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A VAGUE DISCLAIMER IS NOBODY'S FRIEND: Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a little girl named Cindy. Well, her given name was Cynthia, but everyone called her Cindy, which led to some calling her Cindy Brady. Taking the long view, that was probably for the best, as it prompted her to rush through her tattle-tale phase, more quickly than she would have otherwise been inclined. Others called her Cindy Lou Who, which she sort of enjoyed. But mostly? She was called Cinderella. (One uncle would greet her with "Cinderella, kissa fella," every time she saw him, and what she wouldn't give to hear him say that again...) So let's just say your recapper has Cinderella issues, for better and worse, even though Cinderella's real name is Ella.
Enchanted Forest: Ella's step-step sisters swan off to the ball leaving their cinder-covered abuse victim home alone, but not for long. Her fairy godmother appears, ready to magically right this wrongest of wrongs, when POOF... she is killed by Rumpelstiltskin! Rumpy convinces Ella that the fairy godmother's gifts wouldn't have been all that, because all magic comes with a price. He manipulates her into entering an agreement with him, so that she can attend the ball, and has her sign on the dotted line of a contract so long she doesn't even bother to read it. He magics up her beautiful blue ball gown and her glass slippers -- glass, because "...every story needs a memorable detail."
Prince Thomas falls in love with Ella. They marry. Snow and Charming attend a royal ball at Thomas's castle. Snow congratulates Ella on bettering her life, and I throw up a little in my mouth, because she did so over the ashes, not of her step-mother's hearth, but her slain fairy godmother. More on that in the full recap, I promise. Anyhow, Rumpy crashes the ball. He reminds Ella of their deal -- which will only be settled when she gives birth to the baby growing in her belly and surrenders the child to him.
Ella is going to run away, but when Thomas finds her packing, she confesses her situation and how she landed in it. His response? "Magic may have brought us together, but it didn't create this love." Aw. With Charming's help, the expectant parents scheme to trick Rumpy. Ella lies to Rumpy that she is expecting twins, and that she'll give both to him, provided he agrees to a new contract in which he will fix the problems in Thomas's kingdom (poverty, poor soil, dead crops, yada yada). Lies aside, the devil isn't in the contractual details; it's in the pen. Ella hands Rumpy a red quill with which to sign the contract -- an enchanted red quill. Once he uses it to sign the contract, he is magically imprisoned, but the magical price seems to be that Thomas disappears. Rumpy threatens that Ella won't get him back, until she surrenders her child. "In this world, or the , Cinderella!"
Our World: Emma meets Ruby's friend and Cinderella's Our-World counterpart, a maid named Ashley (I love this show's name puns). She's 19, pregnant and everyone is telling her she can't possibly handle the situation, which is complicated by the fact that Ashley's baby daddy/Thomas's Our-World counterpart, Sean (okay, the can't all be winners), has abandoned her, largely because of pressure from his father.
Having been in Ashley's shoes at age 18, Emma can sympathize and does. She tells Ashley to take her fate into her own hands, and if she wants to keep her baby, she should damn well keep her baby. Inspired by Emma, Ashley breaks into Mr. Gold's pawn shop at night, to find something (which we later learn is an agreement Sean's father coerced her to sign, in which she will sell the baby to Mr. Gold for a handsome price). When Gold catches Ashley in the act, she douses his face with pepper spray. He falls, hits his head on a table and is knocked out. Ashley finds the agreement in his pants (!!!) -- takes it and hits the road.
Gold comes to Emma and asks her to find Ashley, claiming he doesn't want to involve the police and get her in further trouble, and admitting he doesn't want to reveal what Ashley stole, which he'd have to do were he to involve law enforcement. Emma agrees to help, not so much for Gold's sake, but for Ashley's.
When people leave Storybrooke, bad things happen to them, so Ashley totals the car before she gets too far. Emma and Henry find her, and in the course of rescuing her, they learn about the baby broker deal with Gold. Ashley is in labor, but doesn't want to go to the hospital, because she fears Gold. Emma promises she'll handle him.
When Emma meets up with Gold at the hospital, she tells him his deal will never hold up in court -- because it's an illegal deal. Gold says he'll let Ashley out of the deal if Emma will promise to do him a (non-specified) favor in the future (and Henry, our fairy tale expert, doesn't even squawk at this). A lot of the Our-World story this week involves Emma's growth, so putting Ashley's needs before her own, she agrees to Gold's terms, which seems patently stupid to me, since she already had him; he couldn't enforce a baby selling contract. Granted, since he owns the town, and Regina is an ally of sorts, he likely could have continued to make Ashley's life miserable, but still, I was disappointed to see Emma give him even one inch.
