once upon a time: pilot s1:e1

chapter 18

In the Storybrooke Elementary School. Mary Margaret is holding a bird in her hand as she slowly weaved her way around the desks and to the window, she teaches a room full of students. Whi gaze up at her in awe. She focuses on the small little bird in her hand, smiling, showing her loving compassion for animals.

Mary Margaret just before she reaches the open window says "As we build our birdhouses, remember, what you're making is a home. Not a cage. A bird is free, and will do what it will. This is for them, not us. They're loyal creatures". She releases the bird, flying out the window; it flies up to a birdhouse and perches on a piece of wood. "If you love them and they love you, they will always find you. " she stares into space a little in deep thought. The Bell rings making her snap back to the present. The many students, including Henry, Rise to their feet.

"We'll pick this up after recess. No running! " a student walks to the front of the classroom and holds out a pear to her. She Accepts the pear from the student. "Why thank you! " she smiles as they leave the classroom moving past some figures stood in the doorway.

Regina enters the room raging. " Miss Mills, what are you doing here?" the confused teacher asks looking at Emma and then Regina. "Where's my son?" she spits. She was so worried about him but she was furious about her giving her son a book.
Mary Margaret stutters a little " Henry.. I assumed he was home with you." she says. She loved the boy as her own, he was an amazing student. She began to worry slightly and crumble slightly under the pressure Regina was laying on her.
Regina throws up her hands in frustration "You think I'd be here if he was? Did you give him your credit card so he can find her? " She gestures toward Emma who was standing just inside the doorway.
Mary Margaret looks at Emma and smiles a little awkwardly "I'm sorry, who are you?"
Emma had always struggled with this part. She shift forward a little hating that Regina would introduce her like this. But why wouldn't she. " I'm-I'm his-"
Regina rolls her eyes and finishes off the sentence for Emma clearly agitated that her son had run off again. "The woman who gave him up for adoption."

Emma walks forward nor more comfortable in what she was saying. She had to help this kid. "You don't know anything about this, do you?" she asks noticing Mary Margarets body language.
Mary Margaret shook her head honestly. " no, unfortunately not." she goes over to her bag and pulls out a purse. She looks inside to search for the credit card. She sighs smiling and then look back up st the two women in her class. " Clever boy. I should never have given him that book."
Reginas eyes looks like they were about to pop. She alternates her death stares between Emma swan and Mary Margaret Blanchard. "What in the hell is this book I keep hearing about?" she says furious.
Mary Margaret bites her lip to keep her from laughing. She focused on keeping a straight face, still worried about Henry. She shrugs and outs the purse into her bag again. "Just some old stories I gave him. As you well know, Henry is a special boy: so smart, so creative, and as you might be aware, lonely. He needed it." she leans forward on some parts of this line. Trying to prove to Regina that she was being honest.
Regina leans back and holds her head up high. "What he needs is dose of reality. This is a waste of time. Have a nice trip back to Boston." she says to both Emma and Mary Margaret with venom in her voice. She walks out in a huff, knocking over a stack of books on the way.

Emma kneels down besides Mary Margaret and starts to help her pick up the books.
Emma apologises " Sorry to bother you."
Mary Margaret grins a little stacking the books in her arms. "No, it's--it's okay, I fear this is partially my fault." Emma thinks about what Mary Margaret had said about the stories and about him being lonely. " How's a book supposed to help?" she asks with curiosity. They both rise to their feet and make a new pile of two stacked books. Mary Margaret smiles and looks at Emma, her eyebrows knitted together. Her cheeks rosy and her black short hair nearly in its place. " What do you think stories are for? These stories? The classics? There's a reason we all know them. They're a way for us to deal with our world. A world that doesn't always make sense. See, Henry hasn't had the easiest life. " They leave the classroom, walking down the hall, as they are moving Mary Margarets cardigan straightens out. Falling back down to her side as it should be. Emma nods "Yeah, she's kind of a hard ass." snow hugs her book to her chest as she walks alongside the blonde. " no, it's more than that. He's like any adopted child, he wrestles with the most basic questions they inevitably face. Why would anyone give me away. " her eyes open and her mouth hangs open when she realises what she said. Emma just nods. " I am so sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean in any way to judge you " she says feeling so bad for the woman she had met only moments ago. Emma shrugs. It was the truth. " It's okay".

Snow turns to face her fully and stops walking. " look. I gave him the book because I wanted Henry to have the most important thing anyone could have. Hope. believing in even the possibility of having a happy ending is a very powerful thing " Emma looks at her and smiles from the corner of her mouth. " you know where he is don't you." she smiles and leans closer to the woman. " you might want to check his castle! " she says grinning at herself before walking off to her next lesson.