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?}

Tallahassee

"Poppies... Poppies. Poppies will put them to sleep. Sleeeeep. Now they'll sleeeeep." - The Wicked Witch; The Wizard of Oz

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

Somehow I must make plans to expand my postcard collection by paying a visit to Storybrooke and bordering Fantasy Land/the Enchanted Forest and all Royal, grand and glorious castles belonging to our beloved characters.


Gonna keep on tryin' til I reach the highest ground

A seed is an encased plant embryo; beans are seeds. The seeds are planted, watered, warmed by the sun and nurtured to grow. Well, there's a lot of that happening in our fairy tale. We're witnessing newly planted seeds being nurtured and grown. During this process Emma has a lot a lot to learn, but they're all learning some very important stuff.  Emotional fear has made Emma and a few other residents put up protective fences to keep out bad things, people and experiences.  But we do see a very brave Emma where Henry, family and home is concerned. She is willing to tackle obstacles for the greater good.

Magic cuffs will aid in the journey upward to the Giant's treasure and the much needed enchanted compass. Emma and her friends not only need the compass to help open the portal and get them back home to their families, but Emma also needs direction and help with her moral compass.  Emma is turning her life around and may be doing a bit of soul cleansing too.  The challenges and testing tasks she's enduring on this adventure are changing her on many levels; heart, mind and her higher consciousness included.

Only fools are enslaved by time and space
Consciousness connecting:

The "dreaming" clue comes up again in this episode. Now, of course we can chalk it up to the metaphor of the story, but we can also apply it to the literal with the sleeping curse. 
We see the characters are trying to use "magic portals" to travel, cross borders and boundaries, but could it be something a little bit deeper?  Last week I touched on the residents sleeping and perhaps dreaming the same dream; or at least reaching some level of dream/altered state together.  I believe we may be seeing some traveling to another world without really going far from home or even leaving home at all, just like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Alice in Wonderland. Those girls' out of this world adventures happened via their consciousness; while asleep/altered state and their minds were free to go anywhere they can imagine.

In "this place", this free state of consciousness, we can create a wondrous world with interesting characters, we can replay real life events and face fears, we can learn and we can rewrite our story- and even become a hero.  So, these portals, rooms, doorways and pathways can be (consciousness) frequencies/vibrations rather than literal locations- nonetheless they are gateways to our higher consciousness, intelligence- self.

Just like LOST the goal is to go home.

Narnia is another world not very far from home.

This week we get some back "story" of Emma from 11 years ago in Portland, Oregon. She looks innocent; wears glasses, skirts and a black leather jacket, but is indeed a car thief and a con. She breaks into the already occupied yellow bug/beetle car we see her drive today.

I'd like to do a little Flash of my own...
Last season in the episode Desperate Souls we see Henry and Emma read an article about herself and her time of her incarceration and birth behind bars. Some of the details of that article are not the information we got in tonight's episode. So, now the question must be asked... which version, if any, is correct? The reason I ask is because in Desperate Souls, Henry asks her if the article is a lie and Emma says "No." But she also bizarrely tells him to throw the paper out and get their news from something more reliable, like the Internet. She also admits the records were supposed to be sealed.

We got another Storybrooke newspaper article where we learned of a version of Emma being found as an infant on the side of the road, but August presents a different version of those events. So, are the Storybrooke articles simply not the complete truth and written by Sydney and Regina just to tell tales of their own and keep control of everyone?  Can we bank on the Flashbacks we see as the truth finally revealed or are we being conned?

Whatever story you think you know is most certainly wrong   
Perspective:

Mentioning storytellers... The always dressed in black, August W. Booth appears out of nowhere claiming to be Emma's guardian angel (of sorts).  But I gotta tell ya, I don't know if we can believe everything we've heard from August since we met him; other than maybe he's Pinocchio and the puppet son of Geppetto.  August may have meant to be a good boy, brave, truthful and unselfish, but is he? He talks a hypnotically convincing game and really wants Emma, Neal and the people of Storybrooke to "believe."   Since we've met him we've seen him try to con Mr. Gold so he can gain access to the Dark One's dagger and we saw him fiddle with Henry's storybook.  August may be trying to be a good boy but something still feels like he may be using people for his own motives and gain. Remember, he even admits that he's weak to temptation.  August said to Neal that money's not what she needs, not for what's ahead. So, did he put the cash away for her or take the cash for himself?  No cash ended up in the envelope for Emma, plus, if August is the one who mailed her the car key why mail it all the way from fuckin' Phuket? Did he get that distracted that he got all the way there and remembered "Oh, yeah, I gotta mail this car key to little destiny bound Emma back in Phoenix."  Who knows, maybe he's working for someone.
Who is using and/or conning who?

