Broken

"You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you. That’s where I’ll be waiting." - J.M. Barrie!

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

Purple haze all through my brain

A great start to season two and the arrival of magic is to immerse everyone in a glorious purple haze. Broken started very LOST-like, in that the story doesn't continue in a familiar setting we became accustomed to. This also brought the introduction of the (Manhattan Island) "stranger" and not knowing his true identity or place in the story as of yet.  Perhaps it's my own flashback to Desmond. Who the hell is this stranger? Well, he could be Bae, grown up and all alone, living in his own private Idaho on Manhattan Island. Perchance Henry's father or maybe, this stranger is connected to the Mad Hatter. I won't count out someone or something else altogether.

And then our fairy tale picks up right where it left off- in Storybrooke, that is. I found it very interesting that the events in Fairy Tale Land weren't flashbacks, as they ran simultaneously- alongside of Storybrooke events and seem to be heading to some criss-cross. It was GREAT!  A big X connecting realms. Dare I say it? Could we have ourselves a little LOST-type Sideways? Alright, I'll stop doing that- maybe. Nonetheless, upon hearing the Wraith roars and it seeming as if the Wraith can travel to and fro, it appears Storybrooke and this other land experiences are literally side by side of each other.

While watching events unfold in the realms I couldn't help but go down my metaphoric path of relating to things. Now, I'm not saying by any means this is the intention of the writers. I'm merely referencing the fact that I tend to associate certain things in stories (literary and/or visual) in this manner. It's fucking weird, I know. Maybe it's my stupid curse. Sure, Broken gives us insight to things and people being broken (and lost), in ruins, literally and emotionally. A rebuilding must begin so new life can thrive.

The events we saw in Fairy Tale Land had me feeling like it was a part of our own heart and/or mind- the parts that one could let get taken over by darkness caused by all the emotional hurt and pain we've had to live through. One can get stuck or frozen there.  And while one allows this darkness to take over these parts, we could be left with a tiny portion that isn't completely in the dark- that little bit of desolate and fruitless real estate that isn't completely dead- the one where Hope lives.  When healing happens and good seeds are planted it can receive light, be nurtured and love again. We learn that to the Wraith, light is its adversary- it wants to feed and claim more and more of one's soul. If light is present it can't get in to claim a soul. Again, in life we're marked- scarred by things that happen to us and how we might let it affect us. We trap or imprison parts of ourselves (heart and/or mind) as a means of protection and self-preservation; there is a section that is our "someplace safe."  But by staying stuck in the dark also keeps out the great experiences too. It seems to reason that if one can find a way to sweep away that pesky Wraith and kill the evil or simply let it go, then peace and freedom can be attained. It's all about the Love.

Keeping the evil alive 

What is the point in keeping the evil alive? That would only give permission for the evil to continue to cause more pain. Unless the point to keeping it alive one hopes to transform the evil into something good. Storybrooke residents and Henry see Regina as evil, but let's not forget that Regina sees Snow White as evil, and Rumpelstiltskin sees himself as a monster. They all have two sides. We all have two sides. We all live trying to find and keep balance between them. Maybe these people are trying to do the same.

Regina's turn to the dark side reminds me of Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader).  His turn to the dark side was also one that came later in his life; born out of fear, hate and loss. It is a darkness that was allowed in by the emotionally ailing person and given permission to gain power.  And again, that darkness can be doused by shedding light or simply allowing light in.

What's going on with August/Pinocchio? We can't forget that this usually tall-tale telling game player wanted to summon the dark one.  How did the purple haze of magic affect him? Did he return to human form or is he trapped in his wooden state?

A tale of two curses

Although Mary Margaret is pushing Emma to bridge the gap and truly unite their little reunited family, Emma is still somewhat distant. Emma feels her life was also "cursed" because she had to grow up knowing her parents sent her away and she's been alone and without her family. Although she is learning the reason her parents made this great sacrifice of love, it doesn't yet ease her own pain of abandonment. Snow might have to push a little harder to help Emma heal. A change will do her good.
Family is everything- it is home and home is where the heart is.


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

๑ Three went through the hat- The Wraith, Emma and Snow White.  In Hat Trick Jefferson claims the "hat's rule" is the same amount of people who go through- the same amount have to come back.
๑ In the recap episode the "Narrator/Magic Mirror/Sidney" referred to Charming as "James" and not David.
๑ Manhattan is an Island. Storybrooke- Island.
๑ Another Stranger. 
๑ Storybrooke postcard has no postage and no addresses to or from.
๑ Why did Regina respond to Emma with "Who's Jefferson?"
*  Technically, in the episode Hat Trick, Jefferson never admits to actually being the Mad Hatter - He hates Wonderland and he only wants the "hat" to work and is seen going nutty trying to make a hat to work. It's Emma who says to him "You think you're the mad hatter".  Before you get mad at me, I'm not saying he's not- I'm just cautiously letting things play out.
๑ Everyone should know who they really are and know each other now. This would mean children should remember who their real parents are. {Example- Jefferson and Grace}
๑ Two faces
๑ Mark: Scar, bruise, cut- X (marks the spot)
๑ Pigeon is in 7:15 and Red Handed. Homing pigeon, carrier/messenger pigeon.
๑ Dream. Dreamcatcher. Sleep.
๑ Wake up. Awaken
๑ Life. Death (Late. Grief). Rebirth (Regenerate. Rebuild)
๑ Right. Wrong.
๑ Time
๑ Why is Dr. Whale's true identity still unknown to the residents of Storybrooke and he ain't confessing who he is? And why is he the one spearheading the hang Regina brigade?
๑ I'm just wondering what is up with The Blue Fairy.
๑ Regina, Jefferson and Emma's names are those names in Storybrooke and in Fairy Tale Land.
๑ Mid town and Lower Manhattan. Subway train.
๑ Henry asks Emma to "protect" Regina and Phillip asks Mulan to protect Aurora.
๑ Phillip seems to always want Aurora to  rest and go to sleep.
๑ When asked "What was that thing?" Phillip replies- "Something bad."  In A Land Without Magic  Henry gives the same answer to Emma when she asks "What is that?" (purple smoke).
๑ Mulan indicates that she may come from a different land when mentioning "in your land you would call it a Wraith."  She knows it as Qui Shen.
๑ When Rump/Gold summons the Wraith with his own medallion, the Wraith wears one as well. When the Wraith goes to the jail to suck Regina's soul it isn't wearing the medallion. Just sayin'.
๑ Regina doesn't have the power to make the hat work- but energy from Emma through Regina gives it power.

Vocabulary and Research...
 
๑ Aurora- from the Latin word meaning "dawn" is a natural light display.
   - In Roman mythology, goddess of the dawn. She has two siblings, a brother (Sol, the sun) and a sister (Luna, the moon).
  - Sleeping Beauty
๑ Hua Mulan- takes her aged father's place in the army.
   -Molon/Mulan Khan- was the Mongol Khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia.
๑ Dreamcatcher- In Native American culture, a dreamcatcher (the inanimate form of the word for "spider" or Ojibwe: bawaajige nagwaagan meaning "dream snare") is a handmade object based on a willow hoop, on which is woven a loose net or web. The dreamcatcher is then decorated with personal and sacred items such as feathers and beads. It catches and entangles bad dream and good
dreams slip on by.
 ๑ Wraith -Ghost/spirit
  - Wraith: The Oblivion- a role playing game.
  - Wraith: The Cobra Organization is the fictional nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team. is the code name of Charles Halifax, a Cobra mercenary who doesn't work for the money- he simply wants to fight, foster chaos and kill.
  - Wraith (Dungeons & Dragons), a type of un-dead in the Dungeons & Dragons game.
*  For you Muggles- "Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them... Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself...soulless and evil. You will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life." - One can use the Patronus Charm as defense against the Dementors.
๑ The Three Broomsticks: Harry Potter- Quidditch (a game). The Tale of the Three Brothers.
-  The Three Billy Goats Gruff. The Three Pigs.
- Broomstick- a tool and mode of transportation for witches.
- Broomstick- a great American race horse
- Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke
๑ Broom in Jainism- an Indian philosophy that prescribes a path of nonviolence toward all living beings.

๑ The Shepherd King is a 1923 American silent film.
๑ David (name): Hebrew origin and the meaning of David is "beloved".  Biblical: one of the most remarkable personalities in the Scriptures. David was a shepherd, musician, poet, soldier, statesman, prophet, and king.
๑ The Crystal Ball is a German fairy tale- about three sons. Two are turned into animals but can return to human form for 2 hrs a day (1 as eagle and 1 as a whale). The third escapes the witch mother's curse, seeks the king's daughter and is bewitched and held prisoner in the Castle of the Golden Sun.

๑ Music clues or just nods:
๑ Charley's girl: Coney Island Baby is the sixth solo album by Lou Reed, released in December 1975.

•  "Crazy Feeling"
• "Charley's Girl"
•  "She's My Best Friend"
• "Kicks"
•  "A Gift" "Ooohhh Baby"
•  "Nobody's Business"
•  "Coney Island Baby"
•  *  30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition bonus tracks
•  "Nowhere at All"
• "Downtown Dirt"
•  "Leave Me Alone"
•  "Crazy Feeling"
• "She's My Best Friend"
•  "Coney Island Baby"

- The song mentions "punching someone in the face" - Emma threatens Gold with that.

