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I've dreamt of this moment for so long, Snow White. I'd wake up still feeling the grit of your crushed heart clinging to my palms. But that ending isn't poetic enough, is it? I want to give you... my pain... the pain of being alone.

—The Evil Queen to Snow White


"Heartless" is the seventh episode of Season Six of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Jane Espenson, and directed by Ralph Hemecker. It is the one hundred and eighteenth episode of the series overall, and premiered on November 6, 2016.

Synopsis

In a flashback to the Enchanted Forest, Bandit Snow dodges a bounty hunter known as the Woodcutter while shepherd David goes on a fateful journey to sell his family's farm. In Storybrooke, the Evil Queen threatens to destroy the town and everyone in it unless Snow and David surrender their hearts. As Emma, Hook and Henry prepare to defend Storybrooke, Snow, David and Regina search for a magical sapling created by the first spark of true love. Regina uses Gold's and the Evil Queen's burgeoning romance against them, and Zelena offers Belle some friendly advice.[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 before the first curse, Snow White, hunted by the Evil Queen but not yet a bandit, sells her last heirloom to a nobleman for a pittance, only for him to betray her to the Woodcutter, a bounty hunter whom she fights off with help from the Blue Fairy. Having saved enough money to buy passage on a ship, Snow plans to head for the port city of Longborn. At the same time, Ruth sends David to Longborn to sell their farm, as they lack the resources to maintain it. Disguised as a peddler, the Woodcutter drugs David in order to use his sheep dog, Wilby, to track and capture Snow. When David comes to, Wilby leads him to the Woodcutter's wagon; Snow, locked inside, advises David to run. He instead tries to break the lock with a rock, but is interrupted by the Woodcutter's return. They fight, and the Woodcutter bashes a hole in the wagon, enabling Snow to hold back the Woodcutter's arm so David can kill him. Snow tells David that it would be safest for him to never see her face, so he hands the key through the hole. David's faith in Snow's resourcefulness convinces her that she can live by her wits and stay in her own kingdom; hearing that David is in need of money, she gives him her savings as a reward. As their hands touch, a magical spark of true love gives birth to a sapling at David's feet.

In Storybrooke

In the present day, Mary Margaret is waking up in the middle of the night, and finds herself in the middle of the woods when The Evil Queen emerges from behind a tree, reminding her of how lucky she has been, only to remind Mary Margaret that she still desires her heart, and with David having the other half, the Evil Queen tells Snow that she'll acquire it too for a “little bit more.” She gives Mary Margaret a mysterious potion and disappears, Mary Margaret then shows Regina the potion, and identifies it as water from the River of Lost Souls. Regina believes the Evil Queen obtained it from Gold as a part of a plan to destroy the whole town. Mother Superior believes that a magical sapling could be powerful enough to entrap the Evil Queen, and Regina hatches a plan by sending a note to Zelena demanding that she meets her other half at Gold's Pawn Shop.

Earlier, the Evil Queen promised Zelena that there was nothing going on between her and Gold, but when Zelena stops by the Pawn Shop, she catches the Evil Queen and Gold snogging, just as Regina planned. Around the same time, Mother Superior enacts a spell that should help Mary Margaret, David, and Regina get to the sapling. It leads them to a trapdoor in the ground, and they hop right in. As Mary Margaret and David find the sapling, they both touch it and the history of their love flashbacks right before their eyes, only to have The Evil Queen appear to steal the sapling, snaps it in half, and vows to destroy Storybrooke if they don't surrender their hearts. At the vault, Hook calms Emma down when her hands start to tremor & uses Henry's storybook to make Emma feel better and to remind her that her parents’ love can overcome any obstacle. They "always found each other." As she grows worried about her parents' fate and (possibly her visions); and how Emma inherited the strength of that love. “You can overcome these visions. You can overcome anything,” he assures her: "Remember who you are, the product of true love” — at which moment her hand stabilized.

