The Candidate

Let's talk about LOST!   The Candidate.

Dr. Jack Shephard wakes up Mr. Locke from his surgery.   Locke's eyes slowly open to blurry vision and then clarity.
Jack-"Mr. Locke, can you hear me? {Jack smiles} Welcome back."
Locke, who is on oxygen, realizes he knows him. Jack replays them being on the same flight from Sydney and how Locke lost his knives.  He explains to Locke that he was rundown by a car and just came out of surgery {Dural sac ruptured) but he thinks he got everything back where it belongs.  Jack uses his penlight to look at Locke's pupils and also reveals that while was operating he got a look at the initial injury to his spine and put him in a wheelchair.  Jack was hoping Locke could tell him how that happened because he feels he's a candidate for a new surgical procedure they're developing and if it works it could restore feeling to his legs, in fact he may even walk again. Jack seems pleased.
Jack-"If you'll give me a shot, Mr. Locke, I think that, that I can fix you."
Locke thinks about it for a few seconds and declines the offer. This response stuns the good doctor and he goes on to explain that there's minimal risk and the benefit...Locke cuts him off, "I said no." {He smiles.}
Helen barges into the room relieved to see John. This is the first time they let her see him. Indeed they are relieved to see each other. Very happy Helen thanks Dr. Shephard for saving him. {She kisses Jack on the cheek and hugs him tight} Locke smiles at this.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Jack opens his eyes/wakes up. He is in the outrigger.

Kneeling Sayid {working on a gun} welcomes him to Hydra Island. Jack is a bit confused.
Sayid-"At least you didn't have to paddle."

Over at the cages the Widmore team is setting up the pylons. Seamus and goons lead James, Frank, Hugo, Claire, Kate, Sun and Jin. Seamus demands James get in the cage but James there's no way he's going back in there, so he grabs dough boys rifle and a shot rings out a few feet away indicating Widmore's arrival. Widmore threatens Kate's life if James doesn't drop the gun. James feels Widmore isn't going to kill them because he's throwing them in the cages.
Widmore-"I have a list of names. Ford. You're on it. As are Reyes and the Kwon's. Kate Austen she's not.  It doesn't matter to me if she lives or dies."
Nervous Kate doesn't want James to listen to Widmore. James relinquishes the gun to Seamus and in return Seamus hits James with the rifle and throws him in the cage.
Widmore tells James, "You may not believe it but I'm doing this for your own good."
James-"You're right. I don't believe it."
Widmore asks one of his goons if the fence is "live" yet. He's told it will be in about an hour. Widmore doesn't have an hour and tells them to work faster.   Seamus looks nervous.
Widmore-"He's coming."

Bernard is crafting/working/drilling on a set of fake teeth.  He is so into his grinding away at the mold/impression that he doesn't hear Jack say "Hello" a few times.   Jack heard the drill, walked in and asks if the man knows where he can find Dr. Nadler.   Bernard removes his glasses and mask. {He doesn't have his doctor name on his white Dr. shirt.}
Bernard-"Well, you can find him right here. And if you're not a patient, you can call me Bernard."
Jack introduces himself as a surgeon at St. Sebastian and is hoping to get a look at one of Bernard's patient files.
Jack-"His name's John Locke. And our records said that you had done some emergency oral surgery on him about three years back."
Bernard-"And what are you looking for exactly?"
Jack-"I wanna know how he was hurt."
Bernard asks Jack why he's so interested in Mr. Locke. {He has a peace about him while waiting for Jack to answer.}
Jack explains he met Locke a week ago on the same flight back from Australia.
Bernard-"Oceanic 815.  I sat across the aisle from you. Memory serves you were flirting with my wife Rose when I was in the bathroom. It's pretty weird, huh?"
Jack is curiously stunned, "Yeah."
Bernard-"Maybe you're on to something here. Now I can't break patient confidentiality and tell you something I shouldn't. But I can tell you that when I treated Mr. Locke there was another man in the same accident with him." {Bernard writes something on a notepad.}

