Transcripts - Forever Dreaming

–[Real World]–

(Mr. Gold and Belle are in Mr. Gold’s pawn shop. He takes out a small box and opens it, revealing a necklace.)

Belle: It’s, uh… It’s very beautiful. So, what’s the occasion?

(He takes the necklace out of the box and goes to put it around her neck.)

Mr. Gold: The occasion is us. We haven’t really gotten out much since Storybrooke awakened. So, I thought we should see it together.

(He finishes clasping the necklace.)

Mr. Gold: Wow…

Belle: Thank you.

(The two of them hug.)

Mr. Gold: Don’t get your hopes up. The nightlife is extremely limited.

Belle: No. That’s not what I meant. Thank you for… For what you’re doing. For how you’re changing.

(The moment is interrupted by the front bell ringing. Leroy enters.)

Leroy: Okay, Stiltskin, I want my axe.

Mr. Gold: I’m sorry, but we’re closed.

Leroy: It’s mine. Give it to me.

Mr. Gold: And yet, still closed.

Leroy: Just cause you possess something, don’t mean it’s yours. Nothing in this shop belongs to you. And you? How can you be with such a monster? Or maybe, you’re just another possession, too.

Mr. Gold: How dare you?

(Mr. Gold grabs Leroy by the neck and pins him against the wall.)

Mr. Gold: You want your axe? Fine!

(He begins to strangle him.)

Belle: Rumpelstiltskin!

Mr. Gold: You can have it… Buried in your chest!

Belle: Stop! Stop! This isn’t you anymore!

(Mr. Gold turns into Rumpelstiltskin.)

Rumpelstiltskin: Oh, it’s me, dearie. Always has been, always will be.

(Belle wakes up from her nightmare to find herself in one of Mr. Gold’s rooms. She gets out of bed and goes downstairs, discovering that it’s nighttime. She goes outside and lurks around one of the basement windows. Inside, Belle sees Mr. Gold spinning straw into gold at the wheel. However, he cuts off a segment of the gold and puts it into a vial, causing a magical reaction.)

–[Fairy Tale World]–

(A human Rumpelstiltskin arrives home with a basket of wool. He calls for his family.)

Rumpelstiltskin: Milah? Bae? I’m home. Hey…

(A young Baelfire is sitting at the table, alone.)

Baelfire: Papa?

Rumpelstiltskin: Where’s mum? …Well, she probably just…lost track of time. Grab your cloak. We’ll find her.

———–

(Rumpelstiltskin enters a tavern, and finds Milah gambling and throwing back sh*ts with a group of men. He approaches the table.)

Rumpelstiltskin: Milah. Milah. It’s time to go.

Milah: Good. So, go.

Hook: Who’s this?

Milah: Ah, that’s no one. It’s just my husband.

Hook: Oh? Well, he’s a tad taller than you described.

Rumpelstiltskin: Please. You have responsibilities.

Milah: You mean like, being a man and fighting in the Ogre Wars? Other wives became honoured widows, while I became lashed to the village coward. I need a break. Run home, Rumpel. It’s what you’re good at.

(Baelfire emerges from behind Rumpelstiltskin.)

Baelfire: Mama?

Rumpelstiltskin: Bae… You were supposed to wait outside, son.

(Milah acquiesces and leaves with the two of them.)

———–

(At their home, Milah lays in bed while Rumpelstiltskin makes tea.)

Rumpelstiltskin: You don’t really wish I d*ed during the Ogre Wars, do you?

Milah: I wish you’d fought. Don’t you?

Rumpelstiltskin: Well, I’m alive. And I’m here – with you, with Bae.

Milah: This isn’t a life. Not for me. Why can’t we just leave?

Rumpelstiltskin: We’ve talked about that.

Milah: You don’t have to be the village coward. We could start again. Go somewhere no one knows us. See the whole world, beyond this village.

Rumpelstiltskin: I know this wasn’t the life you wanted, but it… It can be good. Here. At least try. If not for me, then…for Bae.

Milah: Okay. I’ll try.

–[Real World]–

(Mr. Gold enters the house, where Belle is already waiting for him in the kitchen.)

