[00:29.66]Once upon a time, in a faraway land,
[00:32.84]A young Prince lived in a shining castle.
[00:36.07]Although he had everything his heart desired,
[00:39.92]The Prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind.
[00:44.90]But then, one winter's night,
[00:47.89]An old beggar woman came to the castle
[00:50.59]And offered him a single Rose
[00:53.32]In return for shelter from the bitter cold.
[00:56.82]Repulsed by her haggard appearance,
[00:59.30]The Prince sneered at the gift,
[01:02.58]And turned the old woman away.
[01:04.43]But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances,
[01:08.02]For Beauty is found within.
[01:11.11]And when he dismissed her again,
[01:13.25]The old woman's ugliness melted away
[01:15.83]To reveal a beautiful Enchantress.
[01:19.96]The Prince tried to apologize, but it was too late,
[01:23.43]For she had seen that there was no love in his heart.
[01:27.05]And as punishment,
[01:28.10]She transformed him into a hideous beast,
[01:30.87]And placed a powerful spell on the castle,
[01:33.71]And all who lived there.
[01:35.86]Ashamed of his monstrous form,
[01:39.15]The beast concealed himself inside his castle,
[01:42.37]With a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world.
[01:46.60]The Rose she had offered,
[01:50.27]Was truly an enchanted rose,
[01:52.77]Which would bloom for many years.
[01:55.63]If he could learn to love another,
[01:59.58]And earn her love in return
[02:01.65]By the time the last petal fell,
[02:03.82]Then the spell would be broken.
[02:07.48]If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast
[02:12.01]For all time.
[02:14.93]As the years passed,
[02:17.26]He fell into despair, and lost all hope,
[02:22.59]For who could ever learn to love...a Beast?