Well, my dear Cora,
this is where we shall part ways.
Thank you for everything.
It's time for me to skin my crocodile.
You might want to rethink this.
We had a deal. Get out of my way.
Believe it or not, I'm doing you a favor.
By preventing my vengeance?
Ask yourself how I'm doing that.
By using your dark magic.
Exactly.
Magic is here,
and that makes matters a bit more complicated.
If you go off half-cocked after an empowered Rumplestiltskin,
do you know what'll happen?
So you do. Good.
You folks need anything?
Tackle shop don't open until morning,
but if you want to go out and try and snare
some of New England's finest pescatarian creatures,
I'd be happy to open early for ya.
No, thank you. We're fine.
It's a fine vessel you got there. When'd you get in?
What vessel?
Why that one right...
Hey, that's a neat trick.
You some kind of magician back in our land?
What did you do with my ship?
I hid it from prying eyes.
For what we both want to do, we need the element of surprise.
Now you ready to listen to me?
Go on, Your Majesty. What now?
Let's go have a little look at this Storybrooke.
Shall we?
What are you thinking?
Oh, that it's good to be back.
And what are you really thinking?
28 years is too long to wait between...
Hey. Guess what. Taco shells were on sale.
Apparently, tacos not a big item in the enchanted-
What are you guys still doing in bed? It's the middle of the afternoon.
The trip back was tiring, and I needed to rest.
And I needed to... Help her rest.
Uh, let's-let's go make the tacos.
We have to make a lot because there's gonna be a ton of people at Granny's
welcome back party tonight.
We thought you were gonna be back later.
Yeah, well, we weren't, so maybe next time you could
put a tie on the door or send a text or...
You know what? I'm... Gonna go make some tacos.
It's impressive that we can still provide her
with a few traumatic childhood memories at this stage of the game.
Come on.
My Queen, we've received word.
Snow White and the Prince have defeated King George.
His army has fallen. The kingdom is theirs.
And what of George?
His fate is unknown,
but without his forces, we are now alone.
We cannot defeat them.
Do not tell me what we can or can't do.
Where is Snow White now?
Alone, on her way back to meet the Prince.
Excellent.
I don't care how many men you lose.
Keep them apart long enough for me to find her.
I will not let them defeat me.
Leaving the battle so soon?
The battle's over, Regina.
Our army is too great.
You can't win.
Well, that all depends on your definition of victory.
I offer you parley
to negotiate the terms of your surrender.
My surrender?
Fair enough.
My terms are quite simple...
Your death.
Now!
It was all a trap.
You should've surrendered when I gave you the chance.
We knew you couldn't resist going after Snow.
And now because of your bloodlust, the kingdom is ours.
Your reign of evil is over.
I wasn't worried a bit.
I can tell.
Oh, we all missed you.
Tacos.
I cannot tell you the relief
of cooking something that I didn't have to kill first.
Don't I know it. Meat loaf back home? What a bitch.
I just wanted to, uh,
thank you all for joining us tonight.
Mary Margaret and I... We have a saying...
That we will always find each other,
and while I believe that with all my heart,
I'd like you all to raise your glasses and join me when I say,
here's to not having to look for a while.
To Mary Margaret and Emma.
Sorry I'm late.
What is she doing here?
I invited her.
We're celebrating today because of Regina.
She helped us get home.
No matter what she did in the past, we owe her our thanks now.
Didn't you think to tell us about it?
I did, but you two were a little busy this afternoon.
Emma, she tried to kill us, yesterday.
No, she didn't. She's trying to change for Henry.
He believes in her,
and right now that's enough for me.
I couldn't have changed if I wasn't given a chance, so...
She gets one, too.
I'm glad you came.
Me, too.
Oh, I made a lasagna.
What's the secret ingredient? Poison?
Red pepper flakes.
Gives it some kick.
Yeah.
Archie made a cake.
You don't want to stay for a piece?
I'm fine. Thank you.
Okay.
Thank you.
You just said that.
For inviting me.
Henry wanted it.
