Tallahassee

"Tallahassee" is the 28th episode of Once Upon a Time.

Summary
With the hopes of finding a magical compass that could help her and Mary Margaret get back to Storybrooke, Emma takes a journey with a not-too-trustworthy Captain Hook up a treacherous beanstalk, in an attempt to steal the item from a murderous giant. Meanwhile, Emma's past is revealed to be anything but magical when she meets up with a fellow thief who wants to make an honest woman out of her.

Plot
"Previously on Once Upon a Time..."

On Captain Hook's ship, Rumplestiltskin cuts Killian's hand off before telling him, "Killing me is going to take alot more than that, dearie!", in a manic tone. Killian Jones tells Emma and the princesses that his name is "Hook", "As in Captain Hook?", Emma asks. Emma uses her gun to set fire to the magical wardrobe in order to prevent Cora from getting to Storybrooke, Cora angrily sends out a fireball. "We destroyed the wardrobe!", Emma exclaims, "We should probably start looking for a new portal back to Storybrooke.", Snow tells her. Cora collects a flask of magic from the ashes of the wardrobe. Hook leads the princesses through the forest and tells them that there is an enchanted compass that Cora seeks and that it resides at the top of the beanstalk ahead of them. He tells them that they should worry about the giant at the top. Regina talks to Emma about her past and asks her what she enjoyed so much about Tallahassee. Henry takes a bite out of Regina's poison apple turnover and collapses. "I love you, Henry...", Emma tells her son who's lying in his hospital bed, she kisses him on the forehead, unleashing a wave of true love which breaks the curse. A mysterious man walks into his apartment only to receive a post card from the town of Storybrooke, Maine.

Teaser
Emma, Snow, Mulan and Aurora are lead by Captain Hook, who has his hands tied up, to the foot of the beanstalk, they stop. The five of them take the time to look at the stalk in its entirety and see just how tall it really is. "It's a little freakier than I remember from the story.", Emma says before Mulan adds that it reminds her of death, Snow sarcastically tells her that that's encouraging. "Well, the compass awaits, shall we?", Hook asks, walking towards the stalk, Emma wonders why, if these beans create portals, why not just pick one and go home insted of seeking the compass, Hook informs her that there aren't any more beans and that whatever story she thinks she knows, she is most certainly wrong. Emma recalects that it was something about Jack and a cow and an evil giant and treasure and a golden goose or harp. Hook tells her that it sounds like a lovely tale but that the truth's a little more gruesome, explaining that the giants grew the beans but instead of using them for good, they used them to plunder all the lands and that Jack and his men fought in the war defeating all but one of the evil giants. He tells them that the beans were destroyed by the giants as they died, saying that if they couldn't have the power, no one could. Emma asks why people don't just go uo the beanstalk and grow some more beans, "Because one giant survived, the evil and most terrible of them all. And we have to get past him to get to-", "The magic compass.", Snow finishes, "Indeed.", Hook confirms. The captain tells them that the treasure remains and that among it is the compass which will guide them back to Emma's land. He says that Cora has the means of opening a portal with the wardrobe ashes but can't find their land without the compass, he says that once they get it and steal the ashes from Cora, they'll be on their way. "How do we know you're not just using us to get the compass for Cora?", Mulan asks in suspicion. Hook tells her that the four of them are much more reliable company and that his alleigance lies to whoever can get him to the other side fastest, Emma says that they'd better start climbing. Hook halts this, mentioning that the giant enchanted the stalk with a spell to repel intruders, Emma wonders how they can get up there and Hook explains that he has a counter-spell from Cora, he then gestures for himself to be untied so that he may give it to them. Snow is hesitant but soon appraoches Hook and angrily unties him without saying a word, he thanks her and winks before shedding his coverings and showing them a wrist band he's wearing, it glows with magic. He tells them that Cora gave him an extra so that she may accompany him, he then asks which one of the fair ladies shall do the honors. "Go on, fight it out, don't be afraid to really get into it.", he tells them, Emma rolls her eyes. Portland, Oregon, 11 years ago In the modern day world that was, a young Emma Swan walks cautiously up to a yellow "bug" car in a back alley, checking her surroundings as she does so. She discretely slips a long strip of metal from her sleeve and into her hand, before shoving it down the locks, opening the car. The blonde steps inside and closes the door, placing her purse on the passenger seat before retrieving a screwdriver and a large rock from it. Emma places the screwdriver into the ignition and bashes on the end of it it with the rock multiple times, the engine soon starts and Emma drives the car out of the alley and onto the road. A man sits up in the back seat, startling Emma, "You could've just asked me for the keys.", he tells her, dangling them from his hand, a shocked Emma continues to drive. ONCE UPON A TIME

