Once Upon a Time Wiki
Register
Advertisement
This page is move protected The subject of this article is involved with the Once Upon a Time The subject of this article is or relates to an episode The subject of this article is featured in Season Two of Once Upon a Time

Kurt Flynn: Who are you? What is this place?
Sheriff Graham: Name's Graham. I'm the sheriff. Welcome to Storybrooke.

Kurt Flynn and Sheriff Graham

"Welcome to Storybrooke" is the seventeenth episode of Season Two of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Ian Goldberg & Andrew Chambliss and directed by David M. Barrett. It is the thirty-ninth episode overall, and premiered on March 17, 2013.

Synopsis

Emma, David and Mr. Gold must protect Mary Margaret against Regina, who is out for revenge and has made it her mission to kill Mary. Henry, fed up with all of the feuding, devises a plan to put an end to magic. Meanwhile, Regina discovers that a father and son have somehow found their way into her allegedly undetectable town as she and the fairytale characters deal with the effects of the newly cast curse 28 years prior.[1]

Recap

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

A father and his son are camping somewhere in Maine. The father teaches his son how to correctly tie a lanyard keychain. As a gift, the father gives his son a lanyard keychain that he made when his father taught him. They sit up from their lawn chairs to get dinner started, but a strong gust of wind causes them to refocus their attention to putting out their campfire. These winds continually brush against them, and they take refuge in their tent while the Dark Curse blasts through the woods.

The next morning the two wake up to find trees knocked onto the ground, one tree even crushed their car. They begin searching for the nearest highway in hopes of getting a ride from someone to the nearest town. When they look down, they see a town near where they had camped the previous night. The man looks at his map and does not understand how a whole town could suddenly appear overnight. As they explore the town, the sheriff of the town pulls up from behind them, asking the two if they are lost. He tells them his name is Graham, welcoming them to Storybrooke.

It's 1983, and mayor Regina Mills wakes up for the first time in the town of Storybrooke. As she surveys the town, she smiles triumphantly. Regina walks into her new closet and picks out an outfit for the day. Later that morning, she walks through the town that the curse has created for her. She first sees Mr. Gold limping along the sidewalk past Marco, who is struggling to repair a sign. Then, she witnesses Granny arguing with Ruby over the early shift at the diner. She walks past Archie Hopper walking his dog Pongo. Regina almost calls him cricket, but stops herself, calling him Dr. Hopper instead. She walks away from this with a big smile on her face.

A cursed Mary Margaret teaches her students how to make a birdhouse, but the students scurry off to recess after this. Regina Mills walks into her classroom, asking her how long she has taught in Storybrooke. Mary Margaret is dumbfounded, responding "as long as I can remember." Regina takes her away from the classroom and into the hospital. There, Regina shows Mary Margaret a comatose patient. Knowing that they knew each other in the Enchanted Forest, Regina asks her if she recognizes him. To Regina's pleasure, Mary Margaret does not recognize him. She explains to her that he is a John Doe. Mary Margaret is optimistic that someone will find him, but Regina says she is doubtful.

At Granny's Diner, a resident reads the Storybrooke Daily Mirror, which reads "Reagan: Marines will be staying in Beirut." Granny serves Regina a plate of pancakes, and Sheriff Graham joins her. They trade compliments, but their flirting is interrupted by the boy, saying that he likes pancakes too. Regina does not recognize him as anyone from the Enchanted Forest. She asks the other people at the Diner whose child he is. She asks Marco, but he says no. The boy's father arrives, telling Regina his name is Kurt Flynn. He asks Regina if she knows where a hotel room might be. Regina acts confused and asks him why he would need a hotel room. Kurt answers that they need a place to sleep. Graham is taken to the side by Regina, who asks him if he knows who they are. He tells the mayor that they were camping near the Toll Bridge and adds that he is just as surprised as she is. Regina says she is threatened by surprises, and that bad things happen when she feels threatened.

In present-day Storybrooke, Regina is mourning her mother's death. Mr. Gold can be heard saying "black always was your color" before he is seen entering Regina's mausoleum. She tells him to leave, and thinks he came here to gloat, but Mr. Gold remarks he is here to mourn as well. After placing a rose on Cora's casket, he explains Cora will always be in his heart despite their differences. Regina does not accept this; recalling Mr. Gold killed her mother in order to save his own life. Mr. Gold claims "desperate times call for desperate measures." Regina says he may be able to hide behind his dagger, but Mary Margaret will die for tricking her into killing Cora. He doesn't think she will not go through with it because it will cost her Henry and asks her to give up vengeance as it will not give her happiness. Regina believes it indeed will, but Mr. Gold reasons not even the curse did, but left a hole in her heart. He tells Regina that Cora learned her lesson, she gave up love for power, and if she wants revenge, she will lose Henry. Regina says she will find a way to have everything and is left alone in her mausoleum.

Meanwhile, David, Emma and Henry are all sitting in the loft, while Mary Margaret lays in bed. Henry asks Emma what happened to her. Emma is quick to say she is just sick. Henry looks up at David, who exchanges a look with Emma. Suspecting they're lying, he asks again. Emma denies lying, but Henry calls her out for lying just like she did about Neal being his dad. David shoots Emma a disapproving look, which prompts her to finally tell the truth. Emma admits Mary Margaret is responsible for Cora's death. Henry can't believe it and tries to reason Snow White would never harm anyone. At the sound of a knock at the door, David answers to see Mr. Gold outside. David tells him to leave, but Mr. Gold assures they will want to hear what he has to say. He cautions them about Regina's plans to strike back. As Mr. Gold takes his leave, David confronts him about owing them more than just a warning. Despite that Mr. Gold argues against it, David points out Mary Margaret did save his life, and they deserve to be helped.

