'Once Upon A Time' recap – Episode 8: “Desperate Souls”
The episode begins in the fairy tale world as a young girl is taken from her village by knights to be a soldier in the war. Members of the village try to stop them from taking her but in the distance, a figure dressed in black riding a black horse, who is referred to as “The Dark One” casts a spell disabling the villagers from helping the girl. Rumplestiltskin and his son are among the villagers watching the girl be taken away. Rumplestiltskin holds his son close, worried that he’ll be the next to be taken.
Shoot to Emma going to Gold’s pawn shop because he requested the sheriff. Gold conveys his condolences to Emma for Sheriff Graham’s death. He inquires why Emma is still wearing her deputy’s badge since it’s been two weeks since Graham’s death, which would make her the town’s new sheriff automatically. She tells him she isn’t ready to wear Graham’s badge yet. She then thanks Gold for his “kind words” about Graham and moves to leave but Gold stops her and asks if she wants any of Graham’s belongings such as his jacket. If not, he plans to give it all to Regina who he says was “the closest thing to family” Graham had. Emma disagrees. Emma doesn’t want to take anything but Gold implores to take Graham’s walkie-talkie, so she and Henry can use it to play. He then tells Emma to cherish her time with Henry, “That’s the thing with children. Before you know it, you lose them,” Gold says.
Shoot to Henry at his “castle.” Emma shows up and asks him why he’s been avoiding her. Henry tells he wants to put “Operation Cobra” on hold for a bit since he thinks they’re messing with the curse brought about Graham’s death. Emma tells Henry that Graham’s autopsy showed that he died of natural causes but Henry replies, “Whatever, you don’t believe. Good, that should keep you from messing with it and getting killed.” Emma replies, “You’re worried about me?” Henry then says, “She killed Graham because he was good. And you’re good and good always loses because good has to play fair. Evil doesn’t. She’s evil. I don’t want to upset her anymore.” Then, Henry leaves Emma alone to ponder what he said.
Shoot to Emma back at the sheriff’s office. She picks up Graham’s sheriff’s badge and is about to pin in on when Regina walks in and tells Emma that the badge isn’t hers. She tells her that two weeks after Graham’s death, her appointment as sheriff is automatic. Regina says not if she appoints someone else and she has, Sydney Glass, from the town’s newspaper. Emma asks how he would be qualified for the position and Regina says he’s covered the sheriff’s office for as long as anyone can remember. Emma says that she’s choosing Sydney because he’ll do whatever Regina wants. Emma adds that by appointed her as deputy Graham freed the sheriff’s office from her “leash” and she’s “not getting it back.” Then, Regina fires Emma.
Shoot to Mary-Margaret’s place as Emma is blasting music while trying to fix the toaster. Mary-Margaret arrives turns off the loud music and inquires about the toaster. “I just needed to hit something.” Emma replies. She tells her that Regina fired her from her as sheriff and that she wants it back. Mary-Margaret replies that she never heard speak “so passionately about it before.” Mary-Margaret then asks Emma why she wants the job back so much. Emma replies, “Maybe I just want to beat her [Regina.]” Then, there’s a knock at the door. It’s Gold and he wants to speak to Emma. Mary-Margaret excuses herself so Emma and Gold can talk in private. Gold tells Emma that he heard about her being fired. “Two people with a common goal can accomplish many things. Two people with a common enemy can accomplish even more,” Gold tells Emma. Then, he pulls out a binder that contains the town charter. “Maybe the mayor isn’t as powerful as she seems,” Gold says as he begins flipping through the binder.
Shoot to the fairy tale world as Rumplestiltskin awakens his son, Baelfire [played by Dylan Schmid.] Rumplestiltskin tells Baelfire that they must run away or he’ll be taken to serve in the war. Rumplestiltskin hears knights coming and tells Baelfire to hide but it’s too late. The knight, Horder [played by Ty Olsson] who took the young girl away earlier sees them. Baelfire naively blurts out his age and his and his father’s names. Horder recognizes Rumplestiltskin’s name and tells Baelfire that his father is a coward because he ran away when the ogres came and everyone else died. Horder then accuses Rumplestiltskin of treason and tells the other soldiers to take Baelfire. Rumplestiltskin begs Horder not to take his son and asks him what he wants. Horder replies that since Rumplestiltskin has no money, land, power, etc. he wants him to kiss his boot. When Rumplestiltskin reluctantly complies, Horder kicks him in the face and laughs. Then, he and other soldiers depart, leaving Rumplestiltskin and Baelfire alone. An old beggar [played by Brad Dourif] helps Rumplestiltskin and Baelfire back home. Rumplestiltskin tells the old beggar that he has no money to pay him for his help. The old beggar says, “Just give me whatever you can spare and I will be your benefactor.”
