The Return

"As children, we all live in a world of imagination, of fantasy, and for some of us that world of make-believe continues into adulthood.”  ― Jim Henson

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


This episode was very emotional and powerful.  Both Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold and Emma have a child they're trying to find.

Fear is a very powerful thing

Let's acknowledge two important things:
 
1.) To be clear- Rumpelstiltskin is a man; A human man.
2.) Upon gaining his "dark power", the newly appropriated "Dark One", Rumpelstiltskin, liberated all the children from the Ogre Wars and returned them to their families; and he created a truce.  Was that the actions of "darkness"?  Nope.  Rumpelstiltskin used his newly found "power" for a good and noble cause.  He should have been recognized as a hero.  His powers could have been seen as a blessing in disguise.  But sadly Rumpelstiltskin didn't change his or the towns perspective on how the "power" could be seen.  Living with the belief he/the power is "dark", people would now respect Rumpelstiltskin and no longer belittle him and call him weak.  His need for more power is fueled by him feeling it's the only way he can protect Bae.

And who's not to say that Mr. Gold's goal in Storybrooke isn't the same as the noble task of returning children home to their families and ending a war, as was done in Fairy Tale Land; but this time with a much brighter outcome- He reunites with Bae.

A leap of faith

At the otherworldly vortex, we see the literal and metaphoric struggle of Rumpelstiltskin clinging to the power of the dagger (his power and ego) and the pulling/losing of his son.  He had a tiny window to make a choice, to be free of the dark power and live a new life with Bae.  Bae was certain going through the whirling green light into another world was the answer to a better existence for him and his father.  Bae was fearless. But Rumpelstiltskin's fear, coupled with his attachment to his power, was so strong that he couldn't find the strength within himself to fight that and be with Bae. 

Rumpelstiltskin was so terrified of the unknown that he couldn't take a leap of faith with Bae, hence he lost him to the world without magic. This causes Rumpelstiltskin's great suffering. So, maybe Rumpelstiltskin made the spell for Regina- with a loophole- to bring him (and the rest of the characters) to the land where Bae should be.  When Rumpelstiltskin finally does find Bae in that world or any other world wouldn't that be pretty fuckin' magical?!  That in itself makes it magic.

Talking with Archie may be the very first time Mr. Gold has faced his pain.  Mr. Gold acquires some courage, faces and pours his heart out to August, (who is impersonating his son Bae).  It seems that Mr. Gold's words were from his pained heart.  He was moved to be reunited with "Bae" and truly wanted his son's forgiveness.  In Fairy Tale Land Bae wanted things to go back to the way they were... but it is my experience that things can never go back to the way they were. You can only hope to move forward from whatever place one is currently in and make things more positive. Embrace a new beginning.

August taking advantage of Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold puts him on the defensive.  I wonder if Bae is in Storybrooke and if so, is he hanging back, watching to see if he's welcomed, and if his father has changed and would all be forgiven?

Eye of the beholder

As you can see, the individual perception and definition of "magic" differs from person to person.  This is also true to some other issues we witness with these characters.  Perception becomes your reality.

In addition to the perception issue I noted in the beginning of this post, another example is when Morraine heard the other soldiers speak of "It", Reul Ghorm; an ancient being that rules the night- The original power- bigger than anything.  Yet we discover Reul Ghorm is a tiny blue fairy.  The notion and interpretation of "It" is formed individually by assumption via stories, rumor, guessing, experience, judgment and beliefs.
Also, Morraine doesn't think Rumpelstiltskin is "that bad."  She saw him walking onto the battlefield and stopped the fighting. She felt it was like a miracle.

And of course, the conversation between the Blue Fairy and Rumpelstiltskin literally addresses the perception topic.

Pay attention to what all of these people are saying to each other. There is much confusion and misunderstanding, assuming, and a dose of conning going on too.  Seeing and hearing what one wants to see and hear, or what one chooses to ignore, even when it's right in front of their eyes; there's even a case of mistaken identity.

* Mr. Gold is smart with semantics and his deal with Regina.  She assumes he's going to play things how she imaged they should go.  But he outsmarted her by doing just enough for her, but without killing anyone. These two have their own agenda for the deals they are making, but is one willing to kill?

* August mentions he thought "the entrance" was in Mr. Gold's office in his shop.

* Emma admits to being a blind sheriff.  She actually knows lying, yet loyal Sidney is on Regina's side, yet she still would rather have his help bringing Regina down. Why won't she see what's really going on?

"It was the donkey's fault"

Was it the donkey's fault?  Oh, August... who are you- with your crafty lies, conning, pretending, storytelling, writing, drawing, improvisation, theatrics and your fondness for donkeys and lumber yards. Why do you need magic to cure your sickness?  Are you writing your story or someone else's?  Did you incorporate some new text into the story or change or take any out?  Henry ripped out the last few pages of his book. What exactly did August do with the book we saw him with?  Something isn't right here. Is something missing?  Hmm... What a tangled web we weave.
I wonder why August was willing to kill Mr. Gold - is it for the power alone?

