For the Storybrooke character, see Ruby. For the magical items, see silver slippers. |
"Ruby Slippers" is the eighteenth episode of Season Five of ABC's Once Upon a Time. It was written by Andrew Chambliss & Bill Wolkoff, and directed by Eriq La Salle. It is the one hundred and sixth episode of the series overall, and premiered on April 17, 2016.
Synopsis
In flashbacks, Ruby and Mulan find themselves in Oz, where they meet Dorothy. After the three witness Zelena’s return to Oz, they look for a way to defeat her once and for all. However, Dorothy mysteriously disappears, and Ruby’s search for her new friend lands her in the Underworld. Reunited with the heroes, Ruby teams up with Emma, Regina and Snow to continue looking for Dorothy. Meanwhile, Snow and David struggle with not being able to be with their son, Neal, and devise a plan so that one of them can escape the Underworld.[2]
Recap
In the Underbrooke loft, While Ruby is still unconscious, Emma, Regina, Hook, Snow, David, and Henry help her recuperate by bringing her to the apartment. They speculate about where Ruby has been and why she might be in the Underworld. Emma finds a strip of blue and white stripped fabric as a clue.
In a flashback to the woods in Oz, Mulan asks Ruby about Oz, with Ruby admitting she only knows the movie version of Oz, which involved a lot of singing. Like many of her previous searches, Ruby tries to sniff out any wolves, but she finds no one. Upon hearing a growl from an unknown creature, the women prepare for a fight, only to see a dog scamper out, whom Ruby recognizes as Toto. She moves to pet him, but then, Dorothy stops her, questioning which of them is a witch, since Toto only barks at witches. Ruby admits she's part wolf, and she tries to pet Toto to prove she is harmless, but Toto runs off. Ruby confirms Toto went northwest, and as the trio head there, they see a cyclone that Dorothy realizes is the Wicked Witch's return.
At her Underbrooke home, Zelena is visited by Hades, who warns her about Ruby's recent appearance in the Underworld. Knowing Ruby is likely looking for Dorothy, she grows fearful that if Regina learns what she did to Dorothy, she'll be barred from ever seeing her daughter again. Zelena wants to leave the Underworld before this happens, and she worries if she stays, she will do something she'll eventually regret. Hades tries to draw her to his side, promising to give her whatever she wants, but she sticks to her decision. He then drops the subject, and before taking his leave, he vows that either way, he'll take care of Ruby for her.
At the pawnshop, Mr. Gold tries to persuade Belle to stop feeling guilty for Gaston's demise, but she regrets not doing what she once preached to Gaston about; having compassion and forgiving your enemies. She can't let go of her regret knowing Hades kept the contract, which has taught her what she did to Gaston was selfish and just to save Mr. Gold's life. He considers that they can now work together to fight Hades, but she splits from him, wanting to right things on her own, without making the same mistake again.
In the loft, Ruby is awake and tells her friends how she used a tracking spell to follow Zelena, in hopes of learning what happened to Dorothy. While in wolf form, Ruby was swept away in a cyclone to Zelena's current location, the Underworld.
David prepares to join everyone in confronting Zelena, but instead, Snow asks him to call Neal again. Since it's not safe to be alone, she presses him to take Hook and Henry with him too. When the trio of men approach the haunting booth, they see Claude, an associate of Cruella's, trying to destroy it. Cruella admits that she's just following Hades' orders, but if Henry revives her using his Author powers, she'll allow David to make one last phone call. David refuses, so Cruella orders Claude to finish the job, which he does.
When Zelena begins using the silver slippers to try to escape the Underworld, her escape is halted by Ruby, Regina, Emma, and Snow confronting her about Dorothy's disappearance.
In a flashback of her return to Oz, Zelena is approached by Toto, because he can tell she is a witch. When Ruby, Mulan and Dorothy show up, she quickly informs them that she wants no part in staying in Oz, and wishes to get back to her daughter as soon as possible. Zelena demands the silver slippers from Dorothy, and after the girl refuses, she unveils Toto in a basket, using the dog as leverage to force Dorothy's hand. Before poofing away, she gives Dorothy until sundown tomorrow to hand over the slippers, or Toto will pay the price.