Note that August, Neal and Emma go to great lengths to convince people of their grift- their story.

Snow tells Aurora that Charming would light a candle to capture the nightmares, while when Charming lights the candle for Henry and his nightmare he tells him it's to keep the nightmares away. 


Whatever you think I am, I'm not

Hook tells Emma a tale of how evil Giants grew the beans, but rather than using them for good they used them to plunder all the lands, and that Jack was a man who fought a terrible war, defeating all but one of the evil Giants. The beans were destroyed by the Giants as they died; if they couldn't have their magic then nobody could.  Sadly the caged in Giant has a different version of the events of how they/the humans massacred them and destroyed their beans. These events left him angry and all alone- without family.  This is what Emma has been dealing with in her own existence.


The bottom line is although we may spend our whole lives trying to outwardly find the treasure, who we really are and what our purpose is- but that treasure and the power we seek is already right inside of us.


Here's a little song I want to share.  It's the Swans performing "Can't Find My Way Home" written by Steve Winwood. Enjoy this little musical interlude.

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

๑ Eye. Eyes
๑ 8, 23
๑ Life. Death. Birth/Rebirth
๑ August, Neal and Hook flirt with Emma
๑ Victor. Victors. Victory.
๑ TIME
๑ The Giant wears red slippers
๑ Magic cuffs. Magic compass. Magic portal beans. Magic portal.
๑ Sleep. Drugs. Side effects
๑ TRAIN Station
๑ Caged. Cuffed. Imprisoned. Jail
๑ Compass
๑ Map
๑ Alice
๑ Neverland
๑ August and Neal have offered to take Emma for a "drink"
๑ Neal doesn't outright admit he stole the yellow beetle; he has keys for it.
๑ Dreamcatcher
๑ Watch. Guard
๑ Drunk. Rum/liquor
๑ Time. Sundial. Sundown
๑ Watch
๑ Tattoo. Marked 
๑ Pregnancy- birth
๑ The Stranger
๑ Neal was born March 23 1977
๑ Aurora and Henry's recount of their shared dream states mostly the same details, except Aurora says she is trapped, Henry doesn't say that
๑ Mulan owns the most powerful blade in all the realms
๑ Neal was a janitor at a high-end jewelry place in Phoenix and Emma's in a minimum security place in Phoenix
๑ August said he'd send Neal a postcard when Emma was free- Neal gets a postcard from Storybrooke stating "Broken"

Vocabulary and Research...

๑ Rumor has it actor Michael Raymond-James Has the word 'Ohana' (which is Hawaiian for family) tattooed over his heart.   
๑ Neal Leon Cassady (February 8, 1926 – February 4, 1968) was a major figure of the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the psychedelic movement of the 1960s. He served as the model for the character Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road. Cassady lived briefly with The Grateful Dead and is immortalized in "The Other One" section of their song "That's it for the Other One" as the bus driver "Cowboy Neal."
  - A second Grateful Dead song, "Cassidy," by John Perry Barlow, might seem to be a misspelling of Cassady's name; in fact the song primarily celebrates the 1970 birth of baby girl Cassidy Law into the Grateful Dead family, though the lyrics also include references to Neal Cassady himself. A N.Y. City-based folk duo, Aztec Two Step, in their 1972 debut album memorialized Cassady in the song "The Persecution & Restoration of Dean Moriarty (On the Road)."
๑ Eugene: A Greek name meaning Noble, well born.
๑ Fence: a dealer in the purchase and sale of stolen property; a middleman between thief and buyer
- Slitherlink (also known as Fences, Takegaki, Loop the Loop, Loopy, Ouroboros, Suriza and Dotty Dilemma) is a logic puzzle
 - Fences:  a 1983 play by American playwright August Wilson. Set in the 1950s, it is the sixth in Wilson's ten-part Pittsburgh Cycle.
๑ Poppies: in The Wizard of Oz the wicked witch puts a sleep spell on the poppy field so Dorothy and friends can fall asleep.
- Poppies have long been used as a symbol of sleep, peace, and death: sleep because of the opium extracted from them, and death because of the common blood-red color of the red poppy in particular. In Greek and Roman myths, poppies were used as offerings to the dead. Poppies used as emblems on tombstones symbolize eternal sleep. A second interpretation of poppies in Classical mythology is that the bright scarlet color signifies a promise of resurrection after death - Ancient Egyptian doctors would have their patients eat seeds from a poppy to relieve pain. Poppy seeds contain both morphine and codeine.
๑ Jack and the Beanstalk is an English folktale. The tale is closely associated with the tale of Jack the Giant-Killer, and is known under a number of versions. Benjamin Tabart's moralized version of 1807 is the first appearance in print, but "Felix Summerly" (Henry Cole) popularized it in The Home Treasury (1842), and Joseph Jacobs rewrote it in English Fairy Tales (1890) In the classic version of the tale, the giant is unnamed, but many plays based on the story name him as Blunderbore; a giant of that name also appears in Jack the Giant Killer.
๑ "Sundial" a song Cosmic Egg is the second studio album by Australian rock band Wolfmother
๑ The Terracotta Army or the "Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses" is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife. The three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits nearby Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum.
๑ Neverland- Never Never Land: A place where its residents refuse to grow up. The novel explains that the Neverlands are found in the minds of children, and that although each is "always more or less an island" and they have a family resemblance, they are not the same from one child to the next. It also says that a map of a child's mind would resemble a map of Neverland, with no boundaries at all. In J.M. Barrie's play and novel, most of the adventures in the stories take place in the Neverwood, where the Lost Boys hunt and fight the pirates and redskins, and build the Wendy house. It is also the location of the Home Underground, where Peter and the Boys reside.
๑ Salem:
 - Tamil Nadu, a city in India
- A real algebraic integer
 - An indie Florida emo-punk rock band formed in Gainsville
Love it or Leave Me- EP 2003

