#stafo

     I thought a lot today about Lefou after the movie..or rather after Gaston's death. Gaston was a manipulative asshole, but they were very close. Close enough that Lefou knows when Gaston is about to go off (Scene with Maurice) and knows how to calm him down (”Breathe Gaston”). He actually knows several techniques to calm him down. They have had intimate moments as hinted at the wrestling line (”No one bites like Gaston”).

So your best friend is a major douche canoe, then he dies...horribly...without you there.

Think of how that went down. The dust settles, everyone has their memories back and hugging their loved ones. Lefou is searching the crowd for that red jacket. He had to make it out, right? Gaston had to see the error of his ways and he is just taking his time coming out of the castle. When it's obvious Gaston is not there Lefou becomes frantic. Does Lefou call out for his fallen friend? Does he start asking the crowd where their once-great idol is? Does he start an inner mantra of "He's okay, he's fine" begin looping in his head.

Belle and Adam are the only ones who saw. One of them has to tell Lefou. Obviously, Belle because she knows Gaston and Lefou. So she makes her way through the crowd of laughter and smiles to deliver the worse news ever to Lefou, that his best friend, who had scorned Lefou out of his own selfishness not even an hour earlier, died in the same night.

Think of the emotions. Would he break down right there? Blame himself? If only he was there, if only he tried harder at the village. If only he told the truth about Maurice, instead of being blinded by his own lust for Gaston. He can't go back to the village, especially the tavern, too many memories and their portrait is hanging on the damn wall. He's so alone because, no one was as close to him as Gaston, perhaps Gaston was the only person he had in his life.

All this emptiness, this loneliness. Is this when Stanley comes in? He's the only one left from Gaston's group, as Tom and Dick ran away. Does he try to help Lefou up? Get him away from the crowd to a secluded place so he can cry. Maybe he stayed with Lefou, comforted him.