NARRATOR: Previously on Once Upon a Time...
- VICTORIA: Kill him. - Why? I don't understand.
I don't need you to understand. I need you to obey.
HENRY: Look. Whatever she wants you to do to me, you don't have to do it.
- You seem a lot nicer. - I'm not.
I've seen your cold case. The one with the missing girl.
PERP: That's one powerful rune. If your lost girl was drawing that,
I'd hate to meet whatever evil she was facing down.
You wanted to see me?
RONI: I found this.
- I have no idea who that kid is. - I do.
That's me.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
HENRY: This is supposed to be a scene from my book
with us photoshopped in as the characters.
This me as the kid who believes in fairy tales,
and you as my mom.
The Evil Queen.
The Evil Queen?
Right. So, Victoria's screwing with us.
Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey, hey, slow down there, Babe Ruth.
Geez. We don't know that Victoria made the photo.
Can we at least look into it before it's clobbering time?
Roni.
I am so glad you're still here.
RONI: Hey uh, what's up?
It's, um, it's been a big night.
Sabine and I, uh... we sort of bought a food truck.
Well, that's great.
It needs a lot of work, and I sold my tools. Do you have any?
Well, lucky for you, this place is falling apart, so...
I've got all the tools you need.
You are a lifesaver.
Well, hey um...
if you need some help, I'm pretty good around engines.
- You know, for a writer. - No, I'm fine.
What was that?
Hey, if I were the Evil Queen,
I could look into my magic mirror and tell you.
But this, is all the magic I got.
(SIGHS)
HENRY: Okay, Zen and the art of fixing a busted motorcycle.
First lesson, know thy tools.
Starting with the humble torque wrench.
I like this torque wrench.
Thanks for letting me help. Really.
The magical carriage is real.
Bet it's worth its weight in gold.
Let me guess, you fine fellows are here to...
kill us and take it?
Hey, he's smarter than he looks.
Yeah.
Good thing you're not.
(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
(SWORDS CLANKING)
Get away from my son.
It's okay, mom, I got this.
(GROANS)
(MAN GRUNTING)
(SWORDS CLANKING)
(PANTING)
Well, I guess you do know how to use a wrench.
(LAUGHS)
Henry, you okay?
Oh yeah, I'm fine. Nothing we can't handle.
Thanks to this.
You still have it.
(CHUCKLES)
You know, I bought this for you when you were ten.
Now, here you are
with a sword and motorcycle and...
girl.
Yeah, still figuring the girl part out.
The resistance always come first, right?
As soon as we fix up the bike,
we're off on another recon mission.
Oh, that sounds dangerous.
Hey, you should come with us. We could use you.
I can't.
- I'm busy. - With what?
Don't tell me you're going on naval patrol with Hook.
(LAUGHS) Not if I can help it.
But you don't need your mother around you all the time.
Not anymore.
And obviously, you can take care of yourself. So...
Be safe.
IVY: Are you feeling all right, mother?
Yes, Ivy. I'm lying here in the dark because I feel fantastic.
It's a migraine. Did you put the wrong sugar in my coffee?
I told you aspartame is a trigger.
I know, mother, which is why I always put real sugar in your coffee.
You know, something else might have triggered it.
Like these flowers.
I'm sure they're full of pollen.
Why don't you let me get rid of the revolting things for you?
(SIGHS) Ah, fine.
Anything to make your grating voice stop.
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
You got them?
Give them here. I can't wait any longer.
(SNIFFING)
So, do they have the magic we need?
Only the tiniest seed.
But it's still quite fragile. It needs fertile ground.
I suppose I'm to get that, too?
I have spent too much time in this world fetching things.
You must be patient a little longer, my dear.
Remember what I taught you.
Remember how we survive.
I know.
I close my eyes...
I imagine my mother's destruction.
Your mother isn't the only one to be wary of.
Regina.
I'm not sure it was wise to give her the photo.
Oh, don't worry.
By the end of the day...
Regina won't be a problem.
(DOOR CLOSING)
Okay, so I figured out the mystery.
Look, Ivy's timeline from Halloween.
She posted a bunch of pictures of us getting drinks together.
- Oh, this looks bad. - "Hashtag, Drunkoween"?
