merchant's sons and daughters ask for when he returned from his trips?

The sons asked for a great sword encrusted in jewels, and one of the daughters wanted a golden harp with strings made from silk.

What did Beauty request from her father on his trips?

Beauty requested a rose, as they didn't have them in the forest and she loved their smell.

Why was the merchant unable to bring gifts for his children on this particular trip?

The merchant's ship was damaged in a bad thunderstorm, and there were no goods to be sold, leaving him with no money for gifts.

How did the merchant end up in the Beast's castle?

The merchant sought shelter from a thunderstorm and found the castle's front door open. He entered, hoping to find refuge.

What condition did the Beast set for the merchant's life to be spared?

The Beast would forgive the merchant if one of his daughters would come to the castle in his place.

Why did Beauty decide to go to the castle?

Beauty decided to go to the castle to keep her father's promise, as she was the one who asked for the rose that led to the Beast's anger.

What did the Beast give Beauty before she left the castle to visit her family?

The Beast gave Beauty a beautiful ring, telling her that if she ever chose to return, she could do so by putting the ring on her finger.

What made Beauty realize she loved the Beast?

Beauty realized her love for the Beast after having dreams of him in pain and distress, and upon seeing him weak and frail in the cave.

What was the curse placed on the Beast by the witch?

The curse was that the Beast would remain a Beast and die unless he could earn the true love of a good woman.

How did the Beast transform back into a prince?

The Beast transformed back into a prince after Beauty professed her love for him, breaking the curse placed by the witch.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Merchant's Dilemma

In a far-off land, a merchant with four children lived in a cottage in the forest. His children would often request gifts when he returned from his business trips. While his sons wanted a jeweled sword and his daughters desired a golden harp, the eldest daughter, known as Beauty, only wished for her father's safe return. However, she also requested a rose, as they didn't grow in the forest. On one of his trips, the merchant's ship was damaged, and he found himself seeking shelter in a mysterious castle during a storm. There, he discovered the castle to be empty but well-kept, and after falling asleep, he awoke to find food prepared for him. In the garden, he found roses and decided to take one for Beauty, but was confronted by a fearsome Beast who accused him of stealing. The Beast, after hearing the merchant's story, offered to forgive him if one of his daughters would come to the castle in his place.

05:03

🌹 Beauty's Sacrifice

Upon returning home without gifts, the merchant's children were disappointed. When they learned of the Beast's demand, Beauty's brothers wanted to confront the Beast, but Beauty felt responsible and decided to go to the castle to keep her father's promise. Despite her family's objections, she set off with her father to the castle. Upon arrival, they were greeted with a grand display of fireworks and a beautifully lit palace. Inside, they found a warm fire and a meal set for two. The Beast appeared and asked Beauty if she had come willingly, to which she confirmed. He then told the merchant he must leave and never return, allowing him to take gold and jewels as parting gifts. Left alone, Beauty cried herself to sleep and dreamt of a young prince who assured her that her suffering would be rewarded and advised her not to trust appearances. The next day, Beauty began to explore the castle, finding rooms filled with mirrors, books, and musical instruments. She discovered a bracelet with a picture of the prince from her dream and started to form a bond with the Beast, despite her initial fear.

10:07

💖 The Transformation

Beauty's time at the castle became a routine of exploration and evening visits from the Beast. Although she continued to refuse the Beast's proposals of love, she began to see past his fearsome exterior to his kind and caring nature. One night, Beauty expressed her sadness and desire to see her family, to which the Beast, despite his own sadness, granted her leave with a magical ring that would return her to the castle if she wished. Back home, Beauty's family was overjoyed, but she couldn't shake her longing for the castle and the Beast. Her dreams shifted from the prince to the Beast, and she began to worry for him. After a series of dreams where the Beast was in pain, Beauty decided to return to the castle. Upon her return, she found the Beast seemingly lifeless. Overwhelmed with grief, she confessed her love for him. The Beast then revealed the story of a curse placed upon him by a witch for his judgmental ways. As Beauty professed her love, the Beast transformed into the handsome prince from her dreams, and the castle came alive with celebration. The story concluded with a declaration of their love and a future together.

