7:15 A.M.

"7:15 A.M." is the 10th episode of Once Upon a Time.

Summary
Mary Margaret and David continue to grapple with their unrequited love, and Emma and Regina grow suspicious over a mysterious new stranger in town. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Snow White yearns to ease her breaking heart as Prince Charming's wedding to King Midas's daughter approaches.

Plot
"''Once upon a time an evil queen banished every fairytale character you've ever known to our world..."

Regina enacts the Dark Curse. Hansel and Gretel walk through the Enchanted Forest. Red emerges from some bushes. Prince Charming and Snow White get married. Mary Margaret and David take a romantic stroll together. Mr. Gold crosses the street.

"''Only one knows the truth..."

Regina clutches Henry's book and stares at herself, menacingly, in the mirror. Regina glares at Hansel and Gretel.

"''And only one can break her spell."

Emma glares at Mr. Gold. Regina storms through her castle, being followed by the Magic Mirror. Regina uses her magic to send out a fireball. Charming tells Snow that if she needs anything then he will always find her. Henry tells Mary Margaret that she and David belong together. David tells Mary Margaret that she is the only thing in Storybrooke that seems "right". Henry tells Emma that nobody ever comes to Storybrooke. A stranger asks Emma if there's anywhere to stay in Storybrooke. Henry asks if he's staying, so he's told by the man that "that's the plan".

Act I
A storm is approaching Storybrooke. The clouds are dark grey and there is loud thunder crashes in the distance. The stranger that recently arrived in Storybrooke is attending to his motorcycle, which has a large contained chest on the back of it, when Henry approaches him, asking what he's doing her. The man explains that he's fixing his bike, so Henry asks what he's doing in Storybrooke. The man tells the kid that he's just visiting. He asks what the chest is, so the stranger mysteriously tells him it's a box containing something he needs to do what he came to Storybrooke for. After finally fixing the bike, he puts on his helmet and gets on the bike. Meanwhile, Regina exits her house and sees that Henry is talking to the stranger. Henry tells the man he thought he was just visiting. The man tells him that doesn't mean he doesn't have something to do and then he starts the engine of his bike. Regina calls out to her son, so the man tells Henry to go to school as it looks like a storm is coming. Regina walks towards the two, but the man drives away before Regina can reach him. Regina wraps her arm around Henry, watching the man drive away, and she asks who it was. Henry simply shrugs his shoulders.

At Mary Margaret and Emma's apartment, Emma is calmly eating a bowl of cereal whilst she listens to a weather forecast on the television. Mary Margaret comes rushing into the kitchen area, brushing her teeth and getting dressed simultaneously. She puts on her shoes and then spits the toothpaste into the kitchen sink, complaining that she's late. Emma assures her it's only 7:10, so she has plenty of time to get to school. Mary explains she needs to be there are 7:15 to help the children make volcanoes for a science fair. She then rushes out of the apartment. Five minutes later, Mary is walking down the streets of Storybrooke until she enters Granny's Diner, which she does so in a hurry. She quickly sits down at a table and takes a book out of her handbag. She fixes her hair in the reflection of a spoon.

She checks the time, it's 7:15. Suddenly, the bell to the door of the diner rings so Mary Margaret suddenly begins reading her book. David enters the diner, noticing Mary Margaret. He heads to the counter and collects two coffees off Ruby. Mary Margaret watches him in a love sick gaze for a short while, but goes back to reading her book when he turns around. He looks at Mary Margaret and slowly approaches her, trying to get her attention. He says good morning to Mary, so she acts surprised to see him and says it back to him. Mary stares at David, smiling, during an awkward silence. He then says he's gonna be late for work. Mary asks how it's going at the Animal Shelter. He jokingly says the apes haven't taken over, to which Mary adds "yet". Chuckling, David tells her "not on my watch". She then lets out a loud giggle. After yet another awkward silence between the two, David leaves the Diner and approaches a car where Kathryn is waiting. He hands her one of the coffees and they both kiss, Mary witnesses this. Emma suddenly appears in the diner, pointing out that Mary isn't making volcanoes. The teacher tries to explain herself, but Emma admits she understands. Mary explains that David comes to the diner every morning at 7:15 to get coffee, but Emma says it's for him and his wife. Mary understands this, but says she likes to see him, Emma calls her a stalker. Mary defensively says she isn't, but then begins to doubt herself. Mary recites David's daily routine to Emma, making it clear she's stalking. She tells the sheriff that she can't get him out of her head. Emma suggests the first step would be to not show up at the diner the next day. Mary states that love is the worst and wishes that their was a magic cure.