Jack-"Like that was three years ago, you just remember that?"
Bernard-"Of  course I do, Jack."
He hands Jack the paper and wishes him good luck, "I hope you find what you're looking for."
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Disoriented and confused Jack is still sitting in the outrigger asks Sayid what happened. Sayid informs him Widmore's people fired a mortar attack on them. "Locke saved you."
Sayid shares some water with Jack from his canteen. The rest of Sayid's group who weren't killed scattered into the jungle, "It's just the three of us now."
Jack-"Why did he bring me here?"
Locke appears and tells Jack it's because Jack's friends got themselves captured and now they're going to have to rescue them.
Jack-"Rescue them from what?"
Locke explains Widmore has them in a cage about a half a mile inland.   Jack tries to ask a question but Locke cuts him off, "You know I would ask him, except I don't think he's gonna give me a straight answer. But I can't imagine that his intentions are good. If we move right now we can break your people out run for the plane and be off this island before Widmore knows what hit him."
Locke arms up Jack and readies him for the mission.
Jack-"They're not my people. And I'm not leaving the Island."
Locke-"Well, Jack, I'm hoping you still change your mind about that. But your friends do want to leave, and since they just ran away from me, on my own boat, I'm gonna need your help convincing them they can trust me."
Jack-"Why should I trust you?"
Locke looks right in his eyes and reveals, "Because I can kill you, Jack. Right here, right now. And I can kill every single one of your friends and there's not a thing that you can do to stop me. But instead of killing you I saved your life, and now I wanna save them too. So will you help me?"
Jack contemplates while looking over at smirking Sayid and back at Locke.

James and Kate pace in the cage. James asks her, "Feel like we're running in circles back in these cages? 'Cept last time the gun was to my head." {And yes you fucking are!}
Kate insists he wouldn't have killed me.   James comes clean about the cave he told her about, the one where all the names were written.  "Your name was there too...but it was crossed out. He doesn't need you, Kate."
Jin and Sun chat about the baby who is with Sun's mother. Jin tells her about Widmore's people finding her camera on the plane and he showed Jin the pictures.  Jin thinks their daughter is so beautiful. Sun presents Jin with his wedding ring and places it on his finger.
The power is cut to the Hydra cage area where the lights and pylons were energized.  Seamus and goons find somebody cut the power and Seamus instructs a team to the generator now.  The monster sounds, breeze is heard.
Hurley-"And we're dead."
Smokey arrives and in its classic mechanical tic tack, clinking manor, takes out Seamus and the goons, all the while the Lostie's watch from the cages. Smokey even knocks over one of the travel sized pylons.
Kate struggles through the bars to reach the keys that are conveniently hanging out of Seamus' pocket. Hurley tells her to hurry because he feels, "When that thing's done with them he's coming for us."
Anxious Frank isn't waiting so he kicks at the door to his cage.
Kate still can't reach, but it doesn't matter because Jack shows up to help them all out.
Kate asks Jack what he's doing here.
Jack-"I'm with him." {Nodding in the direction of the mechanical smoke sounds}

Frank is leading the group to the plane; which is about a 1/4 mile just over the ridge. Kate seems a little excited as she asks Jack, "So you're coming with us now..."
Jack lets her know he's taking them to the plane but he's not getting on it, "I'm sorry Kate, I'm not meant to go."
Kate looks sad. James thanks the Doc for coming back for them. Everyone readies with their weapons when they hear something approaching. It's just Sayid.
Jack lets them know it's okay, "Sayid's with us. He's the one who turned off the generators."
James feels the more the merrier. They need to go because Locke's waiting.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
The woman at the desk is asking Jack if he's a relative of Mr. Cooper and what  the nature of his visit is. This is the SUN PALMS NURSING HOME.  Helen happens by with a tulip plant.  He confesses to her that he's there to see Anthony Cooper about the accident he was in with Mr. Locke. Jack asks if she knows him. This makes Helen curious and worried. She pulls him to the side and asks him to please go.   Jack tries to explain he's there to help "him".    John told Helen about the operation and he doesn't want it and  Jack wonders why.   Helen wants him to leave this alone, "You saved his life. Why can't that be enough?"
Jack replies with a bit of desperation in his voice,"Because it's not."
Helen leads Jack into a cafeteria with patients, while Housekeeping is being paged to call 23.
Jack seems surprised when Helen wheels over a catatonic Anthony Cooper; John's father. {He just stares and drools.}

{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Locke marches strongly over to the grounded Ajira plane.  The guards fire at Locke but their bullets have no effect on him.  He breaks the neck of one and shoots the other.  He takes the digital watch from one of the dead men and heads up the "Gilligan's Island" made steps into the plane.