๑ NoMeansNo- A band formed by the Wright brothers - Wrong records label
The Day Everything Became Isolated and Destroyed (1988)
1. The Day Everything Became Nothing
2. Dead Souls
3. Forget Your Life
4. Beauty And The Beast
5. Brother Rat/What Slayde Says
6. Dark Ages 7. Junk
8. And That's Sad
9. Small Parts Isolated And Destroyed
10. Victory
11. Teresa, Give Me That Knife
12. Real Love
13. Lonely Possible

๑ John Guliak - 7 Stories and 13 Songs nod.

๑ Purple Haze- A song by Jimi Hendrix on the album A You Experienced. Genre considered psychedelic rock and acid rock. The term "purple haze" is known to refer to LSD (trip).

-  "Purple haze" is mentioned in a passage in the Charles Dickens novel Great Expectation; chapter 54


✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈ 8:15, 108
✈ Island
✈ Subway train
✈ MacCutcheon Whiskey
✈ Bagua. Protection
✈ Swan
✈ Black smoke
✈ FATE. Faith
✈ Destiny
✈ Push
✈ Drugs- trip
✈ Banish. Castaway
✈ Head. Heart- Hearts and Minds
✈ Ruins (Temple- some place safe)
✈ Late. Gone. Dead.
✈ Life. Death. Rebirth (Regenerate. Rebuild)
✈ Wheel. Well. Wine.
✈ Searching- SEARCHER Penny's boat
✈ In the LOST Universe Charlie's girl is Claire
✈ In Stranger in a Strange Land  Jack and Juliet were marked.
✈ Son of a Shephard- Jack and then David Shephard
✈  In Further Instructions John Locke uses aerosol can and his torch to fight the polar bear- Snow uses aerosol can and lighter on the Wraith.  In the jungle Hurley says "Who's there?" before coming upon naked Desmond.  Regina asks "Who's there" before the Wraith arrives at the jail.
✈ In Not in Portland Jack told Kate not to come back for him. And in The Man from Tallahassee that is brought up.
✈ In What Kate Did Mr. Eko tells Locke a story about the temple in ruins.
✈ In All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues John Locke asks Boone "Don't you feel it?"
✈ In The Economist Elsa's boss is old fashioned (technologically).


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

A horse with a red plume and silver horseshoe medallion; this horse belongs to a top hatted Hansom cab driver.  A man in a dark suit and tie, carrying a dark backpack, listens to his mp3/ipod music (left ear-bud only) as he crosses a NYC 1-way street- making his way to his apartment.  He passes many horse drawn Hansom cabs/carriages, rides a subway train (Via 5 Ave. And I assume it's at 59th St. the Broadway line).  He gets in an old fashioned gated elevator and pushes the button.

He enters his one room (Manhattan Island) apartment. His decor looks to be acquired old goodies and keepsakes; a stereo, a rotary phone; collections include records, books, microphones, clocks/radios, cameras and monocles. A rainstorm starts up when he opens his door, to which the frustrated man to close the window that has been left open.  He drops his mp3/ipod out the window and watches it crash through the levels of fire escape; this disappoints him greatly.  A light colored pigeon with a card stuck/attached to its foot flies right to the man's desk.  The rain stops and the sun comes out.
It is a postcard with a message...

Two people on horseback are riding across the dry land. They arrive at the overgrown dead vine ridden alter that houses the literal resting place of Aurora. She has been sleeping on a cushion and pillow for 28 years.  Prince Phillip uses his sword to cut through the dry vines to get to her. {Note Bagua type insignia and spinning wheel. There are stars in the design on the ground/tile.}

The Prince tells his armored and veiled riding companion "If this works, we don't tell her everything- not right away." The companion nods in agreement.  Phillip kisses the sleeping beauty and a ripple wave flows through everything.  The sleeping beauty takes a deep breath and awakens and says "I told you not to come after me."  The share a giggle and kiss some more, while the companion turns away from them.

Aurora looking around seeing the devastation asks how long she's been asleep and wonders what happened. Phillip assures her it doesn't matter and the worst of it is over. "Now that we're together we'll restore this castle and our Kingdom, and as we dreamt, we'll be here always."

Aurora- "Where is everyone? Why does it need to be rebuilt?"
Phillip- "It's a long story and you my love need rest."  {WTF?! She just fuckin' woke up!}
Aurora has had her fill. Phillip informs her that their people have gathered in a new safe haven and they must join them.  Aurora wonders if this safe haven is from Maleficent.
Phillip- "No. Worry not. She can no longer harm us."
Aurora- "First she goes after my mother then me, Forgive me if I'm still a bit weary."
Phillip assures her not to be, as there is new dangers now- but nothing they can't handle. The happy reunited couple kiss.

Purple haze... I mean magic "smoke" makes its way through Storybrooke.  Reunited Snow and Charming wonder what's happening- they'll go and find out. They are reunited with the now aware Granny and Red and the Seven Dwarfs, who bow before their Queen.  They all have many questions including "What was that smoke?"

Mother Superior joins in with an answer "Magic. It's here. I can feel it."   Little Henry enters the picture and wonders "Magic, in Storybrooke? You're the Blue Fairy, do something magical."  But the Blue Fairy informs Henry and the rest that it's not quite that simple. "No wand. No fairy dust. Matters are complicated now."   Leroy suggests they go to the person responsible for bringing it "The Queen."  Emma tells them to wait, as it wasn't Regina.

Mr. Gold and Belle are still at the well where we left them last season.  Belle tells him she was abducted by (Regina) who "locked me away until her curse and I've been in the asylum ever since."
Mr. Gold is troubled- "For 28 years. All these years you've been here, alive."
Belle sees his growing anger and asks if that's why he did this- wanted magic- for revenge.  Gold assures her "No. No. But it might come in handy."  Belle is very concerned. Gold insists "I cannot let this stand, Belle! I will not let this stand!"
Belle- "Look... Promise me. Promise me you won't give into your hate. Promise me you won't kill her." Gold looks sort of dejected. Belle continues, "Promise me, and we can be together."  That's what Gold wants and you can see how moved he is. Tenderly he touches her face. "Oh. Sweetheart... I promise." They kiss- but we see Gold 'thinking'.

The (re) united Storybrooke residents march down the middle of the street together. Snow tries to open dialogue with her daughter, Emma. "Is there anything you want to ask us? You must have questions." Focused, Emma's only questions are for Mr. Gold. "Why did he double cross me and what did he do to this town?" 
Snow is concerned- "Shouldn't we talk about it first?"
Nonchalant Emma asks "What?"
Snow- "Us. Your life? Everything?"
Emma suggests they do "everything" maybe later- like, with a glass of wine- several bottles.  Charming knows it's a lot to take in, "for all of us."  Snow doesn't want to push, but they've waited for this moment for a long time, and so has Emma.
Emma- "I've thought about this moment my entire life. I've imagined who you might be. But of all the scenarios that I concocted, my parents being... I, I just need a little time, that's all."   Just then, a loud group of residents run through the streets on  a mission.  Archie runs up to inform Emma "There you are! Come with me. I need your help. Dr. Whale's whipped everyone into a frenzy. They're going to Regina's house- they're going to kill her."
Leroy- "Great. Let's watch."
Archie feels they can't do that. "We cannot stoop to her level. No matter who she is or what's she's done, killing her is wrong."
Panicked Henry feels he's right "Please. She's still my mom."  Emma knows they have to stop them. Charming notes that if the Blue Fairy is right and magic is here, Regina could have her powers back. "They could be marching into a slaughter."  He looks Snow right in the eyes and without a word they seem to acknowledge the same idea.  The group all run off to Regina's together.
The time on the clock tower-

While Phillip and Aurora chat, his armored and veiled associate investigates a "sensation" they're tuned into. All of a sudden the ground brakes open and the Wraith bursts up through it, knocking the armored/veiled person down. Phillip tries to fight off the wraith with his sword and inadvertently cuts off the Wraith's gold medallion/amulet and the upset Wraith flies away.  Phillip picks up the medallion. Aurora asks "What was that thing?"
Phillip- "Something bad."  He picks up the medallion.

Rumpelstiltskin and Belle arrive at his shop.

He's going to find her something to wear, as she's been in those rags long enough.  Alone, he makes his way to the back office, passing by a rack of women's clothes, unlocks an ornate armoire, puts on black gloves and removes a (gold) box from it. He has possession of a Wraith medallion.

Dr. Whale pounds on Regina's door demanding she come out or they're going in.

Smiling and calm Regina opens the door. "Can I help you?"  Whale threatens that her smirk isn't going to last forever. "You took everything from us, Regina, and now..."  Regina asks "Now you're gonna kill me?"
Whale- "Eventually. But first you need to suffer."
Regina pushes Whale away from her stoop. "Listening to you has been enough suffering for all of us. That's right. You wanted to see your Queen. Well, my Dears. Here. She. Is." With grandness she gestures her 'cast a spell' hands out to the crowd- but nothing happens- no magic. She's powerless! The crowd wants to take advantage and not let her get away.  But Emma, who is still the sheriff, makes them let her go. After all, she saved them- all of them.  Emma tells Whale "We are not murders here."
Dr. Whale- "Well, we're not from this world."
Emma- "Yeah, well,  you're in it now."
Charming steps in "Okay, Whale. We're done."
Whale- "Back off! You're not my Prince." {Check out Regina's look}
Charming- "Who are you, Whale?"
Whale- "That's my business."
Charming- "Well, my business is making sure this town doesn't go to hell. So whether or not I'm your Prince isn't the issue. We have a lot to figure out, and this isn't the way to do it."
Snow steps up- "And Regina's death won't provide any answers. She needs to be locked up... {Regina smirks) for her safety. And more importantly for ours."

