Flashing Back to All the Best Cowboys...,Whatever the Case...,Hearts and Minds

Hi Losties!It is important for you to have access to my original detailed notes for each of the episodes. These episodes contain some very important things that set a thread for all the other episodes.
Click here for detailed notes on
All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues
Whatever the Case May Be
Hearts and Minds


When I first shared my notes with LOST fans years ago I was always careful to present the episode and its potential clues in a very neutral way, always including the many ways one could look at a clue and never outright told anyone what to think or which way to lean. I also was cautious not to publically go too deep into certain ideas I personally entertained. Well with this re-watch I find I am much more comfortable to voice my opinion on the story and its clues and with no holds barred, confidently reinforcing some of the important layers and their clues.

An important point I have never ignored is that Jack and the Castaways are in an unreal world. {Unreal world as opposed to a real world.}  One definition of "reality" is something that truly exists is real.
Jack, John and the Castaways are experiencing things that resemble an authentic environment even if it's via the sleeping/conscious mind. Therefore these experiences are real to Jack, John and the Castaways, as this is the way they perceive it.
For me there is no doubt their adventurous journey to enlightenment is happening in conjunction with drugs, lucid dreaming, and the possible added element of computers and/or machines.  In other words, an altered state of consciousness.

One of the layers of the LOST story is about the Castaways being trapped by their emotional past and their needing to come to terms with moving forward from it.   It is important to know anything that the mind creates is a "trap".  Unless you stop blaming others, including yourself, for the state you are in, you are not awake.


A few important things I wanted to add to my original note for All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues are: 
✈ We know Jack is stubborn and definitely angry, and although we tend to see Jack motivated and in control on the "Island" and with his friends, he really is always on the verge of snapping.

✈ In this episode Jack's "Island" adventure has him trying to find Claire and Charlie but in "reality" he is literally running in circles trying to find answers, his father and himself.

✈ In the hospital scruffy Jack with different color eyes, wasn't called down to do the surgery yet Christian was called away from a restaurant after having a few.  When I first saw this episode it passed my mind that it is possible that between Jack and Christian its Christian that is the lesser evil.

✈ Amping up her stress

✈ L-Limits-License-Life

    A- Alcohol

    T- Time 

✈ Locke follows his gut. Locke feels "it"!  With that it's time for a quick lesson on Chakras. We have hints to Chakras throughout the story.  Locke even teaches Walt to use his mind's eye to visual things.

Chakras: word that translates as "wheel" or "turning".   The Chakras are said to be "force centers" or whorls of energy permeating, from a point on the physical body

Chakras are typically depicted in two ways:
1. Flower-Like: a specific number of petals are shown around the perimeter of a circle
2. Wheel-Like: a certain number of spokes divide the circle into segments that make the chakra resemble a wheel or chakra.  Each chakra possesses a specific number of segments or petals.

7 primary Chakras:
Muladhara-Base or Root Chakra (ovaries/prostate) RED
Swadhisthana- Sacral Chakra (last bone in spinal cord *coccyx*) ORANGE
Manipura- Solar Plexus Chakra (navel area) YELLOW
Anahata -Heart Chakra (heart area) GREEN and "High Heart" is TURQUOISE
Vishuddha- Throat Chakra (throat and neck area) BLUE
Ajna- Brow or Third Eye Chakra (pineal gland or third eye) VIOLET
Sahasrara-Crown Chakra (Top of the head) WHITE

Whatever the Case May Be
Here is an excerpt from my posted notes for Whatever the Case May Be.  Be sure to head over to read about this very interesting case.
Faith comes back around. Rose is a supporter of faith. She's trying to give Charlie some hope. She's trying to help him come out of another dark place. Remember Locke helped him get out of a dark place with his heroin addiction.
What else comes back around? It's very simple...everything. Karma.
I wonder if it really is better on Rose's side.

