The Stable Boy

"Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." - Yoda


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


Say it again- Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Perception is everything. That statement is true and I couldn't agree more. Perception is not just about what you see.  It's also about what you hear and what you feel. Your perception is interpreted based in your own personal experiences, beliefs and what you believe to be the truth.

This is also true as to how someone perceives "magic"; whether it's in a positive or negative light. Some people behold "magic" as a beautiful and powerful thing; true love is pure magic. Others feel "magic" is associated with something wished for; such as wishing for dreams and desires to come true. And then there are other people who observe "magic" as a powerful antagonistic force; using it to control, manipulate, curse and abuse.

Regina's pain goes beyond little Snow White's inadvertent betrayal. Mommy dearest, Cora, is at the core of it. Is Regina confusing "magic" and (child) abuse?  Is Cora walking a line between tough love and abuse?  Is motivated mother really just "helping" and guiding Regina for a purpose; like trying to turn soft metal into steel?  Cora uses her manipulating and magical controlling tactics as a means to help her daughter and others.  On the surface it may seem she is driven by the desire to have her daughter attain the brass ring (so to speak) so Regina doesn't have to suffer a life of poverty. But looking a little deeper, it could be taken that Cora's motives are simply seeded in her own hurt heart, and that she may be a bit crazy and crossing a line into child abuse.  Whether that's the case or not, the bottom line is Regina fears Cora.

Cora is imprisoning Regina with her control based from her own fears. She saddles her daughter with expectations of a life she herself desired. But that life does not include true love; as it is obvious mother has a hatred for love due to a deep hurt from it. This experience has twisted her perception. This actually makes Cora emotionally imprisoned as well. Cora's actions of ripping Daniel's heart out may be to spare her daughter of the heartbreak she fears this man and their love will bring. But it is that twisted act of protection that causes her daughter's extreme heartbreak.

Although we see a moment when young Regina can reprimand the stable boy in front of her mother  (this pleases Cora) she does know what love is, the difference between good and bad, helping and being compassionate to others. She even selflessly doesn't hesitate to save little Snow on her runaway horse.
"The only way to overcome fear is to face it."  Regina gave this wonderful nurturing advice to fallen Snow White. She also tried to face her fear of Cora in the stable- but Cora was stronger... much stronger.

Cora's concerns for her daughter's happiness may seem genuine to outsiders and especially to good hearted young Snow White, a loving motherless child; whom she also manipulates.  But the thing I wonder about is father Henry.  He doesn't really do much to protect Regina from Cora's damaging parenting. Henry may be Regina's constant, the source of her grounding- her stability.  The stable boy would have been a stable relationship for Regina. But alas, it wasn't to be. Who knows, maybe there's a chance for them in the future.

All little Snow wanted for Regina was for her to be happy with her true love.  Regina being with her true love was more important to Snow White than Regina being her stepmother.  Snow was so compassionate to Regina and Cora's relationship that she wanted to help save it.  She didn't want Regina to lose her mother, like Snow lost hers.  But the now poisoned Regina couldn't let go of the "treason" of the little girl, as opposed to having understanding that it was an innocent yet unfortunate mistake.  She saw Snow's "helping" as a correlation to her mother's idea of the word "helping."  Regina's perception about love and family becomes distorted.  Poor little Snow White was used.  She is innocent and also was the victim of manipulative Cora.  Thus becomes the vengeance that fuels Regina wrath. Make no mistake about it, Cora and Regina made choices on who they were to become. Ultimately the rotten apple didn't fall far from the rotten tree.

Sometimes it's hard to see what's right in front of us

Even when we're looking for proof and it's staring us in the face, we still may not see it.  While others may see proof but still chose not to believe it. People in Storybrooke are walking around confused and not understanding things, and at times try to attach meaning to nonsense and madness. Some are blindly following in the hopes that someone will lead them to whatever it is they're looking for or where ever they need to go.  Emma is one of these people.  There's a need for some guidance.  What truths will be uncovered when they finally have clarity?

On a funny side note, to me Emma is kind of like the Daniel Faraday of Storybrooke. Daniel Faraday is a physicist and visitor to the LOST "Island."  He was smart but confused and in need of the "Island's" help to get well.  In my opinion he wasn't a very good physicist and was wrong about certain "Island" happenings a couple of times. Emma is not a very good detective and doesn't have good instincts or superpowers.  She often needs to be nudged in a direction of investigation and she couldn't even decipher Henry's simple code of "The eagle is in the nest and the package is secure."

Emma and Jack Shephard of LOST share a few similar traits.  Both are stubborn and doubters; both need evidence of things.  They are not believers of faith, magic or destiny. Something has to happen for them to open their eyes and truly see and believe.

"If you drink much from a bottle marked 'poison' it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later."

I'm not a writer, but just like August, I'm also partial to finding my answers in a literary form- and I'm a sucker for stories being told via metaphor.

In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, chapter 12 is titled Alice's Evidence.  In short- There is a lot going on in the court.  Alice is on trial for the issue of the tarts.  We learn about Rule 42 and how there's making up of one's own rules.  Everyone in the courtroom is confused due to misunderstanding of words and things being backwards.  The Queen even demands the sentence be read before the verdict!

But in the end Alice sees that Wonderland isn't real- it was all a dream.  Alice's evidence is that she woke up, shattering her illusion.


The Marionette Theater

There's a part of this current fairy tale that I've recalled upon a lot over the past few days.  In the episode "That Still Small Voice", Jiminy Cricket's parents turn a nice little boy's parents into marionettes/dolls, leaving the boy an orphan. And then the Blue Fairy tells Jiminy Cricket that he needs to find the boy and help him. That boy's name is Geppetto.  If the orphan boy is Geppetto, he's younger than Jiminy is in Fairy Tale Land, but he's older than Jiminy/Archie in Storybrooke.

Who is August?  I don't fuckin' know.  But I just can't seem to let go of trying to find out!  The clues point toward a link to Pinocchio.  In this episode alone August talks of writers block and uses the word "block" a few times, he complained of shin splints and he obviously uses a homophone three times in one sentence; indicating the word "wood".  And I can't ignore his reaction to the implication of him possibly being a liar.  Do we have a bit of liar paradox there?

But are we being misled by the writers and Augusts' reveal will be a shocking twist like he's someone like... Walt Disney?  Bwahaha!  If he is mischievous Pinocchio, could he have been in the tree wardrobe with the infant when a spell was cast?  We have the newspaper clues mentioning that a 7 year old boy found a baby on the side of the road.  Is this boy a traveling companion with the infant or was this really a different boy and an innocent side of the road discovery?

Okay, here are a few more literary facts about the boy made from a block of pinewood from The Adventures of Pinocchio-
Mister Antonio/Master Cherry, known for his bright shiny red nose, found a block of pinewood which he plans to carve into a leg for his table.  When he begins, however, the log shouts out, "Don't strike me too hard!"  Gepetto drops by looking for a piece of wood to build a marionette; seeing a perfect opportunity, Antonio gives the block to Gepetto.


Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K

Wait, what? Okay, I'll be the first to admit it... I'm confused about Regina and her wanting to send Mary Margaret out of Storybrooke for good.  I thought she wanted her trapped in Storybrooke.  Maybe Regina wants her out because the truth is creeping in on her and this is a move she needs to make for her own protection.  Maybe it's possible that we're not witnessing the curse strictly cast by Regina's spell alone.

Things to Note...Questions to Ask...
๑  Here's a thought- Is there any way little Snow's runaway horse incident was staged only by Cora, or by any chance was the King in on it with her? I'm just asking.
๑  Regina is a bad-ass equestrian
๑  Henry has a lot of clocks in his room
๑  To me, there seemed to be a lot of green eyes in this episode. 
๑  Does the Storybrooke TOLL BRIDGE actually take tolls?
๑  Mental and emotional health
๑  King George- Spencer
๑  Learning
๑  Horse. Deer
๑  Honor
๑  Hope and Faith
๑  Right. Wrong
๑  Key
๑  Balance: Bicycle. the number 2
๑  Flowers: Orchid. Tulips
๑  Granny really wants people to know she's OPEN.  She has a lot of signs!
๑  Visitors
๑  Win
๑  Games: Stratego. Risk. Scrabble
๑  Bug
๑  Graham's jacket still hangs in the sheriff's office
๑  Firefly Hill in "Dreamy"
๑  Homophone: Would- Wood.
๑  Cora- core

