The Take2 Guide to Lost is Here!

LOST Fans -  IT IS FINALLY HERE!!

The Take2 Guide to Lost - The Ultimate Compendium!

LOST is alive and well!  As a contributing author, I'm excited to announce the release of The Take2 Guide to Lost- The Ultimate Compendium!  Longtime "Island" residents and new recruits alike will love and appreciate all that this extensive guide offers you.  This super-size guide gives readers and viewers insight on every LOST episode, themes, characters and so much more.  You will want to keep this definitive resource handy while living or reliving the LOST experience.

A handful of my Lost episode notes from Karen's LOST Notebook have been included in this eBook.   And again, I am humbled and honored to be a part of this awesome publication, and to be included on this list of very passionate and respected Lost bloggers and authors. 

The Take2 Guide to Lost is available at all the major eBook sellers.  More than 50 contributors, comprising established reviewers, academics, award-winning sci-fi authors, and lay writers, ask and answer all your questions in this ultimate eBook compendium  on one of the most successful TV shows ever.

I'm also thrilled to make a very special offer to my family, friends, followers and all readers with a 20% discount on your purchase of The Take2 Guide to Lost.

Click here for your 20% coupon code for your purchase The Take2 Guide to Lost 

Click here to purchase your Take2 Guide to Lost ebook via Amazon, iBookstore, Google Books, Kobo, Nook, and the Take2 Guide to Lost store.

LOST Celebrates 10th Anniversary at SDCC2014

Because- WE HAVE TO GO BACK! IT'S DESTINY!!
 ... It IS my destiny, dammit! I can do this! It's destiny!!!

More Islanders Cross the Bridge

This hat reminds me of the Sorting Hat from Hogwarts in Harry Potter's world.

If you know anything about me you know that I am a huge fan of ONCE Upon A Time... and of course, my constant, LOST.  Sunday can't get here fast enough as I'm anxiously awaiting the return of ONCE Upon A Time! I'm also thrilled to see the bridge that connects LOST to ONCE Upon A Time is being well traveled. I consider the "Island" is neighbor to Storybrooke and the many magical and mysterious lands of ONCE Upon A Time. More and more LOST alumni are making their way over to the adventurous fairy tale.

Two such alumni include the lovely Rebecca Mader and awesome Eric Lange.  Both have scored roles on the beloved abc TV show, ONCE Upon A Time. LOSTies will remember both Mader and Lange's LOST characters are shown to exist in more than one "phase" of the "Island's" reality, and with variations in each one's stories. They do however share a past living with/in the DHARMA Initiative.

Rebecca Mader’s role on LOST was as the Geronimo Jackson loving anthropologist – archaeologist, Charlotte Staples Lewis; whom fell victim to the side effects of temporal displacement. Mader’s witchy ONCE character will have history with the Evil Queen Regina, and we hear that this green skinned character will be wicked! I can't wait to see where this OZ influenced journey brings us.

Eric Lange's LOST character was famed Stuart Radzinsky. Radzinsky was a member of the DHARMA Initiative and worked at the Flame Station; we see him crafting a model of the Swan Station in 1977. Radzinsky also served as hatch partner to Kelvin Inman in the Swan Station. Lange's ONCE role is as young Prince Leopold, Snow White's loving father. I'm very excited to see him in this new role.

ONCE-LOST

Take a look at another ONCE - LOST  character!  Check out Naveen Andrews as Jafar on the upcoming ABC TV show ONCE Upon A Time in Wonderland.  This is going to be another awesome adventure.

Damon and Carlton in Storybrooke

There were many LOST references in the episode "Tiny."
Here is a clip of Damon and Carlton in Storybrooke- where they mention the LOST episode "Expose" and it's show within that episode titled "Expose." 
"Expose" is referenced in a few other LOST episodes as well.

Tiny

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"  - William Shakespeare

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

When I was a very young child my father would call me "Bones."  Come to think of it, I don't recall him ever addressing me by the name he and my mother gave me at birth.  I've had three nicknames in my life that I wear with pride.  This, of course, excludes the horrible things I was called by bullies and other negative people who felt the need to create other stupid yet colorful names for me.  Two of the three nicknames correlate to my size.  After all, at only 5 feet tall my physicality is tiny, and most of the time seems the only thing people notice about me.  So, "Bones" has been reserved for my father's use and was retired once he passed away, and "Shortcake," the nickname many people still call me and which I've had for many years now, makes me smile on a daily basis. The other nickname came when I was in our rock band and the guys would call me "Chickie," since I was the only girl in the band.

