On the eve of her 18th birthday, Rapunzel asks to leave the tower and discover the lanterns' source, but Gothel refuses. Meanwhile in the kingdom, a thief named Flynn Rider steals Rapunzel's intended crown from the palace and ditches his partners, the Stabbington brothers, while fleeing. He takes refuge with the crown in Rapunzel's tower, but Rapunzel knocks him unconscious and hides him in the closet. Gothel returns, and Rapunzel tries to show Flynn to her to demonstrate her readiness for the "dangerous" outside world. However, Gothel still dismisses her.