The Marc Pease Experience (2009) Movie Script
1
Please, Mr. Wiz, you just
got to help me get back to Kansas.
I don't got to do anything.
The great Wiz does as he pleases
and nothing more!
No, sir! You don't got to do
nothing at all.
But would you?
Tell me, where did you get...
such a marvelous pair
of silver pumps?
I can do this.
- What's going on?
- I can't do this, Mr. Gribble.
- What are you talking about?
- I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry, everybody.
I let you all down.
Marc, forget about those people,
they're chorus.
Just tell me,
what's the matter, buddy?
- Okay.
- Breathe.
I know you said to try to tie it
to a balloon and let it go, but...
Okay, breathe.
First of all... Hello?
It's okay. Breathe.
Tickle the esophagus.
- Come on. Center up.
- I'm trying. I can't do it.
- Marc! You can. Yes, you can.
- I can't.
And do you know why?
Listen to me. Do you know how I know?
Because you've got this.
A great costume?
No! Heart. Tin Man didn't have one.
But you do.
A big one. It's the reason
I gave you this part. Okay?
- It is?
- Yes! Come on, you're Marc Pease.
You're the most dependable performer
I've got.
You're a leader.
You set the bar so the other kids
can go beyond it.
- I do?
- Yeah. And, by the way...
you happen to be the founder
of Meridian 8.
Only the hottest high school
a cappella group ever!
- Really?
- Yeah. Really.
And when you make
your first album...
I would love to have the opportunity
at a shot at producing it.
- Really?
- Please?
- Okay.
- Okay. Good.
Now you get out there and you sing
the crap out of that song...
just like you did in rehearsal.
Okay? All right?
All this stuff you're feeling,
all that...
terror and fear and that weird thing
underneath your stomach...
above your pelvis,
that's show business.
Okay? All right?
That's what we're all about,
guys like you and I.
That's what's running
through our veins.
What is?
Pizzazz!
Tin Man, do you know anything
or not?
Hey! Marc!
Who was that?
That was the Tin Man?
You dropped your ax,
buddy! Marc!
You can still make it back
for the winged monkeys!
"Hello? Hello? Is this it?"
"Okay. Yeah, no, I like it."
Good morning,
students of New Ashby High School.
This is the all-powerful
Gribble speaking.
"I've taken over
these morning announcements..."
"to deliver
a very important reminder."
"It is opening night."
"This very evening,
New Ashby High's..."
"prestigious
Drama Club presents..."
"The Wiz!"
Directed by, that's right,
yours truly.
I feel like I should have been...
Dorothy, you know, like...
I've a better voice
than her, don't I?
Yeah! Thank you!
She's just loud.
Like, we can hear you.
Great. I can scream, too.
Right?
Like, thanks, Celine.
No, I'm totally, like...
totally, totally quitting singing.
No, wait until I tell Marc.
Maybe his ponytail
will burst into flames.
"Very few tickets remain...
so I would advise you...
to skip first period and rush on...
down to the box office...
where the one and lonely...
Robby Bender is sitting there...
twiddling his thumbs..."
waiting for you to buy a ticket
from him.
Isn't that right, Robby?
Thank you! Yes!
All right, this next song...
goes out to my beautiful
girlfriend, Meg Brickman...
a little shiny diamond...
Hi. No, I'm up.
No, I have an airport run
and then I'm picking up my lady.
So what's the news?
They make an offer?
"I think this is a day...
for the entire community...
to be proud of."
Even you, computer lab support team
who have no personalities.
Joan! You're the greatest realtor...
in the universe. I'm meeting with...
the group this morning. They will...
freak out when I tell
them the big news.
Yes! Okay I'll be here by noon.
All right. Okay, bye.
You guys, we're doing it.
"So, if you're walking
in the halls...
and you see someone you know...
who's involved in the play tonight.
Give them a pat on the backpack.
Or a high five.
Or just say hi.
Even if it's a stagehand...
or an usher...
make them feel
like they're important."
Marc's here!
Okay.
Sorry I'm late.
Why are you driving this?
Client's flight was delayed.
No time to switch cars.
Wow! What a morning!
"It's going to be
a very special show.
Quite possibly the greatest...
high school production...
of The Wiz ever staged.
Let's do this thing!
I will destroy you!
Nice cap.
Focus.
So, Meg.
Yeah?
I think you better
buckle your seat belt.
- Why?
- Because I've got huge news.
- What?
- I'm finally getting the group...
into the recording studio.
- Somebody's buying the condo?
- Yes!
Yes! Joan's bringing the buyers
over today to take a final look.
Okay, this is going
to bring in all the cash...
we need to make a kick-ass demo.
Yeah, but, Marc,
what's the point?
There's only, like,
four of you left. It's stupid.
How can you say that?
I'm sorry.
Forgiven.
That's really exciting.
Yeah.
- I love you so much.
- Me, too.
Bye.
What are you doing?
I have to run inside
and talk to Gribble.
Why?
To tell him the big news.
No one even knows I put the condo
on the market yet.
- I'll tell him.
- No.
- Marc, come on.
- Hey, I'll just be five...
- all right, Pascal?
- Take your time, Marc.
Okay.
I can't believe I have to take
these stupid Milford kids...
to their prom tonight.
And what if I'm late
for your show?
It's okay.
Bye.
What are you typing
on your computer?
Where have you been hiding?
It's been months.
I'm a busy guy.
I heard Rob Gentry
quit the group.
Doesn't matter.
I'm working on something now...
that will keep Meridian 8
together forever.
- Is Gribble around?
- No.
It's opening night.
What did you expect?
I need that.
Don't steal it.
I will.
Yes, this is Debbie.
Yes. Vice Principal Yonka,
that's correct. 2.45pm is fine.
- He's going to be so psyched.
- That's fine.
Why don't you call me back
when you know when you're available?
Bye, Debbie.
Perfect.
Hey.
Hey. Cory.
How's your sister?
Meg.
Can you give me a hand with this,
please? Thanks.
So I heard you lost another member
of Meridian 8.
Yeah.
So what are you guys now?
Meridian 5?
Four, actually.
Don't you think you should change
the name of the group?
What? Never.
Cory!
Do you want help?
Not a word of this.
"Here and now,
it's time for celebration"
"I finally figured out"
"Yeah"
"That all my dreams
have no limitations"
"That's what it's all about"
"Come on, now!"
"Everyone is special
in their own way"
"We make each other strong"
"We make each other strong"
"We're not the same"
"We're different in a good way"
"Together's where we belong"
- Sell it!
- "We're all in this together"
"Once we know that we are"
- "We're all stars and we see that"
- I ain't buying it. Come on.
- "We're all in this together"
- I need more, tenors!
- Good! And the clap!
- "And it shows..."
"when we stand hand in hand"
"Make our dreams come true"
- Big finish!
- "Together!"
All right! Good.
Much better.
Sopranos, measure 38...
still getting that F sharp
sort of sneaking up on you like...
It's not a surprise.
It's going to be there, right?
Let me hear that.
Support it. Come through here,
through the mask. Okay?
I can't do it, but you can.
Okay. Kenny!
Was I imagining it,
or were you...
actually singing with us today?
Your lips were moving
and sound was coming out.
Glad to hear your voice.
It's a welcome addition.
Okay, for those of you performing
in tonight's show...
please, I implore you,
warm up your voices.
Do the Circle of Fire,
do The Escalator.
You're going to be kicking yourselves
if you don't. Okay?
And I'm going to be sitting
in the cheap seats...
so each and every one of you
needs to make sure...
that I hear your voice.
That goes for you, Hazel.
You, Brendan.
You, Meg.
Everybody's got to remember
that tonight is for reals.
Stakes couldn't be higher.
So if you get out there on stage...
and you feel a little jittery...
like maybe you want to pass out...
it happens, don't panic.
It's no secret that the last time
we did The Wiz...
my Tin Man, who shall
remain nameless...
broke down crying in the middle
of his big song.
And that was it.
Don't let what happened
to Marc Pease happen to you.
"Say you do remember
dancing in September?"
"Never was a cloudy day!"
All right! Thank you!
This next song goes out
to the truly brilliant Jon Gribble.
The greatest man
I've ever known.
Butter!
Clear crumbs, be gone!
- Hey! Mr. Pharmaceutical Salesman.
- You're late.
Sorry.
I let two buses go by.
I owe you 10 minutes
of your life back.
Today's insane.
I had a 5.00am. airport pick-up...
and the flight was an hour late.
Meg almost missed first bell.
- My boss!
- You're not going to answer it?
No way. Let's go!
I'm going back
over to Meg's later...
and making her dad help me
move that piano into her bedroom.
The acoustics will be way better
in there.
Exactly.
So they've asked
for a '70s medley.
- Cool!
- Yeah.
I'm going to slip in
the Tin Man song, too...
in honor of Meg's opening night.
- Really?
- Sure, why not?
- Marc...
- What?
- The Tin Man song?
- Yeah!
That song kind of
has a lot of baggage.
Baggage is meant
to be unpacked, my friend.
Do you remember the lyrics?
Gerry, it's The Wiz.
I know every single line
in that show.
- Go ahead, test me.
- Hey, Marc.
But, Marc, why even put yourself
in that position?
What? You think I'm going
to start crying...
and run off stage
like I'm still in high school?
Well, I won't!
- Lazy day.
- There he is.
Right!
Marc Pease was here?
Yeah, he tried to steal my pen.
Did he cry when you took it back?
Give the kid a little friendly
encouragement when he's 16...
and he never leaves you alone.
I mean, I never return his calls.
And when I do,
I use my curt voice...
but he just keeps coming back,
like a bad case of mono.
You can only get that once.
Okay, herpes or whatever.
Lyme disease.
So what does he want
with you now?
He wants me to produce a demo tape
for his a cappella singing group.
He brought it up
a few months ago...
when he waited by my car
for me...
for two hours after school,
in the faculty lot...
in the pouring rain.
Excuse me.
- What was that?
- I switched up to the 7th.
That was Rob's part.
I said I'd cover us there.
I keep forgetting
to stay on the alto part.
Then maybe we should
rework the arrangement.
No way, man.
We don't just start tinkering. Right?
