The Last Recruit

Let's talk about LOST!      The Last Recruit.

Feels like old times.
Locke is pleased to see Jack and suggests they "catch up".    Jack asks Hurley's permission to talk to Locke alone, after all this was Hurley's idea.
Hurley only replies with three simple, important and telling words..."It's all you."
Jack and John have a little pow wow that is quite casual.  Of course this is the first time Jack is seeing Locke since he put the black shoes on him at the butcher shop, he states, "You look just like him."  This doesn't bother Jack, but what does bother him is that he "doesn't have any idea what the hell you are."
Locke simply answers matter of fact, "Sure you do."
Curious armed Jack inquires, "Why John Locke?"
Locke-"Because he was stupid enough to believe that he'd been brought here for a reason. Because he pursued that belief until it got him killed. And because you were kind enough to bring his body back here in a nice wooden box."    {So Eloise Hawking knew John Locke's "dead" body had to be brought back to the Island so it could be "used".   Maybe Eloise is the constant.}
Jack-"He had to be dead before you could look like him."
Locke-"That's right."
Jack kind of just nods his head in an "Okay, I'll take that answer for now" sort of gesture.  Jack also asks "Who else have you looked like?"
Locke knows there is an underlying question Jack needs to confront. Jack shares on the third day they were there he saw..."I chased my father through the jungle, my...my dead father. {Watch how Locke looks at Jack} Was that you?"
Locke-"Yes. That was me."
This bothers Jack and he asks why.
Locke shares Jack needed to find water. {Jack nods} This may be hard for you to believe, Jack, but all I've ever been interested in...is helping you."
Jack-"Helping me to do what?"
Locke-"Leave. But because Jacob chose you, you were trapped on this Island, before you even got here. Now Jacob's dead.... we don't have to be trapped anymore we can get on an airplane and fly away anytime we want to."
Jack wonders why if they can just fly away whenever they want "Why are you still here?"
Locke-"Because it has to be all of us."      Locke can see Jack "thinking".
Jack-"John Locke was the only one of us that ever believed in this place. He did everything he could to keep us from leaving this place."
Locke-"John Locke was not a believer, Jack. He was a sucker."   {Kelvin used this type of phrase in Live Together, Die Alone part 2.}

{I call fucking shenanigans on Locke being a sucker!   The John Locke we saw arrive on the "Island" and could "walk" was indeed the only man who believed they were brought there for a reason, a purpose.  He was the one who felt his destiny was connected to the "Island".    I feel Locke "is" Locke.  We're seeing bits about Locke in the "sideways" and the reason we must be IS because we're seeing Locke.   You have to go back to season 1 and just look at this side of Locke that is present there and throughout...It's the same man we see now.   Now, is it always "this Locke"?   I have noted throughout my notes over the years that I have felt at times we've seen  two Locke's: One that is sure footed and "in the know", even nurturing, and another who bumbles to find his way.
In White Rabbit John Locke told the beach camp he knew where to find water.   He also saves Jack from his tumble over the cliff and chats with him about being an ordinary man and about Jack chasing his "White Rabbit".    Also important to note is Jack mentions after Joanna's death "We’ve been here 6 days..." {Christian was first seen in Walkabout but I think even that was supposed to be day 4 or 5}
I'll never ignore the fact that Locke looked into the eye of the Island and what he saw was beautiful.  That episode showed us Jack having to go to Australia and bring back his father. Another important point in White Rabbit is that episode does not always have a "Flash Whoosh".  The "on Island" and "off Island" events literally BLUR TOGETHER!
Again I'll mention that Jack, John and the gang are and were "trapped" there...even before they got there.  Events must be occurring in a bloody snow globe; a confined environment."}
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Locke is riding in the ambulance with Ben along for the ride. The EMT's are evaluating: his dropping BP, possible internal bleeding, any signs of neurological damage, no response in lower reflexes.
Ben answers that's because he's paraplegic and a substitute teacher at his school. He knows this man but doesn't know his first name; reveals he uses a wheelchair, "Where is it?"
The EMT claims the smashed wheelchair, "That thing, probably saved his life."
Ben saw the man that did this; the hit and run driver, "He was at our school".
EMT Simon Holt tells Ben he can talk to the cops when they get to the hospital and asks if he knows anyone they can they contact for him. {Simon checks Locke's pupils by using his pen light.}
Like Ben said, he barely knows him. {Uh, but you just said you know him.} 
Locke manages to tell them to contact Helen Norwood. "I was gonna marry her."
Ben claims, "Well, you're still gonna marry her cause he's gonna be okay, Mr. Locke."
Locke-"My name is John."

Blunt force trauma victim late 40's, needs a CT Scan.
One gunshot wound, wound, female, entry wound upper right quadrant, 500cc, external blood loss. They understand she's pregnant.
Side by side in this perfectly orchestrated dance,  Locke and Sun are being wheeled into the ER.
Sun is amazed and seems to recognize the man riding next to her. "It's him!"
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}

Locke walks with Jack through the dark jungle until he dramatically stops and waits.
Jack asks, "What is it?"
Locke tells whoever can't be seen to come out. It's armed Claire.
Locke asks her, "Are you following us Claire."   Just watch how these two work it.
Indeed she is following him because Jack's her brother.   Locke excuses himself as it looks like "you two have a lot of catching up to do", and leaves them to it.
Jack-"Claire, I'm so sorry I...."
But Claire cuts him off asking Jack, "Did he tell you? That he was the one pretending to be or father."  She seems amused and goes on to say how she gave up hope on Jack ever coming back but now that he's here, it's good to see him. Jack feels it's good to see her too.
Claire never had much in the way of family so it really means a lot that he's going with them.  Actually Jack hasn't decided he going with her/them.
Claire smiles and states, "Yeah ya have. You decided the moment you let him talk to you. Just like the rest of us. So you know, whether you like it or not...You're with him now."    {Claire seems to physically touch Jack.}
{What is with Claire?   Is she in on Locke's game plan?}

Now it's daylight!
Sawyer is whispering to Hugo about the sub that Widmore has; they'll use it to get off this rock.   Kate is filling Sun in on the plan because Sawyer thought it was good to avoid huddles.  Hurley asks about Sayid.
Sawyer informs him Sayid ain't invited because he went over to the dark side.
Confident Hugo feels, "Yeah, but you can always bring people back from the dark side."   He means Anakin.  {Sawyer doesn't know who Anakin is and this just blows my mind.  Sawyer never knows who anyone is!}
Anyway, he wants Hurley to keep his mouth shut.  Happy Claire walks over to the guys.  Hurley tells her she looks great.  They hug.  Sawyer sees that Locke has returned with Jack.
Locke looks at his group and smiles, "It's so nice to have everyone back together again."
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}

Jim offers Kate an apple while she is cuffed at his desk. {My first thought...an Adam and Eve hint laced within this episode.  Maybe Kate and Sawyer are just bad apples.}
They are both wearing Black jackets and the office is filled with file boxes and a hanging trench coat.

