Going Home

"Going Home" is the eleventh episode of Season Three of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz. It is the fifty-fifth episode of the series overall, and premiered on December 15, 2013.

Synopsis
The race is on to stop Pan from enacting another curse on the residents of Storybrooke, which could kill every living soul in town.

Recap
At the wishing well, Peter Pan, still in Henry's body, begins to dump in the ingredients for the Dark Curse while Felix looks on. Meanwhile, Mr. Gold informs everyone of a plan to undo Pan's curse by ruining the scroll it is written on. Since only a caster of the curse can damage its scroll, Regina is the only one with the ability to destroy it. However, Mr. Gold, as always, warns that all magic comes with a price, and this one will be steep.

Regina doesn't believe even someone as powerful as Mr. Gold has the magic necessary to perform the switch, but he states that it is possible with the proper tools. At this, Tinker Bell suggests using the Black Fairy's wand. She explains that the Black Fairy was the most powerful fairy skilled in the dark arts, but the Blue Fairy banished her and took her wand. The Shadow, who has overheard all this, follows David, Hook, Neal and Tinker Bell as they go to the convent to find it. Meanwhile, Pan still has one last ingredient to contribute to the Dark Curse, which is the the heart of the thing he loves most. Felix believes he intends to procure Mr. Gold's heart, but Pan explains that he never loved his son, and besides, love isn't only romantic or familial; it can mean loyalty or friendship. Felix quickly figures out Pan is talking about him and though he protests, he can ultimately do nothing as his leader rips out his heart and crushes it to ash into the wishing well.

The foursome arrive at a church as a service is being held for the late Mother Superior. They ask the nuns for the wand, but before they can convince the women to show them where it is, the Shadow attacks. The nuns flee out of the room while David, Hook, Neal and Tinker Bell take cover behind the pews. Hook volunteers himself to distract the Shadow, causing Tinker Bell to remember him only ever taking deadly risks for two things; love or revenge. The pirate cites a third thing, which is his his own life. He dodges a hit by the Shadow, but is then violently thrown off his feet by another blow, injuring him before David can drag him to safety. Neal is not able to use the coconut lantern because the Shadow is too high out of reach and says Tinker Bell and her vial of pixie dust is their only hope. With their encouragement, she steps out into the open and concentrates hard, managing to believe in herself enough to make the dust glow. Focusing on the wick of the coconut, she lights a flame and uses the dust's power to rise into the air so she can suck the Shadow into the lantern. She then destroys the creature by throwing the coconut into an open fire. As everyone congratulates her, she confronts Hook, saying she now recognizes that he did not put himself at risk for his own benefit, but for Emma. Mother Superior's shadow is restored to her and she comes back to life. She congratulates Tinker Bell for her brave actions and apologizes for perhaps being too strict with the rules. She is impressed by Tink and gives her back her wings and the Black Fairy's wand. David, Hook and Neal rush back to the pawnshop to give Mr. Gold the wand and tell everyone about Mother Superior's return.

Before Mr. Gold begins the switch, he clasps the bracelet on Pan's body to prevent him from using his magic. Once the wand is used to transfer Henry and Pan's spirits back to their rightful bodies, everyone rushes out to look for Henry. Belle notices Mr. Gold is staying behind and waits for him to come with her, But he says he has unfinished family business with his dear old dad. On the streets, Granny uses her wolfish tracking skills to find Henry, who is at the clock tower. After reuniting with his two mothers, he hands the scroll to Regina, who passes out as soon as she touches it.

Back at pawnshop, Pan awakens in his own body. Mr. Gold looks coldly down at his father, and gives him a chance to express remorse for his actions. Pan talks about Mr. Gold as a baby, and describes him with seeming affection. Then, he elaborates on how little his son's big eyes filled with tears pulled at him. Not only did he pull away his money, but also his time and hopes of ever having a better life. Frustrated, Pan says his son, "Why can't I be free of you?" In response, Mr. Gold holds a sword to Pan's chest. Pan decides to teach his son one last lesson, and tears the bracelet from his arm. Mr. Gold is stunned as Pan tells him the bracelet was his own creation, and therefore cannot be used against him. Using magic to cuff his son, Pan flings him into the wall and kicks him back before leaving the shop, saying that he will not only take the memories of Mr. Gold's family, also their lives.

In a flashback to the Enchanted Forest, Rumplestiltskin lights a candle for his son Baelfire's birthday. When Belle walks in bearing flowers, Rumple orders her away. She stays anyway, realizing he is holding a candle lighting in remembrance of his son. She asks how old Baelfire would be, to which Rumplestiltskin defensively states that he isn't dead, just lost. The Dark One quietly states out loud his own wish to be with his son in celebration of the birthday. Rumplestilskin tells her that they once had a chance to be happy together, but he was too afraid. She tries to console him; saying its not too late. Though Rumplestiltskin hopes she is right, he recognizes his is not a happy ending.

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
 * Emilie de Ravin as Belle/Belle
 * Colin O'Donoghue as Hook
 * Michael Raymond-James as Neal Cassidy
 * Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills
 * Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold

Guest Starring

 * Lee Arenberg as Leroy
 * Keegan Connor Tracy as Blue Fairy/Mother Superior
 * Tony Perez as valet (credit only)
 * Raphael Sbarge as Archie Hopper
 * Beverley Elliott as Granny
 * Christopher Gauthier as William Smee
 * Robbie Kay as Peter Pan
 * Rose McIver as Tinker Bell
 * Stephen Lord as Malcolm
 * Parker Croft as Felix

Co-Starring

 * Joy Castro as Nurse
 * Michael Coleman as Happy
 * Faustino Di Bauda as Sleepy
 * David-Paul Grove as Doc
 * Evans Johnson as Nun #1
 * Jeffrey Kaiser as Dopey
 * Gabe Khouth as Mr. Clark
 * Mig Macario as Bashful
 * Dave Mathews as Doctor

Uncredited

 * The Shadow (CGI)
 * Unknown baby as Henry Mills

Production Notes

 * The title card features Emma's car surrounded by the curse's green mist.

Event Chronology

 * The  Enchanted Forest events featuring Snow and Charming take place after their visit to Rumplestiltskin and before the arrival of the Dark Curse in "Pilot".
 * The Enchanted Forest events featuring Belle and Rumplestiltskin occur before, after and concurrently with Skin Deep.
 * The Neverland events take place after "And Straight On 'Til Morning"  and before "The Heart of the Truest Believer".
 * The Land Without Magic flashbacks occur 10 years after "Save Henry" and a month before "The Thing You Love Most".
 * The present day Land Without Magic events take place after "The New Neverland".

Episode Connections

 * The song playing in Emma's New York City apartment is the same song featured on Neal's iPod in "Broken".

Lost References

 * The alarm clock in Emma's apartment rings at 8:15. Eight and fifteen are two of Lost's numbers.

Pop Culture

 * The song featured in Emma's New York City apartment is "Charley's Girl" by Lou Reed.