So I can't even believe
this is our first gig in nine weeks.
Are you guys psyched or what?
I don't know.
You don't know? What do you mean
you don't know?
Well, I've been feeling
a little bit lately...
like we've kind of lost
some of our luster.
- Lost our luster?
- I basically agree.
What is this? Am I the only one
that cares about this group anymore?
- What?
- Come on, Marc. Come on.
No, you come on, Gerry.
I mean, it's a very simple question.
Are the rest of you
wholeheartedly committed...
to a cappella vocal music?
Yes.
Yes what?
Yes, we care.
I know you do, Mizz Thang.
And you should,
because we are world-class, you guys.
Am I right?
Isn't that why Gribble...
brought us together
in the first place?
Did he not say
that we were the best?
- In high school!
- He says it to everyone, probably.
- Not true.
- Marc, what is your point here?
My point is...
Okay. Enough.
I was going to tell you later,
but you're forcing my hand.
About what?
It was supposed
to be a big surprise.
What is it?
We're going into
the recording studio.
- No!
- Can you believe it?
With what money?
What money?
- I'm selling my condo.
- That is astounding!
Gribble will be
our producer, of course.
- Yes!
- He'll see us through...
the whole process,
the vocal arrangements, everything.
His friend Jimmy Zapparini
over at Isle of Sound?
Best sound engineer
in the business.
He'll be recording us.
This is real.
Is Gribble psyched?
Of course he is!
You guys, this is it, okay?
This is what we've been working
so hard for!
I don't believe this.
It doesn't seem real!
So now do you guys want to talk
about today's gig or what?
- Yeah.
- Yeah!
Scarecrow is a bigger part,
but Gribble wanted me to play...
the Wiz because of
the final number.
Said he needed someone
he could trust to bring it home.
What drew you to Marc Pease?
What do you mean?
Was it his ponytail?
I'm serious.
What was it?
I don't know.
I think it was fate.
Because he says
that the first time he ever saw me...
he, like, knew that I had
this beautiful singing voice.
Like, somehow he sensed it.
And then when I did sing for him,
he was, like, totally blown away.
What a sweetie.
But lately he's, like,
obsessed with his group...
and he doesn't pay any attention
to my singing at all.
He's just a big dork.
Bring up dimmer 32.
Okay.
Big day.
How goes it?
Am I going to have to have
my name taken off the program?
The winkies are magenta.
Where is Derek Schmidlin?
There was an emergency at home.
There was an emergency at home?
Yeah.
Hey!
- No! What are you doing?
- Painting.
You're dripping
all over the turntable.
You're splattering
the turntable.
Sorry.
Don't be sorry.
Be mindful.
If you're going
to open a can of paint...
put a drop cloth underneath it.
All right?
If you're going to hang a Leko,
you attach the proper safety cord.
You see a glue gun
lying on the stage.
What do you do?
Pick it up.
You have got to have
respect for the theater.
It all starts here.
It all starts
with that vacuum cleaner.
I don't know if anybody heard,
but Derek Schmidlin went home...
because he had an "emergency."
In my experience,
the kind of person that goes...
and leaves a vacuum cleaner
unattended in the aisle...
is not the person we see
at the Tony Awards in 15 years.
You've all worked so hard
to get to this point.
Right there.
Let's not let it
go to waste, okay?
I have a private.
Try to pick up the pace a little.
Okay.
You don't want to eat lunch with me?
I have to sing.
Not that there's much point.
I mean, I'm 18 years old,
this is my fifth straight show...
on the chorus.
Well, imagine where you'd be
without the lessons.
Okay.
Here we go again.
Into her bedroom.
No.
I think we're going to need
a new approach here, Mr. Brickman.
Yeah, I know.
There, you've got it
moving there.
Good luck finding
any room in there.
What a disaster.
Shoulders back, big,
deep breath. Ningee.
Good. Drop the jaw. Nay-yay.
That's right. Good. Poobah.
You've got to drop your jaw
and open your mouth, all right?
Open your mouth. Relax.
Just take a big deep breath.
Shake it out.
Wah-bo.
Okay, Meg, I am pleased
to report that you have got the gift.
But without practice,
you got the gab.
I know.
I know.
- I like to talk.
- Okay!
This is dirty.
March, April, May.
Smooth the pillow.
And you sleep here.
And we tuck it.
Meg singing?
Thank you.
How you feeling about tonight?
What's this?
I don't know.
Come on, I'm the one
who should be nervous.
My reputation is in the hands
of a bunch of flakes.
What? You think a guy like me
doesn't get nervous?
I don't know.
Hang on a second.
I want to show you something.
Hey, Jon Gribble.
It's Marc "The Man With
The Big News" Pease calling.
I know you're just
finishing up with Meg.
You must have
turned your cell off.
She better not have spilled
the beans. Anyway.
I didn't want to have
to tell you this in a message, but...
You know what? Just call me back,
I'll tell you later.
All right. Okay. Bye.
"Love like a road
that never ends"
"How it leads me back again
to heartache"
"I'll never understand"
"Darling, I put my heart
upon a shelf"
"Till the moment was right"
"And I told myself"
"Next time I fall in love"
"I'll know better what to do"
"Next time I fall in love"
"The next time I fall in love"
"The next time I fall in love"
Is this you?
Pretty hot?
You look really young.
Is that so hard to believe?
Hey, Meg...
You have an absolutely
beautiful singing voice.
You realize that, right?
Thanks.
Why are we laughing?
Just... I don't know.
I don't know.
It's, like, so funny.
I mean, every time you sing for me,
I just...
I thought you said
we couldn't anymore.
Did I?
"Next time I fall in love"
"The next time I fall in love"
"The next time I fall in love"
"It will be with you"
"Okay.
That was beautiful."
"Thank you."
"You are beautiful."
"Thanks, Jon."
"You're welcome, Meg."
"Why are we laughing?"
"Because we shouldn't
be doing this?"
"Meg!"
"God! God, Meg,
you taste like marshmallow."
"Is that a good thing?"
"That's a very good thing."
"Okay."
- "I'm sorry. My watch."
- "No, it's okay."
"Meg."
- "You got it."
- "There?"
"Yeah, right there."
"Yeah. Right there."
"Like that?"
"Just like that."
"Here I am!"
"Ever want to
ride a kangaroo?"
"Make kanga juice, too?"
"Stand up and holla
when you cuddle a koala?"
"Get the lowdown
and walk upside down?"
- "It's nice, isn't it?"
- "Well, matey..."
Fourth bell.
You missed fourth bell.
- That's okay. Here you go.
- Thanks.
My pleasure.
Okay.
Hey, Meg...
You know I think
you're terrific, right?
I mean, I'm such a big fan.
You know that, right?
I mean, it's just, we can't...
We can't do this again.
I mean...
You forgot to even sign this.
Bottom right.
Sorry.
I missed fifth period,
Ancient Civilizations.
I saw Marc this morning.
He's so much fun.
Do you think I'm a good singer?
I've never heard you sing.
Yeah, because I'm always
in the chorus.
And everybody keeps saying
that that doesn't mean anything...
but it does mean something, right?
It means that I'm not that good.
Well, do you like singing?
- What do you mean?
- Do you enjoy doing it?
Do I enjoy doing it?
Hello, Marc.
You remember Rick.
And this is his father, Benny.
We've come to show him
the condo.
Okay.
- Okay.
- Come on.
I just love the feel of this place.
This was Grandma's room.
You have to see the closet.
It's a big closet.
This window faces east.
Casts a nice morning light.
And this is where I've slept
every night for the past 21 years.
Are the neighbors quiet?
Yeah. Most of them
are very, very old.
- This from high school?
- Yeah.
You've had that ponytail
a long time.
"You've reached
Marc Pease Limited..."
"offering professional
limousine services..."
"and the Meridian 8 experience."
"Leave a message and I'll get back
to you in 4/4 time."
Hey, Marc.
Jon Gribble returning.
I'll try you back next week.
Okay? Bye-bye.
Stick that. Stick it.
Yeah.
This going inside? Good.
Yeah, all right!
"Join us"
"Leave your field to flower"
"Join us"
"Leave your cheese to sour"
"Join us"
"Come and waste an hour or two"
"Journey"
"Journey to a spot exciting,
mystic and exotic"
"Journey through
our anecdotic revue"
"We've got magic to do,
just for you"
"We've got miracle plays to play"
"We've got parts to perform"
"Hearts to warm"
"Kings and things
to take by storm"
"As we go along"
"As we go along our way"
"We've got magic to do!"
Back to work!
Marc, I think it's going really well.
Grandma took me in, Joan.
Yes, I know.
Now I'm supposed to just sell
the place right out from under her?
Well, I think she'd want you
to move on. Don't you?
Who said anything
about moving on?
I just want to make a demo
with my group, that's all...
before anyone else leaves,
you know? Why is that so hard?
He loves it.
- That's terrific.
- That's very fast, right?
How much time do you need
to get out of here?
- Well, I'm not sure...
- I think Marc is planning...
on renting, so it shouldn't take
much more than a month...
- isn't that right?
- I've got to get to my gig.
Gig?
- Marc's a singer.
- Yeah, I sing.
- Crap!
- Marc!
"The mud on my sneakers
dries up like fecund grout..."
"and I can clear
the treads with a twig."
"Then I smile to myself
because I am living."
Beautiful, Jeff.
Very strong sense
of the physical world.
Thanks, Mr. Edwards.
Okay. Does anybody else want
to read their in-class exercise?
Meg Brickman. Great.
"The brown-eyed baker
frosts me cold with his icing."
"I am his strawberry shortcake."
"I lick the sweetness
on my lips."
"My eyes spit fire!"
"He slices through me
with his sharp knife..."
"and I tear the skin off his face,
laughing blood."
This lotion has changed my life.
Why does Marc insist on doing
the Tin Man song today of all days?
He'll be fine.
He's a rock now.
Every time I think of that night,
I get the shivers.
Yeah.
Gives me diarrhea.
- Gross!
- Don't be so squeamish.
Speak of the Pease.
Here I am.
- Let's do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
Do it!
So, what was that guy's name
over at Isle of Sound?
