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For the Facebook app with a similar name, see Once Upon a Time: The Untold Stories.

Dr. Jekyll: That's why this place has come to be known as the Land of Untold Stories.
Hook: It's a tad ironic of a name, no? Given that this land is seemingly filled with stories.

"An Untold Story" is the twenty-third and final episode of Season Five of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz, and directed by Dean White. It is the one hundred and eleventh episode of the series overall, and premiered on May 15, 2016.

This episode is the second part of the season five finale, and premiered immediately following "Only You".

Synopsis

With the possibility of magic being destroyed and the fate of Storybrooke hanging in the balance, it's a race for Emma and Regina to track down Henry before Gold can find him first. Regina continues to struggle with her frustrations over her former evil-self and, elsewhere, Snow, David, Hook and Zelena are imprisoned and must contend with two very disturbed individuals that may give Gold a run for his money.[2]

Recap

This section is a detailed recap of this episode. There are major spoilers. Click to expand.

In present-day Land of Untold Stories, the Groundsman awakens in a straightjacket. he notices a note on the table in front of him that reads, "You almost got free. Sorry it didn't work out. -H" As he stands, the Orderly, slumped over in a nearby chair, drops a flask. He speaks to Hyde in his reflection in a knife, telling him he's not as clever as he thinks.

In their cell, Zelena mocks Hook as he attempts to unlock their cage. David Nolan tells them to stop arguing, reminding them that the Groundsman promised to bring the wand back to them. The Groundsman approaches the cage, lamenting that he was only able to keep half his promise. He explains that he repaired the wand, but the Warden took it from him. He reveals the key to their cell and unlocks it. Mary Margaret asks if he knows where the Warden is. The Groundsman explains that he doesn't, but before the group finds him, they "must have a way to defeat him." He tells the group he may have a way, but it might be dangerous. Hook tells him that he's just been "to Hell and back, and that he's not afraid.

The Groundsman leads the group to a bazar full of many different people. Mary Margaret observes that it's like "all the realms at once" and the Groundsman explains that it's a refuge for people from many realms, fleeing their problems. He tells the group that this realm has been called "The Land of Untold Stories".

In New York City, Violet follows Henry Mills down a crowded street, reminding him that his mother told them to wait in the library. Agitated, Henry reminds her that Emma and Regina could already be in trouble, and that she already ran away with him and "liked about the Dark Grail. Violet takes his hand, telling him that she knows he's scared, and will help him. Henry thanks her. As they continue walking, Violet expresses her hope that Henry has a plan, as the pair do not have magic and they don't know where Henry's grandfather is. Henry stops, looking at a hotel in front of them with a storm cloud forming over it, saying "Actually, I think I do."

Inside the hotel, a room steward, bearing a cart, pauses in front of a room with glowing light emitting from the door. Apprehensively, he knocks on the door, and Mr. Gold opens it. Inside the room, the table, bearing the Olympian Crystal and three candles, in covered in inscriptions. The steward lifts the cover of the dinner tray, announcing the spaghetti Bolognese, yet revealing a steak with vegetables. He stammers out an apology, promising to fix the error right away. Mr. Gold tells him not to bother, that the meal is "irrelevant". He picks up the tray, dumping the plate of food onto the cart, asking if the steward if it is sterling silver. The steward assures him it is, and Mr. Gold tells him to leave. As the young man walks out, Mr. Gold stops him. He tips him with a one hundred dollar bill, saying "Things might get messy here." The steward leaves, and Mr. Gold closes the door, with the "Do not disturb" sign on the knob.

On the street outside, Emma and Regina look up at Mr. Gold's hotel. Regina remarks that Mr. Gold may have magic, but is not subtle. Emma observes that Henry has likely already disobeyed them, and takes out her cellphone, intending to call him and tell him to stay where he is. Regina reminds her that she "torched his phone." Looking at her phone, Emma tells Regina that Granny in Storybrooke has informed her that her parents, Hook and Zelena were pulled through a portal. Regina asks where they've gone, and Emma responds that all Granny knows is that the group vanished with the Sorcerer's Wand and never came back. Regina marches off toward the hotel. Emma hurries after her, exclaiming that their family members may be in danger, and they need to help them get home safely. Regina retorts that the only way to do that is to get back their magic from Gold. Emma stops her just outside the building's entrance, telling that they need a plan. Regina implies that she means to physically attack gold, and Emma shoots back that she wants to help her family too, but the pair need to be smart.

