Recap
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All magic comes with a price, and so do choices. No matter what direction in the road you may choose, all have consequences; it's up to you which ones you want to live with. In "The Price of Gold," we see a parallel story between the Storybrooke and Enchanted Forest tales, showing us the foolishness of jumping into a decision, and the far-reaching effects it can have.
Fairy Godfather
We begin with the familiar fairytale, with Cinderella sadly watching her stepsisters go off to the ball as she sweeps the straw around the courtyard in no particular direction. Her fairy godmother appears with a promise to send her to the ball, when she explodes and is replaced by Rumplestiltskin. As he himself says, he can recognize a desperate soul, something he can see in the young maid. He offers her a chance to change her life in exchange for a "small" favor to be cashed in at a later time, a deal Cinderella jumps at. Despite his warning her of the consequences of magic, Cinderella eagerly signs the contract without reading the fine print above the dotted line.
She nearly has forgotten about her deal until a dance at her wedding with the prince, when she dances into Rumplestiltskin's arms. He's returned to collect his favor: her firstborn child. A short time later when she finds out that she is indeed pregnant, her heart fills with dread. But Prince Charming comes up with the idea of imprisoning the Dark One, stripping him of his magic and making him powerless against others. The Blue Fairy gives her a quill enchanted with squid ink, a tool that immobilizes the user long enough to be captured. Cinderella summons Rumplestiltskin and lies, telling him that she is expecting twins. In exchange for her second child, he is to make her land fertile and prosperous again. But the Dark One instantly sees through it, pointing out that stopping him is only possible through magic. He warns her against imprisoning him, even commenting on the quill. But it's exactly what he was hoping for; by being "imprisoned" close to Charming and Snow White, he puts himself exactly in the right place to keep his eye on them and their baby, making sure that his carefully laid plans for the curse come to pass. Although he had to power to escape at any time, he chooses to let everyone believe he is powerless. I don't believe the Dark One even wanted Cinderella's child, but the deal had to be horrid enough to make a desperate mother try such a dangerous feat.
He signs the contract, and just as he expected, he is immobilized. While everyone breathes a sigh of relief, Cinderella becomes lightheaded, a touch no doubt also thrown in by Rumplestiltskin to lure the prince away. As soon as Thomas runs to get her some water, the spell passes, but he is nowhere to be found. She runs to the well, finding only his cloak. She demands his whereabouts from Rumplestiltskin, who replies that as he warned her, all magic comes with a price. Until the debt is fulfilled with the baby as payment, Cinderella will never see Thomas again.
Fairy Godfather
We begin with the familiar fairytale, with Cinderella sadly watching her stepsisters go off to the ball as she sweeps the straw around the courtyard in no particular direction. Her fairy godmother appears with a promise to send her to the ball, when she explodes and is replaced by Rumplestiltskin. As he himself says, he can recognize a desperate soul, something he can see in the young maid. He offers her a chance to change her life in exchange for a "small" favor to be cashed in at a later time, a deal Cinderella jumps at. Despite his warning her of the consequences of magic, Cinderella eagerly signs the contract without reading the fine print above the dotted line.
She nearly has forgotten about her deal until a dance at her wedding with the prince, when she dances into Rumplestiltskin's arms. He's returned to collect his favor: her firstborn child. A short time later when she finds out that she is indeed pregnant, her heart fills with dread. But Prince Charming comes up with the idea of imprisoning the Dark One, stripping him of his magic and making him powerless against others. The Blue Fairy gives her a quill enchanted with squid ink, a tool that immobilizes the user long enough to be captured. Cinderella summons Rumplestiltskin and lies, telling him that she is expecting twins. In exchange for her second child, he is to make her land fertile and prosperous again. But the Dark One instantly sees through it, pointing out that stopping him is only possible through magic. He warns her against imprisoning him, even commenting on the quill. But it's exactly what he was hoping for; by being "imprisoned" close to Charming and Snow White, he puts himself exactly in the right place to keep his eye on them and their baby, making sure that his carefully laid plans for the curse come to pass. Although he had to power to escape at any time, he chooses to let everyone believe he is powerless. I don't believe the Dark One even wanted Cinderella's child, but the deal had to be horrid enough to make a desperate mother try such a dangerous feat.
