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Showing posts with label wires. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wires. Show all posts

April 2, 2010

The Package

Let's talk about LOST!   The Package.

Locke's camp is being watched and heard via night vision goggles.   Sawyer offers a borderline catatonic Kate some pretend cocoa.  Locke {twirling a stick} asks Jin about his injured left leg and suggests he leave the bandage off so the air can do it some good. {That's good advice}
Cautious Jin, whose leg still hurts, says he'll try that.
Locke-"You mind if I sit down? {Jin nods OK} I know you and I haven't had time to talk, but I was wondering if James had filled you in on what I showed him at the cliffs." {Do you notice that Locke likes to sit Indian style/lotus}
Jin-"You mean the cave? The one with the names on the wall?"
Locke explains most of the names have been crossed off now. There are just a few left; Kwon is one of them. Jin wonders if that means him or Sun.  Locke isn't sure but feels what it does mean is that the only way they can leave the Island is if all the names that haven't been crossed off go together.
Jin is concerned because Sun is not there.  Locke confidently tells Jin to just take care of that leg, "I'm workin' on it."
Claire has been eavesdropping on the two men.

{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Jin and Sun are at the airport.  The customs officer is explaining to Jin in English that although he's returning him his suitcase and watch he is sorry but "Federal law says we have to confiscate the $25,000."
Jin, who doesn't understand English asks, "Confiscate?"
The officer tells him it means that if he wants it back he's gonna have to fill out the necessary paperwork. Jin is frustrated and mumbles in Korean; he wants the money.
The officer-"You can exit right over there, Sir."
Jin and Sun walk as frustrated Jin tells her he's already missed the meeting at the restaurant.
Sun asks Jin in Korean what the money was for.
Jin doesn't know,"Your father gave it to me right before we left. He told me to deliver it with the watch. I don't ask your father questions. I do what he tells me."