Vocabulary and Research... 
๑  Cora- The  name Cora means maiden.
    - In classical mythology: name of Persephone, the goddess of the underworld who lives there in winter, before her return in spring causes the cycle of life to continue.
๑  Mr. Gold uses the word "prototype" when describing Mary Margaret.  I don't know, I would have used the word "profile." 
   - A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.
    - The word prototype derives from the Greek (prototypon), "primitive form", neutral of (prototypos), "original, primitive", from (protos), "first" and  (typos), "impression".
   - Prototype is an open world action video game
๑ The Package is a song off the album "Thirteenth Step" by the band A Perfect Circle.  There's also a track titled A Stranger
๑  Bow:
   - Bows are performed both in Shinto and Buddhist settings.  Namaste is derived from Sanskrit and means "bow to you" translated as "I bow to you"
   - Korean Zen Buddhism has a daily ritual in which practitioners do 1,080 full prostration bows, usually spread throughout the day.  More casual practitioners and laypeople typically do 108 bows once a day instead.
  - Bowing is an important part of the Japanese tea ceremony.
  - is a nautical term that refers to the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat, the point that is most forward when the vessel is underway.
๑ Tea contains L-theanine, and its consumption is strongly associated with a calm; but heightens alertness and focused, relatively productive (alpha wave dominant), mental state in humans.  This mental state is also common to meditative practice.
   - Tea, a slang term for marijuana
๑  Skeleton Key- used in reference to a key (or similar object) capable of opening any lock regardless of make or type. aka a passingkey is either a key that has been altered in such a way as to bypass the wards placed inside a warded lock or an American term for a lever or "bit" type key. The term derives from the fact that the key has been reduced to its essential parts.

- A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake (1944) by mythologist Joseph Campbell and Henry Morton Robinson; which provides an in-depth analysis of Finnegan's Wake by James Joyce. That James Joyce's book is considered to be "the greatest book that nobody's ever read"

 -  Skeleton Key is the Third book in the Alex Rider series (adventurous spy novels about a teenage boy) written by British author Anthony Horowitz. They are children's books.
 - Skeleton Key: A Dictionary for Deadheads, by David Shenk and Steve Silberman. For fans of the Grateful Dead.

 - Skeleton Key is a rock band based in New York City.
๑  Horseback riding tid-bits- Show jumping comprises a timed event judged on the ability of the horse and rider to jump over a series of obstacles, in a given order and with the fewest refusals or knockdowns of portions of the obstacles.
   - The idea that riding a horse astride could injure a woman's sex organs is an old wives tale.
๑  Saddle stitch, a form of book binding
๑  Old Maid- a child's card game- The game spawns an element of bluffing, commonly used in poker.
๑  Hearts is an "evasion-type" trick-taking playing card game.

In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, chapter 12 is titled Alice's Evidence:
I'm noting this passage- "Off with her head!' the Queen shouted at the top of her voice.  Nobody moved. 'Who cares for you?' said Alice, (she had grown to her full size by this time.) 'You're nothing but a pack of cards!'

What do we make of this page from the fairy tale book? I apologize that it's not a clear picture.

Flowers are prominent in this episode, especially tulips and orchids; two flowers that are part of the LOST story.  This is the Orchid on the "Island"-

✔  Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale
✈  108
✈  23
✈  Honor
✈  Expose:  Cobra, Nikki, Paulo, crime scene, trajectory, Medusa spider, script, orphans, diamonds, walkie, Mr. LaShade is the Cobra, Hurley feels that Desmond (flashes) superpowers are lame.  Things don't stay buried for long.  We also discover Ben is behind certain things; he finds out what the Castaways are emotionally invested in and he exploits it.  And, the perception by a few Castaways' as to what they each heard when Nikki says "paralyzed."
✈  We learn more about John Locke's "mother issues" in "Across the Sea".  His mother had mental/emotional issues.
✈  Locked up in a cage: Kate, Sawyer, Karl, Jack jail and glass cell, the bears and birds.
✈  Incarcerated: Hurley in Santa Rosa and jail.  Kate and Sawyer.
✈  Dead.  Deceased.  Late.  Gone.  Not dead
✈  Charles Widmore's son is Daniel Faraday-Widmore and daughter is Penny Milton.  Also he was financing the medical care of Theresa Spencer.  Abigail Spencer appears in Jughead
   -    HM Melbourne Assessment Prison is an Australian remand and reception prison located on Spencer  Street, Melbourne Victoria. The prison is also known by its knick name "The Map."
✈  Desmond is referred to as "the package" in The Package.  He's been returned to the "Island" by Charles Widmore
✈  Tulips
✈  Bug
✈  Tea
✈  Sun's mother chats with her about getting old and not being married
✈  Sundown
✈  Again I'll note that in "This Place is Death", Charlotte tells Locke "You can find the Orchid at the well".   The Orchid hides the frozen wheel behind the Dharma Station Gizmo that is used for experiments.

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

Regina holds a gold twisted band and is obviously deep in thought with a longing memory.
"Remembrance of things past" asks Mr. Gold. {Regina's back is to him, yet he knows what she was doing.}  He shows up in her office in need of a favor.
We then get notice of-

ONE WEEK AGO

Mr. Gold- "Well, as you know there are battery charges against me- pending.  I really don't relish the thought spending any more time locked up in a cage.  Now, someone with your influence can make the D.A. suddenly realize what a flimsy case they have.  Isn't that right, Your Majesty." {He takes one red apple from the white bowl of apples}  In return he offers her help with her Mary Margaret problem.  He's noticed that no matter how hard Regina tries to stop them, she and her charming friend keep finding ways to be together.  He suggests, "If you want to inflict pain... then you must inflict pain. If something tragic were to happen to David's wife and if Mary Margaret should take the blame... {Regina interjects- "She'd be ruined." } and you'd have your victory- at last."
Regina thinks a trial could be very messy; but he didn't say anything about a trial.  Mr. Gold feels once Miss Blanchard is incarcerated Regina could plant one of her lovely skeleton keys in her cell, and when she tries to leave Storybrooke  "Well, we all know what happens to people who attempt to leave town..."
Regina asks him for one good reason why she should trust him.
Mr. Gold- "Because I always honor my agreements. Do we have a deal?" {He tosses her the red apple}


Young Regina is being cheered on by her father, Henry, as she rides on horseback jumping over a series of obstacles.  He finds her riding beautiful, while stern mother scoffs, hardly finding her riding beautiful. "You ride like a man. A lady should be graceful. You should use a saddle."   She also feels Regina is getting a little old to be having fun. "Who's going to marry you when you behave like a commoner?"  Father asks "Honey, please leave her alone."  But Mother tells him to "Stop coddling her! She's becoming an old maid. All the other girls her age are married. (humph) I had such high hopes.
The stable boy standing by holding a saddle asks "Milady- perhaps this saddle..."
Regina cuts him off stating she's done riding for the day.  She also reprimands the young man "And don't ever interrupt me and my mother again."  Mother is pleased by Regina's handling of the young man. The stable boy walks away with her horse, looking back at her- dejected.   Regina {Holding the reigns} ask mother "Why do you always have to criticize me?"
Mother- "I'm not criticizing you dear. I'm helping you."   Frustrated Regina walks away.  Angry mother uses magic to stop her daughter. "Don't you walk away from me!"   This traps Regina in a purple field of magic; lifting Regina high up off the ground.

Regina doesn't like it when mother uses magic.
Cora- "(humph) And I don't like insolence. I'll stop using magic when you start being an obedient daughter."
Regina-"Uh, Why can't I just be myself?"
Cora- "Oh, because you can be so much more... if you just let me help you."
Regina- "I don't care about status. I just wanna be... "  Cora raises Regina higher and magically wraps two belts around her; constraining her further.
Father, who stands by letting this abuse happen finally speaks. "Cora, please."
Now Regina is frightened and begs mother "Please. I'll be good."  Cora is pleased. "Excellent. That's all I wanted to hear."  Regina runs away from her to the stables.

Regina apologizes to Daniel for snapping at him.  Daniel feels it's alright; she'll just have to find some way to make it up to him.  They kiss!

TODAY

David (carrying a black umbrella) runs into (in a hurry and doesn't have time) Emma {Putting her hair into a ponytail} outside of Granny's.  David asks her how Mary Margaret's doing.  He realized Mary Margaret misunderstood him; that she thinks he thinks she's guilty, but he wants her to know he doesn't think she's guilty.  David feels it's this situation; it's been confusing and horrible for everyone. "Emma, I don't think she's guilty.  I need her to know that. Can I see her?"   Emma shares that Mary Margaret doesn't want to visitors.  David realizes she may not want to see him.  Emma knows David's heart is in the right place "But the last thing she needs is words of encouragement from you."  {WTF?! Of course she would like that that!}  David asks "What does she need?"
Emma- "A miracle."   Emma gets in her bug and drives off.

