"Family Business" is the sixth episode of Season Four of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Kalinda Vazquez & Andrew Chambliss and directed by Mario Van Peebles. It is the seventy-second episode of the series overall, and premiered on November 2, 2014.
Synopsis
The race is on to track down the elusive Snow Queen, who was once a foster mother to a young Emma - whose memories of this event have been erased - in order to discover what her ultimate end game is for Elsa and the residents of Storybrooke, and unaware that she does not possess the real blade that controls The Dark One, Belle attempts to use it to get her reluctant husband to show her where the Snow Queen is hiding. Meanwhile, back in the past, Belle travels to Arendelle and, with Anna's help, seeks out Grand Pabbie to help her regain her lost memories in order to discover the fate of her mother.[2]
Recap
In the Enchanted Forest, during the time of the ogre wars before the first curse was cast, a woman named Colette tells her daughter to hurry up so they can escape. The daughter is Belle, who was trying to retrieve her book, but as they attempt to flee, it is too late, as they are forced to hide under a table in their library. Unfortunately, an ogre finds them and attacks. The event turns out to be a nightmare for Belle, who wakes up and asks her father about what happened as she cannot remember. When Sir Maurice displays her mother's coffin, Belle screams, distraught because she can't remember what happened to her mother. Maurice says she won't find answers in a book; Belle disagrees, believing there are creatures that can restore memories. However, Maurice refuses to let Belle leave the castle, telling her that magic comes at a price and he can't lose her too. Unfortunately, after posting a "Sorry" letter to her father, Belle looks at a map and says she needs answers, and that it can be found in a place called Arendelle.
Meanwhile, in Arendelle, Anna shows up back home and Elsa asks what she found out about their parents, but Anna, fearful of explaining the real truth to her sister, lies and says she found nothing. Anna then notices Elsa isn't making snowflakes and she tells her sister that she's learning how to get her magic under control. Elsa then introduces the Snow Queen to Anna as their aunt Ingrid, but Anna says their mother never mentioned having a sister. Ingrid explains she had been trapped in a magical urn by people who don't understand her, and demonstrates her magic as proof. Unconvinced, Anna tells Kristoff that she does not trust the Snow Queen, since there is no trace of her within the family portrait gallery or royal records, despite being reassured by Kristoff, who is still upset over postponing the wedding. Anna decides to visit Grand Pabbie and tells Kristoff to keep an eye on Elsa and Ingrid. Unbeknownst to either Kristoff or Anna, Ingrid has been eavesdropping on the conversation.
Later on, Belle is at Wandering Oaken's Trading Post & Sauna, asking and even begging for directions to the rock trolls. Overhearing this, Anna asks if she needs help and tells Belle that she come along with her, then they head out. Along the way, Belle and Anna walk and talk about the parents they've lost. Belle says she lost her memory and wants the rock trolls to restore her memory so she can be at peace. Anna says she'll try to get them to help her.
As they approach a tall cliff, Anna says they have to climb, and pulls out from Belle's bag a pick ax and starts to climb, but then immediately tumbles down, saying that Kristoff made this look easy. Anna's bag then falls open, displaying the box with the sorcerer's hat, which she tells Belle that she stole from a bad and twisted criminal that she hopes Belle never crosses paths with. Anna brings Belle to meet Grand Pabbie, who can restore her memories. He pulls something magical from Belle's head, then tells her to go where she lost her memories. Then, he gives her a stone, and tells her to it put in tea and drink it at the place where she lost her memories to get them back. Belle thanks Anna for her help and offers to repay her. Grand Pabbie then tells Anna that her mother, Gerda, had not one, but two sisters, Helga and Ingrid, as he was sworn to secrecy. He says that the three were close as children, Just like Elsa and Anna, but one day, the other two children vanished, no one knew what happened to them and they wanted to forget the tragedy, so he helped them by wiping their memories of all in Arendelle. When Anna asks why Ingrid wouldn't tell her there was another sister, she returns to Arendelle to ask Elsa. As Belle and Anna are leaving the cliffs they hear a noise, but it turns out to be a storm blowing up on them, and Anna says she thinks it's her aunt, not a storm, because Ingrid doesn't want her to tell Elsa what she found out. Anna then shows Belle the box and says that she can take her aunt's magic. Unfortunately, the memory stone falls from Belle's hand, and she has to choose between retrieving it and helping Anna, who is clinging to the cliff edge. The stone then tumbles and smashes, and Belle grabs for Anna, but she loses her to the rocks at the base of the cliff. Ingrid then shows up and takes the magic box from an unconscious Anna's bag. Belle tells her to leave Anna alone, but Ingrid says it's family business and disappears with Anna.
