7:15 A.M.

"7:15 A.M." is the tenth episode of Season One of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Daniel T. Thomsen after a story by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz and directed by Ralph Hemecker. It is the tenth episode of the series overall, and premiered on January 22, 2012.

Synopsis
Mary Margaret and David continue to grapple with their unrequited love, and Emma and Regina grow suspicious over a mysterious new stranger in town. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Snow White yearns to ease her breaking heart as Prince Charming's wedding to King Midas' daughter approaches.

Recap
In Storybrooke, the recently arrived stranger is being questioned by Henry Mills. Regina Mills sees them and runs over, upset.

At Emma Swan and Mary Margaret Blanchard's apartment, Mary Margaret has overslept. She rushes to get to school by 7:15 A.M., to help her students with a science project. She is actually rushing to Granny's Diner, to run into David Nolan.

David enters and the two chat for a minute then he leaves. Emma then enters and asks her what is going on. Mary Margaret admits that she cannot get David out of her head and that she has been coming here every day at 7:15 A.M. to see him. She can't help it and wishes that there was a way to cure her feelings.

In the Enchanted Forest, Snow White is hunting near the forest when Red Riding Hood arrives up with food and news. She tells Snow White that Prince Charming is to marry King Midas' daughter in two days' time. Snow White admits that she came out into the woods to help her forget him, but that she has done nothing, but think about him. She wishes that there was a way to forget him. Red tells her there might be a way, and she has heard rumors of a man that can help.

Snow White journeys to a lake to visit the mysterious man, who is revealed to be Rumplestiltskin. He uses water from the lake and hair plucked from Snow White's head to fashion her a potion. He tells her the potion will make her forget Prince Charming entirely. When Snow White asks his price, all he wants are the strands of her hair, which he had already taken, but not used in the making of the potion.

Back in Storybrooke, Mary Margaret is shopping for supplies for an impending storm when she bumps into Kathryn Nolan, who drops a pregnancy test. After Kathryn walks away, Regina appears and tells Mary Margaret that it is the couple's personal business and to keep it quiet.

In the Enchanted Forest, Prince Charming speaks with King George, who tells him that he knows that Charming is in love with someone else and wants him to end it. Prince Charming is not happy with this, and as a result he uses a dove to send a letter to Snow White, revealing his love for her and requesting that she meet him. He writes her that, if she does not come, he will know it means she does not care for him.

In Storybrooke, while walking through the woods, Mary Margaret sees a trapped dove. She takes it to the animal shelter, where she runs into David. The veterinarian, Dr. Thatcher, tells her that the bird is fine; however, the other doves of its kind are migrating and that these doves mate for life. If not reunited with its flock it has a chance of being left behind. If this happens and the dove is left alone, she will be alone and miserable for the rest of her life. Mary Margaret is upset by this and goes out into the woods before the storm arrives to try to find the other doves, despite David warning her not to.

In the Enchanted Forest, Snow White receives and reads Prince Charming's letter. Realizing Prince Charming's feelings for her, Snow White prepares to sneak into King George's castle by pretending to bring a basket of flowers for the upcoming wedding. After making her way into the very room that Prince Charming is in, and just as she notices him, but before he sees her, a guard catches Snow White. She is imprisoned in the castle dungeon. While imprisoned, she meets Grumpy, who tells her about his lost love. He tried to get her a diamond, but it turned out to be stolen and now he has been arrested. Stealthy, another of the dwarves, breaks in and frees Grumpy and Snow White. While escaping the castle, however, Stealthy is killed by King George's men and Snow exchanges her freedom for Grumpy's life.

In Storybrooke, Mary Margaret brings the dove into the woods, attempting to find its flock. Finding that the road she is travelling on is blocked off, she continues on foot. As she sets the dove down, a loud crash of thunder scares Mary Margaret and she slips off a cliff, nearly falling to her death and forcing her to hang on for dear life. David shows up and saves her just in time. The storm then hits, and David and Mary take shelter in a nearby cabin.

The two express their feelings, each revealing their reasons for going to Granny's at 7:15 A.M. Just as they are about to kiss, Mary Margaret asks how David can do this when Kathryn is pregnant. David, however, is surprised by this information. At that moment, the storm breaks, and Mary Margaret goes to release the dove, with David chasing after her. He tells her that he feels like he has two different lives: one with her and one with Kathryn. He claims that the one with Mary Margaret is the only one that feels real.

Regina asks Emma to find out about the mysterious stranger and what he is doing in town. Emma finds him at the diner and questions him about the box he carries around. He tells her that he could keep the contents of the box a secret, and that not knowing and wondering would drive her crazy. He then tells her that he will show her what is in the box if she agrees to a drink. He opens the box to reveal an old type writer and claims that he is a writer. He leaves, and Emma asks about the drink, to which he replies "sometime."

In the Enchanted Forest, Snow White is brought before King George, who reveals that he knows about the letter Prince Charming sent her since Snow White dropped it when she was captured. He tells Snow White that love is a disease and demands that she tell Prince Charming that she does not love him. If she refuses, he will kill Prince Charming, not her. She asks how he could to do that to his own son, and George responds tells her that he is not his son.

Snow White goes and tells Prince Charming that she is not in love with him. Prince Charming is visibly upset, and Snow White leaves. While walking back into the woods, she is joined by the remaining dwarves. Grumpy tells her that with Stealthy dead, they have all lost someone today. Snow White takes out the potion given her by Rumplestiltskin, but Grumpy convinces her not to take it. He tells her that suffering makes one who they are.

