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Baelfire's Cave is a Neverland location featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time. It first appears in the fourth episode of the third season.
History
When Emma and her allies discuss how they can leave Neverland, Hook says that the only person he can think of who managed to escape on his own is Baelfire. They set off for the cave Baelfire inhabited as a boy, where David pulls up a vine with Hook to gain access to the entrance, even though he is getting weaker. Hook prompts him on when exactly is he going to tell his family about the dreamshade poisoning. David sees the situation as hopeless, to which Hook remarks that the one thing he’s learned from "hero" types is hope never dies and there is indeed a cure, but it's too far away to reach. He orders Hook not divulge their conversation; lest it sidetracks the mission to get Henry back. Inside the cave, Emma looks at the art scrawls on the walls and is surprised that Baelfire liked drawing. Hook shares insight of Baelfire's talent passed down from his mother. To get a better look at the wall, she uses a lit candle in a halved coconut holder. Again, Hook makes a good guess that the drawings were just a way for the boys on the island to pass time, making Emma realize he knew Baelfire pretty well. Nearby, David, Mary Margaret and Regina mull over a coconut half with holes, which Emma notices it is a perfect fit for the candle holder half. After the light is snuffed out, the two halves combine, revealing a star constellation map with an escape route. However, despite that Hook taught Baelfire how to navigate using the stars, he also coached him that all map makers never reveal their secrets. After realizing only Baelfire can read the map encryption, an upset Emma flees outside as her parents follow to console her over losing the man she loved. ("Nasty Habits")
Returning to the cave, everyone searches for something that might be useful. From Emma's observation of Baelfire's's tally marks on the wall, she relates her experience of being in foster homes and losing hope as the same reason why Baelfire stopped counting. The group is made aware that even though they are trying to rescue Henry, he himself doesn't know his family is coming. Mary Margaret comes up with an idea to send Henry a message and files out to show everyone. As Emma moves to follow, Hook has a heart-to-heart with her about knowing what it's like to lose hope, too. Not in the mood, she shuts him down for attempting to bond with her. Disheartened, Hook moves to leave, but David reenters to confront him about his growing interest in Emma. ("Good Form")
Hook, Emma and Neal revisit Baelfire's cave. While Emma goes off to fetch the star map, Hook accidentally discloses the kiss he shared with her, which Neal was unaware of until now. This causes some uneasiness in Neal, but he excuses it as something Emma must've forgotten to bring up. After obtaining the star map, they go in search of Dark Hollow, a place home to all captured shadows. ("Dark Hollow")Trivia
On-Screen Notes
- The drawings on the cave walls show several memories from Baelfire's life, including: ("Nasty Habits," "Good Form," "Dark Hollow")
- A portal with hands reaching into it,[1] reflecting how he was separated from his father in "The Return."
- The port and starboard symbol on Hook's ship from "And Straight On 'Til Morning."[2]
- Hook's grapple hook.[3]
- London, where Baelfire lived for some time in "Second Star to the Right."[2]
- A drawing of the Darling family[4] and their dog Nana,[2] which Baelfire lived with for a short time in "Second Star to the Right."
- Graphic arts designer Neil Westlake created an illustration of Rumplestiltskin for the cave,[5] but this drawing never made it onto the screen.
Appearances
Once Upon a Time: Season Three | ||||||||||
"The Heart of the Truest Believer": | "Lost Girl": | "Quite a Common Fairy": | "Nasty Habits": | "Good Form": | "Ariel": | "Dark Hollow": | "Think Lovely Thoughts": | "Save Henry": | "The New Neverland": | "Going Home": |
Absent | Absent | Absent | Appears | Appears | Absent | Appears | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
"New York City Serenade": | "Witch Hunt": | "The Tower": | "Quiet Minds": | "It's Not Easy Being Green": | "The Jolly Roger": | "Bleeding Through": | "A Curious Thing": | "Kansas": | "Snow Drifts": | "There's No Place Like Home": |
Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |