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It's my heart, Emma. I need to find it.

Sheriff Graham to Emma

"The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" is the seventh episode of Season One of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz and directed by David M. Barrett. It is the seventh episode of the series overall, and premiered on December 11, 2011.

Synopsis

One of the town's residents begins to remember their fairytale past, and Storybrooke mourns the loss of one of their own. Meanwhile, in the fairytale world that was, the Evil Queen attempts to find a heartless assassin to murder Snow White.[1]

Recap

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


In Granny's Diner, Sheriff Graham throws darts at a picture of a deer with great accuracy. Emma arrives but leaves immediately because she has not forgiven him for hiding his relationship with Regina. Emma attempts to avoid conversation, but Graham is insistent on explaining that he feels nothing for Regina. He kisses Emma and has a vision of a wolf, only to have Emma push him away. Frustrated by Emma's lack of understanding, Graham, drunk, later has sex with Regina.

In the Enchanted Forest, the Evil Queen mourns the death of her husband, Snow White's father, although she is responsible for his death. Snow White and the Evil Queen seemingly comfort each other over the loss. Later, The Queen consults her Magic Mirror to ask how she can kill Snow, who the people love but is a threat to her bid for the throne. She says that the king's knights will not kill his daughter, and the mirror tells her that she needs a huntsman.

Meanwhile, the Huntsman apologizes to a stag that he has killed and thanks it for its sacrifice. He then reassures his wolf that they will have something to eat.

Back in Storybrooke, Graham startles awake from a dream of a deer and a wolf. The Sheriff tells Regina that the dream felt like a memory. Regina tries to convince him to stay, telling him that he's still drunk and it is the middle of the night, but Graham leaves. As Graham attempts to get to his car, the wolf from his visions appears next to him, startling him before it leaves.

The following morning, Emma discovers flowers on the table and throws them out, assuming they are from Graham. Mary Margaret says that they were hers from Dr. Whale, with whom she had a one-night stand. Emma is glad to hear that Mary Margaret appears to be getting over David. Mary Margaret says it is obvious that Emma has feelings for Graham, but does not acknowledge them because she puts up a "wall" to keep herself from getting hurt.

As Graham tries to find the wolf in the woods, he runs into Mr. Gold. Graham tells him about the wolf. Mr. Gold suggests that dreams are memories from another life.

As Graham saw in his flashbacks, the Huntsman and his wolf seem to enjoy living a peaceful life in the woods. The Huntsman kills only for himself to live and has no compassion for humans, who do not understand the wild. The Huntsman and his wolf enter a tavern. The other patrons harass the Huntsman, prompting him to defend himself. The Evil Queen views his performance in the Magic Mirror and is greatly impressed.

The Queen summons the Huntsman to offer him anything he wants on the condition that he brings her Snow White's heart. He agrees to this deal, in return asks for the protection of all the wolves in her kingdom.

Back in the Storybrooke Wilderness Park, the sheriff finds the wolf. When Graham whistles, the wolf goes to him. As he pets the wolf's head, Graham sees himself holding a knife, about to hurt the woman he only knows as Mary Margaret. Graham pays a visit to her classroom. He tells her that he believes they know each other from another life, before Storybrooke. Mary Margaret assumes that the sheriff has been talking to Henry. This gives Graham the idea to consult Henry about his book.

Back in the Enchanted Forest, Snow White and the Huntsman walk together. She sees through his disguise and deduces that the Queen sent him to kill her. Snow flees. As the Huntsman catches up with her, he finds her writing a letter, which she requests he delivers to the queen after her death. The Huntsman takes out his knife, but instead of killing her, he fashions a whistle out of a bamboo stick. He tells the princess that it will summon help and that she should run.

In the present, Regina shows up at the Sheriff's Department. The Mayor warns Emma to stay away from Graham, jealous of their connection.

Graham visits Henry and describes his visions. Henry replies that he must be the Evil Queen's Huntsman. The Queen hired the Huntsman to remove Snow White’s heart and bring it back to her, but when he did not do so, she removed his heart.

Graham later attempts to explain to Emma that he could not feel anything with Regina because he does not have a heart. Graham and Emma then encounter the wolf from Graham's visions, and follow it to a graveyard and vault marked with a symbol Graham saw in his visions and in Henry's book.

