Once Upon a Time (2011–2018): Season 4, Episode 22 - Operation Mongoose: Part 1 - full transcript

NARRATOR: Previously on
Once Upon A Time...

- GOLD: It's dying.
- The Dark One can't die.

But Rumplestiltskin can.

I want to find who wrote this book

and ask them
to write me a happy ending.

GOLD: Now then,

it's time villains finally win.

Ripped By mstoll

- (MUSIC PLAYING FROM TV)
- (HORSE WHINNYING)

I don't know. Do we really need color?

"Do we really need color?" (LAUGHS)



Do we need to settle
for what came before?

Don't you want to really see the world?

It's a complicated place
and people are complex creatures.

Their interior lives are painted
with many different hues and shades.

And the Zenith Marseille Color TV,

it brings the profound
complications of the universe

right into your living room.

Does it have a clicker?

What?

A clicker.

MAN: You mean
the space command remote.

Why, that's included in the price, sir.

Now we're talking.

Hey, were you a Ranger?



Damn right! 25th Infantry Division.

You were in the service?

You bet. 187th Airborne, Company A.

We heard a lot about your unit.
You guys were real heroes.

Tell you what, why don't you
take this out for a test drive, huh?

See how it feels.

(CHUCKLES)

(MUSIC PLAYING IN STORE)

What the hell are
you doing, Isaac? Huh?

Rambling on about
weird technical crap?

You're supposed to be selling.

I was.

No. No, you were sending them
across the street to Gimbels.

Now, I hired you because you said
you wanted to be a writer.

I am a writer.

Stacks of rejected manuscripts
in the break room don't count.

But I figured you knew
something about telling stories.

That's how you sell.

But now I get why you don't have
a picture on the back of a book yet.

You don't tell stories people want.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

Maybe that's about to change.

(CHUCKLES)

Hello?

MAN: Over here.

Oh. (CHUCKLES)

I'm Isaac Heller.

Yes, I know who you are.
Please take a seat.

Mmm.

I've never met a publisher before.

I'm not sure exactly how this works, so...

You want to publish a book.
Is there a contract...

You may find that our organization
does things a bit differently.

Choose one.

Actually, I'm more of an
IBM Selectric kind of guy...

Choose one.

Okay.

Okay.

What is this?
Some kind of signing bonus?

The last time I got a fountain pen
was for my Bar Mitzvah.

This is a test.

We need to know
what kind of writer you really are.

Choose the one that calls out to you.

I...

(GASPS)

What the hell was that?

It is a sign

that you are to be our next Author.

You see, the last one, well,

he just recently passed away.

Author of what?

There is much to explain.

How would you like to take a trip?

(STAMMERING)
I'm not so great with traveling.

I've never been further than Scarsdale.

Yes, I know. But that is about to change.

The time has come
to stop selling televisions.

The time has come to take on

the most important job in all the realms.

What the hell?

You can see that?

I see it, but I don't believe it.

Actually, the fact that you can see it
tells me that you do believe.

Believe in what?

In magic.

I think it is time
that you find your destiny.

Come with me.

All of your questions will be answered.

REGINA: Nothing. (SIGHS)

They're all still blank.

Whatever the Author's writing,
it's not appearing in the books.

This is useless.

Easy! This is not your fault.

Even so, tomorrow,
thanks to Gold and the Author,

I can wake up a talking frog.

At least you'll wake up.

I don't doubt whatever
the Dark One has in store for me

is a far worse fate.

Well, there's no use speculating
what he wants, we just need to stop it.

And if there's nothing useful here,
we need to move on.

Find something else that can help.

BOOTH: I might know just the thing.

August, I thought you didn't know
anything more about the Author.

He doesn't,
but he knows someone who does.

- That's why I called him here.
- Who?

The man who gave him his power,
the Apprentice.

I met him once
when I was living in Phuket.

He was the one who told me
about the storybook

and that I should learn
everything about it.

If he was in Storybrooke,
could you find him?

Well, I haven't seen him,

but that's what he looks like.

I know this man.

You do?

More importantly,
I know exactly where to find him.

I trapped him in there. I didn't know.

It's okay. It was Gold, not you.

Blue was in there, she can get him out.

But don't you need
the Dark One's dagger?

Well, not if I have something
that belonged to the Apprentice.

Are you...

Yes. And there is no time to waste.

Isaac has abused his power for too long.

The time has come to set

things right.

REGINA: How?

By putting him back where
he can't harm anyone, in the book.

I will need the page
with the painted door and the key.

We shall return him to his prison,
and this time, I would wager,

none of you will set him free again.

The page!

It's back in the loft.

Mom, Dad, Killian, watch Henry.

If Gold's smart,
he'll go after the page, too.

Are you, uh, close?

Hang in there, Dark One.

- Don't let that heart turn to coal just yet.
- (MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)

You'll be fine. Better than ever.

Why help me?

You have the quill now.
You don't need me anymore.

We're a lot alike.

We've both struggled mightily
for happiness all our lives.

You got power, became the Dark One,

but you've never been the content one.

I know what that's like.

To always have
dissatisfaction gnawing at you.

Watching other people's
happiness bloom.