In Storybrooke, 1983, Regina walks into the diner to find Kurt and his son sitting where she usually does. She tells Kurt the mechanic informed her his car will be fixed by the end of the week. Kurt thanks her, and as he and his son are leaving, Owen gives her the lanyard key chain. Puzzled, Regina wonders why he is giving to her, and Owen replies it's a gift for allowing him to sit in her seat. Touched, Regina accepts the present. The next morning Regina wakes up and restarts a new day with a sleeping shirtless Graham in her bed. The day goes by as usual; she takes Mary Margaret to visit the coma patient, sees Mr. Gold limp past Marco, who is struggling to put up the sign, watches Ruby fighting with her grandmother, is greeted by Archie. She bumps into Mary Margaret and berates her for not being careful. Again, Regina wakes up the following morning next to Graham. The sequence of events goes by as usual, but Regina is less enthused. When she bumps into Mary Margaret, the woman beings to apologize profusely for her clumsiness. Bored of having the town at her feet, Regina asks why she doesn't fight back. Confused, Mary Margaret doesn't understand why she would ever do that, and continues walking down the street.

Regina walks into the pawnshop, announcing to Mr. Gold she is unhappy. He does not understand what she is talking about and redirects her to see Dr. Hopper for therapy. She references the deal they made in the Enchanted Forest. To her surprise, Mr. Gold does not recall this deal. Regina tells him she should be happy in this town, but everyone does exactly what she wants them to do, and it is not real. She leaves his shop; remarking he has nothing to give her. Outside of the shop, Regina uses a payphone to call Kurt, and tells him she would love to see his son Owen before they leave town.

A present-day Regina is still in her family mausoleum, now frantically searching through her mother's belongings. She begins to cry when she opens her mother's locket which contains an image of them both. In anguished pain, she begins ripping her mother's dresses and finds a written curse in the process. Regina smiles saying, "Thank you, Mommy."

Soon David and Mr. Gold walk into Regina's mausoleum to discover the mess she has left in her wake. Mr. Gold tells David Regina was searching Cora's belongings to find a spell to use on Mary Margaret. Mr. Gold sees two ingredients are missing from a potion case, the two ingredients necessary for the Curse of the Broken-Hearted. Later, he relays this information to Emma, along with the curse's abilities to make someone love you. Further, he explains that it can make someone believe they love you. Henry walks down and asks them if Regina will use it on him. He walks over to Emma, requesting she be honest with him. Mr. Gold answers Henry for her; saying if Regina uses this curse, she can get everything she wants, revenge on Mary Margaret and Henry's love. David asks him how she gets both by using this particular curse. He states Regina needs the heart of the person she hates most to enact the curse, Mary Margaret's heart. Mr. Gold claims informing them of Regina's plans has fulfilled his end of the bargain, but David and Emma are unconvinced with Mary Margaret and Henry's lives in the balance. Mr. Gold suggests the only way to end a bloody feud begun by death must also end by shedding more blood. David and Emma agree they must kill Regina, but Henry pipes in, saying they're heroes and cannot kill his mom. When no one has a response, Henry storms out of the apartment. Emma hurries to follow suit and warns David they need to keep Henry as far away from this battle as possible. Mr. Gold agrees; remarking because Cora did not have a heart it made her dangerous, but Regina is more dangerous for having one.

Back in the cursed Storybrooke, Owen and his father are eating dinner with Regina. Kurt asks Owen if he likes the food, and he says no. Kurt steps in, seemingly to reprimand his son, but Regina interrupts him, admitting she is not the best cook unless it involves apples. The mayor asks Owen if he wants to help her with the apple turnovers she plans on making for dessert, sending him out of the dining room to pick out the best apples. Kurt laughs about Owen's comment about the cooking, commenting that he gets his free spirit from his mother. Regina asks Kurt if Owen's mother is in New Jersey. Kurt tells Regina that Owen's mother died six months ago. She expresses her condolences, and Kurt explains taking him to Storybrooke was his attempt to take Owen's mind off things.

Regina talks of coming here for a fresh start as well, but it has not been as successful as planned. She asks Kurt what good a new start is without someone to share it with. Owen calls them from inside the kitchen. Regina puts the turnovers into the oven. As she takes off her apron, Owen asks her why she is not a mom. Regina tells him it did not work out that way. Owen tells Regina she would make a really good mom. The two discuss Storybrooke, and Owen tells her he likes Storybrooke better than New Jersey. She asks him if he misses his friends, but Owen says he hates it there. Owen reveals to Regina everyone there treats him weird, and she asks him if it is because his mother died; Owen simply nods his head. Following this, Kurt walks in. Regina proposes the idea of both of them staying in town permanently. Despite Owen's excitement, Kurt believes their lives are in New Jersey and refuses the offer. Crestfallen, Regina tries to be understanding.