Charming is the one who closes the jail cell door on the now prisoner, Regina.  He asks "If the curse is broken why didn't we go back?"  Regina informs him and Snow it's because there is nothing to go back to. "That land is gone."  Snow tells Charming they should get to Gold. {Why didn't she call him Rumpelstiltskin?} Snow, Charming, Emma and Henry leave. Regina tries her hand at magic on the lock, but to no avail.  Rumpelstiltskin/Gold appears to her. "Magic is different here...Dearie."  Regina noticed. "I assume this is all your doing."
Rumpelstiltskin- "Most things are."
Regina wants to know what he wants. "You here to finish the job?"  He assures her, "You're safe from me."  He made a promise to someone that he wouldn't kill her. Regina wonders who could elicit that from him.  Rumple comes right out with it. "Belle."   Regina looks surprised and asks "She's alive?"
Growing angry, he tells Regina "You are... a dreadful liar."  Regina could have killed Belle, but she didn't. Rumple feels she did something much worse than that- "You kept her alive so you could kill her when it suited you. A fate worse than death. Which, incidentally, is exactly what I've got in store for you."   With his gloved hands he pulls her left hand through the bars and puts the medallion in her hand, and as it's marking her he tells her "Yes, Dearie. The one thing no one can escape... Destiny. And I promise... yours is particularly unpleasant." {Regina seems to know what this medallion is all about.} He enjoyed that.

The veiled/armored person tells the duo "Qui Shen, In your land you would call it a Wraith."
Aurora- "I'm sorry. Who is this?"
The Veiled one- "A friend" and removes her head gear to reveal a pretty Asian girl, who corrects Aurora by clarifying she's a woman. Phillip shares that in Aurora's absence, Mulan has helped him like no other; they fought many battles together. And now they have another to wage.
Mulan- "The Qui Shen, the Wraith, is one of the most dangerous creatures in all the known lands. A soul sucker. According to legend it marks its victims and removes their souls damning them for all eternity."   They hear the (sounds) howling moans and screams of it's trapped souls- trying to escape. "But fortune favored us as we all avoided the mark. We need to begin our journey."
Phillip assures Aurora they'll be safe with their people. He hugs and kisses her, and sees his left hand has indeed been marked. He hides this discovery from Aurora.

In the forest the Dark One/Mr. Gold/Rump uses his powerful dagger as a tool to summon the Wraith; alongside of the medallion he put down on a spot on the ground. We see Regina bolt up in her cell when the Dark One puts out the call for the Wraith.  The Wraith literally manifests out from the medallion as black smoke and into it's soul sucking form; complete with his own medallion. The Wraith takes off in pursuit of imprisoned and marked Regina.

Emma sees Henry and Ruby off. {In Ruby's car} She tells Ruby to keep him safe.  Charming sees that Snow is troubled and really wants to talk with Emma, but he tells her not to push it. Snow says she won't, yet as soon as Emma walks over asking them if they're ready, Snow doesn't miss a beat and says "We need to talk" to Emma.  But Emma, hems and haws, not wanting to talk.
Snow- "I do. Gold can wait. I can't. And you're my daughter... and... I want to talk to you. I know that we have talked. But, we didn't know that we were talking. And we talked about things we shouldn't have even talked about- One night stands and alike."
Charming- "One night stands?"
Snow- "Whale."
Charming- Whale?!"
Snow- "We were cursed! That is neither here nor there. The point is we did not know that we were mother and daughter... and now we do... and... so, please let's talk."
Emma says okay. "What do you wanna talk about?"
Snow- "We're together- finally. And I can't help but think you're not happy about it."
Emma- "Oh, I am. But... see... here's the thing- no matter what the circumstances for 28 years I only knew one thing... that my parents sent me away. "
Snow assures her that was so she had her best chance.
Emma- "You did it for everyone. Because that's who you are. Leaders. Heroes. Princes and Princesses and that's great and amazing and... wonderful. It doesn't change the fact that for my entire life... I've been alone.
Snow- "But if we hadn't sent you away... you would have been cursed too."
Emma- "But we would have been together. Which curse is worse? Come one- Let's, let's... go find Gold."  She walks ahead. Charming grabs hold of Snow's hand.

In the forest the three travelers ride on horseback.  Mulan suggests "We should camp here tonight night. The Wraith only appears when light is absent that's why it ran when it first appeared. Light is its adversary."  Aurora remarks "And you want to stop, now?"   Mulan explains it's looking for a mark- something alive. Our best bet is to be still until night passes."  Although obviously uneasy, Phillip says she's right. "We have to rest here."

Phillip prepares a tent and tells Aurora she should sleep. Aurora says she can't. Phillip tries to encourage her to relax, it'll come.
Aurora- "No. I mean, I won't sleep. Not after what I just went through. (She sees he's troubled) What's wrong?"
Phillip looks her in the eyes. "I just miss you so much."  Aurora smiles and tells him "And now you don't have to."  Phillip, still obviously afflicted, tells her he's going to find wood to build them a fire and will be back in five minutes. He kisses her passionately yet desperately and Aurora notices. Phillip insists he's making up for lost time.  The say "I love you" to each other. Aurora is smiling and seemingly full of hope, while handsome Phillip walks away with tears in his eyes, never turning back to look at her again.

In his shop (it's dark outside/night) Gold/Rump pours boiling water from a silver tea kettle into an ornate silver teapot, when in enters Emma, Snow and Charming. "What can I do for you?"
Emma demands "What you can do is tell us what did you do."  Gold feels she needs to be more specific.  Snow jumps in "You double crossed Emma, you took your potion from her..."
Charming- "And did who knows what to this town."
Emma- "Worst of all you risked Henry's life."
Gold- "Well, that is quite a litany of grievances, now isn't it?"
Emma- "Maybe I don't need answers, maybe I just need to punch you in the face."
Gold is amused by this. "Really, Dearie? Allow me to answer your questions with some of my own, alright? Did your dear boy Henry survive? {Yeah} Is the curse broken? And let's see, uh, Miss Swan... How long have you been searching for your parents? Looks like you're reunited. Seems like rather a punch in the face, I deserve a 'thank you'."
Emma- "Twist my words all you want. What was the purple haze that you brought?"
Gold- "You know... Magic."
Snow- "Why?"
Gold- "Not Telling."
Just then a huge and loud disruption hit the dark street outside the shop, shaking the ground and causing car alarms to go off, glass to break and the street lights to explode. A loud roaring is heard as the electricity outside the shop is going crazy, snapping and sparking angrily.  Emma asks "What the hell was that?" Gold tells them "That is my gift to you. That is gonna take care of Regina."  But Charming and Snow tell Emma to "Come on", that they need to take care of this. {Why not listen to Gold and just let this thing take care of Regina?!}  Emma whispers to Gold "We're not done."  He knows, as she still owes him a favor.  The trio heads out.
Disappointed Belle comes out from behind the two curtains {the doorway to the back}. "You lied to me."
Gold- "No. I, I kept my word. I will not kill her."
Belle is getting teary. "You know, you toy with words... like you do people. You're still a man who makes wrong choices. I thought you'd changed."
Gold- "What? In the hour you've known me?"
Belle is stunned at his remark, and as Gold is apologizing she storms out into the electrical storm outside.

Aurora sits alone in her tent while Mulan tries to cause a spark to make a fire. The Wraith roars in the distance. Aurora wonders where Phillip is. Mulan thought he was in Aurora's tent.
Aurora is concerned. "He said he was making a fire."  But here is Mulan trying to make one. Mulan looks around and determines "He left. The horses are gone."   Nervous Aurora asks why he would leave. Mulan informs her "Because he was marked." She's going after him. Apparently Phillip is sacrificing himself for Aurora. But Aurora corrects Mulan, stating his sacrificed "for both of us." Aurora is going with her, although Mulan doesn't want her to slow her down. Mulan takes off and Aurora runs after her a few seconds later.

Aurora immediately finds herself alone in the forest with the roaring/howling sounds in the distance. Frightened, she calls out for Mulan.

The Wraith makes its way down the dark streets of Storybrooke.
The light flicker in the jail housing nervous imprisoned and marked Regina. "Hello. Who's there?"  The Wraith {Minus the medallion} arrives to suck Regina's soul, when Charming, Snow and Emma arrive to intervene. Charming fights the Wraith, but it fights back, tossing Charming and furniture around until it goes back to its soul sucking task.

Snow uses an aerosol can and a lighter as a torch weapon at the Wraith and this causes the Wraith to retreat out through a window. Regina gasps for air as she explains that was a Wraith- a soul sucker. Snow wonders if she killed it, but Regina says no; it's just regenerating. "It'll be back. It doesn't stop until it devours its prey... Me."  {She holds up her left hand, I guess to show them her mark- but I'm not too sure anyone saw anything there- who knows? Maybe it was just a mudra gesture.}  Emma asks "How do we kill it?"  Regina informs them "There's no way. Can't kill something that's already dead."  Emma feels they have a problem. Annoyed Charming interjects with "No, we don't. Regina does."
Snow- "David?"  {Why did she call him David?}
Emma- "You wanna let her die?"
Charming- "Why not? Then it goes away. Then we're safe."
Regina- "It's quite the example you're setting for your daughter there."
Charming- "No! You don't get to judge us!"
Regina- "Let me ask you something- where do you think that thing came from? Gold."  {Don't they already know that? Gold just told them that!}
Emma tells Charming that she made a promise to Henry. "She's not dying."  Snow asks Regina "If it can't be killed what do you suggest?"  Regina feels it's best to send it somewhere it can't hurt anyone."