Mr. Gold: Hey.

Belle: Hey. What are you doing?

Mr. Gold: I was, uh… Going to make you breakfast.

Belle: No, in… In the basement. I saw you practicing magic.

Mr. Gold: Let’s have breakfast.

Belle: No, we need to talk about this.

Mr. Gold: It was just a couple of spells. Nothing to be concerned about.

Belle: Okay, then be honest with me. Why did you bring magic here?

Mr. Gold: I’ve told you – magic is power.

Belle: Why do you need it? Tell me.

(He says nothing.)

Belle: You don’t need power, Rumpel. You need courage, to let me in.

(Belle leaves.)

–[Fairy Tale World]–

(A woman knocks on Rumpelstiltskin’s door. He answers.)

Woman: Rumpelstiltskin, you need to get to the docks now!

Rumpelstiltskin: The docks? Why?

Woman: The men who came into port last week – they’ve taken Milah. They’re setting sail. You must hurry.

———–

(At the docks, Rumpelstiltskin boards one of the pirate ships. As he tries to climb on, he trips and falls on the deck. He looks up, and sees

Captain Hook standing over him.)

Pirate: On your feet for the captain.

(Two pirates grab Rumpelstiltskin and pull him to his feet.)

Rumpelstiltskin: I… I remember you. F-From the bar.

Hook: It’s always nice to make an impression. Well, where are my manners? We haven’t been formally introduced. Killian Jones. Now, what are you doing aboard my ship?

Rumpelstiltskin: You have my wife.

Hook: Well, I’ve had many a man’s wife.

Rumpelstiltskin: No. Y-You… Just… You see… We have a son, and he needs his mother.

Hook: You see, I have a ship full of men that need companionship.

Rumpelstiltskin: I-I’m begging you. Please let her go.

Hook: I’m not much for bartering. That said, I do consider myself an honourable man. A man with a code, so… If you truly want your wife back…

(Hook throws a sword in front of Rumpelstiltskin.)

Hook: All you have to do, is take her.

(Hook holds his sword against Rumpelstiltskin’s neck.)

Hook: Never been in a duel before, I take it? Well, it’s quite simple, really. The pointy end goes in the other guy. Go on. Pick it up.

(Rumpelstiltskin doesn’t make a move to pick up the sword.)

Hook: A man unwilling to fight for what he wants, deserves what he gets.

Rumpelstiltskin: Please, sir. What am I going to tell my boy?

Hook: Try the truth – his father’s a coward.

–[Real World]–

(In the mines of Storybrooke, David and the dwarves are mining for fairy dust. Henry is there with them.)

Leroy: Keep swinging, dwarves.

(Ruby enters with a basket of food.)

Ruby: They find any fairy dust yet?

Henry: No, not yet. But they will. When… When they do, we’ll figure out a way to get Mary Margaret and my mom back.

Ruby: I’ll be back later with lunch.

(Ruby exits. David stops and goes to put on his shirt.)

David: I hate mine dust. Leroy! If you find anything, I’ll be at the Sheriff’s station.

Leroy: You’re taking over as Sheriff?

David: Stepping in. Until Emma gets back.

———–

(Mr. Gold knocks on the door to Belle’s room.)

Mr. Gold: Belle? Come on. At least come and eat something.

(When she doesn’t answer, he lets himself in. Inside, the room is empty and the window is open.)

Mr. Gold: Belle?

———–

(Mr. Gold arrives at Moe’s flower shop with a paper in hand. He holds the piece of paper, which turns out to be a handmade missing person poster looking for Belle.)

Mr. Gold: I was wondering if you’d heard from your daughter?

Mr. French: Is this some kind of cruel joke? I wouldn’t have made this flyer if I knew where she was. The only reason she’s missing is because of the deal I made with you. I’d held out. I hoped she might have survived such a wicked trade.

Mr. Gold: And she has.

Mr. French: Why hasn’t she come looking for me?

Mr. Gold: Oh, she did. She even made a flyer like this one.

Mr. French: Well, let me guess – you took care of it by throwing it in the trash.

Mr. Gold: I don’t expect you to help me. I just want to know she’s safe.