Act I
Emma is still driving her stolen bug down the road with the mystery man sitting in the back seat, he tells her to keep on driving. She reminds him that she just stole his car and that his life could be in danger, he ignores this and intorduces himself as Neal Cassidy, however, Emma refuses to tell him her name. He tells her that she doesn't need to and that her messy little robbery is showing little progress. "Emma... Swan.", she tells him, he says that that's a good name. She asks Neal if he lives in the car or is just waiting for it to be stolen, "Why don't I tell you over drinks?", he offers, Emma is taken aback by this and Neal reminds her to keep her eyes on the road, the car speeds past a STOP sign. Emma tells Neal that she's not having drinks with him as he might be a pervert, he says that he might be a pervert, but she's definitely a car theif. "I told you, I'm sorry!", she exclaims, "You didn't, actually.", he points out. Police sirens are heard and Emma looks behind herself to see police cars gaining on her, Neal tells her that that's why he said "eyes on the road". Emma finds a clear spot and pulls over, the police stop behind her. Neal demands Emma's screwdriver, he quickly pulls it out of the ignition and puts the actual key in their place. A policeman walks over to Emma's window, which she winds down, he asks her for her license and registration. Just as the blonde begins to talk, Neal leans in behind her and begins to talk to the officer, apologising for what's happened and lying that Emma's his girlfriend to whom he's teaching how to drive a stick. The officer mentions that she still has alot to learn, "I know, but you know... women.", Neal says. Emma looks at him angrily but the officer let's the two of them off with a warning. Neal thanks the policeman as he walks back into the squad car, Neal himself steps out of the back seat and into the passaneger seat of the bug. Emma asks him if he's some sort of misogynist and he snaps that she's welcome, telling her that they got lucky. Emma wonders what he means by that they both got lucky, "...this isn't your car, either, is it?", she asks, "I stole a stolen car.". He smiles, as does she, before driving away. Back in the fairytale land that is, at the foot of the beanstalk, the four princesses are arguing over who should get to climb it with Hook. Mulan states that she should go as she's most equipped for the mission, asking how many wars Snow has fought throguh, Snow tells her that she's been through her share before Aurora exclaims that she, herself, believes it should be her to go. Mulan says that Aurora hasn't fought in battle, "This is about us getting home to our loved ones!", Snow exclaims, before wondering why Aurora would want to go, "Because I have no loved ones! If I fail, you can still go on.", Aurora points out. Emma emerges stating that she will go and she's not going to fail, Snow reminds her daughter that she's new here, "It's about getting back to Henry, I don't care what I have to face.", Emma explains to her mother who seems angry yet accepting of this. Emma asks if Snow's going to argue with her, Snow answers this with another question, asking her if it would do any good, Emma says that it would not. Emma asks Mulan if she has anything in her bag that will help her with the giant, Mulan suggests the hook to which the captain takes to offense. Mulan takes Emma aside so that none of the others can hear them, the former pulls a sack from her bag and informs Emma that it's powder made from poppies and that the giant has to inhale it, Emma asks how strong it is and Mulan says that it's the most powerful powder in all the realms. Emma asks the warrior if she has anything strong enough to cut through the beanstalk, Mulan confirms it, "Give me ten hours, if I'm not back, you cut it down and keep going.", Emma instructs her, Mulan points out that Snow won't like that but Emma reminds her that that's not what she's asking - "If I don't come back, you get her home.", Emma states, Mulan nods. Hook alerts the ladies that in their world, they are slaves to time, and that theirs is running out, he asks them to get a move on, Emma takes the powder of poppies and walks over to Captain Hook, extending her wrist to him, she tells him to get on with it and he places her bare arm on his shoulder, telling her "that's a good girl". He places the counter curse wrist band upon Emma's wrist, telling her that it will repel the benstalks enchantment, but that there are other dangers. The captain gestures to his missing hand, "I can't climb one-handed, can I?", he asks them, Emma retrieves the hook from Mulan's satchel and hands it to Killian, "Don't think I'm taking my eyes off you for a second!", she exclaims as he accepts the hook, placing it where his left hand should be. He tells the girl that he would despair if she were to. The two of them appraoch the foot of the beanstalk and Emma receives an encouraging nod from her worried mother. Snow, Mulan and Aurora watch as Emma and Hook begin to climb the beanstalk, as they climb, she shot moves up the enormous stalk.

