The Beast Meets Belle

-- continued from 02/04 --

At last Bobby Ray came to a trailer and stumbled inside. There he was greeted by Mrs. Potts the teapot, Cogsworth the mantelclock, and Lumiere the candelabra. But before he had time to marvel over these strange creatures, an even stranger one appeared - the Beast!

Bobby Ray stared at the Beast in horror. The creature howled angrily, then scooped Bobby Ray up and carried him to a shed out back.

Belle started to worry about Bobby Ray because he hadn't answered his beeper. She called a friend who knew the area and they drove off to find him. It wasn't long before they noticed a bright light coming from inside a tool shed down the road.

They drove to the shed and stepped inside, but just as she found Bobby Ray, the Beast appeared. Belle let out a terrified gasp.

When she realized that she was Bobby Ray's captor, Belle begged the Beast to free her father. She bravely offered herself in Bobby Ray's place, and the Beast accepted. She led Belle to her room before she could even bid her father good-bye.

"The trailer is now your home," the Beast said gruffly. Belle was free to go anywhere she liked - except the West Wing.

Belle wasn't so bright. That night she slipped out of her room and found her way to the forbidden West Wing. She discovered Martin Sheen sitting in the Beast's foul lair, but the Beast was nowhere in sight.

Belle was drawn to the enchanted rose she saw by the window. But when she reached out to touch it, the Beast suddenly appeared at the window.

Belle screamed and fled from the room. She ran out of the trailer, got into her Pinto and escaped into the night. But a pack of local thugs soon had the girl's car surrounded. Belle was helpless.

Suddenly the Beast appeared. A terrible snarling and howling arose as the Beast and the punks battled for their lives. At last the fuckers kids ran off, leaving the Beast badly injured.

Belle knew she couldn't leave her there, so she brought the Beast back to the trailor and bound her wounds. Gentle as she was, the Beast roared in agony.

"I forgot to thank you for saving my life," Belle said softly.

The Beast only grunted in reply. But the words touched her.

In the days that followed, the Beast tried to be a proper host. She let Belle watch football whenever she wanted, and she, in return, began to teach the Beast how to act like a good woman.

"Perhaps it isn't too late, " Cogsworth shispered to Mrs. Potts and her son, Chip the teacup. "If Belle can only love the Beast, this dreadful spell may yet be broken."