Skin Deep

"Skin Deep" is the 12th episode of Once Upon a Time.

Summary
After Mr. Gold's house is robbed, Emma keeps a close eye on him when it looks like he wants to track down the criminal and dole out some vigilante justice as payback, and Valentine's Day finds Mary Margaret, Ruby and Ashley having a girls' night out. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Belle agrees to a fateful deal to give up her freedom in order to save her town from the horrors of the Ogre war.

Plot
ONCE UPON A TIME

Act I
The shot shows the exterior of a castle, and, inside it, Sir Maurice is staring at a map on the table as one of his men tells him of news on the battlefield. He tells him that their soldiers have fallen, Maurice seems distraught, going on to say that ogres are no people. "We have to do something. We have to stop them," one of his men tells him. The king's daughter, Belle, makes her way over to him and assures her father that the person who has been supposedly fallen in battle, could be on his way at that moment. "It's too late my girl, it's just... too late," her father tells her, tearing up in his throne. They here someone entering the castle and Maurice and Belle get up and investigate, Maurice wonders how he could get past the walls. The two of them walk closer to the door and the king tells his guards to open it, they remove a blank which blocks the entrance, guards begin to draw their blades and the double doors swing open but no one is on the other side. They seem disappointed. "Well, that was a bit of a let-down," says Rumplestiltskin, sitting upon the throne, the people in the room turn around, shocked. "You sent me a message, something about, um... 'Help! Help! We're dying! Can you save us?!'" Rumple retorts as a guard walks towards him, sword in tow. "Now, the answer is, yes." Rumple tells them, standing up and pushing the sword of the guard down to point at the floor. He walks around the room and tells them that he can protect their little town, for a price. "We sent you a promise of gold," the Maurice says, squaring up to Rumplestiltskin who explains that he makes gold and wants something a bit more special. "My price... is her." Rumple says, pointing a finger towards Belle.

"No," Maurice says, the guard from before puts his arm before her. "The young lady's engaged," he says, implying that he's her fiance. "I wasn't asking if she was engaged. I'm not looking for... love. I'm looking for a caretaker... for my rather large estate," Rumple says that it's her or nothing and so Sir Maurice tells him to leave, gesturing the door. Belle is pulled aside rather viciously by her fiance. Rumple obliges and makes his way towards the door. "No, wait!" Belle calls, Rumple turns around and Belle breaks free of her fiance's grip to walk towards him, "I will go with you," she says. Rumplestiltskin lets out a shrill sound of glee. Her fiance says he forbids it and her father tries to step in. "No one decides my fate but me!" Belle exclaims to them. Rumple reminds her that it'll be forever but Belle is merely concerned with whether or not her family and friends will live. "You have my word," Rumple says. "Then you have mine," Belle replies, saying that she will go with him forever. Rumple lets out another shrill, gleeful laugh. "Deal!" he exclaims, before the girl's father tells her that she cannot do this. "Please, don't go with this... beast," Sir Maurice begs, causing Rumple to give an insincere gesture of being insulted. "Father, Gaston, it's been decided," she tells them as Rumple walks up closer to her. "You know... she's right. The deal... is struck," Rumple reminds them before giving them congratulations on their war. Belle and Rumplestiltskin leave the castle together.

In Storybrooke, Moe French (Sir Maurice's counterpart) steps out of his florist's van to deliver some flowers, however, he is greeted by Mr. Gold and his lackeys, who have apparently been looking all over for him. "I'll have your money next week," Mr. French says, but Mr. Gold says that his terms were fairly specific. "Take the van," Mr. Gold tells one of his employees who bows and obliges. "Wait! No! Tomorrow's Valentine's Day! The biggest day of-" Moe stops as the man gets into his van. Mr. french stands in front of the van and tells the man now inside it to stop, the engine starts, "You've gotta let me sell them!" Moe exclaims to Gold who seems not to care in the slightest and begins to walk away, "This is not the way to do business, Gold!" Moe yells and Mr. Gold walks away. The van rems its engine and Moe tries to stop it. The vehicle speeds away after Mr. French yells at Gold, telling him that people aren't going to put up with this. He is left standing on the street.

Regina watches the scene from afar as Mr. Gold struts his way up to her, she greets him and congratulates him on causing quite a show back there. Gold says that Mr. French is just having a bad day and that it happens to the best of us. "I've been meaning to talk to you about something-" Regina tries, but Gold tells her that when she has something he wants to discuss they'll have that little chat. "No, we're gonna do this now... It'll only take a moment," Regina states, stepping in the way of Mr. Gold who asks her if there's something she needs to get out in the open. "This is gonna have to wait," he tells her, "Please." He adds the last word in a whisper. Mr. Gold walks straight past an overpowered Regina.

