She explains that she was Grisham's former dance teacher, until he chased her into hiding when he accidentally discovered that she was a witch, and was forced to live in an abandoned house far outside of the village, with only her magic broom Bristles for company.

She then goes on to explain the town's workhouse mill, which is where all orphans and poor debtors are sent to work off their debts, and that it takes thirteen pieces of silver to buy your freedom.

Scarecrow dons the feather and easily fools Grisham's thugs into believing he is merely a traveler named Feathertop, and they leave, though Cheswick is not convinced.

During her lesson, the two share a romantic dance and begin to fall in love, until Grisham interrupts to ask Polly to be his partner.

He is angry to learn that she already has a partner, and on the night of the contest sends his thugs to trap Feathertop so he cannot attend.

Max and Bristles search the rubble and find him apparently dead, but are overjoyed to see him alive, and they climb out of the gorge together.

Polly is waiting at the top, and joyfully embraces Feathertop, who tries to explain why they can't be together, only to realize that his feather fell out of his hat when he climbed out of the gorge, meaning he is now human permanently.