Dr. Linus

Let's talk about LOST!   Dr. Linus.

Ben looks like he's running like the devil's chasing him through the dark jungle; he keeps looking back which causes him to trip and fall.
In perfect timing Ben looks to his right to see the torches of armed Ilana, armed Frank, Miles and Sun. Ben runs over to them and they circle him.
Ilana-"Where's Jarrah?"
Sarcastically "fine" Ben shares, "Considering he just killed Dogen I don't think he's going to be joining us."
Miles informs Sun that Dogen is the guy in charge of the Temple.
Ben-"Yeah, he killed the interpreter too."
Ilana asks if he's sure.
Ben-"He was standing over their dead bodies holding a bloody dagger, so yeah, I'm pretty sure."
Concerned Sun turns to Ilana, "You said we'd be safe at the Temple."
Well that's what Ilana was told. Ben suggests they go to the beach; the one where they lived and buried Locke. "At least we'll have the water at our backs and it's familiar territory. Anybody else got a better idea?"
The beach it is! Sun directs them to the beach.

Teacher Ben writes "ELBA" on the blackboard. {White chalk}

 "...and it was on this island that everything changed.  That everything finally became clear.  Elba... is where Napoleon faced his greatest test.  Because exile wasn't the worst of his fate.  What was truly devastating to him was the loss of his power. Sure, they allowed him to keep the title of Emperor... but without any power it was meaningless. He might just as well have been dead."
The class bell rings and teacher Linus tells his students to "Remember, five and six tomorrow. Thank you."
Deadpan Principal Reynolds appears in the doorway and tells Ben "Walk with me."

They walk through the exterior corridors among the students and a janitor on a ladder fixing something overhead.
Reynolds-"Linus, there's been a slight schedule shift, I'm going to need you to supervise detention after school today."
Ben-"What?"
Reynolds-"In fact, all week. Cutbacks, budget crises, events above your pay grade... needless to say, some of us have to pull double duty."
Ben is disappointed because he has history club today, "Those kids need me."
Sarcastic Reynolds-"There are five students in history club, Linus. They'll live."
Ben-"Shouldn't we be encouraging the ones with ambition?"
Reynolds-"Spare me. The club isn't for them, it's for you. It makes you feel needed. Unfortunately, for now, you're needed.... in detention.  Thanks for your understanding, Linus." He walks away.
Ben-"It's Dr. Linus, actually."

Ben sits down to lunch with Dr. Arzt who is complaining about his ruined shirt. {Note Ben's lunch has his name hand written/printed out on the clear box. He eats with chopsticks. His coffee cup has similar print}
Leslie-"Well, formaldehyde.  Formaldehyde's the problem. You know what gets out formaldehyde? Nothing. Maybe if I had some frickin' lab aprons I wouldn't have to pay for incompetent students with another trip to Marshall's."
Ben remarks,"Budget cutbacks..."
Leslie wonders how hard would it be for Reynolds to spread around a little of the love to the sciences. "You know, I'm dealing with lab equipment in there from the 1950's. Now why is that?"
Ben feels Principal Reynolds is an administrator; he's not a teacher. "He's forgotten what the public schools' system is about."
Leslie is annoyed, "Yeah... summers off in exchange for a crap pension. I'm happy to remind him."
Ben is adamant, "No. Taking care of the kids, that's what's important."
Leslie-"Okay, you just keep dreamin'..."
Ben knows Leslie has given up but he refuses to.  Just then Locke is heard saying, "Maybe you should be the principal."

Ben looks over to see John sitting at the other table.
Leslie-"So says the substitute..."
Ben-"What do you mean I should be the principal?"
John-"Just sounds like you care about this place. And if the man in charge doesn't, then maybe it's time for a change."

Ben appreciates the sentiment, "But, who's going to listen to me?"
John raises his left hand (adds a little wave) to it like a good student. "I'm listenin." {There are many file boxes.} This gets Ben thinking.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Ilana, Sun, Frank, Miles, and Ben trek through the jungle.
Miles wants Ben to tell him what that was that thing back there.  Ben looks at Ilana.
Ben explains that thing's what killed her friends back at the statue.
Ilana-"And Jacob, right? It killed Jacob too."
Ben-"Yeah, of course, and Jacob."
Ilana-"Of course."
Suspicious Ilana looks at Miles and asks, "You're Miles, right?  Miles Straume?  You communicate with the dead."

Miles-"Not technically. I... I can tell you how someone died; pick up their last thoughts before they check out, but... I need to be near their body.

Ilana-"This is what's left of Jacob's body." 

She hands Miles the pouch of ash."So tell me, Miles... how did he die?"   Ben looks a little nervous.

Miles kneels down, closes his eyes, holds the little pouch and goes into his mumbo jumbo communication with the "other side".
Miles declares Linus killed him.




Ben-"What? That's not true!"
Ilana asks Miles if he's sure.
Miles-"He was standing over Jacob's body with a bloody dagger, so... yeah, I'm pretty sure." Ben stares at Miles.
Ilana looks at Ben and confesses, "Jacob was the closest thing I ever had to a father."
Ben is a bit stunned.
Miles looks at Ben and says Uh-oh. They continue to the beach.

When they arrive at the disheveled beach camp in daylight, Ilana looks for some tools and will get to work on some shelter. "The rest of you see what food's left. Maybe get a fire going."
Miles-"Yeah, a fire will fix everything..."

Ben approaches Ilana {she's pulling wires} and politely asks if there's anything she'd like him to do; she doesn't answer him.
Ben-"Psychic's totally unreliable. Miles actually tried to blackmail me once." {You mean Extortion, Ben!}
Pissed off Ilana walks away and Frank walks by and remarks to Ben, "You make friends easy, don't you?"
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Ben stands in front of the microwave as the timer counts down {5-4-3-2-1.  Hmm, a reverse version of Jack's count to five method. And of course we have Ben's reflection.} takes the frozen dinner out of the microwave and serves his sickly father who is on oxygen.

Ben made Roger one of the turkey meals, with the cranberry sauce that he likes. Roger wants to be sure it isn't one of those lean deals.  Ben assures him it's organic; "I'm trying to keep you healthy." {Love the dinner rolls. Crossword puzzle, black and white pen. A sporting event is heard where they're talking about a convergence to make it a tie game.}
Roger-"Well, it's a little too late for that. How was work?"
Ben tells his story as he changes Roger's oxygen tank. "I have a doctorate in modern European history, and yet I'm babysitting burnouts in detention..."
Roger-"Detention, huh?"
Ben-"And the worst of it is, as I look out at those ingrates that I'm tasked with watching...I can't help thinking...that maybe I'm more a loser than any of them."
Roger is compassionate. "This isn't the life I wanted for you, Ben. I wanted so much more."
Ben knows.
Roger-"That's why I signed up for that damn Dharma Initiative and took you to the island, and... they were decent people. Smarter than I'll ever be.  Imagine how different our lives would have been if we'd stayed."
Ben-"Yes, we'd have both lived happily ever after..."
Roger-"No, I'm serious, Ben! Who knows what you would have become?"
Ben turns on Roger's new tank and asks, "Now, does that feel better?"
Roger-"Ah, yes. Thank you."
The doorbell rings.  Ben answers the door to reveal blue eyed Alex.   Alex is there to ask where Dr. Linus was today.  "We had to cancel history club."
Ben apologizes and realized he should've put a note on the door. "The club meetings have to be postponed, I'm in detention all week."
Alex-"Oh yeah? What did you do?"
Ben laughs and shares that Principal Reynolds needs him to cover, so...
Alex tells him the AP {Advanced Placement}test this Friday and she was kind of... counting on the tutoring.
Ben-"Alright, how about this? Tomorrow morning, 7 A.M in the library. And you bring the coffee."   Alex is happy and thanks him; feeling he's the best. Alex waves goodbye.
Ben-"See you."
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
At the beach, Sun asks Ilana, who is still pulling wire {toolbox} how long are they going to stay there. Ilana already told her she doesn't know yet. Sun's concern is finding her husband.
Ilana-"Trust me, if anyone wants to find him, it's me. But I don't know where to look."
Sun-"Why do you want to find Jin?
Ilana-"Because your last name is Kwon. So is his. And I don't know whether I'm supposed to protect you, him, or both of you.
Sun wants to know what she's protecting them from. Ilana informs Sun that she and Jin are candidates to replace Jacob.
Sun-"Replace him? To do what?"
Ilana-"If you're the one selected, I imagine you'll find out."   Ilana snips wires. We learn there are only six candidates left.

In the jungle Hurley is sleeping; he talks in his sleep. "Cheese curds..." {What's with the white rising smoke?}

Jack-"Hurley. Come on, wake up."
They can make it to the temple by nightfall.
Hurley is hungry and wants to eat breakfast first.
Jack says no; they can eat on the way.


Hurley wonders what the rush is and suggests that maybe they should "... take our time."
Jack-"Why?"
Hurley-"Because."
Jack is determined and is leaving, "You coming' or not?"
Hurley gives in and follows Jack. They get to a fork in the path where Hurley directs Jack,"Hold on, dude. It's this way."
Jack-"No, we came this way."
Hurley-"Yeah, but that was a mistake. This is faster. Trust me, it's just around here. It's a short cut.
Jack-"No, it's not."
Richard appears out of nowhere telling them,"You're both wrong. The Temple's that way."
Jack wonders where he came from and Richard feels he wouldn't believe him if I told him.
Jack-"Try me."
Richard-"Not yet. But if you wanna go to the Temple, it's this way."
Hurley asks Jack if he trusts that guy.
Jack-"At least he's not stallin'."   They follow Richard.