Mr. French: And now, thanks to you, neither one of us knows where she is. You’re a monster, Rumpelstiltskin.

–[Fairy Tale World]–

(Rumpelstiltskin is sitting at a table in the corner of a tavern. A man with a floppy red hat enters the bar and sits at his table.)

Smee: It really is you. The Dark One, in the flesh. Or… Whatever that is.

Rumpelstiltskin: You’ve gone to a lot of trouble to meet me. You better hope I agree it’s worth my time.

Smee: I’ve heard you’d been looking for something. And, as luck would have it, I’m a man who trades some hard to find objects.

(He lowers his voice to a whisper.)

Smee: Like a bean. A magic mean that can transport you between worlds.

Rumpelstiltskin: I’ve been told, they no longer exist in this land.

Smee: Not in this land, no. But the ships that dock here often return from far off lands with treasures they don’t always understand.

Rumpelstiltskin: And yet, you do?

Smee: It’s my job. As is knowing the rumours of who might pay the highest price for said treasures.

Rumpelstiltskin: And what rumours could they be?

Smee: That you were once a great coward, but that you became the Dark One to overcome that and protect the, uh, son who you lost, despite all-

(Rumpelstiltskin holds up his hand and magically constricts Smee’s throat.)

Rumpelstiltskin: It’s not nice to spread rumours. The bean – where is it?

(Smee wheezes out a response.)

Smee: I don’t have it. But I can get it, I swear.

(Rumpelstiltskin relinquishes the hold on Smee’s neck.)

Smee: You haven’t heard my price.

Rumpelstiltskin: I spin straw into gold. Price shouldn’t be a problem.

Smee: I don’t want money. I want eternal life.

Rumpelstiltskin: Only the Dark One has life eternal. So, you want more, son. What I can do, what about youth? Spin the clock back till you’re a little boy again?

Smee: Close enough. Deal.

Rumpelstiltskin: But remember – you fail to deliver, I spin the clock forward, and turn you into dust.

Smee: Thank you. Thank you.

(Smee gets up and leaves. The barmaid comes over to Rumpelstiltskin’s table.)

Woman: You sure you don’t want anything?

(There’s a commotion on the other side of the tavern. Hook and his crew enter.)

Hook: Where’s my scurvy crew?

Pirate: Ah, here we be, Captain!

Hook: Where’s my beer?

Rumpelstiltskin: You know, I suddenly find myself quite thirsty.

Hook: Cheers!

–[Real World]–

(At Granny’s Diner, Ruby serves Belle another iced tea. She is sitting alone in a booth.)

Belle: Thank you.

Ruby: Are you okay? That’s your third iced tea this morning. Won’t want to call you a cab.

Belle: No, I… I’ve never had it iced before. It… It’s delicious.

Ruby: I haven’t seen you in here before.

Belle: Well, I, uh… I’ve been a kept woman until recently.

Ruby: Let me guess – bad breakup?

Belle: I think I may be headed there.

Ruby: Do you have a place to stay? Any family here?

Belle: I… I’m not sure. I’m still looking. But I… I’m on my own for now.

Ruby: I can ask Granny about a room here.

Belle: Really?

(Ruby nods.)

Belle: Thanks. Uh…

Ruby: Ruby.

Belle: Belle. What I really need, though, is… Is a life. A job.

Ruby: Well, uh, what do you like to do?

Belle: I… I do love books.

Ruby: The library. It’s been closed forever, but, uh, things are changing now. Maybe they need a librarian?

———–

(Belles heads over to the library to check it out. She tries the front door, but it’s locked. The windows are all covered with newspapers, or are boarded up. Belle walks around to the back on the library, where a homeless looking Smee approaches her.)

Smee: Excuse me, Miss?

Belle: Oh, you startled me.

Smee: I… I was just wondering if you had any spare change?

Belle: Oh, no. Sorry, I… I don’t have any money.

Smee: What… What about a friend? Are you meeting anyone here?

Belle: Uh, no. Why?

Smee: I just wanted to make sure.

(Smee grabs Belle, covering her mouth with his hand, and then drags her off.)

