NOTE: This is the original release, a remastered version is now available
Credits
Music
Hit the Bricks Theme, Jeff Ball
The Threat, black kite
Gray,
City of Glass,
Winter in the Tire Stacks,
Same Old Love Songs (Hit the Bricks Version), Andrew Preston
Original Songs Written, Composed, and Mastered by Kathryn Hoss
Cast
JESSI - Michelle Agresti
WALLACE - PJ Scott-Blankenship
LINDA WILLIAMS (WALLACE’S MOM) - Erin Lillis
MATILDA HUGSON (JESSI’S MOM) - Rachel Livingston
JESSI’S PHONE - Michael J. Andersen
LOUISE LOUGHLIN - Tori Douglas
SCARECROW - Lee Davis-Thalbourne
SCRAPS THE PATCHWORK GIRL - Charlotte Dow
SAW-HORSE - Arthur Maurici
BILLINA THE HEN - Danielle Shemaiah
THE WISEST SISTER - Lauren Shippen
THE ELDEST SISTER - Megan Scharlau
THE PRETTIEST SISTER - Q Dyer
THE YOUNGEST SISTER - Dana Luery Shaw
Crew
Written and directed by PJ Scott-Blankenship
Executive Producer: Chad Ellis
Audio by Andy Rumschlag, Chad Ellis
Art by Roxanne Wheeler
Recorded at Anarchy Post
Hit the Bricks
Episode 1: When Are You Gonna Come Down? Act 1, Scene 1: The Bakery
SOUND: THE MUSIC SWELLS LIKE AN OLD TIMEY RADIO SHOW, STATIC
IN THE BACKGROUND LEADING TO A CRESCENDO THAT STOPS SHORT
AND IS FOLLOWED BY HOWLING WIND AND A CRASH OF THUNDER. A
MORE UPBEAT, BUT SOMBER SONG PLAYS
MUSIC: THE THREAT, BLACK KITE
Lately I hate how I separate
what I know from what I need
‘cause there is a lie inside of me
and I’m keeping it discreet
But I know I’m never satisfied
leaving you lonely, leaving you lonely
So I work my way inside...
I work my way inside
There is a lie, there is a lie
Even I don’t understand; I’m trying
Try to forgive; try to forgive
what you cannot abide
SOUND: A VOICE CUTS THROUGH THE MUSIC, IT'S AUNT LINDA,
MID-40'S, JESSI'S AUNT.
AUNT LINDA
...Jessi? Jessi? HELLO?
SOUND: JESSI, MID-TEENS, TAKES OFF HER HEADPHONES
JESSI
(Distracted) What? Oh. Sorry, Aunt Linda. I should have
warned you that I was putting my headphones on.
SOUND: WALLACE, LINDA'S SON, COMES INTO THE ROOM, HE PUSHES
A CHAIR OUT OF THE WAY
WALLACE
That sounded pretty loud. What were you listening to?
JESSI
My favorite band, Aunt Jane's Nieces. Have you heard of
them, Wallace?WALLACE
Oh yeah...aren't they breaking up?
JESSI
Yeah, well, who isn't these days.
AUNT LINDA
You've been quiet ever since you walked through my shop
door. I wanna hear about your first day of school.
JESSI
Sorry. Um... The science lab doesn't even have goggles,
the computer lab is 20 years outdated, there's no
soccer field, and I got detention immediately.
AUNT LINDA
You did?
WALLACE
It wasn't fair, Mom! Trixie Tryfle called Jessi all
kinds of names all day, like "Blue Wave" and "Toilet
Bowl Hair."
AUNT LINDA
Well, at least it was a clean toilet, then.
WALLACE
Then Trixie made me drop all my snacks! Jessi stood up
for me and Ms. Phelps tried to give her detention! She
was just being a good person.
JESSI
I'm not sure that's how anyone else saw it.
WALLACE
Well. I appreciated it.
AUNT LINDA
I'm sure your mom will understand. In the meantime,
help me set up your mom's baby shower, yeah? We're
gonna have it here at the bakery tomorrow. She's about
to pop, so, I don't want to wait. Wallace, go sweep the
front.WALLACE
Okay, um, Jessi can you wipe the dust off the shelves
and picture frames?
JESSI
These paintings are beautiful. Wait...Wallace did you
paint these?WALLACE
(sweeping) Um. Yeah.JESSI
Wow. The colors are so...bright.AUNT LINDA
Okay, speaking of colors: pink or blue?
JESSI
What? AUNT LINDA
Boy or girl?JESSI
Oh. Um, we don't know but we also don't really care
because even though gender identity is important, it's
kind of an arbitrary thing to ingrain in-- (she
realizes they're looking at her like she's speaking a
foreign language)
...an infant. ...so. Um. It doesn't matter.
AUNT LINDA
Thank you, that's all I wanted to know.
What about names?JESSI
Frankie.AUNT LINDA
And if it's a girl?JESSI
Still Frankie.AUNT LINDA
Okay. Well. You sort out the decorations you think your
mom would like, and then I'll get started on the cake
and by the time we're done, your mom should be home and
Wallace can walk you back.
JESSI
Okay. (Trying to sound happier) ...Yeah. This will be
fun.AUNT LINDA
Cool! Let's get started!
Act 1, Scene 2: The Fight
SOUND: THERE'S A WHIRRING OF WIND, AND THEN FOOTSTEPS ON
GRAVEL
JESSI
Thank you for walking me back, Wallace.