Jim asks LaShade to give them a minute.  {As in Expose}  He reads over her file of charges which cocky Kate denies.  
Kate-"Is there something you wanted?"
Yeah, Jim wants to know if she remembers him from the airport; same flight from Sydney.  Kate remembers.
Jim-"Well, don't you think it's weird? You and me being on the same flight having that little meet up in the elevator? And a week later...boom, of all the cars in Los Angeles you smash into mine. Almost like someone's trying to put us together."
Kate wonders if he's hitting on her. That would never work because he's a cop and she's a murderer.  Kate insists she's  not a murderer.
Jim-"Well, I'm still a cop."
Kate asks why didn't he arrest her in LA  X, the elevator, he saw she was handcuffed.  Jim  playfully tells her he didn't see any cuffs, he only saw a pretty lady who needed the door held open.   Kate thinks he let her go because he went to Australia and he didn't want anyone else to know, "Should I tell that to the Fed's when they get here?" {Now, why the fuck would she say something like that?!}  Jim likes her.
Miles tells Jim he's got a live one.
Jim tells Kate-"Sorry, Duty calls."    Kate puts on her gray baseball cap.
Miles informs Jim they caught a multiple homicide at a restaurant. Victims were a lowlife named Keamy and three goons on his payroll. A Korean female GSW at the scene  and her boyfriend witnessed it; he doesn't speak English. An ATM video surveillance camera caught a Jabonie fleeing the scene. It's Sayid.
Jim tells him to put a name to that face...That's our bad guy.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}

Sayid sits contemplating a Mango.  Jack sits alone in thought looking at Sayid.  Kate walks over to Jack and mentions "He's different now."   Jack guesses they're all different now.  Jack shares that Locke wants to leave and they all have to go together.  {Locke walks with his big stick.}  Jack's not sure if he believes him yet.
All of a sudden guns are cocked because  Zoe, Widmore's number 2 strolls into camp asking for the man in charge.   Locke happily steps forward asks what he can do for her.
Zoe-"You took something from us and we want it back."   {I felt like she was a little kid on a damn playground wanting her ball back!}
Locke is sorry but he doesn't know what she's talking about. 
Locke allows Zoe to radio her peeps. She's inquiring if they've got a fix on her position {Roger that}; show them what we're capable of.
They send a missile over and Locke doesn't even flinch!  Zoe warns Locke he has until nightfall to return what he took or next time "We won't miss".    She tosses the walki talki to Locke and instructs him to call her when he's ready for them to "pick him up".
Locke drops the walki talki on the ground an smashes it with his big stick.
Locke-"Well...Here we go."
{I'm totally sick of seeing Zoe, a geophysicist  in charge of military messaging and maneuvers. She must have the bigger set of balls than the rest of the men in Widmore's employ.}

Pregnant Claire walks up to the counter; to go to the Western Pacific Adoption Agency and signs in  to head up to the 15th floor.   Desmond Hume appears! He reminds her they met at the airport baggage claim.   Nosey Des signs in, looks at the list to verify Claire's name and destination. Claire shares she had a bit of a scare and ended up in the hospital, but all's good now. She also tells Desmond he was right, "It's a boy".
He has a nose for those thing. {Like a dog! Hey! WTF is Vincent?!} 

They ride the escalator together to the second floor where they get on an elevator.
Desmond "notices" she's going to the adoption agency alone and feels she should have some legal representation. He's not a lawyer but it just so happens he's on his way to see one.
Des-"You know adoption contracts are complicated. And you should be careful because you could find yourself in a situation that's irreversible"
Claire doesn't have money for a lawyer. 
In the elevator-
Coincidentally Sexy Desmond is going to see this excellent attorney who happens to owe him a favor.  He promises it won't cost Claire a cent.
Claire abandons her appointment with the adoption agency to go with pushy Desmond and to meet his attorney friend who coincidently is also on the 15th floor.  Miss Ilana Verdansky is "coincidentally" Desmond's friend who owes him a favor, as well as coincidentally the lawyer who represents Christian Shephard with the reading and execution of his will.  Mind you, Desmond and Ilana hug and kiss hello. {Note white orchid}

Ilana appears stunned as she, without an accent, confirms this is Claire Littleton from Australia.  Claire doesn't know her but it's quite a coincidence.  "We've been looking for you."
Desmond's mission seems to be accomplished.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}

Locke has his flock gather around. Hurley tells Claire that "People are trying to kill us again".
Locke reveals that all of this is happening a bit sooner than he expected "But these people have forced our hand. Claiming we stole something from them. Trying to provoke us into a confrontation...Well, that's what they want, that's what they'll get.  Gather your things, we're going to the other Island and we're getting on that plane."
He needs James' help. He gives him a primitive map instructing him to go and get the boat that's a few hours away, and meet back at the other side of  these bluffs. They'll all sail over to the other Island, together.  James wonders why they're not all going together now.  Locke feels the bigger the group, the slower it moves.

James takes Freckles along for the boat mission as she's knows enough about sailing.  Locke is pleased.
Jack has been observing.   Locke has a private chat with Sayid and James asks Jack for a hand.
James tells Jack to listen up 'cause he's only gonna say this once..."We're not going to that rendezvous point to pick up Locke.  I got a deal with Widmore."    He instructs Jack to double back, hoof it to the old doc and grab Hugo, Sun and Lapidus.
He's not to bring Sayid because he's a zombie and Claire's nuts; she gave up her ticket when she tried to kill Kate and James' not gonna let that happen again.
James-"That's Hugo, Sun and the pilot, only them, understand?"
He also tells Jack he'll have to figure out a way to get away from Locke.   Jack watches Kate leave with James.
Locke needs Sayid to go out to where he's got Desmond. {The place where he didn't see Locke bring him.}   Locke isn't going to give him back, he's having Sayid kill him.   Locke holds "Sayid's desire"  deal over his head.  "What you asked me for....Then go do what I said."

Armed with a handgun, Sayid looks down into well at Desmond.
Desmond speaks first, "What did he offer ya?"    Des feels he has a right to know.
Sayid-"He told me I could get something back that I lost."  Explaining he lost the woman he loved; she's dead.
Des-"And what makes you think Locke can bring her back?"
Sayid-"I died and he brought me back."  {WTF?? Locke brought him back!? How? When??}
Desmond  seems sincere and asks Sayid what will he tell this woman; what he did to be with her.
{Hmmm...you can be with "dead people".}

{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Sayid enters, packs and informs Nadia that everything will be okay for her now.  He took care of it. He's leaving and he won't be able to come back.
Sayid tells Nadia to stall the LAPD at the door.   Before opening the door Nadia asks to see some identification. While Detective Miles enters the front door Sawyer snags Sayid at the back door by using a garden hose to trip him.   Jim arrests bad guy Sayid Jarrah.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}

Ready to get wet pirate Sawyer and Kate will swim over to the boat Desmond used to get to the "Island" that  he was gifted from Libby, which belonged to her dead husband "David". 
Sawyer reveals they're not seeing through the terrible idea of going back for Locke.  They're going to ditch Locke and Claire.  He tells Kate the Claire she came back for is gone.   Kate is upset because she promised she would bring her back.   Sawyer feels that was before Claire started drinking Locke's Kool aide; she's dangerous and she shouldn't want her around Aaron.  They walk into the water.

Locke leads his group.
Claire reveals to Jack she's been with Locke ever since he left.  Jack asks if she trusts him and yes she does. It's because he's the only one who didn't abandon her.
Locke falls back to ask Sun if she's seen Sayid. He was supposed to catch up with them about a half a mile back.    Locke thinks Sun is giving him the silent treatment when she doesn't reply.   Sun writes on her notepad "You did this to me!"
Locke-"I'm sorry Sun, but I didn't do anything to you."
Locke will catch up with the group at the beach. He's going to make sure nobody got left behind.

Claire observes Sawyer's off shoot group separate from Locke's group and she looks pissed. {Apparently they abandoned her again.}

Armed Sayid walks through the jungle alone and constantly looking up.
Locke asks Sayid {Black shirt} where he's been and what took him so long.
Sayid-"I just shot an unarmed man, I needed a moment." {OK, is he talking about shooting unarmed Keamy?}
Locke-"Did you kill him, Sayid?"
Sayid smirks-"Of course I did. Go and check if you'd like."
Locke looks in his eyes and decides to move on, they've got a boat to catch.  {Does Locke really buy that a trained solider and torturer did not fulfill his mission to eliminate the man in the well or doesn't it not even matter? Did Desmond talk Sayid into making a choice?}

Jack looks at the simple map. Frank the pilot hopes Jack knows where he's going because that smoke thing runs a lot faster than they do.  {Runs?! Like people run.}
Jack-"Sawyer said there'd be a doc around here somewhere."   {You're a Doc.}
Hugo sees them.
Sawyer hurries everyone on board.   Frank wonders if they're sailing home on this.
Sawyer informs them it won't work, not without a bearing. "For three years the only way Dharma folk ever got on or off this Island was by sub, and that's what we're doing."     He tells the Doc he did a nice job.
Uh oh, armed Claire shows up, "Where are you going?"
Kate tries to reason with Claire about leaving the Island, going with them and that thing not being Locke. "Whoever he is...He's not one of us."    {Is "he" Jack?!}
Kate-"Claire. Come with us. I can get you back to Aaron." This goes against Sawyer's plan but Kate tells him to shut up. "She's coming or I'm not! Come with us Claire."
Claire feels John promised her...
Kate cuts her off, "I'm promising you. I was there when he was born. And I never should have raised him. It should have been you. I came back to get you so you can be with him again. It's the only reason I came back to the Island, Claire. So please come with us. Let's go home."
Both girls are teary eyed and Sawyer wants them on the boat before Locke gets there.
Kate takes the rifle from Claire. Claire shares that when he finds out that we're gone, he's gonna be mad.