Belle later returns home, where her father awaits her. He tells Belle what happened to her mother, in which she sacrificed her life to save Belle. With the Ogre Wars getting worse and no manpower to stop them, Belle remembers Anna talking about a powerful wizard during their adventure, that can come and save the kingdom, despite Maurice's plea, of which would later result in Rumplestiltskin's arrival. Back in Arendelle, Anna later regains consciousness and wakes up in a dungeon cell, with Ingrid now holding her prisoner, believing that Anna will use the box to take Elsa's power. Anna denies this, but at the same time, she becomes suspicious as to why Ingrid never mentioned anything about Helga, so which Ingrid simply replies that some secrets are best kept buried. Ingrid, seeing Anna as a distraction, was hoping that she would a be part of a family with her and Elsa. Instead, Ingrid claims that after observing her, she realized that her idea of including all 3 of them in her family would never work out, and that it was time to replace Anna, thinking that she'll never accept her. Ingrid then tells Anna that soon, she'll finally have the one thing she always wanted, a family that loves and understands her.
Belle tells Mr. Gold that Emma Swan wants to see them at the Sheriff's office, where Emma, Henry, Regina, Hook, David, Mary Margaret, and Elsa, take a look at the video that featured Ingrid as Emma's foster mother. Emma believes that Ingrid might have erased their memories of her six months that she was in her care. David suggests that they all split up and search for Ingrid, with Henry giving them a clue as to where to find her: an ice cream truck. In the forest area called the North Woods, Emma, Regina, and Hook, along with Robin Hood and his Merry Men, discover the van empty, except for a locked container that Hook opens. When Emma opens it, she finds a file that Ingrid has kept of Emma since her arrival in the real world, along with her artwork. She also discovers a scroll that contains cryptic readings. As they search the woods, Regina tries to convince Robin that although he still has feelings for her, he should move on, but that she'll still try to save Marian for him.
Mr. Gold locates Ingrid and calls her out. Ingrid, knowing how well Gold works, tells him that she wanted Emma to find out about their past as part of her plan. Gold says he's there to offer her a deal, saying that if she declined, she'd better watch out. Then, Ingrid replies by saying that if there was something that he wanted from her, he should just take it, but she knows that he can't and needs leverage to make her accept the deal, so she turns him down, and warns Mr. Gold to stay out of her way. As Belle helps Elsa at the library, Elsa is convinced that everyone doesn't know if Anna is in Storybrooke, but Belle says otherwise and decides to seek out the answer back at the pawn shop. When Gold returns, she "uses" the fake dagger on him to take her to the Snow Queen's lair. After they find it, Belle orders Gold to stay outside while she goes in, but there is no sign of the Snow Queen anywhere. Belle then hears a voice, which draws her to a mirror, where an image of Belle taunts her for not saving Anna, and reveals the truth about her husband, including the revelation that the dagger she has is a fake. When Gold walks in, he tries to stop Belle, but the mirror's power consumes Belle, and she almost slices Gold's neck. After Mr. Gold's neck is nicked by the dagger, Belle breaks down and Gold whisks her away back to the pawn shop, where she asks her husband to forgive her for not trusting him, and they embrace.
Back at the Snow Queen's lair, Gold returns to confront Ingrid. Belle has been exposed to the mirror, meaning that Ingrid had threatened Belle, someone who was close to him. Gold warns her that he has something she wants, the Sorcerer's Hat, saying that as long as he has it, he has the leverage. Ingrid's presence is later uncovered in a family album that Elsa and Emma discover, which shows that Ingrid is her Aunt. Elsa then sees Emma's scroll and reads it, revealing a prophecy about a savior named Emma, who she "discovers" will become Ingrid's sister. Elsa says she thinks Ingrid believes the prophecy and is looking to replace her sisters. Belle shows up and says she's been keeping a secret from them. She decides to tell Elsa and Emma about what happened to Anna and the fact that Ingrid captured her, but that she doesn't know where Anna is now. She also tells them about the Snow Queen's mirror, which is part of a spell called the Spell of Shattered Sight, which could cause the whole town to turn on each other. Upon hearing this, Emma and Elsa believe that Ingrid's plan is to use the mirror to kill everyone around them, because once that happens, Ingrid will finally have the perfect family of three (only her, Elsa, and Emma) that she's always wanted.