Keywords

💡Merchant

A merchant is a person who trades in commodities, especially on a large scale. In the script, the merchant is the father of Beauty and her siblings, who travels to town to sell goods brought by his ships. His profession and the goods he brings back are central to the story's initial setup, as his children's requests for items from his trips set the stage for Beauty's request for a rose, which leads to the encounter with the Beast.

💡Beauty

Beauty is the oldest daughter of the merchant, known for her appreciation of beautiful things in life. The term 'Beauty' is used both as a name and as a descriptor of her character and her love for aesthetics. Her request for a rose, symbolizing beauty and love, is a pivotal moment in the story, leading to the merchant's encounter with the Beast and the subsequent events.

💡Beast

The Beast is a character who appears fearsome and angry but is revealed to have a kind and caring heart. In the narrative, the Beast represents the theme of not judging by appearances, as Beauty learns to see beyond his exterior to the noble qualities within. The Beast's transformation at the end of the story underscores the message that true beauty lies within.

💡Rose

The rose is a symbol of love and beauty in the story. Beauty's request for a rose from her father sets the plot in motion, leading to the merchant's encounter with the Beast. The rose also serves as a symbol of Beauty's love, which ultimately breaks the curse on the Beast, transforming him back into a prince.

💡Transformation

Transformation in the script refers to the change in the Beast's appearance from a fearsome creature to a handsome prince. This transformation occurs when Beauty professes her love for him, demonstrating the power of love to overcome superficial judgments and reveal true character.

💡Curse

A curse is a spell or a set of circumstances that brings bad luck or misfortune. In the story, the Beast is under a curse that can only be broken by earning the true love of a good woman. The curse is a central plot device that drives the narrative and leads to the resolution of the story.

💡True Love

True love is a central theme in the script, representing the deep affection and care that transcends superficial appearances. Beauty's true love for the Beast, despite his monstrous form, is what ultimately breaks the curse and leads to their happiness together. It is a key message of the story that love sees beyond the physical and values the inner qualities of a person.

💡Appearances

Appearances refer to the way someone or something looks, which can be deceiving. The script emphasizes the importance of looking beyond appearances to understand the true nature of a person. The Beast's exterior is fearsome, but his true character is kind and caring, a lesson that Beauty learns and that is central to the story's moral.

💡Dreams

Dreams in the script serve as a metaphorical device, representing Beauty's subconscious desires and the guidance she receives from her inner self. The dreams of the prince and the Beast in distress foreshadow events and provide Beauty with insights that she uses to make decisions, ultimately leading her back to the Beast.

💡Self-sacrifice

Self-sacrifice is the act of giving up one's own interests or needs for the benefit of others. Beauty's decision to return to the castle to keep her father's promise is an act of self-sacrifice, demonstrating her selflessness and courage. This act of sacrifice is a key element in the story that leads to the resolution of the conflict and the Beast's transformation.

💡Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the act of pardoning or ceasing to hold a grudge against someone for a perceived wrong. In the script, the Beast's offer to forgive the merchant on the condition that one of his daughters comes to the castle highlights the theme of forgiveness as a means to resolve conflict and initiate a new beginning.

Highlights

A merchant with a loving family is the central figure of the story, setting the stage for a tale of love and sacrifice.

The merchant's children have varying desires, with sons wanting material wealth and one daughter desiring beauty, while the eldest, Beauty, only wishes for her father's safe return.

Beauty's request for a rose, a symbol of love and beauty, becomes a pivotal point in the narrative, leading to a series of events that change the course of the story.

The merchant's encounter with a mysterious castle during a storm foreshadows the magical and supernatural elements that will play a role in the tale.

The castle's emptiness and the merchant's unexplained provision of food hint at the presence of unseen forces, adding a layer of mystery to the story.

The merchant's theft of a rose and subsequent confrontation with the Beast introduce the central conflict and the moral dilemma of gratitude and ownership.

The Beast's ultimatum to the merchant, demanding one of his daughters in exchange for his life, sets up the story's core moral question about sacrifice and love.

