OUAT: How Does a Moment Last Forever?

Last time on “Once:” In Hyperion Heights, Roni, Rogers and Henry started working on their quest to uncover all of Victoria’s underhanded doings. Roni revealed that the new buildings commissioner got trashed at her bar and let it slip that he was meeting Victoria that day for something nefarious. Rogers decided to stake out where the man said he was going to meet Victoria and see if he could get some dirt from him.

With Lucy living at Victoria, she and Jacinda were exchanging letters by leaving them in the well in the community garden. Victoria, though, announced she owned the property now and was destroying it immediately. Jacinda vowed to stop her for Lucy’s sake and Roni gave her the idea to get a petition for an injunction.

Weaver got suspicious of Rogers when he ducked out of work, claiming a court date. He then followed Rogers when he staked out the spot where Victoria met the buildings commissioner, paying him off before they went their separate ways. Rogers then tracked down the commissioner and arrested him for taking the bribe. Weaver ultimately let him go, telling Rogers that the commissioner was now one of his informants on Victoria. Rogers wasn’t pleased.

Lucy was convinced that her step-grandmother had something hidden under Hyperion Heights like Regina had Snow’s coffin hidden under Storybrooke. She recruited Henry to explore the tunnels for whatever it was that Victoria didn’t want found, finding a piece of glass she was certain it was from one of her mother’s glass slippers. Henry told her she was stretching but Lucy ran off, determined to show it to her mother to make her remember.

However, she found her mother just as Jacinda fell prey to one of Victoria’s mind games. Jacinda burnt the petition in exchange for one of the condominiums she planned to build. When Jacinda tried to explain to Lucy that she did it for them so they could be together, Lucy said she didn’t want to be together like that and ran off. Jacinda went to Roni’s and Roni gave her a pep talk, encouraging her to stand up to the Victoria Belfreys of the world.

So Jacinda rallied the people to sign the petition again and to help tend to the garden. Lucy and Henry were proud of her and they managed to stop Victoria, going to celebrate with ice cream. Lucy gave him the glass shard in order to help him believe that she and her mother were his family and it almost worked…until he found his “family’s” graves in the local cemetery.

Now onto the Enchanted Forest plot…Cinderella was rescued by Tiana after she left the ball. Tiana revealed that Lady Tremaine killed Cinderella’s father because he tried to stop her from destroying the kingdom. She invited Cinderella to join her resistance movement and Cinderella agreed, leaving her shoe behind for Henry to find.

At the Resistance Camp. Tiana shared her plan to storm Lady Tremaine’s manor as they know she’s stockpiling dark magical items. She showed Cinderella a drawing and Cinderella lied that she didn’t know what it was when it was clear she did. Henry, Regina and Wish!Hook showed up and also joined the resistance.

That night, Cinderella snuck out and went to her stepmother’s house. Lady Tremaine admitted that she killed Cinderella’s father and that Cinderella knows why. Cinderella asked if she would ever make up for what she did and Lady Tremaine pretty much said no. But she said Cinderella could get her Henry’s heart so she could put it in the body of her daughter Anastasia in order to bring her back to life. And if she doesn’t, Lady Tremaine promises all her new friends will be destroyed.

Cinderella thought couldn’t take Henry’s heart and Regina stopped her before she could take someone else’s. Cinderella confessed that she played a role in what happened to Anastasia and Regina told her to forgive herself. Then she could really defeat Lady Tremaine. Cinderella took the advice, asked to be called Ella and warned Tiana that it would be a trap to go to Lady Tremaine’s manor. Everyone moved on and Ella was willing to get to know Henry more.

Back in Hyperion Heights, Victoria dug up what she needed—Anastasia’s coffin. She brought it to the very top of her tower and revealed she had a witch trapped up there. She wanted the witch to help her revive her daughter but the witch said they needed either Henry’s or Lucy’s heart first. She also taunted Victoria some and when the woman bit back, the witch warned that Victoria could get Anastasia back…but then she would have to deal with the witch.

Foreboding.

Look! It’s Storybrooke! And Granny’s courtyard! And Belle! Rumple takes a picture of her as she tends to Baby Gideon and she scolds him, saying she’s not ready yet. She says there’s so much to do as she rattles off who is bringing what. Rumple tells her to relax and reminds her it’s a first birthday party. He says that as long as everyone shows up and Gideon ends up with cake on his face, it’ll be a success. She says she’s just used to the chaos and that she guesses she needs to get unused to it. Rumple agrees that it’s been quiet the past year and remarks that he can’t remember the last time he used his dagger.