It's time for a world where up is down,

where villains can have happy endings.

And what does your ending look like?

Castle? Treasure? Power?

(LAUGHS) In the enchanted forest?

Do you think I like dysentery
and a 40-year life expectancy?

No, no, that's your world.

I like room service and indoor plumbing.

You're welcome to
a happy ending in your land,

I'll take one in mine.

Continue with the writing, if you please.

Of course. I just need one last detail.

Your son, Baelfire.

Don't toy with me, scribe.

(SIGHS)

Magic can't bring back the dead.

No, it can't.

This quill and ink can only
change a past it has created.

Which is why I have
to write your new story

from this moment forward
and into the future.

But,

in your new life,
I can make you forget him.

No, never!

I want my memories of him.

But maybe with a slight adjustment.

I would like a world where

I remember doing right by my boy.

Where he may be gone,

but I can live with that loss.

Where Bae sees me as a hero

right at the end.

I think I can do that.

And, with that last piece,

it's time to finish.

ISAAC: The end.

(RUMBLING)

Grandma!

Grandpa!

Hook!

Hello!

Hello!

Is anyone here?

Hello!

(RECORD SCRATCHING)

(BELLS JINGLING)

(TIRES SCREECH)

(DOOR OPENS)

WOMAN: Nice parking job.
Are you old enough to drive?

Yeah, are you? I need some help.

Have you seen any of these people?

Mmm... No. No, I haven't.

It's my family. Are you sure?

Look, why don't you
wait here and I can, um...

I'll ask some of the others.

Yeah, I've got someone here...

Yeah, I think he's a runaway.

ISAAC: (OVER SPEAKERS) Thank you.

- (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
- Thank you very much.

Please! Please, please, I'm not worthy.

Someone once told me
I don't tell stories people want.

(ALL LAUGH)

But I say
write what you're passionate about.

That's what matters most.

Heroes and Villains is close to my heart.

It's been a passion project
for longer than you would believe.

I wrote it because I think folks are sick

of heroes getting everything
in these classic fairy tales.

Hence, the radically different endings
for Snow White, Prince Charming,

and all the rest.

Something different
for a modern audience.

What happens
when villains win the day?

(ALL APPLAUDING)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

ISAAC: Thank you.

Thank you.

WOMAN: Long live Regina!

Please, can I give you a present?

A little token of my love
for the world that you've created?

Regina, she's my favorite character.

She's a real doozy, isn't she?

Her life is just so unfair.

Is she gonna get
a happy ending in the sequel?

Please, you have to tell me.

Sure, I can tell you.

She...

Sorry, no spoilers. You have to buy
the next book when it's finished.

(LAUGHING) All right.

What are you doing here?

What did you do with my family?
Where are they?

I, uh... (CLEARS THROAT)
I have no idea what you're talking about.

Uh-uh. You're lying.

Now, you know what this does.

So you either give me some answers

or I open this door again
and you get a whole new ending.

Okay, much to
the chagrin of my publicist,

you have my undivided attention.

Where's my family?

You really want to know?

Look around you.

They're all right here
in my bestselling book.

What does that mean?
Are they still alive?

(SHUSHING)

Easy with the key, cowboy!

Your family is fine.

If you want to get technical,
they're in here.

See? The original copy of my book.

The one that I always wanted to write.

They all live in here now,
in kind of an alternate reality.

You made them miserable!

I see that you've read some of my book.
Good, good!

Then you know that everyone
got the ending they deserve,

except Emma, of course.

You won't find her in the book.

There was no room
for a savior in my world.

Bring them back or I use this.

(SHUSHING)

I can't. I don't have the power.

The cardinal rule of the Authors is,
"Don't write your own happy ending."

As you can see, I broke that rule.

So, this is just a pen now.

And me... Oh.

I'm nothing more than
a bestselling writer with legions of fans

and a penthouse over Central Park.

If you can't get them out,
then give me the book and I will.

(GRUNTS) You?

(LAUGHS)

Do you know
why you're still out here, kid?

Because you're not
from a magical world.

So take it from me, you will never
be a knight in shining armor.

You're just a poor, innocent child
who needs saving.

So why don't you put the key away
and, uh, stick to the role you're best at.

Now what?

You're gonna tear up the book?

Wait! Don't be stupid!

(COUGHS)

(GRUNTS)

Cool!

Feel like a real hero now?

Don't get used to it.

So, now we're both trapped in the book.
Congratulations.

Let me tell you about this place.

It's cold, there's no running water,
and things are always trying to kill you.

Let me go!

Not a chance! This book we're in,
it's worked out quite nicely for me.

I don't need you
running around changing things.

This is my story,

and no hero gets a happy ending.

Why?
Would that somehow destroy the book?

That's what you're afraid of, isn't it?

Doesn't matter.
You brought us into the final chapter.

How do you know?

I know because I wrote it.

And I know how it ends.
With the loud tolling of bells at sunset.

When you hear that sound,
it'll mean we've reached the last page.

The book will end
and everything will remain

exactly how I wrote it.

(THUDDING)

(LOUD ROAR)

There we are. Right on time.

What is that?

