An elevator opened to reveal Detective Rogers. He made his way across the dimly lit room to a locked door.
He glanced over at the keypad for a few moments before an idea struck him. He pulled the fire alarm, and the ringing echoed throughout the space.
The keypad then beeped, which opened the door. Rogers walked inside, and he immediately made his way over to a table with various objects strewn about.
He soon found an evidence bag with a hook inside; he studied it for a moment before he tossed it aside.
Rogers then noticed a file on an adjacent table, and he picked it up. The file had a picture of Victoria Belfry paper clipped to the front of it. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a metal box; he opened it to reveal other files.
He pulled out a file on Ivy and flipped through it before he looked through the other tanned folders, finding files on the man he believed had a connection to Eloise, one on himself, as well as one on Sabine.
"What are you doing, Weaver?" Rogers wondered aloud, his partner's actions making less and less sense.
Rogers decided to follow his instincts and question Sabine. He found her at she and Jacinda's food truck, as she carried a tote full of supplies.
" "Rollin' Bayou." Look at that," he began, causing Sabine to look at him and smile. She placed the tote down before he commented, "The little lady's, uh, prettied up since her impound days," and he couldn't help but smile.
"Yep, she's nearly ready for the big ball," Sabine proudly told him, glancing back at the yellow and blue truck. She then focused back on the detective and asked, "So, did you just come here to compliment my work?"
His smile faltered as explained, "Not just. Uh, I have to follow up on the Cluck's fire," as he pulled a notepad from his back pocket.
"That's weird. Detective Weaver followed up the other day," Sabine commented, her arms crossed over her chest.
"We're working different shifts. I don't want to bother him on his day off. Maybe you can just fill me in on what you told him," Rogers said, as he opened the notepad.
Gesturing with her hand, she began, "He told me about the alley door that was jimmied with a knife. I don't know. He said they found it in a dumpster. He asked me if I recognized it."
"Did you?" the detective then interjected.
"No. Believe me, I would remember a knife like that," Sabine continued before he asked, "Can you describe it?"
"Actually, I'll do you one better," she said before she closed the distance between them and took the notebook from him. She then began drawing as she explained, "If I'm gonna be honest, it didn't exactly feel like the ideal item to jimmy a door with. It was more like a - something out of a Tim Burton movie."
She then handed the notepad back to Rogers, and her illustration revealed a wavy knife. She then finished, "Detective Weaver practically shoved it into my hands. He kept asking if I felt anything."
Sabine then glanced back at the picture and curiously questioned, "What's this all about, anyway?"
"I don't know. But I'm gonna find out," Rogers told her, determination etched across his features and in his tone.
Weaver pulled his car to a stop, and the engine turned off. He and Victoria made their way inside a building that read "MAUSOLEUM" and featured a gated entrance.
The detective glanced behind them at the street before they began making their way downstairs. Weaver then spotted a car that seemed to be watching them.
He then shared, "You know we're being followed, been with us since the police station."
Victoria then matter-of-factly stated, "I'm aware. I'm not concerned. There's a plan for those two."
They then entered into a room inside the mausoleum, where Weaver then smashed one of the tombs with a crowbar. Curiously, no coffin rested inside.
Weaver then commented, "I was rather expecting a body." With a small, yet triumphant smile, Victoria told him, "Hmm. Glad I can still get one over on Rumplestiltskin."
They then slid out the tray, and Victoria grabbed her purse before they moved the tray back inside the tomb.
Victoria then unzipped the purse, and she began to rifle through it, causing Weaver to question, "You're planning a trip?"
She looked at him as she explained, "No. Inside here is all I need to awaken Anastasia."
The detective then surmised, "You seem to be jumping through a lot of hoops to reunite with one daughter when the other waits just outside," gesturing with his hand.
Victoria forcefully zipped up her purse and seemed rather annoyed at his observation before he continued, "I had a son who thought as little of me as Ivy does of you. But I never stopped trying to make things right with him."
"Good for you," she then stated, the annoyance clearly present in her tone as she believed that he received that chance at a reunion.
He then told her, "My son Bae meant the world to me. And I lost him."
Victoria sighed before she pointedly told him, "Don't compare your grief to mine. You have no idea what I've been through."
She then began to walk away when he came to stand in front of her.
Weaver took her wrists in her hands and noticed the scars from the handcuffs. He then spoke, "Oh, but you see, Rapunzel, I do. And I know what it's like to seek reunion. There are costs involved.
"And wouldn't you have paid them?" Victoria then posed. He then admitted, "I did. And then some," before he let go of her wrists and stepped back.
"Well, then, you know I can't stop. Not now that I finally have a way," she told him. As she began to walk away once more, Weaver stopped her again.
He then reminded her: "If you have what you need, where's the information you promised me on The Guardian?"
