Chapter 5
The sun has long since gone down in the sky. Moonlight shines on Shiz, giving the campus an ethereal glow. In the dormitories, the students get ready for bed. One by one, the lights flick off as the teens go to bed. All rooms but one are now dark.
Galinda and Elphaba each sit on their respective beds. Galinda has a pink Ozian lamp on so she can see as she writes her letter to her parents. Elphaba simply uses the light from Galinda’s lamp instead of lighting her own.
“Dearest darlingest Momsie and Popsical…” Galinda mutters to herself as she writes.
“My dear Father…” Elphaba whispers to herself as she, too, writes her letter.
“Guess what?” Galinda mumbles.
“Thank you for honoring our deal and allowing me to come here,” Elphaba murmurs.
“I can’t hear your guesses because this is a letter.” Galinda pauses before continuing, “So I’ll just tell you.”
“However, I must tell you…” Elphaba says quietly, pausing to think over what she’s to write out next. She didn’t want her father to think she’s discontent here, or else she fears the Wizard will bring her back to the Emerald Palace.
(Start of Song “What is This Feeling?”)
Both singing softly, quietly yet urgently writing their letters. “There’s been some confusion over rooming here at Shiz,”
“But of course, I’ll stay out of harm’s way.” Elphaba sings while writing her assurance so the Wizard will have no reason to worry over her.
“But of course, I’ll rise above it.” Galinda sings, proud of how she is willing to push through this…inconvenience.
Now both sing again, “For I know that's how you'd want me to respond. Yes, there's been some confusion, for you see, my room-mate is…” Both pause as they think about how to describe the other.
“Unusually and exceedingly peculiar And altogether quite impossible to describe…” Galinda muses.
“Blonde.” Elphaba settles for, her tone irritable yet with resignation.
Both girls sign their letters and place them in envelopes before leaving them on their respective nightstands. They both lie down in their beds, pulling their covers up. Galinda turns off her lamp, and both attempt to sleep. To no avail. They roll around in their beds and squirm in frustration as sleep fails to find them.
“What is this feeling, so sudden and new?” Galinda huffs.
“I felt the moment I laid eyes on you.” Elphaba frowns, glancing at Galinda.
They toss and turn in their beds.
“My pulse is rushing,” Galinda pouts.
“My head is reeling,” Elphaba rubs her forehead.
“Yeah well, my face is flushing.” Galinda retorts, shooting an annoyed glare at Elphaba.
Both now sing: “What is this feeling? Fervid as a flame, does it have a name?”
They each get up, pulling on their own sleep robes. Galinda switches on her lamp as they walk up to each other, glaring at each other in the eye.
Both still: “Loathing, unadulterated loathing!”
“For your face…” Galinda scowls.
“Your voice,” Elphaba retorts.
“Your clothing!” Galinda snaps back.
They glare at each other, eyes filled with deep revulsion. Both sing now, “let’s just say-- I loathe it all!”
(Scene change, morning now and Elphaba wakes surrounded by Galinda’s stuff.)
Galinda now, “Every little trait, however small,” Elphaba grunts and struggles through the pink barcade of items.
“Makes my very flesh begin to crawl,” Elphaba sings now, glaring at Galinda when she finally manages to get out.
Both sing: “With simple utter loathing," Galinda sits on her bed smugly, doing her makeup with a small hand held mirror while Elphaba stands there disheveled. “There’s a strange exhilaration, in such total detestation. It’s so pure it’s so strong!”
Galinda leaves the door, shooting Elphaba a smug look as she slams the doors shut on her way out.
(Scene change, later that day Galinda enters her dorm with ShenShen and Pfanne to see all her stuff piled high on her bed.)
Galinda scowls and goes straight to the balcony, where Elphaba sits reading a book with her own smug smile.
Both: “Thought I do admit it came on fast. Still I do believe that it can last.” The two girls stand face to face, before Elphaba turns and smugly walks inside the dorm, pleased when ShenShen and Pfanne immediately back away from her.
