Storybrooke's LOSTness!

I just had to grab this Storybrooke - LOSTness off of the ONCE Upon A Time Season 2 BLU-RAY!

LOVE THIS!

LOST Numbers- Lottery/Lotto- Tiny-/Hurley

The Outsider

"Fear can hold you prisoner- Hope can set you free."  - Red, The Shawshank Redemption

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



Why don't you come with me little girl, on a magic carpet ride

My active imagination and love of adventure, fantasy and escapism can be traced all the way back to my very early childhood, where my refuge from life in Manhattan/N.Y.C. and a tumultuous household was found primarily in books.

In the city there are so many things and people to be afraid of, and my sister, brother and I were warned about every single one of them. Still, I witnessed way too much. So, for a long time I ended up being afraid of just about everything. And as much as I was exposed to the harsh reality of the world, I was overprotected and kept on a very short tether that didn't let me venture outside of the confines of a few yards of the apartment building; except to go to the school that was ten blocks away. Imagine that! Ten whole blocks.

Our apartment in Queens was built over a row of storefronts which included a barber, deli, dry cleaners, bar (my father would call the ginmill), and my favorite, an old candy store on the corner. The candy store was owned by an elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Rubin.  The store was very old fashioned, appearing very much like you walked right into a classic black and white 1940's movie. It was small and dark, and it had a long candy counter with round stools so you could sit and have a prepared treat. There was an old phone booth tucked along an even darker side wall. My sister, brother and cousins would buy loose candies stored in small clear bins, and every once in a while, a delicious Egg Cream. My father would buy the newspaper to check sports scores and to see if he won any cash from a horse race he placed a bet on. This little dingy and tired candy store was the hub of a lot of activity.  Most importantly, this is the place I would go to read comic books. I was rarely able to buy one, but the owners would let me sit in the store and read all the comics I wanted to.

All through my life I'd read anything that would let me fly away to another world, where I could imagine I was someone else, someone free to seek adventure, someone special, someone who could do great things, someone who can give to others, someone beautiful and brave, someone who falls in love with the Prince and lives in a beautiful castle... someone whose dreams come true.

Even when I was too young to read looking at the pictures and illustrations in books was enough to send my imagination someplace wonderful. It was amazing and still is. Sure, I can also blame my "issues with reality" on that too. But who would I be if I'd not traveled and explored the universe via magical stories. I'll tell you who I'd be- someone without imagination, creativity, and dreams.

You can find so much in a book- Education, answers, inspiration, adventure, and yes, you may even find yourself. For my very young self the places the tales would take me and the awe and wonder they provided, gave me hope my whole life through. Hope that there is a whole world outside of the confines of my City street and hope that there was something more, something better out there, and that I could be something more than just a dreamer of a magical life- Hope that I could live and share a magical life.

Dream on

Belle was trapped in the library and in the world of books until a little push from Dreamy and her trusty book in tow enabled her to use her knowledge and find strength and freedom to discover other layers of herself; in this episode it's her warrior spirit.  Belle joins the hunting party, becoming a hunter. But her hunt ends up being a sort of search and rescue instead. Later we see Belle become the hunted, when Regina captures and cages her. It is important to note that in this episode we hear a couple of people say "It's not your fight" but Belle got herself involved anyway.

Belle is a very observant girl.  She was calm, perceptive and smart enough to read and translate the SOS by the suffering Yaoguai, and being compassionate to the beast she was able to help free him from the curse that trapped him. We also see Belle's intuition and awareness at work in Storybrooke while looking for Hook's ship by listening carefully to the sounds on the dock, watching the birds land on the imperceptible mast and tossing sand onto the ghost ship- she is able to see the invisible.
Belle also frees Archie from his kidnapping and lovingly let's Rumple go freely to find his boy. She is brave and selfless.

I must inject a note that Henry is quite the architect. So far we've seen him recreate the pages of the fairy tale book when it went missing, and now we see him redesign the apartment with his own hand drawn blueprints. 

Life is an adventure, it's how we learn. We face many things on the path and they show us who we are and who we're not. You may not know who you truly are, or know who lives beyond the mask you yourself wears, or the you you keep locked away, until you're going along an ordinary and comfortable existence and something Earth shattering happens leaving you broken and lost and even angry. For some, this heartbreaking catastrophe will leave them jaded and disenchanted for the rest of their lives, causing them to just give up, giving in to the situation; it's as if, in some weird way they feel they are cursed or "sick/infected."  But for others, it is this very dramatic shift in life that once left them crumbled and hopeless, gives them a chance to face the challenges of these horrible circumstances and fight with everything they have, never giving up, to make change, to do something important or noble for themselves or others, to ultimately rebuild themselves and their life.

There may come a time in your life when you're spun around from your normal and have to face life through a new set of eyes. Will you discover you're not who you thought you were?  Are you courageous and brave? Do you have a warrior spirit? There's only one way to find out... Hitch your wagon to a star and you'll go far!


Love potion number 9

Last week I wrote about not crossing a line, but this week is a bit different. Rumpelstiltskin must cross the border of Storybrooke into a new frontier to journey to find his boy. Rumpelstiltskin loves Bae and is driven by that love to let go of his fear, leave everything including Belle behind, and cross into another new unknown world. The shawl represents hope to Rumple, as it is an anchor that keeps him connected to Bae. All is good as long as it's not Rumple's security blanket as well. Nonetheless, Rumpelstiltskin has a goal, he is fighting hard is to bring his family back together, no matter the cost. He needs to make things right with his boy so they can move forward together.

I was troubled that Rumple uses the entire potion on the shawl. I think he should have saved some for a rainy day.

A pawnbroker offers "secure loans" to people who use their personal items/property as collateral or pawns, if you will.  Do the items in Mr. Gold's shop represent hope for each resident of Storybrooke, and he is the keeper of these items, keeping them safe for them? Are those items triggers for them or are they discarded attachments of the residents? Will all of those items be reclaimed by their rightful owner after a debt is paid? I have so many questions about Mr. Gold's shop.



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

๑ David admits to Mary Margaret that he grew up on a farm. Does she know the truth of his identity that he's pretending to be a Prince?
๑ Baelfire.
๑ Fire: around the head of the creature. The burning village. The Fireball 
๑ The shawl is a connection to Bae and Milah
๑  Is it possible Bae doesn't want to be found and Hook is privy to that fact?
๑  The potion enchants an object not people
๑ Water
๑ Pennsylvania
๑ Sleep. Wake up- Awaken
๑ At Archie's funeral Ruby (of course, a wolf) looked Cruella Di Vil-ish in her fur jacket and dark sunglasses.
๑ Prince Philip under a curse cast by Maleficent.
๑ Test. Experiment
๑ Communication- language book translate
๑ Learn, listen observe- be aware
๑ Umbrella
๑ Right- Wrong
๑ Alcohol- wagon
๑ Hunting party- search and rescue
๑ Death. Funeral. Wake.
๑ Not dead
๑ Balance: Scale. Bicycle
๑ Books. Plot. Write. Draw. Charts. Blue prints. Diagram. Directions.
๑ Fresh Start. Redesign. Do over.
๑ Clean up your own mess-make things right.
๑ This world. Real World. Illusion.
๑ Words misspelled/wrong
๑ Who is this new stranger, this outsider?
๑  For fun- There's an adorable place called Storey Brook Bed and Breakfast.
and  there is a Storeybrook Dr. in Newburyport, Maine

Vocabulary and Research...

