Welcome to Storybrooke

"It was a mysterious island, lonely and beautiful. All the children stood and gazed at it, loving it and longing to go to it. It looked so secret - almost magic. 
“Well,” said Jack at last. 
“What do you think? Shall we run away, and live on the secret island?”
“Yes!” whispered all the children. “Let’s!”
 ― Enid Blyton, The Secret Island

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

The Strangers

It appears that strangers have been able to find their way into Storybrooke since the beginning. Does that mean they really are strangers to that place, or are they all trapped fairy tale characters already existing somewhere in the realms?  We already know there are many worlds, realms, islands, dimensions, and rooms.

It is very sweet to see the widow Kurt in his Marty McFly vest doing key chain crafts by the campfire with his free-spirited son, Owen, whom is a fan of Star Wars (Return of the Jedi). By the way, I've made hundreds of those key chains over my lifetime and I never kept any of them. That's weird, right? Anyway, they experience an "electrical event" that magically transports them into another realm, or dimension, if you will. Actually, Kurt thinks this "town" was dropped on top of them as opposed to them being transported to it. Well, that's in the thread of Dorothy's house being dropped right into Oz and on top of the Wicked Witch via the whirlwind transport event that made that happen. In fact that whole experience happened in Dorothy's mind; while she was sleeping (in the movie version).

Owen is the one who discovers Storybrooke after the electrical storm and then later Owen can't see it again. We see that although Storybrooke is there, it is visually hidden from via the other side of the town line in another dimension- perhaps on the other side of the looking glass. This definitely gives us a very Alice in Wonderland bit going on; add to that the time and spatial issues.

Welcome to Storybrooke is set in 1983, well, parts of it are. With Owen and Kurt we see how one becomes a visitor to Storybrooke and the other becomes a resident.  Maybe it's wrong of me to assume Kurt is still in Storybrooke, but on the other hand we've seen Regina lock up residents in her secret underground ward at the hospital. Perhaps that's where Kurt is. Maybe he's playing cards with Sidney Glass- or perhaps he's trapped in a computer/video game/simulation/matrix or hidden in some other realm.

Loop, Dude, Loop

Of course we have the ol' Groundhog-ish Day repeat of events, and even the nod of Back to the Future.

Regina finds herself in a redundant cycle; day after day things just boringly run through. The curse rendered the residents of Storybrooke basically robotic and soulless. Regina wants to manipulate, wants everything uniform and to her liking, she wants people to do everything she wants; but she wants them to do it because they want to do it and not because they have to do it. This loop bores Regina and she misses the human element of the people. She longs for the thrill of the chase and the fight. But she also longs for love and family. Her loop starts to develop slight variations in it.

Rumple may have created the curse, but he is clear in that he didn't cast the curse. It was Regina's choice to cast the curse and thus has to reap the results of it. Magic isn't the problem. It's the motives and choices each makes when using magic that determines if it's good or bad magic. The problem is in the person. It is all about the choices we make. There are lessons in the loop,  just as there was on LOST...  Break the cycle- and you keep doing the loop (and lesson) over and over until you get it right. Sometimes one gets stuck, like the needle on a broken record, and needs a little push. This is all to help one grow.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere is Signs

Does an apple a day keep the Doctor away for Regina, or will she be doomed with a black heart her whole life?

Softened by the boy's kind hearted gift, sort of like the Winter Warlock in Santa Claus is coming to Town, Regina is touched and drawn to him. They share similar heartbreak and loneliness. They both have a piece of their heart missing.

Regina and Mary Margaret both have darkness growing inside of them- but for different reasons.
Black always was Regina's color and her vengeance left her with a hole in her heart. Regina's darkness comes from a place of anger, selfishness, conceit, greed, and vengeance, she doesn't feel regret or think about the feelings of others- only her own needs matter. Her willingness to have Henry live under a curse and "loving her" was good enough for her. She didn't care that it wouldn't be his real emotions toward her; she is fine with it being fake as long as it was something to make her feel better. But that's not true selfless love. Even though she destroyed the curse at Henry's request I am curious if it's because there's a tiny glow of light still left in her heart or is it because she has another way to complete her task.

