Beauty and the Beast - Treatment.doc

7/29/2019 Beauty and the Beast - Treatment.doc

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BEAUTY & THE BEAST

Treatment

by

Saladino Lopes

201382 Erskine Street

Sydney NSW 2000Australia

+61 4 0641 6579

[email protected]


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SYNOPSIS

A beautiful young maiden is held captive by an evil Beast. The Beast must not only

learn to love her, but win her love in return if he is ever to lift the curse and becomehuman again.

The story of 'The Beauty and the Beast' is one that transcends time itself.

Since the days when storytelling was once a spoken art, it has lived on in the hearts

and minds of its audience. When words were not enough they tried to act out their

fantasies on stage and when plays were not enough they tried to reenact those

moments on film.

Although there have been minor variations with each new retelling the basic plot and

premise have remained relatively the same.

In order to justify a remake I wanted to create a version that while remaining true to

the original, brought something different. Something that audience had never seen

before.

Trying to distill the very essence of what had made it so magical, I approached this

project with this idea of illusion. That things are not what they appear to be and

everything is not what it seems.

The plot of the story revolves around the illusion of class difference and the

expectations that society places on us.

Nobility marry with others of class, status and breeding. Holding firmly to the

traditions that their predecessors have passed down to them and the expectations

that come with blood and lineage.

Forced into prearranged marriages against their choosing, those of noble blood are

able to afford certain luxuries but not afforded the luxury of freedom that their

common born counterparts would otherwise enjoy.

Condemned to a loveless existence, they are forced to make the same mistakes

over and over again.

'Those who do not learn from history are forever doomed to repeat it'


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TREATMENT

BOOKEND

A carriage travels along the road by night

In the distance, a village under a moonlit sky

The carriage makes its way along the road

Before stopping outside a quaint two story provincial house

The side door of the carriage opens outwards

Stepping out from the carriage is a dark shadowy figure

His face obscured beneath the brim of his wide hat, casting a shadow over his

features

His long flowing coat trailing behind him

The mysterious figure approaches the front door of the house

Belles uncle is sitting in a wide back chair in front of the fireplace

Smoking a pipe or reading a book

When he hears a knock at the door

Setting aside whatever he was doing

He goes to answer the door

Opening the door to see who it is calling at such a late hour

In the room upstairs Belle is trying to sleep

When she hears the commotion going on outside her door

It sounds as if her uncle is arguing with someone

Though she cant make out what they are saying


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Wondering who it is coming around at this time of the night

Slipping out from under her bed sheets she goes to take a look

Belle walks downstairs to see whatshappening

Only to see her uncle close the door behind him

Before she is able to see who it was he was talking with

Wondering who it is and why they are arguing

But her uncle reassures her that it was nothing she need concern herself with

Before ushering her back to bed

Belle slips under the bed sheets

Sitting on the edge of the bed, her uncle tucks her in for the night

Seeing that shes having trouble getting back to sleep

He goes across the room, browsing through the book shelf

Before coming upon the one he is looking for

He returns to her bedside with the book

Making a deal with her

He offers to read her a bedtime story in exchange for her having a good nights rest

She agrees to the deal

Opening the book he begins leafing through the pages before finding the chapter he

is after

Acting as story teller he reads the bedtime story to her


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PROLOGUE

Narrating the opening of the story

A convoy is travelling along the road

A single carriage escorted by soldiers on horseback

The weather conditions are gloomy and bleak

The forest is shrouded in a heavy fog

It all seems eerily silent

There is a certain mood and atmosphere specific to this place

They pass through a narrow passage skirted on either side by trees and shrubs

Hidden behind the trees bandits/highway men watch the passing convoy from either

side

As they wait for the signal to ambush them

The rider at the front of the front of the convoy signal the other men to stop

Inside the carriage Lord Bertrand notices the carriage coming to a halt

He looks outside to see one of the soldiers pass by the window

Moments pass by in silent anticipation

He appears anxious, his hand fidgeting with impatience

His fingers tapping impatiently on the arm rest

He takes out an antique fob watch and looks at the time before returning it to his

pocket

Rather than wait he opens the side door to the carriage to see whats keeping them

