Far Longer Than Forever

04

NEVERLAND

Felix escorted the prisoners, Neal and Odette, through the jungle as he said, "Feels like just yesterday I welcomed you to Neverland the first time, Baelfire. Gotta say, hoped I'd never see you again."

Odette glared, plotting a way to escape.

"Then maybe Pan shouldn't have taken my son," Neal retorted.

"Maybe you should've left well enough alone. "

"We're gonna get him back. "

"You really believe that? You were a lost boy. You know Peter Pan's not be to trifled with. You know how long he's been searching for the heart of the truest believer. Do you really believe he'll just... give him up?"

"Maybe, if I ask nicely."

Felix chuckled. "You may have grown up, Baelfire, but it would appear you have grown up stupid."

"I have grown up. I don't know if I'm stupid or not, but I do know I know how to tie an overhand knot. "

"Uhh!" He panted.

"I'm not a boy anymore, Felix. I sure as hell ain't lost. Nor is my friend."

THE ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST - BEFORE THE FIRST CURSE - RUMPELSTILTSKIN'S HOVEL

"Bae," Rumpelstiltskin called. "A present. Something to sharpen your coal with."

"Where did you get it?" Baelfire asked.

"Oh, from a man who no longer needed it."

"You mean taken from a man who couldn't pay you."

"Bae..."

"Papa, I told you, I don't want any more gifts from the people you terrorize." A thud sounded.

"Then what do you want? Tell me, son. What would make you happy?"

"Leaving this place. I'm tired of staying in this hovel all the time."

"Well, that's easy to fix. How about a castle, huh? I could build you a palace so magnificent its shadow would blanket the countryside."

"That's not what I mean. I wanna go out, have friends, see the world beyond these four walls. Papa, why can't you just trust me to do that?"

"I do trust you, Bae. It's... It's others that I can't. You see, I have many enemies beyond that door. And once you leave, any one of them could hurt you."

"You sure that's the only reason? Maybe what you're really worried about is if I leave, I might never come back."

"No, no. I... I... I'm worried about your safety. This is the best place for you. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you."

NEVERLAND - PRESENT

Mr. Gold put on war paint. A scraping sounded and a fire crackled.

"You always felt more comfortable behind a mask," Belle said.

"You were the only one who could ever see past it, past the mask of the monster," Mr. Gold told her.

"Then why put it back on now?"

"I need the monster, Belle. It's the only way I can save them. And that's what I've decided. I'm gonna save Henry."

"The prophecy states that Henry will be your undoing. To save him, you ensure your own death."

"You don't think I can do it?"

"I think your intentions are good. But a lifetime of craven self-interest is a nasty habit that you've never been able to break."