Nicknames and even names don't really define who you are. Nicknames or labels can be a form of ridicule or contempt, or even convey affection, endearment, emotional bond or simply familiarity.  We do use names as a form of identity, but here in our story these people are confused about their identity, about who they really are- deep down inside.  We're all more than just a name.

Anton felt a bit disrespected by his brothers calling him the nickname, Tiny, and inferior to his brothers with their teasing, but it was a sign of affection, for they did love him very much.  It's apparent that the brothers behaved as loving brothers do. But what matters most is that they lived, worked and loved together- as a family.  They worried about Anton and each other, and they took great care of the land, beans and life they've cultivated.

A family shows love and caring in different ways, but that's not to be confused with family members who inflict real pain to each other's heart and mind, causing great damage.  A loving family is a treasure, not the material possessions acquired by them. The value is in each person.


Anton is happy when the Dwarfs and the ax name him Tiny- just like his brothers used to call him. He is again part of a brotherhood- a family.

Plant a good seed

We see that the Giants take pride in their bean farming work. They do it not for the riches and/or magic they could provide, but put in hard labor simply for the harvest. They foster life and that is valuable to them.

Jack plants a seed in Anton's head about his family, emphasizing the "negative" behavior of his brothers and making him feel the grass is greener in Prince James' Kingdom. But we learn that's just part of the con put in play by Jack, Prince James and King George.

Be careful which seeds you or others plant in your mind and what emotions you water them with, because you have a choice on how to nurture those seeds into a wonderful productive harvest... a bright reality, or not.  You want your seeds to grow beautiful and strong, and not develop fungus and rot.


"The same thing that makes all men dangerous. They come, they fight, they destroy, they corrupt... and it always ends the same"

Arlo shares a similar sentiment about humans with Anton as the above quote from LOST. "They don't abide by the same laws that we do, Anton. We Giants foster life. They destroy it. That is why they must never know that we still exist or that we still grow the beans."

It is sad that people hurt each other, but the Giants have found a way of life that lets them live in peace. Unfortunately most humans aren't content with the possessions they have or their station in life, they are selfish in their methods to acquire more.  But not everyone is the same, some find happiness in the simple and beautiful things in life, especially love of family and home- and that's enough for them. Most people will protect what is theirs- possessions, beans and family.

"See you in another life, Hurley"

Anton seems to have been put through a test of sorts, yet is kidnapped by Cora to be used as a means to her own end/gain. But this hard path he has to walk leads him to a new life, new fertile land one that could bring him purpose, a new family and especially Hope. When given the opportunity to let go and die, Anton didn't take it. I feel that Anton isn't ready to "let go" because he still has some work to do in Storybrooke.

With Anton's inadvertent betrayal of the beanstalk and the harvested beans, I'm reminded of an episode of LOST, Further Instructions, when John Locke leads the cops to the grow house on the farmland where he lives; he has to clean up that mess before he can move forward.  I see a few things in Mr. John Locke that Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold have in common.


Learn to Fly

Let's keep in mind that Mr. Gold/Rumple is just like everybody else- that is important. He has walked a hard path as well. Little by little he and the other residents are learning to "let go" of things they shouldn't hold on to any longer. This will help them grow and find what they really value and love and find their way home.

I want to share this bit of information with you as I saw this with LOST and I see it with ONCE Upon A Time.  Enlightenment.
Sannyas is the art of flying-  the art that stops the process of gravitation and starts the process of grace. All that is needed is a state of let-go. All that is needed is a readiness to be possessed by the upward dimension, a readiness to open to the sky. 

I want to share my photos with you. It was such an honor to meet Jorge!