Later, inside the hotel, Regina knocks on Mr. Gold's door. She tells him they need to talk, alone, and that "the Savior" doesn't know she's there. Allowing her in, Mr. Gold asks her why he would want to talk to her. Regina tells him that the storm clouds outside lead her to believe he has been unable to wake Belle, and, looking at the writing-covered table, guesses that it's "not for a lack of trying". She offers her help, calling herself his best student. With disdain, Mr. Gold tells her that his best student was a Queen, and that Regina has "buried under layers of tasteful cotton and good intentions." Regina tells him that she's ready to let "her" back out, that she is sick of losing the people she cares about. Mr. Gold asks her what's changed, and Regina tells him that Zelena is in trouble, because "the 'Heroes' convinced her to use the Sorcerer's Wand and they're trapped in another realm. Mr. Gold asks her why he would help Zelena, and Regina responds that he needs the help of the Evil Queen. She tells him that she doesn't want to lose anyone else she loves after what happened to Robin Hood. Mr. Gold accepts her help.

In the Land of Untold Stories, the Groundsman takes the group to the apartment he lived in when he was a doctor at the hospital. He picks up a vial of blue liquid, explaining that it's a serum he created to "separate the good from the evil in someone", and that's it what he intends to use to defeat the Warden. Hook observes that there doesn't seem to be any good in the Warden, and the Groundsman assures him that it's there, and that the good has been fighting to get out for a long time. He takes a flower out of his pocket, which David observes as being from his garden. The Groundsman cuts the stem, and adds liquid from it to his serum. As he swirls it, the blue liquid becomes red, and he observes that "he" didn't know it was being grown right under his nose. The Orderly bursts in, exclaiming that he did know. The Groundsman exclaims that he was passed out drunk, and the Orderly informs him that he allowed him to get away to finish the serum. He grabs the Groundsman, and, saying it's time to show the Warden what he's done, forces him to drink some blue liquid. The Groundsman tells the group to run as he transforms in the Warden. David and Mary Margaret realize what story the doctor is from, realizing that the Groundsman is Dr. Jekyll and the Warden is Mr. Hyde. Not understanding, Hook asks who Mr. Hyde is, and Zelena launches a fireball at him, which Mr. Hyde absorbs. The group runs. The Orderly begins to go after him, but Mr. Hyde stops him, gazing at the vial of red serum.

In the hotel in New York City, Emma breaks into Mr. Gold's room using a keycard and her cellphone. She sneaks into the room as Regina and Mr. Gold share a drink. Regina asks Mr. Gold where Belle is, and he explains that his wife, inside Pandora's Box, was taken. When Regina asks how, Mr. Gold explains his theory that the Sorcerer's Wand was taken from Zelena and used to take Pandora's Box, which means that both are in the same realm. He tells Regina that she is going to help him find it just as Emma removes the Olympian Crystal from his jacket. It disappears from her hand and into Mr. Gold's, and he tells her to help herself to a drink. Regina laments that he knew, and Mr. Gold replies that he did, that Regina has changed and the loss of "one man" is not going to make her evil again. He calls her guilt-ridden and weak, and tells her that he only let her in to acquire a bit of her hair, which Regina realizes is connected to Zelena, and will assist him in finding his wife. He tells the women he has no use for either of them, and brandishes a fireball as Henry and Violet enter the room, telling him to stop. Regina tells them to leave, saying there is nothing Henry can do. Henry tells her there is, and reveals the Dark Grail, using it to suck up Mr. Gold's fireball. He points it at the Olympian Crystal and the Grail starts sucking it in. The clouds over the hotel dissipate, the magic is sucked from the Crystal, and a shockwave knocks everyone in the room backward. Emma asks what he's done, and Henry replies that he has destroyed magic.


Deleted Scenes

The footage Granny was deleted from the episode; however, Beverley Elliott is still listed in the press release.[2]

Cast[2]

Starring

Guest Starring

Co-Starring

Trivia

Title

  • The original title card, used to separate the two parts of the season finale, features no special background[3] and a different musical accompaniment than usual. This title card also appears in the Blu-ray/DVD version of the episode.
  • The title of this episode was announced by Adam Horowitz via his Twitter account on March 15, 2016.[5]
  • For Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, "an untold story means it hasn't been finished yet. And it's been pushed pause on." They compare this situation to the one in the first season, saying it is "similar to when we met our characters in Storybrooke, they had untold stories, because many of them still had to find their happiness. The curse pushed pause."[6]