On board he follows a set of Red, White and Black wires that connect to something.
Frank is happy when he arrives with the group to the plane and wonders what it will take to get this baby to fly.   James is first to see a dead guy.  Sayid examines the first body and determined his neck's been broken.  Locke walks out of the plane and admits he broke it. "If it's any consolation, Widmore knew that I would kill these men."  He goes on to explain they were only guarding the plane for show. If Charles had really wanted to keep Locke from actually getting on board he wouldn't have moved his little fences.
Hugo is puzzled, "Woah... wait, now he wants us to leave the Island?"
Locke-"No, Hugo. He wants to get us all in the same place at the same time... a nice confined space we have no hope of getting out of... and then he wants to kill us."
Apparently kill them with {He presents 4 bricks of C-4 from the backpack}.
Locke-"I found them in one of the overhead compartments, wired to the electrical system of the plane. If we would've turned it on... boom."
Jin-"So what now?"
Locke-"We can't be sure he didn't put more explosives on the plane. It's not safe. If we're gonna leave the Island, I think we have to take the submarine."
That's what James has been saying all along. Concerned Hugo states that "He's not supposed to leave the Island. I mean, Alpert said..."
James-"Screw Alpert. He ain't here. {says to Locke}That's twice you've saved our asses. Guess I was wrong about you."
Locke smiles and thanks him. "That submarine is gonna be heavily defended. We're gonna need everyone."
Jack will help him but he's not going with him. Locke feels that's fair enough.

Claire runs over to Locke and tries to apologize. Locke tells her its alright and he understands why she went with them.
Sawyer very quietly tells Jack,"Hey doc, listen up... you don't wanna leave this Island, that's your own damn business. But I'm gonna ask you for one last favor. I don't trust that thing one bit, so here's what I need you to do... once we get to the dock you make sure it doesn't get on the sub."
Jack-"How am I supposed to do that? You saw what it did back there."
Sawyer-"Just get it in the water I'll take care of the rest."

Over the PA we hear "CT test to Trauma 3. CT test to Trauma 3."
Jack is literally standing over Locke.
Jack-"Mr. Locke, are you awake?"
Locke  is sleeping but speaks, "Push the button."
Jack looks confused, "Mr. Locke, can you hear me?
Locke, still sleeping says, "I wish you had believed me."
In the distance Jack hears Claire's voice. She's in the hallway.  Jack leaves sleeping Locke and walks over to Claire.
Claire was just looking for Jack; the lawyer told her he worked there.

In a little break room Jack buys an Apollo bar from a vending machine.  He offers it to Claire but she declines.   Jack apologizes for having to run out of the will reading the other day, as he had an emergency.  Claire doesn't mind and notes this is as awkward for her as it is for him.  She tells Jack, "Never even met this man."   She has a white box.
Claire-"Anyway, the, uh, lawyer gave me this. She said, uh, there’d be more stuff to come, but that my father especially wanted me to have this."
She presents a pretty wooden box from the white cardboard box that is roughly the size and shape of a shoe box. {Box within a Box!} "Do you know why or what it's supposed to mean?"
Jack doesn't have any idea, "But, then…I, I didn't know about you either."
Claire asks how their father died.
Jack-"He was found in an alley outside a bar in Sydney. He drank himself to death. I flew down to bring his body back…but then, uh… the airline lost it."
Claire:-"I just flew in from Sydney a few days ago."    Yeah, last Wednesday; Oceanic flight 815, they're both puzzled.  Jack takes a look at the wooden music box that plays "Catch a Falling Star".