In the fairytale land that was, Snow White, dressed in leather and fur, is standing in the bushes, holding a spear, approaching a Turkey that is stood in an opening of land. The Turkey suddenly flies away when it is startled by an approaching person. Snow readies the spear to throw when the person walks past, but it is just Red Riding Hood, who announces herself to Snow. Snow is relieved to see her friend. Red points out that Snow is still holding the spear, so she puts it down and apologizes. She tells Red she wasn't expecting her for a month, but Red points out it has been a month, shocking Snow. Red jokingly says Snow is taken the solitude well, but Snow assures her friend it is what she wanted, to be alone. Snow asks how things are in the world, but Red tells Snow to ask what she really wants to hear. Snow plays stupid at first, but then gives in, asking Red to "tell her". Her friend explains that Charming will be marrying Abigail in two days time. Snow is stunned by the news. Red asks if she's okay, so Snow explains that she thought the longer she'd be out in the wilderness alone, the less she's think about him, but all she does is think about him. Red apologizes. Snow wishes for there to be a way she can get him out of her head. Seeming slightly unnerved and reluctant, Red tells Snow of a way she could forget Charming. She tells her of "whispers of a man who can achieve even the most unholy of requests". Ready to see him, Snow asks for his name.

A while later, it's dark as Snow White rows a little boat across misty waters to a small dock. She gets off and then ties her boat to the dock, but she's startled by the voice of a man, asking how much she wants for the boat. She looks onto her boat to see Rumplestiltskin sat in it. Confused to how he got there, she looks around, and then tells him the boat is not for sale. Rumple states it is because nobody comes to see him without a deal in mind. She asks if he is Rumplestiltskin, he confirms this. He gets off the boat and admits he's been looking forward to meeting her, saying she really is the fairest of them all. He asks how he can help, so she tells him she needs a cure. He asks what ales her, so she tells him a broken heart. Rumple recognizes this as the most painful of all afflictions. He tells Snow if he wants her to make someone love her, then he cannot do that, nothing can. Snow explains that's not the problem, stating they can't be together. Rumple tells her he can help with that and he pulls out a small vile, laughing insanely. He puts the vile into the water, filling it up, and then he uses his magical abilities to enchant it, turning it a misty white. Baffled, Snow asks if that will do it. As no true love's are alike, he states it must become more personal and he plucks a few strands of Snow's hair. He puts one into the vile and tells her once she drinks it she won't remember who her true love is anymore. Snow seems saddened that she won't remember him, but Rumple explains that love is the most powerful magic, so the cure must be extreme. Snow is unsure. "Don't doubt yourself now, dearie. Love makes us sick, haunts our dreams, it destroys our days. Love has killed more than any disease." he tells Snow before handing her the vile. She asks his price, so all he admits to wanting is a strand of her hair. Asking if they have a deal, Snow take the vile. He tells "Snow White" to take it in good health before walking away into the fog. Snow is left highly confused and scared, as she never revealed her name.

Act II
At the Dark Star Pharmacy, Mary Margaret is buying some items; a torch, some batteries and an Apollo candy bar. As she walks around the corner into another aisle, she accidentally walks into Kathryn Nolan and they both drop their baskets onto the floor. They both apologize to each other and Mary Margaret says she wasn't looking, to which Regina, who is also shopping, says "clearly". The two women kneel down to help pick up each others items. Kathryn gives Mary her candy bar, and then Mary gives Kathryn a pregnancy test. She is stunned for a moment when she realizes what this means. She awkwardly tells Kathryn "good luck". Kathryn thanks her and then heads to the check out to be served by Mr. Clark. Regina approaches Mary Margaret and asks her to be discrete about the pregnancy test as it is her and David's business, not hers. Mary Margaret agrees, seemingly heartbroken.

In the fairytale land that was, at the royal castle, Prince Charming is stood looking out from his balcony as music plays from inside the castle. King George enters and tells the prince that his absence at the party is felt as it is in his honor. George tempts Charming to come to the party with a golden crown. Charming explains that George could have fed the kingdom for an entire winter with the money for that crown. The King explains that it's a gift from King Midas for when he marries Abigail. George explains this would allow them to feed the kingdom for all eternity. George tells the prince to show some enthusiasm, but Charming explains that wasn't part of the deal. He tells the King that the wedding is in two days and he's honored his wishes. George tells the prince that he also wants his heart, not just his honor. Charming says his heart will belong to Abigail. King George tells Charming his heart can't belong to Abigail when it's held by another woman, insisting he knows the truth. When he asks the prince who she is, Charming explains they met on a journey and they haven't seen each other since, but she's stayed with him. George tells him to forget her, but Charming mocks this as it isn't that easy. However, George says nothing is easy, admitting that gaining power and wealth was hard. Charming says he asked for none of it, but the King reminds him he was chosen to be his "son", plucked from poverty. He tells the prince to be thankful of that, but the prince says it wasn't charity, just a way to save his kingdom. The King warns Charming, reminding him he made the choice to come. He then sternly tells Charming to do whatever it takes to get the other woman out of his head because nothing shall stop the wedding. After the King leaves, Charming writes a letter to Snow White and attaches it to a messenger pigeon, hoping it shall find her.