Jin and Sun are at the check in counter of the hotel. Sun hands the man some papers.
Sun-"Paik."
There is a reservation for Paik; a beautiful ocean view room for them on the eighth floor.
Jin understands him and says "Two room. Two! No marry. Kwon. Jin-Soo Kwon."
The man apologizes and after checking the computer he sees there is a separate room reservation for Kwon. Room 842. He welcomes them to Los Angeles.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Locke walks over to Sayid who is sitting on a log as he is chopping wood, to inform him he's leaving for a little while because he has an errand to run and will be back in the morning. He wants Sayid to keep an eye on the camp while he's gone.
Lethargic Sayid states, "I don't feel anything."
Locke-"Excuse me?"
Sayid- "Anger. Happiness. Pain. I don't feel it anymore."
Locke feels that maybe that's best because it'll help him get through what's coming.
Jin was keeping an eye on Locke and once Locke walks into the jungle Jin quickly gathers his things to leave. Sawyer asks "Hoss" what he's doing.
Jin-"I'm getting out of here before that thing comes back."
Sawyer-"What thing?"
Jin-"Locke. And you're just sitting around here listening to whatever he tells you..."
Sawyer-"I ain't listenin' to nobody! I already told you I have a deal with Widmore, so if you just..."
Jin-"It doesn't matter who you have a deal with! I've waited long enough. I'm going to find my wife."
Sawyer-"Find her where?!"
Jin-"Go back to the temple. And if she's not there I'll try the beach. But I will find Sun so stop trying to..."
Jin is hit in the chest with a tranquilizer dart!
Armed Sawyer and the rest of the camp are all put to sleep via the dart ambush.
The camp is swarmed with armed people sporting their night vision goggles. Seamus asks Zoe if this is the guy, referring to sleeping Jin, and it is so they take him.
Miles and Frank are playing cards on the beach.
Miles-"Play your card, captain."
Antsy Ben watches Ilana clean her rifle on the beach kitchen table and asks her "Now what?"  Ilana says now they wait for Richard to come back.
Ben-"You'll forgive my skepticism, but... the last thing Richard said before he went stomping off into the jungle was that we were all in hell and he had no idea what we were supposed to do next! In fact, I would bet money we never see him again!"
Purple shirt wearing Ilana feels Hugo will find him; he will track him down and bring him back.
Miles thinks that unless Alpert's covered in bacon grease, he's not sure Hurley can track anything.
Frank-"Hey, don't talk about bacon." {Hmm...Bacon from a boar. Can Frank transform or Hurley or...?}
Concerned Ilana shares that Jacob has never lied to her before. "If he said Richard knows what to do, then Richard knows what to do. He'll come back. And until then, we wait."
Frustrated Sun throws a piece of fruit, angrily stabs a knife into the table and she storms off. Jack watches her.
Sun is pulling up her garden. Jack shows up asking how the tomatoes are.
Sun-"Dead."
Jack remembers when she first planted this here. "Feels like a hundred years ago...You don't believe Alpert's coming back, do you?"
Sun doesn't care if he comes back. Jack wonders her thoughts on them being candidates.
Jack-"Hurley took me to a lighthouse. To Jacob's lighthouse. And there was a mirror. And all around it there were... there were hundreds of names written down."
Sun doesn't care about Alpert or about being a candidate.
Jack-"Sun... there was a reason why we were..."
Sun-"I don't want to hear about how this was our purpose or destiny! I just want you to go away and leave me alone!"
Jack leaves. Sun cries
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Jin knocks on the door of Sun's hotel room. {He looks around as if he's being watched} He is carrying the watch from her father that her father sent him halfway around the world to deliver. He's going to the restaurant.
Sun-"Will you come inside? I don't want to have this conversation here."
She mentions it's 11:30 and no one is going to be at the restaurant.   Jin feels he should still try.  Sun reminds him "this man" works for her father so it's not going to be a problem.  Jin wonders why she should care, he feels she's there for a shopping trip.
Sun seductively unbuttons the top button of her sweater, "Maybe you should tell me to button it... like you did on the plane?"
Jin-"It was a crowded flight... I didn't know who might be watching us.
Sun-"No one is watching us. So... do you want me to button it?"
Jin-"No."
This playful seduction continues on, button by button.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Sun is pulling the weeds in her garden and she cuts her right pinky. {On what?}
Locke appears, startling her.
He is there to inform her he found her husband. "I promised I would reunite you two... took me a little longer than I thought it would... but he's with my people, back at my camp across the island.  I can take you to him right now."
Sun doesn't believe him; he killed those people at the temple.
Locke-"Those people were confused. They were lied to. I didn't want to hurt them. Anyone of them could have chosen to come with me. And I'm giving you that choice, Sun... right now. I would never make you do anything against your will. I'm asking you. Please. Come with me. Jin's waiting."
He holds out his hand for her to take but Sun runs away. Locke runs after her "Sun, wait!"
Sun runs head on into a tree! {WTF?! She ran right into it!}
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Sun wakes in bed next to starring Jin. {He is in the sunlight side of the bed and she is in the shaded side}
She shares her idea that they should "run away".
{Oh really?! There's a perfect example of the on "Island" and off "Island" events blurring together.}
Sun tells Jin about her account and how she had this planned all along.  Jin seems troubled and feels it's forbidden.  Sun wonders if he's angry. He is not. They do want to be together, they love each other. As Sun is about to share something that Jin needs to know there is a knock at the door. It startles them.
Jin-"Who is that?"
Sun-"I don't know. I put out the sign..."
Jin-"Tell them you're sleeping."  {If she's sleeping how can she tell them that?!}
Jin hides in the bathroom while Sun checks herself out in the mirror.
It's Martin Keamy, a friend of her father's. Sun doesn't speak to him.
Keamy-"Mind if I come in?  I believe you've got something for me." He walks right in.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Sun is unconscious in the jungle.  Ben happens by and tries to wake her up. "Sun? Sun, can you hear me?"
Sun wakes up, her head hurts and but can only speak in Korean.  She is asking Ben "Where is he?...He was chasing me... he was here... I saw him. He was..."
Ben-"Slow down. Tell me what happened in English. Who did this to you?"
Sun-"Locke."

Locke returns to his camp {white smoke hovers around the site} and finds everyone is sound asleep/unconscious.  He removes a dart from Sayid and shakes his head to wake him up. He asks what happened. Groggy Sayid says they were attacked and he doesn't know by whom.
Locke is upset and asks where Jin is.

Jin wakes up in Room 23.  The room is appears almost rusty and wires are exposed. He is locked in. He flips a switch and the brainwashing video plays, he covers his ears from the sound/volume and quickly turns it off. {Wires, speakers, video, subliminal messages, flashing.}
Zoe is standing inside the room with him and remarks how that was weird.
Jin-"Where am I?"
Zoe-"It's called Room 23.  The Dharma Initiative was doing experiments on subliminal messaging in here.  But you know all about the Dharma Initiative... don't you, Mr. Kwon?"
in-"Why did you bring me here?"
Zoe-"Relax. You're safe."
Jin-"I'm leaving."
Apparently he's not because Zoe zaps him with a taser.
Zoe-"Sorry, but we went to a lot of trouble getting you here off of the other island. And I can't let you leave."
Jin-"What do you want from me?"
Zoe shows him a map. "These are grid maps that the Dharma people used to identify pockets of electromagnetism. Whoever signed these could really help me out. I know... I know the writing's difficult to read but... but it sure looks like it says Jin Soo-Kwon. So, is it you or isn't it?"
Jin-"You want answers to your questions? Then get me your boss. I want to talk to Charles Widmore."
Zoe tells him he's in luck because he'd like to talk to him too.