Jack-"I’m sorry. I...I wish I knew why he wanted you to have this."
Claire-Yeah, me, too. {puts it back into the white box} Well, um. It was nice seeing you again. Thanks for trying to help."
Jack- Where are you staying?
Claire-Uh, just down the road…a motel."
Jack-Why don't you come stay with me?"
Claire- "Stay with you? I mean, we're…we're strangers."
Jack- "No, we're not strangers. We're...we're family."
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Locke and his little armed group are staking out the sub. Locke puts the backpack down. {I only see one backpack}
James feels just ‘cause there ain’t any goons on the dock, doesn’t mean they ain’t on the sub so he calls the play. "We’re goin’ in hard. Got it? Lapidus, Hugo, Jin, Sun, you’re with me. The rest of you wait 30 seconds, head down the dock behind us. {to Jack and Locke} You think you two can get our backs?"
Jack-"Absolutely."
James-"All right. Let’s go home."
He heads down into the sub hatch and the rest follow. 
Over the intercom in the sub we hear "After engine room, power the bilges. After engine room, power the bilges, please."
James and Frank burst into a room demanding to know where the captain is.  They are led to the captain where Frank knocks out the guy who led them there.
Threatening James tells "Hoss" to get ready to fire this thing up.  Frank will guard the captain while James retrieves the rest of the group.
Locke hands Jack one of two backpacks and they head toward the sub.  Locke asks Jack if he's sure he won’t reconsider.   Jack is sure.
Locke-"Whoever told you, you needed to stay had no idea what they were talking about."
Jack-"John Locke told me I needed to stay."
Jack pushes Locke into the water.
Kate-"What happened?"
A shot is fired and Kate is hit in her left shoulder!  This makes Jack snap! He automatically flips into angry commando mode! {Just like at Dharmaville before the "Hydrogen bomb incident"}
There's a shootout.  Jack fires a rifle, then a handgun!
Sayid covers Jack while he carries Kate down into the sub.   Sayid calls out for Claire {who shoots a man out of a tree}
Sawyer hears the shootout.

Locke climbs out of the water onto the dock with his backpack and he is pissed off!  He's got some constitution!  He fires back at Widmore's men just like Jack did!   Claire is surprised.
Inside the sub Jack tells James Widmore’s people shot Kate and he tells Hurley  he needs a first aid kit.  James heads up top to get Claire who is still involved in the shootout.
James-"Claire!"
Locke turns and calls out, "James!" {turns and shoots an approaching bad guy} He seems concerned as he runs toward James.   James gives Locke the ol evil eye, abandons Locke and Claire on the dock, closing the hatch on them.
Inside the sub James yells out to Lapidus, "If you can hear me…DIVE! DIVE!"
Lapidus tells the Captain, "Let’s go!"    The sub starts moving out.

Claire sees the sub leaving, drops her gun and runs after the sub telling them to wait.  Locke stops her.
Down in the sub shocked Jack asks James what he's doing.
James-"What we came here to do…leaving."

Locke tells upset Claire it’s alright.
Claire-"No! They’re leaving us."
Locke-"No, trust me. You don’t want to be on that sub." {He mischievously grins a bit like the Cheshire cat and watches the sub move out.}

