Renee Walker stands in front of a jewelry store in the local shopping mall of the New York City district, twirling her walkie-talkie in her hands with a yawn. It's been 9 months since she was kicked out of the FBI for nearly killing a man in interrogation to obtain critical information pertaining to the nation's security against terrorism. After being discharged, Renee suffered a mental breakdown and even tried to commit suicide, but it was thwarted because of one man who kept it his personal mission to keep Renee alive at all costs: Jack Bauer. Renee felt so suffocated being around Jack, with him always checking up on her and making sure she's okay, so Renee decided to move to get away from him and get herself together. She's been working as security for the shopping mall for 2 months. Renee hears someone calling out her name, and she looks to see Janis.
Janis: Renee! Renee, oh my gosh. I can't believe it's you!
Renee: (weak smile) Hey Janis. Long time no see.
Janis: Yeah, it's been a really long time. So, uh, do you work here?
Renee: (looks down at her security uniform) What gave it away?
Janis: (laughs) So how've you been?
Renee: Alright. You?
Janis: Alright too. I, uh, I'm actually engaged now.
Renee: Oh, congratulations.
Janis: (smiles) Yeah, thanks. Well I should probably get going. It was good seeing you, Renee.
Renee: (nods) Yeah, you too.
Janis walks into the jewelry store, and Renee sighs heavily. Renee feels embarrassed about her encounter with Janis, having gone from top field agent in the FBI to a security guard for a mall. Renee glances back, watching Janis looking at wedding rings.
Henry: Excuse me?
Renee looks down at the little 11-year-old boy standing in front of her with a backpack looking up at her.
Renee: Are you lost, kid?
Henry: No. You're Renee Walker, right?
Renee: (suspicious) Uh...yes.
Henry: Great! You gotta come with me.
Renee: Excuse me?
Henry: You gotta come with me back to my home in Storybrooke! It's in big trouble, and you're the only one that can help us!
Renee: Kid, where are your parents?
Henry: If I tell you, will you take me back home?
Renee: (confused) Uh yeah, sure.
Henry: Great! Come on!
Henry takes hold of Renee's hand and forces her to walk with him.
Renee: W-wait-
Renee looks back at her empty post, and behind her post she notices 3 men watching her walking off with Henry. Her FBI instincts kick in, and she notes the 3 men in her head.
Henry: Renee, you're a good fighter, right?
Renee: W-what?
Henry: You're a good fighter, right?
Renee: Uh, yeah, I guess. Why do you ask? Are you in trouble?
Henry: Yeah, my entire town is.
Renee: Storybrooke?
Henry: Yeah.
Henry starts talking, but Renee doesn't listen as she looks back again. The 3 men are now following her, and they look away suspiciously.
Renee: (interrupts Henry) Kid, have you noticed anyone following you?
Henry: Following me? No. I don't think so.
Renee: Alright then. Stay close.
Henry: (looks around) Why? What's going on?
Renee: Just stay close to me. Can you do that?
Henry: (nods) Yeah.
Renee walks left with Henry following her closely. She quickly hides behind a wall with the boy, and she peeks to see the 3 men arguing with one another and dispersing as if looking for someone. She watches the 3 men running off, and Renee and Henry come out of their hiding spot.
Man: There!
Renee looks up to the second floor bridge and sees a man looking right at her. The man takes out a gun and starts shooting at Renee and Henry. Mass pandemonium breaks loose in the mall to Renee and Henry's advantage as the man keeps shooting. Renee pushes Henry back against the wall, and she takes out her gun. She takes in a deep breath and shoots down the man on the bridge, making pandemonium greater as the man comes crashing down to the ground floor dead. With one hand holding her gun, Renee grabs Henry's hand and they make a run for it. As they try to run to the parking lot, the 3 men come running out of a store and start shooting at Renee and Henry. Renee pushes Henry behind a jewelry cart and pushes the cart to its side so they can take cover.
Henry: (afraid) What's happening?
Renee: Hey, look at me.
Henry looks up from the ground to Renee.
Renee: I'm going to protect you.
Henry: Do you promise?
Renee: (firmly) You have my word. I will keep you safe.
Renee looks around and sees a mirror on the floor from the jewelry cart. She grabs it and lifts it up to take a look at the mens' positions. Once she locks onto their positions in her head, she makes quick aims and fires her rounds, killing all 3 men. Renee looks to make sure everything's fine, and she grabs Henry's hand. They make a run for it past the dead bodies to the parking lot. They make it to the street, and Renee looks around for an escape route.