He signs the contract, and just as he expected, he is immobilized. While everyone breathes a sigh of relief, Cinderella becomes lightheaded, a touch no doubt also thrown in by Rumplestiltskin to lure the prince away. As soon as Thomas runs to get her some water, the spell passes, but he is nowhere to be found. She runs to the well, finding only his cloak. She demands his whereabouts from Rumplestiltskin, who replies that as he warned her, all magic comes with a price. Until the debt is fulfilled with the baby as payment, Cinderella will never see Thomas again.
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Emma Makes a Deal
In Storybrooke, we see a parallel story, with the same deal carried over from the Enchanted Forest. Cinderella, now Ashley, works as a maid, struggling to finish her education and better herself while expecting a baby. (You have to feel bad for the girl; she's been pregnant for 28 years! But I digress.) Emma finds her in the laundry room while washing a soiled shirt, and sees some of herself in the teenager. She knows well the hardships of being a young single mother, and gives Ashley advice: if you want to change your life, then it's up to you to do so, no matter what anyone thinks. Rumplestiltskin's bargain still holds fast, as we see Cinderella and Thomas still separated since the deal is yet unfulfilled. The two broke up, and Ashley has agreed to give her child to Mr. Gold to find a home for it. But she realizes that her life is her own, and if she wants to keep her baby, then she must destroy the contract. She breaks into the pawnbroker shop, spraying Mr. Gold with mace and rendering him unconscious.
While Emma is unpacking her things to stay in Mary Margaret's apartment, Mr. Gold comes to find her. Despite having met her for only a brief moment, the pawnbroker seems to know all about her, requesting that she help him find Ashley Boyd. Already he is aware of where she is staying, her profession, her giving up Henry, and that she didn't enjoy her time in the foster system. Not wanting Gold to press charges, Emma agrees, and finds her in labor at the very edge of town. Ashley is panicked, begging to be taken to Boston so she won't have to give her baby away. Emma promises not to let her baby be taken, but only if she's ready; being a kid and running away is no longer an option.
At the hospital, as Gold is waiting around to receive his "merchandise", Emma confronts him about his price of a baby. Unlike everyone else in town, she is unafraid of him, a quality Gold seems to like. He is an expert as persuasion, telling her that if his deal is unfulfilled, the baby will end up in the system. Knowing that Emma will do almost anything to help a child escape the same loveless state that she grew up in, he offers her a deal; Ashley can keep her baby if Emma will promise to owe him a favor. She agrees, and I have to think that Gold arranged his deal with Cinderella for more than to be locked up near Snow and Charming; it also makes sense that he would continue the deal in order to obtain a favor from Emma. A deal with the savior could prove to be a very powerful thing. As Rumplestiltskin promised, Thomas returns and they get back together, now that Emma has paid the debt.
After it's all over, Emma gives Graham a call, taking him up on his job offer as deputy. Watching Ashley fight desperately to keep her baby helps Emma to see just how much she wants to be with Henry. She decides it would be nice to plant some roots and belong somewhere, weakening the curse even more.
In Storybrooke, we see a parallel story, with the same deal carried over from the Enchanted Forest. Cinderella, now Ashley, works as a maid, struggling to finish her education and better herself while expecting a baby. (You have to feel bad for the girl; she's been pregnant for 28 years! But I digress.) Emma finds her in the laundry room while washing a soiled shirt, and sees some of herself in the teenager. She knows well the hardships of being a young single mother, and gives Ashley advice: if you want to change your life, then it's up to you to do so, no matter what anyone thinks. Rumplestiltskin's bargain still holds fast, as we see Cinderella and Thomas still separated since the deal is yet unfulfilled. The two broke up, and Ashley has agreed to give her child to Mr. Gold to find a home for it. But she realizes that her life is her own, and if she wants to keep her baby, then she must destroy the contract. She breaks into the pawnbroker shop, spraying Mr. Gold with mace and rendering him unconscious.