WALLACE
It's no trouble at all. Are you okay? You still seem
quiet.
JESSI
Yeah, I'm just not used to the Kansas winter wind, yet.
(Pause) And I...I just don't know what I'm gonna tell
Mom.
WALLACE
What's there to explain? Your homeroom teacher gave you
detention over an accident.
JESSI
Mom's never going to believe that I "accidentally" made
Trixie's lunch table collapse on top of her.
WALLACE
Well, it was an accident...wasn't it?
JESSI
I'm not sure. I mean, I knew it was collapsable, but...
WALLACE
Mm. (Pause) Well. I'll never forget the way her feet
were kicking out from under the table.
SOUND: THEY BOTH GIGGLE AT THIS
WALLACE
But really. Thank you. No one's ever done anything like
that for me before.
JESSI
That's what family's for. Besides, you and Aunt Linda
helped us find a new place on short notice.
WALLACE
I thought you hated it.
JESSI
I do. I live in an attic with a doorknob that pops out
of the door, but it's still a house. You helped us
move, you helped us unpack. And you're *still doing*
stuff, I mean your mom looked like she was going to be
working on my mom's baby shower all night.
WALLACE
Heh. "That's what family's for." (Pause) So...aside
from school, are you okay? Do you wanna talk about the-
JESSI
No. But, there is something that's been on my mind.
That little abandoned farm on the condemned lot...the
one on the way to school.
WALLACE
Hm... Oh! 433 Prospect Place. Yeah, it's creepy, huh?
JESSI
No...it's not creepy just...kinda sad. It's almost like
there's something about it that...won't let go of me.
And I swear there was something glowing in the yard
and... Never mind. It's silly.
WALLACE
Well... I can go through the paper's archives and see
if there's anything there...?
JESSI
That seems like too much trouble. But, thank you.
WALLACE
Oh, before you go inside, here. I made this for you
today.
JESSI
Is this...a drawing of me? I like it. I like it a lot.
WALLACE
I took some liberties but I think it captures your
valiant spirit. I hope Aunt Matilda appreciates how
brave you are.
SOUND: THE GRAVEL STOPS, JESSI IDLES AND THEN SIGHS
JESSI
Well... I guess I'll see you tomorrow.
WALLACE
Yeah. I'll meet you at the bus stop.
SOUND: JESSI STEPS ON THE PORCH, KEYS JINGLING.
WALLACE
Um...Jessi?
JESSI Yeah?
WALLACE
For what it's worth... I'm really glad that you're
here.
JESSI
Heh. Night, Wallace.
SOUND: SHE OPENS THE DOOR AND IT CLICKS BEHIND HER.
(MATILDA HUGSON, MID-30S, JESSI'S MOM CAN BE HEARD
CALLING)
MATILDA
(Calling from another room) Jessica?
JESSI
Yeah, Mom.
MATILDA
I just got off the phone with your Principal...
JESSI
Here we go.
MATILDA
Honey, I know you're in a tough spot but it was your
first day!
JESSI
Mom, it was a huge accident. The teacher hated me and
that girl was picking on Wallace--
MATILDA
Why did you have to say anything to her? You should
have gone straight to the principal.
JESSI
I talked to Principal Hamilton right after and she
waved the detention! Mom. This wasn't a big deal.
MATILDA
Look, I talked to Bill--
JESSI
(Totally betrayed) WHAT? How could you call HIM?
MATILDA
Because, Jessica, he is still your father. And he
thinks you leaving San Francisco was a mistake, and
frankly, I'm starting to agree with him.
JESSI
Well, it's a little late for him to be playing Father
Goose and it's a little late for you to act like I had
a choice.
MATILDA
I did *not* make you move here with me.
JESSI
You didn't have to! How could I let you raise the baby
alone? How could I pick Dad after what he did... HOW
CAN YOU *STILL* TALK TO HIM LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED?
MATILDA
What do you want me to say, Jessica? You want me to
tell you that I'm totally heartbroken? That I wake up
an hour early every day to talk myself into getting out
of bed?
JESSI
I want you to tell me that it's okay that I'm mad! I
want you to realize that now it's just us! I don't have
Dad anymore and I don't even have most of my friends--MATILDA
That's ridiculous, your friends--
JESSI
Were on the soccer team! They all blame me for Coach
Mike getting fired. (Voice breaks) I haven't even heard
from Louise...
MATILDA
(Slow, comforting)...Jessi.
JESSI
You're right, mom. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything
to that brat picking on Wallace. Just like I shouldn't
have said anything when I saw Dad kissing Coach Mike.
SOUND: SHE RUSHES UPSTAIRS, HER MOM DOESN'T FOLLOW. SHE
SLAMS THE DOOR SHUT AND WITH A POP HER DOORKNOB GOES ROLLING
DOWN THE STAIRS.
SOUND: SHE PLOPS DOWN ON THE BED, SUDDENLY THERE'S A DING
JESSI'S PHONE
You have one new voice message from: LOUISE LOUGHLIN
JESSI
(Happy gasp)
PLAY! PLAY!
(LOUISE LOUGHLIN (MID-TEENS), JESSI'S BEST FRIEND WITH A
SWEET UPBEAT VOICE IS HEARD)
LOUISE
Hey Jessi! It's me, Louise. (Realizing the phone has
caller ID and Jessi knows that it's her) Um...duh.
Anyway, I miss you already and just wanted to see how
your big move was. Send me some pictures of the new
pad!