Here's a (list) of a few more tid-bits from the original story The Adventures of Pinocchio

• Field of Miracles
• Improvisation acting
• Catchfools
• Pinocchio and the Fairy decide to become brother and sister. 
• He buries his gold then runs off to wait the twenty minutes it will take for his gold to grow
• Red Crayfish Inn
• Blue Fairy- Fairy with Turquoise Hair.
• Blue-haired Fairy sends a falcon and a poodle
• Whale
• Donkey
• Snail
• Pinocchio meets a fox (who pretends to be lame) and a Cat (who pretends to be blind)
• Mangiafuoco- wealthy director of the Great Marionette Theatre
• Harlequin, Punch, and Signora Rosaura are puppets 

It would be awesome if we could journey fearlessly through time and space.  Are we witnessing experiences in worlds that can be accessed diagonally?  Do they all go by pseudonyms in this adventure? Is there a place you can go to cure what ails you? I think there is. It sounds like a good time to me- I'm in!

The Newspaper in Storybrooke

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

๑ World. Realm. (Maps and globes)
๑ Kansas leads Dorothy to Oz- the other side of the rainbow. Oz is another land experienced via the mind- altered state of consciousness.
๑ Is Bae the 7 year old boy who found the baby on the side of the road? If not, who is?
๑ Does Archie know something he's not sharing with Mr. Gold.
๑ Bae is a deal maker, just like dad.
๑ Little Henry gets used by August, not only in Operation Cobra, but also his con with Mr. Gold.
   And Emma is willing to use Henry to get back at Regina.
๑ Truce
๑ In "Snow Falls" Snow White uses her "Dangerous Fairy Dust" to turn the Trolls into bugs
๑ Words. Story. Book. Novel. Drawing.
๑ Set. Movie. Theatrics. Improvisation. Make-believe/pretending. Playing a role of someone else.
๑ Game. Board. Win. Cheat. Loophole.
๑ 23
๑ 42
๑ Where's Tinker Bell?  Hints to Belle
๑ Bell. Tone
๑ Musical instruments
๑ Perfume
๑ Map
๑ Speak. Don't speak. Mute.
๑ See. Blind
๑ Hear.
๑ Right. Right side. Correct.
๑ Chest. Heart.
๑ Time. Lost time
๑ DNA. Related
๑ Mental health. Crazy. Sociopath. 
๑ The word "well" is used a lot!
๑ Nuns. Advisor.
๑ Onora is a Latin girl's name meaning "honor"
๑ Even mutes can draw a picture.
๑ The paperweight is a donkey- Lamp-wick is from Pinocchio. All "boys" are turned into donkeys.

Vocabulary and Research...

๑ The Bell is a short story by Hans Christian Anderson
๑ The color Green (in literature) may represent inexperience, hope, new life, immaturity. 
๑ Snail- coiled shell mollusk.
   - The phrase- at a snail's pace or very slow speed.
   - Snail Maze: a 1986 Sega video game
   - A spiral-shaped cam, used in striking clocks and other mechanisms
   - The Snail (L'escargot) is a collage by - Henri Matisse. The work was created at the Hotel Regina in Cimiez, Nice
๑ Bae, often spelled Pae or Pai, is a unique Korean family name.
     - Internet slang for baby
๑ Pseudonyms:
    - C. Collodi is the pseudonym of Carlo Lorenzini, author of The Adventures of Pinocchio
    - The Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson wrote Alice's Adventures in Wonderland under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll
๑ A pseudonym is a name a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from his or her original or real name and are often used to hide an individual's real identity:  This includes: stage names for actors and musicians, noms de plume/writers pen names, aliases, gamer identifications, anagrams, Graecisms, Latinisations, mystifications, nicknames, assumed names, graffiti artists' tags, resistance fighters' or terrorists' noms de guerre, and computer hackers' handles, (and orders) of popes and monarchs 
๑ Reul Ghorm literally translated in Gaelic-Irish is (ghorm) blue (reul) sixpence- Rumpelstiltskin translates it as The Blue Star- which that literal translation would possibly be- an réalta gorm.
๑ Mage: Someone who performs feats of magic.
   - are part of world of Dungeons & Dragons and the World of Warcraft.
   - Mage: The Ascension is a role-playing game based in the World of Darkness.
   - Mage: The Awakening is a role-playing game- characters in this game are able to bend or break the commonly-accepted rules of reality to perform subtle or outlandish acts of magic. These characters are broadly referred to as "mages". Mages "awaken" to the ways of magic.
๑ The Wheel of Time- is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. The first volume, The Eye of the World, was written in 1984. The stories major elements relate to mythology and the cyclical nature of time found in Buddhism and such.

✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈  Arnold Böcklin: was a symbolist Swiss painter, 1827 – 1901. His works include The Isle of the Dead and The Return
✈  World. Realm.  Planes. (Maps and globes)
✈  Bae's glass magic bean is in the shape of a kidney: Locke's dad stole his kidney
✈  Game. Board. Win. Cheat. Loophole.
✈  Lab 
✈  Wake up. Awake.
✈  Sleep.
✈  Mental health. Crazy.
✈  Truce with the Others
✈  Dead. Not dead. Gone.
✈  Map
✈  Drugged
✈  Bugged
✈  Monitor
✈  Time and Space
✈  Advisor. Guides.
✈  Son- Sun
✈  Coward:  Desmond, Charlie, the boar that attacked Sawyer's stuff, and Keamy refers to Richard as one.
✈  Dr. Bae delivers "Ji Yeon"
✈  "Deus Ex Machina" John Locke doesn't want the "Island" to "take it back"; as the "Island" has magically healed his legs.
✈ "Raised by Another" during Hurley's census, Locke tells Hurley "I was looking for something."  Hurley asked "Looking.... uh huh. Did you find it?"   Locke replies- "No. It found me."
✈  "...supposed to die" is a phrase we mostly hear from and about Charlie Pace.
✈  "Orientation"  Locke asks Jack if he's upset "because he (Desmond) recognized you."

