Once: Pilot Script

Act 4

REGINA
He doesn't really have any.

OUCH. That sure as hell strikes a chord with Emma.

EMMA
Every kid has friends. Have you checked his computer? If there's anyone he's close to, he'd be emailing them.

REGINA
And you know this how?

EMMA
Finding people's what I do. Here's a thought. Why don't you let me out of here, and I'll help you?

And Regina is thrown by that. Graham considers --

GRAHAM
Perhaps she can be of assistance.

REGINA
She's done enough.

41.

GRAHAM
Computers aren't exactly my forte, you know that. Do you want to waste time finding an expert?

EMMA
I can do this. That okay?

Regina looks at this strange woman behind bars. Nods.

REGINA
I just want my son back.

INT. HENRY'S ROOM - REGINA'S HOUSE - MORNING

ON A HOOKAH SMOKING CATERPILLAR. REVEAL it's a COMPUTER SCREEN SAVER. Emma moves the mouse, revealing a web browser. We see we're in Henry's room -- BOOK filled shelves and a collection of CUCKOO CLOCKS. Pictures and drawings everywhere. This boy wants to be in any world but this one. Emma taps the keys. Regina watches by Graham.

EMMA
Kid's smart. He cleared his inbox.

Emma pulls out a USB card on her keychain. Plugs it in.

EMMA
I'm smart too. Little hard disk recovery utility I like to use.

SHERIFF
I'm a bit more old fashioned in my techniques. Pounding the pavement. Knocking on doors. That sort of thing.

EMMA
Well, you're on salary. I get paid for delivery. Pounding the pavement isn't a luxury I get.

ON THE SCREEN -- the INBOX reforms. Emma sees something --

EMMA
Huh. A receipt from a website. "Who's your momma dot org?" Guess we know how he found me.
(scrolls through the site)
Expensive. He have a credit card?

REGINA
He's ten.

42.

EMMA
Well he used one... Okay, let's go find a transaction record...
(taps the keys, then --)
Who's Mary Margaret Blanchard?

Regina's face tightens. She KNOWS and doesn't like her.

REGINA
Henry's teacher... Thank you for the help, Ms. Swan. But I think I've got it from here.

EMMA
The hell you do, I'm coming with you. That teacher sent him to me and invaded my life, I wanna make sure it doesn't happen again.

REGINA
Don't worry, dear. It won't.

EMMA
And what if tomorrow morning he's not in his room again?

Regina glares. It's a STAND OFF. Emma knows she HAS HER --

EMMA
So you wanna drive? Or should I?

INT. CATHOLIC SCHOOL - CLASSROOM - DAY

ON a roomful of FOURTH GRADERS listening raptly to a SWEET VOICE as they work on an art project, building small houses --

SWEET VOICE
As we build our bird houses, remember that what you're making is a home, not a cage. A bird is free and will do what it will. This is for them, not us.