Beauty and the Beast Original Screenplay

This is the original screenplay for Beauty and the Beast, written in 1989. They were included in the diamond and platinum editions of the film.

Plotline
The screenplay begins with Belle and Clarice playing on the yard of their father's mansion. Eventually, Aunt Marguerite arrives in a carriage, and eventually calls her footman a fool when he stumbles and whacks her horse with her parasol as it begins to move after her belongings have been unloaded. Clarice hides behind Maurice's legs in fear of her aunt, and Marguerite explains she had come over to Maurice due to his being unable to pay off his taxes, largely because he lost a fortune from ships being lost at sea. A few days later, Maurice, Marguerite, Belle, and Clarice moved to a cottage, with Marguerite complains about not having any place to store her stuff in the cottage. Meanwhile, some guards arrive and tell Maurice that he hasn't paid his taxes, and threatens to evict him from his house if he doesn't pay. Clarice, realizing the implications of this, states she won't let the guards have their horse, Orson. Marguerite then suggests two options to Maurice: Either he sell his late wife's music box for cash, or otherwise marry Belle off to a nobleman, Maurice agrees to sell the music box, although not before having Belle and Clarice listen to it one last time. Although Marguerite seemingly accepts this, she secretly tries to have Belle married off anyways after Maurice left by inviting Marquis Gaston over for tea, with it being made clear that Gaston had previously proposed to her only for Belle to refuse. Clarice then serves them tea and noted that Belle had a suitor. Marguerite also complimented Gaston on his wig. Belle ended up not accepting the proposal again, with Marguerite telling Gaston that Belle was just shy and implied that she'll probably make sure she says yes again. Meanwhile, Maurice and Orson travel through the village to find a potential buyer for the music box, with little success, although he is briefly flirted by a prostitute, to his embarrassment and Orson's amusement. Belle and Clarice eventually learn that Maurice hadn't returned and become concerned for their father, although Marguerite cited it served him right for forcing her to be left with her nieces.

In the climax of the film, Marquis Gaston and his forces confront the Beast at his castle, and proceeded to fight off several furniture, and eventually personally enter a duel with Beast. Beast manages to defeat him, and knocks him over the stone fence when he attempts to attack him from behind as Belle arrives.

Differences between the screenplay and the final film

 * The film, in particular on Belle's portion of the story, was much closer to the original story compared to the final version.
 * Maurice, Belle's father, was a merchant instead of an eccentric inventor.
 * Their moving to the village was also elaborated on, as Maurice was late on his taxes and he lost several of his merchant ships at sea.
 * Maurice's departure and unwitting discovery of the Beast's castle was due to trying to sell his late wife's music box to gain enough money, something Marguerite agreed to yet despite that tried to marry Belle off to Marquis Gaston anyways.
 * Gaston, instead of the town hero and a hunter, was a foppish marquess (French Nobleman).
 * Phillipe was named Orson, and in addition Belle's family owned a pet cat named Charley.
 * Belle had a sister by the name of Clarice, as well as an antagonistic aunt named Marguerite who behaved in a snobbish manner.
 * While travelling through town to find a vendor, Maurice briefly ended up accosted by a prostitute with the not-so-subtle implication that she wanted him as a customer, resulting in Orson grinning and Maurice bashfully tipping his hat.