๑  The Stranger or The Outsider (L’Étranger) is a novel by Albert Camus published in 1942.
๑  The Outsider is a non-fiction book by Colin Wilson-Wilson explores the psyche of the Outsider, his effect on society, and society's effect on him.
๑  Yaoguai: "Yao Guai 妖怪" is simply the Chinese term that means "monster" or "demon".   A reference to T’ien-kou described this creature as a demon that looks like a large dog with a fiery tail.
Yaoguai are mostly malevolent animal spirits or fallen celestial beings that have acquired magical powers through the practice of Taoism. Not all yaojing are actually demons.
 - Video Game
๑ The Chickadee plate is Maine's general issue plate. The first and only slogan "Vacationland" appeared on the plate in 1936.
๑ Off the wagon, Slang . again drinking alcoholic beverages after a period of abstinence.
๑ On the wagon, Slang . abstaining from alcoholic beverages. Also, on the water wagon; British , on the water cart.
๑ The Monkey's Fist can be used as a weapon or even as an anchor in rock climbing. Pirates have also used it to hide stolen precious gems.
๑ D. McLean:
- Don (Donald) McLean. 1971 Album American Pie, contains the song Vincent.  Recorded a song titled (The Pattern is) Broken in 2010.
- Author Russel D. McLean wrote The Good Son and The Lost Sister
๑ Shawshank Prison is the fictional prison in Maine.
The Shawshank Redemption: a movie based on a Stephen King novella "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption that appears in his collection Different Seasons- subtitled Hope Springs Eternal. 


 ✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈ Fun bit of info- Claude is played by Paul Lazenby and on LOST we have a character named Nurse Susie Lazenby in Dave, The Beginning of the End, The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham, Happily Ever After, The New Man in Charge.
✈  4
✈  Armory: The armory in the Swan Hatch was used to hold weapons, drugs/medicine, and prisoners.
✈  Books. Plot. Write. Draw. Charts. Blue prints. Diagram. Directions.
✈  Recruit. Sign up/call to Adventure
✈  Bagua. Octagon
✈  Bore- boar
✈  Ship
✈  Balance: Scale. Bicycle
✈  Listen. Hear. Look. See.
✈  FATE
✈ Words misspelled/wrong
✈ Banish.  Exiled
✈ Clean up your own mess-make things right.
✈ Coward:  Desmond. Charlie
✈  What it takes:
-  Jack believed he didn't "have what it takes". We learn a bit about this in White Rabbit.
- Although he didn't have use of his legs, Locke believed he did have what it took. We see this in Walkabout.
✈  Adventure:
Locke- Walkabout and The Substitute
Desmond- Flashes Before Your Eyes
Michael/Kevin- Meet Kevin Johnson
Ajira Airways specialized in adventures
✈ Lighthouse
✈ The Hunting Party
✈ Tabula Rasa
✈ Fire + Water 
✈ ... In Translation

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

Mr. Gold/Rumple drives out to the line that borders Storybrooke and the outside world.  He's kidnapped Smee to use as a guinea pig to test the potion he's created. Smee doesn't want to be pushed over because if he crosses the line he'll lose his memory.  Of course Smee was willing to bestow this cruel fate upon Belle.  Gold pours the potion on the red "rag" hat that is important to Smee; His grandmother made it for him when he was a boy. "It's always brought me good fortune." 
Gold kicks Smee over the line and energy charges through his body.  The potion works! Smee knows his own name and knows Rumpelstiltskin, The Dark One. "I remember everything!"  The experiment was a success. Rumple pulls Smee across the line back into Storybrooke and sends him on his way.
Rumple says out loud to himself "I have a trip to plan."

Mary Margaret/Snow White speaks at Archie's funeral. They all knew him as a true friend. "And though he may not be gone, he will always live on inside of us, reminding us to be our best selves... to do the right thing, to always fight for what we believe in. So we shouldn't think of today as goodbye- just as a way of saying 'Archie, we'll be listening.'"  Geppetto cries, "I miss you so much, my friend. Well, at least you're in a better place." He places Jiminy's umbrella against the headstone.

On board the ship, prisoner Archie fears Hook, who wants to know where the Dark One's dagger is.  Archie doesn't know anything about a dagger. Hook believes him.  He shares with Archie that it's the Dark One's weakness and asks if he has any others. Archie doesn't say anything. Hook threatens Archie with his desire to always have wanted to dissect a cricket.

Belle meets Gold/Rumple at his shop where he reveals to her "I did it. I can leave."  He shows her the tiny bottle of potion, explaining that when he pours the potion onto the object he holds most dear,  that object becomes a talisman that allows him to cross the town line and still remember who he is and who he is looking for- "My boy."   Belle asks, "What will you enchant?"   Rumple retrieves a shawl from a safe hidden behind a painting. This is all he has left of his Baelfire.  Belle would like to go with him, and although Rumple truly wishes she could, he only has enough of that potion for one object. Rumple locks the shawl back up in the hidden safe.
Rumple- "Hey... this is my journey, Belle. This is my journey. I'm afraid it's something I have to do alone."
Belle hugs him, knowing this true.

Belle is sitting alone reading a book and drinking in the tavern when she overhears a man speak about a fearsome beast that's ravaging a faraway land; whose eyes burn with fire. They call it the Yaoguai and no man has been able to kill it- but they will. There's room on their wagon for more men to join them. {Note her mug is glass bottom.}

Belle seems lost in her own happy thoughts when Dreamy asks her "Looking for an adventure?"  He's there to thank her for the advice she gave him last night. "It worked. Nova and I are running away together."  Belle feels that wonderful, but you can see her attention is also pulled over to the recruits getting ready to leave on their adventure.  Dreamy encourages her to sign up.  Since Belle always dreamed of heroics and adventures she'll stick the safety of her books because they provide her with happy endings.
Dreamy- "Well, maybe this one will have one too."
Belle doubts it. The last time she faced a beast it didn't end well.
Dreamy- "What are you talking about?"
Again Belle is instantly drawn to the newly expanded Team Yaoguai. The leader tells his group "Men, follow me. Yaoguai awaits."
Dreamy nudges her to get on that wagon, "Go. Take a chance." Belle thanks him, packs her book in her bag and heads on an adventure. Dreamy stops her long enough to give her a pouch of Fairy Dust; it may come in handy.  Belle declines his gift because she's seen what magic does to people.
Dreamy- "You've seen what dark magic does. Fairies use this for good. Now go be a hero."

12:05 marks the time on the Storybrooke Free Public Library clock tower. A large blue banner announces the library will opening soon.  Belle gets busy putting books in their proper places when she's interrupted discovering a man reading a book in a dark corner. She recognizes this is the man who broke into her cell at Queen's palace and wanted to kill Rumpelstiltskin. The pirate still wants to kill Rumple, but right now he'll settle for her. Brave Belle pushes over a large book cart that crashes down upon the pirate, giving her a chance to escape into the old elevator.

Once inside the elevator she calls Rumple on his cell from her cell and tries to tell him that she's trapped in there because she's running from a man who broke in and wants to kill her; the man is a pirate missing a hand. Unfortunately the communication between the two crackles and breaks up, by a poor connection/signal- Rumple can hardly hear her.

Adventurer, and now hunter, Belle reads her book while she rides on the back of the hunting party wagon. She is asked by one of the men if she expects to defeat the fiercest creature in the land with a book. Another amused hunter comments that "Maybe she means to bore it to death."  Belle insists the book will tell them how to find the Yaoguai. The book isn't written in scribbles, as the men perceive it to be, it is written in another language; one Belle knows how to translate. Belle teases them with a hint to the whereabouts of the creature. But not caving into their bullying, she sends them in the direction of the lake. With their destination determined, they literally kick Belle off the wagon, tossing her book as well.  "Don't forget your book! Hahaha."

Undaunted, Belle picks herself up and reads aloud from her book- "The Yaoguai prefers mountain habitats to all others. The Yaoguai hybernates by day and hunts by night."

"Please be asleep." Armed with her dagger, Belle makes her way toward the Yaoguai's den, inadvertently stepping on a twig and waking the creature.  Belle runs from the fiery Yaoguai, tripping and falling to the ground, when an arrow is fired at the Yaoguai from a masked person.  {Mulan} The creature runs off.  Belle thanks Mulan for saving her life, but Mulan is annoyed Belle ruined her hunt; as it took her weeks to track the Yaoguai there.  Mulan chalks Belle finding the Yaoguai in a day to good luck, but Belle shows her it wasn't luck, but her book. Armed with her book, Belle could help Mulan find it again. Sadly Mulan demands Belle stay out of her way.

Back in the library elevator, Belle fears the pounding on the other side of the doors. The doors open to reveal Rumple is there to rescue her. He assures her she has nothing to fear "I'm here now."