While Regina doesn't feel regret for her actions, Snow carries great pain by hers. The important and informative scene with Mary Margaret begging to be killed by Regina made me cry. Regina is right about Mary Margaret doing it to herself; she's causing her own suffering. Mary Margaret is wallowing in her negative emotions based on the choices she made (and it taking a life), but she is also willing to sacrifice herself to end the ongoing ugly fight. This down slide of Mary Margaret's works for Regina for that exact reason, it seems Regina can wait out Mary Margaret to self-destruct on her own.

Keep in mind Mary Margaret was only partially responsible for Cora's death and she saved Mr. Gold's life; she made a choice/decision based on the greater good- or the lesser of two evils. Is there ever a time when a truly good hearted person should make that sort of decision?  Let's not forget that we've seen Snow White steal while she was on the run and gear up for battle at the castle. She's one tough cookie.

Henry wants to blow up the well as for him this must be the source of magic. We know the well represents a few things like water- as a life source, and it's where you wish for something you lost be returned to you; it also connects to Lake Nostos. 

No matter where you go, there you are

Regina and Kurt wanted a place to go to start over, but you can't run away from things and you especially can't run away from yourself.  You are the only one who can make the changes you seek, both inside and out. Sure, we can follow a map, be guided along the way and pointed in the right direction- but ultimately change can only come from deep inside of you.

How to make the key chain

 Things to Note...Questions to Ask...

๑ The cards depicting the "time period" of events only shows up a couple of times, even though we visit current time-line and the Kurt and Owen time-line
๑ Who is Owen's Uncle?
๑ Computers. Monitors. Digital
๑ Loop. Fruit Loops
๑ Things, words, symbols connect to the "outside of Storybrooke."  Blur together
๑ Balance
๑ Real. Not Real. It's not real
๑ "Why would an 11 year old kid run away to the mines?" - Neal
๑ Apples. Regina's loop seems to include her having apple pancakes every morning.
๑ Little boy Owen sounds like Henry
๑ Episode 7:15
๑ True North : Hansel and Gretel are given a compass by their father and they too must find him and be reunited in Storybrooke. The twins are known as Ava and Nicholas Zimmer, children of Dory Zimmer, father is Tow Trucker Michael Tillman
๑ The Sheriff car (not black/white-more brownish/white) is number 1. We've seen #2 in episodes
๑ It might by 1983, but there are reflections of other older things/items/stores/music/cars, etc. in Storybrooke
๑ NO Key. The handmade crafted key chain Owen gives Regina is key-less
๑ 8:15. Arrival. Stuck
๑ 108
๑ The Thing you Love Most, to cast the curse Regina needs the heart of the one she loves most
๑ Green and Red- Like Luke and Darth's Light Sabers
๑ Wake up
๑ No I.D. - Who are you?
๑ Map. Directions. Blind corner
๑ About having a child, Marco claims "I was never so lucky."
๑ Camp. Beach chairs. campfire
๑ Claimed
๑ Teacher. Teach. School. Learn.
๑ Hospital
๑ Heart of Darkness
๑ Gift- Present 
๑ The Blue Bird was an old movie I remember and enjoyed as a child.

๑ Lana tweeted "In honor of tonight's episode... (the music video) Talking Heads - This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) from the album Speaking in Tongues

This photo is from LOST- A Tale of Two Cities

Vocabulary and Research...

๑ Flynn is a surname of Irish origin it is an Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Floinn "descendant of Flann", a byname meaning "red(dish)", "ruddy". The name originated in the landlocked county of Laois in the mid-1300s by a large farming family.  The name was almost wiped out from both plague and famine, although still lives on today throughout the world
-The Flynn Effect, the gradual rise in IQ test scores

๑ Kevin Flynn: Flynn's Arcade is a video game arcade owned and operated by Kevin Flynn. The upper rooms have been furnished to serve as both a work space and accommodation, in which Flynn lived prior to taking control of ENCOM. The basement level is accessed by way of a secret door hidden behind a TRON arcade game on the ground floor. ENCOM is an American multi-national computer technology corporation that developed many important programs and technologies such as digitization hardware and software, the MCP and Tron. In the 1980s ENCOM was mainly focusing on defense systems, but quickly began focusing more on video games after the amazing success and profits produced by games such as Space Paranoids and Light Cycles. The company is headquartered in Center City. ENCOM was founded by Dr. Walter Gibbs, Ph.D. on July 22, 1972, originally from inside his garage.
๑ Tron: 1982 American science fiction film was released by Walt Disney Productions about a computer programmer is transported inside the software world of a mainframe computer, where he interacts with various programs in his attempt to get back out. A sequel titled Tron: Legacy 
-Flynnlives.com 

๑ Flynn Rider:  aka Eugene Fitzherbert is a character in the animated movie Tangled (Rapunzel)
๑ Apple: Symbolism- Forbidden fruit. Apple of Discord. Wisdom.
๑ Heart Shaped Box is a song by Nirvana
๑ The White Pine Trail- State Park: is Michigan's longest rail-trail following the former Grand Rapids and Indiana rail bed for 93.5 miles through five counties. This massive trail showcases a variety of landscapes, from swamps to forests to open farmland, plus numerous towns and cities.
- The northern terminus of Fred Meijer White Pine Trail is in the City of Cadillac.

✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈ A Tale of Two Cities:  Juliet listens to "Downtown" on a blank CD taken out of The Talking Heads CD case.
-At 7:15 Jack is stalking Sarah
✈ 8:15
✈ 108
✈ Loop. Do-over
✈ Rock
✈ In Some Like it Hoth- Hurley rewrites Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back
✈ Eggs
✈ Tulip
✈ Electrical
✈ Sink (sync)
✈ Claim
✈ White Rabbit:
Jack has to bury is father.
Remember, Jack's father Christian was found dead of a massive heart attack/cardiac arrest brought on by alcohol in an alley in Queen's Cross, Australia
✈ In Numbers Hurley's mom doesn't like surprises. Plus there's many more connections to this ONCE episode within Numbers:
✈ Good/Bad Parenting:
Hurley think's Jack would be a good dad.
Michael hates being a father
✈ (A few examples of) "Why did you bring me here?" is said by:
Kate in A Tale of Two Cities
Jin in The Package
Jack in The Candidate
Kate in The End
Jacob brings people here, to the Island
Richard feels "murder is wrong" and what brought him here/to the Island, in Ab Aeterno
Locke "brings him/Anthony Cooper here" in The Brig
✈  Real- Not Real- A few examples:
White Rabbit
Hearts and Minds
Fire + Water
Orientation
Cabin Fever
Desmond claimed "It's not real"
Yemi tells Eko "real world"  The 23rd Psalm
Maternity Leave Claire says she needs to find "That place- that room. It's real!..."
✈  I Do -Kate aka Monika is given a locket from her future mother in law before the wedding
✈ Patience- that's Locke.
✈ Locke was a Boy Scout, well, technically he was a Webelo- working toward merit badges in Hearts and Minds. And Locke is shown to have many framed badges/patches in his Flashes as seen in The Man from Tallahassee

Enough of my rambling... Here's your episode recap! Enjoy!

Kurt and Owen Flynn are camping in the woods at night and crafting little plastic key chains together; made of long plastic threads- red and green like Luke and Darth's light sabers.  It's Owen's first time making them, and Kurt instructs him with the loops. {Note: Talking Heads song} Kurt gives Owen the key chain Owen's grandfather taught him how to make. Owen notes Kurt wasn't very good at making them when he was his age. Kurt checks his (I think it's a) pocket watch and decides it's time to get diner started when he sees a change in the atmosphere. He turns off the old radio and has Owen put out the fire and get in the tent; Owen is sure to take his Star Wars blanket with him. It's probably an electrical storm. Kurt tells the kid they're going to be alright.