Act II
A fair way up the beanstalk, Hook and Emma are climbing still, the captain looks down to the blonde, "First beanstalk?", he asks, "Well, you never forget your first.". He goes on to say that most men would take her silence as off-putting, but he finds it a challenge, Emma tells him that she's concentrating. Hook seems fixed on the idea that she's afaraid to talk and to reveal herself, as well as cross him, saying that things would be alot smoother if she did. Emma says that she has trouble trusting him and he puts this down to "the pirate thing". Hook goes on to tell her that he doesn;t need her to share as she's something of an open book, "Am I?", she asks, "Quite.", he assures her before saying that she wanted to come up there because she was the most motivated, she wanted to get back to a child, Emma points out that that's not perception, it's eavesdropping, "You don't want to abandon him the way you were abandoned.", Hook says. Emma is surprised at this before he repeats to her that she's an open book, she asks him how he'd know that and Hook explains that he spent many years in Neverland, home of the Lost Boys, and they all shared the same look in their eyes: the look you get when you've been left alone. "Yeah, well, my world ain't Neverland.", she assures him, however, he tells her that an orphan's an orphan. As they climb a little more, Hook states that love has been all too rare in Emma's life and asks her if she's ever even been in love, "No,", Emma admits, "I have never been in love.". She continues to climb the stalk. In Emma's history, she and Neal are rubbing her pregnant belly in a store, Neal says that he thinks the little guy's hungry and offers to buy him whatever he wants. Emma inspects a mini fridge and opens it as Neal goes over to the counter and unfolds a map, telling the shop owner that he and his "wife" are really lost. Emma takes some items and walks into the aisle. Neal asks some directions from the shop owner. "Do I look like a tour guide? Why don't you buy the map, and then I can help you.", the shop owner tells him, Neal agrees, taking some money from his pocket and placing it on the counter, the shop owner accepts it and now seems alot more willing to help. As Neal is being told directions, he takes a key ring from the stand at the counter and slips it into his pocket right under the owner's nose. A guy enters the store behind Neal and sees him slip an Apollo bar into his pocket. Just as the guy is about to alert the owner, Emma stops him by grabbing her baby bump and screaming in pain, "I think... I think it's time!", she exclaims, running into the shop's main area, out of the aisle. As the guy continues to try and warn the shop owner about the robbery, Emma grabs him and yells that it hurts really bad and she's in alot of pain. The shop owner offers services, such as calling an ambulance, and Neal soon grabs the screaming Emma before escorting her outside the store. "You know they were stealing?", the guy tells the shop owner. Emma and Neal are soon running around the corner, after Emma's well executed fake labor, and Neal get's into the car, Emma takes the bag from under her dress which was acting as her baby bump and hops into the passenger seat, both of them estatic. She throws him the bag before closing the door, he looks in it and tells her she got a great haul. She thanks him as she buckles up and Neal pulls out the key chain he robbed, saying that he got it for her. Emma is touched, "You like it?", he asks, hopefully, Emma smiles and says she does, accepting the key chain before kissing Neal to express her grattitude. Neal says that they have to go before driving the bug away from the store. Later, elsewhere, Emma and Neal are parked outside of a motel, he puts his arm around her and smiles, "Twenty minutes to housekeeping.", he says. The two theives rush into their motel room and Emma unloads the haul she stole onto the bed as Neal shuts the door, taking off his jacket. He asks her if she wants a shower first but Emma is preoccupied by a Native American dream catcher left by the previous family - "They're supposed to keep all the nightmares out and only let the good dreams in to protect your home.", she explains to him. He suggests that they keep it, "Yeah, and hang it where, the car?", Emma asks jokingly, Neal says that that's not much of a home and suggests that maybe it's time they got a real place. Emma is stunned by this and Neal asks her why not, saying that they've been on the road long enough and that maybe it's time to retire the "Bonnie and Clyde act", asking her if she thinks it's about time. "Like where? Neverland?!", she snaps, he assures her that he's serious, saying they could do this. Neal spots a map of America on the dressing table and retrieves it, Emma laughs, "Where, I'll tell you where. Close your eyes and point. Whatever spot you pick... that's our home.", he instructs her, placing the map on the bed. Emma obliges, closing her eyes and pointing with her finger landing in the South-East area, "Tallahassee.", Emma announces, Neal tells her that she "got a winner", Emma is happy that they'll be near a beach and they decide that Tallahassee it is. "Are you sure this is what you really want?", Emma asks, "All I really want is you.", he assures her before they begin to kiss passionately.