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

We get a view of a left foot in a black sock belonging to August whom is laying in his bed.  His leg starts to rumble, causing him great distress.  He tumbles out of his bed.  He hobbles his way over the desk with the old fashioned writers tools (typewriter and donkey paperweight) and calls someone from the old fashioned three-tone (copper - gold/emerald green) colored rotary phone. A bit out of breath he dials three digits and speaks to an unidentified person.
"Hey, you there? Good. This is taking too long, we need to accelerate the plan."

August and Henry discuss the plan in the rainy lumber yard. August informs Henry "It's almost 9:00. You all set? You know what to do?"  Henry says Operation Cobra is always ready. He just doesn't understand what this has to do with getting Emma to believe.
August tells him that "Sometimes other priorities assert themselves. Can you handle a little improvisation?"
Henry- "Yeah. Can you?" {Of course he can!}
August is pleased. "We're a go." He sends Henry on his mission to Mr. Gold's shop while he heads in the shop's back door.

Henry tells Mr. Gold he wants to buy a gift for Miss Blanchard; since she didn't kill that woman.  He looks at bells. You hear their muffled bell conversation (and ringing bells, as Henry must be trying them out) in the shop, while August snoops around the back office.
A bit of their muffled conversation:
Henry asks Mr. Gold "Are these bells?" and that he's looking for something special, to which Mr. Gold's reply is "You're asking a lot from a bell."
Henry- "This one's good. How much?"
Mr. Gold- "The price on the back."

As August snoops around Mr. Gold's back office, Mr. Gold appears behind him and asks "May I help you?"   August says he's looking for some maps; he's a bit of a collector.
Mr. Gold is suspicious of him. "Well, there's maps through in the shops. This is my office."   August thought it was the entrance.  Annoyed Mr. Gold tells him "Well, it's not. The shop's through there." August goes through the curtain doorway.

Storybrooke General Hospital.  {Note the school bus and that Nurse's dress in traditional uniforms}

Emma heads in to see Kathryn.

Dr. Whale tells Emma to come in. "Look who's awake."    Emma doesn't want to take up a lot of Kathryn's time, but asks if Kathryn remembers what happened.  Kathryn doesn't know much, but recalls being in a car accident and the airbag going off. The next thing she knew she was in the dark- in some basement.  She didn't see anyone, but there was food and water.  {She looks at Dr. Whale} "And then I guess I was drugged?"   Dr. Whale says "Yeah. And we're trying to flush that out of your system."
Kathryn- "And then I woke up in a field at the edge of town and I started walking. That was it."
Emma- "You saw no one? {She just fuckin' said she didn't!} You didn't hear a voice? Smell perfume? Cologne? Anything?"
Kathryn says no and that she's sorry. "I wish I could help. Especially since... while I was gone... you thought I was dead?"  Emma shares that her DNA matched the heart they found.  Dr. Whale shares that they're grilling everybody down at the hospital lab to see who doctored the DNA results.  Emma tells Kathryn she thinks someone tried to frame Mary Margaret.  Kathryn seems upset about this and wonders who would do something like that.

Regina confronts Mr. Gold in her shop.  "You broke our deal."
Mr. Gold- "I broke one deal in my life, Dear. And it certainly wasn't this one."
Regina is pissed. "Kathryn was supposed to die and Mary Margaret was to get the blame!"
Mr. Gold- "Yeah, murder seems so much worse here, though, doesn't it? You can't just turn someone into a snail and then step on them, can ya? You didn't say "kill her". We agreed that something "tragic" should happen to her. Now abduction is "tragic".
Regina raises her voice- "The intent was perfectly clear!"
Mr. Gold- "Oh, let's not talk about intent- intent is meaningless."
Regina- "Intent is everything!"
Mr. Gold- "Please!"  {he takes his ball and places it near the musical instruments on display}
Regina is concerned because this is going to raise all kinds of questions about where Kathryn was and how the test results were faked."
Mr. Gold sarcastically agrees. "Oh yes. And who put the key in her cell?"   Regina seems troubled that it's all going to lead to her.  "You bastard! This doesn't make any sense. You and I- we've been in this- together- from the start."
Mr. Gold scoffs- "Oh have we?"
Regina- "You created the curse for me. The curse that brought us here and built all this."
Mr. Gold- "Yes. It's time you said thank you."
Regina asks "Why did you do it?"
Mr. Gold- Well, you're a smart woman, Your Majesty. Figure it out."