"Hashtag, DrinkingBuddy"?
Yeah, this looks bad. That's why I'm not on social media.
Yeah, but Jacinda is. And now I'm worried that whatever we had,
- I screwed it all up. - (DOOR SHUTS)
LUCY: I want to see the picture!
How do you know about the picture, Lucy?
- Ivy told me all about it. - She did? She...
Oh, boy.
RONI: This photo.
I know she's on your side now,
and I know what you found in grandma's weird attic, so, come on! Show me!
(SIGHS)
Wait a minute. I remember reading this scene.
Um so, Henry is Henry, obviously,
and Roni, you're...
(GASPS)
You're Regina! I mean, of course you are!
Oh, my gosh. You're his mom.
Regina Mills adopted Henry Mills in the real world in Boston!
And it was the best thing that ever happened to her, to you!
Lucy, no. (CHUCKLES)
Give it up.
- The picture's obviously fake. - LUCY: No, it's not!
Henry, you had something magical.
You had a book that had real stories in it,
and you never gave up. And I won't give up, either.
You are going to break this curse because you truly are Regina.
And all I have to do is make you remember.
And I know exactly how to do it.
WEAVER: This is where the real suffering begins.
Well, desk work isn't that bad.
I feel fine. I'm going back to work.
Well captain wants you to stick it out for at least a week.
(PHONE RINGING)
- I take it you want to walk out of here. - That's right. I'm going to walk
straight back to the precinct, have a word with the captain.
In the meantime, keep your eyes on your phone.
I might have some errands for you to run.
Uh, whoa. Wait, wait, wait.
I was hoping you might help me while Weaver's resting up.
It's an important case. It's a missing girl.
So, uh...
(SIGHS) what do you and Weaver do when he needs your help?
Mm...
He buys me lunch.
All right.
Well, I was a little skeptical
with the stray dogs hanging out in the alley,
but Bella Notte has damn good pizza.
(CHUCKLES)
Now, what's up with you?
What do you mean?
You've been quiet ever since Lucy dropped the Regina bomb.
You worried about her?
No, it's not that. It just, you know...
It just brought up a difficult memory is all.
(LAUGHS) I actually, I...
I did try to adopt once.
A beautiful baby boy.
Then at the last minute, the adoption agency decided I wasn't a good fit.
Just left a mark, you know?
Well, for what it's worth,
you seem like mom to a lot of people around here.
Which is why we have to help Lucy.
If we pretend we believe her,
then she'll stop being defensive
and finally believe the truth when she sees it.
Trust me.
The sooner the fantasy fades, the sooner she can heal.
- Okay, operation heartbreak it is. - Hmm?
That's a thing from my book. Just like something else she said,
which gives me a good idea of exactly where she is.
- You want to go there now? - I'll go solo.
Your afternoon is... already full.
Is it?
Oh, did I forget to mention the pizza place is close to that?
RONI: Go ask her out.
Sometimes I guess you just got to accept when Mom knows best.
Now, be charming, and don't slouch.
(LAUGHS) I'm kidding!
Go talk to her. I'll go deal with Lucy.
Watch out!
You have to be careful around strange magic.
- You all right? - (GROANING)
Drizella.
I should have let that thing eat you.
You tried to kill my son.
On my mother's orders.
She doesn't take no for an answer.
- Well, is that why you're here? - No.
I am through with doing things for that woman.
I am here to find magic to help me get free of her.
What are you talking about? I thought you were marrying some prince.
Do you honestly think that was my choice?
Oh, I see.
The funny thing is, I was born with magic.
Only mother never let me cultivate it.
She knew I would only use it to escape from her.
So, if I can't learn to use my own magic, I will steal someone else's.
Drizella, I know what it's like to live with such a controlling mother.
Perhaps, I can help.
Really?
But you're not going to steal it.
You're going to use the gift you were born with.
IVY: I got what you asked for.
Fresh from that charmless little community garden.
Thank you.
Your mother has denied me of this for far too long.
Then prove to me that this was worth ruining my nails for.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(GASPS)
- That's perfect. - Careful!
This is a most dangerous path to take a person down.
Then I guess we'll see...
if Regina is as powerful as she thinks she is.
