Scene Twelve: Breaking the Contract

[INT. CASTLE BALLROOM – NIGHT]

The ballroom is a chaotic mess — overturned tables, shattered chandeliers, scattered guests. Cedric stands, wand raised, golden eyes blazing, shadows coiling protectively around him. Gideon staggers back, furious and humiliated. Ursus lies on the floor, breathing heavily, blood trickling down his side.

CEDRIC (shouting, furious)
Father!

URSUS (weakly, gritting his teeth)
Go… stop him… don’t… let him—

[Rumplestiltskin steps forward from the shadows, Belle and Jane by his side, his expression hard but calm.]

RUMPLESTILTSKIN (solemnly)
There’s only one way to save him.

[He tears the contract into pieces. Golden magical energy flares and rushes toward Ursus. His wounds close as his body shifts, muscles bulging and fur sprouting. Within moments, he is fully reverted to his beast form. He collapses to his knees, gasping, but alive.]

URSUS (voice heavy with emotion)
I… I treated you… so badly, Cedric.

CEDRIC (kneeling beside him, holding his arm)
Father… you did what you thought was right. That’s all anyone can do.

[Ursus turns to Rosabella, eyes shimmering with regret.]

URSUS (softly, heartfelt)
Rosabella… I wish I could have been the man you deserve.

ROSABELLA (stepping forward, smiling gently)
You are the man I deserve.

[She embraces him in his beast form. Ursus growls softly, a mixture of relief and gratitude, nuzzling her shoulder. Nova and Cedric exchange a relieved glance, the tension finally breaking.]

[Gideon, enraged, retreats into the shadows, vanishing from sight.]

RUMPLESTILTSKIN (to Cedric, warningly)
Enjoy this moment… but beware. He may return someday. Revenge is a powerful motivator.

[The camera pans to a quiet, dimly lit chamber elsewhere in the castle. Odile sits at a table, sketching plans and smirking slyly. Candles flicker, shadows dancing across her face as she mutters to herself.]

ODILE (whispering)
Soon… everything will be mine.