Purple and Green smoke washes over the entire campsite and all the land. When father and son emerge from their tents it is daylight. The big bizarre storm wrecked the campsite and the vehicle, so they hike to find refuge.

Kurt follows a map wrapped in plastic for protection; trying to locate the highway over the ridge and then get a ride to the nearest town. It's Owen who discovers the town in the distance.

As they walk through gloomy Storybrooke Kurt feels it's impossible because they drove through there yesterday and "...there's nothing here. It's like somebody dropped a town right on top of us."

They're met by Sheriff Graham. "Need some help? You two look lost."
"Who are you? What is this place?" asks Kurt.  Graham introduces himself, shakes Kurt's hand and welcomes them to Storybrooke.

Regina's eyes open- she wakes up in Storybrooke in 1983. She looks out the window and determines, "I did it- I won."

Regina tours the gloomy streets of Storybrooke:
Walking past Marco fixing the Neighbors Five and Dime store sign with a screwdriver. "That should hold you."
Mr. Gold walks by.
Ruby argues with Granny outside of the Diner while Granny puts out the sign. "I can't believe you put me on the early shift!"
"It's not my fault you stayed out all night! When I put over-easy on the menu I was talking about the eggs!"

Archie walks Pongo and greets Madam Mayor, mentioning it's a beautiful day; even though it's sort of gloomy. Regina almost calls him Cri...("Cricket") but stops short can greets him as Dr. Hopper and agrees it's a beautiful day.  And we see a man at the fruit truck with an orange.

Mary Margaret holds the Blue Bird and educates her students that they're building a home for the birds and not a cage.  "A bird is free it will do what it will. This is for them not us. Their loyal creatures (She releases the bird out the window it flies to the bird house). If you love them and they love you, they will always find you." The bell rings and she tells the kids they'll pick this up after recess.

Regina enters wanting Mary Margaret to refresh her memory. "How long have you been a teacher here?"  Mary Margaret can't recall but replies "As long as I can remember." Regina takes her on a field trip.

"Why are we in the hospital?" Mary Margaret asks Regina.
"Tell me, do you know this man?"
Mary Margaret looks at the sleeping man behind the glass, looking a bit confused, "No? Why, who is he?"
Regina shares "He's a John Doe, a coma patient. No one's claimed him."
"Maybe someday he'll wake up and maybe someone who loves him will find him," Mary Margaret is hopeful. Regina wouldn't count on it.

Sunday October 23, 1983

At Granny's Regina is served apple pancakes. Graham enters and Regina flirts, telling him his uniform is well fitted.  Graham asks her if she wants him to come over later, as they're apparently involved in a physical/sexual relationship.
"Hey," a little boy, sounding much like Henry, walks over to the couple and asks Regina, "You like apple pancakes too?"
"Who are you? Whose child is this?" she asks the other patrons and then asks Marco "Is he yours?"
"Mine? No. I was never so lucky," replies Marco.
The man in the Marty McFly vest claims the boy as his. "You'll have to excuse him. His manners are a little rough around the edges. I'm, uh, Kurt Flynn."  Confused and troubled Regina and Kurt shake hands.  The man and his son are looking to rent a hotel room for the night, as they need a place to sleep. Granny offers them a room.
Regina privately speaks with Graham. "Who the hell are those people?"  Graham doesn't know, they just showed up; they were camping in the woods near the Toll Bridge. Freaked out Regina doesn't like surprises- she finds them threatening. "And do you know what happens when I feel threatened? Bad things."

Present Day:

Regina places a red rose on her mother's coffin and is met by Mr. Gold.
"Black always was your color. He's there to pay his respects (places a red rose crossing Regina's placed rose.) He shares that he and Cora may have had their differences, but she'll always have a place in her heart.  Regina is there to bury her mother and is obviously in deep morning.
Gold killed Cora to save his own life- "Desperate times call for desperate measures."  Mary Margaret tricked Regina into killing her own mother. Regina thinks Gold/Rumple may be able to hide behind his dagger, but Mary Margaret can't. Regina is going to make sure she dies for what she did.  Gold reminds her killing Mary Margaret will cost her the thing she really wants most- Henry. "Why don't you just give up this obsession with vengeance? You know it can never make you happy?"
Regina feels it will.
"You had a whole curse worth of vengeance, and what did it get you?" asks Gold, "A gapping hole in your heart." Regina claims "That was your curse."
"Which you cast," Gold replies, "Still haven't learned your lesson, have you?"
"What lesson?" asks Regina.
Gold tries to be the voice of reason. "The same one your mother learned a long time ago. You can't have everything. She wanted power- ripped out of her own heart to get it. You want vengeance? Henry's the price you'll pay. Time to cut your losses."
But Regina will never do that; she will have her son and her vengeance- "I will find a way to have everything."

Depressed Mary Margaret stays in bed while Emma and David try to protect Henry from why Mary Margaret is a little "sick." Henry knows they're lying (especially Emma, who's eating Fruit Loops). Emma sees he's lost trust in her and shares the truth with him, explaining Mary Margaret is partially responsible for Cora's death and that's why she's so upset. She was trying to protect them. Henry thinks she couldn't because she's Snow White- she wouldn't hurt anybody. Mr. Gold/Rumple shows up to inform angry David about Regina's plan to strike back against (your/Emma's mother) Mary Margaret. She didn't say what she's going to do to her.  David feels Gold doesn't get to come in there and drop a bomb like that. "You're gonna figure this out... and you're gonna help us."  The reason he's going to is aside from them being family now, Mary Margaret saved Gold's life and he owes her a debt- and Gold/Rumple always pays his debts. "You're gonna help us stop Regina," David informs Gold.

Kurt and Owen sit at the counter finishing up their meal when Mayor Mills comes in and is pissed off that the little boy is sitting in her seat. Owen doesn't give in to her childish behavior. Regina informs Kurt his car will be repaired by the end of the week; since she's the mayor things get done when the mayor asks for them, and she hates to keep them from getting home to...
"New Jersey. Home of The Boss," Kurt replies. {Regina doesn't seem to know who that is.}
On their way out Owen gives Regina a gift for letting him sit in her seat; the red and green key chain he made. She seems a bit touched and Kurt is proud.

Regina opens her eyes, waking up with Graham next to her in her bed. She walks over and looks out the window, just as she's done before.
{WATCH VIDEO BELOW}
Hospital Volunteer Mary Margaret puts little white flowers (Lily of the Valley?) on the table next to the man with no I.D. while Regina watches with glee.

She takes her walk down the street of Storybrooke- past Marco working on the sign with a screwdriver, "Maybe this time you won't fall."
Ruby argues with Granny, "This is the last time I'm working the early shift." Granny throws her hands up in an "I give up" gesture.
Dr. Hopper walks Pongo and greets the Mayor, "Good morning Madam Mayor. Beautiful day, isn't it?"  Mary Margaret walks right into Regina as Regina is still watching Archie walk across the street.
"Oh, Madam Mayor, I'm so sorry," states nervous Mary Margaret. {Carrying books}
"You should be. Watch where you're going next time!" Regina warns. Very intimidated Mary Margaret nods yes and hurries off.

Regina opens her eyes, waking up next to Graham again, but now seems a bit bored.

Volunteer Mary Margaret places tulips on the hospital bedside table of the sleeping man with no I.D. As per her loop, Regina watches from the background but seems less interested.
She walks past Marco fixing the sign, but now it must be hammered into place.  Finally Regina is noticing things aren't what they seem... they're the same yet different.
This time when Regina runs into Mary Margaret she asks why she's apologizing when it's Regina who ran into her. {Mary Margaret holds papers, wear a white knit beret.} Mary Margaret knows she should have been looking where she was going .
"You're not even going to fight back?!" Regina asks. Mary Margaret wonders why she would do that and she walks away.