Renee: Stay here.
Henry: Wait, where are you-
Renee runs to the street and points her gun to a car driving her way, making the driver screech to a halt.
Renee: (threatening) Get out of the car now!
The driver is so shocked at what's happening that he's frozen.
Renee: (angrily) I SAID GET OUT OF THE CAR NOW!
The driver comes running out of his car, and Renee keeps her gun pointed at the driver. Renee motions for Henry to get in the car, and he gets into the passenger seat.
Renee: Get on the ground now, hands behind your head!
The driver does so right on the street, and Renee runs into the car and starts driving. She speeds away immediately and drives away from the shopping mall. Both Renee and Henry are out of breath from what they just went through.
Henry: Who were those men you killed?
Renee: You tell me.
Henry: I don't know who they are.
Renee: You said you were in trouble. What kinda trouble are you in?
Henry: It's not just me. It's my town. They're all in trouble.
Renee: What do you mean "They're all in trouble"?
Henry: Well, it's kind of a long story.
Renee: So start from the beginning.
Henry: Well, I live in Storybrooke, Maine-
Renee: (shocked) You came all the way from Maine?!
Henry: Yeah, to find you. There was a curse in my town. The evil queen did it-
Renee: Stop stop stop! An evil queen put a curse on your town?!
Henry: Yeah, but my mom broke the curse. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true.
Before Renee can say anything else, Henry takes out a letter from his backpack and hands it to her. Renee stops near a gas station, and she opens the letter to read it.
Emma: Dear Renee Walker, you don't know me, but I know you. I am Emma Swan, and I am Henry's mother. If you're reading this letter, that means I am dead. I am terribly sorry to put this burden on you, but my son needs your help and only you can help him. Not the police, not anyone else but you. I know this might be a lot to take in, but everything my son is telling you is the truth. Everything about the curse on Storybrooke, the evil queen that is his stepmother, it's all true. It was too late for me before I started to believe, but I urge you to believe and help my son. Please do what I could not. I trust you that you will keep him safe and alive. Please, please protect Henry and the people of Storybrooke. Keep my boy alive.
Renee looks at Henry with disbelief at what she's reading. Henry takes out a camera from his backpack and turns it on. He sifts through the gallery and hands it to Renee. It's on a video, and she plays the video. There's a woman with red hair tied in a bun talking to the camera.
Mother Superior: Ms. Walker, I am Mother Superior of Storybrooke. If you're watching this, then you've been informed of our situation here. I understand you might not believe Henry, but I hope this will make you believe.
Mother Superior takes out her blue wand with a metal spiral in the middle. She whips her wand and blue dust comes flying out from the tip causing the curtains behind her to float. With another whip of her wand, Mother Superior makes a ball of fire balance at the tip of the wand.
Mother Superior: As you might have guessed, Ms. Walker, you just saw magic. The citizens of Storybrooke, we all came from another realm called the Enchanted Forest. The evil queen put a curse upon us to cause us to forget our past lives. Emma, Henry's mother, broke the curse to help us remember our past but unfortunately, she was killed by a witch named Maleficent. Emma was our best chance of returning to our real home, but she's not our only chance. You can help us. You can help all of us return to where we belong, and we ask that you will help us. Please, Ms. Walker, please come to Storybrooke and help us.
Renee: (angry) What is this? This...is a joke. This is a sick joke.
Henry: No, it's all real. Please, you have to believe me.
Renee: How does your mom know me? And how does this woman know me?
Henry: Because she's The Blue Fairy. She said you're our last hope. Please, please you have to believe me.
Renee glares at Henry, not knowing how to express her anger and confusion. But she thinks about what she saw in the film, the wand that made curtains fly and create fireballs. She wonders why those men were chasing after her and the boy. Henry starts to cry seeing that Renee doesn't believe. Renee sighs heavily, having a weak spot for kids crying.
Renee: Stop crying, kid.
Henry: (crying) But you don't believe me, and now all my friends and family are going to die!
Renee: (sighs) Look, I'll tell you what. I'll take you to the nearest station, and someone there will-
A car comes crashing into the car Renee and Henry are in. The car flips over 4 times and lands on its tires, totally wrecked. Renee hears a ringing in her head, and she sees her world spinning. She glances over to the passenger seat and sees Henry unconscious and bleeding from his head.
Renee: (weakly) No...
Renee unbuckles herself and then unbuckles Henry. With her remaining energy, Renee gets out of the car with her gun at hand and stumbles over to the passenger side. She heaves Henry over her shoulder as people run over to her to ask if she's okay. Renee tries to run, but she immediately falls over dropping Henry. She looks up at the people surrounding her as her vision starts to go black. The last thing Renee sees is Henry on the ground unconscious and bleeding.
Renee slowly regains consciousness. Her eyes are still closed, but she hears talking all around her and the sound of a machine beeping constantly. She can tell she's in a hospital.
Nurse: Look doctor. I think she's awake. Her eyes are moving.
Doctor: Hello? Can you hear me?
Renee groans and slowly opens her eyes.
Doctor: (smiles) So you are awake. I'm Dr. Jones.
Renee: The boy...
Doctor: He's fine. He's right next to you.
Renee glances over and sees Henry in the bed next to her in the same state of condition she's in except he's not awake.
Doctor: He's alright. He's just sleeping. He actually woke up just a few hours ago, but we gave him a sedative to rest. We tried identifying you, but you didn't have anything on you except your gun.
Renee: Where am I?
Doctor: You're in a hospital in New York City.
Renee: Who...hit me?
Doctor: Well, unfortunately the people who crashed into you weren't so lucky. The 2 men died, and they didn't have any ID on them.
Renee: Was there something wrong with their car?
Doctor: I'm not sure. The police are looking into it now. But you need to rest. The accident cracked 3 of your ribs and dislocated a few of your joints in your knee and shoulder.
Renee: What about him?
Doctor: He was luckier than you. Just a mild concussion and a few bruises here and there. It's a miracle you two are alive.
The doctor smiles and walks out of the room to talk to the police. Renee looks back to Henry and remembers 9 months ago the very day that changed her entire life within just 24 hours. She remembers what happens in hospitals when there are people out there that want someone dead. She remembers how Dubaku was killed in the hospital, feared by his people that he would talk to the FBI to strike a deal. Renee worries that the people will be back to finish the job with her and Henry. The police then enter.
Policeman: M'am, do you mind if we ask you just a few questions about your accident?
Renee: N-No.
Policeman: What were you doing before the accident?
Renee: Well...I was, uh, just talking to the boy. And then...then a car crashed hard behind us.
Policeman: (nods) Earlier, there was a shooting at a shopping mall just within 5 miles of where your crash occurred. Do you think there's a link between these two events?
Renee: I...uh...I'm not sure.
Policeman: Were you in the shopping mall at the time of the shooting?
Renee: Y-Yes. I'm security there. Those men at the mall...do you think they were responsible for the car accident?
Policeman: We don't have anything decisive yet, m'am. Just trying to gather some information. I'll let you get some rest now. I'll see you again, m'am.
Renee watches the policeman leave her room. She limps to Henry's bedside and looks at the boy. She has a bad feeling that these men are chasing after Henry, and she feels compelled to keep this boy safe. Renee sighs and limps to the window, looking down at the street. She watches the people walking about, and she sees a car pull up. She sees 5 men getting out of the car, and her instincts kick in. She has a bad feeling in her gut. Renee quickly walks to Henry's side and shakes him awake.
Renee: Hey, hey, wake up.
Henry: (wakes up) Renee, you're okay.
Renee: Get up, kid. We need to go.
Henry: What do you mean-
Renee: We're being chased. Now get out of bed.
Henry quickly gets out of bed, and Renee throws him his clothes.
Renee: Get dressed. We can't get out of here wearing our hospital gowns.
Henry and Renee change back into their clothes as fast as they can through their injuries, and Renee motions for Henry to follow her. He grabs his backpack and follows Renee out of the room.
Doctor: Uh, excuse me, m'am. Where do you think you're going?
Renee: Please, some men are here-
Another shooting happens, and Henry screams as the doctor is shot before his very eyes, falling to the floor dead. Renee uses the doctor's body as a shield to protect her and Henry. Renee grabs Henry's hand, and they make a run for it. Even though Renee is in a tremendous amount of pain from moving so much through her injuries, she's dedicated to keeping Henry safe from harm and to take him home. They run down the stairs as fast as they can, and the door to the first floor opens. The man looks at Renee and Henry as if he recognizes them, and as he reaches out for his gun Renee punches the man in the face and arm. The man drops his gun, and Renee picks it up. She shoots the man twice in the chest and kicks him out of her way. Renee grabs Henry's hand again, and they continue running to the parking lot. Renee looks around for any car driving, and she sees one. She quickly runs up and points the gun to the driver like she did at the mall.
Renee: Get out of the car now!