Later on at the cemetery, the Evil Queen gathers the town to tell them her plan to kill them all if Mary Margaret and David don’t appear in the next few minutes. Just as Emma is ready to fight, the couple arrives and asks Regina to lift her protection spell from them, allowing The Evil Queen to rip out their hearts and hold them in her hands. She declares that killing them would be too easy and that she wants them to feel the pain of her loneliness. She thrusts their hearts back in, and Mary Margaret quickly passes out. The Evil Queen calls it a sleeping curse with “a little twist,” and she makes Mary Margaret’s body disappear and taunts David to go find her. He doesn't find her at the loft, so he quickly heads towards the woods, evoking the first time the couple were in this situation. David finds Mary Margaret asleep in the same fallen tree coffin as the first time. Mary Margaret is awoken by true love’s kiss, but David immediately passes out and falls to the ground. Regina deciphers that The Evil Queen has placed a sleeping curse on their shared heart, meaning the couple now share the curse, meaning that one will always be asleep while the other is awake, thus never allowing them to be together.

Finally, after Zelena told Belle at the cemetery about the Evil Queen and Gold having a kiss, Belle visits Gold at the Pawn Shop. Although she isn't concerned about him being involved with the Evil Queen, she is furious over the fact that Gold would acquire the Fates' Shears with The Evil Queen's involvement. Belle warns Gold that she forbids him to change their unborn child for his own selfish reasons. After she leaves, Gold becomes furious with Zelena.

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


Deleted Scenes

"True Love's Light" (Scene 28)

This scene is included on Once Upon a Time: The Complete Sixth Season.

As David, Mary Margaret and Regina walk through the tunnel to find the true love sapling, they come across a fork in the passage. Since they don't have enough time to explore both ways, they must choose wisely. After they kiss, which makes Regina roll her eyes, a green spark glows out from the right way.

Grumpy

A scene with Grumpy was cut from the episode. However, Lee Arenberg is still credited in the press release.[2]

Cast[2]

Starring

Guest Starring

Co-Starring

Uncredited

Note:
*: Only in archive footage


Trivia

Title

Production Notes

Event Chronology

Episode Connections

Disney

Lost

  • There are close-ups of Hook's eyes as he studies the potion bottle.[10] This is a common theme on Lost.
  • The Evil Queen asks Snow if she remembers her 15th birthday. The number "15" is a recurring Lost number.

Fairytales and Folklore

  • The excerpt from "The Golden Bird" appears in dozens of episodes; read the trivia section in the article for Henry's storybook for more information and a transcript.
  • The excerpt from "King Thrushbeard" is from the first volume of Grimm's Household Tales, an English edition translated by Margaret Hunt, published by George Bell and Sons in 1884 (link to text) (text set in fuchsia is off-screen):


(…) But it was of no use, she had to yield unless she
chose to die of hunger.
well, for the people were glad to buy the woman's wares
because she was good-looking, and they paid her what
she asked; many even gave her the money and left the
pots with her as well. So they lived on what she had
earned as long as it lasted, then the husband bought a lot
of new crockery. With this she sat down at the corner
of the market-place, and set it out round about her ready
for sale. [image ends]


  • The excerpt from "The Queen Bee" is directly copied from The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales (link to text), an English edition first published in 1944 by Pantheon Books, based on a translation by the aforementioned Margaret Hunt, but revised by the publisher (text set in fuchsia is off-screen):


The first was that in the forest, beneath the moss,
lay the princess's pearls, a thousand in number, which
must be picked up,
and if by sunset one single pearl was missing, he who had
looked for them would be turned to stone. The eldest
went thither, and sought the whole day, but when it
came to an end, he had only found one hundred, and
what was written on the table came true, and he was
changed into stone. Next day, the second brother under-
took the adventure; but it did not fare much better with
 him than with the eldest; he did not find more than two
hundred pearls, and was changed to stone. At last it was
simpleton's turn to seek in the moss, but it was so diffi-
cultfor him to find the pearls, and he got on so slowly,
that he seated himself on a stone, and wept. And while
he was thus sitting, the king of the ants whose life he
had once saved, came with five thousand ants, and before
long the little creatures had got all the pearls together, and laid them in a heap.
The second task, however, was to fetch out of the
lake the key of the king's daughter's bed-chamber.
When simpleton came to the lake, the ducks which he
had saved, swam up to him, dived down, and brought