Victoria then assured him, "Oh, you'll get it once Anastasia's awake." She paused briefly before she stated, "And for the record, that girl out there," motioning with her head, "hasn't been my daughter for a very long time."
New Enchanted Forest, Many Years Ago
At Marcus and Cecilia's manor, indistinct conversations take place among a group of people. A place card on a table revealed they are gathered to celebrate Drizella's birthday.
Classical music played amid the chatter as Rapunzel, wearing a rather disheartened expression, served punch to the guests.
Cecilia then walked over and told her, "You are amazing. You make the best lavender lemonade north of the bayou," as she wore a smile.
"Marcus mentioned they were your favorite," Rapunzel simply replied.
"Well, as nice as they are, why are you working today? It's your daughter's birthday.
You should be celebrating," Cecilia offered, placing a hand on the blonde's arm. She then glanced elsewhere and spoke, "Excuse me," before she walked away.
Marcus then approached Rapunzel and spoke, "She's trying, you know." An expression of sympathy appeared as she conceded, "I do."
The two of them then looked over at the present table to see Ella, Anastasia, and Drizella laughing as Cecilia joined them.
Marcus then surmised, "You see how well the girls get along? Maybe us parents should take a cue from them," before he looked back at Rapunzel.
She then pointed out, "Marcus, she's looking after my two. I'm not looking after hers," a disappointed and ostracized tone taking over.
He sympathized, "I know you see it that way."
"I'm alone here," Rapunzel told him, and Marcus tried to reason, "You're really not. Our girls need you."
She then solemnly began, "I gave Drizella a gift," casting a gaze over to their daughters, "She didn't even smile."
Drizella then opened a present, which revealed a violin. She hugged Cecilia as she happily expressed gratitude: "Ohh! It's amazing, Mother! Thank you! Thank you!"
Marcus softly smiled as he looked on while Rapunzel wore a hurt countenance.
Carrying a tray in her hand, the blonde then walked inside, and her eyes welled up with tears. She grabbed a cup from the cabinet and marched into the next room, where she then threw the cup against the mirror, shattering it.
Rapunzel then noticed the red and white mushroom still perched on the mantle. She forcefully grabbed and stalked back into the kitchen.
She then squeezed a few drops from the mushroom into one of the glasses of lemonade sitting on the table.
Hyperion Heights, Present Day
The gate creaked as Ivy and Gothel made their way into the mausoleum, and they came upon Weaver leaned against a wall.
"Well, well, well. You certainly took your time," the detective offered, wearing a rather smug expression.
Ivy immediately questioned, "Where's Victoria?" a matter-of-fact tone to her voice.
Weaver answered, "Oh, your mother's long gone, princess," before the young woman crossed her arms. He then told her, "Piece of advice - next time you want to tail someone, learn how to do it better first."
"Come on. Let's get out of here," Ivy relayed to her companion, who then replied, "Run ahead, Drizella. Mother Gothel needs a moment."
The brunette then annoyingly stated, "Fine. Talk until the sun sets if you want." She then sauntered away.
Gothel then commented, "That one speaks too much."
"Indeed," Weaver agreed before he offered, "But she's really bought into your, um, maternal routine," which caused the witch to raise an eyebrow at him.
He then posed, "Why is it you call yourself "Mother Gothel"? I mean, y-y-you're no mother to them. And you're certainly no nun."
Gothel began circling him as she answered, ""Mother" means different things to different people. I tend to their needs, as I can tend to yours," stopping behind him.
Weaver chuckled before he told her, "I'm fine, thanks."
The witch then proceeded to needle him: "Are you? Because life seems to have you glum nowadays. I never thought I'd see a pout on the Dark One. Nor love in his heart."
The detective remained unaffected as he replied, "No, I suppose it's a time for firsts."
"How is Belle, by the way?" Gothel then questioned, which caused Weaver to spin around and face her.
He then sternly demanded, "Don't you dare…say her name," pointing a finger at her.
"Ooh, that struck a nerve," Gothel surmised. She then told him, "You know you're never getting back to her. Not on your own. But with me -"
Weaver interrupted her: "No, no. I don't serve anyone. There's nothing you can do to stop Belfry from waking Anastasia now."
"Rapunzel, Lady Tremaine, Victoria Belfry, whatever role she's assuming today - You neglected to ask her the cost of what she hopes to do. Why is that?" Gothel spoke, her tone a bit cryptic.
"Well, you tell me," the detective offered, and the witch obliged, "Reawakening Belfry's biddy is going to cost the loss of an innocent's belief."
Weaver's patience had grown thin as he then told her, "If you want to tell me something, why don't you just say it?"
Gothel answered him with a question: "Do you have any idea where your great-granddaughter is right now?"