The driver comes running out of his car, and Henry runs to the car as if he's used to this. Renee jumps into the car and immediately drives off. She doesn't stop even when she gets onto the highway heading north towards Maine.
Renee: You okay, kid?
Henry: Yeah, I'm fine. Are you?
Renee: Yeah.
Henry: My name's Henry by the way. You...kill a lot of people, don't you?
Renee looks at Henry, unable to answer or justify her killings.
Henry: Do you think they're following us?
Renee: (glances in rear-view mirror) I don't know. Alright, how do we get to Storybrooke?
Henry: Just stay on this highway.
Henry looks back to see if anyone's following them.
Renee: Are we clear?
Henry: Yeah.
Renee: Good. And I hate to break it to you, Henry, but I think those men are after you.
Henry: Yeah, they probably are.
Renee: Why?
Henry: Because of Storybrooke.
Renee: Your town?
Henry: Yeah. My town is...kind of a magical place.
Renee: (scoffs) Yeah, with an evil queen that cursed it, right?
Henry: Right. My mom, Emma, I brought her to Storybrooke because she was the only one that could break the curse. For a long time, she didn't believe, but she ended up breaking the curse when she finally believed. And then she died. I thought everything would be okay once the curse was broken. It kinda was cus everyone remembered who they were, but no one can leave Storybrooke or else they'll forget their past. So The Blue Fairy told me to find you. She said you were our last hope.
Renee: So tell me, what kinda...curse was this?
Henry: The evil queen wanted to ruin Snow White and Prince Charming's-
Renee: Wait, wait, wait. Snow White and Prince Charming?
Henry: Please, just listen to me. The evil queen wanted to ruin Snow White and Prince Charming's happiness, so she put a curse on everyone in the Enchanted Forest. They all woke up in Storybrooke and couldn't remember who they were. See.
Henry takes out his storybook from his backpack, and Renee glances at it.
Renee: What is that?
Henry: It's my book. It tells you the story about everyone's past lives in here. Snow White, Prince Charming, Belle...
Renee: All the Disney people, huh?
Henry: All the fairy tales.
Renee: So all these characters in fairy tales, they live in Storybrooke with you?
Henry: That's right.
Renee: So Belle, Cinderella, uh...Hansel and Gretel...and King Arthur? They all live with you?
Henry: Uh, no, not King Arthur. But yeah, everyone else.
Renee: Huh, so no King Arthur. Well, that kinda ruins things, doesn't it?
Renee glances at Henry with a raised eyebrow, and he laughs. Renee smiles weakly, unable to believe everything she's hearing, but then she remembers the video she saw of The Blue Fairy performing magic before her eyes.
Renee: So where do I come into play in all of this?
Henry: Wait...do you...really believe me?
Renee: Uh, (sighs) I can't say I do. But I'll decide for myself when I check out your town.
Henry: (smiles) Really? Thanks!
Renee: Yeah well, besides, I promised I'd keep you safe, right? You'll be safest at home.
Henry: Actually, my home's not really safe because of all the magic. And my mom...the evil queen...she likes to use magic. But she's changing.
Renee: Changing?
Henry: Yeah. She said she's trying to change for me. She...really cares about me.
Renee: So how evil is the queen now?
Henry: She used to be really mean to Emma all the time because Emma is my real mom. But you're not my mom, so maybe she'll be nicer to you.
Renee: Okay, back to my other question, where do I come into play in all of this?
Henry: Well, I don't really know. You're not in the stories here. I don't really know who you are.
Renee: You know my name.
Henry: Yeah, but I meant in this book. It doesn't mention you.
Renee: Maybe you haven't gotten to my chapter yet.
Henry: Hm, maybe. I guess I should try finishing the book first.
Renee: Yeah, maybe.
After driving for many hours, Henry leads Renee to Storybrooke. For the first time in a few hours, Renee hears another car on the road. Renee looks in the rear-view mirror and sees an SUV coming up behind her. Renee keeps her eyes on the SUV and back at the road, and her eyes stick to the SUV when it's speeding towards her.
Renee: Buckle up, kid. Someone's chasing us again.
Henry gasps and looks back, seeing the SUV gaining on them. Renee floors the car, and Henry grabs onto his seat belt.
Henry: You just gotta make it past the Welcome sign.
Renee: What?!
Henry: Trust me. They can't get past the Welcome to Storybrooke sign. Mr. Gold put a spell on it so that people who don't belong in Storybrooke can't get through.