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

๑  Twice we see Cora is the person of interest to be summoned or found, yet Regina shows up in her place. Ex: Hook puts the Queen of Hearts playing card down to summon Cora, but Regina shows up.
๑  Names: Nicknames ,pen names,stage name, pseudonym or alias.
๑  The Wizard of Oz: Green door, Em, Marvel
๑  Alice in Wonderland: Jabberwock. Eat something (mushroom/treats) change your size
๑  Damon Lindelof in the episode 7:15
๑  All the Giants names begin with the letter "A"
๑  Black, White and Red
๑  Life. Death. Rebirth/Start over
๑  Layers
๑  Realm. World. Plane- Travel
๑  Hook's ship and Emma's wardrobe are made from enchanted wood
๑  Tallahassee
๑  Jack and the Beanstalk: Gold harp
๑  A fairy tale titled "Teeny-Tiny"
๑  Foster life. Foster parenting
๑  Root. Seed. Plant. Grow. Harvest.
๑  Anton's clothing is very "Jedi" and East Asian clothing and Samurai culture
๑  Sentry birds. Guard
๑  James is a selfish greedy a liar, conman, while David is selfless and willing to sacrifice
๑  The Giants eat vegetables and follow a monastic, even Buddhist way of life
๑  In the episode In the Name of the Brother the magic globe highlights on the East Coast of the U.S. but not specifically New York. Unless I'm just not seeing it properly or the perspective is out of whack- if that's the case then never mind

Vocabulary and Research...

๑  Anton: The name means "Highly praiseworthy" or "priceless."
- Anton is a 1973 Norwegian drama film: 15-year-old Anton Olsson lives in a little village in rural Norway. As his father loses his grip on reality Anton's mother, who left home when Anton was little, returns.
- Anton is a massively parallel supercomputer designed and built by D. E. Shaw Research in New York. It is named after Antonie Philips van Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch tradesman and scientist from Delft, Netherlands. He's known as "the Father of Microbiology," and considered to be the first microbiologist. He is best known for his work on the improvement of the microscope
๑ The Germ Theory of Disease:  Louis Pasteur was born in Dole France. Louis Pasteur's main contributions to microbiology and medicine were; instituting changes in hospital/medical practices to minimize the spread of disease by microbes or germs, discovering that weak forms of disease could be used as an immunization against stronger forms and that rabies was transmitted by viruses too small to be seen under the microscopes of the time,introducing the medical world to the concept of viruses. Controversy Over Louis Pasteur A few historians disagree with the accepted wisdom regarding Pasteur and believe that the evidence points to him as being a plagiarizer and fraud of note, and that his research was not at all original.
๑ "Jabberwocky" is a nonsense verse poem written by Lewis Carroll in his 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, about an encounter between a young boy and a monster called the Jabberwock. This is the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  The book tells of Alice's adventures within the back-to-front world of a looking glass. Alice finds a book written in a seemingly unintelligible language. Realizing that she is traveling through an inverted world, she recognizes that the verse on the pages are written in mirror-writing.
- Jabberwocky is a card game of the trick-taking variety
๑ Mushroom (or toadstool) is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus. Mushrooms are used extensively in cooking; They are known as the "meat" of the vegetable world. Medicinal mushrooms are mushrooms or extracts used or studied as possible treatments for diseases. Many mushroom species produce secondary metabolites that can be toxic, mind-altering, antibiotic, antiviral, or bioluminescent.  Although there are only a small number of deadly species, several others can cause particularly severe and unpleasant symptoms. Mushrooms with psychoactive properties have long played a role in various native medicine traditions in cultures all around the world. They have been used as sacrament in rituals aimed at mental and physical healing, and to facilitate visionary states.

 ✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈ Damon Lindelof voice over as the TV announcer and Carlton Cuse introduces Exposé.
✈ Eyes
✈ Exposé
- Poison -At one point Hurley mistakes Nikki's last words as "Power lines" - we see the Giant run through power lines in Storybrooke
✈ Jules Verne The Mysterious Island
✈ Ajira Airlines. Travel
✈ Across the Sea
✈ The Incident
✈  Enlightenment
✈  Arrow- Station
✈  Ship
✈  Being watched
✈  Torture
✈  Seed. Root.
✈ Tranquilizer. Sedation. IV. Sleep. Drugs/mushrooms
✈  Michael is from New York City.
 -Locke goes to NYC to find Walt in The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham
✈  The Long Con
✈  ? (Question Mark): Salted land so that nothing will grow
✈  Catch 22-  "Did you eat those mushrooms Jack warned us about?"
✈  Dave:  Hurley- "...Back to the caves. No one lives there anymore, so I won't bother anybody. I'm just going to live alone and be one of those guys - you know, the crazy guys - with a big beard and no clothes who's naked and throws doodie at people."
✈ It's Hurley's lucky day when he's able to get aboard Oceanic flight 815
✈ Whatever the Case May Be -  Shannon translates Danielle Rousseau's papers and maps, which included the lyrics to "La Mer" (Beyond the Sea).  Shannon- "A des reflets d'argent. La mer des reflets changeants... the sea of sparkles? No, wait, um, the sea of silver sparkles that change..." She recalls the melody and lyrics from the movie Finding Nemo.
✈  Claire loses her memory when she's taken by Ethan.
✈  In the episode Homecoming she asks Charlie- "We're friends?"
✈  Raised by Another