Jimmy Zapparini.
Zapparini!
Does he know about us yet?
So when do we start
prepping with Gribble?
You know what?
I'm not sure.
Soon, I hope.
He must be so proud of us.
Yeah.
Did you get the keys
to the Taurus?
- No, I didn't.
- Hey, is everything okay?
Yep.
Come on, let's bust a move, guys.
Come on. Circle of Fire. Bring it in.
Where are you?
Okay. Let's have
a good show.
I first heard these young people
last year...
at the opening
of the Fifth/Third Bank downtown.
I know you're going to enjoy them.
Meridian 8!
We are Meridian 8!
- One!
- Two!
- Three!
- Four!
"Do you remember
the 21st night of September?"
"Love was changing
the minds of pretenders"
"While chasing the clouds away"
"Say do you remember"
"Dancing in September?"
"Never was a cloudy day"
"I was born in the wagon
of a traveling show"
"My mama used to dance
for the money they'd throw"
"Papa would do
whatever he could"
- "Preach a little gospel"
- "A little gospel"
"Sell a couple
bottles of Doctor Good"
"Gypsies, tramps, and thieves"
"We'd hear it from the people
of the town, they'd call us"
"Gypsies, tramps, and thieves"
"And every night all the men
would come around"
"And lay their money down"
"What would I do"
"If I could suddenly feel"
"And know once again"
"That what I feel is real?"
- "I could cry"
- "Cry"
- "I could smile"
- "Smile"
- "I might lay back for a while"
- "While"
- "Tell me what"
- "What..."
"What would I do"
"If I could feel?"
"What would I do"
"If I could reach inside of me"
"And know how it feels"
"To say I like what I see?"
"You're a rich girl
but you've gone too far"
"Because you know
it don't matter anyway"
"You can rely on
the old man's money"
"You can rely on
the old man's money"
"It's a bitch, girl"
"But it's gone too far"
"Because you know
it don't matter anyway"
"Say money, but it won't get you
too far, get you too far"
"Don't you know"
Hey...
You.
Just stay focused
on the big picture, right?
- You know what that is?
- The recording studio?
- That's right!
- Yay.
We're so ready for this.
All right, come on, let's go.
Demo!
- Marc?
- Okay!
You were right. Okay?
I shouldn't have done it.
- It's all right.
- I know, it's just a song.
It's a stupid song.
Maybe you should just
never sing it again.
I've really got to jam, Ger.
Will you at least tell me
what Gribble's plan is?
- Gribble.
- Yeah. What about him?
Well, does he really think
we can pull it off?
- Absolutely.
- Tell me what he thinks.
Well...
Well what?
Well, I haven't exactly
made contact with him yet.
- What?
- Not yet.
So he doesn't even
know about the condo?
No. But we've talked about the demo,
like, a gazillion times.
He's the one that gave me
the budget.
- Jesus.
- Everything's all right, Gerry.
- I promise.
- Marc, we can't do this...
- without Gribble.
- I know that!
I'm going to talk to him tonight.
Face to face about this.
I swear to you, when I tell him
that we're ready...
he's going to jump
at the chance.
- And if he doesn't?
- He will.
Because I'll do
whatever it takes.
I will not let this group down,
Gerry.
I promise you, I'll pay him
50,000 dollars if I have to.
I'll sell my voice to the Devil.
- But...
- Don't worry about Gribble, Gerry!
I will take care of him tonight,
okay?
This next song goes out to...
Yeah. I'll be all over the place,
as you can imagine.
But don't worry,
you shall not be neglected.
I know it's no picnic
being the director's date.
So, yeah, give me a call...
if you think you might be able
to make it.
I'll just reserve you a seat
right next to mine...
and instruct the usher
to let you slip in any time.
I'm really looking forward
to meeting you, Joyce. Bye.
Good evening, madame.
Is Mr. Craig Lipscomb present?
Craig! Limo's here!
My name is Marc, and I'll be
your chauffeur this evening.
And what is the name
of the young lady...
who will be joining us?
- Jen.
- Jen. Fantastic.
Those are from Marc.
- Be careful.
- Don't tell me what to do.
Just slow down.
There are like forty thousand
crows behind you.
- Hurry up.
- All right!
I'm going as fast as I can!
God! There, tornado dancer.
I'm only doing this
because of Marc.
He's the one who says
I'm a singer.
But he doesn't know.
He doesn't know who I really am.
Who are you?
I don't know.
Neither does he.
Done.
Move it.
You forgot my shimmer lipstick.
- Nice.
- So cute!
You guys look great.
Really nice.
How about one of the driver
bowing to me?
Let's get a picture of that.
All right, I will.
- That's good. Nice, Craig.
- Yes!
My God.
That is going to be awesome.
Okay. I'm going to try
to keep this short, folks...
so we can all do
what we need to be doing.
So I'd appreciate
your full attention. Bryce?
Hello. Thank you.
Okay, just some final thoughts
before tonight.
How's everybody feeling?
Good.
Wiz. Where are you, bro?
- Right here.
- All right.
On "you all got it?"
I need it funkier. Okay?
"You all got it?"
Really call it out.
And you're calling it out
to everybody.
They're going to come
right back at you...
with the energy
that you give to them.
Then you lay it out,
and then you go for it, and have fun.
All right, everybody.
Permission to have fun tonight.
And that goes for all
the Emerald City people. Okay?
You guys, you've got to step up
and have some fun.
I know you've got it in you.
I was at Janine's party, too.
Addaperle,
lose the second snap...
when you put down Dorothy, okay?
Just give me one, boom!
You put Dorothy down with that.
That's right. Erica.
Could you get me
a Diet Coke, please?
All right.
Okay. Scarecrow.
I need more straw coming out
of your sleeves, Brendan. Right?
More...
Never enough straw.
You think it's too much straw,
it's not enough.
Because that helps this so much.
Good stuff.
Yes, right,
this is important. Cathy.
Tania.
Sorry. During the twister,
don't just kick your feet up...
like you're slipping on
some slippery ground, okay?
This goes for all
the tornado victims.
You are in a class five, okay?
This is for real.
If the tornado dancers
are twisting their ribbons, okay...
and creating this wonderful illusion,
and you're standing there...
like you're waiting for
the cross-town bus or something...
that's not going to work. Okay?
Remember we watched
The Storm Chasers?
This is what the research was about.
You guys have to be caught up
in that wind. Okay, what else?
Bag? What bag?
Okay. So...
I have a little announcement.
According to Stephanie,
we're sold out.
You're a hit already.
Don't screw it up.
Take a breath.
Close your eyes.
Think about what
you're about to do.
Put it all in a balloon.
Let it go.
Let it float up to the sky.
It's okay. You know why?
You all got it!
Look at me, everybody. Yeah!
Number one! Right here.
Craig Central.
Yes! It's all me!
Hey, guys!
Do you guys like Milford?
It's all right.
So what kind of shows you guys
got going on over there?
Teachers suck.
Teachers suck
over at Ashby, too!
That's strong.
There's this one guy over there,
Jon Gribble.
- Have you ever heard of him?
- Watch this.
What are you going to do?
My God, again?
Now listen to me!
I've had a very, very bad day!
And if you pull
my hair one more time, I might...
I might crash this car
into that gas station!
Is that what you want?
- Is that what you want?
- No.
Do you want to die with me
in a giant gas explosion?
No.
Christ!
Auntie Em! Uncle Henry!
Help!
"Coming to get you"
Help!
One, two, three.
"Coming to get you"
"Coming to get you"
"Get you"
"Get you"
"Get you"
Okay, here's my card.
When you're ready to go,
call that number.
I'll swing around and toot.
- Okay.
- Have a great prom!
Say, girl, what's your name?
Dorothy.
- Where you headed for?
- To Emerald City.
There's this great big,
powerful Wiz...
and they say
he can do miracles...
so he's going to get me back
to Kansas.
Hey, you know what?
Of course not.
I don't know anything.
Well, maybe he could get you
some brains.
I'm going to get my brains?
I'm going to get my brains!
I hope my hat can handle it.
"Come on, ease on down"
"Ease on down the road"
"Come on, ease on down"
"Ease on down the road"
"Don't you carry nothing
that might be a load"
"Come on, ease on down.
Ease on down, down the road"
"Because there may be times
when you think you lost your mind"
"And the steps you're taking
leave you three, four steps behind"
"Just you keep on keeping
on the road that you choose"
"Don't you give up walking
because you gave up walking shoes"
"Come on, ease on down
Ease on down the road"
"Come on, ease on down.
Ease on down the road"
"Don't you carry nothing
that might be a load"
"Come on, ease on down.
Ease on down, down the road"
"Because there may be times
when you think you lost your mind"
"And the steps you're taking
leave you three, four steps behind"
"Just you keep on keeping
on the road that you choose"
"Don't you give up walking
because you gave up walking shoes"
"Come on, ease on down.
Ease on down the road"
"Come on, ease on down.
Ease on down the road"
"Don't you carry nothing
that might be a load"
"Come on, ease on down,
ease on down"
"Ease on down, ease on down"
"Ease on down, ease on down"
"Ease on down, ease on down"
"Ease on down,
ease on down the road!"
I know how it is. Sometimes a parent
can do everything right...
and still the kid
ends up troubled.
But he thinks the world of you.
Well, that's because
I pay him to say that.
No, he's a good kid.
He is.
Hey, Mr. Carnegie-Mellon! Hey.
- Hello.
- Hey.
- Hi, I'm Jon Gribble.
- How are you?
Hey!
Gribble!
Hey! I will see
you guys. Okay?
Gribble! Hey!
Gribble...
Marc Pease!
There he is.
I've been trying
to reach you like crazy.
- Have you?
- Yes.
Well, here I am.
This looks familiar.
Yeah. Hey, Marc, not the best time.
What do you need?
Well, I've been really
thinking about something.
Something kind of big, you know?
About how in life,
or whatever...
- that there's this moment...
- Yeah.
Right, and you don't know
when it's going to happen...
but you've just got
to be ready for it.
Ready to jump in.
Take the plunge,
you know? So...
I'm doing it.
Which one?
What?
Jumping or plunging?
I'm kidding, Marc.
