Act 1: Scene 13

            SCENE 13

            (In the Wizard’s private chamber…)

OZ HEAD

I am Oz!

GLINDA

Elphie!

OZ HEAD

I am Oz, the great and terrible! Who are you and why do you seek me?!

GLINDA

Say something!

ELPHABA

I am Elphaba Thropp, Your Terribleness! And this is my best friend—

WIZARD’S VOICE

Oh, is that you Elphaba? I didn’t realize!

            (ELPHABA and GLINDA come face to face with the WIZARD OF OZ.)

WIZARD

I hope I didn’t startle ya! It’s so hard to make out people’s faces when I’m back there. So, let’s see, which is which? Elphaba! A pleasure, Elphaba! And you must be…

GLINDA

Glinda, the Ga is silent.

            (ELPHABA is observing the Oz Head.)

WIZARD

I know, it’s a bit much isn’t it? But people expect this sort of thing and you have to give people what they want.

ELPHABA

I’m so happy to meet you.

WIZARD

Well, that’s good—cuz that’s what I love best—making people happy.

                        (Sings)

            I AM A SENTIMENTAL MAN

WHO ALWAYS LONGED TO BE A FATHER

THAT’S WHY I DO THE BEST I CAN

TO TREAT EACH CITIZEN OF OZ AS SON—

OR DAUGHTER…

SO ELPHABA, I’D LIKE TO RAISE YOU HIGH

‘CUZ I THINK EV’RYONE DESERVES

THE CHANCE TO FLY

AND HELPING YOU WITH YOUR ASCENT AL—

LOWS ME TO FEEL SO PARENTAL

FOR I AM A SENTIMENTAL MAN…

ELPHABA

Oh Your Ozness, I knew you would help! You see, we’re here not just for ourselves.

GLINDA

We’re not?

ELPHABA

No! We are here because something bad is happening to the Animals—

WIZARD

Please! I’m the Wizard of Oz! I already know why you’ve come.

ELPHABA & GLINDA

Oooooh!

WIZARD

I fully intend of granting your request. Of course, you must prove yourself first.

GLINDA

Of course! Prove yourself! Prove yourself!

ELPHABA

But how?

WIZARD

Madame, the book!

MORRIBLE

Right away, Your Ozness!

            (To the GIRLS’ amazement, MADAME MORRIBLE appears.)

GLINDA

Madame Morrible?!

WIZARD

I believe you’re acquainted with my new press secretary.

ELPHABA

Press secretary?!

MORRIBLE

Yes dearies, I have risen up in the world! You will find that the Wizard is a very generous man! If you do something for him he will do much for you!

ELPHABA

But what would you like me to do?

WIZARD

This is my monkey servant, Chistery. He watches the birds so longingly every moring.

MORRIBLE

So his Ozness was thinking perhaps a levitation spell.

            (She holds an ancient looking book out to ELPHABA.)

GLINDA

I don’t believe it. Is that… The Grimmerie!?

MORRIBLE

Yes. The Ancient Book of Thaumaturgy and Enchantments.

GLINDA

Can I touch it?

MORRIBLE

No.

ELPHABA

What funny writing.

MORRIBLE

It’s a lost language—the lost language of spells.

WIZARD

A kind of recipe book, for change.

MORRIBLE

Don’t be discouraged if you cannot decipherate it, dearie. I myself can only read a spell or two and that took years and years of constant study—  

ELPHABA

Ahben Tahkay…

MORRIBLE                                                                                                                   ELPHABA

Merciful Oz!                                                                                                            Ahben Tahkay…

WIZARD                                                                                                                        ELPHABA

Oh, Chistery! What an experience you’re about to have!                               Ahben Atum Ahben

                        (Sings)

            SINCE ONCE I HAD MY OWN DAY IN THE SKY          Takayah Entayah Ah Entayah

                                                                                                                                               Tifentah

            I SAY EVERYONE DESERVES THE CHANCE TO FLY!                 Ahben Tahkay Ah

            (CHISTERY starts twitching, in pain.)

ELPHABA

What is it? Is something wrong?

MORRIBLE

It’s just the transition, dearie!

ELPHABA

Chistery, are you alright?! Why can’t he answer me?!

            (CHISTERY sprouts wings.)

GLINDA

You did it! You actually did it!

ELPHABA

He’s in pain! Quick, tell me how to reverse it!

MORRIBLE

You can’t!

ELPHABA

What?!

MORRIBLE

You can’t reverse a spell! Spells are irreversible! I knew it! I knew she had the power! I told you!

ELPHABA

You planned all this?

MORRIBLE

For you too, dearie! You benefit too!

WIZARD

And this is only the beginning! Look!

            (He pulls a lever to reveal his caged pet monkeys, now all have wings.)

WIZARD

If this is how you do on your first time out skies the limit!

MORRIBLE

Such wingspan! Won’t they make perfect spies?

ELPHABA

Spies?

WIZARD

You’re right, that’s a harsh words. What about… scouts! That’s what they’ll be really. They’ll fly around Oz, reporting and subversive Animal activity.

ELPHABA

So it’s you. You’re behind it all.

WIZARD

Elphaba, when I first got here there was discourt and discontent, and where I come from everyone knows that the best way to bring folks together is to give them a really good enemy.

ELPHABA

You can’t read this book at all, can you? That’s why you need an enemy and spies and cages! You have no real power!

WIZARD

Exactly. And that’s why I need you. Don’t you see? The world’s your oyster now! You have so many opportunities ahead of you! You both do!

GLINDA

Oh thank you, Your Ozness!

WIZARD

            THE TWO OF YOU

            IT’S TIME I RAISED YOU HIGH

            YES!

            THE TIME HAD COME FOR YOU

TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO—

ELPHABA

No!!!

            (ELPHABA grabs The Grimmerie and runs from the room.)

MORRIBLE

Elphaba!

GLINDA

Elphie, wait! I’m sorry, Your Oznees. I’ll get her back. Elphie!

            (GLINDA goes after her.)

WIZARD

We’ve got to get her back! She’s knows too much!

MORRIBLE

Don’t worry, You Ozness! I’ll handle it!

            (MADAME MORRIBLE leaves.)

OZ HEAD

Guards! Guards!

            (The PALACE GUARDS enter.)

OZ HEAD

There’s a fugitive at arms in the palace! Find her! Capture her! Bring her to me!

GUARDS

Yes, Your Ozness!

            (They march out.)