Oh, the inciting incident of this chapter.
An ogre attack.

And you know what they say,

you don't have to be faster than the ogre,

you just have to be faster
than the next guy.

- Wait!
- (ROARING)

(ROARING)

Help me!

The monster's dead.

The Ogre Slayer saved us.

Thank you.

If there's anything
my family and I can do to repay you...

Good deeds have their own reward.
This comes with no price.

You all right, boy?

What's your name?

Uh, Henry.

I am Rumplestiltskin,
a knight at your service.

Do you have any family around here?

Yeah. I think so. Yeah.

Then I suggest you run home
for your supper, Henry,

because I, I have another village to save.

(HORSE WHINNYING)

"Many deadly traps were set
to protect the forest hideaway.

"A pit trap under the cedar tree...

"A falling log hung just beyond...

"And finally, at the center
of the willow forest,

"there was a rustic version of home."

Hello?

Is anyone here?

REGINA: Turn around slowly.

Who are you?

What do you want?

My name is Henry, and I'm your son.

Come on, Henry. Please be dead.
Please be dead. Please be dead.

(GROANS)

I should've remembered!
I wrote the book.

The Ogre Slayer.

But I'm telling you...

- That we're trapped inside a book.
- Yeah.

(LAUGHS) And I'm supposed to live
in a place called Maine?

Where I became your adopted mother

after someone named
Emma gave you up?

Come on, Mom. You can remember.

Well, now that I think about it...

This does make me wonder one thing.

Who sent you?

Mom, please. Nobody sent me.

Stop calling me that!

Are you working for the Queen?

No! I'm trying to help you.

Help me what?

Find your happy ending.

In my world,
we called it Operation Mongoose.

(LAUGHS)

That's a very silly name.

Well, it was your idea.

You actually believe this.

So you're crazy?

I'm not. And I can prove it.

This is a copy of the book
we're trapped in.

Let me see.

(LAUGHS) This...

This says I'm going to rob
a royal tax carriage today,

to buy passage out of the kingdom.

How did the book know all that?

It can see my future?

Something like that.

Then I don't want any part of it.

No!

(SCOFFS)

Don't follow me.

Whatever world you think you're from,
go back there.

I can't. Not until you find true love.

Then you're stuck.
It's never gonna happen for me.

His name is Robin Hood

and I think the only way
for us to escape this book

is for you to find him in a tavern
and kiss him.

True love's kiss, it can fix anything.

(LAUGHS) Wow.

You are crazy.

If I ever meet Robin Hood in person,
the only thing he gets

is a broken nose.

Wait! What are you talking about?

He's my competition.

Every robbery I plan, he beats me to it.

He's the reason
I'm stuck in this kingdom.

Why am I still talking to you?

Because I'm your son.

Look, kid,

if you read about me in that book,

you know I got to go.

Queen wants me dead.
She thinks I ruined her life.

Did you?

Yes.

So, if it's happy endings you're after,

look someplace else.

Henry!

Where'd you go?

Come on out. I can help you.

(GASPING)

(GRUNTS)

Oh, no.

Not these guys.

(LAUGHS)

Welcome to the
Queen's Woods, trespasser.

Don't kill me. Don't kill me! Don't kill me!

No, no! No!

Search him.

No, no, no!

Oh, goody. Look at this.

Long live Regina?

So you're a trespasser and a traitor.

That's not mine.

Heigh-ho, boys.

It's off to work we go.

You.

Speak.

We found him in the Queen's Woods,
Your Majesty.

With this.

"Long live Regina"?

- Not very likely.
- (PIN CLATTERS)

Although,
she'll certainly live longer than you.

Now, what do we remove first?

Your fingers, or your ears?

No removing, please.

I hate Regina as much as you do.
I'm on your side.

Technically, you're at my feet.

We want the same thing.

To keep everything in this realm
exactly how it is.

With you in charge.

A boy just arrived in this land.

He fancies himself a hero.

He wants to take away
everything you have.

Somebody has to stop him!

- (HEART BEATING)
- Get in here!

- Finally. Someone listens to me.
- (DOOR OPENS)

No need to yell, Snow.

I will always find you.

I'm sorry, you will always find me what?

- I will always find you, Your Majesty.
- Mmm.

That's better.

Now will you please
help me with something?

Remove his head.

Of course, Your Majesty.

No, no, no. You don't understand.
I can help you. I know things!

I know who Snow White really loves.

Ah!

What did you say?

You had a twin brother, James.

He was the one who Snow truly loved,
before the tragedy.

Want me to kill him, Your Majesty?
Save you both the trouble?

Let him speak.

How do you know this?

A magical book told me
everything about this land.

James was cruel, like you.

You understood each other,
you fell in love.

It was everything.

But then, because of Regina, he died,

so you took Charming's heart
and you forced him to be yours.

But it never satisfied you.

He's just a pale imitation of his brother.

It's a sad story.

But it can still have a happy ending.

How?

I know exactly where to find Regina.

Revenge can be yours.

And what is it that you want in return,

aside from your life?

The boy I told you about... Henry.

He'll be trying to help Regina.

I want you to kill them both.

Gladly.