Both still: “And I will be loathing, loathing you my whole life long!”
(Scene change, courtyard just outside the dining hall.)
Galinda walks towards the dining hall, books in hand, with a self-satisfied look on her face. A crowd of students follow behind her.
Students singing: “Dear Galinda you are just too good. How do you stand it? I don’t think I could! She’s a terror, she’s a tartar! We don’t mean to show a bias, but Galinda you’re a martyr.”
“Well,” Galinda sings with a virtuous tone. “These things are sent to try us.”
She stands right in front of the dining hall doors, the light reflecting off the circular window of the door gives the appearance of a halo on her head, which only serves to add to the perfect girl persona she so painstakingly created.
The students all swoon over her goodness, before their attention is drawn to Elphaba, who is visible inside the dining hall getting her food.
Galinda enters the dining hall with the students following. Elphaba looks up from getting her food and meets Galinda’s gaze with a cold look, unperturbed by the dirty looks from the students.
Students singing: “Poor Galinda, forced to reside. With someone so disgustikafied. We just want to tell you, we’re all on your side! We share your loathing--”
Galinda and Elphaba singing: “What is this feeling? So sudden and new? I felt the moment I laid eyes on you. My pulse is rushing, my head is reeling. Oh-- what is this feeling? Does it have a name? Yes…”
Students, singing at the same time as Elphaba and Galinda: “Loathing, unadulterated loathing for her face, her voice, her clothing. Let’s just say: we loathe it all! Every little trait, however small, makes our very flesh begin to crawl…”
Elphaba, with a defiant look, plops down at a table directly opposite of Galinda, maintaining eye contact as she cuts into her food with more force than necessary.
(Scene change, Shiz classroom/sports area.)
Elphaba and Galinda have been partnered up in sparring practice, the two girls fight each other with equal amounts of force and dislike.
Galinda and Elphaba: “Loathing! There’s a strange exhilaration, in such total detestation! It’s so pure, so strong!”
Students, singing at same time: “Loathing Loathing! Loathing! So strong!”
Elphaba and Galinda alone now: “Though I do admit it came on fast! Still I do believe that it can last!”
(Scene change, in a Shiz classroom.)
Students dance around the arguing roommates as Elphaba and Galinda forcibly try to shove each other out of the way for a seat.
Elphaba and Galinda: “And I will be loathing for forever, loathing truly, deeply loathing you my whole life long!”
Students at the same time: “Loathing, Loathing, Loathing, Loathing you! Loathing, unadulterated loathing!”
Another student rushes forward and takes Elphaba by surprise, moving the green girl out of the way. Galinda successfully claims the seat with a smug smile.
(End of song.)
Galinda rushes in the dorm and slams the door shut behind her, leaning against the wall in relief as she believes herself to be alone now.
Elphaba suddenly slams the door open, purposefully startling the blonde. “Boo!”
Galinda shrieks and Elphaba cackles, grabbing some books on her nightstand before leaving the dorm.
Students rush through the campus grounds as they rush to get to their next class on time. Elphaba enters the history classroom, holding the door open for a girl in a wheelchair. To the princess’ relief, the girl smiles and thanks her, instead of being disgusted or glaring at her.
Elphaba takes her seat at the front of the classroom, unbothered by the fact that everyone avoids sitting next to her. The professor, Dr. Dillamond, trots in. Small bleats escape from the goat as he gets his things ready for the lesson.
“Settle down, ladies and gentlemen; settle down now--!” The goat looks sternly over his class until everyone settles down and looks at their professor expectantly, ready for the lesson.
Dr. Dillamond goes around, passing out papers to students as he speaks. “I have read your most recent essays, and I am amazed to report some progress. Although some of us still tend to favor form over content--” he hands Galinda hers with a pointed look. “Miss Glllinda.”
“Oh-- it’s actually Ga-linda. With a “Ga.”” the blonde tries to correct the professor while keeping her polite facade.
Dr. Dillamond sighs, not in the mood to be corrected on a pronunciation he knows is impossible for him to get right, but tries again just to appease Galinda. “Yes, of course…Glllinda.”
Galinda huffs with a small pout, “I don’t see what the problem is-- every other professor manages to pronouncify my name.”
Fed up with Galinda’s attitude, Elphaba speaks up with an annoyed tone.
“Maybe the pronuncifi-cation of your precious name is not the sole focus of Doctor Dillamond’s life. Maybe he’s not like every other Professor, maybe some of us are different!” She says irritably. It’s clear that this topic isas sensitive for her as it would be for Dr. Dillamond.
“Well,” Galinda hums, pretending to be indifferent to Elphaba’s interruption. “It seems the artichoke is steamed.”
The students in the class laugh at Galinda’s jab. Boq laughs for a beat too long, while the girl in the wheelchair, Nessa, frowns at the comment. The paralyzed girl had always been sensitive about her own differences, and she can only imagine how awful it would be to be bullied for being handicapped, something she can’t control. Elphaba being ridiculed for her skin color is not something that sat right with her.
Dr. Dillamond speaks, trying to take the attention off the princess and continue with his class.
“We Goats lack upper front teeth. Which accounts for the mispronunciation, Miss-- Glllinda.” The goat walks up to his Ozian slide projector and turns it on, using it to flick on pictures. He starts his lesson. The pictures shows a succession of images: Animals, contributing to Ozian society, alongside humans.
“Some of us are different. And there was a time, before you were born, when life in Oz was different. When one could walk these halls, and hear-- a Snow Leopard, solving an equation, or an Antelope, explicating a sonnet.” Dr. Dillamond speaks while showing more images, a frog and rabbit scientist in goggles and lab coat while conducting an experiment, and a younger Dr. Dillamond lecturing Shiz students that are both human and animal. “So... when, and why-- did this change?”
Elphaba raises her and speaks when Dr. Dillamond nods to her.
“From what I’ve read, it began with the Great Drought.”
“Preciously,” the goat professor nods, “Food grew scarce. When people are hungry, and-- angry, they begin to look for--”
“Someone to blame,” Elphaba murmurs almost sadly, her eyes meeting Dillamond’s own.
“A scapegoat.” the professor says somberly.
Galinda clears her throat and promptly raises her hand.
Dr. Dillamond sighs and turns to the blond. “Yes, Miss Glll--”
“It’s GA-linda.” she interrupts before he can mispronounce her name again. “And why can’t you just teach us history, instead of always harping on the past?”
A few of the students murmur in agreement.
“Because we cannot escape the past.” Dr. Dillamond responds, unperturbed by Galinda’s complaint. “And we ignore it at our own peril. The past helps explain our present circumstances. For instance, if we examine this timeline--”
He cuts himself off when he flips over the chalkboard, only to see large writing in blood red chalk over his timeline that spell out a truly horrific message. The entire class gasps when they see it. Galinda looks truly disturbed and angry at the message for a moment, before quickly masking it.
“Animals should be seen and not heard.”
Elphaba’s brows furrow in horror, her eyes flickering from the message on the board, to Dr. Dillamond in concern.
The goat stares at the message, shaken and disturbed by the words. He shakes his head and backs up, turning to look at the class.
“Who is responsible for this?” His voice is low, angry and horrified by the words.
Elphaba feels her anger rising at her fellow students when no one speaks up.
“Very well, class dismissed.” He says in a low voice, turning and walking back to his desk.
Elphaba looks ready to explode, glaring furiously at the students as they leave. One boy accidentally bumps into Dr. Dillamond’s desk, causing a jar of poppy flowers to fall and break on the floor.
Elphaba immediately gets up to help him clean up. Nessa stalls at the door, looking torn between wanting to help but not wanting to be late for her next class. Eventually she leaves with a guilty look, despite not being responsible for the message or mess.