Henry is sitting alone on the bed when Emma enters asking the kid if he's hungry; she manages to wrangle him up a PopTart. Henry, obviously feeling blue, declines.
Emma tells Mary Margaret "Well, that went well", as she feels awful she's doing all she can to sooth Henry's loss.

Leroy/Grumpy approaches the two ladies "The Dwarfs have been thinking... We have to ask... When do we go back? {Emma asks 'Back? Where?'} The Enchanted Forest- our home."
The ladies question their want to go back. Emma feels "We fought really hard to get here."   The men are concerned about what Regina did to Archie Storybrooke isn't as safe as they thought.  Emma assures them they will find her; there's only so many places she can hide. They've dealt with Regina before, they'll do it again.  But the men's concern isn't just about her. The curse is broken.
Leroy/Grumpy- "There's a whole world full of people beyond the town line that don't know who or what we are. Ever think of what might happen if one of them were to come pay us a visit?"
Ruby feels he's right, and wonders what would an outsider think if they see magic and a girl turning into a wolf. Folks weren't exactly understanding even in their world. Emma doesn't want them to worry about 'what ifs', "No one is here."
Leroy/Grumpy- "Yet. Maybe they come-maybe they don't. That doesn't change the fact while we might enjoy things like penicillin... we're a bit homesick.

Mr. Gold/Rumple and Belle are crossing street when Belle asks him "Where are you going?" Rumple shares that the shop has many wonderful things in there that he can use to make sure that pirate never goes near her again.  Belle doesn't want Rumple to deal with this, feeling they need to report this to the sheriff so they can take care of him.  "You're so close to finding your son, please, please don't let your hatred for this man get in the way of that."  But he tried to harm Belle and she wonders why.  Although Rumple's issue with Hook doesn't concern Belle, he finally reveals the root of their battle. "Many years ago I was married to a woman named Milah... until Hook crossed our paths."
Belle- "She was Baelfire's mother?"
Rumple- "Yeah. And because of that marauding cur- he grew up without her. He took my wife. He took Bae's mother... so I took his hand."  
Belle understands that's why Hook attacked her, but she asks about "her" and what he/Hook did.  Rumple is hesitant to reply, so Belle tenderly takes his hand assuring Rumple he can tell her anything.
Rumple- "She died. That's all that matters."

They enter the shop to find everything in shambles, broken, and the precious shawl he kept locked away in the safe behind the painting is gone. This is why Hook attacked Belle; to get Rumple out of the shop.

Hook watches Rumple's return to the maelstrom of the shop via his looking glass/telescope perched on a rooftop across the street. Mr. Smee arrives to give the Cap'n the stolen shawl and asks what it is.
Hook- "It's the end of the Crocodile's hope. Now he's trapped here."

In a fit of anger, Rumple smashes the miniature ship that sits on the glass counter. Belle calms him, although Rumple is motivated to "retrieve what's mine."  Compassionate Belle wants to help him but Rumple insists "This is my fight!"  Belle feels this is my fault. If Hook had never attacked her then Rumple never would have left the shop. Rumple is fired up. "How do you propose we get the shawl back?! Have you dueled with a Pirate before? How exactly are you gonna help me?!"
Helpless, Belle isn't going to sit there and do nothing. Rumple demands she go back to the library, lock the door and wait for him to dispense with this problem. She wonders if Rumple will cast some sort of spell that gives her "no choice" if she doesn't do what he says.  No, Rumple trusts she'll do as he wishes; as she trusts him to be a better man. "Belle, please. Hook has may be cost me the chance of finding my son, I don't want to lose you too. Here, look. {A gun} I want you to take this just in case Hook is stupid enough to come after you again. Point this. Pull this trigger and the gun will do the rest for ya, alright? Alright?!"  Belle wants him to promise that him going after Hook is just about getting the shawl back. Rumple doesn't reply to her, he only walks out. {Note the scales behind them.}

Belle is retrieving a bucket of (clear) water from the well when one of her fellow Yaoguai hunters hangs her into the well. The Yaoguai wasn't at the lake and perhaps Belle purposely sent them in the wrong direction. Belle states she must have misread that.

Masked/hooded Mulan comes to Belle's rescue and fights off the men; even though it isn't her fight. The men are stunned to discover this tough person behind the mask is a woman.  Belle, who didn't expect to see Mulan again, thanks her.

Mulan has had to put up brutes and fools like that when she served in the Emperor's army. She only wishes she had someone to stand up for her.  Mulan's right leg was cut during the fight, but she knows she'll survive.
Mulan- "The sun should be setting soon. We need to move out."
Mulan was impressed that Belle tracked the Yaoguai in a matter of hours, but it took her weeks. "You track the beast, and I'll kill it." Belle will be honored to help her.

At the library, Belle picks up the books knocked over in her scuffle with Captain Hook. Amongst the pile she discovers what she believes is a sailor's knot. {Although it looks more like a baby's rattle to me. lol}

She investigates her finding in a nautical book; locating the page with instructions to make the Monkey's Fist knot and determines "Hook came here on his ship."

Mr. Smee makes his way past The Rabbit Hole and right into the wake of angry Rumple. "Leaving town, Mr. Smee? I spared your life... this is how you repay me? That object you stole from me- I want it back."  {Rumple magically/telepathically chokes Smee.}

Smee admits giving it to Hook; they met on a rooftop. Hook didn't tell Smee anything because Hook knows exactly what Smee is... a sniveling rat! With that, Rumple magically turns Smee into a rat. Every bit of Smee transforms except for his special red hat.

Belle walks the dock in search of Captain Hook's ship.  Listening carefully, she notes a creaking sound and is drawn to watching the birds land on the invisible mast. Knowing she's onto something, she tosses sand from the sandbox toward the area. "Found you."  Belle walks up and crosses the threshold of the invisible to the visible, she is aboard the ship.

Armed with her gun, she descends down to investigate the ship. Inside one of the rooms she hears a muffled voice call out, "Down here."  Stunned, she finds the voice belongs to kidnapped Archie. Belle uses a sword to free Archie and instructs him to find Mr. Gold and tell him she's here and bring him back to the ship.  They heard sounds above them, but Belle hurries Archie off.

While David and Mary Margaret are cleaning the dishes they note Henry calling someone on the phone. David wonders who he's calling, so curious Mary Margaret picks up the extension to listen in; Henry's called Archie's office to hear his answering machine/voice mail message.  David promises the boy that things will get better, all he has to do is hang in there.
Henry- "Doesn't feel that way."
David knows that. Mary Margaret touches her heart/chest to convey she feels his pain.  Just then the door opens and Pongo runs in.  Mary Margaret wonders "How did he get in here?"  Emma is the culprit. She and Marco had a chat over how much Henry loves this dog and decided Henry should have him. Henry is up for taking care of Pongo; as a matter of fact he'll take Pongo outside and clean him up.

Mary Margaret thinks giving Henry Pongo is a great idea, but four people and a Dalmatian in the loft will get cramped.  Emma agrees but feels they'll get creative.
Mary Margaret suggests "Or... we can get our own place."
Emma and David simultaneously say "You wanna move out?!"
Emma- "After 28 years isn't this what we've all been waiting for- to be together under the same roof?"
Mary Margaret says yes; she just imagined a bigger roof with turrets. "Being here in Storybrooke, we have a chance at a fresh start. Let's take it.

Belle continues her search aboard Hook's ship, coming across a key that opens a box containing gold coins and a bell. She is interrupted by Hook holding the stolen shawl. "Looking for this?" asks Hook. He claims the shawl now belongs to him and gets hold of the gun and points it at her {head-between her eyes}. "My dear Belle, you should have stayed with your books. Real life can get so... messy."

"It's just ahead."  Belle states to Mulan on their quest to find the Yaoguai. Mulan credits Belle's books for serving her well.  The pain in Mulan's leg causes her to voice her discomfort, but wants to press on to save her village. Although Mulan can't even walk, Belle asks her how she's going to kill the Yaoguai. But Mulan confesses she's not going to kill it, Belle is.

Mulan feels that even though Belle isn't a soldier, she has good instincts and has confidence in her smarts on tracking the beast and more. She shares a story about a time when people didn't she had what it took, but she proved them wrong by showing them she had "warrior spirit." Once she found something worth fighting for she fought for it with everything that she had, never giving up. The fate of Mulan's village depends on Belle. Telling Belle not to be afraid, Mulan gives Belle her sword.

"I'm not afraid of you. And I'm not leaving without that." Belle shows bravery in the face of Captain Hook.  In spite of her loyalty Hook feels Belle's fighting a lost cause, "What makes you think his son wants to be found, hmm? I'm doin' that boy a favor."  Belle, feeling Hook has hurt Rumple enough; stealing his wife.  But that's only part of the story. Hook's been hurt too.
Hook- "Tell me Luv, if a woman comes to you {He seductively gets in her face} begs you to take her away... is that theft?"
Belle- "Why would she leave him?"
Hook- "Because he was a coward. And because she loved me. I should have burned this the moment I acquired it."
Belle- "Why didn't you?"
Hook- "Because she made it."
Belle is sorry she died, but vengeance won't bring her back.  Hook exposes the fact that it wasn't an accident she died from. Of course Rumple left out an important detail to Milah's passing- he killed her. "He ripped out her heart and then he crushed it right in front of me."  Rumple will do anything to hold on to his power. Hook feels that's why anyone who has gotten close to Rumple has either run away or been killed and asks Belle what makes her think she's any different, and why would she want to fight for a man like that.
Belle- "Because I still see good in him. And because I believe he's changed. Because his heart is true. And yours... yours is rotten." She manages to knock him down, grab the shawl and get topside. Hook appears in front of her; he knows his ship like the back of his (hand). Rumple makes his appearance on deck.
Hook feels the crocodile looks different in this world, "Like the coward I met so long ago- limp and all."
Rumple- "And yet you still can't kill me."
Hook asks the Dark One what magic he'll hide behind today. Not magic, but good old fashioned ass kicking. Belle gets Rumple to stop by showing him what he came for, what is going to get him back to Bae- the shawl. Hook informs Belle she's wasting her time, as Rumple can't resist "He has to prove that he's not a coward."  Rumple warns Belle to turn away because this isn't going to be pretty.

Belle calls attention to herself to draw the fiery Yaoguai closer to her. Although she is nervous, she pushes forward in her task of destroying the beast. She lures it closer and with her sword she cracks open a water pipe and douses the beast with water, putting out its flames. The suffering Yaoguai writes a message in the mud which Belle translates... "Save me."

Compassionate Belle helps the beast by sprinkling the fairy dust she received from Dreamy onto the beast. This magically breaks the spell cast my Maleficent and transforms the beast back into Prince Phillip. Maleficent is an evil sorceress from his Kingdom determined to do everything in her power to keep him from his love, Aurora. She exiled him to that land and turned him into the monster. He tried to warn the villagers but no one understood what he really was, except Belle.

Belle admits he's not the first beast she's faced. Phillip is forever in her debt. His repayment will be to help get a Doctor for hurt Mulan. It will be Phillip's honor to help bring her back to the village.

Aboard Hook's ship Rumple continues beating up Hook.

{I put this clip in because it was my favorite Rumple moment of the episode. I got a great laugh from his reaction to Hook's mouthing off.}

Belle wants Rumple to stop trying to kill Hook, pleading that there's still good in him. "I see it. I've always seen it. Please, please, show me I'm not wrong." Rumple stops, but warns Hook to take his little ship and sail until you fall off the edge of the world. "I never wanna see you again." Rumple gets in one last slap. Belle and Rumple leave with the shawl in hand.


At Granny's Diner Mary Margaret is excited to look through fliers of houses For Sale in Storybrooke. {Note items of interest on the flier} But David, who grew up on a farm, is distracted by burying their friend that morning. That event makes David realize he doesn't want to die here/in Storybrooke. He wants to return home; to the home Mary Margaret says doesn't exist, where the Ogre's have returned and Cora's in power. David feels that's exactly the reason to go back- to fight, to make things right. But Mary Margaret's tired of fighting and feels they have a chance here, a chance to be together.
David- "But what if we don't belong here. Isn't it worth it to fight for what we really want."
Mary Margaret- "Unless we don't want the same thing."

Henry is busy drawing and coloring blueprints for a redesign of the apartment for if David and Mary Margaret move out. Emma asks the kid if he's plotting his escape from Shawshank. He wants to make Mary Margaret's room an Armory; for weapons and stuff, to protect them from Regina.
Emma assures worried Henry that she won't let Regina hurt him as she hurt Archie.
Henry- "What if she wants to take me back?"
Emma says that's not going to happen.  There's a knock at the door, one that's stirs up Pongo.  Archie has returned and shares it was Cora who kidnapped him.  This makes Emma realize they're wrong about Regina doing it.
Henry- "I knew it. Maybe we should let her know."
Emma- "Yeah. But something tells me either way we're gonna pay the price."

Rumple and Belle drive out to the line/edge/border of Storybrooke.
Rumple- "This (shawl) would've been lost if it wasn't for you, Belle. I would be lost. After everything you've learned about me, after everything I've done, why haven't you given up on me?"
Belle- "I learned a long time ago that when you find something that's worth fighting for... you never give up."

Belle leads Prince Phillip over the ridge to her friend, Mulan {reading Belle's Yaoguai book by campfire light.} Mulan is happy to see Belle alive. Belle has defeated the Yaoguai- with a little help.
Mulan asks the young man "Who are you?"
Prince Phillips- "I was the Yaoguai."
Belle- "He was cursed. So I helped him, so now he's going to help you." She not going with them as she has another beast to face. The ladies exchange weapons; Belle returns Mulan her sword and Mulan returns Belle's book. The brave ladies say goodbye to each other.  Phillip properly introduces himself to Mulan.

Looking out over the Kingdom below, brave and proud of herself, Belle, states aloud "I'm coming back, Rumple."
"Isn't that sweet? Still fighting for true love- even to the bitter end." It's Regina on horseback with a few soldiers.  Belle wonders how Regina found her.
Regina- "You really should be nicer to your traveling companions, right Claude? Take her to the tower!"
Belle is taken and thrown into the Queen's paddy wagon, claiming she can save him; break his curse.

Regina- "You already tried and failed. That monster's beyond saving. I'm sparing you a lifetime of pain and misery."
Belle- "You, you can't keep us apart forever. I'll fight for him. I'll never stop fighting for him!

Rumple pours his potion on the special shawl as Belle holds it for him; he uses the entire bottle and then tosses the empty bottle aside. Belle drapes the shawl over Rumple's shoulders. He's ready. "Here we go."  Rumple let's go of Belle's hand and steps over the orange line, where magical energy flows through him. Belle is nervous waiting to see if Rumple "remembers" from the other side of the line. It worked! The two are able to hold hands across the line.
Belle- "Now you can find your son."
Rumple- "Oh, Belle, I so wish you were coming with me."
Belle- "It doesn't matter."
Rumple- "Why not?"
Belle- "Because you'll find him. And when you do, I'll be here waiting for you when you get back."
As they kiss goodbye across the line, a gunshot is fired causing Belle to fall over the line and into Rumple's arms. {She took experiences magical energy through her body.}  Hook fired the shot.
Rumple is panicked.  "Belle! Belle!"
Belle- "Who's Belle?"
Rumple has blood on his hands from Belle's wound. {I'm not positive but it seems that Belle's feet seem to stay on the line for a time.}
Hook, pointing the gun at Rumple, tells him not to fear, as she'll live. "She'll just have no idea who you are."
Rumple- "What you've done cannot be undone."
Hook- "Well now you finally know how it feels! Well go ahead Crocodile, do your worst!"
Rumple places Belle back over the line into Storybrooke and he's about to unleash a fireball at Hook a car approaches causing Rumple to get out of the way and protecting Belle- but the speeding car hits Hook and crashes, hitting a big rock. Rain pours down.