Emma leads Henry into the diner. Henry is still upset about earlier, and makes it known he doesn't want to talk to her. She agrees and brings him over to a table booth where Neal is waiting. While Emma goes over to the counter to grab coffee, Henry takes a seat across from his father. Ruby drops off Neal's order for Henry, which is a sundae with extra everything. Henry can tell it is a bribe but asks what he wants to talk about. Neal presents the idea that he and Emma think Henry would be safer moving to New York with him so Regina will be unable to cast the curse. Henry gives him his own proposed plan to destroy magic and solve everyone's problems. Neal states that it might take a long time for them to figure out how to get rid of magic and, until then, the easier road would be for Henry to come to New York. In compliance, Henry agrees go with Neal out of Storybrooke and excuses himself to the bathroom.

Emma sits at the counter when Greg walks in. Ruby approaches to bring his order on a tray, but he asks for his meal to go with plans to go on a hike. While Ruby goes to bag his food, he and Emma chat. She thought he might have gone back to Pennsylvania by now, but Greg is taking a liking to the town, and it's beginning to grow on him. Ruby comes back with the bag in time to hear Greg. After he pays for the meal, Greg leaves while Emma and Ruby exchange a look. Emma leaves the counter and walks across the diner to where Neal is seated. She asks him how it went, and Neal says it went well. With Henry nowhere in sight, Emma asks where he is, to which Neal notes the bathroom. She sees his backpack is gone from the table booth and is shocked Neal fell for Henry's bathroom trick. They realize Henry ran away and leave in a hurry to find him.

Regina walks up to Mary Margaret's apartment and uses her magic to unlock the door. She sees Mary Margaret lying in bed and takes off her glove, prepared to rip out her heart. Upon approach, she is blocked by Mr. Gold, who is protecting Mary Margaret. Regina looks over his shoulder, telling Mary Margaret he cannot guard her forever.

In 1983, Regina Mills visits the car mechanic Billy to ask if he can take a few extra days to repair Kurt Flynn's car in order to ensure he stays for as long as possible. Billy tells her Kurt took off a few minutes before she came. Desperate to keep the Flynns from leaving, she removes Graham's heart from its box, and uses it to tell him to pull Kurt's car over for a drunk driving arrest and bring Owen to her. As she turns around in her swivel chair, Kurt stands in front of her desk with a confused expression on his face. Horrified, Regina places the heart back in the box. In an uneasy tone, Kurt says he is leaving, though Regina pleads for him to stay and tries to explain what he just overheard. Just when Kurt exits the office, Graham grabs him from behind and pins him to the desk. Kurt begs Graham to release him and speaks about a "glowing thing that is shaped like a heart." Kurt pushes the box containing the heart onto the floor causing Graham to clutch his own chest in pain. The distraction gives Kurt time to run out into the car where Owen is waiting inside. Owen asks what happened, but Kurt urgently states they must get out of town now.

Henry runs through the woods on the outskirts of Storybrooke carrying his backpack. He bumps into Greg, who is taking a hike. He picks Henry up from the ground, to ask him what he is doing in the middle of the woods. Henry lies, telling him it is for Boy Scouts, and points him in the correct direction of the hiking path.

Ruby, Neal, David and Emma search for Henry in a place he has been before; the mines. David's flashlight shines on a box of dynamite, which Neal believes Henry is using to get rid of magic.

Back in the woods, Henry removes the dynamite from his bag, placing it on the wishing well, the source of magic for Storybrooke.

Greg calls Regina to inform her about the whereabouts of Henry in the woods. He's concerned about a young child being all by himself. Regina says she is on her way.

In the past, Kurt and Owen are racing out of Storybrooke, but Regina and Graham follow behind in a police car. Owen is confused and afraid of what they want. As the police car swerves past them, Graham rams his car into the side. To catch up, Graham takes a shortcut, managing to get in front of Kurt's car before he passes the Storybrooke border. Cornered, Kurt tells his son to run as far off into the woods as possible, then to call his uncle. Owen refuses to leave his dad, gripping his key chain tightly in his hand. Kurt promises Owen that, as long as he carries it, he will always be with him. Owen listens to his father, leaving Kurt to be arrested by Graham. Regina approaches Owen, telling him she just wants him to stay with her. Owen chokes out he does not want it like this. Regina apologizes, saying she just wanted them to be happy. Owen runs out of the border from a distraught Regina.

At the wishing well, Henry lights a match to blow it up. Regina cautiously walks over to him. He explains his intent on bringing an end to magic, saying it is ripping apart his family. Regina argues it will not end magic and will instead only get Henry killed. Henry disagrees as he knows Regina only wants magic to cast the spell over him. As Henry brings the match to the explosives, they disappear in a cloud of Regina's magic. He continues to persuade Regina to spare Mary Margaret. Regina does not listen, claiming it is imperative for Mary Margaret to die for what she did. Neal, Emma and David arrive in time to hinder Regina's efforts in regaining Henry. Emma perpetuates she is Henry's rightful mother, but Regina claims after the curse is cast, he will be hers. Emma challenges Regina to get through them first before she kills Mary Margaret. Regina has no qualms with this and creates a fireball. In defense, David rips his gun out of his holster to point straight at Regina. Henry places himself in the middle of this conflict to get both parties to stop. He says magic has caused them to fight, but Emma believes magic is not the problem, Regina is. Henry stubbornly says magic is what makes good people do bad things, citing Regina and Mary Margaret, which makes David lower his gun. Henry pleads with Regina to help him eliminate magic. She refuses but agrees to burn the curse.

