The screen returns, zoomed in on DOCTOR DILLAMOND's paw: it flips the lightswitch to turn on the lamps in his classroom. It's early morning, we can feel the students coming in from the cold and dew outside. ELPHABA is leaning casually against her desk, wearing a white blouse and black skirt. Her hair is in two long braids on either side of her head, and another pink rose is tucked behind her ear. When FIYERO walks into the room, ELPHABA—with slightly improved finesse—flicks her hair from side to side with her hands. FIYERO simply stands there with his hands on his hips. ELPHABA is deflated.

ELPHABA

What?

FIYERO

Nothing. Nothing. It's just… you've been… Galinda-fied. You… you don't have to do that, you know.

DOCTOR DILLAMOND

Alright, take your seats, class.

The students obey. ELPHABA sits with GALINDA on her left and FIYERO on her right. DOCTOR DILLAMOND bends down to put his suitcase on the floor, but pauses and thinks otherwise, standing back up.

DOCTOR DILLAMOND

I have something to say… and very little time. My dear students… this is my last day here at Shiz. I am no longer permitted to teach.

ELPHABA (Indignantly.)

What?

DOCTOR DILLAMOND (Patriarchal.)

Please, Miss Elphaba.

DOCTOR DILLAMOND bows his head a moment, and then looks back to his class.

DOCTOR DILLAMOND
I want to thank you all… for sharing with me… your enthusiasm, your essays (however feebly structured), and… even, on occasion… your lunch.

MADAME MORRIBLE sweeps into the classroom, followed by GROMMETIK who seems as if he is trying very hard to repress a small grin of satisfaction.

MADAME MORRIBLE (With feeble meaning in her words.)

Oh, Doctor Dillamond! I am so DREADFULLY sorry.

ELPHABA
Madame! You can't permit this!

DOCTOR DILLAMOND
Miss Elphaba, don't worry about me. They can take away my job, but I will continue to speak out!

Suddenly, GROMMETIK speeds forward and his head opens like a lid. From it, a long, golden mechanical arm extends out. At the end, rather than a hand or grip, are two handcuffs or shackles that snap around DOCTOR DILLAMOND's front paws. GROMMETIK turns away, rotating his body as the arm stays in place, and finally releases his smug smile. Then, with incredible strength for a robot of only a foot or so in height, he drags DOCTOR DILLAMOND from the room.

DOCTOR DILLAMOND

They're not telling you the whole story! Remember that class!

ELPHABA (Reaching out, only to be restrained by GALINDA.)

Doctor Dillamond!

MADAME MORRIBLE follows GROMMETIK and DOCTOR DILLAMOND from the room, hiding an uncomfortably similar smile in her expression. As MADAME MORRIBLE exits, a MAN in a tan overcoat and bowler hat comes in, wheeling a cart with a tarp over top to the front of the class.

ELPHABA (Appealing to her class.)

Well, are we all just going to sit here? In silence?

FIYERO

Elphaba, there's nothing we can do. Come on, sit down.

MAN (As cheesy as a children's show host.)

Good afternoon, students! More and more every day, with every tick of the Time Dragon Clock, in every corner of our great Oz, one hears the silence of progress! For example: this…

The MAN sweeps the tarp from his cart.

MAN

Is called a cage.

Atop the cart is a cage roughly the size of one for parrots, and inside, a small lion cub is shaking and looking around nervously from a corner. The students are intrigued, though ELPHABA is mortified.

MAN

Now, you'll be seeing more and more of them in the near future. This remarkable innovation is actually

The MAN lifts a pair of salad clippers from the side and snaps them loudly against the side of the cage, causing the lion cub to squeal in terror.

MAN

For the animal's own good.

The MAN snaps the clippers again.

MAN

And—

ELPHABA (Rising.)

Hey! If it's for his own good, why is he trembling?

MAN

Oh, well, he's excited to be here. That's all.

The MAN snaps the clippers again, and then puts them down.

MAN

Now, as I was saying, one of the benefits of caging a lion cub this young is that he will never, in fact, learn how to speak.

The class is mystified by the speech and slowly rises, eager to come forward and take a closer look but hesitant to interrupt the new teacher. ELPHABA slowly sits down in time with their ascension and begins to shake.

ELPHABA (Softly, distracting FIYERO's attention.)

Oh, no…

MAN

That's right! Come closer!

The class does so eagerly, except for ELPHABA and FIYERO.

ELPHABA (To FIYERO, now that she has his attention.)

Can you imagine a world where animals are kept in cages? And they never speak?

MAN

He may seem a bit agitated. But that's easily remedied.

ELPHABA

What should I do?

FIYERO

Why are you asking me?

ELPHABA

Well, somebody has to…

ELPHABA wheels around on the class and spreads her arms, palms out.