Many children are playing together.  Bae is playing kick ball with his friends, when the ball gets away and rolls in front of the donkey cart.  Bae hurts his leg.  The donkey driver yells at him "What are you doing in the middle of the road, boy?!"   Bea apologizes.  The donkey driver instantly changes his tone when he realizes "Hey, I know you. It's fine. It's fine. It was the donkey's fault. You want a chicken or some eggs?"   When Rumpelstiltskin comes over to see what's going on, Bae tells him it's alright,.  Everyone gets nervous at Rumpelstiltskin's presence.  The donkey cart driver tells him it's nothing "It was my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going. He's fine!"   Bae tells father he is fine.  Rumpelstiltskin asks Bae if he's sure and supposes this won't happen again.  Rumpelstiltskin looks down to see Bae's left leg is bleeding a bit and this panics the boy and the donkey cart driver.  Again, both insist "It's nothing."   Rumpelstiltskin tells the man not to bother; and magically turns him into a snail.  Although Bea begs him not to, Rumpelstiltskin purposely steps on the snail.  Of course this act of power makes the town's people turn away from him.

David pays a visit to sleeping Kathryn in the hospital.  {She shares a room with an older male patient; whom is on the other side of the curtain.}  Kathryn is attached to chest/heart monitors.  She bolts awake, a bit panicked as David nears down to kiss her on her forehead.  He meant for it to be sweet.  Kathryn smiles "Well, thank you. It's good to see you."   Sincere David apologizes to her; for lying and cheating on her.  "I'm just so sorry for all of this."   Kathryn tells him it's okay. "You know, what we had... it wasn't it for you. Maybe for both of us.  I can't blame you for just being the first one to see it."   David feels she's kind of amazing.  Kathryn agrees, and sends him on his way so she can get some rest.  David gives her fair warning as he's going to give her that kiss on her forehead now.
Kathryn smiles "Knock yourself out."

Granny let's herself in Mary Margaret's and Emma's apartment.  "Hi!" she says when entering with a covered plate of food.  Everyone is gathered there to WELCOME HOME MARY MARGARET!
Emma is ladling punch into cups.  Mary Margaret seems a bit curious that all of those people are there to welcome her home.  Emma tells her she's got a lot of friends, but Mary Margaret didn't feel like she had a lot of friends yesterday.

Henry watches Mr. Gold as he walks around the apartment alone.  He asks August, sitting next to him, "How bad was it?"
Confident August- "Getting caught in his office?  Not bad. I played it off."   Henry asks what he was looking for. "Did you find it?"
August- "Nope. But I have a feeling it's gonna find me."  He suggests Henry give Mary Margaret her present.   Henry hands her the extra large handmade card from the whole class; and then a gray/silver box wrapping with a white bow. "And I got you a bell."

Mary Margaret thanks Henry and wants him to tell everyone she'll be back soon.   Emma hurries Henry off, as they should get him home before his mom finds out. "That won't be pretty."   As Henry is leaving to head home and do homework, David is there to see Mary Margaret.  At Mary Margaret's urging, Emma cuts David off, letting him know "She's kinda tired. I think if you just give it some time.  Hey, Henry. Why don't you head home with David."

Once Henry has gone, Mr. Gold remarks to Emma, "Hard to let him go, isn't it? Your son."  Emma agrees it's pretty much the hardest thing.  Emma shifts gears to talk about the reappearance of Kathryn. "Was it you?"   Mr. Gold asks "Was what me?"
Emma- "Did you make Kathryn suddenly materialize- 'Cause it sure played that way to me.  Is that the magic you were going to work?  Because  if you kidnapped that poor innocent woman just to let her go..."
Mr. Gold wonders if Emma's proposing he's working with Regina or against her.  Emma's doesn't know, "Maybe diagonally."  He tells her to keep working on that one. "My question's about something else. What do you know about him?"
Emma- "Goes by 'August'. He's a writer. Typewriter wrapped in an enigma wrapped in stubble. Why?"  {So, he's like a "package"?}
Mr. Gold shares that he was poking around my shop today. "August Wayne Booth. Clearly a false name. There's one thing I know about- it's names."
Emma- "Writer's go by pseudonyms, what does it matter?"
Mr. Gold- "You trust him?"
Emma- "Yeah. A lot more than I trust you."   She walks away.
{Mr. Gold gives a very interesting quiet reaction to her comment. I took it as if Gold was internalizing "Poor Emma. You don't know what you're doing. And, maybe you should trust me."}

A blond maid is making the bed. She turns in response to Bae and Rumpelstiltskin entering the house. Courteous Rumpelstiltskin thanks Onora "You can fetch our supper now, Dearie."
Bae looks at his hurt knee "You killed that man."
Rumpelstiltskin- "Well, you were hurt. Speaking of which..."  He begins to use his healing magic on Bae's injury, but the boy stops him.  He doesn't want magic.  He'd rather use a good old fashioned remedy.  Rumpelstiltskin does as the boy wishes.  He takes the medicine out of a small box to care for his son.
Bae- "You're different now.  You see it, don't you?  You hurt people all the time."
Rumpelstiltskin- "I created a truce in the Ogre's War, Bae.  I walked into the field of battle and I made it stop. I led the children home. Surely a man who's saved a thousand lives..."
Bae- "Is done. A man who saved a thousand lives could be done with it. You can stop doing things!" 
Rumpelstiltskin pours the medicine on Bae causing him to wince.  Rumpelstiltskin tells his son that he can't stop and needs more power.  It's his only way to protect Bae.  Bae feels he wouldn't need protecting if his father didn't have power.  Rumpelstiltskin says he can't get rid of it.
Bae- "Have you tried?"