I'm kidding.
I've got to get inside.
My show's opening right now.
- I know. I'm sorry, I just...
- And it's going really well, so...
Okay? It's great.
I'm very happy for you. Okay?
- No, but there's more!
- Yeah, I know, but I've got to...
- I haven't...
- I've got to get inside!
But I haven't told you...
Dude? What the freak?
What the freak?
What?
- Haven't you talked to Gerry?
- No.
They've made him lead rosacea man.
In Dayton.
He's moving?
He's quitting.
He's out of the group.
- Gerry.
- You know what else?
He said he called
the Isle of Sound today...
and they told him Jimmy Zapparini
hasn't worked there for six years.
He was fired for stealing.
Gribble lied to us.
My God.
What are we going to do, Marc?
Tracy's been crying all night.
We're done.
We'll talk after.
So I snuck out for a clove
and guess who I saw?
- Who?
- Marc Pease.
Great. I hope he's happy.
I'm making a complete fool of myself.
Hey, Gerry.
It's me, Marc.
Gavin told me...
that you...
That...
"What would I do"
"If I could suddenly feel?"
"And know once again"
- "That what I feel is real?"
- God damn it!
"I could cry, I could smile"
"And I might
lay back for a while"
"And there, maybe,
after a while"
"I might see a baby smile"
"And I'd notice
how she would grin"
"After I had touched her chin"
"And if a tear came to her eye"
Marc!
We need to talk.
- I'm watching the show.
- It's urgent!
Yeah, well,
it will have to wait, okay?
No! That's for Joyce!
That seat's reserved. Marc!
I'm waiting.
Go away.
- Maybe if you returned my calls...
- Please be quiet.
Bravo!
We have to talk!
- No, you!
- Hey!
Let's go.
Stop it!
"So you wanted
to meet the Wizard!"
Okay. Here we are.
What is it?
Come on, Marc.
Come on! You brought me here,
remember?
I thought you might want
to know that I'm selling my condo.
That's great.
Great. Great news.
Aren't you going to ask me why?
I don't know, you're worried
about the housing bubble?
I was selling it to pay
for Meridian 8...
to go into the recording studio,
just like you always said we should.
Did I?
You know you did!
No, Marc, I said you could do it,
not should.
There's a big, big difference.
No, you told me that if we ever
went into the recording studio...
that you would be our producer.
You said all I had to
do was get the money!
- Okay, would you calm down?
- No, you calm down!
- Marc.
- What?
I never dreamed you'd come up
with that kind of cash.
Then why did you say it?
It was my polite way of telling you
you were being unrealistic.
You were supposed to realize that
on your own.
You told us we were the best.
- In high school!
- You've said it since.
- Marc.
- What?
Listen to me carefully.
You are not in high school anymore.
- You don't have to tell me that.
- Don't I? Come on, Marc.
You're hanging out here
all the time.
Tacking up your flyers,
with your headphones on.
Leaving me notes.
Still singing with your old
high school friends. Still...
I mean, you're dating a teenager,
Marc.
Don't.
Don't you give me
that sad little boy look.
Don't you do it.
All right? God, I mean...
What do you want from me, Marc?
I'm not your teacher anymore.
- I know.
- Do you understand that?
You want to make a demo album?
Are you crazy?
When are you
going to realize it?
When are you going
to accept that you...
You didn't make it?
Okay?
Open your eyes. It's no big deal.
Happens all the time.
We all get to that point in our life
when we realize...
"I'm not good enough."
What, are you going to cry now?
Is that what this moment is?
Is this the critical scene
in the play...
and now you're going to ruin it?
Enough, okay?
Enough already!
Okay, how dare you use that
against me, knowing what you know.
I mean, have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten senior year?
I told you I couldn't go onstage,
remember? Remember?
I said I'd break down
if I had to get up there.
Marc! Kids tell me that every night
during production.
On the worst day of their lives?
- Marc.
- Jon!
She was your grandmother.
The show must go on.
I know about you and Meg.
I don't know
what you're talking about.
This look familiar?
No.
No? Maybe we should play it.
Maybe we should listen to it?
- All right.
- In fact...
maybe we should call
Vice Principal Yonka...
- Okay, give me that.
- in here and play it for her, too.
Better yet,
there's a whole audience out there.
Why don't we play it
for everyone?
- Give me that, Marc! Give me that!
- No!
Tell me, Jon, how many Megs
have there been?
- Marc!
- Five? Seven?
And where do you keep their tapes?
Are they all right here?
- Stop that! Stop it!
- Are they all right here?
- What are you doing?
- What's this?
What is this?
What the hell is this?
- None of your business!
- What is this? Candy?
You're cleaning that up!
- What are you doing?
- What is all that stuff?
No! Stop it!
You know what? I'm not the one
who's still in high school, Jon.
- You are!
- What are you doing?
It's all the same!
Same choreography!
- Get off that piano!
- Same blocking!
- What are you doing?
- It's the same show!
- That's it!
- No!
You stop...
That's not cool!
Get off me!
Give me the tape!
I'm wet!
My pants!
That's why you never gave her
a good part, isn't it?
To get back at me!
She doesn't emote.
You know what?
You're lucky.
If it was just you on that tape,
I'd play it for the whole school.
And you'd never teach musical theater
in this town again.
"Who"
"Who do you think you are?"
"Who told you"
"Told you that you're the star?"
Gerry. Marc. So, congrats
on that promotion, man.
Dayton? Outstanding!
Listen, no hard feelings.
Meridian 8's had a heck
of a wild ride.
And I just want to say...
I love you, man.
I love you.
"Who do you think you are?"
"Who do you think you are?"
"Who do you think you are?"
- Your hair.
- I cut it.
You look good.
We need to break up.
I'm breaking up with you.
What? Just because
I'm quitting singing?
- That's so stupid, Marc.
- I don't care...
if you quit singing.
I mean...
I do care, but that's not why
we have to break up.
Well, why then?
Look at me.
I'm just too old for you.
This is great, you know?
I can't believe I'm crying right now.
This is... Thanks.
Don't cry, Meg. Listen to me.
You have an amazing voice.
I just want you to find
what makes you happy. Okay?
Yeah?
It's all supposed to be fun.
Right?
Tell me, my good fellow...
do you still have the balloon
that brought you here?
Yes, I do.
The ladies put it up in the park
and made a national shrine out of it.
Just as I thought.
Now, the balloon brought you here
from Nebraska...
why can't it take Dorothy
back to Kansas?
Wiz, 30 seconds.
Sorry, man.
- Shit!
- Are you all right?
No.
What's wrong with you, man?
What's happening?
- He ran into me with the corn!
- Who hit you with the corn?
I bet if you started all over again
someplace else...
you could do all of this,
and even have some friends.
Okay, let's try to get him up.
Come on.
- No. I can't move my leg.
- Wiz?
- Patrick, go get Mr. Gribble! Go!
- Wiz?
Tell them I'm hurt.
The Wiz isn't so bad,
once you get to know him. Is he?
I have to get back to Kansas.
All right, everyone, move,
out of the way, move, hold this.
I'm sure he has a really good reason
for not being here.
He's a busy guy.
Everything's going to be okay.
Give me your cape.
Maybe we should go
and find him, Tin Man.
I think Scarecrow should do it.
Listen, you guys,
eight years from now...
none of this is going to matter.
I've done it!
Wiz?
Yes!
"I got to leave,
so I'll pack my bag"
"And I'm going"
"I've got a date, so don't you ask me
to stay, because I'm showing"
"You were always ready
for new wizardry"
"You must have thought that miracles
came easy to me"
"Take what I give you
and put it up on the shelf"
"Because now it's time
for this here Wiz to wiz on himself"
"And I'm wizing"
Why aren't you out onstage?
Why? It doesn't make a difference.
What?
I'm not good at anything.
Yes, you are.
You're a great writer.
Really?
I've always been a big fan.
"Give me a reason why I should stay
and I'll judge it"
"My mind is made up"
"So nothing you going to say
is going to budge it"
"I packed up my clothes
and I packed up my power"
"I'm leaving this place
in less than one half hour"
"If you look up in the sky"
"You'll know who it is"
"It's not a bird,
it's not a plane"
"It's just a little old Wiz"
"And guess who's on after that?"
What's he doing out there?"
He was the only one
who knew the part.
I knew the part!
"I packed up my clothes
and I packed up my power"
"I'm leaving this place
in less than one half an hour"
"If you look up in the sky"
"You'll know who it is"
"It's not a bird,
it's not a plane"
"It's just that funky old Wiz"
"And guess who's on
after that?"
No.
that's not true.
I mean, you're wrong.
I'm not a great writer.
I don't have a gift.
But I am a great singer.
I mean, I can be. I will be.
Because I love it, Mr. Edwards,
I do.
I really do.
I love singing.
Great, Meg, that's...
I got to get back onstage.
- "Yeah!"
- "You all got it!"
"You all got it!"
"You all got it!"
Come on!
Man, we love you!
I'm back!
Thank you!
Bye!
Hey!
Bye. I love you! Bye.
This is great!
Bye.
Goodbye! I love you!
Hey, Joseph?
Mr. Gribble?
Are you okay?
Ten minutes of heat.
Ten minutes of ice.
Ten minutes heat,
ten minutes ice.
Straight through to half-hour
tomorrow night.
Stand by, five.
Give me a hand.
Wow. That was...
I mean... My heart's
pounding right now.
Thank you.
Who are you?
I'm Marc Pease.
This next song goes out to...
well, to myself.
This one's for you, Marc.
"Sometimes you start
feeling so lost and lonely"
"Then you'll find
it's all been in your mind"
"Sometimes you think
someone is the one and only"
"Can't you see it
could be you and me?"
"But if there's any doubt"
"Then I think I'll leave it out"
"Going to tell you one thing"
"You can't get what you want"
"Till you know what you want"
"You can't get what you want"
"Till you know what you want"
"Sometimes you can't see that
all you need is one thing"
"If it's right
you could sleep at night"
"But it can take some time"
"But at least I'm here in line"
"Because tell you one thing"
"You can't get what you want"
"Till you know what you want"
"You can't get what you want"
"Till you know what you want"
"Here we go!"