“Thank you,” He murmurs softly, watching as Elphaba helps clean up the broken glass and poppies. “You’re very kind.”
He walks up to her, his hooves quietly clicking on the wood floor. “They’re my favorite. Helps me in these dark times.”
“Miss Elphaba,” Dr. Dillamond continues with a sigh, “You don’t have to stay. Go and join your friends.”
“It’s alright,” Elphaba murmurs, picking up his poppies and placing them in the watering can she sees on the windowsill. “I don’t have any friends.”
Dr. Dillamond can’t help but chuckle at the blunt statement, grabbing a dustpan with his mouth and placing it on the floor. Elphaba sweeps the broken glass onto it.
“Well, maybe…one.” He says kindly to her.
He smiles at her, and Elphaba can’t help but smile back. Shiz wasn’t what she expected, and Elphaba had seriously considered returning home to her father several times. But maybe, with a friend in Dr. Dillamond, things could start to look up.
After dinner, Elphaba walks across the darkening campus grounds, returning to her dorm. As she walks, she sees Dr. Dillamond rush past her, trotting at a brisk pace off campus grounds.
“Doctor Dillamond! Did you find out who--” Elphaba stops talking when she sees that he either didn;t notice her or is too much in a hurry to respond.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Elphaba discretely follows her professor.
Dillamond hurriedly walks to a small run darn building at the edge of campus, just next to the woods. He opens the door and enters, seeing his friends. There’s the other professor, the shoebill-bird Mombi, there’s also a snow leopard, a deer, a frog, an owl, and a squirrel. He remains unaware of Elphaba following him.
Elphaba slowly approaches the small building, being as quiet as possible as she listens.
“This is much bigger than just some words on a chalkboard.” She hears Dr. Dillamond say. “We Animals are now being blamed for everything that goes wrong. Forced from our jobs. Told to keep silent.”
Elphaba slowly peeks through the window. She sees the deer speak next.
“We can still converse in private, thank Oz.” the deer says, looking around at his companions. They all speak in hushed, urgent whispers.
“Not after dark. Not without a speech permit.” the snow leopard snarls angrily. Elphaba frowns, her heart skipping a beat in worry for the animals. She grows more and more troubled by what she hears.
Dr. Dillamond speaks next. “A dear friend of mine--”
“A deer?” the deer interrupts.
“A Cow, actually. She’s been speaking out, at protests, and recently wrote me, asking to meet at a cafe. She said it was urgent... That day, I was shown to their new non-speaking section.” Dr. Dillamond shakes his head. His expression shows how deeply troubled he is.
Mombi speaks next. “And? What did your Deer friend--”
“Cow,” the squirrel and frog correct at the same time.
“Cow friend tell you?” Mombi corrects themselves, continuing their question as if they hadn’t been interrupted.
“She never showed. And no one’s seen her since.” Dr. Dillamond lights his pipe with an Ozian contraption.
The animals all anxiously share rumors of other animals in Oz being fired, or silenced. Their anxiety and fear grow as the conversation continues. Outside, Elphaba is horrified.
“That’s it!” The snow leopard abruptly gets up. “I’m leaving Oz! While I can still say the word “goodbye.””
“Leave Oz?” The squirrel gasps.
Shocked, Elphaba takes a step back from the window, only to accidentally step on a dry twig. The sound of its snap feels like a scream compared to the silence.
Almost instantly, the animals react. They rush out of the building through a hole in the wall and run into the forest. Only Dr. Dillamond remains. He hesitantly opens the door. Sighing in relief when he sees who it is.
“Miss Elphaba, what are you doing here?” He questions. But before Elphaba can respond, he leads her inside to the now empty building. He draws the curtains shut and closes the door.
“Doctor Dillamond, what you were describing just now-- could something like that really happen?” Elphaba asks with an uneasy tone.
