What Happened to Frederick

"What Happened to Frederick" is the 13th episode of Once Upon a Time.

Summary
With their love for each other growing stronger, David finally agrees to tell Kathryn about his relationship with Mary Margaret and put an end to his loveless marriage. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, while runaway groom Prince Charming searches for Snow White, he agrees to aid Abigail on a dangerous mission to recover something precious that was lost to her.

Plot
"''Once upon a time, an Evil Queen banished every storybook character you've ever known..."

We see Regina relish in her curse being made as the large flames swirl upwards. She looks at it with and evil smirk as it lights up her face. Hansel and Gretel walk through the Enchanted Forest, lost, and looking for their father. Red emerges from some bushes. Snow White and Prince Charming stand at the alter during their wedding. Mary Margaret and David take a romantic stroll together.

"''To our world..."

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

"''Who knows the truth?"

Mr. Gold walks across the street to his shop.

"''And who can break the spell?"

Emma glares at Mr. Gold. August shows Emma his typewriter. Henry warns Emma that you cannot "play with the curse". Queen Regina sends out a fireball. Henry shows Emma where he keeps his storybook hidden. Mary Margaret tells Emma if people are supposed to be together, then they'll find a way. Regina watches from afar as Mary Margaret and David kiss. Charming sends out a note to Snow White. King George threatens Snow White, saying if she doesn't tell Charming that she doesn't love him, then he will have him killed. Henry's book is stolen by August Booth.

ONCE UPON A TIME

Act I
In the fairytale land, outside a beautiful palace in a luscious kingdom, a carriage rides down a dirt road and stops when it reaches King George and some guards, who are stood on the road. A guard opens, revealing Princess Abigail inside. George helps Abigail out, stating her beauty grows each day and it's an honor for her to join his family. As Abigail thanks his majesty, the guards nearby start shouting as if they are in a hurry and they gallop off on their horses. Abigail asks if everything is okay, which he assures her it is and his guards are just making sure that everything is safe for the royal wedding. He then excuses himself and angrily tells one of the guards to "find him", hinting that Prince Charming has gone missing for his wedding.

Meanwhile, Charming is running away on his horse as he is being chased by multiple of the king's guards, who are also on horses. They fire crossbows at him, but all their shots miss. When Charming comes across a fallen tree, his horse successfully jumps over it, but the guards horses do not, giving him chance to escape. They run around the tree, but fail to find him so they split up. Charming watches from the bushes as the guards leave the area and then turns back around to escape. However, when he turns around two men in purple cloaks approach him and put a bag over his head, kidnapping him.

In Storybrooke, at David and Kathryn's house, they are both sat at their dining table eating dinner in an awkward silence. David compliments the food, but Kathryn doesn't thank him as their appears to be something on her mind. She tells him they need to discuss something and then she reveals that she has applied to go to Law school. David is proud of Kathryn and asks why she never told him. She explains she never thought she could do it, but then shows him her letter of acceptance which arrived earlier in the day. David is shocked to see the school is in Boston. Kathryn admits things have been hard between them and suggests a fresh start may help them. She tells them they maybe should have been busy making new memories instead of remembering old ones. David seems uncomfortable about the concept of moving to Boston, so lets out a fake little smile and laugh to put Kathryn at ease.

Back in the fairytale world, Charming is knocked down to his kneels with his hands bound. One of the cloaked men removes the princes hood and he starts asking them who they are. The other man pulls out a long dagger and points it menacingly at Charming. The man just stands and looks at Charming for a short while, so Charming asks what he's waiting for, stating his lack of fear. The man with the knife leans towards Charming and then cuts his binds. He steps to the side, revealing Princess Abigail stood behind him. Charming is shocked to see Abigail and asks what she is doing. She tells him she wanted to get her hands on him before King George "ripped him to shreds". He asks how she knew he was going to run, so she explains she has ears in the King's Court. She then reveals she knows of Charming's love for Snow White, telling Charming he has no intention of getting married. Charming says he'd rather be killed than marry someone he doesn't love, so Abigail comforts him and says she wanted to help him escape, not kill him. He asks why he'd want to help her, so she tells him she doesn't want to marry him either.