(GRUNTS)

(GASPS)

Snow White!

Surprised to see me?

(GASPS)

Charming, disarm her.

REGINA: Oh!

I've waited so long for this moment.

Your head is going to look lovely
in my trophy room.

Please, no.

How many times
do I have to say I'm sorry?

SNOW WHITE: Once more.

From your grave.

I didn't know what
would happen to James.

I was a child,
I was only trying to help you.

You broke a promise.

Because of your poor, poor judgment,

my true love is dead.

(GASPS)

PRINCE CHARMING: Your Majesty,
before you rip her heart out,

perhaps you should
ask her about the boy.

So you do have a brain
somewhere in that pretty head.

Where's the boy?

Where is he?

When does this end, Snow?

This blood feud, when does it stop?

When I've killed you
and every one of your followers.

You lost one happy ending,
and I'm sorry for that,

but all this killing
will only bring more hatred into your life,

and all you'll be left with
is a hole in your heart,

and no hope of ever
finding true happiness.

You

know nothing of my happiness.

- (HORSE WHINNYING)
- Yah! Yah!

Come on!

My lady.

Yah!

I had the situation under control.

A simple thank you would suffice.

Yah!

I told you, I didn't need rescuing.

Believe me, I'm already questioning
helping the competition.

(LAUGHS) Competition?

Robin Hood?

Well, I'm not Friar Tuck.

Now, hold still, please, my lady.

Why?

'Cause this may sting a little.

Now, sit down before you pass out.

(SCOFFS) I'm fine. It's just a scratch.

- What's that?
- Your cut.

You still can't say thank you, can you?

(GRUNTS)

Thank you.

And thank you.

So, to new friends and old rivals.

What is it?

Just thought you'd be dirtier.

(ROBIN HOOD LAUGHS)

Well, thank you.
I'll choose to take that as a compliment.

Regina, while we may never have met,
I always admired your skills.

I'm getting out of this game
and I have a proposition for you.

I'm in search of someone to take
my place as leader of the Merry Men.

Oh.

I'm flattered, but...

Can't accept.

This forest isn't the place
for me anymore.

Well, that's a shame.

So, what's driving
you out of the business?

Have you ever met someone that you
would change your entire world for?

Someone whose eyes you just knew
you were born to gaze into?

Uh...

I have. And that's why
I can't be a thief anymore.

It wouldn't be fair to my new bride.

(DOOR OPENS)

Bride?

Well, she will be,
when we marry later today.

Hi, darling. (CHUCKLES)

So, who's this?

Regina, I'd like you to meet my fiancée.

This is Zelena.

I just can't believe I'm finally meeting
the Bandit Regina.

Thank you, but I should go.

(ZELENA STAMMERING)

Won't you stay for the ceremony?

I mean, it'll be a simple affair, but,
well, we'd love to have you there.

Wouldn't we, darling?

Of course. It would be our honor.

Oh, I...

I should try to get
a head start on Snow White.

I'm sure she has the entire
Black Guard looking for me.

(SIGHS)

Thank you. For saving my life.

Congratulations again.

Both of you.

- I think so.
- (GIGGLING)

HENRY: Mom!

You have to stop calling me that.

How do you keep finding me, anyway?

I figured, if my plan worked,

you'd be in Sherwood Forest
with Robin Hood...

I hate to break it to you,
but Robin's already found his true love.

And they're getting married today!

No, no, no. This is all wrong.

That's Zelena, your sister...

Wait, you have to listen to me.

(SCOFFS) I heard enough.
I don't have a sister.

My mother abandoned me
when I was a baby.

No, your mother abandoned Zelena!

Everything's flipped.
This must be Zelena's happy ending.

Look, I have to go. And you should, too.
Snow White's looking for you.

Wait! You can't tell me
that you didn't feel anything

when you met Robin Hood.

See? That's proof. He's your true love.

No!

It's proof that I'm not the kind of person
that gets a happy ending.

I'll never have true love.

But you gave me the worst thing
you can give anyone.

Hope.

Now I'd like to get far enough away

that I don't have
to hear Robin and Zelena's

wedding bells proclaim their love.

Wait, did you say wedding bells?

Yes. Now, please, let me be.

The bells. From the end of the book.

That's what he was talking about.

Those bells, this wedding,

it's our last chance to stop this
from becoming real forever!

It already is real.

Not yet! We have to stop this wedding!

Look, you seem like a nice boy,

and clearly, you believe
all this nonsense.

But didn't you say
I was your adopted mother?

That you have
another mother out there named...

Emma

So if you want help,
maybe you should start by finding her.

I tried. She wasn't in the book.

And if she were, believe me, you'd know.

She's the most powerful
sorceress there is.

The only sorceress in this land
is Snow White.

She's more powerful than her.
She has, uh, special magic.

Special magic?

In our world she was called the Savior.

Never heard of her.

Mom! No, I know that face.
What aren't you telling me?

(SIGHS)

There were rumors once
of a woman who called herself that.

The Savior.

Isaac lied.
He couldn't write her out of the story.

Where can I find her?

You can't.

Snow White locked her up years ago.

No one has set eyes on her since.

