Once Upon a Time

"NARRATOR". There is a town in Maine...

I'd like a room.

Welcome to Storybrooke.

Where every storybook character you've ever known

is trapped between two worlds.

An evil queen sent a bunch of fairy tale characters here?

And now they don't remember who they are.

Victims of a powerful curse.

Everything you love,

everything all of you love,

will be taken from you.

Only one knows the truth,

and only one can break her spell.

It's your destiny.

You're gonna bring back the happy endings.

You enjoy your stay-

Hyah! - (HORSES APPROACHING)

What do you think of the view, my dear?

I've seen better.

This is taking forever.

I told you the Troll Road would've been quicker.

And far less bumpy.

Are you even listening to me?

Yes, of course I am.

Whoa! Whoa!

Now what?

Worry not, it's but a fallen tree.

Fellows, shall we?

My Lord, what is it?

Look at these markings.

This tree didn't fall. It's been cut.

It's an ambush.

Guards! Stop, thief! - (NEIGHING)

Please, help me!

Hyah!

Hyah!

Show your face, you coward.

You're a

girl..

Woman.

You can't hide from me!

Wherever you are, I will find you!

Where were we? Something about you wanting 15 kids?

Oh, good Lord, no.

I meant in my class. Where I teach.

You'll meet them tomorrow.

They're coming to the hospital as part of the volunteer outreach program.

Oh, yeah, that is a great program.

I mean, obviously I don't want 15 kids of my own.

I mean, not that I don't want kids, I do.

I want kids, marriage, true love.

I want it all.

But that, of course, is

wildly inappropriate for me to discuss on a first date.

Hmm?

Ruby!

Yes, Mary Margaret?

Check, please.

Hey.

You okay?

Oh, in the world of tight spots I've been in,

crashing in my car doesn't even rank in the top 10.

You're sleeping here?

Till I find a place.

You decided to stay.

For Henry.

Yeah, I guess.

This town doesn't seem to have many vacancies. None, actually.

Is that normal?

- Must be the curse. - (SIGHS)

Why are you out so late?

Well, I'm a teacher, not a nun.

I had a date.

From the looks of things, it went well.

As well as they ever do.

Tell me he at least paid.

Mmm-mmm.

Well,

I guess if true love was easy, we'd all have it.

You know, if things get cramped,

I do have a spare room.

Thanks.

I'm not really the roommate type.

It's just not my thing.

I do better on my own.

Well, good night.

Good luck with Henry.

Yeah.

Henry, we could really use your help with the decorations.

Is Mr. Doe going to be okay, Miss Blanchard?

His name is not John Doe, honey.

That's just what they call people when they don't know who they are.

Do you know who he is?

No.

I just bring him flowers on my rounds.

What's wrong with him?

I don't know.

He's been like this as long as I've been volunteering.

Does he have any family or friends?

No one's claimed him.

So, he's all alone?

Yeah.

It's quite sad.

You sure you don't know him?

Of course I'm sure. Come on. You shouldn't be in here.

I found your father.

Prince Charming.

Henry...

He's in the hospital in a coma.

See this scar?

He has one, too.

So? Lots of people have scars.

In the same place.

Don't you see what this means?

The curse is keeping them apart with the coma.

Now they're stuck without each other.

We have to tell Miss Blanchard we found her Prince Charming.

Okay, kid. Telling someone their

soul mate is in a coma is probably not helpful.

Not having a happy ending is painful enough,

but giving someone unrealistic hope is far worse.

But what if I'm right?

We know who they are, now they have to know.

And how do you intend to make that happen?

By reminding him.

We have to get her to read their story to John Doe.

Then maybe he'll remember who he is.

Okay.

Okay?

Yeah. We'll do it, but we'll do it my way.

Let me ask her.

You want me to read to a coma patient?

Henry thinks it will help him remember who he was.

And who does he think he was?

Prince Charming.

And if I'm Snow White,

he thinks me and him...

He has a very active imagination. Which is the point.

I can't talk him out of his beliefs. So we need to show him.

Play along, do what he says,

and then maybe, just maybe...

He'll see that fairy tales are just that.

That there's no such thing as love at first sight.

Or first kiss. He'll see reality.

Something like that.

Sadly, this plan is rather genius.

We get him to the truth without hurting him.

I told him that we will all meet tomorrow for breakfast at Granny's,

and you will give a full report.

Well, I suppose I'll get ready for my date.

I guess I'll have to do all the talking.

Look, I know this is odd, but I'm doing it for a friend.

So please just bear with me.

"As the prince chased the thief on horseback

"through the treacherous forest,

"his betrothal crossed her arms and pouted,

"wondering how many dreadful, boring minutes it would take

"until they could resume their journey again.

"The thief vaulted over a fallen juniper...

"and stared into each other's eyes.

"They didn't need words to express what they felt in their hearts.

"For it was here, in the shadow of the Troll Bridge,

"that their love was born."

"For they knew, no matter how they were separated,"

"they would always..."

No, I'm sure he's waking up.

He...

He grabbed my hand.

Everything's steady. Same as it's always been.

What were you doing in here?

Oh, I was just reading him a story.

Oh.

Well, perhaps you dozed off.

Perhaps you imagined it.

No, I didn't imagine anything.

Miss Blanchard, I can only tell you what I see

which is nothing.

Sometimes there are minor fluctuations in readings.

Perhaps you heard the machine register something and misunderstood.

Look, why don't you go home?

Get some rest.

If anything changes, I'll call you. Okay?

- (RINGING) - (CLEARS THROAT)

Yes?

It's Dr. Whale.

You told me to call you if there was ever a change in our John Doe.

Something's happened.

What?

One of our volunteers said he grabbed her.

There was a slight fluctuation in brain activity.

And who is this volunteer?

Mary Margaret Blanchard.

I told you I'd find you.

No matter what you do,

I will always find you.

Is this the only way you can catch a woman?

BY entrapping her?

It's the only way to catch thieving scum.

Aren't you a real Prince Charming.

I have a name, you know.