Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B+ | 2 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT Bibbidi Bobbidi Botch
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 4 | Aired on 11.13.2011
Storybrooke, Day: Emma is questioning Ruby about Ashley, outside the diner. Ruby tells Emma that Ashley's baby-daddy, Sean, isn't in the picture. They're interrupted when the tow truck out front deposits Ruby's red car, just a little too roughly on the road. Ruby tells the driver, Billy, to be careful. "You almost shattered my wolf thing, Billy. It's good luck." Her wolf-thing is a red and clear glass figurine, dangling from rearview mirror. Emma asks about Ashley's family. Ruby says: "She's got a step-mom and two step-sisters she doesn't talk to." The Cinderella coincidences are too much for Henry to contain himself, but Emma not-nows him. Ruby tells Emma that Ashley is really trying to better herself, and suggest Emma leave the case alone. Emma says she's been through it too, and wants to help, so Ruby steers her toward Ashley's ex-boyfriend, Sean Herman.
Sean's House: Sean opens the door. Emma introduces herself and explains why she's there. Sean's father arrives home and says his son has nothing to do with Ashley any more. Emma: "You're the reason he broke up with her." The dad says, "Absolutely..." And blah blahs about how it's all Ashley's problem. Damn Hell Ass King. Emma whispers to Sean that Ashley is running away with the baby, before his father makes him get away from the door. Once Daddy-Dearest is alone with Emma, he tells her he went to a lot of trouble to get Ashley her deal. That deal? She's selling the baby to Mr. Gold for a handsome price. What does/do Rumpy/Gold do with the babies? I don't even want to think about it. Eek!
In the car, Henry tells Emma no one has ever broken a deal with Gold. Emma doesn't care. "If Ashley wants this baby, she should have it. Anyone who wants to be a mother should damn well be allowed to be one." Well, yeah, while that may well be true in Ashley's case, I totally disagree with that as a generalization. I mean, have you MET PEOPLE? Anyhow, Henry smiles at this, because... you know.
Diner: Emma returns and asks Ruby why she didn't tell her about the baby-selling deal. Ruby says she didn't want Emma judging her friend. Emma spots the wolf figurine, which is now inside the diner and asks Ruby where her car is. She quickly twigs to the fact that Ruby let Ashley take it, and sent Emma to Sean's as a diversion, to give Ashley time to get out of town. I'll note here that my friend Denise does not like Ruby, but now that Ruby is doing more than sticking out her ass and otherwise posing, I'm kind of digging her. I certainly admire her loyalty in this episode. Ruby refuses to talk in front of Henry, because he's the Mayor's kid. Emma persuades him to leave, so Ruby will spill. Once he's gone, Ruby tells Emma that Ashley left about a half hour ago and was planning to go to Boston and disappear.