Once Upon A Time Pilot Page #5

Season #1 Episode #1

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CONTINUED:

CHARMING:

I don’t believe that. Not as long

as we have each other. (kneels down to her)

If you believe him about the curse, then you must believe him about our child. She is the savior. Let’s protect her.

SNOW How?

And then the DOOR FLIES OPEN. In walks A WOODCUTTER, accompanied by his two children. HANSEL and GRETEL. They HAUL in a LARGE TREE TRUNK. Plop it on the ground.

CHARMING What the hell is this?

ETHEREAL FEMALE VOICE (O.S.) Our only hope of saving that child.

And now in floats THE BLUE FAIRY. That’s right -- from Pinnochio. She hovers over the trunk.

GRUMPY:

A tree? Our fate rests on a tree?

Let’s get back to the fighting thing.

BLUE FAIRY:

The tree is enchanted. If

fashioned into a vessel it can ward off any curse. Geppetto, can you build such a thing?

ANGLE ON -- our old Italian craftsman friend, GEPPETTO.

GEPPETTO:

(thick Italian accent)

I can do it.

BLUE FAIRY:

Good.

(to Charming and Snow)

This will work. You must have faith.

Prince Charming looks from her to Snow. Squeezes her hand.

CHARMING:

You see -- we’re gonna be fine.

27.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

BLUE FAIRY:

There is, however, a catch.

SILENCE. Isn’t there always? All eyes turn to the fairy.

BLUE FAIRY:

The tree is indeed powerful. But

all power has its limits and this tree can protect only ONE.

Prince Charming and Snow White look at one another. The implication is sinking in just as the Blue Fairy explains --

BLUE FAIRY A choice must be made

OH F***. Prince Charming looks to his wife. Being together? Well that’s now OUT OF THE QUESTION. Snow can’t bear what this means and looks out the window, into the WOODS, which now DISSOLVE TO --

EXT. STORYBROOKE - NIGHT

The WOODS. PAN OFF the trees to Anna’s car driving into this small town. Surrounded by the forest, Storybrooke, while quaint, definitely has an air of magic to it. The car heads down the nearly deserted main street into the TOWN SQUARE. Passing shops, a few restaurants, a clock tower. No chain stores. This place is its own world. And right now, it’s after midnight and pretty much shut down.

IN THE CAR. Anna looks at Henry.

ANNA:

Okay, Kid. How about an address?

HENRY:

115 South Not-Telling-You Street.

Anna’s jaw tightens. She quickly pulls the car over to the side of the street. Parked in the town square, she confronts Henry.

ANNA:

Look, kid, it’s been a really long

day. It’s... almost... (looks up at the clock

tower) 8:
15?

HENRY:

That clock hasn’t moved my whole

life. Time is frozen here.

(CONTINUED)

28.

CONTINUED:

Anna can’t believe how relentless this kid is.

ANNA ...Excuse me?

HENRY:

The Evil queen cursed the enchanted

forest. And now everybody who lived there, is here. They’re frozen in time. Stuck in this town.

ANNA (dripping sarcasm)

Well, isn’t that horrible. (challenging him)

Why don’t they just leave?

HENRY:

They can’t. Ask anyone. See if

they’ve ever left.

Before Anna can challenge him further, a voice from outside the car interrupts.

...Henry?

VOICE (O.S.)

They look up to see an eccentric looking gentleman (think Michael Emerson) walking a Dalmation and, oddly, carrying an umbrella. This is ARCHIE.

ARCHIE:

What’re you doing here? You missed

our session today. Is everything all right?

HENRY I’m fine, Archie.

ARCHIE (studies Anna)

Who’s this?

ANNA:

Just someone trying to give him a

ride home. Ya know where he lives?

ARCHIE:

Sure. Just up there to the right.

Mayor’s house is the biggest house on Mifflin Street.

29.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

Now Anna shoots Henry another look.

ANNA:

You’re the Mayor’s kid?

HENRY (busted)

Maybe.

ANNA:

(to Archie; smiles)

Thank you.

ARCHIE:

Of course. Welcome to Storybrooke!

As they drive off, Henry looks completely defeated. Anna checks out Archie in her rear view mirror.

ANNA:

He didn’t seem cursed to me.

That’s it. Henry’s had enough. He blurts out --

HENRY:

Because he doesn’t know. None of

them do. They don’t remember who they are. It’s part of the curse.

ANNA:

Convenient. So which fairy tale

was he?

HENRY Jiminy Cricket.

OH. YEAH. That voice DID sound familiar.

ANNA:

Right. The umbrella. How did I

not catch that?

OFF ANNA, this kid’s got a real imagination, UPCUT TO -- EXT. MAYOR’S HOUSE - NIGHT

Mifflin street. A cul de sac lined with large homes. The largest, and most inviting, is where Anna is now parked. She steps out with Henry. He looks up, his demeanor CHANGED. The smart assness falls away and is replaced by GENUINE FEAR.

HENRY:

Please don’t take me back there.

30.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

Anna softens. And maybe for the first time, we see a twinkle of actual MATERNAL INSTINCT.

ANNA:

Henry, I’m sure your parents are

worried sick about you.

HENRY:

I don’t have parents. Just a mom.

And she’s evil. (fighting tears)

She doesn’t love me. She only pretends to.

Anna’s heart breaks as she listens, because whether it’s true or not, this kid believes it. And that’s when --

VOICE (O.S.) Ohmygod, Henry! Where have you

been!

ARM AROUND TO REVEAL -- the door of the house is open. And rushing out of it is Henry’s adoptive mother, REGINA. But what we first notice is --

She’s IDENTICAL to the EVIL QUEEN in fairy tale land. Only without her Queen outfit, she just appears to be an attractive suburban mom in her 30s.

Regina’s cheeks are tear stained and she’s an emotional wreck. She rushes up and wraps Henry in a hug.

REGINA:

Are you alright? Are you hurt?

What happened?!?

And standing behind her, looking concerned as he takes in the scene is the oh-so handsome town SHERIFF. Henry breaks from the embrace --

HENRY:

What happened was I went to find my

real mom.

And with that he scampers up the stairs into the house. Regina looks up and sees Anna for the first time. And it really f***ing hits her who this is.

REGINA:

...you’re Henry’s birth mother?

Anna forces an awkward smile. Meekly responds --

31.

(CONTINUED)

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