Ben searches Sawyer's old digs. {Books} Frank suggests when Ben's finished in the library to give him a hand gettin' some more firewood.
Ben-"Just lookin' for something useful...God... the things people will bring on a trip..." {finds a bottle of water from Oceanic} {Oh, yeah, they're all "tripping"}
Ben-"Oceanic... I remember that plane breakin' in half like it was yesterday.
Frank-"You sound nostalgic."
Frank shares he was supposed to be flyin Oceanic 815.
Ben-"And why didn't you?"
Frank-"I overslept."  He shares, "Can you believe it?  Imagine how different my life would be had that alarm gone off."
Ben-"How different would it have been? The island still got you in the end. Didn't it?"
They both smile and Frank walks away. {They know.}
Ilana points the rifle into Ben's neck and demands he walk.
She marches Ben to the beach camp cemetery.  Commands him "On the ground! Face down!" as she ties one end of the wires to a tree and fastens the other with a metal shackle to Ben's leg.  She demands he pick up the primitive "shovel" and start digging.
Ben-"Digging what?"
Ilana-"A grave."
Ben-"For who?"
Ilana-"You murdered Jacob. It's for you."
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Ben sits across from Alex in the library and encourages her with her studies.
Alex-"Expanded Lord Cornwallis' powers as governor general."
Ben-"Very good. Now, moving on to the Charter Act of 1813.  At the time of the Charter, the East India Trading Company's power extended to all of India, except for...
Alex struggles-"Uh... I don't know!"
Ben tells her it's okay; it's just a test.
Alex feels it's more than a test, "It's only my entire life, Dr. Linus."
Ben thinks she's being over dramatic.
Alex-"Am I? My mom works two jobs just to pay our rent. How am I gonna pay for college? Let alone Yale? Assuming I can even get in..."
Ben believes in her and tells her, "You're one of the brightest students I've ever had. I don't worry about your future at all."
Alex-" Really?"
Ben-"Really. Now, what can I do to help?  I'll write you a great letter of recommendation, I'll..."
Alex needs someone who went there.  Unfortunately, the only person she knows is that pervert Principal Reynolds.
Alex-"Forget I said that. I was just angry."
Ben-"Alex... has Principal Reynolds... done something to you?" 
Alex swears it's not that.    Alex will tell if he promises to keep it between them and of course Ben agrees.
Alex scoots over and sits next to Ben and gossips, "So, I was in the nurse's office a few months ago... I had a stomach ache and I just went in to find a cot and I fell asleep... when I work up, after school, in the other room Principal Reynolds was there. And the nurse... well, I guess she forgot I was in there. They were... you know... doing it!   In the room right next to me!   Where they give kids hearing tests!  Isn't that totally gross?"
Ben-"Totally."
Alex-"Dr. Linus, you're not gonna say something, are you?"
Ben-"No. No, a promise is a promise. Well... shall we return to the high seas?"
Alex-"Yeah. Sure."
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
At the beach Ben slowly digs his grave while armed Ilana paces,  guarding.
Miles comes over to chat with Ben, "Not exactly tearing it up on the digging front, are you?"  Ben isn't in a big hurry.   Miles brought Ben some grub: green bean and banana.   Ben isn't really hungry.  As Miles is about to walk away Ben gets his attention.  "Miles... do you remember once you asked me for 3.2 million dollars? Do you still want it?"
Miles-"What are you gonna do? You gonna write me a check on this banana leaf?"
Ben-"I can get off this island.  And when I do, I have a vast network of people and resources that will get you that money.  All you have to do is cut me loose.
Miles-"Why would I need your money when there are a couple of Jabronies under there named Nikki and Paulo who got buried alive with 8 million dollars in diamonds on top of them?"
Ben-"I can't believe you're just gonna stand by and watch this happen. Ilana's gonna murder me for killing Jacob, a man who didn't even care about being killed!"
Miles corrects him, "No, he cared."
Ben-"Excuse me?"
Miles-"Right up until the second the knife went through his heart, he was hoping he was wrong about you. I guess he wasn't."
Miles walks away and Ilana fires a shot into the ground and demands "Dig!"

Richard leads Hurley and Jack through the jungle.
Hurley asks Richard, "So... you're not time-traveling?"
Richard-"No."
Hurley-"But... you look the same as you did thirty years ago."
How's it's possible Richard says it's not easy to explain.
Hurley-"Is this, like, a Terminator thing?   You a cyborg?
Richard-"No, I'm not a cyborg." {Good thing he knows what a cyborg is.}
Hurley-"Vampire?"
Richard shares that Jacob gave him a gift. The mention of Jacob gets Jack's attention,"Jacob? What do you know about him?"
Richard-"I know he's dead."
Richard has led them to the Black Rock. He lied to them about going to the temple.
Jack wonders why.
Richard- "Because everyone at the temple is dead."
Jack is concerned-"What do you mean they're all dead? What happened?"
Richard isn't sure what happened, but he just came from there and there's no survivors."
Jack-"What about our friends? Sayid? Kate?"
Richard-"Hope they weren't there. Maybe they made it out alive. All I know is, whatever you're looking for at the temple, it's not there."
Jack turns to Hurley, "You didn't want to go back there. Did you know about this?"
Hurley says Jacob kind of, sort of, hinted at it.   Richard is surprised, "You spoke to Jacob?
Richard advises,"Well, whatever he said... don't believe him."
Richard walks towards the ship.
Jack-"Where are you goin'?"
Richard-"There's something I need to do."
Jack-"To do what?"
Richard-"Die."  He marches in.

Ben enters a science lab classroom where Leslie Arzt is grading tests asking if he's got a minute.
Arzt-"Yes. I guess. Might as well give them all F's.  Tell me, how hard is it to learn the difference between a genus and species?  What do you want?"
Ben-"You're pretty good with computers aren't you?"
Arzt-"Something tells me you wouldn't be standing here if you didn't already know that I was."
Ben-"Could you...hypothetically...access someone's email account without their knowledge?"
Arzt-"I gue...yeah, it depends on the account."
Ben-"Say a faculty account. Hypothetically."
Arzt wonders who and Ben admits Nurse Kondrak.
Arzt  excitedly asks if Ben has the hots for Kim.  Ben isn't. He's just...curious about some of her correspondence.
Arzt-"With whom?"
Ben makes a face.
Arzt is getting annoyed, "OK, that's fine. I didn't come to see you, you came to see me. I don't have time to play twenty questions.  Now either you can tell me what it is you're doing, or you can let me finish grading my papers in peace."
Ben confesses he has reason to believe that she might be engaged in an inappropriate personal relationship with Principal Reynolds.
Arzt-"You're making a play! You're going after the big job, aren't you?"
Ben-"Are you going to help me or not, Leslie?"
Arzt states his terms for his assistance in the covert operation.  "I want a good spot.  I want Lamour's spot in the main parking lot, the one next to the maple tree not under the maple tree, next to the maple tree. That way I get the shade from the maple tree, but not all that tree crap all over the hood of my car. I want aprons. I want lots of aprons, and I want lab equipment in here that was built in this decade, is that a deal?"
Ben-"Deal."
Arzt-"You know, you really had me fooled with that sweater vest. Linus you're a real killer!" 
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Ben continues digging his grave on the beach.  He is getting exhausted.

Inside the Black Rock Jack finds Richard checking out the old iron chains/shackles.  Jack realized Richard's been there before.
Richard-"Yes. And in all the time I've spend on this island, today is the first time I've ever come back.
Hurley calls out for Jack " Dude where are you?"
Jack-"I'm in here."
Hurley enters; Jack has a lantern.  Richard opens the dynamite box and Hurley freaks out!  Dynamite is mega unstable!  Richard knows this.
Hurley shares that Dr. Arzt knew it too, "And I was wiping him out of my shirt two days later."   Hurley tells Jack it's time to go.
Jack-"No, not yet."
Hurley-"He's opening up a crate of dynamite, and he said he wanted to kill himself."
Richard-"I can't kill myself...even if I wanted to, trust me, I do. I can't kill myself. Which is why I want you to do it for me."
Jack-"What are you talking about ?
Richard-"What I'm talking about Jack is that...Jacob touched me, and when Jacob touches you... well it's considered a gift... except it's not a gift at all. It's a curse."   {Puts down dynamite hard}
Hurley is near panic!
Jack calmly asks Richard "Why do you want to die?"
Richard-"I devoted my life, longer than you can possibly imagine, in service of a man who told me that everything was happening for a reason, that he had a plan, plan that I was a part of, when the time was right that he'd share it with me, and now that man's gone so...why do I want to die?  Because I just found out my entire life had no purpose. Now if I light this myself it wouldn't work, but you can light it for me Jack. I made the fuse long enough so you'll have time to get out."
Hurley pleads with Jack, "Please tell me you're not actually considering this?"
Jack feels if Richard wants to die there's nothing they could do to stop him.  Jack lights the fuse and sits down with Richard.  Jack is very much in control and suggests, "Now, let's talk."
Hurley-"Jack ! Dude we gotta go, the guy's crazy and I know crazy!"
Jack tells Hurley to go ahead, "We'll be all right."
Hurley insists he's gonna blow up and Jack insists he has to talk to Richard.  Hurley won't go without Jack.
Jack-"Hurley, I'll be fine."
Hurley-"If you change your mind, I'll be like a mile away."
Hurley hurries away.  Richard suggests Jack go with Hurley because Jack's gonna die.   Jack doesn't think either one of them is gonna die because...
Jack-"I just came from a lighthouse...where my name was etched in wood on a dial...I turned a mirror... that somehow reflected the image of the house I grew up in.  Jacob's lighthouse. He got Hurley to bring me out there because he wanted me to see what was reflected in that mirror. For some reason he wanted me to know that he had been watching me ever since I was a kid."
Richard asks why.
Jack-"I have no idea why. But I'm willing to bet you that if Jacob went to that trouble, that he brought me to this island for a reason, and it's not blow up sitting here with you right now."
Richard feels that's a pretty big risk Jack's taking and Jack knows that.
Richard wonders, "What if you're wrong?"
Jack-"I'm not."    The fuse burns to the end then goes out. {Well Jack, you were wrong about the Hydrogen bomb (which was really the core) blowing up gig in Dharmaville.}
Jack-"Wanna try another stick"
Richard-"All right Jack. You seem to have all the answers. Now what?"
Jack-" We go back to where we started."

