Once Upon a Time (2011–2018): Season 4, Episode 17 - Best Laid Plans - full transcript

Previously on
"Once Upon A Time"...

What exactly did you do
to Maleficent?

Because of us...
Maleficent lost her child.

Ursula: Gold's plan...
I'm afraid it involves Emma.

He plans to fill her heart
with darkness forever.

August: This isn't just
an illustration.

The Author
is trapped inside the book.

[ birds chirping ]

[ panting ]

- What is it? Did
the trail go cold? - Shh.

[ unicorn grunts ]



[ sighs ]

Well, come on.
Let's get this over with.

Snow...

I know you're worried
about Maleficent's protections.

Aren't you?

If she's right, our child
could end up with a dark heart.

Or it could grow
to be a powerful hero.

She said that, too, and who's
to say we can even trust her?

Let's find out.

[ unicorn grunts ]

According to legend,

All we need to do
is touch its horn...

And we'll get a glimpse
of our child's future.

[ crunching ]



[ twinkle ]

[ insects chirping ]

[ fussing ]

Ohh.

Yes.

Look at you.

You are so beautiful.

[ chuckles ]

[ gasps ]

Snow, it's all right.

Our baby's
gonna be all right!

Snow?

Look at you.

You're so beautiful.

[ gasps ]

[ grunts ]
What are you doing?!

Please!
I'm your mother!

I don't care.

[ heart shatters ]
[ gasps ]

Did you see? Our child's
gonna be just fine.

No. No, it's not.

It's evil.

Once Upon A Time: "Best Laid Plans"
Season 4 Episode 17

Original Airdate March 29, 2015

How the hell is the Author
trapped inside the book?

Don't ask me.
You're the magic expert.

Mom.
Well, this is insane.

What are we supposed to do,
draw a key?

What we need to do is
figure it out before Gold does.

Mom!
What is it?

There's something wrong
with August.

August? August?

We need to get him help.

[ birds chirping ]

Mother superior:
He's been through a lot.

What's happening? He was awake,
and then he passed out, and...

Well, he's been changed
by magic many times.

For him to survive this,
he will have to be very strong.

We have a bigger problem.

Gold and these other witches
are expecting me.

They sent me on a mission
to get that page from the book.

And if I return
empty-handed,

Whatever suspicions they have
of me will be confirmed.

Then give them this.

Wow.
You're getting good.

I've been practicing.

A forgery?

This is Gold
we're talking about.

Then pull out,
and we will protect you.

[ sighs ] We still don't know
what they're up to.

It's a bigger risk
not to know.

[ cellphone beeping ]

[ sighs ]
That's them.

Probably wondering
where I am.

Mom, the forgery's good.

Not good enough.

But maybe what we need
is a different kind of copy.

Because Gold and those witches
don't know that the page

contains the actual door.
[ camera shutter clicks ]

All they care about is
what the door looks like.

Hopefully,
this photo will keep them

on their wild goose chase
around town.

I've got to get going.
Bye, Henry.

Okay, mom.

Sorry. Sorry.
Just not sure if...

When I'll be back
to see you.

But don't worry.
I'll be fine.

[ door opens ]

Hey.

Killian, what's wrong?

Before Ursula left,

She told me what
the villains have planned.

To get their happy endings,

they intend to
darken your heart, love,

to turn you into a villain

so you'll no longer
be the savior.

What? You can't just
un-savior the savior.

Ursula said Gold has a way.

He can use the Author
to do it.

Emma: That's insane.

If that's what their plan is,
stop worrying.

It's ridiculous.

Author or no Author,
I am not going dark.

But darkness
is a funny thing.

It creeps up in you.

Hey.

No one... not Rumplestiltskin
or some Author...

Gets to decide who I am.

Do you really think
it's possible?

Emma going dark
after what we did?

No, it shouldn't be.

We were told that
we had to guide her,

That her fate
rested with us.

But this Author...

He has the power
to change everything.