Act III
In the current fairytale land, at the foot of the beanstalk, Mulan marks a circle in the ground with a large twig, Aurora asks her what she's doing and Mulan explains that it keeps the time. She jams the twig into the center. Snow asks the warrior if she has somewhere to be, Mulan ignores this and says that they can mark watches, take turns sleeping, almost like they have to walk through the night again, she advises them to rest while they can. Snow offers to take the first shift and Aurora immediately states that she'll stand with her, Snow is confused at this but Mulan agrees, walking off to another section of the beanstalk's base, leaving Snow alone with Aurora. The former asks the latter when the last time she slept was, Aurora explains that she doesn't really sleep now, not since she's been through what she has. "Sleeping curse.", Snow states. "The one time I did sleep, I had horrible nightmares.", Aurora tells her, Snow informs her that it's a side affect, saying that the same thing happened to her. Aurora is surprised by this and Snow goes on to say that she had them for months and that Charming, her husband, used to wake her up and light a candle whenever he heard her crying out at night, saying it would capture the nightmares, she says that he'd watch over her as she fell back to sleep and Aurora mentions that it sounds like "Charming" really lives up to his name, Snow agrees. "Why don't you try to sleep? I'll watch over you. You'll be safe.", Snow promises, Aurora thanks her before walking away to sleep. Snow looks from the twig in the ground to the beanstalk. At the top of the beanstalk, at the giant's castle, Emma and Hook hop off the stalk and onto the enormous ruins. At seeing the awful state of the castle, Emma asks what happened there, Hook tells her that it happened in the final battle. He requests Emma's hand and she wonders why, staring at it, he mentions that it's cut and asks to help, she assures him that it's fine. He insits that it isn't and holds Emma's wrist, "So now you're gonna be a gentleman?", she asks, "Giants can smell blood.", he warns her. Hook retrieves a flask from his possessions and bites off the lid, he pours some of the contents on Emma's cut and she cries out in pain, asking him what it is, "It's rum, and I bloody wasted it.", he tells her, inspecting her cut before removing a scarf and wrapping it around the wound. Hook begins to run through his plan: wait for the giant to fall asleep, when he does, they sneak past him and into the cave where the treasures are and the compass lies. He finishes wrapping her wound and she asks him what they do then, "And then we run like hell.", he replies. Emma tells him that they don't have time to wait for a giant to fall asleep, saying that they must use the powder Mulan gave her to knock him out. He says it's riskier but Emma points out that it's not as risky as waiting for a giant to fall asleep when they need him to do so, he agrees. Hook mentions to Emma that she's a "tough lass" and would make a good pirate, he takes the powder and hands it to her, Emma notices the tattoo on his forearm as he hands the sack to her, she asks him who Milah is, as her name is written on his arm. Hook says that she's someone from long ago but Emma persists to ask who she is, "She's gone.", he tells her, walking away. At this, Emma realizes something, "Gold,", she says, "Rumplestiltskin. He took more than your hand from you, didn't he?", she asks, Hook stops, nodding, Emma realizes that that's why Hook wants Rumple dead. Hook points out that for someone who's never been in love, she's quite perceptive, "Maybe I was,", Emma says, "Once.". In Emma's past, she is standing behind a tree in a park and emerges to Neal with a brown sack in her hand, telling him that she's got donuts and they've got jelly. He doesn;t respond and she begins to walk with