Regina pays a visit to Mr. Gold in his shop. "I'm not happy," claims Regina. Mr. Gold directs her to Dr. Hopper's office.
"This town... this isn't the deal we made," Regina tells him, but Gold doesn't know what she's talking about. {He's preparing a tea set.} She realizes he doesn't. "I was supposed to be happy here."
Gold reminds her she's the Mayor, the most powerful woman in the town. "What is there to be unhappy about?"
Regina complains "Everyone in this town does exactly what I want them to." Gold is amused by her problem as Regina continues,
"Well, they do it 'cause they have to not because they want to. It's not real."
Gold asks her what exactly it is she wants. Regina feels "Nothing you can give me." She walks out looking at the plastic woven key chain she received from Owen.

Regina calls Kurt and invites him and Owen to dinner before they leave.

Regina rummages through Cora's belongings desperately looking for something important. She comes across the locket of her and Cora, she cries.

In a fit she tears up Cora's gown and finally she finds what she needed. Cora's curse scroll. "Thank you, Mommy," Regina says.

Armed with a flashlight, David and Mr. Gold search Regina's family vault to discover they just missed their dear Queen. Mr. Gold deduces Regina's going to use one of Cora's spells on Mary Margaret. He notices something missing from a small trunk- Chimera Blood and Viper's Eye. Those ingredients are needed to cast The Curse of the Empty-Hearted.

Back at the apartment Mr. Gold explains that in theory the curse has the power to make you love someone. Emma wonders, "Doesn't that break magic laws? You can't bring someone back to life- you can't force someone to love you..."
Apparently this particular spell can make someone think that they love you. "And if  you're as desperate for love, as Regina appears to be, "You might just believe it," claims Mr. Gold. Henry realizes Regina's going to use it on him. Henry, refuses to be kept in the dark and lied to and demands to know why Regina is using this curse.  Gold tells the boy, "It's the only way she can get everything she wants. That she can get you."  He goes on to explain Regina wants Henry's love but also wants vengeance on Mary Margaret. The curse gives Regina both due to the last ingredient needed to enact the curse- the heart of the person she hates the most. Emma wants Gold to stop her, but he doesn't have to do anything; he believes warning them fulfills his debt. This upsets the group because they're family.
Mr. Gold feels, "Yeah, well, wars have costs."  This is a blood feud that goes back a very long time. The only way to end a blood feud is by the spilling of more blood. That is the only way he knows how to eliminate their Regina problem. The rest of the group feels killing her is the only option. Henry wants them to stop and listen to themselves, "You're talking about killing my mom. You used to be heroes- what happened to you?" The group is left speechless as Henry storms out.
Emma heads out after him, but is sure to inform the men, "No matter how this plays out, we need to keep him as far away from it as possible."  Mr. Gold agrees, noting that Cora was dangerous because she didn't have a heart and Regina is dangerous because she does.

Kurt compliments Regina on her lasagna, while free spirited Owen doesn't hold back his opinion that it isn't good. Regina's aware she's not the greatest cook unless it involves apples. She asks for Owens' help making turnovers for desert and instructs him to the kitchen sink to pick out some good ones.  Kurt shares that Owen gets his free spirit from his mom, "She, uhhhhh, passed away six months ago." That is why Kurt brought him there; camping and new surroundings might help him take his mind off things, but...
Regina admits "I came here looking to start over too. Hasn't turned out quite the way I hoped."  She feels "What good's a new life if you don't have anyone to share it with?"

Smiling Owen watches Regina put three turnovers into the oven and asks her why she's not a mom. He feels although it didn't work out that way he feels she would have been really good at it.
Regina seems touched. "Thank you, Owen."  Anxious Owen wonders "So, how much longer?" Regina advises "Patience. They're almost done."  Owen shares with her that he likes Storybrooke better than New Jersey. He doesn't miss his home or his friends. "I hate it there. All the kids at my school treat me weird now," apparently because of what happened to his mother. "Nobody gets it... it's like..."
"There's a piece of your heart missing," Regina finishes his thought.  When Kurt enters Regina proposes the idea that they should stick around town a little longer- as in "move here."  She can get him a great job with the City and there's a great/grade school for Owen. It could be a chance for a new start. Owen sounds excited at the thought. And while Kurt appreciates everything Regina's done for them but they have a life in New Jersey, "It's not here."  Regina is dejected... and so is Owen.

