While everyone is having a party in the castle, through the big door of the castle, an old beggar woman arrives at the palace of a Prince. The woman asks for shelter from the storm, and in return, the woman offers the young prince a rose. Disgusted by the old woman's haggard appearance, the prince turns her away.
For beauty is found within, said the beggar. The woman's outer appearance melted away, revealing a beautiful enchantress. The Prince tries to beg for forgiveness, but it was too late. She transforms him into a hideous beast and places a powerful spell on the entire castle so that he will learn not to judge by appearances. If the Beast could learn to love another and earn their love in return before the last petal of the enchantress's rose fell, the curse can only be broken. If not, he will be doomed to remain a beast forever.
Belle finds Maurice in the tower dungeon, but the Beast catches her. She offers herself in exchange for her father's life, against his wishes, giving her word to remain in the castle forever. The Beast reveals himself to her, and although Belle is clearly terrified, she bravely refuses to back down from her offer. The Beast agrees and releases Maurice, who is taken back to the village in an walking coach before they can say goodbye. Moved by Belle's sadness, the Beast decides to give Belle a room in the castle instead of keeping her in the dungeon. The Beast gives Belle permission to go anywhere in the castle except the West Wing, refusing to explain why. He shows Belle her room and tells her that they must meet for dinner (at Lumiere's suggestion).
Over some time, the two start to become friends. The Beast even gives Belle the freedom to use the books in his library. The household items are excited that Belle may be the one to break the curse and fall in love with the Beast, causing them to become human again. The relationship reaches its climax with an elegant dinner and ballroom dance.
After sharing a romantic dance with the Beast, Belle discovers her father's horrible condition using a magic mirror. The Beast, having fallen in love with Belle, releases her to rescue her father and also gives her the mirror so that she may remember him. Arriving back in the town, Belle reveals the Beast in the mirror much to the shock of the townsfolk, proving that her father is saying the truth that a beast is living in the castle. Scared that the beast might be dangerous and come into the village and harm them, the villagers decided to storm the castle and kill the beast. During the battle, Gaston, who is in love with belle, shoots the Beast. The Beast then dies just as the last petal falls.