Mary Margaret is sleeping on her cot in her jail cell; she bolts awake to see Regina sitting there quietly waiting for her to wake up.
Regina- "They say only the guilty sleep in prison."  She tells Mary Margaret that Emma hasn't arrived yet. Regina stopped by to offer Mary Margareta chance to spare herself and the town the messiness of a trial. "The chance to confess."
Mary Margaret insists she didn't kill Kathryn and doesn't understand why no one will believe her.
Regina rehashes that the murder weapon was found in Mary Margaret's apartment and her fingerprint was on the box containing Kathryn's heart. "Shall I go on. Why not, for once, make it easier on everyone? Because confession or not... you're leaving Storybrooke"
Mary Margaret- "And you like that. Why? Why do you take such pleasure in this? What did I ever do to you to make you hate me so much?"
As Regina takes a breath, to seemingly answer her, the scene switches to Regina horseback riding (with a saddle) in Fairy Tale Land.
Regina meets up with Daniel by a pine tree and they kiss.  Daniel suggests a ride up to Firefly Hill "Make it by sundown, have a picnic."   Regina can't. "I have to be back in an hour.  A Lady never misses her tea time."   David is frustrated that they have to steal kisses between lunch and tea. "When are you gonna tell your parents about us?"
Regina- "It's not my parents.  It's her."
Daniel- "I don't understand.  So I work in the stables.  She started out as the daughter of a miller. Wouldn't she of all people understand?"
Regina- "She does. But she thinks one's trajectory needs to keep moving up and..."
Daniel- "And I'm down." 
Regina- "She believes that, Daniel. I know better."
Daniel wants Regina to tell her. "She'll get over it.  But Regina won't because she fears her magic.
Daniel- "Who cares about magic?  True love is the most powerful magic of all. It can overcome anything."  Just then a frantic little girls calls out for someone to please help her.
Regina- "Shhh. Someone's here."  They see the frightened little girl on a runaway horse that won't slow down.  Regina doesn't hesitate one second and jumps on her horse and takes off after the runaway horse.
Regina saves the little girl; pulling her off the speeding horse. "It's okay, Dear. You're safe."
The little girl with flowers in her hair realizes this woman saved her life.  She's alright, but she'll never ride again.  Nurturing Regina tells her "Nonsense.  The only way to overcome fear is to face it. To get back on that horse as soon as possible."  The little girl thanks her savior, Regina. This little girl is Snow White.

Mary Margaret sits in her cell while Emma and Mr. Gold chat about the D.A. wanting a pretrial interview with the prosecution.  She wants him to explain why this is a good idea.  Emma feels Mary Margaret is done answering questions.  And asks why are they kissing up to the D.A.; they should be going after Regina for setting up Mary Margaret.   Mr. Gold asks "And what proof do we have of that, sheriff?  Just because you found the Mayor's skeleton key in the cell doesn't mean that she put it there."  He believes their best chance of winning this is case is to employ their most valuable asset.  Mary Margaret asks "What's that?"
Mr. Gold- "Well, that's you, dear. A sweet, kind, elementary schoolteacher, doesn't exactly fit the prototype of a killer, now, does it?"
Emma wonders "That's how you're gonna get her acquitted? By using her personality?"
Mr. Gold- "Perception is everything, Miss Swan, not just in the courtroom- but in life. As such as you could imagine how the jury would perceive Miss Blanchard if she agreed to cooperate with the District Attorney, these things engender trust, showing the jury that she's at least trying.  Sidney walks in with a vase of tulips to brighten the place up.  Emma hurries into her office to talk with him.

Emma quietly asks Sidney "What did you find?"   He didn't find anything; he tried, he really did.  Sidney says he looked into her phone records "I talked to the people at the TOLL BRIDGE. But look, what can I say, Regina knows how to cover up her tracks."   Emma asks if he found anything connecting her to the murder weapon. But as far as Sidney can tell "She never bought or owned a hunting knife."  He tells her not to worry, as he will keep digging and won't stop until he finds something.

After conferring with Mr. Gold, Mary Margaret informs Emma she's agreed to talk to the D.A. feeling Mr. Gold is right; she knows she has nothing to hide, but no one else does. "I need to let people see me for who I am."
A voice from behind them says "Excellent decision, Miss Blanchard.  My name is Spencer. I'm the District Attorney. Shall we begin?"   Of course, Regina is right there with him.

The D.A. begins the questioning that progressively gets very intense, while Emma and focused Regina watch through a Looking Glass- a 2 way mirror.
The D.A.- "After she learned about your affair, Mrs. Nolan, the deceased, came to your school to confront you.  Is that correct?"
Compassionate and sincere Mary Margaret replies, "She was hurt. She felt betrayed."
The D.A. - "She struck you- in the face, was it?"
Mary Margaret- "Yes, but..."
D.A.- "That must have made you angry."
Mr Gold tells Mary Margaret she doesn't have to answer that.
Mary Margaret- "No, it's okay. I was not angry. I was sorry for all the pain I had caused her.
D.A.- (Smirky breath) "Miss Blanchard, this is  not a courtroom.  I'm not here to judge you. You can be honest with me."
Mr. Gold is concerned- "Should we end this?"
Mary Margaret- "I am being honest."
The D.A. - "The wife of the man you loved humiliated you in a public forum. Surely you must have felt some anger towards Kathryn."
Mary Margaret- "Yes, I was angry..."
D.A.- "And did you ever think about acting upon that anger?"
Mary Margaret (getting a bit worked up)- "Of course not."
The D.A.- "I have a hard time believing that."
Mary Margaret- "Wh- Why?"
The D.A.- "Because you wanted Kathryn Nolan gone."
Upset Mary Margaret- "I never said that. I..."
Mr. Gold- "All right. My client is answering no more questions for the day."
The D.A.- "Your client agreed to this interview because she claims she had nothing to hide."
Mary Margaret- "I don't have anything to hide!"
The D.A.- "Then what is your answer? You wanted Kathryn gone, didn't you?"
Mary Margaret- "NO!"
The D.A.- "Even after she tried to keep you and David apart? After she slapped you in public. After she made you a pariah in your own town?"  {He shows her the photo of the vehicle with the word TRAMP}
Completely intimidated Mary Margaret answers out of her frustration. "Yes, of course I wanted her gone! She was the only thing keeping us apart- so yeah, I wanted her gone! Is that what you want to hear?"
The D.A. and Regina are very pleased, while Mary Margaret and Mr. Gold realize she shouldn't have answered that way.
We see Regina's very pleased reflection in the 2 way mirror- that leads us right into...

Regina is primping herself in the mirror.  Displeased mother sees Regina "No. This won't do." and magically transforms Regina's look into a beautiful gown.  Cora excitedly tells her "We have a guest. And he'll be here any moment."  Regina says she can't, as she has a riding lesson with David to get to.  Conveniently mother canceled it. "Now smile. We don't want to disappoint him."  Happy Cora tells her the King is coming because Regina finally did something right. "That little girl you saved- is the King's daughter.

The King enters with three Knights and Regina's father Henry.  He seems a bit mesmerized. "Is that her?"
Henry introduces them. "Yes. Regina, honey. This is Snow White's father."   The two women bow to the King.  But the King interrupts their bow.  "No. It is I who should bow to you. You saved my daughter's life.  There is no way to repay that debt.  It is an honor to meet you."   He bows before her and Regina just stands there, a bit stunned.
Cora- "Regina, dear. The King is honored to meet you- say something."
Regina snaps out of it. "Oh. The honor is mine."   The King tells Regina "You're quite lucky to have a mother who looks out for you.  My dear Snow has many things, but a mother is not one of them. (He looks directly at Cora) We lost her years ago."   Regina is so sorry.  The King shares that since then he has scoured the land looking for a wife.  He's yet to find a woman with an interest in his daughter- until now.  He kneels down, presents her with a ring and asks "Will you marry me, Regina?"  Henry shakes his head 'no', while Cora answers for surprised Regina. "Yes. Yes."

Frantic Regina hurries to see Daniel in the stables throws her arms around him and says "Marry me."  He wonders if she's told her mother about them.  Frightened and crying Regina says 'no'.  She can never tell her, she'd never understand.  She shares the news of what happened with the King and suggests the only way out of this is to run.  "For us to leave this place, for us to be married, for us to never come back."
Daniel tries to make her understand what that would mean. "Life with a stable boy is a far cry from a life as a Queen."  To Regina life as Queen means nothing. "Daniel, all I care about is you."   Daniel will do this properly.  He takes a gold twisted band from a saddle and puts the ring on her ring-less finger and says "Here."  Regina is happy and they kiss to seal the deal.  A thud is heard!  It is shocked Snow, standing at the doorway.

Regina asks "Snow. Dear. What are you doing?"   Teary eyed Snow dropped her little saddle. "You said to get back on the horse and... What are you doing with him?"   Regina can explain, but the disappointed little girl runs off.  This panics Regina and she runs off after her into the cold night.