(POP MUSIC PLAYING)
- (MUSIC STOPS) - (ROCK MUSIC BEGINS)
What's that?
Uh, The English Beat. "Save it for Later."
I know what it is. Why are you playing it?
Oh, I always just liked the '80s.
You know, John Hughes movies, New Wave music,
a little New Order, a little Adam Ant, you know,
I always used to make these amazing mix tapes, and I was...
You are making less sense than normal, Henry Mills.
Yeah, right uh... (CLEARS THROAT)
Last time I was single...
mix tapes always worked when I wanted to uh...
- when I wanted to ask a girl out, so... - You're asking me on a date now?
You sure it's me you want to ask out?
Yes! Yes! Because the thing with Ivy, that was a mistake.
I mean, it wasn't like a mistake, mistake, because nothing happened, but...
Sorry. I get it. I get it. You don't have to explain.
But I do! I do because I find myself
wanting to explain all kinds of things to you.
Like, like I don't know,
like, why pancakes are appropriate for dessert?
Why the English Beat is so culturally relevant?
Why I can't...
stop thinking about you?
Wow.
You sure have seen a lot of John Hughes movies.
(LAUGHS)
What if I explained to you
that I have a daughter and a new small business and...
very little time?
Well, then I'd say, I'm a Swyft driver and a failed writer
with nothing but time.
So...
whenever you have some, I'd...
I'd love to take you on a date.
Okay.
What about now?
Now? Like, like here? Like...
Well, you said you're good with cars, right?
And, yeah, mix tapes always work.
(CHUCKLES)
(GRUNTING)
(CHUCKLES)
Yeah, thanks. Um...
I'm just gonna...
(MUSIC VOLUME INCREASES)
HENRY: Oh, all right. Let's see what we got going on.
JACINDA: Okay. I'm going to test you now.
HENRY: Oh, yeah. There's the problem.
- (JACINDA LAUGHS) - I see it already.
(INHALES DEEPLY)
(SIGHS)
Thought Victoria said you couldn't come here.
She doesn't know I'm here.
- And I had to come. - Henry guessed you'd be here.
Of course, he did.
Because when Henry needed magic the most,
the storybook showed up for him in Snow White's closet.
And when some people touch it...
they remember everything about who they were.
Wow. So...
if I grabbed it...
I'd remember being a queen?
You're never going to believe it.
Look...
I would love to believe I was a queen.
You know, someone with this big, amazing life
who adopted a son she loved, and...
Now, I know enough to know I don't know everything, Lucy, so...
Why don't we prove this thing together?
Really?
What do you say?
Partners?
(SIGHS)
REGINA: You can do this, Drizella.
(GASPING)
(BOULDER SCRAPING)
(EXHALES SHARPLY) I can't.
I'm sorry I'm wasting your time. I'm sure you have better things to do.
You're not wasting my time.
You just need...
the right motivation.
(RUMBLING)
Regina! No!
(REGINA CHUCKLES)
(LAUGHS)
I, I didn't think I could do it. I didn't, I didn't know it was possible.
If you believe in yourself, it is.
You know...
you are a lot like I was at your age.
Except I didn't have the right guide,
so, all my power came from anger...
and hate.
And I sought revenge, and I did terrible things to get it.
I cast a dark curse.
Did it give you what you wanted?
For a while.
Turns out I wanted the wrong things.
The only thing that truly made me happy was my son, Henry.
I wish I had a mother like you.
RUMPLESTILTSKIN: Don't we all?
Rumple?
It's a get-well gift.
How can I help you, Roni?
Can you find out if a certain woman
applied to adopt a baby in Boston?
I'm not sure about the year.
Her name's Regina Mills.
That's bought you this conversation.
Now, what would make me want to take this on?
I'll owe you one.
Then we have a deal.
- (TRAIN BELL RINGING) - (TRACKS CLACKING)
How about a rematch while we chat?
Games keep me focused.
So, come on. I'll begin.
Look, shouldn't we at least reset the board?
Why would we do that?
Things are always more fun when you start in the middle.
So, tell me...
about Eloise Gardener.
Um, until she disappeared ten years ago, she was a normal kid.
Liked art, hated school. (SIGHS)
She was a bit of an amateur poet.
