Hat Trick

Even though I note in my "Disclaimer" tab that the notes posted on this site are written through the eyes of a certified LOSTie, it's important for readers of this particular post to keep that in mind.

** All photos posted here are chosen for a reason **

 

 "But where would I be without my magic shows?" - Jack's Grand-dad Ray LOST episode 316


"I'm here to help you find your way again. So you can bring the family back together"

Family is everything. Family is love. Family is home.
Family (together) + Love (heart) + Safety (protection) = Home.
There is a learning and growing process going on in this fairy tale adventure, and just like on the "Island" the goal is to go home.

We've all lost loved ones in our lives. This is an unfortunate and terrible heartbreak we all must endure.  But ONCE constantly brings up the issue of children being separated from their parents and families in one way or another.  Abandonment and loss (and maybe even abuse) are weighing heavily on Emma's heart and also with other residents of Storybrooke.  There's nothing more important than the love of family and home.  One can have all the riches in the world but it can't buy anything to fill a hole left without the love of family and home.  These people are lost without it, and rightfully so they are all trying to find that place again.

The desperation we see in Jefferson is heartbreaking but also understandable, as any good parent would be in great pain without their child. There were a few moments I felt related right back to Emma's own issues and heartbreak and some of the lessons and things she must come to terms with while on this adventure.  One thing I want to add is how upset I was watching the literal disgusting physical fight between Emma and Jefferson.


“Obsessed by a fairy tale, we spend our lives searching for a magic door and a lost kingdom of peace.” - Eugene O'Neill

I wanted to share the following quote with you. It is one of my favorite quotes from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  In a way I feel like it carries some of the sentiments of our current fairy tale; that it relates to how Emma and her friends are trying to find out who they are and where they belong.

"It'll be no use their putting their heads down and saying "Come up again, dear!"  I shall only look up and say "Who am I then? Tell me that first, and then, if I like being that person, I'll come up: if not, I'll stay down here till I'm somebody else" --but, oh dear!' cried Alice, with a sudden burst of tears, 'I do wish they would put their heads down! I am so very tired of being all alone here!"

We know that Wonderland is a part of Alice's imagination; the place she literally dreamed of while sleeping. But here on ONCE Jefferson doesn't like Wonderland; yet we know the Mad Hatter to reside there in the original fairy tale. I think we have to be careful of what and who we assume things to be. How does Jefferson exist in Fairy Tale Land and not his own (Alice's) Wonderland? Why doesn't he like Wonderland? 

This brings me back to thoughts of the blurring of realms, of things not really being that separate or far apart. After all, Jefferson and Regina call each other those names in both realms, and The Knave knows "that woman" as Regina.  And what about Henry? Is little Henry really Regina's father, Henry?  But it's not just the names hinting to that blurring.  Jefferson gives us a little insight to infinite worlds touching one another, pressing up in a long line of lands- each just as real as the last, all have their own rules.

Emma is an outsider to Storybrooke (yet I don't recall her being called a "stranger" as August is labeled). Supposedly she wasn't in Fairy Tale Land when "the curse" took place. To Henry Emma belongs there. To other residents she's sort of a visitor; who now has the job as resident sheriff. And to Regina she's seems more of an interloper. But Emma is a special person, a savior.  She brought something more precious to Storybrooke- magic... and hope. One of the lessons here is more about you creating your own magic- if you just believe.

Let me feed your head

I'd love to connect this ONCE episode to LOST, so I'm just going to jump right the fuck in with it! And by the way- I've already received lots of emails accusing me of "reaching" to connect unimportant and coincidental things to LOST.  Well, if you know me, you know I'm crazy like that.

Just as on LOST, drugs seemed to play a part of mind-expanding and social experimentation; we learned some of this information via the DHARMA Initiative.  For years I wrote about a part of the "Island" adventure being connected to (hallucinogens) drugs (and hallucinogens in food, I.V., etc.) and altered states of consciousness. That seemed to play a very important role in the journey of Jack and the Castaways.

I've felt since ONCE began that there was a bit more connecting to LOST and the "Island"; this episode really laid a lot of things out.  Just like the "Island" and its mystery of - is it part of a "real world" or  "unreal world" and the constant question of what is real and what is not real, which is also mirrored here on ONCE.  In the "Data and Evidence" tab on Karen's LOST Notebook I give a little insight to "reality."   "Real" is what you can see, feel, smell and taste. Therefore, "real" are electrical signals transmitting that information and it being interpreted by your brain that is creating its realism or a reality for you.  It is your consciousness that enables you to be aware of an external world; and aware of self, thoughts and feelings. Reality can be experienced literally and it can be faked, merged, virtual and altered.

Now, before you all freak out, am I saying without a doubt that is the case with ONCE?... no, who the hell knows. But things seem eerily familiar. Or maybe, just maybe... I'm as mad as a Hatter!

Hat Trick gave us many direct hints to the song "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane with the literal use of the names Jefferson and Grace, and we also see musical instruments in Jefferson's house.  The song "White Rabbit" is featured on Jefferson Airplane's 1967 album titled Surrealistic Pillow.  The song was actually written by Grace Slick while she was still with her former band, The Great Society.  Grace used imagery found in the works of Lewis Carroll; Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the sequel Through the Looking Glass. It is commonly thought that the connections of the stories and the song make reference to the hallucinatory effects of psychedelic drugs; such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms.

Let's talk metaphor for a moment. The image of Jefferson's disembodied head indicating the head, or better yet, the mind, functioning separate of the body is a huge clue to the trip that may be going on here.  As a matter of fact, an execution as such should have killed him, yet Jefferson is amazed "I'm alive!"

We're literally told you must "Open your eyes...look around...wake up."  In other words, open your mind to go places you've never imagined and that there are many "realities."  The mind is a maze - a labyrinth of many stories and levels. It contains many rooms with many doors and windows to open- doors that will open if you have the key. What discoveries could you make, what places could you go, and what potential could you amass.

Think about it, locked doors and windows could be hiding facets of the real you. Did you notice the Queen of Hearts in Wonderland and most of her people there are masked (many as birds/beaks) or veiled- hiding their true identity?  The masks or veils one wears and the walls one puts up is done for hiding from things and/or emotional protection. Those masks need to be removed and the walls need to come down too. 

Let's not ignore the key that opens one's heart as well. But in this episode we're specifically clued into opening your mind. I do wonder if there's an escape hatch we don't know about yet.

Jefferson's address being 316 is a direct acknowledgment to Ajira Airways. Yes, that very awesome airline that specializes in Destination Destiny.  And the flight that Frank Lapidus flew returning Jack and the gang back to the magical "Island" after Jack's meeting with Eloise at the mysterious Lamp Post Station that just happens to be under the church he was going to have his father's funeral in L.A.

Oh, and by the way... the magic hat and its power to open the portal of many doors that lead to anywhere/many worlds... I'll take the one that brings me back to the "Island."

I put the lyrics to White Rabbit here for you. I loved singing this song every week when I was in my band.  This song rocks!

Lyrics to "White Rabbit"

One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you, don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice, when she's ten feet tall
And if you go chasing rabbits, and you know you're going to fall
Tell 'em a hookah-smoking caterpillar has given you the call
And call Alice, when she was just small
When the men on the chessboard get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom, and your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice, I think she'll know
When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead
And the white knight is talking backwards
And the red queen's off with her head
Remember what the dormouse said
Feed your head, feed your head

Things to Note...Questions to Ask...
๑  Grace's name in Storybrooke is Paige [Page]
๑  No one else really calls Jefferson the Mad Hatter but Emma.
๑  Jefferson is very crafty and finds time and rules to be important.
๑  Jefferson's hat (technically/usually an inanimate object) has it's own rules.
๑  The eyes on Jefferson's handcrafted doll and rabbit are wonky.
๑  Emma refuses to believe; she is stubborn like Jack Shephard.
๑  8
๑  316
๑  Floating islands in Wonderland
๑  Henry whispers "If she leaves Storybrooke...."  Why, can she leave? When can she leave?
๑  Knave of Hearts - is the Jack in a deck of playing cards.
๑  Henry is automatically associated as Regina's father (by Jefferson) and more of an afterthought being associated with Emma. I find that very interesting.
๑ The Queen of Hearts is not to be confused with the Red Queen in Through the Looking Glass.
๑ Time is of the essence- The White Rabbit is also associated with his obsession with time and being late.
๑ Time and space.
๑ Head and Heart
๑ Hide and seek.
๑ Being watched.
๑ Task. 
๑ Loom
๑ Dead- Not Dead. "I'm alive!"
   - Where a beheading should kill someone.
   - Daddy Henry reanimated/brought back to being.
๑ the March Hare and the Mock Turtle
๑ FYI- Dog anagrams to God
๑ The Who- Who are you?
๑ Silver