The prison she's in is impenetrable.

(GASPING)

(SCREAMING)

(HORSE WHINNYING)

Look! It's him!

- (ALL SHOUT EXCITEDLY)
- Yeah!

- Belle.
- (CHUCKLES)

(BABY COOING)

Sounds like someone else wants
to celebrate your return.

(CHUCKLES)

And how is the newest member
of our dear family?

With any luck, he'll grow up
to be just like dear old dad.

Belle, you didn't tell me
we had a visitor.

Name's Isaac.

I was traveling through your village

when your wife invited me in
to slake my thirst.

(SLURPS)

Not to be too picky,
but the water tastes a little murky.

Oh. I'll get some
that's fresh from the well.

(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)

You didn't come here for the water.

Perceptive in all worlds. Good.

Yes.

I came here to warn you.
Your happiness is in danger.

From what?

A boy. He's on a mission
to help the Bandit Regina.

If he succeeds,
everything you have will be destroyed.

- Not to mention what I have.
- Ha!

What nonsense. How can
some stranger's actions affect my life?

Because your happiness,
your entire life, it's not real.

I know because I am the one
who created it. With magic.

And it is all about to crumble.

Regina's true love
is about to marry another.

She's going to try
and stop the wedding.

You cannot let her succeed.

You have to kill her.

Demon! You have been sent here
to try to corrupt me.

You have already been corrupted.

Before all of this, you were a villain,
maybe the worst one of all.

Which is why you had me
use magic to rewrite your story.

Look, I can prove it to you.

I know things,
the secrets that you've kept from Belle.

The ones about your first son, Baelfire.

Where did you hear that name?

In this story,
he was killed in the Ogre Wars,

despite your heroic efforts.

But in reality,
he died because of your cowardice.

No, no, no, I...

I protected him. I did my best, I...

I was honorable.

No. You weren't.

He died because of you.

Liar!

Get out of here. Now.

All right. I'll go.

But deep down you know I'm right.

You're not really a hero.

And if you don't kill Regina and
keep her from her happy ending,

then everyone, including Belle,
will know, too.

I know you'll make
the right choice, Rumple.

You always do.

Ahoy!

Is anyone here?

Careful, boy.

No one steps aboard
the Jolly Roger's decks

without an invitation
from its captain first.

Are you gonna
make me walk the plank?

All depends on why you're here.

I need a ship to take me
to the Bottomless Sea.

Now, those are treacherous waters.

There must be something of great
value there to be worth taking the risk.

Someone.

Her name is Emma. She's my mom.
And she was put there by the queen.

Then I'm sorry for you.

Even if I wanted to, I can't help you.

Why? You're a captain. Can't you
take your ship wherever you want?

(BLACK BEARD LAUGHING)

A captain? ls that who he says he is?

I thought I told you to be done
swabbing the decks when I returned.

I'm sorry, Captain Black Beard.

Wait, he's the captain?

Indeed.

Unless Deckhand Hook wants
to keep playing pretend.

What do you say, Hook?

Beat me, and the Jolly Roger is yours.

Or are you still a one-handed coward?

What are you doing? Stand up to him.

You can beat him.

I'm afraid you don't know me very well.
I'm sorry, I can't help you.

(SCRUBBING)

Then I'll have to help you.

What the bloody hell are you doing?

Getting you your ship back.

Come on,
let's dump Black Beard and go.

What, you think it's that easy?
I can't sail the Jolly Roger alone.

- I can help.
- How do you know how to sail a ship?

I had a great teacher. You.

Look!

We found it!

There's a Black Knight standing guard.

Only one. We can take him out.

Well, perhaps you hadn't noticed,
but I'm a deckhand, not a soldier.

Then maybe we don't need to fight.

(DOOR OPENS)

All right.

I'm here on official business
for the queen,

delivering a dangerous prisoner
from the kingdom of Kashyyyk.

Well done, lad.

The Wookiee prisoner gag.
It always works.

The what?

Never mind.

Lock the guard in the cell. I'll be back
with my mom as soon as I can.

Well...

(SIGHS)

(DOOR UNLOCKS)

(DOOR CREAKS)

Hi. My name is...

Henry.

Mom?

(CHAINS RATTLE)

Henry.

You... You remember.

I knew you'd find me.

I don't understand.

How do you remember
when no one else does?

It must have been part of Gold's plan.

My punishment in this world
is that I know the truth,

but I'm powerless
to do anything about it.

In this world, I'm no longer the Savior.
I've got no magic.

That's all right.

I think I know what to do. Now, come on.

Oh!

HENRY: Uh, Killian, this is my mom.

Mom, Killian.

Uh...

(CLEARS THROAT) Yeah, um...

Pleasure.

Yeah. Right.

Look, we need to get going.

We've got a wedding to stop.

EMMA: Thank you for your help, Killian.

HOOK: Uh, yeah, of course.

I'm pleased
you've regained your, uh, freedom.

EMMA: Me, too.
Unfortunately, it's not gonna last

unless you put some distance

between that tower and us
before the guard wakes up.

Why?

Because that was not
any ordinary Black Knight.

Her name is Lily.

She's dangerous.