I mean, he's going to write
the villains' happy endings.

Who knows what he can do
to Emma?

We have to do something...

Without Emma finding out
the truth.

[ door opens ]

She'll be fine.
[ clears throat ]

Oh, at last.

I feel I've aged a decade
waiting for you.

Well, you certainly
look like it.

Where's the page, Regina?

Don't tell me you failed.

The page was under
a protection spell...

Something cooked up
by the savior.

She almost caught me
trying to break it.

I had to flee.

Are you sure
that's what happened?

Of course I am.

It's just that you've been gone
an awfully long time...

And yet you come back
empty-handed.

I'm not empty-handed.

I got this.

A photograph.

Oh, and an incompetent one,
too.

That glare ruins any
clear view of the door.

No, that's not a glare.

That's magic.

This door has been
sealed by it.

This is the door
we've been looking for.

You think the Author is trapped
in an illustration?

But that would mean...

The sorcerer
imprisoned him in the book.

We need to get it.

Bring us the page.

That won't be easy.

The savior isn't about to
let it out of her sight.

Don't worry about her.
I've got just the thing.

How was he?

The wooden man-child...
how was he?

Not great.

You care for him?

Yeah.
Hmm.

Oh, killian.

Now's not the time
to be jealous.

Why would I be jealous?

Though I do know you're partial
to men in leather jackets.

He's just a friend.

Yeah, of course.

See... Well, you remember

that video I showed you
from the foster home?

With your friend
when you were a girl?

Lily.
Her name was Lily.

She was my first
and best friend,

And I pushed her
away forever.

And after that, I just...

[ exhales deeply ]

Wasn't great
at making friends.

August was
the rare exception.

That's why this is
so important to me.

There's nothing else
going on,

Really.

What?

Emma. Look.

What the hell is tha...

It's done.
Now let's get to work.

Snow, you have to tell me.
What did you see?

No.

Saying it out loud
will make it too... Real.

We just have to find a way to
help our child save its future.

Pardon me,
but a hand, please.

I'm having trouble
with my wagon.

I'm afraid
it's a bit stuck.

Here. Allow me.

Sorry, it's heavy,
overloaded with trinkets.

I'm a peddler, but apparently
not a very good one.

[ chuckles ]
[ groaning ]

Oh, oh!
[ chuckles ]

Just needed a little
elbow grease. Thank you.

Uh-huh.

Ooh, it's colder
than a witch's...

Foot out here, isn't it?

Here. Some brandy.

- Oh. - It'll warm you
on your journey.

I never turn down brandy.
[ chuckles ]

You're too kind.
Mmm.

Mmm!
Kind of nutmeg-y.

[ chuckles ]
Keep it.

Good luck to you, then.

Wait.
You're going west?

Uh, that is where
our home lies.

There... there is
a terrible sorceress who's

taken up residence
down that way.

They call her...
Maleficent.

She's just awful.

We know.
We've crossed paths.

Did you hear what happened?

She turned herself into a
heinous dragon and laid an egg.

An egg?

Yes, the beast
made her nest in a cave.

She scorched all the earth
around it,

Marking her territory...
everyone fled,

Including yours truly.

My recommendation...
go east.

The infinite forest?

We could get lost for days.

Just stick to the path
until you come upon a cottage.

There's a kind, old man.

He'll help you get
where you need to be.

Trust me.

[ sighs ]

Thank you.

Safe journey.

Mmm!
[ shudders ]

[ sighs ]

There.

I was wondering
when you would arrive.

You were expecting us?

I sensed you coming.

I also sensed that you are
at a loss over your child.

Uh, why don't you come
inside for some tea?

I'll explain everything.

[ screeching in distance ]

Is that Maleficent?

Oh, yes, yes.
Do come in.

You don't have to
worry about her here.

Gold: Now, you know
what you have to do.

Quite well.
The question is, do you?

Our deal was that you were gonna
help me find the Author

and our happiness
would be secured.