Inside the descending sub, bleeding Kate is upset Claire is still up there and has been left behind.
James is concerned about Kate, "Is she gonna be okay?"
Hurley can't find the first aid kit. This troubles Jack. {Yet it is right next to Frank's head! Is that kit written in black?}
Jack has Jin get his pack so he can get a shirt out of it to use for pressure.  Jack tells Kate to relax, everything will be OK. He thinks the bullet went straight through.  Jack reaches into the backpack and reveals a bomb with a digital watch for the timer, counting down; 3:54
Hurley-"Dude, where did that come from?"
Jack-"Locke…We did exactly what he wanted."
As the sub continues its descent Jack says they have to get to the surface.    Jin radios Frank to tell him to take them up.
Frank yells, "We're diving!"
Sayid has the bomb while Jack tends to Kate.
Hurley-"Dude, how'd that get on the sub?" {Are you fucking kidding me?! He just heard from Jack he said "Locke"}
Jack-"Locke put it in my pack!" 
Jin wonders why he would do that when he wanted to go with them.
James-"Damn right he did, that's why I shut his ass out!"
Jack-"He wanted you to shut him out!"
He asks Sayid how that thing works, "Can we shut it off?"
Sayid explains it's Jury rigged to the battery which detonates the explosives. It's at least five minutes until they're up, according to Frank.
James-"We ain’t got five minutes. What’s it gonna be Sayid?"
Sayid-"These wires...they’re leads from the watch. If we disconnect them from the battery, technically speaking, the bomb should be inert."
But you need to pull them out simultaneously and he's not sure...James moves him aside.
2:46 on timer.   Jack tells James to wait and not pull the wires out because he feels nothing is going to happen.
James feels if he doesn't pull the wires that Locke's gonna blow them to kingdom come.
Jack-"No, he’s not! Locke can’t kill us....This is what he wanted. {2:27} This is what he’s been waiting for.  Everything that he has done has been to get us here.  He wanted to get us all in the same place, at the same time, a nice, enclosed space where we had no hopes of getting out of."
Jin doesn't understand.
Jack-"Locke said that he can’t leave the Island without us. I think that he can’t leave the Island unless we’re all dead. He told me that he could kill anyone of us whenever he wanted. So, what if he hasn’t because he’s…he’s not allowed to. What if he’s trying to get us to kill each other?"
James-"Stay out of my way, doc."   {1:54}
Jack-"Now if he wanted that thing to blow up, why would he put a timer in it?  Why not just throw it inside?"
James doesn't care and Jack still feels nothing is going to happen.  But James feels it's not Jack's decision to make.
Jack insists "He can't kill us!"
James isn't going to stand there and do nothing.  Jack looks James in the eye wanting James to trust him that they're gonna be okay.  {1:35}
James-"Sorry, doc, I don’t."
James pulls all the wires from the timer and it pauses at 1:31 and then countdown runs faster.
Sayid needs for Jack to listen carefully. "There’s a well on the main island, half mile south from the camp we just left.   Desmond’s inside it.  Locke wants him dead, which means you’re going to need him. Do you understand me?"  {Technically they just left Hydra Island. lol}
Jack-"Why are you telling me this?
Sayid-"Because it’s going to be you, Jack."
Sayid grabs the bomb, runs down the hall and into another compartment and the bomb explodes!  The alarms sound.
The sub starts filling up with water.   Lapidus checks out what happened and is knocked down with a door that bursts off its hinges.
Sun is pinned against the wall with what looks like a metal box with wires poking out of it.   Jin tries to free her!  Sawyer tries to help him.  Jack instructs Hurley to get Kate out of there while he takes care of everyone else.   He gives Hurley an oxygen tank.
Hurley-"I have to go after Sayid?"
Jack-"There is no Sayid!…Listen to me. Take this tank and buddy-breathe and swim out where the blast hole is, okay? Hurley, you can do this, okay?'
Hurley listens.   Jack joins in trying to free Sun while the sub is sinking.
James-"Push!"
Jin-"One three."   1...2...3!    They remove the giant metal box but Sun is still trapped and James gets knocked out by a large piece that fell on his head.  Jack pulls him from the water.  The sub creaks and moans.
Jin works hard to free Sun but she wants him to go save himself.   Jin won't leave her at all, "I’m going to get you out of here."  He tells Jack to save unconscious James out of there and he'll get Sun free.
Jack gives Jin an oxygen tank because he feels he can get James out of there without it. {WTF?!}
Jin-"No, you can’t Jack….Just go!"
Jack knows he's "leaving them" and swims with Sawyer out through the blast hole up from the depths.
Jin tries to catch his breath while trying to free his wife and she begs him to go.
Jin holds her face," I won’t leave you....I’m gonna get you out of here."
Sun still begs him to go.
Jin says something in Korean and knows they're doomed, "I won’t leave you. I will never leave you again…{in English} I love you, Sun."  They kiss and hold each other.
Sun is crying, "I love you." {And add to that the heart wrenching music that has me crying like a damn baby!}