"Why did you bring me here?" Henry asks Emma as they enter Granny's Diner.  Emma steers him to the booth that Neal is sitting in, waiting for him. Ruby brings over a sundae with extra everything, which Henry sees as a bribe. So he pushes the obvious bribe aside. Neal tells Henry that he and Emma feel Storybrooke isn't the safest place for Henry right now, so they should go to New York. Regina can't cast the curse in New York because there's no magic there. Henry has a brainstorm that someone should find a way to get rid of magic in Storybrooke, this way Regina can't cast the curse- it would solve everything.  Neal feels the kid is right, "But until then, why don't you come with me."  Henry nods "yes."

While Emma is being served by Ruby, Greg asks Ruby pack his sandwich "to go," as he's decided to go on a hike. Dr. Whale said it would be good for him to get on his feet; plus he's kind of a nature photography nerd. Emma just thought he'd be back in Pennsylvania by now. Neal reveals "This town's starting to grow on me."

Emma walks back over to the booth to ask Neal how it went. Neal, proud of his work as a "day three dad" tells her the kid said "yes."   Emma sees the kid took his backpack with him to the bathroom and asks Neal "Did you really fall for that? He's your son." Neal thinks for a moment and decides "He's running."

Henry is seen running through the forest.

Regina magically lets herself into Mary Margaret's {# 3} apartment but is intervened by the guard dog Mr. Gold.

Regina talks to the mechanic about modifying Kurt car repair to ensure him a longer stay in Storybrooke. But Mr. Flynn already picked the car up- 10 minutes ago.

Regina hurries to her office to unlock a file cabinet and retrieve a small box containing a heart. {The heart glows and looks obviously plastic.} She literally relays detailed instructions into the heart to communicate with the Sheriff; using it like a one way walkie talkie or internal intercom.

Their visitors are driving out of Storybrooke, "Find them before they cross the town line, pull the car over and arrest the father for drunk driving... then bring the boy to me." But Kurt witnesses this and doesn't want any trouble; he just came by to thank her. Regina claims it's a misunderstanding.
"No. I understood," Kurt replies, "We're leaving."
"I'm not going to hurt him. Please don't leave," begs Regina. But Kurt is apprehended by the Sheriff and arrested for driving under the influence/drunk driving right there on Regina's desk! Which of course, Kurt hasn't been drinking nor driving. Kurt tries to get through to the Sheriff "She's controlling you. I don't know how- but she's got this glowing thing- it was shaped like a heart... Don't listen to her."  Kurt manages to toss the heart box onto the floor and this causes Graham chest pain; he lets Kurt escape.

Kurt runs to his car and he and Owen flee!

Running Henry runs right into hiking Greg! Henry claims his being out there all alone is because he's a Boy Scout trying to get a merit badge. Greg claims he's taking pictures of Maine's scenic beauty. Henry directs Greg in the direction of the actual hiking trail. Greg thanks him and covertly snaps a photo of the I.D. tag on Henry's backpack. He wishes Henry luck with his merit badge and walks away- Henry takes off running again.

Down in the mines Emma, David, Neal and Ruby are on the hunt for Henry. Ruby determines he was in there.
Neal asks "Why would an 11 year old kid run away to the mines?"
Emma- "Wouldn't be the first time."

David realizes Henry was there for dynamite. Neal reveals he knows it's to get rid of magic. He shares the conversation he and Henry had at the diner.