Please, Mr. Wiz, you just
got to help me get back to Kansas.
I don't got to do anything.
The great Wiz does as he pleases
and nothing more!
No, sir! You don't got to do
nothing at all.
But would you?
Tell me, where did you get...
such a marvelous pair
of silver pumps?
I can do this.
- What's going on?
- I can't do this, Mr. Gribble.
- What are you talking about?
- I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry, everybody.
I let you all down.
Marc, forget about those people,
they're chorus.
Just tell me,
what's the matter, buddy?
- Okay.
- Breathe.
I know you said to try to tie it
to a balloon and let it go, but...
Okay, breathe.
First of all... Hello?
It's okay. Breathe.
Tickle the esophagus.
- Come on. Center up.
- I'm trying. I can't do it.
- Marc! You can. Yes, you can.
- I can't.
And do you know why?
Listen to me. Do you know how I know?
Because you've got this.
A great costume?
No! Heart. Tin Man didn't have one.
But you do.
A big one. It's the reason
I gave you this part. Okay?
- It is?
- Yes! Come on, you're Marc Pease.
You're the most dependable performer
I've got.
You're a leader.
You set the bar so the other kids
can go beyond it.
- I do?
- Yeah. And, by the way...
you happen to be the founder
of Meridian 8.
Only the hottest high school
a cappella group ever!
- Really?
- Yeah. Really.
And when you make
your first album...
I would love to have the opportunity
at a shot at producing it.
- Really?
- Please?
- Okay.
- Okay. Good.
Now you get out there and you sing
the crap out of that song...
just like you did in rehearsal.
Okay? All right?
All this stuff you're feeling,
all that...
terror and fear and that weird thing
underneath your stomach...
above your pelvis,
that's show business.
Okay? All right?
That's what we're all about,
guys like you and I.
That's what's running
through our veins.
What is?
Pizzazz!
Tin Man, do you know anything
or not?
Hey! Marc!
Who was that?
That was the Tin Man?
You dropped your ax,
buddy! Marc!
You can still make it back
for the winged monkeys!
"Hello? Hello? Is this it?"
"Okay. Yeah, no, I like it."
Good morning,
students of New Ashby High School.
This is the all-powerful
Gribble speaking.
"I've taken over
these morning announcements..."
"to deliver
a very important reminder."
"It is opening night."
"This very evening,
New Ashby High's..."
"prestigious
Drama Club presents..."
"The Wiz!"
Directed by, that's right,
yours truly.
I feel like I should have been...
Dorothy, you know, like...
I've a better voice
than her, don't I?
Yeah! Thank you!
She's just loud.
Like, we can hear you.
Great. I can scream, too.
Right?
Like, thanks, Celine.
No, I'm totally, like...
totally, totally quitting singing.
No, wait until I tell Marc.
Maybe his ponytail
will burst into flames.
"Very few tickets remain...
so I would advise you...
to skip first period and rush on...
down to the box office...
where the one and lonely...
Robby Bender is sitting there...
twiddling his thumbs..."
waiting for you to buy a ticket
from him.
Isn't that right, Robby?
Thank you! Yes!
All right, this next song...
goes out to my beautiful
girlfriend, Meg Brickman...
a little shiny diamond...
Hi. No, I'm up.
No, I have an airport run
and then I'm picking up my lady.
So what's the news?
They make an offer?
"I think this is a day...
for the entire community...
to be proud of."
Even you, computer lab support team
who have no personalities.
Joan! You're the greatest realtor...
in the universe. I'm meeting with...
the group this morning. They will...
freak out when I tell
them the big news.
Yes! Okay I'll be here by noon.
All right. Okay, bye.
You guys, we're doing it.
"So, if you're walking
in the halls...
and you see someone you know...
who's involved in the play tonight.
Give them a pat on the backpack.
Or a high five.
Or just say hi.
Even if it's a stagehand...
or an usher...
make them feel
like they're important."
Marc's here!
Okay.
Sorry I'm late.
Why are you driving this?
Client's flight was delayed.
No time to switch cars.
Wow! What a morning!
"It's going to be
a very special show.
Quite possibly the greatest...
high school production...
of The Wiz ever staged.
Let's do this thing!
I will destroy you!
Nice cap.
Focus.
So, Meg.
Yeah?
I think you better
buckle your seat belt.
- Why?
- Because I've got huge news.
- What?
- I'm finally getting the group...
into the recording studio.
- Somebody's buying the condo?
- Yes!
Yes! Joan's bringing the buyers
over today to take a final look.
Okay, this is going
to bring in all the cash...
we need to make a kick-ass demo.
Yeah, but, Marc,
what's the point?
There's only, like,
four of you left. It's stupid.
How can you say that?
I'm sorry.
Forgiven.
That's really exciting.
Yeah.
- I love you so much.
- Me, too.
Bye.
What are you doing?
I have to run inside
and talk to Gribble.
Why?
To tell him the big news.
No one even knows I put the condo
on the market yet.
- I'll tell him.
- No.
- Marc, come on.
- Hey, I'll just be five...
- all right, Pascal?
- Take your time, Marc.
Okay.
I can't believe I have to take
these stupid Milford kids...
to their prom tonight.
And what if I'm late
for your show?
It's okay.
Bye.
What are you typing
on your computer?
Where have you been hiding?
It's been months.
I'm a busy guy.
I heard Rob Gentry
quit the group.
Doesn't matter.
I'm working on something now...
that will keep Meridian 8
together forever.
- Is Gribble around?
- No.
It's opening night.
What did you expect?
I need that.
Don't steal it.
I will.
Yes, this is Debbie.
Yes. Vice Principal Yonka,
that's correct. 2.45pm is fine.
- He's going to be so psyched.
- That's fine.
Why don't you call me back
when you know when you're available?
Bye, Debbie.
Perfect.
Hey.
Hey. Cory.
How's your sister?
Meg.
Can you give me a hand with this,
please? Thanks.
So I heard you lost another member
of Meridian 8.
Yeah.
So what are you guys now?
Meridian 5?
Four, actually.
Don't you think you should change
the name of the group?
What? Never.
Cory!
Do you want help?
Not a word of this.
"Here and now,
it's time for celebration"
"I finally figured out"
"Yeah"
"That all my dreams
have no limitations"
"That's what it's all about"
"Come on, now!"
"Everyone is special
in their own way"
"We make each other strong"
"We make each other strong"
"We're not the same"
"We're different in a good way"
"Together's where we belong"
- Sell it!
- "We're all in this together"
"Once we know that we are"
- "We're all stars and we see that"
- I ain't buying it. Come on.
- "We're all in this together"
- I need more, tenors!
- Good! And the clap!
- "And it shows..."
"when we stand hand in hand"
"Make our dreams come true"
- Big finish!
- "Together!"
All right! Good.
Much better.
Sopranos, measure 38...
still getting that F sharp
sort of sneaking up on you like...
It's not a surprise.
It's going to be there, right?
Let me hear that.
Support it. Come through here,
through the mask. Okay?
I can't do it, but you can.
Okay. Kenny!
Was I imagining it,
or were you...
actually singing with us today?
Your lips were moving
and sound was coming out.
Glad to hear your voice.
It's a welcome addition.
Okay, for those of you performing
in tonight's show...
please, I implore you,
warm up your voices.
Do the Circle of Fire,
do The Escalator.
You're going to be kicking yourselves
if you don't. Okay?
And I'm going to be sitting
in the cheap seats...
so each and every one of you
needs to make sure...
that I hear your voice.
That goes for you, Hazel.
You, Brendan.
You, Meg.
Everybody's got to remember
that tonight is for reals.
Stakes couldn't be higher.
So if you get out there on stage...
and you feel a little jittery...
like maybe you want to pass out...
it happens, don't panic.
It's no secret that the last time
we did The Wiz...
my Tin Man, who shall
remain nameless...
broke down crying in the middle
of his big song.
And that was it.
Don't let what happened
to Marc Pease happen to you.
"Say you do remember
dancing in September?"
"Never was a cloudy day!"
All right! Thank you!
This next song goes out
to the truly brilliant Jon Gribble.
The greatest man
I've ever known.
Butter!
Clear crumbs, be gone!
- Hey! Mr. Pharmaceutical Salesman.
- You're late.
Sorry.
I let two buses go by.
I owe you 10 minutes
of your life back.
Today's insane.
I had a 5.00am. airport pick-up...
and the flight was an hour late.
Meg almost missed first bell.
- My boss!
- You're not going to answer it?
No way. Let's go!
I'm going back
over to Meg's later...
and making her dad help me
move that piano into her bedroom.
The acoustics will be way better
in there.
Exactly.
So they've asked
for a '70s medley.
- Cool!
- Yeah.
I'm going to slip in
the Tin Man song, too...
in honor of Meg's opening night.
- Really?
- Sure, why not?
- Marc...
- What?
- The Tin Man song?
- Yeah!
That song kind of
has a lot of baggage.
Baggage is meant
to be unpacked, my friend.
Do you remember the lyrics?
Gerry, it's The Wiz.
I know every single line
in that show.
- Go ahead, test me.
- Hey, Marc.
But, Marc, why even put yourself
in that position?
What? You think I'm going
to start crying...
and run off stage
like I'm still in high school?
Well, I won't!
- Lazy day.
- There he is.
Right!
Marc Pease was here?
Yeah, he tried to steal my pen.
Did he cry when you took it back?
Give the kid a little friendly
encouragement when he's 16...
and he never leaves you alone.
I mean, I never return his calls.
And when I do,
I use my curt voice...
but he just keeps coming back,
like a bad case of mono.
You can only get that once.
Okay, herpes or whatever.
Lyme disease.
So what does he want
with you now?
He wants me to produce a demo tape
for his a cappella singing group.
He brought it up
a few months ago...
when he waited by my car
for me...
for two hours after school,
in the faculty lot...
in the pouring rain.
Excuse me.
- What was that?
- I switched up to the 7th.
That was Rob's part.
I said I'd cover us there.
I keep forgetting
to stay on the alto part.
Then maybe we should
rework the arrangement.
No way, man.
We don't just start tinkering. Right?
So I can't even believe
this is our first gig in nine weeks.
Are you guys psyched or what?
I don't know.
You don't know? What do you mean
you don't know?
Well, I've been feeling
a little bit lately...
like we've kind of lost
some of our luster.
- Lost our luster?
- I basically agree.
What is this? Am I the only one
that cares about this group anymore?
- What?
- Come on, Marc. Come on.
No, you come on, Gerry.
I mean, it's a very simple question.
Are the rest of you
wholeheartedly committed...
to a cappella vocal music?
Yes.
Yes what?
Yes, we care.
I know you do, Mizz Thang.
And you should,
because we are world-class, you guys.
Am I right?
Isn't that why Gribble...
brought us together
in the first place?
Did he not say
that we were the best?
- In high school!
- He says it to everyone, probably.
- Not true.
- Marc, what is your point here?
My point is...
Okay. Enough.
I was going to tell you later,
but you're forcing my hand.
About what?
It was supposed
to be a big surprise.
What is it?
We're going into
the recording studio.
- No!
- Can you believe it?
With what money?
What money?
- I'm selling my condo.
- That is astounding!
Gribble will be
our producer, of course.
- Yes!
- He'll see us through...
the whole process,
the vocal arrangements, everything.
His friend Jimmy Zapparini
over at Isle of Sound?
Best sound engineer
in the business.
He'll be recording us.
This is real.
Is Gribble psyched?
Of course he is!
You guys, this is it, okay?
This is what we've been working
so hard for!
I don't believe this.
It doesn't seem real!
So now do you guys want to talk
about today's gig or what?
- Yeah.
- Yeah!
Scarecrow is a bigger part,
but Gribble wanted me to play...
the Wiz because of
the final number.
Said he needed someone
he could trust to bring it home.
What drew you to Marc Pease?
What do you mean?
Was it his ponytail?
I'm serious.
What was it?
I don't know.
I think it was fate.
Because he says
that the first time he ever saw me...
he, like, knew that I had
this beautiful singing voice.
Like, somehow he sensed it.
And then when I did sing for him,
he was, like, totally blown away.
What a sweetie.
But lately he's, like,
obsessed with his group...
and he doesn't pay any attention
to my singing at all.
He's just a big dork.
Bring up dimmer 32.
Okay.
Big day.
How goes it?
Am I going to have to have
my name taken off the program?
The winkies are magenta.
Where is Derek Schmidlin?
There was an emergency at home.
There was an emergency at home?
Yeah.
Hey!
- No! What are you doing?
- Painting.
You're dripping
all over the turntable.
You're splattering
the turntable.
Sorry.
Don't be sorry.
Be mindful.
If you're going
to open a can of paint...
put a drop cloth underneath it.
All right?
If you're going to hang a Leko,
you attach the proper safety cord.
You see a glue gun
lying on the stage.
What do you do?
Pick it up.
You have got to have
respect for the theater.
It all starts here.
It all starts
with that vacuum cleaner.
I don't know if anybody heard,
but Derek Schmidlin went home...
because he had an "emergency."
In my experience,
the kind of person that goes...
and leaves a vacuum cleaner
unattended in the aisle...
is not the person we see
at the Tony Awards in 15 years.
You've all worked so hard
to get to this point.
Right there.
Let's not let it
go to waste, okay?
I have a private.
Try to pick up the pace a little.
Okay.
You don't want to eat lunch with me?
I have to sing.
Not that there's much point.
I mean, I'm 18 years old,
this is my fifth straight show...
on the chorus.
Well, imagine where you'd be
without the lessons.
Okay.
Here we go again.
Into her bedroom.
No.
I think we're going to need
a new approach here, Mr. Brickman.
Yeah, I know.
There, you've got it
moving there.
Good luck finding
any room in there.
What a disaster.
Shoulders back, big,
deep breath. Ningee.
Good. Drop the jaw. Nay-yay.
That's right. Good. Poobah.
You've got to drop your jaw
and open your mouth, all right?
Open your mouth. Relax.
Just take a big deep breath.
Shake it out.
Wah-bo.
Okay, Meg, I am pleased
to report that you have got the gift.
But without practice,
you got the gab.
I know.
I know.
- I like to talk.
- Okay!
This is dirty.
March, April, May.
Smooth the pillow.
And you sleep here.
And we tuck it.
Meg singing?
Thank you.
How you feeling about tonight?
What's this?
I don't know.
Come on, I'm the one
who should be nervous.
My reputation is in the hands
of a bunch of flakes.
What? You think a guy like me
doesn't get nervous?
I don't know.
Hang on a second.
I want to show you something.
Hey, Jon Gribble.
It's Marc "The Man With
The Big News" Pease calling.
I know you're just
finishing up with Meg.
You must have
turned your cell off.
She better not have spilled
the beans. Anyway.
I didn't want to have
to tell you this in a message, but...
You know what? Just call me back,
I'll tell you later.
All right. Okay. Bye.
"Love like a road
that never ends"
"How it leads me back again
to heartache"
"I'll never understand"
"Darling, I put my heart
upon a shelf"
"Till the moment was right"
"And I told myself"
"Next time I fall in love"
"I'll know better what to do"
"Next time I fall in love"
"The next time I fall in love"
"The next time I fall in love"
Is this you?
Pretty hot?
You look really young.
Is that so hard to believe?
Hey, Meg...
You have an absolutely
beautiful singing voice.
You realize that, right?
Thanks.
Why are we laughing?
Just... I don't know.
I don't know.
It's, like, so funny.
I mean, every time you sing for me,
I just...
I thought you said
we couldn't anymore.
Did I?
"Next time I fall in love"
"The next time I fall in love"
"The next time I fall in love"
"It will be with you"
"Okay.
That was beautiful."
"Thank you."
"You are beautiful."
"Thanks, Jon."
"You're welcome, Meg."
"Why are we laughing?"
"Because we shouldn't
be doing this?"
"Meg!"
"God! God, Meg,
you taste like marshmallow."
"Is that a good thing?"
"That's a very good thing."
"Okay."
- "I'm sorry. My watch."
- "No, it's okay."
"Meg."
- "You got it."
- "There?"
"Yeah, right there."
"Yeah. Right there."
"Like that?"
"Just like that."
"Here I am!"
"Ever want to
ride a kangaroo?"
"Make kanga juice, too?"
"Stand up and holla
when you cuddle a koala?"
"Get the lowdown
and walk upside down?"
- "It's nice, isn't it?"
- "Well, matey..."
Fourth bell.
You missed fourth bell.
- That's okay. Here you go.
- Thanks.
My pleasure.
Okay.
Hey, Meg...
You know I think
you're terrific, right?
I mean, I'm such a big fan.
You know that, right?
I mean, it's just, we can't...
We can't do this again.
I mean...
You forgot to even sign this.
Bottom right.
Sorry.
I missed fifth period,
Ancient Civilizations.
I saw Marc this morning.
He's so much fun.
Do you think I'm a good singer?
I've never heard you sing.
Yeah, because I'm always
in the chorus.
And everybody keeps saying
that that doesn't mean anything...
but it does mean something, right?
It means that I'm not that good.
Well, do you like singing?
- What do you mean?
- Do you enjoy doing it?
Do I enjoy doing it?
Hello, Marc.
You remember Rick.
And this is his father, Benny.
We've come to show him
the condo.
Okay.
- Okay.
- Come on.
I just love the feel of this place.
This was Grandma's room.
You have to see the closet.
It's a big closet.
This window faces east.
Casts a nice morning light.
And this is where I've slept
every night for the past 21 years.
Are the neighbors quiet?
Yeah. Most of them
are very, very old.
- This from high school?
- Yeah.
You've had that ponytail
a long time.
"You've reached
Marc Pease Limited..."
"offering professional
limousine services..."
"and the Meridian 8 experience."
"Leave a message and I'll get back
to you in 4/4 time."
Hey, Marc.
Jon Gribble returning.
I'll try you back next week.
Okay? Bye-bye.
Stick that. Stick it.
Yeah.
This going inside? Good.
Yeah, all right!
"Join us"
"Leave your field to flower"
"Join us"
"Leave your cheese to sour"
"Join us"
"Come and waste an hour or two"
"Journey"
"Journey to a spot exciting,
mystic and exotic"
"Journey through
our anecdotic revue"
"We've got magic to do,
just for you"
"We've got miracle plays to play"
"We've got parts to perform"
"Hearts to warm"
"Kings and things
to take by storm"
"As we go along"
"As we go along our way"
"We've got magic to do!"
Back to work!
Marc, I think it's going really well.
Grandma took me in, Joan.
Yes, I know.
Now I'm supposed to just sell
the place right out from under her?
Well, I think she'd want you
to move on. Don't you?
Who said anything
about moving on?
I just want to make a demo
with my group, that's all...
before anyone else leaves,
you know? Why is that so hard?
He loves it.
- That's terrific.
- That's very fast, right?
How much time do you need
to get out of here?
- Well, I'm not sure...
- I think Marc is planning...
on renting, so it shouldn't take
much more than a month...
- isn't that right?
- I've got to get to my gig.
Gig?
- Marc's a singer.
- Yeah, I sing.
- Crap!
- Marc!
"The mud on my sneakers
dries up like fecund grout..."
"and I can clear
the treads with a twig."
"Then I smile to myself
because I am living."
Beautiful, Jeff.
Very strong sense
of the physical world.
Thanks, Mr. Edwards.
Okay. Does anybody else want
to read their in-class exercise?
Meg Brickman. Great.
"The brown-eyed baker
frosts me cold with his icing."
"I am his strawberry shortcake."
"I lick the sweetness
on my lips."
"My eyes spit fire!"
"He slices through me
with his sharp knife..."
"and I tear the skin off his face,
laughing blood."
This lotion has changed my life.
Why does Marc insist on doing
the Tin Man song today of all days?
He'll be fine.
He's a rock now.
Every time I think of that night,
I get the shivers.
Yeah.
Gives me diarrhea.
- Gross!
- Don't be so squeamish.
Speak of the Pease.
Here I am.
- Let's do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
- Do it!
Do it!
So, what was that guy's name
over at Isle of Sound?
Jimmy Zapparini.