Jack and "David" arrive at the same building that Desmond, Claire and Ilana are in.   {Come on! How much is David an extension of Jack!?!}
David's mom calls and Jack will have him home as soon as he can, maybe 5:00.  David gives the ol "No" signal.    Jack tells the mother that they'll grab a bite to eat so it'll be more like 7.  That's cool with all; Jack will drop him off.  {Jack signs in but David doesn't; unless Jack signed in for him.}
Jack tells David that hearing grandfather's will being read isn't the most fun and it'll be over soon. "I promise. And it's... It's okay to be sad."
David is sad for Jack. Jack seems to like David's compassion.
The two Shephard's arrive at Ilana office, where she informs them they're set up in the conference room, and guess what...She's got a surprise for them, "Do you believe in fate?"   Both men give each other the "What's up"/who knows look.  Ilana presents Claire Littleton to them. Watch Claire when they enter.   Ilana reveals they didn't find her,  "She found us."
Jack-"You were in my father's will. Do you mind if I ask you how you knew him?"
Claire-"He was my father too."

Jack lets that register in his brain for a few seconds. The service calls the Doc about an emergency at the hospital.  Although Jack mentions this isn't a good time, he tells the service to "prep him", he's 20 minutes away. They'll have to reschedule the will reading.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Jack sits alone on the boat looking out at the ocean.

Frank, who is a little late to the party, asks Sawyer what his game plan is.
Captain Sawyer reveals the plan to "Chesty", is to land on Hydra Island, get them nice and cuddly with Widmore, get a chance to jump on that sub. Then he's gonna put a gun in someone's face and make em take them home.
Frank saw some canned food down in the galley, anyone else starving.
Sawyer has Freckles take the wheel a minute while he goes over to chat with the Doc. Kate warns him to be nice.
Sawyer didn't think Jack would show up, "Taking orders ain't your strong suit. Nice to see you finally came around."
Leaving the Island doesn't feel right to Jack. It's because he remembers how he felt the last time he left, "Like a part of me was missing."
Sawyer informs the Doc they have pills for that.
Jack feels they were brought there because they're supposed to do something. "And if Locke, if that...that thing wants us to leave...maybe it's afraid of what happens if we stay."
Angry Sawyer demands Jack get off his damn boat, "You got a decision to make and you make it now. Either you're with us, you keep that damn crazy talk to yourself or you're going in the water."
Jack-"James, this is a mistake. And I know there's a part of you that feels that. The Island is not done with us yet."
Sawyer is done with this Island and gives Jack permission to take a "Leap of Faith".  Jack apologizes for getting Juliet killed and he jumps overboard; backpack and all.
Sawyer tells upset Kate that Jack changed his mind and of course Kate wants to go back for him. Unfortunately Sawyer is done going back.

Shot of monitors for Station 1.  Sleeping Sun wakes up and looks over at sleeping Jin. She wakes him.
Jin informs her she was shot but that she and the baby is fine. "It's over, and we're all going to be okay." Sun cries.
The camera literally pans from the Kwon love birds, backs out the door into the hallway to oncoming Jack and David as Jack makes his way into surgery.
David inquires about Jack not knowing that all these years his dad had another kid. David can't believe grandfather never mentioned it.
Jack reveals "He kept a lot of things to himself."
David-"Is that where you get it from?"
Jack laughs in amusement, "Yeah. Probably."
He asks David, "You gonna be OK hanging while I do this."
David will be and he also wishes his dad "Good luck."

Jack checks out the MRI/Scan/X-rays and sees the obliterated Dural Sac. The kicker is the patient has a pre-existing spinal condition. This is why the medical team called Jack in...because they're in over their heads.
Confident Jack "got this".
Inside the OR Jack looks down at the sleeping patient, sees his own reflection, then sees the patient's reflection....
The Other Doctor asks "What is it?"

Jack realizes, "I think I know this guy".    He looks confused but recognizes the man in the mirror. {It's important to note we get Jack's reflection first and then Locke's reflection. I'll say the words again...Jack recognizes the man in the mirror. Perhaps Jack finally sees himself.}
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Exhausted Jack arrives back on the beach and is met by Locke. "Nice day for a swim."
Jack confirms that Sawyer took Locke's boat.

Sawyer's wet group arrives at Hydra Island and is greeted by geophysicist Zoe and Widmore's men. It's alright she knows him. When Zoe asks who else is with him {like she doesn't know}, he says "Nobody. If you're wondering where Locke is, he's still back on the main Island."
She has the fence turned off and radios that Ford showed up on a boat with five of his friends.

Jin and Sun are reunited!! Yay!!
They speak English! Sun never stopped looking for him. The Castaways seem happy with their reunion, all except for Sawyer, who uneasy.
Frank- "Looks like someone got their voice back."

Jin promises they'll never be apart again.
Zoe orders the group to their knees. Orders come in from Widmore that the deal is off.  The Widmore army has a site-line on Locke and they fire when ready.
Hearing in the incoming missiles, Jack orders everyone to get down.  Everyone runs except for Locke who stands his ground.
Jack's hearing is muffled and ringing.
Super Locke carries Jack. {Like when he carried Boone in Deus Ex Machina}
While missiles fly overhead Locke tells disoriented Jack it's going to be OK, "You're with me now."

The Last Recruit is a GREAT episode!
Nothing is irreversible and “Nothing is permanent.”
"You can always bring people back from the dark side."    But whom are we bringing back from the dark side?
Is this all about Jack and his journey alone?  There are a few times we get a hint to Jack and "It's all you".
Is it about Locke's journey?  Jack and John again seem as if they are two halves of a whole in some aspects.
Is it about Christian, Hurley or Walt for that matter?

Apparently..."The revolution has begun, man. Lay low, when the time is right, we fly". - Dave
The battle to put this game to a possible end is here!

I get a lot of shit about my thoughts on the game element, the living breathing chess game, using video game analogy to descriptively explain some similarities, and things happening in the head/mind/consciousness.   I've been very clear about not being sure which events are happening in the head/mind/consciousness but nonetheless something is happening in the head, but whose head? Is it one person or all of them?
Mental Health is another area I've kept close at hand.  Is it one person with potential schizophrenia or a couple of the castaways?   If we are dealing with schizophrenia, split/multiple personality/dissociative identity disorder, is part of the therapy to eliminate the negative parts of your past and yourself? Again, enlightenment is paramount.
Many of the issues we see can be linked back to Locke's story and his issues; Mental health, depression, schizophrenia, adoption, abandonment, disability, etc. 

At this point Locke is responsible for bringing parts of the family back together.  Who is the "family"?  He just reunited Jack and Claire and allowed Sun and Jin to be reunited.

Who is in whose body and/or masquerading as another?    The damn switching of dark and light sides and the constant breakdown of teams can be so confusing at times. 

On to the body of Christian: Where is Christian's body?  Christian's body is missing from the casket on the "Island" that was already inside the caves.   Yet Locke's "dead" body was returned to the "Island" as a proxy for Christian {Eloise was involved in this mission} and it is assumed MIB supposedly "mimicked" Locke's physical, mental and emotional being; while Locke's actual body was in the Ajira crate. 
Why would MIB need Locke's body, that was supposedly "off Island"?   Why didn't MIB use "Dead" Danielle, Karl, or anyone else' "on Island" body?  The excuse of  Locke being a "sucker" doesn't cut it.