“It is happening.” He says, looking at her. His wise eyes are grave. He removes his spectacles to clean them, accidentally dropping them in the process. Rattled, Elphaba bends down and picks them up, gently handing them to him.
“If you make it discouraging enough, you can keep anyone silent.” Dr. Dillamond tells her somberly.
“But, Doctor Dillamond, if Animals--” Elphaba starts, only to be urgently shushed by the professor.
“You’d better go,” Dr. Dillamond says worriedly, gently pushing her towards the door.
“If Animals are losing the ability to speak-- leaving Oz--” Elphaba persists, “Someone should tell my father! He could do something!”
“Listen to me. You cannot tell another soul what you’ve heard and seen here tonight!” the goat says seriously.
“But--” Elphaba tries to protest, only to be interrupted by a sudden and unintentional bleat from Dr. Dillamond that startles them both.
“F-forgive me,” the goat says, sounding very troubled now. “I must be catching a cold.”
Elphaba nods numbly, concern shining in her eyes.
“Oz bless you, Dr. Dillamond.” She says softly.
He nods and shuts the door.
Elphaba stands there silently for a moment, before reluctantly turning and making her way through the woods back to campus.
Elphaba slowly walks through the woods, the moonlight illuminating her way. Suddenly, a horse runs into her. Elphaba yelps as she falls to the ground.
“I didn’t see her!” the horse says in a defensive panic as his rider quickly jumps off.
“Neither did I,” the male says as he rushes to make sure Elphaba is okay.
“I’m sorry miss-- we didn’t see you…” He pauses when he sees her skin color. “You…must’ve blended in with the foliage…”
Elphaba huffs and pulls herself up, pointedly ignoring his outstretched hand. “Is this how you go through life, running amok, nearly trampling anyone in your path?”
“Well, sometimes I’m asleep.” The man says with a shrug.
“Here we go,” Elphaba sighs. “No, I’m not seasick--”
“Me either,” he mumbles.
“Nor did I eat grass as a child,” Elphaba frowns at him.
“You didn’t? I did.”
“And yes, I’ve always been green.” she finishes.
“And the defensiveness-? Is that a recent development?” the man, Fiyero, questions.
Elphaba narrows her eyes at him, before turning and stalking off.
His horse whispers something to him, and Fiyero nods. “I’ll ask her,” he responds.
Fiyero calls out to Elphaba, “I’m off for more trampling; may we offer you a ride?”
“Get stuffed.” Elphaba snaps without looking back.
Fiyero raises a brow and looks at his horse. “Well, Feldspur, we’ve been spurned by a girl. I guess there’s a first time for everything!”
Elphaba sits in her dorm room on her bed, writing out a letter to her father. She frowns at the parchment as she writes, doubt swirling around in her mind. Surely her father didn’t know about what was happening to the animals, he wouldn’t stand for it.
…right?
“My dear father,” she whispers to herself as she writes. “I’m writing to you to question if you’re aware of the discrimination the animals of Oz are facing. It is unjust and unreasonable. Surely you’ve heard of this?”
“No,” Elphaba huffs and scratches out her previous sentence, “Surely there is something you can do about this?” She muses over the wording before nodding to herself. She reads the letter back to herself before signing it.
“My dear father, I’m writing to you to question if you’re aware of the discrimination the animals of Oz are facing. It’s unjust and unreasonable. Surely there is something you can do about this? I eagerly await your response. Love, Elphaba.”
It’s short, yet gets her point across. Satisfied, Elphaba seals the letter in an envelope and stamps it. She’ll mail it off with all the other student letters in the morning.
Elphaba lies down in her bed, her mind whirring with everything she learned from Dr. Dillamond. She’s unable to sleep, partially due to Galinda’s snores, but mostly due to her growing anxiety. She can’t get the thought out of her mind that her father knew what was going on, and purposefully doing nothing about it.
But she wouldn’t directly question him. The Wizard always told her that everything he did was for the good of all Oz. She just had to trust him. He’s her father after all. He’d never deceive her.