Over at Granny's Diner, Ruby takes a coffee pot from the machine and walks it past Granny and goes to serve a table. Elsewhere in the diner, Mary Margaret is watching David read on another table. "Oh, you got the book," she cheerily points out. "Yeah, I just started it, it's great. Can't wait to see how it ends," David tells her. Their view is blocked by Ruby who pours Mary Margaret some more coffee, "I can push the tables together if you guys..." Ruby offers, noticing that something is between the two. Both refuse the offer, making clear that they're not together. Ruby leaves and Mary Margaret and David smile at each other, however, they are next interrupted by Emma, who enters the restaurant and greets David, before sitting down opposite Mary Margaret. "So, how's your day going?" Emma asks. "Henry's fine," Mary Margaret says immediately. Emma points out that that's not what she asked, "...you're sure?" she asks. Mary Margaret confirms it, saying that Regina won't keep them separated forever. "If people are supposed to be together, they find a way," Mary Margaret states, shining a little wink to David.

"So, he's his normal self, he's fine, he's happy?" Emma asks. "Yes," Mary Margaret says, suddenly realizing the effect this has on Emma, "No," she amends herself, "He misses you... a lot. Plus, I only spend six hours with him a day," Mary Margaret explains. "Six hours? Do you take newborns? Because I'd love six hours' help," says Ashley Boyd who's standing behind them handing her baby to Granny. Mary Margaret greets Ashley, who pulls up a chair, and mentions that she didn't even recognize her. Ashley sits down and Emma asks her how it's going. "It's, uh... it's, uh... I mean, the baby's great," she says, struggling to say a nice word about her child, saying that she has no time for herself anymore. She says it's been rough and Sean's been spending all of his time working. "Well, he's gotta work," Mary Margaret says, reassuringly. "On Valentine's Day?" Ashley points out. "I'm sorry, that sucks," Emma says. "Well, it doesn't have to," Ruby says, walking up to their table, "Not with me, let's have a girls' night!" Ruby exclaims, "We can all go, Mary Margaret, and Emma, if you promise to leave the badge at home," she suggests. Emma says that she's not really in a party mood but tells the others to go and have fun. Ruby smiles and speeds away, Mary Margaret seems unhappy that Emma declined. Emma's phone vibrates and she checks her cell, Mary Margaret asks her what it is and she says it's the station and that something's up. Emma gets up and leaves. Mary Margaret gives a worried look to David who reciprocates.

Over at Mr. Gold's mansion, he walks up his porch to discover that his door is already open, he pushes it further to realize that his house has been ransacked, Mr. Gold picks up his gun and cautious wonders into the adjacent room. Gold walks through his messed up living room and his suddenly startled and turns around to see Emma standing there, pointing a gun at him, he reciprocates on the gun front. "Sheriff Swan," he greets her. "The neighbors saw your front door was open, one of them called it in," she explains. Gold says that it appears he's been robbed, Emma points out that that keeps happening to him. "Well, I'm a difficult man to love," he says.

In the fairytale world, Rumplestiltskin and Belle walk into the former's palace, "Wh-where are you taking me?" Belle asks as they walk through the dining room. "Let's just call it... your room."

Rumplestiltskin and Belle walk down to a dungeon and Rumple swings open a cell door. "My room?!" Belle asks, shocked and appalled. Rumple tells her that it sounds nicer than dungeon, he then throws the reluctant girl into the cell and slams the door behind her, locking it in the process. Rumple giggles and walks away and Belle is heard calling out and banging on the cell door.

Act II
In Rumplestiltskin's castle, Belle is seen walking into the main room with a tea set which she places on the table. "You will serve me my meals, then you will clean the dark castle..." Rumple starts, Bell says that she understands. "You will dust my collection and launder my clothing..." he continues, Belle obliges as she pours him his tea. "You will fetch me fresh straw when I'm spinning at the wheel..." he adds, Belle nods, and he adds "Oh, and you will skin the children I hunt for their pelts." Rumple exclaims, Belle drops a cup in shock. "That one was a quip," he assures her, and Belle tries to laugh it off, picking up the cup as she does so. "Oh... my, I'm so sorry but... it's... it's chipped," Belle says, worried, she tries to say that one can hardly see it as she holds the chipped cup up to Rumple who assures her, "...It's just a cup." Belle smiles and returns the cup to the tea set.