While Ben works on his grave he hears the sounds of the Smoke Monster ... Locke suddenly appears. "Hello Ben."
Ben wonders what he's doing here.
Locke-"Visiting. What are you doing?"
Ben-"I'm digging my own grave."
Locke-"Why?"
Ben-"Because you talked me into killing Jacob. You see that woman over there eating a mango?  She's his bodyguard and she knows what I did. So now you've got what you wanted because she's going to kill me.
Locke-"I don't want you to die Ben. In fact I went back to the statue to get you, but you'd already gone."
Ben-"Get me ? For what."
Locke-"I'm gathering a group to leave this place for good. But once we're gone, someone's going to need to be in charge of the island.
Ben-"Me?"
Locke-"I can't think of a better man for the job."
Ben-"Well it doesn't seem very likely does it, under the circumstances. How am I going to get away from...
Locke magically frees Ben from his wire and metal leg restraint.   He tells him to "Come to the other island, to the Hydra station. That's where we'll be."
Ben fears, "She'll come after me."
Locke-"200 yards inland there's a tree in a clearing with a rifle leaning up against it.  If you go now you'll get there first, and you'll have the drop on her.   But don't hesitate - she won't.  See you soon, Ben."
Ben makes a break for it and heads into the jungle. Ilana runs after him.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Ben knocks on the Principal Reynolds' door. Reynolds tells him to come in but informs him that he doesn't have time to listen to him complain about detention. That's not why Ben is there; he wants to read him something.  Reynolds assumes this is Ben's attempt to revive his little club.
Ben presents him with thirty emails covering a three-month period.  It's pretty lascivious stuff, which would be fine if it was private, but they seem to describe acts that took place on school property.  Acts which, morality aside,he thinks the school board would frown on; not to mention Reynold's wife.   Reynold's realizing this is blackmail, asks Ben what he wants.
Ben-"Your job. You're going to resign. For, I don't know ... personal reasons, health... your call. But with your resignation you're going to recommend the school board hire me as your replacement. And the irony of all this is that they hold you in such esteem that I'll get the job.   So, do we have an understanding."

 Ben is stunned and just stares as Reynolds reads.

 Reynolds-"Linus, may I read you an email ?  'Dear principal Reynolds, I would appreciate it if you would write a letter of recommendation to Yale on my behalf. It would mean the world to me. Sincerely, Alexandra Rousseau.'  It's a funny thing about recommendations Linus, they work both ways. So, I put the ball back in your court. You can execute your little Machiavellian maneuvers, go for my job, sit at my desk, but alas there will be an unfortunate side effect. I will torch Miss Rousseau and her future. Is my job, my power, that important to you? So, what'll it be, Dr. Linus?"
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Ben runs through jungle and finds the rifle as Ilana catches up to him.  Ben makes her drop her weapon.
All Ben wants to do is explain that he knows what she's feeling.  "I watched my daughter Alex die in front of me. And it was my fault. I had a chance to save her. But I chose the island over her. All in the name of Jacob. I sacrificed everything for him. And he didn't even care. Yeah I stabbed him, I was... so angry...confused...I was terrified that I was about to lose the only thing that had ever mattered to me - my power. But the thing that really mattered was already gone. I'm sorry that I killed Jacob. I am, and I do not expect you to forgive me because...I can never forgive myself."
Ilana-"Then what do you want?"
Ben wants to be let go; to go with Locke.  Broken Ben feels Locke is the only one who'll have him.
Armed Ilana tells Ben,"I'll have you."
She walks away and Ben follows her.

Ben is in Reynolds' office looking at the things on the desk. Reynolds is not there. {David Lawrence Reynolds}   Alex  comes in to thank Reynolds for the incredible letter of recommendation her wrote on her behalf. She asks Ben if he had anything to do with it. Ben says it wasn't him," But I always say you're a a great student, obviously I wasn't the only one who noticed."
Reynolds walks in asking what the hell Ben is doing in his office.
Ben is upbeat. He's just dropping off the detention sign-up sheet for the week, per your request.
Ben asks if he'll see Alex in history club.
Alex-"You mean when it's back on?"
Ben-" Oh no, we've got our old slot back. Principal Reynolds found someone to cover for detention. Isn't that right?"
Reynolds-"Yes, that's right."
Ben-"Well then, see you at four."
Ben walks out of the Administration doorway {J-4 handicap logo}.
Arzt meets up with Ben outside and asks if he did it. Ben admits he didn't.
Arzt is perturbed, "No? No! Wait...what about my parking space?"
Ben-"You can have mine."  Ben watches Happy Alex in the distance.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Ben and Ilana return to the beach camp.   Ben approaches Sun who is working on her tent; he offers her a hand.
Sun-"Please help me with the tarp."  He does.

Frank puts more sticks on the fire and sits.
Miles takes a closer look at a diamond.
Ilana morns her pouch of ash.
Hurley, Jack and Richard arrive.  Sun, Lapidus, Ilana and Miles welcome them in the beautiful traditional slow motion "Welcome Home" greeting.   They all hug and there is much joy!   Jack greets Ilana. Ben and Richard stand opposite and alone from the group.    Jack looks at Ben.

{Richard's arrival on the beach reminds me of when Jack brought Juliet back to the beach.}

A submarine approaches and raises periscope. The American crew guy at the periscope asks, "Sir, there are people on the beach. Should we stop?"
Widmore-"No. Proceed as planned."
Crewman- "Yes Sir, Mr. Widmore."





Dr. Linus is a GREAT episode!!!
We had a few Wizard of Oz moments.  I was brought back to the cowardly lion running through the poppy field (the poppies put you to SLEEP!) and when Richard appears and gives directions to Jack and Hurley that moment reminded me of the Scarecrow telling Dorothy which way to go.lol.

Things on the "Island" are changing, but is this enabling the Lostie's to see things more clearly.
The "Island" and its many tests, yes, there is no doubt they are being tested on many levels.  Who is passing the test and who is failing?  It seems to be a continuing loop of learning until you get it right.  After all this isn't the first or even second time we've seen people {Jack} have to go back to where there started.
Ah, the beach camp.  According to Miles this is one of the only two plans they really ever have; The Orchid-The Beach.   He mentions this in LaFleur.

We saw a different Ben in this episode but I also saw traits of the Ben we all have come to know.  He still got what he wanted out of Reynolds.  Here Ben is a Doctor.
Ben wanted to see Alex again and he did.  But I am wondering if you have to be careful what you wish for.

Napoleon's exile story is reflected on the "Island".   The "Island"  has a need for someone to guard and protect it; someone in charge.  We have seen different persons in power exiled before and we know Charles Widmore is one who wants that power back.

Things to note...Questions to ask...
* Equipment. Computers. Wires. Hack. Tools. Library. Network. Internet. Files. Email. F's (function keys F5-refresh key, F6-moves to next pane.) 
* Bug. (Computer bug? Bug in your ear? Surveillance? Something bugging you. All of those?)
* Terminator: A created solider.
* Cyborg: an organism that has artificial,natural and mechanical systems.
* Power.
* Oxygen. Breathe.
* Files. Rank. In charge. 
* Teach. Learn. School. College. 
* Lab. Tests. Grade.
* Science. History.
* Hear. Listen.  See. Clear.
* Washington Tustin High School.
* We literally see Ben connected to a fucking "tree" by wires. Wired.
* Black/dark. White/light. Blackboard-chalk. Crossword puzzle. Pen.
* Trade. Deal. Bargain.
* Time running out. Countdown. No time.
* Short cut. Wrong way. Do over.  Hints.
* Club.
* Game. Play. Ball's in your court.
* Crazy. Psychology. Machiavellianism. Health. Tripping/drug induced
* Trip. Wired.
* Tarp anagram = TRAP.      Elba= ABLE {or BALE}
* Ben's club has 5 kids and Ben is in a group of 5 headed to the beach.
* The pictures, nick-knacks, books, etc in the "Flashes"  connect to the "Island"
* Locke encourages Ben to join them.  Free will or manipulation?
* "Can't kill myself."    Michael couldn't kill himself either. 
* Remember. Forget.
* Deteriorating. Decaying. Ailing health.
* Reflected images. Mirrors. Light. Smoke.
* Arzt was not wearing a wedding ring.
* Ben was digging his own grave.
* Why are we seeing the "Island" residents in L.A.?
* Marshall's (the store).  Marshal Edward Mars.  {Guide}
* I'm reminded of the look Ben and Sayid shared on board Ajira flight 316.
* Things are wrong.
* Richard advises,"Well, whatever he said... don't believe him."    Last season Sayid advised Hurley to do the opposite of whatever Ben wanted him to do.
* Where did Miles get the diamond?  Nikki and Paulo?
* Did Jack "grow up" in Jacob's Lighthouse?
* Where did Jack's new attitude come from?
* Fire and water are both symbolic of cleansing.
* "Six candidates left"
* Are these "candidates" all Doctors or just Jack?  {Or is that all the same thing?}
*  "The Island got you anyway".
* Here Hurley talks in his sleep.    In season 1, in the caves we learn Jack was a "sleep talker".
* FRIDAY:   Again I'll mention that broken Jack flew every Friday to "get back".
* Water. High Seas. Ship. Sub.