Zapparini!
Does he know about us yet?
So when do we start
prepping with Gribble?
You know what?
I'm not sure.
Soon, I hope.
He must be so proud of us.
Yeah.
Did you get the keys
to the Taurus?
- No, I didn't.
- Hey, is everything okay?
Yep.
Come on, let's bust a move, guys.
Come on. Circle of Fire. Bring it in.
Where are you?
Okay. Let's have
a good show.
I first heard these young people
last year...
at the opening
of the Fifth/Third Bank downtown.
I know you're going to enjoy them.
Meridian 8!
We are Meridian 8!
- One!
- Two!
- Three!
- Four!
"Do you remember
the 21st night of September?"
"Love was changing
the minds of pretenders"
"While chasing the clouds away"
"Say do you remember"
"Dancing in September?"
"Never was a cloudy day"
"I was born in the wagon
of a traveling show"
"My mama used to dance
for the money they'd throw"
"Papa would do
whatever he could"
- "Preach a little gospel"
- "A little gospel"
"Sell a couple
bottles of Doctor Good"
"Gypsies, tramps, and thieves"
"We'd hear it from the people
of the town, they'd call us"
"Gypsies, tramps, and thieves"
"And every night all the men
would come around"
"And lay their money down"
"What would I do"
"If I could suddenly feel"
"And know once again"
"That what I feel is real?"
- "I could cry"
- "Cry"
- "I could smile"
- "Smile"
- "I might lay back for a while"
- "While"
- "Tell me what"
- "What..."
"What would I do"
"If I could feel?"
"What would I do"
"If I could reach inside of me"
"And know how it feels"
"To say I like what I see?"
"You're a rich girl
but you've gone too far"
"Because you know
it don't matter anyway"
"You can rely on
the old man's money"
"You can rely on
the old man's money"
"It's a bitch, girl"
"But it's gone too far"
"Because you know
it don't matter anyway"
"Say money, but it won't get you
too far, get you too far"
"Don't you know"
Hey...
You.
Just stay focused
on the big picture, right?
- You know what that is?
- The recording studio?
- That's right!
- Yay.
We're so ready for this.
All right, come on, let's go.
Demo!
- Marc?
- Okay!
You were right. Okay?
I shouldn't have done it.
- It's all right.
- I know, it's just a song.
It's a stupid song.
Maybe you should just
never sing it again.
I've really got to jam, Ger.
Will you at least tell me
what Gribble's plan is?
- Gribble.
- Yeah. What about him?
Well, does he really think
we can pull it off?
- Absolutely.
- Tell me what he thinks.
Well...
Well what?
Well, I haven't exactly
made contact with him yet.
- What?
- Not yet.
So he doesn't even
know about the condo?
No. But we've talked about the demo,
like, a gazillion times.
He's the one that gave me
the budget.
- Jesus.
- Everything's all right, Gerry.
- I promise.
- Marc, we can't do this...
- without Gribble.
- I know that!
I'm going to talk to him tonight.
Face to face about this.
I swear to you, when I tell him
that we're ready...
he's going to jump
at the chance.
- And if he doesn't?
- He will.
Because I'll do
whatever it takes.
I will not let this group down,
Gerry.
I promise you, I'll pay him
50,000 dollars if I have to.
I'll sell my voice to the Devil.
- But...
- Don't worry about Gribble, Gerry!
I will take care of him tonight,
okay?
This next song goes out to...
Yeah. I'll be all over the place,
as you can imagine.
But don't worry,
you shall not be neglected.
I know it's no picnic
being the director's date.
So, yeah, give me a call...
if you think you might be able
to make it.
I'll just reserve you a seat
right next to mine...
and instruct the usher
to let you slip in any time.
I'm really looking forward
to meeting you, Joyce. Bye.
Good evening, madame.
Is Mr. Craig Lipscomb present?
Craig! Limo's here!
My name is Marc, and I'll be
your chauffeur this evening.
And what is the name
of the young lady...
who will be joining us?
- Jen.
- Jen. Fantastic.
Those are from Marc.
- Be careful.
- Don't tell me what to do.
Just slow down.
There are like forty thousand
crows behind you.
- Hurry up.
- All right!
I'm going as fast as I can!
God! There, tornado dancer.
I'm only doing this
because of Marc.
He's the one who says
I'm a singer.
But he doesn't know.
He doesn't know who I really am.
Who are you?
I don't know.
Neither does he.
Done.
Move it.
You forgot my shimmer lipstick.
- Nice.
- So cute!
You guys look great.
Really nice.
How about one of the driver
bowing to me?
Let's get a picture of that.
All right, I will.
- That's good. Nice, Craig.
- Yes!
My God.
That is going to be awesome.
Okay. I'm going to try
to keep this short, folks...
so we can all do
what we need to be doing.
So I'd appreciate
your full attention. Bryce?
Hello. Thank you.
Okay, just some final thoughts
before tonight.
How's everybody feeling?
Good.
Wiz. Where are you, bro?
- Right here.
- All right.
On "you all got it?"
I need it funkier. Okay?
"You all got it?"
Really call it out.
And you're calling it out
to everybody.
They're going to come
right back at you...
with the energy
that you give to them.
Then you lay it out,
and then you go for it, and have fun.
All right, everybody.
Permission to have fun tonight.
And that goes for all
the Emerald City people. Okay?
You guys, you've got to step up
and have some fun.
I know you've got it in you.
I was at Janine's party, too.
Addaperle,
lose the second snap...
when you put down Dorothy, okay?
Just give me one, boom!
You put Dorothy down with that.
That's right. Erica.
Could you get me
a Diet Coke, please?
All right.
Okay. Scarecrow.
I need more straw coming out
of your sleeves, Brendan. Right?
More...
Never enough straw.
You think it's too much straw,
it's not enough.
Because that helps this so much.
Good stuff.
Yes, right,
this is important. Cathy.
Tania.
Sorry. During the twister,
don't just kick your feet up...
like you're slipping on
some slippery ground, okay?
This goes for all
the tornado victims.
You are in a class five, okay?
This is for real.
If the tornado dancers
are twisting their ribbons, okay...
and creating this wonderful illusion,
and you're standing there...
like you're waiting for
the cross-town bus or something...
that's not going to work. Okay?
Remember we watched
The Storm Chasers?
This is what the research was about.
You guys have to be caught up
in that wind. Okay, what else?
Bag? What bag?
Okay. So...
I have a little announcement.
According to Stephanie,
we're sold out.
You're a hit already.
Don't screw it up.
Take a breath.
Close your eyes.
Think about what
you're about to do.
Put it all in a balloon.
Let it go.
Let it float up to the sky.
It's okay. You know why?
You all got it!
Look at me, everybody. Yeah!
Number one! Right here.
Craig Central.
Yes! It's all me!
Hey, guys!
Do you guys like Milford?
It's all right.
So what kind of shows you guys
got going on over there?
Teachers suck.
Teachers suck
over at Ashby, too!
That's strong.
There's this one guy over there,
Jon Gribble.
- Have you ever heard of him?
- Watch this.
What are you going to do?
My God, again?
Now listen to me!
I've had a very, very bad day!
And if you pull
my hair one more time, I might...
I might crash this car
into that gas station!
Is that what you want?
- Is that what you want?
- No.
Do you want to die with me
in a giant gas explosion?
No.
Christ!
Auntie Em! Uncle Henry!
Help!
"Coming to get you"
Help!
One, two, three.
"Coming to get you"
"Coming to get you"
"Get you"
"Get you"
"Get you"
Okay, here's my card.
When you're ready to go,
call that number.
I'll swing around and toot.
- Okay.
- Have a great prom!
Say, girl, what's your name?
Dorothy.
- Where you headed for?
- To Emerald City.
There's this great big,
powerful Wiz...
and they say
he can do miracles...
so he's going to get me back
to Kansas.
Hey, you know what?
Of course not.
I don't know anything.
Well, maybe he could get you
some brains.
I'm going to get my brains?
I'm going to get my brains!
I hope my hat can handle it.
"Come on, ease on down"
"Ease on down the road"
"Come on, ease on down"
"Ease on down the road"
"Don't you carry nothing
that might be a load"
"Come on, ease on down.
Ease on down, down the road"
"Because there may be times
when you think you lost your mind"
"And the steps you're taking
leave you three, four steps behind"
"Just you keep on keeping
on the road that you choose"
"Don't you give up walking
because you gave up walking shoes"
"Come on, ease on down
Ease on down the road"
"Come on, ease on down.
Ease on down the road"
"Don't you carry nothing
that might be a load"
"Come on, ease on down.
Ease on down, down the road"
"Because there may be times
when you think you lost your mind"
"And the steps you're taking
leave you three, four steps behind"
"Just you keep on keeping
on the road that you choose"
"Don't you give up walking
because you gave up walking shoes"
"Come on, ease on down.
Ease on down the road"
"Come on, ease on down.
Ease on down the road"
"Don't you carry nothing
that might be a load"
"Come on, ease on down,
ease on down"
"Ease on down, ease on down"
"Ease on down, ease on down"
"Ease on down, ease on down"
"Ease on down,
ease on down the road!"
I know how it is. Sometimes a parent
can do everything right...
and still the kid
ends up troubled.
But he thinks the world of you.
Well, that's because
I pay him to say that.
No, he's a good kid.
He is.
Hey, Mr. Carnegie-Mellon! Hey.
- Hello.
- Hey.
- Hi, I'm Jon Gribble.
- How are you?
Hey!
Gribble!
Hey! I will see
you guys. Okay?
Gribble! Hey!
Gribble...
Marc Pease!
There he is.
I've been trying
to reach you like crazy.
- Have you?
- Yes.
Well, here I am.
This looks familiar.
Yeah. Hey, Marc, not the best time.
What do you need?
Well, I've been really
thinking about something.
Something kind of big, you know?
About how in life,
or whatever...
- that there's this moment...
- Yeah.
Right, and you don't know
when it's going to happen...
but you've just got
to be ready for it.
Ready to jump in.
Take the plunge,
you know? So...
I'm doing it.
Which one?
What?
Jumping or plunging?
I'm kidding, Marc.
I'm kidding.