After some dialogue to remind everyone that he’s the beast to her beauty, Rumple gives Belle a gift. She opens it to find a scrapbook. He tells her it’s for their adventures, saying that she’s put up with him for a long time. Now, though, he wants to give her what she’s always wanted—to see the world. She thanks him and they share a kiss.

(Aww, Rumbelle)

In Hyperion Heights, Detective Weaver sits down next to Tilly, who is wearing a white rabbit mask. He says the deli screwed up his order and gave him an orange marmalade sandwich rather than a Reuben. He offers it to her but she’s not interested, asking if he’s looking for information on Victoria Belfrey. She says Victoria has hurt a lot of people and one of her ex-girlfriends who used to work for her said she was horrible. Tilly asks him why he works for her and Weaver says he doesn’t. He asks her why she’s playing with a Rubik’s cube but she still sees a challenge in it. When it becomes clear she’s not going to give him information, he takes back the sandwich and tells her to take off the mask. She replies that they are all wearing masks because it’s Halloween. Tilly then wonders what’s behind his mask and reaches to touch him. He decides to leave as she puts her mask back on.

(The elusive white rabbit)

At Victoria’s office, Jacinda exits the elevator and tries to leave before Ivy can spot her. But she does, calling security. Jacinda says she knows she’s not supposed to be near Lucy but she wanted to drop off her daughter’s costume. Ivy takes it and says that Jacinda’s lucky Victoria didn’t exile her to Canada. Jacinda asks why Ivy isn’t reveling in her pain and Ivy says that it’s because she now has to take Lucy trick or treating. Jacinda then asks to do it since Ivy doesn’t. Ivy says that she would rather eat carbs then risk Victoria finding out she let Jacinda do something that would make her happy. She dismisses Jacinda.

Down on the street, Victoria climbs into her car. She barely starts it when Tilly pops from the backseat, scaring Victoria. She asks Tilly what she’s doing in her car but Tilly says she’s more interested in how they got to Hyperion Heights. She wonders who is behind the mask and reaches out to Victoria, who maces her. Tilly leaves the car and Victoria grabs her bag, hoping to find some clues in it.

(She looks ready to interrogate the bag)

Weaver enters Victoria’s office and she says that one of his street rats accosted her. He asks how she knows it was one of his and Victoria produces his business card. She then produces a bottle of blue pills, saying that Tilly’s doctor said they were the only things keeping her tethered to reality. Victoria says she needs to take them and needs to be locked up. Weaver says he works with her when it’s beneficial to him and locking up his best informant is not beneficial. Victoria realizes he’s not going to bend so she says she’ll be sure to visit him in prison, saying a dirty cop should do well there. Weaver essentially tells her to watch it and she reveals that she’s been recording what he’s been doing. She’ll give it to the proper authorities unless he does what she wants. Weaver takes the pills and she looks smug.

(Well, that's an oh crap face if I ever saw one)

Roni gives Henry a smoking drink, calling it the “Poisoned Apple.” He suggests adding cinnamon to it and she takes note of it. She then asks why he’s so gloomy. Henry reveals that he took a shortcut through the cemetery where his wife and daughter are buried. He said seeing the graves felt like losing them all over again. Roni comes out from behind the bar, revealing her full Marilyn Monroe costume (no, she’s not in the white dress). She encourages Henry to move on, saying that it can hurt to lose love but that he deserves to move on. She says that if he loved once, he should try to be happy and love again. Moving on, she tells him, doesn’t mean you forget. So she encourages him to ask Jacinda out to a Halloween ball but he still doesn’t think she’ll want to go with him.

(There has been talk about Regina getting a new love interest this season and I can’t help but wonder if this is meant for the fans to let her move on from Robin/Emma/Whoever you might ship her with).

(She really doesn't look much like Marilyn Monroe...)

Weaver asks Rogers for help in locating Tilly. He explains that Victoria had fear in her eyes and he wants to know what Tilly might know to have her so scared. Rogers asks if he’s sure she knows something and Weaver replies that she’s his best informant, so he has no doubt she does. Rogers says that he would hope Weaver just cared for her wellbeing but realizes that’s not the case. Weaver throws his quest to find a missing girl in his face and warns Rogers not to bring his baggage to Weaver’s cases. Rogers asks if he cares and Weaver insists that he doesn’t care about anyone before walking off.