I don't understand.
What's the problem with this Lily...

- (LOUD ROAR)
- Henry, get below, now!

(ROARS)

I need you
to load the cannon with a chain shot.

Come on, now!

Hold your fire till I tell you!

Lily, over here!

Hey!

(ROARS)

Come on, Lily! Come on!

Now!

(SCREECHING)

(LAUGHS)

HOOK: Well, that was close.

Cheers. You did it.

We did it.

What is that?

It's goat's milk.

Where's your rum?

I'm allergic. Never touch the stuff.

Of course you are.

Can I ask you a question?

You trusted me
with your life just now. Why?

It's complicated. Might take a while.

My schedule's pretty clear.

Okay.

Let's first work on your fighting skills.

Then we've got to
help Regina stop that wedding.

Where is Regina's heart?

No one?

And what of the child?

Surely, you imbeciles
aren't all stupid enough

to report back here empty-handed?

Actually, Your Majesty,
they are exactly that stupid.

We would have caught the Bandit

if Blue and her gaggle of uglies hadn't
laid a trap of dark fairy dust

paralyzing our axes.

Always blaming the fairies.

Maybe you should try
and take responsibility for once, dwarf.

You mangy, flea-infested wolf,
I should get a muzzle...

Silence.

We aren't here to fight.

We're a team.

So you're not mad?

Of course not.

It's not your fault.

It's mine.

You see, I am your leader.
And I have to lead by example.

We have to go to extreme lengths
to succeed.

And to do that

I have to show you how.

I have to motivate you.

(GASPS)

- (SQUISHING)
- (SCREAMS)

Well, now you're down to six.

Do you want to make it five?

Find Regina and the boy and kill them.

(CHAIR CREAKS)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

And you're telling me that

in this other reality,
I'm an expert with such a weapon.

You're a regular Jack Sparrow.

Is that good?

Here. Let me show you how to use it.

Oh. (CHUCKLES)

They say once you become an expert,
your subconscious takes over.

Back in my world,
that's what we call muscle memory.

Tell me more about
this reality you want to return to.

Us, for example, I sense that, uh,

we may be close?

Very.

Really?

Well, I'm starting
to get jealous of the other me.

Let's see what food Henry's discovered.
I'm starving.

There they are.

It's as I told you, my Queen.

The one-handed pirate
was helping them.

And the boy was with them, as well.

Tell us where the child is hiding!

Hey! Back off, dwarf!

Or they'll change your name to Stumpy.

I know you.

You're Emma.

The mad hag
who was locked in the tower.

I almost didn't recognize you
out of your chains.

You're the one who's hard to recognize,
both of you.

This isn't who you are.

Tell me. Who are we?

You're my parents.

I'm the product of your true love.

You taught me how to be a hero,
you taught me how to believe in hope.

And I do.

And now I need you to believe in it, too.

You're right.

Emma

Hope is a very powerful thing.

Which is why I'm going to have
to snuff it out of you

and that awful son of yours.

- Kill them.
- PRINCE CHARMING: Wait!

There he is.

SNOW WHITE: My, my.

I am going to enjoy
watching him die in front of his mother.

Save Henry.

Killian, you can't beat them.

KILLIAN: If I can help return things to
how they were meant to be,

then what happens to me here
won't matter, will it?

Now, go, save your boy.

Is she worth your life, pirate?

I'm willing to find out.

(GRUNTS)

What do you know? I'm a natural.

Hey!

What about you, Your Majesty?
Shall I make quick work...

- No!
- (GASPS)

I never did like pirates.

Mom!

We have to get out of here! Mom!

(BABY COOING)

(DOOR OPENS)

What's wrong?

I've just learned

of a threat to our realm.

If left unchecked,

it will destroy all that
we have built together.

All our happiness.

But you're the Light One.

Whatever this force is,
you'll overcome it.

It's more complicated than that.

Eliminating this threat means
I'll have to make a difficult choice.

And if I make the wrong one...

But you won't.

You never do.

You're a hero, Rumple.

Yeah, but what if I'm not?

Here.

Things never seem quite as bleak
after a cup of tea.

Belle, I'm so sorry.

It's all right.

It's fine.

See? It's just chipped.

We can fix it.

I'm not so sure it's as simple as that.

- HENRY: Mom!
- (GASPS)

- (SIGHS)
- I knew you'd still be here.

You again?

Listen, I don't have time for stories.

I need to hit the road before
the Evil Queen has my head.

Wait. I brought someone else this time.

Maybe you'll listen to her.

(PANTING) Regina.

Let me guess. You're his other mother.

Emma

I have to give you credit.

Breaking her out of that tower
couldn't have been easy.

- Henry, can you give us a minute?
- Sure.

You know, your son
can use some reining in.

He's been running around the forest,
getting into trouble spouting nonsense.

Regina, everything he said
about this reality, it's all true.

(SCOFFS) I doubt that.

I don't know why I'm wasting my time

with a madwoman
who calls herself the Savior.

Because I can help.

Your happiness is still a possibility.

Your first step
is going after the man you love.

My happy ending isn't a man.

Of course not.

But love is a part of all happiness,

and you have to be open to that.

