The Wizard of Oz and Contract Law
OZ’S VOICE
The beneficent Oz has every intention of
granting….
MCS — Scarecrow and Dorothy bending over Lion — the Lion revives, sits
up, speaks — Dorothy starts to pull him up —
OZ’S VOICE
…your requests!
LION
What’s that? What’d he say?
DOROTHY
Oh — Oh, come on.
LION
Huh? What’d he say?
MS — Dorothy helps the Lion to his feet — the four of them listen as Oz
speaks —
OZ’S VOICE
But first, you must prove yourselves worthy
by performing a very small task.
LS — Throne —
OZ’S VOICE
Bring me the broomstick of the Witch…
MS — The Four, trembling with fear — the Tin Man speaks —
OZ’S VOICE
…of the West.
TIN MAN
B-B-B-B-B-But if we do that, we’ll have to
kill her to get it!
LS — Throne —
OZ’S VOICE
Bring me her broomstick, and I’ll grant your
requests.
The full script can be found here.
Oz asked, “What do you wish me to do?”
“Send me back to Kansas, where my Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are,” she answered earnestly. “I don’t like your country, although it is so beautiful. And I am sure Aunt Em will be dreadfully worried over my being away so long.”
The eyes winked three times, and then they turned up to the ceiling and down to the floor and rolled around so queerly that they seemed to see every part of the room. And at last they looked at Dorothy again.
“Why should I do this for you?” asked Oz.
“Because you are strong and I am weak; because you are a Great Wizard and I am only a little girl.”
“But you were strong enough to kill the Wicked Witch of the East,” said Oz.
“That just happened,” returned Dorothy simply; “I could not help it.”
“Well,” said the Head, “I will give you my answer. You have no right to expect me to send you back to Kansas unless you do something for me in return. In this country everyone must pay for everything he gets. If you wish me to use my magic power to send you home again you must do something for me first. Help me and I will help you.”
“What must I do?” asked the girl.
“Kill the Wicked Witch of the West,” answered Oz.
The full text can be found here.