Back at the Palace, the Huntsman then returns with a deer heart, hoping that the Evil Queen will not know the difference. The Queen asks him to read her the letter, which is an apology for past wrongs as well as a request from Snow that her stepmother rules the kingdom with compassion. The queen burns the letter and takes the box with the heart in it to store in her vault. When she cannot open one of her storage safes, it proves that the Huntsman lied to her; the heart is not human. The Queen has her guards drag him to her chamber and she yanks his glowing heart out of his body. She tells the Huntsman that from now on he will be her pet and will do her bidding forever. She orders the guards to take him to her bedchamber, warning him that if he ever betrays her, all she has to do is squeeze his heart.

Looking for his heart, Graham tosses the tomb. Regina arrives to place flowers on her father's grave and is furious to find them there. Regina accuses Emma of stealing the sheriff from her. Emma responds that Regina has chased everyone away. Graham defends Emma, and the women exchange blows.

Later, Graham cleans Emma's wounds. Regina pushes aside the coffin inside the crypt, revealing a staircase. Emma realizes her feelings for Graham. The two kiss just as Regina opens a storage box in the vault and clutches Graham's heart, crushing it to dust, showing that she remembers being the Evil Queen. Before he collapses and dies, Graham's last words to Emma are "I remember! Thank you."


Deleted Scenes

A scene involving Rumplestiltskin was cut.[3]

Cast[1]

Starring

Guest Starring

Co-Starring

Trivia

Title

Production Notes

  • CAST NOTES: This is the last episode to credit Jamie Dornan as series regular.
  • CAST NOTES: This is the first episode in which Josh Dallas does not appear.
  • ABANDONED IDEAS: Originally, there were plans for a future story about Snow White using the whistle that the Huntsman made for her. The show creators "had something fun planned for that,"[5] but it never came to pass.
  • Jennifer Morrison pulled a muscle while shooting the fight scene with Regina, due to shooting the fight from so many different angles in the cold.[6]

Episode Chronology

Episode Connections

Biblical

Disney

  • The Evil Queen sends the Huntsman out to kill Snow White and bring her heart as proof of death but he gives her the heart of a stag instead, which the queen puts in an ornate box. This is a reference to the Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, where the queen demands that the huntsman returns with Snow White's heart in a jeweled box as proof of the deed, and the huntsman brings back a pig's heart instead (in the fairytale, she orders him to bring back her lungs and liver and the huntsman presents the queen with the lungs and liver of a wild boar to fake Snow White's death).

Fairytales and Folklore

  • The same excerpts appear in many episodes; read the trivia section in the article for Henry's storybook for more information and a transcript.

Lost

Props Notes

  • USE IT AGAIN: The teapot could be glimpsed on Mary Margaret's kitchen counter in "That Still Small Voice,"[16] but this is the first episode where it is clearly seen.
  • BRAND INFO: The sugar bowl used by Mary Margaret to put sugar in the tea[14] is an Anthropologie Grapefruit Sugar Bowl (no longer available).[17]
  • USE IT AGAIN: The sugar bowl was sitting on Mary Margaret's breakfast table in "The Price of Gold"[18] and "The Shepherd,"[19] but this is the first episode where it is clearly seen.
  • STORYBOOK CONTENT: When Henry flips through the storybook, a description of the scene where the Evil Queen interrupts Snow White and Prince Charming in "Pilot," can be seen next to an illustration of the Huntsman, and a different illustration of the Evil Queen[12] (note that some of the text is illegible or off-screen, but appears in a photograph from an online prop auction, albeit with a different layout;[20] this text is set in fuchsia):


The Queen paced back and forth, filling the spectators
with fear as she declared her evil intentions for the king-
dom. "Soon, everything you love, everything all of you
love, will be taken from you. And from your
suffering, will rise my victory." The Queen then turned
to face Charming and Snow. I shall destroy your happi-
ness if it is the last thing I do.
Having made her wows, the Queen turned and began
to walk away. But Charming, unwilling to let the
Queen's threat go unanswered, grabbed his sword and
threw it at the evil woman. Before the sword could hit
her, however, the Queen vanished into a dark puff of
smoke. The sword hit the ground with a clatter, and the
Queen was gone.