(This looks like a scene from the opening credits of a buddy cop sitcom)

A young boy runs over a bridge and Belle calls out for Gideon not to go so fast. (They even got Anton Starkman to appear. He played young Gideon last season). Rumple tells her to let him enjoy himself and they pause, both dressed in Enchanted Forest clothes, on the bridge. She says that people say the bridge is older than time and asks if he can imagine being around that long. He says he can. He then says that the past ten years with her have been the happiest of his life and now he just wants to live a mortal life with her, finally ridding himself of the dagger. Rumple says he brought her to the bridge so he could do that and as Belle watches, he drops it into the water. She tells him that was sweet and starts to kiss him.

(That shot is absolutely gorgeous)

He pulls away though as he realizes the dagger is back in its sheath attached to his leg. As he moans, Belle promises that it’s just a setback and that they will find a way to free him from it. He asks if she would really come on that adventure with him and she says that she just wants to spend her life with him. They embrace as the camera pans away from the bridge.

Ivy remains attached to her phone as Lucy trick or treats. She has a paper bag on her head, whining about how her aunt didn’t paint her face. She then asks if she can go to the other end of the street to check out a haunted house. Ivy says no and says that she just wants Lucy to get her candy and be done, since she’s missing the Masquerade Ball because Victoria wanted to make sure Lucy had fun. Lucy says that Ivy wasn’t invited to the ball and explains she overheard her. Ivy says that they should make the bag a year round look and Lucy pulls it off to glare at her. 

(Lucy is not amused)

She then heads to another house, disappointed when she doesn’t get an Apollo bar. A girl around her height comes up dressed as Elsa and she asks if the girl likes milk dudes. “Elsa” heads off with Ivy, who does manage to realize she has the wrong girl within seconds. She calls out for Lucy before hurrying off, declaring that her mother was going to kill her.

(Uh oh)

Weaver finds Tilly resting in the nook of the stone troll’s arm. He asks if she’s still working on the puzzle and she says she solved it, tossing him a mostly black Rubik’s cube. He says she doesn’t quite get but she says she gets everything—she just had to see the big picture. Weaver asks if that’s why she accosted Victoria Belfrey and asks why she’s not taking her pills. She grows somber and says that the pills make her feel small, make her blind. She wants to stay big and be able to see. She feels she’s so close to solving it and he asks what she knows about Victoria. She says that Victoria is keeping them apart, scattering them so they couldn’t see the big picture and that she gave them masks to hide from each other. Weaver wonders what she’s babbling about nad she says that he will soon be able to see the good man behind the cop…or rather, the beast. He helps her down and asks her to tell him whatever it is she knows that has Victoria so nervous. She says that if he wants to believe her, she’ll need to show him.

(Look how happy she is)

At Dark One Manor, Rumpelstiltskin watches as Belle searches through some books. She tells him to take a picture but he says he’ll always remember her like that. Gideon then rushes in and let’s say hi to Giles Matthey! He’s carrying a lot of books and Rumple tells his son that he appreciates the enthusiasm but recommends one book at a time. Gideon reveals that these books are for him as he’s been accepted into Elfhame Academy. Belle claps and Rumple hugs him, telling Gideon that he’s very proud of him. He then tells Gideon that he’s a scholar, just like his mother. Gideon replies that like mother, he could always use more books and goes off to gather them. Rumple grows wistful and says he thought they would have more time. He apologizes to Belle, saying that they were more focused on breaking the Dark One curse rather than raising Gideon. She’s confused, saying that they did. That they had eighteen years with him, years full of time together and adventure. She says it’s time for him to go off and find his own adventure, that it’s time to let go. He says he’s not ready.

(One conflicted Papa)

Belle gives him a gift, showing him a scroll. She says she’s translated an old prophecy about the Dark One that may help him. It says that when the Dark One finds eternal love at the sun’s brightest set where time stands still the path to where the darkness should dwell will be revealed. Rumple says he knows where that is—it’s called the edge of realms. Belle grows excited and says that they should head there to see if they can help him rid himself of the dagger and the Dark One curse once and for all.

Jacinda serves some Halloween-themed food to a family dressed as the Incredibles when Henry steps up. He asks if the scary sauce is Exorcist-level scary or Gremlins-level scary. She responds Exorcist and he replies that he can’t handle Gremlins. She asks if he’s there to confess a fear of puppets to her or if he wants to order food. Henry then stammers as he tries to ask her on a date but she spots Ivy lurking around and hurries outside. Ivy admits she lost Lucy and thought she might have come to Jacinda. Jacinda says it wouldn’t have happened if she had been allowed to take Lucy out. She and Ivy exchange insults—Ivy takes a jab about Jacinda sniffing around Henry to make him her baby daddy and needing to get her life together, Jacinda goes for the throat by calling Ivy friendless and says she doesn’t have a life. Ivy storms off, determined to find Lucy. Jacinda figures she’ll have to look for another job but Henry stops her, saying he’ll look with Ivy. He asks Jacinda to send him a list of places Lucy may have gone and takes her phone to put his number into it. He promises to find Lucy and hurries off to catch up with Ivy.