In Regina's office she breaks out the hat box portal. Regina asks Emma "Did Henry really ask you to protect me?"  Emma says yes and this makes Regina happy.  Emma sees the top hat and declares "The hat. You had it all along."
Regina- "What do you mean?"
Emma- "That's Jefferson's hat."
Regina- "Who's Jefferson?"
On cue, Snow and Charming enter with three straw brooms {all different color poles} to use as torches- for when it comes back. This is Charming's old fashioned touch, because he's old fashioned.

They all enter the room with the giant golden (Storybrooke) Tree medallion and Regina explains how it works. "The hat will open a portal to our land. All we have to do is send the Wraith in there."
Suspicious Snow doesn't understand "I thought our land was gone."  Charming lights the brooms. {Note the hat shows signs of wear and tear.}

Regina - "It is. But sending it to a place that no longer exists... well, that's banishing it into oblivion." She tries to get the hat to spin to create the portal as the Wraith nears. The electricity goes haywire. The Wraith roars and blows open the doors!

Mulan {With her lit torch} feels the ground. Aurora comes up behind her on one of the horses she found. "I'm coming with you."  Mulan tells her she needs to stay here, it's too dangerous. But Aurora wasn't asking permission. {Another LOST phrase we heard a few times.}
Mulan- "That thing out there is dangerous, and Phillip asked me to protect you, so even if I don't believe in his methods I'm going to honor his wishes. I'm gonna keep you safe."
Although Aurora never asked him to, Mulan informs her she never had to. Because everything he does he does because he loves Aurora. "And now he's gonna die for you. Love is sacrifice. Something you clearly don't understand."   Aurora won't let him face that alone.  Mulan feels Phillip's best chance is her/Mulan.   Aurora realizes Mulan loves Phillip.  Mulan feels she owes Phillip much, as they fought many battles together side by side- nothing more.   Although Mulan can deny it all she wants Aurora knows love when she sees it. Mulan claims Aurora is wrong.  A roar is heard in the distance; as well as sorrowful moans. They fear for Phillip.

The roaring Wraith is face to face with Regina, Charming, Snow and Emma. They're armed with their lit torches.  Regina is still spinning the hat to try to get it to work- she knows the Wraith is right there and there's no time.  Charming swats his flaming broom at the Wraith, while partner Snow pours MacCutcheon's Whiskey on the gate railing. Charming closes the gate and lights it on fire.

While he continues to fight the Wraith, Regina still can't make the hat work.

Phillip swats his flaming torch. "Come on you bastard!"  But he is alone in the dark forest.  Mulan and Aurora approach him on horseback and he demands they stay back.  Aurora insists they can help him fight.  Phillip tells the girls "It will find me. I've been marked. It's too late for me. Go! There's no other way!"  Mulan says there is. She wants the talisman so she can mark herself and he can live.  But it is Phillip's choice to save her- both of them.   Crying Aurora doesn't want to live without him and neither does Phillip.  As the Wraith approaches, Phillip tells the girls "You two keep each other safe. He looks back slightly over his right shoulder (not making eye contact with either girl) and says "I love you. He tosses his torch (still holds the medallion in his left hand) and allows the Wraith to take him. The girls scream.  The Wraith sucks his soul and then Phillip drops the medallion, enabling the Wraith to disappear into it. Phillip is motionless on the ground.

Regina claims "It's not working!"  She tells Emma the problem is magic works different here. Charming yells over to her "Now would be the time!"  Once Emma touches Regina's arm, {Regina's hands on the hat} the hat gets to spinning. David yells "It's coming!"  The Wraith heads towards Regina, but Emma pushes her out of the way. The Wraith is sucked into the hat- the Wraith's sucking light ray grabs Emma's leg and drags her in. Snow jumps in after them! "I'm not losing her again!" Neither is Charming. He jumps, but the portal is closed!

Phillip lays in Aurora's old resting place. Aurora shares with Mulan that the palace was to be their home; they would spend eternity there. Mulan wonders how she ended up here, in her cursed state. Apparently it had something to do with sacrifice.  Mulan puts the medallion in a light/gold pouch. She thinks Aurora should have it.

Charming is devastated and crying as he holds the tattered hat. "Where are they?!" Regina claims to have no idea. He asks "Are they dead?"  Regina claims the curse destroyed all the lands.
Charming- "ARE THEY DEAD?!"
Regina- "I don't know."
Charming is very angry. "I should have killed you myself!"
Regina asks what's stopping him. Angry Regina all of a sudden has some power. She pushes Charming up against the wall and summons the bark of the tree wallpaper to trap him; it's choking him. "You think you're some heroic Prince? Please. You're nothing but the son of a shepherd. I should have killed you when I could. And now... now I can."
Henry enters with Ruby witnessing this.  Regina makes all innocent. Henry asks what she's doing. Regina feels it's okay. "You're safe now."  Charming is released from the trees. WHile Ruby tends to him, Henry asks "Where's my mom? Where's...."
Regina (teary eyed)- "They're gone. The fell through a portal, they're... Henry, I'm sorry."
Henry (crying)- "No you're not. You really are the Evil Queen. I don't want to see you again.
Regina- "No- don't say that. I love you." {She tenderly touches his face.}
Henry- "Then prove it. Get Emma and Mary Margaret back. And until then leave me- leave everyone alone."
Regina- "Where will you go?'
Charming- "With me." The two men and Ruby walk out.

In the back room of his shop Rumpelstiltskin spins at his wheel; I image to get his mind off of things. Belle enters after a long walk.
Rumpelstiltskin- "I thought you didn't want to see me."
Belle didn't, but was worried.  Rumpelstiltskin states "Well, the beast is gone- Regina... lives."
Belle- "So, uh... you didn't get what you wanted."
Rumpelstiltskin- "Well, that remains to be seen."
Belle notices that Rumpelstiltskin still has her chipped cup.
Rumpelstiltskin is very sweet. "There are many, many things in this shop... but this... this is the only thing  I truly cherish. And now you must leave. {What?} You must leave because despite what you hope... I'm still a monster."
Belle smiles at him. "Don't you see... that's exactly the reason I have to stay."

Charming and Henry enter the apartment.  Henry looks at a photo of Emma and Snow is a light color frame.  Charming assure Henry that the two girls are alive, as he knows this because he has faith. "I will find them. I will always find them."

Aurora rests her weepy head on {Sleeping} Phillips chest/heart.  Mulan suggests "We should leave this place. It's not safe here."
Aurora- "But the Wraith is gone."
Mulan- "There's more. You need to know everything. Much has changed in our land since you've been asleep."
Aurora- "It was less than a year."
Mulan- "In a manner of speaking. You see, as you slept and Phillip and I searched for you... something worse happened. {What?} Are you familiar with Regina the Queen? {Yes.} She cast a curse on this land- a terrible, terrible curse. It ripped everyone away to another world."
Aurora- "But we're still here."
Mulan- "This corner of the land was untouched. No one knows why, but something saved us. And for 28 years we were frozen- and then time started again. The terrible curse's power was weakened and Phillip and I were able to resume our search. We found you. But the land is ravaged with dangers more fearsome than you can image. For those of us who remain... we found a safe haven. We must go there now."
They hear a crackling noise. Mulan readies with her sword. Something is in there {a pile of rubble}.
Aurora- "What did it bring? What is it? What do you see?"
Mulan moves a piece of debris and Aurora asks her what that is.
Mulan- "That. That is what brought the Wraith here. That's what killed our Prince."
Guess who...

The Stranger

"The Magical Mystery Tour is waiting to take you away" - The Beatles

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


"You don't see it, do you? Your denial is more powerful than I thought.  It's preventing you from seeing the truth."


One of Emma's lessons in this adventure is about seeing what is right in front of her and not believing it and outright refusing to see it- the truth.  She needs to have a little more faith and trust in herself and believe. Not only with the things she is seeing and hearing with her own eyes and ears, but including intuition.  

Do you believe everything you are seeing even when it's shown to you over and over again, or trust it to be true- even if it is a lie?  Could there be something you're refusing to see?


Don't be fooled by time and space

The challenges we see Emma experiencing in her Storybrooke journey seem reflected in the dialogue played out in this version of events in Fairy Tale Land. Emma asks August to show her the big picture and when he shows her a big picture- she freaks out. Even though she claimed to want to see as a means to beat Regina, she couldn't find it in herself to do it- not even for the greater good.  I am concerned about Emma's confusion, decisions and actions.

Nonetheless circumstances have changed in Fairy Tale Land and things have changed and are in motion in Storybrooke; and on a grand scale. Sure, I'll ask- did circumstances change just because Emma is there or because of the change in the storybook?  In Fairy Tale Land the Blue Fairy states that circumstances have changed and Jiminy Cricket even says "Things have changed and the savior needs her mother." 


Choose your own adventure

A story written out and scripted with roles; But now edits, changes and outcomes are a part of the evolving story.  Literally, right now, the story has no ending, so anything happen. Many other fairy tale characters stories are in the book and Pinocchio has been acknowledged before, so why the need to add/change his story in there?