Greg calls Henry's mother, Regina, {sitting in her car} to inform her Henry was all by himself by the White Pine Trail. After identifying himself as the guy who crashed his car outside of town, he tells her the boy seemed a little upset and just thought that she would want to know.  Regina says "I'm on my way."
This blurs right into...
Regina and Graham are in hot pursuit in the Sheriff's car after Kurt and Owen. Regina seems to love the chase.
Just as Kurt thinks they lost them, Graham cuts them off at the Storybrooke town-line.
Kurt instructs Owen to run into the woods, get as far away as he can and call your Uncle. Owen doesn't want to leave without his father. Kurt sees the boy clutching the handmade loop key chain and tells Owen "There's a reason I gave you that... Because as long as you have it... I'll always be with you. You can do this. So do it! Run! Go! Go! Run!"  Owen gets out of the car, seeing the Sheriff arrest Kurt and runs toward the town line. Angry Kurt yells to Regina "You may have this whole town wrapped around your finger- but not my son! You can't force him to stay with you!" He yells for Owen not to stop "Run!" But Regina tries to win the boy over. "I just want you to stay with me. You said you liked it here. You wanna stay here, don't you?"
"Not like this," the upset boy replies. Regina apologizes. "I just wanted us to be happy." Regina lets the boy go.

Henry readies to light the fuse on his TNT when Regina approaches.{Note her hands are in the same position she just had them in with Owen.} Magically the TNT doesn't light.

Henry claims to be getting rid of magic because it's ruining everything, "And you can't stop me."
"All that's gonna do is get you killed," mother warns.  But Henry feels she's just saying that because she needs magic to cast that curse on him. Regina magically vanish the TNT in a puff of purple smoke. Approaching Henry, she tells him she can't lose him. "You mean too much to me."
Sincere Henry pleads, "Then don't cast the curse. Don't kill Mary Margaret." Regina feels "She has to pay."
"The curse, it won't make me love you for real- it'll be fake," Henry tells Regina. But Regina feels at least it will be something, and even though it may be hard for him to understand "We can be happy. We can have everything." Henry backs away, "Not like this."  Emma and the men arrive, "Get away from my son!"
"He's not yours, he's mine, and after I cast this you'll never see him again," Regina reacts to Emma's command. If Regina wants to kill Mary Margaret she'll have to go through them. So Regina readies a fireball in the palm of her hand causing David to draw his gun- Henry jumps in the middle of the two sides! He won't get out of the way until someone helps him destroy magic. Regina tells the boy there's no way to get rid of it "You just can't blow it up!"
"Magic isn't the problem, kid, it's her," Emma says holding her hand out to Henry.  The kid knows it's not just her "It's everyone! Look what magic did to Mary Margaret. (Turing to Regina) Look at what it did to you, it's ruining everything. It makes good people do terrible things."
"And bad people," Emma holding her hand out to him, but he turns to Regina and her flaming fireball and begs her please, "It's gonna destroy my family. Help me get rid of it."  Regina can't do that- but there is something she can do- she burns Cora's scroll curse in her palm filled with the fireball. Henry thanks her, takes Emma's hand and they hug tightly. The little family walks away from Regina.

 

Owen returns to the Storybrooke town line with two State Troopers (one white man and one black man).  "Here, this is the place they took my dad!"
"There's nothin' here, kid," one of the Troopers replies.
"No. This is where Storybrooke was, by this rock," Owen claims.  The Trooper informs the boy {calling him son} that there isn't a town called Storybrooke anywhere in Maine.  Owen is sad. "You don't believe me?"
The Trooper is compassionate to Owen's situation. "Look, now you've been through a lot," but Owen runs from him a little further toward the town-line.
"Son!" the Trooper calls out. Owen stops, holding tightly to the key chain yelling down the road that is devoid of a town called Storybrooke proclaiming "I'll find you dad. I promise, I'll never stop looking!"
And what we see is Regina standing on the other side of the town-line seeing Owen and reaching out to try and touch him. Storybrooke is there, yet visually hidden in another dimension from Owen's side- perhaps on the other side of the looking glass. The Troopers takes the little boy from that place and Regina cries.

While depressed Mary Margaret continues to sit in her and stare into space, Mr. Gold gives her the news that Henry convinced Regina to destroy the curse, and adds "Which means my services are no longer required."
Mary Margaret asks him how he lives with himself knowing all the bad things he's done. He replies,
"Well, ya tell yourself you did the right thing... and if you say it often enough... one day you might actually believe it."

Desperate Mary Margaret pays a visit to Regina and begs her to kill her. Watch this very  important and amazing scene through to the end.