The Past
In Rapunzel's tower, Hook admires his daughter Alice's painting of the ocean. She says that it makes her want to see the real ocean and once more tries the magical barrier sealing her in. Hook gives her a present to cheer her up: a case full of sand from various oceans. As they hug, Hook clutches at his throat in pain. Gothel appears and magically shoves him out the window...
... and Alice wakes up from her nightmare. She tells Hook that Gothel is coming for her and he has to leave. Hook believes Alice and says that he's going to get Alice out of the tower once and for all. There is one more thing to try, but it's a dark path that he's always feared to take. However, now he has no choice. Hook gives Alice a chess piece to remember him by, and assures her that he will return as soon as he can. Alice gives him a black rook to remember her by, and Hook says that soon it will be over and the chess pieces will be together again.
Now
At the station, Roger sis going over the photos of Sage and Hilda when Tilly comes in and puts a chess board on his desk. She says that games can help them out on their bad days and has a feeling that something bad will help her. Rogers says that he has to focus on his game and asks Tilly to go home. She reluctantly leaves, brushing past Gold as he comes n. Gold says that he's put a guard on Hilda's room, and figures that Gothel knows who else is targeted but she's disappeared since Victoria's death. Gothel comes in and says that it's time that they have a little talk.
Henry sees Regina on the street and approaches her. She claims that she had a meeting with supplier, but finally admits that she was catching up with an old boyfriend. Henry tells her that he went to Jacinda's but then Lucy broke them up and apparently thinks that he's not good enough for Jacinda. Regina admits him to come in for breakfast and a shoulder to cry on, and Henry accepts.
Rogers and Gold question Gothel, who says that they're a group of women that share ideas. She wonders if she's a suspect in Victoria's death, and insists that she came there to help them find the killer. Gothel demands that Rogers send Gold away or she won't talk at all. The two men step out and Gold warns that Rogers doesn't want to talk to Gothel alone. Rogers figures that Gothel likes to be in control so he'll let her think that. Gold warns him not to let Gothel inside of his head.
The Past
Hook goes to Rumplestiltskin's cell and insists that he's not there to kill the Dark One. He asks Rumplestiltskin for his help freeing Alice, and Rumplestiltskin point out that the cell drains his power. Hook tells him that he'll free him if Rumplestiltskin helps him free Alice, and Rumplestiltskin agrees. The Dark One says that there is a magical weapon with the power to shatter any prison, but it's difficult to obtain. Another famous captain has the weapon, and he won't give it up without a fight.
Now
Rogers goes back into the interrogation room and Gothel figures that Gold is still watching as she glances up at the surveillance camera. He asks why she came in, and Gothel tells him that she wants to prevent women like her from being killed. Gothel warns that Hook has to know who he really is before he can protect anyone, and the answer is closer than he imagined. She thumbs through his notebook and finds a picture of an old pirate ship, and says that it means more than he knows. Gothel can't see the patterns but she knows where to find them, and tells Hook that he needs to do one thing for her first.
In her room, Lucy looks at Henry's book and the drawing from the Storybook. Jacinda comes in with food and asks why Lucy tried to split up her and Henry. Lucy says that she's been overwhelmed with recent events and doesn't want her spending time with "some guy". Her mother points out that Lucy loved Henry, but Lucy says that she grew up and doesn't believe in fairy tales anymore. She tells Jacinda that she doesn't want her to see Henry anymore.
Rogers walks to his car and Gold goes with him. He says that he is finding a painting of a sailing ship for Gothel, and tells Gold that he'll pay any price to find out what's going on.
The Past
Hook enters a tavern and finds Smee and the rest of his crew there. Smee assures him that the Jolly Rogers is available for him. Hook asks for Captain Ahab, and Ahab steps forward and introduces himself. Ahab says that people tell him that he's what Hook used to be, and Hook says that he's there looking for a magical weapon that Ahab has. Ahab's first mate takes out the weapon--a hook--but Ahab says that no washed-up pirate captain is going to take it from him. Hook says that he's not interested in bloodshed and suggests that they gamble the weapon for the Jolly Roger.
Ahab agrees and they roll dice for the prize. Ahab rolls high and Hook takes out Alice's dice and then rolls... and beats Ahab's roll. The first mate hands over the weapon, and Ahab says that Hook is no pirate. He tells Hook that the white whale keeps him sharp but he's heard that Hook gave up his quest to kill the Crocodile. Hook tells him that he's going to use the weapon to kill the Dark One and leaves with his men.
Now
Ivy is going through her mother's office cleaning up, and Henry comes in response to her message. She wonders what to do with her life because she spent it hating Victoria and learned at the end that Victoria loved her. Ivy says that Henry is the only person who understands her and they're both wounded birds, and suggests that they fix each other. She kisses Henry, but he pulls away and says it isn't what she needs. Henry says that she's trying to grab onto something but he's the wrong thing, and Ivy tells him that he's the only person she has. He points out that she has a sister and a niece, and they don't hate her. Henry suggests that Ivy make herself the best person she can be and try with the family she still has.