Little Snow falls and Regina catches up to her.  Little crying Snow claims she's not okay and asks Regina why she was kissing that man in the stables. "You're to marry my father, you're to be my mother."  Regina is very tender and caring to little Snow; being understanding to Snow's disappointment.  She explains Snow's father, King Leopold is a kind and fair man, but she doesn't love him.  Snow doesn't understand "Why not?"
Regina tells her love doesn't work that way. Love... True love... is magic. And not just any magic, but the most powerful magic of all. It creates happiness."
Snow- "And that man in the stables... you love him."
Regina replies "With all m heart."   Understanding and respecting Regina's love for that man, Snow tells her "Then you must marry him. I will go tell father right away."  But fearful Regina stops her.  Snow feels her father will understand.  Regina says her mother won't; she'll stand in the way.  Snow understands that's why Regina is running.  Regina feels that's the only way their love can survive. "Snow. Do you know what a secret is? If you really truly want to help me (excited Snow does) then what you saw, what I told you... you must keep it a secret. Can you do that?"
Snow- "I think so."
Regina- "I need you to be certain. You can never speak of this.  And above all you mustn't tell my mother. Will you do that for me?"
Snow- "Yes. (whispers) I promise."  They hug.

Emma sits at the dock looking through the fairy tale book. It is wet and gloomy outside.  August meets up with her, asking what she's doing.  Emma is grasping at straws.  August hands her the newspaper and wonders "Still trying to find a way to prove your friend's been framed?"  Emma feels "Every time I go down a path I think leads somewhere it leads to a dead end.   I used to think I had these great... instincts, superpower, ah, I don't know." {Yeah, Emma, you don't!}   To August it sounds like Emma's got a case of writers block. "Only without the whole writing part."  He goes on to tell her "You know when I get struck by a block I usually reread what I've done rather than plow ahead blindly. Sometimes I find maybe a little nugget of inspiration left behind."
Emma- "You mean start over?"
August- "I mean, when I start writing, I usually have one idea, and then in the middle I may get another idea, and things are different."
Emma- "So your perspective changes."
August- "Exactly. When you started this investigation what was it about?"
Emma- "A missing person."
August- "Then it became a murder and then a cover up. If you knew that then,  maybe you would have  approached things differently."
Newly inspired Emma gets to leave.  August asks "Where are you going?"  Emma is going back to the scene of the crime. August offers to drive because she hasn't slept in days and, if they're honest, he seems proud that it was his idea.  Emma leaves the paper behind.

August drives them on his motorcycle (Plate 23). The cross over the TrOLL BRIDGE.

As they make their way down the little embankment to the shore where Ruby found the box with the heart in it, August winces out complaining he gets shin splints.  Emma asks what's wrong and offers to take a look at it but he'd rather just walk it off.   Emma looks around the scene.  August says he's sorry to her, as it this must be hard on her. Emma thinks that's an understatement.
August- "I don't know you that well. But it seems to me that aside from Henry, Mary Margaret the closest thing to family you got. It's okay to admit it."
Emma doesn't acknowledge his comment, she only has him take a look at a piece of evidence she's found in the damp sand.  He takes it and asks what it is.  Emma replies "It's a shard- from a shovel. Must've broken off when it hit a rock. If we can find he shovel that it broke off of we can prove that Mary Margaret didn't bury the heart. We can prove that she's innocent."  August, knowing exactly where Emma is going with her clue connection, knows that Emma is thinking she knows exactly whose shovel she thinks it is.

Regina peeks in on sleeping Henry. {Note items on bookshelves, back of door, walls, et.} But Henry was make-believe sleeping, and as soon as Regina closes the door Henry grabs his walki from under his pillow and listens to be sure Regina is taking a shower.  He radios Emma; speaking code. "The eagle is in the nest and the package is secure."
Emma left the code book at home so Henry translates his simple code phrase for the simple sheriff. "She's getting into the shower and the keys are under the mat."
So Emma finds the key and opens the door.  She whispers warning August not to touch a thing. To which he shows her he's already wearing gloves.
They dynamic duo head into the garage-like storage room and they look around in the dark with only their flashlights to light the way.  We see a shovel leaning against the wall and door jam, while the duo looks around.  Emma spots another shovel with a missing piece.  She puts the found piece of shovel onto the broken spot and it fits. Emma is excited. "We got her."    August seems happy for her.

Little Snow White is admiring the beautiful and delicate orchids.  She reaches to touch one and is interrupted by Cora, who sweetly warns Sweetheart to be careful. "Flowers are a delicate thing.  Be gentle. You want it grow and not pluck it before its time."   Snow says "Sorry."  

Cora gives a light chuckle and tells her it's alright. "You needn't fear me. I'm only trying to help. Perhaps you can be the flower girl at the wedding.  I can already see how close you and Regina have become.  She's going to make a fine mother for you."
Snow- "She is kind to me."
Cora- "Indeed. I warms my heart how you two share everything... already. Perhaps you can share something with me.  {seeming genuine} Why has she pulled away from me?"
Snow asks what she means. Cora tells her a mother knows her daughter "Regina's pulled away. I love my daughter so much, but she's not letting me help her and I, I know she's unhappy. Has she said something? I'd do anything to make her happy."
Snow believes her. "You'd do anything?"
Cora- "Of course, dear. You know talked to the King about your mother.  He told me how much she loved you. Losing her must have been... so hard.  {Snow says "It was."} Hearing him I realized he might as well been talking about me and Regina. I don't want us to lose each other.  Hopefully I can show her how I feel- that no matter what all I want is her happiness."

Caring about Regina's happiness as well, Snow tells Cora not to make her marry her father.
Cora- "I'm sorry."
Honest Snow gets emotional telling Cora, "She doesn't love my father. She loves someone else. She made me promise not to tell. But she'll lose you. She can't lose her mother. No one should. "
Cora strokes Snow's hair, "Oh, sweet Snow. It's alright. She won't lose me. You can tell me. You must tell me."

Emma shows up at Regina's asking her to unlock the garage for her; she has a search warrant that says Regina has to.  Regina asks "On what grounds?"  Emma presents the evidence she found near where the heart was buried; figured whoever buried it may have left something behind. "Then I got an anonymous call from someone who said they saw you digging near the Toll Bridge the day the heart way found."

Regina prods "An anonymous call?"
Emma- "Yeah, well, I can't control the fact they didn't leave a name. I suppose they didn't want to risk pissing you off.
Regina- "Hmm"
Emma tells her to do or she'll find a way to do it herself.

Regina and Emma enter the garage where Emma discovers an intact shovel in place of the one with the missing piece. She accuses Regina of knowing she was coming and asks why she's doing this to Mary Margaret whom is a good person who doesn't deserve this.  Regina feels Miss Blanchard is a liar and a murderer. No matter what accusations Emma throws her way- that won't change. "She's going to pay for what she's done. That woman has destroyed the last life she is ever going to destroy."

Frantic Emma bangs (5x) on door #2.  This is August's room. Emma wants to know how he could do this and how could he do this to her, to Mary Margaret    August tells her "Whoa.  Slow down. Do what?"
Emma informs him the shovel was gone when she got there; Regina knew she was coming for it.  August seems stunned thinking he told Regina.  As he's the only other person who knew about it.
August- "I would hope that you would have enough faith to know that I would never betray you." {Wood}
Emma- "Why should I? How do I know you're not lying about this, about everything?"
This strikes a chord with him, and stone-faced he replies "I'm not a liar."
Emma feels that's exactly what a liar would say.


Arrogant Regina enters the Sheriff's office to find Mary Margaret crying in her cell.   Regina, taunting Mary Margaret, wanted to see her while she could. That means, simply, that the trial starts tomorrow and it won't be a long one.  "And you'll be sent out of Storybrooke for good and I will never have to see you again. (Ahh) I want to enjoy this while I can."   Teary eyed Mary Margaret asks "Enjoy what?"
Regina- "Justice."
Mary Margaret- "Justice? Watching an innocent suffer?"
Regina continues to provoke Mary Margaret from the other side of the cell bars. "You've always seen yourself that way, haven't you? Innocent." 
Mary Margaret is very upset and sobbing "I am innocent. I don't know what this is about. I don't know what I ever did to you but whatever it was, Regina... I am sorry. I truly am."
Gloating Regina relishes seeing the prisoner so desperate. "Apology not accepted."
Devastated Mary Margaret begs for Regina to stop, feeling she doesn't deserve this. "I did not kill Kathryn!"
Audacious Regina strokes Mary Margaret's cheek through the bar "Oh, I know."  This revelation stops Mary Margaret's crying.  Regina grabs Mary Margaret face and tells her "But you do deserve this."  She just walks out.