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

Mr. Gold picks up Emma for their field trip to find his son. Emma thinks layers are a good idea when Henry wonders about the cold or warm climates they might face. This makes Gold realize they have one additional travel partner. Emma won't leave Henry behind with Cora lurking about, and Gold respects this. They'll have to purchase another plane ticket.  Yep, they're flying!
David warns Gold not to let any harm befall his family not because he would cross the time-line in his David Nolan Animal Rescue van, but simply because it would devastate him. It's not a threat, it's a request. "Take care of 'em."  Gold promises no harm will come to his family, as they have a deal.

The threesome drives in Gold's old Cadillac toward the Storybrooke border. The landscape looks cold, dry and brittle.  They're on their way to Logan International Airport, and that's as much info Gold will divulge at this point; One step at a time.  Gold tells Emma if the shawl doesn't work when crossing the line then he'll revert back to his cursed self, "We're all gonna have some problems."   He assures his nervous passengers "It'll work."

They cross the line and a magical energy flows over Gold.  The shawl worked. "My name is Rumpelstiltskin... And we're gonna find my son."

Mary Margaret flirts with David about him carrying a holster, but he misses carrying a sword.  Leroy has the Dwarfs on Cora-Watch, "They've got eyes everywhere, but they could use our help." Mary Margaret jokes "How hard could it be to find a powerful sorceress in a small town?"  Apparently it's not very hard because Regina is at the door.  David informs Regina Dr. Hopper is alive and well and that she was framed by Cora.  Regina plays dumb, pretending she's unaware that her mother is in town.  Mary Margaret apologizes to Regina about them being wrong.
Regina- "I know. But if Cora's here then we're all in danger. Please, you have to let me see my son, I can protect him."
The lovebirds reveal that Henry left town about an hour ago with Emma and Mr. Gold to find his son. They didn't tell Regina because they didn't know where she was, and Emma doesn't really have to run anything by Regina.  This comment hurts Regina and she just walks away.
Mary Margaret- "That went well."   She and David start their quest to find Cora. David hands Mary Margaret her bow and arrows. David doesn't know where to find her but he knows who to ask.

Still wobbly from his injuries, Hook leads David, Mary Margaret and Leroy to the dock.  He seems insulted they didn't even ask him about his recovery, so Mary Margaret asks him. Hook just flirts. David insists Mate/Hook show them the shielded ship. Hook doesn't know what David expects to find as Cora won't be there. David thinks that maybe she left something behind to tell them where she went. Leroy warns the pirate he's watching him, but Hook isn't threatened by the dwarf.  Mary Margaret knows Hook the pirate will help them because he knows which way the wind blows. "And right now it's gusting towards us."  Hook sees where Mary Margaret's daughter got her gumption. "Follow me," Hook leads them onto the invisible ship.   Leroy is very curious. "You sailed this ship from our land... can you sail it back?"
Hook- "My ship? She's a marvel. Made from enchanted wood. We weathered many a storm together- seen many strange glittering shores. But to travel between lands she must go through a portal."
David just wants to know what Cora's plans are, so Hook shares that malice driven weapon of choice is in here; a large covered box.  Leroy removes the cover to reveal a sleeping large man/giant.
Mary Margaret asks "Who's that?"