In Storybrooke, Mr. Gold tells Emma that she can leave now, saying that he's got it from here. Emma, dialing on her cell, refuses to believe that, "This was a robbery, a public menace, and if you don't tell me what you know, I will have to arrest you for obstruction of justice... I have a feeling you don't wanna be behind bars," the blonde explains. "Indeed not," he assures her, before going on to say that the man was Moe French who was late on a deal and who had a little disagreement with Gold a while ago over collateral. Emma says that she'll go get him and check him out, beginning to leave, and Mr. Gold adds that he assumes she will, and goes on to say that bad things tend to happen to bad people. "Is that a threat?" Emma asks, but Gold denies it, and Emma walks out the door as the pawnbroker wishes her good luck.

Back at Rumplestiltskin's castle, Belle is up on a ladder trying to open the very large curtains. On the other end of the room, Rumple is spinning at the wheel, turning straw to gold. Belle sees him, "Why do you spin so much?" she asks, causing him to stops momentarily before continuing, "I'm sorry, but, you've spun straw into more gold than you can ever spend," she says. "I like looking at the wheel, helps me forget," Rumple explains. "Belle asks what it is he needs to forget, but Rumple is silent, "...I guess it worked," he comes out with, and Belle giggles before turning her attention back to the curtains. Rumple stands up and walks over to her, asking what she's doing, and she explains that she's opening the curtains as it's almost Spring and they should let some light in. She tries to draw the curtain but is unable to, tugging with nothing happening. Belle asks if he nailed them down, and Rumple blatantly answers, "Yes." Belle continues to pull on the curtains but ends up tearing them, causing them and her to fall down, but she lands in Rumple's arms, safely. They stare at each other and the moment becomes awkward. She utters a thank you as Rumple stares at her and seems confused; he then quickly puts her down. Belle thanks him again but he tells her that it's no matter. He begins to walk away and Belle tells him that she'll put the curtains back up. "There's no need, I'll get used to it," Rumple says before returning to his wheel. Belle smiles his way as the two of them depart.

In the sheriff's office, Emma pulls a sheet from all of the items of her desk before Mr. Gold, revealing that she recovered all of his stolen items. "You're welcome, you were right," she says, going onto explain that Moe French ripped him off and it was all still at his place. Gold then asks about the man himself, at which Emma assures the pawnbroker that she's closing in on him. Gold adds that this makes the job only half done, leaving Emma insulted, and the blonde points out that she retrieved everything in under 24 hours, wondering if something's wrong. "You've recovered nothing." he tells her, viciously. He says there's something missing and storms away, leaving Emma confused. "I'll get it when I find it!" she exclaims, but Gold stops, adding before he leaves, "Not if I find it first."

Act III
At the Dark Castle, Rumple walks around the table as Belle follows him half way round and perches upon it, pausing before eventually coming out with, "Why did you want me here?" Rumple lifts the chipped cup to his mouth to take a sip, pointing out that his home is filthy. Belle doesn't believe this, telling her master that she thinks he was lonely, assuring him that any man would be. He reminds her that he's not a man, and sits down on the table next to her, at which Belle begins to mention that she's had a couple of months to look around and has noticed some small clothing upstairs, as if for a child. She asks if it's his or if there was a son, and Rumple appears sad, staring into space. He soon turns to Belle and says, "There was," going on to tell her that there was a son but he lost him, as he did the boy's mother. Belle offers her condolences, clearly noticing that she's created an awkward moment, before commenting that Rumple was a man once, breaking the silence. She asks if he was an ordinary man, but no answer follows. "If I'm never going to know another person in my whole life... can't I at least know you?" she wonders. "Perhaps..." Rumple tells her, " Or perhaps you just want to learn the monsters weaknesses." He adds the last part more jokingly, standing up off of the table, but Belle merely smiles and assures him that he's not a monster, saying that he thinks he's uglier than he is and that's why he covers all of the mirrors up. There is a large knock at the door.

Rumplestiltskin goes to answer his door and a man is standing there, "I am Sir Gaston, and you, beast, are taken-" he starts, but Rumple merely snaps his fingers and Gaston, in a cloud of purple smoke, becomes a red rose on the ground.