Back in the present, Regina talks her into redeeming herself by helping them, to which Zelena unveils in a mirror that Dorothy is currently under the sleeping curse in Oz. Only true love's kiss can break the curse, and Zelena believes it impossible, since Dorothy may have the love of the Ozians, but not true love. However, Ruby recalls the one person Dorothy loves is her deceased Auntie Em. In a private chat with Regina, Zelena continues to be smug about what she did to Dorothy until her sister tells her to drop the act. Regina persuades Zelena to break away from the path she is on now, starting by doing one good thing; giving up the slippers. Zelena forfeits the slippers, despite that she sees no value in Regina's pep talks, as she believes nothing will ever change for either of them.
In Oz, to regain Toto, Mulan makes a concoction to put Zelena to sleep, but she needs poppy dust to complete the brew. Ruby insists on joining Dorothy there, despite the latter's indifference. During the journey, Dorothy explains how her family abandoned her, and why Toto is so important to her. Ruby shares her experience of being forced out by her village after she accidentally killed her boyfriend. Despite learning to control her powers and gaining friends, Ruby still feels like something is missing in her life. Since Ruby doesn't know what that is, Dorothy advises her to figure it out.
In the underworld, Regina, Ruby, Snow, and Emma find Auntie Em’s headstone, which is neither tipped or cracked, meaning she's still in the Underworld. They then plan to have Auntie Em blow a kiss into a bottle, and for Ruby to deliver it to Dorothy in Oz. David relays the news of the booth to Snow, who becomes worried Hades is planning to attack Storybrooke. Emma advises that both her parents should go home because baby Neal needs them more than her, and they've already done enough for her by coming to the Underworld. She suggests they head to Oz with Ruby and the slippers, and from there, use the slippers to return to Storybrooke. Because Snow's name is on the headstone, making it impossible for her to leave, she prompts David to return home alone.
As Zelena consoles herself with drinks, Belle pleads for her to convince Hades to tear up the contract on her baby, but Zelena doubts Hades will listen. While Zelena is disillusioned about her own future, believing her happy ending is not with her daughter or Hades, Belle points out she hasn't given Hades a chance yet. Belle comes to fear Hades will speed up her pregnancy, but Zelena offers her temporary solution, the curse.
In the loft, David finds Hook looking through the storybook for information on Auntie Em, Dorothy's deceased aunt, who they need for waking a cursed Dorothy. David, unhappy that Snow can't be with her son, considers that neither of them should be in the Underworld. However, he regrets saying this, after realizing it sounds like he is blaming Hook for his troubles. Hook actually agrees, and he thanks David for giving up so much in order to rescue him, despite that he never wanted anyone to try. David insists it was his choice to follow Emma, and he lets it slip that he did it for Hook too, since he's grown fond of him.
In Oz, after their bonding moment, Dorothy apologizes for calling Ruby "wolfie" earlier, but Ruby likes it and chooses "Kansas" as Dorothy's nickname. At the poppy field, Dorothy cautions her not to sniff the flowers or she'll fall asleep. Upon picking a poppy, they are pursued by flying monkeys. With Dorothy's consent, Ruby morphs into a wolf and lets Dorothy climb on her back so she can outrun the monkeys. The pair return to Mulan, who finishes the brew with the poppies. Dorothy then goes to bed, lying about needing to rest, which Ruby mistakes as Dorothy's discomfort over seeing her in wolf form.
In the Underworld, Ruby, Emma, Regina, and Snow find Auntie Em at her diner and ask for her help in saving Dorothy. Auntie Em jumps at the chance to help Dorothy. As soon as Auntie Em uncaps the bottle, however, her whole body melts into a puddle, because Hades added liquid from the River of Lost Souls into it. Regina suspects Zelena put him up to the task since Dorothy is Zelena's sworn enemy, but he insists she knows nothing about this. Instead of it just being about Zelena, Hades clarifies that he is using Auntie Em's fate as an example of something else. Using a mason jar, he scoops up some of Auntie Em's liquid remains into it, declaring to the diner citizens that they will meet the same end if they try to help the heroes. As he walks out, he taunts Emma over her inability to save anyone since now no one wants to be saved.
