Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: N/A | 2181 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT Fairy Tales Can Come True
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 1 | Aired on 2011.10.23
Enchanted Forest, Castle: Poor post-partum Snow White hobbles through the castle until she finds Charming lying seemingly lifeless on the floor. She drops to her knees and begs him to come back to her. As she holds his face, she gets an idea, and plants a big kiss on him, then leans back and waits for it to wake him, the way his kiss woke her. When nothing happens she tries again.
While Snow is still crying over Charming, Queenie struts in. "Oh don't worry, dear. In a few moments you won't remember you knew him, let alone loved him." Snow White looks up at her nemesis. "Why did you do this?" Queenie: "Because this is my happy ending." When two Dark Knights arrive at the door, the Queen asks about "the child." A knight replies, "Gone. It was in the wardrobe and then it was gone. It's nowhere to be found." Queenie looks to Snow White and says, "Where is she?" Snow White smiles as she cradles Charming. "She got away. You're going to lose. I know that, now. Good will always win." Queenie says, "We'll see about that." When she looks up, the castle ceiling starts to crumble. Wild winds carry in the misty curse. Everything swirls around Snow, Charming and Queenie. Snow asks, "Where we going?" Queenie laughs. "Somewhere horrible. Absolutely horrible." As glass shatters around them, she continues her villainous ramble, because every good villain loves to ramble. "...A place where the only happy ending will be mine." Thunder, lightning, flying shards of glass, and the thick, dark smoke of the curse surround them, until they're obscured from our view.
Storybrooke, Maine: Emma brings Henry home yet again. Regina says nothing when she opens the door, and nothing when Henry runs past her and into the house. She has to think it over before even thanking Emma, but then adds that Henry seems to have taken a shine to her. Emma: "You know what's kinda crazy? Yesterday was my birthday, and when I blew out the candle on this cupcake I bought myself, I actually made a wish that I didn't have to be alone on my birthday, and then Henry showed up."
Regina makes it clear that she's not inviting Emma back into Henry's life. For the last ten years she has, "Changed every diaper, soothed every fever, endured every tantrum. You may have given birth to him, but he is my son." She adds that Emma gave every right when she "tossed" Henry away and reminds her that a closed adoption gives her no legal right to Henry, and tells her to get in her car and get out of town. "Because if you don't, I will destroy you, if it is the last thing I do. Goodbye Miss Swan." As Regina storms off toward her door, Emma asks, "Do you love him?" Regina turns around all, "Excuse me?!" Emma: "Henry. Do you love him?" The Mayor's eyes are stone cold as she answers, "Of course I love him." Emma's superpower kicks in. She knows that Henry is right about his mother.