Vocabulary and Research...
* Formaldehyde is an intermediate in the oxidation (or combustion) of methane as well as other carbon compounds, e.g. forest fires, in automobile exhaust, and in tobacco smoke. When produced in the atmosphere by the action of sunlight and oxygen on atmospheric methane and other hydrocarbons, it becomes part of smog.
Can be used in:
In photography: for process C-41 (color negative film) stabilizer in the final wash step, as well as in the process E-6 pre-bleach step, to obviate the need for it in the final wash.
As a disinfectant and biocide: kills most bacteria and fungi (including their spores). It is also used as a preservative in vaccines. Formaldehyde solutions are applied topically in the treatment of warts.
Many aquarists {Fish keepers} use formaldehyde as a treatment for the parasites.
Tissue fixative and embalming agent:to disinfect and temporarily preserve human and animal remains.
- Formaldehyde is the first album by the rock band Terrorvision. It was recorded at The Chapel in June 1992,
* Benjamin Disraeli- Justice and Truth in Action.  He was the 1st Earl of Beaconsfield and was a literary and social figure.
* The Chosen: written by Chaim Potok 1967.
* Elba: is an Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy. The island is divided into eight municipalities.
* Napoleon: Military and political leader of France, who was banished to the island Elba in 1814.
* The East India Trading Company: An early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China; Traded mainly in cotton, silk, indigo dye, saltpetre{component for black powder/gunpowder}, tea, and opium.
-The East India Trading Company, is a fictionalized version of the British East India Company that serves as one of the antagonistic forces within the Pirates of the Caribbean.
* Machiavellianism is,"the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct", deriving from the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolo Machiavelli,  who wrote Il Principe (The Prince) and other works.. The word has a use in modern psychology and is used to describe a person's tendency to deceive and manipulate others for personal gain.   Machiavellianism is one of the three personality traits referred to as the dark triad, , along with narcissism and psychopathy.
* Detention:  1). a punishment used in schools    2). imprisonment of somebody guilty or suspected of a crime
- Detention basin: an artificial flow control structure that is used to contain flood water for a limited period of a time.
- Immigration detention: imprisonment of unauthorized person entering a country
* Diamond- From the Ancient Greek word for "Unbreakable".
* Diamond Sutra
* Beta wave, or beta rhythm, is the term used to designate the frequency range of brain  activity between 12 and 30 Hz.  Beta states are the states associated with normal waking consciousness.



This season has demonstrated a lot about the "Island" residents wanting to die or die and come back to life.  Are we to take this literally?  Do they just "die" in the game as a sacrifice or for some other reason?  Or is it a part of their learning and growth as in a "rebirth."
In the episode Dave I noted that Dave let himself go over the cliff and he wanted Hurley to do the same. He also said Hurley wouldn't die, that doing it would actually bring him back to life, snap him out of it...wake him up.
 Zen proverb, “Let go over a cliff, die completely, and then come back to life - after that you cannot be deceived”.


In Buddhism there are ten states of existence. Each Dharma realm has its own characteristics and its existence is attributed to the retribution of the beings. These ten realms do not appear to be discrete in their forms, as their existence is virtually determined by the state of mind. Therefore, it is important to note that the ten Dharma realms are not beyond a single thought.
The lowest six realms are known as the Six Realms of Rebirth. These six states of existence are subjected to birth and death, and then rebirth for many lives. One's state of existence depends on one's karmic activities. With evil karmic power, one will be born in the lowest three realms, known as Three Evil Path (of transmigration). With good and kind karma, one will be born in the upper three realms, known as Three Good Paths (of transmigration).
Six Realms of Rebirth:
Hell: Suffering is most severe, continuous and everlasting. Those beings must have committed unforgivable and evil deed, with no regret or repent.
Ghost: In this realm, most of the ghosts always live in the atmosphere of anxiety, illusion and fear. Their desires are never satisfied. The hungry ghosts cannot eat as their throat is as narrow as a pin, but their stomach is as large as a drum.
Animal: Animals have minimal intelligence and consciousness. They live in adaption to the nature. As their behavior follows instinct without deliberation, their karma is neutral, i.e. neither good nor evil.
Asura: In terms of material enjoyment and psychic power, it is similar to Deva. However, in some aspects, it is even worse than Human Path. The male Asura is extremely ugly, while the female is as beautiful as an angel. The male Asura always fights with each other as they are cruel and furious. They are proud of themselves, and reluctant to learn and practice the Buddhist teachings. This realm is formless.
Human: In this realm, we have both happiness and suffering. It is a material world, and the mind activities are always connected with the principles of matter. Joy and happiness are limited as freedom is also limited by the body and other sensual organs of a man. On the other hand, suffering can be the main cause or condition to allow man to possess a kind heart, thus to pursue the Buddhist Way.
Deva: It is a heaven for those who are wise and kind as the retribution for their good deed. Their major desires will be satisfied. Once a person has perfected themselves in the Ten Wholesome Actions, they are qualified to ascend to heaven.





At this point the story continues to show us the Lostie's and the "Island's" need for balance.  We all want to feel needed and want to have a purpose.  A few of the residents are evolving and growing up, learning their way all along the path of their destiny.  But even with some changes we see that the "Island" still got them anyway.   Is it possible we are seeing some sort of therapy/psychology/reform used to treat criminals or insane people?  I'm just asking!

We all wonder how different our lives would be if we had made different choices along the way.   Maybe you were faced with one life changing decision and you made your choice and things didn't turn out like you hoped they would have.  With the disappointment you feel over the turnout of that choice, I think it's natural to assume that if you had made the other choice instead, things would have been so much better...but there is absolutely no guarantee that would be the case.  In our imagination the grass always seems greener on the other side.  If we only had the ghost of Christmas "Different Choices" to show us what our lives would be like if we made other choices.  Or better yet, just get hooked up to a computer that could run you through different scenarios and you choose the correct answers based on the tested outcomes before you even make a choice.

For all these years of posting potential clues, and in this case clues about computers, wires/wired, learning, head/mind; this episode was filled with them.  But what could it be showing us?  Of course I get a lot of heat with bringing up this potentially important bit of information.  This would include my thoughts on them never being out of the "confines" of the "Island" and their adventure happening under the guise of a game.  But if there ever was an episode to bring it up again it's this one.  The answer I seek most of all is "how is their adventure happening?"   If they aren't really dead and in purgatory I know I must search for the other answer to this question.
I wrote about some of my research and a few ideas for this particular set of  potential clues in:
...and yet we keep playing it.

In the past I mentioned a lineage to the "Island".   We see the Lostie's parents have ties to the "Island" and  in some cases the connections go further back.  This season we have seen the importance of children in the lives of some of the "Island" residents.  Will we see that they are fighting this "Island" battle for the glory of leaving a powerful legacy and setting things up for the next generation to continue the protection of the "Island"?
"Taking care of the kids, that's what's important."

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? 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.

Exodus. Part 2

Let's talk about LOST! Exodus. Part 2.
(Click the pics!)


The baby's open eye.
He's crying and Claire wants him to “Shhhhh.”
Charlie informs Claire that everybody’s leaving.
Frustrated Claire can’t go anywhere, “I've got the baby, and I'm so tired. I can't carry him. Now he's wet, there's sand everywhere, I don't have any more nappies.”
Charlie offers to help but she pushes him away.
Claire-“No, nobody ever taught me how to do this, okay?”
Charlie tells her it will be okay and she wonders why people keep telling her that, “Are they the ones with the baby?”

Sayid instructs three Lostie’s,“We've got to get there before sundown. Once you reach the caves, stay there. The rest of us will be right behind you.”
Charlie tells Sayid he needs a gun; he knows Jack gave them to him and he needs to protect Claire.
Sayid-“Rousseau said the Others wouldn't be here until nightfall.“ {It’s a good thing she knows their schedule!}
Charlie-“Rousseau is certifiable. What if they show up before then and...“
Sayid feels the last time Charlie handled a sidearm...
Charlie cuts him off acknowledging he killed a murder, doing them all a favor. Sayid feels Charlie is emotionally involved so he wants to handle the weapons.
Charlie-“But you're not here all the time. You can't protect Claire. Look, I need a gun...”
Sayid feels if Charlie really wants to help Claire he should go get her packed and carry her child to the caves,“That’s what she needs.”
Charlie nods okay and walks off.

The dynamite team is at the Black Rock. They stare at it in amazement.
Hurley wonders, “How exactly does something like this happen?”
Danielle-“Are you on the same island as I am?”
Hurley- “I guess that explains it.”
Arzt, who is wearing his wedding ring, wants them to hold on and wait, hold on. He notes they’re a couple miles inland and thinks a tsunami probably swept it here. Without a word, Danielle starts to walk back into the jungle. Jack wonders where she’s going. Danielle tells him the explosives are in the hold of the ship, she did what they asked. “You need the dynamite. You don’t need me.”
She just walks off into the jungle. {What a gal!}
Locke tells Jack to let her go, but Jack wonders who will lead them back.
Confident Locke states-“I'll lead us back.”
Arzt wants them to hold on; he came there to tell them how to handle the dynamite, not explore some ghost ship. Jack says it’s okay, Arzt can stay out there. Still in shock and puzzled by the ship, Hurley will stay and hang with "Arnzt".

Locke leads Jack and Kate into the hole on the side of the ship. They climb up steps/ladder.  Locke bumps his head into hanging chains.   Jack steps on the foot of a skeleton.  There are shackled skeletons all over the place.  There's an old huge drill bit and tools, shackles and cuffs everywhere; Some without previous persons in them.
Locke declares they are, “Slaves. This ship must have been in route to a mining colony. Probably set off from the eastern coast of Africa. Mozambique.”
You can see that the cuffs bother Kate.    Jack looks around with the aid of his flashlight and opens the door to another room.
Kate finds the explosives.


Outside Arzt is telling Hurley, “And then my 3rd wife, she says, get this, she says, 'I didn't sign up for this.' Now you tell me, what the hell is that even supposed to mean? {Hurley’s mind is somewhere else.} What, am...am I boring you?”
Hurley-“Huh?”
Arzt-“You know what? I'm, I'm sorry, I'm so... I'm sorry that I'm not cool enough to be part of your merry little band of adventurers.”
Hurley-“What?”
Arzt- “I know a clique when I see it. I teach high school, pal-y. You know, you people think you're the only ones on this island doing anything of value. I've got news for you. There were 40 other survivors of this plane crash. And we are all people, too.”
Pacifying Hurley just says, “OK.”
Kate wants to use an ax to open the crate but Jack feels they should take it outside.
Jack-“You're not prying open a crate that says explosives on the side with a pick ax, Kate.”
Locke agrees with Jack. The men carry the crate while Kate shows them the way.

