Act 1: Scene 6

            SCENE 6

(ELPHABA, observing the other STUDENTS in this celebratory frenzy, expresses her disdain for FIYERO to NESSAROSE.)

ELPHABA

It’s absurd! This silly rich boy appears and everyone’s off to worship him and some cultish social gathering!

NESSAROSE

Even me! I’m going! Isn’t it wonderful? Boq was too shy to ask me at first but once Galinda encouragerized him—

ELPHABA

Galinda?!

NESSAROSE

Don’t! Don’t you dare say another word against her. I’m about to have the first happy night of my life, thanks to Galinda.

                        (Sings)

            FIN’LLY, FOR THIS ONE NIGHT

            I’M ABOUT TO HAVE A FUN NIGHT

            WITH THIS MUNCHKIN BOY

            GALINDA FOUND FOR ME

            AND I ONLY WISH THERE WERE

            SOMETHING I COULD DO FOR HER

TO REPAY HER

ELPHABA, SEE?

WE DESERVE EACH OTHER

AND GALINDA HELPED IT COME TRUE

WE DESERVE EACH OTHER

ME AND BOQ…

Please, Elphaba—try to understand…

ELPHABA

            I DO…

            (In the room she shares with ELPHABA, GALINDA prepares for the dance.)

GALINDA

Do me up. And now I must accessorize myself for Fiyero.

(Two mean girls, PFANNEE and SHENSHEN, find a pointy black hat amongst GALINDA’S things.)

SHENSHEN

Galinda, what in Oz name?

GALINDA

Pretend you didn’t see that. My granny is always buying me the most hideoteous hats. I’d give it away but I don’t hate anyone that much.

PFANNEE & SHENSHEN

Yes you do.

GALINDA

Oh no. I couldn’t. Could I?

            (ELPHABA comes to thank GALINDA for her kindness to NESSAROSE.)

ELPHABA

Galinda—my sister and I were talking about you just now—

GALINDA

And I was just talking about you! I thought you might want to wear this to the party tonight!

                        (Sings)

            IT’S REALLY, UH, SHARP, DON’T YOU THINK?

            YOU KNOW—BLACK IS THIS YEAR’S PINK

            YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER

            THIS HAT AND YOU

            YOU’RE BOTH SO SMART

            YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER

            SO HERE, OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF MY HEART…

(Later, in the Ozdust Ballroom, FIYERO and GALINDA dance as BOQ and NESSAROSE look on.)

NESSAROSE

What’s in the punch?

BOQ

Lemons and melons and pears.

NESSAROSE

Oh my!

BOQ

            LISTEN—NESSA—

NESSAROSE

            YES?

BOQ

            UH—NESSA

            I’VE GOT SOMETHING TO CONFESS, A

            REASON WHY, WELL—WHY I ASKED YOU HERE TONIGHT

            NOW I KNOW IT ISN’T FAIR…

NESSAROSE

Oh, Boq. I know why.

BOQ

You do?

NESSAROSE

            IT’S BECAUSE I’M IN THIS CHAIR

            AND YOU FELT SORRY FOR ME—

            WELL? ISN’T THAT RIGHT?

BOQ

No! No! It’s because… because…

            (But he can’t bring himself to tell her the truth.)

BOQ

            BECAUSE YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL

NESSAROSE

            OH, BOQ, I THINK YOU’RE WONDERFUL!

            AND WE DESERVE EACH OTHER

            DON’T YOU SEE, THIS IS OUR CHANCE?

WE DESERVE EACH OTHER

DON’T WE, BOQ?

BOQ

            YOU KNOW WHAT? LET’S DANCE!

NESSAROSE

What?

BOQ

            LET’S DANCE!

(BOQ begins to wheel a smitten NESSAROSE onto the dance floor. Suddenly, MADAME MORRIBLE struts into the Ozdust.)

MORRIBLE

Miss Upland!

GALINDA

Madame Morrible! What are you doing here?

MORRIBLE

I have something for you.

GALINDA

Oh, Madame! A training wand! How can I ever express my gratitution?

MORRIBLE

Don’t thank me. This was your roommate’s idea, not mine.

GALINDA

What? Elphaba?

MORRIBLE

Yes, Miss Elphaba requested that I include you in sorcery class. She insisted that I tell you this very night or she would quite the seminar.

GALINDA

But why?

MORRIBLE

I have no idea! My personal opinion is that you do not have what it takes. I hope you prove me wrong. I doubt you will!

FIYERO

What is it?

GALINDA

I got what I wanted.

FIYERO

So what’s the matter?

GALINDA

Nothing.

FIYERO

Good. Let’s dance.

(ELPHABA walks in, wearing a pointing black hat. In a split second ELPHABA realizes that GALINDA has tricked her. The other STUDENTS laugh and point.)

FIYERO

Who in Oz is that?

GALINDA

My roommate. Please don’t stare.

FIYERO

How can you help it?

(Determined to ignore them, ELPHABA closes her eyes and, all by herself, starts to dance—Galinda feels terrible for what she’s done.)

FIYERO

I’ll say this much for her: she doesn’t give a twig about what anyone else thinks.

GALINDA

Of coarse she does, she just pretends not to. I feel awful.

FIYERO

Why? It’s not like it’s your fault.

GALINDA

Excuse me.

            (In a show of solidarity, she joins ELPHABA on the dance floor.)

GALINDA

May I cut in?

ALL

DANCING THROUGH LIFE

DOWN AT THE OZDUST

IF ONLY BECAUSE DUST

IS WHAT WE COME TO

AND THE STRANGE THING:

YOUR LIFE COULD END OF CHANGING

WHILE YOU’RE DANCING

THROUGH!