Lost Girl

"Lost Girl" is the second episode of Season Three of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Andrew Chambliss & Kalinda Vazquez and directed by Ron Underwood. It is the forty-sixth episode of the series overall, and premiered on October 6, 2013.

Synopsis
While Emma, Mary Margaret, David, Regina and Hook continue their search for Henry in Neverland, Peter Pan appears before a startled Emma and offers her a map that will reveal her son’s whereabouts. But the only way to make the map appear is for Emma to stop denying who she really is and come to grips with her true feelings about her identity – and Mr. Gold receives some unexpected advice from a friend that could lead him to understand his life’s journey while in Neverland. Meanwhile, in the Fairy Tale Land that was, when the Evil Queen presents Snow White with an offer to live her life with Charming in peace – with the caveat that she give up her claim to the throne – Charming makes it his mission to ensure that Snow doesn’t take the offer.

Recap
In Neverland, Mr. Gold uses a fireball to start a fire. He freezes his shadow on a large rock. Using his dagger, he cuts his shadow from his feet, detaching it. He gives the dagger to his shadow, instructing it to hide the knife where not even Gold himself can find it.

Elsewhere on the island, Emma Swan, Captain Hook, David Nolan, Mary Margaret Blanchard and Regina Mills trek through the jungle, heading toward a ridge to gain a better view. Regina suggests that she could have just magically transported the group to the top of the ridge, and Hook responds by reminding her that there are dangers she doesn't know about in Neverland, and only he can guide the group. Emma agrees. David, using a sword to clear to clear a path, takes aim at a bunch of thorns. Hook stops him, explaining that the thorns carry a poison called Dreamshade. He further explains that Dreamshade was the source of the poison he used on Mr. Gold, in a concentrated form, and that, in its natural form, death by Dreamshade is very painful and very slow. Hook then suggests the party take a slightly different direction, and David suggests the other way. The group follows David. Falling behind the group, Hook asides to Emma that her father is distrustful. Emma responds that he's just not used working with the "bad guys". Hook assures that, on Neverland, he is not the bad guy. When Emma responds that, according to the stories she heard as a child, Peter Pan is not a villain either, Hook responds that Pan is the "most treacherous" villain he's ever faced.

David calls to the pair from the top of the ridge. The group looks out over the overgrown Dark Jungle. Hook, unable to easily spot Pan's lair as he anticipated, explains that the jungle has grown since he left the island. David remarks that they're in a good position to comb the jungle, but Hook disagrees, telling the group that the Dark Jungle is treacherous, and they should go around. He suggests they make camp for the night. Regina objects, but follows. Emma lingers, looking forlorn, and Mary Margaret comforts her, saying "it's never too late."

In the former Enchanted Forest, Prince Charming awakens Snow White from the Sleeping Curse. Meanwhile, at the Dark Palace, a guard rushes through the palace, carrying a mirror channeling the Magic Mirror. The guard carries the mirror out to the garden, where the Evil Queen is picking an apple from her apple tree. The Mirror shows the Queen images of Prince Charming proposing to Snow White. The Queen is enraged.

Elsewhere in the Enchanted Forest, Snow White, Prince Charming, and the dwarves attempt to rally a group of commoners. Snow White gives a harrowing account of the Evil Queen's tyranny, claiming the kingdom belongs not to the Queen, but to the people. She asks those assembled who will fight with her, but no one responds. Instead, the Evil Queen appears, poking fun at the frightened townspeople. The assembled commoners run off, and Snow White remarks that the townspeople may be afraid of Regina, but they are not. Regina makes a snide remark regarding Charming's former identity as a shepherd, and both Charming and Snow White draw their swords on the Queen. Regina responds by magically binding Charming with rope.