In Oz, Ruby confides in Mulan about her growing feelings for Dorothy, and with her encouragement, she goes to confess her love, only to find Dorothy is gone. Dorothy has sneaked off to put Zelena to sleep, because she fears losing Ruby, who she has fallen in love with.
Back in the present, Snow suggests Ruby can give true love's kiss to Dorothy, Ruby has doubts about Dorothy reciprocating her feelings, and she is terrified of rejection. Despite these fears, Snow persuades her to try.
In the cemetery, Snow prepares to send off David with Ruby to Oz, with David making the trip from there back to their son in Storybrooke. Instead, David has Hook take Snow's name off the headstone that Hades branded and put his on there, allowing Snow to go with Ruby.
Zelena takes Belle's advice and goes to Hades. He shows her what he's done to Dorothy's Auntie Em, who could've woken her from the curse, as proof of his loyalty to her. Zelena still fears being disappointed by Hades but decides to accept him, stating it's a chance she has to take.
Meanwhile, in present day Oz, Mulan, Toto, and the munchkins stand watch over Dorothy. After reaching Oz, Ruby gives Dorothy true love's kiss, waking her from the curse. Dorothy explains what occurred the night of her disappearance, in which she feared losing Ruby so much that she decided to face Zelena alone, only to be cursed. The two women reconcile, with Ruby promising to always come back for her, before they kiss, as Mulan, Snow and the munchkins happily witness the blooming romance between the pair.
Once Snow reunites with her son, Henry records the story in the book with the quill, complete with a drawing of Snow with baby Neal, which he shows to David.
While Mr. Gold is researching some books, Belle returns, revealing her plan to undergo the sleeping curse to pause her pregnancy, giving him unlimited time to destroy the contract. She fears Mr. Gold might not break the contract in time, and that Hades could speed up her pregnancy. Mr. Gold moves to stop her from using the curse prick, but she forces him to stay back. He insists that this will only make things worse, and he can't give her true love's kiss, because he's done trying to be someone he's not. Belle agrees, suggesting that her father can wake her instead. Before pricking herself, she orders him to bring her back to her father at all costs, after he has voided the contract. Mr. Gold catches her when she passes out from the curse's effects, and then places her on a chaise, as he reacts with worry at her current state.
Deleted Scenes
Oz Portal
A scene where Ruby and Mulan are standing next to a green and gold, pyramid-shaped portal on the ground in Oz,[3] was deleted from the episode.
Cast[2]
Starring
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Guest Starring
Co-Starring
Uncredited
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Trivia
Title
- The title card features Ruby in the woods.[4]
- The title of this episode was announced by Adam Horowitz via his Twitter account on January 27, 2016.[5]
- The episode's title is a reference to the ruby slippers worn by Dorothy Gale in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, which is the film adaptation of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. In Baum's original novel, Dorothy wears silver shoes, but they were changed to ruby slippers for the film.
- Ruby slippers are mentioned by Neal in the Season Three episode "Quite a Common Fairy," when he is looking for a way to travel to Neverland. However, they do not appear on the show. Instead, the silver slippers are introduced in the Season Three episode "It's Not Easy Being Green."
Production Notes
- REUSED FOOTAGE: The establishing shot of Underbrooke and the diner[6] is stock footage of Storybrooke taken from the Season One episode "The Thing You Love Most,"[7] the Season Three episode "Save Henry"[8] and the Season Four episode "Lily,"[9] but with a different color hue. Storybrooke's clock tower has been digitally replaced by the Underbrooke library's broken version.
- For the scene where Dorothy sits on Ruby's back while the latter runs in werewolf form, Teri Reeves rode a mechanical apparatus,[10] which was CGIed into a wolf in post-production.
- Belle was put under a sleeping curse in this episode, so that Emilie de Ravin could go on maternity leave.[11]
- CUT CONTENT: In the episode's promo, Hades says, "The gods don't like it when mortals play with their toys."[12] This line is not in the final episode.
Event Chronology
- The Oz flashbacks take place years after the flashback scenes from "Our Decay."
- They also take place immediately after Zelena is banished to Oz in "Swan Song," and before she goes back to Storybrooke in the present day scenes in "Our Decay."
- The Underworld events take place after "Her Handsome Hero" and before "Sisters."
- The present Oz events take place not long after Zelena leaves in "Our Decay."
Episode Connections
- Mulan and Ruby met in "The Bear King."
- Zelena was sent to Oz in "Swan Song."
- Belle pushed Gaston into the River of Lost Souls in "Her Handsome Hero."
- David and Mary Margaret previously haunted Prince Neal in "Our Decay."
- Claude was killed by Hook in "Queen of Hearts."
- Zelena points out that she gave Dorothy the silver slippers, which happened in "Kansas."
- Zelena says that she took a page out of Regina's book and cast a sleeping curse on Dorothy; referring to how the Evil Queen cast a sleeping curse on Snow White in "An Apple Red as Blood."
- The Blind Witch bottled David's breath in "Our Decay."
- Belle talks about how Emma accelerated Zelena's pregnancy in "Birth."
- Ruby mentions that ground poppy dust knocked Zelena out before, referring to events in "The Bear King."
- Ruby mentions that she killed her boyfriend, which happened in "Red-Handed."
- Ruby says that she eventually learned to control her wolf ability, which happened in "Child of the Moon."
- Ruby mentions that she ended up in a town called Storybrooke, referring to events in "Pilot" and "A Curious Thing."
- Mulan says that she waited too long to tell someone how she felt about them, referring to events in "Quite a Common Fairy."
- Hades tried to force Hook to etch names into gravestones in "Labor of Love."
- Mary Margaret says that when she first met Prince Charming, she hit him in the face, which is seen "Snow Falls" and "Snow Drifts."
- Dorothy says to Ruby, "You came back for me," and Ruby replies, "I always will," a spin on Snow White and Prince Charming's lines from "Pilot" and "A Land Without Magic," where Snow White says, "You found me," and Charming replies, "I will always find you."
- Belle tells Mr. Gold that her father should be the one who wake her with true love's kiss. Mr. Gold tries, unsuccessfully, to get him to do that in "Last Rites."
- Belle is awoken from the sleeping curse in "The Savior."
Religious
- While talking to Belle about the latter's fear of Hades taking her baby, Zelena is drinking whiskey. The label on the bottle says Moloch.[13] Moloch was the sun god in Ancient Canaanite religion. In the 8th-6th century BCE, firstborn children were sacrificed to him.[14]
Disney
- Dorothy mentioned that she was committed to an asylum after telling her family about Oz. This is a reference to the 1985 Disney sequel film Return to Oz.
Fairytales and Folklore
- This episode is a rendition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz story with the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy Gale and Toto, and the adventures in Oz.
- Auntie Em, the Munchkins, and the poppy field from the novel also appear.
- Also featured in this episode are the ugly duckling from the titular fairytale, Hades from Greek mythology, Captain Hook from the Peter Pan story, Cruella De Vil from The Hundred and One Dalmatians story, the witch from the "Hansel and Gretel" fairytale, and Mulan from the Ballad of Mulan.
- The Underworld from Greek mythology also appears.
- The name of the river Styx, one of the five rivers of the Underworld from Greek mythology, appears on an archway in Hades' lair.
- Ruby is a werewolf, a creature from European mythology.[15]
- Zelena is transported to Oz by a cyclone, just like Dorothy Gale was in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Similarly, the silver slippers are used to travel between worlds, just like in the novel.
- When talking about a movie about Oz, Ruby adds that she thinks there was a book too, a reference to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz novel.
- Auntie Em melts into a pool of water, just like the Wicked Witch of the West does in the book.
Popular Culture
- Ruby says to Mulan that there is supposed to be a lot of singing in Oz, adding that there was singing in a movie she saw; a reference to the 1939 The Wizard of Oz film.
- The Underbrooke Dark Star Pharmacy[16] is named after the song Dark Star by Grateful Dead.[17] Once Upon a Time co-creator Edward Kitsis is a noted fan of the rock band.[18]
- The way Zelena unveils a captive Toto in a basket is a reference to The Wizard of Oz film, where the Wicked Witch of the West's Kansas counterpart Miss Gulch takes Toto away in a basket on her bike. Later, the Wicked Witch of the West kidnaps Toto and imprisons him in a basket.
- This episode reveals that Dorothy is LGBT. "Friend of Dorothy" happens to be an LGBT term that started out as a euphemism for stating or asking if somebody was homosexual without others knowing, back when homosexual acts were illegal in the United States.
Props Notes
- MYSTERIOUS WRITINGS: As Belle is flipping through Her Handsome Hero, one page contains text from Lorem ipsum,[19] a filler text commonly used as mock-content when testing a given page layout or font. Lorem ipsum consists of badly garbled Latin, based on sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of De finibus bonorum et malorum ("On the ends of good and evil"), a philosophical work by the Roman philosopher Cicero. Lorem isum is often used when previewing the layout of a document, as the use of more understandable text could easily distract the user from the layout being examined.[20] While many forms of Lorem ipsum exists, the show uses a version that can be found on several online websites, including this French page about typography.
- USE IT AGAIN: The exact same text appears in one of Mr. Gold's spell books in the previous episode, "Her Handsome Hero."[21]
- REUSED PROPS: The dais which Dorothy is lying on while under the sleeping curse[22] is a redressed version of the dais that Aurora was lying on while under a sleeping curse in the Season Two premiere "Broken,"[23] and which Neal rested on after he was rescued in the Season Three premiere "The Heart of the Truest Believer."[24]
- HIDDEN DETAILS: The green/copper color scheme of the dais and the mattress is similar to the green/gold color scheme of the Emerald Castle[25] and the floor of the Munchkin Village.[26]
- STORYBOOK CONTENT: The Underworld storybook page that Henry is writing at the end of the episode says:[27]
head. It was a thought that was too crushing to
bear, not to mention that it also meant Dorothy would
be doomed to lie on that dais forever. Ruby could hardly
take the pressure, and suddenly she needed someone by
her side to reassure her, someone who could instantly
put all this turmoil into perspective.
Fortunately Snow White was only a few feet away from
her. Dorothy turned to her uneasily, and Snow nodded
her on, as if to share a little of her own courage.
You can do it, Ruby," Snow said. "Go on."
[image begins] was enough to bolster Ruby, who turned back
[image begins]ing up the courage to say something
[image begins] toward anyone before. But
[image begins] to look at Dorothy in
[image begins]. Ruby's eyes
[image begins]ew she
[image ends]
it was the kiss of a lifetime. She felt a jolt of electricity
pass from her lips to Dorothy's. And just as she was
[shot ends]
- ABANDONED IDEAS: According to a photograph from an online prop auction, an unseen page reads:[28]
Village was unusually quiet. In
fact, it had been quiet for quite
some time, ever since the tragic
day an armor-plated female war-
rior had brought the Munchkins
the somnolent body of Dorothy
Gale, along with Dorothy's dependent Cairn Terrier
Toto. This was brave and loyal Mulan, who had
sworn to Dorothy after she discovered her friend
had fallen victim to a sleeping curse at the virescent
hands of the Wicked Witch of the West. And protect
Dorothy she did, placing her on a dais in the middle of
town, and watching over her in a silent vigil, day by
day. And the normally jovial Munchkins stood by her,
day by day also, their jovial spirits drained by the sight
of their beloved Dorothy gripped in an eternal slumber.
And Toto stood by them also, loyal to the very last, his
snout forever bowed at the feet of his fallen master.
The streets of Oz had never before seen such a tableau
of tragedy and despair, and yet here it was every day,
with not a soul in the realm able to do a single thing to
help Dorothy.
miracle happened.
