A/N: Sorry about taking so long with this. I had my wisdom teeth pulled Monday and I'm still getting back into the swing of things. Don't worry, I'll work on this as often as I can. So...on with the show! ^_^
Scene 8: [We come back from commercials out in the garden behind the ballroom. Gaz is standing by herself, glancing around her.]
Gaz: [muttering] Where are you, you stupid robot? What do I have to do to make you show yourself? Click my heels?
GIR: [pops up behind her] Nope! [floats around in front of her, as if lying on an invisible mat] What's up?
Gaz: Do I have to stay here until midnight?
GIR: [nearly falls out of the air in surprise] You wanna go home now?
Gaz: Yeah.
GIR: [looking a little hurt] Why?
Gaz: I don't know what I came here looking for, but I sure as heck didn't find it. So can I go?
[At that moment, Zim appears in the doorway between the ballroom and the garden. He scans the area quickly and spots Gaz.]
Zim: There you are!
Gaz: Huh? [spins around, as GIR disappears in a cloud of gold dust] Oh…yeah…
Zim: [walking over to her] Were you leaving?
Gaz: I was trying to. But I don't think it's gonna happen.
Zim: Oh…good.
Gaz: You mean you want me to stay?
Zim: Gak! [blushes] Um…of course not… It's just that…er…no one leaves until ZIM says so!! [He pumps his fists in the air. A wave of recognition sweeps over Gaz's face.]
Gaz: Are you…sure we haven't met? 'Cuz I feel like I know you.
Zim: Well, with all the girls Mother's thrown at me, I doubt if I'd ever remember all of them. I swear, it's like a contest to her…some sort of demented game. [waves his arms dramatically] Come compete for the Prince!! If you win, you get a free toaster oven!!
Gaz: [laughs]
Zim: You may think it's funny, but I'm sick of it. I don't want to get married…
Gaz: Ever?
Zim: Oh, I don't know… [finds himself blushing again] Maybe…someday…if I find someone worthy enough.
Gaz: Worthy? What's that supposed to mean?
Zim: Well…it's…complicated…
Gaz: Complicated? This I've gotta hear. [seats herself on the edge of the Membrane fountain]
Zim: [thinks for a moment, and then waves his hand dismissively] There aren't any words for it. I'd just know… [begins pacing in front of her] First of all…she'd have to understand what it's like…living in someone else's shadow.
Gaz: [nods] Been there. Done that.
Zim: [stops pacing and looks at her] You have? How?
Gaz: My stepmother and stepsisters have kept me on a pretty tight leash since my father died… But I can tell you one thing – I'd much rather give orders than receive 'em.
Zim: So would I!
[The two just stare at each other for a moment. Cut to Sam, standing off to one side, next to the camera man.]
Sam: I think this would be a good spot to insert the next number, eh?
[The camera man nods and we cut back to Zim and Gaz, as the music starts playing softly.]
Zim: You know…I couldn't help notice…how pretty you look.
Gaz: Me? Pretty? [looks shocked and then grins embarrassedly] You really think so?
Zim: I don't know…maybe I'm imagining it…
"Do I Like You…?"
Zim: Do I like you because you're beautiful?
Or are you beautiful because I like you?
Am I crazy to think I see in you,
A girl to pretty to be really true?
Did I find you because I'm lonely now?
Or am I lonely now because I've found you?
Are you the strange delusion of an LSD?
Or are you really as likeable as you seem?
[Gaz stands up and looks hard at him. She shakes her head.]
Gaz: [speaking] I must be going crazy! [turns and walks a few steps away]
Zim: [speaking, and following after her] Why?
Gaz: [turns back and sings]
Do I like you 'cuz you're adorable?
Or're you adorable because I like you?
Am I crazy to think I see in you,
A boy to funny to be really true?
Did I find you because I'm lonely now?
Or am I lonely now because I've found you?
Are you the strange delusion of an LSD?
Or are you really as likeable as you seem?
[Zim hurries up to her and takes her hands in his, after a small jab from Sam's electro-spear.]
Zim: [speaking] I don't think either of us is on drugs…
Gaz: [speaking] You never know with these fanfic authors.
Zim: [speaking] Well, I hope you're real.
Gaz: [speaking] Me too. [they resume singing]
Both: Are you the strange delusion of an LSD?
Or Are you really as likeable as you seem?
[They hold the last note out and lean in towards each other…and then we cut to the clock, which Sam is moving ahead with her spear. It strikes midnight and she zips back off-screen.]
Gaz: [hearing the clock, pulls away from Zim] I gotta go. Sorry! [she runs off, back through the ballroom.]
Zim: What?? Wait!! [chases after her]
[Cut to interior ballroom, Sam, Membrane and Dib are standing on the main stair case as Gaz zips past, trampling Dib in the process.]
Membrane: Now where's she going in such a hurry?
Sam: [shrugs unconvincingly] I don't know, dear.
[Then Zim rushes past, also trampling over Dib. Sam grins as she watches Zim run past. Everything is going according to the script.]
[Cut to Gaz, tearing down the steps at the Palace entrance. As she reaches the bottom, her gown becomes rags once more. She looks down at herself and notices she still has one of the glass combat boots on.]
Gaz: [mutters] Oh great…how am I supposed to run with just one of these? [She shrugs and dashes off, past the spot where the Mercedes used to be. It's turned back into a rotten apple. Jhonen however has not been turned back into a bug.]
Jhonen: [watching her go] What gives?? [then he gets up off the ground and storms away, muttering to himself once more]
[As soon as Jhonen has made it off screen, Zim appears at the top of the stairs. He looks around sadly and the spots the glass combat boot a few steps down. He picks it up, wide-eyed.]
Zim: A glass…combat boot?? What is up with this story?? [then the music starts again and he realizes there's a reprise coming on]
"Do I Like You…? (Reprise)"
Zim: Did I find you because I'm lonely now?
[Cut to Gaz, who's already made it to the town square. She's sitting on a stone bench, with the combat boot she still had pulled off. As she rubs her sore foot, she sings her next line.]
Gaz: Or am I lonely now because I've found you?
[The next shot is a cool mixed image of both Zim and Gaz. Each is looking at the combat boot in their hands.]
Both: Are you the strange delusion of an LSD?
Or Are you really as likeable as you seem?
[The screen fades out Gaz's picture and we watch Zim carry his boot back up the steps. Then we cut back to Gaz, who is walking home without any shoes on now.] [Cut to Commercials.]