We're kept in the loop about Christian over the years with the infamous "Flashes".
An important episode is Collision.
I must say I'm having some concern regarding MIB/Locke as Christian,  or at least being Christian every time.  On the other hand we have gotten connections to Locke, Smokey and Christian before, like in Dead is Dead.  Is Locke, Locke, and the MIB two different things?  Are MIB and "Jacob" independent of each other, two brothers or one in the same?   Is there more than one "smoke thing"?  Is it something they all have access to?

If MIB was Christian on the freighter then why not let Michael pull off his redemption mission and hitch a ride back to the "outside world"?    Plus why tell Michael he can go now and they both just end up back on the Island anyway.   Was that really Christian, "Jacob" or the "Island"?
If MIB was Christian, let's be reminded we see "Dead Christian" off "Island".   Now, if on "Island" and off "Island" events are not separate places that will work, but then we also have to bring "Jacob" into the smoky mix.

Who assumed the physical identity of Yemi while Locke was down in the pearl hatch. Who assumed the physical identity of  Ben's mother Emily, Harper, Isabella and Dave?   How do we know Michael's current image wasn't mimicked by Smokey.  We don't.

 Who is the image of the young boy/boys who is seen around present day Locke?   The blond and brunette young boy/boys were seen by Sawyer and Richard, the horse was actually seen by Kate and Sawyer and the spiders were seen by Nikki and Paulo.
If Walt isn't dead then where was his "on Island" images and backwards talking images coming from?   Not from a "smoke thing".
Can "Smokey" assume the image of the living as well?   All through my notes it is documented that there were times I felt our "living" castaways weren't always "them".   Can they take turns as the "smoke thing"?

Things to note...Questions to ask...
* Part {Parts} of a person.
* When are the sideways from? How is the sideways experience really happening?
* Hospital
* Head//Brain/mind/consciousness. Eyes/Pupils. Ears. Listen. Hear.
* Chest. Spine. Back.
* Remember.
* Kool Aid is a kids drink.
* Mental health. Crazy.
* School. Learn. Teach. Pupil.
* Games. Game plan. Deal.
* Dark. Light. Gray.  Red. 
* Monitor. Scan.
* Family.
* Desmond may know about both "On Island" and "Off Island" events.
* What is real and what is not? 
* Predominant color- Gray and Purple
* David's mother? Juliet, Sarah, Gabriella, Karen?
* In the beginning we were told the "Smoke Monster/Black Smoke" is a security system. Is it not?
* Frank, Desmond, Hurley/Hugo, Ben, Ana Lucia, Cindy all wear/worn airline uniforms of some sort.
* Choice.   Free will.
* Locke talks to Jack first.  Desmond talks to Sayid first. 
* The days Jack mentions when seeing his father are wrong.  Is Jack baiting him on it to see if the facts differ or is it outright a detail that is wrong?
* We spent last week's episode with Hurley lying and deciding to go talk to Locke and Jack being on board with that.
* Is Sayid really the bad guy?  What about Claire or Desmond?
* Vincent. Vincent. Vincent.
* Locke is helping Jack leave.

* If whatever happened, happened and you can't re-write history then why would Ilana not have an accent?  I'll have to ask Ilana how to get rid of an accent.  Apparently in this whole "sideways drunkenness"  I need to question the existence of "Jacob" and/or Jacob's presence in these people's lives.   Are we seeing a life without "Jacob" or the "Island" influence?

* WHO is the Last Recruit???????

Vocabulary and Research...
* Humanity-the quality of being benevolent
- The human condition, the totality of experience of existing as a human
-The humanities, academic disciplines which study the human condition using analytic, critical, or speculative methods
* Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a condition in which a person displays multiple distinct identities or personalities (known as alter egos or alters), each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment.



Locke looking "just like him" doesn't bother Jack, but what does bother him is that he doesn't have any idea what the hell "you" are.   Locke simply answers matter of fact, "Sure you do."
What does this mean? Is John and Jack looking at reflections of themselves?  Are they two halves of a whole? Is Jack really looking at his father/Christian?   Deep down inside Jack may know what this "Island" experience is all about.
Is Jack aware that Locke is an alien?
Fuck it...since there's no such things as monsters bring on the hybrid alien already!

And finally I must revisit the most important piece of this MIB/Christian puzzle piece... Missing Pieces episode, So it Begins.  Here we see Christian call over Vincent in an effort to have the dog go into the bamboo forest and wake up his son.   But as I noted when we first got this clip, if you look closely you can see a very brief moment of black smoke flutter by.

I believe it's still safe to say...People and things are not what you think.

Love to all who are "LOST"™


Disclaimer: I never claim to know everything about the show and my thoughts by no means make me right! The things I share here are my views and/or opinions. I don't claim to catch every single detail either! You all know I hate spoilers! And I stand clear of reading certain sites as to not take me off my own course of research. The one thing I don't need to do here is rehash all of the obvious clues from an episode; we all know what they are. Understood? Let the fun begin! I'll only note things that I know come up as clues later, but need to be noted when they first show up and things I find that will be of importance.

Happily Ever After

Let's talk about LOST!   Happily Ever After.

Desmond's eye opens.
Zoe is adjusting his IV.   Desmond's vision is very blurry and then clears.
Zoe-"I know you're disoriented, you've been unconscious for the last three days. But you're off the IV sedation now, and I've just given you a shot to help you wake up ."
Desmond-"Are you a nurse?"
Des is told he's not in a hospital anymore; he had to be moved.
Desmond wants to find his wife, "I want to see Penny!"
Widmore appears and tells him that's not going to be possible.   Desmond looks up, sees Widmore and says what Desmond always says when he realizes someone is familiar, "You."

Desmond is groggy and confused. He asks Widmore what happened to him, "Where am I?"
Widmore- "You were shot...By Benjamin Linus. Do you remember that?"
Yes, Desmond remembers.    He wants to talk to Penny and calls out for her.
Widmore- "She's not here. But I assure you both she and your son are perfectly safe. I'm really sorry for taking you away from them but I didn't have a chance to explain, and if I had you never would have come with me. "  
Desmond wonders, "Come with you where?"
Widmore reveals he brought him back to the island.
Desmond is furious; he actually twitches with emotion. Widmore confesses he can't imagine how Des must be feeling.
Desmond freaks and starts to beat Widmore with the IV pole. Two of Widmore's bodyguards restrain Des and Widmore warns them not to hurt him.
Desmond-"You take me back! You take me back right now, you hear!"
Widmore sternly replies that he can't take him back,"The island isn't done with you yet."
Desmond cries out apparently in pain.
Widmore tends to his injured head.

Jin asks Widmore what Desmond is doing there.
Rather than explain, Widmore feels it will be easier to show him.  Widmore instructs Zoe to take Jin to the generator room and then he'll be along for the test.    Concerned Zoe mentions that test isn't scheduled until tomorrow and Widmore is aware of that.  He demands they get them ready now.   Zoe looks troubled.

Zoe escorts Jin past an area where there is a huge white box with large wires and power cables running to it.   As Jin stops to get a closer look, Zoe hurries him along as there is no time for sightseeing.

Inside the "control room" Zoe informs Seamus that they're bringing Hume down now. {The room is filled with lots of electronics, computers, generators, gages, coils, transformers. etc.}
Their time frame isn't good and the generator probably hasn't been run in 20 years.   {Uh, then how the hell is everything else getting power?  Oh yeah, two "rats" on a big wheel!} 
Jin inquires what they are doing there.   Zoe reveals they are running a "little test".
Seamus calls out to the team, "All right, let's see where we are? Can we get a functioning  EM field going, people? Let's try a power test. Generator on full, please."

Seamus-"Here we go. On my count... three...two...one...and power on."
He pulls a lever and the equipment attempts to start up but fails.
Frustrated Seamus feels there's a  faulty contact somewhere.  He has Simmons go down and check the circuits on the solenoids, and warns Angstrom {The White Rabbit!} that he's going in next.