The police follow Owen to where he said the border of Storybrooke was. To their surprise, there is nothing to be seen. Though they say no town named "Storybrooke" exists, Owen looks straight forward in desperation. On the other side of the barrier, Regina almost touches his face. The police take Owen back into their car and leave.

Mr. Gold is notified by David via a phone call that the curse has been destroyed by Regina. With his protection services no longer necessary, Mr. Gold begins to leave. Quietly, Mary Margaret asks him how Mr. Gold can live with himself after all the evil he has done. Mr. Gold states that it is best to keep telling oneself the right thing was done until one truly believed in it.

Unable to follow his advice, Mary Margaret shows herself to Regina on her doorstep and asks to be killed for what she did. Regina says Henry would never forgive her if she did, and instead rips out Mary Margaret's heart. When Regina examines the heart more closely, she sees that it has a black spot on it, which signifies a growing darkness. Regina tells an anguished Mary Margaret the darkness will grow and soon it will infect her own family too. She shoves the heart back in and asks Mary Margaret to leave. Behind the bushes, Greg has caught the whole encounter on his camera. He enters into his car and from the ignition key also hangs a familiar looking keychain, revealing Greg is the grown-up Owen. He promises to find his father, Kurt.


Deleted Scenes

"Magic Is Here"

This scene is included on the DVD edition of Once Upon a Time: The Complete Second Season, but not the Blu-ray version.

After seeing Regina destroy the Curse of the Empty-Hearted, David, Emma and Neal are hopeful that they can begin to rebuild their family. A crestfallen Henry reassures them that will never be so as long as magic exists and walks away, followed by his family.

Untitled

As described by Benjamin Stockham.

While having Kurt and Owen over for dinner, Regina asks how her homemade lasagna tastes. In response, Owen says she should add red pepper flakes to it.[3] This is a reference to the scene in "The Cricket Game," where Regina mentions red pepper flakes as her secret ingredient for lasagna.

Marine Garage: Extended Scene

The scene with Regina and Billy at the Marine Garage, originally opened with a section where Billy shows Ruby a Chevrolet Camaro he is working on. It was the origin of Ruby's car. The section was cut for time.[4]

Cast[1]

Starring

Guest Starring

Co-Starring

Uncredited

Trivia

Title

Production Notes

  • OBSERVATIONS: This is the first episode to only be set in Storybrooke.
  • The different color treatment for the present day scenes and the 1983 flashback scenes, was added to help the audience tell the two stories apart.[4]

Event Chronology

Episode Connections

Biblical

Disney

Lost

Fairytales and Folklore

Popular Culture

  • ABANDONED IDEAS: The episode writers originally wanted the radio to play a Hall & Oates song, but could not find any 1983 songs by the duo that would fit. They went for Talking Heads instead.[4]
  • MUSICAL INSPIRATION: According to the writers, this reference was added for Adam Horowitz, who is a fan of the singer.[4]

Props Notes

  • STORYBROOKE DAILY MIRROR: The newspaper that a customer reads in Granny's Diner the morning after the curse is dated October 23, 1983.[29] This means Emma's birthday is either October 22, or October 23, depending on whether she was born before or after midnight. The show premiered on October 23, 2011.
  • Adam Horowitz has stated that Emma's birthday is October 23.[34] However, the show itself indicates that her birthday is October 22. In the Season One episode "Pilot," Emma celebrates her twenty-eight birthday on the day she arrives in Storybrooke, which was the day before she spends the night behind bars and decides to stay; she even says to Regina that "yesterday was my birthday." The date is confirmed when August's wooden state is triggered in Phuket, Thailand at 8:15 A.M. on October 24, in "Selfless, Brave and True" — as stated by August in the Season One episode "The Stranger," this is the very same moment that Emma accepts the room key at 8:15 P.M. in Storybrooke (the time zone in Phuket is twelve hours ahead of Maine's timezone).
  • Moreover, in "Pilot," Emma is put in the magic wardrobe before the Dark Curse transports everyone to Storybrooke. When the Dark Curse reaches the Land Without Magic in "Welcome to Storybrooke," it is nighttime. However, when Emma arrives in the Land Without Magic in "Selfless, Brave and True," it is day time, meaning she must have been born on October 22, not 23.
  • PAUSE AND READ: The top story reads "Reagan: Marines Will be Staying in Beirut." It is adapted from an old version of the Wikipedia article on the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings,[35] which occurred in the early morning of October 23, 1983 (note that half the page can be seen on-screen, while the rest can be seen on a newspaper prop that was auctioned off online;[36] the missing text is set in fuchsia:
ORIGINAL VERSION
SHOW VERSION
1983 Beirut barracks bombings
REAGAN: MARINES WILL
BE STAYING IN BEIRUT
/
[image]
President Reagan unequivocally condemned the attack by
calling it a 'despicable act' and pledged to keep a
military force in Lebanon.
/
Storybrooke Daily Mirror
News staff
(...) two truck bombs
struck separate buildings housing United States
and French military forces—members of the
Multinational Force in Lebanon—killing 299
American and French servicemen. The organization
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility
for the bombing.



