OUAT: Bombshell

Last time on Once’s First Season: Gold repossessed florist Moe French’s van right before Valentine’s Day due to non-payment on a loan or whatever racket Gold is running. Moe got revenge by breaking in and stealing things from Gold’s house. One item in particular incensed Gold and he went after Moe despite Emma’s warnings not to. She rescued Moe from Gold, locking him up when he refused to explain why he was beating the man senseless.

In the Enchanted Forest, Moe was a duke named Maurice. He asked the Dark One for help in the Ogre Wars and Rumple’s price was Maurice’s daughter, Belle. She agreed to go be the Dark One’s servant to help her people. Over time, she and Rumple grew closer and she came to love him. He felt the same but feared it.

After killing her fiancé Gaston, Rumple tested Belle. He sent her out to the village, fully expecting her not to return. Belle met Regina, who told her about True Love’s Kiss. Eager, Belle returned home and used it on him. When he realized it, though, he flipped out and threw her in a cell. He then let her go, saying he loved his power more than her. Belle didn’t believe that but left.

Later, Regina went to Rumple and told him that Belle had died. She gloated before he threw her out of Dark One Manor.

Regina visited Gold in jail and gave him back his chipped teacup. She then got him to reveal that he has his memories and there was clear animosity between them. The episode ended with Regina going deep in the hospital to visit someone locked up—Belle.

We open in the Enchanted Forest. Princess Can’t Be Bothered is greeted by King George, arriving in No-Name Kingdom for her wedding to Prince “James.” She asks if everything’s alright and he assures her it is. He then turns to his knights and orders them to find “him.”

(She looks so beautiful and so bored)

“Him” is David, who is riding as hard as possible. The knights pursue him and he has to hide from them, pulling himself and his horse off the road. Confused, they turn back and David breaths out in relief…until he is knocked out.

(They'll never find me in this bright red cloak!)

David and Kathryn eat dinner in silence until she tells him she has news. She reveals that she finally applied to law school and she got accepted. He congratulates her and seems happy…until she points out that the school is in Boston. Kathryn thinks it’ll be good for them, giving them a fresh start in a new city. David looks less than thrilled.

(Wait...What?)

He makes an excuse and goes to meet Mary Margaret. He tells her about Kathryn’s announcement and they talk it over. Together, they agree that David needs to tell her the truth. Then Kathryn can go to to law school in Boston and David can be with Mary Margaret.

(She looks scandalized)

In the morning, Emma is walking into Granny’s when August approaches her. He wants to talk but she’s still suspicious about him. Especially since he won’t give her his name. So he finally introduces himself as August W. Booth. He reminds her that she owes him a drink and makes plans to get it that afternoon. August walks off as Emma goes inside Granny’s.

(Sit on it)

Emma sits down with Mary Margaret, who is sipping her tea and pretending she wasn’t watching Emma talk to August. Emma brushes off what happened outside and asks Mary Margaret what’s really bothering her. So Mary Margaret confesses that she’s been seeing David for several weeks. Emma reveals that she knew—that they weren’t exactly discreet and that she is the sheriff. It’s her job to notice small details, like how Mary Margaret was now wearing plunging necklines. Mary Margaret is shocked and then tells Emma that David was telling Kathryn and ending their marriage. Emma wishes her luck.

(Girl talk)

I’m going to go back to calling David “Charming” for the Enchanted Forest to make it easier. Charming is thrown down before…Princess Can’t Be Bothered. And she’s actually giving a damn. Wow. She’s okay with Charming pulling a runner because she knows that he really loves Snow White. And she knows how special it is to have a love like that. How, you ask? Because Princess Can’t Be Bothered was once in love herself!

(She actually can be bothered!)

David returns home to find Kathryn on the computer. She’s energetic and excited about moving to Boston. As she looks up places to live, she wonders if they should talk to the sheriff. David says she should but that he won’t be going with her. He doesn’t mention Mary Margaret, just saying that it isn’t working between them and that Kathryn’s future may lie in Boston but his is still in Storybrooke. Kathryn is heartbroken and rails against him.

(Poor Kathryn)

Princess Abigail loved a member of her father’s guards named Frederick. One day before their wedding, she was traveling with her father when they were attacked. Sir Frederick threw himself at Midas to save him. She brings Charming to where he fell, pointing to a knight made of gold. It is Frederick, because he was turned to gold when he touched Midas.