JESSI
(Muttering to herself) Nope.
LOUISE
Um. I stopped by your place today to pick up my things
that I'd lent you, like you asked. Your dad was outside
setting up the "For Sale" sign. He looked horrible. Um.
I don't know why I'm telling you that. Sorry. I just
figured that if it were my dad... Sorry. I'm gonna try
to re-record and-
JESSI'S PHONE
End of message.
JESSI
Not you too. (She rolls over and screams, muffled, into
her mattress)
JESSI'S PHONE
Incoming call from: Dad.JESSI
Ugh! (She throws her phone on the ground.)SOUND: SHE SNIFFS, GOES THROUGH HER THINGS. SHE FINDS THE
UKE, AND SITS ON HER BED.SOUND: SONG, "Goodbye For Now"
JESSI
(singing)
Goodbye for now
Wish I could talk but I don’t know how (how)
I don’t know what you want from me
I blew up your life
Or maybe you blew up mine
I can’t talk about that now
Goodbye for now
I bet you think that I'll break down (down)
I'm trying hard to not act out
You’re bringing new life
Like you created mine
That's all I care about right now
How do I start again?
A new house and few friends
Let my foundations sink
I'm a clean slate with permanent ink
Rewriting everything I thought I'd wiped away
But this time the marks will stay
Goodbye for now
To these feelings bubbling out (out)
I don’t know what to do with them
‘Cept pushing them down
This prob’ly won’t end well
I can’t think about that now
Can I start over now?
Old wounds in a new house
Doesn't feel safe and sound
To lay roots on shifting ground
Rebuilding what I know will only fall away
How do I know I’ll stay?
Can I start over now
I want to but I don't know how...SOUND: SHE PLAYS OUT THE CHORDS AND SNIFFS A FEW TIMES IN
TOTAL SILENCE, THEN TAKES SLOW DEEP BREATHS BEFORE SHE
DRIFTS TO SLEEP
Act 1, Scene 3: The Storm
SOUND: JESSI WAKES STRAIGHT UP WITH A GASP.
JESSI (panting) What time is it...? Where's my phone?
(She finds it on the other side of the room)
OH NO. I OVERSLEPT!
SOUND: SHE THROWS ON SOME CLOTHES AND RUNS DOWN THE STAIRS.
JESSI
Mom? MOM?! Right...she went in early today. I gotta
catch the...
SOUND: FROM OUTSIDE WE CAN HEAR A BUS HONK AND THEN SHIFT
GEARS
JESSI
THE BUS! No, no no no! PLEASE TELL ME MY BIKE IS OFF
THE VAN. YES. Okay, maybe I can still make it!
SOUND: JESSI BOUNDS OUT THE DOOR, BIKE WHEEL ROLLING ACROSS
THE PLAINS.JESSI
I'm gonna make it! I'm-
SOUND: HER BIKE HITS A POTHOLE AND SHE GOES FLYING
JESSI
Agh!! (She picks herself up) Broken axle! Ugh. In the middle of no where too... Wait... It's that house again. Something is glowing, I knew I wasn't dreaming that...WALLACE
Jessi!JESSI
Aaah! Wallace! You gave me a heart attack, what are you
doing out here?!WALLACE
I saw you weren't at the bus stop, so I ran back home
and got my scooter in case you needed help finding the
way.JESSI
Oh, Wallace, that's so sweet. Not a bike person?
WALLACE
They creep me out for some reason. Aw man, looks like
you hit the pothole pretty good. Right in front of your
favorite place too.
JESSI
Yeah. The old farmhouse is still bumming me out.
WALLACE
Well, I actually did some research last night. This
place is totally haunted.JESSI
What? WALLACE
Oh yeah. A hundred years ago, this little girl used to
live on this land in a little farm house with her
family. One day a tornado blew through here and picked
up the house with the girl trapped inside. Her family
built a new house -- this one right here, and mourned
the girl.
BUT THEN she came back, totally unharmed but talking
AND THEN she disappeared again and kept
coming back. Finally, the last time
she vanished, she took her family with her and no one
ever saw then again.JESSI
Oh, that's ridiculous. Who would ever come back here if
they got spirited away somewhere else? Look! There's
that shine I told you about...
WALLACE
Jessi?
SOUND: BUT IT'S TOO LATE, JESSI CLIMBS OVER THE FENCE AND
TRUDGES THROUGH THE SNOWY GRASS.
JESSI
What on earth...
WALLACE
What is it?
JESSI
It's some kind of...jeweled bracelet.
WALLACE
What?! Is it real?
JESSI
Of course not. Why would anybody leave a--
SOUND: THERE'S A GREAT GUST OF WIND. THE BIKE GOES FLYING
AND SO DOES WALLACE'S SCOOTER.
WALLACE
Aaah! What was that?
JESSI
A reminder that we should be leaving. Come on, I'm in
enough trouble--
SOUND: THE WIND HOWLS EVEN HARDER, BUT THIS TIME IT DOESN'T
LET UP. THE GATE SWINGS OPEN WITH A CLANG.
WALLACE
Jessi! Are you okay?!
JESSI
Y-yeah. What's going on?!
WALLACE
I don't - (he stops and gasps) WHAT IS THAT?
JESSI
THAT APPEARS TO BE A TWISTER MADE OF SNOW AND LIGHT!
WALLACE
BUT-BUT...IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?