Locke asks Sayid if he's a good swimmer.  Sayid feels he's good enough.  That's works for Locke so he gives Sayid a gun, tells him to wrap it in plastic as to not get it wet.  They're taking the outrigger.
Locke notices Claire watching him and asks if something is wrong.
Claire-"Um... what you said to Jin... about the names on the wall? Told him you needed them all to get off the island."
She wonders if her name was on the wall and Locke informs her it wasn't.
Claire-"Then... it doesn't matter if I get on that plane then. You don't need me."
Locke-"No. That's not true, Claire. I need you. {he touches her} And there's plenty of room on that plane for all of us."
Claire-"When we go home, Aaron's not going to know me. Stranger to my own son. He thinks Kate's his mother. Was her name on the wall?"
Locke-"No, Claire... it isn't. Not anymore. But I need Kate."
Claire-"Why?
Locke-" Because I'm three people shy of getting off this island and Kate can help me get those people on the plane. But... once she does...whatever happens, happens." {Watch Claire take that in.}

Sawyer asks Locke what he and Sayid are doing with the guns,"You two goin' somewhere?"
Locke shares they're taking a boat ride over to the other island.
Sarcastic Sawyer asks, "What do you need a boat for? Can't you just turn into smoke and fly your ass over the water?"
Locke-"Do you think if I could do that I would still be on this island?"
Sawyer-"No, 'cause that would be ridiculous.What the hell are you goin' over there for anyway? Thought you were tryin' to avoid Charlie Widmore."
Locke-"They took one of our people, James. So I'm going to get him back."
{Sawyer looks as if something fishy is going on.}

Keamy looks at the really nice watch and wonders,"Your bodyguard is supposed to give me some money. Where's Mr. Kwon?"  
Sun-"No English."
There is a knock on the door. It's Omar. He checked Jin's room and he's not there.
Keamy has Omar check the bathroom when he realizes there are two champagne glasses on the nightstand. Jin has indeed been hiding in the bathroom.
Keamy thanks him for the watch but inquires {using hand gestures} about the envelope with the $25,000.
Jin communicates with Sun in Korean.  He asks "What can we do?"    Sun suggests they pay him some of their money.
Keamy is frustrated by the duo chatting in another language and tells them to "Stop it. Feel like I'm in a damn Godzilla movie. What's that guy's name, the Russian guy, speaks like nine different languages...Uh uh uh... Danny's friend?"   {Danny Pickett?}
Omar-"Mikhail."
Apparently Mikhail {The "Island" communication specialist} can communicate in Korean. {How fucking convenient.}
Keamy sends for Mikhail and demands Sun put her damn clothes on.

Mikhail sits with Sun and translates.
Sun-"The money was confiscated at customs. But I have money."
Mikhail-"She says the money her father gave them was taken at customs."
Of course this isn't Keamy's problem.
Sun suggests he let them go to the bank and they'll give it to him.
Keamy has Mikhail take Sun to the bank while he takes Casanova to the restaurant, then they'll meet there.
Jin begs Keamy in Korean to promise not to tell Mr. Paik about them.
Keamy-"What's he whining about?"    {Wine!}
Mikhail-"He wants you to promise that you won't tell her father that they are involved."
Keamy seems sincere and assures Jin, "Oh. Hey, don't worry about that. Okay, your secret, it's safe with me. Okay? Just bring me the money and then we could all live happily ever after, right?"
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Jack is checking out Sun's head injury. Ilana looks suspiciously at Ben.
Ben-"What? Oh, for the fourth time, I was gathering mangoes and she was already unconscious when I found her. Why won't you believe me?"
Ilana-"Because you're speaking."
Jack-"You gotta a pretty descent size bump, {What? Baby bump?! lol} it might be a slight concussion. You can understand what I'm saying? (Sun nods) But, you can only speak Korean."
Miles-"She hits her head and forgets English? Are we supposed to buy that?"  {Nope. We're not}
Frank-"Asks the man who communes with the dead."    {Should we ask Hurley?!}
Jack-"It might be Aphasia. It's um, a condition that's caused by trauma and it affects the language center of your brain. It's usually temporary. Sun, you're gonna be okay."
Miles wonders what Ilana is smiling about. Richard is walking over with Hurley. Richard instructs them to pack their bags because "we're leaving".