Back in Storybrooke, Mary Margaret is taking a stroll through the woods along a road. She stops walking when she hears the loud cries of a nearby bird calling out. Confused, Mary Margaret stops to head toward the sound. She walks to some nearby trees and finds a dove caught in a net. She tells the bird it'll be okay and then picks it up to take it into town. A while later, at the animal shelter, a vet tells Mary Margaret the good news is the bird will be fine as it was just a little dehydrated. When asked what the bad news is, he explains it's a rare migratory species of bird that forms strong monogamous bonds. Mary Margaret realizes this means if she doesn't get the bird back to the flock, she will be alone forever. The vet tells Mary Margaret that if they keep the bird here, she won't be happy. Mary Margaret says she'll help the bird, so the vet wishes her luck. As Mary grabs the cage the bird is in, David, who was stood observing the conversation, tries to persuade her not to go into the woods as a storm is coming. She assures David it isn't due to arrive until tomorrow and reminds him that the bird could be lost forever, completely, claiming that nobody deserves that. David offers to at least help her, but Mary not wanting to get involved with him, says she'll be fine and then leaves. David seems worried for Mary Margaret.

Meanwhile, on the streets of Storybrooke, as thunder crashes in the distance, Emma is packing up the trunk of the Sheriff's car. Regina approaches her with a concerned look, so Emma tells the mayor if she's going to blame her for the storm, she's taking things too far. Regina explains she wants Emma to look into someone in town, someone new. Emma tells the mayor she knows as she gave him directions to Granny's. Shocked that she talked to the man, Regina asks what he said. Emma simply tells the mayor he asked for directions. Sensing something is bothering the mayor, she asks what the deal is. Regina explains she doesn't know and tells Emma she's asked around about him, but nobody knows anything. Emma jokingly tells Regina he may be one of the people she cursed. Unamused, Regina demands Emma find out who he is, what he wants and what he is doing here. Emma explains there's no law against visiting Storybrooke. However, Regina says it's not about that, and she'll do it because she was asked to, and it's the right thing to do. Emma asks why it's the right thing, so Regina tells the sheriff he was in front of her house talking to Henry. Emma suddenly has a change of attitude and assures the mayor that she will look into him. Meanwhile, as the thunder rages, Mary Margaret drives her car through the woods with the dove in the backseat in its cage.

Back in the fairytale land that was, Snow White is sitting in an open field on a long a short distance away from a small wooden cabin. She is sat on a large wooden log, staring at the potion in a vile she received from Rumplestiltstkin. As she holds the vile out in her hand, the messenger pigeon that Prince Charming had sent lands on her hand and waits for a while. Snow sees the note attached to it's leg and removes it, looking confused. When she removes the note, the pigeon flies away, so Snow begins to read the note. The message from the prince reads: "Dearest Snow, I have not heard from you since our meeting and can only assume you found the happiness you so desired, but I must let you know not a day goes by that I have not thought of you. In two days time I am to be married, come to me before then, come to me and show me you feel the same and we can be together forever. And if you don't, I will have my answer." Snow is overwhelmed by the letter and she begins to tear up, smiling.

Act III
Back in Storybrooke, thunder and lightning is still crashing as Mary Margaret drives down the road through the woods. However, she is stopped when she reaches a sign indicating that the road is closed. She tells herself that the flock can't be much further away so they'll just have to beat the storm. She tells the dove that she is not going to wait for it. Mary Margaret then gets out of the car and takes the dove with her, carrying it in its cage. She then looks up at the sky, ready to brave the weather, and she flicks the hood of her coat over her head.

Back in the fairytale land that was, Snow White is inside of King George's castle in the courtyard, which is full of people. She flicks the hood of her robe over her head for disguise as she holds a basket of flowers. She approaches a Majordomo, who is yelling at people to make things perfect for the royal wedding. Avoiding eye contact, she tells the Majordomo she brings flowers for the Prince. Seemingly too busy to even notice this is suspicious, he just tells her to take them to the top of the North-East spy. As she readies to make her way there, he stops her and tells her to go up the service stairwell as the guards would throw her over the wall otherwise. Once at her destination, Snow takes off her cloak and ditches the basket of flowers. As she heads to Charming's room, she hears a noise coming from behind her, so she hides behind a pillar, almost getting caught when she drops her note from the prince. However, it is just the prince that walks by, but before Snow has a chance to see him, she is grabbed from behind by a guard.