Regina has packed a bag and runs to the stable to meet up with Daniel.  They're excited.  Daniel asks "Are you ready?"   {It is a cold night.}
Regina- "Let's go."  They are met by pissed off Cora just outside the stable. "You could have at least left a note."  Magically, she flings them back into the stable; where she also magically appears inside the doors. The doors magically close and lock behind her. Regina tries to speak to her mother, but mother says "Don't. You sneak out of my house in the dead of night and think I won't notice. How dare you?"
Daniel helps Regina to her feet while Regina tells her mother "You're impossible to talk to. Stop with the magic and listen to me... I want to be with Daniel."
Cora- "Oh you don't know what you want. But I do. I didn't make the sacrifices I did in life I did to get you to the cusp of greatness so that you can end up the wife of a stable boy."
Regina- "It's my life!"
Cora laughs. "You foolish girl. It's mine. After what I had to do- the deals I had to make to get us out of poverty, to get us this life, and you just want to toss it away."
Daniel encourages Regina to stay strong.
Regina- "Your magic can't keep us apart. I love him."
Daniel- "And I  her."
Cora "And I love her too."
Regina- "If you loved me you wouldn't try to keep us apart."
Cora- "And if you loved me you wouldn't try to run away."
Regina tries to stand her ground- "I'm sorry, but this is my happiness. We're going."
Cora raises her left magical hand to stop them. "No... you're not."
Regina- "So, what's your plan? You're going to keep us forever? Because that's what you'll have to do."
Cora quiets for a moment looking at the couple and then asks Regina "So, this is... your decision? This will make you happy?"
Regina- "It already has."
Cora quietly says "Then who am I to stop you?"  Grateful Regina hugs her mother and thanks her.  Cora walks over to speak to Daniel; he is welcoming and she seems sincere. Cora tells him if you want to have a life together, a family... "then there's one important lesson I can impart on you. It's what it means to be a parent. You always have to do what's best for your children."
Daniel- "Thank you. I understand. Because that's what you're doing now."
Cora- "Yes, it is."  She plunges her hand into his chest and rips out his red glowing heart; crushing it until it turns to ash or dirt or whatever.

Regina is devastated. "Mother! Why have you done this?!"
Cora- "Because this is your happy ending. Oh, you have to trust me, Regina. I know best. Love is weakness, Regina. It feels real now, at the start it always does. But it's an illusion- it fades. And then you're left with nothing... but power... true power endures.  And then you don't have to rely on anyone to get what you want. I've saved you, my love."
Regina- "You've ruined everything. I loved him. I loved him!"
Cora yells "Enough! I've endured this long enough. Now clean yourself up. Wipe away your tears. Because now you're going to be Queen."

Regina readies for her wedding.  Happy little Snow walks in and sees Regina in her wedding gown. {Note Snow wears the color gray} Snow White feels Regina is most certainly the fairest of them all.  Numb Regina is disconnected from the little girl but thanks her all the same.  Snow hopes for her own wedding day she will be as beautiful.  Regina's sure she will be. Snow knows Regina and Daniel will be so happy together.
Regina- "What?!"
Snow- "Well, I just knew your mother would let you marry him. Once she knew how happy he'd make you. Once she knew how much you love him. You have such a wonderful mother. She would do anything for your happiness."
Regina asks Snow "Did you... tell her.... about me and Daniel?"
Snow- "Yes."
Regina is getting worked up. "But I told you very specifically not to."  Snow realizes her telling may have been a mistake and starts to tear up.  "I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to lose your mother- like I've lost mine."  Regina is visibly distressed.  Snow asks "Are you mad?"
Regina snaps out of whatever "state" she was in and turns to the girl kindly telling her "No. I'm not mad at all. You were just trying to help me. {Snow nods 'yes'} However, I'm not marrying Daniel. This dress is for your father."  This confuses Snow, as she thought Regina was in love.
Regina- "So did I.  But I was wrong. Daniel has run away. What I had with Daniel wasn't real. It was an infatuation. You see that's the thing about love. It can come in the most unexpected places.  Your father and I have something even more special. Because it's not just about the two of us- it's about all of us.
We're going to be a family. ... That's right. I'm going to be your stepmother and I couldn't be happier."
Snow is happy and the girls hug.  They are interrupted by Cora, telling Snow she has to go to her room and help with the packing. "Your father wants you ready for the journey  and we're heading for your castle first thing in the morning."
Snow feels they're (mother and daughter) are going to love it there. Cora knows they will.  Snow leaves the women.
Cora tells her daughter "Well played, my dear. You're learning."
Regina- "I should change. I wouldn't want to ruin the dress before my big day."
Cora- "I am so proud of you."
Regina seems to have a revelation and asks Cora "You knew the King was traveling through our land, didn't you?  That steed with Snow on it didn't go wild on its own, did it?"
Cora- "I have no idea what you're saying."
Regina has obviously changed. "I should've let her die on that horse."

In Storybrooke
Standing at the window Regina holds the twisted ring tightly and whispers "We got her, Daniel. We got her."

Mary Margaret is cuffed and is being escorted by two court officers.  Emma confronts Mr. Gold. "You told me you could fix this. That's why I came to you. So that you could make sure that Regina didn't win."
Mr. Gold- "She hasn't yet."
Emma- "Well, she's going to.  And now my friend is going to pay for me trusting you."
Mr. Gold- "Look Sheriff, I know this is emotional, but it's also not over. You must have faith, there's still time."
Emma- "Time for what?"
Mr. Gold- "Time for me to work a little magic."  He leaves.  Frustrated Emma has a fit and throws the vase filled with tulips against the file cabinet. She discovers among the wreckage that she's been bugged!

Emma meets up with August {putting on his gloves} outside of Granny's Diner.  She apologizes for doubting him; she made a mistake. She presents him the evidence that proves she's been trusting all the wrong people. "I should have listened to you. This bug is from Sidney."
August- "The newspaper guy?"  {No, Sydney, the city in Australia!}
Emma- 'I should've seen it."
August- "Well, don't beat yourself up about it, Emma.  Sometimes it's hard to see what's right in front of us. But I knew you would."
Emma-"I'm trying."
Suddenly they hear a scream!  It's Ruby; she's freaked out, claiming "She's in the alley."
Emma runs back there turns over the body to find Kathryn awake on the ground; looking like a bag lady, I might add.

True North

“Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” - G. K. Chesterton

**All photos posted here are chosen for a reason. Pay attention to dates, names, places on papers and photographs**

OK, let's start off with Damon Lindelof making an appearance- well, his comic book made an appearance, which is totally LOSTastic! This of course isn't just a nod to the Godfather of ONCE Upon A Time, but a great constant to LOST.

I’m really starting to feel like there’s something seriously wrong with me- I’m fuckin' losing my mind!  Maybe I am just Crazy Karen and I’ve completely rendered myself insane. It seems that I just can't and won't get off of the LOST train that seems to keep running right through Storybrooke. Please, Please, Please, I hope I'm not offending the brilliance of Team ONCE  and Team LOST {all of whom I greatly admire, respect and am inspired by every day!} or any fellow fans by mentioning that I feel like I'm experiencing a familiar story; an extension of LOST-which, if that's the case is totally cool with me!

I think we're beyond LOST easter eggs and nods. We're way beyond Apollo Bars, MacCutcheon Whiskey, eyes opening, Geronimo Jackson stickers, 815, 108, 23, and Flashes before someone's eyes, just popping up weekly to make us "remember" our time on the "Island".  This current story feels like another book in the LOST saga. I know I've mentioned this before- but come on! No matter how hard I try I can't help but see a beautiful connection to LOST and the core of the story; but here it's told to us via the magical fairy tale genre with an emphasis on hope.
As I watch ONCE I feel many things like when I watched LOST. I think the writers are doing a brilliant job telling their new unique fairy tale mash-up, and although I am fully aware and am enjoying that this is a story written about the spell and fairy tale characters living in "our world", I can't help but wonder if any of my suspicions are truth with regard to there being more of a golden LOST thread woven into the tapestry of this story than we realize. I don't want to mislead or confuse any of my readers by mentioning the relationship that may or may not be between both stories and I don't expect anyone to agree with it. I've been guilty of over thinking things in the past. And if I am grossly mistaken due to me having a big imagination or just being stupid, I will wholeheartedly apologize to all and truly hope I am forgiven. 

At this point I feel like there are a few things going on within this journey that are similar things I mentioned through my years on the "Island" adventure. I.e. things going on in their heads/minds/consciousness and some sort of merged reality and a bit of a game element with tasks, goals and rewards, etc.  Believe me, there are more things I could be noting as LOST connections but it would make these notes painfully longer.
Maybe it's wrong of me to keep coming back to the things I learned with LOST, but with this episode I am brought back to The Man From Tallahassee (among other episodes) and parts of John Locke's story. Example: Boone told John in a hallucination induced dream vision that he has to bring the family back together again.