Go to Robin Hood. All you have to do
is tell him how you feel.

Oh, is that all?

You forgot to mention the part where
I'd have to crash his wedding.

What does your heart tell you?

I know what my heart says.

Though, what if his doesn't
say the same thing?

Isn't that a risk you're willing to take?

I just watched the man I love die.

I'm sorry, that's horrible.

The worst part is that
I never told him I loved him.

Not once.

I was too scared.

Too scared that,

somehow, saying it would make it real

and change everything.

But now I'll never have
a chance to take that next step with him,

because he's gone.

My only chance with him

is if you don't
make the same mistake I did.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

We haven't heard the wedding bells yet.
There's still time.

I don't even know what to say to him.

I think in this case,
actions speak louder than words.

Once you and Robin share true love's
kiss, everything should be great again.

Okay.

What?

You don't remember this,

but I promised you once
I'd help you find your happy ending.

Just glad I'm here to see it.

You got this, Regina.

I'm afraid none of you
are crashing this wedding,

dearies.

Go. I've got the Dark One.

Dark One?

I'm afraid you have
the wrong name, dearie.

We'll see about that.

Regina, go!

BISHOP: ...let all who have
gathered here bear witness.

Do you, Zelena, take Robin
to be your lawfully wedded husband?

I do.

(GRUNTING)

Mom!

Out of my way, boy.

You have to get through me
to get to her.

And do you, Robin, take Zelena
to be your lawfully wedded wife?

Go! You have to stop that wedding!

Robin?

You won't hurt me.
You're supposed to be a hero here.

And that's exactly why I must do this.
To ensure I remain one.

HENRY: Mom?

(GRUNTS)

It's done.

(VOICE BREAKING) Mom?

Regina?

HENRY: Mom,

why didn't you go into the church?

I couldn't let you die.

(BELL RINGING)

We're at the end of the book.

We're not going to be able
to change anything now.

(LAUGHTER)

ROBIN HOOD: Sorry!

Regina?

Regina!

ZELENA: Robin?

What's going on?

Oh, God!
Oh, no, I've got blood on my dress!

Can't you see she's injured?

This is supposed to be my day!
And she's ruined it!

ROBIN HOOD: It's okay.

You're going to be all right.

No. No, I'm not.

No.

At least I can promise you,
you won't die alone.

Too little, too late.

Then you're gonna change things.

Return them to the way they were.

Bring back Hook, save Regina.

I can't. I'm not the Author anymore.

I can't change a thing.

Whoa! Kid, what the hell?

No.

What's happening?

He's the next Author.

I can feel it.

Henry, fix it.

Write everything the way it was.

Without ink, he's not writing anything.

My blood,
it was supposed to work last time.

Yes, when mixed with darkness.

But you're not the Savior here.

Because of him.

But that doesn't mean
we didn't find one.

And in this world,
we don't need a dark Savior,

we need a light one.

Hold on, Mom.

- No, don't!
- Henry, do it!

HENRY: Thanks to the Hero Regina's
sacrifice,

Isaac's villainous work was undone.

Henry.

You did it.

No, Mom, we did.

Mom!

Henry.

Hook!

Where is he? Where's Hook?

Uh, he was there,
right before we got dragged away.

Everyone reappeared where they were
before this whole mess started.

No.

HOOK: Yeah, sorry about the mess.

I really needed to find that book
and I'm usually a bit tidier.

Killian.

(BOTH LAUGH)

HOOK: Oh.

How many times do I have
to tell you, love? I'm a survivor.

Look, I didn't mean to cause any panic.

I awoke moments before your parents,
and came up here looking for your boy.

He's fine. Henry's fine.
I'm just glad you are, too.

(SIGHS)

What is it?

When I

watched you die,

I was afraid I was never going to get
a chance to tell you something.

Tell me what?

I

Want to thank you
for sacrificing yourself.

Henry and I wouldn't have
succeeded without you.

Of course, love.

It's all in a day's work for a hero.

No! Wait...

Wait a minute. (GRUNTS)
Where are you going?

Sorry, I can't risk that
bum ticker of yours slowing me down.

- (BELLS JINGLE)
- He's all yours, lady.

Belle. You came back for me.

I came back to make sure you weren't
going to try to hurt anyone else.

No, no, Belle, you don't understand.

I only did what I thought was...

- (GRUNTING)
- Rumple?

Rumple?

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(SIGHS)

Wait. I need to see.

DAVID: Not on that list?

No bestseller, no fans, no awards?

It's all gone.

My life.

I need to know.

Years ago, you set us on a path
to hurt Maleficent and her daughter.

Why did you want to hurt us so badly?

The truth, Charming?

It's not you, but who you represent.

You remind me of
a boss that I once had.

One bad boss started all this?

A lifetime of bad bosses.

Of people like you,
who fancy themselves heroes,

pushing around people like me.

It was my turn to win.

To be the hero.

But you became a villain.

Because that's what villains do.

They make themselves happy
at the expense of others,

but it just makes them more unhappy.

I know what it is
to feel your heart go dark.

And that,

that isn't something to idolize.

It's something to pity.

APPRENTICE: It is tempting, is it not?