Renee doesn't answer that, not even understanding what Henry is talking about. Renee sees the Welcome to Storybrooke sign, and her heart starts beating fast. She drives past the sign, and she hears a loud crash behind her. Renee looks into the rear-view mirror to see the SUV has crashed right where the sign is. She starts to slow down and looks at Henry looking into the side mirror, smiling.
Henry: Told ya they can't make it through.
Renee: What-what happened? Why couldn't they get through?
Henry: I told you, Mr. Gold's spell. People outside of Storybrooke can't make it in.
Renee: But what about me?
Henry: You're a part of Storybrooke.
Renee: God! Kid...
Renee tries to keep it to herself, not wanting to blow up in front of a child. She continues to drive into the quaint little town late at night.
Henry: Up here. You can park here.
Renee parks in front of a nunnery. She looks at it and Henry runs into the nunnery. Renee follows him inside limping. The pain is much worse than when she was in the hospital. Renee looks around at the nuns staring at her disheveled appearance and limping motions. The nuns all whisper to themselves, staring at Renee.
Henry: Come on, Renee.
Henry motions for Renee to follow him, and she does. He knocks on a door, and a woman comes to open it slightly. She sees Renee and then looks down to see Henry.
Mother Superior: (relieved) Henry!
Henry: I found her, Mother Superior!
The head nun opens the door, and Henry walks inside.
Mother Superior: (looks at Renee and smiles) I'm Mother Superior.
Renee: Renee.
Renee gives a strong handshake, surprising Mother Superior. She lets Renee into her office and closes the door behind her.
Mother Superior: So...it looks like you had a rough night.
Renee: (scoffs) Yeah, just a few cracked ribs and dislocated joints. But I've had worse.
Mother Superior: I can fix you up in a jiffy. Lay down, Renee.
Renee eyes Mother Superior.
Mother Superior: (smiles) Go ahead. I won't bite.
Renee lies down on the sofa, and Mother Superior takes out her blue wand, the same one Renee saw on the video. Mother Superior makes a whirling motion with her wand, and sprinkles of sparkles flow out through the tip and land on Renee. Renee looks up at Mother Superior, shocked that she feels 100% healthy in just one second.
Mother Superior: (smiles) There. Don't you feel better?
Renee sits up and doesn't know what to say. She actually experienced magic, real magic that healed her injuries as if she never had the injuries in the first place.
Mother Superior: Regina's been going crazy ever since Henry left Storybrooke, but I reassured her he was in safe hands.
Renee: Regina?
Mother Superior: Yes, Henry's stepmother. She's the mayor of this town.
Renee: Oh, (looks at Henry) didn't think it was important to tell me your evil stepmother is also the mayor?
Henry smiles sheepishly.
Mother Superior: Please, have some tea. There's much we have to discuss, Renee.
Renee: Yeah, yeah I think so too. This curse...magic in this town...Snow White and Prince Charming...it's...all real?
Mother Superior: Yes. It took Emma too long to believe and when she did, it was too late. We can't have that happen to you, Renee. You're our last hope.
Renee: Last hope for what?
Mother Superior: To help all of us get back home to where we belong, the Enchanted Forest.
Renee sighs heavily. She puts her hands to her head, frustrated at everything she's listening to.
Mother Superior: I know this is hard to hear, but please, Renee. We need your help. That's what you do, isn't it? Help people when they're in trouble?
Renee: (looks at Mother Superior) What do you know about me?
Mother Superior: I know you worked in the FBI under Larry Moss who you were romantically involved with until a man named Tony Almeida murdered him in cold-blood. You were dishonorably discharged the day after the White House was assaulted by General Juma for...personal reasons. You interrogated a man named Alan Wilson with methods that are deemed unethical all because you believed in the ends, not the means. Something you learned that same day by a man named Jack Bauer.
Renee eyes Mother Superior suspiciously as Henry listens to everything. Mother Superior is talking about information the public doesn't even know, and she knows there's no way Mother Superior could've gotten this information from any news source.
Mother Superior: I know you fell into a deep depression after losing your job and the man you loved. You even tried to commit suicide, but Jack Bauer saved you when he found your wrists slit open. You felt suffocated being around this man, so you moved away and still to this day refuse to answer his phone calls. And I know you've been working at a security firm in New York. How else did you think Henry could find you?
Renee: You sent Henry to find me?
Mother Superior: I didn't send him. He went on his own.
Renee: ...what do you want from me?
Mother Superior: To help us get back home.
Renee: Listen. I...I'm not a hero. I can't help you. I don't know how.
Mother Superior: The first step is to believe.
Renee: Believe what?
Mother Superior: That you are our last hope.