Deleted Scenes
Hook and Emma, Extended Version
During the scene where Emma and Hook discuss the Snow Queen's file, Hook opens up about his childhood and how his father abandoned him and his brother when he was a child. The three of them were voyaging on a ship, and one morning the brothers awoke and discovered that their father was not in the cabin. They searched the ship in vain, and discovered that their father had stolen a dinghy while they were sleeping. According to Hook, it was a dreadful experience, but thankfully, he had his brother to steady him. He would never have survived without him.[3]
The scene was cut because of time.[4] An altered version of the story was later incorporated into the Season Five episode "Swan Song."
Little John/Marian
Marian and Little John's scenes were cut from the episode. However, Christie Laing and Jason Burkart are still listed in the episode's press release.[2]
Cast[2]
Starring
Guest Starring
|
Co-Starring
Uncredited |
Note:
*: Only in archive footage
Trivia
Title
- The title card features the Snow Queen's ice cream truck.[5]
- The title of this episode was announced by Adam Horowitz via his Twitter account on September 1, 2014.[6]
Production Notes
- OBSERVATIONS: Emma says that she is "thirteen, maybe fourteen" in the video recording, but since "Shattered Sight" establishes that the recording was made in 1999, Emma would actually have been fifteen or sixteen at the time.
- REUSED FOOTAGE: The same establishing shot of Maurice's castle is used in the Season One episode "Skin Deep,"[7] "Family Business"[8] and the Season Five episode "Her Handsome Hero,"[9] but with different color hues and clouds.
- REUSED FOOTAGE: The establishing shot of the Storybrooke library[10] is stock footage from the opening shot of "Rocky Road."[11] Note that the time on the CGI clock tower is different.
- The moment with the Snow Queen standing in front of the mirror at the end of the episode, was not scripted, but added by the editors in post-production.[4]
Event Chronology
- The Enchanted Forest flashbacks occur after "Her Handsome Hero" and "The Apprentice" and shortly before "Skin Deep" and "Smash the Mirror." (For more details, see the Enchanted Forest timeline)
- The Arendelle flashbacks occur after "The Apprentice" and before "Smash the Mirror." (For more details, see the Arendelle timeline)
- The Storybrooke events take place after "Breaking Glass" and before "The Snow Queen." (For more details, see the Land Without Magic timeline)
Episode Connections
- HIDDEN DETAILS: In the opening shot of Maurice's castle, the sky is red.[8] In "Desperate Souls," Rumplestiltskin stated that wherever there is a war with the ogres, the sky above the battle ground turns blood red. This can also be seen in "Desperate Souls"[12] and "Skin Deep."[7]
- HIDDEN DETAILS: The book Belle is holding while the library is stormed,[13] is the same book that she's holding in the opening scene in "Skin Deep."[14] The book is elaborated upon in "Her Handsome Hero."
- Emma and her family the watch the video recording first found in "Breaking Glass."
- The video recording was made during "Shattered Sight."
- When breaking into the ice cream truck, Emma makes a comment about the Snow Queen's Rocky Road, which is served to customers in "Rocky Road" and "Shattered Sight."
- Emma refers to the Snow Queen as "Dairy Queen," just like in "Rocky Road."
- HIDDEN DETAILS: The newspaper article about Emma in Ingrid's file[15] first appeared in Emma's own file "True North."[16] August showed Emma the same article in "The Stranger."[17] Emma shows the cashier the same article in "Firebird."[18]
- The circumstances surrounding the event described in the article was revealed in "The Stranger."
- The reason why Emma doesn't remember the time she spent with the Snow Queen is explained in "Shattered Sight." Emma gets her memories back in the same episode.
- How the Snow Queen ended up in the Land Without Magic is explained in "Smash the Mirror."