(They look like pissed off parents upset at their lousy babysitter)

Weaver and Tilly drive around Hyperion Heights. She says they need to head toward the train tracks and Weaver gives her a sandwich to eat. She takes a bite but realizes something is wrong. Opening it, she’s saddened to find her pills in there. She repeats that the pills make her feel small and that they hide the truth from her. She also insists that Weaver is a good man, he just has to remember it and then he’ll find the love he’s lost. He insists he’s not the man she thinks he is and she says it’s just because he doesn’t remember. She says they still have time before the pills kick in and she fiddles with the car before jumping out. She runs off and Weaver gives chase.

(Eww)

Belle and Rumple find the Edge of Realms, watching the sun as it sets. Rumple warns that time works differently here and that an eternity for their friends and family back home may just be the blink of an eye for them. He says that it might take a long time for the sun to fully set. She says they can wait and that she can’t think of a better place to build their home than one in a never-ending summer’s day. Rumple suggests a rose garden and she asks for a reading nook. He holds up the dagger but she lowers his arm, saying she wants them to build their house together without magic. Rumple tosses it down and they share a kiss.

(So many gorgeous shots this episode!)

We then get a montage of Rumple and Belle building their house. They then decorate it and start living. Rumple puts the dagger away and they share some lovely lazy moments in it. Gideon comes for a visit and of course, they share a dance to Beauty and the Beast. Belle grows older and Rumple has to help her more and more. One day, she opens the curtains and he grows concerned as she falls backward, catching her. She closes her eyes and he frantically shouts her name.

(What a cute house)

Henry asks a woman dressed as Snow White if she’s seen a young girl dressed as a skeleton and she shakes her head. He then finds Ivy and notices she’s been crying. She deflects, making comments about him now finding Lucy. He says he’s helping and he asks why she didn’t let Jacinda take Lucy around. Ivy repeats that it wouldn’t make her mother happy and no one wants Victoria to be unhappy. She admits that without her mother’s approval, she’s all alone. But she doesn’t think that Henry will understand since he’s now part of Jacinda’s insta-family. He says that until last week, his only human contact was with his Swyft riders and that he spent his time in a one-room apartment with unfinished manuscript, surrounded by ghosts. He says she’s not the only one with baggage. She asks what they do now and he tells her to take a chance, to do the risky thing. Ivy asks if that’s what he’s doing with Jacinda and he admits he doesn’t know what’s going on with her, but he’s trying.

(Two people connecting)

Ivy sighs and asks to see the list. He hands her his phone and she goes through it before announcing it’s probably option 3 since Lucy had been begging to see the haunted house. Henry says they should go there and after a moment of confusion, Ivy follows.

Tilly leads Weaver into a storage container, saying she feels the fog returning so they don’t have much time. He tries to reason with her, asking to let him help her and then she can help him. She says she’s trying to do that. She grabs a chipped teacup and begs him to remember as she holds it out to him.

(CHIP!)

Rumple lays Belle on their couch. He begs her to let him use his dagger to heal her, to make her young again. She tells him that when she translated the prophecy, she knew it didn’t mean the sun in the sky. She realized that the sun was her—she needed to die. Rumple is angry that she held it back from him and she said if she hadn’t, he would’ve spent an eternity trying to find another way to rid himself of the dagger. She says this is the only way and that he needs to believe that their love is strong enough to survive death. Belle tells him their story—complete with clips—and reminds him that they kept letting each other go but coming back again. She asks him to let her go and trust that they will be reunited one day. Her eyes close forever as Rumple grieves her loss.

(A moment of silence)

Chip doesn’t jog Weaver’s memory and he pleads with Tilly to let him help her. She goes manic, trying to remember his real name. He stops humoring her and attempts to cuff her. She pulls his gun instead and he asks her what she’s doing. She says she’s doing exactly what he wanted her to do and then calls him Rumpelstiltskin. Tilly then shoots him and Weaver falls to the floor, gasping for air as he bleeds.