Back in Storybrooke, Mary Margaret and David have met up in the street for a walk. Mary asks David what he told Kathryn, so he explains that he said he needed to go for a walk to clear his head. Mary Margaret presumes he didn't say the walk would be with her; he confirms this. Clearly upset, she asks why their default is to lie. She states that they aren't being honest and she tells David they must tell Kathryn the truth about their affair. David seems worried by this idea and he tells Mary Margaret that he doesn't think he can do that. She tells him he has to, stating if they can't be honest with other people then they can't be honest with each other. David asks if it's the best plan, so Mary asks what his plan is. He says he doesn't know, so she asks if it is to move to Boston. He quickly says "no". Mary tells David the only way nobody will be hurt is if they don't want to be together. She asks if that's what he wants, but he firmly tells her "no". Mary repeats that they have to tell Kathryn as it's better coming from him than someone else. After saying he chooses to be with Mary, she tells him it's time to tell Kathryn, which is eventually agrees to. However, as Mary Margaret continues the walk, David stays back a few seconds, filled with fear.

Act II
The next morning, as Emma walks to Granny's Diner, she notices the stranger's motorcycle parked on the road outside. As she heads inside, he comes outside, telling Emma he had hoped to bump into her so they could maybe get the drink she promised him. She asks if he is asking her out, so he tells if if putting a label on it makes her more comfortable, then it's a date. Emma reminds him that he came to Storybrooke write and find inspiration. He tells her than he is optimistic about their date. She tells him that she has a policy; not to date any man who doesn't tell her his name. As she walks away, saying it was nice talking to him, he tells her his name is "August W. Booth". Emma mocks the middle initial, so he tells her it stands for "Wayne". He tells Emma she now has no reason to not meet him at the diner after work for her date and then he walks away.

Meanwhile, inside the Diner, Mary Margaret is sat at a table drinking coffee, watching Emma enter the building after her encounter with August Booth. Emma sits down at Mary Margaret's table and is asked curiously who the man was. Emma responds by saying she doesn't know yet. Mary Margaret notices the choice of word "yet", and asks if that means she's going to find out. Emma tells her it's nothing, but Mary Margaret tells Emma that nothing to her means something, because if it was nothing, she wouldn't be talking about it. Emma tells Mary Margaret that she called her to talk about Mary's issues, not her own. Mary tells her talking about Emma is easier than herself right now, so Emma asks what is going on. Mary Margaret whispers her a confession to Emma, that she didn't stay away from David. Emma says she knows, shocking Mary Margaret. When asked how, Emma explains she noticed things, such as a change in dress sense, more perfume etc. She asks why Emma never said anything, so Emma tells her she isn't her mother. Mary Margaret understands, and then jokingly says that she is Emma's mother according to Henry. Emma figured Mary would tell her when it's time, and assume it's the time now. Mary explains that David will tell Kathryn about everything.

At Kathryn and David's house, Kathryn is sat at her laptop looking at some websites. As David comes through the door she tells him to come look at some apartments she has found, but she isn't sure on which neighborhood. She asks David if he's ever been to Boston, but he tells her he hasn't. Kathryn suggests asking Emma because she is from Boston. Davis stops Kathryn talking and then he tells her that he cannot go to Boston with her. Seeming like she expected this to happen, she asks if he "can't" or "won't" go with her. David ignores the question and apologizes to Kathryn. He tells her that he doesn't know what to say, so Kathryn asks for the truth, if something else is going on that she doesn't know about. After a very long pause, he simply says "no". He tells Kathryn that something happened that stopped him from being able to connect with her, stating it isn't fair on her to be with him. David admits that Kathryn does need a fresh start...just not with him. Kathryn breaks down into tears over the now certain end of her marriage.

Back in the fairytale world, the two hooded guards lead the way on their horses as Charming and Princess Abigail follow behind, also riding horses. She tells Charming that they've reached her father's realm, so should be safe here. They all get off their horses and Abigail tells Charming she has provisions waiting for him. She gives him a bag, but he refuses to take it until she tells him what's really going on. He asks why she is showing him any kindness when she claimed to have no feelings for him. He asks what she hasn't told him. Abigail says it isn't about him, but her, for her hearts belongs to another, Frederick, whom she was to wed. Charming asks what happened, so Abigail responds saying everyone has their own tragedies, and a lost love is the worst. She explains reuniting Charming with his love might give her consolation. Charming tells Abigail that he cannot help her there, as his love claimed to not feel for him the way he does for her. Charming concludes that as being his tragedy, but Abigail scoffs, saying that isn't a tragedy. She then takes Charming's hand and kindly asks him to follow her somewhere.