(Storybrooke's Medieval Times)

Charming wonders if there’s anyone to break the spell. Princess Can’t Be Bothered actually can now be bothered. She tells him of the waters of Lake Nostos, which can restore what was once lost, but says no one can actually bring it back. All perish. Charming offers to try and rescue her love for her and Abigail thanks him.

In a shed that looks like it might also be a counterfeiter’s workshop, August treats pages for the storybook. He carefully adds them to the book. Hmm, this is all still sketchy.

(Do you have Page XXIII there?)

Regina gives Henry a present—a game system! She says he can be the hero with his games but Henry is still sad. Regina swears she didn’t know she would destroy his book when she knocked down the playground, that she was doing it for his own good. Henry mutters that he knows. He says he misses Emma and wants to spend more time with her.

(Regina's not handling the rejection well)

She is spared answering when a distraught Kathryn storms into the room. Regina sends Henry off to school before talking with her friend. Kathryn reveals that she got into law school in Boston but that David doesn’t want to go with her. That he’s staying here in Storybrooke, ending their marriage. Regina blames Mary Margaret, confusing Kathryn.

(Poor thing doesn't know what's about to hit her)

Regina tells Kathryn that David has been cheating with Mary Margaret. She even gives her pictures as proof. When Kathryn asks why she didn’t tell her, Regina says that she had spoken with Mary Margaret and had thought that was that. She says she wanted to protect Kathryn as her friend and Kathryn snaps that a friend wouldn’t have kept it from her. She then storms out of the office.

Princess Abigail brings Charming to an altar where those who have tried to get water from Lake Nostos have left gifts to the spirits of the lake. She gives him something to leave but he refuses, saying it didn’t help the others. He then storms off toward Lake Nostos.

(Is there where I make an offering to get Robin back?)

David goes through pictures of Kathryn before talking to Mary Margaret on the phone. He assures her that he ended it with his wife and that she was upset but he thinks she understood. Mary Margaret goes on about how it was good that they were honest and now they won’t have any secrets. David looks so guilty as he lets Mary Margaret believe he told Kathryn about them. 

Dumb move, Nolan. Dumb move.

Relieved, Mary Margaret hangs up. She keeps walking and doesn’t notice a distraught Kathryn barrel into the school. Kathryn bumps into a man carrying kickballs. She apologizes and he watches her race away. 

Keep him in mind.

Kathryn finds Mary Margaret and slaps her. Mary Margaret takes it in stride, figuring she deserved that. Kathryn lays into her, though, revealing everything about the affair as students and faculty roam the halls. Mary Margaret tries to get her to go someplace private but Kathryn wants the world to know. She lets Mary Margaret have it, revealing that David was not the one to tell her about the affair. She leaves a betrayed Mary Margaret.

(She needs a hug)

In the Enchanted Forest, Charming arrives at Lake Nostos. He glances around the waters, noticing a disturbance. A beautiful woman glad in a gorgeous dress rises from the lake and smiles at Charming. It’s a water nymph and she spells trouble for him.

(Or a lost Vegas showgirl?)

August pulls in front of Granny’s and Emma starts to head in. But he says they aren’t getting drinks there. He holds out a helmet, inviting her to hop on. She hesitates until Granny says that if Emma doesn’t hop on, she will. Emma takes the helmet and holds on tight as August steers his motorcycle out of town.

(You go, Emma!)

He takes her to a well in the middle of the woods and reveals it’s a wishing well. August explains that if one drinks the water from the well, something lost will be restored. She asks how he knows that and he says there’s a plaque. He draws them water from the well, handing her a cup. They clink glasses before drinking.

It’s all very adorable.

(Cheers!)

Mary Margaret walks down the street, feeling like everyone is judging her. She accidentally bumps into Granny and apologizes. Granny then tells her she should be ashamed of herself for having an affair with a married man. She then storms off, leaving a tearful Mary Margaret behind.

(Granny disapproves)

At Lake Nostos, the nymph tempts Charming. She offers him whatever he wants but he resists, determined to get that water to free Frederick. So the nymph steps up her game and transforms herself into Snow White. She says Charming can have her this way and kisses him. His sword falls from his grasp.

(Resist, Charming!)

He recovers himself, though, and pushes the nymph away. Charming tells her that she may look like Snow but she isn’t her. The nymph grows desperate and is like “But I can totally be! This can totally work.” When Charming continues to rebuff her advances, she then tells him he passed the test. She then pulls him under the water.

(That's not how you play the game, guys. You need partners!)

