Selfless, Brave and True

(Surf rolling, seagull calling)

(Gasps)

(Exhaling)

(Gasps)

(Speaking Thai)

(Speaking Thai)

I'm turning into wood.

♪

(Sighs)

Breakfast in bed?

Seriously?

What happened has been really hard on Mary Margaret.

The least we can do is make sure she's eating.

I think it's time to give the hot cocoa and the foot massages a rest.

It's time to haul her ass out of bed and get her to move past this.

That's a little harsh, don't you think? She took Cora's life.

Is everything okay?

Everything's fine, kid. Get your coat.

We're gonna be late.

(Henry) - Bye, Gramps.

I know you think that she needs our help.

But at the end of the day, she's the only one who can help herself.

(Mary Margaret) Good morning.

Hey.

Morning.

I made you some eggs, but if you're craving something else, we can go to Granny's.

Unless you have other plans.

I thought I'd head out to the woods, actually.

I need to think things through.

Let me come with you.

David...

I need to do this alone.

And you have things to do.

I know you've been looking forward to working in the bean field.

Yeah.

Yeah, Anton says we might have a crop soon.

And once we do, we can go home.

And none of what happened will matter.

It will all be in the past.

I used Regina to kill her own mother.

I don't think going back will erase that.

Mary Margaret...

Please.

(Whispers) Give me time.

(Birds chirping)

(Door squeaks)

Hey, buddy!

How are you?

I'm good. I brought this.

I thought you could tell me what it was really like over there.

(Door closes)

Sounds great.

I'll tell you what.

Why don't you run to the diner, get us three hot cocoas, and we'll dive in?

I'm gonna have to take a rain check on that.

I need to get down to the station to take care of some things.

Hey, can it wait?

There's a couple things I wanna talk to you about.

Tamara went to my place to get some of her stuff.

Okay.

All her bags were in the storage room, but Hook wasn't.

Lucky.

Yeah, but now he's out there.

I'm not sure how much more trouble he can cause anyway.

The second... thing I wanna talk to you about is the reason Tamara was getting her stuff is that she's on her way here.

Here? As in Storybrooke?

Yeah, she should be here at Granny's any minute now.

What are you thinking? What do you mean?

I mean, what are you gonna tell her when she sees a giant or a werewolf run past her on Main Street?

Between Greg Mendell, our food-obsessed tourist, and now your fiancee, this town is turning into a theme park.

Maybe I didn't think it all the way through.

I'm sorry. I just... I need her.

I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean it to...

Don't need to apologize to me.

I'm not the one you're lying to.

Who's lying?

Does she know who you really are and where you're really from?

Take my advice.

Don't let her find out on her own.

Tell her the truth. Tell her everything.

(Cell phone chimes)

(Sighs)

(Beep)

It's her.

She's ten minutes away.

Why don't you stay and get to know her?

I really should be going.

I know, but we're all connected now.

It might be nice for you two to talk.

Just... stay and say hello.

She's bringing bagels.

(Joan Jett and The Blackhearts' "Bad Reputation" playing)

(Arrows whooshing)

♪ I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation ♪

♪ you're living in the past ♪

♪ it's a new generation ♪

(Branch snaps)

(Footsteps retreat rapidly)

(Bang in distance)

(Door squeaks)

Anyone in here?

(Man) Just me.

(Gasps)

(Creaking)

(Gasps)

August?

(Siren wailing)

(Baby crying, indistinct conversations)

(Speaking Cantonese)

August W. Booth?

(Chuckles)

I don't see anything.

My leg is turning into wood.

I think you should go.

Wait, wait. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

I'll prove it to you.

No, stop!

Aah!

(Shouting in Cantonese)

(Clank)

(Instrument clatters)

(Man) Wait! Get back here!

Hey! Come back!

(Man shouting in Cantonese)

(Exhales deeply)

(Grunts)

(Door closes)

Who are you?

Someone who can help.

Heard you yelling about your situation.

And I work with a man who fixes those kinds of problems.

What kind of problems?

The kind most people just dismiss.

For the right price, he can cure anything.

(Men shouting in Cantonese)

Who is he?

They call him "The Dragon."

(Mary Margaret) But the curse broke.

Not for me.

When it lifted, I could move again, but I stayed like this.

This is my own punishment, not the Queen's. I did this to myself.

August, I'm so sorry.

Oh.

But you don't have to hide.

There are people in Storybrooke who care about you...

Emma, your father...

How is he?

My papa?

He misses you.

I know.