Outside, worked up Arzt is just rambling on. “And it's not just the teenagers, either. You know, the gym teachers you’d think they’d let me sit with them in the cafeteria, no. They do not.”
Hurley-"Dude, this is all in your head.
Arzt-"Really? Then you explain to me why Kate gets the best pieces of wreckage to build her shelter? And the Korean guy... Does he catch fish for everybody on the Island? No, he does not. He doesn't. And some of us have actually lost weight while we were here. Now, would mind telling me where you're hiding the carbs because I can't figure...
Arzt freaks out when he sees the men moving the crate. “What the hell are you people doing?! Wait, wait, stop, stop, right where you are. Alright, I want you to put that down carefully. Put it down carefully. Put it gently, gently. Damn it! Carefully, gently. Gently. Alright, now get out of there. Come away from there. C'mon, get out. Move away from it.
Jack- "What the hell are you doing?"
Arzt-"Shhh, be quiet. Do any of you have any idea what happens to dynamite in 90+ degree heat, huh? {He opens the crate with a pocket knife.} So you know? Any of you? It sweats nitroglycerin. {Jack moves closer.} Whoa, hey, what you doing? Did I ask you to come closer? {He picks up a stick of dynamite.} Dynamite is nitroglycerin stabilized by clay. Nitroglycerin is the most dangerous and unstable explosive known to man. Hey, Kate give me your shirt. Now, princess, give me your shirt. I need to wrap the dynamite. Just throw it to me, right here. Be careful, c'mon, hurry up {She gives him her shirt.} Okay, good, now back up, backup, backup. Just backup. Get out of my way. Any of you ever hear about the guy who invented nitroglycerin? Probably not! Because he blew his freaking face off. {Arzt wets the shirt in a mud puddle and wraps the dynamite.} His lab assistant came into the room...saw that his mentor detonated, and he said, 'Huh...I guess this stuff does work.' Alright, we're not going to take any more of this stuff than we need because nitroglycerin is extremely temperamental, so we...”





BOOM!
The dynamite explodes and bits of Arzt rain down on the rest of the team.
There’s smoke where Arzt used to be. {Wow! That was a totally great disappearing trick!!}


Sun and Jin are at the Sydney airport. {The artwork behind her looks like a ladder.} She asks Jin if he wants his sandwich cut in half. “...Here you go." {She spills the coffee on him.} Calm Jin is fine; she directs him to the restroom.

Sayid is walking with airport security. Security is sorry for the inconvenience and Sayid is sure they are. But after all, his bag was unattended. Sayid asks if he’s free to go.
He is.
That’s good because he has a plane to catch.


Jin is in front of the mirror in the restroom washing up.
There is a man wearing an Island/Hawaiian shirt, washing his hands. The man asks in English if Jin can hand him a paper towel and then realizes Jin doesn’t speak English. The man speaks in Korean about the paper towel. This surprises Jin. The man reveals he works for Mr. Paik! He communicates with Jin in Korean.
The man-“I work for...Mr. Paik. Your father-in-law and employer.”
Jin-“You've been following me?”
The Man- “Yes. I know you're planning to run away. But you're going to take that watch to Mr. Paik's friend in California. You do anything else...anything… you will lose her. You are not free. You never have been, and you never will be.”
{Flash Whoosh}
On the raft, Jin looks content and Walt points out the big beautiful island to Michael. Michael wonders how a place this big never gets discovered.
Sawyer- “Don't know, but you could build yourself one hell of a beach resort right over there.”
Michael-“Yeah, you build your resort. I'm happy to say goodbye to this place forever.”
Walt wonders about everybody else, “Think they'll be okay?”
Michael tells Walt he hopes so, “At least until we can get them some help.”
Sawyer is singing Redemption Song. “This songs of freedom 'Cause all I ever have”.

Sun is at the beach just looking out to sea; and at her wedding ring.
Upset Shannon is having a very hard time moving/carrying all her baggage and Vincent. Sayid wonders if she really needs all of that and wonders why bring so much. Shannon does indeed need all of it.
Struggling Shannon-“Don't you have a hike to lead?”
When one of the suitcases falls and opens Sayid sees she is holding on to Boone’s clothes. She tells him she needs these things. “I can't just leave them. What are we doing? Hiding? As if they won't find us. It's just... it's too much. It's too much.” {She’s losing her grip.}
Compassionate Sayid strokes her hair and tells her, “It won't be too much if I carry it for you. Now come on, I have a hike to lead.”

Shocked Hurley is sitting on a log by the Black Rock with Kate.    Hurley feels what just happened is messed up, “He just … exploded in front of us. He was just trying to help. This is because I came.” Hurley feels he’s kinda bad luck.   Kate tries to assure him it was an accident.

Locke reaches for a stick of dynamite while Jack says they should think about this. Locke feels it’s the only way.
Jack- “How many do we need to blow the Hatch?”
Locke has a roll of wire/fuse. He thinks/knows, “Two should take care of the hinge. Three to be safe.”
Jack-“Safe?
As Locke takes another stick out he tells Jack, “I'm removing the driest pieces to minimize our risk transporting it. You ever play "Operation"?” {Hello! Jack's a doctor!}
Jack- “Sure. Don't touch the sides.”
Locke- "I … I always got nailed on the funny bone. Buzzzzzz!!”
This makes Jack jump.
Jack-“You like to play games, John?”
Locke smiles and says, “Absolutely.”

Claire is preparing to leave and Charlie comes over with something he made.
Charlie- “Okay, I know we're in a rush to escape to the caves, so I solved the turnip head transport issue. This is just a blanket from the plane. And then there's a piece of wood here that goes through this bamboo. Here you go. It's a Bjorn. It’s Dutch for “Baby carrier.”
Happy Claire kisses his cheek and thanks him.
All of a sudden Rousseau is approaching Charlie, panicking and calling out for Sayid. She needs Sayid now! Charlie tells her he already left, but she’s insistent on Charlie getting Sayid,”There’s no time!”
Charlie tells her to calm down and he’ll get him for her and tells Claire to stay there. He leaves calling out for Sayid. Claire wonders what happened out there. Danielle is fixated on the baby and asks what his name is. Claire hasn’t named him yet. Danielle asks to hold him. Claire is getting nervous asks why she needs Sayid and tells her, “No, I just fed him. I don't think it's a good idea, okay?”
Danielle, sounding desperate-“Please”
Claire sees the 4 scratches on Danielle's arm and gets images of a struggle between Danielle and her screaming and scratching Danielle.
Claire-“When did I do that? Why did I scratch you?”
Claire looks very frightened.

Charlie is in a disheveled airport hotel room looking around for drugs/heroin. {Looks through trash can.} He wakes up the girl groupie who is lying in the bed. {She’s wearing a Poison t-shirt.} She wonders what’s going on.
Charlie-“My flight, my flight to L.A. leaves in a couple of hours… so I've got to get moving, you know.”
He finds drugs in the bathroom next to the seashell ashtray. The groupie wants to know if he wants to do one more bump for the road. Charlie informs her it’s all gone, “We did it last night. I have some champagne.”
The groupie starts freaking out and tears apart the room looking for some. “You've got to have some left.”
Charlie-“Mm-mm. No. It's done. I'll look you up next time I'm in Sydney, okay? I'll send you an autographed copy of my CD and then you can listen to it whenever you want.”
The groupie has absolutely no interest in his piece of crap CD from his piece of crap band.
Charlie-“Last night in the bar you said you were a fan.“
The groupie-"Fine, I'm a huge fan. Drive Thru is the best damned band ever. Now just give me a bump because I know you've got some.”
Charlie-“Shaft. Drive Shaft. {He takes the drugs out of his pocket when she heads to the bathroom} She sees he’s got something and he claims it’s nothing.
The groupie asks-“Holding out on me?"
Charlie-“Holding out on you? No, I'm not holding out...”
The freaked out druggie groupie corners him, attempting to retrieve what he has. Charlie wonders if she’s crazy. She kicks him and they have a struggle.
The groupie-“Let it go!” As she’s hitting him!
Charlie-“Get off!”
As she’s smacking him she tells him, “You're pathetic. You're pathetic.”
She takes the champagne and leaves, leaving Charlie on the floor with the heroin in his left hand.
{Flash Whoosh}
Charlie runs through the line of people Sayid is leading, calling out Sayid’s name. He tells Sayid that Rousseau’s on the beach and she needs him. Sayid wonders for what, but Charlie doesn’t know. They hear someone screaming for help and they start running.

At the beach camp Sun is kneeling next to Claire's body, yelling for help. They run up to her and she shows them blood on a cloth and informs them, “Her head.”
Claire is slowly regaining consciousness and asks where her baby is. Charlie looks in Aaron’s cradle and is panicked realizing the baby is gone. Sayid asks freaked out Claire if Rousseau was alone and which way did she go.
Claire {Holding her injured head}-“I don't know! She took my baby!”
Charlie tells Sayid, “This is your fault! {He punches Sayid in the face} You brought her into the camp. If you had just given me a gun.”
He swings to take another punch at Sayid and Sayid grabs his throat, “Do not hit me again. You want to waste time assigning blame? There's plenty to go around. {Pushes Charlie away} She has a head start. If we leave now we can catch her.”
Charlie wonders how; Because Sayid knows where she is going. {They seem to know their way around that Island very well!}
Claire is freaking out, “I want my baby!”
Sun is holding her.