Beauty's decision to take responsibility for her father's actions and her willingness to sacrifice herself for his life is a testament to her character and the theme of selflessness.

The initial reaction of the family to the merchant's return without gifts and the revelation of the Beast's demand showcases the different values and priorities within the family.

The merchant's sons' vow to kill the Beast and the subsequent blame directed at Beauty highlight the complexity of family dynamics and the consequences of actions.

Beauty's journey to the castle with her father is marked by a display of magical fireworks, setting a tone of enchantment and foreboding.

The Beast's initial encounter with Beauty is filled with tension and fear, yet also a display of respect and politeness, indicating a potential for growth in their relationship.

Beauty's exploration of the castle and her discovery of a bracelet with a prince's image foreshadow a deeper connection between her dreams and reality.

The Beast's nightly question to Beauty about her love for him and her consistent refusal reflect the developing emotional tension in the story.

Beauty's realization that the Beast is more afraid of her than she is of him marks a turning point in their relationship, suggesting a shift in power dynamics.

The prince's appearance in Beauty's dreams and his advice to distrust appearances foreshadow the eventual revelation of the Beast's true identity.

Beauty's decision to return home despite her growing attachment to the Beast and the castle illustrates her conflict between duty and desire.

The Beast's selfless act of allowing Beauty to leave, despite his love for her, highlights his capacity for love and sacrifice.

Beauty's recurring dream of the Beast in pain and her subsequent decision to return to the castle demonstrate her growing love and concern for him.

The climactic scene where Beauty professes her love for the Beast, leading to the breaking of the curse and his transformation into a prince, is the emotional peak of the story.

The final celebration and the skywriting 'Long live the Prince and his Bride' serve as a triumphant conclusion to the tale, symbolizing the power of love and the overcoming of superficial judgments.

Transcripts

Once upon a time in a far-off country, a successful merchant lived in a lovely

cottage in the forest with his two sons and two daughters.

Whenever one of his ships came in to port, he would travel to town to sell

the goods that they brought back.

And every time, his children would ask him to bring things back for them.

“I want a great sword, encrusted in jewels!” said his sons.

“I want a golden harp, with strings made from silk!” said one of his daughters.

The oldest child, however never asked for anything.

“I just want you to come home safely,” she would tell her father.

She was a pretty young woman that her family took to simply calling

her Beauty.

And this was a fitting name, for Beauty most liked all the beautiful

things in life: the sound of birds singing, a sweet line of poetry from a good book,

the smell of fresh flowers blooming...

“Are you sure there is nothing I can bring you,” asked her father before he left.

“The other children have asked for so much.”

Beauty thought about it for a second before answering.

“I would love for you to bring me a rose,” she said.

“We don’t have them here in the forest, and I do love the way they smell.”

The merchant agreed with a smile, and giving his horse a kick, he was off.

But when he got to town, he found out that his ship had been damaged in a bad

thunderstorm, and there were no goods to be sold.

With no money for gifts, he sadly decided to return home.

But soon the thunderstorm reached the land, engulfing everything in rain

and wind and lightning.

By the light of his lantern, the merchant saw a great castle in the distance,

and decided to ask for shelter.

He was so tired that he didn’t notice that the storm mysteriously cleared

when he approached the castle.

He found the front door open, and with no response to his calls, he entered.

The palace was beautiful, but strangely empty.

The merchant wandered into a room where a fire was burning and

a chair was drawn up close to it.

Exhausted, the man quickly fell into a deep sleep.

When he woke after several hours, his stomach was growling and he was

still alone, but someone had already set a plate of food in front of him.

It had been nearly a full day since he last ate, so he grabbed the food, promising

to thank his host later.

He walked down to the garden, and found to his surprise

that the sun shone and the birds sang.

The merchant was delighted to see a hedge of roses lining the path towards

the stables, which reminded him of his promise to Beauty.

He had stopped to gather one when he was startled by a strange noise

behind him.

Turning around, he saw a fearsome and angry-looking Beast.