The diner bell rings and Tiny is late to dinner. His brothers missed Tiny out in the fields. Annoyed Tiny corrects one of the brothers, "Its Anton."  The brothers playfully squabble, beating Tiny to some of the vegetables on the table, but this makes Anton feel bullied.
But today they celebrate. Arlo, "After a century of hard labor, the time for the bean harvest has finally arrived. {Everyone is happy except for Anton.} But, is a blossom more than its root? Is a harvest more important than a hard day's work? No. Each has value... Just as each of us has value. Hear. Hear."  As the men toast a tiny harp falls from Anton's sleeve. He's obviously been spending time in the treasure room, although he tried to deny it. {Note Alexander's subtle reaction to the harp.}

Arlo feels Anton's fascination with the humans and their artifacts are misguided, "No good can come of it."
Anton- "How can you say that when you've never even been to their world? And you won't even let any of us go down there."
Arlo- "Have you forgotten what the humans did?! Why we no longer trade beans with them? They weren't content merely traveling between the realms.  They had to conquer and pillage...."
Anton- "Just because a few humans did some bad stuff doesn't make them all evil."
Arlo- "They don't abide by the same laws that we do, Anton. We Giants foster life. They destroy it. That is why they must never know that we still exist or that we still grow the beans." {Is it just me, or is Arlo a little too "Big Lebowski"? lol}
Anton- "But why do we keep growing them... if nobody ever uses 'em?"
The five brothers seem dumbfounded by Anton's comment.
Arlo- "It's what we do."
Anton- "We don't do anything with them!"
Arlo- "It is the labor who makes us who we are, not the fruit that it yields." {He looks at Anton as if to say "do you understand?"}
Alexander picks up the tiny gold harp and asks "What is this... a human toy?" He crushes the harp, "Not much fun, is it?"  Although Arlo notes Alexander's behavior, insulted Anton hurries away from the table and climbs down the beanstalk.

Cora used magic to make the caged Giant "travel size."   David seems to think Hook knows what Cora intends to do with the Giant, but Hook says he doesn't. Hook suggests they wake the bloody Giant and ask him yourself. He gives Mary Margaret the key to the cage and she wakes the Giant, telling him he's safe now. {Watch Hook here.}
Mary Margaret asks him his name and he replies it's Anton.  The awakened Giant asks where the witch is and realized she made him small. Anton sees David, "You... You!" He attacks David and its Mary Margaret's arrow that stops Anton.
Anton- "You may have me outnumbered, but this isn't over. You think I forgot what you did- I didn't! You'll pay for your evil. I promise- you'll pay!"  Anton runs off.

Belle watches TV in the patient lounge of the hospital when she's visited by Ruby {Wearing her ugly hairy jacket} bearing gifts; comforts of home, including the book by Jules Verne "The Mysterious Island."  {Watch video clip above. Bill Godwin. Exposé, etc.} Belle doesn't remember Ruby and asks her "Were we really friends?" Since they were, Belle asks Ruby to tell her the truth as she recalls the time "before I was brought here," and how she was hurt and a man healed her bleeding (cut) and also held a fireball in his hand. She wonders how that's possible.  Ruby only says that the nurse said the tranquilizers can give her wicked nightmares. But Belle knows what she saw and insists she doesn't need any more tranquilizers. She is getting worked up and even wonders why everyone keeps calling her "Belle." 

Just then the nurse from Regina's secret underground ward comes to inject Belle with a heavy sedative, as that's how they've been keeping her.  Mr. Mendel attached to his IV lurk close by and ask if everything is okay. Ruby feels the sooner the much improved Mr. Mendel is better, the sooner he can leave their quiet little town.

Back at Granny's Diner, Mary Margaret, David and Leroy try to figure out what the Giant meant with his threat to David. David's never seen him before.
Leroy- "Well, he sure knows you."
David thinks, "No. It's not about me. He just thinks it is."

At the Palace James is drinking and fooling around with the conceited "true wonder," when the King enters to share that there's trouble afoot for the teetering on bankruptcy Kingdom- News of a Giant running a muck in the outer village. James thought Giants were extinct. The conceited woman would love the chance to battle one, but the King insists "No. No killing. Not yet anyway. This Giant could be of use to us." Arrogant James just needs to be told what needs to be done.

Mary Margaret realized the Giant thinks David is his brother James. It's the only thing that makes sense. David tells Leroy to get his head looked at while they go and find out what kind of trouble his brother got himself into. "And gather the Dwarfs, you need to keep an eye out for this Giant.

The Giant peeks into the window of the tavern.

James {Prince of this realm} and the woman meet up with the Giant to ensure he received a warm welcome.
"I'm Anton. I'm a Giant."  This, of course is obvious to all. It's Anton's fascination with their customs that brings him to their land; he wanted to see it for himself.   James would be happy to show Anton around, but there's the matter of his size.
Anton- "I'm too small for back home, I'm too big for here."

