Liir cannot hear the music, but he feels it and begins to relive the events of his life.

He recalls being at Kiamo Ko, the castle in the Vinkus region where Elphaba lived. He had come with her as a child to the castle, living there with her, her old Nanny, and the family of Fiyero. It was Fiyero’s castle, and he, a former schoolmate of Elphaba’s, may have been Liir’s father. Before Elphaba’s death, the Wizard’s soldiers invaded and took Fiyero’s family while Elphaba was away. Liir did not stop this from happening, and he lamented the loss of Nor, Fiyero’s daughter and his only friend.

When Dorothy killed Elphaba, she informed Liir that she needed the Witch’s broom to prove that she had killed the Wicked Witch of the West. Because there was nothing left for Liir at Kiamo Ko, he offered to carry the broom for her. He also took Elphaba’s cape, although he couldn’t find her magic book, the Grimmerie. When he departed with Dorothy, he left Chistery, the first flying monkey, and Nanny, who was approaching senility.

On the journey back to the Emerald City, Dorothy asked Liir if Elphaba was his mother. Liir did not know; he only remembered being with the maunts and then going with Elphaba to Kiamo Ko. In a sudden downpour, he and Dorothy used Elphaba’s cape to make a tent. As they waited out the rain, a creature called a Grite popped up from his den and told the party to leave. They refused, and when they told the Grite that Elphaba was dead, it grew angry, saying that she had been a friend to the (talking) Animals. The Grite reported the group’s presence, and the next morning, a party of Scrow appeared and escorted them to their camp.

There, Liir and Dorothy met Princess Nastoya, who revealed that she was actually an Elephant masquerading as a human in order to escape the Wizard’s oppression of Animals. However, the magic that allowed her disguise kept her from reverting fully back to her Elephant form. She had once helped Elphaba, and now that Nastoya was dying, she needed Elphaba’s help to die as an Elephant. Since Elphaba herself had died, Nastoya looked to Liir, who warned her that he was not the person for the job. However, she promised to keep an ear out for news about Nor and to pay him in information.

For the rest of the journey to the Emerald City, Liir oscillated between hating Elphaba and missing her. When they reached the city, Liir was taken aback by its size and grandeur. At the Palace of the Wizard, Dorothy promised Liir that the Wizard would grant him anything for helping them to return, but at the gates, Liir was turned away.

He settled down at a café to wait, and although Dorothy promised to return after her meeting, she never did. When bells began ringing, someone explained that the Wizard had been deposed, but they knew nothing of Dorothy. For days, Liir wandered. One night, the Scarecrow found him and explained that Dorothy was gone and that Glinda would take over Oz for a brief period. He returned Elphaba’s broom to Liir and warned him to leave the area, saying that the streets would be cleared for Glinda’s ascendancy.

The narrative returns to the present. At the cloister, Sister Cook joins Candle, bringing her a Pfenix feather. (When the Pfenix returned, mortally wounded, Sister Cook killed and cooked him.) Candle realizes that her domingon needs a Pfenix feather to be complete, and when she lays it in the right spot, the domingon’s music takes on a new effect.

Everyone waits for Liir to die. Candle, however, can feel the power of the restored domingon’ music, which now guides him while he languishes in his unconscious state.

The narrative returns to Liir’s memories of his past. Liir and the Scarecrow stole a boat and floated down the canals of the Emerald City. When they passed a blocked canal, the Scarecrow explained that it led to Southstairs, the city’s underground prison where the Wizard had incarcerated his political enemies. As they passed Glinda’s estate, Glinda herself stepped onto a balcony, and the Scarecrow quickly hid the boat under a bridge. Glinda sensed them and called out, but when they did not answer, she went inside.

In the present, on the first night of their mission, Sisters Apothecaire and Doctor feel their animosity fade. Sister Apothecaire believes that Candle is working magic and using her music to heal Liir, but Sister Doctor is skeptical of the quiet girl. The Yunamata bring the maunts to their camp and deny any responsibility for the scrapings. They point the maunts toward the Scrow, suggesting they speak with Princess Nastoya. Back at the mauntery, Candle notices that Liir has grown restless. Afraid that leaving him might doom him, she continues to play, guiding him through his memories.

In Liir’s memories, he told the Scarecrow that he would search for Nor in Southstairs. The Scarecrow warned Liir that no one ever left Southstairs, but Liir was determined. The next day, Liir found Glinda’s estate and asked to see her, asking a servant to tell Glinda that he had Elphaba’s broom. Glinda met with Liir and immediately recognized Elphaba’s broom and cape. She promised to help him if possible, and at his request, she eventually promised to help him get into Southstairs, appointing Elphaba’s younger brother, Shell, as Liir’s guide.

In the present, Sisters Apothecaire and Doctor find the Scrow, and Princess Nastoya asks if they have news of Liir. The maunts confirm that Liir is at the mauntery, though in poor health. When asked about the scrapings, Princess Nastoya denies that the Scrow are involved.

In Liir’s past, Glinda ordered her staff to dress Liir as one of her servants. They then went to the Palace of the Wizard, where Glinda introduced Liir to Commander Cherrystone, though the two already knew each other. (Cherrystone was the same man who kidnapped Nor years ago.)

In the present, Liir’s condition continues to deteriorate, but Yackle refuses to let Candle leave. She tells Candle that she must stay and do what must be done. Candle eventually settles back and continues playing music.

In Liir’s past, Glinda left Liir to Shell, who happily led him to Southstairs through a secret passage. Liir beheld the prison laid out like the city above them, complete with canals. Shell promised to bring Liir to the Under-mayor after making a few stops first. At each stop, Liir waited in the boat as Shell went into cells with “medicine” for various women.

When Shell finally introduced Liir to the Under-mayor, Chyde, Liir explained his quest, and Chyde began searching his records for Nor while chatting with Shell about the political unrest across Oz. Liir was also disgusted to learn that Shell had just been delivering drugs to women in exchange for sex, but Shell saw no problem with these activities. Having guided Liir, Shell departs, suggesting that he will meet Liir down here again, as there is no easy way out of Southstairs.

In the present, after a few days of attending to Princess Nastoya, Sisters Apothecaire and Doctor prepare to leave. The Scrow warn the sisters that there are predators flying high in the sky, possibly dragons. The maunts dismiss it as myth and begin their journey home. Meanwhile, Liir worsens despite Candle’s best efforts. She takes off his braces and starts breathing into him and kissing him.

In Liir’s past, Chyde discovered a hint as to Nor’s location. He checked Liir’s broom, which suddenly had greenery branching off of it. Chyde led Liir to a cell, where a Sow explained that Nor had been there but escaped a week ago by hiding under the corpses of two Hogs.

In the present, Sister Apothecaire and Sister Doctor hurry back to the mauntery. Meanwhile, Candle believes that Liir is about to die. He is growing cold, and no one comes to her aid. In a final effort to save his life, she strips and climbs on top of him to keep him warm.

In Liir’s memories, he ran from Chyde, devastated by the news that Nor was no longer there. He looked up through the hole above and gazed at the stars. The broom twitched, and he climbed on top of it, taking flight.

In the present, when Yackle finally opens the door, Candle notices that Liir has relaxed. When Sisters Doctor and Apothecaire return to the mauntery, the infirmary is empty.