Production Notes

Event Chronology

Episode Connections

  • Dr. Jekyll was forced by Poole in "Only You" to revert into Hyde.
  • David, Hook, Mary Margaret and Zelena were transported to the Land of Untold Stories in taken prisoner by Mr. Hyde in "Only You".
  • David mentions Jekyll promised to fix the broken wand that can take them home, which took place in "Only You".
  • Hook says that he just went from hell and back, referring to events in "Swan Song" and "Last Rites".
  • Henry and Violet arrived in "New York City" and were followed by Mr. Gold, Regina and Emma in "Only You".
  • Granny's special lasagna is also referred to in "Child of the Moon", "Tiny", "Lacey", "The New Neverland", "It's Not Easy Being Green" and "Dreamcatcher".
  • Regina references Robin Hood's death, which happened in "Last Rites".
  • The purple flower Jekyll mixes into his own serum batch was first seen in "Only You".
  • Mr. Gold obtained a piece of the Olympian Crystal in "Last Rites".
  • Pandora's Box fell through a portal to another realm during "Only You".
  • Mr. Gold doesn't believe Regina losing Robin to death is enough to push her over the edge "anymore". This references the first time Regina lost a man she loved in "The Stable Boy", and how she became dark as a result of the loss.
  • Henry discovered the Holy Grail and its purpose for absorbing magic in "Only You".
  • Regina worries Storybrooke has ceased to exist after Henry absorbs the crystal into the Holy Grail. Her fears are because Mr. Gold lied about Storybrooke not surviving without magic, which he told her in "Only You". However, Mr. Gold confirms that Storybrooke is fine as it survived 28 years without magic. Magic was brought to Storybrooke in "A Land Without Magic".
  • Henry talks about when he and Emma lived together in New York City, which was shown in "Going Home" and "New York City Serenade".
  • The Dragon met Tamara and August in "Selfless, Brave and True". His apparent "death" in the same episode at Tamara's hands is also mentioned by both himself and Mr. Gold.
  • Henry talks about when Hook showed up in New York to bring him and Emma back to Storybrooke, where they were reunited with their family, referring to events in "Going Home" and "New York City Serenade".
  • When the Dragon says, "There is magic everywhere if you are willing to see it", Emma recalls August once told her the same phrase. This event occurred in "A Land Without Magic".
  • Mary Margaret's habit of drinking hot cocoa and cinnamon was first noted in "The Thing You Love Most".
  • Mary Margaret says that she kind of helped bring the Evil Queen into the world, referring to events in "The Stable Boy".
  • The Evil Queen drifts away in a cloud of dust, and then reappears somewhere else, just like Zelena did in "Heart of Gold".
  • Henry apologizes to Violet for making her and her father miss their trip back to Camelot. This is in reference to the portal trip that some Camelot residents took in "Only You" in order to return home.
  • Hook asks Emma if she still feels guilty about his return, which refers to events in "Last Rites".
  • Emma talks about all the things she and Hook have been through; "Darkness, Hades, separated by realms", referring to events that began in "Operation Mongoose Part 2", "Swan Song" and "Only You" respectively.
  • When magic is released from the Olympian Crystal, the view of Storybrooke is the same view glimpsed from Jefferson's house in the morning in "Hat Trick",[25] and when Emma awoke Henry with true love's kiss in "A Land Without Magic".[26]
  • Emma points out her habit for declaring her love for Hook when they were facing battle or one of them was facing certain death. This was seen in "Operation Mongoose Part 2", "Nimue", "Broken Heart" and "Swan Song".
  • The "friends" that Mr. Hyde brought to Storybrooke, arrive in "The Savior".
  • The reason why Regina's evil half didn't die when Regina crushed her heart, is revealed in "Strange Case".
  • Regina is reunited with her evil half in "A Bitter Draught".
  • The Dragon's fate is revealed in "I'll Be Your Mirror".

Biblical

Disney

  • In the opening shot of the scene everyone returns to Storybrooke, an advertisement for computers with the Encom logo from Tron can be seen on the street.[15]