The smiling woman tells Anton don't despair, as she has something that may help him. "Magic. A piece of mushroom from a far-off land.  I once slayed a Jabberwock that was terrorizing a village. They, they couldn't pay me in gold, so they paid me in this instead. If you eat it, it will change your size. Its effects are temporary, but we have more. I'm pretty sure this one makes you smaller."  She hasn't had the occasion to try it. The wise woman who gave it to her swore by its power. Anton doesn't have any way to replay them for their kindness. The woman feels there's no need, "If it makes you happy that's all the payment that we desire."
Anton- "Well, at least tell me your name."
The woman- "Jacqueline... (her tone changes a bit here) but most people call me "Jack"."
Anton- "Nice to meet you, Jack."

Emma, Mr. Gold and Henry check in at the airport.   As they're about to pass through to the other side of the security check point, Henry asks Gold if he's ever been outside of Storybrooke before. Gold replies "no," also saying he's not nervous about that, nor is he nervous about meeting his son; he seems nervous.
Henry- "It must be really hard not to use magic- Being like everyone else."
This is an obvious concern for Gold.  Happy Henry marches right through the security scan while Gold and Emma put their belongings {including Gold's scarf and cane} into the basket.
Gold- "If I let this go I could forget who I am."
But Emma assures him she won't let anything happen.  {Note: Emma says her father's a little nervous and that their headed to a family reunion.} When Gold removes the scarf/shawl he becomes a little unbalanced. Emma keeps her word, immediately putting the scarf back on Gold and he's fine. When they walk through the detectors it beeps for each of them.
{Flight 358 is ready for boarding at terminal C, gate 48 C} Henry is way too excited that there's a Cinnabon there.

Hook drops the Queen of Hearts card (Calling card) to summon Cora, but Regina appears in her place.  He was expecting her mother; the one he was supposed to kill. He didn't want to deprive Regina of a happy reunion. Regina feels its Hook's lucky day, "She and I have made amends."  Cora doesn't feel it prudent for her to be out and about so here's Regina to ask Hook if they found the ship.  Hook tells her they found it but didn't get her things off of it because he's been tied up in bed. He also shares the good news that a {shrunken} Giant got loose from the hold.
Regina- "You lost a Giant?"
It's good news because when the Giant got free and took a good look at the Prince he became extremely murderous. Regina feels this is just the distraction they need.

The shrunken Giant walks down the middle of Storybrooke's streets; past the shoe store and dodging cars. 

The Prince leads Anton into the pub, "Much better to be on the inside, huh?"  The Prince offers the guest of honor, Anton, a seat at the table. Anton likes the special attention, attention he doesn't get at home from his brothers. Jack's not so sure about Anton's family, "It doesn't sound like they appreciate you."   Anton feels their not so bad, except for the making fun of him, pushing him around, and their harsh words. "Well, yeah, it's sorta bad."
The Prince looks into Jack's eyes, "Sometimes you have to leave home to find the people you truly belong with. (puts his hand on Anton's right shoulder) Your real family."
Jack- "It's like you were always meant to be here, Anton."
Anton feels wanted.   The Prince wants to be sure Anton has all that he needs and he walks away to chat with another man.

Anton is moved by the music; he notices the harp being played by a woman in the band. "I had one of those once. I never knew it made such beautiful music. My brothers are so wrong about humans."  He notices the Prince getting worked up in the conversation he's having with a man. Jack reveals that the Royal coffers are empty, "James and his father are deeply in debt to a neighboring Kingdom If James can't pay back what he owes they'll plunder this realm and burn it to the ground."
Anton now understands. "Will the other Kingdom only accept gold coins?"
Jack- "Well, that depends... A magic bean, for instance, would be worth a thousand coins, but, you don't have any of those back home, do you?"
Anton (obviously lying)- "No. No beans. We do have treasure. Enough to pay off your debts, I bet."  He would help them without question. If he's going to stay there for good might as well make sure it's a nice Kingdom and not you know... burned to the ground.  Jack kisses him on the cheek, declaring he's their hero.  This makes Anton feel good.

Anton sits looking out to the water when he is approached by Regina. {She's sporting an big old fashioned hand muff.} He demands the human get away from him or he'll kill her; he hates humans. Regina laughs, as she's there to help him kill someone. Claiming she has no love for this Prince, if Anton wants to destroy the town to get to him "Well, I'm happy to do my part. (She shows him a treat) This will make you bigger. It will return you to your former glory."  Anton eats the blue and white treat and grows very big. Regina is happy. "Now get to work. As I'm sure you're aware that mushroom won't last forever."