Vocabulary and Research... 
๑ Coppers- Lycaeninae, the coppers, are a subfamily of the gossamer-winged butterflies
    Coppers -a.k.a. police- cops
๑ Hat Trick is a classic magic trick where a performer will produce an object (traditionally a rabbit or a bouquet of flowers) out of an apparently empty top hat.  The trick works by placing the hat on a specially made table or chest.  Both the hat and the surface it is placed on will have a hidden opening in them, through which an object stored in a compartment in the table or chest can be pulled.
- A hat-trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes.
- Hat Trick is the third original studio album (1973) by American folk rock trio America.
๑ Cartographer, the second album from E.S. Posthumus. Wiki says that in 2008 the track "Ashielf Pi" was used on LOST.
๑ Grace-  elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.
   -favor or goodwill-a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior.
๑ A few Storybrooke anagrams:
                                   Broke Or Toys
                                   Reboot Sky Or
                                   Orb Key Roots
๑ For Fun- M/Y GRACE GALAPAGOS- is an expedition company specializing in island excursions and yacht trips in the Galapagos.
๑ Note some points of interest on the newspaper- This gives us great insight.

 ✔  Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale
✈  Episode 316-  and Ajira Airways Flight 316 returned Castaways back to the "Island." You can find a lot more info on that here- Instructing Further and Ajira Airways
✈  Hearts and Minds
✈  Mental and Emotional health. Crazy. Insane.
✈  School. Learn.
✈  Game.
✈  Hints to being "dead" but not literally dead. Alive- Awake.
✈  Many times Castaways have been asked the question "Who are you?" But I'm noting here specifically because when young Eloise Hawking shoots her son Daniel and she asks him "Who are you?" in "The Variable", it sounds similar to the way the Caterpillar delivers the line in Hat Trick.
✈   "White Rabbit"
✈   "Catch-22"-  Hurley asks Desmond- "Did you eat those mushrooms Jack warned us about?"
✈  "Deus Ex Machina" - Locke reads a flier for a "Lost Dog" and demonstrates the game Mouse Trap.
✈   "The Constant"-  a door was conveniently left ajar on the freighter for the men to get out and go to the communications room.
✈  Sayid left the beach camp to walk the shore and map the "Island" in "Confidence Man" and is familiar with Orienteering when trying to make something of Rousseau's maps in "Hearts and Minds"
✈  "The Incident [P2]"-  Ben (aka Henry Gale) asks dying Jacob- "What about me?"
✈   Grace tells Jefferson-"Whatever she wants you to do, don't do it." Reminds of  Sayid telling Hurley "Whatever he (Ben Linus) tells you to do- just do the opposite" in "Because you Left"
✈   Mary Margaret says "Help me."  Locke hears "Jacob" says "Help me" in the cabin when he's with Ben   in  "The Man Behind the Curtain."
A few other examples of  "Islanders" asking "Help me":

• "Through the Looking Glass"
• "The Long Con"
• Ben yells "Help me" while trapped in a net in "One of Them"
• Hugo/Hurley freaks out at Santa Rosa in"The Beginning of the End"
• Juliet in "The Other Woman"
• Locke to Jack in "The Candidate"
• Shannon in "Special"
• AND "Dave", "Namaste", "The Whole Truth", "Whatever the Case May Be",  "Dr. Linus", "Maternity Leave", "Two for the Road",  "Deus Ex Machina", "Lockdown"

✈  Being watched.
✈  There's a telescope in the Lighthouse
✈  LATE
✈  Time and Space. The DHARMA Initiative "Only fools are enslaved by time and space."
✈  Hat. Head. Mind.
✈  Mushrooms. Drugs. Hallucinogens
✈  Mikhail referred to leader of the "Island" as a magnificent man in Par Avion
✈  Kate was a fugitive
✈  Map. Boundary.
✈  The Turn of the Screw is a novella written by Henry James. Originally published in 1898, it is a ghost story.
✈  Castaways have work to do:

• In mobisode 13 "So it Begins" Christian tells Vincent to wake up his son "He has work to do."
• In "Born to Run" Michael tells Kate "Kate, no offense, but I've got work to do."
• In "The Man from Tallahassee" the orderly says "Mr. Locke has work to do today."
• In "?"  Yemi tells Eko the work being done in this place is important.
• In "Through the Looking Glass [P1]"  Taller ghost Walt tells John to "get out of the ditch, John. Because you have work to do."
• In "The Economist" Charlotte doesn't want to leave the "Island" because "I've got work to do."
• In "The Lie" Ana Lucia tells Hurley- "Bro, you need to pull yourself together. You've got a lot of work to do."
• In "Confirmed Dead" Locke tells Sawyer that taller ghost Walt said he had work to do.
• In "The New Man in Charge" Ben tells Walt "Because you have work to do."

✈   Examples of the varying question "Why are you here?"
       - "Through the Looking Glass [P1]"
       - "316"
       - "The Last Recruit"  "Why are you still here?"
       - And in "Two for the Road" Christian admits "I'm here because I can't apologize to my son.

Enough of my rambling...Here is your episode recap! Enjoy!

Out of breath Mary Margaret is running from her jail cell in Storybrooke through the dark woods.

At the sheriff's office, confused Henry is focused on a page of his book; depicting a dark haired girl.  Henry went there to congratulate Emma on her genius plan.  Henry won't reveal this plan in front of inquiring Mr. Gold, so Gold walks away.  Henry apologizes to Emma, as he thought Mr. Gold was in on the escape plan, now that he's Miss Blanchard's lawyer.  They join Mr. Gold and discover that Mary Margaret has escaped.
Emma- "Henry. What did you do?"
Henry didn't do anything. Mary Margaret was already gone when he got there.  The adults know that if Mary Margaret isn't at her arraignment tomorrow- she's a fugitive.  Emma feels it doesn't matter if she's convicted for Kathryn or not "She's screwed."   The arraignment is at 8am, so she needs to find Mary Margaret before Regina realizes she's missing; and she would celebrate her victory.   Henry wonders "what about me?" and asks how he can help.
Emma tells him to "Go home."  Henry whispers "If she leaves Storybrooke... "   Mr. Gold reiterates knowing time is of the essence, but if Miss Blanchard doesn't return "her future's in jeopardy and if your caught helping her- so is yours."   Emma doesn't care. "I'd rather lose my job than my friend."
Emma drives out of her Sheriff parking spot and into the dark misty night.

Emma drives down the dark curvy road and swerves out of the way just short of hitting a man walking on the side of the road.  The man tumbles down a little hill.  Emma checks on the well dressed man; whom she didn't see there.   He's not used to sharing the road with cars so late.  He knows she's the new sheriff. He wonders "What brings you out here in the middle of the night?"
Emma says she's just looking for a lost dog.  The  man smiles and says "Well, I hope you find it."
Emma sees the man is hurt.  But he thinks he just twisted his ankle.  Emma insists driving him home, as he lives just a mile down the road.  He introduces himself "I'm Jefferson."  Emma introduces herself.  {The camera follows the man's right foot}

 

An out of breath man is running through the forest and then hides behind a tree.  A little girl is heard claiming to have found her Papa.  She certainly did.  Papa helps her up the little hill.
Papa/Jefferson- "You must be part bloodhound, my dear Grace."
Grace- "Now, it's my time to hide and you seek."
Papa is afraid playtime is over. "Though you can still use that nose of yours to hunt mushrooms, enough to sell at market tomorrow. Think you can do that?"  Grace nods "yes." The two are happy. Papa grabs her hand and says "Ready or not, here we come." 

They hold hands walking home.  As they approach the cottage they see the Queen's carriage is already there. Grace asks "In our house? Do you know her?"   Of course Papa claims he doesn't.  He wants Grace to listen carefully as he gives her instructions to hide in the woods "Like our game. I'm gonna find out what she's doing here."  As Papa walks away he turns to give Grace a reassuring smile.  Grace runs into the woods.

