Act 2: Scene 8

          SCENE 8

          (Back at Kiamo Ko Castle.)

ELPHABA

Oh for Oz sake! Stop crying I can’t listen to it anymore! You want see your Aunt Em and Uncle what’s-his-name again? Then get those shoes off your feet! Squealy little brat takes a dead woman’s shoes, must’ve been raised in a barn! Chistery! Oh Chistery, there you are. Where are the others? Chistery, please if you don’t at least try to keep speaking you’ll never…

            (GLINDA arrives unexpectedly.)

ELPHABA

Go away.

GLINDA

They’re coming for you.

ELPHABA

Go away!

GLINDA

Let the little girl go and that poor little dog, Dodo. I know you don’t want to hear this but somebody’s got to say it: You are out of control! I mean, come on, they’re just shoes let it go! Elphaba, you can’t go on like this.

ELPHABA

I can do anything I want, I am the Wicked Witch of the West!

            (One of the Monkeys flies in with a note.)

ELPHABA

At last! What took you so long? What’s this? Why are you bothering me with this?

GLINDA

What is it? What’s wrong? It’s Fiyero, isn’t it? Is he…?

ELPHABA

We’ve seen his face for the last time.

GLINDA

Oh no.

ELPHABA

You’re right. It’s time. I surrender.

GLINDA

Elphie, what is it?

ELPHABA

You can’t be fund here. You must go!

GLINDA

No!

ELPHABA

You must! Please!

GLINDA

I’ll go tell everyone the truth.

ELPHABA

No! They’ll only turn against you!

GLINDA

I don’t care!

ELPHABA

I do! Promise me you won’t try to clear my name.

GLINDA

Elphaba, no!

ELPHABA

Promise.

GLINDA

All right, I promise. But I don’t understand.

ELPHABA

            I’M LIMITED

            JUST LOOK AT ME—I’M LIMITED

            AND JUST LOOK AT YOU—

            YOU CAN DO ALL I COULDN’T DO, GLINDA…

            (She gives GLINDA The Grimmerie.)

GLINDA

Elphie… You know I can’t read this.

ELPHABA

Well, then—you’ll have to learn.

                        (Sings)

            BECAUSE NOW IT’S UP TO YOU

            FOR BOTH OF US—

            NOW IT’S UP TO YOU

GLINDA

Oh, Elphie…

ELPHABA

You’re the only friend I’ve ever had.

GLINDA

And I’ve had so many friends. But only one that mattered.

                        (Sings)

I’VE HEARD IT SAID

THAT PEOPLE COME INTO OUR LIVES FOR A REASON

BRINGING SOMETHING WE MUST LEARN

AND WE ARE LED

TO THOSE WHO HELP US MOST TO GROW

IF WE LET THEM

AND WE HELP THEM IN RETURN

WELL, I DON’T KNOW IF I BELIEVE THAT’S TRUE

BUT I KNOW I’M WHO I AM TODAY

BECAUSE I KNEW YOU…

LIKE A COMET PULLED FROM ORBIT

AS IT PASSES A SUN

LIKE A STREAM THAT MEETS A BOULDER

HALFWAY THRUGH THE WOOD

WHO CAN SAY IF I’VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?

BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU

I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD…

ELPHABA

IT WELL MAY BE

THAT WE WILL NEVER MEET AGAIN

IN THIS LIFETIME

SO LET ME SAY BEFORE WE PART

SO MUCH OF ME

IS MADE OF WHAT I LEARNED FROM YOU

YOU’LL BE WITH ME

LIKE A HANDPRINT ON MY HEART

AND NOW WHATEVER WAY OUR STORIES END

I KNOW YOU HAVE RE-WRITTEN MINE

BY BEING MY FRIEND…

LIKE A SHIP BLOWN FROM ITS MOORING

BY A WIND OFF THE SEA

LIKE A SEED DROPPED BY A SKYBIRD

IN A DISTANT WOOD

WHO CAN SAY IF I’VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?

BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU…

GLINDA

BECAUSE I KNEW YOU…

BOTH

            BECAUSE I KNEW YOU

            I HAVE BEEN CHANGED

FOR GOOD…

ELPHABA

            AND JUST TO CLEAR THE AIR

            I ASK FORGIVENESS

            FOR THE THINGS I’VE DONE YOU BLAME ME FOR

GLINDA

            BUT THEN, I GUESS WE KNOW

            THERE’S BLAME TO SHARE

BOTH

            AND NONE OF IT SEEMS TO MATTER ANYMORE

GLINDA                                                                                                                         ELPHABA

LIKE A COMET PULLED                                                                  LIKE A SHIP BLOWN OFF

FROM ORBIT                                                                                                          ITS MOORING

AS IT PASSES A SUN                                                                        BY A WIND OFF THE SEA

LIKE A STREAM THAT                                                                 LIKE A SEED DROPPED BY

MEETS A

BOULDER HALF-WAY                                                                          A BIRD IN THE WOOD

THROUGH THE WOOD

BOTH

WHO CAN SAY IF I’VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?

I DO BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER

GLINDA

            AND BECAUSE I KNEW YOU…

ELPHABA

            BECAUSE I KNEW YOU…

BOTH

            BECAUSE I KNEW YOU…

            I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD.

            (The two friends embrace. And then… they hear the sound of footsteps.)

GLINDA

What was that?

ELPHABA

Hurry, no one can know you were here.

THE CROWD

            …AND GOODNESS KNOWS

ELPHABA

Hide yourself—!

THE CROWD

THE WICKED’S LIVES ARE LONELY

GOODNESS KNOWS

THE WICKED DIE ALONE…

            (From her hiding place, GLINDA witnesses what appears to be the melting of her friend.)

ELPHABA

Aaaahhhhh!

GLINDA

Elphie?

            (After the witch hunters have left, she picks up ELPHABA’S hat.)

GLINDA

Oh, Elphie…

CHISTERY

Miss… Miss… Glinda…

            (CHISTERY gives her a small green bottle left behind.)