ELPHABA (Shouting.)

Do something!

The colors on screen invert, with the exception of ELPHABA, FIYERO, and the cub. Very slowly, everything with inverted colors goes into reverse. The students begin to retreat, the man picks the clippers back up and begins to clip in reverse, once more agitating the cub.

FIYERO

What's happening?

When ELPHABA moves her hands in agitation, the colors stay the same, but things go forward in this strange slow motion.

ELPHABA (Waving her hands and unknowingly changing time's direction.)

I don't know, I got mad, and then—

FIYERO

Alright, just don't move! And whatever you do, don't get mad at me.

ELPHABA freezes, and so does the class. FIYERO walks forward slowly, completely unnoticed, and grabs the edge of the cart. He then takes it and runs from the room.

FIYERO (Peeking back in quickly.)

Well, you coming?

As ELPHABA chases after him, everything goes into a dangerously rapid fast forward. As they race the cart with the cage through the halls, people come flying out of classrooms past them, several almost crashing into FIYERO and ELPHABA with breakneck speed. The longer they run, whipping through halls and around corners, the colors slowly fade to normal. Once they are outside, alone and unnoticed, the spell wears off and ordinary is restored. ELPHABA points to the nearby wood, and FIYERO and her take off at a sprint, disappearing into the trees.

Finally, they come upon a clearing. The yellow brick road crosses overhead at a distance with a yellow bridge going over a nearby river. They pause and rest.

ELPHABA

Be careful with him!

FIYERO

I am!

ELPHABA

You're shaking him!

FIYERO

I'm not!

FIYERO slowly lifts the cage to the ground, staring at ELPHABA to ensure that he has not upset her majesty.

ELPHABA
We can't just let him loose anywhere, you know. We have to find someplace safe!

FIYERO

I realize that! Wait, you just think that I'm really stupid, don't you?

ELPHABA (Pacing.)

Well, no. Not REALLY stupid.

FIYERO (Impatiently flapping his coat.)

Why is it that every time I see you, you're causing some sort of commotion.

ELPHABA
I don't cause commotions.

ELPHABA looks up at the sky. It is ugly and gray, a bleak foreshadowing of rain.

ELPHABA

I am one.

FIYERO
That's for sure.

ELPHABA

Oh, so you think I should just keep my mouth shut? Is that what you're saying?

FIYERO

No, I'm saying—

ELPHABA (Trampling his defense.)

You think I wanna be this way? Do you think I want to care this much? You don't think I know how much—

FIYERO
All I meant—

ELPHABA (Continuing without pause.)

Easier my life would be if I didn't?

FIYERO (Angry.)

Do you ever let anyone else talk?

ELPHABA looks at him apologetically.

ELPHABA

Oh… sorry.

FIYERO steps forward, ready to try again.

ELPHABA

But can I just say ONE more thing?

FIYERO waves her on.

ELPHABA

You could've walked away.

FIYERO
So?

ELPHABA

So… No matter how shallow and self-absorbed you pretend to be—

FIYERO

Excuse me, there's no pretense here. I happen to be DEEPLY shallow and GENUINELY self-absorbed.

ELPHABA

No, you're not.

FIYERO shrugs.

ELPHABA

Or you wouldn't be so unhappy.

FIYERO

No… You know… Alright, fine. Look, you don't want my help?

ELPHABA reaches out to stop FIYERO, grabbing his arm, and consequently, his hand.

ELPHABA

No, I do—

ELPHABA realizes that she's holding hands with FIYERO. They both savor the moment, but after a time, ELPHABA lets go and drops down, devoting her attention to the lion cub and the cage. FIYERO stands with his hands in his pocket and watches her reach in to check on it.

ELPHABA

His heart is pounding. I didn't mean to frighten him.

FIYERO kneels down beside her.

FIYERO

Then… what did you mean to do? And why was I the only one you didn't do it too?

ELPHABA looks at FIYERO, shaking her head. She then spreads her eyes.

ELPHABA (Surprised.)

You're bleeding! He must have scratched you!

FIYERO

Yeah… or… or maybe he scratched me.

ELPHABA raises her hand to FIYERO's cheek. FIYERO begins to reach for her hand with his own, but then leaps up, running his hand through his hair instead.

FIYERO

I… uh… I better get to safety. I mean the cub!

ELPHABA

Of course!

FIYERO

Get the cub to safety!

FIYERO leans down to take the cage. He accidentally walks into ELPHABA, who backs up, raising her hands awkwardly out of the way. FIYERO grabs the handle of the cage and lifts the box up, looking once at the cub, and then for a longer moment at ELPHABA. He then turns and takes off through the trees. ELPHABA clenches her fists, debating whether to call out to him. She spins, wonders, and finally shouts after him.