I can't help but note and question if the "Island" residents are under some sort of therapy/treatment with this Island adventure.  After all, all these people are feeling "blue" and  need some kind of help.
It does seem like hints may be telling us computers are involved in some way.

Hearts and Minds
I love the episode Hearts and Minds.  It gives us a clear clue to drugs and altered states of consciousness playing a role in the "Island" journey.

Locke gave Boone an experience that he believes is vital to his survival on that "Island".  Boone questions the "reality" of  his "very real feeling experience".
Locke is very clear in stating “It was only as real as you made it.”

The point to this enlightening experience was for Boone to confront his feelings for Shannon and his freedom of letting her go.
Boone's experience includes the "monster" and all of its mechanical sounds.   But you must remember, there's no such thing as monsters.

Until next time...
Love to all who are "LOST"™

Happily Ever After

Let's talk about LOST!   Happily Ever After.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love to all who are "LOST"™

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

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

Ab Aeterno

Let's talk about LOST!   Ab Aeterno.

The episode opens with Ilana's eye.   Jacob visits bandaged Ilana; apparently they know each other a long time.  He's giving her a list of the remaining candidates.   {Jacob already knew he needed a replacement.}
{Flash Whoosh-the opening moments go back and forth to the beach}
Ilana doesn't know what to do next.  {The scene switches to un-bandaged Ilana in the hospital}  "After I brought them to the temple...what do I do?"    
Jacob tells her to ask Ricardus; he'll know what to do.
{Scene back on the beach.} The castaways learn that Richard is Ricardus.
Richard laughs and mentions that he was trying to kill himself when Jack found him.
He reveals a secret to Jack, "You're dead".   Literally not figuratively.    
He's known for a long time that all this isn't what they think it is; they aren't on an island, never were. They're in hell.  He's very angry and adamant about Jacob being a liar; he suggests listening to someone else and he heads off.
Richard marches through the dark jungle with his torch. 

Ilana wants to go after Richard because Jacob told her Richard "has to know" what to do next.
Jack feels Richard has lost his mind and thinks we're in hell.    If he cared about what Jacob said he wouldn't care about talking to someone else.
Richard is going to Locke but the gang knows Locke is dead.  Ben informs them the consolation it's not exactly Locke.

Hurley is speaking Spanish to an invisible person. 
Jack asks Hurley "What's he saying?"   Jack says he saw Hurley talking to Jacob.   
Hurley says he's not talking to Jacob. 
Jack- "Don't lie to me. Please, if you know any something, anything that can help us..."    
Hurley insists it's not Jacob and it has nothing to do with Jack.
Miles is watching Hurley and Jack. 
Ben tells Ilana that Shephard is right about Richard; going after him is a waste of time, "He doesn't know anything."

Richard continues to make his way through the jungle.

Ben shares with the group the thing that makes him so sure that Richard doesn't know anything is that he's known him since he was 12 years old that should count for something. 
Frank remarks, "So guys met when you were kids, huh?"
Ben clarifies that he was a kid and Richard looked just like he does today.  Ben is saying this guy doesn't age.
Frank-"And how the hell do ya think that happened?"
Confused and lost Richard still carries his torch walking through the dark jungle.
{No Flash Whoosh/Air plane engine/sounds-rumble} 

Tenerife, Canary Islands.  1867. 

Ricardo rides on horseback to a house.  Isabella is sick, coughing up blood and dying.  Ricardo tells her to go back to sleep and kisses her forehead.  She's burning up so he puts a cloth on her forehead.
He wants to hurry to get the doctor; God willing he'll be back by dawn.   He grabs whatever coins he has, praying they have enough.  Isabella gives him her beloved cross to give to the doctor as well.  He takes it along.
Emotional Ricardo feels if anything ever happened to her...  
Isabella and Ricardo share deep love.
Isabella- "Close your eyes  {He does} We'll always be together."   
She kisses him while he keeps his eyes closed seemingly with happy thoughts.
Ricardo proclaims, "I will save you."    {He must have a case of the Jack Shephard's. lol}
Isabella clutches a black covered book as Ricardo braves the stormy night on horseback.

