2022_영미문학읽기

Elphaba Really? He’s asked you already? Glinda Oh, he doesn’t know yet. Now, you tell me a secret. Elphaba Like what? Glinda Like... Why do you sleep with this funny, little, green bottle under your pillow? ( Grabs the bottle. ) Elphaba Give that back. Glinda C’mon, tell me. Tell me tell me! Elphaba It was my mother’s! That’s all... ( Silence ) Glinda ( Hands her the bottle. ) That’s not fair. I told you a really good one. Elphaba My father hates me. Glinda ( Gasps. ) Elphaba That’s not the secret. The secret is – he has a good reason. It’s my fault. Glinda What is? Elphaba ... that my sister is ... the way she is. ( Pause ) You see, when my mother was carrying Nessa, my father was worried that the new baby might come out... Both Green. Elphaba He was so worried, he made my mother chew milk flowers*, day and night. Only it made Nessa come too soon, with her little legs all tangled. And my mother never woke up. None of which ever would have happened if not for me. Glinda But that was the milk flowers’ fault, not yours. You see Elphie... now that we’re friends, I’ve decided to make you my new project! Elphaba You really don’t have to do that. Glinda I know. That’s what makes me so nice! tangled * milk flower : a fictional plant created for the story 5 10 15 20 25 158 I Special Lesson