Again I'm brought back to Henry tearing out the last few pages of the book- the ending.  Is Henry's (remember the book was given to him by Mary Margaret/Snow White) ending to the story really the same ending that August says will come to fruition once Emma "believes"- we can only hope for a happy ending.  In life we all write our own stories... and ending.

* Henry feels the changes in the book are there "to tell us something we need to know about the curse"; but he/they don't know what that is because the story isn't finished.
* I'm just gonna ask again... Is there more than one book?

Regina tells a couple of stories:
* Regina made up a story to David with the staged blank note from Henry.
* Regina told David a really great story about finding him unconscious on the road. She played David, put on a dramatic act, outright lied and tried to manipulate David into her web.

"I meant to be a good boy"

Since August/Pinocchio is a liar, are we to completely trust in the stories he's told while in Storybrooke? Of course we are led to believe he is the one who "changed/added" an entry into the fairy tale book. Now, I'm not saying he's not. I just have a tendency to be cautious of liars and con-men.  Emma surmises he's the altering author, but he only states he needed her to know the truth.  But did he stretch or manipulate the truth a bit, having an ulterior motive for some reason?  I mean, after all, he hasn't been completely honest about everything since arriving at Storybrooke.  One example (there are a few) in this episode alone is when August, the writer, tells Emma he learned how to do this handy work in wood shop, 8th grade, and not from his father. Of course, he really could have had shop class in 8th grade, but the obvious point was made in this episode that he didn't mention a father who taught him.

Evidently, he didn't seem to take the initiative to go and look for Emma during his life in the new magic-less land, or even look for her in the ever important 28th year.  He was only motivated when he was woken up at 8:15 in the morning (in Phuket) when his leg got a shooting pain because "you decided to stay in Storybrooke. That's 8:15 at night in Storybrooke- sound familiar?"  Why did he say "you decided..." like that?

And (last week) what was all of his theatrics with Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin and trying to get the dagger and kill him for the Dark Power all about?  Should we still question that play or was he completely honest with Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin about his goals? I mean, think about it, did he think that move was really going to get Emma to believe, or give him the proper magic to stay a real boy/man- or was that about something else all together? August/Pinocchio was willing to acquire the Dark Power! How would that have helped Emma to believe or to heal him?  He's known since childhood that world is a land without magic. Plus, I thought by knowing Henry's book that he realized the Evil Queen is the one who enacted the curse. (We know Rumpelstiltskin concocted it.)  In this episode the Blue Fairy tells Geppetto the child needs to be protected from the powerful effects of the Dark Curse. Who knows, maybe he had intentions to fight Regina as the Dark One, or maybe he thought just by taking that power away from Rumpelstiltskin was a noble act.  And while we're at it... why does August always wear black? Hmm...

Although we see some compassion and bravery in August/Pinocchio, I can't help but wonder is there more to it?  Could he have made shit up or skewed events in the changed storybook because he wants to be a hero or is he a villain? Is he taking advantage of the current circumstances? Or has he truly learned his lesson and turned over a new leaf?

Things to Note...Questions to Ask...
๑  Damon Lindelof, LOST and the "Island"
๑  Flashes
๑  Battery. Power. Electricity. Energy.
๑  The universe, karma, fate and destiny
๑  Henry's been hiding the storybook in the sheriff's office for a while now and is only noticing the changes in it now?
๑  Stories told: David and Emma were found on the side of the road.
๑  August and Emma can "leave" Storybrooke
๑  The words Curse and Magic are braided together; associated as the same- yet different
๑  Both Geppetto and Pinocchio break rules and go against what is asked of them.
๑  Trip. Unconscious.
๑  Real. Not Real
๑  Tree
๑  Birth.  Born. Spring.
๑  Late can mean dead or asleep
๑  Inanimate
๑  Guiding. A gentle nudge.
๑  Balance
๑  Black (Smoke),  White (Roses)
๑  Chanty- another word for "shanty" is cabin, camp, hut, shelter, shed, cottage and box.
๑  Three: Colors (copper- gold- emerald green) on the rotary phone, three digits call/connect you to someone.
๑  Pinocchio must remember to be brave, truthful and unselfish to stay a real boy. But now he's a grown man.
๑  1984
๑  Fairy Tale Land is down to their last enchanted tree in the entire realm, and last week they used the last magic bean to open the vortex.
๑  The clock tower in Mr. Gold's shop is 6:10 and in Geppetto's garage it's 6:05.
๑  The clock has a sort of military motif with its chevron and star design.
๑  Clock. Time.  Fast. Slow.  Early. Late. Running out of. Pace.
๑  Risk
๑  Game. Win. Lose. Time.
๑  Framed
๑  Booth
๑  Claim. Custody. Case. Accusation.
๑  Hope
๑  Head/mind- Heart/chest.
๑  Right. Wrong
๑  Cold. Ice. Winter. - Spring
๑  Fun nod to Star Wars.
๑  TRON
๑  The word vessel (used for holding something or traveling. Artery or vein) is used for wardrobe (for holding clothing)
- Vessel- aka- ship, sink, sinkhole, bay or tub, barrel.
- Wardrobe- aka- chest, costumes, fashion,  locker, trunk

Vocabulary and Research...

๑  Code Red- emergency alert used in hospitals.
๑  Code Red: series of books for teens written by Chris Ryan
    1).  Flash Flood    2).  Wildfire    3).  Outbreak    4).  Vortex    5). Twister
๑ The Stranger or The Outsider (L’Étranger) is a novel by Albert Camus published in 1942.
   - The Stranger is a collection of science fiction stories by Gordon R. Dickson.
   - The Stranger is a short story written by J. D. Salinger first published in the December 1945 issue of   Collier's magazine.
๑ Sociopath: Antisocial personality disorder that begins in childhood
๑ White Rose: Have come to symbolize many things. Purity, Innocence, Secrecy, Sympathy, Spirituality. In early traditions- true love and the wedding flower.

                                                 Hints to the "Island" (more photos in the post)

 

                                                               

 ✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

 20 out of 20 ONCE Upon A Time episodes literally connecting to LOST and the amazing "Island"...

✈  Oceanic Airline: Oceanic flight 815 crashes on to mysterious island on September 22, 2004.
As per one ARG, it was founded in 1979; at one point claimed to have a 30 year perfect safety record.  Oceanic flies over Dharmaville in "A Tale of Two Cities".
✈  Flashes
✈  Lock
✈ Trip. Unconscious
✈  Head/mind- Heart/chest.   "Hearts and Minds"
✈  4,  8
✈  108
✈  815
✈  Battery. Power. Electricity. Energy.
✈  Tempest: Violent storm
✈  Birth.  Born. Spring.
✈  Pace
✈  Suffering
✈  Tree
✈  Guiding.
✈  School.  Learning.
✈  Swan
✈  Sidney Glass- Sydney (Glass)
✈  Claim
✈  Late
✈  Hope
✈  Mental and emotional health
✈  Kidnap
✈  Raft: Michael builds two rafts. He takes Walt on the raft to spare him growing up in "that place."
✈  Bearded Jack tells Kate "he's sick."
✈  Jack visits Phuket in "Stranger in a Strange Land" and we learned in "Lockdown" that's where he learned to play cards.
✈  Gordy/Gordi is the man Sawyer is involved in a Con with in "The Long Con"
✈  Kate buys a bus ticket to Tallahassee in "What Kate Did"
     - In "316" Jack's Grandfather, Ray, travels on the bus
✈  Hot air balloon: Henry Gale makes up a story about it in "One of Them"
✈  Course correction is mentioned to Desmond by Eloise Hawking in "Flashes Before Your Eyes."
✈  Diner: Kate's mother, Diane, worked as a waitress in a diner.
✈  Foster home - Foster children: John Locke- "Deus Ex Machina", "Outlaws",  "The Man from Tallahassee", and  "Cabin Fever"
✈  "Expose" - Corvette realizes the money for the children in the orphanage.
✈  In "The Substitute" Ilana has to show the people at the Statue 'the face of what they're up against.'
✈  Charlie feels he has to "Save the baby" as it is told to him via a realistic dream in "Fire + Water".
✈  "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" Answer- “Ille qui nos omnes servabit.”  Translation- "He who will save us all."  {Possible Translation: “He quae we omnes being saved”. But those words also may translate to: He/she/it- who/what/which/that- us/we-omnes serves/servant/slave/creature.
✈  Custody: Michael fights for Walt in "Special".  Kate, by default, gains custody of Aaron.
✈  In "...And Found" Jack's wedding ring is rattling around in his sock drawer back home.
  -  In "Lockdown" Locke hid Helen's engagement ring in a green and white sock in his sock drawer.
✈  Crash 
✈  Wash up on shore:
   - Desmond in "Live Together, Die Alone"
   - "The Little Prince" - Rousseau's science team.
   - "LaFleur" - Sawyer tells Horace a story his shipwrecked adventure.
✈  Other connecting episodes:  "Live Together, Die Alone", "Raised by Another", "Special" "The Greater Good",  "S.O.S.",  "Solitary",  "The Cost of Living", "Every man for Himself" and "One of Us".