The Doctor is eating.   
The butler yells from the front door,  "You can't some in! You can't be here!"
Ricardo walks right in and pleads with the hungry doctor, as he couldn't wait because his wife is sick, to which the cold hungry doc suggests blankets, not for Ricardo, but because Ricardo is dripping water all over his floor.
Ricardo pleads for his help and the selfish doctor won't take the half a day journey in the pouring rain.  But he has very expensive medicine that can save her life.   The doctor unlocks a cabinet retrieving the medicine.   Ricardo pours out all the coins he has and when that is  not enough he adds Isabella's cross to the pot.
Ricardo-"Now you have everything."
The doctor says it's worthless and tosses it aside.  This upsets Ricardo and he scrambles to pick it up.  He begs the Doc to let him work off the debt.   When the doctor won't go for it Ricardo tugs on him, pleading, until things take a turn that cause Ricardo to push the doctor; making him hit his head on the table.   The man with the blankets sees Ricardo.
Ricardo had the small cork topped bottle of medicine {Which he technically paid money for} and runs off; riding off into the dark stormy night.

Ricardo arrives back home. {Still dark out. Half a day journey-twice and yet those candles are still burning! lol}
Isabella has passed. {Eyes open.}   He listens for her heartbeat and breaks down crying.

Cuffed Ricardo sits in a jail reading the bible. {Luke 4:37}  He wears Isabella's cross.   The Chaplin comes in with food but Ricardo isn't hungry.   The father notes the bible is in English.   Ricardo has been teaching himself because he and Isabella were going to travel to the new world and start a family, a new life.
Ricardo is prepared to make his confession.  He kneels downs, crosses/blesses himself, "Forgive me Father for I have sinned."   Truly repentant Ricardo begs for God's forgiveness to which the Chaplin informs him he cannot grant him absolution for murder.  This shocks Ricardo because this was an accident.  He feels there must be some way to earn God’s forgiveness.   
The only way to return God's grace is through penance and Ricardo is willing to do anything.   The Chaplin smiles and scoffs at this as Ricardo doesn't have time, because tomorrow he will be hanged.  The Chaplin's afraid the devil awaits him in hell.  Ricardo is left stunned.
Ricardo looks out his cell window up at a dead tree.   {A tree symbolizes life and that one is dead. Crow caws}  
Ricardo is led blindfolded. 
Whitfield looks at Ricardo's strong hands and in this mouth as he asks about his English speaking ability.  Ricardo also shares he works in the fields.
It’s his lucky day because Magnus Hanso will take him on a boat ride; he's Hanso's property now.   Whitfield pays the "father" for Ricardo and hopes Ricardo doesn't get seasick.
They sail the rough and stormy seas.  The chained men try to see what's outside the boat by peering through the thin wood planked walls of the ship. 
“Can you see anything?”    
“It’s too dark.”
"There’s an island”
One prisoner sees the statue in the dark and declares it to be The Devil. 
"The Island is guarded by the devil!" {Oh wow! It's 'guarded by' the devil!}
Ricardo is afraid and clutches the cross around his neck.  
The terrific storm causes the ship  to actually take flight, crashing into the statue breaking it apart and then ends up in the middle of the bloody jungle.

It's daylight and the survivors of the bizarre shipwreck wake up.  From down below the chained passengers all look up into the daylight calling out for help, "We're alive!"
We hear that Captain Hanso is dead.
Whitfield comes down revealing there are only 5 officers left and limited supplies so he kills the prisoners.  He tells Ricardo his actions are because if he freed him "it would only be a matter of time before you killed me".   
Ricardo doesn't have the cross around his neck.
Just then the smoke monster is on deck and takes lives. 
Whitfield wants to know what's going on up there and yells out to this men,  "I said report!"
He is taken by the smoke monster!
The smoke comes face to face with scared Ricardo, flashing its Flashes.   Ricardo closes his eyes and whispers {prayers}.   All of a sudden it is gone but is heard in the distance.