Rumple returns to Belle in the dining room and she asks him who was at the door, at which he tells her that it was just an old woman selling flowers, walking slowly with the rose coyly hidden behind his back. He presents the flower to her and Belle seems grateful, accepting the rose and thanking the beast before curtsying; he bows in reciprocation. Belle giggles and sniffs her rose as she walks away and Rumple watches her longingly, seeming happy that she is happy. "You had a life, Belle? Before... this?" Rumple asks her, adding, "Friends, family... what made you choose to come and live here, with me?" he wonders. He sits at the table once again to listen as she begins to explain: "Heroism, sacrifice, you know, there aren't a lot of opportunities for a woman in this land to show what they can do, to see the world, to be heroes." As she says this, she retrieves a vase from the cupboard to place the rose within and she strolls over to Rumple, adding that when he arrived, she saw it as her chance as she always wanted to be brave and figured "do the brave thing and the bravery would follow". Belle snips the stem of the rose and places it into a vase on the table, and Rumple asks her if bravery is everything that she hoped it would be. The beauty sits back on the table and tells him that she wanted to see the world, but that part obviously didn't work out as she's a servant locked up in a castle, however, she happily adds that she did save her village, and appears content with this fact. Rumple asks about the girl's "betrothed", meaning the man he just turned into a rose at the door, and Belle explains that it was an arranged marriage and that she honestly never cared much for Gaston; "No, to me love is... love is layered. Love is a, uh, a mystery to be uncovered. Yeah, I could never really give my heart to someone as superficial as he." Rumple seems happy to hear this and she breaks the small moment of silence with, "You were going to tell me about you son?" The Dark One says that he'll make the girl a deal, saying that if she goes to town and fetches him some straw, he'll tell her his tale once she returns. Belle is completely shocked and confused, asking if he trusts her to come back, but he tells his beloved maid, "No, Belle, I expect I'll never see you again..." The girl remains confused by her master.

At a club in Storybrooke, Mary Margaret, Ruby and Ashley are having drinks together, and Mary Margaret, noticing Ashley's discomfort, tells the young woman that she'll get used to it, but Ashley says she is, explaining that this is the first time she's been out since the baby was born and she's making up for lost time. She then downs another shot. "Mm, Ash, check out those guys," Ruby points out, referring to the men at the bar, but Ashley reminds Ruby that she's still with Sean, and so Ruby tells her friend that she's not married and that he's not there. Ashley says that her boyfriend is working, but Ruby points out that he always is, before telling them to have fun moping and getting up and walking over to the guys at the bar. "She's right, he is always working... I thought love would be different," Ashley says. Mary Margaret seems to react to this, regarding to her own situation with David, and the teacher adds, "Me too." Mary Margaret takes another drink.

David is seen at the Dark Star Pharmacy picking out a Valentine's card, and soon he goes to join the queue with two in his hand. "Two Valentines. Sounds like a complicated life," Mr. Gold, who is in front of him, tells him. David assures the pawnbroker that he just couldn't decide, and Gold doesn't seem to have an easy time believing that they're for the same woman, looking at the cards. David lies that they'r both so "us", but Mr. Gold says that David's just fortunate to have someone who loves him. David agrees, and Mr. Gold goes to pay for his duct tape and rope, "Love," he says, "It's like a delicate flower, and once it's gone, it's gone forever." David smiles and nods and Mr. Gold is handed his items in a plastic bag by Mr. Clark. He wishes David luck and leaves the pharmacy, and as Mr. Clark sneezes, we are shown Mr. Gold eerily walking out the door.

We see Mr. Gold driving down the road in the florist's van. The shot moves to the back of the car where Moe French is seen tied up with rope and gagged with duct tape; the same items Mr. Gold bought in the pharmacy. Moe is his hostage. Mr. Gold continues to drive with a stern, still expression upon his face.

Act IV
At a miscellaneous cabin in the woods, Mr. Gold steps out of his van and walks around to the back doors, he opens them slowly and immediately aims his gun at the contents, "Walk!" he tells Moe French who's still duct taped and tied up at the wrists, he obliges to Mr. Gold's command and steps out of the van, Mr. Gold still with a gun in tow. The door to the cabin opens and hostage Moe walks in with the gun-toting Mr. Gold soon behind him. Gold pulls back the hammer of his gun and points it at Moe who turns around, "You see, here's the thing, I do not let people get away." Gold says before slamming the door.

Back in the fairytale land that was, Belle is walking down the road in the forest, cloak on back, basket in hand, a horse is heard somewhere behind her and she turns to see who's arriving. It's the carriage of the Evil Queen and so Belle quickly rushes into the trees at the side of the road, hoping to go unseen. The horses go past her but the carriage stops when it's facing Belle. who seems confused as to why it's done so. "Did my carriage splash you?" Regina asks upon opening her carriage door, Belle assures her that she's fine, shaking her head. "You know, I'm tired of riding. Let me stretch my legs and walk with you for a while." Regina suggests, Belle seems reluctant.