I've got to get inside.
My show's opening right now.
- I know. I'm sorry, I just...
- And it's going really well, so...
Okay? It's great.
I'm very happy for you. Okay?
- No, but there's more!
- Yeah, I know, but I've got to...
- I haven't...
- I've got to get inside!
But I haven't told you...
Dude? What the freak?
What the freak?
What?
- Haven't you talked to Gerry?
- No.
They've made him lead rosacea man.
In Dayton.
He's moving?
He's quitting.
He's out of the group.
- Gerry.
- You know what else?
He said he called
the Isle of Sound today...
and they told him Jimmy Zapparini
hasn't worked there for six years.
He was fired for stealing.
Gribble lied to us.
My God.
What are we going to do, Marc?
Tracy's been crying all night.
We're done.
We'll talk after.
So I snuck out for a clove
and guess who I saw?
- Who?
- Marc Pease.
Great. I hope he's happy.
I'm making a complete fool of myself.
Hey, Gerry.
It's me, Marc.
Gavin told me...
that you...
That...
"What would I do"
"If I could suddenly feel?"
"And know once again"
- "That what I feel is real?"
- God damn it!
"I could cry, I could smile"
"And I might
lay back for a while"
"And there, maybe,
after a while"
"I might see a baby smile"
"And I'd notice
how she would grin"
"After I had touched her chin"
"And if a tear came to her eye"
Marc!
We need to talk.
- I'm watching the show.
- It's urgent!
Yeah, well,
it will have to wait, okay?
No! That's for Joyce!
That seat's reserved. Marc!
I'm waiting.
Go away.
- Maybe if you returned my calls...
- Please be quiet.
Bravo!
We have to talk!
- No, you!
- Hey!
Let's go.
Stop it!
"So you wanted
to meet the Wizard!"
Okay. Here we are.
What is it?
Come on, Marc.
Come on! You brought me here,
remember?
I thought you might want
to know that I'm selling my condo.
That's great.
Great. Great news.
Aren't you going to ask me why?
I don't know, you're worried
about the housing bubble?
I was selling it to pay
for Meridian 8...
to go into the recording studio,
just like you always said we should.
Did I?
You know you did!
No, Marc, I said you could do it,
not should.
There's a big, big difference.
No, you told me that if we ever
went into the recording studio...
that you would be our producer.
You said all I had to
do was get the money!
- Okay, would you calm down?
- No, you calm down!
- Marc.
- What?
I never dreamed you'd come up
with that kind of cash.
Then why did you say it?
It was my polite way of telling you
you were being unrealistic.
You were supposed to realize that
on your own.
You told us we were the best.
- In high school!
- You've said it since.
- Marc.
- What?
Listen to me carefully.
You are not in high school anymore.
- You don't have to tell me that.
- Don't I? Come on, Marc.
You're hanging out here
all the time.
Tacking up your flyers,
with your headphones on.
Leaving me notes.
Still singing with your old
high school friends. Still...
I mean, you're dating a teenager,
Marc.
Don't.
Don't you give me
that sad little boy look.
Don't you do it.
All right? God, I mean...
What do you want from me, Marc?
I'm not your teacher anymore.
- I know.
- Do you understand that?
You want to make a demo album?
Are you crazy?
When are you
going to realize it?
When are you going
to accept that you...
You didn't make it?
Okay?
Open your eyes. It's no big deal.
Happens all the time.
We all get to that point in our life
when we realize...
"I'm not good enough."
What, are you going to cry now?
Is that what this moment is?
Is this the critical scene
in the play...
and now you're going to ruin it?
Enough, okay?
Enough already!
Okay, how dare you use that
against me, knowing what you know.
I mean, have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten senior year?
I told you I couldn't go onstage,
remember? Remember?
I said I'd break down
if I had to get up there.
Marc! Kids tell me that every night
during production.
On the worst day of their lives?
- Marc.
- Jon!
She was your grandmother.
The show must go on.
I know about you and Meg.
I don't know
what you're talking about.
This look familiar?
No.
No? Maybe we should play it.
Maybe we should listen to it?
- All right.
- In fact...
maybe we should call
Vice Principal Yonka...
- Okay, give me that.
- in here and play it for her, too.
Better yet,
there's a whole audience out there.
Why don't we play it
for everyone?
- Give me that, Marc! Give me that!
- No!
Tell me, Jon, how many Megs
have there been?
- Marc!
- Five? Seven?
And where do you keep their tapes?
Are they all right here?
- Stop that! Stop it!
- Are they all right here?
- What are you doing?
- What's this?
What is this?
What the hell is this?
- None of your business!
- What is this? Candy?
You're cleaning that up!
- What are you doing?
- What is all that stuff?
No! Stop it!
You know what? I'm not the one
who's still in high school, Jon.
- You are!
- What are you doing?
It's all the same!
Same choreography!
- Get off that piano!
- Same blocking!
- What are you doing?
- It's the same show!
- That's it!
- No!
You stop...
That's not cool!
Get off me!
Give me the tape!
I'm wet!
My pants!
That's why you never gave her
a good part, isn't it?
To get back at me!
She doesn't emote.
You know what?
You're lucky.
If it was just you on that tape,
I'd play it for the whole school.
And you'd never teach musical theater
in this town again.
"Who"
"Who do you think you are?"
"Who told you"
"Told you that you're the star?"
Gerry. Marc. So, congrats
on that promotion, man.
Dayton? Outstanding!
Listen, no hard feelings.
Meridian 8's had a heck
of a wild ride.
And I just want to say...
I love you, man.
I love you.
"Who do you think you are?"
"Who do you think you are?"
"Who do you think you are?"
- Your hair.
- I cut it.
You look good.
We need to break up.
I'm breaking up with you.
What? Just because
I'm quitting singing?
- That's so stupid, Marc.
- I don't care...
if you quit singing.
I mean...
I do care, but that's not why
we have to break up.
Well, why then?
Look at me.
I'm just too old for you.
This is great, you know?
I can't believe I'm crying right now.
This is... Thanks.
Don't cry, Meg. Listen to me.
You have an amazing voice.
I just want you to find
what makes you happy. Okay?
Yeah?
It's all supposed to be fun.
Right?
Tell me, my good fellow...
do you still have the balloon
that brought you here?
Yes, I do.
The ladies put it up in the park
and made a national shrine out of it.
Just as I thought.
Now, the balloon brought you here
from Nebraska...
why can't it take Dorothy
back to Kansas?
Wiz, 30 seconds.
Sorry, man.
- Shit!
- Are you all right?
No.
What's wrong with you, man?
What's happening?
- He ran into me with the corn!
- Who hit you with the corn?
I bet if you started all over again
someplace else...
you could do all of this,
and even have some friends.
Okay, let's try to get him up.
Come on.
- No. I can't move my leg.
- Wiz?
- Patrick, go get Mr. Gribble! Go!
- Wiz?
Tell them I'm hurt.
The Wiz isn't so bad,
once you get to know him. Is he?
I have to get back to Kansas.
All right, everyone, move,
out of the way, move, hold this.
I'm sure he has a really good reason
for not being here.
He's a busy guy.
Everything's going to be okay.
Give me your cape.
Maybe we should go
and find him, Tin Man.
I think Scarecrow should do it.
Listen, you guys,
eight years from now...
none of this is going to matter.
I've done it!
Wiz?
Yes!
"I got to leave,
so I'll pack my bag"
"And I'm going"
"I've got a date, so don't you ask me
to stay, because I'm showing"
"You were always ready
for new wizardry"
"You must have thought that miracles
came easy to me"
"Take what I give you
and put it up on the shelf"
"Because now it's time
for this here Wiz to wiz on himself"
"And I'm wizing"
Why aren't you out onstage?
Why? It doesn't make a difference.
What?
I'm not good at anything.
Yes, you are.
You're a great writer.
Really?
I've always been a big fan.
"Give me a reason why I should stay
and I'll judge it"
"My mind is made up"
"So nothing you going to say
is going to budge it"
"I packed up my clothes
and I packed up my power"
"I'm leaving this place
in less than one half hour"
"If you look up in the sky"
"You'll know who it is"
"It's not a bird,
it's not a plane"
"It's just a little old Wiz"
"And guess who's on after that?"
What's he doing out there?"
He was the only one
who knew the part.
I knew the part!
"I packed up my clothes
and I packed up my power"
"I'm leaving this place
in less than one half an hour"
"If you look up in the sky"
"You'll know who it is"
"It's not a bird,
it's not a plane"
"It's just that funky old Wiz"
"And guess who's on
after that?"
No.
that's not true.
I mean, you're wrong.
I'm not a great writer.
I don't have a gift.
But I am a great singer.
I mean, I can be. I will be.
Because I love it, Mr. Edwards,
I do.
I really do.
I love singing.
Great, Meg, that's...
I got to get back onstage.
- "Yeah!"
- "You all got it!"
"You all got it!"
"You all got it!"
Come on!
Man, we love you!
I'm back!
Thank you!
Bye!
Hey!
Bye. I love you! Bye.
This is great!
Bye.
Goodbye! I love you!
Hey, Joseph?
Mr. Gribble?
Are you okay?
Ten minutes of heat.
Ten minutes of ice.
Ten minutes heat,
ten minutes ice.
Straight through to half-hour
tomorrow night.
Stand by, five.
Give me a hand.
Wow. That was...
I mean... My heart's
pounding right now.
Thank you.
Who are you?
I'm Marc Pease.
This next song goes out to...
well, to myself.
This one's for you, Marc.
"Sometimes you start
feeling so lost and lonely"
"Then you'll find
it's all been in your mind"
"Sometimes you think
someone is the one and only"
"Can't you see it
could be you and me?"
"But if there's any doubt"
"Then I think I'll leave it out"
"Going to tell you one thing"
"You can't get what you want"
"Till you know what you want"
"You can't get what you want"
"Till you know what you want"
"Sometimes you can't see that
all you need is one thing"
"If it's right
you could sleep at night"
"But it can take some time"
"But at least I'm here in line"
"Because tell you one thing"
"You can't get what you want"
"Till you know what you want"
"You can't get what you want"
"Till you know what you want"
"Here we go!"