–[Fairy Tale World]–

(Hook and his drunken crew have left the tavern and are walking through the streets. A disguised Rumpelstiltskin intentionally bumps into Hook’s arm to get his attention.)

Hook: Hey, you. Stop! Even gutter rats have more manners than you just displayed.

Rumpelstiltskin: I-I’m so sorry, sir.

Hook: Ah… I was wrong. Not a rat at all. More… More like a crocodile.

(Hook kicks him over while his crew cheer him on.)

Hook: What’s your name, crocodile?

(Rumpelstiltskin gets up and reveals his face.)

Hook: You… I remember you.

Rumpelstiltskin: Always nice to make an impression. Where are my manners? We haven’t been properly introduced. Rumpelstiltskin. Or, as others know me, the Dark One.

(Hook’s crew begins to back away.)

Rumpelstiltskin: Oh! I see my reputation precedes me.

Hook: It does.

Rumpelstiltskin: Good! That’s going to save us time during the, uh, question and answer portion of our game.

Hook: What is it you want to know?

Rumpelstiltskin: How’s Milah, of course?

Hook: Who?

Rumpelstiltskin: Only too happy to, uh, dig out the memory. But, it gets really messy.

Hook: She’s dead. d*ed a long time ago. What is it you want?

Rumpelstiltskin: We didn’t get a chance to finish our duel.

(Hook goes to draw his sword, but Rumpelstiltskin stops him.)

Rumpelstiltskin: Not now. Tomorrow at dawn. I am not a cruel man. Get your affairs in order. Also, you can spend tonight knowing, it will be your last. Maybe I am cruel. And don’t think about trying to escape. Because I will find you, and I will gut your entire crew like a fish.

–[Real World]–

(Mr. Gold arrives at Mary Margaret’s apartment carrying a piece of paper. David, who is the only one home, answers the door.)

Mr. Gold: May I have a word, Sheriff?

David: Uh, acting Sheriff. And I’m already late on another busy day, cleaning up the mess you made.

Mr. Gold: My apologies. That was a moment of poor judgment on my part. And it’s not lost on me that I’m now here to ask for your help.

David: Well then, it shouldn’t be lost on you when I say no.

Mr. Gold: Hear me out first. I’m here to report a missing person.

(He hands David the paper, which turns out to be the missing person poster.)

Mr. Gold: She left my home early this morning, her name is Belle.

David: Back in our land, you mentioned you loved someone once. Is-

Mr. Gold: Yes.

David: You also said she d*ed.

Mr. Gold: I’d thought she had.

David: Well, why don’t you just use the tracking spell you gave me to find Jefferson?

Mr. Gold: It only works if you have something the person owned. I don’t.

David: How can you be sure she’s gone missing and not… Run away.

Mr. Gold: I can’t. Look, the townsfolk are less than sympathetic to my plight. But you… You’re in the rather unique position to understand exactly what I’m going through. Will you help me?

–[Fairy Tale World]–

(Hook arrives at the designated dueling spot. Rumpelstiltskin throws a sword down in front of him.)

Rumpelstiltskin: Pick it up, dearie, and let’s begin.

Hook: There’s no need.

(Rumpelstiltskin appears behind him and takes Hook’s sword.)

Rumpelstiltskin: Sorry, but k*lling a man with his own sword was just too delicious to pass up.

(Hook picks up the sword on the ground. The two begin their duel.)

Rumpelstiltskin: Ships that pass in the night. Well, at least one ship.

(The two of them continue fighting until Rumpelstiltskin gets the upper hand. Hook ends up on the ground, swordless. Rumpelstiltskin holds his sword against his throat.)

Hook: Go on. I’m ready for the sword.

Rumpelstiltskin: No… Do you know what it’s like to have your wife stolen from you? To feel powerless to stop it? It feels like having your heart ripped from your chest. Actually, let me show you.

(Rumpelstiltskin magically sticks his hand through Hook’s chest in an attempt to tear out his heart. However, a voice yells out to stop him. The voice turns out to be Milah.)

Milah: Stop!

Rumpelstiltskin: Milah…

–[Real World]–

(Smee has dropped off Belle to a room in an unknown location.)