Rumpelstiltskin- "Tried. If someone kills me- with this. Then they gain the power. Now you know that, Bae. Is that what you want?"
It's not what the boy wants. He wonders if Papa looked for other ways to get rid of the power.  Onora enters the house and Rumpelstiltskin stops talking.  He tells Bae to look for other ways, but not to get his hopes up.  Onora puts the pot on the table but doesn't serve them dinner; she leaves the room.   Bae asks if he finds a way to get rid of the power- a way that doesn't kill his father or hurt himself, would Papa do it. Rumpelstiltskin feels it's not possible.
Bae- "Don't you miss how it was?"
Rumpelstiltskin seems a bit irritated by the continuing conversation and asks the boy "Are you really that unhappy, Bae?  I can conjure anything you desire. Name it. What do you want?"
Bae- "I want my father."
Rumpelstiltskin whispers sincerely to him "All I want is your happiness, Bae. If you find a way... I'll do it."  This makes Bae happy. So he holds out his hand to shake his father's hand. "The deal is struck."  Rumpelstiltskin seems to note his son's making their loving arrangement "a deal."

Mr. Gold picks the lock and lets himself into August's room.  He looks at the page in the typewriter and then picks up the donkey paperweight.  And then he takes the top page of text off of a pile of pages and sees a drawing of a dagger with the name Rumpelstiltskin on it. {There is another page of text underneath the drawing.}

At Granny's Diner, Emma sits down in a booth across from Sidney. He seems quiet, lonely and a bit nervous.  He sees that things certainly did work out for her friend, Mary Margaret.   Emma confronts him with the bug, that Sidney makes like he doesn't know about it.  Emma wanted to believe that Sidney could help her with Mary Margaret. But eventually there are things even a blind sheriff  can't ignore.  She puts the broken bug on the table  Sidney asks "Is that a bug?"

Emma tells him to "drop it!"  She knows she's been fooled and that he spied on her; reporting it all back to that sick crazy woman. Emma can't imagine what Regina has over Sidney, but it must be something huge.   Sidney feels Regina's a good Mayor.  Emma argues Regina tried to get Mary Margaret convicted of a murder that didn't even happen. Emma informs Sidney he's in a lot of trouble. There's a DNA trail in the basement of some house out there, and I'm gonna find it. "She's gonna go away."
Sidney- "Maybe. But I wouldn't bet against her. She's an amazing woman."
Emma figures Sidney is in love with Regina; to which he doesn't really give an actual answer to Emma, only body language.
Emma tells him, before he knows it she will have that evidence and he needs to think long and hard. "You can either help me and help yourself or you're gonna go down with her too."  She walks away from troubled Sidney.

Parked near Storybrooke Hardware and Paint, from his parked car Mr. Gold spies on August as he rides off on his motorcycle.  Mr. Gold follows him. {Note August's motorcycle plate at the top of this post}

Rumpelstiltskin and Bae come upon a four boys playing with their wood swords and large sticks, in a make-believe battle near a small stream.  Rumpelstiltskin suggests to his son to stay and join in, as he has some business nearby to attend that would bore Bae.   Rumpelstiltskin makes his way to s structure nearby.
The four boys see Bae nearing and run away in fear of him.   Morraine sits next to sad Baelfire.  He warns her to be careful not to be seen with him, as he is dangerous.  Morraine says they're just scared of Bae's Papa, "But I'm not. You won't let him hurt me.  I don't think he's so bad anyway. I saw him on the battlefield when he stopped the fighting- it was like a miracle."
Bae- "Now he's getting worse every day. But he said he'll change back if I find a way. I just don't know where to look."
Morraine- "Reul Ghorm"
Bae- "What?'
Morraine- "I heard about it when I was in the trenches. The other soldiers talked about it. Reul Ghorm is an ancient being that rules the night- The original power."
Bae- "Bigger than Papa or worse than Papa?
Morraine- "Bigger than anything."   They hear a twig snap.  Morraine says "He's coming back. Good luck to you."   This unafraid girl sure leaves in a hurry as not to be seen by Rumpelstiltskin.  But he saw her. "Your friend didn't want to say hello?" he asks Bae.    Bae says he frightens them. Rumpelstiltskin asks what is there to be frightened of.  "They'll get over that in time."

Bae- "You have stains on your boots."
Rumpelstiltskin - "Oh, yes, that. Uh... we need a new maid."
Bae- "Gods no!"
Rumpelstiltskin- "She heard us talking about the knife."
Bae- "She was mute! She couldn't tell anyone."
Rumpelstiltskin- "Even mutes can draw a picture."

Mr. Gold spies on August having an intense conversation with Mother Superior outside of the SISTERS of something... building.
Here's bits of their conversation that I could make out. I don't know how much I heard that is correct, but here's the idea:
August- "I understand..."
Mother Superior- "Listen. Don't do anything rash.  ... what you're doing before you (think of) doing it  and things will work out."
August- "Thank you."  He leaves.