him, asking him what's wrong, he assures her that it's nothing but she stops him and turns to face him, asking him, again, what's wrong. Neal takes a piece of paper from his pocket and hands it to Emma, saying that it was on the wall at the Post Office, Emma looks at it to realize it's a WANTED poster, Neal voices that he wasn't aware they still make them. Emma, confused, asks him when it happened, Neal explains that there's a high-end jewelry place that he went to where the manager's a drunk who would forget to lock the cabinets containing expensive watches - "I resisted, twice, but... third time this guy was asking for them to get took!", Neal insists. He goes on to say that he grabbed a couple of cases of watches and he hopped on a train to Portland, he mentions that the store has insurance and that he stashed the watches in a locker at the train station, saying that they're still there so it's hardly stealing. Emma takes this to mean that he got away clean but he insists he didn't, telling her that the manager may have been a drunk but the security cameras were completely sobre. "I thought this heat had died down, but it hasn't. I'm sorry, Tallahassee's out... I gotta go to Canada.", he tells her. Emma says that that's fine, mentioning that she likes maple syrup, but Neal tells her that he has to be alone, she asks him why. He starts to say what will happen if he gets caught and she's with him but she assures him that he's not going to get caught, he asks her how she can say that as crossing the border's not easy, she says they can get fake IDs and passports but he reminds her that they cost money and that they themselves have a stolen car. "We make it legit,", Emma suggests, "We take a pin number off another car.". He tries to say that he won;t have her in the seat next to him as he goes to jail but she has an idea - "What if I go and get the watches out of the locker? No one's looking for me. We can- We can fence them, and then we'll have the money, we can do whatever we want, we can go wherever we want, right?!", she points out, Neal laughs, "We can change our identities and go to Tallahassee.", she tells him reassuringly. He finds the irony in that she wants to steal the watches to help him get away with stealing the watches, she tells him that that is exactly what she wants to do. "I can't let you risk it.", "I love you.", she tells him, shutting him up. Neal tells the blonde that he loves her too, he asks her if she could really do it, she tells him she knows she can. They smile at each other, touching noses. In the fairytale land that is, at the entrance to the giant's castle, Hook picks up a large bone and looks up to Emma who is standing on the shoulder of a large statue of a soldier, he asks her if she;s ready and she gives him the thumbs up, Hook then takes the bone and walks behind a giant shield, he bangs on the metal with the bone multiple times, making quite a racket as he does so. A growl is heard followed by several rumbles as the giant makes his way out of the lagre castle doors, Emma steadies herself against the head of the statue as teh giant finally emerges from the doors, at seeing the size of him, Emma mutters, "Oh, damn it.", and the giant continues to look forward. "Oi! Hey! You big git!", Hook cries, making himself aparant to the giant, he taunts him with the idea of killing a human, calling himself the worst human around. Once the giant is good and distracted, Hook runs around to the foot of the statue, as the giant bends down to grab him, Emma throws the sack of powder in his face, making him growl and fall down, unconscious. Emma calls out for Hook who emerges from beneath the giant, telling Emma that he's out cold, "I don't mean to upset you, Emma, but I think we make quite the team.", he points out, Emma shrugs this off with the task at hand - "Let's go steal a compass.".