While Emma is unpacking her things to stay in Mary Margaret's apartment, Mr. Gold comes to find her. Despite having met her for only a brief moment, the pawnbroker seems to know all about her, requesting that she help him find Ashley Boyd. Already he is aware of where she is staying, her profession, her giving up Henry, and that she didn't enjoy her time in the foster system. Not wanting Gold to press charges, Emma agrees, and finds her in labor at the very edge of town. Ashley is panicked, begging to be taken to Boston so she won't have to give her baby away. Emma promises not to let her baby be taken, but only if she's ready; being a kid and running away is no longer an option.
At the hospital, as Gold is waiting around to receive his "merchandise", Emma confronts him about his price of a baby. Unlike everyone else in town, she is unafraid of him, a quality Gold seems to like. He is an expert as persuasion, telling her that if his deal is unfulfilled, the baby will end up in the system. Knowing that Emma will do almost anything to help a child escape the same loveless state that she grew up in, he offers her a deal; Ashley can keep her baby if Emma will promise to owe him a favor. She agrees, and I have to think that Gold arranged his deal with Cinderella for more than to be locked up near Snow and Charming; it also makes sense that he would continue the deal in order to obtain a favor from Emma. A deal with the savior could prove to be a very powerful thing. As Rumplestiltskin promised, Thomas returns and they get back together, now that Emma has paid the debt.
After it's all over, Emma gives Graham a call, taking him up on his job offer as deputy. Watching Ashley fight desperately to keep her baby helps Emma to see just how much she wants to be with Henry. She decides it would be nice to plant some roots and belong somewhere, weakening the curse even more.
Best Episode Quotes
1. Emma: "You want to change things? You're going to have to go out there and change them yourself because there are no fairy godmothers in this world."
2. Rumple: "No one breaks deals with me, Dearie! No one. No matter where you are, no matter what land you find yourself in, I assure, I will have your baby."
3. Cinderella: "Alexandra?"
Thomas: "Did I not mention that I picked out a name?"
Cinderella: "A name? It's more like a prison sentence."
4. Henry: "The pregnant maid is dangerous?"
Emma: "She assaulted Mr. Gold."
Henry: "Cool."
5. Rumple: "I did warn you. All magic comes at a price And it looks like someone has just paid."
6. Emma: "Your whole life is going be change, and once you decide that it's yours, this running away can't happen. You have to grow up, and you can't ever
leave."
7. Rumple: "I like you, Miss Swan. You're not afraid of me. That's either cocky or presumptuous; either way, I'd rather have you on my side."
8. Cinderella: "What did you do? What did you do to my Thomas?"
Rumple: "I haven't done anything. In case you hadn't noticed I've been otherwise engaged."
9. Emma: "Somehow I suspect there is more to you than a simple pawnbroker."
10. Rumple: "If you want Ashley to have that baby, are you willing to make a deal with me?"
Emma: "What do you want?"
Rumple: "Oh I don't know just yet. You'll owe me a favor."
2. Rumple: "No one breaks deals with me, Dearie! No one. No matter where you are, no matter what land you find yourself in, I assure, I will have your baby."
3. Cinderella: "Alexandra?"
Thomas: "Did I not mention that I picked out a name?"
Cinderella: "A name? It's more like a prison sentence."
4. Henry: "The pregnant maid is dangerous?"
Emma: "She assaulted Mr. Gold."
Henry: "Cool."
5. Rumple: "I did warn you. All magic comes at a price And it looks like someone has just paid."
6. Emma: "Your whole life is going be change, and once you decide that it's yours, this running away can't happen. You have to grow up, and you can't ever
leave."
7. Rumple: "I like you, Miss Swan. You're not afraid of me. That's either cocky or presumptuous; either way, I'd rather have you on my side."
8. Cinderella: "What did you do? What did you do to my Thomas?"
Rumple: "I haven't done anything. In case you hadn't noticed I've been otherwise engaged."
9. Emma: "Somehow I suspect there is more to you than a simple pawnbroker."
10. Rumple: "If you want Ashley to have that baby, are you willing to make a deal with me?"
Emma: "What do you want?"
Rumple: "Oh I don't know just yet. You'll owe me a favor."