Regina offers Snow White a deal; if the Princess will declare Regina the rightful ruler of the kingdom, the Queen will allow her, Charming, and the dwarves to live peacefully on Charming's former farm. Snow White equates the "deal" to exile. Regina responds by reasoning that, instead of trying to kill Snow White, her focus should be taking everything that was once supposed to be Snow White's. Charming reacts to this statement, fighting against his bonds. Regina tells Snow White to get down on her knees and swear on her father's grave that the kingdom belongs to Regina. When Snow White asks what will happen if she doesn't, the Queen responds by saying "then someone will pay the price." She uses her magic to lift up one of the female villagers, choking her. Snow White, sword in hand, charges at the Queen, who disappears in a cloud of smoke at the last moment, dropping the village girl. Charming breaks out of his binds, aiding the villager. Regina reappears, telling Snow White that she has "until sundown tomorrow to give up the throne", and that, for every day Snow White defies her, she will kill one of Snow White's subjects. Regina further taunts the Princess by claiming that she will "never be a Queen".

In Neverland, the sound of crying children wakes Emma from her slumber. Drawing her sword and unable to wake Mary Margaret and David, Emma treks into the jungle alone, following the sound. Peter Pan appears behind Emma, wondering "why they can't hear the crying". When he gives his name to Emma, she pins him against a tree, her sword at his throat. She demands to know where Henry is, and Pan assures her that the boy is still alive. When Emma demands to know what Pan wants with Henry, Pan dodges the question by remarking that he came to see who he was up against, and that he is not disappointed. He gives the skeptical Emma a map he claims will lead her to Henry. When Emma asks why, Pan explains that it is not about Emma finding Henry, but how she finds Henry. He further claims that Emma is the only one who can find him. Taking the parchment from the boy, Emma opens it to reveal a blank map. Pan informs her that the only way to read the map is for Emma to stop denying who she is. Pan then disappears.

Back with the group, Emma stares at the map. Mary Margaret and David return, reporting that Pan is nowhere to be found, and Regina insists that the map is likely a trap, meant to distract them from searching for Henry. Regina suggests using her magic to unlock the map, but Emma refuses. The others agree, and Mary Margaret offers words of encouragement, reminds Emma that Pan is playing a game, and she can win.

In the former Enchanted Forest, Snow White, Prince Charming and the dwarves discuss their options. Snow White advocates for taking the Evil Queen's deal, and Charming argues for standing their ground; he rationalizes that Snow White needs to protect her people from the Queen. Snow White counters that she was unable to even protect the peasant girl, and that Regina would eventually go after the people closest to her. The dwarves swear to stand by Snow White, no matter what. Charming continues to try to convince Snow White, but she simply responds that she is no Queen, she doesn't even know who "Snow White" truly is, and she does not want to be alone. When Charming assures her that that will never happen, Snow White announces her intent to take the Queen's offer, saying they should leave the next day. She then leaves the group. Charming calls after her, but Grumpy objects, questioning Charming's motives in attempting to change Snow White's mind. He asks Charming what the Kingdom matters when he has True Love. Realizing the implications, Charming insists that he has Snow White's best interests at heart. He asks if the dwarves are with him, or against him. Grumpy responds by telling him that if he wants to change Snow White's mind, Charming will have to do so without their help. The dwarves leave him, and Charming resolves to "find another way".

In the Dark Castle, Rumplestiltskin spins at his spinning wheel when Prince Charming arrives, seeking his aid. He reminds Rumplestiltskin that he once aided Charming in helping Snow White remember who she was when a "spell blinded her." He requests Rumplestiltskin's aid once more.

In Neverland, Mr. Gold gazes at the doll given him by Felix when a rustling is heard in the jungle. He stands, putting down the doll, demanding to know who has disturbed him, and a cloaked figure grabs the doll and flees. Gold chases the culprit, catching them and removing their hood. To his surprise, it is Belle.