Anyhow, Sean comes to the hospital to see his new baby and Ashley. He apologizes and explains that he gave into his father's pressure. And I guess that makes everything immediately and totally better -- at least in Ashley's eyes. Blah.
A lot more happens in the episode, of course. Emma realizes she needs to leave town or commit to staying. Sheriff Graham is a busy boy, too. He offers Emma a job as deputy and knocks boots with Regina. I'll be back with the recap, ASAP. In the meantime, please grade the episode at the top of the page and then join us in the forum, where red quills are not allowed.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Because of my name, I have Cinderella issues, so I've already written a full disclaimer applying to this episode, which you can read in the recaplet. I'm now obsessing about something else. Because I covered Lost (and because I cut my teeth on The Chronicles of Narnia), I have a thing for time travel, eternity, parallel universes, the supernatural and magic. I'm no expert, but it's stuff I think about, a lot (even when it comes to my own understanding of the world).
I usually like to jump straight into the story, but this week, I'd like to offer some analysis first. It's easy to write off Once Upon A Time as wholesome fluff, but while there is plenty of that to go around, it's a pretty think-y show, if you're into that. I know not everyone is, so if you just want the story, please feel free to page ahead. I'll make it clear when the actual recapping begins. If you want to dig down deeper, follow me.
ANALYSIS: Although I don't get to spend much time reading about Once Upon A Time, I've noticed certain events in "The Price of Gold" have inspired/reignited discussion about how the denizens of Storybrooke have spent the past 28 years, and how they've accepted/ignored Henry aging, when none of the rest of them do. I've also noticed a lot of back and forth about the Enchanted Forest/the fairy tale world, versus "the real world." You can bet your dainty glass slipper I have opinions and theories. And sure, I state them as facts, but I'm all disclaimer-ed out this week. Here goes...
The most important thing to remember when sussing out Once Upon A Time is that, within the confines of Once Upon A Time, the Enchanted Forest is the real world. I am spelling that out, even though the concept is old hat to some of you, because Once Upon A Time is a new hit show, on a major network, and some audience members (and perhaps some of my readers) aren't your typical TWoP Sci-Fi or Fantasy genre buffs.
Storybrooke, Maine is nothing but a magical construct. What does that mean for Boston, Phoenix and other locations mentioned on/used in this show? Nothing. Boston, Phoenix and wherever else may and probably do exist in their own universe, but they matter little, unless and until there is interaction between Storybrooke and those other places. Most people in Storybrooke cannot leave. If they try to, bad things happen. And Emma aside, so far, it seems most people from Boston, Phoenix, or wherever don't go to Storybrooke. (If/when that changes, I reserve the right to refine and revise these opinions and theories.)
We (the audience) are linear creatures subject to time, so this is a challenge to explain. Please bear with me. The Storybrooke residents who have been in Storybrooke from the moment Storybrooke was conjured up, have not been in Storybrooke for 28 years. It wasn't just that the clock didn't work in Storybrooke. Until Emma decided to stick around, time itself didn't work there. There were no years. No months. No weeks. No days. No hours. No seconds. There was only illusion. The Enchanted Forestians were magically plucked out of their real world, and plopped into what I like as a mystical holding pattern.
Once Emma decides to stay in Storybrooke, she causes a little crack in the curse. The curse still enchants the Enchanted Forestians, except that now, time passes for them, too. They don't notice this major change though, because before the curse cracked, they were under the illusion that they were subject to time.
The second most important thing to remember is that everything originally in Storybrooke was created as a result of the Dark Curse. The curse affected, and still mostly affects, all the cursed residents of the Enchanted Forest (as far as we know). For example, take the episode, "Snow Falls." When Prince James Charming's Storybrooke persona wakes up in the Storybrooke hospital as amnesiac David Nolan, he learns he is married -- not to Snow White's Storybrooke self (whom he doesn't remember) -- but rather to Kathryn. Except? He is not married to Kathryn. Not really.
We don't have to start looking at Kathryn as a liar or Regina's minion. It is most likely that Kathryn thinks she is truly Kathryn, and that she's married to David who she believes is truly David, but it's all a lie created by the spell. This is brilliant, by the way, because it makes her more sympathetic. No, she has no real marriage, but she has been enchanted to believe that she does, so it seems real to her.
We won't have to start looking at Mary Margaret/Snow White as a home-wrecker, or David Nolan/James Charming as a philanderer, once they get involved (that's not a spoiler; c'mon, they're going to get involved). This, too, is brilliant, because who wants the lead fairy tale Princess in this series breaking up a marriage. There is no Nolan marriage, because really, there is no Kathryn and there is no David. Kathryn and David are fake names attached to the Nolan façade magically cast over James Charming and his ex.
David and Kathryn did not spend X years growing up, meeting, dating, falling in love, getting married and having marital problems. From the very moment Storybrooke was conjured up, Kathryn has only ever been a woman who thought her husband left her. That is who she has been from the second the curse created Storybrooke. There is no marriage, just as there was no falling out. They were never together for a second. The curse created false identities for the real people (Prince James Charming and his former intended) and part of those false identities are these false memories.
For that matter, Regina never found David unconscious. David started out in a coma. Queenie's curse created that story, too. The real man, Prince James Charming (I know Charming isn't his last name, but I just want to be clear about who I mean), was stabbed, while still living in his real world. As a result of his wound, James lost consciousness. The curse overcame him, his wife, and everyone else in the Enchanted Forest, and created this false reality, with false identities, false memories, false circumstances.
The Henry Problem: Assuming we can believe what we have heard, then Henry was born in Phoenix, and was born outside of the curse. If this is so, then when he is transported to Storybrooke, he ages, while the rest of the residents don't. He is subject to time. The Enchanted Forestians living in Storybrooke still are not (or were not, until Emma came to town), even though they were coexisting in the same space with Henry. Think about The Narnia Chronicles, for a moment. Sometimes, the Pevensie children will return to England after having spent years in Narnia, but only minutes will have passed (in England time). Sometimes they will return to Narnia, after having passed only a school term or whatever in England, and centuries will have passed in Narnia. The time difference is never the same. There's no way to convert England units of time to Narnia units of time. There's no way to track the changes. The two universes operate under different rules. (And in the end, it turns out that Narnia is the only real place.)
So continuing with our assumptions about Henry, the residents of Storybrooke don't notice that this growing, changing, aging boy is odd, because the (then) intact curse prevents them from realizing it. They do things (sleep, eat, work, shop, go to school) day in and day out, but they're essentially living the same day over and over again. Their details may change from day to day, as long as (while the curse is whole) nothing they do or say allows them to have a happy ending. The curse keeps them from seeing how Henry is different from them. As Henry becomes aware of his surroundings, he realizes he is different, and this causes him dissatisfaction and distress, which starts him looking for answers (even in fairy tale books) and eventually prompts him to hunt down his biological mother.
Another Possible Henry Problem: It is possible that what we have heard/learned about Henry is false, too. Yes, Mr. Gold says he got Henry for Regina, and either he or Sidney says Emma gave birth in Phoenix. Yes, Regina says she changed Henry's every diaper and soothed his every fever. But for all we know, the curse created that backstory when it turned Rumpelstiltskin into Mr. Gold. After all, it has been implied on screen that while Henry is Emma's biological son, he may also be the reincarnation of the father Queenie sacrificed to get her new, false life. Of course, his name could just be an homage. I'd be ready to believe that if not for the Phoenix legend. I think I'll save that stuff for another time though, because if I go there, I will create a whole Emma problem, and while Ockham doesn't exactly say, "Keep it simple, stupid," that's what I'm inclined to do for now, when I consider...
The Emma Problem: Here's what we know for sure about Emma Swan's life (because we've seen it happen). Rumpelstiltskin tells Snow and Charming that their baby can be their savior from the Dark Curse. The Blue Fairy tells the Snow and Charming monarchy and roundtable that there's an enchanted tree that can protect only one. Geppetto fashions this tree into a wardrobe (or what have you). The intention is to stash pregnant Snow White in the wardrobe, thus protecting her unborn child and their savior, but Snow gives birth before the curse hits the land. Charming stashes the baby (who is wrapped in a monogrammed blanket) in the wardrobe. When Queenie's dark knights open the wardrobe, the baby is gone. When Emma celebrates what she believes is her 28th birthday, a boy arrives at her door and tells her he is her biological son. She believes she had a son and gave him up for adoption, and allows the boy to convince her to drive him to Storybrooke, Maine.