A blue butterfly flies into the Black Rock.  
Ricardo tries desperately to remove a nail from a floor plank so he can use  it as a tool to help free himself.  It starts to rain and he tries to drink the dripping water but he can't reach it.
Weakening and tired Ricardo retrieves the nail and continues to work on freeing himself.   A hungry boar is chowing on one of the prisoners.  Ricardo tells the boar to get out of here, "I'll kill you!" and uses the nail as his only defense.  The boar speeds by causing Ricardo to drop the nail a few inches out of his reach.
Very weak Ricardo hears a woman's voice.  He tries to focus his eyes to see clearly; it's Isabella. {This seems to be 5 days later. There are 5 score marks on a post}
He wonders how she is "here".  
Isabella tells him they are both dead, "We're in hell."  
{Why would they be in hell?! Why is she there period?!}   She claims to be there to save him before "he" comes back; the devil.  She shares that she looked in his eyes and all she saw was evil.   She asks if he saw him too and Richard "thinks he has".  

The smoke monster nears and Ricardo tells her to run; he insists he said he would save her.  "If you love me, GO!"     She heads up the stairs right into the smoke monster's path.
Ricardo breaks down.

A man with a lantern enters the dark ship, brings water/silver cups to weak and broken Ricardo.  He touches the left shoulder of unconscious Ricardo.    It's the MIB with dark eye/eyes.
Ricardo-"Who are you?"       
The MIB-"A friend."
Ricardo-"I am in hell?"
MIB-"Yes, I'm afraid you are."    
The man explains he was there long before "your ship".   
Ricardo shares about Isabella being there and how when the black smoke came she ran and hasn't come back.
MIB seems to not be aware of her and states "It probably means he has her." 
Ricardo-"Who?"
MIB-"I think you know who."   {Who? The devil?}
MIB will help him because he wants to be free too.   As  luck would have it he found keys on one of the officers outside.   He thinks they'll work, but before he tries he needs to know that Ricardo will help and will do anything he asks.   They agree, so MIB frees him from his chains. 

MIB complements his friend "It's good to see you out of those chains."
The MIB helps him and tells him he's going to need his strength if they're going to escape.   He also explains there's only one way to escape from hell and that's to kill the devil.
Blue eyed MIB directs Ricardo to the broken statue and where he'll find the devil.  He presents him with a fancy dagger to use to kill the devil; giving him the same instructions Dogen gave Sayid.
He also reveals he is the black smoke and claims Isabella was running from "him"  and there wasn't anything he could do to stop it.   The devil betrayed him, took his body and humanity; the devil can be very persuasive.
Ricardo knows murder is wrong and feels that's what brought him "here".
The MIB says they can continue to talk about what's right or wrong all day, but the question remains the same. Basically what will he do to see his wife again?
{The MIB leads us to believe the he/black smoke and the devil are two different beings and not one in the same.}
Emotionally torn Richard does indeed head to the broken statue on his mission and ends up getting his ass kicked by Jacob.  Jacob wonders who gave him the dagger and also claims to not know his wife.
Richard explains she didn't come on the ship and she's dead.
With that Jacob asks, "Then why are you asking me where she is?"
It is revealed Ricardo met a man dressed in black in the jungle who said Jacob was the devil.  {Watch Jacob's expression here.}
Ricardo again claims to have seen his wife in this place and Jacob says it wasn't his wife.   Ricardo blurts out she is dead just like him and he is in hell.
Jacob-"You really think you're dead?"
Ricardo-"Where else would I be?"
Jacob assures him he is not dead and proves it by forcefully submerging him the water repeatedly making him realize he had to hold his breath and bringing him up for air.
Jacob-"Why should I stop?!"
Ricardo-"Because I want to live!"
Jacob feels that's the first sensible thing he's said.
Ricardo's wet body is warmed by a gray blanket. Jacob brings over a corked bottle of wine and two silver cups.    Ricardo wonders what is inside (nods to the foot statue) and Jacob informs him "No one comes in unless I invite them in." He drinks.
Ricardo outright asks, "Are you the devil?"
Brown eyed Jacob says with a smirky smile, "No."
Ricardo-"Then who are you?"
His name is Jacob and he's the one who brought his ship to the island.   His explanation and illustration involves the use of the bottle of wine.  He demonstrates the wine as "hell/malevolence/evil/darkness" swirling around in the bottle unable to get out because if it did it would spread.  "The cork is this island, and it's the only thing keeping the darkness in....where it belongs."
He turns the bottle upside down to prove the cork's strength.