Blocking the path ahead of them is a wagon that appears to have had an accident

While the other soldiers keep a look out

A few of the men have dismounted from their horses to render assistance to the

stricken travelers

One of the riders escorting the carriage urges him to stay inside

Tells him the situation at hand, of the broken down wagon


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The men tell him to stay inside

Before the man has a chance to reply/finish his sentence

His words are suddenly silenced by the sound of gun fire

Struck by a bullet the man falls from his horse

Lord Bertrand watches him fall before clambering back into the safety of the carriage

Emerging from behind their hiding spots

The marauding bandits attack in numbers

Rushing at them from all sides

The captain of the guard cries out for his men to take up arms

The soldiers return fire, but are unable to keep them at bay for long

As they are soon forced to engage them in close combat

In the confusion that follows their ranks become scattered and disorientated

From inside the carriage Lord Bertrand cant help but watch as his own men are

picked off one by one

Some of them are taken down from afar by riflemen

While others are caught in the middle of a relentless onslaught

Despite their valiant attempts at protecting him they are either outnumbered or

outmaneuvered

Seeing that all is lost, Lord Bertrand tries to make a run for it

Stumbling and staggering out of the carriage he flees into the forest

Hoping that in the ensuing confusion he will somehow get away

Or

One of the bandits appears at the window of his carriage leering in at him

Latched shut from the inside the bandit tries to force his way in by punching through

the window pane

Emerging from the other side of the carriage Lord Bertrand stumbles and staggers

out of the carriage

Before fleeing into the forest


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POV of one of the bandits, as he stares down the barrel of a rifle aimed at Lord

Bertrand who escaping into the forest

Before he is able to pull the trigger, one of his brethren stops him

Lord Bertrand flees from the bandits hoping to lose them in the fog

Just as he thinks he has lost them, comes the sounds of his pursuers not far behind

Pushing him further on

Though the further he ventures into the forest the more lost he becomes

His clothes becoming torn and frayed as they are caught in the thickets and

brambles

His boots becoming sodden with mud and leaves as he stumbles and staggers

onwards

He leans against a tree, pausing to catch his breath

Hearing them approach, he hides behind the tree

Thinking that if he keeps still and stays quiet they wontbe able to find him

Listening to them talk amongst themselves

Lord Bertrand listens as their footsteps recede into the distance

He peers around the trunk, catching a glimpse of them before they melt back into the

gloom of the forest

Emerging from his hiding place, he continues onwards

Uncertain of where he is going only as long as its far away from them

Emerging from the forest out into the open

He finds himself in what appears to be the remnants of an old cemetery

Walking amidst stone statues covered in moss and lichen, weathered with age,

wreathed in wisteria vines and overgrown with ivy

Surrounded by these stone figures, he cant help but feel that he is being watched

In the eerie silence, every sound is magnified and even the slightest noise can

somehow seem foreboding


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He trudges on through the muck and mire before being brought to a halt

His breath catching in his throat

As the fog ahead of him slowly clears to reveal Avenant Manor

A cross between a Baroque and a Jacobean manor with Gothic embellishments

A weathered stone edifice whose outward appearance can be likened to that of a

mausoleum tomb

Drawing near, the building seems to loom over him ominously

Walking up the flagstone steps he leaves behind a trail of muddy footprints in his

wake

Beyond being polite or having manners

He knocks urgently on the door to get the attention of whoever is inside

The door however yields all too easily too his touch

Left slightly ajar it opens inwards as if inviting him to enter

Pushing it open further he peers into the darkness inside

He calls out to see if anyone is home, but no one responds

The house remains silent

Standing upon the threshold he looks back one last time before deciding to enter

In desperation to escape his pursuers, he searches for shelter and sanctuary within

the manor

He calls out, half expecting somebody to respond

Hearing only the old wooden floorboards creaking and groaning underfoot as he

walks on them

Venturing further in, he soon gets the distinct impression that the place has long

since been abandoned

Indications that it hasnt been lived in for a while

The autumn leaves litter the ground, blown in by the wind

Mould clings to the ceilings above


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Moisture has caused the wallpaper to peel off