Well, that's everything, except that she was fearless...
until she disappeared when something spooked her.
Something that was in this journal, something...
some kind of protection rune, uh...
It's, it's complicated. Look...
all that matters is why she disappeared and where she is, so...
What am I missing, you know?
Look at the board, detective.
You need to take a good look at your side.
What pieces do you already have that you're not paying attention to?
Answer that,
and you might find yourself on a very different path.
One that leads to Eloise Gardener.
Oh, I didn't expect to see you so soon.
That for me?
It is. (SIGHS)
Right.
So, uh...
where's your new pint-sized partner?
(CHUCKLING) Lucy?
She's home.
So, turns out, there was a Regina Mills.
Adopted a baby boy in Boston.
What? That's impossible.
If you didn't think this was gonna work, why did you ask for help?
Weaver, I asked for a favor...
not an interrogation.
Here.
- Thank you. - Yeah, what are old friends for?
Favors.
Favors, that will one day be returned.
You owe me one.
(BIRDS TWITTERING)
REGINA: All those years...
a blink of an eye for us, and you, you've lived a lifetime with Belle.
(SIGHS) It's difficult to comprehend.
You know, we had a good life.
And it made me a new man.
That's why I'm here in this realm.
Finally ready to pass on the power of the dark one.
The right way.
Well...
- it seems you did change. - Well, change is inevitable.
Slow and painful at times, but inevitable.
(SIGHS) Tell me about it.
My son no longer needs me.
But do you think this girl might?
Oh, well, Drizella has so much raw talent.
She just needs a strong guide, someone to put her on the right path
and teach her how to stand up to her mother.
I've heard dark tales about this Lady Tremaine.
She has no idea Drizella's here.
Come on, Regina. You lived with a mother just like her.
Do you really think you would have gotten away
- with all of this without Cora knowing? - Well... (SCOFFS)
- No. - No.
Take a piece of advice from your former teacher
and ask yourself this:
why would Tremaine want her daughter to learn magic?
That's my sister. Anastasia.
Mother's favorite.
(MAGICAL TINKERING)
What is she doing to her?
Practicing.
For what?
For, waking her up.
She... almost had my son's heart ripped out before
because the only way to wake Anastasia
is by taking her heart and...
replacing it with one full of...
Belief.
My heart.
- I'm so sorry. - (EXHALES SHARPLY)
I always knew that she loved her more. I guess I just...
didn't realize how much until now.
Oh, God.
I'll never get away from her, will I?
No matter what I do, she always finds a way to hurt me.
Oh, God. I'll never be free!
Hey, hey. I can help.
I promise. I, I can protect your heart.
There's only one way to protect me.
Please, please...
help me kill her.
Drizella, no.
I cannot let you go down that dark path.
I thought you cared about me.
That's why I'm saying no.
(SIGHS)
You know what?
That's exactly what my mother used to tell me.
And if you're not going to help me, I know a prince who will.
What pieces do I already have?
(KNOCKING)
It's like a painting.
A mother mourns the loss of her only loved child.
What are you doing here, Drizella?
I told Prince Gregor everything...
like how you want to rip my heart out.
I won't let you harm my bride.
REGINA: That's enough.
You don't want to do this, Drizella.
No, you don't want to do this.
You refuse to understand that we have a different story.
The pain like mine can't be washed away.
DRIZELLA: You know, I've been trying my whole life
to win your approval.
But now I realize I'm never going to get it...
because I'm not her.
You're most certainly not.
Drizella, come with me.
If you kill your mother, you'll regret it.
You know what?
You're right.
But I didn't bring Gregor here to kill my mother.
I brought him here to kill something else.
What are you talking about?
I can't let my mother have what she wants.
Drizella.
What have you done?
What both of you were most afraid of...
I turned my heart black.
And now, it's of no use to you, mother.
You failed.
What do you want from me? Congratulations?
No.
I want you to suffer.
Regina taught me things you never would,
and I don't just mean magic tricks.
She taught me how to seek revenge.
A little thing called the Dark Curse.
Drizella, that was a warning.
A curse is never worth the cost.
It is to me.
Death is too merciful for you, mother.
I'm going to take you to another realm
where I can plant a seed of pain in your life.