An Apple Red as Blood

"Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!" - The cat. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

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


Villagers got themselves some torches

Regina's bullshit may be catching up with her. It appears her "curse" is weakening in Storybrooke. Regina brought these people there, put them in a sort of fog, changed some names and separated families. But interestingly, not everyone is asleep.  Besides Mr. Gold, Jefferson has been spared of the snooze and was given a mansion to live in.  Did she spare him the "sleeping" part of the curse so she could call upon his skills whenever she needed him?  Obviously Jefferson is suffering in a different way with his "knowing" about things and not being able to change or do anything about it- but maybe he will find the strength to fight back.

But make no mistake about it- Regina is the cause of her own suffering. It's the choices she herself made all through her life that brought her to "this place."  Fuckin' Regina automatically blames Jefferson for the hat not working instead of the fault being hers for causing all of this to begin with.  Did you find it interesting the twisted ring Regina got from Daniel as s symbol of true love doesn't contain enough magic to make the hat work? I was.  But when Regina concentrated hard enough with her mind she was able to "make" magic- and then make magic from magic.

Revenge and her own conceit may backfire when she inadvertently harms Henry- putting him into a deep sleep.


`Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.' `How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice. `You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.' 

Here's Jefferson all "safe" in Storybrooke and not in some hole in the middle of the universe. That's because one must let go of the idea of time and space when dealing with these fantastical realms/worlds.

I found it intriguing that during Regina's deal making session with Jefferson he mentions he wants to end the madness and go home, and then he states that "Remembering is the worst curse. Two lives in her head like me. I want to forget. I want you to write us a new story. A fresh start- here."  That conversation is important and very telling.


"...Your body will be your tomb and you'll be in there with nothing but dreams formed of your own regrets."

Don't get me wrong, of course I understand we see many lost people living out this adventure. But I must say that Henry's heightened emotions were very concerning to me.  I found that certain dialogue could lend itself to relating directly to him and how he is imprisoned.  Go back and watch Emma and Archie's meeting at Granny's.  Archie does seem to feel Henry is an emotionally troubled child living in a fantasy.

We see the adventure is being experienced by many "lost sleeping people" on a journey, but I have a few questions about Henry.

• Is Henry just an instrument, a device, used in the story as a means to help Emma on her journey?
• Does the possibility exist that it is in one child's or all of their minds while asleep, like Alice in Wonderland or Dorothy in Oz. 
• Is Henry an author of this story, creating villains, curses, quests, and bringing a savior/mother to rescue him?  
• Could Henry be the representation of the "child" in all of those hurt and lost people?
• Is he literally Emma's child or someone else's?  
• Or simply, did all of these people pay to go on this awesome fairy tale "trip", 'cause I'd sure as hell by a ticket. Maybe, just maybe, the DHARMA Initiative is involved.

When Henry visits August I was surprised to see how surprised Henry was by the transformation of August into Pinocchio. Is this the first "real" visual evidence (besides the book) Henry had to support his curse theory? Did Henry need proof that the curse is real too? Henry's desperation for Emma to see the truth led him to take matters into his own hands (and with a nudge/idea from August) by eating the triangle turnover, knowing that it contained a curse and that would prove to Emma she needs to open her eyes and not run from her destiny.  Did he make a sacrifice for the greater good? That makes Henry a hero. Will Emma finally face her destiny?

Sacrificing for true love seems to be one way to contribute restoring balance to the Kingdom.  But Regina sacrificing the last bit of magic for evil just may break up her family, where as sacrifices made by the good people are for true love and family.  No matter what it seems that things are going to change so "Have a cluckity, cluck, cluck day, Hugo."

Guide your mind through time and space. You  may find that you have the "magic power" all along.

 Things to Note...Questions to Ask...

๑ Magical properties.
๑ Decapitation. Head. Sleep. Dreams. Trip. White Rabbit.
๑ Everyone thinks Snow White is dead, they're wrong. She's in a deep sleep.
๑ Sight. Sound. Taste. Smell. Touch.
๑ Close, but can't be reached or touched.
๑ Emma's reverting back to who she was before - August is changing back into a puppet- Henry is retreating further back into his fantasy life.
๑ Regina brought Jefferson and the others to Storybrooke.  Henry brought Emma to Storybrooke.
๑ Regina's "calling card" is the White Rabbit placed on Paige's bicycle.
๑ August says it will be hard to breathe. Red determines Snow has no breath. Henry slips into deep sleep.
๑ What is Mr. Gold's first name?
๑ Mr. Gold wants the curse to be broken
๑ How many authors are there to the book?
๑ Spinning- Globe/World, the Hatter Hat.
๑ Orchids
๑ Riddles. Puzzles. Play on words.
๑ Magic tricks. Illusions.
๑ Life. Death.
๑ Look. See.
๑ Main page Storybrooke.
๑ August shows Henry his wood arm which happens to look varnished and he can wiggle those fingers.
๑ Bicycle- balance- stable
๑ Core- heart
๑ Time- Hurry up. Slow down. No time to waste.
๑ Mental and Emotional health. Schizophrenia/possible Dissociative identity disorder- split personality.
๑ The Queen took the Prince to her castle.
๑ Alice in Wonderland. Eat. Tarts/pastry- turnover

Vocabulary and Research...
๑ Magic Tricks and illusion- guillotine-is a device used for carrying out executions by decapitation.
๑ Conundrum: a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play or words. Or anything that puzzles.
 - A logical postulation that evades resolution  
๑ Grave doesn't only represent death, it is also an emotional state.
๑ A Land Without Magic: The second book in the Kit Stixby series- A novel by Stephen Elboz. The second in a series of books about Kit Stixby and his friend, Prince Henry, which started with "A Handful of Magic".

✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈ Magical properties. Electrical activity and whooshing
✈ Head.  Sleep.  Dreams.  Trip. White Rabbit
✈ Drugs/mushrooms. Alcohol 
✈ Time and Space
✈ People are brought to the "Island"
✈ Crown. chest/heart. head/mind
✈ Dead. Gone. Not dead.
✈ Eyes
✈ Law
✈ Noble
✈ Suffering
✈ Sacrifice
✈  Life. Death
✈ 4
✈108
✈ Magic Tricks. Illusion.
✈ Glass. Cell. Being watched
✈ Truce
✈ Pen
✈ Axis
✈ War. Game. Deals. Rules.  Loopholes 
✈ Balance
✈ Part of a design:
✈ Schizophrenia. Mental and emotional health. Santa Rosa Mental Institute. Therapy.
✈ "Fire + Water"
✈ Flaming Arrow
✈ Tied to a tree: Sayid, Sawyer and Shannon
✈ "I do" and  "A Tale of Two Cities" - Glass cell
✈ "They need you": mentioned a couple of times-
   - "The Beginning of the End"  Charlie informs Hurley
   - "There's No Place Like Home"  Kate hears a voice tell her in reverse- The "Island" needs you...
   - "Man of Science, Man of Faith"- Kate to Jack
✈ Important connecting episodes: "White Rabbit",  "Born to Run", "Two for the Road", and "Expose".


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


Regina and Henry are having a meal together. {Red meat, cauliflower and note 4 red apples on a white plate.}  The doorbell dings.  Regina didn't recall them expecting any company.  She opens the door to find Sheriff Swan. {wearing her red jacket} Henry invited Emma.  Irate Regina asks Emma if she honestly believes she would be invited to her house for diner after all the threats she made against her family.  Emma reveals she's not there for dinner- she's there for her/you.  Regina turns around and Henry and their dinner are not there.  She turns back to the door to find Emma, Archie, Mary Margaret, David, Grumpy and Granny.  Emma tells her "they all did" (come for her.)   Regina turns away to see Henry standing there with rope hanging off his right shoulder.