“Who said you could take my roses?”

the Beast asked in a terrible voice.

“Was it not enough that I fed you?

This is how you show your gratitude, by stealing my flowers?”

The merchant, terrified by these furious words, dropped the rose and threw

himself on his knees.

“Pardon me, noble sir,” he said.

“I am truly grateful for your hospitality, and I didn’t

realize you would be offended by my taking such a little thing as a rose.”

But the Beast’s anger was not lessened by this speech.

“You may be quite good with excuses and flattery,” he cried.

“But that will not save you from the death you deserve.”

In despair, the merchant began to tell the Beast of all his misfortunes,

the reason for his journey, and his daughter’s request.

“A king’s ransom would hardly have paid for all that my other children asked,”

he said.

“But I thought that I might at least take Beauty her rose.

I beg you to forgive me, for I meant no harm.”

The Beast considered this for a moment.

“I will forgive you on one condition,” he said.

“And that is that you will give me one of your daughters.”

“Ah!” cried the merchant.

“Even if I were cruel enough to save my own life

at the expense of one of my children’s, what would I say to make her come here?”

“You mustn’t force her to come,” answered the Beast.

“See if any of them is courageous enough to save your life.

In one month, if none of your daughters is willing to come, you must say goodbye

to them forever and return alone.

If you fail to keep your primise, I will come after you myself,” the Beast added grimly.

The merchant reluctantly accepted the offer, thinking none of his daughters

would agree to come to the castle.

The Beast gave him a rose for Beauty, and allowed him to leave.

When he finally returned home, his children were upset that he didn’t have

any gifts for them.

When he told them about the castle and the promise

he made, his sons vowed to go to the castle and kill the Best.

But then the children turned angrily to Beauty.

“You should have asked for something more sensible than a rose,”

they complained bitterly.

Poor Beauty felt terrible.

“Who could have guessed that a rose would cause

so much misery?”

she said.

“But since I was the one who asked for it, I should

be the one to suffer for it.

I’ll go back with my father to keep his promise.”

At first, her father and brothers, who loved her dearly, refused to let her go.

But Beauty had made up her mind.

And when the day finally came, she comforted her father as they traveled

there together.

As they neared the castle, fireworks lit the sky before them.

When they reached the avenue of orange trees, there were statues holding flaming

torches, and they could see the palace was illuminated from the roof to the

ground, with music sounding softly from the courtyard.

Beauty couldn’t help admiring all the wonderful things she saw.

Once inside the castle, they found a fire burning and a table set with a delicious

supper for two.

They had hardly finished the meal when the sound of Beast’s

footsteps could be heard, and Beauty clung to her father in terror.

But, when the Beast appeared, she greeted him respectfully.

“Have you come willingly?”

he asked Beauty, who told him that she had.

The Beast turned to the merchant.

“Then you will leave, never to return again.”

The Beast allowed the merchant to fill two trunks with gold and jewels, but then

told him he must leave immediately.

When her father was gone, Beauty began to cry.

The Beast seemed agitated.

“Take whatever you need from the castle,” he growled, and left abruptly.

Beauty found her room and cried herself to sleep.

She dreamt that she was walking near a stream, when a young

and handsome prince appeared.

“You will be rewarded for all you have suffered,” the prince told her.

“Do not trust too much your eyes.

No matter how I may be disguised, I love you dearly,

and in saving me from my cruel misery, you will find your own happiness.”

She awoke feeling better, and she set off to explore the palace.

She wandered through rooms lined with mirrors, and others filled with books and

musical instruments.

In one of them, she was surprised to find a bracelet with

a picture of a prince that had been in her dreams, and she slipped it onto

her arm with a smile, and imagined he would come rescue her.

A moment later, the Beast greeted her at the doorway.

He frightened her so much that she could barely look a him,

and she didn’t even notice the fine suit he wore.

He asked her what she thought of the palace, and as they talked, she

began to think he wasn’t nearly as terrible as he seemed.

But when he got up to leave, the Beast asked gruffly, “Do you love me, Beauty?”