Locke gets out of the outrigger and walks toward the portable pylons.
Widmore's men jump out of the bushes and fire at Locke. {He's not bothered by it.}
"Down low!... Let me see your hands!"
Locke shows his hands,"Easy, friend, I come in peace." {Gonna smoke-em peace pipe too?! lol}
Widmore stands on the opposite side of the fence and asks Locke "Do you know who I am?"
Locke-"Charles Widmore. Do you know who I am?"
Widmore-"Obviously you're not John Locke. Everything else I know is a combination of myth, ghost stories, and jungle noises in the night."
Locke-"I think you know more than that judging by these pylons."
Widmore-"Why did you come here?"
Locke-"You took one of my people, Jin Kwon."
Widmore claims to have no idea what he's talking about.
Locke-"A wise man once said that war was coming to this island, I think it just got here."
{War is coming to Hydra Island or the main island? Both?}

Jack asks Richard where exactly are we going. {Richard is packing stuff.}
Richard asks where Locke is. "You said he came to recruit you. Where did he say he'd be?"
Ben-"Hydra Island".
Richard is in control and asks Frank, "This is exactly where you landed the plane to get back here, right?"
Frank-"That's right."
Richard-"This man wants to leave the island, that plane's the only way he could do it. You wanna know where we're going, we're gonna stop him."
Miles asks Hurley "This is your fault isn't it?"
Hurley-"Sorta."    {What exactly did Hurley do here? hmmm}
Richard informs them the only way to stop them from getting on the plane is to destroy it.
Sun freaks out and yells at Richard in Korean. "What? You want to destroy the plane? How are we supposed to get off the island?"
Jack shares with Richard that she isn't speaking English because she was hit on the head when she was running away from Locke. Why isn't she speaking English?
Richard seems surprised. "He came back here?  What, what did he want? What did he say to you? Do you understand me?"
Sun continues her fit..."Yes, I understand, you idiot!  But if you think I'm gonna help you destroy our only way off this island, you're insane!  I came here, to find my husband so I could bring him home, not so I could save the damn world!   She says I'm important. (points to Ilana) If that's true, you need me!  So, understand this! I'm not going anywhere."
Hurley-"I don't think she wants to come."
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
Sun and her translator Mikhail sit at the desk with the bank rep. The rep checks the computer and informs them that Sun's account was closed. The balance is zero.
Sun feels that can't be right, "No one knows it exists but me."
The account was closed by her father, Mr. Paik, who had access. The funds were transferred to their main branch in Seoul. Sun wonders why dad would do that.
Mikhail- "Why do you think?"

Omar leads Jin {hands taped behind his back} to the kitchen refrigerator. Omar bumps Jin's head on the door on the way in. {Sign says Kitchen Safety. lol}  This concerns Keamy.  Keamy tends to Jin's head with a wet blue cloth and takes over the tape securing of the prisoner.  Keamy sends Omar to get the Arab guy. Omar seems bothered by the Arab remark.
Keamy tends to the head injury over his left eye and apologizes, "Omar's loyal but he lacks attention to detail."
He confirms with Jin that he can't understand a word he's saying.  Jin doesn't react.
Apparently he needs more tape to secure Jin so Keamy tells him to hold still,
"I'm going to strap you in here, just in case you figure out what's about to happen at the Island. I can't have you freaking out." {Yes, that is what I heard.}
"I don't think you realize....how unhappy Mr. Paik was when he found out that you were doing his little girl. You know the twenty five grand... you were supposed to deliver...that was my fee...for popping you!  From what I hear you know anyone who works for Paik knows the cardinal rule... hands off the boss' daughter. But you couldn't resist her, could you? The heart wants what the heart wants."
{He touches Jin's chest}
Jin must misunderstand him because he kindly says, "Thank you" to Keamy.
Keamy-"I'm sorry. Some people just aren't meant to be together" and covers Jin's mouth with the electrical tape. He closes Jin in the refrigerator.
Widmore asks Zoe what the hell she was thinking; this wasn't supposed to happen for days, "We had a time table".
Zoe knows they panicked and apologizes. Widmore says they should have let Jin leave the "camp" and taken him in the jungle.
Zoe-"Well maybe you should put a mercenary in charge instead of a geophysicist."
Widmore turns and sees Jin is standing there watching them.
Widmore-"What's done is done. I need you to get the package from the submarine and take it to the infirmary. Can you do that for me please, Zoe?"
She will.
Widmore walks over to Mr. Kwon and gives his deepest apology for what has been done to him. Jin knows this is Charles Widmore. Widmore shares that they searched the Ajira plane, found Sun's luggage and found a digital camera inside. He thought Jin would like to have it. "Go ahead. Turn it on."
Jin turns the digital camera on and "Plays back" the images of Ji Yeon, Sun and a dog.  Widmore narrates "Her name is Ji Yeon, your daughter" and knows Jin has never seen her.  Jin smiles and gets emotional as he looks at the images.
{Birthday party sign BIRTH is prominent. Candles.}
Widmore explains he has a daughter and knows what it's like to be kept apart.  He understands the one thing Jin wants is to be reunited with his wife and daughter, but it would be short lived if that "thing" masquerading as John Locke ever got off this island.  "You wife, your daughter, my daughter, everyone we know and love would simply cease to be. I came here to make sure that doesn't happen."
Jin-"How?"
Widmore-"Come with me. I think it's time for you see the package."
Jin-"What package?"
Widmore-"It's not a what... it's a who."
Widmore seems pleased.