Papa enters to find Regina holding a (Blond) rag doll. {Check out its eyes}  Regina would like to say that Jefferson is looking well, but she'd be lying. "Poverty doesn't suit you."  Regina has a job for Jefferson.  Jefferson claims "I don't do that anymore."  Regina heard he hung up his hat, but wonders why. "Is it because of your sweet daughter, Grace?"   Apparently it's because of Jefferson's work that she lost her mother. He doesn't want her to lose her father too.  Regina asks "So, now you're foraging for fungus. What kind of future does your daughter have here with you? Do this one last favor for me and you can give her the life she deserves."
Jefferson- "That's why I'm staying.  You don't abandon family. {He gets right in her face and says} That's what she deserves. Now please leave."
Relentless Regina claims all she needs is his special skills to get her somewhere. "Somewhere you've been before. Do it and I can change your life." {Change it how? For better or worse? Hmm...}
Jefferson looks over the paper {looks like papyrus} she hands him and questions what business could she possible have there.
Regina- "Something of mine was taken and found its way over there. I want it back."
Jefferson tells her to find someone else to get it.
Regina takes the paper back from him. "I see... hard living has strengthened your resolve. Well, I'm sorry I couldn't convince you.  But I understand. There's nothing more important than family."  She smirks and leaves. Regina leaves the paper on the dresser.

Emma drives up the hotel size looking house. She's amazed that this is his house and assumes he has a huge family. Jefferson admits it's just him.  Emma takes her keys from the ignition and helps him up the stairs and into the house.

Inside Emma warms herself by the fireplace. {Note Emma's upside reflection in the piano and with Jefferson's reflection in the silver teapot.}
Jefferson thought she could warm up before her search.  "It's cold out there."  Emma just wants to get back to the search.  He knows and that's why he brought a map. He's a bit of an amateur cartographer. "Mapping the area is a hobby.  Maybe this will help you track down your dog. What's his name?"
Emma- "Spot." 
Emma drinks her tea. "Well, route 6 runs the boundary of the forest. So, so... If I just follow that shoul... be able to... just, um..."
Dizzy Emma is carried over to the white cushion sofa. Although she is drugged and dizzy, she notices Jefferson isn't limping.   Jefferson faked that and now he's caught.  As Emma is going unconscious she asks "Who are you?"

At the Toy Cart, Grace finds a lovely stuffed white rabbit that she feels will be a perfect guest to her and her Papa's tea parties. "Can I have him- please?"   Jefferson asks the old woman proprietor how much for the rabbit. The cost is 1 silver. {Note the toy sized marionette (puppet) stage, a passenger balloon, horses, dolls, rocking chair}  Jefferson asks if she'll take 8 coppers as it's all he has.  The old woman says he's a good father "Your last coppers for your little girl's happiness."  He assumes she's agreeing to the purchase but she doesn't accept.  She cannot take less than 1 silver. "The economy. You understand."  She takes the white rabbit away from Grace.
A man's voice can clearly be heard saying- "Make up your mind. Come on, let's go."
Graceful Grace tells her Papa it's okay "People are waiting."  And even though Jefferson tells the old woman he won't take no for an answer, the understanding young girl feels she doesn't need it. They leave.

The old woman walks in front of Sidney the Magic Mirror.   Sidney feels it was awfully cruel of her not to let the girl have her toy.  The old woman is revealed to be Regina, the Queen, playing the role in disguise. "Where's the fun in that?"

Emma is gagged and her hands are tied behind her back and duck tape tapes her legs together.  She's breathing a bit heavy.  She uses a red pillow to crush the teacup and uses a sharp piece to cut herself free.  Emma tries to open the locked windows, but to no avail.   She looks through a telescope and discovers it's pointed directly at the Sheriff's office.  Emma hears a scraping sound, opens the already cracked open door with the beautiful glass knob and looks out the door to see Jefferson in another room sharpening large scissors.

In the cottage Jefferson has handmade a rabbit for Grace. He is very crafty. {The rabbit has crooked eyes.} Grateful Grace loves it.  Papa watches her enjoying her tea party even though he seems bothered by her having to use her imagination and pretend items to complete the illusion of a tea party.  Playful Grace enjoys her invisible tea "This is really good. Don't you think so Mr. Tortoise? Papa, do you like your tea?"
Papa wants her to go to the neighbors for the rest of the day. "There's work I have to do."  Grace asks to go with him because she likes being with him in the forest.  But papa admits he's not going to the forest. Concerned Grace realizes this has to do with the Queen's visit. "Whatever she wants you to do, don't do it."
Papa feels he has to; he wants Grace to have what she needs.  Grace tells him all she needs is him, "Please stay."
Papa hugs her and carries her to the door.  He has to go.  Grace wants him to promise to come back- for their tea party.  Papa  promises. "I won't miss it for the world."  He kisses her forehead and tells her to go; putting on her hood.

Jefferson watches Grace being happily and lovingly greeted by the neighbors' at the well.

Jefferson uses a key to open a large wood trunk, where he removes a very large hat box.  He places it in the center of the floor.

Emma sees that Jefferson is still in the room sharpening his scissors.  She sneaks her way down the hall, when all of a sudden Jefferson hears creaking.  Emma ducks into another room where she finds Mary Margaret tied up and gagged.  Mary Margaret says "Help me."

As Emma is untying Mary Margaret, Mary Margaret tells her she was in the woods trying to get away when this man appeared out of nowhere and grabbed me.  She asks Emma "Why are you here?"
Emma- "I've been trying to find you. You escaped, remember? How did you get out?"
Mary Margaret shares "There was a key in my cell, under her pillow. Someone put it there."  She doesn't know who, "I'd like to know just as much as you."

The ladies try very quietly to get out of the room, but they are met by gun toting Jefferson who sees that Emma found "Spot".  He also knows Emma didn't call anybody for backup and why she didn't tell him about "her"- "You don't want anybody to know you are here. Which means, nobody does. So now tie her back up."

Emma ties and gags Mary Margaret; indicating to her it will be okay.  Emma mentions the telescope and the point that Jefferson has been watching her. She asks why.  Jefferson needs her to do something.


Jefferson is escorted with his hat box by the Queen's knights to meet with her.  They pass by a hall of mirrors.
The Queen tells him "It's good to see you looking more like yourself. I assume you're here because you've reconsidered my offer?"  Jefferson wants her guarantee that if I do what you asks that my daughter will want for nothing.
The Queen- "You have my word. Now, let's open that box of yours and see what it can do."
Jefferson takes out the hat.  This amuses the Queen, as she likes a man who dresses for the occasion.
Jefferson places the hat in the center of the floor, warning the Queen to step back.  He spins the hat on the ground. The hat spins frenziedly creating a pretty purple windy vortex.  The hat rises above them. Jefferson yells above the sound off the wind "After you."
The Queen - "Together!"
Jefferson- "Hold on!"  They jump into the now purple-reddish portal opened by the spinning hat.

Jefferson brings Emma to a hat making craft room.  Emma warns him "If you hurt my friend I swear I'll make you regret it!"
Jefferson- "Hurt her? I'm saving her life."  He tells Emma not to play stupid. "We both know what happens to people when they try and leave Storybrooke."
Emma- "What are you talking about?"
Jefferson is talking about the curse.
Emma- "What curse?"
Jefferson- "The one keeping us all trapped. All except you."
Emma- "Have you been reading Henry's book?"
Jefferson- "Henry? You mean the Queen's father?
Emma- "Henry, the Mayor's adopted kid."
Jefferson- "Henry.  Oh Henry- Your Henry, and his book of stories, the ones you choose to ignore.  Maybe if you knew what I know- you wouldn't."
Emma- "Why have you been spying on me?"
Jefferson- "Because for the last 28 years I've been stuck in this house, day after day, always the same. Until one night you and your little yellow bug roll into town and the clock ticks and things start to change. You see, (humph), I know what you refuse to acknowledge, Emma. You're special. You brought something precious to Storybrooke- Magic. 
Emma- "You're insane."
Jefferson- "Because I speak the truth?"
Emma- "Because you're talking about magic."
Jefferson- "I'm talking about what I've seen. Perhaps you're the one that's mad."
Emma- "Really?"
Jefferson- "What's crazier than seeing and not believing-  because that's exactly what you've been doing since you got to our little Hamlet.  Open your eyes- look around- wake up. Isn't it about time?"
Emma- "What do you want?"
Jefferson- "I want you to get it to work."

He forces her to a seat in front of a hat under construction and claims "You're the only one that can do this. (He rests/presses his chin on the top of her head) You're gonna get it to work."

In the realm of many doors the Queen mentions that she forgot how magnificent Jefferson is.  Jefferson isn't there to relive the past he's here for his daughter.

Jefferson leads Regina to the doorway with the mirror entrance. "It's important that we stick together.  The same amount of people that go through have to come back, no more, no less. It's the hat's rule- not mine."   Regina understands.