JESSI
I DON'T THINK SO, BUT IT'S HAPPENING ANYWAY AND WE'RE JUST
GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT! FIND SHELTER!
SOUND: AGAINST THE WIND, THERE IS A POUNDING OF WOOD AND
GROANING OF THE HOUSE.
WALLACE
THE STORM CELLAR WON'T BUDGE!
JESSI
THE HOUSE IS LOCKED TOO! (she screams as the wind takes
her) AAAH!
WALLACE
JESSI! HOLD ON! I GOT YOU!
SOUND: A Choir plays under the storm.
SONG: "GRAY"
CHORUS (singing)
O Gray of soul, you've risen now;
shook the core, the County's bow.
for time is spent to quench His thirst.
We prayed the Gray had took it first.
And as I tremble in His palm,
the mountain weeps.
The child is gone.
Forget the sky, to Earth I pray
for mountains steeped in deepest Gray.
WE CAN HEAR WOOD FALL TO THE GROUND, AND JESSI AND
WALLACE HIT SOMETHING WITH A MUFFLED BUMP
Act 2, Scene 1: The House
JESSI
(Panting) W-Wallace? WALLACE?!
WALLACE
I'm here! I'm okay... Are you alright?
JESSI
Y-yeah. I'm fine. More scared than anything. It's...so
dark in here. At least it's not cold in here. The storm
must have thrown us into that house.
WALLACE
...no. No, I don't think so. That was a two-story
place. This has one floor. Look, you can see through
the hole we made in the roof. I think this is a
different place completely. It looks like a little one
bedroom. All crafted by hand...
JESSI
Well, let's get out of here.
SOUND: JESSI TRIES TO OPEN THE DOOR.
JESSI
It's locked. Annnnd...I don't have service. Can you
try?WALLACE
(Patting his pants) My phone must have fallen out in
the storm. Try the windows.
SOUND: THERE'S A CLUNKING.
JESSI
It's stuck... and the shutters outside the broken glass
won't move
WALLACE
Here either...what is going on?JESSI
Maybe if I had a running start...WALLACE
Jessi wait!SOUND: SHE HURLS HERSELF AGAINST THE DOOR AND BOUNCES BACK,
ALMOST COMEDICALLY. HER BAG HITS THE FLOOR.
JESSI
Ouch. ...Wallace look!
SOUND: THERE'S A ROLLING SOUND SIMILAR TO A MARBLE SLOWLY
MAKING ITS WAY ACROSS THE WOOD FLOOR.
JESSI
The bracelet...
SOUND: THERE'S A CLANK AND IT STOPS.WALLACE
It's just..standing straight up in the middle of the
floor. It almost looks like...
JESSI
...a handle.
SOUND: SHE STEPS FORWARD, GRUNTS WITH THE WEIGHT OF IT.
THERE'S A POP, AND UNBELIEVABLY, THE SOUND OF A TRAP DOOR
JESSI
A trap door... No stairs, no ladder. I can't see into
the darkness.
SOUND: THE FLOOR CREEKS.
WALLACE
Old houses like this built their storm cellars right
underground and the doors were inside the house. But,
if this house is still standing, maybe someone built
another access door on the outside.
JESSI
So we can escape through the other side.
WALLACE
Maybe... but... I don't know, something's wrong. This
place doesn't look like it's had anyone in here for a
long, long time. Look at the dust!
JESSI
Standing here talking isn't going to get us anywhere. I
think there's still some rock climbing stuff in my
backpack from my trip a few weeks ago.
SOUND: SHE GOES THROUGH HER BAG.
WALLACE
Did you clean that thing out at all before you moved?
JESSI
Nope! And see how handy it is! Okay. Secure this to
that old pot-belly stove for me.
WALLACE
Okay...
SOUND: THERE'S A SCRATCHING CLANG AS WALLACE DOES THIS.
JESSI
Okay, I'm gonna repel down. My chord's not very long
but it shouldn't be that far down.
WALLACE
Be careful.
Act 2, Scene 2: The Cavern
SOUND: THE FLOOR'S CREAKING, SHE SLIDES DOWN AND THE ROPE
PULLS AGAINST THE PRESSURE.
JESSI
Out of slack...
SOUND: THERE'S A WOOSHING NOISE ECHOING THROUGH THE
DARKNESS. JESSI GASPS
WALLACE
What! What do you see?!
JESSI
It's...I don't know how to explain it. It's a giant
cavern, and it's got rock formations that look like
mountains that go on for miles. There'a a...city of
glass at the center with a bunch of glowing orbs
lighting it.
WALLACE
What? What are you even--
SOUND: THERE'S A POP AND A BANG AND THE FRAME AROUND THE
TRAP DOOR BREAKS. WALLACE FALLS
WALLACE
Aaah!JESSI
Aaah! SOUND: THEY FALL THROUGH THE DARK AND LAND ON SOMETHING SOFTWALLACE
Oh! Jessi!? Are you okay.JESSI
Yeah. I'm fine. What happened?WALLACE
I was resting on the frame a bit too hard and it
snapped. Whoa... you weren't kidding about that city of
glass.JESSI
Yeah. I mean... I don't know. Maybe this is a dream.
Why else would we have landed on a pile of straw?WALLACE
How strange... Look, there are clothes...and a sack.
Jessi, I think this is a scarecrow, or it was once upon
a time.
JESSI
This...this can't be real. But I don't feel like I'm
asleep.
WALLACE
Jessi, do you have a permanent marker?