  • Three illustrations by the famous English book illustrator Arthur Rackham can be seen in the book:

Set Dressing


St
4979 MA

Telephone: 555-0145
Fax: 555-0146

[image begins]RATIVE − [three illegible words] Sun 10/14 11:22 − [illegible word] 03 – 10 – 0742

[image begins]ARY PLACEMENT − [illegible word] Dorris Zimmer [sic]

[image begins]. Sheriff Graham responded to the area of Franklin Drive in
[image begins] our vehicle parked in the woods. The explainant, Neil Westlake,
[image begins]gar one parked in the woods and is wounded like [illegible word] was
[image begins] woods. Upon Graham's arrival, he found a white [illegible word], early 90's
[image begins]s. He made contact with the driver, Dorris Zimmer [sic], 01/01/02.
[image begins]he was suffering from clinical depression and that she was not

[image begins]ed and checked the area. She was largely incoherent and is
[image begins] [illegible]. This prompted the Sheriff to further inspect the vehicle,
[image begins] ran taped to the tall pipe of the vehicle. At this [illegible word],
[image begins] and taken into custody under the [illegible word] of the Baker Act.

[image begins]he no longer wants to live. She also keeps stating that she was
[image begins]le." She admitted that she had been institutionalized two times
[image begins] suicide.

[image begins] background check, it was [illegible word] that Zimmer had a previ-
[image begins] incident during the New Year festivities in Storybrooke Park.

[image begins]re called and Zimmer was transferred to the Storybrooke Mental
[image begins]is point, the Clinical Psychiatrist on duty alerted the Special
[image begins] [illegible word] in the presence of her two children, Nicholas and Ava (both 4

[image begins]fed and the children were found alone at the Zimmer
[image begins]is Boulevard, since − without a primary caregiver present. The
[image begins] into short-term foster care while while Zimmer underwent further
[image begins]sted this file was S.B. Edwards who is contactable through the

[image begins] and impounded at the municipal premises on Will Road.

  • CREW NAMES ON PROPS: Neil Westlake is a graphic designer and production staff member on the show, whose name appears on several props throughout the series:
  • CREW NAMES ON PROPS: S.B. Edwards worked as a production staff member on the Season Two episode "Manhattan," where they are listed as the author of one of the books on a library shelf where Cora finds Mr. Gold's map.[37]
  • HIDDEN DETAILS: Next to the police report, there is a report about an 8 year old boy named Billy Mason from Seattle, Washington. According to the report, he disappeared on on March 1, 2002, and was possibly kidnapped by his babysitter, a 16 year old boy named David. David is described as having a birth mark on his left shoulder, wore a gold watch, and his clothes were made by The Ridge Clothing Co. He was last seen at the house of a man named Greg Mason, where he "was babysitting for his [sic]." According to the report, "David disappeared along with his 8 year old charge Billy Mason. The time of disappearance is between 8:000 and 12:30 on March 1. 2002. Billy Mason's parents arrived home at 12:30 am to find the back door wide open and the house empty." The incident was reported by Srgt. Kelly, and the investigating officer is called Det. Bradshaw. The report contains an officer's signature, but it is unreadable.
  • HIDDEN DETAILS: Below the report is a document carrying the Storybrooke Sheriff's Department seal. A website address is printed on it: www.kawther.info. This is the personal website of Kawther Salam, a Palestinian journalist who reported on human rights abuses by the Israeli military and filed legal complaints against them. Fittingly enough, the document is written in Hebrew.


In Loving Memory of
Norman Crane
January 12, 1937 – July 17, 1999
Born in Brooklyn, New York[38]


  • Another gravestone says "Olson," "Anthony"[9]

Costume Notes

Goofs

  • When the wolf walks way from Graham, a window pane in the background says "Pacific Net & Twine,"[47] the real name of the Steveston business which doubles as Atlantic Twine & Net[48] on the show.[49]
  • After Regina's scuffle with Emma, there is blood on the lower left corner of her lip. For the rest of the episode, the wound keeps changing appearance and position.[50]
  • When Emma is pressing a pack of ice against her wound, her flower wrist tattoo[51] is missing.[52]

Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale

  • Emma finds the vase containing Mary Margaret's flowers from Dr. Whale. Mistakenly believing they are from Graham, she hurls it across the room, shattering it.[53]
  • Snow White states she "watched (her father) fall in love with Regina."[54]
  • As Graham is dying, he says to Emma that he loves her.[55]
  • After his death, Graham's body is put on a stretcher and carried away by paramedics.[55]