Soon, however, Regina and Belle are walking along the road together side by side, Regina's horses and carriage not far behind. Regina points out that Belle carries light, "Don't want to be slowed down." Belle tells her, "Ooh, you're running from someone. The person is your master or you lover?" Regina states, Belle is silent, "Oh... master and lover." Regina decyphers. They continue to walk but Belle stops, "I might take a rest, you go on walking." she says, Regina ignores this, holds Belle by the shoulder and keeps on walking with her, "So if I'm right, you're in love with your employer... but you're leaving him?" Regina asks. "I might love him." Belle states after a pause, before going on to say that she could but it's like something evil has taken root in him. "Sounds like a curse to me, and all curses can be broken... a kiss born of true love will do it." Regina explains. Belle seems confused, "Oh no, dear child, I would never suggest a young girl kiss a man who held her captive." Regina says, "What kind of message is that?" she asks, going onto say that if he loves her, he would have let her go and if he doesn;t love her then the kiss won't even work. Belle stops again, "Well, he did let me go." Belle notes, Regina points out that no kiss happened, "And a kiss? A kiss is enough? He'll be a man again?" Belle asks. "An ordinary man." Regina expands, before she tells Belle that true love's kiss can break any curse. Belle smiles.

At Rumplestiltskin's castle, Rumple is staring out of his tower window. He turns around when something suddenly occurs to him. He then dahses out of the door and down the tower stairs.

Meanwhile, Belle walks into the dining room, ready to kiss her true love. "You're back already?" Rumple asks at his wheel as Belle walks over to him. He says it's a good thing as he's nearly out of straw, she puts the basket of straw next to him and talks to him from the other side of the spinning wheel, "Come on, you're happy that I'm back." Belle says, "I'm not unhappy." he says, they both smile, Belle reminds him that he promised her a story, she walks over to him and places her hand on his shoulder, the wheel stops. "Did I?" he asks, Belle nods, standing up, she takes the straw from the wheel and sits down next to him, ready to listen. "Tell me about your son." she says, "I lost him... there's nothing more to tell, really." Rumple says, "And since then... you've loved no one? And no one has loved you?" Belle asks. Rumple leans in and looks into Belle's eyes, he asks her why she came back, Belle explains that she wasn't going to up until something changed her mind, the two stare at each other and Belle leans in to Rumple, they begin to kiss. As they lean out, Rumple's skin begins to turn pale, he seems weak, and he asks what happened. "Kiss me again, it's working!" Belle exclaims, noticing Rumple's curse wearing off, "Any curse can be broken." she says, hopefully. Rumple stands up, stormily, and knocks his chair over, he;s angry and his skin turns gold-plated once more, "How do you know that?!" Who told you that?!" he asks, in a rage. "I don't know, she, er, she..." Belle tries, "She..." Rumple mutters, he walks across the room and pulls the sheet from his mirror, "This was you! You turned her against me!" he exclaims, Belle walks after him, cautiously, "You think you can make me weak? You think you can defeat me?!" he yells, Belle asks him who he's talking to, he exclaims that it's her friend, the queen.

Rumplestiltskin asks Belle how Regina got to her, "The queen? I don't-" Belle tries, Rumle advances on her, saying that he knew she never really cared for him, saying that she must be working for Queen Regina, "Or is this all you? Is this you 'being the hero'? And killing the beast?" he asks, "It was working." she reminds him, touching his arm softly, "Shut up!" Rumple screeches, batting Belle off of him, "This means it's true love!" Belle tries, he tells her once again to shut up, in a rage, "Why won't you believe me?!" Belle asks, scared and saddened, "Because no one, no one, could ever, ever, love me!" Rumple screams, shaking Belle by the arms, scaring her.

Downstairs, Rumplestiltskin throws Belle into her old room in the dungeon, pushing her to the floor. Belle breathes heavily, sad and confused in her cell.