JESSI
What? why?
WALLACE
His face is faded! Oh, never mind, I have one in my
bag... There we go...almost there.
SOUND: WALLACE HAS UNCAPPED A MARKER AND IS FILLING IN THE
VARIOUS DETAILS ON HIS FACE
JESSI
Seriously?
WALLACE
Ta-da! A little wonky, but I did the best I could with
what I had.
SOUND: SCARECROW SQUEAKS BACK WITH A HOLLOW VOICE.
SCARECROW
Thank...you...
WALLACE AND JESSI
Ah!SCARECROW
Oh, please don't be frightened! I don't mean to startle
you.JESSI
Wha-who are you?SCARECROW
I'm the Scarecrow, and I've been trapped here for...I
don't even know how long. How do you do?WALLACE
Pretty...well, thank you. My name is Wallace Williams,
and this is my cousin Jessica Hugson, but she goes by
Jessi.JESSI
Wallace, what are you doing? This is impossible.WALLACE
But it's happening anyway. Deal with it, remember? How
do you do?SCARECROW
Oh, I'm not feeling at all well. It's very tedious
being torn apart and scattered asunder.JESSI
Fine, I'll participate. Is there anything we can do to
help?SCARECROW
Perhaps if you can help me get back into shape by
finding and stuffing my clothes.
JESSI
You really do seem to be scattered in all directions.
How did you get like this? And for that matter, where
are we?SCARECROW
Well, I don't mind telling you while you look but first
tell me where you came from. Not a lot of kids dropping
from the sky these days.
SOUND: AS THIS IS HAPPENING, WALLACE AND JESSI TIE TOGETHER
SCARECROW'S CLOTHES AND FILL THEM WITH HAY. SCARECROW SOUNDS
FULLER AS THIS GOES ON
JESSI
Well. I'm from San Francisco, California, originally--
SCARECROW
That sounds familiar. Is that anywhere near Kansas?
WALLACE
That's where we live! I don't suppose this cavern
is...under Kansas, is it?
SCARECROW
I'm afraid not! But, allow me to welcome you to the
Land of Oz.
JESSI
Oz... WALLACE
Sounds like a sci-fi planet. Maybe it is...talking
scarecrows, and glass cities.
JESSI
Meh. San Francisco has a giant greenhouse at the
conservatory that's not so different from that, and
I've seen giant disco balls like that glowing orb at
Pride--
SCARECROW
Oh, as far as I can tell, that's the glass town's light
source and the smaller colored orbs are how the old
residents tracked time... I think. Maybe my traveling
party learned more, but I haven't seen them in some
time.
JESSI
Oh yeah. You never answered how you got like this.
SCARECROW
A friend of mine went missing. All of Oz has been
looking for her, and my party found this little
underground cave and empty city. The cavern entrance
wouldn't let us back out once we came in, and I decided
to go scouting for another way out and that's when the
wooden gargoyles attacked.JESSI
Wooden...gargoyles?SCARECROW
Oh, they're quite the little terrors. Just come
swooping in with their big claws.WALLACE
Are they...are they around?SCARECROW
I don't believe so. Your falling caused quite a scene.
I doubt they'll come back for a while.
JESSI
You...said your friend was missing?
SCARECROW
Yes! Dorothy. Dorothy Gale.
WALLACE
Jessi! That's the name of the girl! The one who kept
disappearing from Prospect Place! The house we crashed
into on the surface...what if that's Dorothy's house?
The one the tornado blew away.
JESSI
Wallace, she'd have to be well over 100-years-old.
SCARECROW
Well, I suppose so! In Oz, people don't age the way
they do in the outside world, and because of that
people aren't so concerned with tracking time.
JESSI
So, if no one's keeping track, you could have been
stuck here for a couple decades and not even know it.SCARECROW
Possibly, I suppose.WALLACE
I'm sorry Mr. Scarecrow, I can't seem to find the
button for your jacket.
SCARECROW
Oh, that's quite alright. I'm sure it's easily mended.JESSI
So...that also means that we could be stuck here for
decades and not know it!WALLACE
Jessi, it's okay, we haven't been here that long.JESSI
Yeah, but you don't know that! Mom is one hard sneeze
away from going into labor. We can't stay here.WALLACE
Look, I know, but--JESSI
Okay, so. I'm going to stop assuming this is a dream
because not having a plan is really starting to make me
panic.WALLACE
Okay.JESSI
We are in some kind of...what, magic land?SCARECROW
Fairy country.JESSI
Sure. And if that weren't bad enough, we're trapped in
some sort of underground cavern with a looming
possibility of an attack from wooden gargoyles.SCARECROW
That's right so far.JESSI
Okay, and assuming we all make it out of here...how
hard is it to get back to Kansas? I mean, apparently
Dorothy did it all the time.SCARECROW
Well. It used to be harder. Oz is surrounded by a
deadly desert that turns anything living that touches
it into dust. And then there are the neighboring
countries...and the enchanted ocean...
JESSI
Sounds promising.SCARECROW
Well, anyway, you don't need to worry. Our Princess,
Ozma, has a magic belt that can send anyone to Kansas.
