Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT For Whom The Belle Tolls
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.13.2013
Storybrooke. Day. The library's tower clock reads 12:05. As the camera pans down the structure, we see a purple banner reading "STORYBROOKE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY OPENING SOON." The street number of the library, by the by, is 3551. Here comes Belle, sashaying down the street in her adorably kicky skirt. When she enters the library, she immediately sets to work reshelving books. I know they have to give her something to do, but since the library has probably always been closed, it seems silly to me that after however long it's been since Rumpy got her access to it, that the books haven't yet been reshelved. I suspect I took too many critical pills today because I am even annoying myself, so I'll just move on.
As Belle is reshelving books, she spots a man in the stacks, but since she doesn't recognize him at first, she just says, "Sorry, the library's not open, yet." Hook tells her he's not there for the books. Recognizing him as the man who broke into her cell at Regina's palace, Belle runs. While Hook gets between Belle and the door, he makes the mistake of allowing the book cart to get between him and Belle. Belle's voice is shaky as she says, "You wanted to kill Rumplestiltskin [sic]." Hook allows that he still does, but says right now, he'll settle for Belle.
Belle pushes the book cart over onto Hook. When he's knocked down, she runs for the elevator and secures herself inside. As Hook bangs on the door, Belle calls Rumpy and tells him someone has broken into the library and wants to kill her. The reception is spotty, so Rumpy doesn't quite get everything she's saying. I'm not sure if he hears her tell him her assailant is a one-handed pirate, but at least he knows she's in trouble. I'm not particularly rooting for the Rumpy/Belle romance, but I am glad she has someone looking out for her. While she is quite adventurous and brave, she's a bit foolhardy, as we soon shall see. Commercial.
Enchanted Past. Day. Wearing a terrific (if a bit cleavage-y) hunting outfit, Belle is sitting in the back of the hunting party's wagon as it makes its way along the road. When a male hunter leans over her shoulder to check out her rack, he pretends like he cares about what she's doing and asks what she's holding. Belle's smile is wry. "A book. I trust you've seen one before." Oh Belle, you're such a trusting woman. Blowhard mocks Belle for expecting to defeat the fiercest creature in the land with a book. The other hunters laugh about her perhaps boring it to death.