Mr. Gold walks over to Mother Superior on the veranda. She assumes he's there about the rent; that they paid in full. {We can hear a motorcycle ride off}
Mr. Gold isn't there about the rent, so she bids him a good day.   Mr. Golds asks about "the man who just left here. Who did he say he was? What did he want?"   Mother Superior doesn't have to tell him that and Mr. Gold doesn't have to not double her rent.
Mother Superior- "Advice.. and  council.  He came to town looking for his father after a long separation and he recently found him.
Mr. Gold- "Ah. And, ah, a happy reunion has already taken place?" 
Mother Superior- "No. He hasn't spoken to him yet."
Mr. Gold- "Why not?"
Mother Superior- "Hm. It was a difficult parting. There are many issues to be resolved between them."
Mr. Gold- "I see."  {We can see he's deep in thought.}

Led by the light of his lantern, Bae steps gingerly on the ground near a small stream. {It looks like where he sat with Morraine} He sits and speaks the name "Ruel Ghorm.  Are you there? If you can help me, please make yourself known to me."  He closes his eyes {keeping them closed} and a blue light appears from behind the tree.  It's the Blue Fairy.

He opens his eyes and is startled yet asks "Can you help me?"  The Blue Fairy says she can help.  Bea asks how he can trust her.
The Blue Fairy explains "Because there is good magic and dark magic, and I'm on the right side."
Bae- "You're a fairy."
The Blue Fairy give a little giggle but then seems  troubled- "Hm. Oh...You're not untouched by magic  are you, child? There's something dark in your life."
Bae- "My father. He is the Dark One"
The Blue Fairy- "Oh. I can't make him the man he was before.  But I can send him someplace where he won't be able to use his powers."
Bae- "Not a jail. I wanna be with him. Like it used to be."
The Blue Fairy- "Not a jail, young one. Just a place without magic."
Bae- "But magic is everywhere."
The Blue Fairy- "In this world, yes. You see, what ails your father is specific to our realm. His powers do not belong here. You must go where you can escape this wretched curse."
Bae- "Go? We have to leave?"
The Blue Fairy- "Yes. It is the only way.  Can you do it? Can you leave everything here behind for the unknown?
Bae- "If it means I get my father back- then yes."
The Blue Fairy- "You're a very good son, Baelfire. You are the part of him that keeps him human. That little light inside of him that still glows... it's his love for you.  Hold out your hand."

She tosses him one (glass kidney shaped) magic bean. "The very last one that is known to our kind.  The others got away from us. Just use it wisely and follow it wherever it leads you. It will save you both."  The Blue Fairy disappears and Bae runs off with the magic bean.

David waited for Mary Margaret to appear on the street.  When she finally does she ignores him. David will leave if she wants, but he thinks they just need to talk.
Mary Margaret keeps on walking to her car but tells him "So, talk."
David- "I need to apologize."
Mary Margaret- "Yes. You do. Keep going."
David- "I didn't believe you. I didn't stand with you."
Upset Mary Margaret shares with him "I will never forget that moment- the moment the world sort of blows you backwards and the one person you thought would always be there to catch you- he isn't there."
David tries to explain "Look at what was going on. It was your jewelry box , your fingerprints, knife in your apartment!"
Mary Margaret- "It was a setup!"
David- "And a really good one! I'm human. I fell for it. I'm sorry. But we have to move forward."
Mary Margaret- "But we can't. It's like something in this world doesn't want us together."
David scoffs- "Like what? Dark forces?"
Mary Margaret- "Maybe. I don't know, but it's like something just keeps pouring poison between us. And what I don't want is to have all of those good memories... replaced by moments like that, when I looked at you and I saw that you didn't believe me. "
David knows that and he's so sorry; and Mary Margaret knows that. 
David- "But I love you."
Mary Margaret tears up and tells him "And that... is what makes it all so sad." David is crying too.

Rumpelstiltskin is working on his wheel when Bae enters to share his news.  Rumpelstiltskin seems unmotivated by the boys discovery.  Bae tells his father he found a way for things to be like they were and he wants him to go with him.  "I can make things right. Have you heard of the Reul Ghorm?"
Rumpelstiltskin perks up a bit- "Blue Star. The Blue Fairy?  Oh, son, please tell me you didn't.  Fairy magic doesn't mix well with what I am."
Bae- "But you promised! She can help us. To take us to a place without magic."
Rumpelstiltskin feels a place without magic- he'd be powerless and weak.  But Bae feels this would make him like everyone else. "It wouldn't matter. We'd be happy."
Rumpelstiltskin- "We could be happy here."
Bae- "Father. Please. You're getting worse. And you promised. This can work. It can. You made a deal with me. Are you backing out?"
Rumpelstiltskin isn't backing out.

Mr. Golds knocks twice on Archie Hoppers office door and then has seconds thoughts about it.  As he turns to leave Archie opens the door and asks if Mr. Gold is here for the rent.  Mr. Gold wonders why everyone always asks that. {That was fuckin' great! Good job writers!}  Archie replies "Well, because you... Never mind."  Archie asks him if he'd like to talk.  Obviously lost Mr. Gold doesn't know.  Archie tells him if there's something he'd like to get off his chest, please come in.