Mr. Gold/Rumple paces nervously as they wait to board their plane. He excuses himself; heads to the bathroom where he looks at himself in the mirror.

Gold enters a stall where he proceeds to repeatedly punch at the metal box. Seeing his knuckles have produced blood/injury he tries to use magic to heal himself- but it doesn't work. {Strangely, he actually looks a little relieved.} Henry opens the door calling out for Mr. Gold to tell him they're boarding soon. "Are ya comin'?"  Gold doesn't reply.

Back at home, Anton is gathering treasure to take down to his new human friends when he is greeted by worried Arlo.  Anton tells his brother he needed to get away for a little while, so he went down below to see things for himself.
Arlo is stunned. "You went to the human world? Do you have any idea how dangerous that could be?"  Anton shares that he met friends there. "Friends who understand me- who like me. And I plan to go back for good."  Arlo is compassionate to Anton. "Anton, I know we tease you, but we love you. You're our brother, you know that. You expect these humans to just welcome you with open arms- you could crush them."
Anton- "There's magic that can change me into their size. And with this treasure we can all be happy."
Arlo is alarmed by the sentry birds warning. "Someone has trespassed on our land. You told the humans you were coming here, didn't you? You showed them the beanstalk!"  Anton realizes this means trouble.

The big again Giant is running a muck through the streets of Storybrooke.  David instructs the panicked residents to head to the Town Hall, somebody get Leroy, and he and Snow will have their first attempt at stopping a Giant.   David calls attention to the Giant. "Wait! You don't have to do this!"
Anton- "Yeah, I do! You destroyed everything in my life. Now you're gonna know what that feels like."
David- "The man who hurt you- that wasn't me. That was my twin brother, James, we were separated at birth, he was raised by a ruthless King."
Anton- "You're not James?"
David- "No!"
Anton is suspicious. "Then where is he?"   David explains "He paid the ultimate price for his arrogance. He's DEAD! There's nothing more you can do to him."  Snow interjects "We're on your side, Anton. We're good! We're here because of you. You know our daughter, Emma, you gave her the magic compass." Anton wants to talk to Emma. If she says their Okay then he'll stop. It's revealed She's kind of out of town, which Anton finds convenient.
Anton- "Everyone I'm looking for isn't around! All you humans do is lie and cheat and kill and I'm sick of it!"  Fired up, he heads after them!

Anton's new human friends James and Jack meet up with the brothers at their giant dwelling. James informs them they aren't there for the treasure "We're here for the beans. All of 'em."  Anton is hurt, "But... you're my friends."
Jack- "No. We're not. If you and your people want to save your lives- Take us to the beans."
Arlo won't do it. "We may live in peace, but we will fight to protect what is ours."
James- "Then a fight you shall have."

As Mary Margaret, David and Leroy are running away from Giant Anton, Leroy wants to understand David's names.
WATCH THE CLIP:

They run hoping to lead the Giant away so he can't hurt anyone. But Snow is concerned if they continue running that way they'll hit the town line.  David decides on a new plan. He's going to give Anton what he wants; to make a deal, surrendering himself to Anton if Anton spares the lives of everyone in Storybrooke.  If he doesn't the whole town will suffer and he can't allow that. This freaks Mary Margaret out.  Anton agrees to the deal and takes off in David's direction attempting to jump onto to him. But this creates a giant crater in the ground and shrinks the Giant back down to travel size.  Anton is hanging on for his life when David organizes his rescue.

The human armies are overrunning the brothers. Abraham and Andre have fallen; the human swords are poison. Anton realizes this is all because of him. "I've ruined everything."   Arlo assures him he still has a chance to save them and instructs him to raze the fields. "If the humans take the beans they will bring their violence to every realm. It is your birthright to protect the beans. Right now that means... destroying them."

The Storybrooke residents band together to save Anton. Mary Margaret kisses her Charming, "Most people would have let that Giant die after what he's done."
"You wouldn't," replies Charming; He descends into the deep hole.
Anton refuses to take David's hand "I don't wanna go back up there! I should just let go!"
David- "You'll die!"
Anton- "Maybe death hurts less than life!"
David- "If you really wanted to die you would have let go already. Now take my hand."
Anton takes David's hand and they are helped up by their friends.
Anton thanks them. "You saved my life."
Mary Margaret- "That's what we do."
David explains to Anton "We're not all the same, Anton. I don't know what my brother did to you but... that's not us."
Anton- "You have no idea."


