The Wheels In My Head Keep Turning: Act One

 Okay Lovelies, this is the first act to a play that I wrote for my Creative Writing class that I'm taking where I had to rewrite a classic fairy tale. Act two will be out soon, I'm not sure when; and this has been the reason that I haven't had time to work one Nicole chapter three. Well I hope you guys like it. Please comment and let me know if you think I should keep writing plays. Thank you guys so much!

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THE WHEELS IN MY HEAD KEEP TURNING

BY: KRYSTAL ARNAGRATH

CAST

COGSWORTH	A human that was enchanted into the form of a clock whose duty it is to keep order and control of the castle.
BEAST	The “Master” of the castle, a selfish prince and the reason all in the castle are enchanted. Searching for love to break the spell.
BELLE	A girl longing for a life filled with adventure and romance. Despises Gaston.
MAURICE	Belle’s father, inventor, and seen as the village loon.
LUMIERE	A human enchanted into a candle stick. Very flirty and Cogsworth’s best friend.
GASTON	The village’s Alpha male, very conceited and is determined to have Belle for his wife.

ACT ONE

ACT ONE: SCENE ONE

[It’s a dark and stormy night, lightning striking the highest tower of the dark, crumbling, moss-covered Beast’s Castle. The main gate flies open suddenly with the Beast running on all fours. Lumiere watching from the Castle window]

COGSWORTH	[Tottering after Beast and shouting] But Master! Master, [Gasping for breath] you mustn’t go to the village!
BEAST	[Stops suddenly and turns to Cogsworth with great rage] Why not?! [Bares his teeth and claws]
COGSWORTH	They will take one look at you and run screaming Master. [Shows a deeply concerned face]
BEAST	Then how am I supposed to break the spell! I need to find a girl!
COGSWORTH	But Master, she can’t fall in love with you if you scare her.
BEAST	[Roars] But I’m almost out of time!
COGSWORTH	Come on Master, back to the Castle. [Cogsworth smiles deviously behind Beast’s back as they walk back to the Castle]

ACT ONE: SCENE TWO

[Inside the Castle interior, Beast rests in his chair by the fireplace. Cogsworth is looking down on him from the banister.]

LUMIERE	[Walks up behind Cogsworth quietly] That was a terrible thing you did.
COGSWORTH	[Still looking over Beast] Do you remember what happened to the last person who questioned me, Lumiere? Do you remember Pierre?
LUMIERE	[A look of fear crossed his face, but for only a second] Cogsworth, this has got to end now. Our time is almost up.
COGSWORTH	I am aware of this.
LUMIERE	If he does not find love before the last petal falls we are doomed!
COGSWORTH	Oh Lumiere, [Turns to face Lumiere] my old friend, not doomed, [Shows a devilish grin] no not at all.
LUMIERE	What are you talking about?! [Grabs Cogsworth by the shoulders]
COGSWORTH	[The smile on his face disappeared] As long as that spell binds us, I have control.
LUMIERE	[His hands drop from Cogsworth’s shoulders] You have gone mad, my dear friend.
COGSWORTH	[Turns back over the bannister] It is you that has gone mad, Lumiere. [Lumiere walks away sulking]
LUMIERE	[Once he reaches the lower level, he talks to himself] Oh Pierre, I will continue your quest. We will be human again soon.

ACT ONE: SCENE THREE

[Open on a small, quiet, provincial village. The sun just barely peaks over the horizon. An inventor, working on his latest contraption outside his quaint, little cottage. His daughter, sitting in a rocking-chair, reading her favourite book. Lumiere is perched on a hill, overlooking the village. Searching for a girl to break the spell.]

MAURICE	[Working under his contraption] I’ve almost got it Belle!
BELLE	[Looks up from her book] Is it working Papa? [Stands up and walks towards Maurice]
MAURICE	[Still under the machine] Almost got it! [Tweaks a few things under it] There! Got it! [Maurice crawls out from under the contraption and it shakes and sputters] Arg! Work! [Hits the top of it with his wrench a few times. The machine starts spinning and the hatchet that was sticking out of it started chopping the air]
BELLE	[Clapping] That’s wonderful! You are going to win first prize at the fair!
MAURICE	You think so?
BELLE	Absolutely!
Maurice	[Jumps up and down excitedly like a little child] I better go pack then! [Runs inside the cottage]
BELLE	[Calling in to Maurice] I’m going into town for a new book.
MAURICE	[Yelling back] Have fun! [Lumiere saw this opportunity and rushed to the cottage. He looked around and found the map that Maurice was going to need to find his way to the fair and altered the map so that Maurice would go to the Castle instead]

