ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. BABA YAGA'S HUT – DAY
Baba Yaga sets down the empty teacup with a CLATTER.
BABA YAGA
Expect my return when the sky grows dark. If you've not finished every last chore, the deal is off.
Baba Yaga exits the hut.
CHARMING
Well, I guess we'd better—
A great RUMBLE. Then the hut LURCHES upwards. Snow and Charming are both thrown off balance and fall to the floor.
The movement stops. They get up. Charming goes to the window and looks out: the hut has risen back onto its feet. They are about a dozen feet up in the air.
CHARMING (CONT'D)
Why do I feel like a mouse that's just fallen into a trap?
SNOW WHITE
There's no point in worrying now. We should get to work.
They split. Snow White grabs a towel from the counter and Charming settles down next to the fire with a pail.
EXT. THE WOODS – DAY
Regina and Emma walk back the way they came.
EMMA
How has Baba Yaga failed to show up on our radar before now?
REGINA
She always did value her privacy. I imagine she took the curse as an opportunity to be forgotten.
EMMA
So why now? Why not just pretend she wasn't home until Henry went away? Instead she kidnaps him and practically declares war. How does that make sense?
REGINA
Don't look at me for answers. Not all villains think alike, you know.
EMMA
(with the air of an epiphany)
Hey, how come you don't just magic us back into town, like you did with David and Mary Margaret?
REGINA
Too risky. I was able to carry them with me because they have no magic of their own. If I were to attempt the same with you, your magic might react badly to the intrusion of someone else's magic. It's safer to walk.
EMMA
In that case, you need to teach me that teleporting trick sometime.
REGINA
It's not a trick, it's a complicated and powerful spell. It would take you years of serious training to reach that level.
EMMA
Fine. Then I want to start those years of serious training now.
Regina shoots her a confused, are you stupid? glance.
EMMA (CONT'D)
Not right now, obviously. But as soon as this whole... mess is over with.
REGINA
Are you really that desperate to shorten your five-minute commute?
EMMA
I won't let this happen again. Knowing that my son is in danger and that I can't... Gold told me once that if I trained, my magic could be as powerful as yours. That's a lot of power.
REGINA
Not enough, as you saw quite clearly.
EMMA
More than I have now. And think, if we both had that power? Maybe we could've taken Baba Yaga head on. Maybe we'd already have Henry home safe.
REGINA
What you're suggesting will require a large commitment from us both. If you're serious about this, we can discuss it later. For now let's just concentrate on getting Henry back.
They continue walking, more purpose in their steps.
INT. BABA YAGA'S HUT – DAY
Snow wipes the last drops of water off a window. She goes to the table and swaps her towel for a rag. Charming is at the fireplace, cleaning out the ashes. Snow begins to dust.
SNOW WHITE
You know, I thought it would be harder than this. I expected her to send us on some dangerous quest. Instead she's got us doing her dishes and cleaning out her fireplace.
CHARMING
She did say this is only the first task.
SNOW WHITE (O.S.)
You're right, I shouldn't get my hopes up. There's still—
She exclaims loudly.
CHARMING
Snow!
He rushes to her side.
CHARMING (CONT'D)
Are you all right?
SNOW WHITE
I'm all right, look...
Charming follows her gaze down. She is holding a wooden DOLL.
CHARMING
It's just a doll. I don't—
Snow takes his fingers and places them on top of the Doll's chest. One HEARTBEAT thumps out. Charming's eyes widen.
Just then, the Doll's mouth opens and closes weakly.
SNOW WHITE
Should we feed her?
Charming shrugs helplessly.
SNOW WHITE (CONT'D)
Here, hold her for a minute.
She hands the Doll to Charming and walks off screen.
TIME CUT TO:
INT. BABA YAGA'S HUT – DAY
Charming holds the Doll while Snow tips water into her mouth from a cup. The Doll drinks. Snow tears a slice of bread into small bites and feeds a few to her.
The Doll sighs and smiles. Her painted eyes close for the first time. Charming and Snow share an uncertain look.
Snow sets the Doll down on the shelf. The Doll seems inanimate again. Snow and Charming return to their work.
EXT. MOE'S FLOWER SHOP – DAY
Emma and Regina emerge from the shop. Regina has a bouquet of red roses in hand. They stop on the sidewalk just outside the store.
REGINA
This should be easy enough, at least.
Focused on the roses, Regina waves a hand. Purple light—her magic—washes over them. When the purple clears, the roses have turned black.
Frowning, she tries again. More purple light. No change.
REGINA (CONT'D)
I don't understand.
EMMA
Here. Let me try.
Emma takes the bouquet. She puts her hand above the roses, a look of concentration on her face.
A stream of blue light passes over the bouquet. When it disappears, a few roses are red, the rest still black.
REGINA
This doesn't make any sense. Those roses should be blue!
EMMA
Yeah? Tell that to them.
REGINA
That isn't helping, Miss Swan. For whatever reason, our magic isn't working. We need a new plan.
EMMA
You know, maybe we don't have to do this alone.
REGINA
Meaning?
EMMA
Regina, we live in Fairytale Central. This town is brimming over with magical creatures. Someone might know something we don't. Let's ask for help.
REGINA
I suppose it can't hurt.
EMMA
Then come on. We're burning daylight.
They set off at a brisk pace.