But I can't let him see me like this... or Emma.

Please reconsider.

They could all use you back. There's been a lot going on.

Henry's father returned. Emma found him.

Wait.

Emma and Neal?

They're back together again?

Uh... uh, no.

Actually, he's engaged to someone he met in New York.

(Sighs)

I was hoping...

(Sighs)

That's my problem... hoping.

Hoping that things can still work out.

Hoping that I can find redemption for the mistakes that I made.

But maybe some things you just don't come back from.

No matter what you've done, you deserve a second chance.

That's easy for you to say.

You never had to worry about forgiveness, redemption.

You've never needed it.

August, it's time to stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Come back to town with me.

We'll find Marco...

You expect me to face him like this?

A wood pile of failure?

Don't say that.

You wanna help me?

Leave.

And don't tell anyone you saw me.

(Crunches)

So how'd you guys meet?

Um... well, I was super late to work, rushing like crazy, guzzling my giant coffee, when this guy crashed into me.

(Chuckles)

My coffee soaked my blouse.

There was no time to change, so Neal gave me his scarf to hide the stains.

And he said I could keep it or call him if I wanted to return it.

(Chuckles)

I decided to call, and, well, we've been together ever since.

Sounds like fate.

I've gotta drop Henry off with his grandpa.

Thanks for the bagel.

It was nice meeting you, Tamara.

You, too.

Here you go, man.

Why don't you hold on to that?

Okay.

See you.

(Door squeaks open)

(Henry) See you later.

(Door closes)

(Sets down book)

Henry seems like a really great kid.

Yeah.

He has your spirit.

You think?

Yeah.

There's something I need to tell you.

Here's the thing. I'm, uh... I'm not from here.

I'm from a place called The Enchanted Forest.

I'm being serious.

Here.

Go ahead.

These are... fairy tales.

And they're real.

In fact, they're more than real.

They're history. They're my history.

See this little boy?

That's me.

What the hell are you doing?

I'm trying... trying to be honest with you.

If you wanted to be honest, you would tell me what this is really about.

Cute blonde who was just here.

Mother of your child? Emma?

I'm not a fool, Neal.

I saw the way you two look at each other.

It's... it's not like that.

I think it is.

I think it's why you wanted to hide under the table when Henry asked how we met.

You didn't want her to hear the story.

If you wanna be with her, Neal, you could have told me,

instead of making up crap to force me away. - No, no, I...

I don't wanna force you away.

Here's the thing, Neal.

When you're ready to be honest with me

about yourself and your feelings, then come find me.

(Picks up bag)

(Indistinct conversations)

We're almost there.

(Indistinct conversations continue)

(Door creaks open)

(Door closes)

Wait here. It shouldn't be long.

(Beads rattling)

You, come. He's ready.

Miss?

You dropped this.

Thank you.

I hope you enjoy your pie.

It's on me.

I'm Regina Mills, mayor of Storybrooke.

I'm also Henry's mother.

Oh, he... he's the cute little kid that was wandering through the woods.

Right?

Yes.

I just wanted to thank you for calling me about him.

Yeah, no. No sweat. I... I have a spot spot for little kids in trouble.

I'm... I'm fairly certain we haven't met before, but... you do seem oddly familiar.

I don't see how that's possible, unless... h... have you spent a lot of time in Carlisle, Pennsylvania?

(Laughs) I can't say that I have.

Well, if there's anything you need during your stay here...

Please don't hesitate to ask.

(Door opens, bells jingle)

If I were you, I'd try the fish special.

It's right up your alley...

blackened sole.

(Door bells jingle)

Hey.

What's up?

Why the urgent phone call?

It's August.

I found him.

My boy? He's alive?

Yes, but... he's completely wooden.

He's been living in an abandoned trailer

down near the toll bridge.

What can we do? Can we help him?

No.

But I know someone who might be able to...

Mother Superior.

Yes. Yes, The Blue Fairy.

She helped once. She can help again.

She must!

(Door bells jingle)

(Indistinct conversations)

(Beads rattle)

He said to send you in.

Good luck.

(Door creaks open)

(Door creaks shut)

(Sighs deeply)

Please, sit.

Tell me. Why have you come?

You see that?

No, because the problem is with your other leg.

(Chuckles)

You're turning to wood...

Pinocchio.

How in the hell do you know my name?

Who are you?

Are you from my land?

August, you're in pain.

Waste your energy not on me but on your affliction.

All you need to worry about is whether I can help you.

And the answer is, indeed I can.

(Exhales and whispers)

Thank God.

There are, however, conditions.

Yeah.

I need an item of great value to you.

Money. I... I have some...

No. That comes later.

I need something close to your heart, something that cannot be replaced.

This?

It's...

It's worthless.

The pendant, perhaps, but the string... it was the string your father used to animate you as a freshly carved puppet.

In a way, it first gave you life.

It will serve as payment from your soul.

Will it work?

Perhaps.

Now... as any vendor from this world, I also need payment from your wallet.

, American dollars.

$ , ?

Bring the money tonight, and you shall never turn to wood again.

(Exhales deeply)

(Mother Superior) I know about August.

He came to me shortly after the curse broke and asked if I would return him to what he was.

Why didn't you?

Because what he was is what he is.

Do you remember the morning I found you on that beach all those years ago?

The day I turned your son into a real boy?

Yes.

It was the happiest day of my life.

I told Pinocchio so long as he remained brave, truthful, and unselfish, he would stay a real boy.

But I'm afraid he did not.

That is why he changed back.

And that's why there's nothing I can do for him.

It's true he's done some things he regrets.

We all have.

But shouldn't he have another chance?

If there is still a path of redemption for August, it is one that he must travel on his own.

No one can force him, or it will not be true.

Don't despair, Marco.

I know there's still hope for your son.

There has to be.

♪

(Indistinct conversations in Cantonese)

♪

(Tamara) Hey.

♪

Hey.

You look like you could use a drink.

Yeah, well, I wasn't planning on staying very long.

Come on. Humor me.

Celebrating alone is no fun.

♪

Figured a medicine man wouldn't take plastic.

Um...

To second chances.

♪

(Clink)

Who knew they'd be so expensive?

♪

(Smacks lips)

(Sets down bottle)

So what brought you to him?

Cancer.

(Sighs) A very rare form.

When I was diagnosed, the specialist told me I was on borrowed time.

Ever since, I've been all over the world, trying to find a cure... doctors, healers, you name it. Anyone who could promise a miracle.

And no one could.

And then...

Then I heard about The Dragon.

(Inhales sharply)

(Groans)

How about you?

Skin condition.

Acne?

(Laughs) Yeah.

(Chuckles)

You know, there are creams. Yeah. I wish.

No, this condition... once it, uh, spreads, I'm done for.

Well... I'm glad you found him, too.

Thanks.

He tell you he needed a personal item?

Mm. Who carries something like that around with them anyway?

Luckily, I had a photo of my grandmother and me in my wallet.

Now it's gone, but...

If my cancer is, too...

Yeah.

(Clink)

(Cell phone ringing)

Oh. Sorry. I'll be right back.

Will you watch this?

Yeah.

Hey.

Mm.

(Knock on door)

I told you to leave me alone!

Hey.

Long time.

(Panting)

For someone who spent his entire life running, you should be in better shape.

(Exhales)

Well, I will be...

if you have what you promised.

(Liquid sloshes)

I believe we discussed a price.

The money.

You have it?

(Sighs)

(Breath quavering)

(Exhales)

The body has a strange way of sending us signals, doesn't it?

(Exhales)

The tricky part isn't hearing them, but knowing what they truly mean.

Are you sure this can cure me?

What's in this bottle will stop you from turning to wood, yes.

But that's just a symptom.

Only you can cure yourself.

(Indistinct conversations)

(Exhaling)

Stop!

That's mine.

I'm so sorry.

Hey!

Somebody stop him!

(Indistinct conversations)

Out of the way!

(Crowd shouting in Cantonese)

Aah!

Aah!

No!

(Sighs)

Whatever it is you have, you deserve your fate.

(Crying)

Not much of a decorator.

Then again, I guess a man made of wood doesn't require much.

You can see me? You believe?

Do you think I would have chased down someone called The Dragon if I didn't?

I don't understand.

What are you doing in Storybrooke?

What I'm doing in Storybrooke doesn't concern you.

But I need you to do something.

And after what you pulled in Hong Kong, you owe me.

What could I ever do for you?

Leave.

It's a simple request considering what I'm about to offer you.

No.

You're going to explain this.

Did you follow me?

Are you like me?

Magical? No.

I'm quite human.

But forget for a second why I'm here and who I am and instead ask yourself the more important question...

how?

My cancer was a death sentence, remember?

Yet... here I am.

The Dragon.

The liquid in the bottle... it worked.

It cured me, August.

And it can cure you, too.

I still have some of it left.

The bottle's in my apartment in New York.

You can go get it.