Emma and Archie tied Regina to a tree in the middle of the street in the town. The angry villagers with torches, include 7 Dwarfs, Snow White/Mary Margaret and Prince Charming/David/James holding hands, Little Red Riding Hood/Ruby, Granny and little Henry
Regina commands to be "let go!"
Ruby- "After what you've done to all of us!"
Archie- "Apologies, Your Majesty. But my conscience is clear!"
Leroy/Grumpy - "You're not Queen anymore, sister!"
Granny yells out "Tighter! She needs to feel our pain!"
Mary Margaret- "You took our love and ripped it apart!
David- "And now you're gonna pay!"
Emma takes a black apple from the tree and crushes it in her hands; it pours its blackness on to the street. "Rotten to the core."
Desperate Regina sounds panicked and starts to sob. "I just wanted to win... for once."
Emma grabs her by her throat. "You took away our happiness and now it's our turn to take away yours.
Regina is confused. "What?"
Prince Charming/David/James presents Emma with a large sword.  Despairing Regina begs Henry, "Please don't let them do this to me."
Henry- "You did this to yourself."  He backs away and Emma swings the sword at Regina.
Regina bolts awake in her bed. It was a dream.
  
Regina runs into check on Henry and sees the covered bulk- she is relieved.  Sadly she assumed it was Henry's sleeping body under the covers.  But Henry is on his way out of Storybrooke with Emma.

Emma is driving Henry in her bug.  Henry sees that in the backseat there is a bunch of stuff. "Is that all your stuff?"  Emma tells him "All I need."   Henry gets upset that Emma wants to leave now. Emma's getting him out of there; away from all of this- away from her/Regina.  Henry demands she stop the car. "You can't leave Storybrooke. You have to break the curse!"   Emma says she doesn't. "I have to help you."
Henry- "But you're a hero, you can't run! You have to help everybody."
Emma knows it's hard for him to see it, but explains she's doing what's best for him. "That's what you wanted when you brought me to Storybrooke."
Henry- "But the  curse! You're the only chance to bring back the happy endings."  He sees they're just about to pass the LEAVING STORYBROOKE marker and pushes on the wheel to cause the car to crash off the road and under a weeping willow tree.  This upsets Emma as he could have gotten them killed.  Henry is very panicked and he begs Emma "Please! Please! Don't make me go! We can't go! Everything's here. Me, your parents, your family. Please, Emma, they need you. Your family needs you!"

King George confronts his prisoner; his pretend son, the Prince.  "Did you think that I would let you get away? Hmm? You appear to have had quite the adventure since then."
David-"Whatever it is you're gonna do to me, get on with it!"   The knights raise the Prince eye level to the King.
King- "I took you in as my son and you betrayed me! I would have given you everything. the crown, the Kingdom- all you had to do was marry King Midas' daughter. But you decided to follow true love."
Prince- "Losing my life for love... that's a sacrifice I am happy to make."
King- "As you wish."
The Prince is placed in the guillotine and the King commands the faceless executioner to "Release the blade."

The blade descends and on it's way down to beheading the Prince, it is magically transformed into water.  The King asks "What is the meaning of this?"  Regina comes strolling in wanting the man he pretends is his son. "And I'm prepared to pay any riches Midas promised you in return for him."
The King wonders "What do you plan to do to him?"  Regina promises he'll suffer, "Far more than some swift and simple beheading."   The King asks "How?"   Regina will use him to destroy his one true love. "By using him to bring an end to Snow White."

Distant Regina looks out her closed window.  Then she heads outside to her prized and precious tree; the one she said she's had since childhood- and picks a rotting apple off of her now dying tree.  She is pissed off.

Regina storms into Mr. Gold's dark shop sharing the news that "My tree is dying. Why?"  Mr. Gold suggests "Perhaps its your fertilizer."   He smirks. {He is sure to carry a pen around most of this scene.}   Regina thinks it's a sign of the curse weakening... "Because of Emma. But do you care? No. You're content to just sit back and do whatever it is you're doing. While all my hard work burns."
Mr. Gold- "That's not all. Come on- you may as well get everything off your chest."
Regina doesn't know what he's talking about. Mr. Gold informs her that Miss Swan wants Henry.
Regina- "She'll have that boy over my dead body."
Mr. Gold- "The curse was meant to take away Snow White and Prince Charming's happiness.  Perhaps you giving up Henry is just the price to keep the curse unbroken.
Regina would rather just get rid of her.

Mr. Gold - "Whew! Well, well. You're gonna have to be quite creative. We both know the repercussions off killing Miss Swan..."  Both of them state at the same time "...the curse would be broken."
Regina- "That's because you designed it that way. Undo it."
Mr Gold scoffs. "You know, even if I wanted to- I couldn't.  Magic... well, is in short supply around here, and dwindling by the minute."
Regina thinks "You want the curse broken. Why?"
Mr. Gold- "That's not something I care to discuss."
Regina- "Don't bother. You can shove your reasons. I want to strike a new deal. One where I can get rid of Emma without shattering the curse."
Gold- "Unfortunately for you a negotiation requires two interested parties and I'm already planning a trip."
Desperate Regina will give him anything.
Mr. Gold- "Oh. You no longer have anything that I want, Dearie.  But I'll give you a piece of advice free of charge.  I'd plan a trip of your own. Because once people waking up and remember who you are and what you did to them... there going to be looking for blood."  He puts his pen down and spins the black globe on its axis.

In the school yard Regina places her calling card onto Paige's banana seat, high handle bar bicycle license plate.

Mary Margaret pours herself a glass of orange juice when Emma comes in with her belongings.  Mary Margaret thought she left; but couldn't tell for sure because she didn't bother to say goodbye.  She reminds Emma of things thing she told her when she decided to run.  "We have to stick together. That we're like... family."    Emma apologizes and knows she shouldn't have left.  Mary Margaret basically sounds like a pissed off and disappointed mother.  Emma tells her she doesn't want to be sheriff, she doesn't want people relying on her, she doesn't want this- any of it.  Mary Margaret asks "What about Henry?"
Emma admits she took him with her and this makes Mary Margaret upset. "You abducted him."
Emma- "Maybe."
Mary Margaret- "So, you don't want people to rely on you but you took your son. Now that sounds like a stable home for him. What the hell is wrong with you?"
Emma claims to want what's best for him, but Mary Margaret questions "And running is what's best for him? Or is that what's best for you? You're reverting, Emma... into the person you were before you got here and I thought you'd changed."
Emotionless Emma replies "You thought wrong."  Mary Margaret feels she has to do what's right for Henry now.
Lost Emma asks "What's that?"   Mary Margaret advises "Oh, I don't know. Your his mother. That's your job. So you figure it out."

Snow White looks through her telescope and states "If we're going to get him out we're going to have to go over that wall. There's a soldier on every parapet."  Granny feels their going to some "air support."  Grumpy {with a crossbow and arrow} knows just the person who can help them; one who owes him a favor.  Red arrives.  Grumpy informs her "Uh, Red. You've got someone on your chin", indicating she just attacked someone.  She found out "Your Prince is still alive."  She doesn't look happy because she also heard word the Queen is here.  Snow realizes "She knew I'd come for him."   Granny feels it's a trap.  Snow agrees, but she can't stop now.  She will understand if they want to turn back.  In unison all say "No!"  Happy Snow knows there's no time to waste.  Red asks Snow why the Queen is doing this. 
Snow- "I destroyed her happiness and now she wants to destroy mine."

Prince Charming sits alone handcuffed in his cell.  The Evil Queen arrives with two guards and commands they "Leave us."   She magically opens the cell door.  The Queen looks over the merchandise, the Prince, seeing what the allure is.  She reaches out to touch him and he pushes her hand away.  The Queen wonders if he'll be so incorruptible after his precious Snow is gone.
The Prince- "Whatever she did to you, leave her alone and take my life instead."
The Queen- "Oh, who said anything about taking a life? Oh, no... I have a far more satisfying brand of punishment for her."  She strolls out of the cell and proudly presents a large red apple from a velvet pouch.

Troubled Regina looks out her closed window into the yard with her sad tree.  Angry Jefferson enters flipping the White Rabbit calling card she left as a message {on Paige's bicycle license plate} over and over in his left hand.  He made it clear he watches his daughter.
Regina- "It must be so painful your daughter Paige being oh-so near."
Annoyed Jefferson corrects Regina; his daughter's name is Grace.  Regina should know that as she's the one who changed it. Regina wants Jefferson's help. {She's pouring two glasses of alcohol}
Jefferson- "And what makes you think... I won't kill you after everything you've done?"
Regina- "Because you don't have it in you. If you did you would have done it 28 years ago when I brought you here. Because you know if I'm dead you'll never get back to your daughter. And I have a way for us to both get what we want."  She offers him one of the glasses and he puts the White Rabbit card into it.