An orderly is pushing Locke down the hospital hall and wonders if someone is meeting him.  Locke confirms his fiancée, Helen. "She’s, um…{he sees Jin with white roses and does a double take at him. You see Jin get let into the room behind Locke}…probably stuck in traffic….Hey, I’ll take it from here. I’m pretty good at this."
The orderly wishes him the best of luck and Locke thanks him.
Jack is happy he caught Locke, "I hadn’t have a chance to say goodbye yet."
Locke-"Well, goodbye…and thanks again, Dr. Shepherd." {Shake hands.}
Jack confesses he went to see his father. Locke is shocked.
Jack-"When you didn’t want the surgery, I felt like I had to understand why…and, uh, I thought that if I could find out why you’re in this chair, that maybe…"
Locke-"I was in a plane crash. I had my, my private pilot’s license for a week, and, uh, I begged my father to be my first official passenger. He was terrified of flying.  But, I looked him right in the eye...I told him that he could trust me.  And we barely got off the ground. I still don’t re...I don’t remember what I did wrong, but it was my fault. It was my fault. This man, who I loved more than anything, will never walk, or talk or…"
Jack-"You know, the first time you and I met, uh, back at the at the airport…you told me that my father was gone...and, uh, it hurt to hear that, but I knew you were right. Your father’s gone, too, Mr. Locke."
Locke-"Uh, no, no, he’s not.
Jack-"Yes, he he is, and you can punish yourself as much as you want and that’s never gonna bring him back…What happened, happened…and…you can let it go."
Locke-"What makes you think letting go is so easy?
Jack-"It’s not. In fact, I don’t really know how to do it myself. And, that’s why I was hoping that…maybe you could go first."
Locke laughs through his tears, "Goodbye, Dr. Shephard." 
Jack calls out to him, "I can help you, John…I wished you believed me."
Locke stops, seeming to let that register and then wheels off.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Jack pulls James to the beach and is relieved when James breathes.
Kate-"Jack…I couldn’t find you. I couldn‘t find you."   They hug.
Hurley asks if James is okay and Jack tells him he got hit pretty hard, but he’s breathing.
Kate-"What about Jin and Sun."
Jack shakes his head indicating they didn't make it.
Kate and Hurley cry hard from this loss.
Jack walks away from them and stands at the water's edge and cries.

Locke is standing on the dock looking out to the water, he tells Claire, "It sunk." {He sounds a bit sad}
Claire-"What, the submarine? They…they were all on it, everyone…What? They’re…they’re all dead?"
Locke- "Not all of them."   Now he seems angry; he takes his backpack and rifle.
Claire-"Wait. Wh, where are you going?"
Locke-"To finish what I started."   This man on a mission walks away.




The Candidate is a GREAT episode!!!
What is going on in Locke's head and what is he seeing in his sleeping mind?
Locke is punishing himself from guilt and holding on to all that pain. He feels he obligated to stay paralyzed not only physically but emotionally.
I was very sad to see a few of our Lostie's move on but I expected it and expect even more loss.  In the off "Island" info of last week the Kwon's found what they were looking for and Sayid did too with his closure with Nadia, so he sacrificed himself in the game/journey.  In my opinion it's when those types of things happen, i.e. they find what they're looking for (love, closure, healing, forgiveness, letting go, over addiction, enlightenment, etc.) or in other instances a person is getting to close to unseating the leader or they aren't needed in the game/on the "Island"  any longer they are removed from the playing field and move on.   If one still doesn't find what they have lost then it seems you have to start all over from the beginning.


Things to Note...Questions to ask...
* Locke is indeed emotionally "paralyzed"
* Family. Relative.
* Same accident.
* Wires. CT scan. Head. Dreams. Subconscious.
* Mental and physical disabilities.
* Lapidus isn't on Widmore's list.
* Hurley can't find the first aid kit yet it is in the control room right next to Frank.
* We learned earlier this season that unconscious people can't hold their breath yet we see they are led to the surface from some very deep water.
* It was Sawyer's free will decision to call the shots on the sub mission and to pull the wires on the bomb. {Even if Locke knew he would do that.}
* Sawyer was wrong about getting that thing/Locke in the water.
* Alcoholics-Desmond, Christian, Jack.
* Locke doesn't seem threatened by the pylons and being in the water isn't a factor with anything.
* Does Locke have a thing for blowing up submarines?  He took C-4 from the Flame Station.
* There's always a way to go "further down below".    "The depths."
* In the "Pilot episode, part 1"  Jack admits to Kate to taking flying lessons but it wasn't for him.
* Could part or the entire adventure be part of a world of make believe, subconscious and/or altered state.

Willy Wonka:
Hold your breath. Make a wish. Count to three
Come with me, and you'll be, in a world of pure imagination.
Take a look, and you'll see into your imagination
We'll begin, with a spin, traveling in, the world of my creation.
What we'll see, will defy explanation
If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it. Wanta change the world? There's nothing to it.
There is no life I know, to compare with pure imagination
Living there, you'll be free... if you truly wish to be.