- The time Emma spent with the Snow Queen is explored in "Shattered Sight."
- Regina comments on Hook and Emma "making eyes at each other." She made a similar comment in "The Jolly Roger," where she said, "You're going to pretend everyone doesn't see the yearning looks and doughy eyes?"
- Belle tells her father about a wizard, Rumplestiltskin, who can help them, which leads up to the events of "Skin Deep."
- The Spell of Shattered Sight is cast in "Smash the Mirror." The spell strikes in "Fall," and is broken in "Shattered Sight."
Biblical
- While Belle is looking up information on how to get her memories back, there is a cross on the cover of one of the books.[19]
Disney
- This episode features Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Oaken, and Grand Pabbie from Frozen and the sorcerer's hat from Fantasia.
- Oaken says "Hoo-hoo" and maces his hand like in the movie.
- This episode contains a number of other references to Disney works. See the list of Disney references for more.
Lost
Fairytales and Folklore
- This episode features Beauty and the merchant from the "Beauty and the Beast" fairytale, as well as Beauty's real mother from the Villeneuve version of the story; the ugly duckling from the titular fairytale, the Snow Queen from the fairytale of the same name, Captain Hook from the Peter Pan story, and Robin Hood from the ballads.
- HIDDEN DETAILS: While Belle is researching, she wears a dress with embroidered roses,[21] a reference to the flower that Beauty's father steals from the Beast's rose garden in the fairytale of "Beauty and the Beast." In addition, a vase of roses is sitting in Wandering Oaken's Trading Post when Belle visits.[22]
- Oaken says to Belle, "You want to find trolls? You know they're dangerous, yeah?," but Belle clarifies, "Oh, no, no, no. Rock trolls, not bridge trolls." The concept of trolls living under a bridge originates in the fairytale "Three Billy Goats Gruff."
- Using a mirror piece, Ingrid casts a spell on Anna by shattering the shard, which absorbs into the girl's eyes and causes Anna to grow hateful towards her sister Elsa. This is a reference to the events of "The Snow Queen" fairytale, where the splinters of the troll mirror gets into peoples hearts and eyes and makes people see only the bad and ugly in people and things.
- Similarly, the way trolden glass affects Belle when she finds it in Ingrid's lair is another reference to the events of the fairytale.
Popular Culture
- While searching the Snow Queen's ice cream truck, Emma remarks, "Who locks their freezer? Was she afraid someone was gonna steal the Rocky road?"; a reference to the chocolate-flavored ice cream.
- When Emma finds a file about herself in the Snow Queen's freezer, she says, "Looks like the Dairy Queen's been following me for a long time," a reference to the multinational ice cream franchise.
Props Notes
- HIDDEN DETAILS: Belle holds a book, which she describes as the first story her mother read to her, which is called Her Handsome Hero.[13]
- ABANDONED IDEAS: In the original script for the Season One episode "Skin Deep," Rumplestiltskin picks up the very same book in Maurice's castle and opens it.[23] In the actual episode, Belle is holding the book, but the title is never seen.[14]
- The seventeenth episode of the fifth season is named after this book.
- PAUSE AND READ: When Belle is looking up information on how to retrieve lost memories, she is reading a page about rock trolls. It says:[24]
Trolls are creatures who are said to be formidable
telepaths and are said to ably employ subtle acts
of persuasion to bend others to their will.
Some earlier scolars [sic] even went so far as to
say that they have the ability to restore
memories that have been lost.
The Talismanic Adornments of
the Rock Troll
ᛏᚱᚩᛚᛚ ᚾᛖᚳᚳᛚᚪᚳᛖ*
Trolls can cast powerful enchantments – in particular spells used
to wrest someone's heart or mind.
They do this by the emanation of a magical frequency generated
through the crystals they wear about their body. The power of
this working is increased by their entire number acting
in unison.
The crystals made of andradite and peridot are worn by the
trolls also as protection and defense from the evil around
them including the machinations of men.
*Anglo-Saxon runes, which transliterate as "troll necclace" [sic]
- CREW NAMES ON PROPS: The name of the news reporter in the newspaper clipping about baby Emma, in Ingrid's file, is "M. Soparlo,"[15] a reference to Mark Soparlo, a member of the production staff on the show.