Jack stabs Arlo with her poison sword while James continues to steal the treasure.  But Arlo grabs hold of Jack and stabs her with her own poison sword. Selfish James does not come to her rescue, leaves with the loot.
Anton is devastated to see that Arlo has fallen due to the poison in his blood. He makes sure Anton completed his task of destroying the beans.  Anton tells him they're all destroyed "The fields and every last bean."  He is so upset. "No! Everyone else is dead, you can't die too, please."
Dying Arlo tells his brother "I know your path is hard, but someday you will know which road to choose. And when you do you will need this... A preserved cutting... from the stalk. Plant it. New beans will grow."
Anton- "But you had me salt the land- nothing can grow here."
Arlo- "Then someday you will find new land." 
Anton- "How?"  But Arlo is gone.

Leroy and the gang introduce Anton to Granny's. They're sure Granny can set him up until he finds a place. Anton thanks them but thinks he'll set up camp in the woods, feeling he's better off alone as he's not too good at fitting in."
Leroy assures Anton he's in the right place. "Storybrooke's got all kinds- Dwarfs, fairies, werewolves, you name it. Ruby, beers all around!"
"We all miss our land,Anton, but this is our home now," Mary Margaret shares. She also shares they think about going back but its not possible. They have no way to get there.  Anton asks David how the farm land is there and David says its pretty good.

 Anton shows them the stem from a beanstalk , "If I plant it, I should be able to grow some magic beans... and then you just may have a way."  {Watch David and Mary Margaret's faces here.}

Anton gives his verdict on the soil; that it has a nice loamy feel and lots of minerals. "The beans should grow well here."  He feels the one problem is Cora. This is why Cora brought the Giant- to grow the beans. "So whatever she plans to do with them... can't be good."
Mary Margaret - "Then we won't let her get to them."
Leroy- "No one touches our crop."
Anton thought those guys (Dwarfs) were miners.
Leroy claims "Work is work. It's what we do."  Leroy has Happy present Anton with a pick ax to help break up the Earth, and his Dwarf name is revealed... TINY. Just like his brothers used to call him. This makes Anton smile.

Leroy- "Ax never lies."
David wonders since he did his time in the mines "How come I didn't get one of those?"
Leroy replies with pride "'Cause you aint a Dwarf," and says to Anton, "Welcome aboard, brother."

Patient Greg pays a visit to Belle in her hospital room, mentioning he was the one driving the car in the accident. They patched him up pretty good.  Greg says he overheard her talking about seeing a guy with a ball of fire and he knows that she's not crazy because he saw it too.


Outside of Granny's David shares his wonderment of what if he'd been raised by King George instead of his brother. "Would I have been corrupt like him?" as the same blood ran through their veins.  Mary Margaret feels "Never," as their hearts are different.  David still feels uncertain.  Mary Margaret had a lot of fun today; almost getting killed was fun. She missed their adventures and David does too. He admits it was kind of fun. "You know, we can do this all the time. When the beans grow, we could go back - everyone could go home."  Mary Margaret doesn't know. "Home is where our family is... And that's here. I don't know if Emma would come with us and I am not going to be separated from her again."  She's worried about her, but David feels Emma can take care of herself.
David- "I'm sure where ever she and Henry are, they're safe."

Henry seems excited about being on a trip with Emma, his first plane ride and going on a quest like in the book.  Emma notes Gold's injured right hand and his nervousness, "It's gonna be all right. We're gonna find your son."   Gold knows.
Over the PA we hear "Welcome folks to Ajira regional flight 53 with non-stop service to New York City  Our flight time tonight is 42 minutes. Please sit back, relax and enjoy the ride."  {Hmm...Ride, not flight?}

I ONCE WAS LOST

I just had to share the photo that the official ABC LOST's facebook page posted today, promoting Jorge Garcia's return as The Giant to ONCE Upon A Time....

Enjoy!

Jorge Garcia in Storybrooke?

Once Upon A Time could possibly bring more LOST "Island" magic our way!
I wonder if Jorge Garcia will be traveling via Oceanic or Ajira. 

Click to read the article at TV Guide

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.