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

8:00 AM

 August installs a new heavy duty medieval chic lock on Emma and Mary Margaret's apartment door.  "No one is gettin' through that."  Impressed  Emma asks him "Wow. When are you installing the torture chamber?"  Mary Margaret doesn't care what it looks like, as long as it keeps Regina and her skeleton keys out.  August, the writer, tells impressed Emma he learned how to do this handy work in wood shop- 8th grade.
Speaking of school Mary Margaret has to get going.  Emma asks her if she's sure she's ready to go back. Mary Margaret feels that after a stint behind bars, how tough can a room full of 4th graders be? "Besides... Aren't you the one we need to be worried about?"   Emma wonders why.
August- "Well, you did threaten to take Henry away from Regina."
That wasn't a threat. Emma is hiring Mr. Gold to help build a case against her.  She reiterates to Mary Margaret "She tried to frame you for murder."   Mary Margaret asks her "But you do know what happens if you do win?"
Emma- "Yeah."
Mary Margaret- "And you're ready? To be him mom?"
Emma- "Yeah."
Henry radios Emma via his walkie-talkie "Code Red. Code Red."  He tells her to meet him at Granny's "It's an Operation Cobra emergency."  Emma's on her way.

Outside {passing the stacked lumber} August tells Emma to wait up. They continue to hurry along. Emma- "You heard the kid. Operation Cobra calls."
August- "I didn't think you believed any of that."
Emma- "Oh, I don't. But sometimes it's the only way to get through to Henry."
August feels a custody battle against Regina isn't going to accomplish anything. "You need to look at the big picture. That's the only way you're gonna understand what you're up against. That's the only way you'll know how to beat Regina."  {They walk passed the closed up Library}
Emma-  "Okay new guy, how's that?"
August- "Take the day off.... come with me and I'll show you."
Emma- "And where exactly would we be going on this magical mystery tour?"
August- "If I told you, you would never come."
Emma continues to walk on.  August calls out "Oh come on.  Take a leap of faith. You come with me and I promise you, you'll find exactly what you're looking for."
Emma- "My kid needs me. I don't have time for faith."   August is disappointed.

Emma meets up with Henry, who is sitting in a booth, drinking hot chocolate and looking through the fairy tale book.  Emma enters asking Henry "What's the emergency?" Henry urges Emma to "Shhh. This is sensitive."  Emma whispers "If it's sensitive, why are we at Granny's out in the open?"  Henry was hungry.
Henry - "Who else knows that we hide the book in sheriff's station?"
Emma- "No one. Why?"
Henry-" Someone changed it. There's a new story in it."
Emma- "Why would someone add a new story?"
Henry- "To tell us something we need to know about the curse."
Emma- "And what would that be?"
Henry- "I don't know. The story isn't finished."

Emma- "Why would someone go to so much trouble to add a new story and not bother finishing it?"
Henry- "That's what's weird. The story's about Pinocchio. (he says this with a bit of foreboding) Everyone knows how that ends."
Emma- "Well, maybe that's why it was left out."
Henry - "Or maybe- there's more to it."   He turns the page to show a raft.
Emma- "Henry. You are gonna be late for school.  Let's go."
Henry looks at the page again and the page transforms into live action (for us).

A violent storm is tossing the raft around.  Geppetto and marionette Pinocchio are the passengers. Geppetto yells for his boy to hold on as they try to move faster to escape the approaching giant whale.  Pinocchio is trying to hold on.  "Faster! Faster, father! He's catching up!"   But the current is too strong and the whale is quickly approaching.  As Geppetto tries to steady the raft he tells his marionette son "Don't let go!"  Geppetto decides "We must abandon ship. Take this. This is the only one."
Pinocchio- "No father. I'm made of wood. I'll float. We can both survive."
Geppetto- "No! We don't risk."  Pinocchio pleads with his father to take it "Save yourself!" and he jumps overboard as the whale is about to gobble up the raft.

Geppetto is unconscious, lying on the edge of the shore. {Note the reminders of the crash of Oceanic flight 815} He wakes up and finds his head was resting on the life preserver.   He calls out for Pinocchio and realizes "You saved me."  He is happy.  "Where are you?!  Oh! Where are you?"  Geppetto spots Pinocchio a short distance away, face down in the water's edge.  He holds the wood boy and cries; he's devastated.

"I wish I could've saved you, my boy."
The Blue Fairy flies in and tells Geppetto "We still can."  Geppetto begs "Please- save him."  The Blue Fairy uses her magic wand and transforms the wood boy into a real boy.  The boy opens his eyes and looks up at the man cradling him and asks "Father?"  Pinocchio looks and realizes "I'm... a real boy. I'm a real boy!"  Father and son are very, very happy. Geppetto thanks the Blue Fairy. "I don't know how I could ever repay you. Th... This is all I ever wanted."
The Blue Fairy- "You and Pinocchio have found each other. Now go. Live your life together as a family." She also wants Pinocchio to remember to "Be brave, truthful and unselfish.  So long as you do that you will always remain a real boy."  She blows him a kiss. Geppetto places the boy's hat back on his head.

Sad August fondly touches his boyhood hat. He dials three digits on the three tone colored rotary phone (copper- gold- emerald green) and sets up a meeting with Mr. Gold. It's about Emma "There's a... problem."

On his way out the door, he is sidetracked by a painful crippling and stiffening in his leg. He reveals his left leg is turned to wood.

At the school Regina sees that Miss Blanchard is back.  Mary Margaret seems happy to be back. There are kids playing kickball/soccer and two kids walking their bikes.  Mary Margaret remarks it's wonderful that everything worked out.  Henry forgot his lunch, Regina asks Mary Margaret if she's seen him.
Mary Margaret says "He's with his mother."  Regina asks if there's a problem to which Mary Margaret replies "Not anymore. Though someone did got to a lot of trouble to make it look like I did something horrible. But they failed."
Regina- "Yes. Sidney Glass. Who's safely incarcerated."
Mary Margaret- "If it was Sidney.
Regina- "Well, ask your roommate. He confessed."
Mary Margaret- "Of course he did."
Regina- "Are you insinuating something?"
Mary Margaret- "Yes, I am. But I forgive you.  Even if you can't admit what you did. I forgive you anyway. Your life must be filled with such incredible loneliness if your only joy comes from destroying everyone else's happiness. It so sad, Mayor Mills, because despite what you think it won't make you happy. It's only going to leave a giant hole in your heart. There's Henry now."
Regina is left there silent.
Henry asks Regina what she's doing here.  Regina gives him the TRON lunch box he forgot.

She sits him down and tells him it's time for a change. "I think it's time to transfer you to a new class with a new teacher." Henry asks why she wants him out of Miss Blanchard's class. "Is it because you framed her?"  Regina is shocked "Henry, do you really think I'm capable of doing something so horrible?"  Without hesitation he replies "Of course. You're the Evil Queen."
Regina- "Enough.  Those fairy tales are not real.  Miss Blanchard should have never given you that book. She should be grateful I'm not trying to get her fired."
Henry gets defensive. "Go ahead and try. It won't work. No matter what you do Snow White will have her happy ending. She and Prince Charming will be together.  The curse will end!  Good Will Win.  And I'm not transferring classes."  He walks away from her, leaving her with a baffled look on her face.

August enters Mr. Gold's shop.  He is wearing black gloves and keeps his hands in his jacket pockets the whole time he's there.
Mr. Gold is busy discussing the repair of a pretty clock tower with Marco/Geppetto.
Mr. Gold tells Mr. Booth he'll be with him in a moment. "On second thought,tell me, as one admirer of antiquities to another... Do you think it's worth my while having this clock repaired? {August doesn't answer because he's stunned to see wide eyed Geppetto there- so he knows this is him.} I'll take your silence as a "yes" then."
Geppetto tells Mr. Gold that he's very busy right now, as he only a one man shop. "But I'll get to the clock as fast as I can."   Mr. Gold wouldn't ask for anything more.  Geppetto takes the clock, walks past August and bids him a "Good day" on his way out. Nervous August mumbles, stumbling over the words "H, How are you?"
Mr. Gold- "First time seeing dear old dad since you arrived at Storybrooke?"
August, still stunned from the shocking moment he just experienced, again stumbles over his words. "I'm.. s, s, sorry."
Mr. Gold- "You know what surprises me is, why a man claims to be at death's door, can't even bring himself to say hello to his father. What are you afraid of?"
August- "That's, uh... that's my business."
Mr. Gold feels that's fair enough. "Let's talk about ours. You claim to be the only person who can make Miss Swan believe. That you can get her to do exactly what she was brought here to do. And yet, for a man who's running out of time, you don't seem to be in much of a hurry."
August- "It's not me slowing us down. It's her. All she can think about right now is getting custody of her kid."
Mr. Gold- "Sounds like Sheriff Swan needs a course correction."
August- "She's coming to you for legal advice."
Mr. Gold- "And you want me to steer her toward you."
August- "I can get her there- to believing. Trust me."
Mr. Gold laughs- "Ah, I'm sorry, it's just that- knowing who you are and your nature- trust is a big ask.  Fear not. A gentle nudge I shall provide."  He heads toward the curtained back room with his ledger.