 

Then Regina presents him with his hat box.
Jefferson- "My hat."  He opens the box.  Regina wants him to use it again, but Jefferson can't make it work- no one can. "Not here. Not without magic."  Regina feels he's in luck because she happens to have some. "Not a lot. But hopefully enough... for one last journey."
Jefferson- "Where?"
Regina- "Back to our land- where there's a solution to a very delicate problem I have. How to get rid of the one person who can break my curse."
Jefferson- "Emma. And why shouldn't I let her do just that? End the madness and go home."
Regina scoffs- "To your hovel? Selling fungus at the fair? Why?  When you could just stay here in that mansion I gave you? My problem, Jefferson, is the same as yours. It's family. We both want our children back and we both can get them, if we work together."
Jefferson- "Why should I trust you now?"
Regina- "You shouldn't. But it's the only offer you've got. After we're through I'll wake up your dear Grace so she remembers who you are."
Jefferson- "No! Remembering is the worst curse. Two lives in her head like me. I want to forget. I want you to write us a new story. A fresh start, here."
Regina- "Well, my dear Jefferson, that's exactly what you'll have...  Oh, after we take care of Miss Swan."


Under the full moon, Snow White and her army hear the wolf howl.
Snow White- "Thank you, Red. Do it!"
The little army prepares to go over the wall. They launch their crusade with a flaming arrow.  As they put their hoods on and move out, Grumpy whispers "I miss Stealthy."  All of the fairies are hovering in the night sky with bags of fairy dust, ready to attack when the flaming arrow signals their mark.  They fly and buzz their way over the water toward the Castle.

Snow White is the first to head over the wall where she throws a dagger and stabs a Knight- also fighting other who attacks her. The rest of Snow's army follows upward.  Snow and her army are merciless.
They make their way to the courtyard and take on the Knights there too.  All seems to be won, when they turn to make way into the castle and are confronted by more Knights and the Knights they just took down returned back to life,  all surrounding them.  In come the colorful flying fairies- dropping their fairy dust bombs. All the Knights go down.  Snow and her army run...

...Henry hurries and knocks on August's door. {Room 2}.  Henry looks nervous and anxious.   He begs August for his help. "Emma wants to leave."
August- "What? Slow down."
Henry- "You were gonna make her believe- You have to!"
August seems disappointed. "I know, Henry. I'm sorry. I- I failed."  He says he tried to show her. "First is was my legs and now... now take a look at the unvarnished truth."  He shows Henry his left arm- which happens to look varnished.  Henry is surprised. "It's wood."
August- "Yes."   August wiggles the fingers on his wood arm.

Henry seems stunned and validated. "All of this... I was right- the curse. It's real!"
August- "You're a smart kid."
Henry- "And you're Pinocchio!"
August- "What gave it away?"
Henry- "But, why are you turning back to wood? Your story- You should be real."
August- "I'm changing back because I haven't exactly been a good boy. And... (He struggles to kneel down to Henry's eye level) well, if the curse doesn't break- this doesn't stop."
Henry- "So we show Emma that you're turning back into the puppet you were, and the she has to believe. And when she does she can break the curse."
August- "I tried that.  She doesn't want to to see, so she doesn't. There's nothing more that I can do. I, I'm getting tired. It's hard to ride. It's hard to walk. Soon it's gonna be hard to breathe."
Henry- "So we have to do something fast."
August- "There's nothing to do. And with what little time I have left, I want to spend it with my father."
Henry- "Marco."
August- "Told you you were a smart kid."   August sees Henry to the door.
Henry- "So everyone is giving up?"
August- "I'm afraid that I don't have a choice. I'm sorry kid, but I'm out of Operation Cobra. Now it's up to you."   He closes the door on Henry.

Archie and desperate Emma are meeting at Granny's.  {Emma wears her red jacket.} Archie is sorry "I'm afraid you don't have any case for custody."   Even after everything Regina's done; which Emma can't prove.  Archie asks her "With this war raging on who is getting hurt here?"   Emma knows it's Henry. "But isn't it a good thing that he's spending time with me? I'm his mother."
Archie- "Yes you are. And so is Regina. And look, the court is gonna come in and look at him and see how he's been since you've come into his life."
Emma- "He's been happier, right?"
Archie- "Maybe. I mean objectively? He's skipped school, stolen a credit card, run off, endangered himself repeatedly. And so in the eyes of the law it's not so..."
Emma- "What about in your eyes? What do you think?"
Archie really thinks things over. "A while ago I told you to engage him in his fantasy life and perhaps it was wrong, because he's only retreated further into it."
Emma- "You think he's better off with her?"
Archie- "I never said that."
Emma whispers to him "Do you think that she would ever hurt him?"
Archie is adamant. "No. Never.  Everyone else, but not him. Look, right or wrong her actions have all been defensive. I'm not judging but ... in many ways your arrival has woken a sleeping dragon."
Emma- "Tell me honestly, has he been better off since I got here?"
Archie seems troubled. "Ohh, it's not a matter of better off. It's a matter of this war has to end. If you two are going to be in his life you have to figure out the best way to do that."

Snow White hurries into the dark prison that is housing Charming behind bars.  Happy Snow takes the key ring, opens the cell door and rushes in to see that Charming is behind glass/mirror- she can't get to him.  Charming tells upset Snow that the Queen to him to her palace.
Defeated Snow- "But I'm rescuing you."
Charming lets out a little laugh and puts his hand up against the glass and she puts her there.
Teary Snow asks "Is this always gonna be our life, taking turns finding each other?"  Teary eyed Charming tells her they'll be together, "I know it. Have faith."
The mirror/glass magically transforms to show the entertained Evil Queen in Charming's' place. "Hahaha. I just had to stop you. I have no interest in cleaning tongue marks off my mirror."
Snow- "Let him go. Your fight is with me."
Queen- "My thoughts exactly.  Have you ever heard of a Parley? We break off all this messy fighting and have a little talk. Just you and me. Come unarmed."
Snow- "Where do I meet you?"
Queen- "Where it all began."

Snow disarms while she tells her little army not to talk her out of this. "The castle is secure."  Grumpy suggests she keep her little knife between her tuffets. But Snow promised to come unarmed "It's a Parley. There are rules."  Red feels Snow is too noble for her own good. Snow doesn't think so. "But enough of you have risked your lives because of something that's between the Queen and me. I will not let anyone else get hurt because of me."
Red- "Except you."   Snow thanks her for her concern, "But this ends today."  Grumpy and the gang feel they can't let her go. But Snow isn't asking. She thanks them for their support "I love each and every one of you. But this is something I have to do... alone."  Snow leaves.  Red informs the gang "I don't like this. I don't trust that Queen."

Regina leads Jefferson down into a dark vault where she reveals this is where she's kept the last bit of her magic.  "The only magic in this world is in the things I brought with me."  Unimpressed Jefferson places his hat on the floor and waits. "It's not spinning. It's not working."  Regina feels it needs to absorb the magic that's here. "I have some things left. A few trinkets."  She pours out these few small trinkets from a little box she took off a shelf.   Again they wait, but nothing happens. Jefferson picks up the hat and even tilts it; none of the trinkets fall out.  He feels it's not enough. "We need something that still works."  So heartbroken Regina pulls out the twisted ring Daniel gave to her.  Jefferson asks "Who's that?"  Regina only replies that it's someone long gone.
Jefferson- "Well, whatever or whoever it is, it still has magical properties. Gimme that- let me see what I can do with it."  Regina is reluctant to hand it over.  Jefferson tells her "If you want your son back, if you want your revenge give it to me."  

