Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-6036560-20130318104316/@comment-6666002-20130425042724

HarryPotterRules1 wrote: I can understand where you're coming from. But, if you notice, Regina lets Owen go and doesn't cross the line, because of the risk of losing her memory. That's speculation which was already debunked in an earlier episode with Regina and her mother. Regina stated that they could leave the town borders without memory issues, but they chose not to do so, because they couldn't use magic in the outside world.

The barrier and the town itself is invisible to the outside world. Young Owen knew where the location was, but couldn't see inside the barrier, unless he or anyone else had crossed. It is the same reason Greg ran over Hook and barely missed Rumple/Belle, because he didn't see Hook until he crossed the barrier line. As for Regina choosing not to cross the town line for Owen, it was still the first few days, potentially making herself know to the outside world or worse, exposing the town to the outside world could end up being very bad things.

Are strangers who weren't specifically targetted by the curse, affected by it in some way? YES! The producers confirmed this in the latest podcast. Henry was affected by the curse in the sense that it dulled his mind, like everyone else in the town. It didn't give him another persona. The producers stated that the book triggered something in Henry to "awaken" him or make more aware of his situation.