She takes the prince to a gazebo in the middle of the forest which has an apparent statue made of gold in the shape of a knight. She tells Charming that it's the place that Frederick sacrificed his life. Charming apologizes for her loss. He asks if Frederick died in battle, so Abigail explains that they were traveling in a carriage when they were ambushed. She goes on to say that he defended them and died saving her father's life. Charming admires the statue, complimenting the detail. Abigail explains it looks so life-like because it is actually Frederick. She tells him that Frederick threw himself in front of King Midas to defend him, but was accidentally turned to gold in the process. Charming tells her that all curses can be broken and suggests true loves kiss. However, Abigail explains that she tried it until her lips bled. Charming tries to think of something else, so Abigail tells him of a legend; Lake Nostros. Its' waters can apparently return something to you which was once lost. Charming asks if she has tried it, to which Abigail explains she obviously has. She tells him that the lake is guarded by a creature which has killed all the men she sent down their to get the water. Charming tells Abigail he will face the guardian and collect the water to save Frederick. Abigail reminds him none have succeeded. However, Charming states one of them should have their happiness, and if he succeeds, she will. If he fails, then he will be freed from his pain.

In a dark room somewhere in Storybrooke, August Booth has taken Henry's story book apart and he is cloning the pages to make a copy for himself. After soaking some pages in chemicals, he hangs them onto a line in the room to dry with some other soaked pages. He dries off his fingers and then moves further down the line to some pages which are now dry. He takes one of them off and heads towards a pile of papers. He then starts to sew the book pages back together with a thread, very skillfully, thus making it seem like nothing ever happened to the story book.

Act III
In Storybrooke, over at the mayor's office, Henry and Regina are sat on a couch together and the former is holding a present in his hands. His mother cheerfully tells him to open it. Henry asks what the occasion is, so Regina tells him it's because she loves him. He doesn't seem to eager to open the present. When he does, he pulls out a portable video game device. Regina understands Henry misses his book, but explains that with this toy he can do the heroics, save the princesses and be the hero. When he doesn't seem happy with his gift, Regina asks him to understand that when she tore down the playground she did it for his safety. She asks him not to be upset with her as she really didn't mean to destroy his book. Henry explains the reason he is upset isn't just because of the book, but he misses Emma too.

There's a sudden knock at the office door and Kathryn enters, looking for Regina. She sees she has interrupted a moment with her and Henry, so she apologizes. Regina tells Kathryn not to worry and then she suggests Henry go home and do his homework, promising she'll be there in a bit for dinner. As Henry leaves, Kathryn bursts into tears, so Regina asks what's wrong. Kathryn sadly explains that David is leaving her, forcing Regina to mutter "that little home-wrecker" under her breath. Confused, Kathryn asks what Regina meant, so Regina says "she" couldn't stay away. Kathryn asks who she is talking about, so Regina explains she's talking about Mary Margaret, assuming she knew. Kathyrn angrily asks what Mary Margaret has to do with the situation, so Regina tells her David was having an affair with her. Kathryn is utterly shocked and cries even more. Kathryn asks Regina how she knew, so Regina explains that she saw pictures from Sidney, but she decided to keep them hidden. Despite Regina's warning, Kathryn demands to see the pictures. After collecting then from her desk, Regina shows Kathryn pictures of Mary Margaret and David kissing. Feeling betrayed, Kathryn asks why Regina didn't tell her, so she explains that she thought they were working their problems out, stating she wants them to be together. Kathryn asks why she would care and Regina explains she is her friend. However, Kathryn tells Regina a friend wouldn't lie, telling her she always lies. She then leaves the office crying.

Back in the fairytale world, it's late at night as Abigail and Charming arrive at a shrine, lit with candles, in the middle of the forest. Charming asks what it is, so Abigail explains that it is a shrine for the guardian of the lake. She tells him that every man that goes to the lake visits the shrine and leaves an offering, in hopes that it will have mercy on him. Charming scoffs quietly. He then tells Abigail that he will continue on his own, but she protests. Charming refuses to let her join him, stating he only wants to look after his own life. Abigail reluctantly agrees and then wishes him luck. She looks at the shrine and tells him not to forget to use it, but Charming disrespectfully throws a helmet he was holding onto the shrine, mocking the luck it gave the other men. He then continues down to the lake on his own.