Shocked, Mr. Gold asks Belle how she got to Neverland. She responds by commenting on his attire, claiming she thought it was his past. Gold responds by saying that becoming the Dark One again is the only way he will save his grandson. Belle touches his face, saying that he has not completely reverted, and that there is still hope. The couple lean in to kiss, but Gold breaks it off suddenly, realizing that Belle is not truly in Neverland. She confirms this, telling Gold that she is still in Storybrooke, and that the protection spell worked and everyone in town is fine. Gold violently grabs "Belle" by the neck, suggesting that perhaps Belle has been conjured by Pan to lead him astay. Calmly, Belle responds that Pan didn't conjure her, Gold did. Shocked, Gold lets her go, and Belle wonders why Gold has conjured her.

In the former Enchanted Forest, Rumplestiltskin informs Prince Charming that he cannot help him. Charming implores the Dark One for something that will help Snow White realize she can beat Regina. Rumplestiltskin informs him that magic cannot help him, as belief "must come from within". He suggests that Charming take the Queen's offer, and take a lesson from his dead brother. Unperturbed, Charming reasons that Rumplestiltskin must have something, he always does, and tells the wizard to name his price.

At Snow White and the dwarves' camp, Snow White practices her archery as Charming returns, telling her to "save those arrows for the Queen". Snow White retorts that her mind is made up, and they are leaving to take Regina's deal. Charming responds by saying that she won't want to leave when she hears what Rumplestiltskin had to say. Prince Charming tells her that there is a weapon that can defeat the Evil Queen and it's only half a day's ride away.

Back with the group, Emma lists facts about her life and who she is, trying to unlock Peter Pan's map. The map does not appear even when Emma admits that she is the savior. Frustrated, Regina grabs the map from Emma and places a locater spell on it, which floats in the air and starts to lead them to Pan. Hook remarks that they will be venturing into the Dark Jungle after all.

Mr. Gold and Belle are walking toward a cliff when Belle asks Gold if he knows why he brought her to the island. Reluctantly, Gold admits he's a coward like his father but that Belle has always seen the good in him. He also says that Pan offered to let him live if he lets Pan keep Henry. Belle replies that if he doesn't want to make the same mistakes his father made and give up Henry like he did Baelfire too, then he must let go of the past. She gives him the doll and leaves, and Gold drops the doll off the cliff into the sea.

In the Dark Jungle, Pan's map stops in the air, and Regina concludes that Pan must be near. They prepare for a fight, and Hook warns Emma that Peter Pan may look like a boy, but he's a bloody demon. Mary Margaret steps forward and assures Emma that they can do this.

In the Enchanted Forest, Prince Charming and Snow White near the weapon Rumplestiltskin told Charming about. Snow remarks that this is the first time they've been alone since he proposed, and he quips that it's hard to have privacy when she has seven protective big brothers watching over her. Snow tells him she has faith that he will charm them, as he did her.

Charming tells Snow that the weapon was created by Merlin of Camelot, and as they crest the hill, it is revealed to be Excalibur wedged in a stone. Charming tries to pull it out but is unable to, and asks Snow to try, saying that only the kingdom's true ruler can free the blade. Doubtful, Snow tries and the blade comes free. Charming assures her she is the kingdom's true leader.

Back in Neverland, David leads the group to what appears to be an abandoned camp. Emma halts them, thinking she sees Henry. It turns out to be Pan dressed in Henry's clothes. Pan chides Emma for breaking the rules, and tells her that cheaters never win. Immediately, they are surrounded by the Lost Boys, armed with bows and torches.

A skirmish ensues, and Hook warns them that the Lost Boys' arrows are laced with Dreamshade. David is grazed by an arrow aimed for Mary Margaret. Hook and Felix grapple with each other, while Emma pins a Lost Boy down and demands to know where Henry is. Looking into his face, Emma abruptly lets the boy go. Pan reminds Emma that the map will show her where Henry is when she stops denying who she is. Then, Pan and the Lost Boys retreat into the jungle.