BEIRUT, LEBANON -- A pair of truck bombs
struck separate buildings housing United States
and French military forces–members of the
Multinational Force in Lebanon. At the time of
going to press, at least 161 Americans have
been reported as dead. An undetermined
number of French servicemen are also under-
stood to be among the fatalities. The organiza-
tion Islamic Jihad, has claimed responsibility
for the atrocity.
Suicide bombers detonated each of the truck
bombs. In the attack on the American Marines barracks,
the death toll was 241 American servicemen: 220 Marines,
18 Navy personnel and three Army soldiers, along with
sixty Americans injured,
Suicide bombers detonated each of the truck
bombs. Military sources are already calling the



representing the deadliest single-day death toll for the
United States Marine Corps since the Battle of
Iwo Jima
of World War II, the deadliest single-
day death toll for the United States military
since the first day of the Tet Offensive during
the Vietnam War, and the deadliest single
attack on Americans overseas since World War
II. In addition, the elderly Lebanese custodian
of the Marines' building was killed in the first blast. The
explosives used were equivalent to 5,400 kg
(12,000 pounds) of TNT.
attack the deadliest single-day toll for the
United States Marine Corps since the Battle of
Iwo Jima of World War II, the deadliest single
day death toll for the United States military
since the first day of the Tet Offensive during
the Vietnam War, and the deadliest single
attack on Americans overseas since World War
II. In addition, the elderly Lebanese custodian
of the building was killed in the first blast. The
explosives used were equivalent to 5,400 kg
(12,000 pounds) of TNT.
In the attack on the French barracks, the eight-
story 'Drakkar' building, two minutes after the
Marine attack, 58 paratroopers from the 1st Parachute
Chasseur Regiment
were killed and 15 injured,
in the single worst military loss for France since
the end of the Algerian War.
In the attack on the French barracks, the eight-
story 'Drakkar' building, two minutes after the
attack, 58 paratroopers from the 1st Parachute
Chasseur Regiment were killed and 15 injured,
in the single worst military loss for France since
the end of the Algerian War.


  • There is another article called "Shelter Dog Adopted by the Couple that Stole him." It is directly adapted from a real news article from October 2012, from the news section on the official website of WMTW, channel 8,[37] an ABC-affiliated television station, serving the Portland, Maine television market. Some of the text appears on-screen, while the rest can only be read on the newspaper prop that was auctioned off;[36] once again, the missing text is set in fuchsia:
ORIGINAL VERSION
SHOW VERSION
Dog adopted by
couple that stole him
Shelter Dog Adopted by
the Couple that Stole him.
Anonymous donor pays adoption fee

An anonymous donor stepped up to the plate and paid the dogs [sic]
adoption fee
/
Storybrooke Daily Mirror
News Staff
BRUNSWICK, Maine – An anonymous
donor has paid for the fee to allow a couple that
had walked off with a beagle from the Coastal
Humane Society to adopt him.
STORYBROOKE, Maine — An anonymous
donor has paid for the fee to allow a couple that
had walked off with a beagle from the Story-
brooke Humane Society to adopt him.
Shadow, a year-and-a-half-old beagle, vanished on
Sept. 21 after he went for a walk with prospective
adopters. He was returned when the couple saw
media coverage that the dog needs treatment for
Lyme disease.
Shadow, a year-and-a-half-old beagle, vanished on
Sept. 21 after he went for a walk with prospective
adopters. He was returned when the couple saw
media coverage that the dog needs treatment for
Lyme disease.
After his return, the humane society received calls
and visits from people willing to donate the
adoption fee to the couple, a release from the
humane society said.
After his return, the humane society received calls
and visits from people willing to donate the
adoption fee to the couple, a release from the
Storybrooke humane society said.
"When I gave them the news about the donor who
wished to pay the entire adoption fee, they imme-
diately broke down in tears," shelter manager
Aggie Purinton said. "It's obvious that his family
became very attached to Shadow during the time
they had him. They acknowledged hat [sic] they
exercised very poor judgment in taking him, but
they did the responsible and difficult thing in
returning him to CHS."

"When I gave them the news about the donor who
wished to pay the entire adoption fee, they imme-
diately broke down in tears," shelter manager
Aggie Purinton said. "It's obvious that his family
[obscured] Shadow during the time
they had him. They acknowledged hat [sic] they
exercised very poor judgment in taking him, but
they did the responsible and difficult thing in
returning him to the Storybrooke Humane
Society shelter."
If they face any financial difficulty while caring
for Shadow, the couple has said they will return
him to the humane society or reach out for help,
the release said.
If they face any financial difficulty while caring
for Shadow, the couple has said they will return
him to the humane society or reach out for help,
the release said.


  • Interestingly, lyme disease (an infectious disease transmitted to humans and dogs alike, by the bite of infected ticks) was mentioned on the cover of the Storybrooke Daily Mirror in the Season One episode "The Shepherd," in an article headline called "Lyme disease: A new understanding."[38]


UNSEEN ARTICLES (click "show" to read)
  • The newspaper prop that was auctioned off reveals the unseen bottom of the front page, which contains additional articles.[36] The first one is called "Theme Chosen for Storybrooke Brass Band Competition" and is adapted from a real article called "Great American Brass Band Festival announces 2013 theme," published on the website Constant Contact in January 2012[39] (note: a few lines of transcript has been shrunken down to fit within the table):
ORIGINAL VERSION
SHOW VERSION
Great American Brass Band Festival announces 2013 theme
Theme Chosen for Storybrooke Brass Band Competition

DANVILLE, Ky. - "Slides Rule," a
celebration of the trombone, serves as principal theme
for the 24th annual Great American Brass Band
Festival in Danville, Ky., June 7-9, 2013.

