Once Upon A Time Pilot Page #6

Season #1 Episode #1

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CONTINUED:

ANNA ...Hi.

It’s an awkward moment. The sheriff -- like any man would -- senses it. Speaks in a BRITISH ACCENT.

SHERIFF:

I’ll just go check on the lad, make

sure he’s doing all right.

The sheriff heads into the house. Leaving Regina with Anna.

As it sinks in on Regina who she’s meeting, briefly, oh so briefly, something flashes across her face. Concern? Worry? Annoyance? It’s gone too fast for us to know for sure.

REGINA:

Thank you for bringing him home.

ANNA Sure.

A beat of massive discomfort. And then Regina puts on the most welcoming smile imaginable.

REGINA:

How would you like a glass of the

best apple cider you’ve ever tasted?

ANNA (smiles)

Got anything stronger? OFF Regina nodding, UPCUT TO --

INT. REGINA’S STUDY - NIGHT

ON A MIRROR. Kelly Wearstler-like. PAN OFF it to a tastefully designed study. Anna sits on the couch, DOWNING her BOURBON as Regina sits opposite her in a chair. On the coffee table is a basket of apples. Anna swallows, then --

ANNA:

So... you adopted Henry...

REGINA:

Yes, he’s been with me since he was

three weeks old.

And her FEAR METER is off the charts now. Because this is every adoptive mother’s NIGHTMARE. A wild card birth mother.

(CONTINUED)

32.

CONTINUED:

ANNA:

How did he find me?

REGINA:

No idea. The records were sealed

when I adopted him. I was told the birth mother didn’t want to be found. Is... that still true?

BEAT. Now Anna gets it -- understands what Regina’s worried about. That she’s coming to take Henry away.

ANNA Yeah, it is.

Regina studies her -- believes her. A small exhale of relief. She gets up and tops off Anna’s drink.

REGINA Okay, then.

Regina sits back down. Anna takes another sip.

REGINA:

I’m sorry he dragged you out of

your life. He’s really a good boy.

ANNA I’m sure he is.

REGINA:

You have to understand -- things

have been tough lately. Ever since I became Mayor?

Regina is getting emotional now, full of regret. And what we find is that in stark contrast to the fairy-tale-land-queen, we REALLY LIKE this woman.

REGINA:

I try to balance everything but...

I guess it’s not going as well as I’d hoped. I just -- I just want him to be happy. But you see the way he looks at me... And lately, he’s become withdrawn. He’s been acting out. So I sent him to see a therapist.

ANNA:

(putting it together)

Guy named Archie with a Dalmation? Henry thinks he’s Jiminy Cricket?

(CONTINUED)

33.

CONTINUED:

REGINA Excuse me?

ANNA:

He says his therapist is a cartoon

character. From his book.

REGINA ...what book?

Now Anna realizes something. That story book? Henry’s been hiding it from his mother.

ANNA:

You know what, it’s none of my

business. He’s your kid and I’ve caused enough trouble. I think I should be heading back.

Regina smiles warmly --

REGINA:

Of course. No trouble at all.

And as Anna rises to go, we CUT TO -- EXT. REGINA’S HOUSE - NIGHT

Anna hurries out. Just needing to get the hell out of here. She comes upon the sheriff, leaning up against her car. He smiles at her. Munching on a PIXIE STICK. Offers her one.

SHERIFF Pixie stick?

ANNA I’ll pass.

SHERIFF:

Yes, I know. Terrible habit. It’s

amazing my teeth haven’t rotted through. I’m Graham, by the way.

ANNA:

Anna. So what part of England you

from, Graham?

SHERIFF:

Actually, I was born and raised

here. Picked the accent up from my parents. Gives me some authority, don’t you think?

34.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

ANNA:

Absolutely. Well, I’ve got a long

drive ahead of me. So if you could find somewhere else to lean...

Anna moves to her car, but he remains leaning on it.

GRAHAM I think it might spent the night.

ANNA Kinda forward of

He smiles, mischievous.

be better if you you.

GRAHAM:

I know Regina’s drinks. I’d hate

to get out the breathalyzer. There’s a B and B on the town square. They have rooms available. I called ahead.

(thinks)

I guess I am forward.

Anna shakes her head. Clearly not having a CHOICE.

ANNA:

Let me grab my bag.

Graham grins, steps aside. As Anna pulls out her gym bag -- INT. GRANNY’S - NIGHT

A large Victorian house. It doubles as a bed and breakfast and the local bar/restaurant. Homey and oh-so-New England-y. An elderly proprietor -- yeah, this is GRANNY -- checks Anna in.

GRANNY:

Would you like a Square view or

Forest view? The Forest view are quieter, but the Square views can see everything. There’s no price dif--

Suddenly she stops short as she sees SOMEONE leaving.

35.

Hey!

GRANNY:

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

A RED HAIRED twentysomething girl is sauntering out. There’s one word that leaps to mind at the sight of this sexy girl. NAUGHTY. She’s pulling on a red coat as Granny berates her --

GRANNY:

Where do you think you’re going?

RED:

I’ve got a date, Grandma.

Granny looks at her watch. Then back at Red.

GRANNY:

At twelve thirty? No date starts

at twelve thirty.

RED Mine do.

Red hurries out. Granny shakes her head, turns back to Anna.

GRANNY:

And she wonders why they never call

her back. Now where were we?

ANNA:

I’ll take the Forest view.

INT. GRANNY’S - ANNA’S ROOM - NIGHT

Anna enters the small well appointed bedroom. Drops her bag on the bed and plops down. Sighs. Where the HELL is she. She unzips her bag, to take inventory and then shakes her head as she sees something.

INSIDE THE GYM BAG -- is HENRY’S STORY BOOK. Stuffed inside among her workout clothes. He hid it in there. She shakes her head, smiles --

ANNA Sneaky bastard.

Anna takes out the book. Starts to flip through it. It’s VAST. Filled with text and drawings. This is another Tivo moment where we catch glimpses of drawings from all the iconic fairy tales... and maybe from a few other stories as well. Was that Dracula we glimpsed? No time to dwell. Anna moves to the bookmarked page and sees --

A DRAWING OF -- Geppetto. Crafting some kind of WARDROBE. Push in on this drawing as we go to --

36.

INT. NURSERY - CASTLE - DAY - FAIRY TALE LAND

GEPPETTO. Hard at work carving out wood from the tree. Shavings are everywhere. The nursery is a mess. All the great plans for this baby have been shoved aside as we see what he’s building -- A WARDROBE. And it’s nearly finished.

PULL BACK THROUGH -- THE WINDOW. We’re watching him work from a HIGH POV --

INT. CASTLE - BEDROOM - DAY - FAIRY TALE LAND

Snow White stands at the window, watching across the

courtyard into the nursery. She shakes her head at Charming.

SNOW:

I don’t want to do this.

CHARMING It has to be you.

SNOW:

No. I’m not leaving you.

CHARMING It’s the only way.

(nods toward the nursery) You’ll go in there and be safe from the curse. You’ll have our child. And then you’ll come back for me.

SNOW:

He said it would be on her twenty

eighth birthday.

CHARMING:

What’s twenty eight years when you

have eternal love? And once you rescue me, all will be back as it should be. I have faith. I believe it. Now I need you to.

Snow listens to his words. Somewhat -- but not completely comforted. This woman is TORN --

SNOW I... want to.

CHARMING:

Then do it. You will wake me up as

I did you.

(a warm smile)

We’ll finally be even.

(CONTINUED)

37.

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