Evidence that rot and decay have set in

A fine patina of dust covers the mantel piece

Lord Bertrand runs his finger along it, before coming away with a piece of lint that he

rubs between his thumb and forefinger

He stops to admire a painting of the manors former resident and master overlooking

the fireplace

A painting in the tenebrous style which make use of the chiaroscuro technique

A picture that has since faded over time and become worn with age

The strange thing about this picture is the porcelain mask he wears to cover his face

He cocks his eyebrow in a questioning manner, but does not stop too long to think of

such things

After having run through the forest to escape his pursuers he feels exhausted

Despite the urgency of the situation he realizes he needs some rest

In front of the fireplace there sits two wide back chairs and table with a chessboard

on it

Deciding to make himself comfortable, he seats himself in one of the chairs

Looking upon the chessboard he sees the chess pieces have been set, but there is

no one to play with

It is the last thing he notices before his eyelids grow too heavy and sleep overcomes

him

The house is pitched into darkness

A flame sparks and sputters to life

A fire that spreads out to fill the fireplace

Illuminating the chamber surroundings

Seated in the chair before the fireplace Lord Bertrand still sleeps

A shadow passes over him


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The sound of a chair creaking and groaning underneath the weight of someone

sitting down upon it

Hearing the noise Lord Bertrand soon rouses from his slumber

Slowly his eyes flicker open before the realization comes upon him

Causing him to sit upright in attention

Bleary eyed and half conscious he looks around the room

But there is no one to be found

He sinks back into the chair trying to relax, loosening his grip on the arm rest

Looking down he sees a decanter of brandy and two shot glasses

As a token of goodwill he takes it upon himself to accept this small gesture of

hospitality

Sitting up he pours himself a drink

Before bringing it to his lips

He is about to take a sip when he notices something

A pawn on the chessboard appears to have been moved

He pauses momentarily

Before downing the contents of the glass in one gulp

Setting the glass down on the table

He decides to take

Move one of his pawns into position

Sinking back into his seat

Lord Bertrand waits for his gracious host to return

As he begins tapping his fingers impatiently on the arm rest

With a short attention span, his eyes begin to wander

He begins to wonder where this host of his might be and when hell return

Turning back he notices something odd

One of the chess pieces appears to have been moved while he wasntlooking

Before he can even give voice to the question he looks up from the board


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To see Master Avenant sitting in the chair before him, appearing as if out of nowhere

Lord Bertrand is so shocked and aghast he stumbles backwards, knocking the chair

over

Grabbing the fireplace poker he brandishes it as a weapon

Keeping his distance from him

Seated in the chair opposite him, Master Avenant looks calm and composed

He wears a long full bottomed wig that lies draped across his shoulders, a symbol of

status and prestige amongst French aristocracy

Elaborately tailored garments of French nobility

Leather gloves over his hands

A porcelain mask to cover his face, giving him an air of mystery and elusiveness

Underneath the mask is a shadowy translucent form

Staring out from between the slits of the mask where the eyes should be is nothing

but a dark empty void

It is not that which most intrigues him, but the fact that the lips of the porcelain mask

move accordingly when he speaks

The master of the house tells him his full title and name (honorific)

The master of the house answers him in a relaxed and casual manner as if

everything were normal and nothing was out of the ordinary

The Lord must wonder if he is dreaming

The master tells him to relax sit down and that he is no danger

Before casually tells him that it is his move

He looks down at the chess board

He sits back down

Lord Avenant understands what he must be going through/can only imagine the

thoughts going through his head right now

That if wants to go he can, he is entirely free to go if he wishes

Though he must warn him about the others still looking for him

Lord Bertrand looks outside the window to the flames of torchlight in the distance, asthe bandits seek him out


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Not wishing to overstay his welcome any more than he has to

(The line between the world that we think we know and this other world we can only

imagine begins to blur / the line between reality and fantasy)

Lord Bertrand emerges from the front door of the manor

Folding his arms over his chest, he braces himself against the cold

Before descending the flagstone steps

Standing by the attic window overlooking the courtyard

MasterAvenantlooks out the window watching as Lord Bertrand leaves

Behind him his son appears at the door

Asking him who it was

Behind him, his son appears at the doorway

His father turning askance to address him

Nothing you need concern yourself with

Never once looking back as he leaves the manor behind him

Lord Bertrands figure slowly recedes into the distance

Before completely disappearing into the fog

Hiking through forest he uses a fallen branch as a walking aid

The more distance he puts behind him and that accursed manor the closer he gets to

returning to his own home stead

Over time the conditions seem to gradually improve

The perpetual fog that seems to enshroud the forest in perpetual gloom soon gives

way to rich evergreen trees and shrubs

Emerging into the light of day


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MAIN STORY

The end of the story teller narrating the intro as it seamlessly transitions into the

main story itself

Set many years later

As many years pass in an instant

There is a seamless transition as he ages before our very eyes

There are lines upon his face, signs of having aged

Wrinkles around his eyes, hair graying at the temples

The hair of the young girl changes, with the curls growing out becoming slightly

darker

The nobleman grows into an old man and his young daughter has since grown to

become a beautiful woman.

Pulling back from the embrace, he stops to look at her

She has since grown from the girl he once knew into young woman

Itscome to the day when he has to fulfill that promise made long ago

By giving his daughter away

Promised to another when she was just a young girl

Now that day has come, he will have to send her away

There is a look of sadness and regret as he is forced to watch his daughter go,

married off to someone else she hardly even knows

(When they pull back from the embrace, we the audience realize it isnt Belle)

Belle is at the doorlooking in

(It is here we realize the situation/roles are reversed)

Belle interrupts, coughs to get their attention/ knocks politely

Accidentally interrupting them

To announce the carriage has arrived

Father leaves them to talk amongst themselves


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Her father tells his daughter Anna that he will be downstairs waiting

Preparing the carriage for departure

Belle the servant helps Anna pack her things for the journey

Her friend is thankful for her coming when she did

Things could have gotten a lot more awkward if she hadnt

Her friend hasnt even finished packing, indecisive about what to take with her

(Exposition - says a lot about her state of mind)

Helping Anna pack her clothes and belonging

For the journey ahead

Where she will be sent off to live with her new husband

They are both tentative and anxious

Belle and her friend get into some long winded conversationwhere they

contemplated this kind of thing since they were young

Never thinking about what would happen when it would

And now the day has arrived, she is not sure what to think

Belle chides herself for being so bad at saying goodbye

Lord Bertrands daughter Anna discuss the impending marriagewith her close friend

Belle; the niece of the caretaker of the grounds.

The woman being betrothed is scared and anxious and needs Belle there for

reassurance

Belle wants to go with her, but she has commitments

One of which is to take care of her Uncle

Being a product of their upbringing, both have different views on the impending

marriage.

While Anna acts like a traditional housewife who wants to be waited on hand and foot

and have everything provided for her

Belle is more like a contemporary role model. She does not want to be a stay at

home all day mom waiting for her man to return so she can tend to his every need.

She is more comfortable in working. Keeping herself occupied.


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Having a great sense of satisfaction in knowing that she has accomplished

something at the end of the day.

Having been brought up on the notion of fairy tale weddings, the Anna talks about

the tradition of arranged marriages as if it were something to be proud of. But Belle is

not one to be tied down by convention.

It goes without saying that Belle has her reservations about her friend being married

off to someone she hardly even knows, but the real reason she is so sad is that her

friend is going away.