They step through the magical liquid looking glass into Wonderland.   This side is abundant with huge mushrooms and extra tall grass.  The come upon a hookah smoking, Fez hat, (6) gloves and tinted monocles wearing caterpillar, sitting atop a giant mushroom. He asks "Who... are... you? ...  Who?... Who?"  He blows circles of smoke in their faces.  Jefferson states "I hate Wonderland."

In Jefferson's craft room he demands Emma "Make one like that." indicating another replica of the hat.  He states that none of the hats "work or else you wouldn't be here."  Confused Emma doesn't...  He interrupts her "You have magic, you can do it."
Sheriff Emma looks at the teapot, teacup and all the hats and his psychotic behavior and infers, "You think you're the Mad Hatter."
His reply "My name's Jefferson."   Emma thinks he's clearly glommed onto her kid Henry's thing. "They're just stories. The Mad Hatter is in Alice in Wonderland- a book, a book I actually read."
Jefferson- "Stories. Stories. What's a story? When you were in High School did you learn about the Civil War?"
Of course Emma did.  He continues "How?  Did you read about it perchance in a book? How is that any less real than any other book?"   Emma understands history books are based on history.  Jefferson asks "And storybooks are based on what? Imagination. Where does that come from?  It has to come from somewhere. You know what the issue is with this world?  Everyone wants some magical solution for their problem and everyone refuses to believe in magic. Now get it to work!"
Emma feels the thing is "This is it! This is the real world."
Jefferson, still pointing his gun at her, corrects her "A real world.  How arrogant are you to think yours is the only one? There are infinite more. You have to open your mind- they touch one another, pressing up in a long line of lands- each just as real as the last, all have their own rules.  Some have magic, some don't. And some need magic- like this one.  And that's where you come in.  You and your friend are not leaving until here until you make my hat. Until you get it to work."
Emma cuts into the fabric and asks "And then what?"
Jefferson- "Then I go home."

Jefferson and Regina stand at the entrance of a magnificent hedge maze. Regina wants a short walk through. This maze belongs to the Queen of Hearts. This wasn't part of the deal Regina made with Jefferson.  Concerned Jefferson asks "You know what she does to anyone who crosses her?"  Apparently Regina knows "Better than most."  Jefferson stands his ground. Regina reminds him he can't leave Wonderland without her. "Two go through, two go back! You're not gonna let the Queen of Hearts keep you from returning to your daughter, are you?"  So Jefferson gives in.  Jefferson takes a tree branch and tosses it at the walls of the maze; the walls devour it!  He warns Regina to stay away from the walls.  Regina's got a better idea. "The walls should stay away from me!"  She uses her magic to send a fireball through, creating a sort of path. 
The duo walks over narrow paths. {Note the stairs/steps and many levels.}  They arrive at the heart topped vault- tomb, where Regina magically opens the doors.

Once inside Regina uses her Jedi powers to open one of the vault.  She retrieves one of the boxes that she needed and the duo start their walk back.  But the trespassers are chased by the Queen of Heart's Knights!  

Regina uses magic to hold off the army; using the hedges to her advantage. 
Jefferson runs toward the entrance of Wonderland. "The looking glass, there it is!"   {The Caterpillar isn't on top of the mushroom}  Regina stops and takes a small piece of mushroom. "A little snack."
Jefferson asks her "Are you mad? You know what the food here does?"  Regina is well aware.
She opens the box and places the mushroom snack inside and steps back.   Purple smoke streams upward from the box, transforming into Regina's father, Henry.  Father and daughter hug tightly.
Jefferson- "This is what she took from you? Your father?"
Regina- "The Queen of Hearts has always seen me as a threat.  So she wanted some leverage.  I got it back."
The Queen of Hearts soldiers are approaching so they must hurry.  Jefferson is upset and rightfully so. "You knew only two could go through the hat. Which is why you didn't tell me about your father."
Regina knew it was the only way to make sure Jefferson would help her.  Regina magically traps Jefferson's feet into the walkway of Wonderland. He is stuck. Jefferson begs Regina "My daughter, my Grace, she's, she's waiting for me I promised her I'd be home for tea."
Vindictive Regina- "A promise which you now have broken! If you truly cared for your daughter you never would have left her in the first place.  You were right, Jefferson... you don't abandon family."  Regina and Henry walk through the looking glass leaving Jefferson alone and devastated.

The knights drag Jefferson to the veiled Queen of Hearts.  Most of her people wear masks; many as birds.  This Queen communicates with her Knave of Hearts via whispering through what looks like an elephant's trunk.  The Knave speaks on her behalf. "Her Majesty says she knows you're responsible for helping to steal from her."
Jefferson blurts out "The Queen! She tricked me!"  This disturbs the Queen of Hearts and all of her people.
That Knave- "THAT woman's name is Regina. There is only one Queen- The Queen of Hearts."
Jefferson apologizes.  Her Majesty wishes to  know how Jefferson got to this world "How did you come to Wonderland?"
Jefferson asks if he tells them will they let him go home to his daughter. The Knave laughs and the Queen  orders "Off with his head."   A very large (executioner) soldier cuts off Jefferson's head. He is not dead- only detached from his body.
Jefferson is stunned- "I'm alive. I'm alive!"  He sees his headless body on the ground below him.

The Knave- "If you wish your body back, then answer- how did you get here?"
Jefferson- "The hat! My hat! We used my hat!"  He informs them Regina took it.
The Knave asks "If all you require to travel to your homeland is this magic hat... then surely you can make another."
Jefferson- "I can't. A hat without magic- is just a hat. It won't work."
The Knave- "Then there's your task. Get it to work."

Emma proclaims "I can't make it work! What you're asking me is impossible."  Jefferson is upset because it has to be "If it's not I'm never going home. I'll be cursed to live in this house forever."
Emma doesn't understand what's so "cursed" about his life and this place; living in this beautiful house.  Jefferson explains "It's cursed because, like everyone else here, what I love has been ripped from me. Take a look."
Emma looks through a telescope peaking into a window with a mom, dad and little girl; a happy family.   "Her name is Grace. Here it's Paige. But it's Grace. My Grace. You have any idea what it's like... to watch her day in and day out- happy, with a new family, with a new father."  He clarifies he doesn't "think" he's her father, "I know. I remember.  She has no idea who I am, our life together, where we come from. I do.  That's my curse."
Emma- "To remember."
Jefferson- "What good is this house, these things if I can't share them with her?"
Emma- "If you really think she's your daughter why don't you reach out to her, why don't you tell her?"
Jefferson- "And destroy her reality?  I'm trapped by knowledge.  How cruel do you think I am? You think I'd inflict that awareness on my daughter?  It's hard enough to live in a land where you don't belong. But knowing it... holding conflicting realities in your head... will drive you mad."
Emma- "That's why you want me to make the hat work, isn't it?" {Yep, you thickheaded sheriff!} You just wanna take Grace home... to your world."
Jefferson- "It's the one world where we can be together. Where she'll remember who I am."
Emma knows what it's like to be separated from her kid.  "It can make you feel like you're losing your mind."  {She looks through the telescope}  Jefferson insists he's not losing his mind and he's not crazy. "This is real."
Emma- "Maybe. Maybe it is. "
Jefferson- "You believe?"
Emma getting emotional- "If what you say is true... that woman in the other room... is my mother.  And I want to believe that more than anything in the world.  So maybe you're right. Maybe I need to open myself up more. Maybe if I want magic, I have to start believing.
Jefferson- "So, you gonna help me? You can get it to work"
Emma whispers- "I can try."   When hopeful Jefferson goes to get the hat Emma hits him with the telescope calling him a "crazy son of a bitch", knocking him out. She takes his gun.

Emma runs to untie Mary Margaret, telling her it's gonna be okay, I'm gonna get you out of here. "He can't hurt you anymore."  Mary Margaret yells for Emma to look out! Hat wearing Jefferson tackles the girls and he and Emma literally have a brawl; with choking and hair pulling and everything! Mary Margaret frees herself from the fallen chair.  During the brawl Emma sees a huge scar on Jefferson's neck. Jefferson acquires his gun, pulls it on Emma, places the hat atop his head, shows his scar and says "Off with his head."

Freed Mary Margaret hits Jefferson and kicks him causing him to fall backwards out of the window.  The girls look out the window and down to where Jefferson should have landed, but only the hat and broken glass are on the ground.