STORYBROOKE, ME -- "Golden slides", a
celebration of the trombone, will be the theme
for the 15th annual Storybrooke Brass Band
Competition

Considered by some
"The King of Instruments," the trom-
bone plays a major role in brass
bands, and will be especially featured through-
out the weekend.

Considered by brass instrument afficionados
to be "The King of Instruments," the trom-
bone has always played a major role in brass
bands, and will be especially featured through-
out the weekend.

Top-flight exponents of the 'slush pump' like
Wycliffe Gordon and Scott Hartmann - along with the
Millennium Brass, Brett Baker (England), and bass trombonist Dr. Martin McCain -
will head up an impressive line-up of trombone soloists.
Trombone choirs will include both the excellent, award-
winning Black Dyke Youth Trombone Quar-
tet from the United Kingdom and the outstanding Commonwealth Trombones, a
gathering of trombone professors and selected
top students from nearly every Kentucky university
music department.

Top-flight exponents of the 'slush pump' like
N. Westlake and S.B. Edwards --- along with G.
Venturi, and bass trombonist M. Soparlo ---
will head up an impressive line-up of trombone soloists.
Trombone choirs will include both the excellent, award-
winning Storybrooke Youth Trombone Quar-
tet and the Storybrooke Senior Trombones, a
gathering of trombone professors and selected
top students from the Storybrooke Elementary
music department.

The GABBF
always has a strong patriotic component, one

The Storybrooke Brass Band Competition
always has a strong patriotic component, one

that will be filled in stellar fashion by one of
America's finest military bands, the U.S. Army Field

that will be filled this year by the Army Field


Band and Chorus from Washington,
D.C.
, which is making its first appearance at
the GABBF.

Traditional favorites in the wind band category
include the host Advocate Brass Band and the 202nd Army
Band. (…)

Band and a brass band from Washington,
D.C., which is making its first appearance at
the Storybrooke Brass Band Festival.
Traditional favorites in the wind band category
include the host band and yet another Army
Band.

The festival closes with a Grand Finale in Newlin Hall
Sunday afternoon, featuring our guest trombonists and the
US. Army Field Band and Chorus in what should be
a true musical spectacular.


The festival closes with a Grand Finale on
Sunday afternoon in Storybrooke Hall at the
Storybrooke Center for the Arts, featuring
Guest trombonists and the Army Field Band
Chorus.


  • His name is also mentioned in a police report pinned to the billboard at the Storybrooke Sheriff's Department in the Season one episode "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter"[40] and is printed as the author of one of the books on the library shelf where Cora finds Mr. Gold's map in "Manhattan."[46]
  • CREW NAMES ON PROPS: G. Venturi is a reference to art director Greg Venturi.
  • CREW NAMES ON PROPS: "M. Soparlo" is a reference to Mark Soparlo, a member of the production staff on the show.
  • The next unseen article is called "Storybrooke College Student Taken to Hospital After Fall." Note that the time of the article is an error, as it refers to the year 2011, whereas the episode flashback is set in 1983.


Storybrooke College Student Taken to Hospital After Fall

STORYBROOKE, MAINE – A Storybrooke
University student, who suffered substantial
injuries over the weekend when he fell tree [sic]]
stump outside his dorm, was listed as in a
serious condition Wednesday afternoon at
Storybrooke general hospital.
A spokeswoman for Storybrooke general
Hospital told the Daily Mirror that the family of
22-year old R. Duke of Storybrooke Mews had
Authorized her to release his condition. Duke
graduated in 2011 [sic] from Storybrooke Elemen-
tary, where he was a stand-out athlete and
honor student. He is a wide receiver on the
Storybrooke University football team and is
studying calculus and physics.
In an email to the campus community, Story-
brooke University President C. Spencer said
the fall happened around 2:30 p.m. on Satur-
day at Storybrooke Hall. A fellow student was
 with Duke at the time and called for help.
"I would like to express my utmost concern for
his family, and I hope that you will join all of us
on campus and in the community as we keep
them in our prayers," Spencer said.
Storybrooke University is working with the
Sheriff's Department, who are investigating
the incident.
The football team is now preparing for this
weekend's home opener with their teammate
on their minds.
"What a great guy. Really, the whole situation
that has impacted everybody here," S.U.
Athletic Director, D. McMahon said Monday.


  • The final article is called "New electricity options offered to Maine consumers" and, like "Shelter Dog Adopted by the Couple that Stole him.," is adapted from a real news article from October 2012, from the news section on the official website of WMTW, channel 8:[54]
ORIGINAL VERSION
SHOW VERSION

New electricity options offered
to Maine consumers

New electricity options offered
to Maine consumers

/

[image]
Neil Westlake

Oil company launches new energy expansion Storybrooke Hydro Company launches new energy expansion
SCARBOROUGH, Maine

Storybrooke Daily Mirror
News Staff

As the cold weather months approach, it's likely
the average Mainer's energy bill will go up. But
increasingly, alternative electricity is being offered
as an appealing and often cheaper option.

/

The Dead River Company announced
today it's expanding to include electricity. The
company announced an initiative to provide
off-peak energy used with an electric thermal
storage unit, or ETS.

The Storybrooke Hydro Company announced
today it's expanding to include electricity. The
company announced an initiative to provide
off-peak energy used with an electric thermal
storage unit, or ETS.

The idea is to expand to consumer demand for
energy efficiency and cost savings. The off-peak
electricity offered by Dead River, the company says, is
equivalent to $2.90 a gallon. That's well below the
going rate of over $4.