In the cabin in the woods of Storybrooke, Mr. Gold removes the duct tape from Moe's mouth ad places his gun on the table, giving his hostage a chance to explain himself, Gold pulls up a chair and sits opposite from Moe, telling him that it's fascinating, he then takes his cane and pushes it into Moe's throat, cuasing him to squeal out in pain, pushing against the force of the cane. "I'll let you breathe in a second, then you're gonna say two sentances. The first, you're gonna tell me where it is, the second, you're gonna tell me who told you to take it." Gold explains, applying more pressure to his cane. Gold asks Moe if he understands, Moe nods and Gold takes the cane away, Moe exhales heavily. "...I needed that van." he says, Mr. Gold tells him that that's not a good first sentance, he raises his cane in the air and strikes Moe in anger, making his hostage cry out. "Gold, listen!" Moe pleeds, "Tell me where it is!" Gold exclaims, whacking Moe a second time with his cane, "Stop!" Moe tries, Gold repeats that Moe must tell him where it is, before striking him again. "It wasn't my fault!" Moe tries, "'My fault'? What are you talking about, 'my fault'? You shut her out. You had her love, and you shut her ouy!" Gold yells, hitting Moe with his cane yet again upon the last word. "She's gone. She's gone forever. She's not coming back. and it's your fault!" Gold exclaims, striking Moe, "Your fault!" he repeats, repeating the action as well, by this point Moe is whipering, scared of being hit again. "You're her father!" he screeches, whacking Moe with his cane for yet another time. Mr. Gold begins to repeatedly strike Moe with his cane, yelling at him, hitting him, over and over.

The scene merges into one of the fairytale land where Rumplestiltskin is using a cane to smash his dresser, glass and plates alike falling in shards as he goes into a rage upon what happened with Belle. Eventually he stops whacking, getting tired, and becomes sad.

"It's your fault!" Mr. Gold yells as he strikes Moe French, "It's your fault!" he yells before hitting Moe with his cane one last time, and, as he lifts it up, a hand grabs it, stopping him, "Stop." Emma says, preventing the situation.

In his palace, Rumplestiltskin picks up a cup from his tea set, he throws it against the wall, smashing it, he picks up another and does the same, and another, and another, and another. Finally, he picks up the chipped cup that Belle had broke, he stares at it sadly and places it on the table before walking away. The shot moves in on the sentimental cup.

Act V
Ashley is sitting at the table in the restaurant alone, seeming bored, Mary Margaret pulls up a chair next to her and points out that the girls' night out doesn't seem to be working, Ashley says that she thought it might make her feel better but what she needs is a 'be with my guy' night. "He;s never around, and I'm at home with the baby all day. I mean, what's the point of being together if we can't be... together?" Ashley asks, Mary Margaret is silent and eventually says that she understands what she means (relating Ashley's situation with Sean to her own with David), "Having someone you can't be with... is a terrible, terrible life." Mary Margaret points out. There is a puase. "You know what, this was a bad idea, I should go home." Ashley says, teary-eyed and getting up, just as Mary Margaret is about to try and stop her, someone says, "Ashley." Ashley turns to see that it's Sean. He is holding roses, "I thought that you were working tonight." she tells him, "I am, it's my break." he explains, "I had to see you." Ruby pulls up a chair next to Mary Margaret to watch the scene between Ashley and Sean. Ashley happily accepts the roses and Sean adds to his previous sentence, "And ask you something." he says before getting down on one knee, he takes out a ring and presents it to Ashley, "Will you marry me?" he asks, hopefully. The people in restaurant begin to stare, including Ruby and Mary Margaret, and Sean, holding the ring, reminds his love that he only has a 20 minute break. Ashley begins to tearily nod, "Yes!" she exclaims, extending her hand for Sean to place the ring upon her finger, which he does. The people around them clap and the central couple hug, "My truck's outside if you wanna take a ride before I head back to work, it's not much of a date, but..." he offers, Ashley tells him that that sounds like the best date, before kissing him. He jokingly tells his fiancee that he carriage awaits and they head out the door. Back at the table, Ruby walks away but the scene at hand seems to have triggered something in Mary Margaret, who grabs her coat and ourse and leaves.

Outside, Ashley and Sean are happily getting into the latter's truck, Mary Margaret, elsewhere in the street, stares into space, David emerges from around the corner, "How's girls' night?" he asks Mary Margaret who realizes he's there and turns to him. She is surprised to see him and happily walks over to him, asking what he's doing there. "I knew you'd be here, and I wanted to give you your Valentine's card." David says, handing Mary Margaret a card from his inside pocket, she opens it and as she does so, she asks if he was checking up on her, he says that he perhaps was. Mary Maragret looks at the card with teh dog on the cover and is flabbergasted, "Kathryn, I woof you." she reads aloud, David quickly takes the card from her hand and apologizes, taking the right card out of his coat and handing it to her, "I meant this one." he says. "...I-I always thought that if two people were meant to be together, but, David, if this is our way... I think we should find another one." Mary Margaret tells him. David tries to apologize again but Mary Margaret tells him that he should go home to Kathryn. David assures Mary Margaret that it does not mean that he's going to give up and that they will find their way, "I hope so." she says, "...happy Valentine's Day." he says, ironically, "Happy Valentine's Day." she reciprocates. The two of them walk away in opposite directions.

