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You'll have to excuse us, but this is family business.

Ingrid to Belle


"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

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

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.

In Storybrooke

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.

This episode summary is adapted from Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).


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

Production Notes

Event Chronology

Episode Connections

  • 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

Lost

  • There is a close-up of Belle's eye as she awakens.[20] This is a recurring theme from Lost.

Fairytales and Folklore

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

  • 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]


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

Costume Notes

  • BRAND INFO: The scarf is a Classic Dagger Scarf from Rag & Bone[44] (no longer available).

International Titles


Videos

References

  1. Sunday Final Ratings: ‘The Good Wife’, ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’, ‘Once Upon a Time’ & ’60 Minutes’ Adjusted Up + Final Football Ratings. TV by the Numbers (November 4, 2014). “Once Upon a Time (...) 7.54”
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 LISTINGS: ONCE UPON A TIME. The Futon Critic. “Air Date: Sunday, November 02, 2014. Time Slot: 8:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC. Episode Title: (#406) "Family Business"”
  3. TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: @swangirlemma no worries. Here's the speech. Note, it's NOT canon (but maybe one day, consider it a work in progress) (August 18, 2015). (backup link) (archive screenshot) (script photo)
  4. 4.0 4.1 Kalinda Vazquez and Andrew Chambliss on the Season Four Blu-ray-exclusive Audio Commentary for "Family Business"
  5. File:407Title.png
  6. TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: Here's the ep 406 #titlespoiler for #OnceUponATime ! Hope to see ya 9/28! #StorybrookeGetsFrozenOver (September 1, 2014). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  7. 7.0 7.1 File:112Landscape.png
  8. 8.0 8.1 File:406MauricesCastle.png
  9. File:517MauriceCastle2.png
  10. File:406ClockTower.png
  11. File:403ClockTower.png
  12. File:108Noooooo!.png
  13. 13.0 13.1 File:406LeaveWithout.png
  14. 14.0 14.1 File:112OhMyGods2.png
  15. 15.0 15.1 File:406NewspaperClipping.png
  16. File:109Articles.png
  17. File:120ThingYouKnow.png
  18. 18.0 18.1 File:520IJustThought.png
  19. File:406DoorClosing.png
  20. File:406Awake.png
  21. 21.0 21.1 File:406No.png
    File:406ForgetThisNonsense.png
  22. 22.0 22.1 File:406Uh.png
  23. ONCE UPON A TIME: "Skin Deep" script (PDF) pp. 28. Retrieved on February 1, 2019.
  24. File:406ForgetThisNonsense.png
  25. File:214ItShouldBeHere.png
  26. File:422Newspaper.png
  27. File:406TheDairyQueen.png
  28. File:406ScrollBottom.png
    File:406ScrollTop.png
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 Some Runes Used in "Once Upon A Time" Season 4. Panya's Blog: Linguistic Aspects (October 11, 2014, updated on December 12, 2014).
  30. Once Upon a Time: The Complete Fourth Season: "The Fairest Bloopers Of Them All (At 3:00) (Note that on the Blu-ray commentary for this episode, Andrew Chambliss says that green dots were used for Helga and Gerda because these roles had not yet been cast. This is only partially correct, as Pascale Hutton, who plays Gerda, had already appeared in "A Tale of Two Sisters.")
  31. File:406MaybeThatsWhy.png
    File:406ThisIsHelga.png
  32. SOCKERÄRT Vase, white. IKEA US. Retrieved on August 10, 2020.
  33. File:312LifeAlteringDecision.png
  34. File:605PerfectBabysitter.png
  35. File:606TheRealFun.png
  36. File:618AllByYourself.png
  37. File:406ThisWorld.png
  38. Free People TEAM LACE VARSITY JACKET. Pradux. Retrieved on February 1, 2019.
  39. LINDY'S LACE VARSITY JACKET ON I DIDN'T DO IT. WornOnTV. Retrieved on February 1, 2019.
  40. File:406BeMoreHelpful.png
  41. RED Valentino FINE SPOT CARDIGAN. Pradux. Retrieved on February 1, 2019.
  42. File:704HesJustExcited.png
  43. File:406IKnow.png
  44. Classic Dagger Scarf. Rag & Bone. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved on February 1, 2019.
  45. File:406EmmaWalksToTruck.png
  46. Anthropologie POINTELLE MIDI PULLOVER. Pradux. Retrieved on February 1, 2019.

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