Shoot to Regina giving a press conference/ceremony to announce that she has
appointed Sydney Glass [played by Giancarlo Esposito] as Storybrooke’s new sheriff. But, Emma interrupts sating that Regina doesn’t have the power to appoint a new town sheriff. Regina replies by citing the town charter, which Emma says states that the mayor can appoint a “candidate,” there has to be an election and a vote. Emma then says, “And guess what? I’m running.” Regina replies that Sydney will too.
Shoot back to the fairy tale world as Rumplestiltskin worries that can no longer flee with Baelfire to keep him from being recruited to fight in the war. “If they take him away, I will surely become dust,” Rumplestiltskin tells the old man. The old beggar tells him that he can prevent that from happening if he has power. The old beggar then tells Rumplestiltskin that “The Dark One” works for the Duke because he has in his possession a magical dagger, which he uses to have “The Dark One” do his bidding. The old man tells Rumplestiltskin that if he steals the dagger then HE will control “The Dark One” and be able to protect Baelfire.
Shoot back to Regina visiting Gold at his shop. She tells him that she knows he’s supporting Emma for the sheriff position.
Shoot to Emma walking into the diner, where she sees Henry sitting at a booth reading the town paper. She sits down next to him and asks him how school was. He tells it went fine and then shows the front page of the town paper, which talks about Emma being in jail a long time ago. Emma replies that those records were supposed to be sealed and then asks Henry if he’s “emotionally scarred” from knowing that she was in jail. Henry reassures Emma that he’s fine. He tells her that because Regina is evil, she won’t be able to beat her. Emma then tells Henry that Gold is on her side. Henry protests her trusting him and reminds her that she already owes Gold a favor and should not owe him another.
Shoot to Emma going to Regina’s house and telling at her for digging up her juvenile arrest record, which was supposed to be sealed and accuses her of abuse of power. Emma then tells Regina that her actions are hurting Henry. Regina insists that Henry is fine. Regina also informs Emma about the debate scheduled between her and Sydney for sheriff. But, then, as Regina opens the door to leave, there’s an explosion and a fire. Regina says she hurt her ankle and can’t walk and that Emma has to get her out of the building.
Shoot back to the fairy tale world as Rumplestiltskin telling Baelfire what the old beggar told him about the magical dagger. Rumplestiltskin then tells Baelfire that if he steals the dagger then kills “The Dark One” with it, he will assume his powers then he will use them for good and make sure all the children of the land are not forced to fight and be slaughtered in the war. Baelfire then asks Rumplestiltskin if what Horder said about him was true, that he ran from the battle with the ogres. Rumplestiltskin tells him that he had to. Baelfire then asks about his mother and how Rumplestiltskin told him that she was dead. Rumplestiltskin replies that she is dead.
Shoot back to Emma and Regina. Regina thinks Emma is going to leave her but instead Emma finds a fire extinguisher, puts out enough of the fire, helps Regina and they are able to exit safely out the front door. The local fire department arrives as Regina is yelling at Emma for setting her down on her injured ankle. The townspeople gather to see what happened. Sydney goes to take a picture of Regina “the victim” for the town paper but she grabs him and tells him to focus on beating Emma for the sheriff’s office. Meanwhile, Henry is telling everyone what a hero Emma is for saving Regina. Granny, Archie, Ruby and Mary-Margaret praise Emma and then offer to help make campaign posters to help her win the election. Emma tells Henry that when you do good things, others offer to help. Emma then sees something that makes her suspicious as to the cause of the fire.
Shoot to Emma visiting Gold’s shop again. She accuses him of setting the fire, which he denies. She asks why he did it. He replies, “If he did it” he did it because she can’t win the election without “something big, like being a hero in a fire.” She then asks him how he’d know that she would “be there at the right time?” “Maybe Regina isn’t the only one with eyes and ears in this town,” Gold replies. Emma replies that could have left Regina but Gold knew she wouldn’t. She then tells him that she no longer wants his help regarding the election. Gold then warns Emma not to expose his role in the fire and that doing so would disappoint someone else, he probably means Henry because Emma would then lose the sheriff’s office.
Shoot back to the fairy tale world as Rumplestiltskin sets a fire in the Duke’s castle and steals the dagger.
Shoot back to the town getting ready for the debate as Mary-Margaret is putting up campaign posters for Emma. While doing so, she runs into David. He tells her that he got a job at the animal shelter. She then sees that he’s putting up campaign posters for Sydney because his wife is friends with Regina. She asks how Catherine is. He says she’s fine and coming to meet him later. Mary-Margaret then says she’s out of posters and quickly leaves.
Shoot to Archie preparing to be the moderator of the debate as Emma looks on and Henry smiles at her. Mary-Margaret shows up and Emma tells her she knows she’s going to lose. Mary-Margaret then tells her that the whole town is still talking about what a hero she was saving Regina from the fire but Emma insists that she can’t win with Regina fighting dirty. Mary-Margaret then asks if its still just about beating Regina. Emma replies that she wants to show Henry “that good can actually win.” Emma then sees someone giving someone else an envelope, then she sees Gold.
Shoot back to the fairy tale world as Baelfire finds Rumplestiltskin in the woods and is glad he’s okay. Rumplestiltskin tells him to go home and wait for him there but Baelfire tells him that he has a bad feeling, Yet, Rumplestiltskin tells him that he must do the next thing on his own. He reiterates to Baelfire to go home and that he’ll be back. Baelfire reluctantly leaves and then Rumplestiltskin uses the dagger to summon “The Dark One.” Rumplestiltskin tells him that he now controls him. “The Dark One” warms him to “wield the power wisely” then tells him that Horder and his men are probably making their way to Rumplestiltskin’s house as they speak to take Baelfire away. “The Dark One” then asks Rumplestiltskin what he wants him to do. Rumplestiltskin then stabs “The Dark One” who reveals himself as the old beggar. He laughs at Rumplestiltskin for making “a deal you didn’t understand. My life was such a burden. You’ll see Magic always comes with a price. Now, it’s yours to pay.” Rumplestiltskin asks the old beggar why he chose him. “I know to recognize a desperate soul,” the old beggar replies. Then, he dies. Rumplestiltskin begs him to come back to tell him what to do. Then, he removes the dagger from the old beggar’s body.
Shoot back to the debate. Archie introduces Sydney and Emma and asks for Sydney’s opening statement. Then, Emma gives her opening statement, during which she tells the audience that the fire was a setup by Gold to help her campaign. She adds that she doesn’t have evidence to prove it but “the worst part of it all is I made you think it was true and i don’t want to win that way.” Henry, who’s in the audience, looks at Regina, who’s smiling.
Shoot to Emma drinking alone at the diner. Henry walks in, gives her back Graham’s walkie-talkie and tells he’s proud of her for exposing Gold. He adds that “never should have given up on ‘Operation Cobra.’” Then, Sydney and Regina walk in. Emma thinks they’re there for the victory party in the back room. Then, Regina surprises Emma by telling that SHE won the election not Sydney. Regina explains that it was a close race “but the people seem to like the idea of a sheriff brave enough to stand up to Mr. Gold.” Emma thinks she’s joking but Sydney assures that she’s not. Mary-Margaret walks in smiling along with Henry. Regina then warns Emma that she “didn’t pick a great friend in Mr. Gold, but he does make a superlative enemy.” Regina then smiles and walks away.
Shoot back to the fairy tale world as Horder and his men are taking Baelfire. All of a sudden, Rumplestiltskin appears and kills one of Horder’s men. Horder then bows down to “The Dark One” then when he really looks at him he doesn’t recognize him. Meanwhile, Baelfire is watching and recognizes his “papa.” Horder is shocked. Rumplestiltskin then introduces himself as “The New Dark One.” Then, orders Horder to kiss his boot just as he did to him. As Horder goes to do so, Rumplestiltskin slits his throat and kills the rest of his men with the dagger. Baelfire is horrified and asks, “Papa, what has happened to you?” Rumplestiltskin simply tells Baelfire that he’s safe now and asks him if he feels safe. Baelfire says he feels frightened and starts to back away from Rumplestiltskin, who replies with an evil look in his eye, “I protected what’s mine and I’m not scared of anything.” Balefire watches scared as Rumplestiltskin cackles evilly.
Shoot to Emma and Henry at the sheriff’s office. Emma sees Graham’s coat hanging. Then, Gold appears saying he thought she’d want Graham’s coat after all. He then tells Emma he knew she’d expose him. She then asks him why he did all of this. He reminds her of the deal they made and that she owes him a favor. “I’m sure we’ll find some way for you to pay back what you owe me,” Gold tells Emma. He whispers congratulations to her then leaves. Emma looks unsettled.