The idea is to expand to consumer demand for
energy efficiency and cost savings. The off-peak
electricity offered by SHC, the company says, is
equivalent to $2.70 a gallon. That's well below the
going rate of over $3.

There is a cost of outifinttg sic] a home with one of
these ETS devices.

There is a cost of outifinttg sic] a home of
these ETS devices.

After a rebate, it will be roughly $3,000. Much like
weatherizing a home though, Dead River
Company says the cost will eventually be offset by
the associated energy savings.

After a rebate, it will be roughly $3,000. Much like
weatherizing a home though, Dead River [sic]
Company says the cost will eventually be offset by
the associated energy savings.

/
Please see > ETS Devices - A4


  • CREW NAMES ON PROPS: The name of the photographer is another reference to graphic designer Neil Westlake.
  • The Newsline section at the bottom, which provides a quick look at today's news, is filled with errors, as it contains several references to real life news from the twenty-first century, but the episode flashback is set in 1983: It references a "2005 watchdog report" on the September 11 attacks, an event that took place in 2001; damage to the Space Shuttle Endeavour, an event that took place in 2011; President George W. Bush (who served as president from 2001 to 2009) and Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki (who served as prime minister of Iraq from 2006 to 2014; and Hurricane Dean, which struck in 2007.


Set Dressing

  • This is not the first time this clock is not working. In the Season One episode "7:15 A.M.," David and Mary Margaret meet at 7:15 AM, but the clock in the corner shows 12:34.[63] The clock shows the same time when Emma meets August at the diner later that day.[64]

Costume Notes

  • The same pants were worn in public by the British television personality Lydia Bright in July 2012.[69]
  • HIDDEN DETAILS: The picture of the Evil Queen inside Regina's locket[70] is taken from the filming of the scene where she is trying on the wedding dress in the Season One episode "The Stable Boy";[71] notice her hairstyle and the hairband.
  • BRAND INFO: When Regina is dining with Kurt and Owen, she is wearing[72] a Stretch-silk Bow Blouse[73] and a London Leather-Trimmed Pencil Skirt[74] from Burberry (no longer available).

Filming Locations

International Titles


Videos

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 LISTINGS: ONCE UPON A TIME. The Futon Critic. “Air Date: Sunday, March 17, 2013. Time Slot: 8:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC. Episode Title: (#217) "Welcome to Storybrooke"”
  2. Sunday Final Ratings: 'Once Upon a Time', 'The Amazing Race', 'Family Guy', 'The Cleveland Show, 'The Simpsons, 'Bob's Burgers' & 'The Mentalist' Adjusted Up. TV by the Numbers (March 19, 2013). “Once Upon a Time (...) 7.45”
  3. TwitterLogo Jordan Wright (@JNWsinger) on X, formerly Twitter: @Benjstockham in reality was the lasagna at the mayor's house good or bad? #askben (September 9, 2013). (backup link; original post, and the user's other posts, have been protected, so that only approved followers can see them) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Benjamin Stockham (@Benjstockham) on X, formerly Twitter: @JNWsinger It was actually good. There was a scene about me telling her she should add red pepper flakes but it got cut. #askben (September 9, 2013). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Ian Goldberg and Andrew Chambliss on the Season Two Blu-ray/DVD Audio Commentary for "Welcome to Storybrooke"
  5. File:217Title.png
  6. TwitterLogo Vancity Filming (@VancityFilming) on X, formerly Twitter: Episode 17 of Once Upon a Time is called "Welcome to Storybrooke" #onceuponatime #ouat #vancityfilming #yvrshoots (January 30, 2013). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  7. TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: Episode #217 "Welcome To Storybrooke" #OnceUponATime #Titlespoilers (January 31, 2013). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  8. 8.0 8.1 File:217HeartVault.png
  9. 9.0 9.1 File:317HeartVault.png
  10. 10.0 10.1 File:401HeartVault.png
  11. 11.0 11.1 File:411HeartVault.png
  12. 12.0 12.1 File:420HaveThisStraight.png
  13. 13.0 13.1 File:605MillsMausoleum.png
  14. File:217HeartVault2.png
  15. File:205HeartVault.png
  16. File:109Articles.png
  17. File:217SighingInFrustration.png
    File:217SlammingChestShut.png
  18. File:212BecauseIDidIt.png
  19. 19.0 19.1 File:217ButUm.png
  20. File:111RubbingTheLamp.png
  21. File:105CreepyPuppets.png
  22. File:106Hello.png
  23. File:109LovelyToSeeYou.png
  24. File:122EyesDeceiveMe.png
  25. File:217MissMills.png
  26. File:217MadamMayor.png
  27. 27.0 27.1 File:217ThereYouGo.png
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 Dove, Steve. Storybrooke Secrets: Welcome to Storybrooke. ABC. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. “Also during that opening camp scene, young Owen Flynn is snuggled up in a Return of the Jedi sleeping bag, another franchise the show creators are big fans of. (...) When Regina meets Owen, the first thing he asks her is if she likes apple pancakes, a nod to the Evil Queen's weapon of choice. (...) For example, just before Regina meets Owen and Kurt at Granny's Diner, you can catch a glimpse of a Storybrooke Daily Mirror with the headline "Reagan: Marines Will be Staying in Beirut." That refers to the infamous bombing of American and French troops in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War in 1983.”
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 File:217DailyMirror.png
  30. Once Upon a Time - Behind the Magic, London, Titan Books, October 2013, p. 132
  31. File:217UnderTheInfluence.png
  32. 32.0 32.1 File:217UseItOnMe.png
  33. File:217CarKey.png
  34. Mitovich, Matt Webb (August 15, 2014). Once Upon a Time's Two Most Burning Frozen Questions Answered. TVLine. “As Horowitz explains, Once "occurs in a semblance of real time," starting with Emma Swan's Oct 23, 2011 birthday aka the series premiere.”
  35. 1983 Beirut barracks bombings. Wikipedia (January 20, 2012).