Emma has work to do:
Part of this fairy tale is Emma's way of dealing with the pain and abandonment of her own childhood and troubles, along with discovering who she truly is (inside) and where she belongs in the universe. This adventurous journey is also helping others like Regina, Mr. Gold, Snow White and John Doe. While we're at it I wonder- is this journey exclusive to only Emma?  Is each resident experiencing an individual journey, but is connected to a single storyline?  What about Henry? Who is he?  At times he strikes me as an abused child living in a fantasy land and other times he acts as a guide.

This week's episode showed us people being disconnected and having fear and anxiety of separation.
A big theme in ONCE is abandonment; a child being separated from mother/father/family. Emma and all of these people are trying to find balance and their way back- back to safety, back to family, back to love, back to their true self, back home; with a full and loving and compassionate heart. Emma's been holding on to negative stuff her whole life. That's part of what this adventure is about- another case of "letting go".

We learned that the truth can be painful but it can also be cathartic. The veil has to be lifted and the truth needs to be faced so one can move forward.  The Evil Queen needs to fix her moral compass, for sure.  Emma and the residents have to lift their eyes and look North; just as Locke was instructed to do in Further Instructions.  We saw that many of the Castaways had a moral compass that was "off" or broken.  The residents of Storybrooke all need a little help, guidance, a map, a working compass and a little push. Hmm...Maybe the DHARMA Initiative exists in Storybrooke and Fairy Tale Land.

Of course the details of this story are to be paid attention to. Again in this episode I felt like Mr. Gold had a bit of a role as advisor or guide. Mr. Gold claims the compass was bought in his shop. Did he know who and where the "real" father is, or was his role as a guide just to put Emma on the path of truth? Maybe it's his sense of knowing.

There's that bloody snow globe again! 
You can't leave Storybrooke and no one ever comes in. The only person who has come to Storybrooke is Emma. She's the only true outsider that has entered thus far.  At the end of this episode Emma indicated to Michael the car was fine, but ultimately she chose not to leave the border of Storybrooke to go to Boston so Michael can see the kids. If she didn't stop at the border on her own would Storybrooke have stopped her? It seems maybe somewhere deep down Emma knows she can't or shouldn't leave until she accomplishes a certain goal.
When Emma shares Henry's theory about her parents putting her in a magical wardrobe and "sent me to this world to save them", the reference to "this world" raises a flag for me.

Is the motorcycle man a resident of Storybrooke or a stranger? Is he a new player in the game, a new piece in the puzzle?  Henry insists strangers don't come to Storybrooke.  Will people come to Storybrooke when it's necessary for Emma or a resident to face something important?  Sort of like on the "Island" when people are brought there; like when John Locke brought Anthony Cooper. But again it's important to remember that it is Henry who brought Emma to Storybrooke.

Here's a question about the spell- Is it possible that the spell only works on the adults and doesn't work on the children of Fairy Tale Land/Storybrooke?  If so, are the spell-less children trying to help their parents to remember and to find one another again.

As much as there is implication of two separate worlds, there is a blurring of the realms as if things are really aren't separate at all.  Here's an example of it with the use of the same cookies in both realms.

Things to Note...Questions to Ask...
๑ How the fuck does Emma walk around with jeans that tight?!
๑ Orchids
๑ Apollo Bar
๑ Records. Papers. Photos.
๑ DNA. Genetics
๑ Making deals
๑ 16 years
๑ Twins
๑ Foster Families
๑ Illusion. Dreams. Real. Not Real. What and who is real/not real?
๑ Sleep. Wake up
๑ Are Ava and Nicholas supposed to be twins because they don't really seem like it.
๑ There are 3 places set for food at Mary Margaret's and 3 forms to be filled out. {Triplicate}
๑ Exist
๑ Remember. Forget.
๑ Mirror. Reflection.
๑ Orange juice
๑ Slingshot
๑ Jail. Cage

Vocabulary and Research...
๑ K :The Kelvin is a unit of measurement for temperature. It is one of the seven base units in the International System of Units (SI) and is assigned the unit symbol K.
๑ The letter K comes from the Greek letter Κ (kappa), which was taken from the Semitic kap, the symbol for an open hand.
๑ Laos- Large part of their population are Theravada Buddhist; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching". Buddhism has long been one of the most important social forces in Laos.
๑ Louse- Lice

Here are some LOST visuals that connect to this ONCE episode: PS: I should have put the bones from the purge in this photo too.

✔  Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale 
★  Orchid
★  Apollo Bar
★  DNA. Genetics
★  LOST has a few tree cutters too: Eddie "might be" one in Further Instructions and Sayid's friends are tree cutters in The Greater Good, and let's not forget Eko and Horace cut down trees too; as did Sawyer and other Castaways.
★  Wheelchair
★  Eyeglass carousel
★  Making deals
★  16
★  23
★  Mirror. Orange juice
★  Sleep. Wake Up
★  John Locke talks about his foster family in Outlaws- And Boone visits him about bringing the family back together in Further Instructions
★  Michael had to find his boy, Waaaaaaalt
★  Abandoned
★  Slingshot
★  Jail. Cage
★  The name Dory in ONCE makes me recall Shannon remembering the fish movie "Finding Nemo" with the song Le Mer in the episode Whatever The Case May be.
★ In the episode Everybody Loves Hugo, Jack says "...maybe that's the point...maybe I'm supposed to let go."
★  Revealed in The Mysteries of the Universe, Dan Faraday had no father listed on his birth certificate. We also learn that the DHARMA Initiative exists.

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

Henry is reading Damon Lindelof's Ultimate Hulk vs. Wolverine issue 3 comic book in Mr. Clark's/Sneezy's store.  Ava comes over to make small talk with Henry about seeing him around school and even knowing he's in Miss Blanchard's class.  Ava's brother Nicholas meets up with them.  Ava extends an invitation to Henry to "come hang out".  Henry would love too.
The three kids are stopped at the door by Pharmacist Mr. Clark/Sneezy who accuses Henry of stealing from the store.  "Don't think I didn't see you rob me."    He calls Henry a liar.
Evidently Ava and her brother used Henry and his backpack to smuggle goodies out for themselves.  Mr. Clark is shocked at Henry.  He turns to the other two children and asks "Just who do you think you are?"

In the Forest
A tree-cutter is chopping down a tree in the forest.  He is proud of the fine specimen. "The wood it provides will keep our family's hearth warm this winter."   Gretel asks "Can't I have an ax? You did say you wanted me here so I can help."   Father instructs his young daughter to take the cart and fill it with kindling; the dryer the better."  He wants her to take her brother along on this task.   He stops them before they leave to give Gretel his compass so they don't get lost. "A family always needs to be able to find one another...go...Be safe."   He is proud while watching the children walk into the woods.

Gretel seems to have been doing all of the gathering of wood while uninterested Hansel would rather continue playing with his slingshot.  Gretel tells him it's getting late and they need to get back to father, "Follow me".   She checks the compass and leads Hansel and the cart.
They come upon the area where they left him, but he's not there.  The upset children call out for him. They hear a man grunt and follow the sound.  It leads them to the road where they are almost trampled by a couple of the Evil Queen's army men on horseback.  The compass is broken in the fall.

One guard gathers up the children and brings them to the Evil Queen who is sitting in her grand black coach. She asks the nervous children "What are you doing in my forest?"

Regina stands in front of the Orchids in Mr. Clark's store insisting her son doesn't steal. Mr. Clark lets her see for herself.  Upon inspection of the contraband Regina picks up the Apollo Bar and announces her son doesn't eat candy.  It's obviously the other two kids that are guilty.  {Nicholas got all of that stuff in Henry's backpack without him feeling it?! Man, Henry must really be taken with Ava.}

As Henry and Regina turn to leave Emma walks in wondering what happened.  Of course Regina has it all under control; reminding Miss Swan that genetics means nothing- she's not Henry's mother.  Emma tells her she's there as the sheriff.  Regina tells her to do her job "Take care of those miscreants."   Emma asks Mr. Clark if he called their parents, but the number the children provided was disconnected.
Emma- "You guys give Mr. Clark a fake number?"  The kids shake their heads 'no'.
Emma- "Then why is it disconnected?"
Ava reveals their parents couldn't pay the bill.  Emma looks at the stolen goods {toothpaste} realizing they are items necessary for daily survival and the kids are just trying to help out.  Ava pleads for Emma not to arrest them as it would just make things worse for their parents.