Jin sits in the refrigerator and hears the muffled voices in the kitchen.{Sayid-"Did you put my brother in the hospital?" Keamy's voice too.}
Three shots are fired and Jin kicks on the door for attention. Jin notes a box cutter/utility knife on the shelf nearby.}
 Armed Sayid enters and pulls the tape off of Jin's mouth, where Jin communicates with Sayid in Korean. "Please don't kill me. Please let me go!"
Sayid {in a deadpan manor asks}-"Who are you?"
Jin-"No English."
Sayid doesn't know why he's there and he doesn't really care. He starts to walk away from Jin and Jin stops him.
Jin-"Free! {gestures to the box cutter}Free! Free."
Sayid happens to have time {After shooting three people} to place the box cutter into Jin's taped hands and wishes him "Good luck".  Sayid leaves. {Just like Locke gives tied up Boone the knife to cut himself free.}
Mikhail returns to the kitchen with Sun and sees the four bodies on the ground.   Jin pretends to be dead.
Armed Mikhail asks the still alive Martin who did this to him.
Keamy -"Look behind you, you idiot."
Jin holds the gun against the back of Mikhail neck and in Korean tells him to drop the gun. Mikhail wants him to take it easy. Jin tells Sun to move away.
Jin to Mikhail-"Did you hear me?! Drop it or I'm going to kill you!"
Mikhail realizes Jin isn't the person who killed the people on the floor and goes after Jin. There's a fight; shots are fired. Mikhail arms himself with a knife but Jin fires two shots into Mikhail's head; taking out his right eye.
Unfortunately Sun is shot in the stomach. Jin carries her to get her help.
Sun reveals, "I'm pregnant."
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble}
At night Sun sits alone on the beach looking out to the ocean.    Jack brings her a couple of things
Jack-"I was thinking about a patient that I had during my residency.  Car crash, banged his head, when he woke up he couldn't talk.  The guy was frustrated, I mean... who wouldn't be.  Then one of the nurses said  just because he can't speak doesn't mean that he couldn't write."
He hands her a notepad and sharpie pen, asks her if she wants to give it a try.   
Sun writes down "YES", instead of just nodding her damn 'yes'.
Jack-"It'll take a little longer to get your point across but at least you have your voice back. Went back out to your garden to see if he was there, he wasn't.  But I found this... {a ripe red tomato}   That's one stubborn tomato.   Guess no one told it it was supposed to die."  
Sun writes- SORRY w/smiley face.
Jack-"Don't worry about it. You're not the first person to tell me to leave em alone."    They both smile.
Jack-"Locke....what did he say to you?"
Sun writes- He said he had Jin.
Jack-"Why didn't you go with him?"
Sun writes-I don't trust him.
Jack looks troubled-"Do you trust me?"
Sun nods yes.
Jack-"Sun, Come with us and I'll help you find Jin.  I'll help you find him and I'll get you both on that plane and as far away from this island as you can get .  I promise."
Jack holds out his hand and Sun takes it.
Quiet Kate sits starring; cuts up fruit.
Sawyer-"Where'd you go?"
Kate-"What?"
Sawyer-"Like your brain took a little stroll."
Kate wonders why James isn't worried, but he confesses that he is worried. He just really good at pretending he isn't.
Sawyer-"But I got a feeling this is almost over. Cause if Locke rode over there on the boat with Sayid, then Charlie Widmore blew him right out of the water."
Kate-"And what if he didn't?"
Sawyer-"Then we're screwed six ways from sun."
Locke returns to the camp, alone; this disappoints Sawyer.  Sawyer asks Locke about going over there to find Jin.
Locke share they said they didn't have him and he doesn't believe that.  He also shares that when James went over there that Widmore had someone guarding a room on the submarine guarding something that he didn't want James to see... "I don't like secrets."