All I ask... is that you leave Storybrooke now and never return.

Neal.

You're the fiancee.

(Sighs)

Are you and Neal here for the magic?

Are you two trying to take the magic from Storybrooke?

Neal has nothing to do with any of this.

Okay?

He knows as much as you do.

Actually, now you know a lot more.

So do we have a deal?

I can't leave without knowing what you're doing here.

Sure, you can.

And you will.

You're the same man I left in a Hong Kong gutter... a man willing to do anything to save himself.

And that's what I'm offering, August.

(Keys jangle)

Salvation.

(Lock turns)

(Cell phone beeps)

You know, I'm all set on towels...

(Keys clatter)

if that's why you're here. I air dry.

I'm here because I realized why you look so familiar to me.

It's because we have met before, haven't we?

Owen.

I kept this all these years as a reminder of our time together.

You were just a boy when you gave this to me.

Now look at you, all grown up.

No wonder I didn't recognize you.

Yeah, but I... I recognized you,

because you look exactly the same, Regina.

It's as if no time has passed for you.

Monthly juice cleanse.

Does wonders for the skin.

You could've come to me, Owen. You could've told me who you were and why you're here.

Well, I... I think you know why I'm here.

I honestly don't.

I'm looking for my father.

Your father?

He left shortly after you did. I never saw him again.

I don't believe you.

Be that as it may, it's the truth.

People don't just disappear, Regina.

Scared little boys tend to have overactive imaginations.

Well, I'm not a scared little boy anymore, madame mayor.

It's taken me a long time to get back here.

I'm not leaving without my father.

I'm afraid you are, because he's not here.

I'll let Granny know that you'll be checking out tomorrow.

Or what?

Contrary to what you might think, people can just disappear.

This is all my fault.

Our children make their own decisions, Marco.

You can't blame yourself for anything that's happened.

Yes, I can.

And you should blame me, too.

The wardrobe I built for you.

The one that transported Emma to this world... she did not go alone.

Of course she did. The wardrobe only had enough magic to transport one person.

No, that was a lie I made The Blue Fairy tell you.

It had enough magic to transport two, and it did... your daughter... and my son... Pinocchio.

I could have gone with her?

With Emma?

There is no apology I could give that could ever make up for what I did.

But I am so sorry.

(Smack)

Mary Margaret.

What are you doing? He's apologizing.

No, no, that's okay. I deserve that.

No, that wasn't me.

Marco, I am so sorry.

I'm not myself.

You just made a mistake.

I would have done the same thing for my child.

I forgive you. You were protecting your son.

No. I burdened him with a weight no child should have to bear, and I called it love.

Your photograph is on the desk.

Do not forget to take it when you leave.

I'm not going anywhere until I get the truth.

Interesting choice of words from someone who lied about being sick.

You're right. I don't have cancer.

And yet you sought me out.

I've been searching for someone like you for a very long time.

Ah.

For magic.

It's rare in this world...

so rare most would say it's... fiction.

But not you.

Not me.

But finding it?

That has not been easy.

I found a world full of frauds... until you.

I've analyzed the contents of this bottle with the most sophisticated techniques available to man.

You know what I found?

Nothing.

So I'm a fraud, too.

No.

Literally nothing.

The liquid in this bottle doesn't contain a single element found in this world.

Can you explain that?

What I create is not from this world because the people who need my help suffer from affliction that science cannot treat.

People like the man you stole that from.

I didn't steal anything.

I paid for what's in this bottle.

But...

now that I have it, I can't risk anyone else finding you.

(Click)

It was nice meeting you.

(Whooshing)

You haven't met me.

At least not the real me.

(Whooshing)

(Electricity crackling)

(Exhales)

(Click)

(Rattling)

(Tires screech)

Emma?!

Hello?! Is anyone here?!

(Dial tone)

(Panting)

(Rotary dial clicks)

(Cell phone rings)

Emma Swan.

Emma, it's August.

August.

Listen to me.

I have to warn you.

August...

(Static crackles)

Warn me? Warn me about what?

(Clatter)

You disappoint me, August.

I know what you did to The Dragon.

A few days after you left, I went back to beg him to fix me, and we both know[ what I found.

At the time, I wastoo wrapped up in myself to wonder what had happened, to question who could have done

such a thing.

But then I found this photo in your car, and it hit me.

You and your grandmother...

you went back there.

You killed him.

You should have left.

I counted on you to wanna save yourself.

Maybe that's what I'm trying to do.

