The Marc Pease Experience

Oh, please, Mr. Wiz, you just gotta help me get back to Kansas.

I don't gotta do anything.

The great Wiz does as he pleases and nothing more!

Oh, no, sir! You don't gotta do nothing at all. But would you?

Tell me, where did you get such a marvelous pair of silver pumps?

I can do this. 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. 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. It's okay. Breathe. Tickle the esophagus.

- Come on. Come on. Center up. - I'm trying. I can't do it.

- Marc! 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! Marc!

You can still make it back for the winged monkeys!

Hello? Hello? Is this it?

Okay. Yeah, no, 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 have 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! Thank you! Yes! All right, this next song

goes out to my beautiful girlfriend, Meg Brickman, a little shiny diamond...

Hi, hi, hi. No, no, I'm up. I'm up. 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 are the greatest realtor in the universe.

I'm meeting with the group this morning.

They're gonna 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 gonna 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. 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 gonna 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, no, no, 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. 2:45 is fine.

He's gonna be so psyched.

Why don't you call me back when you know when you're available?

Bye, Debbie.

Perfect.

Hey.

Oh, 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, 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. I need more, tenors!

We're all in this together

Good! And the clap!

And it shows when we stand hand in hand

Make our dreams come true

Big finish!

Together!

All right! Good. 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 gonna 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 gonna 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! Thank you!

This next song goes out to the truly brilliant Jon Gribble.

The greatest man I've ever known.

Butter, butter, butter, butter, butter, butter, butter, butter!