Jacob also explains that "That man who sent you to kill me believes everyone's corruptible because it's in their very nature to sin.   I bring people here to prove him wrong. And when they get here their past doesn't matter."  

We learn there were many brought to the island before the black rock's arrival and those people are all dead. {Jacob delivers that news very nonchalantly}
Richard is curious that if Jacob is the one who brought them then why didn't he help them.
Jacob wanted them to help themselves.  "To know the difference between right and wrong without me having to tell them.  It's all meaningless if I have to force them to do anything. Why should I have to step in?"  
Ricardo feels if Jacob won't "he/MIB will".
Blue eyed Jacob, seeming as if a light bulb went off, offers Richard a job, giving him a purpose.  The job is too "step in" because Jacob doesn't want to "step in".   He can be the representative, an intermediary between the people Jacob brings to the island and in return he will give Ricardo something.
Ricardo makes a few suggestions:  He wants his wife back, which Jacob can't do.  He asks if Jacob can absolve him of his sins so he doesn't go to hell, which Jacob can't do either. {Why? Because he's not God.}   Richard doesn't want to die, "I want to live forever."   
BINGO!  "That" Jacob can do. {He touches Ricardo's right shoulder.}

Ricardo returns to the MIB {green eyes} with his mission unaccomplished.   Ricardo gives a white rock to MIB from Jacob.

 

MIB-"I'm sure you realize if you go with him you'll never be with your wife again.  I understand...he can be very...convincing.  But I want you to know if you ever change your mind, and I mean ever, my offer still stands.  I have something for you."   

He hands him Isabella's cross; he found it on the ship.

Ricardo looks down at the cross and looks up to find the MIB has disappeared.
Ricardo buries the cross under the stone bench.  He kisses it and says goodbye to his love.
{Air plane engine/sounds-rumble} 
Richard digs up the cross because he's changed his mind.    
He looks up, "Are you listening to me?  I've changed my mind...I was wrong!   You said I could change my mind...You said the offer would stand...Does the offer still stand?!  Does the offer still stand!?   Does the offer still stand!?" 
Hurley appears, "What offer, dude?"   
He kinda followed Richard out there.   
Richard yells at him to get out. "Didn't you hear what I said?  I told you people I don't know anything!  Why did you follow me?"     
Hurley said his wife sent him and she's standing right next to him.  Apparently Isabella saw him dig up the cross.
Isabella tells Hurley in Spanish-"He doesn't believe you."   
Hurley translates; Richard doesn't see her.   
Isabella compliments his English and he replies Spanish.   Isabella wants Richard to close his eyes; it's okay because Hurley will tell him what she says.
Isabella tells him it wasn't his fault that she died, it was her time. "You've suffered enough, Ricardo."

Richard misses her and would do anything to be together.  

She tells him they are already together and she kisses his cheek.    

Richard cries and puts her cross around his neck and asks Hurley if something’s wrong.
Hurley mentions that she said one more thing "Something you have to do. She said you have to stop the man in black. You have to stop him from leaving the island. Cause if you don't...{Spanish}We all go to hell."   {Uh…She didn’t say that!  WTF is Hurley doing?!}
John Locke is watching this from afar. 