Stunned Archie states- "A son! Wow, I didn't know you had a son. How, how old is he?"  Mr. Gold suggests they start with something easier.
Archie- "Okay. What do you mean to say that you may have found him?"

Mr. Gold- "Let's just say there's someone acting the way I would expect them to act."
Archie- "So you, so, you recognize him?"
Mr. Gold- "Maybe. Or perhaps I'm just seeing what I wanna see. I don't know."
Archie- "Okay, well, wouldn't he recognize you?
Mr. Gold- "There was conflict. I'm not sure he's ready for a teared soaked reunion."
Archie- "So, he sought you out and he's hanging back? Maybe he's watching to see if he's welcome. Looking for a sign that all is- forgiven"
Mr. Gold corrects Archie. "He's not the one who needs to be...  I think he might still be very angry.
Archie- "Anger between a parent and a child is the most natural thing in the world."
Mr Gold- "I think he might be here to try and kill me."
Archie seems stunned. "Uh, right. That's, that's not..."
You can see that Mr. Gold is sad and disappointed. "I let him go. I've spent my entire life since trying to fix it and now he's finally here... and I just don't know what to do."
Archie looks deeply touched by something. "Be honest. Just tell him what you told me, and ask him for forgiveness and when your face to face you'll know what to do."
Mr. Gold- "Honesty's never been the best color on me."
Archie feels there's no other way.

August is hanging around a log cabin. {It is night time}  Mr. Gold shows up and claims "I know who you are... And I know what you're looking for."
August- "Well, then. I guess all the lying can stop... Papa."

Nervous Rumpelstiltskin is being led by inspired Bae.  He asks Bae "Where are we going, boy? What kind of world is this we're going to?  What kind of world is without magic?"
Bae shows him the glass kidney shaped magic bean and tosses it onto the ground and says "A better one."  The ground starts to shake and a whirling bright green vortex opens up in the ground.  Rumpelstiltskin begins to panic as he is overwhelmed with fear. "My gods boy! It's like a tornado!"
Bae yells "We have to go through! It's the only way!"  But frightened Rumpelstiltskin doesn't think he can. "No! No! No! No! It's a trick! It'll tear us apart!"

Bae- "No it's not! I promise! Papa!"
Rumpelstiltskin pulls on the boy, preventing him from going through the vortex in the ground.  He then plunges his dagger into the ground, using it as an anchor to secure him so that he can hold onto Bae.
Bae continues to plead "We have to go through! What are you doing?! Papa! It won't stay open long! Let's go!"   But terrified Rumpelstiltskin can't do it.
Bae- "Papa please! It's the only way we can be together! Papa- Please! You coward! You promised! Don't break our deal!"
Rumpelstiltskin repeated over and over "I can't!" and he has to break their deal.  The two lose grip and Bae travels down into the bright vortex alone.  The opening closes immediately upon swallowing Bae.  Rumpelstiltskin is left alone, gripping onto his dagger.  He frantically calls out for Bae and tries desperately to dig into the hole to get to his son. "...I'm sorry, Bae! I want to come with you! I want to come with you, Bae!  I wanna come with you! Bae! Bae! Bae!"

"You were right, Bae. You were always right. I was a coward and I never should have let you go. I know it's little consolation but,  I just want you to know that ever since you left... ever since you crossed the barriers of time and space, in every waking moment- I've been looking for you.  And now that I've finally found you... I know I can't make up for the past, for the lost time.  All I can do is to ask you to do what you've always done.  And that's to be the bigger man.  Forgive me. I'm so sorry son. I'm so sorry Bae. " sincere Mr. Gold tells August.  {Watch August the whole time}  August and Mr. Gold hug and Mr. Gold cries.  "Oh. Oh, my boy. My beautiful boy! Can you truly, truly forgive me?"
August, still hugging him replies "I forgive you, Papa."
Mr. Gold- "You were looking for the knife."
August- "I thought that if you still had it ... it would mean that you hadn't changed."
Mr. Gold- "Well, let's go find it and see."


August digs near the flowing stream.  Mr. Gold tells him he buried it shortly after Emma came to town. Things were changing. I didn't want to take the chance of Regina finding it."
August- "Of course."
Mr. Gold- "It should be right about here, son."  He unwraps it.