Right smack dab in the middle of a particularly long
bout of silent, mournful meditation, Toto started bark-
ing. The yapping came so fast and furious that for a
brief moment, Mulan thought it was another of Zelena's
destructive cyclones, and she immediately drew her
sword, ready to take the Wicked Witch on with her
trusty blade. But there was no cyclone. No Wicked
Witch. In fact there was... nothing. Toto was barking
at thin air.
"What is it, Toto," Mulan said. The poor little dog
didn't answer back, he just kept on barking. Only it
wasn't an angry, defensive barking. It was an excited
barking, a barking of recognition. Mulan half expected
the little ball of fur to hop up on his hand legs and do a
dance of joy when finally she and the Munchkins saw
what Toto had been able to detect moments before them.
In a great whirling poof of magic two people suddenly
appeared on the street. One of the people Mulan had hoped
to see. Even expected to see. And there she was in her
bright red cloak.
"Ruby?" Mulan said.
Set Dressing
- REUSED PROPS: In the scene where Belle puts herself under a sleeping curse, the sewing machine on the pawnshop shelf behind Mr. Gold[29] is the same prop that was used for Cruella De Vil's sewing machine in the Season Four episode "Sympathy for the De Vil."[30] The same prop was sitting in the backroom of the real pawnshop in "Swan Song."[31]
Costume Notes
- HIDDEN DETAILS: The green/gold color scheme of Dorothy's outfit[32] is similar to the Emerald Castle[25] and the floor of the Munchkin Village.[26]
- SOMETHING'S CHANGED: The design of the silver slippers is not the same from Season Three[33] to Season Five.[34] The new slippers first appeared in "Our Decay," but they are first seen in close-up in this episode.
- BRAND INFO: The new slippers are "Pompadour" French Court Shoes from American Duchess[35] (no longer available) with added glitter and bow. These shoes have been used by production companies all over the world, from South Africa's Film Afrika to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.[36]
- The same shoes were featured in the opening scene of the Outlander episode "Not in Scotland Anymore"[37] (which happens to be named after the phrase " "not in Kansas anymore" from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz), and a pink version of the Pompadour shoes were worn by Ivy Lynn on the Smash episode "The Fringe."[36]
Filming Locations
- Vancouver's Everett Crowley Park doubles as Oz for this episode.[38]
- The scene where Ruby wakes up Dorothy with true love's kiss in the Munchkin village was filmed on a blue-screen set at The Bridge Studios.[39] While the dais Dorothy was lying on, and a few of the background items, were real, the rest of the village were created digitally in post-production.
Goofs
- La Tandoor and Worthington's Haberdashery, two former businesses in Storybrooke,[40] can be seen in an exterior shot of Underbrooke,[6] where stock footage of Storybrooke from the Season Two episode "The Thing You Love Most"[7] and the Season Three episode "Save Henry"[8] has been used; even though previous episodes have established that the storefronts next to the Underbrooke diner are the Underworld versions of Chop Shop, Duperré & Hughes and Any Given Sundae.[41]
- Zelena tells Belle that she never had morning sickness because Emma sped up her pregnancy. Not every pregnant woman suffers from morning sickness;[42] however, if they do, it begins in very early pregnancy, usually when the woman is five or six weeks pregnant, although some women may start to feel queasy as early as four weeks.[43] As stated by Robin Hood in "Birth," Zelena was two months pregnant when her pregnancy accelerated, so if Zelena didn't have morning sickness during her pregnancy, it had nothing to do with Emma speeding it up.
International Titles
International Titles | ||
---|---|---|
Language | Title | Translation |
Finnish | "Taikakengät" | "Magic Shoes" |
French | "Le Baiser d'Amour Véritable" | "The Kiss of True Love" |
German | "Dorothys Schuhe" | "Dorothy's Shoes" |
Italian | "Le scarpette di Ruby" | "Ruby's Slippers" |
Portuguese | "Sapatinhos vermelhos" | "Red little shoes" |
Spanish | "Chapines de rubí" | "Ruby Slippers" |
Videos
References
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