I'm glad you guys got to spend some time together.
Me, too.
I'd like to see him more.
Maybe you'd consider letting him stay over some time.
I have his room just...
Just waiting for him.
I'm not sure that's best.
Because you know so much about parenting
in the five minutes you've been with him.
Talk to David.
At least he took care of him while you were away,
like I did, during the ten years you were away the first time.
Okay.
Thanks for coming.
No. Wait. I'm sorry.
Emma, I'm sorry.
Snapping at you- I shouldn't have done that.
Will you accept my apology?
Okay.
You're right.
Archie said you were trying to change,
and, well,
you are.
Dr. Hopper said I was trying?
He said you came to see ht to us,
that you're trying to be a better person.
You understand, I was hesitant to invite you.
I asked him, and he thought it was a good idea.
Thank you. It was.
I should be going.
Well, is she broken?
Not yet.
Beautiful day, isn't it, Regina?
Why should I answer you, bug?
Because I'm making friendly conversation.
That you'll just repeat to anyone with an ear.
You told Ms. Swan about our sessions.
I was simply trying to help you.
By betraying my trust?
I- I mentioned only that you had come to see me
as an example of your commitment to change.
I came to you in confidence.
How am I supposed to prove to people I've changed
when you're there to chirp in their ears and remind them of my past?
I said nothing specific. I would never
betray the doctor-patient confidentiality.
Doctor?
Need I remind you got your PhD from a curse?
Is everything okay here?
Private conversation. Go take yourself for a walk.
I can be trusted.
I assure you.
You're lucky I've changed.
I fear the Queen will never change.
We must dispense justice.
Agreed.
What are our options?
How about giving me five minutes alone with her and my axe?
She's still restrained, right?
Yes.
But the magic that we used to capture her
will only keep her powerless for a short while.
How about banishing her to another realm?
We can't.
It would be unconscionable to condemn another realm
to the suffering that we've endured.
Jiminy's right.
She's our problem, and we have to deal with her.
And only one thing is certain...
As long as the Queen lives, the kingdom is in danger.
Are you saying...
yes.
We must kill the Queen.
Thank you all.
Are you sure this is what we must do?
What choice do we have?
As long as she draws breath, she will come after us, after you.
There's always a choice.
You stopped me from killing her once.
Took an arrow to save her.
Why is this different?
I took that arrow to save your life, not hers.
That was an assassination.
This is an execution.
If we don't stop her now,
there's no telling what she'll live to do.
I know it's late, but I was hoping we can talk.
Sure. Come on in.
Hush, Pongo. You know Regina.
I know how hard it is.
Real change can often be a struggle.
I couldn't agree more.
Regina, is there something...
So what was it like over there?
Well, let's see.
There were ogres,
the dead rising,
people trying to kill me.
And more ogres.
Awesome.
Kid, we gotta work on your sense of awesome.
Come on. It's time for school. I'll walk you to the school bus.
It's okay. I can go on my own.
I know that you can. That doesn't mean that you should.
David let me.
Well, I'm not David.
You used to let me.
Well, I am not me.
I'm walking you, because that's what mothers do,
and I'm doing it.
Hey, Pongo.
It's okay.
Where's Archie?
Emma, something's wrong.
How do you know?
Never mind. The wolf thing.
You know what? 11 is old enough to walk to the bus stop.
- I'll pick you up later. - Okay.
Archie?
Oh, hell.
What? What is it?
Archie.
No. No.
Who would do this?
I think I know.
You have a visitor.
Daddy.
This is all my fault.
I failed you as a father.
I should have done more to protect you. Can you ever forgive me, child?
There's no need.
How could I blame the one I love most?
The only one to stand by me
to the end.
It doesn't have to be the end.
Snow and her Prince seem rather determined to make it so.
Show them regret for what you've done,
the pain you've caused.
Show them you can change.
They will spare you. Just give them a reason.
I beg of you.
Glad to see the sheriff's station's now a family business.
Why am I here?
You know why you're here.
Because of Archie.
Oh, it's now against the law to get into an argument with someone?