ACT ONE: SCENE FOUR

[The night was calm, full moon, a few wolves howling in the distance. Maurice stands not too far from the Castle doors. Lumiere just inside]

MAURICE	[Looks at his map in confusion and looks up at the Castle] Hold on, this doesn’t look right. [Looks at the map again] Well this must be it. [Knocks on the Castle door. Lumiere opens it but remains hidden] Hello, is anyone here? [Walks in slowly] Hello? My map led me here for the Inventor’s Fair.
LUMIERE	[Reveals himself] Welcome Monsieur, come in and take a seat by the fire. [Gestures towards Beast’s chair]
MAURICE	Oh, why thank you. [Walks towards the chair and sits down] Um, when will the other inventors be here?
LUMIERE	[Twirling the flames on his hands] Well, Monsieur…
BEAST	[Interrupting Maurice with a terrifying roar] Who are you? [Circles the chair] You are not welcome here!
LUMIERE	Master, please allow me to expla- [Interrupted by Beast’s roar]
MAURICE	[Trembling and stuttering] I-I’m Maur- [Interrupted by Beast]
BEAST	Why did you come here? Did you come to stare at the Beast?
MAURICE	No, I- [Beast grabs Maurice by the collar of his shirt and drags him off stage]
LUMIERE	[Realizes what has just happened, runs off stage in get Belle]

ACT ONE: SCENE FIVE

[It’s nighttime in the village. Belle was just about to go inside after gazing at the stars. Lumiere just made it over the hill before she opened the door to her small cottage]

LUMIERE	[Heaving and running as fast as he could] Mademoiselle! Mademoiselle!
BELLE	[Turns around and sees Lumiere] What’s wrong Monsieur?
LUMIERE	[Stops at the cottage and breaths heavily] Mademoiselle, [stops to catch his breath] it’s your father- [Belle interrupts]
BELLE	[Worried] Papa? Is he okay? I have to find him!
LUMIERE	Don’t worry, he’s safe. I’ll take you too him. [Both run off stage]

ACT ONE: SCENE SIX

[Castle tower. Maurice sits behind bars in a holding cell. Beast standing in the corner, hidden by the shadows]

BELLE	[Enters and runs towards Maurice] Papa! Papa! [Grabs his hands through the bars] Your hands are cold…
MAURICE	[Knowing Beast is nearby] Belle, you must go, now!
BELLE	No, I won’t leave you again Papa.
BEAST	[Comes out of the shadows and towers over Belle] Why are you here?
BELLE	[Standing her ground] I’ve come for my father.
BEAST	He is my prisoner now.
BELLE	[Looks at Maurice then back at Beast, determined] Take me instead.
MAURICE	[Panicking] Belle, no!
BEAST	[In awe and confused] You would… take his place?
BELLE	For my Papa, yes.
BEAST	Fine. [He agreed because he knew he needed a girl to break the spell] But you have to promise to stay forever.
BELLE	[Looks at Maurice again] I promise.
MAURICE	Noooo!
BEAST	[Drags Maurice out of the cell] Lumiere,
LUMIERE	[Nervously] Yes Master?
BEAST	Show him the way out of my Castle immediately. [Releases Maurice in front of Lumiere]
LUMIERE	[Leading Maurice offstage] Of course, right away Master.

ACT ONE: SCENE SEVEN

[Outside the Castle gates, the edge of the woods are on the far side of the stage. Cogsworth watches over Lumiere and Maurice from the Castle window. The storm has cleared and the sun shines once more; but an even larger storm forms slowly on the horizon]

MAURICE	[Moping and hangs his head as Lumiere leads him towards the forest] I’ll never see her again… [Sniffles]
LUMIERE	Don’t worry Monsieur, you will see your daughter very soon. I guarantee it. [Shows a warm smile and pats Maurice on the shoulder]
MAURICE	[Looks up at Lumiere] Do you mean it?
LUMIERE	Of course Monsieur! [Stops at the beginning of the forest] But you must forgive me for this is as far as I can take you. [Maurice walks offstage into the forest and the curtain falls as Lumiere walks back to the Castle gate]

END OF ACT ONE