Well, I'm altering the deal
because, let's face it,

you need that page from the book
to get the Author.

And to do that,
you need me.

Do I?

I just put the town to sleep.
I'm useful.

And we all know
Cruella and Ursula

were a means to an end...
me.

That's why you haven't
shed one tear

over our tentacled friend's
departure...

Because you have me.

And to have me means
you have to give me what I want.

It's, oh, so simple.

I need to know
what happened to my child

after those two heroes
got rid of it.

I need to know its fate.

In return,
I will get us both the Author.

We'll get you the page.

And once I know what they really
did to my child,

Those heroes will pay.

David: Mary Margaret.

[ sighs ]

Mary Margaret,
are you okay?

No, I'm not... we made a vow,
David, to be good.

And ever since
Cruella and Ursula arrived,

We've done nothing but lie.

They want to
turn Emma dark!

I know!

And if we're not careful,
we're going to help them.

David, look.

They're all asleep.

Why aren't we?

Maybe because we're immune.

We've both been under
a sleeping curse.

But Emma hasn't!

Maleficent: The savior
looks a lot less threatening

in this state, doesn't she?

I'd be lying if I said
I wasn't tempted

to wring
her scrawny neck right now.

Don't even think about it.

I think
we can all agree that

killing the savior at this point
would be ill-advised.

[ silverware clatters ]

You're right about that.

You're wrong about
the location of the page.

It's not here.

We just
have to keep looking.

The page was here
two hours ago.

It didn't just grow legs
and walk out of here on its own.

Unless someone walked
out of here with it.

I put the whole town
to sleep.

Except those who have been
under a sleeping curse

and are immune.

I may know a resourceful
young man who's wide awake.

One who's very protective

of the storybook
and all its contents...

one who's gonna test
his mother's commitment

towards helping me.

No one goes
near Henry but me.

If you have a problem
with that,

You can take it up
with one of my fireballs.

Follow her,

And do what's necessary
to convince the boy.

That page is the key.

Let's not lose it
when we're this close.

Where are you off to?

I have other business
to attend to.

[ sighs ]

Mary Margaret:
Emma's not with them.

What are they after?

[ car doors close ]
[ cellphone rings ]

[ gasps ] Oh, Henry!
[ beep ]

Henry, are you okay?
Where... where are you?

At the sorcerer's mansion.

When everyone fell asleep,
I figured

the bad guys
were up to something

and I'd better get the page
somewhere safe.

Henry, don't do anything.
We are on our way.

As long as you have that page,
you're in danger.

Just sit tight, okay?
We're heading your way now.

Let's cut around the harbor,
it'll be faster.

David...

David?
Hang on.

I think there's a way
we can put a stop to all this.

I think...

I think we should...
Destroy the page.

What?

If we destroy it,
Gold can never

free the Author and use him
to turn Emma dark.

The Author would be trapped
inside the book forever!

Or it could kill him.

- Regina wouldn't get her happy ending.
- We don't know that.

We just know that she won't
get it from the Author.

We've gone
too far down this path.

We have to protect Emma.

My husband saw happiness
for our child.

I saw pure terror.

But how do we know which
of our visions is real?

I-I'm afraid
they both are.

You see, we are all born
as blank slates

with the potential
for good or evil

and with the gift
of free will,

So we can choose
between the two,

Which is why
there is an equal chance

that either of your visions
may come true.

If the future I saw
comes to pass,

Our child's life will be bleak,
full of pain and darkness.

Is there nothing we can do
to ensure our child's goodness?

[ sighs ]

There is... A way...

To banish...

The potential for darkness
from your child.

But as with all magic,
it comes with a price.

Whatever it is,
we'll pay it.

You see, the laws of magic
would not allow me

to simply send your child's
darkness away.

Another living vessel
must absorb it...

A vessel that is also
a blank slate,

Unformed in the ways
of good an evil,

Just like your baby.

If you wish me
to perform this magic,

You must secure
such a vessel.