At the Black Rock Jack and Locke are preparing the explosives for transport. Jack wants to carry all the sticks in his pack, feeling the more insulation the better.    Locke feels they should split them up, “It's not smart to keep it all together. So, we split them up. If we need 3 sticks to blow the hinge then we should bring 6… 3 and 3. Failsafe, in case one of us...” 
Jack suggests him and Locke.
Kate walks over informing them, “No, I'm, I'm taking one.”
Jack-“It's not going to happen, no."
Kate-“This is why I came."
Jack-“Then, you wasted a trip.
Kate-“I need to do this."
Jack-“Kate, no one owes anyone anything.”
Kate insists, “I'm carrying one."
Jack-“We're done here.”
Kate-“This is not your decision.”
Jack-“Kate, yes it is!”
Locke-“We'll draw straws. They're coming. We don't have time to argue about who gets to risk their life, so… we'll let fate decide.”
This works for Kate.
Jack asks Hurley, “What about you? You want to carry some dynamite, too?”
Jack wonders what Hurley is staring at.
Hurley informs him, “You got some Arnzt on you.”
Locke is in charge of the ‘fate sticks’, “Short sticks carry the packs.” {Jack and Kate pull a stick}”Looks like it's me and you, Kate.”
{This dialog is very important. Kate states these things as if it's written out, fact; like that is the way it's supposed to be!}

On the raft Walt, {Wearing a yellow life preserver} Michael and Jin are checking out equipment. Walt asks what this stuff does.
Michael explains, “Well, the transmitter sends out an SOS in case someone's listening. And if there's anything out there, we'll see it on this radar screen here.”
Jin and Michael seem to understand each other. Jin climbs up to the radar ‘satellite’ thingy while Michael turns on his equipment.
Michael-“Here we go. C'mon, someone find us.”
Walt sees Sawyer reading the messages from in the bottle and tells him he shouldn’t be reading those because they are private.   Sawyer, with his foot on the bottle, makes a remark regarding one message about how much Tracy missed her hubby and 2 kids back in Fresno. Yet she's sleeping next to good old Scott to keep her warm at night.
Walt corrects Sawyer, “That's Steve. Scott's dead.”
Sawyer- “Whatever. Alright, Kazoo, we've got to keep ourselves entertained. Who the hell is Hugo and how's he got a 160 million dollars to leave to his mom.”
Walt wonders how Sawyer would feel if he read his.
Sawyer shares with the kid that he can’t because he didn’t write one. The only letter he ever wrote was to the man he’s going to kill. Curious Walt asks why he’s going to kill him.
Sawyer-“Because I need to.” {Again, as if this is all supposed to be.}

We see the column of black smoke rising in the jungle. Sayid and Charlie are running toward it.
Charlie- “Are you bloody joking? Why would she go for the black smoke? Isn't that where the Others are supposed to be?”
Sayid- “The Others are precisely why she would go there. Rousseau told us she saw black smoke the day her own child was taken 16 years ago. {They arrive at the gun case} They took something from her, and now she believes she has something that they want.”
Charlie-“She's making a trade?”
Sayid believes she is. Charlie feels that’s insane, “She’s insane.”
Sayid-“Don't try to apply reason to her actions. She's a mother who lost her child, just like Claire. {As he hands Charlie a gun he tells him} This isn't about revenge. Don't make it personal.”
Claire and Sun catch up to them. Claire wants to go with them; After all it’s her baby and she let her take him. {Red streak can be seen in Claire’s hair from her head injury.}
Claire-{Hits Charlie} “Don't tell me what to do, okay!”
He tells her to calm down.
Claire feels this is her fault and she’s going and he can't stop her! Charlie whispers to her it’s alright. She starts to calm down but cries, “Get him back, Charlie. Get Aaron back.”
Charlie-“Aaron?“
Charlie promises to get him back.
We get a shot of the black smoke.


Walt and Michael are sitting, waiting at the airport. Walt is very focused on playing his video game {Like GBA}.
Michael asks him if he wants something to eat but Walt doesn’t even acknowledge him. “I guess that's a no, then. If you're worried about Vincent, he going to be okay, man. Dogs fly in the luggage compartment all the time. Alright, I've got to call work, right over there. Don't go anywhere, okay?”
Walt complete ignores him but then watches him walk away.
Michael is talking on a pay phone. “No, I live in a studio apartment. I've got to be out the door in the morning for work by 5am. Who's going to watch him? How's he going to get to school? What's he going to do after school? I can't do this, ma… You know, I was…listen, I was thinking, um … I was thinking maybe you could take him...Look, ma, if it's a question of money, I... {Locke is wheeled by in the wheelchair} Doh! What am I supposed to do with him? He's not supposed to be mine. He was never part of the plan. Yeah, I... Thanks a lot.” {He hangs up and turns around and there’s Walt just standing there.} Hey, man, I was, uh... “
Unfazed Walt-"I need new batteries." {Okay, important info! All those things Michael says are very telling. For a man who claims to be a Father who "wants" his child is pretty quick to pawn him off already, because Walt was never supposed to be his anyway!}


{Flash Whoosh}
Michael looks at Walt on the raft. Dad asks if he’d like to try steering; he can drive for a while. Walt is happily surprised.
Michael-“Absolutely. Okay now, look, the most important part of this boat is the rudder. It's how you steer. You turn it gradually, nothing sharp, okay. Push it this way.“
He guides Walt.
Walt-“Where are we going?”
Michael-“Look, {shows Walt a ‘compass’ or GPS} so, we're going approximately North by Northeast. So, hopefully that puts us into a shipping lane, or we hit some land.”
Walt-“What do I aim for?”
Michael-“See that cloud on the horizon, right there? Aim for that."
Walt asks why Michael and his mom didn’t stay together.
Dad explains they tried, “It just didn't work out, so… our lives, our interests… we just went in different directions.”  He also explains Walt never saw him because mom didn’t want him to. “She did what she thought was best for you.”
Walt-“She was wrong.”
The raft hits something and the rudder breaks. Michael says they hit a log, lost the rudder and it’s sinking. He starts directing to stop the boat; just pull the sail down.
Sawyer drives in and swims for the rudder. Walt is upset. They use a rope to help Sawyer but the rudder is sinking. Sawyer can’t reach the rope. Jin says something in Korean.
Michael tells Sawyer to “Tie it around the rudder, we'll pull you in.” And they do.
Michael pulls Sawyer up and says, “C'mon, buddy. You just saved our ass, buddy.”
But he catches a glimpse of Sawyer’s gun wrapped in his shirt. Annoyed Michael gives Sawyer his shirt, “You should put that back on before you burn.”

Jack helps Kate put on her backpack very carefully. Kate apologizes to him but Jack feels it’s all the luck of the draw. Locke informs them the sun sets in 90 minutes, give or take, so they have to hustle if they’re going to get back to the Hatch. Meanwhile they’re all moving cautiously and slowly.
Jack-“Okay, this is how we do this. I'll lead. Kate, you're right behind me, then Hurley. John, you bring up the rear. If you start to see me heading the wrong way... “
Locke-“We should stagger our formation keep a safe distance from each other.”
Jack-“Alright, we stagger. If anyone hears anything or sees anything... “
Hurley-“Like the security system that eats people?”
Jack-“Yeah, like that. You two, you take your packs off, you put them down and you run. You got it?”
They got it.
Jack-“Okay, let's do this.”
They walk single file into the jungle very slowly and carefully.

The group arrives as the caves. Shannon looks up to where Boone died.
Sun tells sad Shannon {sitting with Vincent} her brother Boone died bravely. {Shannon thanks her.
Sun-“Do you think all this… all we've been through...do you think we're being punished?”
Shannon, wonders, punished for what?
Sun-“Things we did before. The secrets we kept, the lies we told.”
Shannon-”Who do you think is punishing us?”
Sun-“Fate.”
Distraught and in shock Claire states, “No one's punishing us. There's no such thing as fate.”

Sayid and Charlie are moving very fast over a rocky area. Sayid wants Charlie to keep up because they’re losing the light. Fast Sayid pulls ahead of Charlie. We see the black smoke.
In the jungle Charlie falls behind and calls out looking for Sayid. Sayid calls from the distance, “Over here!”
Sayid notices Charlie can hardly breathe so they’re going to rest, although Charlie doesn’t want to. Sayid states matter of fact, in another mile Charlie’s going to collapse; they’re going to take a break. They are at the fallen overturned drug plane.  
Out of breath Charlie asks if this is where Boone fell.
Sayid-“The plane was up there.” {He tossed Charlie a bottle of water.}
Charlie-“Where did it come from?
Sayid-“Based on the maps inside, Nigeria.”
Charlie-“Anyone on board?"
Sayid-“Two men dressed as priests.
Charlie-“Priests?”
Sayid- “Drug runners in disguise. {Tosses a statue over to him and it breaks open. {The sound it made was just like the one from Locke’s vision with Boone in Deus Ex Machina.} The plane was loaded with heroin. {He picks up his backpack.} Alright, now we go.”
Charlie stares down at the heroin. {It seems as if they were stopped there only long enough for Sayid to show him the drugs and not to rest.}


The “Dynamite team” carefully makes their way through the jungle and over a stream. Hurley asks Locke what he thinks is inside that hatch thing.

Locke-“What do you think is inside it? {Ummm, can you wish for something?!}
Hurley-“Stacks of TV dinners from the 50's, or something. And TVs...with cable, some cell phones, clean socks, soap, Twinkies! You know, for dessert, after the TV dinners. Twinkies keep for, like, 8000 years, man.”
Locke chuckles, “I like Twinkies, too.”
Hurley asks what he really thinks is inside.
Locke- chuckles again, “Hope. I think hope's inside.” {Listen to him there.}
As they walk on, a giant bird screeches and flies away.
Hurley feels “Whoever named this place Dark Territory? Genius.”
The clicking {adding machine type} sound of the monster can be heard. {Note vibrant color flowers.} Jack and Kate see a stream of black smoke fly through the jungle. {You can hear the flutter of large wings.}
Kate acknowledges to Jack she saw it and they’ve got to get out of there. Locke stands fixated and waiting. There is a loud bird screech, more wings flapping and then the ground explodes open, shiiiiing, metallic sounds like heavy doors/gates/ crumbling-folding in metal, releasing the monster. The group hurries away, {Jack removes his backpack} except for Locke. Locke puts his pack down and excitedly follows the giant “footsteps” and growls. Jack calls out to him and for a second is torn on which way to run; With Kate and Hurley or to get Locke.
Jack ops to go after Locke; who is following the monster. {Listen to the sounds here. Now there’s like an engine winding up or down.}
The monster sounds quiet down and Locke stands still. All of a sudden the ground explodes right next to Locke, knocking him down. {The sounds are the clackity/clickty clack of a crank, ratchet, chain and pulley.}
Locke now seems afraid and he tries to get away from it. {Now the sounds add a small engine (fan) plane flying, propellers, chink, clanging, either a scream or something like a hog-pig squeal and pings.}

Jack runs after him.
Kate and Hurley realize Jack isn’t there.
The clicky clack of the monster pulley is pulling Locke by his legs. He is calling out as Jack runs after him.
Jack dives onto the ground and grabs hold of Locke before the monster can drag him down into a hole in the ground. Jack tells Kate he needs the dynamite. {Kate takes off her backpack} No, no, it's in my pack. Just go get it. Hurry, go. John, John.”
Locke-"Let me go. Just let me go. I'll be alright."
Jack refuses to let Locke go.
Locke-“Let me go. I'll be alright.”
Kate tells him to “Hang on. I've got it.”
Jack-“Careful unwrapping it.” Then he wants her to throw it in.
Locke- “No!”
Kate’s concern is it'll blow them up.
Jack-“Just hurry, I can't hold him.”
Locke begs her not to.
Jack commands her, “Throw it in… now, Kate!”
Kate throws the dynamite in. There’s an explosion and a cloud of black smoke rises up way behind Locke. Jack and Kate pull Locke up. {Where is Hurley this whole time? Plus Kate did NOT take her backpack off when she ran! (She's supposed to have the dynamite in her pack. Did you hear whispers here at all?)


