Neal Cassidy

"These are the remnants of Neal Cassidy, a boy who was in this land alone, and all because his father was too much of a coward to hold into what he had."

- Mr. Gold to Robin Hood

Neal Cassidy, formerly known as the Mysterious Man and also known as Baelfire, is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. He débuts in the first episode of the second season. He is portrayed by guest star Michael Raymond-James. He is the Land Without Magic alias of Baelfire, and the main reality version of Baelfire.

Trivia

 * -|Character Notes=

Etymology

 * His name is similar to Neal Cassady, an infamous thief who served eleven months in prison for possession of stolen goods; just like Emma did when Neal let her take the fall for his crime.

Character Notes

 * He has a collection of clocks, just like his father, Mr. Gold, and his son, Henry.
 * The address of his apartment is 89 Wooster Street, New York, NY, 10012.
 * His apartment is situated across the street from the back building of real-life Italian pasta supplier Piedmont Ravoli Co. Inc. located on 162 Mulberry Street in New York.
 * According to his wanted poster, Neal was born in 1977. Baelfire was born long before that; however, the data are probably meant to represent his biological age. Since Neal and Emma met in 2001, he would have been twenty-four while she was seventeen at the time.
 * The wanted poster also says that he has a scar on his left arm from a knife wound.
 * According to Michael Raymond-James, Emma is Neal's true love.
 * Belle has also referred to their relationship as true love.
 * -|Production Notes=

Production Notes

 * The casting call name for him was "Jack" and describes him as, "in his 20s or 30s, charismatic, sexy and mysterious, but also loyal and kind, and he's running from his past in a land full of danger."


 * -|Cultural References=

Disney

 * Neal thinks the movie Mulan is "pretty good".

Lost

 * The back of Neal's iPod has a Geronimo Jackson logo. Geronimo Jackson is a fictional band on Lost.
 * Neal and Emma planned to start a new life together in Tallahassee, a location referred to on Lost, and a reference to the episode "The Man From Tallahassee".
 * According to his wanted poster, Neal was born March 23, 1977. 23 is one of the Lost numbers, and 1977 was an important year in the Lost timeline.

Popular Culture

 * The song playing on his iPod during the walk to his apartment is "Charley's Girl" by Lou Reed.
 * The same song is playing in Emma's New York apartment in "Going Home".
 * While living as thieves in Portland, Neal says to Emma, "Maybe it's time we retire the Bonnie and Clyde act". Bonnie and Clyde were famous outlaws and robbers who traveled the central United States with their gang during the Great Depression. Their effect on pop culture would last for decades beyond their demise.
 * While searching for a way to get to Neverland, Neal makes a reference to the ruby slippers from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. (In L. Frank Baum's original novel, Dorothy wore silver shoes. They were changed into ruby slippers for the movie.)
 * The Portland flashback scene with Emma and Neal at the fairground is an homage to the famous scene from the 1954 movie On the Waterfront, where Marlon Brando is sitting in a swing in a children's park and handles a white glove dropped by Eva Marie Saint as they recall earlier days.
 * Neal loved the song "Only You" by Yazoo, and taught Henry how to use it with girls like he did with Emma.


 * -|Set Notes=

Props Notes

 * The dream-catcher hanging in Neal's apartment was given to him by Emma.
 * Neal's wanted poster reads:

WANTED FOR GRAND LARCENY  NEAL CASSIDY DESCRIPTION


 * Date of birth: March 23, 1977
 * Place of birth: New Jersey
 * Height: 5' 9"
 * Weight: 170 pounds
 * NCIC: W238392092039
 * Occupation: Janitor
 * Scars and Marks: Neal Cassidy has a scar on his left arm from a knife wound
 * Remarks: Neal Cassidy may be in possession of stolen firearms

Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Sex: Male Race: Caucasian Nationality: American

Set Dressing

 * There is a sign in Neal's apartment that reads "Cleaner & Hatters".
 * Neal has many vintage items in his apartment such as an array of old radios, old microphones, classic cameras, records and record player, old pencil sharpener, cobbler's wooden shoe forms and an old telephone.

Appearances
Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.