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This article focuses on the Season Four episode.
For the character, see Lily Page.

Every time I let Lily in, she rips apart my life.

Emma Swan

"Lily" is the nineteenth episode of Season Four of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Andrew Chambliss & Dana Horgan, and directed by Ralph Hemecker. It is the eighty-fifth episode of the series overall, and premiered on April 26, 2015.

Synopsis

Emma’s potential for darkness is looming over everyone, but when Emma realizes Maleficent's daughter Lily is in fact her closest friend from her foster care days, she resolves to find Lily and reunite her with her mother. Regina joins forces with Emma and together they set out to track down Lily and to warn Robin about Zelena. However, neither of them is prepared for the harsh realities they'll encounter in the outside world. Meanwhile, in Storybrooke, Gold faces a crisis involving Belle. In a foster care flashback, things are looking up for young Emma with her new family until Lily's appearance threatens to destabilize everything.[2]

Recap

This section is a detailed recap of this episode. There are major spoilers. Click to expand.

In the past, Emma is happy in her foster home when she goes into the garage to get something for their family camping trip. She hears something and takes a bat to see what it is. She finds Lily hiding and asks what she's doing there. Lily says she is in trouble and needs Emma's help. While they are arguing, Emma's foster father comes in and asks who it is. Lily tells him she is an old friend of Emma's and her foster family just moved into the neighborhood.

Lily stays for dinner and lies about how they met. Emma is angry and takes her into the kitchen, where she sees Lily on the news as a suspect for an armed robbery. Lily begs her to get a necklace from her boyfriend's house, since she doesn't want to see him as he was the one who made her do the robbery.

When Emma returns, she discovers Lily has left and stolen their vacation money. Her foster parents are angry and when her father makes a comment that makes Emma feel like an outcast, she leaves. Lily finds her sitting at a bus stop and tells her that she freed her from the burden of family life. When Lily begs Emma to join her and run away together, an enraged Emma tells her she's done helping her and is better off alone. Later, Lily is riding the bus and examines her necklace. An elderly man tells her it is a lovely necklace and compliments the birthmark on her hand. He is the Apprentice and tells her he has many answers for all her questions. He admits he is partially responsible for her misery and offers to tell her all about her life, starting with her mother. 

Emma watches as Gold and the Author bury Cruella; Isaac still had some affection for her. At the restaurant, she vows to retaliate against Gold while her parents, son, Regina and Hook were all seated, looking very uncertain as they regarded her. Maleficent enters and tells her she can help with that. She reveals her daughter is alive and wants Emma to help find her. After learning her name is Lily, Emma researches the archives and discovers it is the same teenager she knew. Regina finds her and realizes it is the same friend Emma told her about, the one she pushed away. Regina tells Emma there are powers they can't understand and asks her to come with her and push back at fate. They ready to leave for New York as Gold approaches Will in his shop. Threateningly, he orders Will to steal back Belle's heart from Regina. Emma and Regina say their goodbyes to Henry. Mary Margaret tries to give her a hug but Emma gives her the cold shoulder and tells her to watch Henry. David promises they will. Regina brings the Snow Queen's scroll and they leave to find Lily. They get an old address but upon arriving, they learn that she has died. Emma gets angry when the man calls Lily a monster and nearly punches him but Regina stops her. Later, they are driving when a wolf in the middle of the road causes them to stop and get a flat. They go to a local diner while Regina gets the car towed. Emma notices the star birthmark on the waitress's wrist and realizes that Lily is not dead. She approaches her and Lily lies, telling her she is happy and Emma doesn't need to be sorry for her misery. Emma knows she is lying, steals her address and they go to her real house. Meanwhile, Mary Margaret and David go to the mayor's office and apologize to Maleficent. Bitterly, she tells them they should apologize to Lily, but it is unlikely that she will forgive them.

Back in Massachusetts, Emma and Regina discover a map and pieces of information in Lily's room that reveals she knows the truth about her and what Emma's parents did to her. They hear their car being stolen and rush outside as Lily drives away. Emma steals another car and they chase after Lily. Upon cornering her, they question how long she has known. Lily taunts Emma and they fight until Emma pulls a gun on her. Lily tells her to pull the trigger but Regina begs her not to since it will turn her dark just like Gold wants. After a tense moment, Emma lowers the gun.

Gold goes to the mayor's office and confronts Maleficent. Maleficent tells him if he wants Belle's heart to come in and get it. He reaches forward through the door but is blocked, revealing Regina's protection spell. Maleficent tells him she won't release Belle's heart and Emma is already on her way to find Lily and will be fine. Gold implies Lily will help make Emma dark. As they talk, Gold distracts Maleficent as Will sneaks in and escapes with Belle's heart. Maleficent is irritated at this and Gold leaves. Later, Gold finds Belle and Will, who has shown Belle her heart in a box, and apologizes for deceiving her. He tells her he won't hurt her anymore and that Will will protect her now before returning it to her chest.

Regina discovers she no longer has leverage over Gold, and tells Emma and Lily they have to warn Robin about Zelena. At his apartment, Regina sees Robin and asks if Marian is home. Learning she is not, Regina quickly tells him Zelena killed Marian and has been posing as her. Robin can't believe it and moments later, Marian comes home and acts frightened. Regina threatens her and Robin tries to calm the situation before Zelena reveals herself. Regina tells him to get Roland so they can go, but he says he can't. Reveling in the moment, Zelena grins wickedly as a shocked Robin reveals she is pregnant. 


Cast[2]

Starring

Guest Starring

Co-Starring

Uncredited

  • Unknown as Floyd
  • Carlton Cuse as TV news reporter (Voice)[3]

Trivia

Title

Production Notes

Event Chronology

Episode Connections

Biblical

  • One of the headstones in the Storybrooke graveyard is shaped like a Celtic cross.[20]
  • The microfice Emma is reading contains a list of baptism accouncmenets, including one for Lily.[21] Babtism is a Christian sacrament.
  • When Isaac gets into Mr. Gold's car, a cross can be seen on a small chapel.[22]
  • Emma and her foster family say grace before dinner.
  • When young Emma is sitting at the bus stop, a church can be seen in the background.[23]

Disney

Lost

Fairytales and Folklore

Popular Culture

  • Lily makes compliments about Emma's foster home and says that it is like Norman Rockwell blew up there; a reference to the famous twentieth century American painter and illustrator, whose works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of American culture.
  • Pinned to Lily's bulletin board is a cover story from Weekly World News,[30] a largely fictional news tabloid published in the United States from 1979 to 2007.

Props Notes

  • PAUSE AND READ: According to the microfiche Emma is reading, Lily was baptized around August 14, 1983. Her adoptive parents are James and Priscilla Page.[21]
  • BRAND INFO: There are Cobra seats in the car which Emma and Regina steal to go after Lily .[31]

Set Dressing

  • BRAND INFO: There is a black S1 Vivaldi espresso machine from La Spaziale[32] on the counter in Emma's foster home.[12]
  • PAUSE AND READ: Lily's billboard includes:
  • CREW NAMES ON PROPS: This is a reference to conceptual designer Keith Lau.
  • HIDDEN DETAILS: Above the clippings, there is a photograph of a trident.[28]
  • Attached to a note which says "the Author", there are two pages from the book News from Nowhere (1890),[35] written by the English novelist and socialist pioneer William Morris. In the book, the narrator falls asleep and awakes to find himself in a future society based on common ownership and democratic control of the means of production.
  • PAUSE AND READ: A card next to Emma's photo, says:[36]


PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
Member of the Northwest Investigator Union


PO box 51–0257, Seattle, WA, 95141
Phone: (206) 555 0101
Fax: (206) 555 0101
  • HIDDEN DETAILS: The sign on Lily's trailer house says "Broadmore".
  • ON-SCREEN NUMBERS: Lily's address number is 9.[37]
  • HIDDEN DETAILS: The vanity license plate on the car which Emma and Regina steal to go after Lily reads "SYLVIA".[38]
  • BOOKS AS SET DRESSING: "330 Vegetarian Recipes For Health" can be seen on Robin and "Marian'"s bookshelf.[39]

Costume Notes

  • BRAND INFO: Belle is wearing[46] a RED Valentino Long-Sleeve Little Birds-Print Blouse[47] (no longer available).
  • HIDDEN DETAILS: Lily's "daughter" is wearing a star printed dress.[49]

Filming Locations

Goofs

International Titles


Videos

References

  1. Sunday Final Ratings: 'Family Guy' Adjusted Up; No Adjustments to 'Once Upon A Time'. TV by the Numbers (April 28, 2015). “Once Upon A Time (...) 5.21”
  2. 2.0 2.1 LISTINGS: ONCE UPON A TIME. The Futon Critic. “Air Date: Sunday, April 26, 2015. Time Slot: 8:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC Episode Title: (#419) "Lily"”
  3. TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: @jopinionated did you recognize the voice on the news cast reporting the robbery? (April 26, 2015). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: Thank you to the fantabulous @CarltonCuse for his vocal cameo on tonight's #OnceUponATime ! (April 26, 2015). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Carlton Cuse (@CarltonCuse) on X, formerly Twitter: Thank YOU for giving me a chance to be a part of your amazing show. (April 26, 2015). (backup link; original post has been deleted) (archive screenshot)
  4. File:419Title.png
  5. File:408Title.png
  6. TwitterLogo Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) on X, formerly Twitter: How about another #OnceUponATime #titlespoiler? Hope to see ya March 1! (February 18, 2015). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  7. File:309WhoIsThis.png
  8. 8.0 8.1 File:102Storybrooke.png
  9. File:309WhoIsThis.png
  10. File:518Underbrooke.png
  11. TwitterLogo Andrew Chambliss (@AndrewChambliss) on X, formerly Twitter: @WileenR there was a brief time in script when they took Regina's Mercedes instead of the bug (March 26, 2015). (archive screenshot)
    TwitterLogo Andrew Chambliss (@AndrewChambliss) on X, formerly Twitter: @BeyondVioletRay We felt like the Bug would be more iconic... esp with the wolf moment (March 26, 2015). (backup link) (archive screenshot)
  12. 12.0 12.1 File:419ObscuredByMasks.png
  13. File:419IfYouHaveAnyInformation.png
  14. File:419GasStation.png
  15. MS, CANTED, Run down apartment buildings, Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. Getty Images. Retrieved on February 6, 2019.
    File:419LowellMassachusetts.png
  16. File:419WithThisCash.png
  17. File:417Bus.png
    File:417Bus2.png
  18. File:522IDontKnow.png
  19. File:522IThoughtTheTowers.png
  20. File:419IllMissHer.png
  21. 21.0 21.1 File:419Newspaper.png
  22. File:419IntoTheCar.png
  23. File:419BusStop.png
  24. File:419TheTake-Out.png
  25. File:419CoatOn.png
  26. 26.0 26.1 File:419SheKnew.png
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 File:419SheKnewEverything.png
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 File:419ThanYouThink.png
  29. Trident. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved on November 15, 2021. “: a 3-pronged spear serving in classical mythology as the attribute of a sea god (such as Neptune)”
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 File:419Really!.png
  31. File:419HeadOfSteam.png
  32. S1 Vivaldi. La Spaziale. Retrieved on February 6, 2019.
  33. File:419ThanYouThink2.png
  34. Snow White (Illustrated) Paperback – Large Print, July 14, 2012. Amazon. Retrieved on February 6, 2019. “This edition features beautiful illustrations created in 1905 by Franz Jüttner, a German painter, caricaturist, and book illustrator.”
  35. File:419SonOfA.png
  36. File:419LookingForYou.png
  37. File:419LilyDrivesOff.png
  38. File:419EmmaStopsTheCar.png
  39. File:419Actually.png
  40. File:419Half-Cocked.png
  41. Point d'Esprit Yoke Knit Dress RED VALENTINO. Nordstrom. Retrieved on February 6, 2019.
  42. File:419SomethingWrong.png
  43. Talula Trooper Jacket. Aritzia. Retrieved on February 6, 2019.
  44. File:420AFuture.png
  45. File:422RememberThis.png
  46. File:419ToShowYou.png
  47. RED Valentino Long-Sleeve Little Birds-Print Blouse. Neiman Marcus. Retrieved on February 6, 2019.
  48. Screenshot from Madam Secretary: "The Necessary Art"
  49. File:419FreeBurgers.png
  50. 50.0 50.1 Gittins, Susan (2015). SHOOT: ONCE UPON A TIME Turns Fort Langley into Storybrooke. Hollywood North Buzz. “And a shop on Glover Road as The "Everything" Notions Store for a scene of Belle (Emilie de Ravin) and Will Scarlet walking down Main Street hand-in-hand. But the one that fooled me on Thursday was Cafe Planet Java 50s as Storybrooke Produce Co. I did a double take and almost bought some grapes. (...) Also unique to this visit: a Fort Langley community bus stop as the Polar Star Intercity Bus.”
    FlickrIconTemplate Lawrence Andreutti. Once Upon A Time February 19, 2015 (February 19, 2015).  "Once Upon a Time set photos from Fort Langley, BC (Storybrooke Town Hall) taken on February 19, 2015."
  51. Gittins, Susan (February 19, 2015). SHOOT: ONCE UPON A TIME's Rumple (Robert Carlyle), Belle (Emilie de Ravin) & Will (Michael Socha) Film in Fort Langley. Hollywood North Buzz.
  52. 2421 200 St Langley, British Columbia. Google Maps (July 2015).
    File:IGmo co lee-419.png
    File:419GasStation.png
  53. 9 201 CAYER Street Coquitlam V3K 5A9 : Maillardville. myRealPage. Retrieved on November 3, 2019.
    File:419LilyDrivesOff.png
  54. File:419Okay2.png
    File:419NoKidsStuff.png
    Image for comparison
    Image for comparison 2
    Notice the identical door and windows
  55. Screenshot from The Good Doctor episode "Islands: Part One"
  56. File:419ImGoingAfterGold.png
  57. Worthington's Haberdashery, as seen in "The Thing You Love Most":
    File:102Storybrooke.png
    The Storybrooke Pet Shelter, as seen in "Red-Handed" and "The Stable Boy":
    File:115FullMoon.png
    File:118ConfusingAndHorrible.png
  58. 58.0 58.1 Any Given Sundae and Duperre & Hughes in "Enter the Dragon": File:414ReginaWalking.png
    Any Given Sundae and Duperre & Hughes in "Operation Mongoose Part 1": File:421WalkingToPawnshop.png
  59. File:201Oh!.png

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