We just have to make it back to her palace at the
Emerald City.WALLACE
Well, that doesn't sound too bad. Alright. I think
you're as together as we can get you. Can you stand?SCARECROW
My goodness! It's good to be free! Oh!SOUND: HE TRIPS AND FALLSWALLACE
Oh! Are you alright?!SCARECROW
Oh, I'm fine. Just a little clumsy.JESSI
This side of the rock looks like a path. We can scale
down to the city and meet up with the rest of your
friends. Maybe then we'll be able to figure a way out
of here.SCARECROW
Lead the way.SOUND: THEY BRACE THE EDGE OF THE PATH, ROCKS ROLL ACROSS
THE WAY AS THEY SHUFFLEJESSI
Scarecrow, I have a question. If Ozma has a magic belt
that can just...transport people. Why didn't she use it
to find Dorothy?SCARECROW
Oh, she tried that first. She exhausted all her magical
abilities to try to locate Dorothy. So we all broke off
into search parties to look for her.
WALLACE
"We?" SCARECROW
Dorothy's friends. I mean, after everything she did for
everyone here, almost all of Oz loved her. Of course,
it wasn't just her that went missing. Her Aunt Em and
Uncle Henry are gone too. Oh, and her dog Toto, of
course.WALLACE
Seems a bit...scary that someone so beloved could go
missing without a trace.SCARECROW
Oz was pretty safe for a long time...but, I have to
admit, I'm a little worried.JESSI
Well none of us will be able to do anything for anyone
unless we get out of here. Come on. Almost there.
Act 2, Scene 3: The City of Glass
SCARECROW
How strange. It looks like Scraps the Patchwork Girl is
keeping watch at the parapet.
JESSI
Aside from the fact that she's a giant living rag doll,
why is that strange?
SOUND: SCARECROW APPROACHES THE CITY OF GLASSSCARECROW
Mmm. Just watch. HELLO-OOOOO?! (SCRAPS, A BOUNCY RAG-DOLL BROUGHT TO
LIFE, ANSWERS)SCRAPS
Who goes there!? State your business!
SCARECROW
Scraps! Why are you wearing that ridiculous fake beard?
SCRAPS
The Soldier with the Whiskers decided to take the day
off! Now state your business!
SCARECROW
Scraps, it's me! The Scarecrow.
SCRAPS
Scarecrow? We had given up on you! I had thought you'd
become a part of some big bear's lunch!
SCARECROW
The gargoyles did try, but my new friends put me right
again. This is Jessica Hugson and Wallace Williams.
Cousins from Kansas.
SCRAPS
You have cousins from Kansas?!
SCARECROW
No, no. They're each other's cousins.
SCRAPS
They're both in Oz at the same time? What a
coincidence!
SCARECROW
Scraps. Open the gate.
JESSI
It's gonna be a looooong day.
SOUND: THE GATES OPEN AND DRAG LIKE STONE SLABS
SCARECROW
How's everyone doing?SCRAPS
Oh, better than you I suppose. Though Billina won't let
me use her eggs as juggling balls.SCARECROW
Oh! I didn't know that you knew how to juggle!SCRAPS
Yeah, and I never will because she won't let me
practice!JESSI
Excuse me, Scraps was it? My friend and I fell from
Kansas and we're kind of desperate to get back to it.
Did you guys find a way out of the caverns?SCRAPS
Without Scarecrow's brains, we've been totally
clueless... Unless the others know somethin' I don't,
which I doubt. I am very bright, you know. Pastel,
even.JESSI
Yes, I can see that. How many people are in your party?
SCARECROW
Well...people is a relative term, but let's see. Me,
Scraps, Billina the hen, Saw-Horse, The Woozy, Half of
the Royal Army of Oz-
WALLACE
Half of your whole army!?
SCARECROW
That's only 14 people. Shaggy Man, Frog Man, Braided
Man-
JESSI
Awful lot of men in this group...
SCRAPS
Now you can see why we're so lost.
SOUND: THE GROUP MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE CITY, THEIR FEET
CLINK LIGHTLY ON THE GLASS. THERE'S A LIGHT MURMUR OF PEOPLE
AS THEY APPROACH
SCARECROW
Attention! Everyone!
(SAW-HORSE, A LIVING...WELL, SAW HORSE,
APPROACHES. HIS JOINTS CREAK WITH EVERY
MOVEMENT)SAW-HORSE
Scarecrow! You're alright!SCARECROW
Yes, Saw-Horse, I'm just fine thanks to my new friends.
This is Jessi and Wallace and they're from Kansas just
like our Dorothy.SOUND: BILLINA, A TALKING HEN, FLIES ON A NEARBY PERCH. HER
FEATHERS RUFFLE WITH EVERY MOVEMENTBILLINA
Bawk! Do you know Dorothy?!WALLACE
I'm sorry, Miss...um, Talking Chicken? She left Kansas
far before we were born.BILLINA
Call me Billina. I'm from Kansas myself, but I don't
really like to claim it as my own.JESSI
Yeah, I don't blame you. Um, everyone! Hi! Have you
learned anything about the barrier that's keeping you
in here since Scarecrow's absence?SAW-HORSE
No, but we did learn that the gargoyle attacks are
triggered by the blue light from the orbs in the sky.
We also learned that they hate noise!
JESSI
So, why not make a bunch of noise when it's blue time?
SCRAPS
We do, but it's exhausting, and they keep coming back.
They destroyed some of the glass buildings and they
pulled the Woozy's tail!
WALLACE
Um...can anyone tell us what the gargoyles look like?SCRAPS
Shaggy made a few pictures. Here!
JESSI
Those claws are no joke... Wait... those are straps.