(Their roles have been switched. Instead of Belle, someone else is to be sent in her

place. Belle helps Anna pack her things for the trip while she stays behind)

Farewell scene

Lord Bertrand and the other house servants see her off

Gathered around the carriage with Belle amongst them

Watching as her friend leaves

Belle holds her to a promise, to write back to her when she gets there

But her friend says that once shes settled in, she will send for Belle

Which reassures her somewhat?

The carriage departs

Anna waving goodbye to those gathered

The others go back to doing their chores, as life continues on

Bell stays behind, watching as the carriage passes beyond the gates

Being closest to her, there is a sense of longing as she watches her go

Either that she wont see her again or that she longs to venture beyond

She wistfully sighs before joining the others

Returning back to her everyday existence

Belle returns to the kitchen pantry, slipping through the back door


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Sitting on the edge of the bed, staring out the window

He turns to her askance;an empty and forlorn look upon his face

Feeling as if shessomehow caught him in the act or invading his privacy

She excuses herself, apologizing for intruding

She turns on her heel trying to exit graciously

She is about to close the door behind her

When she hears Lord Bertrands voice calling for her to wait

She peeks in, meek and subservient

He remains looking out the window, looking off into the distance

As if in contemplation

(This scene is a clue/hint to Belles true identity - From Belles POV he could be

talking about his daughter Anna, but from his POV he could be hinting at Belle being

his daughter)

Belle offers him her condolence and excuses him for his faults

(From Belles POV she offers him her condolence, but from his POV it is as if she is

excusing him for his faults)

Before reverting once again to master and servant role

(Long Version)

He looks like a man who lives in the past, haunted by the decisions he has had to

make

He is somehow distant with an air of detachment

Belle apologizes for intruding and politely excuses herself

Lord Bertrand however tells her to wait before bidding her to enter.

(In a very cryptic manner he reveals some clues without going into detail)

One the one hand it could be construed that he misses his daughter and talks about

her in absence (how Belle perceives it)

But on the other hand he could be vaguely hinting at her true identity

Lord Bertrand is seated on the bed, he is turned away from her(metaphorically


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Before making his way inside

(Employing misdirection so as to keep a sense of mystery and not give away

anything away too soon. I want to use the effect of the storm, the play of light and

shadow here, the foreboding and ominous drum and rhythm of the thunder)

Taking out anyone who stands in his way

The reverberating bass of thunder can be felt, a deep bass in time with the growing

tension and suspense that continues to build

He is on the roof overlooking the grounds

Watching as the guards scurry about

Lightning flashes behind him and his dark silhouette with his long flowing cape is

cast into relief against the stormy sky

Lord Bertrand is frantic with anxiety

He knew this would happen

The captain of the guard is trying desperately to reassure him

Saying they have the situation under control

Reassuring him that they have guards posted outside

The captain of the guard goes out

Closing the door behind him

Outside the door

The guards gather together, trying to protect him from what is coming (a last stand)

All is silent

Lord Avenant appears, but we do not get a proper glimpse of his face under the brim

of his hat

Terrified the men fire all at once

The flashes from their muzzle lights their faces and roar of gun fire, plumes of smoke

Roar of gun fire can be heard inside the noblemans room from the door


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Lord Bertrand hears a commotion going on outside

Sounds of a struggle

Then all is silent

He goes through the drawer and grabs a flintlock pistol

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he looks down at the weapon

It is almost seems as if he is desperate enough to use on himself

The door slowly opens and the nobleman gets a glimpse of what has happened

As the lightning flashes revealing the fallen bodies strewn along the ground

Tension builds as the reverberating sound of thunder in the distance

But there is no sign of the master

(Version 2)

The scene is timed to the beat of the story being told in the pub/tavern

As they are talking about the beast in the forest, we see from the POV of the beast

moving through the forest mist/fog only to emerge at the gates of the castle itself

The guards are on watch duty at their post or patrolling the grounds

The surrounding fog seems to creep up on them

A cloud of dark smoke or mist, which seems be amorphous with no shape or form

Coming upon the guards suddenly without warning and renders them unconscious

Some of the guards are caught unaware while others put up a struggle, but to no

avail

They are enveloped in fog/enshrouded in mist and as the cloud passes over them

Leaving a trail of bodies in its wake

From afar it looks like a formless mass of dark cloud that leaves behind this trail of

smoke

But as it goes further along we see it take on the semblance of shape and form


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A dark shrouded wraith like figure