It'll start small...
and it will grow...
until everything you see...
you breathe, you feel, is pain.
REGINA: No.
Listen to me.
I wanted to help you.
But if you go through with this, I will do whatever it takes to stop you.
Heroes can always break curses.
Well, then, I guess I'd better find a way to make mine unbreakable.
Thank you for your final lesson.
(MAGICAL WHOOSHING)
IVY: Oh, my!
There's no one here.
Guess I must have missed your little Avengers assembly.
Shame, since I may have found more dirt.
I'm gonna pour us something from the top shelf.
And then I'll talk.
This better be good.
So...
what did you find?
Actually, this is all about what you found.
What are you talking about?
See, I needed you to go on your little adventure today
with Lucy.
I needed you to start asking yourself, "What if the photo is real?
"What if all of Henry's fairy tales were true?"
(ECHOING) Because once you start asking yourself those questions
your little brain is all warmed up,
(SPEECH SLOWS) and I can push it...
(SPEECH WARPS) right over the edge.
Did you put something in my drink?
(RUMBLING)
I love you, too.
(PANTING)
(RONI GASPS)
Welcome back... Regina.
Drizella.
Oh, did you miss me?
Oh, sorry!
Land without Magic.
Well, just enough to wake you up.
(PHONE VIBRATING)
Henry.
I wouldn't answer that if I were you.
Henry can't know about this.
Then why the hell did you wake me up?
Your mind might be a little foggy from your nap.
Just give it a minute.
There it is. It's all coming back.
Now, you told me
that a hero always breaks the curse,
so, I made mine hero-proof.
Do you remember what I did right before the curse was cast,
and why you can't ever allow it to be broken?
You do remember.
If the curse is broken,
something very bad happens to the people you love.
You should be proud.
You know you're a great teacher when the student surpasses the master.
And what do you want, huh?
You want a gold star?
Or did you just wake me to gloat?
As much fun as that is, no.
I woke you up because I need your help.
I am on the verge of showing my mother what true suffering is.
I can't have anyone breaking the curse now.
You mean...
Henry and Jaci...
Cinderella.
We both know you will do whatever it takes
to stop true love's kiss from happening.
That shouldn't be too hard for the Evil Queen, right?
After all...
breaking hearts is kind of what you're best at.
REGINA: After everything I've been through,
I still haven't learned my lesson...
How could I let a girl with that much pain anywhere near magic?
How could I be so stupid?
You were just trying to see the best in someone. That's never stupid.
It's a nice sentiment, but...
this wasn't about her. It's about me.
And you, actually.
Me?
I came to this land to help you...
because I thought you needed it.
But you're not the kid who left Storybrooke anymore.
You can fight your own battles, now. And when you can't, you have Ella.
You are so wrong.
I do need you.
You're the first person who loved me.
The only person for many, many years.
So yeah, yeah, I can take care of bullies, or brigands, or whatever.
But I will always need you.
And I...
I need you.
Living in Storybrooke without you is...
(CHUCKLES) I couldn't stand it.
Whatever else I'm supposed to do with my life...
I'm your mother first.
'Cause without that... (SIGHS)
I just don't know how to be.
HENRY: Hey.
Well, you will be happy to know
that things with Jacinda...
went pretty well.
Guess we'll just have to see where that goes, won't we?
Keep me in the loop. I'm pretty good with advice.
And how are you with precocious little girls?
Is Lucy... off this fantasy of hers yet?
You know, uh, I was thinking.
Maybe it would help if she knew a little more about you.
You know, like...
who your mother is.
I... haven't told her this
because I didn't want to add fuel to the fire, but...
I was...
I was born in prison, just like my character.
Except I was never adopted. I grew up in the system.
Like Emma did.
In your book.
- You read my book? - I picked up a copy.
- It was really good. - Nah. It's... It's okay.
I mean, you don't have to say that.
It used to bother me that no one liked it, but...
I started to realize it doesn't matter.
I think I wrote it just for myself.
Growing up an orphan, all I ever dreamt of was having a mom.
And I wanted it so badly that I found a way to give myself two.
Henry, I...
What? What?
I'm just so glad...
we're getting to know each other.
Me too.