On the raft we see Jin's watch on the language/character notes Sun made for him Michael asks Jin about the notes Jin’s wife made for him.
Jin, “Sun.”
Michael-“She sounded it out, huh? So you could learn English?”
Michael-“Yeah, I wish she had made one for me. So what words are in here? English words… what can you say?”
Jin-“Ah, um, starboard, aft, port, sail, eat.
Michael- “Right. She did you well. I hope you know how lucky you are, man. {Jin fixed the rudder} Back in business? Alrighty. {Michael gives the watch back to Jin} Oh, hey, it's yours."
Jin offers the watch to him, “You.” Michael thanks him.

Sun made depressed Claire some tea. She thinks Aaron is a beautiful name, “What does it mean?” Claire doesn’t know what it means.
Sun-“They will bring him back.”
Claire-“Don't say that.”
Sun-“They will.”
Claire-“How do you know that?”
Sun feels it’s because Charlie said he would bring her baby back.

Charlie and Sayid run through the jungle. Charlie sees a blanket on the ground and is happy to grab it. Sayid warns him to wait. It is a trap! A log was wrapped in the blanket and net filled with rocks falls on him. Charlie is cut above his left eye and it’s bleeding; they need to put pressure on it. Charlie is in pain; he calls Danielle an animal. Sayid explains she’s been here for 16 years so she’s learned how to set traps quickly. “Okay, let's have a look. It's too deep. It's bleeding too much. You're going to have to go back.”
Charlie-“No, I'm not going back. You're going to have to fix it.”
Sayid-” I'm not a doctor.”
Charlie-“You're a soldier. What do people do when you get wounded? I'm not going back without that baby, Sayid.”
Sayid preps a remedy from gunpowder. He  has Charlie remove the towel and tilt his head back. He pours the gunpowder onto the wound. Charlie grunts/growls out in pain.
Sayid takes out a match and tells him, “This is not going to be pleasant. You ready?...1-2-3.”
Sayid puts the match on the gunpowder and Charlie screams.


Hurley is sound asleep in a hotel room. He wakes up to find the alarm clock and lamp aren’t working; seeing that an electrical outlet has literally burned out. He freaks out because he’s running LATE!


As he’s packing he calls down to the desk telling them he needs his car, he can’t miss his flight as tomorrow is his mom’s birthday.











Hurley runs to the elevator, pushes the ‘down’ button, but it is full. He spots the exit and runs toward it!
Charlie in the elevator yells, “Some of us have a bloody flight to make.”
Hurley politely runs through the lobby.












He drives his car to the airport, but it breaks down. He is freaked!
A plane flies overhead.
He runs to the airport...










Hurley politely runs through the airport.
At the check in counter the ticket agent is checking him in. He'd like her to hurry this up. "My mom's birthday is tomorrow...or, today... I don't know. I don't really get the whole time change thing, but I've got to make that flight."
The ticket agent tells him she's "going as fast as the system will allow me, dear. You're confirmed for seat 20G. However, the airline has a policy that a man of your size must purchase two tickets."
After a moment of discussing him and weight, Hurley has her book the one next to him. He's informed his flight is already boarding in the Oceanic international terminal and they're in the domestic terminal, "I don't think you're meant to make this flight, dear."


Hurley politely runs through the airport lugging his two bags, down stairs, up the escalator and all the way to the front of the security checkpoint line. He excuses himself, as this is an emergency and he's got to cut through. {NOTE: At this point is only has 1 suitcase!}

Security demands he get to the back of the line. Hurley leaves.
We see Arzt is in line complaining about a passenger taking out his computer.
Hurley notices an old guy on a motorized scooter and offers him $500 to borrow it.
The old man confesses he just had a hip replacement, "I need this thing"{He's wearing a CRAZY 8's Casino (dice) hat.}
Hurley-"OK, 1600 bucks."
Hurley scooters, excusing his way through the airport, passing a girls soccer team with the "numbers" on the back of their shirt. He gets to the gate as they are closing the door.
Hurley crashes into the seats and yells, "Hey, hold it. Hold the door. Hold the door. Hold the door. I've got to get on this flight."
The gate agent tells him the jetway's closed.
Hurley-"Please, for the love of all that is good and holy in the world, let me on this plane." He feeds the ticket into the machine.
The agent says alright, one second and picks up the phone, "Hunter, this is Jenna, we've got one more... ta. {to Hurley} This is your lucky day"
Hurley gives Jenna a big hug.

At night, Hurley is walking in the jungle whispering 15, 16, 23, 42, 4, 15, 16, 23, 42, 4, 15, 16, 23, 42, 4, 15, 16. . . He takes a HUGE breath where 8 should be.
Kate asks if he said something, "I thought I heard 23."
He asks if that number, 23 means something to her.
Kate-"The guy who called the Feds on me back in Australia, did it for a 23,000 dollar reward. Mean something to you?"
Hurley-"Nah, it's just a number. We better catch up...can barely see them."
Locke- "We shouldn't be this close to each other, Jack."
Jack-"If we blow up, we blow up. What the hell was all that about back there, John?"
Locke- What was what about?"
Jack-" You asked me to let you go"
Locke-" That's right."
Jack-"That thing was taking you down the hole and you asked me to let you go"
Locke-"It wasn't going to hurt me."
Jack-"No, John, it was going to kill you."
Locke-"I seriously doubt that."
Jack-"Look, I need for you...I need for you to explain to me what the hell's going on inside your head, John. I need to know why you believe that that thing wasn't going to..."
Locke-"I believe that I was being tested."
Jack-"Tested?"
Locke-"Yeah, tested. I think that's why you and I don't see eye-to-eye sometimes, Jack ... because you're a man of science."
Jack-"Yeah, and what does that make you?"
Locke-"Me, well, I'm a man of faith. Do you really think all this is an accident. That we, a group of strangers survived, many of us with just superficial injuries?
Do you think we crashed on this place by coincidence, especially, this place? We were brought here for a purpose, for a reason, all of us. Each one of us was brought here for a reason."
Jack-"Brought here? And who brought us here, John?"
Locke-"The Island. The Island brought us here. This is no ordinary place, you've seen that, I know you have. But the Island chose you, too, Jack. It's destiny."
Jack-"Did you talk with Boone about destiny, John?"
Locke-"Boone was a sacrifice that the Island demanded. What happened to him at that plane was a part of a chain of events that led us here...that led us down a path, that led you and me to this day, to right now."
Jack-"And where does that path end, John?"
Locke-"The path ends at the Hatch. The Hatch, Jack, all of it... all of it happened so that we could open the Hatch."
Jack-"No, no, we're opening the Hatch so that we can survive."
Locke-"Survival is all relative, Jack.
Jack-"I don't believe in destiny."
Locke-"Yes, you do. You just don't know it yet. "




Walt is sleeping on the raft. Sawyer is at the radar equipment. He and Michael share concerns about turning on the equipment every hour and running out of battery. They're 15 miles out. They turn it on because Sayid said "every hour" and get nothing; 5 minutes, no more.


Sawyer-"Aye, aye. You know what I like about you, Mike? You've got the patience of a saint"
Michael-"Yeah? Why do you say that?"
Sawyer-"I've seen the way he talks to you, the way he runs around, does whatever the hell he wants. I'd have showed him the back of my hand a long time ago."
Michael-"You would, huh?"
Sawyer-"A hell of a lot cheaper than a shrink."
Michael-"Is that what your father did to you? Show you the back of his hand?"
Sawyer-"My daddy never got a chance to beat me. He shot himself when I was 8."
Michael-"Is that why you want to die, man?"
Sawyer-"What?"
Michael-"Since the day you told me you wanted on this raft, I couldn't figure it out. Why does a guy who only cares about himself want to risk his life to save everyone else? The way I see it, there's only 2 choices...you're either a hero or you want to die."
Sawyer-"Well, I ain't no hero, Mike."
There's a blip on the radar screen; it starts beeping.
Sawyer- "Is that what I think it is?"  {What do you "think/wish" it is?}
Michael is concerned,"Something's out there although they don't see anything out there.

Locke sits in his wheelchair at the gate while people are boarding the plane. Jenna apologizes to Locke because the special wheelchair they use for loading the disabled passengers is..."no one knows where it is and unless they find it, they're not sure they can get you on."
Concerned Locke knows there's not another fight until tomorrow. Another attendant suggests they carry him on. So they carry him on and deliver him to his seat. {Note crutches in on the plane.} Michele tells him if there's anything he needs he can just press the call button. Locke takes a flight safety brochure out of the seat pocket and it falls. Unfortunately he cannot reach it to pick up.

Locke, Jack, Kate, and Hurley arrive at the Hatch. Locke wants Hugo to take the extra sticks back a couple hundred yards.
Hurley asks for the flashlight, "Because, uh, the torch with the dynamite thing, that's not making a whole lot of sense to me."
{Locke calls Hurley, Hugo! Jack and Kate don't even flinch!}
Jack hands him the flashlight and takes the torch.
Hurley leaves.
Locke has Kate run the fuse while he and Jack will rig the charges.