Back at the cabin in the woods, Emma walks up to Mr. Gold and tells him that he was lucky not to break anything Moe needs, with him being loaded into the back of an ambulance van, "You're lucky, Mr. Gold." she says, "You've got a funny definition of 'lucky'." he tells her, "You've got a funny definition of 'justice', what did he really do?" Emma asks. "He stole." Gold rmeinds her, she tells him that his reaction was about more than taking a few trinkets. "You said something about how he hurt her, what happened to her, who was that, what did he do? If someone needs help, maybe I can help." Emma tries, "No, I'm sorry sheriff, I think you've got that wrong." he tells her, she asks him if he really doesn't want to co-operate, he tells her that they're done there. Gold tries to walks away but Emma grabs his arm, stopping him, "Actually, we're not. You're under arrest." she tells him, taking out her hand cuffs and locking them around Mr. Gold's wrists.

In Rumplestiltskin's dungeon, Belle is sitting alone in her cell, staring into space with a disregarded tea set on the floor. Belle is startled by the sudden sound of her cell door opening, Rumple walks in, "So, what are you going to do to me?" Belle asks, Rumple points a finger to the door and utters, "Go." Belle is confused. Rumple turns away from his love, "Go?" she asks, "I don't want you anymore." Rumple tells her, Belle stands up, dusts herself down and walks past Rumple and out of her cell, she suddenly stops and turns around, she walks over to face him. "No, you are freeing yourself! You could have had happiness if you just believed that someone could want you! But you couldn't take the chance." she dictates, "...that's a lie." Rumple tells her, Belle advances, "You're a coward, Rumplestiltskin... And no matter how thick you make your skin, that doesn't change." she tells him. "I'm not a coward, dearie. It's quite simple, really, my power means more to me than you." he protests. Belle pauses, "No." she says, staring into his eyes, fuelled with anger and hurt, "No, it doesn't. You just don't want to think I can love you. Now you've made your choice, and you're going to regret it... forever. All you'll have... is an empty heart... and a chipped cup." she says, teary eyed. Belle storms away and Rumple, forcing back words, merely closes his eyes.

Act VI
At the sheriff's station in Storybrooke, Emma is sitting at her desk eating a sandwhich, "Pastrami, want half?" she asks Mr. Gold who is standing in a cell on the other side of the office area. She points out that she still owes him a favor and some pastrami could be a delicious way to honor it. "Oh, I don't need a reminder that you owe me a favor. And when the day comes that I make my request... it'll be for more than half a sandwhich." Gold tells her. Emma smiles but soon hears footsteps coming from the corridor, Regina and Henry walk into the office, "Sheriff Swan, I'm letting you have thirty minutes with Henry, take him out, buy him ice cream." Regina says, leaving Henry with Emma and slowly making her way over to Mr. Gold, "You want me to leave you with a prisoner?" Emma asks, befuddled, "...twenty-nine and a half minutes." Regina states. Emma is confused and stares at Regina, to Henry, "Hi Emma." he says gleefully, Emma smiles but looks back at Mr. Gold, who tells her to bring him back a cone. Soon, Emma disregards the situation, grabs her coat, and leaves with Henry. "Well, you really wanted that little chat, didn't you?" Gold asks Regina from his cell, "Apparantley this is the only way I could do it." Regina says, walking more towards Gold and letting out a slightly vicious smile. "Please, sit." he tells her, pointing towards the chair, Regina reluctantly obliges and takes a seat in the chair next to Gold's cell. "Now, when two people want something the other has, a deal can always be struck... do you have what I want?" Gold asks, Regina smiles, "Yes." she says. Mr. Gold realizes that Regina put Moe up to the robbery, Regina reminds Gold that strong men take what they need, Gold points out that she told him exactly what to take. "We used to know each other so well, Mr. Gold. Has it really come down to this?" Regina asks. "It seems it has, yeah. But you know what I want, what is it you want?" Gold curiously wonders, "I want you... to answer one question." Regina explains, "And answer it simply. What's your name?" asks Regina, in all seriousness.