It is if you go to their office later that night and kill 'em.
Archie's dead?
Stop it, Regina.
Ruby saw you going into his office last night.
Then she's lying. I was home all evening.
After everything I've done to change,
to win Henry back,
why would I toss it all away now?
And if I did and I was going to kill Archie,
you would never know it.
The fact that he's dead and you "caught" me shows sloppiness.
You've been caught before.
Come on, Emma. Who do you think's lying-ruby or her?
She's incapable of change,
no matter how many times we've given her the chance.
Why should this time be any different?
Regina, this is your opportunity
to meet your end with a clear conscience.
Do you have any last words?
Yes. Yes, I do.
I know I'm being judged for my past,
a past where I've caused pain,
a past where I've inflicted misery,
a past where I've...
Even brought death.
When I look back at everything I've done,
I want you all to know what I feel,
and that is...
Regret.
Regret that I was not able to cause more pain...
Inflict more misery,
and bring about more death.
And above all else, with every ounce of my being,
I regret that I was not able to kill...
Snow White!
Arrows!
Take your aim.
Fire! Stop!
Snow.
This is not the way.
Snow.
Take her back to her cell.
So what do we do with her now?
Lock her up.
We can't lock her up because she didn't do it.
You really believe her?
I watched her when we told her Archie was dead.
She didn't know.
Emma, I know that you want to believe that Regina can change for Henry, but...
I know what I saw.
Look at her in there.
I don't...
The old Regina would've reduced this building to ashes.
That's a woman who wants to change. She just wants everyone else to see it.
I know that look.
I know her.
I believe her.
With all due respect, you don't know her like we do.
Maybe that's the problem.
I know in your kingdom, she was the evil Queen,
but here, she's Regina.
And I'm still the sheriff,
and I say she's innocent until proven guilty.
So...
Uh, what do you suggest we do?
Let her go.
Emma, she- We let her go,
and then we find the truth.
Snow, I thought we agreed what had to be done.
Instead you show the Queen mercy?
She doesn't deserve it.
You heard her. She's completely unrepentant.
What I heard was
a woman who didn't want to appear weak in her final moments.
I've seen her kill. I've seen her terrorize.
Every moment I've seen of her has been one of evil.
Exactly. That you've seen.
But I knew her before.
I knew her when she was good.
She saved my life when I was a little girl.
That was years ago.
She changed before.
Why can't she change back?
You can't be serious.
You want to rehabilitate the Queen?
Maybe showing her mercy is the first step.
But if you fail, the entire safety of the kingdom is at stake.
We cannot take that risk.
You're so sure of her black soul?
Sure enough to kill?
Because there's no going back from killing.
If you think this is the right thing to do,
then it's what we shall do.
But know that your path is one that we cannot come back from either.
My, my. Aren't we troubled, dearie?
Rumplestiltskin.
What brings you here?
You have to ask?
I came to witness the Queen's execution.
Even had my heart set on a wee souvenir.
It's all very disappointing.
I won't apologize for sparing her life.
Not when there's a chance she might change.
Regina redeemed...
What a novel thought.
And...
how do you plan to
accomplish such an impressive feat?
I don't even know if it's possible.
I'm probably just fooling myself.
Maybe you need someone to show you that it is possible.
What do you mean?
Simple.
I provide you with a test
to help determine whether the Queen can truly change.
Why would I trust you when I know you want the Queen dead?
You never make a deal without a price.
Maybe I just want her alive.
That I doubt.
Question my motives all you like, dearie,
but they shall remain mine.
What is yours now
is opportunity.
I can help you.
Do we have a deal?
Regina's file...
It's empty.
She did it.
She killed the kindest soul in this town,
a man who only cared about helping.
I promise we'll find whoever really did this.
Isn't it time you admit we already have?
Regina had a fight with Archie,
ruby saw her outside last night, and now her file is empty.
That's... That's a lot of evidence.
Maybe that's the point. What do you mean?
Well, I don't know how it is in fairy tale land,
but in the real world, it's usually hard to find evidence.