The guards try to fight against it, but it is as if their weapons have no effect on it

Bullets pass through it as they try firing upon it

Swords slice apart the smoke only for it to reform

Whatever they do they are powerless to stand against it

Inside his tower strong hold, Lord Bertrand hears the commotion outside and goes to

the window to see whatshappening

Seeing the bodies of his fallen men

Returning to the pub/tavern where there is talk amongst the patrons of a rumored

deal that was struck between the Lord (ambiguously implying either Lord Bertrand or

Master Avenant) and the Devil himself

The lord tries to escape and opens the door

One of his men posted outside, emerges from out of the smoke and falls to the

ground before him

Smoke escaping his lips

The amorphous mass resolves and takes shape and form

As the dark wraith like form passes over the fallen man

Stepping over his fallen body approaching Lord Bertrand

Who cowers in fear from him

Lord Bertrand rushes to close the door

Locking the dead bolt

His anxious state is expressed in his heavy and ragged breathing

Trying to remain calm despite thoughts to the contrary

His breathing begins to slow and subside

Coming out in short spurts


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From behind him a dark shape rises into view

The lightning cast his dark shadow looming over him

Lord Bertrand turns to find himself confronted by Master Avenant

Lord Avenant grabs him by his shirt front and picks him up off the ground

We get a glimpse of his masked face as it peers out from beneath the brim of his hat,

lightning illuminating his features

(This is not the original Master Avenant, but his son and heir who has taken his place

A marked difference in the sound of his voice and the style of clothing he wears)

He confronts Lord Bertrand for betraying the agreement

Sending a servant girl in place of his own daughter

He is angry that he spared his life and this is how he repays him

The nobleman has reason for not honoring the agreement

Having suspected for some time now that the deal was rigged

Everything from the ambush to the chance meeting to the deal itself was all

prearranged

That nothing was left to chance (The illusion of free will and choice)

Justification for not honoring the bargain

The Master threatens an ultimatum

Either he sends his daughter or he takes everything from him

Letting go of Lord Bertrand

Who crumples to his knees, a broken man (as if he is on his hands and knees

begging)

The Master leaves, turning his back on him

What if he doesn't, a final weak protest

As if he had a choice / itsnot like he has a choice the master says (summing up the

whole dilemma entirely - The illusion of free will and choice)

Then the master leaves by the open window, stepping out

He becomes like a trail of smoke that descends to the ground below

The smoke cloud billows outwards, as he emerges from the smoke


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The carriage soon arrives at the destination

Stopping outside the manor steps

The coach man hangs up his riding crop before jumping off, landing heavily on his

feet

Inside the carriage, Belle is still asleep

Her head rested to the side next to the window pane

The coach man raps upon the window pane waking her up

She comes awake with a start

Looking around almost uncertain of where she is and how she got here

The coachman gets her bags off the back and drops them at the bottom of the

pavement steps

The coach man is brusque and rude, making no move to help with her bags her or

even open the carriage door for her

She steps off the carriage, looking up at the manor that looms in front of her

At a window curtain which is slightly parted

POV of someone inside, looking down from the window

Belle does not get a proper chance to see the coachmansface or even thank him

Before he departs, leaving her momentarily stranded in this strange and foreboding

place

She is left alone before the steps of the manor, watching as the carriage disappears

The sound of the horses hooves receding into the distance

There is a feeling of loneliness and vulnerability

She looks around with a little confusion and unease

Dragging her heavy bags along the steps before piling it near the doorstep (she is

not like a lady who lets others do the work for her, when she is able to do it herself)

She looks back and sees the muddy outline of footprints she has left behind,

definitely not a good first impression to make


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Documents

Beauty and the Beast - Treatment.doc