ELPHABA

Fiyero!

FIYERO does not hear her.

I'm Not That Girl begins.

ELPHABA
Hands touch.

Eyes meet.

Sudden silence.

Sudden heat.

Hearts leap in a giddy whirl.

He could be that boy,

But I'm not that girl.

ELPHABA begins to walk towards the stream. She keeps her distance and leans against a large tree.

ELPHABA

Don't dream

Too far.

Don't lose sight of

Who you are.

ELPHABA holds out her hands, remembering FIYERO's touch.

ELPHABA

Don't remember that

Rush of joy.
He could be that boy…
I'm not that girl.

ELPHABA pulls down a branch over her eyes, blocking out the light as she closes them.

ELPHABA (Smiling as she imagines.)
Ev'ry so often we long to steal
To the land of what-might-have-been.

ELPHABA opens her eyes, releasing the branch, only to see the bleak skies filling with dark storm clouds. She rushes to get under the bridge.

ELPHABA
But that doesn't soften the ache we feel
When reality sets back in.

ELPHABA leans against the support pillars of the bridge, looking up at the thick gold bricks above her.

ELPHABA
Blithe smile, lithe limb.
She who's winsome, she wins him.

ELPHABA twirls her hair in her fingers.

ELPHABA

Gold hair with a gentle curl

Above ELPHABA during the next verse (unseen by her), FIYERO crosses the bridge, GALINDA's hand in his. They lean over the side to look at the river. FIYERO's eyes wander, clearly looking to see where ELPHABA has gone, and GALINDA admires the view. But then, the rain starts to fall, and they take off running, FIYERO throwing one last look behind him. A rose from GALINDA's hair falls over the side and flutters gently to the ground in the rain.

ELPHABA
That's the girl he chose,
And Heaven knows
I'm not that girl.

ELPHABA sees the rose and feels immediate heartbreak.

ELPHABA
Don't wish… don't start.
Wishing only wounds the heart.
I wasn't born for the rose and the pearl.
There's a girl I know:
He loves her so.
I'm not that girl…

MADAME MORRIBLE comes running through the trees with an umbrella in tow. She finds ELPHABA under the yellow brick bridge and comes over to her, holding the umbrella above them both.

MADAME MORRIBLE

Miss Elphaba! There you are!

ELPHABA (Surprised.)
Madame Morrible.

MADAME MORRIBLE (Excited.)

I… I have thrillified news! I have just heard back from the Wizard! My dear, he wishes to meet you!

ELPHABA retreats, hand to her heart, dumbfounded.

ELPHABA

He asked for ME? Personally?

MADAME MORRIBLE shrieks with delight.

MADAME MORRIBLE

Yes! I know how devastated you were this morning for our poor Doctor Dillamond. But you see, my dear… as one door closes…

MADAME MORRIBLE draws a green letter from the folds of her gown.

MADAME MORRIBLE

Another one opens.

ELPHABA laughs in pleasure a laugh remnant of a witch's cackle.

ELPHABA (Hugging the headmistress.)

Oh, Madame Morrible! I don't know what to say! How could I possibly thank you?

MADAME MORRIBLE realizes that she's lowered the umbrella to hug ELPHABA, and throws it back over them.

MADAME MORRIBLE

Oh, careful, careful! You mustn't get wet!

MADAME MORRIBLE hands the umbrella to ELPHABA, backing up with an idea.

MADAME MORRIBLE

Ah! I know!

MADAME MORRIBLE waves her hands regally into the air. The rain slows to a halt, and the clouds fade into brighter skies. ELPHABA lowers the umbrella and closes it.

MADAME MORRIBLE
Didn't I mention? Magic weather is my specialty. Now, Oz-speed, my dear. I know you'll make me proud!

MADAME MORRIBLE heads back towards the school. ELPHABA opens the letter.

The Wizard and I (Reprise) begins.

ELPHABA

And so at last

I'll meet the Wizard.

And thank Oz now because

I can tell him about Doctor Dillamond,

How something bad is happening in Oz!

When we are making good

The Wizard and I.

ELPHABA drops the letter into her book sack and the camera drops down as she folds the flap over the pocket. When it pulls back, the steam from a locomotive train surrounds her. Behind her, the CONDUCTOR leans out of the train's engine room window.

OONDUCTOR

All aboard!

Several patient travelers board the cars beside ELPHABA. GALINDA has her hand on ELPHABA's shoulder.

GALINDA

And remember: eye contact! And don't forget to tell him how wonderful he is. Wizards love that.

GALINDA steps back, hanging on ELPHABA's hand with a tinge of sadness.

GALINDA
Oh, and be yourself. Well, within reason.