Tilly is pacing around Rogers' office and looking at Gothel on the monitor. Gold comes over and Tilly says that Gothel is a monster. He agrees, and Rogers comes in with the painting. Tilly tells him that he can't show it to Gothel, but he refuses to listen to her. Gold promises Tilly that nothing bad will happen but she has to go home. Once Rogers goes to the interrogation room, Tilly glances at the monitor and sees Gothel waving to her before Rogers arrives.
The Past
Hook goes back to Rumplestiltskin's cell and shows him the weapon. Rumplestiltskin tells him to use the weapon to break the bars, just as Ahab comes in and points out that Hook is helping the Dark One. Rumplestiltskin tells Rogers to think of Alice and not Ahab, but Ahab points out that Hook can't save Alice without Rumplestiltskin. Hook draws his sword but Ahab just laughs and asks if Alice knows the truth about her father. Hook challenges him to fight, but Ahab says that he wants a public duel so people can see him defeat Hook. Rumplestiltskin offers to kill Ahab for Hook if the pirate will release him, but Hook refuses, saying that it's his fight.
The Past
Rogers shows Gothel the painting and she tells him to tell her what it really means to her. He does so and says that as a child, he always wanted to visit the ocean. Rogers never has, and Gothel asks why he doesn't go there with his special someone. He finally admits that he doesn't have a special someone, and Gothel says that the killer has a void and is trying to fill out. Sage and Hilda were given a heart-shaped hearty box before they came back, and to find the killer Hook has to find his heart.
Ivy goes to Jacinda's apartment with box of Jacinda's old things. Jacinda wonders why she's really there, and Ivy tells her that she's still processing losing Victoria. Her half-sister explains that there's something off with Lucy and she doesn't have Victoria to blame. Ivy tells her that Jacinda is a great mother, and Jacinda hugs her. After a moment, Ivy hugs her back and Jacinda says that she has something for her. She gives her the old ragdoll Beatrice from Ivy's childhood, and Ivy tells her that she knows what she has to do to make it good with Victoria by finishing what she started. With that, Ivy leaves.
The Past
Hook and Ahab meet on the street and Smee presents the dueling pistols. The two men walk ten paces from each other and then turn and shoot. Hook remembers his life with Alice, and the bullets take down both men. Hook is nicked in the shoulder, and Ahab is wound d in the stomach. Smee points out that Hook won, but Hook looks at Alice's chess piece and says that he made a dreadful mistake.
Now
Rogers and Gold go to a flower shop and find a heart-shaped box of chocolates on the counter. The clerk comes out and says that his wife passed away years ago. The two men leave and Gold tells Rogers that the whole thing is a setup to distract them. They go back to talk to Hilda and discover that someone has knocked out her police guard. Rogers sounds the alarm and they go into Hilda's room. She's lying on the floor dead in a pool of her own blood, and Tilly is standing over her holding a scalpel. Tilly says that she doesn't know why she's there and wants to be somewhere nice, and they didn't pay attention to her. She tells them that something bad would happen and now it's too late, and jumps out the window to make her escape.
The Past
Hook returns to the tower with the weapon. He says that can use it to smash the tower to pieces, and Alice runs over to him. Hook bounces away and clutches at his chest, and a brand appears on Alice's wrist. Gothel appears and says that they've both been marked so that when they get close, they hurt each other. She tells Alice that Hook fought a duel for his honor, and Gothel says that she made sure the bullet was poisoned. She teleports Hook outside of the tower and follows him, and Hook vows that he will get Alice out. Gothel takes the weapon and says that he'll fail Alice again and again. Alice calls from the tower, and Gothel says that she couldn't let Hook free Alice. She teleports away as Alice calls down from the tower.
Now
Gold and Rogers go to Tilly's cargo container where she lives, and find a cardboard sign with the brand and two of the eight ends marked off. Rogers doesn't believe that Tilly killed the two women, but Gold says that Tilly spent time with the cult and they took the person that matter most to her: her father. Gold says that it's motive in the eyes of the law. Roger finds the vials of sand and the chess piece on a shelf, and asks Gold if he thinks Tilly is the killer. Gold admits that he doesn't, and says that he'll go back to the station to buy them the time they need. Meanwhile, Rogers has to find Tilly and prove her innocence.
Ivy goes to Henry's apartment with mochi as a thank-you for his advice. He invites her in and asks what he did, and Ivy says that he was right about Jacinda. Ivy admits that she has done some horrible things and wants Henry to help her find Anastasia. Henry can help by being who he is deep down, and Ivy figures that he can be the hero she needs. Henry suggests that they drink to heroes.
Lucy goes to the bar and shows Regina the Storybook picture. The girl says she needs Regina's help, and Regina realizes that's why Lucy stopped Henry and Jacinda from kissing. Regina tells Lucy that she believes her and isn't going to let Lucy face things alone. Lucy realizes that she's a Mills and they save people. They're going to start with walkie-talkies and an operation name, and give Henry and Jacinda the happy ending that they deserve.
Written by Gadfly on Mar 17, 2018