Sayid swims stealth-like through the water toward the sub dock.  He witnesses Widmore's people pulling someone out of the hatch.   They drop the man at the edge of the dock where he can see Sayid trying to stay unnoticed in the water.  The man who can hardly stand is Desmond.   Extremely groggy Desmond looks at Sayid with a sense of familiarity and/or confusion.   Zoe, who is not a nurse,  can be heard mentioning that she gave Desmond too much sedative for the trip.
Wet Sayid watches the duo carry Desmond off.





The Package is a great episode.  It's all coming together nicely all that was missing was the pretty bow.  Jin and Sun must be showing us part of the whole truth.

I know I must sound like a broken record about a few things over the years but the one about events happening on "Island" and off "Island" are indeed blended/blurred together.   It was right here for all to see.
A bunch of other continuing clue lines that showed themselves again in this episode is: Altered state of consciousness; everybody is in some state of sleep, things happening in their heads/minds/consciousness, wires/wired, technology, perception, game, and constant hints to mental health, being crazy, being lost and having to find something and/or someone.   Every episode has had reference to crazy, insane or some sort of mental and mind issues.

After all an illusion is a false perception of a detectable stimulus.  I have included some researched info on mental health, psychology and such at the very end of my notes, for those who don't want to have to read through all of it.

Things to note...Questions to ask...
* Crazy. Insane. Mental health.
* Sleep. Unconscious. Knocked out. Drugged up. Sedation, AND SO ON and SO ON and SO ON!!!
* Room 23. Brain washing. Speakers. Wires. Electrical tape. Switch. Grid. Map. Video. Digital Camera. Electric. Sonar. Magnetic.
* Sayid feels nothing-emptiness. This is a stage of enlightenment.
* Seoul-Soul
* Heart
* Head trauma. Brain. Wired.
* Muffled hearing
* SLEEPING. WAKE UP. "BIRTH".   FREE! {Yeah, Enlightenment}
* Pretend. Masquerading.
* In The Whole Truth we learn Sun and Jin are having fertility issues and can't conceive.  In that episode Sun asks Jin "Why do you care so much about a baby you wouldn't even see?"   And where Jin experiences backward dialogue spoken by Sawyer and Bernard about Jin's impending fatherhood.
* Room 842. In  Recon James' clock stayed on 8:42.
* Sun knocks herself out!
* Both Sun and Jin get bumped on the head.
* WTF is with the airport customs officer not involving a translator to explain to Jin why he's not getting his money back? Oh, oh, oh! Because it's not real!
* Languages. Linguistics. Communication. Mis-communication. Translation. Write. Read.  Korean. Russian.  Mikhail, Miss Klugh, Ilana and Jacob all speak Russian.
* Button. (Desmond)
* Game. Play. Gamble. Bet.
* Wealthy men.
* Pairs.
* Purple. Black, White, Red.
* Destroy the plane...the sub...the Swan hatch...the computer...
* Desmond was given so much of the sedative for the sub trip that he couldn't even stand up on his own yet was doubled locked in a room on the sub. Was he being kept in or was someone being kept from getting to him?
* The package-the watch-money-Desmond-Ji Yeon-(a pregnancy)
* Is Jin one of the creators of the "map"?    What part is Hurley involved in?
* Jin is Sun's bodyguard.  Protector.
* I find it very interesting that Sawyer seems the most disconnected about certain things that happen on the "Island".   Like there seems to be times he's not privy to who someone is, i.e. Nikki, Paulo, Ben, etc. or he's unaware that something has happened, and of course he's not fazed by Locke being the smoke thing.
* Hearts and Minds.
* "I'm going to strap you in here, just in case you figure out what's about to happen at the island. I can't have you freaking out."    Yes, that is what I heard. I don't care what is written in the script or the closed caption, I only care about how that scene came out of post/editing and I heard, "I'm going to strap you in here, just in case you figure out what's about to happen at the island. I can't have you freaking out."   So I call fucking shenanigans!
* "Then one of the nurses said  just because he can't speak doesn't mean that he couldn't write."   Yeah,  like Locke in Further Instructions.  Things seem to always connect back to Jack and Johnny Locke.