Fairytales and Folklore

Popular Culture

Props Notes

Set Dressing

Filming Locations

For other uses of this location, see Movies Filmed at Vancouver Art Gallery

International Titles


Videos

References

  1. Porter, Rick (May 17, 2016). Sunday final ratings: ‘Once Upon a Time’ finale, everything else hold. TV by the Numbers. “Once Upon a Time (ABC) (...) 4.07”
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 LISTINGS: ONCE UPON A TIME. The Futon Critic. “Air Date: Sunday, May 15, 2016. Time Slot: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC. Episode Title: (#522/523) "Only You/An Untold Story".”
  3. File:523TitleOriginal.png
  4. File:523TitleAlternate.png
  5. TwitterLogo @AdamHorowitzLA (Adam Horowitz) on X, formerly Twitter (March 15, 2016). "Hey #Oncers, here's one more #OnceUponATime #titlespoiler for season 5: thanks for watching & hope to see ya Sunday!" (archive screenshot)
  6. Abrams, Natalie (May 13, 2016). Spoiler Room: Scoop on Grey's Anatomy, Supernatural, Quantico and more. Entertainment Weekly. “As for the title of the second hour, "An Untold Story," Kitsis explains, "To us, an untold story means it hasn’t been finished yet. And it's been pushed pause on. Similar to when we met our characters in Storybrooke, they had untold stories, because many of them still had to find their happiness. The curse pushed pause. I can promise you there will be no curse in the finale."”
  7. Jared Gilmore (@Jared_Gilmore) (April 29, 2017). As many people found out today. It was. Twitter. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. (screenshot)
  8. TwitterLogo @Codonoghuecom (Colin O'Donoghue.COM) on X, formerly Twitter (June 17, 2018). "First time @Jared_Gilmore had to kiss Violet, Josh and Colin were in a car and doing kissing sounds against the window. #Enchanted"
  9. File:523JekyllHouse.png
  10. File:221WatchingBaeLeave.png
  11. TwitterLogo @AdamHorowitzLA (Adam Horowitz) on X, formerly Twitter (May 13, 2016). "Here's another #OnceUponATime #scripttease -- hope to see ya Sunday for the 2 hour season 5 finale at 7/6c!" (archive screenshot)
  12. File:523ReginaVSEvilQueen.png
  13. File:312YouTalkingAbout.png
    File:312OwOwOw.png
  14. Aguilera, Leanne (May 6, 2016). EXCLUSIVE! 'Once Upon a Time' Bosses Address Those Dreaded Death Rumors: 'A Grenade of Emotions' Is About to E. Entertainment Tonight. “EK: There is a phenomenal scene between Snow and Regina that is one of my favorites and we are also going to see Snow and Charming in an adventure.”
  15. 15.0 15.1 File:523ComingBack.png
  16. File:505StreetsOfStorybrooke2.png
  17. File:409Fall.png
  18. File:523MagicReturns.png
  19. File:511MorningInStorybrooke.png
  20. File:523MagicIsBack.png
  21. File:122CurseBroken.png
  22. File:307Spell2.png
  23. File:622Storybrooke2.png
  24. Chinatown Stock Footage Video. Getty Images. Retrieved on August 14, 2019.
    File:523FlyingDust.png
  25. File:117DingDong.png
  26. File:122CurseBroken2.png
  27. 27.0 27.1 File:523FleeFromWhat.png
  28. File:523HenryWillYou.png
  29. File:523TakeHand.png
  30. File:523MovingGroup.png
  31. File:523GoIntoTheOtherRoom.png
  32. File:W101SurgicalInstruments.png
    File:W101SurgicalInstruments2.png
  33. File:W107TakingBlood.png
    File:W107TakingBlood2.png
  34. File:523GoldFlipsTray.png
  35. File:312APiratesLife.png
  36. File:523TakingMagic.png
    File:523Inscriptions.png
  37. Difference Between Pentacle and Pentagram. DifferenceBetween.com (August 2, 2012).
  38. Kraig, Donald Michael (June 4, 2010). Is the Inverted Pentagram Evil or Satanic?. Llewellyn Unbound.
  39. Beyer, Catherine (June 1, 2018). The Five Element Symbols: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Spirit. ThoughtCo.
  40. 408 Carrall St, Vancouver, British Columbia. Google Maps (May 2016).
  41. File:523OnHisSide.png
  42. 512 Main St, Vancouver, British Columbia. Google Maps (September 2018).
  43. File:523EnteringTheShop.png
  44. File:523DragonShop.png
  45. Gittins, Susan (March 28, 2016). SHOOT: ONCE UPON A TIME Turns Vancouver Art Gallery into New York City for Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Robert Carlyle, Jared Gilmore. Hollywood North.
  46. 46.00 46.01 46.02 46.03 46.04 46.05 46.06 46.07 46.08 46.09 46.10 Movies Filmed at Vancouver Art Gallery. MovieMaps. Retrieved on November 6, 2018.
  47. Screenshot from Stargate SG-1: "Secrets"
  48. Screenshot from Smallville: "Rogue"
  49. Screenshot from Psych: "Cloudy... With a Chance of Murder"
  50. Gittins, Susan (January 9, 2015). SHOOT: James Callis Films ARROW 1×15 Dodger on the Vancouver Art Gallery Roof – Updated. Hollywood North.
  51. Screenshot from The Tomorrow People: "Superhero"
  52. Gittins, Susan (May 16, 2015). SEASON FINALE: THE FLASH’s Black Hole Above Vancouver. Hollywood North.
  53. Screenshot from The Flash: "Potential Energy"
  54. Screenshot from The Flash: "Null and Annoyed"
  55. Screenshot from iZombie: "Dead Beat"
  56. Screenshot from Timeless: "The Red Scare"
  57. Screenshot from Supergirl: "Battles Lost and Won"
  58. Screenshot from Supergirl: "American Alien"
  59. Screenshot from Charmed: "Exorcise Your Demons"

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