The power of the quill.

I just keep thinking.

Maybe I could use it just one more time.

To bring back my dad?

(SIGHS)

Henry,

not even an Author
can bring back the dead.

No matter how much they might wish it.

But Hook was dead
and then I brought him back to life.

Hook's death was never real.

That was a fiction created by Isaac.

And now, thanks to you,
that fiction has been erased.

You see?

All gone.

But your father, Baelfire,
died in the real world.

And that, sadly, can never be undone.

The best way to show
your love for those that are gone

is to tell their stories.

Now this book, these stories,

can never be erased because

they are more than stories,
they are the truth.

And the truth is what you must write.

I hope that you can resist
the temptation of the quill.

The power to change reality

is only outweighed by the cost.

No one should have that much power.

It would seem that this time,

we have found
the right person for the job.

- (GROANS)
- Hey,

what's happening?

It's my heart.

The last human fleck of red
is disappearing.

Your ability to love?

At least, in the end, I get one last taste.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

We were happy in there.
We were in love.

I was already in love.

Everything we had in the book,
you could have had here.

You could have been a good man
with a good marriage for real.

Why wasn't that good enough?

Because I didn't believe it.

Who could ever love me?

I knew what I was getting, Rumple.

I wasn't going to pull back.

But I made you do just that.

There's a whole world out there,
Belle, for you.

Go with Will.

I don't love Will.

And I'm not letting you die alone.

(SNIFFLING)

GOLD: Go far away.

When the man is gone,

only the Dark One remains.

And that is more... (GROANS)

That's more dangerous than

you can ever...

Rumple!

Hey!

Rumple!

Hey! Hey!

- (MUSIC PLAYING)
- (INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

ROBIN HOOD: Hello.

So, not to puncture the party,
but did you check on Zelena?

Still locked up, still pregnant.

But that's something
we'll be able to deal with.

Together.

So, Will is looking after Roland.

Perhaps I could
take you for a walk in the moonlight?

(CHUCKLES)

Perhaps.

I didn't mean to kill you.

Though, to be fair, I didn't have a heart.

So it's my fault?

What I think he means to say is,

we are sorry.

Well, you don't need to be sorry.

Although, I do intend to hold it
over your heads for a very long time.

I think we both know what happened
in that world was not real.

Although, seeing you guys
as real villains

made me sorry for holding
that grudge against you for so long.

Give me a second.

Hey. What's up?

Something wrong?

Do you remember this?

Yeah. I nearly got hepatitis

stealing it back from
your boyfriend's rat-infested place.

It's a piece of
the egg I was hatched from.

It's also the only clue I have
as to who my father is.

Have you asked your mother?

She doesn't know, either.

What?

It's a dragon thing.

You know, it happened in dragon form?

Do you want to find him?

Do you mind
if I stick around Storybrooke and look?

I think that would be great.

Rumple, his heart,
he said it's almost gone.

And, uh, he said we're in danger.

He tried to use the hat
to free himself from the dagger.

APPRENTICE: This is not unlike that.

We're pulling the darkness from him
and containing it.

Does that mean that
his heart will be healed?

Perhaps, if the strength is there.

This is more dark power than
the hat's ever been asked to contain.

Do what you need to do.

Purest evil, blackest bloom

Darkness, too, can find its doom

(HEART BEATING)

Never dying but contained

Bound inside the falcon's chamber

Shorn of anger, thornless danger

There forever to remain

(HEARTBEAT CONTINUES)

(GRUNTS)

He's barely breathing.

Rumplestiltskin was
the Dark One for centuries.

His return to the man he used to be
will not be easy.

This will preserve him
until we discern if we can help him.

If?

Everybody, step back.

Mom, Dad, go after it. Go.
I'll be right there.

Help me make him comfortable.

(GRUNTS)

What was that?

Long before your stories began,

The Sorcerer battled the darkness.

He was able to keep it from
consuming the realms.

He tethered it to a human soul

that could be controlled with a dagger.

The Dark One.

Yes.

The Sorcerer
is the only one with the power

to destroy the darkness once and for all,
before it destroys everything.

Where is he? Who is he?

He's far, far from here.

Find him.

His name is

Merlin.

You must stop

the darkness.

Find Merlin.

(EMMA PANTING)

- Where is it?
- We don't know.

It just disappeared into the night.

Hey, what's going on?

The Dark One, it's no longer
tethered to the crocodile.

REGINA: What?

Where the hell is it?

It hasn't gone anywhere.

The darkness, it's surrounding us.

(GASPS)

ROBIN HOOD: Regina!

What's it doing?

What darkness does.

It's snuffing out the light.

I'm not gonna let it.

That's not gonna work on this thing!

The Apprentice told me
we have to do what the Sorcerer did.

We have to tether it to a person
to contain it!

- Emma!
- No!

There has to be another way.

There isn't.

You've worked too hard
to have your happiness destroyed.

No!

You figured out how
to take the darkness out of me once.

You need to do it again.

As heroes.

HOOK: Emma! Emma, please!

No. Don't do this.

I love you.

- HOOK: No!
- (GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

(GROANS)

Ripped By mstoll