The guard takes Snow down to the dungeon and locks her in one of the cells. She protests, claiming to be a royal emissary. Having read the note she received from the prince, the guard refuses to believe her. He tosses the note at Snow and then locks the door, stating the King shall decide her fate. As the guard leaves, Snow shakes the bars of the cell in hopes of escaping. She then climbs around on them, looking for a way to escape, but alas, her efforts are futile and she falls to the ground, winding herself. A prisoner in the next cell, having watched all this, watches Snow and begins to whistle a familiar work song. Frightened, Snow asks who is there, so out of the shadows steps Grumpy, one of the seven dwarfs. She stares at the man with fear, but this soon stops when he asks "What are you looking at, sister?". Snow brushes herself off as Grumpy explains he's tried it all, stating the steal gets stronger as they get weaker. Snow attempts to pick the lock, refusing to give up. He then tells her to give it time and then says Grumpy. Snow says she is not grumpy, just focused. Amused, he explains that his name is Grumpy. He repeats that there's no way out. Snow introduces herself and claims she will find a way. When picking the lock fails, Snow searches around on the ground, explaining there is someone she loves very much and she won't leave him. Grumpy sarcastically wishes her luck with love, so she asks what he knows of it. As Grumpy begins to talk, Snow finally gives up. He tells her love is the reason he's in the cell, claiming he had "it" bad. He explains his love was beautiful, but he lost her and was desperate to get her back. So he traded all his wages in for a diamond to propose, however the diamond was stolen, so he took the blame. He admits he should have known better but he wasn't thinking clearly because of love, and now he's trapped with no way out. Snow is saddened by his story. They both suddenly hear a giddy voice claiming to know a way out. Out of the shadow appears another dwarf who Grumpy recognizes as Stealthy. As Stealthy opens Grumpy's cage with some keys, he explains Doc made a sleeping gas that knocks out the guards and the rest are waiting to help. When Snow asks if there's more of them, Stealthy asks who she is because she's pretty. Grumpy explains it's nobody and they both make their escape. As they leave, Snow wishes Grumpy gets his love back, guilting him into opening her cage too.

Back in Storybrooke, in an opening in the woods, Mary Margaret is slowly running after the sound of birds. Exited, she asks her dove if she can hear, claiming it's the sound of her flock. However, Mary Margaret is soon stopped with shock when she seems some destruction caused by the storm. Several trees are knocked over, now lying on the floor in a ditch long below her. She puts the cage containing the dove onto the ground and moves closer to investigate. However, lightning strikes so Mary Margaret looks up into the sky for a split second, causing her to lose her balance and fall down a long hill. She finally reaches an end, but its when she falls off a long ledge. She saves herself by grabbing onto some vines on the side, stopping her from dropping a very long distance into the small river below her. She begins to scream with fear, unable to pull herself up.

Act IV
Mary Margaret is still hanging off the edge of the cliff, gripping onto a vine for her life. She tries to pull herself up, but this attempt just makes her lose grip and slip further down. She screams with fear and then tries to pull herself up again, but a snapping sound is heard. She continues to hold herself up until suddenly, David Nolan appears from the ledge, offering his hand. She grabs it and then he pulls her up to safety. Once she's back on the ground, she falls into David's arms, with massive relief. David asks Mary Margaret if she really thought he'd let her come out into the woods alone. She doesn't respond as she's still in shock. He asks if she's okay, so she nods and pants "Yeah, I'm fine thanks". She then hurries away from the edge, back up the hill. David follows her, asking where she's going. She explains she came to find the flock, so David explains he came to get her before she got hurt. Suddenly it begins to rain, devastating Mary Margaret as it is ruining the chances of her returning the dove. David tells her that doing it on foot is not the best plan so they should leave. David reiterates that they must leave, but she is unwilling. He tells her it's not safe, so she finally agrees. They both run away to find some shelter.