Belle: Who are you? What… What do you want from me?

Smee: I’m just a man who procures hard to find objects. In this case, the object was you.

Belle: So then who put you up to this?

(Moe enters the room.)

Mr. French: Belle…

(The two hug.)

Mr. French: Oh, I’ve missed you, Belle.

Belle: Father…

Mr. French: I’m so sorry this is how we had to be reunited. Please understand. I had no choice.

Belle: But to kidnap me?

Mr. French: After the curse broke, I searched all over for you and discovered the Dark One still had you c*ptive.

Belle: He wasn’t holding me c*ptive. I chose to be with him.

Mr. French: Are you saying you fell in love with him?

(She nods.)

Belle: But I fear it may be over now.

Mr. French: It must be. Promise me you no longer love him. That you will never see him again.

Belle: No, no. I’m not a child!

Mr. French: You don’t understand what that man will do to you. What he’s already done.

Belle: No, you don’t understand. It’s my life!

Mr. French: Then I don’t have a choice. I’m sorry. Do it.

(Smee, again, grabs Belle.)

Belle: What? Father. Father, what… What are you doing?! Stop!

(Smee drags Belle out of the room as her father calls to her.)

Mr. French: Goodbye, Belle. I love you!

Belle: Father!

———–

(David is questioning one of the townspeople, while Mr. Gold watches from a distance. David finishes and rejoins him.)

David: Do you remember turning a butcher into a pig?

Mr. Gold: Can’t say that I do. Why?

David: Well, he does. Apparently, it was his father. I’m beginning to understand why nobody wants to help you.

Mr. Gold: W-Well has he seen Belle?

David: Afraid not.

Mr. Gold: Okay, so what’s next?

David: Granny’s. We can see who else you terrorized there.

Mr. Gold: Look, uh… Can I ask you a question? A-About you and Mary Margaret? H-How… How does that work?

David: Are you asking dating advice?

Mr. Gold: Course not, no.

David: Honesty. That’s how we did it. Hard work, and being honest with one another.

Mr. Gold: Well, I don’t lie.

David: There’s a difference between literal truth, and honesty of the heart. Nothing taught me that more than this curse.

–[Fairy Tale World]–

(Rumpelstiltskin, Hook, and Milah are still in the street.)

Rumpelstiltskin: Milah…

(Rumpelstiltskin finally removes his hand from Hook’s chest.)

Rumpelstiltskin: How?

Hook: Milah, you have to run.

Milah: No. I’m not leaving without you.

Rumpelstiltskin: Oh, how sweet. It appears there’s more to this tale than I know. Tell it to me, Milah.

Milah: Please, don’t hurt him. I can explain.

Rumpelstiltskin: Tick tock, dearie. Tick tock.

Milah: That first night, when Killian and his crew came into the tavern, he told stories about the places he’d been. And I fell in love with him. I didn’t mean for it to turn out this way. I didn’t know how to tell you the truth. I’m sorry.

Rumpelstiltskin: And so, here we are. You’ve come to save the life of your twoo wuv – the pirate. I didn’t realize the power of true love before. It is impressive. I’d hate to break it up. Actually, no. I’d love to.

(He pushes his sword into the side of Hook, until Milah stops him.)

Milah: Wait. I have something you want.

Rumpelstiltskin: Well, I find that very difficult to believe.

(She pulls out Smee’s red hat.)

Rumpelstiltskin: Where did you get that?

Milah: You know who I took it from. I may not know what the Dark One wants with a magic bean, but I have it.

Rumpelstiltskin: Oh, I feel a proposal coming on.

Milah: The magic bean in exchange for our lives. Deal?

Rumpelstiltskin: I want to see it first.

–[Real World]–

(David and Mr. Gold are questioning Ruby at Granny’s.)

Ruby: Belle, huh? Sorry, doesn’t ring a bell.

David: Ruby, listen to me. If you’ve come across her, you’ve got to tell me. I’ll make sure nothing bad happens.

Ruby: Yeah, but what about him?

David: I’ve got him. Trust me.

Ruby: She was in earlier. She was looking for a job. I pointed her in the direction of the library.

Mr. Gold: Well, you think she went there?

Ruby: Don’t know. But, when you find her, give her this. She left it in her booth.

(Ruby pulls out a sweater from under the counter.)

Mr. Gold: Well, that’s mine. She didn’t have anything for the cold.

Ruby: You sure you’ll watch out for her?

David: Yes. Why?

Ruby: I think… I think I can find her. Lately, since things changed, I’ve been, uh, a little more sensitive to odors.

Mr. Gold: well, you can smell her?

Ruby: I guess it’s cause of the wolf thing.

———–
(Using the scent of the sweater, Ruby leads Mr. Gold and David to Moe’s flower shop.)

David: What’s wrong?

Ruby: I had her, but, uh… I lost her trail. It must be the flowers. I… I can’t track her anymore. I’m sorry.

Mr. Gold: Don’t be. This is her father’s shop.

(The three of them enter and Moe confronts them.)

Mr. French: You again. Out! This is a private establishment – you’re not welcome.

Mr. Gold: Where’s Belle?

David: I won’t let anything happen to her, Moe.

Ruby: We’re just worried.

Mr. French: Don’t be. She’s safe. So you can stop looking.

Mr. Gold: Look, if I could just have the chance to talk to her.

Mr. French: You will destroy Belle like you destroy everything else. Well, I won’t let that happen.

Mr. Gold: What have you done with her?

Mr. French: There’s only one way to get her-

(Mr. Gold jabs him in the chest.)

Mr. Gold: What have you done with her?

Mr. French: I have to make her forget about you. No matter the cost. Even if it means she forgets me, too.

Mr. Gold: He’s sending her across the town line.

(The three of them exit the shop with Moe in tow.)

David: Where are you sending Belle across? You know we have patrols on the town line to make sure no one crosses accidentally. So, how are you planning to pull it off?

(Mr. Gold lunges at Moe and pins him against the truck with his cane.)

Mr. Gold: Where? Where are you sending them across? Tell me!

David: Stop it! You’re going to k*ll him.

(David pries Mr. Gold off of Moe. David looks down at Moe’s hands, and sees that they’re covered in mine dust.)

David: You’ve been down in the mines. The tunnels – they lead out of town.

–[Fairy Tale World]–

(Supporting Hook on her shoulder, Milah and Hook board the ship.)

Pirate: Milah, what happened?

Milah: Fetch some water. And get me that prisoner below deck, along with the goods that he carried. Now!

Pirate: Bring up the prisoner!

(Rumpelstiltskin boards the ship.)

Rumpelstiltskin: well, well. Seems like you finally found a family… You could never have with me.

Pirate: Alright, get your sorry arse up there.

(The crew drags Smee up from below deck. Milah takes the satchel from him that contains the magic bean. She takes the bean out of the bag and holds it up as evidence for Rumpelstiltskin. He goes to take it, but Milah throws the bean over to Hook, who clenches it in his hand.)

Hook: You asked to see it, and now, you have.

Milah: Do we have a deal? Can we go our separate ways?

Rumpelstiltskin: Do you mean, do I forgive you? Can I move on? Perhaps, perhaps. I can see you are twooly in love.

Milah: Thank you.

Rumpelstiltskin: Just one question.

Milah: What do you want to know?

Rumpelstiltskin: How could you leave Bae?

(Several ropes anchored along the ship begin magically coming undone.)

Rumpelstiltskin: Do you know what it’s like, walking home that night-

Milah: Rumpel-

Rumpelstiltskin: Knowing I had to tell our son-

Milah: Please.

Rumpelstiltskin: That his mother was dead?

Milah: I was wrong to lie to you. I was the coward, I-

Rumpelstiltskin: You left him! You abandoned him!

Milah: And there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t feel sorry for that.

Rumpelstiltskin: Well, sorry isn’t enough! You let him go.

Milah: I let my misery cloud my judgment.

Rumpelstiltskin: Why were you so miserable?

Milah: Because I never loved you.

(Rumpelstiltskin magically sticks his hand through Milah’s chest.)

Hook: Milah!

(Hook attempts to save her, but Rumpelstiltskin uses magic to bind him to the mast. He pulls out her heart.)

Hook: No!

(Hook manages to break free from the ropes, causing one of the hooks to fall to the ground. He runs over to Milah and gently lays her down onto the deck.)

Milah: I love you.

(Rumpelstiltskin crushes Milah’s heart to dust in his hand.)

Hook: You may be more powerful now, demon, but you’re no lesser coward.

Rumpelstiltskin: I’ll have what I came for, now.

Hook: You’ll have to k*ll me first.

Rumpelstiltskin: I’m afraid that’s not in the cards for you, sonny boy.

(Rumpelstiltskin draws his sword and slices off Hook’s hand, which he thinks is still holding the magic bean.)

Rumpelstiltskin: I want you alive. Because I want you to suffer like I did.

(Rumpelstiltskin turns to go, but Hook grabs the hook on the deck and stabs Rumpelstiltskin with it. Due to his armour, no harm is done.)

Rumpelstiltskin: k*lling me’s going to take a lot more than that, dearie.

Hook: Even demons can be k*lled. I will find a way.

Rumpelstiltskin: Well, good luck living long enough.

(Rumpelstiltskin disappears in a puff of red smoke, leaving behind the hook. Hook picks it up.)

–[Real World]–

(In the mines, Smee handcuffs Belle to one of the mine carts.)

Belle: Please! Please, please stop. What are you doing?

Smee: Sending you on a little ride under the town line. Once you cross, you’ll forget who you were in the other realm and who you loved.

(He hands her a flashlight.)

Smee: This, should help you find the key. I left it at the bottom of the cart. Good luck.

(Smee release the mine cart and it begins to speed down the track.)

Belle: No, wait! I’m begging you! Please don’t! Don’t do this! Please!

(Belle searches for the key at the bottom of the cart. She finds it, but accidentally drops it on the ground. The mine cart continues down the track until suddenly, it stops. A stream of magic produced by Mr. Gold pulls the cart back up the track until it reaches the starting point, where Mr. Gold, David, Moe, and Ruby are waiting. The handcuffs are magically broken, as well.)

Ruby: That is seriously… Wow.

Mr. Gold: Belle, are you alright?

Belle: Yeah. I, uh… I think so.

Mr. Gold: You remember who I am?

Belle: I do, Rumpelstiltskin. I… I remember.

(Mr. Gold hugs Belle, but she doesn’t reciprocate.)

Mr. Gold: Belle, what’s wrong?

Belle: Thank you for what you just did, but that doesn’t change that you’re too cowardly to be honest with me.

Mr. Gold: Well, Belle, that’s just-

Mr. French: I tried to tell them that, Belle. Come with me, darling.

Belle: After what you just tried to do to me? You’re no better, Father. You don’t get to decide what I do or how I feel. I do. If either of you cared about me, you would’ve listened. I don’t want to see either of you again. Ever.

———–

(At Granny’s Diner, Ruby serves Belle a plate of food.)

Ruby: This one, is a classic. The syrup, goes on the pancakes. It’s, um, round things… But I kind of like it when it gets on everything.

Belle: You know, um… Thank you. I-I mean not just for this, but… For everything.

Ruby: No worries. And stay here until you’re on your feet. Granny will be fine with it. Oh! I almost forgot. Someone, dropped this off for you at the front desk.

(Ruby gives Belle a small box. She opens it, revealing a key labeled ‘library’.

———–

(Belle uses the key to open the front door of the library. Inside, she briefly looks around until Mr. Gold reveals himself.)

Mr. Gold: We may sit in our library, and yet, be in all corners of the earth.

Belle: You gave me the key.

Mr. Gold: I heard of your interest, and I, uh… I made some inquiries. There’s an apartment for the caretaker if you want it.

Belle: If… If this is some way to win me back after everything you-

Mr. Gold: No, that’s… That’s… That’s not why I’m here. I came because you’re right… About me. I am a coward. I have been my entire life. I tried to make up for it by collecting power, and the power became so important that I couldn’t let go. Not even… And that meant losing the most important person in my life.

Belle: Your son.

Mr. Gold: Baelfire, is his name. After he left, I dedicated myself to finding him. I went down many, many paths. Until I found a curse that could take me to the land where he’d escaped.

Belle: Here.

Mr. Gold: And I found myself in this little town with only one thing left to do – wait for the curse to be broken, so that I could leave and find him.

Belle: But instead of looking for him, you… You brought magic.

Mr. Gold: Because I’m still a coward. Magic has become a crutch that I can’t walk without. And, even if I could, I now know I can never leave this place.

Belle: Because, anyone who leaves, forgets the people they love. So, when you go to look for Baelfire, you won’t know him.

Mr. Gold: Magic comes with a price. Belle, I have to break this new curse. That’s why I was using magic. That night you saw me down in the basement… I have lost so much that I loved. I didn’t want to lose you again…without you knowing everything. Goodbye, Belle.

(He goes to leave, but Belle stops him.)

Belle: Do you, uh… Have you ever had a hamburger?

Mr. Gold: Yes, of course.

Belle: Well, uh, I haven’t. But I hear that Granny’s makes a great one. Maybe… Maybe we could try it sometime?

Mr. Gold: I would like that.

–[Fairy Tale World]–

(Rumpelstiltskin places Hook’s severed hand on his desk, on which there are several vials and a picture of Baelfire. He slowly pulls the fingers open one by one, but then realizes that the hand is empty.)

Rumpelstiltskin: No… He tricked me!

(He pushes the desk over, spilling the contents onto the floor.)

———–

(Aboard his ship, Hook holds the magic bean in his hand, while the crew tosses Milah’s wrapped body overboard. Smee, who is still bound and gagged, attempts to speak.)

Smee: Hey! Hey!

Hook: Allow him to speak.

(One of the pirates removes the gag and unties him.)

Smee: I want my bean.

Hook: Let me tell you how it works on my ship – I make the demands, you follow them. Bean’s now mine.

Smee: You have to give me something for it.

Hook: Oh, I will. Your life. A chance to join my crew.

Smee: So, instead of the promise of eternal life, I get to scrub blood off your decks? How is that right?

Hook: Well, what if I was to tell you I was about to set sail to a land where none of us will ever grow old? Where I can discover how to get my revenge on Rumpelstiltskin.

Smee: Guess I could live with that.

Hook: Good. What’s your name, sailor?

Smee: William. William Smee. Can I have my hat?

(Hook gestures to the pirate with Smee’s hat, who then tosses it over.)

Hook: Well, Mr. Smee, welcome aboard.

(Hook takes the magic bean and throws it into the ocean. A giant whirlpool opens up.)

Hook: Hold on and get ready to set sail, mates. There’s bumpy seas ahead!

Smee: What’s the name of the place we’re headed, Captain?

(Hook attaches the hook to his hand.)

Hook: Neverland.

–[Real World]–

(Mr. Gold interrogates Smee in a basement.)

Mr. Gold: You’re probably wondering why I brought you here. I found this in the mines, Mr. Smee.

(He holds up the red hat.)

Smee: I am so sorry, I didn’t-

Mr. Gold: I’m not interested in apologies. I’m interested in information. About the man you work for.

Smee: I’ll tell you anything you want to know about Moe.

Mr. Gold: No, no. Not about Moe – your captain. Where is he?

Smee: I’ve never seen him in Storybrooke, I swear. For some reason, when the curse hit, it… It didn’t take him.

Mr. Gold: Then, where is he?

–[Present Fairy Tale World]–

(Hook peers at the haven from a distance through a telescope. Cora joins him.)

Cora: Hello, Hook.

Hook: Hello, Cora. You told me you had something important you needed to show me.

(She holds up the vial of wardrobe dust.)

Hook: Sparkly dirt. Wonderful.

Cora: Just the remains of a magical wardrobe that can travel between worlds.

Hook: Is there enough to get us to where we need to go?

Cora: Not quite. But it’s a start.

Hook: We’re almost ready to set sail. What’s our port of destination?

Cora: Storybrooke.

Hook: Hm, curious name. Is that where…

Cora: She is. And so is he.

Hook: Excellent. You’ll be able to see your daughter, and I can skin myself a crocodile.

–[End]–