Act IV
The shot looks at the twig forming the clock at the foot of the beanstalk, Mulan stares at it, inspecting the shadow. Aurora begins to stir terribly in her sleep and Snow quickly rushes to her aid, waking her up and assuring the frightened princess that it was just a dream. Aurora states that it was horrible and Snow suggests that she tell her about it, Aurora stands up. "It was the same as last time,", she says, "I was in this room, this red room, and these bright, blood-red curtains, and... there was no windows or doors, so it didn't make sense and I couldn't get in or out, I was trapped! The cutains, they were on fire... it was horrible..". Aurora seems completely panicked so Snow holds her and assures her that it's okay. Aurora goes on to say that when she looked over into the other corner, in the shadows, there was someone else there, she says that she could just see his eyes and they were looking right at her, she becomes more panicked but Snow comforts her, reminding her that it's over now and that her nightmares will fade away. "Did they for you?", Aurora asks, Snow nods and goes to sit on a rock, telling Aurora that she'll be with her until she falls back asleep. Snow shrugs, "Who else do I have to take care of?", she points out, Aurora slowly appraoches and kneels down, laying her head on Snow's lap as Snow herself looks upwards. At the top of the beanstalk, Emma and Hook are walking through the giant's treasury, filled with various, enormous, valuable objects. Hook seems distracted by the treasure and picks up a coin to sniff it, Emma tells him that they should get to it, to the compass, and Hook asks her what her rush is. Emma asks the captain how long he thinks magic knock-out powder lasts, Hook admits he has no clue - "That's my rush.", Emma tells him. Hook says that she's right and walks ahead, saying that everything they need is right in front of them. Emma watches as Hook walks away, the shot moves around her head. In Emma's past, she stands before a group of lockers in the trains station and cautiously takes a key from her pocket, twiddling it around within her hand, Emma looks to the guards who seem more occupied with their chat than with her and so she appraoches the locker containing the cases of watches that Neal stole years before. Emma places the key into the lock and opens the locker, she pulls out the bag inside which contains the cases and slips it out, closing the locker door after she does so. Emma discreetly walks out of the train station, the cases in her hand. Back in the giant's castle, amongst his treasure, Emma asks how they're supposed to find a compass there when there's so much, Hook tells her that they'll do so by looking, before suggesting she start searching. "I wonder how much treasure we could carry down the beanstalk?", Hook wonders, Emma glares at him, "In addition to the compass, of course.", he adds. Emma becomes shocked when they come across a ckeleton on the floor with a sword in his hand, he's clearly been there a while, Hook tells her that it's the remains of Jack, the giant-killer. Emma notes how small the sword is if you compare it to the giant but Hook assures her that it packs quite a whallop when used. Hook steps backwards but Emma grabs him by the front of the shirt, pulling him towards her, Hook tells her that it's about time, thinking she's making a pass at him and holding her, however, Emma wriggles free of him before pointing out that he was about to walk through the tripwire, pointing up at the cage above, telling him that there's quite a big security system. Hook tells her that it's a nice excuse for grabbing her but Emma stops him by saying they should just find the compass and go home. Hook points out the way, "After you.", Emma says, Hook then steps over the tripwire and Emma follows on. Back in time, Emma is running from the train station with the case of watches in her hand, she throws the bag into her and Neal's and hops in herself, Neal kisses her before she closes the door. Neal opens the case and Emma looks at teh watches, she notes that there's not as many as she would have thought but Neal closes the lid, assuring her that they're really pricey and that that one case is easily worth $20,000. Emma is shocked by this and leans into Neal, "Tallahassee...", she whispers, they both smile. Neal tells her that he'll meet her at the fence and she'll bring the money, Emma agrees, he reminds her that it's at the parking structure by the tracks at 9 o'clock, sharp, and Emma nods. Neal places a watch upon his accomplices wrist and she says that she supposes they're keeping that one, Neal asks her how they can not when it looks so good on her. The apir kiss, "Tallahassee, baby. We're almost home.", he tells her. Neal steps out of the car and walks away, Emma mutters, "Home.". Neal is walking along the street at night with the bag containing the case of watches firmly at his side. A figure appraoches Neal from behind and so the thief decides to quickly run down the adjacent alleyway, the figure behind him chases Neal. The two men continue to run but the alleyway ends at a fence, a dead end, after Neal runs over a car. Neal attempts to climb the fence but his chaser pulls him down to the floor, in a struggle, the man restrains him. Neal tells the man that he has teh wrong guy, thinking that he's a police officer, but the man tells him that it's not like that. "You wanna protect Emma? Come with me.", the man tells Neal, lifting him to his feet, Neal asks him how he knows Emma, "The name's August,", the man reveals, we're able to see his face in the light, seeing clearly that the man is August W. Booth, "And it's a long story, but trust me, you wanna hear it.", he assures Neal.