the key out of the water.
But the third task was the most difficult, from
amongst the three sleeping daughters of the king was the
youngest and dearest to be sought out. They, however,
resembled each other exactly, and were only to be distin-
guished by their having eaten different sweetmeats
before they fell asleep, the eldest a bit of sugar, the
second alittle syrup, and the youngest a spoonful of
honey. Then the queen of the bees, whom simpleton had
protected from the fire, came and tasted the lips of all
three, and at last she remained sitting on the mouth
which had eaten honey, and thus the king's son recog-
nized the right princess. Then the enchantment was at
an end, everything was delivered from sleep, and those
who had been turned to stone received once more their
natural forms.
Simpleton married the youngest and sweetest prin-
cess, and after her father's death became king, and his
two brothers received the two other sisters.


  • The excerpt from "The Water of Life" is from the second volume of the Hunt's translation Grimm's Household Tales (link to text). (text set in fuchsia is off-screen):


They waited until they found him fast asleep, then they
poured the water of life out of the cup,
and took it for themselves, but into the cup they poured
salt sea-water. Now therefore, when they arrived home,
the youngest took his cup to the sick King in order that
 he might drink out of it, and be cured. But scarcely had
he drunk a very little of the salt sea-water than he
became still worse than before. And as he was lament
ing over this, the two eldest brothers came, and accused
the youngest of having intended to poison him, and said
 that they had brought him the true water of life, and
handed it to him. He had scarcely tasted it, when
he felt his sickness de parting, and became strong and
healthy as in the days of his youth.
After that they both went to the youngest,
mocked him, and said, “You certainly found the water of
life, but you have had the pain, and we the gain; you should have been
sharper, and should have kept your eyes open.