Discuss this
amongst yourselves.

Make sure
you want to proceed.

Because once this spell
has been enacted,

It cannot be reversed.

[ sighs ]

Banishing darkness
from our child into another.

Even if it is to save our own,
it's... Wrong.

What if it doesn't
have to be a child?

The peddler said
Maleficent spawned an egg.

What if we can
use that as our vessel?

We've seen what she's like
in human and dragon form.

Do you really think her dragon
offspring will be any different?

No way!

Grandma, grandpa, you won't
believe what I just...

What, Henry?

Mom.
What are you doing here?

I'm sorry. I didn't want it
to come to this.

Looks like we're here
just in time.

I told you
I could handle this.

We're not sure you have it in
you to be a true disciplinarian.

I'd say you shouldn't
be alarmed, darling,

But I'd be lying.

Lay a hand on my son,
and I'll end you.

You won't have to do anything
as long as he cooperates.

Henry, give me the page.

Mom, no.

Henry Daniel Mills!

You will do as I say.

Okay.

As promised.

Now, let's find Gold
and set this Author free.

The least that Maleficent
could have done for her guards

is to throw a little
dragon's fire our way.

[ groans ]
If I'd known it was this cold,

Darling, I would have grabbed
two more puppies

and made mittens.
[ thud ]

Darling?

Over here.
[ blows ]

Ooh!
[ twinkle ]

Come on.
It won't last long.

[ insects chirping ]

[ rattling ]

What is that, a rattle?

Looks to me like
she hoards anything silver.

Look...
there it is.

A nest and the egg.

Careful.

It's as dangerous
as she is.

[ breathing heavily ]

[ rumbling ]

[ growling ]

[ roars ]

Snow!
[ grunts ]

[ screams ]

Torch us, Maleficent,
and this burns, too!

[ roaring ]

What kind of people are you,
threatening a child?

Child?
This isn't a child.

This will become a monster,
just like you.

And what are you?

[ breathing heavily ]

I'm sorry.

Wait! Please.

Mother to mother,
have mercy.

I can't lose my child.

We'll bring the egg back
when we're done with it.

No!

Henry? Henry?!
Henry!

Oh!

Come on. The villains
have to be on their way.

Already been here.
What?

Did they take the page?
They think they did,

Except my mom, of course.

She just gave me a look,

And I knew exactly
what she meant.

You gave them
the forged page Emma made.

Smart kid.

Where's the real one?

Oh, great job.

Mary Margaret and I
are gonna take this

and keep it safe.
There's something else.

I've found the key.
We can free the Author.

Henry, hold on.
W-what are you doing?

Uh, we don't know
what's gonna happen.

Just let us handle things.

But I found the key.

Henry,
it's too dangerous! Go!

[ sighs ]
[ door opens ]

So, now we're lying
to Henry.

[ sighs ]

If we keep this up,
we're no different than Gold.

[ door bell jingle ]

My love...

I need to tell you this

while it still matters.

My magic comes at a cost,
as you know.

And I have racked up
so much debt

I can never
be clear of it...

Unless I find a way
to change the rules.

But now...

Here's the hard truth.

Something else is changing.

So, if I'm gonna
change the rules,

I'm gonna have to
do so quickly.

[ vehicle approaching ]

[ brakes squeak ]

I will come back
for you if...

If I can.

[ door bells jingle ]

[ car door closes ]

What were you
doing in there?

Mind your own business.
Did you find the boy?

We found the boy.

I found him.

This is rubbish.

[ scoffing ] What?

It's a fake.

You've spent enough time
with the book.

You should know
the difference.

They tricked me.

What, you think
I didn't suspect you?

I've been waiting
for this moment.

I knew it would come.
Maleficent.

Wait, I can expl...

Bring her to her vault.

Yes. This will work.

So, our child's darkness...

Will indeed transfer.

[ exhales sharply ]

Let the darkness

find its way from tender womb
to darkest tomb.