In the former Enchanted Forest, villagers hide as the Evil Queen's carriage approaches. Snow, Charming, and the dwarfs stand to meet her, and Snow tells the Queen that she will not abandon the people in the kingdom to her. In response, Regina uses her magic to lift Grumpy and choke him. Snow charges the Queen and cuts her right cheek. Shocked, the Queen releases Grumpy and touches her face, staring at the blood on her fingers. As the villagers and dwarfs gather around her, Snow confidently asserts that this is her kingdom and she will fight for it. The Queen replies that she will see her on the battlefield and vanishes.

Back in Neverland, David resists Mary Margaret's attempt to treat his wound, insisting they have more important problems. They walk over to Emma, who is staring blankly at the map. Angrily, Emma tells Mary Margaret that if she were the savior, the map should have unlocked. Mary Margaret replies that maybe Emma isn't who she thinks she is and asks her why she let the Lost Boy go. After some prodding, Emma reveals that she saw herself in the boy's face. As a foster child, she felt unwanted and useless and could never understand why her parents gave her up. She admits that on this island she doesn't feel like a hero or a savior, but an orphan. At those words, a picture of the island appears on the map. Emma apologizes to Mary Margaret, who replies that Emma was an orphan and as her mother, it's her job to change that.

In the former Enchanted Forest, Snow calls loudly for Rumplestiltskin, who appears behind her looking annoyed. Snow tells him that Charming made a deal with him for information about Excalibur and she is willing to pay the price so he won't be in Rumplestiltskin's debt. He replies that he gave him nothing and that everyone knows Excalibur is in Camelot. Snow shows the sword to him, and Rumplestiltskin disintegrates the blade, proving it is not Excalibur. Then, he takes Snow's mother's pearl necklace as payment for wasting his time.

At Snow and the dwarfs' campsite, the dwarfs apologize to Charming for misjudging him and they drink to a fresh start. Snow enters and asks Charming why he faked Excalibur. Charming replies that she needed to realize that she is able to defeat the Queen on her own. Snow sees that he has had faith her her all along, and they kiss.

Back in Neverland, Emma shows the map to the rest of the group. Hook pinpoints their location and says Pan's camp is north of the Dark Jungle, warning them that the journey will be very dangerous. They agree that they need a new plan and must stop playing Pan's game. Regina, David and Mary Margaret leave, and Hook congratulates Emma on beating Pan, asking her how she unlocked the map. Emma avoids answering his questions as he hints that he would like to know who she really is.

In another part of the jungle, Mr. Gold hears rustling around him and stops but cannot see anyone. He looks up and watches the straw doll he threw in the sea fall to the ground in front of him. Warily, he picks it up, then drops it again and burns it, stepping on the ashes. He walks away from it, only to have it appear again a few steps away. Concerned, he finally tucks the doll into his jacket and walks away.

Emma is picking berries when Pan appears behind her, congratulating her on solving the map but also taunting her about being an orphan. Pan reveals that she hasn't forgiven her parents for abandoning her, just as Henry has not forgiven her, saying that when she finds him, he won't want to leave Neverland. Emma tells him that they shall see, but Pan says that when they're done, she won't only feel like an orphan, she will be one. David, separated from the group, takes off his jacket to reveal his torn shirt and wound. It is clearly poisoned in some way.

Starring

 * Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard
 * Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan
 * Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen/Regina Mills
 * Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David Nolan
 * Emilie de Ravin as Belle French
 * Colin O'Donoghue as Hook
 * Michael Raymond-James (Credit only)
 * Jared S. Gilmore (Credit only)
 * Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold

Guest Starring

 * Lee Arenberg as Grumpy
 * Giancarlo Esposito as Magic Mirror
 * Robbie Kay as Peter Pan

Co-Starring

 * Michael Coleman as Happy
 * Parker Croft as Felix
 * Faustino Di Bauda as Sleepy
 * David-Paul Grove as Doc
 * Jeffrey Kaiser as Dopey
 * Gabe Khouth as Sneezy
 * Paul Lazenby as Mirror Carrying Knight
 * Mig Macario as Bashful
 * Robert Mann as Peasant #1
 * Cainan Wiebe as Hooded Lost Boy

Quotes
Hook: It's danerously unwise not to play by Pan's rules. David: For once, I agree with the pirate. Hook: I'm winning you over, I can feel it.

