[ It's a curious thing he's mumbling about, like he's trying to confirm something... maybe it's awakened a memory?

Better not to ask right now, though, or ask anything else until the story's finished, so Mary continues. ]

Beauty hurried back to the Beast's side, fearing it was too late... because only now did she realize that she had finally fallen in love with him, even if he was a monster. So she told him, as she cried over him, "I love you."

When her tears touched him, the Beast vanished and was replaced by the handsome prince that she'd seen in her dreams. He told her that he'd been changed into a hideous monster by a fairy in disguise, after he'd refused to let her in out of the rain... and that the only way to break the curse was to find true love... to be loved by someone who could see past his ugliness.

And after that, he and Beauty were married, and lived happily ever after.

[ A decisive nod. ]