Simmons checks the huge coil with his trusty yellow meter.  Zoe watches via computer screen/monitors.

The tech in the control room found the bad breaker on the jenny and brings it back online.
Zoe freaks, No!"
He flips the switch and the solenoids ignite; the room is filled with intense bright white light.
Seamus yells for them to turn it off.
Zoe, Seamus and Jin hurry to check things out and find Simmons smoking burned body.
Widmore arrives asking Zoe if "Are we ready?"   He is unaffected by Simmons sacrifice to get the machine running.
Desmond is dragged into the room and can't help but see the body that was in there before him. As the body is being removed Widmore stops them, uncovers it, seems to 'take a moment'.
Desmond is dragged into the room and strapped into the waiting chair. {Mind you Des is supposedly still coming out of a three day sedation and a gunshot wound!}
Widmore-"I know how this looks, Desmond. But if everything I've been told about you is true, you'll be perfectly fine."
One team member confirms Desmond doesn't have any "metal, keys or change" on him. {Important Desmond words!}
Motivated Widmore states,"Course he doesn't, you idiot. I hate to resort to forcing this upon you, Desmond. But once it's over I'm going to ask you to make a sacrifice. And I hope for all our sakes you'll help me."
Desmond-"Sacrifice? What the bloody hell do you know about sacrifice?"
Widmore-"My son died here. For the sake of this island. Your wife, my own daughter hates me. And I've never even met my grandson. But if you won't help me, Desmond, all of it will be for nothing. Penny, your son, and everyone else, will be gone forever."
Widmore and the team exit and close the door.
Desmond starts yelling and fighting his way out of the chair. He friggin Hulks out and literally breaks out of the chair.
In the control room Widmore instructs them to "turn it on."
Jin-"No! If you want me to help you with whatever you're doing here, you need to explain to me..."
Widmore-"That man is the only person I'm aware of in the world, who has survived a catastrophic electromagnetic event. I need to know that he can do it again.... or we all die. Turn it on!"
The machine starts up and Widmore asks if they have full power.
Seamus is hesitant to throw the three levers. {1 red, 2 black)} Impatient Widmore uses his forearm and pulls the three levers
Desmond is yelling for the bastards to, "Let me out!"
The coils start up and the room gets bright with the white light; Des physically reacts to the effects of the machine, then....

...Desmond is at LA  X staring at the flight information board. {The board flashes Oceanic 815 ARRIVAL, meanwhile its passengers are already walking around. A sign shows F-2}
Hurley passes by and informs Desmond,"It's carousel four."
Desmond-"Sorry?"
Hurley-"You were on the Sydney flight, right?"
Desmond-"Yeah."
Hurley-"Our bags on carousel four, I double checked it with the dude at the counter." {Double checked}
Although Desmond didn't ask him for the update he politely thanks him anyway.
Claire struggles to pull her bags off the carousel.  Desmond tells her to "Hang on..." lends her a hand and asks if she has anymore bags. She does not.
Desmond-"Boy or a girl?"   He didn't mean to pry.
Claire-"Oh no it's fine, I just umm, I don't know what it is."
Desmond-"All right. Well you're braver than I. I'm not a big fan of surprises. Oh excuse me, that's mine."
He takes grabs his bags from the carousel while Claire is looking around for someone.
Des notices this-"So, have you got someone meeting you?"
Claire-"Uh yeah, uh maybe they got the flights messed up or something."
Desmond-"Because I've got a car picking me up. You now, if you need a ride I'd be more than happy to give you a lift."
Claire declines because there are cabs. The enjoyed meeting each other.
Desmond declares the baby to be a boy.
Claire-" What?"
Desmond-"Bet it's a boy."

Whistling RayBan sunglass wearing George Minkowski is the driver waiting to pick up "Hume".
Desmond sees his sign,  "Looks like I'm with you."
Friendly George takes Desmond's bags and asks "Take you back to your hotel?"
Desmond is checking his cell replies, "The office."

As George directs him to the limo he makes small talk. "So uh, you flew in from Sydney huh?"
Desmond-"That's right."
George-"And what, what were you doing uh down under?"
Desmond-"I was closing a deal for the boss."
George-"Oh good for you, congratulations. Hey listen, if you need anything at all while you're in town, I know everyone. You need a reservation? You just pick a restaurant."
Des feels the room service at the hotel is excellent.
George-"You uhh, you looking uh for some company? I noticed that you weren't wearing a wedding band. And there are a lot of lovely ladies offering their uh companionship."
Focused Desmond tells him he's not looking for any companionship, "I'm here to work."
George-"Guess that's why you're the boss's right-hand man, and I am the driver. Okay. Got it."

Desmond arrives at Widmore's office and is sent right in by the receptionist who inquires about his flight.

He enters the office and is greeted by a happy Charles Widmore, who welcomes his friend to L.A.. {The receptionist knew Desmond, this couldn't be his first time in LA then...could it?}  The two happy friends hug.

Desmond is looking at Widmore's replica of a sailing ship. {The office is filled with black and white and things seem to not be in the same place}

Widmore is on the phone, "I don't give a bloody damn what he did, or how much it's going to cost. Just get him arraigned and get him out of there."
Widmore-"Sorry Desmond. Looks like our celebration of the Australian deal is going to have to be cut short. You are aware that my son is a musician?" 
Desmond-"Yes. I've heard he's quite talented." 
Widmore-"Yeah he is, quite. {Watch how he says that!}  Anyway, my wife is putting together one of her charity events and uh, the boy had a crazy idea to combine classical music with modern rock. You heard of a band called Driveshaft?"
Desmond hasn't heard of them.
Widmore-"Their bass guitarist overdosed and uh a, got himself arrested. And now, if I don't get this junkie to my wife's event she will, simply put... destroy me."
Desmond-"So you want me to babysit him?"
Widmore-"I know it's beneath you, but I need someone I can trust to do the job right."
Desmond-"Say no more Charles, it's done."
Widmore-"Huh. You really do have the life, son.  No family, no commitments. Ahh to be free of attachments."
Desmond feels he's a blessed man. Yet Widmore claims  he is blessed to have Desmond in his employ.
He toasts Desmond, "A drink, to celebrate your indispensability."
He pours two glasses of MacCutcheon whiskey.
This surprises Desmond, "That's your sixty-year-old Scotch, Charles."
Widmore feels nothing is too good for Desmond.
Desmond toasts-"Sláinte."

Desmond arrives at the AIRPORT COURTHOUSE; Superior courthouse, as junkie Charlie is exiting with a female lawyer. {Des' reflection in the door.} She checks her cell.
The lawyer walks directly to Desmond and correct inquires/assumes/knows it's Mr. Hume.
Desmond-"That's right."
She informs Des that bail's all been taken care of. "Remember he's not allowed to leave the state."
Charlie is going through the plastic bag that contains his personal effects.  Desmond introduces himself to Mr. Pace, conveying that Charles Widmore sent him.
Charlie defies authority, dumps the bag on the ground and walks away.
Desmond-"Hey! Where you going?"
The lawyer tells Des, "He's all yours."
Charlie purposely crosses the street walking directly in the path of oncoming cars.
A driver yells out, "What's wrong with you?! Idiot!"
Charlie heads directly into JAX bar. {Jack's Bar}