• "Smoke and Mirrors" 
•  "Cancel the Sun"
•  "Confession"
•  "Aphrodite's Tears" 
•  "Brighton by the Sea"
•  "Amphetamine Crush"

 ✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈  Tallahassee. Criminal/con Kate and Sawyer have been there. Locke's dad is the man from Tallahassee.
✈  Portland Oregon- Headquarters for Mittleos Bioscience Mittelos Laboratories: Science camp. Uses Herarat Aviation
✈  Phuket
✈ Canada: Ethan Rom and Nathan claim to be from there. In Tabula Rasa Kate tells Ray Mullen she's from there; we also get Kate's mug shot
✈  Eye
✈  4
✈ Jack
    - Jack always felt like he was going to fail
✈  Janitor
✈ Drunk
✈ Tattoo. Marked 
✈ Enter 7 7
✈ Case
✈ Cassidy
✈ Apollo Bars
✈ STATIONS: Swan. Lamp post- Train
✈ Time
✈ Jin has to deliver a watch for Mr. Paik.
✈ Sleep. Unconscious. Dreams.
✈ Side effects
✈ Cave
✈ Security system
✈ Camaro
✈ Game
✈ Candle
✈ Mobisode number 1 is titled  The Watch
✈ Not in Portland  
   - Juliet cares for sick sister Rachel in "Miami, Florida" where  "Everything's on the beach."
✈ Further Instructions   Hitchhiker Eddy lies to the cop about Locke (the driver) being his uncle, as to avoid a ticket.  Locke has Charlie stand guard while he visits the sweat lodge. Eddy mentions granola.
-The DHARMA Initiative packages granola bars
- Walkabout Randy eats a granola bar.
✈ Abandoned
✈ Pregnancy test
- I Do- pregnancy test
- The Whole Truth
✈ Born to Run  -Kate commandeers a just vacated motel room
✈ In Greatest Hits Charlie says to Claire "So, first plane crash?" He can always spot the newbies.

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

Hook leads the ladies to the stalk they must climb and get past the Giant before they can retrieve the enchanted compass they need for their trip back to Storybrooke.  The stalk is a little freakier than Emma remembers from the story.  It reminds Mulan of death.
The student Emma asks "If these beans create... portals... why not just pick one and go home? Why the compass?"  Hook explains "Because there aren't any more beans. Whatever story you think you know, my dear, is most certainly wrong."   Emma recalls "There was a guy named Jack and a cow and something about evil Giants with a treasure and a golden goose- or harp."
Hook- "Sounds like a lovely tale. But the truth's a little more gruesome. The Giant's
grew the beans, but rather than using them for good they used them to plunder all the lands. Jack was a man who fought a terrible war, defeating all but one of the evil Giants. The beans were destroyed by the Giants as they died; if they couldn't have their magic then nobody could. It's really very bad form."
Emma wonders "Evil Giants, who made magic portal beans. Why someone just doesn't go up grow some more?"  Hook tells of one Giant that survived; the strongest and most terrible of them all, and that's who they have to get past to retrieve the magic compass from the rest of the treasure. The compass will guide them to their land. "Cora has the means to open the portal with the wardrobe ashes, but she can't find your land without the compass. Once we get it- steal the ashes from her and we're on our way."
Of course the ladies wonder if he's using them to get the compass for Cora. Hook assures the four that they're far safer company.  All he needs is a ride back and he'll swear allegiance to whomever gets him there first. He did fail to mention that the Giant enchanted the beanstalk to repel intruders. But conveniently he's come prepared with a counter-spell from Cora; a pair of magic cuffs. Cora was to accompany him. He playfully encourages the ladies to fight out who will take her place and wear the other cuff for the journey upward. 

PORTLAND, OREGON 11 YEARS AGO
In an alley:
Eyeglass, skirt and black leather jacket wearing Emma breaks into a yellow VW Beetle; using a screwdriver and (looks like) a rock to pop the ignition.

A green hooded passenger pops up in the backseat. "Impressive. But really, you could've just asked me for the keys."

The unconcerned passenger tells Emma its fine. "Just drive." He introduces himself as Neal Cassidy. Emma doesn't want to tell him her name.  Neal doesn't need it to have her arrested when the robbery is in progress.  Emma ends up revealing she is Emma Swan. Neal thinks that's a good name.

Emma- "So, do you just live in here or are you just waiting for the car to be stolen?"
Neal smiles "Why don't I tell you over drinks."  Emma takes her eyes of the road to question him, and he tells her "Hey, eyes on the road" as she blows by a STOP sign.  Emma isn't having drinks with him because he might be a pervert.
Neal- "I might be a pervert. But you're definitely a car thief."
Emma- "I said I was sorry."
Neal- "You didn't, actually."
A cop car pulls them over.  Flustered Neal feels "That's why I said eyes on the road."  From the back seat quick thinking Neal tells Emma "Screwdriver" which she promptly removes and he replaces with the key.

The officer asks Emma for the license and registration, but Neal interjects, defusing the situation before it even begins. He tells the officer that this is actually his car and he's teaching his girlfriend how to drive stick. The officer feels she's got a lot to learn.  Neal knows, but you know - women.
Officer- "All right, I hear you. It's a warning... this time." Neal thanks the officer and hops in the front seat. Emma wonders if Neal's a misogynist.
Neal- "You're welcome. Oh, go. We got lucky."
Confused Emma- "We? This isn't your car either, is it?"
Neal- "Hmm?"
Emma- "I stole a stolen car?"  Neal doesn't answer that remark, he only smiles slyly and flirts and says "Now, how 'bout that drink?"  They drive off.

Back at the beanstalk Mulan feels she should go up to retrieve the compass because she's best equipped to go; as she's been in many battles/wars. Each woman has a reason for going up, but it's Emma who is going "And I'm not gonna fail."   After all, this is about Emma and Snow getting back to their loved ones.
Snow- "You're new here."
Emma- "It's about getting back to Henry. I don't care what I have to face. You're not gonna argue with me?"  It wouldn't do any good anyway.  Emma asks Mulan if she's got anything in that bag that will help her with a Giant. Mulan replies "A hook?"
Privately, Mulan gives Emma a small white sack filled with powder made from poppies that he has to inhale. Emma also trusts Mulan with the task of cutting down the beanstalk with her "strongest blade in all the realms" sword if she's not back in 10 hours; and she's to keep going and get Snow  home.
Hook hurries the ladies along. "In this world we're a slave to time and ours is running out. In other words- Tick Tock."   Emma's going. Hook was hoping it would be her. He has her place her right hand on his right shoulder and place the magical cuff on her right wrist. This will enable her to climb, but warns her of other dangers. "Thankfully you've got me to protect you."
Hook is given his hook back because he can't climb one handed. {But he is climbing one handed.} Emma warns him "Don't think I'm taking my eyes off you for a second."
Hook- "I would despair if you did."
The duo begin their ascent.