Snow White: She has a point. I'm no queen. I'm no leader. I'm just a girl who lost her parents, ran away into the woods and became a bandit.

Prince Charming: You're Snow White!

Snow White: Yes. And the truth is... I don't even know who that is.

Emma: That look in his eyes, the despair. I had it. Back when I was in the foster system. Just a lost little girl who didn't matter and didn't think she ever would. A little girl who cried herself to sleep at night 'cause she wanted her parents so bad and could never understand why they gave her up.

Mary Margaret: And then you found us, and it was too late.

Emma: It's just.. on this island, I don't feel like... like a hero or a savior. I just feel like what I've always been: an orphan.

Pan: "You won't just feel like an oprhan, you'll be one!"

Production Notes

 * The title card features a sword resting in a stone.
 * This is the first episode of the third season in which the Land Without Magic does not appear.
 * During filming of the scene in which Snow White, Charming and the Dwarves are gathered around the table, a deer wandered onto the set. Thus, the animal's appearance in the background of this scene was kept in the episode despite being unplanned.
 * The emotional scene where Emma admits to her mother that she still feels like an orphan was originally written as a scene between Emma and Hook, but Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis felt it would be a more poignant scene with Mary Margaret because of the themes of the episode.
 * Pan's map of Neverland shows Indian Village, Crab Sound, Bowline Point, Minaty Bay, Pirate's Cove, Pan's Secret Hideout, Skull Rock, Mermaid's Lagoon, Wight Isle ("Wight Is.") and Spiral Islands.
 * Minaty Bay is a real place north of Steveston Village where some of the Neverland scenes were filmed.
 * The Isle of Wight is the largest island in England. A theme park known as Peter Pan's Funfair & Amusements is located on the island in the seaside town Ryde.

Event Chronology

 * The Neverland events take place after "The Heart of the Truest Believer" and before Quite a Common Fairy.
 * The Enchanted Forest events occur after "A Land Without Magic" and before "Lady of the Lake".

Episode Connections

 * Mr. Gold's shadow and the dagger are seen again in "Going Home".
 * The scenes where Prince Charming wakes up Snow White with true love's kiss, is from "Pilot".
 * When the Evil Queen finds out that Snow is still alive, the Magic Mirror shows her a scene from "A Land Without Magic.
 * Mary Margaret recalls Emma calling her "mom", which happened for the first time in "And Straight On 'Til Morning".
 * Emma finally calls Mary Margaret "mom" again in "There's No Place Like Home".
 * Hook mentions poisoning Mr. Gold in "The Queen Is Dead".
 * Regina references the sheriff election in "Desperate Souls".
 * Hook's knowledge of Dreamshade is gained in "Good Form".
 * The crying orphans were first described by Wendy in "Second Star to the Right".
 * Snow White and Prince Charming succeed in taking back the kingdom in "The Cricket Game".
 * David's dreamshade poisoning plays a major part of the storyline for the first half of Season Three. The problem is finally solved in "The New Neverland".

Disney

 * Emma references an incarnation of Hook donning a "waxed mustache and a perm" in Disney's 1953 film Peter Pan.

Fairytales and Folklore

 * This episode is a rendition of the Snow White fairyale, focusing on Snow White's awakening from the Sleeping Curse, the King Arthur legend, focusing on the Excalibur sword of Camelot as well as the Peter Pan story, focusing on the appearance of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.
 * Also included are the Evil Queen, Prince Charming, the Magic Mirror and Seven Dwarves from the Snow White fairytale as well as Captain Hook from the Peter Pan story.
 * This episode features Rumplestiltskin from the Rumpelstiltskin fairytale.
 * Emma talks about growing up with the childhood fictional tale of a heroic Peter Pan.
 * Charming mentions the character of Merlin from the King Arthur legend.

Pop Culture

 * Hook mentions Rufio from the 1991 film Hook.