In the fairytale land that was, Snow White, Grumpy and Stealthy are sneaking through some of the underground tunnels of the castle. Snow notices some stairs, so stops the two dwarfs to tell them they should escape via them. However, Stealthy tells her they're sneaking out through the courtyard. Snow tells him it's safer if they climb over the curtain wall and asks them to trust her as hiding from royals is her life. Stealthy explains the courtyard is clear now, but won't be for much longer. Grumpy apologizes to Snow, explaining Stealthy got him this far, so he'll go with him. The two dwarfs carry on their journey as Snow quietly yells for Grumpy to wait, knowing he's making a mistake. A while later, in the courtyard, the two dwarfs make their way to escape, but they're stopped by King George and his men. Stealthy tells Grumpy to run, but only he does, and he's shot by an archer, killing him. Grumpy runs to his dead friend's body. George asks where "the girl" is, but Grumpy, playing dumb, asks what girl. King George impatiently demands Grumpy be killed, so a guard readies his sword. As he's about to swing, Snow shows up, asking if they're looking for her. They all look over to Snow, who's holding fire over a pile of straw. She tells the King to let Grumpy go, or she will set the castle on fire. Knowing she isn't bluffing, George tells Grumpy to be gone. He refuses to leave at first, but then one of the guards kicks him away. The fire is then taken of Snow and she's restrained by the guards. King George tells her that they need to talk.

Back in Storybrooke, David and Mary Margaret, who is carrying the dove in its cage, are running through the woods, looking for shelter. They come across an old cabin, so head to it. When they reach it, Mary Margaret yells to see if anyone is in. When there's no answer, they look through the windows and come to the assumption that it's abandoned. David kicks the door open and they both hurry inside. After setting a fire to keep them warm, David tells Mary Margaret that they need to get her dry. Mary asks who the cabin belongs to and if it's okay for them to be in it. David jokingly tells Mary she's roommates with the sheriff, so he doubts they'll be arrested for breaking and entering. David wraps a blanket around Mary Margaret, but she uncomfortably shakes it off, confusing him. He tells her he's only trying to help. Noticing she's acting awkwardly, he asks what's been going on with her today, so she tells him that she still has feelings for him. David is stunned and asks "what". She asks him why he thinks she goes to Granny's Diner every day at 7:15, because it's to see him. She admits she doesn't know why she does it as it just makes her miserable because she's reminded that he chose Kathryn over her. She then tells him the reason she didn't want him to come to the woods with her is because being around him is too painful. David lets out a sort of laugh, so Mary Margaret angrily asks if he's finding it funny. He tells her he's not and then explains the reason he goes to Granny's Diner everyday at 7:15 is so that he can see her. Mary Margaret looks at David, shocked, and then they both look lovingly into each others' eyes. They lean in to kiss, but Mary Margaret pulls away at the last second, insisting she can't do "this" to David. He asks what, so Mary explains she "knows". He asks what she knows, so she explains that Kathryn thinks she's pregnant. David is shocked by this news.

Act V
The rain is now pouring down hard in Storybrooke as the storm arrives. Over at Granny’s Diner, Emma quickly rushes inside and then shakes off to warm herself up. She suddenly notices the newcomer sat in one of the booths, so she approaches him, stating they need to talk. He asks why as she walks past his wooden chest; she tells him that he’s suspicious. He says he’s sat in the open drinking coffee and jokes about what hell he’d raise if he bought a doughnut. Emma says he was talking to Henry, so the man asks if she’s talking about the kid that approached him asking questions. He asks Emma if it’s unusual for Henry to be curious and precocious. Ignoring the question, she asks what he was doing outside Henry’s house, so he explains that his bike broke down. She then notices his wooden chest so asks what’s inside. He tells Emma it’s frustrating “not knowing”, but she demands to know what is inside. “Why, is it illegal to carry around a box in these parts?” he asks. Frustrated, she tells him it isn’t. The man points out that Emma really wants to know what’s inside the box, but she defensively says “No…well maybe”. She sits down in the booth with him. “I’m gonna make you wait. You’re gonna have to wait a long time and watch me carry it around, hauling it to strange and mysterious places and with each passing moment the mystery will become more tantalizing. Your imagination will inflame, but so will your frustration, never knowing, only guessing what could possibly be inside that box…” he tells Emma whose curiosity grows. “Or you could let me buy you a drink sometime and I’ll show you right now” he adds. She asks if he wants to buy her a drink, he confirms. “Okay, a drink it is” Emma accepts. Pleased, the man lifts the chest onto the table and begins to slowly unlock it. He then opens the lid to reveal a typewriter. “Really?” she asks. He explains that he’s a writer. When asked if that’s why he’s in Storybrooke, he explains that the place provides inspiration. He then locks his box and stands up to leave. She asks if he’s been here before, but he tells her that he didn’t say that. He then leaves money for his coffee on the table and heads out the diner, leaving a confused Emma. She asks what happened to their drink, so he says he said “sometime”.

Gallery
Gallery of photographic stills released to promote the episode.