Act V
Neal and August are still in the alleyway, talking to one another, the former asks August, if he isn't a cop, who he is, telling him he has two minutes to explain. "Think of me as Emma's guardien angel.", August tells him, Neal replies by saying that it looks like August's been doing a pretty crap job. August explains that he's been searching for Emma for the past two years, and now he finally finds her, and she's robbing convenience stores with a dead-beat - "Tell me again who's doing the crap job?", August asks. Neal defends himself by saying he's the best thing to ever happen to her, asking August where he was the rest of Emma's life, August says that he's not perfect, the world is full of temptations and, as it turns out, he's not that great at saying "no", but he's there now. Neal asks him who he is again and August explains that he and Emma were in the same home as kids (see "The Stranger") and that he thought she would be safe inside the system, but now that she's out, she doesn't seem to be doing so well. August says that he had promised to take care of her but Neal says that he and her have been taking care of each other. "You love her. Good. That means you have to do right by her.", August points out, Neal tells him that that's what he's trying to do and so August tells Neal to leave her. "Never.", he says before August goes on to tell him that she has a destiny and that her current life is keeping her from fulfilling it. August asks Neal if he beleives in magic, Neal doesn't answer, "I take it you do.", he says, August promises that Neal will too before walking away, saying that he has something to show him, something that will make him beleieve everything he just told him. Neal is led to a box sitting on August's motor cycle. August opens the box and Neal is skeptical before looking within it and being completely stunned by the contents, August closes the box and Neal tells him that he's now listening. "There is a curse and it needs to be broken, Emma is the key. I was tasked with keeping her on track and you, my friend, just got caught in the crossfire. Now, I'm gonna tell you a story, and at the end of it, you're gonna need to make a decision. Will you do you the right thing or not? So, are you ready?", August asks, Neal looks at him. At the parking structure where Emma is supposed to be meeting Neal for the fence, she stands there, checking her stolen watch. Emma takes out her cell phone and wanders a little forward, she tries to call someone but has no signal, "Looks like he set you up. Hands above your head, miss.", a police officer tells Emma, walking towards her with a gun pointed in her direction, Emma obliges, asking him why she needs to do so, "Possession of stolen goods. Left you holding.", the policeman tells her, Emma assures him that she has nothing but the policeman tells her that her boy took off and is probably in Canada by now. "He called in to tip, told us to look at the surveillence footage at the train station, Give me the watch...", he says, looking at Emma's raised writs, "Now!", he cries, startling Emma. She slowly removes the watch and the policeman lowers his gun, taking out his handcuffs and walking towards Emma, asking her if she knows her rights. Emma says that she does and the policeman takes the watch from her and asks her to turn around, she obliges, being cuffed as she does so. The officer asks her where the rest of the watches are and Emma says, "Gone. They're not coming back.", clearly using the watches as a metaphor for Neal. Emma is taken away. Back over in the fairytale land that is, Emma and Hook are still amongst the giant's treasure. The former asks if the compass is just meant to be in there somehwere, Hook tells her that it allegedly is. Hook looks up at some treasure and asks Emma for a boost, Emma refuses as she thinks he's only asking so that she can't see what he's pocketing, she asks him for a boost. "I'll tell you something new, darling. It's called trust.", he tells her. Emma decides they do it side by side and fast, worried about the waking giant, however, as she says this, a sudden rumble comes from afar, the giant is awoken. The rumbles become louder and closer and treasure soon begins to fall from its neat piles, Hook tells Emma that she should get under something and the two of them begin to run, however, the giant has already arrived and gives one final jump down the stairs, shaking the entire treasury heavily. The giant sees them and runs for them, making more tremors, causing a pile of boulders to fall from the ceiling and land on top of Hook, Emma becomes unaware of his fate as the giant runs closer, she panics and stays completely still, looking up at the nearing giant, soon, it stands before her and moves its hand towards the blonde. The giant's hand advances on Emma, blocking the screen.

Ac VI
Vancouver, Canada, Two months later August looks out on the ocean as a car pulls up on the road next to him, it's the yellow bug that Emma and Neal stole, only the latter steps out of it. August notes that it's been a while and asks Neal where he went, Neal walks closer to August before telling him that her tried to lose himself, but it didn't work. Neal requests to talk to August about Emma and August tells him that he hopes he;s not trying to reach out, Neal explains that he feels as though if he knew that she was okay, he could move on. "Is she?", Neal asks, "She will be.", August assures him, he goes on to say that she got served eleven months. This takes a toll on Neal who states that it should be him who's doing that time, however, August reminds him that it's good. Neal asks how it's good and August informs the thief that it's a minimum security place in Phoenix, but he refuses to tell Neal which one. "She'll get out of there and she'll be fine. You keep your promise...".

Trivia

 * Although credited, Lana Parrilla (Regina Mills/Queen Regina), Emilie de Ravin (Belle), Meghan Ory (Ruby/Red Riding Hood) and Robert Carlyle (Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin) are absent from this episode.

Gallery
Gallery of photographic stills released to promote the episode.