Occam's Emma: For now, it is best to accept that Emma's expressed backstory is as real and happened to her every bit as much as what we have seen happen on screen. We know what happened in Once Upon A Time's real world (i.e. the Enchanted Forest, where Snow gave birth to Emma and wrapped her in a blanket with an Emma monogram; Charming stashed her in the wardrobe; the wardrobe served as a portal to another world). We have been told that the wardrobe's magic transported Emma to another world, in which she grew up in the foster system, gave birth to a baby boy at 18, gave her son up for adoption to someone with connections to Mr. Gold in the baby broker business. It is safe to assume that, because of her Enchanted Forestian lineage, Emma is able to travel from the world in which she grew up, to the magical construct that is Storybrooke. Lost fans will understand my temptation to get really out there, and suggest that much of Emma's Boston/Phoenix/Tallahassee backstory is a magical construct too, created not by the curse, but rather by the magical wooden wardrobe, but that over-complicates things, even for me, at least for now.
The point of all this analysis is this: I don't think it is important how the Sheriff got the job as Sheriff, because I think he never wasn't Sheriff. He was whoever (my money is on the Huntsman) in the Enchanted Forest. The curse struck. He woke up as Sheriff in the construct that is Storybrooke. Jiminy Cricket was hopping around, because Pinocchio's conscience. The curse struck. He woke up as a shrink, Archibald Hopper, in the construct that is Storybrooke. Rumpelstiltskin was a seer and an imprisoned imp with a penchant for baby-napping, and a cache of curses. He struck a deal with Queenie, and woke up as a pawn broker (oh and I love that, especially this week, because his victims are his pawns in the Chess-sense) and antiquities dealer, with a baby broker business on the sly. Storybrookians don't remember details of the Storybrooke past because there is no past, because there was no time there. They were outside time until Emma booked a room at Granny's and that clock started up. Get it? Got it? Good. Now let's move on to the...
RECAP: We open with a segment of scenes from prior episodes (which I will from now on call the Previouslies -- it's a Buffy thing). Queenie cast a curse and blah blah blah. We get a clip of Regina, in her Storybrooke home, looking at her mirror, as the narrator says, "Only one knows the truth," so I guess that means Regina remembers life in the Enchanted Forest, and knows exactly what's going on.
Enchanted Forest, Night: We open on a very Disney World shot of fireworks over a distant castle. Ella's step-sisters depart for the royal ball leaving their cinder-covered abuse victim home alone, cleaning. Her African-Forestian fairy godmother appears. "Do not despair, dear. You will attend that ball." She explains to Ella (whom she calls "Cinderella") that she's her fairy godmother and is there to change her life. Godmommy holds up her wand and tells Ella, "This wand has the power to take you to your ball, to your prince and to your..." And then POOF... she goes up in flames. Her wand drops to the ground and is retrieved by Rumpelstiltskin, who says, "I got what I wanted." He then tells Ella not to be frightened. Ella: "You just killed my fairy godmother. She was trying to help me." Now, whether or not Rumpy killed Godmommy or not, Ella thinks he did and that makes her coming choices all the more abominable to me. Rumpy says the fairy godmother's wand is pure evil, and that he has done her a favor, because all magic comes with a price. He cautions her to go back to her life and be grateful she has a life to which she can go back. When she protests -- saying her life is wretched, Rumpy challenges her to change it and taunts that she can't handle the magic.
Ella says she will do "anything to get out of here." Rumpy's eyes light up at that. Ella: "Do you know how to use that wand, Mister..." Rumpy bows and says, "Rumpelstiltskin." And WHAT? He just out and out told his name? That's his big secret. Oh well, I guess by the time Cinderella's story happens, his secret identity has already been outed by the Miller's Daughter-turned-Queen (who you just know has to be our Queenie, since Queenie's Storybrooke name is Reginal Mills). Anyhow, Rumpy manipulates Ella into entering an agreement with him, so that she can attend the ball, but she will owe him a favor. "Something, precious." (It's very Gollum, and I love it.) Ella says she has nothing, but Rumpy assure her she will, because her wish will bring her more riches beyond belief. Ella says she doesn't care about wishes. "Just get me out of here." Rumpy tells her his needs are small (AS BABIES ALWAY ARE, DON'T DO IT, ELLA) and has her sign on the dotted line of a contract so long she doesn't even bother to read it. Sigh. He magics up her beautiful blue ball gown and her glass slippers -- glass, because "...every story needs a memorable detail." He tells her to have a good time, "But be sure to watch the clock." We cut to...
