Malcolm

## History

Before First Curse

When Malcolm is just a boy, his father sells him to a blacksmith, from whom he is forced to work, slaving away in front of hot coals. As self-comfort over this hardship, Malcolm spends his nights telling himself to "think lovely thoughts", and in his sleep, he travels to a world called Neverland, where the power of belief can make anything a reality. At one point, he harnesses the power to fly at will, and learns about the pixie dust that grows in flowers atop a tree, which can give someone the ability to fly. *("Think Lovely Thoughts")*

As an adult he has a son with the Black Fairy, however she chooses power over love and abandons him with the child. Though he does not wish to be a father he decides to keep the child and names him Rumplestiltskin. *("Changelings", "Think Lovely Thoughts")*

When his son is still young, Malcolm earns money by swindling people out of money with a rigged card game. One day, a male customer realizes he's been cheated and beats up Malcolm before stealing all his money, which leaves Malcolm and Rumplestiltskin completely penniless. Malcolm leaves his son with a pair of elderly wool spinners, with intentions of going to look for work. Rumplestiltskin is scared of being without him, so Malcolm gives him a straw doll to accompany him in the meantime. He urges his son to give the doll a name, as only this way it can be real and be a protector of sorts. Malcolm then leaves and continues to deceive unsuspecting bystanders with his card game. When Rumplestiltskin finds out, he calls out his father for being untrustworthy, which is why no one will hire him. His son suggests they use a magic bean to start afresh elsewhere, and Malcolm suggests they go to Neverland *("Think Lovely Thoughts")*.

Malcolm remembers a place he used to visit in his childhood dreams called Neverland and this is exactly where they decide to go. Once there, Malcolm is ecstatic to be back in a world where anything is possible with the power of belief. He tries to show Rumplestiltskin the ability of flying that comes with the territory, but ends up falling flat on the ground. Horrified, Malcolm can't fathom why flying is now impossible until recalling pixie dust is necessary for it to work. He and his son go to a tree containing pixie dust flowers. Since Rumplestiltskin is afraid of heights, Malcolm journeys up alone to retrieve the dust and sprinkles some on himself *("Think Lovely Thoughts")*.

The dust has no effect, and he is further warned by a talking Shadow that flying is impossible for him since adults don't belong in Neverland. Malcolm goes back down to his son to tell him the dust didn't work, to which Rumplestiltskin suggests they can find another place to live together. Malcolm has other ideas, however, and he declares that he can never change from his old habits or be the father that Rumplestiltskin needs. In order to be granted the youth he longs for, Malcolm abandons his son, allowing Rumplestiltskin to be returned home by the Shadow. After severing ties with his son, he transforms from an adult into a young boy and watches the Shadow fly off with Rumplestiltskin *("Think Lovely Thoughts")*.

After First Curse

When Mr. Gold stabs Pan as well as himself with the Dark One's Dagger, Malcolm returns as his younger persona disappears in a puff of darkened smoke. As both are on the brink of death, Malcolm pleads for his son to remove the dagger so they can start over as a family. Mr. Gold acknowledges himself as a villain, and therefore can't have a happy ending. Then, he twists the dagger to embed more deeply into their puncture wounds as a golden light protrudes out of the blade. Malcolm stops resisting the inevitable while Mr. Gold gives him a kiss on the cheek. The light engulfs them as they fade out of existence. ("Going Home")

## Family

*Notes:*

* Solid lines denote blood parent-child relationships

* Dashed lines denote marriage, engagement and adoption relationships, and relationships that result in offspring

* **†** denotes the deceased