She pulls Charming through the water, kissing him again. He pushes her away, finding his sword again. Charming runs her through and she drops Snow’s appearance, her blood filling the water as he swims for the surface.

(Bye, bye)

David washes Mary Margaret’s car as someone wrote “Tramp” in red letters across it. It breaks her and she says she can’t do this. She also reveals she knows that David didn’t tell Kathryn the truth and is hurt. Mary Margaret breaks it off with him, heading home and leaving David with a broken heart.

(Stay classy, Storybrooke)

Emma cleans off some leaves from her car, which I’m surprised are still there since it’s supposedly February. I mean, wasn’t it just Valentine’s Day last episode? I don’t really know of leaves hanging around until February. Anyway, she spots something in the storm drain—a box. Emma opens it and finds the storybook inside. She’s happy to see it but then wonders where it come from. She looks around before getting in her bug, August watching from behind a building the entire time.

(Confused Emma is confused)

Kathryn enters the mayor’s office to talk to Regina. She apologizes for yelling at her earlier but Regina apologizes as well for not telling Kathryn sooner. Kathryn says she’s calmed down now and she’s done some thinking. She says she’s going to go to law school in Boston and that she’s giving David her blessing to move on with Mary Margaret. However, she can’t do it in person so she wrote him a letter.

Regina tries to talk Kathryn out of her decision but she is resolute. So she thanks Regina for being her friend and promises to keep in touch. With that, she leaves the office and is ready to start her new life.

(Regina is not used to hugs)

Charming returns to Frederick’s memorial and gives the water to Princess Abigail. She pours it over Frederick and the gold recedes, freeing him. He takes off his helmet to reveal…the PE teacher Kathryn bumped into. I told you he would be important.

(See?)

Frederick and Kathryn reunite and she thanks Charming for his help. She tells him to go find Snow White, to be with her. But she also warns him that King George won’t stop looking for him and won’t care if he has to kill Charming. He understands and thanks her as well, asking for a horse.

Regina uses her skeleton keys to get into Kathryn’s house. There, she takes the letter Kathryn wrote to David and leaves.

(What is she up to?)

Emma heads to the school, where she spots Henry playing the new video game system. Emma says she loved that game herself and gives him hints. He still loses but is thrilled when she gives him his book back. They have a cute moment before she runs off, knowing Regina will kill her if she finds her with Henry.

(Mother-son time)

Henry opens the book and comes across an image of Charming riding across a field. It comes to life with the prince calling out for Snow.

Red emerges from the tall grass, saying that Snow never came back from going to profess her love for Charming. He says that she told him she didn’t love him. Red is confused but he has an idea why Snow told him that. He says he’s going to find her and Red wants to help, though he warns her that there are people after him.

After he says that, a commotion rises off screen. The camera follows Charming’s and Red’s line of sight to see King George leading a small army. He orders to them to charge as Charming informs Red that they are the people he was referring to. He helps her onto his horse and they ride away from the angry king.

("Is that angry mob here for you or for me?")

Emma returns home to find a heartbroken Mary Margaret. After hearing everything, Emma lays down next to her and comforts her.

(Best Friends...Until they discover they are Mother and Daughter)

Kathryn gets in her car and prepares to head down to Boston for law school. I’m not sure what law school would start in March, but maybe she’s getting there with enough time to settle in ahead of a summer start? I don’t know. All I know is she driving for the town line and we all know bad things happen to people who try to cross it who aren’t Emma and Henry.

In her office, Regina pulls out Kathryn’s letter to David. She looks at something and grins, setting the letter on fire. Dropping it into her fireplace, she watches it burn.

(Burn, burn, burn)

The gym teacher who is clearly Frederick drives up the road and spots a car with its hazards going just off the road. The driver’s side door is opened and it looks like it was in an accident. It’s clearly Kathryn’s car, but when he goes to check on anyone in the car, it’s empty.

Where did Kathryn go?

So, David really screwed up there, didn’t he? And poor Mary Margaret is going to pay for it. Because everyone does tend to blame the other woman in these situations. I just want to hug her. Even Granny glared at her!

It was nice to see that Abigail wasn’t really Princess Couldn’t Care Less. She just knew she wasn’t going to be happy with anyone but Frederick. And I’m sure Midas just wanted her to be happy, trying to find her the best husband after he turned the man she loved into gold. Oops.

Next time: Leroy/Grumpy backstory! Amy Acker! 

Screen caps from here.