(They wouldn't kill him in episode four. Relax)

Rumple and Gideon bury Belle amongst the roses. Gideon says that during every visit it seemed like time had stopped and so he always thought he’d have her. Rumple says that time had stopped but Belle hadn’t. He says that when you live forever, there are things you tend to forget but he doesn’t want to do that. Gideon asks his father to give him the dagger so Rumple can join Belle. He says he’s strong enough to bear the burden. Rumple, though, says he took the dagger for one son and can’t give it to another. He says it’s time to find the guardian and he is going to leave, traveling to the spot where the guardian should be waiting for him.

He steps through a portal and scares off a white rabbit as Alice crashes into him. She yells at him, saying she’s been chasing after the white rabbit for a long time now and she’ll have to start again. They are then almost run over by Henry on his motorcycle and she notes that strange people have been coming in for the prince’s ball. She tells Rumple that the prince is looking for a bride and asks if he’s looking for a prince. He  says he’s looking for someone far more important and she says she likes a good puzzle. She introduces herself and Rumple smiles.

(And they collide!)

Everything is white as Weaver lies in bed. He starts to come to as the image of Belle, young and dressed in white, hovers over him. But then he comes to and finds Rogers there holding a bullet. He says that it’s Weaver’s lucky bullet since it passed right through him but he’s still alive. Rogers jokes that he’s immortal but Weaver doesn’t respond well to it. He asks where Tilly is and Rogers says he has her in the waiting room. He says she took her pills and is calm now. Weaver tells him to write that a masked robber came upon them and shot him, running off again, in the report. Rogers asks what he should do with Tilly and Weaver says he can let her go. Rogers says he knew Weaver cared and Weaver snaps at him.

Tilly is out in the waiting room playing a game of chess by herself. Rogers approaches and says she’s off the hook. She asks how Weaver is doing and he assures her he will be alright. Tilly says she can’t believe she shot him and promises she’ll keep taking her pills. Rogers says that’s a good idea and tells her not to worry. He then asks if he can play with her and she says he can.

(Look at these two adorkable people)

Lucy enters Mr. Cluck’s and Jacinda hugs her. She tells her daughter she can’t keep running off and Lucy says she knows. Jacinda than thanks Henry who says that she should really thank Ivy, who also enters the store. Ivy tells Jacinda that there’s still an hour of trick or treating left and hands her the face makeup as she suggests Jacinda and Henry take Lucy. She says she’ll handle her mother and when Jacinda thanks her, Ivy says she’s not doing it for her. She then leaves.

Taking the makeup, Lucy heads over to a table while Jacinda talks to Henry. She invites him to join them and Lucy says he can help paint her face—that it’s family tradition. He declines, saying he doesn’t want to intrude. Jacinda then asks him what he was going to ask her earlier and Henry lies, saying he wanted her to look over his blog post about the community garden. She says she’ll be happy to and then heads over to do Lucy’s makeup as Henry leaves.

(Stop pining, Henry, and make a move!)

Victoria visits Weaver in the hospital and notes that he let Tilly go. He says that she’s back on her pills and he determined she was no longer a public menace. She reminds him of the video tapes and he says that he hasn’t forgotten…before calling her “dearie.” Yep. Weaver is awake and is Rumple. He warns Victoria that he knows things she wouldn’t want getting out and that she can’t hurt him anymore. Victoria is pretty much “We’ll see” before leaving.

(Welcome back, Rumple)

Ivy joins Henry at Roni’s, bringing over a bottle of booze. She says it’s a thank you for helping her put herself first and for listening to her side of the story. He says that she’s pretty cool for standing up to her mother. She says that he’s going to drink with her until she has the courage to face her. Ivy then asks why he’s not out with Jacinda and Lucy. He says that he’s not as brave as her. She says that he couldn’t do the scary thing and he says he couldn’t. So she toasts to doing the comfortable thing and he clinks glasses. As they drink, Ivy watches him with a look that appears to be infatuation.

Uh oh.

Now that’s how you send off a beloved character and a veteran cast member. It honored Belle’s past and character while giving her and Rumple a happy ending. It also moved Rumple’s story forward, giving him a goal for this season. This was absolutely beautiful and I can see why a lot of the actors cited this as one of the best episodes so far this season.

It’s interesting to see Ivy and Henry get closer. I’m not sure what her aim is there but I can’t believe it’s going to be good.

Things are going to be more interesting with Rumple now awake. Victoria probably won’t know what hit her. And is Alice/Tilly the Guardian? Hmm…

Next time: Tiana’s backstory!