Without thinking, she said, “No, you’re a Beast!” and then looked down at her

new bracelet.

“Goodnight then, Beauty,” the Beast replied, as he ran off abruptly.

She was relieved that he didn’t attack her.

After that, the days took on a similar pattern.

There were plenty of wonderful rooms and gardens in the palace

to entertain her.

But every evening after supper, the Beast came to see her, and always before saying

goodnight, he asked in his terrible voice, “Beauty, do you love me?”

Beauty, thinking of the prince of her dreams, always answered politely,

“No, Beast.”

But the longer Beauty stayed at the castle, the less she was afraid of the Beast.

She began to notice that he was actually very polite when he came to see her,

and he even seemed to be a little nervous.

After a while, it occurred to Beauty that the Beast seemed more scared of her

than she was of him.

She also found that she began to enjoy spending time with the Beast.

Beneath his fearsome looks, he was actually very thoughtful and caring.

And she felt sad because each night when she refused to marry him,

he went away so sorrowfully.

But at night her dreams of the handsome prince soon made her forget about the

poor Beast.

She concentrated all of her thoughts on what the prince had told her:

“Distrust all appearances; let your heart guide you instead of your eyes.”

Beauty found that she was quite content at the castle with the Beast.

But she also missed her family dearly, and wondered

how she would ever find her prince.

One night, seeing her looking very sad, the Beast asked what was the matter.

She told him she wished to see her home once more.

Though the Beast seemed sadly distressed, to her surprise he said

she could go home.

“It makes me sad to see you go,” said the Beast, in as soft a voice as she had

ever heard from him, “But I want you to be happy.”

He handed her a beautiful ring and said, “If you ever choose to return, just put

this ring on your finger and you will be back at my castle.”

And with that, he left her alone.

When Beauty arrived back home her family was overjoyed to see her.

When she told her father about her dreams of the prince, the part about

not trusting appearances made him stop and think about the Beast, and

how he was so kind to them despite his appearance.

But he was too overjoyed to have his daughter back, and the family

went to celebrate.

But although Beauty was glad to be back with her family, she also missed the castle,

and its beautiful rooms, and even her talks with the Beast.

And she soon noticed that she did not dream of the prince anymore, instead,

after a few weeks, she began to have a different dream.

In it, she was wandering through the palace gardens when she heard groans

of pain from a nearby cave.

She ran over to find the Beast stretched out upon his side, looking weak and frail.

After having this dream for several nights, she became very worried about

the Beast.

She decided she should go back to the castle to check on him.

Despite protests from her family, she put the Beast’s ring back on her finger

and she was magically transported back to the palace.

She called out for the Beast, but he didn’t come to her.

Finally, she remembered the cave from her dream, and ran out to the gardens.

Looking around, she saw a familiar path and walked down it, coming to the very

same cave she dreamed about.

She ran inside, and found the Beast, lying motionless.

“Oh, he’s dead,” she cried bitterly.

“I should never have left him alone here!”

She wept and put her hands over her face, but then she heard the sound of

the Beast moving.

“Beauty?” he said weakly.

“Oh, how you frightened me!”

she cried.

“I never knew how much I loved you until we were apart!”

“Can you really love such an ugly creature?”, the Beast asked faintly.

“Yes, Beast, I love you more than anything else in this world!”

The Beast, suddenly sounding stronger and stronger, began to tell her a story

in a gentle voice: “When I was younger, a witch came to

my castle.

Seeing the warts on her face and her ugly green skin, I refused to let

her in.

So she put a curse on my entire palace.

Because I had judged her by her appearance, she turned me into

a terrible-looking Beast, and she said I would die unless I could earn the true

love of a good woman.”

Beauty suddenly realized that she had heard this voice before.

The Beast stood up, and he began to sparkle with light, until the light become

so bright that Beauty had to close her eyes.

When she opened them, she saw that the handsome prince from her

dreams stood where the Beast was.

Hand in hand, the two left the cave, and found that the castle had come to life

with lights and music, and in the sky, in letters all made of fireflies, was written:

“Long live the Prince and his Bride.”