INT. TOWN HALL – DAY
The hall is full of NOISE. The meeting has become far more chaotic. Mary Margaret looks worried. Leroy is on his feet, addressing the townspeople.
LEROY
I'm sick of always waiting around for the Big Bad Wolf to make its move.
(to Ruby)
No offense, sister.
ARCHIE
Then what would you have us do?
LEROY
We strike first. I say we take Baba Yaga and push her across the town line!
The crowd ROARS their approval. Many jump to their feet and/or CLAP. The crowd is becoming a MOB.
MARY MARGARET
Wait! We don't know the full extent of Baba Yaga's powers, we'd be going in blind. We need to wait and-
LEROY
Wait for what? For her to snatch up all the rest of the kids in town too?
Emma and Regina enter the hall unnoticed. They stop dead at the overwhelmingly loud CHEERS.
LEROY (CONT'D)
Let's find this witch and show her what happens when you threaten our town!
REGINA
You will do nothing of the sort.
The cheers cut off. Fear passes along every face. Regina marches up to Leroy, stares him dead in the eye, and then passes him. Emma follows. Leroy takes a seat.
REGINA (CONT'D)
No one will do anything to jeopardize my son's safety. Is that clear?
MARY MARGARET
Emma. Regina. What happened?
EMMA
Listen up, everyone. Baba Yaga has Henry, and we need your help to get him back.
GRANNY
You know each and every one of us would do anything for that boy.
RUBY
Just tell us what you need.
REGINA
Right now what we need is to make these roses blue. We've tried using magic, but for some reason-
Mother Superior stands up.
MOTHER SUPERIOR
Your magic won't work. Blue roses have a very special power: they can be used to extend life. Thus, only water from the Fountain of Life can create true blue roses.
EMMA
So where's this fountain?
MOTHER SUPERIOR
Fairy dust contains some of the same magical properties as the fountain. I can use some to create a trail that will lead you to it. Come with me.
Mother Superior leads Emma and Regina out of the room.
INT. MARY MARGARET'S APARTMENT – DAY
David holds a swaddled baby Neal in his arms. Killian sits on the stairs.
DAVID
Get over here, Hook. You're going to learn how to hold a baby.
KILLIAN
I know how to hold a baby, mate.
DAVID
Well it never hurts to practice, especially when you've got a hook instead of a hand.
Killian sighs. He gets up and goes to David. David carefully transfers Neal into Killian's arms.
DAVID
There we go. Now take this...
(he hands Killian a bottle)
...and feed him.
Killian makes a face, but does what he's been asked, mindful of his hook. For a moment all is quiet. Then-
DAVID (CONT'D)
So, should Mary Margaret and I be expecting grandchildren any time soon?
Killian jolts.
KILLIAN
Whoa, mate! That's not- That isn't- Emma and I have hardly begun dating. We're still far, far away from any thoughts of- of marriage or children.
David stares at him. He squirms under the scrutiny.
DAVID
All right.
David takes the bottle and goes to the fridge. There is an amused smile on his lips that Killian doesn't see. Killian looks relieved to have been let off so easily.
INT. BABA YAGA'S HUT – DAY
The light inside the hut has grown dimmer. Snow White peers out the window while Charming rearranges jars on a shelf.
SNOW WHITE
It's getting late.
Charming finishes his work and turns to Snow.
CHARMING
I've finished organizing the herbs alphabetically. We must be nearly done. What else was on her list?
SNOW WHITE
All that's left is to separate out the seeds from that pot of soil.
She points to a pot on a high shelf. Charming lifts it and another smaller (empty) pot down and sets them both on the table. They look inside the first.
CHARMING
These are poppy seeds. They're too small to possibly get them all out. Snow... it can't be done.
SNOW WHITE
She never meant for us to succeed. She was just playing a trick on us.
Snow sits down and drops her head into her hands.
A quiet noise makes them both turn and look. The Doll has stood up on her shelf. Now she climbs down, and jumps from the counter to the table. They stare at her in shock.
DOLL
Please don't be sad. You can rest now, and I will finish your work for you.
Snow and Charming share a glance. Having no better option, they step back and watch as the Doll hops inside the pot.
EXT. THE WOODS – DAY
Emma and Regina follow a trail of floating blue fairy dust that stretches through the woods in front of them. Soon they come upon:
EXT. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE – DAY – CONTINUOUS
A three-tiered stone fountain stands in a small clearing. A silver cup sits on a pedestal beside it. They rush to it.
Regina tries to stick the roses directly into the water, but strikes an invisible barrier around the fountain.
Emma looks at the silver cup and picks it up. While she holds it, her hand has no trouble approaching the fountain.
She dunks the cup in, but it comes out EMPTY. She tries again. Regina snatches the cup. She tries with as little success.
EMMA
Why isn't it working?
REGINA
Why do you think I know?
EMMA
You were the Evil Queen for God's sake! What's the point of all your magic and power if you don't have a clue what to do?
REGINA
I don't see you being much help, Savior. What, is the saving business suddenly too hard when the person in need of saving is your son?
They glare at one another. Emma forces herself to let out a breath and runs a hand through her hair.
EMMA
This isn't helping.
REGINA
No, it isn't.
EMMA
I just wish I knew what to do. What are we supposed to do, Regina?
Emma and Regina stare numbly at the fountain as the sun begins to sink beneath the horizon.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO