Return to Oz 1985

As the vibrant autumn leaves rustled in the breeze of 1899, Dorothy Gale’s caring Aunt Em and Uncle Henry made a pivotal decision to take their cherished niece to the renowned sanatorium run by Dr. Worley. They were increasingly worried that her obsession with the mystical world of Oz was a sign of mental instability. Just as the doctor, along with his assistant Nurse Wilson, prepared to apply electrotherapy, fate intervened. A violent storm led to a sudden power outage, during which Dorothy was saved by an intriguing young woman. This mysterious rescuer revealed that Dr. Worley’s machinery was dangerous to its patients. The two girls bravely escaped, but as they fled, Nurse Wilson pursued them relentlessly until Dorothy found herself adrift on a makeshift raft made from a chicken coop after being separated from her savior.

When she awoke in Oz, accompanied by Billina, her loyal and now talkative chicken companion, Dorothy was drawn to the ruins of the once-glorious Emerald City. Now a shadow of its former self, the city held lifeless figures of its former citizens, including the Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, who had been turned into statues. Suddenly, they were captured by a quirky group known as the Wheelers, characterized by their peculiar wheel-like limbs. Just when things seemed dire, they were rescued by Tik-Tok, a remarkable mechanical being who informed them that Scarecrow, the rightful ruler of Oz, was waiting for Dorothy’s return.

Determined to find Scarecrow, Dorothy, Billina, and Tik-Tok embarked on a dangerous mission to Princess Mombi’s castle. There, they were confronted by an eerie cabinet of curiosities filled with a collection of heads that could be worn. As the truth unfolded, they discovered that Scarecrow was held captive by the Nome King, whose evil deeds had caused the devastation in Oz. Mombi, malicious and cunning, imprisoned the group with the intention of adding Dorothy’s head to her macabre collection.

Within their confinement in a tower, they encountered Jack Pumpkinhead, a creation born from Mombi’s mysterious Powder of Life. Using her ingenuity, Dorothy managed to steal the powder to bring to life furniture, constructing a flying device with the head of Gump, a majestic creature reminiscent of a moose. Their flight over the perilous Deadly Desert led to a crash landing at the Nome King’s mountain stronghold, where Dorothy experienced a fleeting reunion with Scarecrow before he was turned into an ornament. The Nome King then challenged the group to identify Scarecrow among a plethora of ornaments, resulting in Jack Pumpkinhead, Tik-Tok, and Gump being transformed as well.

As the Nome King’s wicked plans began to unravel, he revealed that he possessed Dorothy’s beloved ruby slippers, having used their power to dominate Oz. He offered to return her home with their help, but Dorothy stood firm, insisting on completing her mission. With a stroke of insight, she guessed correctly, turning a gem into Scarecrow and realizing that the inhabitants of Oz had the unique ability to change into green objects. This revelation spurred her on a quest to locate and rescue Jack and Jill, who had also been affected by this strange magic. Infuriated by Mrs. Gale’s defiance, the Nome King punished Mombi and grew to an enormous size, threatening to consume the group. Fortunately, Billina saved the day by laying a poisoned egg, which incapacitated the Nome King and sent his empire into disarray.

When the chaos finally settled, Dorothy retrieved her ruby slippers and put them on, unwittingly triggering a restoration of the Emerald City to its previous splendor. She revived Tik-Tok by placing Gump’s antler medal back where it belonged. Grateful citizens implored Dorothy to reign as their queen, but she graciously declined their offer, preferring to return to her family.

Meanwhile, Princess Ozma, who was the rightful sovereign of Oz and had been trapped in a mirror by Mombi, was finally liberated and stepped into her rightful position. Dorothy, confident in her mission, entrusted Ozma with her ruby slippers, ensuring that she could return home safely. After promising that she could revisit Oz if desired, Ozma sent Dorothy back to Kansas.

Upon her arrival, Dorothy found her family by the river in Kansas, where Aunt Em disclosed the miraculous news about the clinic’s destruction, revealing that everyone, except for Worley, had survived. Subsequently, Nurse Wilson was arrested for her involvement in Dr. Worley’s horrific experiments. Settling back into her life, Dorothy occasionally caught glimpses of Billina and Ozma through her bedroom mirror, reminding her to keep the enchanting secrets of Oz hidden from the world.