Emma- "There's  no sign of him anywhere."
Mary Margaret- "Who was he?"
Emma- "A very lonely man. By the way, have you been taking kick boxing and not telling me about it?"
Mary Margaret- "I have no idea where that came from."
The girls uncover Emma's covered bug with the keys placed on the driver seat.  Emma throws the hat in the car.  Mary Margaret realizes the sheriff will be taking her back now, but Emma throws her the car keys and tells her to go.
Mary Margaret- "You want me to run?"
Emma- "No. But it's your choice. Just know something... running ain't easy, I've done my share of it. Once you go there's no stopping."
Mary Margaret knows everyone thinks she killed Kathryn.  Emma begs Mary Margaret to believe her, to trust her. "I know it seems impossible but I can get you out of this."   Mary Margaret wonders why it's so important to Emma what happens to her.   Emma explains it's because when Regina framed her Mary Margaret bailed her out; and she asked her why and Mary Margaret said she trusted Emma.  "And then when I wanted to leave Storybrooke 'cause I thought it was best for Henry you told  me I needed to stay because that was best for him.  I realized all my life I have been alone- walls up.  Nobody's ever been there for me except for you. And I can't lose that, I cannot lose my family."
Mary Margaret- "Family?"
Emma- "Friends. Whatever. You know what I mean.  Wouldn't you rather face this together than alone?" Mary Margaret hands Emma the keys and the women hold hands for a moment.
Bells toll in the distance.  Emma remembers "The arraignment. Regina."

Regina pulls up to the sheriff's office; noting the sheriff's parking spot is empty.  She enters the office and is stunned to find Mary Margaret sitting in her cell reading the newspaper.   Mr. Gold tells Regina his client is not having any visitors. "I'll see you out."

In the hall Regina asks Mr. Gold what's she doing here. Mr. Gold tells her "She came back."
Regina's upset because he said this was going to work "That she'd take the key- that she'd go."
Mr Gold said she did, but it seems Miss Swan is rather more resourceful than they thought. "Fear not, Your Majesty.  Miss Blanchard is still guilty of murder. You may yet get what you want."
Regina- "Oh I better. The only reason I made a deal with you, Gold,  is because I wanted results.
Mr. Gold whispers "And results you shall have. See you in the arraignment."

Emma shows up at Henry's school yard, telling him she found Mary Margaret and she's fine.  The young girl Paige walks by and says hi to Henry.  Emma asks "Who is that?"  Henry shares her name is Paige and she goes to school with him.  Curious Emma asks for his storybook; which of course he has on him.  Emma flips through the pages, landing on Jefferson, and Jefferson with Grace and then a desperate and crazed Jefferson making many (kinds of) hats trying to "get it to work".

Emma is focused on the book as Henry tries to get her attention. Henry has to go. Emma asks to hold on to his book. Henry is surprised and happy.  Emma just stares at the pages.

Heart of Darkness

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all.” - Emily Dickinson

The key to Storybook. Yeah, I said story book. 
It is true there are keys to open any door.  There's a book that will do just that- open the doors of your mind and imagination, and possibly give you answers and insight.  Reading fairy tales can most certainly do that. And living or playing out fairy tale stories can do that too.

Although I constantly mention that the realms are blurred (or at times even one in the same; like the bloody snow globe of the "Island" on LOST) the curtain between the two worlds seems to be becoming more translucent.  And of course, there is a bridge. It also seems that at this moment the residents can't see reality.  So, what is real and what isn't?  When Prince Charming shows up at Rumpelstiltskin's pad, in my opinion the place looks a bit too illustrated to be real- but what the fuck do I know?

We witness the literal finding of keys to open doors, leading to possible answers- hopefully discovering truth.  But more importantly each one of the residents holds the keys to unlock and open any of the many doors in their mind.  They hold the power to unlock great things, including freedom and love.  We all hold the power to open doors in our minds, our imagination or in our subconscious and consciousness.  There are a few ways to unlock the doors of the mind; note that some are hidden doors.  Some people find this experience through therapy, meditation, hypnosis, and other's may find it through a guided "down the rabbit hole" type of drug trip or experience.  Keep in mind that there are other adventurous ways to unlock those locked doors.

In this episode Dr. Hopper uses hypnosis to unlock doors of David's subconscious in an effort to help him remember. The memory and images are there, but they are still confused, disjointed, and still, the realness and reality of them isn't clear. But David knew that the woman who he was seeing and associating in that whooshing flash/memory was Mary Margaret. The thing that bothered me was that Dr. Hopper woke David up because he felt he was too deep into hypnosis, as something was too disturbing to him.

Evil isn't born- it's made 

This week's episode continued with "the case of the human heart in a box."  That in itself is a giant metaphor.  The dark place one goes is caused by deep emotional pain, anger or a broken heart and feeling lost.  Sometimes one can't bear the emotional pain any longer and would rather forget about it completely, as if the cause of it never happened.  Such as Snow, who was in such pain she erased the Prince from her mind-  ultimately erasing love from her being.  Potion or no potion, it was Snow's decision to make this change in herself.   She locked and buried her heart away.  Regina's darkness is revenge.

Snow needed to be led out of that darkness. She needed to come face to face with the love/heart she hid away. The only thing that could conquer the darkness was light... and Love.  

Whatever happened happened.  The unfortunate experiences along with the fortunate experiences in our lives, in some weird way, make us who we are- for good or bad.  For some of us we needed that pain to get us where we are.  Pain and challenges can literally shape you, helps some people grow, yet that pain can send some people over to the dark side.  But remember, you can bring people back from the dark side.

The people in this fairy tale are navigating their way on the path. They're trying to figure out where they are going and where they belong.  They are trying to find themselves, their purpose and destiny and to feel pure love. There is a person deep down inside of them locked away- but if they harness their own positive power- their light, they can become whole and do great things.

Although Snow is brought back to the person she used to be, I hope she learned from the experience and becomes an even better version of her loving nurturing self.  The cool thing is that no one does any of this learning and growing alone.

** All photos posted here are chosen for a reason **

Things to Note...Questions to Ask...

๑ Dead. Depart. Murdered. Kill.  Wake up. Awaken. So, if this show reflects LOST then dead doesn't mean literally dead.
๑ Regina looks into David's eyes and says "Evil doesn't always look evil. Sometimes it's staring right at us... and we don't even realize it."
- August looks into Henry's eyes when mentioning "stories that really happened."
๑ Rumpelstiltskin puts Charming on the path to finding Snow.
๑ Rumpelstiltskin  bottles Love.
๑ After. Before.
๑ SWORD anagrams to WORDS- The pen is mightier than the sword.
๑  "7:15am"  and "The Thing You Loved Most" the Evil Queen takes locks of hair from the darkest souls for spells and in 7:15am Rumpelstiltskin takes a strand of Snow White's hair in exchange for potion. In "The Shepherd" Kathryn remarks about David's hair and is former buzz cut.
๑  Although Red transforms into the wolf to take care of the army, she also did this as a means to protect the Prince and Snow.
๑ In "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" we first find the Genie Lamp with two different color gems. Red and Green.
๑ Bow and arrow
-   Bow- incline the head, in reverence, submission, salutation, recognition, or acknowledgment
-   Bow- Hair bow as in ribbons
-   Bow- the forward end of a vessel or airship
๑ The blue bird shown looks like a blue parakeet or parrot.  FYI, we taught our parakeets to talk.
๑ Mr. Gold is invested in Mary Margaret's future, as is Rumpelstiltskin with Snow White's.
๑ Rumpelstiltskin is the most powerful man in the world.
๑ Arrows and Spears pointing.
๑ Poison
๑ Cold- Winter.  Warm- Summer
๑ The fairy tale book = Operation Cobra

Vocabulary and Research...
๑ Cloche is French for Bell.
It's also:

• a women's hat
• a type of concrete fortification
• Glass or steel cover for dinner plates
• Row cover, a covering for protecting plants from cold temperatures

๑ Blue Bird: Bluebird mythology in Europe is noted in a fairy tale called L'Oiseau Bleu (The Blue Bird) by Madame d'Aulnoy (1650–1705). This seems to be the root source of most modern accounts of bluebird symbolism and myth. In this tale, King Charming is transformed into a bluebird, who is the love interest of the younger princess Fiordelisa and aids her through her trials.

• The mythology of the bluebird of happiness has deep roots that go back thousands of years. It's widely accepted as a symbol of cheerfulness, happiness, prosperity, hearth and home, good health, new births, the renewal of springtime, etc.; any positive sentiment.
• In magical symbolism: bluebirds are used to represent confidence in the positive aspect and egotism in the negative
• Blue Bird- youngest members of the Camp Fire Girls
• Bluebird-  one of several species in the songbird genus Sialia

๑ Bible verse Revelation 3:7 is - And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David/Dauid, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.

๑  Heart of Darkness is a novella from 1899; originally appearing as a 3 part series. The symbolic story is a story within a story (or frame narrative).  The story exposes the dark side of European colonization while exploring the three levels of darkness Marlow encounters on his journey; emphasis on the darkness within mankind.