(Scoffs)

I've lived a life of selfishness, cowardice, and dishonesty.

And only I can cure that, not magic, not science.

Just me.

I care about the people in this town.

And if you wanted The Dragon's little bit of magic, well, you have hit the mother lode here, and you are not going to

harm anyone to get it.

I'm going to warn them.

No.

You're not.

(Electricity crackles)

(Gasping)

(Grunting)

If August is still at the station, he's not picking up.

August!

(Gasps)

August!

Oh!

My child.

My boy.

My boy.

What happened to you?

I'm so sorry, papa.

No.

There is nothing to apologize for.

Everything is gonna be all right.

Emma.

August.

Emma...

She's...

(Gasps) She...

(Exhales)

Oh, no.

(Voice breaks) Not again.

(Sobbing)

August?

No. It can't end this way.

He was supposed to get a second chance.

What happened? - Someone killed him to stop him from telling us something.

He used his last dying breath to warn us.

I will not let that be in vain.

(Under breath)

Brave... truthful...

and unselfish.

(Normal voice)

Brave, truthful, and unselfish.

Don't you see what this means?

That's what Pinocchio was supposed to be.

There's still hope.

We need The Blue Fairy.

I'm here, Henry.

What does Henry mean?

I was able to turn Pinocchio into a real boy after he sacrificed his life for Marco's.

If his actions today were indeed brave, truthful, and unselfish, then you're right.

There's a chance I can do it again.

Please, I beg of you.

(Whispers) Try.

(Tinkling)

(Whooshing)

Father?

(Crying)

Pinocchio.

(Exhales)

Look.

Look.

I'm a real boy.

I'm a real boy!

(Chuckles)

Honey.

It's... it's true.

(Exhales)

Do better this time, Pinocchio.

Pinocchio? That's...

Yeah.

Pinocchio?

I have to ask you a question.

I need you to think real hard, okay?

Before you turned into a little boy, you were trying to tell us something very important.

Do you remember?

You were trying to warn us about something.

I... I don't remember.

If I did, I would be truthful.

I promise.

If you wanna head back to New York, I wouldn't blame you.

I know this isn't what you signed up for.

What I signed up for...

is you.

I love you.

I can't believe how lucky I was to have met you.

We were both lucky.

It's been a hell of a flight from Hong Kong.

You've looked better.

Well, I've felt better.

I'm turning back to wood, Neal.

Which means that Emma's in Storybrooke.

You're going there, aren't you?

I gotta get her to break the curse to stop what's happening to me.

If she breaks the curse, my father's gonna remember who he is and come looking for me.

Flip side...

you get to see Emma again.

Not sure she wants to see me.

You never know.

(Sighs)

(Horn blares)

When the curse is broken, I'll send you a postcard.

(Motorcycle engine revving)

Oh!

(Gasps)

I'm so sorry. Are you okay?

It was me. I'm... I'm in a hurry. I'm late for work.

Oh, here. You know what? Take my scarf.

It'll cover up the stain.

(Sighs)

(Chuckles)

It's perfect.

Thank you.

(Chuckles)

(Exhales)

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

I'm Tamara.

Henry.

(Door closes)

We gotta talk.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I lied to you about your dad.

I promise I will never lie to you again.

Just don't push me away.

I won't.

(Sighs)

(Sighs)

Ready to tell me what's going on?

Yes.

But before I do, you have to promise you won't get mad.

That always means good news.

(Sighs)

I promise.

(Sighs)

David... last week, I went to Regina's house and confronted her.

Are you... are you out of your mind?

You promised not to get mad.

I'm not mad.

I can see that.

She could have killed you.

I know.

That's why I went...

so she would kill me.

What?

I couldn't take the guilt over what I did to Cora.

I could barely breathe. I told her to end it, and she ripped out my heart.

And when she took it out, my heart, David... it had started to blacken because of what I did.

Why didn't you tell me?

Because telling you makes things real, and I needed to believe it wasn't, that I could find a way to stop it, that redemption was possible.

It is. Look at August.

But it cost him... everything.

Oh.

You are not him, Mary Margaret, and you sure as hell aren't Regina.

Which means those are not the only two options.

We'll find another way. I know it.

What makes you so sure?

(Whispering)

This does.

And I know it better than anyone.

(Exhales)

(Buzzing)

Hey, why haven't you called me back? Where are you?

(Knock on door)

Right here.

(Beep) Sorry I'm late. It's been a heck of a day.

I don't have much time. Neal's in the shower.

I only have a few minutes.

Then let's not waste them.

The End