High up in the atmosphere climbing up the stalk, Hook tries to get Emma to open up about her life. He jokes about never forgetting your first beanstalk. He finds Emma's silence a challenge. Emma says "I'm concentrating."
Hook- "No, you're afraid. Afraid to talk- to reveal yourself. Trust me. Things will run a lot smoother if you do."
Emma-"Used to people not trusting you."
Hook- "Ah, the pirate thing. Well, I don't need you to share. You're something of an open book."
Emma- "Am I?"
Hook- "Quite. Let's see, you volunteered to come up here because you were the most motivated. You need to get back to a child."
Emma- "That's not perception, that's eavesdropping."
Hook- "You don't want to abandon him the way you were abandoned."
Emma- "Was I?"
Hook- "Like I said... open book."
Emma- "How would you know that?"
Hook- "Spent many years in Neverland, home of the Lost Boys. They all share the same look in their eyes... The look you get when you've been left alone."
Emma- "Yeah, well, my land aint Neverland."
Hook- "But an orphan's an orphan. Love has been all too rare in your life, hasn't it? You ever even been in love?"
Emma- "No. I have never been in love."

Neal and "pregnant" Emma enter a convenience store where Neal tells his Sweetie to get whatever she wants while he gets directions.   The clerk asks Neal "How ya been?" Neal says "I've been better."  He opens up a map on the counter to get directions because he and his wife are really lost. "I'm trying to get to Eugene. I think we've been going the wrong way. Could you show me what's going on here? Where are we, first of all?"  The clerk will help after Neal buys the map. Neal puts cash down on the map. Meanwhile Emma checks out the Mexi-wrap and passes by some bottled orange/citrus drinks.

The clerk shows Neal his problem (on the map) is he's "waaay up here", while not paying attention Neal's focus is on stealing gift cards, two Apollo Bars and a key chain. The clerk says he has to take 5 all the way south towards Salem. A patron enters and instantly sees the duo is stealing from the store and tries to get the clerks attention, but to no avail.  Seeing this, on cue, Emma thinks it's time and gets "labor pains", claiming it hurts really bad!
Happy Neal "He's ready!"  Tells her/baby to "Breathe." And the duo hurry out of the store.  The patron tells the clerk they were stealing.

Running outside Neal states "The little guy saved us!" {Who are they talking about here, really?}
Emma- "He sure did! The miracle of birth!"  She removes the fake "pregnancy belly" and tosses the haul to Neal.  He got her a key chain. It a circle with a swan in the center. She likes it and they kiss.

They hang out in the parking lot of the motel waiting a family to vacate a room so that they commandeer it. They'll have 20 minutes until housekeeping.

In the room Neal asks if she wants to shower first.  Emma finds a Native American Dreamcatcher left by the Granola family. She knows it's supposed to keep all the nightmares out and only let the good dreams in to protect your home.
Neal- "It's flypaper for nightmares?"  Neal decides they should keep it, but Emma wonders where they'd be able to hang it- "in the car?"

Neal realizes that's not much of a home and maybe it's time they get a real place. They've been on the road long enough, maybe it's time to retire the Bonnie and Clyde act. He thinks it's time- together.  Silly Emma wonders "Like where, Neverland?"  Neal's serious, they can do this. He presents Emma with a map tray of the United States, tells her to close her eyes and point. Whatever spot she picks is their home.

The winner is Tallahassee. Emma wonders if Tallahassee is near a beach. Neal- "Yeah, it's Florida, everything's near a beach."   Neal makes it clear that he really wants Emma.

Mulan makes a sundial to keep the time and mark watches- take turns sleeping. They should try to rest because they'll most likely have to walk through the night again.  Snow offers to take first shift and Aurora will stay up with her, as she doesn't really sleep. Snow asks her when was the last time she slept.  The sleeping curse has fucked with Aurora. The one time she did sleep she had horrible nightmares.
Snow- "It's a side effect. The same thing happened to me."  She goes on to explain she had them for months. Then Charming (her husband) used to wake her when she cried out and light a candle. He said it would capture the nightmares. He'd watch over her as she fell back asleep.  It sounds like the Dude lives up to his name.  Snow encourages Aurora to sleep and she'll watch over her; she'll be safe. Aurora thanks her. Snow is obviously concerned about Emma and her current task.

Emma and Hook arrive at the Giant's residence high in the night starry sky. There are skeletons all around. This is where the final battle was.  Emma cut her left hand and Hook tenderly tends to it; using Rum to painfully sterilize the wound.  Emma assumes he's being a gentleman, which Hook is, but it's because Giants can smell blood.  Knowing they don't have time to wait for the Giant to fall asleep, they plan to use the poppy powder Mulan gave them.  They have to sneak past the sleeping Giant in his cave to where the treasures are- "Where the compass lies." Oh, and then they run like hell.
Emma notices Hook's "Milah" heart tattoo and surmises Gold/Rumple took her from Hook along with his hand. This is why he wants to kill him.  Hook feels "For someone who's never been in love, you're quite perceptive aren't you?"  Emma admits "Maybe I was... once."