✔  Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

With all the mentions and visuals of a well in this fairy tale, I am indeed brought back to LOST and a specific moment that I remember.  It was in the episode "This Place is Death."  Locke tells Sawyer if all this started (consciousness skip/jumps) at The Orchid Station, maybe that's how it will stop.  Charlotte tells him "You can find the Orchid at the well." Also remember The Orchid was noted to be a way off the "island."

Another thing I want to mention is that in "Something Nice Back Home" Jack tells Kate that his father was a good storyteller.

✈ Imagine. Hypnosis. Memory. Dream
✈ Head. Blackouts. Knockout. Unconscious.
✈ Teach. Learn
✈ Remember. Forget
✈ Faith. Belief. Believe. Proof.
✈ Flaming arrows are shot at the Castaways in S5 in "The Lie" and are mentioned in "Le Fleur", "Jughead" and "The Incident [P1]"
✈ Henry Gale/Ben Linus is shot in the shoulder by Rousseau in "One of Them".
✈ Arrow Station: In "Because You Left" Dr. Marvin Candle introduces the orientation film for Station 2, The Arrow. This Station’s primary objective is to develop defensive strategies and gather intelligence on the islands hostile indigenous population.  We also see that things are staged, scripted and filmed. This also included a cameraman who resembled Sawyer.
✈ Jack thought he could erase the past and at one point Daniel Faraday thought you could change it.
✈ Swan
✈ Wheel
✈  Kate's mug-shot
✈  Key
✈  Railroad- N.Y. City Subway- Train
✈  Purpose
✈  Diamond
✈  Map
✈ Cobra. Episodes mentioning "Expose"  include "The Lie",  "Ji Yeon", and "The Man from Tallahassee" 
✈ Man of Science, Man of Faith
✈ In "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham"  Charles Widmore claims to be deeply invested in the future of the "Island"
✈ Tied to a tree- Shannon in "Hearts and Minds", Sayid in "Collision" and "He's Our You", Sawyer in "Confidence Man" and Desmond in "Everybody loves Hugo."
✈ "In Tricia Tanaka is Dead" Kate tells Sayid and Locke they have to get him/Jack back.
✈  Heart of Darkness is a novella that was heavily hinted to.  
     - "Walkabout" Jack comments to Kate as to why whenever there is a hike into the "Heart of Darkness", she signs up.
     - "Numbers" Charlie refers to Hurley's mood change as going from "happy go lucky good time Hurley" to "Colonel bloody Kurtz"
     - "Confirmed Dead" Sawyer refers to John Locke as "Colonel Kurtz".
     - If memory serves, I believe in the LOST Video game Via Domus the book Heart of Darkness can be found in a cave in a secret room.


Enough of my rambling...Here is your episode recap! Enjoy!


A flaming arrow is fired upon Prince Charming and Red, who are being attacked by the King's army.
The Prince tells Red that they have to move. "They found us".  Red gives the Prince a head start by taking care of the army. I believe he is unaware of her "talent" when there is a full moon.  She sends him to go find Snow. Red transforms into the wolf and takes care of the army.

Emma is taking Mary Margaret's mug-shots; instructing her to turn to the right. {The flash causes Mary Margaret to close her eyes}.  Mary Margaret claims this is a mistake; she didn't kill Kathryn. Emma feels she didn't, but in addition to being her friend she is also the sheriff and has to go where the evidence leads.
Mary Margaret- "Which points to me? Yesterday it was David. There's something not right here."
Emma knows that, but Mary Margaret's fingerprints were on the box- not David's. "So now we have to deal with this..." {indicating the processed photographs/mug shot in her hand}
Mary Margaret- "Evidence that says I cut out Kathryn's heart... and buried it in the woods. This is insane."
Emma- "If I don't book you- with all this evidence it's gonna look like favoritism.  And then Regina will have cause and she will fire me and you know what she'll do?  She'll bring in someone who will railroad you.  So please, just try to be patient and trust me. We can't even move forward until we verify that the heart belonged to Kathryn. And I'm still waiting for the DNA test results. But in the meantime, you need to bear with me. I have to ask you a few questions."
Mary Margaret- "This is crazy. I would never hurt anyone."

Snow White is humming and sweeping up.  She lovingly lures a blue bird to her finger and proceeds to violently swing at it; attacking it with her broom.  This disturbs Grumpy as Snow says she's "getting rid of the vermin in this house."  The blue bird finally finds its way out an open window.  Grumpy/Dreamy tells Snow that they made something extra special for dinner tonight.  But nasty performing Snow says she's not hungry.  He takes her hand and leads her anyway.

Snow is led to the dining table where she is met by all of her concerned Dwarf friends; who we overhear saying "She's out of control."  Snow asks "Somebody die?" Jiminy Cricket flies over and Snow automatically swats at the "dirty cricket".

Jiminy introduces himself and explains that her friends asked him to be there because they're concerned about her and have something they want to say.
Begin the airing of the grievances!  Grumpy reads his intervention note aloud.
"Snow White,
You've changed.  
You've become angry, irritable, and downright mean."

Sneezy's concern was that she brought bales of straw into the house even though she knows he's allergic.
Happy- "You broke my mug!"
Snow is fired up!  "You're lucky it wasn't that mug you call a face!"
Happy- "You are the worst, most nasty, horrible... !"
Snow wonders who is Grumpy to talk to her about change.  Grumpy says the potion she took- the one that erased the Prince {sounds like prints} from her mind "You haven't been the same since you drank it."
Snow- "That, helped forget whatever or whomever I needed to forget.  And I am clearly better off for it. That potion was the solution, not the problem. The problem is that I'm living here- in a house full of Dwarfs instead of in my palace with my father as a Princess, but I can't do that anymore, can I?  Because he was murdered.  Murdered by the same woman who sent a huntsman to kill me!"
Jiminy understands her anger towards the Queen, but its not fair she take it out on her friends.  Snow feels he's right. "I should be taking it our on her."
Upset Jiminy tells to her to wait, as revenge is not the answer. "No, it's gonna change you. It'll turn you into something darker than you can imagine- you don't wanna go there! No! No! Wait! No!"

Snow covers and traps Jiminy in the glass cloche that housed the apples and announces her good news. The fellows can quit their complaining because she's leaving; she's got more important things to do. Jiminy is freaking out from behind the glass, trying to get her to stop.  Grumpy tells her to wait, "Where are you going?"  Focused Snow takes the pickax and proclaims- "To kill the Queen."

EVIDENCE- Room 104

Regina asked to sit in as a third party to ensure Emma's impartial questioning of Mary Margaret and "The case of the human heart in a box." {Note there are years dates on file boxes- 1992, etc., and locked lockers.}  Mary Margaret has nothing to hide and says they can ask her anything.  Emma starts the cassette tape rolling in a dated tape recorder.
"The heart was found buried near the old TOLL BRIDGE. It had been cut out by what appears to be a hunting knife. Have you ever been to that bridge before?"
Mary Margaret admits to being there many times with David; the man she was having an affair with.
Mary Margaret replies directly to Regina about not being proud of what happened and she's sorry; and it doesn't change the fact that she didn't kill Kathryn.
Emma places the box that housed the heart in front of Mary Margaret asking if she's ever seen it before.  Confused Mary Margaret has seen it, as it's her jewelery box.  "Don't you see what's happening here?!  Someone stole that box and put the heart in it.  I didn't have anything to do with it! I'm innocent!"
Regina compassionately takes Miss Blanchard's hand saying she's knows what she's going through. "I know what its like to lose someone you love.  To be publicly humiliated.  Put me in a very dark place. Changed me. I can only imagine what losing David Nolan did to you."

Mary Margaret pulls away from Regina and claims she hasn't changed and is the same good person she's always been. "I did not do this."

Emma has a private meeting with Regina in the hallway about the interrogation.  Regina leads the sheriff in some sheriff-ing, by telling Emma literally how to do her job; look for signs of a break-in at their apartment. "She is a woman whose had her heart broken. And that... that can make you do unspeakable things."

Hooded Snow traps one of the Queen's knight's and smacks his leg with her pickax. "It'll heal...
eventually." She wants information. "Where's the Queen?"  The knight isn't given that info up.
Snow- "Do you know what a diamond is?  It's the strongest substance known to man or beast... beautiful, precious. Nearly impervious to destruction- nearly. This... this is an ax from the Dwarf's mines. It's a special blade. It can, believe it or not, actually cut a diamond. Imagine what it can do to human flesh... soft, pliable tender flesh."
The knight fearing from the strike of the pickax admits the Queen is at her castle, but only for the night. In the morning she leaves for the summer palace.   Angry Snow reveals that summer palace was built for her mother and then hits the guard in his head with the pickax.

Snow takes the knight's armor and his large sword.  Grumpy comes upon this scene and motivated Snow tells him that she's doing whatever it takes to get inside the castle.  "I have to get there before she departs."
Grumpy- "Have you lost your mind?! You really think this disguise is gonna fool anybody?"
Snow- "I'm getting in there."
Grumpy- "Listen to yourself! All you care about is revenge you can't even see reality anymore!"  Grumpy's not there to lecture her, only to help her by taking her back to Rumpelstiltskin. "He's the one who gave you the potion in the first place.  The one that took away all your memories of your Prince. If anyone can give em back to you, it's him."
But Snow doesn't want the memories back; that's why she took the potion. Grumpy tells her that's what changed her. Maybe he can at least bring her back to the person she used to be. "He's the most powerful man in the world. He can do anything."
Snow- "Anything?"

Emma checks the locks on the apartment door and the windows. Henry appears, wanting to help Miss Blanchard.  Emma asks why he isn't at school and then tells him he has to go home. {Well, which is it? Should he go to school or home?!}  Henry tells her it aint gonna happen.  Emma says she's trying to see if anyone broke in; looking for busted door-jam, broken glass, muddy boots- that kind of thing. The only thing that makes sense is that someone is setting Mary Margaret up; but nobody's got a motive. Henry claims his mom does; she hates Snow White.  Emma feels that wouldn't hold up in a court.  

They investigate a rattling noise that's coming from the grate/heating vent on the floor.  Emma discovers a hunting knife/dagger.

Ruby sprinkles Cinnamon onto Henry's cup of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. The boy is depressed and drowning his sorrows in his delicious drink.
Enter- August. "I don't think that hot chocolate's gonna drink itself."  He knows Henry's upset about his teacher. Henry knows she didn't do it, "Why can't anyone see that?"
August- "Because most people just see what's right in front of them and I don't think you're gonna find the answers you want at the bottom of that mug."
Henry- "Then where?"
August- "That book in your bag.  You know I'm a writer, so I'm partial to finding my answers in a literary form."
Henry- "It's just a book."
August- "Is it?"
Henry- "Yeah."
August- "I think we both know that's not the case. (he asks for) Can I get a water, please?" {Ruby gives him a glass of water half full}
Now Henry is suspicious of August and asks what he knows about it.
August- "I know it's a book of stories."
Henry- "Aren't all books?"
August looks him right in the eyes and claims "Stories that... really happened."
Henry lights up. "You think my book is real?"
August- "As real as I am." {How "real" is August?!}   Henry asks him how he knows.
August- "Well, let's just say that, uh, I'm a believer. And I want to help others see the light. That, my friend, is why I'm here."
Henry admits he already believes.  August tells the boy "I'm not here for you, Buddy. I'm here for Emma."
Henry- "So, you want to get her to believe... why don't you just tell her?"
August explains "Well, there are some people like you and me- we can go on faith. But others like Emma, they need proof."
Henry- "Last time I tried to find proof I got trapped in a sinkhole."
August- "There are less dangerous places to look."  He indicates to Henry to look into his fairy tale book.  August leaves and Henry looks through his book; landing on a page with Prince Charming on horseback.

Prince Charming dismounts his horse and checks out tracks in the snow. He comes upon the naked knight.
The Prince throws the man a blanket and asks who did this.  The knight informs him "She's crazy. She had a pickax. She threatened to skin me."  He reveals it was not the Evil Queen who did this, but Snow White.  "She said she wanted to kill the Queen. I've never seen someone so bloodthirsty."  The Prince insists Snow's not bloodthirsty; he knows her.  The knight suggests "Maybe you don't."

Regina is in her black and white office peeling an apple with a knife.   David shows up to talk to her about the accusations against Mary Margaret; He knows Mary Margaret didn't do this.  Regina seems compassionate and shares that she understands what he's going through. "It's painful when someone we care about betrays us."  David claims Mary Margaret's a good person, "I know her."  Regina suggests "Maybe you don't. Maybe you just want to. Everyone has a dark side, David."   David understands that. But having a dark side and doing something so evil is a different thing; that's not what she is.  Regina believes evil isn't born- it's made.   David doesn't think Regina knows much about evil.  Regina raises the question "Well, if she didn't do it, then who did?"  This is what David's been trying to figure out.  "Those blackouts I've been having, made everything so hazy."   Regina doesn't want David to accuse himself.   But David feels if he can clear up his missing time that will prove Mary Margaret's innocence.  Regina finds David very sweet, but also very wrong, looking right into his eyes explaining "Evil doesn't always look evil. Sometimes it's staring right at us... and we don't even realize it."

Emma confronts upset Mary Margaret about the discovery of the hunting knife in the heating vent in their apartment.  Even though Emma believes Mary Margaret, the evidence is piling up by the hour and suggests she hire a lawyer.  On cue, Mr. Gold the lawyer is in the room offering his legal services.  He's been following the details of Miss Blanchard's case and is well advised to bring him on as her council.  He feels his managing to get the judge in his case (nearly beating a man to death) to be dropped, was a great way of asserting his influence.  He thinks that is what's needed now as well; he's only there to help.  Emma knows the only thing needed is to find the truth.   Mary Margaret asks Emma to leave while she speaks with her new lawyer.  Mary Margaret feels Mr. Gold is right and that Emma needs to do her job or else she's screwed. She tells Emma to do her job as best she can and she'll prove her innocence, but until then she needs some practical help.
Mr. Gold- "Trust me. This is in Miss Blanchard's best interests."
Emma wishes Mary good luck and hopes it is Mary's best interests he's looking out for.

Mary Margaret tells Mr. Gold that she can't pay him.  Mr. Gold didn't ask her for money. He's doing this because he's invested in her future.

Grumpy confronts Rumpelstiltskin about the potion he gave Snow; that it changed her- she's not the same.  Rumpelstiltskin, while busy spinning the wheel, educates the Dwarf on the potion. "Of course it changed her.  It took away her love- left a big hole in her heart. There is no cure for what she's got. The person she was... there's no way to bring her back.  No potion can bring back true love. Love... is the most powerful magic of all.  The only magic I haven't been able to bottle. If you can bottle love- you can do anything. But you don't care about that, do ya? Now, what is it you really want?"

Snow walks around the potions table checking things out; she doesn't care about that. All she wants is his help to kill the Queen.  This makes Rumpelstiltskin light up "Now we're talkin', Dearie."   Grumpy doesn't want her to do this.

Rumpelstiltskin prepares a bow, to which he instructs Snow to use to kill the Queen while she's on the move; when she's on her way to the summer palace; as its impossible for Snow to get into the castle.  He magically presents a map indicated the spot Snow where she should fire the arrow and will be hidden from sight.  "An arrow fired from this bow... will get you exactly what you need.  It always finds its target."
Grumpy can't stand by, telling Snow if she takes that weapon she'll have to do it alone.  Apparently that was always Snow's plan.  Rumpelstiltskin is giddy and delighted.  Knowing everything comes with a price when dealing with Rumpelstiltskin, Snow asks what he wants in return.  The last time he took a strand of her hair.
Rumpelstiltskin- "Let's just say... I'm invested in your future."

David shows up at Dr. Archie Hopper's office needing his help.  He needs to remember what's been happening during the blackouts he's been having.  Archie asks "why?" It's so David can remember something to help Mary Margaret.

Prince Charming enters Rumpelstiltskin's castle demanding he show himself and to ask what he did to Snow.  Rumpelstiltskin notices the young man is still dressing like a prince even though he ran away from the life Rumpelstiltskin gave him.  Charming feels Rumpelstiltskin gave him a prison sentence.
Rumpelstiltskin- "Yeah, one that you've now skirted.  Careful, Dearie, King George is a vengeful man." Charming is there because rumor has it Snow's after the Queen and went to him for help.  Charming draws his sword while unafraid Rumpelstiltskin makes no bones about the fault being Charming.  "You caused her pain. Without that pain she would never have drank my potion to forget about you. That's what changed her!"
Charming wants him to un-do the potion because all magic can be broken.   He wonders if "true love's kiss" will awaken her. 
Rumpelstiltskin confirms this, but included it will be hard to kiss her when Charming doesn't know where she is.  Still not intimidated by Charming's drawn sword, Rumpelstiltskin swats the blade out of his way.