Vocabulary and Research...
* Dental impression: Accurate representation of a person's dentition and other areas of the mouth. From an imprint of a person's teeth and gums in wax or plaster, a dental impression forms a "negative" of those teeth and gums, which can then be used to make a cast or model. This may be used for the fabrication of dentures, crowns or other prostheses. Common materials used for dental impressions are sodium alginate, polyether and silicones - both condensation-cured silicones and addition-cured silicones, such as polyvinyl siloxane.
- A crown is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant and is typically bonded to the tooth using a dental cement.
* Tulips: is a poem by American poet Sylvia Plath about her experiences in a mental hospital. The poem was written in 1961 and included in the collection Ariel published in 1965.
- TULIP: Calvinism is a theological system and an approach to the Christian life. Calvinist theology is sometimes identified with the five points of Calvinism, also called the doctrines of grace.
- Tulip: is an information visualization framework dedicated to the analysis and visualization of relational data.



I don't know how else I can illustrate to you the metaphors and subliminal information that is displayed within the story. We are still shown the Castaways' journey to "this place" is necessary to heal their emotional and psychological  pain.   The "Island" adventure's challenges blur with "outside world" issues and events in an effort to reach some sort of resolve.

Not everything we see is totally black and white, nor are people and things always what we think they are.  The goal, besides one person being the victor of the "Island" journey and game, is for "balance" not only on the "Island" but within each "person".

One thing we can bank on is the game element.   Jacob and MIB is each other's adversary. Both of their aim is to prevent the other from achieving their goal.
Locke neatly sets it all up for us in Deux Ex Machina when describing a game he played with his brother.  It's wonderful when he explains the concept and goal of the game Mouse Trap that directly connects to what we've seen on the island.
Yes, of course the concept of chess is being played out, incidentally after all these years I really need to see who the Queen is in all of this.
I find it important to go back to the first game reference we were shown, Backgammon.
In the game of Backgammon the pieces are known as checkers, stones, men, counters, pawns, or chips.  It's interesting that the objective is to remove (bear off) all of one's own checkers from the board before one's opponent can do the same. 

Even though I always question if things are real or not, and give many examples and use descriptive analogy, it still is important to mention that until we know what the "Island" actually is, we're in the dark.  Ultimately it may be that the "Island" will represent different things to all of us.

Jack does see himself in Locke. This episode is one that I'll use as an example of an instance when Jack and John seem to be talking at themselves and not necessarily to each other.
Exploring the psychology of seeing the yin and yang of particular beings, i.e. Jacob and the MIB and also Jack and Locke, is part of the LOST story.  They do indeed at times have that intense opposition while maintaining such closeness. 

Locke is doing whatever he needs to do to win the game and to go home/leave.  I can totally see Locke doing some terrible maneuvers in this battle, but is there a chance at all that he is doing it to free as many of them as possible and in turn freeing himself?   Or is it all just evil, to kill for the sake of killing?
Is the greater good to end the game, to leave, or just replace the two main players?   Jacob feels it only ends once and I guess that will be when we see who will be the last one standing.

Locke and Jack know that letting go isn't easy.  Locke is ready to go home/leave- as a matter of fact Dr. Shepherd gives him permission to let go as he himself cannot "let go" just yet.    At this point Jack feels his destiny is the "Island" just as Locke once did. 
It's going to be Jack.
Will Jack learn to let go over the next few hours or will he be the one destined to stay bound to the "Island" to relive his misery over again...or worse?

Love to all who are "LOST"™

It's VERY important to revisit:
The Man from Tallahassee  {Locke and his issues with depression and Anthony Cooper. Plus he blows up the sub.}

Orientation 

There's no place like HOME.

Through the Looking Glass    {Sayid tells Jack he's willing to sacrifice himself}

Born to Run  {We see the MRI Magnetic Resonance Imagining sign}

Maternity Leave  {Sun mentions that a mother should never leave her child}

Some Like it Hoth

This image rang a bell with me when I saw the bandage on  Locke's head and visited Dentist Bernard.

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.

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.