For a moment, Mr. Gold is silent, "...it's Mr. Gold." he assures her, "...your real name." Regina tells him. "Every moment I've spent on this Earth, that's been my name." Gold says, assuringly. "But what about moments spent elsewhere?" Regina wonders, Mr. Gold is silent again before breaking it by asking the mayor what she's asking him. "I think you know. If you want me to return what's yours... tell me your name." she instructs, firmly. Mr. Gold smiles before uttering, "Rumplestiltskin." revealing that he remembers his life before the Dark Curse. "Now give me what I want!" he exclaims, standing up and grasping the bars of his cell, "Such hostillity." she points out, "Oh, yeah." he acknowledges, Regina slides her purse from her shoulder and pulls out... a chipped cup. "Oh, look at this." Regina says, taunting it in front of Mr. Gold, "What a... centimental little keepsake." she tells him, finally letting him take it from her. "Thank you... your majesty." he tells her. Gold sits down with his cherished item, "So, know that we're being honest with each other..." Gold starts, saying that he wants to remember how things used to be, he tells her not to let the bars fool her, stating that he's still the one with the power around there. "I'm gonna be out of here in no time. And nothing between us will change." he assures her, Regina pulls herself up to the bars, "We shall see." she tells him firmly, before leaving the station. Mr. Gold stares down at his cup.

Rumplestiltskin is spinning at his wheel in his palace when the Evil Queen walks into the dining room. "Easy locks... I have a deal to discuss, a certain... mermaid." Regina says to a still, quiet Rumple. "I'm not dealing today." he tells her, spinning his wheel, Regina asks him what's wrong as she pours herself a cup of tea with Rumple's tea set. "Your little deception failed." Rumple assures her, "You'll never be more powerful than me. You can keep trying, dearie, but you're never gonna beat me." he finishes. "Aw, is this about that girl I met on the road?" she asks in a mocking tone, Rumplestiltskin is silent and Regina smiles, she asks the girl's name, and begins to guess ("Lotty?... Verna?...") "Belle". Rumple says, breaking his own silence. Regina continues to clean up the tea set, "Well, rest assure I had nothing to do with that tragedy." she tells him, Rumple is silent and makes his way over to a tea-sipping Regina, "What... tragedy?..." he asks her, "You don't know? Well, after she returned home... her fiance had gone missing, and after she'd stayed here, her... association with you, no one would want her, of course. Her father shunned her, cut her off, shut her out." Regina explains, "So she needs... a home?" Rumple asks, hopefully, Regina laughs, "He was cruel to her, he locked her in a tower and sent in clerics to clense her soul, with... scurges and flames. After a while she through herself off the tower... She died." Regina finishes. "You're lying." Rumple hopes, "Am I?" Regina asks, Rumple is silent and tells Regina that they're done. He walks away and she follows him to the door, saying that she has other calls to make, she runs her finger along the table, "This place is looking dusty, Rumple... you should get a new girl." she says, cruelly, before leaving the palace. After the queen leaves, Rumplestiltskin walks over to his cabinets, he opens the doors and retrieves an item. Rumple goes over to a trophy that is displayed on a podium, he removes the trophy and puts, in its place, Belle's chipped cup. He stares at it, crying.

Regina walks through Storybrooke's hospital and punches a code into a machine on the wall, looking around and being discrete, noticing Moe French incapacitated on the same floor. Regina's code is accepted and she walks through the door marked, "Exit". A nurse is sitting at a reception desk at a lower level of the hospital who meets Regina as she walks down the stairs, Regina pulls out a single red rose, the nurse takes it, "Pretty." she says, "Well, I know how hard you work." says Regina. "Has anyone been to see her?" the mayor asks, "No mam, not today... not ever." the nurse says, Regina walks away as the nurse sniffs the rose. Regina walks down th hall of the phychiatric ward she's in with a stern expression on her face, she turns a few corners and neatens herself up. She walks past a janitor and stops outside of a cell door. From within the cell, we see Regina open the hatch, giving her a view inside. Regina stares at the girl sitting in the corner of the cell and smiles, the girl looks at Regina and we see that ot's none other than Belle, her Storybrooke counterpart. The queen and the princess continue to stare at one another through the cell door.

Trivia

 * The title card features Rumplestiltskin's spinning wheel.
 * The same title card is used in "That Still Small Voice" and "The Miller's Daughter".
 * Although credited, Raphael Sbarge (Archie Hopper/Jiminy Cricket) is absent from this episode. However, he'd been featured in promotional pictures of the episode, so his scenes were probably cut.

Gallery
Gallery of photographic stills released to promote the episode.