In Storybrooke, at his house, David is sat on his sofa looking at photographs or Kathryn. He puts them down and then calls Mary Margaret using his cell phone. She answers whilst walking around the corridors of her school. She asks if he told Kathryn, and he tells her he did, giving her a sigh of relief. He tells her it was bad, so she apologizes. Mary Margaret tells him that because he told the truth they can now pick up the pieces and start from a "real place". He tells her he wants to see her, and asks if he can see her after school. She tells him he can, and then reminds him that he did the right thing telling Kathryn. David then looks down the phone with extreme guilt, as he didn't actually tell Kathryn. They both hang up, and with that, Kathryn comes walking down the halls, barging into a gym teacher without apologizing. She storms towards Mary Margaret with a furious glare. Mary Margaret is shocked to see her and then she apologizes. Kathryn slaps Mary Margaret across the face and the whole school, in shock, stares at the two women. Mary Margaret explains that she understands that Kathryn is upset, so Kathryn sarcastically thanks her for that insight. Mary asks if they could talk in private, but Kathryn refuses to give her any consideration, as she gave none to her. Mary Margaret explains that they've been completely honest and didn't lie. Kathryn tells her all the reasons why they did lie, and Mary Margaret realizes David didn't tell her the full truth. She tells Kathryn that David promised to tell her, so Kathryn explains he lied to her too. She then coldly wishes Mary luck making it work with David, stating they deserve each other.

Back in the fairytale world, Charming emerges from the trees upon a large lake. He stares into the still water, looking for any signs of the guardian as he removes his cloak. He pulls out a canteen to collect the water, and when he places it into the lake, it creates ripples in the water. A bright blue light appears in the water for a short while, but no guardian appears. Charming stands back up and asks where the guardian is and then demands it make itself known to him. He draws his sword and tells the "beast" to show itself. With that, in the middle of the lake, water begins to bubble and the blue light returns. Charming watches it with anticipation of danger, readying his sword. A beautiful blonde haired woman in wearing a tiara and long, thin, glittering dress floats from underneath and hovers on the top of the water. She smiles at the prince standing before her and says "here I am". Charming stares at her, shocked by the beauty.

Act IV
In Storybrooke, outside Granny's diner, August pulls up on the side of the road on his motorcycle and waits there. Emma, who is being observed by Granny and Ruby, asks if he is going to come inside for the drink he wanted. He tells her he does want the drink, but he didn't say at Granny's. He tells Emma to "hop on" She asks if he wants her to get on the bike, so he mockingly tells her that is what "hop on" means. Emma suggests going somewhere that she can drive, so August suggests Emma stop controlling everything and take a leap of faith. Emma rolls her eyes. August states she owes him a drink so tells him to hop on. He tells her he knows a good watering hole. Emma seems reluctant, so Granny, who is watching from afar, jokingly tells Emma if she doesn't go she can take her place. August gets a helmet ready and Emma finally agrees to get on the bike. She sits down, wrapping her arms around August and the two drive away, with Granny smiling at them both.

A while later, the two arrive at a well in the middle of a forest. They both get off the bike and Emma laughs that August was being literal when he said they were going to a watering hole. August states he always tells the truth. Emma explains she was expecting wine or whiskey, so August asks if she wants her to get him drunk. Smiling, she says "no", so he promises to next time; Emma calls him optimistic. He grabs two cups and then tells Emma that the well is supposedly special, even having a legend. He tells Emma that the well is fed by water from an underground lake and the lake has magical properties. Noticing the word "magic", Emma tells August he sounds like Henry. August calls him a smart kid. August continues to tell the legend by explaining if you drink the water, something you lost will supposedly return to you. Emma tells August he knows a lot about Storybrooke for a stranger, so he tells Emma that she knows very little being the sheriff. Emma asks how he knows so much, thinking he has visited before. He tells Emma that he knows all the information for one reason. After a suspenseful pause, he states he read the plaque, looking at a plaque for the well. Emma looks at the plaque for the "wishing well" and she asks if he actually believes it. He explains he has to have an open mind as he is a writer. Emma agrees, but thinks magic is too much to believe. August tells Emma the power of water and explains if anything is to be magical, it would be water. Emma explains it's a lot to belief on faith, so August tells her if she needs evidence to believe anything, she'll be stuck in one place a long time. Emma states that could also means she finds the truth before anyone else. August then tells Emma a fact, the water is good, and they both drink.