Ava pleads with the Evil Queen "Please forgive us, we didn't mean to bother you...we just...well, we just lost our father."
The Evil Queen- "Two helpless children...lost and alone. The family torn asunder. Such as sad and moving story."  She commands the guards to seize them!  Gretel commands Hansel to run while she plays Slingshot Sally and fights back!
The children run into the forest, when all of a sudden the Evil Queen magically appears before them. "Running from me is foolish. Mwahaha!"   She magically commands the roots and vines to tie the children down. The Evil Queen feels it's foolish, but also brave. "And that bravery may just have saved you and your family's lives."  She magically releases the bindings and is not only letting them go, but she offers to help their father. "Because you two are going to do something for me."
Gretel- "And then...you'll take us home."

Emma drives the kids up to a house. It's Ava's plea that Emma doesn't walk them to the door. "Please. No. If our parent's see you, they'll be so embarrassed."
Emma asks them if Henry told them about her superpower. The kids imply 'no', as they just met him.
Emma-"I have the ability to tell when anyone is lying. You tell me the truth...money problems aside, is everything OK at home?"
Ava- "Yeah, we're great. Can we go?"
Emma lets the kids go with their bagged goodies.  Ava waves at her from the front door steps and Emma drives off.  The kids run around back, jump a fence and enter the cellar floor of an old abandoned rundown house.  They hear a noise coming from upstairs. So, Ava heads up the steps and opens the hatch to the upstairs, where in the kitchen the scared kids are confronted by Emma wondering why they lied to her. "Where are your parents?"
Ava- "We don't have any."
This seems to hit a nerve with Emma.

The children sit at Mary Margaret's table eating while Emma asks Mary if she knows them; do they go to her school.  Mary admits to seeing them, but no one had any idea. {The table is set for three.}
Emma reads a report out of a file: Ava and Nicholas Zimmer. Their mother was someone named Dory Zimmer; she died a few years ago, no one seems to know her or remember her.
Puzzled Mary Margaret asks "And the father?"
Emma- "There isn't one- at least not one that they know."
Whispering Emma admits to not reporting them to social services yet. If she reports them she can't help them.  Even though the system is supposed to help she knows as someone who was in the system for 16 years that "they get thrown into homes where they are a meal ticket, nothing more. These families get paid for these kids and as soon as they're too much work they get tossed out and it all starts over again."  At least it was like that with  all the ones/homes Emma was in.
Mary Margaret whispers- "But what...we're just gonna adopt them?"
Emma wants to look for their father "They don't know him...he may not know they exist."
Mary- "And you think if he knows he'll want them?"
Emma, kind of looking hopeful, admits "I don't know".   But she does know that it is hard enough finding foster families to take one kid that isn't theirs, let alone two. She feels it's their best shot.   Ava overheard the conversation and cries "We're going to be separated?"   Emma insists that's not going to happen. Ava pleads "Don't let it."

Emma asks HALL OF RECORDS keeper, Mr. Krzyszkowski {He pronounces his name differently than it's spelled on the name plate and everyone just calls him K} for the birth certificates on Ava and Nicholas Zimmer.  He has her fill out a form in triplicate. {Three individual forms}  The office is cluttered with old filing boxes and cabinets and card catalogs.  K reveals that those documents were recently removed. Emma wonders, "By who?"

In Regina's office
Regina informs Emma that she's contacted Social Services discovering the kids are on their own and they need help.  That's exactly what Emma's trying to do; find their father.  Regina hands her a file and states that he doesn't exist.  "Of course biologically he exists but there's no record of him."  This leaves them no choice; the children will be put into the Foster System.

{Note the red markings I put on the forms.}
Storybrooke doesn't have a Foster System and the State said the group homes are filled in Maine so the children must go to a boys home and a girls home in Boston.  They've got no choice in the separating of the twins. Emma must have the children in Boston by tonight; as this is what sheriffs do. Emma is upset because she promised the two they wouldn't be separated.
Regina- "Well then perhaps, maybe you should stop making promises you can't keep. These children need a home. I'm just trying to find the best one."

While walking through the forest together the Evil Queen asks Gretel "What is that?"  Sad Gretel explains it's her father's compass and how he gave her so she can find him and now it's broken. "When are you going to tell us where we're going?"
The Evil Queen indicates "This is close enough"; the home of the Blind Witch.  She has something of the Evil Queen and she needs to defeat a very wicked and powerful enemy; it's kept in a black leather satchel inside her house.  She needs the children to get it back.  Gretel asks why she doesn't get it herself  "How come you need us?"
The Evil Queen- "Because the house is protected by magic! I can't enter. But luckily the spell doesn't work on children. You'll have to wait here until nightfall...and then...once the witch is asleep- you can sneak in."
Gretel confirms that once they do this the Evil Queen promises to find their father.
The Evil Queen- "Oh, Indeed I will. But there's one more thing. The witch's house is...unique. And because of this you have to take special precaution once you're inside.  No matter what you do...no matter how you're temped... Don't eat anything."
She pushes back the bow from a pine tree, almost as if she's opening a gate, and reveals a grown up size house made a sweets.

Henry shows up for a visit to Emma's sheriff's office to claim he knows who the kids are. "Brother and sister...Lost...No parents. Hansel and Gretel."  The only info about the dad is that he abandoned them.
Emma- "Great. Sounds like a familiar story."   Emma knows this guy and thinks he could be in Laos by now, but Henry feels "No. he's here".  Henry again explains that no one leaves Storybrooke; no one comes here, no one goes. "It's just the way it is."
Emma- "I came here."
Henry- "Because you're special. You're the first stranger here- Ever."
Emma- "Right. I forgot. Well, If he's around here anywhere I'm gonna find him."  {She forgot!}
As Emma is going through a file Henry inquires about his own father.  After all he told her about her parents and now she's living with her mother.
Emma- "Mary Margaret isn't...she's...never mind."
She goes on to tell him "I was pretty young. I'd just gotten out if the Foster System and the only job I could get was at this 24 hour diner just off the Interstate. And um, your dad was training to be...a fireman.  He always got the worst shifts so he'd come in and order coffee and pie and sit at the counter and always complain that we didn't sell pumpkin pie.  But he always came back the next night away."
They didn't get married or anything like that. They just 'hung out' a few times outside of work, and life happened.  His got better and hers got worse.
Emma- "I got into some trouble."
Henry- "When you went to jail?"
Emma- "Yeah. And before I went I found out I was pregnant with you. And...I tried to contact him. And I found out...that he...died, saving a family from a burning apartment building.  So, you think I'm the savior, Henry? He was. Your father was a real hero."
Henry- "Do you have anything of his. Something you can remember him by? Something I could see?"
Emma doesn't have anything.  A light bulb must have gone off in her brain because she hurries herself off as she may know how to find this guy.

Sitting at Mary Margaret's counter in her apartment eating the most perfect cookies I've ever seen, is Ava and Nicholas.  Emma takes out her baby blanket from a cardboard box to show the kids that it's the only thing she has from her parents; the only thing she's held on to her whole life.  She's spent a lot of time with a lot of kids in their situation and all of them, "All of us...we held on to stuff. I want to find your father but I need your help."   She asks for anything of his that they may have held on to.
Ava might have something, but if she gives it to Emma, she wants Emma to make sure they stay together.
Ave pulls a compass from her sweater pocket. "Our mom kept it. She said it was our dad's." Ava asks Emma if she found her own parents.
Emma- "Not yet. But I'm gonna find yours."

In the dark forest Hansel and Gretel make their way to the Blind Witch's house.  Gretel puts the compass away and Hansel scoops up a dollop of frosting off of the facade. To stay as quiet as possible Gretel mouths "Don't" to him.  They climb through the window and gaze upon the glorious deliciousness that is displayed before them.  Hansel wonders how they can be sure she's sleeping.  Gretel again warns Hansel about what the Queen said, whispering, "Not even a lick".  Gretel feels it doesn't matter what's inside the satchel, all that matters is getting it to the Queen so she can find father.
While Gretel goes past the sleeping Blind Witch to retrieve the black satchel that hangs next to the large oven, Hansel grabs a huge cupcake from the table. Gretel successfully acquires the satchel while the witch sleeps, but it's Hansel's bite from the cupcake that wakes her.  We see the pile of bones left from the purge, uh, I mean, the previously eaten children. The Blind Witch locks them in with a hell of a magical lock-down. "I smell diner."