Their wings are detachable?!SCARECROW
Oh, I saw those! But there's no way anyone could get
close enough to get them.WALLACE
What do you think, Jessi?JESSI
Why me? WALLACE
Because you're smart. And you're into engineering and
sound.JESSI
Okay. Right... Let me think of something.
Mm...WALLACE
Jessi?JESSI
Okay, everyone! I have a plan! All we really need is
one set of those wings. At the roof of this cave,
there's a trap door to the surface. At least one of us
can fly through and get help.WALLACE
Jessi, Dorothy's house is totally locked.JESSI
We made a hole in the roof when we dropped in. Someone
can fly through that.
SCARECROW
What's the rest of your plan?JESSI
Um...I don't know, exactly, but I'll figure that out
when we get to the center of the city. Come on.
Act 3, Scene 1: The Battle
SOUND: JESSI RUSHES TO THE CENTER OF THE CITY, AND UNZIPS
HER BOOKBAG AND GOES THROUGH ITS CONTENTS
SCARECROW
Jessi, I don't mean to pry, but, you seem to be moving
a mile a minute. You know, it's perfectly okay to ask
for help! If I hadn't, I never would have out of the
cornfield! I never would have gotten my brains and
become the King of Ox. Of course, I wouldn't have lost
the throne to an army of angry knitting enthusiasts but
that's neither here nor there. Why don't you take a
deep breath and--
JESSI
Okay, listen. My mom is the only person I have in the
whole world right now. Right before I ended up here,
she and I got into a big fight. I can't let that be the
last time I spoke to her.
(she sighs) I'm sure this is a fine country, and I like
everyone here, but...I just don't belong in fairyland.
So. You're supposed to be the smartest person in Oz,
right? Everyone looks to you for answers, and I get
that. I used to feel that way back at my old home,
but...I feel like I've got a sack of hay for a head
now... No offense. If you could help me figure out a
way to fix this, I'd be much obliged.
SCARECROW
My brains are the carefully-assorted, double-distilled,
high-efficiency sort that the Wizard of Oz makes. They
usually fall flat under pressure, though, being only
bran and pins. Sometimes, if I stand in a corner and
really allow my thoughts to resonate --
JESSI
Resonance! That's it, you ARE a genius. The wall around
the city is shaped like a glass bowl. I'm going to play
some loud music through my portable speakers. The sound
will be loud enough as it is, but once the song hits
those last notes the sound will resonate and hopefully
the frequencies will be too much for the gargoyles to
bear.WALLACE
I hope this works, because it's almost blue o'clock.
JESSI
Okay, here we go. Everyone stay low!
SOUND: A LOUD CHATTER COMES FROM ABOVE. THE FLAPPING WOODEN
WINGS OF THE GARGOYLES ARE HEARD WITH LOUD SHRIEKS. JESSI
WAITS A BEAT THEN PRESSES PLAY
MUSIC: THE THREAT, BLACK KITE CONTINUES
There is a lie, a lie, a lie,
There is a lie.
SOUND: THE SONG ENDS ON AMBIENT RESONANCE THAT WAVERS,
EXPANDS AND THEN RINGS LIKE A BELL. THE GARGOYLES SCREECH
AND THEN EXPLODE LIKE FIREWORKS, THEIR STICKY REMAINS HIT
THE GLASS.
JESSI
That wasn't the expected reaction...
WALLACE
They exploded! Do-do you...think they're okay?
SCARECROW
Oh, I'm sure they'll recollect themselves and hopefully
be less cross when they do.
JESSI
There looks like there are enough salvageable wings for
a few of us. Let's try them out.
SOUND: JESSI HOLDS UP A PAIR OF WINGS, THEY CLAP TOGETHER
BILLINA
Wait! It might be dangerous! Suppose the gargoyles
found the trap door, and some of them are waiting in
the house!SCARECROW
A fair point! Scraps and I will fly up first, and
report back.JESSI
But... SCARECROW
Don't worry! We can't get hurt! We'll be fine.SCRAPS
Yeah, we'll be back at the Emerald City before you know
it.WALLACE
Maybe we'll be home in time for supper.
JESSI
...maybe. Good luck guys.
SOUND: MUSIC DRIFTS TO INDICATE THE PASSAGE OF TIME
WALLACE
Jessi... Jessi?
JESSI
(Groggy) Sorry! I'm up. Just...really tired. Scarecrow!
You're back already?
SCARECROW
Yes...I'm afraid it's no good. There are branches that
have grown over the hole you made in the roof. Without
the key to Dorothy's house, no one can go out that way.
JESSI
What? But...but there's gotta be something.WALLACE
Jessi...JESSI
Okay, take me to the tunnel where you guys first came
in when you discovered this place. I wanna check out
this barrier for myself.
Act 3, Scene 2: The Exit
SOUND: THEY GO AND THE SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS ON THE GLASS ECHO
AND GIVE WAY TO THE SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS ON ROCK.SCARECROW
See? Once we came in, we couldn't get out. It's like an
invisible wall. You can put all your weight on it and
you won't go through. Try it.SOUND: THERE'S A WHOOSHING NOISE LIKE A SMALL PUFF OF WIND,
AND WALLACE FALLS THROUGH THE BARRIERWALLACE
Wah! JESSI
Are you okay?!
SOUND: JESSI RUSHES FORWARD AND ALSO WHOOSHES ACROSS THE
BARRIER LINE
WALLACE
Yes, but more importantly look! The barrier's down! We
both got through!