Geppetto is teaching real boy Pinocchio how to make the clock function; fix it.  "Line the gear on the spindle. Now press the spring."   Pinocchio follows instructions and it works!  Geppettto is proud. "Good work! You fixed it. Bravo!"   The repair opens the double doors of the clock tower set on 2:00, revealing Jiminy Cricket has been tied up and trapped inside.  Giggling mischievous Pinocchio did this.  As Geppetto frees Jiminy Cricket, he reminds him what the Blue Fairy told him about being a good boy. Jiminy tells Geppetto it's okay, "He meant no harm. I'd be laughing too if I wasn't so dizzy."   Just then the Blue Fairy flies in and Pinocchio instinctively blurts out "I'm sorry! I meant to be good!"  She's not there because of Pinocchio, she is there with bad news.   Geppetto has Pinocchio wait in his room while he talks with the Blue Fairy.  {Jiminy tells Pinocchio to "hang on" and goes with him.}
"The Evil Queen. She's threatened the entire Kingdom with a curse. A curse that will rip away all that we love."
Geppetto- "Then we must stop her."
The Blue Fairy- "It is too late for that."
Geppetto- "So,  all is lost?"
The Blue Fairy- "No. There is hope. If you will help us.  {He asks "Me?"}  Snow White is about to give birth to a child.  A child who will save us all when she reaches her 28th year.  But only if she can be protected from the powerful effects of the Dark Curse."
Geppetto wonders how he can protect this child.
The Blue Fairy tells him of an Enchanted Tree; much like the one he carved Pinocchio from. If fashioned into a vessel, it can protect the child from the Queen's magic. Will you do this?"
Geppetto is afraid. "I can't lose my boy. I have lost...  so much. I cannot lose him too.
The Blue Fairy- "Then build the wardrobe.  That's how you'll save us all."  Geppetto thinks intensely about it and then nods "yes."

"I have to save him. I have to get Henry away from Regina" says desperate Emma to Mr. Gold.  He feels her intentions are admirable . However, he won't be taking her case.  This shocks Emma. "You know what Regina did."  Mr. Gold agrees, but they can't prove it.  "Given the Mayor's sway in this town any proceeding against her will be long and drawn out and futile. The only certainty is- Henry will suffer.  You can't do that to your boy."  Emma seems frustrated "So, we leave him in the same house as that sociopath?!"   Mr. Gold apologizes, but his mind is made up.  She tells him "Well, then change it! The only person I've seen go head to head with Regina and win- is you."
Confident Mr. Gold says that's  because he knows how to pick his battles.  Aggravated Emma tells him to pick this one.
Mr. Gold- "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'm simply not the man to help you beat Mayor Mills."
Emma- "No. You're not."  She huffs out, while Mr. Gold is pleased.

Pissed off and desperate Emma bangs (4x) on August's door {2}. She paces while she waits for him to answer.  Although he cautiously opens the door for her, she barges in.  He tells her to take it easy.  Everything is not okay; Emma feels she's just about out of options.
August- "Just about?"
Emma-" You told me to beat Regina I needed to see the big picture. Show it to me."

David locks up the Storybrooke Pet Shelter.  He sees Regina investigating things under the hood of her car; she bangs her head.  Chivalrous David goes over to help her out.  Car trouble- It won't start. She has a car full of groceries "And, well it hasn't exactly been a banner day."    David determines her battery is dead. He doesn't have any jumper cables, but he can give her a ride home in his truck.  He insists, siting the option being a car full of melted Rocky Road.  She accepts.

Regina thanks him for being her Knight in shining armor and invites him to stay for dinner; as she bought more than enough for her and Henry. "Well, I'm making lasagna."  The Knight in flannel feels he shouldn't.  It's getting late and he has to get up early for work tomorrow. 

Regina tells David to set the bags "over there" while she reads a "note" from Henry. Wow, Mom! It is blank!

Regina reads the note and looks very troubled by it. She lies to David saying Henry is having dinner with Archie after his session instead of coming home.  David is sorry.
Regina turns on the drama- "Lately it seems like he'll do anything to avoid spending time with me.  But I shouldn't be burdening you with my problems.  You've already helped me more than enough for one day. Thank you."   David walks out and then has second thoughts about leaving the sad Regina alone. He loves lasagna.

The Blue Fairy leads Geppetto, cloaked Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket {he settles on Pinocchio's right shoulder} into the woods to the magnificent tree.  Geppetto is in awe of it's beauty.
The Blue Fairy- "The Evil Queen will stop at nothing to destroy Snow White and Prince Charming's happiness. We must stop at nothing to undo her curse."  She tells them "This is the last enchanted in the entire realm.
Geppetto is very inspired. "It can be done. I can make a beautiful wardrobe out of this."
The Blue Fairy- "The tree contains enough magic to protect two from the Queen's curse. Before the curse strikes, before Snow gives birth to her child, she and the Prince will enter the wardrobe and travel to a distant land- a land without magic.  Where Snow will give birth to her child. Then when she reaches her 28th year she can begin the battle that will defeat the Evil Queen. You see why it is vital you complete the task at hand."
Geppetto is concerned, because Pinocchio wasn't always a real boy. "When the curse strikes, when the things we love are ripped away, he will be turned back into wood again, won't he?" The Blue Fairy is afraid it is impossible to say.  Jiminy's concerned they're frightening the boy.  Geppetto comforts Pinocchio, compassionately rubbing his heart/chest.  "Oh. No. Shhh. I will build your wardrobe on one condition. (he puts his hand on the boy's heart/chest again) If Pinocchio can take the second spot in it." 
The annoyed Blue Fairy and Jiminy feel Geppetto can't bargain like this. "Not when the entire realm is in danger."
Frightened Geppetto feels if he doesn't he will lose his boy-  maybe forever, and can't risk that. "Snow can raise the child without her husband. Jiminy whispers to him  "Think about the example you're setting for Pinocchio."  {Note a light dusting of snow on the ground.}
This upsets Geppetto. "Oh!  You may be a conscience. But you have not earned the right to tell me what to do."   Jiminy pleads, as he's only trying to help.
Geppetto- "Help?! Help, like you helped my parents?! Your debt to me can never be fulfilled. But start would be staying out of this! Understand?"
Sad Jiminy understands.
Geppetto picks up Pinocchio and informs the Blue Fairy "Pinocchio goes through, or no one does."
The disappointed Blue Fairy asks "And what will we tell the Prince and Snow White?"
Geppetto- "You will tell them that the tree contains enough magic to protect only one. Do we have a deal... or no?"

"The tree is enchanted. If fashioned into a vessel it can ward off any curse" the Blue Fairy explains to the round table of people, including- Granny {knitting with white yarn} Grumpy, Doc, Red Riding Hood and a few Knights. 
She asks Geppetto if he can build such a thing. Geppetto pats Pinocchio's head and proudly says "Me and my boy, we can do it. This will work."

The Blue Fairy tells them all this will work. "We all must have faith. There is however a catch. The enchantment is indeed powerful, but all power has its limits... and this tree can protect only one.  A choice must be made."

Emma rides passenger on the motorcycle.  She asks August if he's going to tell her where they're going and how it's going to help her beat Regina.  August informs her "We're going on a trip, Emma. So I can tell you somebody's story.  Emma wonders "Whose story?"  August replies "Mine"  They exit Storybrooke.

Regina asks David "How did you like it?"  David thinks its the best lasagna he ever had. "You really know how to work some magic."  He cleans up the dishes for her, even though Regina giggles that it doesn't seem right, since he already saved her from calling a tow truck. 

David knows the past couple of weeks haven't exactly been easy for him, "And you've been there the whole time." {Wait... WHAT?!}  Regina can't help it. "I feel responsible for you- ever since I... found you."    Even after all this time, no one has ever told David the story.
Regina, playing timid, "What story?"
David- "About how you found me."
Regina flirts- "It's probably because I'm the only one who knows it."  She giggles in a flirty coy way and begins the/her story.   "I was working late... it, it was a cold night- must have been 10 below. And on my drive home I realized I'd left my phone at the office.   I remember thinking- just to forget about it,  and I didn't really need it, but... something inside me told me to turn around and go back.
Davis- "Um, That's when you saw me?"
Regina- "You were on the side of the road... unconscious, so cold you felt like ice. The doctor said that if I found you 10 minutes later it would've been too late. It's amazing, isn't it? If I hadn't forgotten my phone I wouldn't have been on the road- at that time."
David- "That's almost... almost like the universe wanted you to find me."
Regina looks into his eyes and leans in to kiss him. David backs away, "I'm sorry. I hope you didn't get the wrong idea."  Regina apologizes; she got caught up in the moment.  David feels she doesn't have to apologize. "I just... We... This is great, like it is."   Regina has tears in her eyes.
David thanks her again for dinner and leaves.
Angry Regina sees her reflection in the warped/distorted mirror and throws her wine glass at it- shattering it. {White roses} 

We get a (sort of) replay of the Evil Queen riding in her black carriage and the black smoke to enact the curse.  Snow screams for Doc while she labors to birth her baby.  The Prince reassures her the wardrobe is almost finished.