Vocabulary and Research...
* The Package: Thirteenth Step by the band A Perfect Circle. The album is a concept album with all of the songs dealing with the problem of addiction from a different perspective.
* Godzilla combo of Japanese words meaning gorilla and a whale. A giant Japanese monster created by nuclear explosions; radiation.
*Concussion: Latin ("to shake violently")or concussus ("action of striking together"),is the most common type of traumatic brain injury.
* Flight: a series of steps between one floor or landing of a building and the next.
* Aphasia is a loss of the ability to produce and/or comprehend spoken or written language. Traditionally, aphasia suggests the total impairment of language ability, and dysphasia a degree of impairment less than total. Aphasia has come to mean both partial and total language impairment in common use. Depending on the area and extent of brain damage, someone suffering from aphasia may be able to speak but not write, or vice versa, or display any of a wide variety of other deficiencies in language comprehension and production, such as being able to sing but not speak.  One treatment for this is: Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) is a therapeutic process used by music therapists and speech pathologists to help patients with communication disorders caused by brain damage. This method uses melodic intonation to stimulate activity in the right hemisphere of the brain.
* Giacomo Girolamo Casanova de Seingalt was a Venetian adventurer and author. His main book Histoire de ma vie (Story of My Life), part autobiography and part memoir, is regarded as one of the most authentic sources of the customs and norms of European social life during the 18th century. He was so famous as a womanizer that his name remains synonymous with the art of seduction. He was arrested, imprisoned; solitary confinement, sentenced to five years in an "un-escapable” prison", escaped and spent many years on the run.
* Emptiness is usually the description of Enlightenment.  To the western mind this description is often difficult to comprehend, leading to the idea that it is "nothing,".  This is the final step before nirvana.



We can see that Locke and Jack  have promised things to their followers, they both have held out their hands (here it's Locke-right, Jack-left) in a gesture of hope.  It's when these types of parallels are shown  that the metaphor of the story kicks in for me, making me want to feel that we are seeing "two halves of a whole" again, or the opposition.     I've never forgotten a clue we got back in the very beginning of our story.  Take a look at Hurley's comic book.  We know that comic tells the story of alien X that was hidden away when it gets cancer, a dome covering a city, polar bear, etc.. But the cover also shows us the part of the story where the Flash and the Green Lantern combine with their new halves, creating a new being.   Two halves of a whole.

Here's a great quote from Charlie Pace in   Further Instructions.  "What's that? You're not taking drugs, are you John? I only ask because of the strict zero tolerance policy you've enacted.  And I wouldn't want you to have start punching yourself in the face." 

Is Sun in the "Island" adventure to bring her husband home and not to save the world, not to play the game?
Maybe Jin and Sun are a package deal.

Love to all who are LOST" ™


Is it all in my head?!  Maybe I'm in an altered state of consciousness.
We have seen all of the following examples directly connected to the castaways since the very beginning. How deep is the mental health and some things happening in their "head" issues playing into the journey?
Examples:  Head injuries, headaches, vision/eye problems, fever, delusions, hallucinations, hypnosis, catonic, coma, brainwashing, behavior modification, coercive persuasion, programming/deprogramming, hypnosis, self hypnosis,cognitive biases, amnesia, insomnia, memory, consciousness, decision making, natural language, learning, motor coordination, sensory perception, planning,  problem solving, thought, depression, fear, abandonment, anger, guilt, hate, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder,  post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, substance abuse, violence, sleep disorders, problems with trust, confidentiality and engagement, etc.
Use of drugs: sedatives, hypnotics, heroin, tranquilizer, sleeping pills, Clonozapam, mandrake, cannibis, coffee, cholorform, alcohol, Locke's funky paste, etc.
And the mention of: clinical assessment by a psychiatrist, social worker, clinical psychologist, shrinks, or other mental health professional.  We've seen Locke in group therapy and of course Hurley in Santa Rosa.


We all know what my take is on the metaphor of the "Island" journey; the journey and path to enlightenment, but here are some researched items to further explain some additional "possibilities":