Rumpelstiltskin's price for his Intel will be Charming's cloak; claiming it's drafty in here. Charming gives up his cloak and Rumpelstiltskin informs him Snow is on her way to the Queen's Highway. "This is the route she's taking."   He magically produces a map for Charming to follow.  "But you better be quick, because if she kills the Queen she becomes as evil as the woman's whose life she takes."
Charming feels she could never become that evil.  Rumpelstiltskin claims "Evil isn't born, Dearie... it's made. If Snow starts down that road you'll never get her back."

Cloaked Snow is at the spot where she is readying herself to take aim at the Queen with the magic bow and arrow.  Charming grabs her from behind and she tries to get away.  Snow asks- "Who are you? What are you doing?"  Charming is trying to get her to remember.  He kisses her. "I told you, I will always find you."  Snow hits him, knocking him out.

At the Storybrooke apartment of Emma and Mary Margaret, Henry sits on the stairs leading to it.  He presents Emma with the proof of how Regina got into her apartment; framing Miss Blanchard.  He admits stealing the keys (on a large keyring) from his mom's office; the book said they can open any door.  Emma claims they won't even fit in the lock, but they'll try.  Henry tries a couple of the keys but they don't fit.
Emma- "See, what did I tell you, Henry. I know you wanna think the answer to everything is in Operation Cobra {Henry says "It is"} But sometimes the real world needs to come first."

Henry begs her to try one more; and it's he who gives her the specific key that opens the lock on the door.
Henry asks "Do you believe now?"

As Charming is coming back to consciousness, he finds that Snow has tied him to a tree. She figures this is the man Rumpelstiltskin helped her forget.  Charming is confused because true love's kiss should have worked.   Snow says it's because she doesn't love him and Charming insists she does, but doesn't remember.  Snow feels love is just words and words don't mean anything to her.  "Taking action" is what means something to her; and that's what she's doing.  Charming wants her to listen to him "You can't do this! This is not who you wanna be.You can't kill her."
Snow- "Really? Watch  me."  From the tree, Charming begs her not to do it.

Archie has David under hypnosis. He instructs David to listen very closely. "Can you hear me?"   He wants David to go back in  his memory- back to the last time you and Kathryn spoke.  The last thing you remember. Tell me, where are you?"
David- "In my bedroom."
Archie-" When?"
David shares it was the night she left; he called her on her cell.  Kathryn spoke about realizing she should start a new life without him. "She thought Mary Margaret and I should be together."  Kathryn said she was hurt but wanted him to be happy.  Archie asks if he remembers anything after that.  David remembers seeing Mary Margaret in the woods.
Archie- "And what was she doing there?"
WHOOOSHING
David has flashes of disjointed images of cloaked Snow White in the woods and him saying "You can't kill her."
Snow- "Really? Watch me."
Charming-"Don't do it!"
Archie had to abruptly wake David up as he went too deep into hypnosis. Something was disturbing David.  Archie asks him what he saw; he can help him. But David hurries out feeling Archie can't help him.

Charming is still tied to the tree (it had snowed) when Jiminy Cricket flies over to him. "You must be James."  Charming is surprised the flying hovering cricket can talk.  Jiminy wants James to listen. He explains to James that when Snow began acting differently the Dwarfs asked him to intervene, but is afraid he wasn't much help.  Well, neither was James.  As Jiminy chews through the thick rope in an effort to free James so the two can go after Snow, Jiminy asks what his plan is.  James tried to get her to remember.  Jiminy frees one of James' hands.
Jiminy- "It sounds like you're approaching this the wrong way. How can she remember who you are, when she's lost sight of who she is?"

The Queen and her knights are making their way through the snowy road on horseback. A knight instructs the residents to "Clear the roads! Bow your heads before the Queen."   Stealthy cloaked and hooded Snow follows along the route from the hilltop sidelines and draws her bow and gold feathered arrow and takes her shot.  She shoots James; he jumped in the way of the arrow. 

With the arrow sticking out of his shoulder he explains to Snow "Well, you said you'd appreciate action more than words.  So now, you're gonna get both. I Love you, Snow."   Snow's reply is "I don't love you. I don't even remember you."    But James doesn't care. The only thing he cares about is that "You don't forget who you really are. I would rather die than let you fill your heart with darkness."  Snow starts to soften. "You would really die for me?"
With the arrow sticking out of him he asks "Does it look like I'm making this up?"
Snow- "No one's ever done anything like this for me before. No one's ever been willing to die for me."
James- "No one you can remember."   They're both crying.
Snow touches his arm and then kisses him- and remembers!  As they're rejoicing in their reunion, King George's army approaches catching the lovebirds.  A soldier rips the arrow from Prince James' shoulder and instructs another soldier to leave the girl. "We have who we came for."  They throw James into the prisoner wagon. A soldier hits Snow and threatens her with his sword.  Snow calls out to James, "James! I will find you! I will always find you."   The soldiers take prisoner James away.

David pays a visit Mary Margaret in her jail cell.  He's there to tell her that Dr. Hopper helped him to remember what happened during his blackouts. He only remembers pieces of the memory, recalling he and Mary Margaret was in the woods and he kept saying "Don't do it. Don't kill her."
Mary Margaret- "Kathryn? You think you remember me wanting to kill Kathryn?"
David asks "Can you explain why I have that memory?"  The sheriff found a heart in their spot and the evidence now includes David's fragmented memories. He wants to know if she did it.
Mary Margaret is crying. "When your phone records came back- when I found you wandering in the woods, when everyone thought you killed Kathryn I stood by you. I never once doubted you. And now that everything is pointing to me you actually think I am capable of that kind of evil. Get. Out."  Hurt Mary Margaret turns her back on him.

Snow returns home to her Dwarf friends, whom are sitting down to dinner.  Snow gives Happy a new mug; as an apology. Unimpressed Grumpy states they don't care about mugs.  Snow feels it's the only thing she broke that she can replace. She apologizes to them.  Grumpy sees that... "It's you."  They all welcome her back with a group hug. She tells them she can't stay. Grumpy asks "Where are you going?"  Snow informs them King George took James. "I have to get him back."
Grumpy-"No, Snow, you can't do it."  But Snow won't let the King just kill him. James came back for her; It doesn't matter what happens to her now, she has to try.
What Grumpy meant was "You can't do it alone. But luckily you won't have to."   The Dwarfs are motivated! Grumpy- "Let's show that King what Snow White and Seven Dwarves can really do!"  They all grab their pickax's and head out.

Mary Margaret is making her jail cell bed when she discovers a key which happen to open the cell door. Mary closes the door when Emma enters bearing breakfast for her.  Emma knows Mr. Gold doesn't want them to talk but felt it best Mary Margaret heard the news from her. "The test results came back from the heart and the DNA was a match for Kathryn. She's dead."   Emma is sorry and feels now they have proof of the death they have enough evidence to move forward with the case against her."  Emma reinforces to Mary that she does believe her and also feels that all the evidence tells her one thing for certain- Mary Margaret is being framed and thinks Regina is behind it.  Emma can't release Mary Margaret because belief is not proof. "If I don't do this right things will end up worse for you. Every time I've gone up against Regina she's seen it coming and I lost."  She feels this time is different because Regina doesn't know I suspects anything.  Mary doesn't know why Regina would do this to her. But Emma promises to find out and won't stop until she exposes what she's up to.  Mary wonders how Emma is going to do that "This is her town."
Emma is working on it.  Emma has faith in Mary Margaret and now she needs Mary Margaret to have faith in her. Of course Mary can do that.

Mr. Gold is doing inventory in his shop when Emma enters.  He's holding the Genie lamp with the green gems.  They're not surprised by Emma's accusations of Regina setting up Mary Margaret. He'll get it over with immediately once Emma provides proof.  Emma reveals there isn't any that is court worthy.  Gold is impressed Emma's all of a sudden become a woman of faith, yet wonders if she's there to spin conspiracy theories.  Emma needs his help, "Every time I've gone against Regina I've lost. Except for once, when I became sheriff when you helped."  Although Emma doesn't approve of Gold's methods, she approves of his results. This time she has something more important than a job. "I need to save my friend."
Gold- "And you're willing to go as far as it takes?"
Emma- "Farther."
Gold- "Now we're talking. Fear not, Miss Swan, Regina may be powerful, but something tells me you're more powerful than you know."  {He uses a magnifying glass to inspect the Genie Lamp}

Rumpelstiltskin is looking through a magnifying glass inspecting Prince James' cloak and retrieves a single hair from it and puts it into a jar containing another single strand of hair. The two hairs illuminate; he has bottled Love.

 

In Storybrooke we find that Mary Margaret used her found key to escape her cell.