    The episode was filmed at the end of January 2013:
    Gittins, Susan (January 30, 2013). SHOOT: Jamie Dornan & Lana Parrilla Film ONCE UPON A TIME 2×17 Chase in Steveston – Updated. Hollywood North Buzz.
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 Once Upon a Time - Storybrooke Daily Mirror Prop (3215). iCollector. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. (Top of front page) (Bottom of front page)
  37. Dog adopted by couple that stole him. WMTW, channel 8 (October 4, 2012). Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. (Note that at the time of October 18, 2021, the website is unavailable to computers in the European Economic Area (EEA), due to the General Data Protection Regulation; therefore, a back-up copy is used as reference.)
  38. File:106Newspaper3.png
  39. Great American Brass Band Festival announces 2013 theme. Constant Contact (January 15, 2012).
  40. 40.0 40.1 File:107DartMisses.png ( the report is in the lower left hand corner; look for …our vehicle parked in the woods. The explainant, Neil Westlake,” on line two of paragraph one, and ."..this file was S.B. Edwards who is responsible through the" in the second line from the bottom)
  41. File:118EveryTime.png
  42. File:421BookBlurb.png
  43. File:521StandHere.png
  44. File:522BroughtItWithHim.png
  45. File:714RobinHoodBook.png
  46. 46.0 46.1 File:214ItShouldBeHere.png (S.B. Edwards’ name is on the white book, while M. Soparlo’s name is on the second book from the right)
  47. File:211Books.png
  48. File:422NotOnThatList.png (look for "The Triad Undertow, By Ron West (Hansen Knowles.) In 1943, the secret agent G. Venturi, pursues rising power in the Tokyo underworld, discovers that there is a contract out on his life; the final book in a trilogy.")
  49. File:720JacindaKindaHasAThing.png
  50. File: 109Articles.png
  51. File:422NotOnThatList.png
  52. File:520IJustThought.png
  53. File:422Newspaper.png
  54. New electricity options offered to Maine consumers. WMTW, channel 8 (October 4, 2012). Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. (Note that at the time of February 19, 2022, the website is unavailable to computers in the European Economic Area (EEA), due to the General Data Protection Regulation; therefore, a back-up copy is used as reference.)
  55. File:217Scroll.png
  56. File:619No.png
  57. File:217ANewWoman.png
  58. File:217HisBackpack.png
  59. File:217MagicLaws.png
  60. File:218ItsOnMe.png
  61. File:222RightThingToDo.png
  62. File:316HoldingUp.png
  63. File:110GoodMorning.png
  64. File:110WeNeedToTalk.png
  65. File:111ReginaTurnsAround.png
  66. File:217EarlyShift.png
    File:217EarlyShift2.png
    File:217GoodMorning.png
    That's an interesting look! Meghan Ory dresses in head-to-toe red to shoot scenes for fairytale series Once Upon a Time. Daily Mail (February 1, 2013).
  67. LADIES FASHION AMERICAN APPAREL STYLE HIGHWAISTED STRETCHY SHINY DISCO PANTS. Amazon UK. Retrieved on September 4, 2018.
    The Disco Pant. American Apparel. Retrieved on September 4, 2018.
  68. Pleaser Buckle And Lace Up Red Thigh High Boot. Amazon Canada. Retrieved on September 4, 2018.
  69. Thomas, Holly (July 27, 2012). Dressing up, Essex Style! The TOWIE crew get dolled up in eighties gear for Joey's birthday... and Lydia steals the show in spray-on red leggings. Daily Mail.
  70. File:217Necklace.png
  71. File:118What.png
    File:118ButIToldYou.png
  72. File:217TooBad.png
    File:217Patience.png
  73. REGINA'S BROWN SILK BLOUSE AND BLACK PIPED PENCIL SKIRT ON ONCE UPON A TIME. WornOnTV. Retrieved on September 4, 2018.
  74. Burberry London Leather-Trimmed Pencil Skirt. Coolspotters. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014.
  75. File:408GoneFar.png
  76. QUINN'S BLUE GEOMETRIC PATTERN TOP AND BLACK LEATHER TRIM PENCIL SKIRT ON SCANDAL. WornOnTV. Retrieved on September 4, 2018.
  77. Burberry London Leather-Trimmed Pencil Skirt - Photos, Videos, Links. Coolspotters. Retrieved on September 4, 2018.
    Danielle Winits abusa do decote em festa na capital paulista. ego (September 3, 2013). (Note that the website is in Portuguese.)
  78. File:217FixASAP.png
  79. File:316TownGathering.png
    The bystander can be seen in the upper right corner of the screenshot.
  80. Screenshot from Stargate SG-1: "Sight Unseen"
  81. Screenshot from Supernatural: "Meet the New Boss"
  82. Movies Filmed at Pipeline Road (north segment). MovieMaps. Retrieved on October 13, 2018.

Advertisement