And if it sees

the light of day
on distant shore,

Where shadows loom...

"distant shore"?
What does that mean?

Then let no magic
give it form and work no curse,

Nor magic worse,
on innocents of mortals born.

Sir, we're just sending
the darkness

into the vessel, right?

Well, you would not want
anything with darkness like this

living on
in your realm, m'lady.

I am sending it
where it belongs,

Where it can hurt
no one here.

What?

No.
You didn't tell us that.

We promised its mother
we would give it back.

[ thunder crashes ]
It's too late, I'm afraid.

As I told you before,

Once this spell
has been enacted,

It cannot be reversed.

There must be something
you can do!

[ baby crying ]

Charming, it's a baby!

We can still save it!

Cradle robbers!

What have you done?!

We didn't know this
was going to happen!

You have to
help us stop it!

Ohh!

What happened to them?

Where did that portal
send them?!

Where they belong.

The baby.

We have to
get the baby back!

I'm afraid
it's lost to you forever.

But congratulations.

Your child is now
pure of intent

and heroic of spirit.

It is now up to the two of you
to guide it...

And keep it in the light.

We told Maleficent
we would bring back her child.

And now it...

Snow, we didn't know that

they were gonna send that egg
to another land.

Charming, we've made
a terrible mistake.

We have to do it.

What are we going to
tell Henry?

We tell him...
The key was wrong

and, uh, uh,
the page disintegrated.

We'll figure something out,
but let's just

burn it and worry
about it later.

More lies.

I can't do this.

I gave Henry that book
to give him hope,

And I'm gonna lie
and take it away?

And what about Regina?

She's finally
becoming a friend.

I went to her for help
with Emma, with our secret.

She's kept it.
She's risked her life for us.

And we're gonna repay her

by destroying her chance
at a happy ending?

Well, maybe there's
another way.

No, David!

When Regina showed me
my heart after Cora...

After I killed Cora...
my heart was dark.

And Regina thought it was

because of what I did
to her mother.

But that darkness
started long ago.

We have to
tell Emma the truth.

Because heroes do what's right,
not what's easy.

This whole time,
I was right.

You were lying.

I wanted to believe you.

I wanted to believe in you.

We were just...

Trying to protect you.

Emma, are you all right?

No.

I'm not okay.

I've got to go.

Please, stop.

I'm your mother.

I don't care.

[ door closes ]

Cruella: Well, I say we just
slit her throat right now,

Get it over with.
No.

Well, if it's too messy
for you, darling,

Mal can incinerate her.

We're doing nothing
of the sort.

She'll never help us.

Of course she will.

She just
doesn't know it yet.

I'll have something
that the moment she sees it

will make Regina
do my bidding... Forever.

[ crickets chirping ]

Hey.

I'm just gonna need
some time.

August is awake.

Your parents are with him.

Is he...
he's gonna be fine.

Your friend...
Is gonna be fine.

[ sighs ]

Why did
my parents send you?

Well, they didn't think
you'd listen to them.

[ chuckles ]

They were right.

Snow: Get it out of here.
I don't want it.

What's going on?

Look what Cinderella sent.

Unicorns.

I like uni...
[ sneezes ]

Corns.

Sneezy, give us a minute,
please.

Snow, it's just a mobile.

A unicorn gave me a vision,

Which led to us ripping
Maleficent's child away.

I don't want
a reminder of that

literally hanging over our baby.

[ scoffs ]

What we did

is already with me every
night when I try to sleep.

I keep hearing...
I know.

I do, too.

But maybe Maleficent
deserved what happened.

For all we know, she lied about
Regina having the dark curse.

Regina hasn't
even tried using it.

Maybe her threat
was just words.

None of that matters.
What matters is what we did.

I thought we were doing
something brave for our child,

And we were brave,

But we weren't kind.

We were selfish.

And I think...

We are not heroes anymore.

How do we fix it?

We can't fix it.

Maleficent's child is gone.