NESSAROSE and BOQ are also there, and NESSAROSE wheels forward towards her sister as GALINDA steps back.

NESSAROSE
Elphaba… Oh, I'm so proud of you! And I know father will be too. We're ALL proud…

NESSAROSE turns to face BOQ.

NESSAROSE
Aren't we?

ELPHABA (Holding NESSAROSE's hand and leaning down.)
You're sure you'll be alright without me?

GALINDA (Reassuringly.)

She'll be fine. Bick will keep her company. Won't you, Bick?

BOQ

It's Boq! And I… I can't do this anymore!

BOQ takes one frustrated look at GALINDA, turns to NESSAROSE, and runs off, out of the station. NESSAROSE wheels hurriedly after him.

NESSAROSE
Boq!

GALINDA (Stopping NESSAROSE.)
Nessa… maybe he just isn't the right one… for you.

NESSAROSE

No. He's the one. It's me that's not right.

NESSAROSE turns away, hiding her tears. ELPHABA moves towards her, but NESSAROSE cuts her off.

NESSAROSE

Don't worry about me, Elphaba. I'll be fine.

NESSAROSE leaves.

ELPHABA (Calling futilely.)

Nessa, wait!

GALINDA

Elphie, let her go. She'll have to learn to manage without you.

GALINDA looks at her, and then turns aside.

GALINDA

We all will.

ELPHABA

Oh, you'll barely notice I'm gone. You have Fiyero!

ELPHABA lifts up her luggage from the floor and takes a quick look around.

ELPHABA
Where is he, anyway? I mean… not that I expected him to say goodbye to me. We barely know each other.

GALINDA (Teary-eyed.)
I don't know him either. Not any more. He's distant, and mood-ified. And he's been thinking! Which really worries me. It all started that day that Doctor Dillamond got fired. I never knew how much he cared about that old goat!

FIYERO comes running down the train steps, checking a pocket watch nervously.

GALINDA

Oh, there he is! He DID come!

GALINDA waves to him.

GALINDA

Fiyero! Over here, dearest!

FIYERO is carrying a thick red flower, as bright and thick as a hibiscus, and hands it ELPHABA.

FIYERO

Elphaba, I'm so happy for you.

GALINDA (Clutching protectively to FIYERO's arm.)
Oh, yes. We're both so happy.

FIYERO (Detaching himself slightly from GALINDA.)

Listen… I've been thinking—

ELPHABA

Yes. I've heard.

FIYERO (Smiling.)

…About that lion cub… and… everything…

FIYERO gestures towards ELPHABA, hoping for some sort of response.

FIYERO (Thoughtfully.)

I… uh… I think about that day a lot.

ELPHABA (Not smiling.)

So do I.

GALINDA (Missing the exchange.)

Oh, me too! I think about it constantly. Poor Doctor Dillamond! It makes one want to… uh… take a stand. In fact… I've been thinking of… of…

GALINDA pauses a moment to decide what she has been thinking of constantly.

GALINDA

Changing my name.

ELPHABA and FIYERO raise their eyebrows.

FIYERO

Your name?

GALINDA
Well, yes! Since Doctor Dillamond had no way of pronouncing my name… in solidarity… and to express my, uh… uh… uh…

GALINDA looks at ELPHABA and then points at her with conviction.

GALINDA

Outrage! I will henceforth no longer be known as GA-linda, but as simply…

GALINDA opens her arms to bow, as if introducing herself.

GALINDA

Glinda.

FIYERO

Well, that's… uh… that's very… admirable! Of… you… uh… Glinda!

GLINDA moves forward to receive his pride, but he walks past her, hands in his coat.

GLINDA

Fiyero…

FIYERO

ELphaba! Good luck!

FIYERO leaves.

GLINDA (Near tears.)

There! You see?

ELPHABA

Galinda, don't!

GLINDA (Crying.)

It's Glinda now… Stupid idea: I don't even know what made me say it!

ELPHABA (Sympathetic.)

Oh… it doesn't matter what your name is. Everyone loves you.

GLINDA

I don't care. I want him!

GLINDA looks away, and then raises her head, enlightened, but still in tears.

GLINDA
This must be what other people feel like.

ELPHABA wraps her arms around GLINDA and GLINDA sobs.

GLINDA

How do they bear it?

ELPHABA

How would you like to come with me?

GLINDA doesn't move.

GLINDA (Hardly interested.)

Where?

ELPHABA

To the Emerald City.

GLINDA lights up, suddenly smiling. She looks ecstatically at ELPHABA.

GLINDA

Really? I've always wanted to see the Emerald City!

CONDUCTOR

Last call for passengers! All aboard!

They board the train as it sets out, and the camera pans back and up towards the sky as the train takes off over the Oz countryside.