- "M. Soparlo" is also listed as the author of a book on the Storybrooke library shelf where Cora finds Mr. Gold's map in the Season Two episode "Manhattan,"[25] and as one of the reporters in the newspaper that Isaac reads in "Operation Mongoose Part 2."[26]
- The article can be read in its entirety in the Season Five episode "Firebird."[18]
- HIDDEN DETAILS: There is a photograph of young Emma in Ingrid's file.[27]
- MYSTERIOUS WRITINGS: The Snow Queen's scroll found by Hook and Emma is written in Elder Futhark runes.[28] It says:[29]
I have travelled the
world near and far
My search knows no
bounds
My obsession will
not leave me
My search will
continue to the ends
of the earth
One thing I know
for sure
The name of the
savior is Emma
The savior shall be
my sister
The family must be
complete
- During the shooting of the episode, Ingrid, Helga and Gerda's portraits had not yet been added to the family book that Elsa finds, so green dots were used instead.[30] The portraits were inserted digitally in post-production.
- MYSTERIOUS WRITINGS: The text in the family book is written in Elder Futhark runes:[31]
- The names of Ingrid, Helga and Gerda are written under the pictures in the family tree.[29]
- According to the family tree, the sisters' parents were King Harald and Queen Sonja.[29] Harald is the name of the current king of Norway, and several ancient kings of Norway and Denmark. Sonja is the name of the current queen of Norway. Ingrid of Once Upon a Time shares her name with Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, the grandchild of King Harald of Norway, and heir apparent of the Norwegian crown prince.
- The sisters' paternal grandparents were King Olaf and Queen Astrid whereas their maternal grandfather was King Magnus.[29] Olaf was the name of many ancient kings of Norway and Denmark. The father of King Harald of Norway was King Olav. Princess Astrid was King Olav's second daughter. Many ancient kings of Norway and Sweden were called Magnus. It is also the middle name of Prince Haakon, crown prince of Norway.
- The name of the maternal grandmother is blurred and hard to read. The first letter is clearly a D, while the last two look like N and E; her name might be Daphne (ᛞᚨᛈᚺᚾᛖ).
- The small caption above each name transliterates as "his majesty" and "her majesty."[29]
Set Dressing
- BRAND INFO: A white Sockerärt vase from IKEA[32] is sitting on a table in Wandering Oaken's Trading Post.[22]
- REUSED PROPS: Two copies of the same vase were sitting on the kitchen shelves in Emma's New York apartment in the Season Three episode "New York City Serenade."[33] The same vase is in Zelena's kitchen in the Season Six episodes "Street Rats,"[34] "Dark Waters"[35] and "Where Bluebirds Fly."[36]
Costume Notes
- BRAND INFO: Mary Margaret is wearing[37] a Free People Team Lace Varsity Jacket[38] (no longer available).
- The same jacket was worn by the character Lindy Watson on the I Didn't Do It episode "Falling for... Who?."[39]
- BRAND INFO: Belle is wearing[40] a RED Valentino Fine Spot Cardigan[41] (no longer available).
- USE IT AGAIN: While Belle is researching, she wears a dress with embroidered roses[21] (a reference to the flower that Beauty's father steals from the Beast's rose garden in the fairytale of "Beauty and the Beast"). She wears the same dress in the Season Seven episode "Beauty,"[42] but with a different blouse underneath.
- HIDDEN DETAILS: When searching for the Snow Queen, Belle wears a dagger-printed scarf;[43] a reference to the Dark One Dagger.
- BRAND INFO: The scarf is a Classic Dagger Scarf from Rag & Bone[44] (no longer available).
- BRAND INFO: Emma is wearing[45] a Pointelle Midi Pullover by Anthropologie[46] (no longer available).
International Titles
International Titles | ||
---|---|---|
Language | Title | Translation |
Finnish | "Perheasioita" | "Family Businesses" |
French | "Secrets de Famille" | "Family Secrets" |
German | "Das Faksimile der Liebe" | "The Facsimile of Love" |
Italian | "Affari di famiglia" | "Family Business" |
Portuguese | "Assunto de Família" | "Family Affair" |
Spanish | "Asuntos Familiares" | "Family Business" |