Playfully hiding behind a tree, young Emma presents jelly doughnuts to troubled looking Neal. Neal found a wanted posted hanging on the wall at the Post Office.

He tells the story about when he was a janitor in Phoenix at a high end jewelry place. The manager was a drunk who'd forget to lock the case of expensive watches. Neal resisted twice, but the third time this guy was just asking to get took. So he grabbed a couple of cases of watches and hopped on a train to Portland. The store's got insurance.  He stashed them in a locker in the train station; they're still there. "That's hardly stealing."  He didn't get away clean. The manager may have been drunk but the security cameras are stone sober. The heat hasn't died down, so Tallahassee's out. Neal's gotta go to Canada alone. He doesn't want her to get caught with him. "You think crossing the border is easy?"  Emma suggests fake I.D.'s and Passports. Neal's concerned that costs money and they have a stolen car. Emma suggests they make it legit: take a VIN # off of another car. She also suggests she go get the watches out of the locker, as no one is looking for her. "We can fence them and then we can have the money..." They could do and go where ever they want. "We could change our identities and go to Tallahassee."
Neal- "You wanna steal the watches to help me get away with stealing the watches?"
Yep!
Neal can't let her risk everything. But Emma says "I love you."  Neal replies, "I love you too."
Emma knows she can do it.

Emma is perched atop of one of the stone/terracotta Warriors outside the doorway of the Giant's dwelling.  The Giant comes out and Hook {the worst human around} grabs his attention so Emma can get the Giant to inhale the powder.  The Giant crashes to the ground- out cold- sound asleep.

Hook doesn't mean to upset her, but he feels they make quite the team.
Emma- "Let's go steal a compass."

Mulan looks troubled as she sees how much time has passed. Aurora is having a nightmare. Snow wakes her "It was just a dream."  Upset Aurora tells Snow "It was the same as last time. I was in this room- this, this red room... it was ...bright- blood red curtains, there were no windows and no doors, so it didn't make sense. I couldn't get in or out- I was trapped. The curtains, they were on fire... it was horrible. I was hunched in a corner and I looked over into the other corner... and the shadows, there was someone else there. I just see his eyes- he was looking right at me."
Snow- "It's over now. These nightmares... they will fade away. I promise." Although she didn't really look too sure about that. Snow will sit with her until she falls back asleep. "Who else do I have to take care of?"

Emma and Hook walk through a grand hall that houses countless treasures. Hook is interested in coins.  Emma rushes him along because they have no clue how long magic knockout powder lasts. Hook leads the way. "Come. Everything we need is right in front of us."

Emma is at the TRAIN STATION with the key to retrieve the stolen watches. {Train 643 with stops at Cleveland, D.C. and Seattle now boarding on track...} She notes two officers nearby, takes the bag from the locker and smiles as she walks out.

Emma asks Hook "(They) kill all the Giant housekeepers too? Where are we gonna find a compass in this mess?"
Hook- "By looking. Start searching."  He wonders how much treasure they can carry down the beanstalk; in addition to the compass of course.  They come upon the skeleton of Jack, the Giant killer.
Emma saves Hook from backing up into a trip wire (trap); quite a security system. Hook wants to flirt with her. Emma insists they just find the compass and go home.

Neal is excited when Emma returns to the yellow Beetle with the watches. Emma thought there would be more, but Neal informs her of the prices of $20,000.  Emma's excited for Tallahassee. Neal's gonna go meet the fence and he'll meet her with the money.  The parking structure near the tracks- 9 PM sharp. And just so there are no mix-ups, he gives her one of the watches. He gives her a kiss and says "Tallahassee, baby. We're almost home."
Emma- "Home."

As Neal walks down the dark street he is followed by a man. He runs into an alley being run down- He runs across the hood and top of a light color Camaro and tries to get away over a chain link fence, but is taken down by the man. Neal assumes he's someone else. "You got the wrong guy, officer! I wasn't even J-walking!"
August- "It's not like that. You wanna protect Emma? Come with me."
Neal yells "How do you know Emma?!"
August- "The name's August and it's a long story, but trust me, you wanna hear it."
Neal gives him two minutes to talk. "Who are you?"
August- "Think of me as Emma's guardian angel."
If that's the case then Neal feels August has been doing a pretty crap job.  August claims to have been looking for her for the past two years and has finally found her and she's robbing convenience stores with some deadbeat. "Tell me again who's doing the crap job."  Neal feels he's the best thing that ever happened to Emma. "Two years. Where were you the rest of her life?"
August- "I'm not perfect. This world (?) full of temptations. Turns out I'm not that great at saying no. I'm not built that way. But I'm here now."
Neal- "Who are you?"
August- "We were in the same home as kids, and I thought she'd be safe inside the system, but now that she's out... Back then I promised I would take care of her."
Neal- "Well, we promised to take care of each other."
August sees that Neal loves her, and that's good. "That means you have to do right by her."  That's what Neal is trying to do
August- "Then leave her."
Neal- "Never."
August- "She has a destiny. And you- this life, you're gonna keep her from it. Okay... You believe in magic?"
Neal- "I take it you do."
August- "So will you. Trust me. I'm gonna show you something. Something that's gonna make you look at everything differently. When you see what I have in here you're gonna listen. You're gonna believe every word I say"  They walk over to August's motorcycle where he has a wood case strapped to the back. {Note Tiki torches}
Neal- "Yeah, right."
August opens the lid of the case and lets Neal peek inside.  August has Neal's attention.

August- "There's a curse... and it needs to be broken. Emma... is the key. I was tasked with keeping her on track and you, my friend... just got caught in the crossfire. Now I'm gonna tell you a story and at the end of it you're gonna have to make a decision.  Will you do the right thing... or not. So... Are... You ready?"

Emma smiles as she leans with her back against the wall looking at the watch. She uses her flip phone to make a call. The number is out of service and she feels the message she hears is an error.  Unless he set her up. An officer pulls a gun on her "Possession of stolen goods."  He tells her that her boy left her holding. He's sorry to tell her but "Your boy took off. Probably in Canada by now. He called in a tip- told us to take a look at the surveillance footage at the Train Station. Gimme the watch. Now!"  Emma gives him the watch. He asks "You know your rights?"  Yeah, she does.
The officer- "Good girl. Turn around. Where's the rest of the watches?"
Shocked Emma- "Gone. They're not coming back."

Emma- "So, it's just in here somewhere."
Hook- "Allegedly."
Hook asks her for a boost and Emma assumes he's out to pocket something. He wants her/darling to try something new, "Its called trust."
Emma- "We do it side by side and fast. Who knows how long before the..."  Just then the place shakes and items rattle from the approaching awake Giant.
Hook- "Someone's up."  Hook advises Emma to get under something, but she doesn't.  The ceiling comes crashing down due to the intense anger and heavy footsteps of the Giant. Hook ends up under that debris.  The loud Giant scoops up Emma.

VANCOUVER, CANADA  
2 Months Later

Down by the water August meets up with Neal.

August- "It's been a while. Where'd ya go?"
Neal, still driving the yellow Beetle {Different license plate} tells him "Tried to lose myself... didn't work. I want to talk to you about Emma."
August- "I hope you're not trying to reach out."
Neal- "I just feel like, if I knew she was okay- I could move on. Is she?"
August- "She will be. She got 11 months."
This upsets Neal. "That should be me! I should be doing that time."
August- "No. We went over this. It's good."  It's a minimum security place in Phoenix, and no, he's not going to tell Neal which one. {How fucking many could there be?!} "She'll get out of there and she'll be fine. You keep your promise and steer clear and she can have a good life. She can do what she's supposed to do."
Neal feels if he can't be there for her he wants August to promise that he will be. August promises. Neal needs August to do something for him. He was able to fence the watches which gave him the huge wad of cash he hands over to August. "Don't judge, I'm giving it all to her and the car. I got a clean VIN number for it so it's legit. I just... I feel like I'm there with her, ya know?"
August- "Money's not what she needs- not for what's ahead."
Neal insists- "Can't ya see that she gets it?"
August- "Sure."  He takes the stack and suspiciously looks around.
Neal- "And one more thing... If anything changes and she does her job- this insanity ends... and she's free..."
August- "I'll send you a postcard."  August takes off right away.