International Titles


Videos

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 LISTINGS: ONCE UPON A TIME. The Futon Critic. “Air Date: Sunday, December 11, 2011. Time Slot: 8:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC. Episode Title: (#107) "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"”
  2. TV Ratings Sunday: 'Once Upon a Time' Continues To Fall; Fox Animations Down + Scrambled CBS. TV by the Numbers (December 12, 2011). “Once Upon a Time. 2.9/7. 8.91.”
  3. File:107BTS27.jpg
  4. File:107Title.png
  5. The Official ABC Once Upon a Time Podcast: "The Queen Is Dead". ABC (2013). (At 14:40)
  6. TwitterLogo ninna ✵ (@ninnabautista) on X, formerly Twitter: @jenmorrisonlive This episode just keeps getting better and better and we're only half-way there. How was it shooting the fight scene? (December 12, 2011). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Jennifer Morrison (@jenmorrisonlive) on X, formerly Twitter: @ninnabautista it was fun. We shot it s from so many angles in the cold that i pulled a muscle in my back but it was totally worth it ! (December 12, 2011). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Jennifer Morrison (@jenmorrisonlive) on X, formerly Twitter: shot the fight scene from so many angles and it was so cold out that by the end of the ngt [sic] I had pulled a muscle in my back #TOTALLYWORTHIT (December 12, 2011). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  7. File:107KnowEachOther.png
  8. File:106SeeYou.png
  9. 9.0 9.1 File:107WolfWalksAway2.png
  10. Once Upon a Time - Behind the Magic, London, Titan Books, October 2013, pg. 132
  11. File:107IsSnowWhite.png
    File:107IsSnowWhite2.png
  12. 12.0 12.1 The excerpt from "Snow-White and Rose-Red" is the third section on page two, next to two different illustrations; in both instances, it appears beneath the scene from "Pilot":
    File:107IsSnowWhite3.png
    File:107IsSnowWhite4.png
    File:107WhatsThat.png
  13. File:107Awake.png
  14. 14.0 14.1 File:107TheresThatWall.png
  15. Kitchy vintage 1977 Enesco "Tea for Two" Owl Teapot. Etsy (March 23, 2020). Archived from the original on July 4, 2020.
  16. File:105IfKathryn.png (it sits on the counter, right in front of Mary Margaret)
    File:105IllGetIt.png (the little owl on top can be seen at the bottom of the screen)
  17. Grapefruit Sugar Bowl. Anthropologie. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved on June 13, 2018. (Scroll down a few inches to see the listing.)
  18. File:104Breakfast.png
  19. File:106Cheers.png
  20. ONCE UPON A TIME Storybook. Propabilia. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. (Photograph)
  21. File:107IsSnowWhite.png
  22. File:107IsSnowWhite2.png
  23. File:107TurningThePage.png
  24. File:107GrahamLeaves.png
  25. Arabian Scroll Motif from Saybrook ST30008. Wallquest. Retrieved on June 13, 2018.
  26. File:107INeedToThink.png
  27. Rosa indica. The Encyclopedia of Diderot & d'Alembert Collaborative Translation Project. Retrieved on August 25, 2018. “Rosa indica is a synonym for Rosa chinensis, which was not introduced to Europe until 1800”
  28. File:212CoraSearching.png
  29. File:309No.png
  30. File:107DartMisses.png
  31. File:111Printing.png
  32. File:118EveryTime.png
  33. File:421BookBlurb.png
  34. File:521StandHere.png
  35. File:522BroughtItWithHim.png
  36. File:714RobinHoodBook.png
  37. File:214ItShouldBeHere.png (the yellow book)
  38. File:107Gravestone.png
  39. File:107SymbolFamiliar.png
  40. File:107OhHeyWait.png
  41. H&M; Skirt. Polyvore. Archived from the original on January 27, 2017.
  42. File:107ForgetToShave.png
  43. File:407ImGettingMarried.png
  44. File:108AfterAll.png
  45. File:116NowWeReTalking.png
  46. File:119AboutTheRent.png
  47. File:107WolfyWalksAway.png
  48. File:102DinerOpens.png
  49. Rae, Jessica (January 23, 2012). Once Upon a Time Travel Guide – Is Storybrooke Maine a Real Place?. Small Screen Scoop. “Places in Storybrooke: (...) Atlantic Twine & Net (actually Pacific Net & Twine)”
  50. File:107ReginaLooksAtGraham.png
    File:107ReginaCrypt.png
    File:107Contemplating.png
  51. File:102Cinnamon.png
  52. File:107TiredAndFeverish.png
  53. Beane, Odette. Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale, New York, Hyperion, 2013, pg. 115
  54. Beane, Odette. Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale, New York, Hyperion, 2013, pg. 119 – 120
  55. 55.0 55.1 Beane, Odette. Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale, New York, Hyperion, 2013, pg. 132

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