Kevin Kline: Maurice

Beauty and the Beast

Maurice

Maurice: [singing in his workshop] How does a moment last forever? How can a story never die? / It is love we must hold on to, never easy, but we try / Sometimes our happiness is captured, somehow a time and place stand still, / Love lives on inside our hearts, and always will

Gaston: I am done playing this game of yours. Where is Belle?
Maurice: The Beast took her and she...
Gaston: There are no such things as beasts, or talking teacups, or magic! But there are *wolves*, frostbite, and starvation!
LeFou: [stands up] Deep breaths, Gaston. Deep breaths.
[Gaston breathes deeply, then turns to Maurice]
Gaston: So, why don't we just turn around, go back to Villeneuve? I'm sure Belle is at home, cooking up a lovely dinner.
Maurice: If you think I've made all this up, then why did you offer to help?
Gaston: BECAUSE I WANT TO MARRY YOUR DAUGHTER! Now, let's go home.
Maurice: Belle is not at home! She is with the...
Gaston: [grabs Maurice] You say "beast" one more time, I WILL FEED YOU TO THE WOLVES!
LeFou: [pulling him away from Maurice] Gaston! Stop it! Breathe, think happy thoughts, go back to the war, bloods, explosions, countless widows.
Gaston: Widows...
LeFou: Yes, yes. That's it...
[Gaston calms down. LeFou taps his nose]
LeFou: That's it.
[Gaston turns to Maurice, smiling. Maurice recoils]
Gaston: Maurice! Please forgive me, old bean. That's no way to talk to my future father-in-law, now is it?
Maurice: Future father-in-law?
Gaston: Yeah.
Maurice: *You* will *never* marry my *daughter*.
LeFou: [Beat. Then Gaston furiously punches Maurice in the face, knocking him out] I saw that coming.

Belle: [sees the Beast's silhouette in an upper part of the tower] Who's there? Who are you?
Beast: [angrily] Who are *you*?
Belle: I've come for my father!
Beast: Your father... is a thief!
Belle: Liar!
Beast: He stole a rose.
Belle: I asked for the rose. Punish ME, not him.
Maurice: No, he means forever. Apparently, that's what happens around here when you pick a flower!
Belle: [to the Beast] A life sentence for a rose?
Beast: [leaps down to her section of the tower, but remains hidden in the shadows] I received eternal damnation for one. I'm merely locking him away. Now, do you still wish to take your father's place?
Belle: Come into the light.
[the Beast doesn't move. Belle grabs Lumiere and holds him up to his face. Seeing the Beast's intimidating appearance, she gasps in fear]
Beast: [irked] Choose.

Belle: Papa, is that you?
Maurice: Belle. How did you find me?
Belle: You're hands are ice. We need to get you home.
Maurice: Belle. Belle, you must leave here at once. This castle is alive. Now go before he finds you!
Belle: Who?
[They both turn to the same direction where they heard the Beast]

Gaston: [to Maurice, as he's thrown in a carriage] Have you seen the inside of a mad house, Maurice? You wouldn't last a week. Just give me your daughter and I'll set you free.
Maurice: Never.
[Gaston looks mad, closes the carriage door]
Gaston: Take him away!

Maurice: Belle, listen to me. It's alright. Now go. Live your life. And forget me.
Belle: Forget you? Everything I am is because of you.

Maurice: [Belle hands Rose rattle to Maurice] Where did you...?
Belle: He took me there.
[pause]
Belle: I know what happened to Mama.
Maurice: Then you know why I had to leave her there. I had to protect you. I-I've always tried to protect my little girl. Probably too much.
Belle: I understand.
[kisses his hand]
Belle: Will you help me now?
Maurice: It's dangerous.
Belle: Yes. Yes it is.

Maurice: I could try to pick the lock. After all, it's - it's only gears and springs.
[he searches the lock with his hands]
Maurice: I would need something long and sharp.
[Belle takes pin out of her hair and hands it to Maurice]
Maurice: Like that. Perfect.

Maurice: [to Belle] This is a small village, you know. Small minded as well. But small also means safe. Even back in Paris, I knew a girl like you who was so... ahead of her time. So different. People mocked her. Until the day they all found themselves imitating her.

Maurice: No. I'm sure this is the way. Do you hear those wolves? That means we're getting very close to the castle.
Gaston: Look, enough is enough. We have to turn back.
Maurice: Stop.
[Gaston stops the cart]
Maurice: That's it. There it is.
[he snaps his finger]
Maurice: That's the tree. I'm sure of it.
[he gets off the cart]
Maurice: It-it was downed by lightning at the time. But now it's... resumed an upright position through some sort of... magic or other.
LeFou: [to Gaston] You really want to marry into this family?
Maurice: So that means that the... the castle is that - No. No, it's -
[motions falling tree with his arm]
Maurice: That way. Definitely that way.

Maurice: Belle, I won't let you do this. I lost your mother. I won't lose you, too. Now go. Go!
[coughs]
Belle: All right, Papa. I'll leave.

Gaston: Maurice. Thank heavens. I've spent the last five days trying to find you.
Maurice: You tried to kill me! You left me to the wolves!

Jean the Potter: Maurice, do you have any proof of what you're saying?
Maurice: [to Gaston] Ask Agathe. She rescued me.
Gaston: You'd hang your accusations on the testimonial of a filthy hag. No offense, Agathe.