–[Fairy Tale Land – Past]–
(In a small castle in the forest, a group is strategizing around a large map on a table. The group is made up of Maurice, Belle, Gaston, and several knights. A knight enters the war room to deliver news.)
Knight: Sir, there's news from the battlefield. Avonlea has fallen.
Maurice: My gods.
Gaston: If only he had come.
Maurice: Well, he didn't, did he? Ogres are not men.
Gaston: We have to do something. We have to stop them.
Maurice: They are unstoppable.
Belle: He could be on his way right now, Papa.
Maurice: It's too late, my girl. It's just too late.
(There is a loud banging at the door.)
Belle: It's him. It has to be him.
Maurice: How could he get past the walls? Open it.
(Two knights remove the board blocking the door, and open it. They look out, but see no one there.)
Rumpelstiltskin: Well, that was a bit of a letdown.
(Rumpelstiltskin appears behind them, sitting in a chair.)
Rumpelstiltskin: You sent me a message. Something about, um, 'Help, help! We're dying! Can you save us?' Now, the answer is – yes, I can. Yes, I can protect your little town. For a price.
Maurice: We sent you a promise of gold.
Rumpelstiltskin: Ah... No. You see, um... I, uh, make gold. What I want is something a bit more special. My price...is her.
(Rumpelstiltskin points to Belle.)
Maurice: No.
Gaston: The young lady is engaged to me.
Rumpelstiltskin: I wasn't asking if she was engaged. I'm not looking for 'love' – I'm looking for a caretaker for my rather large estate. It's her, or no deal.
Maurice: Get out. Leave!
Rumpelstiltskin: As you wish.
(Rumpelstiltskin heads for the door, but stops when Belle yells out to him.)
Belle: No, wait.
(Belle approaches Rumpelstiltskin.)
Belle: I will go with him.
Gaston: I forbid it!
Maurice: No...
Belle: No one decides my fate but me. I shall go.
Rumpelstiltskin: It's forever, dearie.
Belle: My family, my friends – they will all live?
Rumpelstiltskin: You have my word.
Belle: Then, you have mine. I will go with you forever.
Rumpelstiltskin: Deal.
Maurice: Belle. Belle, you cannot do this. Belle, please. You can't go with this...beast.
(Rumpelstiltskin feigns offense.)
Belle: Father. Gaston. It's been decided.
Rumpelstiltskin: You know – she's right. The deal is struck. Oh! Congratulations on your little war.
–[Storybrooke]–
(Mr. French is unloading flowers out of his delivery van. Mr. Gold and another man are watching him from the sidewalk.)
YOU ARE READING
𝓞𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓤𝓹𝓸𝓷 𝓐 𝓣𝓲𝓶𝓮
FantasyFor bail bonds collector Emma Swan, life has been anything but a happy ending. But on the night of her twenty-eighth birthday, an encounter with twins claiming to be the son and daughter she gave up for adoption ten years earlier leads her to a town...