But, Snow,
we're still here.

So, how do we fix us?

The people we are now,
weighed down by all this...

Is that who we want to
raise our child?

Of course not.

But do you really think
that redemption is possible?

Yes.

I have to believe
we can earn forgiveness.

A chance at grace.

But to get there,

We have to be
the best people we can...

Work, spread hope and faith
every day.

Because otherwise, what we did
will stain us forever.

And affect our child.

The very person we fought
so hard to save.

Maybe these unicorns
are a good thing.

Maybe they're here
to remind us

how easy it can be
to lose our way.

And as long as
we have each other,

We can be the best
versions of ourselves.

It won't happen overnight.
[ chuckles ]

But we can take the long,
hard path.

[ sniffles ]

Mm.

Now that you're so confident
Regina's taken care of,

Isn't time
we took care of my needs?

You didn't get me the page.

You didn't earn
your answer.

That was the deal.

That was the deal.

But after
all I've been through,

I've more than
earned my answer.

I know.

And I want to give you
a last chance

to preserve what you have.

What I have is pain.

And pain fades...

Unless you feed it.

And this...

This could be the meal
you really don't want.

Well, I've never
seen my child.

I don't even know what I had...
a boy, a girl.

I don't care how much it hurts
to know its fate.

I need this.

Now, remember,

This was 30 years ago...

[ crying ]

Woman: Congratulations.

Your adoption is finalized.

She's all yours.

What will you name her?

Lilith.

We want to name her Lily.

[ breathes shakily ]

She's alive.

[ exhales deeply ]

And...

In this world.

I must find her.

There has to be a way.
[ sniffles ]

If she's out there...

Someone must know her.

August!

How are you?

A bit tired, but better.

Something's wrong.
How are you?

I'm fine.

You forget I know lying.

It's a long story.

It's not really worth
getting into right now,

Especially when I have
a surprise for you.

Look what Henry found.

You did it.

That's right.
Now, what do you say

we let out the Author...
I have some questions.

Emma, please,
think about this.

This isn't just
what Regina wanted.

This is what
Gold wanted, too.

He was doing it
to turn you dark.

I'm not worried about it.
Are you?

'Cause now I have
some questions about me,

And he can tell us
everything.

If he's the one
who wrote your story.

What are you talking about?

Something you need to know
about this Author...

He wasn't the only one.

There have been many Authors
throughout time.

It's a job, not a person.

And the one trapped in here
was just

the last tasked with
the great responsibility.

Which is?

To record...

To witness the greatest stories
of all time

and record them
for posterity.

The job has gone back eons,

From the man who watched shadows
dance across cave walls

and developed
an entire philosophy,

To playwrights who
tell tales in poetry,

To a man named Walt.

Many have had this sacred job...

Great women and men
who took on the responsibility

with the gravity
that it deserved...

Until this last one.

He started to manipulate
rather than record.

He did something...
I don't know exactly what...

But something that pushed them
over the edge.

How dare you?

How dare you force me to
do that to that child?

It makes for
a better story.

Return the quill.
You are ill-suited for this job.

You have abused
all the rules.

You have lied.
You have deceived us.

You have forsaken
your holy duty,

And now...

You must be punished.

That's why the sorcerer
and his apprentice

put him in there.

They're the ones
who choose the Author,

And they took responsibility
for their error.

If they did,
and he's still in there,

He still has the ability
to alter the book,

To alter the course
of things.

You sure
have come a long way

from the woman
who wouldn't believe.

Yeah. I have.

[ gasps ]

Oh! [ grunts ]

Whoo!

Oh.

It was cramped in there!

I couldn't even reach this.

And I was parched.
[ chuckles ]

Where did you get that?

This?

Uh, a nice young couple I met
on the road gave it to me.

You want some?

Sort of nutmeg-y.
You.

You are...
are the Author?

The peddler?

We have a lot of questions.

[ chuckles ]

I bet you do.

Hey!