The worried and anxious Blue Fairy flies into Geppetto's fun workshop to tell him circumstances have changed, Snow White is going to give birth early; the savior will be born at any moment.  Pinocchio can't go.  Snow White must accompany her daughter or all will be lost. "This is a land with no magic. She will need someone to guide her, someone to make her believe in her destiny. Who better than her mother?"
All Geppetto cares about is that they had a deal.  The Blue Fairy tells him there' no time to argue as the curse is almost upon them and she must return to the fairies to make final preparations. "It is vital that you tell Snow White what I just told you.  Her child is our only hope- she is the only one who can save us!"
Geppetto asks "And my boy, what will happen to him?"  The Blue Fairy feels all they can do is have faith that one day the savior will restore all that we have lost."  She flies out the window.
Pinocchio asks his troubled father if they should tell Snow White.  Geppetto tells the boy to get into the wardrobe. This troubles Jiminy Cricket. "Geppetto! You can't! Things have changed. The savior needs her mother."
Geppetto- "No. She needs someone to protect her, to make her believe in her destiny. My boy- he can do that."
Pinocchio doesn't understand because he heard what she said.  Geppetto doesn't care what she said. "All that matters is that you are safe."   Confused Pinocchio wonders "But you told me to be honest, father. You told me not to lie."
Geppetto squats down to the boy's eye level and touches his heart, telling him that sometimes we have to lie to protect the people we love. "You must look out for the child in this new land. You must protect her."
Pinocchio is scared. "But I don't want to go. I don't wanna leave you."  They hug and get teary eyed.
Geppetto-"Pinocchio, you must remember what the Blue Fairy said... In 28 years you must make sure the savior believes. Promise me you'll do that. It is the only way we'll- we'll see each other again."
Pinocchio- "I promise."
Jiminy Cricket tells the boy "There will be many temptations in this new world, Pinocchio. But as long as you remain brave, truthful and unselfish, you will not fail."
Geppetto puts his scared boy into the wardrobe, telling the boy "You'll find me again. And on that day...I will look at you with pride.  You will be a great man, my son."  They hug.  Geppetto closes and locks the doors on his scared crying son.   There is rumbling and a whooshing sound. Geppetto opens the doors to see that Pinocchio has disappeared.  Geppetto cries.

August rides Emma past the I95 sign and makes a right onto a bridge with a 'road/bridge closed' gate that is open.  They pull up to Chanty's Lobster House and Emma starts to freak out.   August calls it a diner.

Emma- "No more screwing around! I am not a character in one of your books! What the hell are we doing here?"
August- "I think you know."  He presents the old newspaper article and tells her "You've been here before. This is the diner you were brought to when you were found as a baby."

Emma seems nervous and jumpy and not impressed he found an article about her. "I thought this trip was supposed to be about you."
August- "It is. This is my story- and it's your story."  He claims to be the 7 year old boy who found her.
Emma just stands there stunned and silent.

In the snow dusted woods a whoosh with an electrical charge blows open a tree trunk and little Pinocchio hops out. {It may be a Pine tree} The very frightened boy is dirty.  An Oceanic airplane flies overhead and he cowers from it.

And as he attempts to jump back into the tree trunk opening, he is tossed back to the ground by some electrical force/charge, where he is knocked out- having Flashes of his birth into real boyhood, the instructions given by Geppetto (and him asking for Pinocchio's promise) to look out for this child in the new land; and it's the only way they can be together.

 The boy wakes up and again is frightened, this time by the obvious whooshing electrical activity occurring.

A baby appears in the already opened trunk of the tree.  He holds the baby (Emma. White blanket w/purple ribbon) and tries to quiet her. "Shh. Shh. Shh."  Scared Pinocchio looks around his new and unfamiliar world.  The baby cries.

Emma asks August "Why are we in the woods?"
August - "All the answers you've been searching for are right where I found you."
Emma- "See! You're not that 7 year old boy! I wasn't found in the woods, I was found on the side of a highway."
August- "Why do you think that? Because you read in the newspaper? Did it ever occur to you that maybe that 7 year old boy lied about where he found you?"
Emma- "It occurs to me that you've been lying to me about everything... and I'm done listening."  She walks away, but August continues telling the story.  "When I found you, you were wrapped in a blanket and the name Emma was embroidered along the bottom of it. That wasn't in the article was it? How would I know that unless I was there?"

Emma- "Okay. Let's say you were that kid. Why lie about where you found me? August- "I lied to protect you."
Emma- "From what?"
August- "That."  {pointing at a tree}
Emma- "A tree?"
August- "You read Henry's book, right. You know about the curse, don't you?   Your role in it? It's true, Emma. We both came into this world- through this tree."
Disbelieving Emma- "You're asking me to believe you are a fairy tale character?
August- "Pinocchio."
Emma- "Right, of course. Pinocchio. Explains all the lying. (she has a revelation) You're the one who added the story to Henry's book."
August- "I needed you to know the truth."
Emma- "The truth is you're out of your mind. And you're not even a very good liar. Why not write the end of that story?"
August- "Because this is the ending, and we're writing it right now."
Emma- "And how does this story end?"
August- "With you believing."
Emma- "Not gonna happen."  She walks away leaving August stunned.  He hurries after her and yells out for her to wait and he is struck with his "leg issues" and falls down.
Pissed off Emma asks "What... is wrong... with your leg?"
August laughs. "I failed."    Emma thinks he may be putting on an act to make her feel sorry for him and that something is gonna change; he'd be wrong.
August stands up. "I am not screwing around here. Whatever you believe- or don't- this is real, Emma!  I am sick!"
Emma- "That's an understatement."
August- "Have you ever been to Phuket? It's beautiful- amazing island, full of pleasures- the perfect place to lose oneself.  That's where I was... when you... decided to stay in Storybrooke."
Emma- "How did you know when I decided to stay in Storybrooke?"
August- "Because at 8:15 in the morning, I woke up with a shooting pain in my leg! That's 8:15 at night in Storybrooke- sound familiar? That's when time there started to move forward again. I was supposed to be there for you... and I wasn't.  Because I was halfway around the world I got a painful reminder of how far I strayed.  If that tree won't make you believe, maybe this will..."   He shows her his "changed into wood" left leg.  But Emma doesn't see anything but a real human leg.
August insists she look.  Emma is looking but doesn't see the wood leg.
August is surprised- "You don't see it, do you?"
Emma- "See what?"
August- "Your denial is more powerful than I thought. It's preventing you from seeing the truth."
Emma- "Okay.  One of us loosing it here and it's not me."
August- "You don't wanna believe.  After everything that you've seen, why can't you just to do it?!"
Emma- "Why is it so important to you that I do?"
August is all fired up. "Because, I, the town, everyone needs you!"
Emma- "I don't want them to need me."
August- "Well, that's too bad because we all do!"
Emma is worked up- "You're saying that I am responsible for everyone's happiness? That is crap! I didn't ask for that! I don't want it!"
August- "Right now!  A little while ago you didn't want Henry either, but then came to you and now you are fighting like hell for him."
Emma is crying, "For him! Because that is all I can handle right now! And I'm not even doing a job of that!  Now you're telling me I have to save everyone- that is beyond ridiculous! I don't want any of it!"
August- "Well, that's too bad, Emma, because that doesn't change the truth. You're our only hope."
Emma- "Then you're all screwed."

In a foster home in the big city, with many children, Pinocchio and infant Emma reside.  Pinocchio quiets crying Emma's by entertaining her with silly faces and tonal sounds.  Little handy Pinocchio is scolded by mean Mr. Raskind (foster father) for using tools that don't belong to him.  The boy was only trying to fix the crib; he didn't want Emma to fall out and get hurt.  Raskind warns him "Don't ever touch anything in this house again. Nothing belongs to you."   He takes his red toolbox away.
Gordie comes in asking the boy if he's okay.  Gordi asks him if he can keep a secret and shows Pinocchio a huge roll of cash."
Pinocchio- "Wow! Where'd ya get that?"
Gordie- "I stole it from the sock drawer. It's enough to buy us all bus tickets outta here."  He tells the boy they're all leaving right now, "You wanna come?"  Gordie touches Pinocchio's right shoulder.
Pinocchio tells Gordie "I told my father that I would take care of Emma. Can she come- please?"
Annoyed Gordie says they can't take care of a baby. "If you wanna stay here for the rest of your life, be my guest."  He walks out. Pinocchio tells him to wait; as he's had second thoughts.  Pinocchio kisses his fingertips, touches Emma's head and tells her "I'm sorry, Emma."

August/Pinocchio pays a visit to Marco/Geppetto in his garage workshop where he's trying hard to get the clock to work. He's mumbling to himself in Italian. The time on the clock is 6:05.
August/Pinocchio tells him to "Align the gear with the spindle- then press the spring."

Geppetto follows instructions and the clock works; the cuckoo bird pops out twice. "Who taught you that?"
August/Pinocchio- "My father."
Geppetto- "He taught you well. He must be very proud."
August/Pinocchio- "Oh, I don't  know about that. I don't think he became the man he wanted me to be.
Geppetto- "Have you tried to make it up to him?"
August/Pinocchio- "I made him a promise a long time ago. By the time I got around to making good on it- I think it was too late."
Geppetto- "But you kept your promise. You realized your mistake and you tried to fix it. That's important.  If I had a son... that would be enough for me."

August/Pinocchio sees the wood carved whale from his childhood on the shelf. "You look like you may be shorthanded. {Marco/Geppetto get's by} How would you feel bout taking on an assistant?"
Marco/Geppetto- "I can't pay you."
August/Pinocchio- "It's okay. I just feel like fixing things."
Marco/Geppetto holds out a welcoming hand to August/Pinocchio, telling him to come in. "Vieni. Vieni."

11:00 PM or 2:00 ? {Clocks have different times on them.}

Emma's walkie talkie transmission wakes Henry with a "Code Red. Code Red." He keeps the turned on walkie under his pillow.  Emma needs to talk to him, but it's not about Operation Cobra. "It's about us. Meet me downstairs."

In Emma's car, Henry warns Emma if his mother sees him out there talking to her, she'll get really mad.  Emma asks Henry a serious and important question. "Do you want to get away from Regina? So you want to come live with me?"   Happy Henry wants that more than anything. So, Emma has the boy buckle up."
Henry- "Why? Where are we going?"
Emma- "We're leaving Storybrooke."   She starts the car and drives off with him.