Desmond looks at his watch and seems a bit annoyed. He follows Charlie into the bar. {The following conversation is very important}
He'll have whatever Charlie's having.  "One drink, then we go."
Charlie-"So what's your job then, to babysit me? What are you, Mr Widmore's chief lackey?  Henchman?" {Shinny DS ring}
Desmond-"No title. Plenty of perks though."   He gets to meet charming people.
Charlie-"Well, cheers then. Tell me perky, are you happy?"
Desmond-"Quite."
Charlie-"No you're not."
Desmond-"Well I've got a great job, lots of money, get to travel the world. Why wouldn't I be happy?
Charlie-"Have you ever been in love?"
Desmond-"Thousands of times."
Charlie- "That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about spectacular consciousness altering love.  Do you know what that looks like?"
Desmond-"I wasn't aware that love looked like anything."
Charlie-"I've seen it, mate. On the plane back from Sydney."
Desmond-"Is that so? Well we were on the same flight, so...maybe I saw it too."
Charlie-"Trust me, you didn't."
Desmond- "Oh? Enlighten me."
Charlie-"There was this woman, two rows in front of me, in handcuffs, sitting with a cop.  He looked at me, knew I was holding. If I didn't take action I'd be caught. So I got up, went to the lav, proceeded to eliminate the evidence by swallowing my stash. And at that exact moment we hit turbulence. I choked. The entire bag of heroin is stuck in my throat. It's over, everything starts to go dark, I'm slipping into the abyss and then I see her."
Desmond- "Her?"
Charlie- "A woman. Blond, rapturously beautiful, and I know her...we're together. It's like we've always been and always will be.  {He's euphoric for a moment} This feeling, this love... and just as I'm about to be engulfed by...I open my eyes and this sodding idiot is standing there asking me if I'm okay. But I saw it, just for a moment I saw what it looked like."
{Like when Locke looked into the eye of the Island and what he saw was...beautiful?!}
Desmond-"Well that's just...poetry, brother. You know you should, you should write a song about that."
Charlie-"Yeah yeah, I know what you're saying, poor suicidal rock star. But I've seen something real, I've seen the truth."

Desmond- "No that's not the truth. You want to know the real truth, Pace?  Right now you have a choice... you can keep on drinking, or you can come with me.  Now before you make your choice, realize that if you stay here, it will very likely result in the extermination of your musical career."
Charlie-"And if I go with you?"
Desmond- "In twenty minutes you'll be luxuriating in a five star hotel, right on the harbor front, and Charles Widmore - one of the most powerful men in this town will owe you a favor."
Charlie- "Doesn't really seem like a choice."
Desmond-"There's always a choice, brother."

Desmond and Charlie ride in the car and "You All Everybody" plays on the radio.  Charlie's band Drive Shaft's first single; fondly claims that to be "The beginning of everything great. You like it?"
Desmond-"Sure, for what it is."
{It's looks like they drive right by the backdrop used in the photo Des and Penny used in their infamous photo.}
Charlie feels sorry for him "You think you're happy. You think you've got it all, this...your life. But, you don't."
Desmond- "Why, because none of it's real?"
Charlie-"All right, Mr. Hume. How about I offer you a choice?"   He can either show Des what he's talking about, or Des can get out of the car. Desmond scoffs at this.
Desmond-"Why in God's name would I want to get out of the car?"
Charlie pulls the wheel purposely driving the car into the water.
Underwater.
Desmond gets out of his seatbelt and tries to rescue unconscious Charlie. 
Desmond actually yells-"Charlie! Charlie! Come on" while submerged under the water. {Muffled sound}
Desmond swims out of the driver's window; the sun roof/moon roof is open.   He takes a deep breath and dives down to get Charlie.  Desmond can't open the passenger door even though the lock is open.
Charlie nonchalantly opens his eyes and  holds up his left hand to the window. Desmond immediately "Flashes" to the moment Charlie informs Desmond it's "NOT PENNY'S BOAT".
Charlie stares then closes his eyes, seemingly becoming unconscious again. Desmond miraculously gets his door open, unstraps the seatbelt, and pulls unconscious Charlie to safety.  Des calls out for help.

In the hospital Desmond is being examined and questioned by the female doctor.  She shines her pen light into his eyes to check pupil dilation.   He is stitched up on the right side of his forehead.  
Dr.- "You sustained a pretty bad bump in your accident. Any nausea?"
Desmond- "Nope."
Dr.- "Double vision?"
Desmond-"No. Listen, I need to find the man I was brought in here with."
Dr.- "How about hallucinations?"
Desmond-"What do you mean?"  {He doesn't know what hallucinations mean?!}
Dr.-"Hallucinations. Seeing things that aren't there."
Confused Des isn't sure.  The Dr. informs him the C.A.T. Scan was inconclusive and she's sending him downstairs for an MRI.
Desmond tells her he doesn't have time for this and needs to find the man he came in here with.
Dr.-"I'm afraid you're not finding anyone until we know what's going on inside your brain."

The MRI tech asks Desmond if he's wearing  any metal, carrying keys or change. "Any metal inside your body, pacemakers, pins, bullets, steel plate inside of your head?"
Desmond-"No. Nothing."
The tech notes Desmond didn't list an emergency contact, no friends or family. He just put down his employer, Charles Widmore.
The tech explains this machine is super loud. "You're gonna want these. {gives him ear plugs and straps him to table.}  And you need the button."
Desmond-"The button?"
Tech-"The panic button. You need to stop, press it. Try not to 'cause we'll have to start all over again from the beginning. I'll be in that booth over there. You'll be able to hear me. Thirty minutes, okay?"
Desmond is sent into the machine.

 The machine starts along with its {familiar} noises.  With his eyes open Desmond "sees" images, as if movie clips are being displayed above him in the bright light:  Charlie drowning, Penny smiling, kissing Penny,the birth of Charlie, toddler Charlie, kissing Penny. He hears Penny's voice whisper...  "Desmond."
Des freaks out, "Hey! Let me out of here!"
He pushes the panic button!  The overhead light in the machine is off.
The tech pulls him out, "What happened, man? Are you all right?"
Panicked Desmond needs to find the man he came in there with.  He takes out ear plugs.

Desmond is at the nurse's station  talking to an uninterested nurse. "His name is Charlie Pace. He came in an hour ago. Just give me his room number."
The nurse informs him if he's not a relative that's confidential information.
Desmond-"Look, we were in an accident together. I need to see him!"
There's nothing she can do.   Just then Dr. Jack Shephard happens by.
Desmond-"Hey. Excuse me. Um., were you on the same Oceanic flight from, umm, Sydney."
Jack-"Yeah, yeah, you were sitting next to me. Desmond, right?"
Desmond-"Yeah, that's right. Listen. I wonder if you can help me, brother. I need to find someone. He was on our plane. He's somewhere in the hospital."
Jack-"Hold on. He was on our plane and now he's here in the hospital?"
{Yeah, Jack the same dude you saved on the damn plane!}
On cue Charlie Pace is running away from a nurse and yelling "None of this matters!", right past Desmond and Jack.
Desmond takes up the chase after Charlie.   Charlie runs down the stairs and exits on the 2nd floor. {Wearing his black and white vans.}
With Charlie finally cornered, Desmond asks him, "Why you runnin'?"
Blue eyed Charlie-"Cause nobody here can help me. Now let me go."
Desmond-"Why’d you try an kill me?  Charlie insists he didn’t try to kill him, he was trying to show him something.  Desmond wants Charlie to show him his hand. {What is this...Poker?!}
Desmond-"Your hands. Show me your bloody hands now."
Charlie is intrigued and wonders,"You saw something, didn’t you? In the water. What was it?"
Desmond grabs Charlie’s hands
Charlie-"What are you looking for, mate?"
Desmond-"Who’s Penny?"
Charlie-"I don’t know. Ah. You felt it, didn’t you?"
Desmond-"I didn’t’ feel anything."
Charlie-"Then, why are you accosting a man in a dressing gown?"
Desmond-"All right. Come on. We’re leaving."
Charlie-"Whoa! You think I’m going to play a rock concert after this? This doesn’t matter. None of this matters. All that matters is that we felt it. You wanna try and stop me, good luck."
Desmond-"Hey, where you going?"
Charlie-"If I were you I’d stop worrying about me and start looking for Penny."   He walks away.

Widmore is on the phone with Desmond being told that Charlie is gone.
Desmond-"He escaped.  He knocked over a doctor with a bloody crash cart and then ran out of the hospital.
Widmore-"And you let him go?
Desmond-"He’s a junkie who drove my car into the ocean, Charles. I’m fine, by the way. Thanks for asking."
Widmore is thrilled Desmond survived but when he gives Desmond a job to do he expected him to do it.
Desmond fluffs it off as "just a bloody concert."
Widmore-"I tell you what, Desmond, if you can’t deliver Pace, why don’t you tell Mrs. Widmore, it’s just a bloody concert."   He hangs up on Des. {Des pushes the elevator button-he's on the 3rd floor!}

George opens the limousine door for Mr. Hume and remarks about him never having met the boss’ wife; and wishes him luck with that.

Snooty and annoyed Eloise is directing workers {young man dressed in Black and White.} in preparation of her event. "Please, tell me, how someone in your line of work is not aware that the butter knife is placed handle to the right, blade facing left? Just so."  {Daniel is playing classical music on the piano.}
Desmond introduces himself to Eloise. "My name is Desmond Hume. I work for your husband."    {She knows this is Desmond and is shocked to see him}
Eloise-"Of course, Mr. Hume. Charles has told me so much about you. It’s a travesty we haven’t met before. Well, it’s about time."
Desmond-"Well, the feeling is mutual, Mrs. Widmore."
Eloise-"Oh, please. It’s Eloise."
She wonders what crisis forced Charles to send his best fix-it man into the bowels of charity balls.
Desmond is deeply sorry and informs her that Drive Shaft won’t be able to perform alongside her son. "And, uh, I take full responsibility…"
Eloise- "Don’t worry about it."
Desmond is confused by her accepting attitude. "Excuse me?"
Eloise-"Oh, my son will understand. I suppose if one employs certain so-called, rock stars, certain unpredictability comes with the territory."
Desmond-"Yeah. You’re not angry?"
Eloise-"Oh, not at all dear. What happened, happened. Thank you so much, Mr. Hume, for coming and telling me in person. A pleasure meeting you."
Desmond-"And you."
Eloise corrects a worker to center the flower arrangement.   Desmond wishes her a good evening.
A man is going over the guest list and is heard mentioning: Leifer, Stefanie, plus two. Markey, Mary, plus one. Milton, Penny solo. Pepper, Nicholas, plus one.
The name Penny catches Desmond's attention and he asks the man about it.
Man-"And who are you?"
Desmond-"Um, I work for Mr. Widmore, may I see the list?" {He takes it.}
Eloise grabs the list, "You absolutely may not. That list is confidential.'
Desmond begs her pardon, but he's entrusted with confidential items every day.
Eloise-"Are you questioning me?"
Desmond- "No, I just want to look at one name on that list.  And, if for some reason, that’s a problem…"
Annoyed Eloise-"Come with me."
She demands the cooking staff to get out.  Desmond apologizes if he's overstepped his bounds.
Eloise-"Stop talking, Hume. I’ve heard what you’ve had to say. Now, you listen to me. I want you to stop."
Desmond-"Stop? Stop what?"
Eloise-"Someone has clearly affected the way you see things. This is a serious problem. It is, in fact, a violation. So, whatever you’re doing, whatever it is you think you’re looking for….You need to stop looking for it."
Desmond- "Do you, do you know what I’m looking for, Mrs. Widmore?"
Eloise-"I don’t know why you’re looking for anything?   You have the perfect life. On top of it, you’ve managed to attain the thing you wanted more than anything, my husband’s approval."
Desmond-"How do you know what I want?"
Eloise-"Because I bloody do."
Desmond-"I need to see that list…or you need to tell me why I can’t."
Eloise-"You can’t because you’re not ready yet, Desmond."  She walks away from him.
Desmond-"Ready? Ready, for what?"
Confused Desmond walks back to the limo.
George assumes things went badly. Desmond asks if there's any alcohol in the car. Of course there is, as a matter of fact he's told "Whatever you need. So, uh, where to, Mr. Hume?" {Of course, what ever they need, the "Island" gives them.}
Desmond-"Just drive, George."    There's a knock on Desmond's window.
Daniel-"My name is Daniel, Daniel Widmore. We need to talk." {Why is Daniel dressed very "dated"?}
Desmond-"Look, uh, Mr. Widmore, um…"
Daniel-"Dan, please. Call me, Dan. Mr. Widmore is my father."
Desmond-"Dan, if this is about Charlie Pace not being able to perform with you, I’m, I’m very sorry."
Daniel-"Do you believe in love at first sight, Mr. Hume?"
Desmond-"Excuse me?"
Daniel-"The first time I saw her I was walking through this museum, a few weeks ago. She, she works here.  She was on her lunch break. She was eating a chocolate bar. She has these incredible blue, blue eyes, red hair. And, as soon as I saw her, right, right in that moment, it was like, it was like I already loved her. And that’s when things got weird. {he takes a notebook from his bag.} That same night after I saw that woman, I woke up and I wrote this."

Desmond-"So what is it?"
Daniel- "I’m a musician. I have no idea. So I took it to a friend of mine at Cal tech. He’s a math whiz. He said this is quantum mechanics. He said these equations are so advanced that only someone who’d been studying physics their entire life could have come up with them."
Desmond-"So what do they mean?"
Daniel-"Okay. Imagine,  imagine something terrible is about to happen. Something catastrophic, and the only way to stop it from happening is by releasing a huge amount of energy.  Like setting off a nuclear bomb."
Desmond-"You wanna set off a nuclear bomb?"
Daniel-"Just listen. What if, this, all this, what if this wasn’t supposed to be our life?   What if we had some other life and for some reason, we changed things? I don’t want to set off a nuclear bomb, Mr. Hume. I think I already did."
Desmond-"Listen, mate, um. I don’t know what any of this has to do with me, so…"
Daniel-"Why did you ask my mother about a woman named Penny? It happened to you, too, didn’t it? You felt it." 
Confused Desmond doesn't know; he doesn't know what he felt. Daniel says he does, "You felt love."
Des feels that's impossible because he doesn't know anything about this woman, "I don’t know where she is. I don’t even know if she exists. She’s an idea."
Daniel-"No, Mr. Hume. She’s my half-sister. And I can tell you exactly where and when you can find her."
{That's one hell of a coincidence Desmond's love is Dan's half sister.}
Guess where he can find her? At the stadium, running a Tour DeStade.
Desmond walks right up to her and asks "Are you Penny?"
It is.
Desmond smiles, "Hello. I’m Desmond."
Penny shakes his hand and says hi.

Desmond opens his eyes; he is inside the huge white box.  He looks at his right hand.
Seamus sees Desmond and seems surprised, "He’s okay."
Widmore is pleased,"How are you, Desmond?"  {Desmond's eyes are checked with the pen light.}
Desmond- "Fine. How long was I unconscious for?"
Widmore-"Well, No more than a few seconds."
Desmond seems peaceful-"Will you help me up, please."
Widmore-"I’m really sorry we had to do this to you, Desmond. But as I told you, your talent is vital to our mission. So, if you just let me explain...."
Desmond-"It’s all right. I understand."
Widmore-"What?"
Desmond-"I said, I understand You told me, you brought me here to the Island to do something very important."
Widmore confirms that.
Desmond-"When do we start?"
The group is walking back and  Zoe asks Desmond what happened to him.
Desmond-"What do you mean?"
Zoe-"What I mean is, twenty minutes ago you were beating the crap out of Widmore with an I.V. stand and now you’re Mr. Cooperative."
Desmond-"A lot can happen in twenty minutes."
Zoe agrees, "That thing fried your brain."   {That thing! The smoke monster has recently been referenced as "that thing"}
Desmond smirks, "Did it?"
Zoe-"Whatever, doesn’t change the fact that you’re gonna...."
Armed Sayid attacks a couple of the workers and tells Zoe to run.
He tells Desmond he doesn't have time to explain, but these people are extremely dangerous. "We need to go, now."
Desmond-"Aye, of course. Lead the way."  {Ah, there's my pirate! lol}
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Penny-"Hello?! You okay?"
They are at the stadium. Apparently when Penny shook his hand he fainted. She must have quite an effect on him.
Desmond must look familiar to her because she wonders if they've met before.
Des thinks "we’d remembered it if we had."
Penny makes sure he's all right.
Desmond- "Yeah, I’m fine. Hey, listen, um, would you like to go for a coffee?"
Penny- "What, now? I’m a sweaty mess."   {Doesn't she have a charity ball to be at?}
Desmond-"I just fainted in front of you. I’d say we’re even."
Penny tells him of a coffee shop on the corner of Sweetzer and Melrose; she'll meet you there in an hour. They both are smitten!
Happy Desmond heads back to the limo where George asks, "So, did you find what you were looking for?"
Desmond-"Yes, George, I did. Corner of Melrose and Sweetzer, please."
George-"You got it. And if there is anything else I can do for you, Mr. Hume, you just name it."
Desmond-"Actually, there is one thing, George. Can you get me the manifest from our fight from Sydney, Oceanic 815? Just the names of the passengers."
George-"Sure I can. Do you mind if I ask you what you need it for?"
Desmond-"I just need to show them something."



Happily Ever After is a GREAT episode!!
All I can say is...you were given a shot to help you wake up. This was a "wake up call" for all "Island" residents and at home viewers!   I think it's pretty obvious that the "LA  X" bits aren't what you thought they were.
It's interesting to see that Widmore took Desmond by force; he didn't give Desmond a choice.  Locke gives his people a choice.
In this version we see that Desmond's will to have Widmore's respect won out over love, but his life was incomplete.  Also interesting is that Widmore adored Desmond until he couldn't "watch" Charlie.
With the difference of  things we've been seeing brings me back to the possibility of  each person having their own individual journey or is it simply that we're just seeing the different "go-arounds" tested/done until  it is done right. {Run the test 10 times and see what the outcomes are.}  After all, a lot can happen in twenty minutes!

How believable was the huge white box with the two coils that supposedly produces energy, radiation, electromagnetism and such? It  isn't even a completely enclosed room providing safety from exposure of all that shit!  Plus I hate how they throw the word catastrophic around.

Things to Note...Questions to ask...
* Recycle.  The same places, people, names, dialogue, props, etc.. {Reuse-rebirth}
* Head-consciousness.   What's going on inside your brain and  inside of your head.  It doesn't get any fucking clearer than that!
* Because none of it's real. 
* Ear. Earplugs. Loud. Hear.
* Eyes. Eye color.  Look. See. 
* White Rabbit.  Alice in Wonderland.  Through the Looking Glass. Down the rabbit hole.
* Penny Milton. Half sister.
* Disoriented. Groggy. Sedated.
* Remember. Forget. Deja vu. Familiar.
* Manifest. Idea. Imagine. Wish. Believe.
* Machines. Generator. Power. Radio.
* Wires. Cables. Monitors. Attachments. Driver. Button. Computes. Online.
* Test.  Power test.
* C.A.T. Scan.  MRI.  Magnet.
* Game. Stadium. Bet. Sacrifice. Rules. Violations. Start. Stop. Start over from the beginning.
* Hospital. Jail.
* JAX bar. Jack and Christian.
* Tour DeStade, bar, pen, alcohol/liquor, hospital=Jack
* Mental health. Crazy. Addiction. MacCutcheon whiskey. Junkie.
* Maybe they need to learn how to contain their own anger or learn what to do with their own stored up energy/emotions.
* Playing roles. Changing roles.
* Perform. Solo. Rock star. Musician. Concert. Song. Poetry. Write/wrote.
* Drive Shaft's first "come back" show in L.A. was {Originally}supposed to be with Meatcoat.
* Enlightenment. Free of attachments.
* "There's always a choice."
* Desmond on the plane had a wedding band on, yet this Desmond is not married. That is NOT a continuity error! We're seeing proof of different versions of things.
* Why was Daniel's last name fucking Faraday? Why is it Widmore?
* Half sister. Combine two forms of "music/something" to make a new "one".
* Why is Jin privy to the big white box?
* Desmond is Charlie's babysitter. {Guard}
* Widmore and Desmond have a head injury.
* We had no Flash Whoosh and only once at the end scene did we get an Air plane engine/sounds-rumble to signify the change in "scene" for Desmond.
* "It happened to you, ".   George says a similar line to Desmond aboard the freighter.
* Heart.
* Which version (if any) is the real current run through?   Did Widmore send Desmond over just to babysit Charlie?
* Piano players on the "Island:  Daniel, Jack, Ben, Charlie and Sun.  Although we must mention that we've seen Sun and Daniel have a disconnect from the music.

Vocabulary and Research...
* Idea: an idea is just whatever is before the mind when one thinks.
I encourage you to read more on "Idea" as is connects to the LOST story and the philosophy of it's character's namesakes.
* Sláinte is commonly used as a drinking toast in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, literally translating as "health".
* Carousel. Merry go round. Ferris Wheel. Loop. Circle.
* White Rabbit: a character in Lewis Carroll's book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
- In The Looking Glass Wars,  the White Rabbit is re-imagined as Bibwit Harte, an albino tutor with super-sensitive hearing.
- Jefferson Airplane recorded a song called "White Rabbit", with references  to this character and the Wonderland saga in general as metaphors for drug-induced experiences.
- Neo is told to follow the White Rabbit in the Matrix 
-A synchronized set of strobing lights on the approach end of an airport runway Approaching Lighting System.




Over the past five years I have given countless examples of things happening in their heads, minds, consciousness, sleeping, the hum of the magnet {a piece of medical equipment}, machine, wires, cables, computers, drugs, hallucinations, dreams, manipulated imagery, ship, test, learning, different versions, two, two sides, underwater, mental health, jail, game, journey, perception and enlightenment etc.. This episode outright spelled it out for you all, and this episode did indeed tie it up with a pretty little bow.

Here are the links to my previous notes for Flashes Before Your Eyes, Catch 22, The Constant, The Variable
Other important notes: The Beginning of the End,  Deus Ex Machina, Man of Science Man of Faith.

Desmond has "Flashes" much like we've seen in his other centric episodes.  Is he time traveling?  No.  Again I'll state... he just may be "remembering"  other "go-arounds" on  this little "Island" (testing) adventurous journey.

The truth got literally SHOVED in Desmond's face by someone (Charlie) who is off the "grid".
Desmond must be playing this game waaaay tooooooo long to keep on missing the point, so Charlie "PUSHED".  But we did also see Desmond give his enlightened statement to Charlie of "There's always a choice".   Who is pushing whom?  Either way, someone is affecting the way Desmond is seeing things.  In fact it's a violation.  A violation by which side?  Hmmm.

The only way to get out of this level is to get to see, feel, hear and know truth.
We  have seen "players" in the adventure/journey assume roles of guides, guardians and keepers of the path.  The "lost" person must face challenges and the truth about themselves/someone/something and when they find what they are looking for, {themselves/something/someone; to forgive, trust, love, see truth, etc.} then they can move on.  And for some, if they are getting to close to the "truth" about the "Island" itself or close to unseating the leader, then they are removed from the playing field/game board. 

Just for a moment forget about the sideways stuff, the stupid time travel, hieroglyphics, quantum physics, bizarre gizmos and gadgets, other universes, smoke monsters and all the other illusions, magic and distractions and look at what the story is really about...
Try to see the "truth" or my favorite word...enlightenment. The answers are indeed right in front of our eyes as they have always been.

If there are people out there who still think they're watching a show only about a plane crash, another universe complete with time travel, alternate time lines due to blowing up a hydrogen bomb and such, and have not learned that in addition to those fantastical things that this story is a very human story...then I am sorry, I don't think my notes will show you anything to help you find your way.

Keep in mind the phrase "Happily Ever After" is traditionally a closing sentiment at the end of a "fairy tale"

Love to all who are "LOST"™

Charlie literally reaches out to his fellow "Island" friends in need!
Happily Ever After, Through the Looking Glass, The Beginning of the End.

Disclaimer: I never claim to know everything about the show and my thoughts by no means make me right! The things I share here are my views and/or opinions. I don't claim to catch every single detail either! You all know I hate spoilers and I stand clear of reading certain sites as to not take me off my own course of research. The one thing I don't need to do here is rehash all of the obvious clues from an episode, we all know what they are. Understood? Good! Let the fun begin! I'll only note things that I know come up as clues later, but need to be noted when they first show up and things I find that will be of importance. It will get very exciting as we progress into the story.