Mr. Gold wants August to take it and destroy it "The way I always know you always wanted to. I found you... and I don't need it anymore. I chose it once, now I choose you."     August takes the knife and looks at in awe, and claims it to be remarkable.   He takes his stance and addresses Mr. Gold.  "By the power of the darkness... I command thee- Dark One!"
Mr. Gold- "You're trying to control me?"
August- "I command thee- Dark one!"
 Mr. Gold- "You're not my son!  You're not Baelfire."
August seems offended.. "Papa, why would you say that? I'm just trying to use your power to help us."
Mr. Gold- "Enough! It's over, Booth! Or whoever you are.  My son would never try to use me.  And he would know that this knife cannot harness any magic in this world- because there is no magic in this world! That's why he chose this place. He didn't want me dabbling."  He takes the dagger from August's hands.
August wonders "So why bury a useless knife?"
Gold- "Oh, I wouldn't say it was useless. It can still cuts through flesh rather nicely.  It's about time you answered some questions, Sunshine. Why the theatrics? Why didn't you just come to me?"
August- "I needed you to work for it. Needed you to want it so bad you would ignore what your eyes were seeing. Do I even look like him at all?"
Gold- "How do you know about this knife?"
August- "I hear things."
Gold- "No one even knows about this knife."
August- "No one here remembers."
Gold- "Yet you do. You're from there, aren't ya? From my world."
August- "The fact that you're asking the question means you know the answer."
Gold- "Well, now that that's settled {He forces August against the tree by dagger point} How 'bout my other question... Who told you about me and the knife?"
August- "A little fairy."
Gold- "Why did you want it? If you know who I am- then you know who I am.  The chances of you surviving this little encounter... are pretty slim. So why take the risk?"
August- "Because I'll die anyway."
Mr. Gold looks surprised. "What?
August- "I'm sick. I'm sick and I need magic. I was gonna get the savior to believe. But that woman... (hahaha) I don't think I'm gonna make it long enough to see that happen."
Mr. Gold holds the dagger to his neck again and says "She trusts you, it might be enough. {Gold backs off} Try again."  
August is a bit baffled- "You're gonna let me live?"
Mr. Gold- "You're gonna die either way... this way... at least I might get something out of it."
Mr. Gold walks away, and August, relieved, slinks down the trunk of the tree.

"Reul Ghorm! Show yourself!" pleads Rumpelstiltskin.  The Blue Fairy flies in behind him.
Rumpelstiltskin asks her "How do I follow him?"  Seeming a bit annoyed with him, the Blue Fairy says he had the way but he didn't take it "And there are no more magic beans."  Rumpelstiltskin claims "that's a lie."
The Blue Fairy tells him not to do that, and he "will never make it to that world."
Rumpelstiltskin will find another way.  He feels there's must be other paths "A realm jumper. A time-turner. A Mage. A curse." 
The Blue Fairy seems frustrated with him. She tells him there's no other way- except when he mentions "A curse."
Rumpelstiltskin is excited! "Ah! So it is a curse."
The perturbed Blue Fairy - Of course you would think of a curse instead of a blessing. Your magic is limited by its own rotten core, Rumpelstiltskin. Anyway, it can't be done- not without a great price."
Rumpelstiltskin "I've already paid a great price."
The Blue Fairy- "So, you'd be willing to sacrifice this world for the next, because that's how great the price is."  {Come on! That was the plan when you gave Bae the magic bean- to leave this world and go somewhere else!}
Rumpelstiltskin- "Well, what do you think?"
The Blue Fairy- "Well, then I'll comfort myself knowing that such a curse is beyond your abilities."
Rumpelstiltskin- "Oh, for now! But I've got all the time in the world. I will do nothing else. I will love nothing else. I will find a way. You took my son- but I will get him back."
The Blue Fairy- "I didn't take your son."
Rumpelstiltskin yells- "You took my son, but I will get him back!"
The Blue Fairy- "You drove him away."
Enraged Rumpelstiltskin swats at the hovering Blue Fairy.  She flies away while Rumpelstiltskin yells "I will find him! I will find him! I will find him."

Emma walks into her sheriff's office to find relaxed Regina already there waiting for her. Regina congratulates the sheriff. "There's about to be a big break in your case. You just got yourself a confession. But I want you to listen to the whole explanation so you understand why this happened.
Emma will hang on every word she says.  Regina summons in Sidney. "Tell her what you told me."
Somber Sidney proclaims "It was me. I confess. I abducted Kathryn. I held her in the basement of an abandoned summer home by the lake.  I bribed a lab-tech to get me the heart from the hospital. I used that same person to doctor the lab results."
Regina- "And the other thing."
Sidney- "I borrowed some skeleton keys from Regina... and planted the knife in your apartment."
Regina- "My keys. I can't help but feel personally violated by that part."
Emma asks Sidney "And I am supposed to believe you did this for why now?" {Frustrated, she tosses her jacket and keys onto the desk}
Sidney- "I was gonna find her after the conviction- be  a hero. Then get the inside track on the biggest story to every hit this town.  I'd get my job back. Plus a novel and a movie, and I don't know, it sounds crazy... "
Emma- "I don't know about crazy. But false, yes, false as hell."
Sidney- "I have maps to where the house is.  You'll find chains in the basement. Lots of fingerprints, I'm sure- hers and mine.  But I didn't hurt her."
Regina- "The man has obviously suffered some kind of mental break.  He clearly hasn't been himself for a while."
Emma, figuring what's really going on here, replies "Yeah, it's like his words aren't his at all."
Regina- "Wow. You are so sold on your rush to judgment that you can't even see the truth anymore."
Emma- "A word in the hallway, please!"

Emma- Well, that's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard.
Regina- "I'm pretty sure that's not true."
Emma- "That poor man. I know you are behind all this.  I understand that you own the game and that you've set the boards so no one else could win.   But I am about to start playing an entirely different game. I don't care about what happens to you. I don't care about what happens to me.  All I care about is what happens to my kid!  And you are going to leave him alone."
Regina- "Am I?"
Emma- "Unh-Unh. I'm talking. You're a sociopath, lady. You tried to take away someone that I love. And now... I'm gonna take away someone you love. I am taking back my son."

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.