SCARECROW
Maybe you can get through because you didn't come in
that way...
JESSI
Then we gotta go right now, we have to get out of here.
WALLACE
Aw man, I left my bag on the Saw-Horse.
SAW-HORSE
I got it! Here you go.SOUND: WHOOSH! ANOTHER PERSON ACROSS THE LINE.JESSI
What!? You can cross through too?SAW-HORSE
Hm, I guess I never tried before. When everyone else
couldn't make it I didn't bother.SCRAPS
Maybe the barrier is down for everyone! I wanna try!
SOUND: SCRAPS GIVES IT A RUNNING START, BUT PLOP, HER COTTON
FORM THUDS AGAINST THE BARRIERSCRAPS
Ugh. Never mind.SCARECROW
There's no time to lose! It's very important that you
get to Emerald City and ask for Ozma's help. The Saw-
Horse is the fastest creature in Oz, so you'll make
good time.JESSI
How do we start for Emerald City?
SCRAPS
Why, the same way people have done it for hundreds of
years! Hit the bricks!
SCARECROW
The road of yellow brick in Munchkin Square will take
you straight there, Saw-Horse knows the way.
SCRAPS
Here! Catch this forget-me-not to remember me by!
SCARECROW
So long!
SOUND: THEY WALK UP THE CAVERN, THE SOUND OF WATER DRIPS
FROM THE ROCKS AND ECHOES
SAW-HORSE
Not much farther.
WALLACE
Look! I can see daylight.
JESSI
Hold on, Mom. I'm coming.
Act 3, Scene 3: The Sisters
SOUND: THE SOUND OF CLOCKS TICKING BREAK US FROM THE HOPEFUL
MUSIC. SOMEWHERE IN TIME,
A CLOCK CHIME RINGS AND THE HOUR IS STRUCK: ONE.
THE WIND RUSHES AND WHIRLS, WE CAN HEAR TALL GRASS BEND IN
THE BREEZE AND CAPS FLAP AGAINST IT. FOUR WOMEN, SISTERS,
ARE WALKING AGAINST THE WIND. THE WISEST SISTER, WITH THE
KINDEST VOICE, STOPS SHORT.
THE WISEST SISTER
Wait.
SOUND: THE ELDEST SISTER, WITH A SERIOUS VOICE, CALLS OUT TO
HERTHE ELDEST SISTER
What's wrong, sister? We're nearly to the borderlands.THE WISEST SISTER
The wind...something is wrong. Something foul is in the
air.SOUND: THE PRETTIEST SISTER, WITH A SIGH, RESPONDS IN A
PENSIVE WAYTHE PRETTIEST SISTER
Well...the sun is very hot. Perhaps a moment's rest
will do.SOUND: THE YOUNGEST SISTER, SHRILL AND DEMANDING, INTERJECTSTHE YOUNGEST SISTER
I, for one, feel a break is in order. My feet have been
burning for the past hour. Following you three with my
tiny legs is much harder on my stamina than you give me
credit for!
THE ELDEST SISTER
Sisters! We can't stop now, we're nearly there. The
farmer said the edge of the country is just beyond this
hill. We've come so far, we have to keep
going.
THE PRETTIEST SISTER
Very well. But hand me your umbrella so that I might
not expire under the high noon sun.SOUND: THEIR CAPES AND SKIRTS BLOW IN THE BREEZE A BIT
LONGER AS THEY WALK. THEY STOP AGAIN.THE ELDEST SISTER
No...this cannot be.THE WISEST SISTER
No one mentioned anything about a desert. The landscape
doesn't account for it either.THE YOUNGEST SISTER
It goes for miles and miles...ugh, and the air that
comes from it. It must be toxic.THE PRETTIEST SISTER
Now that you mention it...I do feel rather faint.THE ELDEST SISTER
I thought...I thought we were almost home.
THE WISEST SISTER
The storm...the storm last night. It shook the earth
something fierce, perhaps that was the cause.
THE PRETTIEST SISTER
Sisters...I may have imagined it but, I swear I saw a
beetle land on the sand and turn into dust.
THE ELDEST SISTER
Nonsense. The desert may be vast, but it's flat. We
don't have to stop moving. See? We can keep going.
THE PRETTIEST SISTER
No, I beg you, don't! You'll crumble into sand!
THE YOUNGEST SISTER
Oh, will you stop being such a fraidy cat. Look? It's
perfectly safe.
SOUND: SHE RUNS TO THE SAND
THE PRETTIEST SISTER
I SAID STOP!
SOUND: A SOUND LIKE A HUMMING PULSE EXUDES ACROSS THE
SOUNDSCAPE, THEY SISTERS ALL GASP
THE YOUNGEST SISTER
I...I cannot move.THE PRETTIEST SISTER
Am I...am I doing this? Baby sister...come back to me.
SOUND: A RUFFLE OF FABRIC AS THE ELDEST SISTER IS THROWN
THROUGH THE AIR
THE YOUNGEST SISTER
Aah! Put me down!
SOUND: SHE FLOPS TO THE GROUND
THE YOUNGEST SISTER
How did you do that?!
THE PRETTIEST SISTER
...I-I don't know.
THE WISEST SISTER
Sisters. It seems quite clear to me that we cannot
return home simply by walking. We must stay in this
strange country and learn more.
THE ELDEST SISTER
Yes...and I know just where to start. The Emerald
Palace at the center of this land.
(END of EPISODE 1)