In Storybrooke, David and Kathryn discuss their relationship. Kathryn tells David that she is not pregnant and is relieved. She asks him if he is willing to go to therapy with Dr. Hopper and David agrees. He decides to skip getting coffee at the diner and instead stays and has breakfast with Kathryn. Mary Margaret is visibly depressed as she is eating breakfast and looks at the clock, it is nearing 7:15 A.M. She does not go to the diner either.

In the Enchanted Forest, Prince Charming is looking for Snow White in the woods. He runs into Red Riding Hood and asks her where Snow White is. Red tells him that she has gone. Prince Charming tells Red that he will find Snow White, because he loves her, and Red reveals to Prince Charming that Snow White loves him. At the home of the seven dwarves, Grumpy is overjoyed when he learns about the impending marriage between Princess Abigail and Prince Charming being called off. He rushes to Snow White's room to tell her the good news. After he informs her, Snow White cheerfully asks him who he is talking about. Shocked, Grumpy gazes at the bedside table. On it is an empty vial that once held the potion made by Rumplestiltskin.

In Storybrooke, Mary Margaret is in Granny's Diner and David walks in. Upon seeing her, David hastily exits, and Mary Margaret chases after him. She asks him what he is doing there, and he tells her that he is trying to avoid her. Mary Margaret tells him that she is trying to avoid him. David tells her that Kathryn is not pregnant and the two kiss. Regina is revealed to be watching the couple from her car.

Starring

 * Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard
 * Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan
 * Lana Parrilla as Regina Mills
 * Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David Nolan
 * Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills
 * Raphael Sbarge (Credit only)
 * Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin

Guest Starring

 * Lee Arenberg as Grumpy
 * Eion Bailey as The Stranger
 * Alan Dale as King George
 * Anastasia Griffith as Kathryn Nolan
 * Kwesi Ameyaw as Dr. Thatcher
 * Geoff Gustafson as Stealthy
 * Meghan Ory as Red Riding Hood/Ruby

Co-Starring

 * Michasha Armstrong as Guard
 * Michael Coleman as Happy
 * Faustino Di Bauda as Sleepy
 * David Paul Grove as Doc
 * Jonathan Holmes as Majordomo
 * Jeffrey Kaiser as Dopey
 * Gabe Khouth as Sneezy
 * Mig Macario as Bashful

Quotes
Mary Margaret: I just like to come here to see him. Emma: So, you're a stalker? Mary Margaret: No, not really. Maybe a little bit. I mean, it's not like I'm following him. I just know that he spends his mornings with Kathryn, gets coffee, then drives to the animal shelter to start work at 7:30, and then he's home around 5. Emma: Oh, is that all? Mary Margaret: Thursdays they pick up Chinese for dinner.

Rumplestiltskin: Don't doubt yourself now, dearie. Love makes us sick. Haunts our dreams. Destroys our days. Love has killed more than any disease.

Grumpy: As wretched as it is, I need my pain. It makes me who I am. It makes me Grumpy.

Henry: What are you doing here? Stranger: Just visiting. Henry: What's that? Stranger: A box.

Snow White: Well, I am not... giving... up. Grumpy: Give it time. Grumpy. Snow White: I'm not grumpy, I'm focused. Grumpy: No. My name-Grumpy.

Production Notes

 * The title card features Red Riding Hood.
 * This is the first episode in which Rumplestiltskin appears, but his counterpart, Mr. Gold, does not.
 * This episode is the first in which Red Riding Hood both appears and has a speaking role.

Event Chronology

 * The main part of the Enchanted Forest events of this episode occur concurrently with "True North", after "Snow Falls" and before "What Happened to Frederick". Prince Charming's meeting with Red Riding Hood takes place during "What Happened to Frederick" whereas the scene in which Snow White drinks the forgetting potion takes place after this episode.
 * The Storybrooke events of this episode take place after "True North" and before "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree".

Episode Connections

 * The title card is used again in the episodes "Red-Handed" and "Child of the Moon".
 * The volcano that Mary Margaret says she's making with her students, was seen in her class-room in "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter".
 * Rumplestiltskin's intended purpose of Snow White's strand of hair is revealed in "Heart of Darkness".
 * Birds are used to deliver messages again in "Broken", "Into the Deep" and "A Curious Thing".
 * Grumpy's love interest is seen in the episode "Dreamy".
 * The cabin where David and Mary Margaret find shelter, is the same cabin that Mr. Gold brings a kidnapped Moe French to in "Skin Deep".
 * Mary Margaret and David's affair lasts until the secret comes out in "What Happened to Frederick".

Lost

 * The voice of the Storybrooke meteorologist is one of Lost's creators, Damon Lindelof.

Fairytales and Folklore

 * This episode is a rendition of the Snow White fairytale, focusing on the deepening relationship between Snow White and Prince Charming and the appearance of the Seven Dwarves.
 * This episode features Red Riding Hood from the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale as well as Rumplestiltskin from the Rumpelstiltskin fairytale.

Pop Culture

 * Mary Margaret is reading The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne in the diner.
 * When talking about his job at the animal shelter, David jokingly remarks that the apes haven't taken over, and Mary Margaret adds, "yet", a shout-out to the 2011 movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which takes place partially in a primate shelter.
 * At the pharmacy, Regina is holding the Marvel comic Fantastic Four #263 - R and R.

Goofs

 * In the recap shown before the actual episode begins, Prince Charming says to Snow White, "If you need anything..." his scar is on the left side of his chin, though in "Snow Falls", it was on the right side.
 * The dove Mary Margaret finds in the woods is not the same one she releases to the bird flock. While the injured one has a darker beak color as well as a distinctly white feather coat with a reddish plume around its neck, the healthy one is completely powder white with a lightly colored beak.