In the distance we see the smoke is coming from a fire on the beach. Charlie wonders what that is. {This fire burns on a beach not inland/jungle.}
Sayid-"There's no footprints, no tracks"
Charlie's curious, "This is it? This is the black smoke? Where are they?"
Sayid doesn't know. They hear a baby cry.
Charlie-"She's here."
Sayid calls out for Danielle and Charlie demands she come out right now. They hear Danielle crying.
Sayid-"Danielle! I can hear you, come out. Please, he needs his mother."
She comes out.
Sad and dazed Danielle tells them, "They were not here."
Sayid-"Danielle, you have to give us the baby."
Danielle cries-"I just wanted my Alex back. I thought if I gave them the baby..."
Sayid tells her it's okay he knows; he takes the infant and hands it over to Charlie.
Charlie-"I've got him. There never were any Others. You started the fires yourself."
Danielle-"No, I heard them whispering."
Charlie-"You're a nut job. You heard nothing."
Danielle-"I heard them say they were coming for the child. The Others said they were coming for the boy."
Charlie-"You're pathetic."
Danielle just cries.

On top of the Hatch Locke and Jack set the up the explosives.{Like a pyramid/triangle.}
Locke-"Wire. Hold that end. Now the fuse." {He wires the 3 together.}
Jack will do it. Kate lets him know this is as far as it goes.
Locke-"It's far enough. I'll light it. You take cover, there'll be enough burn time for me to get clear."
Jacks calls out for Hurley.
Annoyed Kate asks Jack, "So, what was that about back there?"  About him putting the dynamite in his pack.
Jack-"I made a judgment call."
Kate-"We drew straws."
Jack-"Sorry, I'm not going to let drawing straws make decisions like that for us, Kate."
Kate-"You had no right to make that choice..."
Jack-"Everybody wants me to be a leader until I make a decision that they don't like. You want to keep second guessing me, Kate? That's your call. There's something that you need to know... if we survive this, if we survive tonight...we're going to have a Locke problem. And I have to know that you've got my back."
Kate-"I've got your back."
Locke asks them, "Are we ready?"
Hurley wants them to wait a sec. He drops his flashlight on the Hatch and sees the "numbers".
Hurley runs, yelling, "No, no, no! Stop! Stop, we can't do this! Stop! Wait! Stop we can't do this! Stop it! Stop it! We can't! Stop! Don't light it! We can't do this! We can't do this. Stop! Wait! You've got to stop it the numbers are bad!"
Locke lights the fuse.
Hurley-"Stop! What are doing?! Why did you do that?! The numbers are bad! The numbers are bad!...."
He tries to stamp out the fuse.
Jack tackles him just before the hatch explodes!

The beeping continues on the radar screen. Sawyer wants the flare gun because it's closer. Jin points to his two eyes indicating he doesn't see anything. Michael's concerned because he only has one flare. Sawyer wonders what they're expecting to see, "In case you haven't noticed, it's dark."
Walt asks if it's a ship.
Michael tells "Little man" they don't know.
Jin asks Starboard or Port. Michael figures out-Port.
Jin says something to him in Korean and Michael totally understands him and answers, "What am I supposed to do about that?"
Sawyer tells Han and Chewie to slow down a second and talk to me here; they have to fire the flare. Michael says it could anything; a piece of floating junk. He doesn't even know if Sayid's radar works.
Sawyer-"Have you ever known that guy to fix something up that don't work?" {Huh?!}
Walt yells "It's moving away."
Sawyer-"Floating junk that knows how to steer, huh?"
Michael-"We are moving. It doesn't make..."
Sawyer asks if he's gonna give him the gun, or is he going to have to take it. Walt warns them it's almost gone! Michael decides to go ahead and fires the flare. Jin lowers the sail.
They watch it launch. Walt informs them it's coming back. They're all happy.
Jin tells them, "Shhhh."    Points to his ear indicating for them to listen. {I only hear the sound of the waves/water.}
Out of the complete darkness a bright light turns on; they shield their eyes.
They are happy and wave to the light!
A bearded man is on a shitty boat.
Two men and a blond woman are with him. He asks what they are doing that far out there. Michael tells them a plane crashed and they were on the island for months. {Or did he say a month?} He rambles on about flight 815 and the group of people on the island. The bearded man in unimpressed but amused, says it's a good thing they found them. The bearded man informs them they're gonna have to take the boy.
Michael asks what's going on here, "Who are you people?"
The bearded man just wants him to give them the boy.
Sawyer is pissed. Michael is not giving him anybody. Sawyer quietly reaches for the gun tucked in his back waistband.
The bearded guy says, "Well, alright then." {There is a gunshot}
Sawyer pulls his gun out and a man shoots Sawyer. He falls in the water; Jin goes in after him. A man snatches up Walt. Walt is screaming for his dad to help. Michael tries to fight off the man but gets thrown in the water. Walt is screaming for "Daaaad!"
The blond woman tosses a Molotov cocktail onto the raft; it explodes.
The shitty boat pulls away with screaming Walt.
Michael screams out for "Waaaaaalt!"

Claire waits in the caves. Sayid and Charlie enter victorious and hand Claire Aaron.
Charlie has a Virgin Mary Statue in his pocket.
Claire boards the plane. Sawyer, Jack and Charlie, Sayid, Jin {has the watch}, Sun, Michael and Walt all board the plane. On board Sayid looks at a picture of Nadia. Boone gives Shannon her inhalers.
Hurley makes the flight! He gives thumbs up to Walt {Playing a video game} as he walks by him. Hurley puts his headphones on and reads his comic book. Arzt helps Claire with her bags.

At the open Hatch, Locke and Jack look down into the very long dark hatch with a broken ladder.





Exodus is a GREAT episode!!
The conversation Arzt has with Hurley made me feel like nobody else exists there except for the main survivors/Losties.
We see that they all have something to carry, but it seems that it’s mostly emotional baggage and baggage of past wrongs.
Locke and his comfort with the “monster” is interesting but not surprising. He isn’t afraid and wants to go with it.
What I hear Michael say in the "Flash" sticks with my thoughts of Michael only being a "figure" in Walt's life, not "father".
I feel that even here in the first season we are seeing their "lives" having been lived already, done before. Their actions and words seem to show that they are very familiar with the "Island", its places on it and their roles on it.
My next post will be my thoughts and theory on what's going on up to this point. This episode had so much going on!

Things to Note...Questions to ask... 
✈ Eyes. Eye color.
✈ Cuffs. Shackles. Slaves. Prisoners.
✈Head- “All in your head.” Certifiable. Insane. Crazy. Nut Case. Shrink.
✈ Listen. Hear.  Look.  See.
✈ Dream. Sleep.
✈ Electronics/ Wire. Speakers. Headphones. Timer. Clock. Button.
✈ Video Game. Games. Operation. Quest. Safe. Survival. Mission. Lead.
✈ Deliver items/people. Take/retrieve items/people. Kidnap.
✈ Value. Redemption. Owe. Trade.
✈ Hit. Fly. Aim.
✈ Computer. Net. Languages/characters. Log. Numbers. Terminal. The System. Written. Written out/scripted.
✈ Time. Waste time. Timer.
✈ Test= Examination. Experiment. Investigation. Check. Analysis. Trail. Assessment. Challenges.
✈ The numbers are all around Hurley,
✈ Hurley feels he is bad luck. Draw Straws. Good Luck. Fate.
✈ Drugs. Poison.
✈ Danielle takes Aaron. The Others take Walt.
✈ There's NO footprints, no tracks.
✈ Destiny.
✈ The Path.  Light. Journey.
✈ How does Locke know so many details about the Black Rock? {Among other things too.} Hmmm?!
✈ Locke absolutely loves to play games, indeed!
✈ Locke and Hurley "almost" don't get on the plane.
✈✈The sounds associated with the “Monster” aka “Security System” are crazy. There is not one distinct characteristic of it. It seems to layer sounds on top of one another. Flutter/flapping of large wings, loud screech, shiiiiing, metallic sounds like heavy doors/gates/ crumbling-folding in metal, giant “footsteps”, growls, there’s like an engine (fan) winding up/down, clackety/clickity clack of a crank, ratchet, chain and pulley, small engine plane flying, propellers, chink, clanging, either a screams or something like a hog-pig squeals and pings, then the ground explodes open. But one thing is for sure…it sounds machine based.


Vocabulary and Research…
* Aaron: means mountain.
* Mozambique- Portuguese is spoken there.
* Handle: Grip.
-To operate something.
-To take charge of something.
-Be the manager of someone. To lose your temper. To deal with something/somebody.
- In Gambling it’s the total sum of money bet on a race/series of races or other event. 
- In computing- a particular kind of smart pointer.
- A Pseudonym used in a communication system.
-  User- a pseudonym used within an online system.
- Handel-C a programming language.
- Handle System-a system for uniquely numbering digital objects. Most well known application is in digital object identifiers.
* Redemption-
Redemption value- price of a security before its maturity date
Redemption game-a type of arcade game that rewards the player according to their game score.
- Microsoft Outlook Redemption , a tool to work around limitations imposed by the Outlook Security Patch.
*Clique- 1). in society 2). Ruling clique in politics
Clique (graph theory) in graph theory or the related clique problem.
Click (Heart sound) a concept in cardiology.
-ClickPoint and Click-a gesture made with a computer input device such as a mouse. 
- Klik-a type of visual computer programming.
- Klick (fictional species), an alien race in the Alternity role playing game.
 -Klick-kilometer (U.S. military slang)
*Bjorn- Björn (Swedish and Icelandic), Bjørn (Norwegian and Danish), Beorn (Old English) or, rarely, Bjôrn, Biorn, or Latinized Biornus, is a Noridc male given name meaning "bear" (the animal).
- In J.R.R. Tolkin's Middle-earth legendarium, Beorn was a shape-shifter (a "skin-changer"), a man who could assume the appearance of a great black bear.

This episode had hints to people and the direction they are taking and/or should be taking or are being guided to take.  Where does the path lead?  Are Jack and Locke getting closer or further away from their destiny?
Exodus...Mass departure...Does someone usually 'lead' an exodus? Hmmm?!? There seems to be a few people vying to lead. With that said, I wonder if we do have someone who is the leader.  I’ll leave season one with this…This may be Locke’s game but what is Hurley's very important function in this place? Who or what is "the Island"?

Love to all who are "LOST"™

Exodus Part 1

Posted on MySpace July 18, 2007

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.