* Non-physical or abstract locations and/or spatial graphics were employed as memory 'places'. Perhaps the most famous example of such an abstract system of 'places' is the memory system of Metrodorus of Scepsis,
* Headache symptoms include dizziness, vomiting, nausea, lack of motor coordination, difficulty balancing, or other problems with movement or sensation. Visual symptoms include light sensitivity, seeing bright lights, blurred vision, and double vision. Tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears, is also commonly reported.
* Cognitive symptoms include confusion, disorientation, and difficulty focusing attention. Loss of consciousness may occur but is not necessarily correlated with the severity of the concussion if it is brief. Post traumatic amnesia, in which the person cannot remember events leading up to the injury or after it, or both, is a hallmark of concussion. Confusion, another concussion hallmark, may be present immediately or may develop over several minutes. Patient may be slow to respond to questions or directions, have a vacant stare, or have slurred or incoherent speech. Other MTBI symptoms include changes in sleeping patterns and difficulty with reasoning, concentrating, and performing everyday activities.
* Tinnitus can be perceived in one or both ears or in the head. It is usually described as a ringing noise, but in some patients it takes the form of a high pitched whining, buzzing, hissing, humming, or whistling sound, or as ticking, clicking, roaring, "crickets" or "tree frogs" or "locusts", tunes, songs, or beeping. Causes include ear infections, foreign objects or wax in the ear, nose allergies that prevent (or induce) fluid drain and cause wax build-up, and injury from loud noises. Can also come from Psychedelic drugs:
Mental health-
Madness. Bi polar. Obsession. Depression. Substance abuse. Other proposed disorders include: Self-defeating personality disorder, Sadistic personality disorder, Passive-aggressive personality disorder Kleptomania (stealing) or Pyromania (fire-setting). Sleep disorders; Insomnia.
* Abreaction is an emotional release or discharge following recall of a painful experience. Used sometimes by police, forensics after administering armobarbital.
Affect illusion: Illusions (Misperceptions) associated with and/or based on changes with mood for example at midnight a person may take a shadow as a ghost, but in the early part of night this may not be the case.
* Schizophrenia: It most commonly manifests as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking with significant social or occupational dysfunction. Onset of symptoms typically occurs in young adulthood.
Despite the etymology of the term from the Greek roots skhizein (to split) and phrÄ“n, phren-(mind), schizophrenia does not imply a "split mind" and it is not the same as dissociative identity disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder or split personality), a condition with which it is often confused in public perception.  The disorder is thought to mainly affect cognition, but it also usually contributes to chronic problems with behavior and emotion. People with schizophrenia are likely to have additional conditions, including major depression and anxiety disorders; the lifetime occurrence of substance abuse long-term unemployment, poverty and homelessness, are common. increased physical health problems and a higher suicide rate
Depending on the individual, a person diagnosed with schizophrenia may experience hallucinations (especially hearing voices), delusions (especially ones that seem "bizarre"), and disorganized thinking and speech. The latter may range from loss of train of thought, to sentences only loosely connected in meaning, to incoherence known as word salad in severe cases. There is often an observable pattern of emotional difficulty, for example lack of responsiveness or motivation. Impairment in social cognition is associated with schizophrenia, as are symptoms of paranoia, and social isolation commonly occurs. In one uncommon subtype, the person may be largely mute, remain motionless in bizarre postures, or exhibit purposeless agitation; these are signs of catatonia.
*Aphemia is the alternate term for mutism. Mutism is absence of speech with apparently normal level of consciousness. Mutism can be dissociative (hysterical) in which an individual (commonly a child or adolescent) stops speaking at once without involvement of any neurological or physical contributing factor; or it can be elective (selective) in which a child does not speak at all in certain situations (such as in school) but speaks well in other conditions (like at home or at play). A rare cause of mutism is a kinetic mutism which results due to a lesion around 3rd ventricle of brain.
* Automatic obedience is an exaggerated co-operation with an examiner's request, as if the patient were an “automaton” robotically obeying a command. It is usually a sign of catatonia.
* Confabulation is the confusion of imagination with memory, and/or the confusion of true memories with false memories.
* In Capgras syndrome, the patient feels that a person familiar to him, usually a family member has been replaced by a double i.e. an identical looking imposter. Capgras Syndrome and Fregoli syndrome along with some other conditions are classified as delusional misidentification syndrome.
* Defenestration Literally jumping out of window. Usually used in context of attempted or completed suicide.
* Déjà vu:  In Déjà vu, a person feels undue familiarity to an event or a person. For example, he feels that the same thing has happened before or he or she has met this person before, etc.
* Déjà pensé : In Déjà pensé, a completely new thought sounds familiar to the person and he feels as he has thought the same thing before at some time.
* In écho de la pensée, meaning "thought echo" in French, thoughts seem to be spoken aloud just after being produced. The patient hears the 'echo' of his thoughts in the form of a voice after he has made the thought.
* Fantasy is imagining that expresses desires and aims.
- Folie à deux: Also called induced psychosis, folie à deux is a delusional disorder shared by two or more people who are closely related emotionally. One has real psychosis while the symptoms of psychosis are induced in the other or others due to close attachment to the one with psychosis. Separation usually results in symptomatic improvement in the one who is not psychotic.
Folie communiquée, folie imposée, folie induite, and folie simultanée are the four subtypes of folie à deux.
* Multiple personality disorder:  a condition in which a person displays multiple distinct identities or personalities (known as alter egos or alters), each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment.
* Tabula Rasa is also featured in Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis. Freud depicted personality traits as being formed by family dynamics. Freud's theories show that one can downplay genetic and congenital influences on human personality without advocating free will. In psychoanalysis, one is largely determined by one's upbringing.
* In Alice in Wonderland experience/Syndrome subjects perceive objects (including animals and other humans, or parts of humans, animals, or objects) as appearing substantially smaller than in reality.  Generally, the object appears far away or extremely close at the same time. Alternate term for this is somaesthetic aura.



 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.

March 11, 2010

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 {5-4-3-2-1Hmm, 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 speciesWhat 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'tSee 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.