Mr. Gold is busy rubbing/polishing his Genie Lamp when Emma enters inquiring about the old compass; where it could have come from.  He looks it over and points out the detail and crystal and jewel setting and remarks that it's a very unusual piece; despite it unfortunate shape its in. "The person who owned this obviously had great taste."
Emma- "Where would someone like that buy it?"
Mr. Gold- "Right here, of course." {Of fuckin' course!} A piece like that is difficult to forget. Emma wonders if he remembers who bought it.
Mr. Gold- "Well, I'm good with names, Miss Swan. But, maybe not that good. However, as luck would have it...I do keep quite extensive records."
He pulls out an index card and pauses for a moment.  Emma realizes he has a price for the name.  Mr. Gold's price is "Forgiveness".   Emma will only go as far as "Tolerance", which he feels is a start.
Mr. Gold reveals the compass was purchased by a Mr. Michael Tillman."  All the info he has is the name. "I generally find that's all one needs. Good luck with your investigation."
We see that the card is completely blank.

Emma pays Michael the mechanic a visit. She brings papers with photos of the children as proof.  He feels it's not possible. {Is that Ruby's car overhead on the lift?}

Michael tries to explain Dory wasn't his..."It was just once."  He met her when he was camping. Emma insists the twins are his and have been homeless ever since their mother passed away, living in an abandoned house because they don't want to be separated. They're about to be shipped off to Boston unless he steps up and take responsibility for them.  Michael feels he can barely manage the garage let alone manage two kids.  Emma's sure they're his kids because of the timing and...She presents the compass to him. He holds it "I lost this."  Emma guesses 12 years and nine months ago.  Emma understands this is a lot for Michael to process.
Emma- "Believe me I know.  A month ago a kid showed up on my doorstep I gave up for adoption asking for help with... something. I ended up moving here- for him."
Michael- "I heard about that, it's the Mayor's son. But, staying in town is, is...a lot different than taking them in."
Emma- "I don't have my kid, because I don't have a choice. You do. Those kids did not ask to be brought into this world, you brought them into this world- You and their mother! And they need you. And if you choose not to take them you are going to have to answer for that every day of your life. And sooner or later when they find you because believe me they will find you- you're gonna have to answer to them."
Michael apologizes and gives her back the compass. "I don't know anything about being a dad. If it's a good home you're looking for its not with me."
Emma is left alone holding the compass.

Emma calls Mary Margaret in her apartment from outside to have her meet her there without telling the kids.  The kids are eating batter.  Outside Emma shares with Mary Margaret that Michael doesn't want the kids.   Emma feels she can't tell them because she gave them false hope.  Mary tells her that the truth can be painful but it can also be cathartic to which Emma agrees with the painful part.  Emma admits she didn't tell Henry the truth about his father being dead.  Henry doesn't need to know the real story about how his father isn't a hero.  Emma suggests they hide the kids until they find a family for them. Mary sarcastically says "Yes hiding the 12 year olds is a good plan!"  She seems to want Emma to just go with what is best for the kids right now.  Regina shows up asking Emma "Shouldn't you be on the Interstate?"  She's there to see that Emma does her job.  Emma feels she doesn't need 'checking up' on.  Regina begs to differ as Emma's to have the kids in Boston tonight.

The hungry Blind Witch has tender Hansel and Gretel caged as she readies the oven to cook them.  Gretel devises a plan that when the witch opens the cage to get Hansel he shouldn't fight, and while she's carrying him to the oven he should grab the key that's in her pocket and toss it through the bars to Gretel.  As the witch approaches Hansel is panicking because he can't do and feels he's going to die. Smart Gretel pushes him out of the way, puffs up her cheeks by holding her breath, so that the witch would touch her and mistake her for the boy.  All the witch cares about is "Gravy or butter. What shall it be?"  The witch removes Gretel/the little boy from the cage and Gretel steals the key from the witch's pocket and tosses it to Hansel who opens the cage. The witch is tying Gretel's hands and Hansel grabs a weapon to fight. He falls and the Blind Witch reacts; but again all she cares about is the basting.   She grabs Hansel to throw him into the oven but brave Gretel grabs hold of her and the children throw the witch into her own oven, locking her in. The children run off into the dark forest with the black satchel.  From her castle the Evil Queen watches all of this via her magic mirror.  Once the Blind Witch is in the oven the Queen throws a fireball through the magic mirror right into the oven.

Hansel and Gretel are escorted to deliver the black satchel to the Evil Queen. She is pleased they were successful in their task and have retrieved the item she longed for; a red apple.
The Evil Queen tells Gretel she's got a strong heart, "You remind me of myself at your age."
Hansel- "We did all that...for an apple?"
The Evil Queen- "Oh trust me dear boy this is not just an apple. It's a weapon. A weapon for a very particular and devious enemy. One who still under the illusion that she's safe."  She puts the apple in a box.
Gretel just wants the Queen to keep her promise to find their father
The Evil Queen- "Of course- to reunite your family. So you can live Happily Ever After. You were left alone in the woods you deserve better than a father who would abandon you."
The children feel he's all they have. The impressed Queen offers the twins a reward for their being the first to emerge from the sticky sweet house. She invites the twins to live with her where all of their dreams could come true.  Hansel seems to like the invitation, but it's Gretel who speaks up "No. We want our father back. He would never abandon us. And even if he did...we would never want to live with someone as terrible as you!"  The kids are going to find him with or with her help and when they do they're going to prove her wrong.  The pissed off Queen swirls her dark gray/purple smoke around the children.

Emma gives Ava back her compass as she loads the sad and nervous twins into the back of the sheriff car. Regina and Henry observe. Henry runs up to Emma, whispering, "No. You can't take them! They can't leave Storybrooke, Emma. They can't. Something bad will happen."
Emma feels something bad has already happened. Emma drives off.  Regina is pleased.

As Emma is nearing the Storybrooke city limits and the car's engine stalls.  She calls for help.

The Evil Queen holds the apple while she watches troubled/sad/crying Snow White "cavorting" with Dwarfs via her looking glass magic mirror.  A soldier brings in her prisoner.  The Tree Cutter prisoner demands to be released. He fears for his children who are alone in the forest; the very forest the Evil Queen took him from.
The Evil Queen- "That compass you gave sweet little Gretel...Well, I'm afraid it didn't help her find you though now, did it?"
This upsets the desperate father. The Queen reveals she told the children he abandoned them, leaving nothing but a compass to find their way.   She brought him there to answer her question- "I offered your children everything, whatever their hearts desired.  And they still chose uncertainty because of their blind faith in you. Tell me why- Hmm? Why did your children refuse me?"  She seems to genuinely not know the answer.
Father- "Because we're a family... and family always finds one another."
The Evil Queen tears up, maybe because the truth hurts.  The Queen releases him to be with his family. "As soon as you all find one another."

Gretel wakes up in the forest; she wakes up Hansel. The Queen let them go. Gretel assures her twin that everything will be fine; checks her compass. She smiles, takes his hand and they walk through the forest.

The Twins sit alone inside the sheriff car while Emma waits outside.  Ava shows Nicholas that the compass' needle is spinning on its own.  A tow truck {Franklin's Towing and Salvage} approaches; Michael is the driver.  Emma tells him "These are them."  Apparently the car is fine; she just wanted him to see them- just once.  Emma shares that she didn't think she could do it either, she wanted to give Henry his best shot and when she saw that he didn't have it she couldn't leave. She was scared. But when she saw him and got to know him she couldn't go back.  She doesn't have to take them to Boston. Michael goes to the children in the car. Emma cries happy tears.

Emma tells Mary Margaret that the father changed his mind- with a little nudge {PUSH}. They found their father.   Emma wonders what that would be like.
Mary Margaret- Maybe you'll find out. You can't give up."
Emma feels giving up may be the best plan. "I think I need to let go." Mary Margaret tells her she doesn't.
Emma-"Really? If they really wanted to know me they wouldn't make it so hard to look."
Mary suggests maybe there are other reasons; Emma thinks maybe crazier than Henry's theory.
She reveals Henry's theory is that her parents put her in a magical wardrobe and sent me to this world to save them and that her mom is Mary Margaret-Snow White.
Mary thinks she would remember having a kid {Great Point!} and that Emma kind of has her chin. The book Mary Margaret gave Henry "not exactly the stories in the most traditional sense."
Emma heads out to get some air. Mary Margaret compliments Emma's baby blanket, sniffs it and just puts it back in the box.

Emma sits in the sheriff car reading a file about 'herself'. Henry shows up with pumpkin pie.  Emma wants to come clean about his father, but she sees the hopeful smile in Henry and just says "I'm glad I told you".  Henry hugs her.  Henry remarks about what Emma did about Ava and Nicholas "You really are changing things".
{Green Light- Go! 23}  A man on a motorcycle pulls up and asks Emma "Is this Storybrooke?"
He wants to get a room because his plan is to stay.  Henry looks puzzled. Emma directs him two blocks to Granny's Bed and Breakfast. Emma didn't catch his name because he didn't give it. The man drives off.
Emma- "I thought you said strangers don't come to Storybrooke."
Henry- "They don't."