But this has been way too easy,
unless someone wants us to find evidence.
So you think she was framed?
Well, it wouldn't be the first time that happened in this town.
Who would want to frame her?
That's a long list, present company included.
Yeah. But there's only one name on that list
that would resort to killing to get what they want.
Oh, well, that looks delicious.
Thank you very much, belle.
Nothing warms the heart more than a family reunited.
You have your mother's chin, Ms. Swan.
We know that you killed him.
And your father's tact.
Someone's dead?
Dr. Hopper.
Why on earth would you think I had anything to do with that?
Because all the evidence points to Regina.
And she's not possibly capable of doing something so vile?
It's a frame job.
It wouldn't be the first time you used someone to try to hurt her.
Nice to see your memory's still intact, dearie,
but this time, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to disappoint you.
It wasn't me.
Why should we believe you?
Because I can prove it. Ask the witness.
No one was there.
Well, that's not strictly true, now is it?
Hey, boy. Good boy.
Good boy. Good boy.
I, uh, I didn't know you were such a dog person.
Well, a long time ago, in another life,
I got to know a sheepdog or two.
That's fascinating.
But unless you speak dog, how is Pongo gonna tell us anything?
Through magic, of course.
It won't allow us to communicate,
but it will allow us to... Extract his memories.
Extract?
You don't have to worry. He won't feel a thing.
Why should we trust you?
Couldn't you just as easily use magic to fool us?
Because I'm not gonna be the one using magic.
You are.
Me?
How?
You have it within you.
Told me so yourself.
You witnessed it, didn't you?
Emma, you don't have to do this.
If it tells us something about Archie's death, so be it.
Now...
Do you know what this is?
A dream catcher.
Well...
It's capable of catching so much more.
What is that?
Memories.
Now Ms. Swan...
You show us how.
How? It's just a jumble.
Will it.
Will it,
and we shall all see.
I can't.
Yes, you can.
Emma...
You're doing it.
Regina.
No!
You were right all along.
I'm sorry, Emma.
- Emma. Wait. Where are you going? - To get Regina.
Well, can we talk about this?
What's there to talk about? She killed Archie. Now she's gotta pay.
Emma, how do you plan on doing that? She has her powers back here.
Yeah, well, you just saw what happened. So do i.
Yeah. You have something,
but you didn't even know what the hell to do with it,
and now you're gonna go take on the most powerful woman in town?
Excuse me. Weren't you both the ones who've been pushing
on the "it's Regina" kick the whole time?
You should be happy you were right.
We may be right, but I also know that going after her
without a plan is a mistake.
So what do we do?
Even if the dwarfs construct a cell to hold her,
we need a way to contain her magic until then.
Fairy dust.
Leroy said they were processing a new batch of it.
- Will that stop her power? - It has before.
The problem is, she'll see us coming.
Leave that to me.
Trust me, we're locking her up.
Your highness.
Leave us, please.
But I have direct orders from the Prince...
And now you have direct orders from me.
First you stop my execution,
and then you defy your husband to see me.
Should I be worried there's trouble in paradise?
I'm not here to talk about my fiance.
Then why are you here?
I know you weren't always like this, Regina.
The woman who saved my life all those years ago
had good in her.
That woman lost much,
and now she's gone.
Maybe.
But as hard as you've tried to bury her,
I think she's still inside you.
No, she's not.
All you need...
Is someone to help you let her out.
What are you doing?
I'm letting the woman who saved my life go.
This is a chance to start fresh, Regina,
to leave the evil behind in this cell.
Just like that?
Just like that.
You make change sound so easy.
Did you really think this would protect you?
Since I can't use magic,
I can think of no better way
than to kill you with the blade you had meant for me.
Good-bye, Snow White.
No.
Yes.
No.
That's impossible.
No. That's magic.
And this time, it wasn't thanks to fairies.
Rumplestiltskin.
He took one of your hairs from this
and used it to fashion a protection spell.
Now there's nothing you can do in this land to hurt Snow or me.
You're powerless against us.
You tricked me.