Storybrooke, 8:00 AM: After my big analysis and lecture about how the Enchanted Forest is Once Upon A Time's real world, I've decided to stop calling the Storybrooke universe "Our World," even though the show has used that term, because I think it obscures what is real in this story. Anyhow, we cut to a shot of the clock. I never noticed before, but the clock tower crowns the Storybrooke library. That resonates with me somehow, because what is a library, but where the stories live? The clock is still ticking and chiming away.
Henry wonders if it's okay to be seen out in the open with Emma, but she pretty much tells him Regina can bite her. Henry declares her brave and says, "We'll need that for Operation Cobra," then asks if they should start using code names. I love this kid. Emma points out that Operation Cobra is the code name. Henry explains: "I mean us. I need something to call you." Oh, he wants to call her "Mom," poor little punk. Emma stammers and tells him to just call her Emma, "...for now." Henry says, "See you later... Emma," and hops on his bus.
Sheriff Graham pulls up in front of Emma, blocking her way down the sidewalk. When she asks what's up with the siren, he tells her he has to get her attention, somehow. Oh, he's so crushing. He's not just there because he's crushing though, he offers her a job. When Emma points out she has a job, the Sheriff points out she's not going to get much bail bonds work in Storybrooke. He gives her a card and encourages her to stay a while.
Granny's Diner: Regina finds Emma having her hot chocolate and asks how her walk with Henry was. She pretends she's not threatened and explains this new 'tude thusly: "I did a little digging into who you are, and what I found out is quite soothing. It all comes down to the number seven. [...] It's the number of addresses you've had in the last decade. Your longest stint anywhere was two years. Really, what did you enjoy so much about Tallahassee?" (While I've mentioned it in recaps, I should explain to the uninfected, that I keep referencing Lost because this show was created by Lost veterans, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.) Regina already knows Emma is staying with Mary Margaret Blanchard but says she isn't threatened, because Emma has no lease. "In order for something to grow... it needs roots and you don't have any. People don't change. They only fool themselves into believing they can." Emma's all, you don't know my life. Regina insists she does and asks that Emma stop for a moment and consider Henry, because he doesn't need a transient in his life, so perhaps Emma should move on.
When Regina is gone, Emma spills her hot chocolate on herself, so Ruby lets her use the laundry room, because Emma still only has the clothes on her back. Down in the laundry room, she swipes a shirt and bumps into a maid, 19 year old Ashley (Cinderella's Storybrooke persona). Everyone has been up in Ashley's grill, telling her she can't handle a kid. Emma tells her, "Screw 'em." She tells her about her own past and giving up her son for adoption and reminds Ashley the choice is hers. Don't let people tell you who you are. "You've just got to punch back and say, 'this is who I am.'" She tells Ashley that she's got to take charge of her own life. "If you want to change things, you're going to have to go out there and change them yourself, because there are no fairy godmothers in this world." Great line, but it takes me right back to the fact that Ella made her deal with Rumpy right after she watched him kill her Fairy Godmommy. I do not like this narrative choice at all, at all. I know Ella was desperate to escape her cruel step-family, but still, it makes me a little sick.
Gold's Pawn Shop, Night: Gold locks up his shop for the night and leaves. Ashley breaks a window, and lets herself in. Someday, I want to go over all the scenes that take place in this shop, because I just spotted the unicorn mobile that hung over Emma's waiting crib in the Enchanted Forest. I bet this place is chock full of needful things. As soon as Ashley finds the safe hidden behind a painting, Gold surprises her and asks what she's doing. She sprays him with pepper spray and says, "Changing my life." Gold falls, hits his head on a table and is knocked out. Ashley frisks him and finds something in his pants. In the recaplet, I thought it was some sort of container that held the contract, but now I see it is keys. She walks back to the safe as we cut to commercial.
Mayoral Mansion, Day: Regina, looking hotter than ever, puts on lipstick as she tells Henry that she doesn't enjoy her Saturday City Council meetings. While she's gone, the rules are "Yes on homework, no on TV, and stay inside." He is not to leave and he is not to see Emma, who Regina says is, "just a woman passing through." She says she'll be back at 5 o'clock, sharp. As soon as she's gone, Henry takes his backpack and hits the road.
Mary Margaret's Hovel: Emma has had her very few things sent to Mary Margaret's and is unpacking, when there's a knock at the door. But before we get that, look at the blanket behind Emma, to our left. It's her baby blanket! It's just Mr. Gold at the door (I was hoping for David/James Charming). Gold wants to hire Emma to work a case. He's looking for someone -- Ashley Boyd. "She's taken something quite valuable of mine." Gold says he doesn't want to go to the cops for several reasons. Ashley is young, pregnant, confused and scared. He doesn't want to ruin her life. Emma asks what Ashley took. Gold: "One of the advantages of you not being the police is discretion. Let's just say it's a precious object and leave it at that." Emma agrees to take the case, stressing "I will help her."
Henry shows up just as Gold is leaving. Once he's gone, Henry asks Emma, "Do you know who that is?" Emma says she does. Henry: "Good, because I'm still trying to figure it out." Emma says, "Oh, I meant in reality." [Note: Don't try to tell us what "reality" is! -- RS.] Henry's surprised that Emma has so few things. I wait for him to mention the blanket, but he doesn't. Emma asks why he's there. Henry tells her Regina is gone 'til 5:00, so he was hoping they could hang. Emma says she's got work to do. We cut to...
Downtown Storybrooke: Henry's trailing Emma, begging to help with the missing Ashley case. He won't take no for an answer. When Emma tells him she's just trying to be responsible, Henry says, "And I'm just trying to spend time with you," and lets himself in her car. Emma: "Oh! That is really not fair." Heh.
Enchanted Forest: Princess-bride Ella watches the fireworks from the balcony of the palace she now shares with her new husband Prince Thomas. She can't believe the fireworks she watched as a girl are now going off in honor of their wedding. Inside at the wedding ball, Snow and Charming greet the newlyweds. Snow is wearing gloves, and it's not clear if she and Charming have tied the knot, yet. Ella's new father-in-law dances with her and says he hopes their family will soon grow even more, hint-hint nudge-nudge. When Ella goes back to dancing with Thomas, Snow cuts in and dances with Ella and I just could watch this scene over and over for the pretty sight of these happy, dancing princesses, but then the dialogue ruins it. Snow: "Do you realize what an inspiration you are to everyone?" WHAT? To her credit, Ella agrees with me. "All I did was get married." Snow: "All you did -- was show that anyone can change her life." Um, by making a deal with an evil imp over the ashes (real or presumed) of her likely-dead fairy godmother, and marrying her way out? Way to make Ella look like a gold-digger, Show. I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.
Rumpy finds Ella and asks her if she's happy with her end of the bargain. A spooked Ella asks what his price is -- jewels, or her ring. Rumpy doesn't traffic in bobbles. He wants something he knows is coming. "Your first born." Commercial.
Time seems to have passed. Prince Thomas catches Ella trying to run away. She tells him she's pregnant and explains how she really got to the ball at which they met. "It wasn't my fairy godmother that sent me. It was Rumpelstiltskin. I made a deal with him for this life. I was stupid. I didn't understand the price of magic, so I promised him something. [...] He tricked me. I thought that he would want our gold or jewels." When Thomas asks what Rumpy really wants, Ella rubs her tummy. Thomas: "Our baby?" Ella cries that she's sorry. "And now I'm going to lose it all -- my life, you..." As she sits, she looks down at her tummy, or possibly the carpet. I don't know. I'm so disengaged from her right now, I suspect I'm being hyper-critical. Anyhow, Thomas says, "Magic may have brought us together, but it didn't create this love." That's seriously awesome. He tells her they'll strike a new deal.
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.
Emma drives off in search of Ashley. Before she gets too far, Henry pops up from his hiding place in the back of her car (it must take magic to hide in a VW Bug) and reminds Emma that Ashley can't leave town. "Bad things happen to anyone that does." Emma doesn't have time to argue about the curse. She wants to take Henry home, but he convinces her there's no time for that.
Enchanted Forest: Grumpy leads Thomas, Ella and Charming down to a dungeon-y place. They exposit about how Rumpy, who cannot resist making a deal, is the most dangerous man in all the realms, and that they've converted a mine to serve as a special prison for this most special of prisoners they hope to ensnare. It's the cell in which Rumpy was stuck, during the pilot, by the by. Grumpy says, "I hope you like it. A lot of dwarf blood went into it." Ew. I skipped some exposition, though, so let me fix that. Team Princess has sent one of Snow's bluebirds with a message to Rumpy to arrange a meeting. "We're going to tell him Doc heard something with his stethoscope..."
I'll interrupt myself here to acknowledge that detail. Because we (the audience) think of fairy tales as our folklore, we think of them as being set back in Medieval times, or whatever long ago and far away period you'd like. If/that Doc has a stethoscope, is not some glaring anachronism. Remember, the Enchanted Forest is its own universe, so to speak. It doesn't have to have to share our history of scientific discovery or anything else. Just because the characters dress in ways that see old-timey to us, doesn't mean they're not (in the context of this show) contemporary. I think the text backs me up here, because the Enchanted Forestians sound modern when they speak. Okay? Okay.
So anyhow, Team Princess will propose a new deal where Rumpy can get both twins, but it's all a ruse. The Blue Fairy has cast a spell on a red quill. If Ella gets Rumpy to use that quill to sign the new contract, he will be frozen and his magic will be made impotent. To give her her due, Ella is trying to learn from her mistakes and points out that this magic may well have a price. Thomas says, "I will pay it. I will do whatever is needed to save you and our child." Bye-bye, Tommy. Can you say FORESHADOWING? Looking at the prison cell, Ella finally agrees with Charming and Thomas. "Okay. Let's get him."
Storybrooke: Emma and Henry find Ruby's car in a ditch, right at the town line. Ashley is sitting on the grass, in labor. Commercial. Ashley wants Emma to take her to Boston, but Emma says that since Ashley is in labor, they can't spare the four hours. On their way to Storybrooke hospital, Emma lectures Ashley. If she really wants to keep her kid, she has to be ready. When Emma confesses she wasn't ready when she had her baby, Henry takes it all in. Emma stresses to Ashley: "Your whole life is going to change, and once you decide that [this baby] is yours, this running away can't happen. You have to grow up. You can't ever leave. Understand?" Ashley understands. "Yes. I want my baby."
Enchanted Forest, Garden, Night: Rumpy meets up with Ella. She proposes the altered bargain, complete with the lie that she's expecting twins. I can't decide if I like the "good guys" outright lying to get out of Rumpy's deal. Anyhow, Ella says she'll give both babies to him, provided he agrees to a new contract in which he will fix the problems in Thomas's kingdom (poverty, poor soil, dead crops, yada yada). Ella says she can always have more children, but she can't make the land fertile.
Deal-making is Rumpy's fatal flaw, so he leaps at the chance, "If what you say is true..." Ella assures him it is, and hands him the quill. Rumpy coos over it for a moment and then he warns Ella. "You know the only way to stop me is through magic." Ella says she isn't trying to. He reminds her all magic comes with a price. "If you were to use it to...say...imprison me, your debt to me would only grow, and we wouldn't want that, now, would we?" Oh, Ella. Run! She doesn't listen. She tells him to sign the contract, already. Rumpy: "Are you sure you're happy with this new arrangement?" Ella holds up the scroll. Rumpy giggles. "Then so it shall be." As soon as he signs, the contract falls to the ground and Rumpy is frozen in a blue, green and purple force field. Ella shouts for Thomas. As Team Princess arrives, Rumpy tells Ella, "No one breaks deals with me, dearie. No one. No matter where you are -- no matter what land you find yourself in, I assure you, I will have your baby."
Hospital Waiting Room: Henry points out that Emma is different. "You're the only one who can leave Storybrooke." She points out that he left to find her. Henry reminds her he wasn't leaving permanently. He's just a kid. What else would he do but come home. "You're the savior. You can do whatever you want. You can go." He obviously took to heart Emma's conversation with Ashley. The doctor comes out and announces Ashley has given birth to a six pound baby girl. Gold shows up and thanks Emma for getting him back his "merchandise."
Enchanted Forest: Team Princess loads Rumpy into a cart. Ella confesses how afraid she was that she'd have to return to her terrible life without Thomas. He tells her as long as he's alive, she will never go back to that life. They kiss. He asks how their little "Alexandra" is as he caresses her belly. Suddenly, Ella goes into labor. She feels dizzy. Thomas tells her to sit and runs off to get her some water. He finds a well a ways off. As he's raising the bucket, there's a noise in the woods. We cut to Ella whose discomfort has passed. She calls out to Thomas to tell him it's okay, but he doesn't answer. There's a whoosh. Ella calls out for her Prince again, but there's no response. When she gets to the well, all she finds is his cape.
Back at the wagon, Ella asks Rumpy what he's done to Thomas. Rumpy denies involvement. "I have no idea, dearie, but I did warn you, all magic comes with it a price. It looks like someone has just paid. Charming tells her not to listen -- that they'll find Thomas. Rumpy: "No you won't. Until that debt is paid -- until that baby is mine, you're never going to see him again. In this world or the , Cinderella, I will have that baby!" Commercial.
Storybrooke: Emma confronts Gold about not telling him why she was searching for Ashley. He tells her he thought it would be more effective if she found out on her own. "After seeing Ashley's hard life, I thought it would make sense -- to you. I mean if anyone can understand the reasons behind giving up a baby, I assumed it would be you." Emma tells Gold he's not getting this kid. He threatens to involve the police, which will land the baby in the system. He'll press charges if he must. Emma says his contract will never hold up in court. Gold says he'll let Ashley out of the deal if Emma will promise to do him a (non-specified) favor in the future. I don't love that Emma agrees to such a wide open arrangement, but she doesn't yet understand that the Enchanted Forest is the REAL world, so she doesn't understand the power behind striking a deal. Also, the story this week involves Emma's personal growth, so putting Ashley's needs before her own does make sense. I just can't buy that believer and fairy-tale-expert Henry doesn't object as Emma agrees to Gold's terms. I wish he hadn't witnessed it, because it seems so out of character for him not to interject, here. Anyhow, so yeah, Emma agrees to Gold's terms.
Emma and Henry visit Ashley, who has named her baby Alexandra (even though Ella didn't care for that suggestion, when Thomas made it back in the Enchanted Forest). The new mother cries with relief when Emma tells her she made a deal with Gold and that the baby is now Ashley's to keep. When Emma notices it's almost five, she rushes Henry out. We cut to...
A bedroom: I knew Regina looked too damned good to be going to a Council Meeting. She's getting dressed and talking to her mystery (not really one little bit) lover, who is showering in the adjacent bathroom. As she leaves, she reminds her secret lover that his socks are under the bed.
Emma's car: Emma suggests her code name could be "Pumpkin" in honor of Cinderella. Henry shoots it down, so Emma asks him if he has a better one in mind. He does. Emma: "Well?" Henry: "I'm not sure you're ready yet." Yeah, because it's totally Mommy. When she gets to the Mayoral Mansion, Henry rushes out of the car, but Emma stops him. "Henry, about what you said at the hospital -- about me being able to leave..." Henry says, "Yeah?" Emma smiles at him. "See you tomorrow." His face lights up as he races inside. He just gets in when Regina's car pulls in the drive. As she approaches the house, he races up to his bedroom. Like Cinderella fleeing the ball to beat the clock, our boy loses a shoe on the staircase, because every story needs a memorable detail. He just settles onto his bed and opens up his book when Regina enters his room, yelling about him leaving his shoes lying on the stairs. She then softens her tone. "Someone could get hurt." Henry smiles and nods at her, and we cut to the...
Hospital: Sean shows up and asks Ashley, "Is that her?" No, you tool. It's another, random baby. He's brought her an apology and wee little shoes for the baby (nice touch, Show). Ashley says, "You're back." Sean says he is. They kiss and that's it. I throw up again. But then I think back to my long analysis about how this world isn't real. One of the things that prompted it was all the talk about how Ashley has been pregnant for 28 years. There were no 28 years. There was a timeless span, and then time started when Emma agreed to stay in Storybrooke for a week. I have to remember my own rules. Sean isn't Sean, he's Thomas. Ashley isn't Ashley. She's Ella. Thomas never went deadbeat daddy on his child. In fact, he sacrificed himself to pay whatever price necessary to save her. I decide I threw up for nothing. I hate when that happens.
Emma's leaning against her car as she dials her phone. The Sheriff answers the call. Emma says, "I was thinking, maybe some roots wouldn't be so bad. Is that deputy job still open?" Graham says, "Absolutely." Emma: "Then I'm in. Is Regina gonna be okay with this?" Graham: "I don't care. That's my department. I'll see you Monday morning." Emma smiles as she hangs up and then looks up to watch Henry as he walks around his room. We cut to...
The Mystery Lover Bedroom: Graham is there, nekkid, getting his socks out from under the bed, just like his lover Regina reminded him too. Ha! You know, during the pilot, my assumption was that Graham was Regina's lover, but that vibe was less obvious in the second and third episode. So, while I am not surprised that Graham and Regina have been hitting the sheets, I do find it a delightfully messy detail. And? He's totally the Huntsman, right? I mean, he's gotta be.
The show is taking a week off, so we'll be back after the episode on Sunday, November 27th. In the meantime, please grade the episode at the top of the page and then join us in the forum, where red quills are not allowed.