Meanwhile, Mary Margaret is walking down the streets of Storybrooke. She walks towards two women, who are walking in her direction. When the two girls notice Mary Margaret they avoid looking at her whilst they whisper secretively into each others ears, presumably gossiping about her. She then crosses the street and this time a couple seem to look at her, judging her. Horrified and slightly paranoid, Mary Margaret looks around to see if anybody else is looking at her. Suddenly, she walks right into Granny, who is looking through her purse and also doesn't see Mary. They both apologize to each other quickly, but Granny's apologetic expression turns into a scowl. Granny is shocked to see Mary and tells her that she should be ashamed of herself. She then continues walking, leaving Mary Margaret in utter horror, almost crying, as everyone in town now seems to hate her.

Back in the fairytale world, the guardian walks seductively towards Prince Charming and asks for his name. He doesn't reply, so she asks if he wants to know her name as she can be anyone he wants. Charming points his sword at the guardian and tells her to stop. He claims to know what she is, a siren, and she will deceive him to lure him to his death. The Siren pushes Charming's sword to the side and assures him that she would never hurt such a brave and powerful man. She then strokes his body, explaining there are other things they could do. Charming pushes her away and tells her he shall not fall prey to her deceptions. The Siren scoffs at this remark, asking if he is immune to her. She then steps back and pours water from the lake over herself, causing her to take the form of his beloved Snow White. Charming stares at her with awe, and she asks if he likes her more now, calling him "Charming". Charming insists it is an illusion, but the Siren supposes illusions are sometimes better than the truth, as she can give him what he can't have. She begins to stroke his body seductively, and he seems to enjoy it. She tells him to kiss her, as he knows he wants to. Charming tries to resist, but he finally gives in and the two lock lips.

The Siren tries to lure Charming out further into the water, but he states he wants reality or nothing. The Siren kisses Charming and asks if it doesn't feel real. The Siren tells Charming that she loves him, but he understands that it is not real, as he has felt love, and claims this doesn't feel like it. The Siren congratulates Charming, saying he's the first. He looks at her with confusion before she suddenly pounces on him and drags him down to the bottom of the lake. She lets go of him for a moment and at the bed of the lake he sees the corpses of past men who have fallen victim to the Siren. He tries to escape by swimming to the surface, but some weeds controlled by the Siren reach out and grab Charming's leg. They drag him back down and he struggles to escape. The Siren swiftly returns and heads towards Charming to finish off the job. All hope seems lost for the prince until he sees something that could help save him, a knife on the bed of the lake. He picks it up and when the Siren arrives, she begins to kiss him again. However, she is suddenly stopped when she is stabbed in the stomach. Her dead body floats away and then changes back into it's original form. Charming cuts the weed wrapped around his leg and then swims to the surface, overjoyed to get his breath back.

In Storybrooke, David is stood at Mary Margaret's car, washing off red paint that spells out "TRAMP". She comes up behind him and angrily asks who did it. He tells her he doesn't know and apologizes, explaining he didn't know how it happened. She angrily asks him if he really doesn't know, so he takes her to the side and says he cannot control what other people do. She agrees, but tells him he can control what he does. She tells David she knows he lied, claiming everyone is now calling her a "tramp". After a slight pause, David asks who told her, traumatizing Mary Margaret. She tells him "That is exactly the wrong question. The real question is why didn't you do what we discussed? Why didn't you tell her?". He tells her he thought they could spare her feelings, so Mary tells him that he thought that, but they didn't think that. He tells her he didn't want to hurt Kathryn, but Mary Margaret tells him that everybody is hurt now. She tells him they had an agreement, and he didn't only lie to Kathryn, but he lied to her as well. David begs Mary Margaret to pick up the pieces and move on to see if what they have is love. However, Mary tells him what they have isn't love, but it is destructive, stating it has to stop. They are both clearly upset. David tries to stroke Mary's face, but she pulls away in disgust. David asks what she's saying, so she tells him they shouldn't be together. Upset, David agrees, holding back his tears.

Trivia

 * Although credited, Raphael Sbarge (Archie Hopper/Jiminy Cricket) and Robert Carlyle (Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin) are absent from this episode. However, Sbarge was featured in promotional stills, so it is assumed his scenes were cut.

Gallery
Gallery of photographic stills released to promote the episode.