It wasn't a trick.
It was a test,
one that I had truly hoped you'd pass.
We wanted to give you a chance to change, Regina.
Regina, you are banished...
Banished to live alone with your misery.
As long as you're alive in this world,
you can't hurt us.
You saved my life once,
and now I've saved yours.
So we're even.
And if you ever try to hurt anyone in my kingdom again,
I will kill you.
Ms. Swan.
I assume you're here to apologize.
I saw you do it.
What?
I saw it.
You choked the life out of Archie.
What are you talking about? How is that even possible?
Magic.
You...
I saw what happened, and it was you.
Gold.
He helped you.
You're going to trust him, of all people,
when he's probably the one behind this?
We didn't trust him.
That's why Emma used magic instead.
You can use magic.
The savior. Of course.
Well, I can only assume he warned you, then.
About what?
That magic always comes with a price.
Yeah? Well, that's a price we're both gonna pay.
How's that?
Henry.
He believed in you.
His heart's gonna break.
That's both our prices.
No.
I will not let you poison Henry against me.
It's an interesting word choice,
since you already did.
I want to see him.
He deserves to hear my side of the story! He's my son!
He's not! He's mine!
And after this, you're not getting anywhere near him.
Do it!
Did you really think that would work again?
You...
You will not keep my son from me.
So much for fairy dust.
Maybe some of your newfound magic can save you now.
I don't need it.
I already won.
There is no way Henry will swallow your lies
about Archie now.
You can pretend all you want, but we know how you are
and who you will always be.
Henry's bus is gonna be here any minute.
You can do this. Tell my son
that someone he loved was killed by someone else he cares about?
I don't know if I can.
Yeah, I don't think I can do any of this.
This is like real parent stuff.
How can I be a parent if I never was one?
I know. I've been asking myself the same question.
Oh, no.
You guys don't have to- It's different.
No, it isn't. And yes, we have to.
We can figure it out. So can you.
You don't know me.
You don't know what I was before Storybrooke.
And trust me, I was not parent material.
Yeah, but we know who you are since you've been here.
What if I revert? Regina did.
You're not going to. And the Emma I know was great with Henry.
I was his parent for five minutes.
And I was yours for five minutes, too,
but things are different now, for all of us.
"We don't have to go through any of it alone.
We're family."
Go on. Have a good day.
Emma.
- I told you I could walk myself. - I know.
Something happened, and...
I want you to hear it from me first.
What is it?
Come here.
You have a visitor.
Who?
You need to ask?
What other friends do you have, dearie?
You're no friend.
Have you come to relish my suffering?
I thought you'd want someone to help raise your spirits.
Especially on a day like today.
What's so special about today?
Snow White and Prince Charming's wedding, of course.
Didn't you get an invitation?
Me neither.
Still,
nice to be able to see them declare their twoo love
in front of their entire kingdom.
A happy ending after all.
And because of you, there's nothing I can do to stop it.
No way to harm them in this land ever again.
Yes.
Yes, I suppose that's true...
In this land.
What?
The deal I made was explicit.
You can never harm them in this land.
Now were you to bring them to another land...
Well...
Told you I was your friend.
Father?
Bring my carriage.
I have a wedding to get to.
You're back.
So did you get what you wanted?
Yes.
My daughter's lost everything now.
Ah. Well, aren't you mom of the year?
I did what was needed.
What about what I need?
You promised you'd help me get my revenge on Rumplestiltskin.
And I've already started.
Or didn't you notice the little gift I left you
in the hold of your ship?
A gift?
What is it?
Not "what."
"Who."
Who's that?
Someone privy to Storybrooke's deepest secrets,
including Rumplestiltskin's,
someone who can help us determine his weaknesses here.
Can't you, Dr. Hopper?
If that's him, then who did you kill?
How do I know? It's my first day in town.
You disguised the body to look like him.
If death wasn't punishment enough...
Marvelous work.
Thank you.
Now you'll have all the knowledge you'll need.
It may take some work...
But this cricket will chirp.
Aye.
That he will.