The Giant holds Emma tightly in his fist. "You're a thief and you poisoned me. So yeah, I'm pretty sure you're exactly what I think."
Emma struggles. "No. Look, you have a compass- I need it!"
The Giant doesn't care what she needs. He squeezes harder and it shortens her breath.
Emma- "No, For my son! To save my son! Don't... don't you have a family?!"
The Giant- "No! Because humans killed them all."  He squeezes really, really hard and Emma bites him; she falls down onto his red slipper.  He takes off after her. Emma jumps over the trip wire and grabs Jack's sword to cut the wire and trapping the Giant under it.

With his one eye watching Emma, she threatens him with {Jack's} the sword she assumes has been dipped in poison.
Emma- " You have a compass. I need it."  It doesn't matter to the Giant as he assumes she's going to kill him anyway. "Go ahead. Kill me."
Emma- "You don't know me.
The Giant- "I know your kind. They massacred us and destroyed our beans."
Emma- "I heard it the other way.
The Giant- "It's because the victors get to tell the story."  Emma again threatens him with the sword.
The Giant tells her to stop and slips her the compass. "See. I'm not the bad guy."  Now with compass in hand she thinks that maybe he's telling the truth; but it doesn't really matter. "Are there any more of you?"
The Giant- "No. I'm alone."   Emma sees something and asks if it's a bean. "Can this make a portal."
The Giant- "Not anymore. It was destroyed like the rest of em. I wear it as a reminder- a reminder that you're all killers." Emma again taunts him with the sword and tells him "You're wrong." And she walks away.  The trapped Giant breaks out and shows Emma the way out; via a (mouse) hole in the wall. "Because you could've killed me... and you didn't. You get one favor now go before I change my mind."
Emma- "Actually, I get two favors. Well, the way I see it I could've killed you twice. The poison and when you were knocked out. I didn't."
The Giant- "What do you want?"

 

Emma rescues Hook. He wants to see the compass. It's more beautiful than he imaged. Emma is careful to not let him have it, so she pockets it.  Hook offers her his hand and she takes it. "Come let's go."  But Emma cuffs him with a golden cuff.  He's confused wondering why, "Have I told you a lie? I brought you here. I risked my own safety to help you. The compass is in your hand. Why do this to me now?"
Emma- "I can't take a chance that I'm wrong about you. I'm sorry."
Hook is pissed! "I got you here! I got you the compass!"
Emma- "I got the compass."
Hook- "You just gonna leave me here to die., Now that beast eat me- crush my bones."
Emma- "He's not a beast. And  you're not gonna die. I just need a head start- that's all." She leaves.
Hook calls out "SWAN!"

Mulan sees her sundial timer is just about up on time.  Aurora sleeps on Snow's lap. Mulan takes off to the stalk to being cutting it down; as per instructions of Emma. Snow and Aurora stop her; not wanting Emma to be left to die.  Mulan feels Emma may already be dead. Mulan strikes the stalk and it sends a vibration all the way up it. Snow literally tackles Mulan!  Mulan insists it was her daughter's wish. Snow doesn't care what she says "You do not put my daughter in danger!"
Emma jumps off the stalk "Stop!"  Snow runs to her. "You okay?"
Emma- "Two earth quakes and a jump from a beanstalk I think my brain's still rattling around a little."   Mulan was just carrying out her orders.
She shows the ladies she has the compass and lets them know Hook's detained; they have 10 hours before he starts following them. She has a friends looking after him until then.  Snow makes it clear to Emma "We go back together! That is the only way. Do you understand?!"  Emma understands and they hug. They head off to get the dust from Cora... and go home.

MINIMUM SECURITY CORRECTIONS FACILITY Phoenix, Arizona 
11 Years Ago

Emma sits quietly on her cot; eye glasses in her left hand.
"Swan, you got mail."  The corrections officer, Loretta, delivers her mail {yellow envelope} from Phuket. The rules indicate she has to open the mail in front of Emma. She shows Emma the Swan key chain and automatically knows they are car keys. "Hope you got the car it goes with." There's nothing else- no letter.

Loretta is sorry. "But good news. You get a car when you get out... And a baby. Congratulations."  Loretta locks her in.

Henry is sound asleep. He bolts awake from a nightmare.  Charming runs to his aid. "It's over."  He lights a candle to help; explaining the candle keeps away the nightmares.  Charming has Henry tell him about the dream.
Henry- "I, I was in this room... and ... and it was red. And there was no doors, no windows. And these curtains... and they were on fire.  And I was in this corner and, and, and it was looking out/up, there was someone else there.... she was staring at me through the flames, th, then I woke up."
Charming tells Henry not to worry "It was just a bad dream."