Popular Culture

Set Dressing

Costume Notes

Filming Locations

Goofs

International Titles


Videos

References

  1. Porter, Rick (November 8, 2016). ‘NCIS: LA’ and ‘Madam Secretary’ adjust up: Sunday final ratings. TV by the Numbers. “Once Upon a Time (ABC) (...) 3.56”
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 LISTINGS: ONCE UPON A TIME. The Futon Critic. “Air Date: Sunday, November 06, 2016. Time Slot: 8:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC. Episode Title: (#607) "Heartless"”
  3. File:607Title.png
  4. TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: Hey #Oncers -- here's another #OnceUponATime #titlespoiler -- hope to see ya 9/25 for season 6! (September 6, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  5. File:607DancingCurtains.png
  6. In "White Out," David learned how to sword fight. In "Heartless," he fights with the Woodcutter.
  7. File:607SeparateTheseTwo.png
    File:607FoundEachOther.png
    File:607TheyFoundYou.png
  8. File:607YouMadeSure.png
  9. File:607SnowCharmingStorybook2.png
  10. File:607AddersFork.png
    File:607AddersFork2.png
  11. TwitterLogo The Princess Davy (@davyBsomebody) on X, formerly Twitter: sincerely who is this dude with the axe!? the wood cutter?? the tin woodsman!? #OnceUponATime (November 7, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Jane Espenson (@JaneEspenson) on X, formerly Twitter: The Wood Cutter who rescued Little Red Riding Hood in the original fairy tale. (November 7, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  12. File:607Okay.png
    File:607SnowCharmingStorybook.png
  13. File:607FoundEachOther.png
  14. File:607AndThen2.png
  15. File:607TheyFoundYou.png
  16. Werewolf. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on November 23, 2021. “werewolf, in European folklore, a man who turns into a wolf at night and devours animals, people, or corpses but returns to human form by day.”
  17. TwitterLogo Cat (@catalystthecat) on X, formerly Twitter: Trying to the EQ's D. Thomas advice from your #ouat ep to rage, rage against the dying of the light. Thanks! (November 9, 2016). (backup link; the user's account and the original post have been deleted) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Jane Espenson (@JaneEspenson) on X, formerly Twitter: rage rage! Thank you! (November 9, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Jane Espenson (@JaneEspenson) on X, formerly Twitter: she was quoting, not composing. (November 6, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  18. TwitterLogo lexaa (@wthfreaky) on X, formerly Twitter: @JaneEspenson what's your favorite book? #AskJane (March 30, 2014). (backup link; original post, and the user's other posts, have been protected, so that only approved followers can see them) (archive screenshot, created when the user went by the Twitter handle "fckingregal" and the name "gabe")
    TwitterLogo Jane Espenson (@JaneEspenson) on X, formerly Twitter: @prfvrparrilla Pride and Prejudice #AskJane (March 30, 2014). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  19. File:607Sir.png
  20. File:506CementTheRule.png
  21. File:703ResistanceCamp.png
    File:703AtTheReady.png
  22. File:708LeavingTent.png
  23. File:710YouAllToMeet.png
  24. File:105AGoodYear.png
  25. File:106Here.png
  26. File:114WhatsMoreSymphatetic.png
    File:114AreYouCrazy.png
  27. File:413BeautySleepsOver.png
  28. File:607ReadingNote.png
  29. SMYTHE Duchess Blazer. Shopbop. Retrieved on January 7, 2019.
  30. File:607ToMake.png
  31. Joie Women's Natural Katrine Top. Lyst. Retrieved on February 7, 2019. (Note that most of the product details are at the bottom of the page.)
  32. alice + olivia Kylie Long Shawl Collar Jacket. Shopbop. Retrieved on January 7, 2019.
  33. File:608WhoCanHurtHer.png
  34. File:607OutOfTrueLove.png
  35. Rebecca Taylor EMBELLISHED TOP. Pradux. Retrieved on February 7, 2019.
  36. File:608WakeHimUp.png
  37. Cece Parekh's Embellished Top on New Girl. Pradux. Retrieved on February 7, 2019.
  38. File:607AnyInformation.png
  39. The Kooples Mixed Print Silk Dress. Shopbop. Retrieved on January 7, 2019.
  40. TwitterLogo What's Filming (@WhatsFilming) on X, formerly Twitter: Signs for #OnceUponATime were spotted near the Cineplex Theatre in Langley this morning. No set spotted though. (September 19, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Lynn (@mommabear75) on X, formerly Twitter: I saw a circus set up at North Langley Church with vans going to a farm at 96&213. On other side of tracks tho. Maybe OUAT? (September 19, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  41. TwitterLogo Source OUAT FR (@OUAT_Source_FR) on X, formerly Twitter: Filming in Burnaby, Central Park on Sept. 21th. #5. On set : Josh, Ginny, Lana & Colin. Maybe : Jen & Jared. (September 21, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  42. InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: Slow day on set.... Josh hanging out waiting for the cameras to roll. (Vancouver, British Columbia) (November 18, 2018). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: Throwback to shooting ouat in an amazing forest location (North Vancouver, British Columbia) (November 18, 2018). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: Another pic from that time in the forest when josh didn't see it coming (Vancouver, British Columbia) (November 19, 2018). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  43. TwitterLogo kendra (@knope_no_thanks) on X, formerly Twitter: Once Upon a Time is filming in Lynn Canyon this week! (September 13, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo kendra (@knope_no_thanks) on X, formerly Twitter: well I know Josh was there, and I think I saw Ginnifer but it was through a bunch of trees (September 13, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Portal Lana Parrilla (@BRParrilla) on X, formerly Twitter: Lana com a dublê, as filmagens foram ontem {16}, aparentemente no Lynn Canyon Park. #6x07 (September 17, 2016). (backup link) (archive screenshot) (in Portuguese)
    InstagramIcon Craig Clarke (@vfxsup) on Instagram: What's in the box? - (Vancouver, British Columbia) (March 5, 2018). (backup link) (archive screenshot) (note that the source does not specifically mention Lynn Canyon Park)
  44. File:607ApproachingTree.png
  45. File:607Mom.png
  46. Harmony Dental Studio. Steveston Insider (March 25, 2018). (Photograph)

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