Regina doesn't hand him the ring, she puts the ring into Jefferson hat. There is only a little bit of weak spin, electrical activity and whooshing. Regina wonders what's wrong. "Why isn't opening a portal?"
Jefferson- "The magic- it's not enough. We can't go anywhere."
Regina- "Well then you failed."
Jefferson- "Maybe not! There's enough magic to touch the other side, just not to get us there. There might be enough to reach through and retrieve something."
Curious Regina asks "I can bring something back?" 
Jefferson- "Is there an object that can help you? Perhaps I can open it enough and reach through and grab  it. It would have to be small. Something that you can take with your hand. Is there anything like that that can help you? "
Regina- "Yes. Yes, I believe there is."
Jefferson- "Then you need to direct me to the time and place where this object exists."
Regina- "How?"
Jefferson- "Think about it. Guide the hat."
Regina closes her eyes, deep in thought. With that, that is enough to get the hat in action.
Jefferson still seems unimpressed. "Excellent. It appears to be working. Now what is it we're after?"
Regina- "An apple."

Melancholy Evil Queen waits for Snow in the stable where she had and her lost her love, Daniel.  Snow arrives and Regina has her follow her to the field.  Regina asks Snow "Do you remember when I ran down your runaway horse? Do you remember when I saved your life?"  Of course Snow remembers. She also recalls "It all looks the same."  Regina shows her a difference- a grave- Daniel's grave.

Snow is confused. "Daniel? I thought..."
Regina "Ran away. I told you that to spare your feelings out of ... kindness. But he died because of you."
Snow is at a loss for words, she can only say "I'm sorry."  Regina is sorry too, as nothing can change what happened. "What you did. You promised to keep my secret. You promised- but you lied."
Snow- "I was very young and your mother..."
Regina can only see her own selfish and angry side of that unfortunate event. "She ripped his heart out- because of you!  Because you couldn't listen to me."
Snow is realizing Regina's pain- "You took my father. Haven't we both suffered enough?!"
Regina- "No!"  She presents a morsel/apple. "Did you know that apples stand for health and wisdom?"
Concerned Snow wonders why she gets the feeling that one might kill her.
Regina- "It won't kill you. No, what it will do is far worse. Your body will be your tomb and you'll be in there with nothing but dreams formed of your own regrets."
Snow- "You're going to force me to eat it."
Regina- "Of course not. It wouldn't work anyway. The choice is yours. It must be taken willingly.
Snow "And why would I do that?"
Regina- "Because if you refuse the apple... your Prince... your Charming... will be killed.  As I said, the choice is yours."
Crying Snow verifies "I take that apple and he lives- that's the deal you want to make?"
Regina- "With all my heart."
Snow bites the apple. And as she falls asleep, Charming is waking up in his cell 
Charming wakes up knowing something has happened and yells "What have you done to her?! What have you done?! Snow!"

Sleeping Snow lets go of the bit apple and it rolls down the hill and appears, popping up into the vault where Jefferson catches it.  He holds the bit apple and asks "Is this it?"  Regina is pleased.
Jefferson- "My daughter, my Grace?"
Selfish Regina tells him "First things first. The deal's not done. Not until I solve the next conundrum. How to get this savior to taste my forbidden fruit."

We see Regina cut up and bake a triangle shape apple turnover.

Emma shows up needing to talk to her. Regina imagines they do; she was just about to call Emma.  She invites Emma in, also welcomes her to do what she's so skilled at "And make yourself at home."  Emma looks around the house.  She tells Regina that this isn't easy "I think that this... whatever is between us needs to end. {Regina agrees} I want to make a deal with you about Henry."
Regina- "I'm not making any deals with you."
Emma seems anxious and unsure- "I'm leaving town. This... what we're doing, is a problem... and I'm gonna go, but I have conditions. I still get to see Henry. I get to visit and spend time, whatever."
Regina- "And you get to see him. You're still in his life."
Emma- "Look, in any deal both parties are a little unhappy. But lets be honest, we both know the world where I'm not in his life no longer exists and there's no one who can do anything about that."
Just then the oven timer beeps. Regina tells Emma she's right. "Would you mind following me for a moment?"

Regina removed her special single apple turnover from the oven. She asks Emma "So, what are you proposing?"  Emma doesn't know, but that they'll "figure it out as we go."  Regina confirms, "But he's my son."   Hesitant Emma simply says yeah.  This makes Regina smile. As Emma turns to leave Emma stops her, offering her the apple turnover for the road.  "If we're going to be in each other's lives, it's time we start being cordial. My famous turnovers. Old recipe. But delicious."  Emma takes it, thanks her, but is clearly cautious.  Regina hopes she likes apples.


Red hurries into the stable to find Snow. She tells Granny she knows Snow was there as she can smell it.
From the distance Grumpy calls out that they found her.  Upset Grumpy found her lying there. Red uses Granny's dagger to check for breath on the blade. Sleepy says "Maybe she's just sleepin'." Red determines "She has no breath. She's gone. She sacrificed herself for true love."
Grumpy adds "She sacrificed herself for all of us."

The Evil Queen sits at her desk in her castle watching the goings on at Snow White's side via her mirror. "It would appear sacrifice is overrated. Hahahaha. Speaking of..."   She snaps her fingers and the mirror magically changes channels to show her Prince Charming in his cell yelling "What have you done to her?!"

Regina shows up at Mr. Gold's shop. She hopes he bought travel insurance because nobody is going anywhere; she found a solution to her Emma Swan problem.  Mr. Gold doesn't seem impressed at all until proud and happy Regina mentions it's an old reliable solution.
Mr. Gold- "A Sleeping Curse. May I ask how you managed to obtain one here in Storybrooke?"
Regina- "By sacrificing the last bit of magic from magic I had left."
Mr. Gold- "So, you made magic from magic. Well I'm sure I don't have to remind you that all magic comes at a price."
Regina- "Then you can pay it. Because now... the curse is gonna be stronger than ever and you will be right here where you belong."

Mr. Gold walks away from her and she's puzzled by that.  She asks "Don't you understand? I won! So whatever plan you had, whatever reason you wanted the curse broken... too bad. Because it's never gonna happen."  She spins the tan color globe on its axis and walks out.

Henry shows up at Emma's {door 3. and note the globe} asking if everything's okay; she sounded strange over the walkie.  She's okay and explains that yesterday when she tried to take him away that he was right. "I can't take you out of Storybrooke... but I can't stay either."  She has to go.

This troubles and confuses Henry.  Emma tells the boy that she and Regina made a deal that she can see him- just not every day.  Henry is getting very upset. "No. You can't trust her."  Emma feels she has to it's her only choice "It's what's best for you, Henry. Every time I fight her someone else gets hurt."
Henry- "No. No. No. You're just scared. This happens to all heroes. It's just the low moment before you fight back."
Now Emma is crying, desperate to reach Henry. She kneels down to his eye level. "Henry. This isn't a story, this is reality... and things have to change.  You can't skip school, you can't run away and... you can't believe in curses."
Henry- "You really don't believe?"
Emma- "I...  This is how it has to be right now. I made a deal and I used my superpower- she's telling the truth, she's gonna take really good care of you."
Henry- "Yes. But she wants you dead."  {He knows that}
Emma- "Come on, Henry!"
Henry- "You're the only one that can stop her!"
Emma- "Stop her from what? All she's ever done is fight for you. It just... got out of hand. I'm sorry."
Henry hugs her tight and notices the triangle turnover on the table. He sees it's apple and warns Emma not to eat it. "You can't eat that- it's poison.  Don't you see, the deal, it was all a trick to get you to eat that. To get rid of the savior."
Emma- "Henry, come on. Why would she do that when I told her I was gonna go?"
Henry- "Because as long as you're alive you're a threat to the curse!"
Emma- "Henry, you've got to stop thinking like this."
Henry is fired up. "But it's the truth! And you leaving isn't gonna change that!"
Emma wants to prove it to him by eating the turnover, but he grabs it from her, "I'm sorry it had to come to this. You may not believe in the curse, or in me, but I believe in you."
He takes a bite and Emma says "See. You wanna some ice cream to go with that? And we can get back to talking about..."  Henry falls to the floor- asleep.