MIB sits on a log playing with a white rock and Jacob joins him.   It is evident these two are at odds but one seems to be there against his will.    As long as Jacob's alive the MIB isn't going anywhere.  The MIB's mission is to kill Jacob and anyone who replaces him.   
Jacob gives him the corked bottle of wine; something to pass the time.   
Jacob will see him around.
MIB-“Sooner than you think." and he smashes the bottle on the log.

Ab Aeterno is a GREAT episode!
The first thing I need to get off my chest is that these bratty boys just can't seem to get along! They should be punished! They both manipulate and con.   Although, I do believe we saw many elements that could mean the two are one in the same; two halves of a whole or opposition.

The episode drowned me in the words hell and devil so much they proved to not only be irrelevant but just plain old meaningless.
I loved that this episode kept things human.    Ricardo lost the love of his life and felt he was forsaken and abandoned by his "god".   Jacob took advantage of Richard’s vulnerability and claimed him; giving him a job and a purpose in “this place”. 
But I do feel it's Richard's perspective that he is in “hell".   It's rooted in his own personal belief system of being religious.  Richard has a broken heart, lost his wife and accidentally "killed" a man...that's why he's on the "Island".   He is broken and lost.  He’s literally bearing the cross of his loss and his self imposed suffering.    Interesting that Jack doesn't think they're in hell; as a matter of fact he sounds sure of it.

So, we know they’re not on an “Island” and it isn’t “hell” and come on…it’s not a “cork” that plugs up an opening to something on a moving “Island”.

Let’s talk about hell for a second. I researched some things and agree with the problem I find with the concept of hell. It takes in four important issues.
1). That it would have to exist in the first place.
2). That only some/certain people go there.
3). That there is no escape from the depths of it.
4). It is punishment for actions displayed during lifespan on Earth.

People could only commit a finite number of sins within their lifetime, but if they went to "hell" they would suffer punishment eternally, infinitely. That's just friggin' over the top punishment. Why would Richard's God not grant truly pennant Ricardo forgiveness for a death that was clearly an accident? Why would he be punished forever for such a circumstance? Of course it’s "man" who didn't grant him time for penance. Some coincidence, huh?

Let’s be honest each castaway has sinned, but did they sin enough to bring them to float the rest of their lives on a cork?!   Now Kate blowing up her father was murder so she should float on the fucking cork.

Richard claims they’re all dead and they're not on an Island, they never were and they're in hell.  Yeah, a personal "hell" not a literal "hell", where Apollo bars don’t melt or ranch dressing doesn't need refrigeration once opened.

If these two sides are ping pong-ing their life away, trying to beat each other with their little game of "bring the lost people to the island”,  all in an effort to "see" if people know the difference between right and wrong, and one side is supposed to be a positive stimulus and the other side a negative stimulus, why the hell are neither trying to influence to better the situation?   Maybe they like the chaos that gets created on the “Island” or they need a reminder of what right and wrong really is too.   These two sides just can't seem to find balance at all.

Everybody is lying and conning each other. A conman makes the game work by making the “mark” think ideas came from them. The con exploits human characteristics victimizing individuals. Isn’t that what Jacob is doing by bringing people to the “Island”.

I want to touch on something from the past. The John Locke we see now seems to have shown himself to us in the past many, many times, but specifically in season three.
That motivated Locke showed us:
* That he was determined to get to Ben, Jacob and the sub.
* Locke pushed Mikhail into the sonic fence trying to kill him, or at least silence him for a while.
* He utilized a loophole/cheat (encouraged by Richard).
* Got Sawyer to kill Anthony Cooper {but that also enabled Sawyer to face something that he needed closure on.}
* In Man behind the Curtain Locke beats the shit out of Mikhail when he refers to John an outsider.
* John offer Ben and doesn’t drink it.

Things to note...Questions to ask...
* Jacob and MIB eye color changes brown-blue-(green). {Maybe w/different TV's it shows up different.} There is a different brown eye color for the Losties and Isabella.
* Again I must ask if Richard doesn't age why the hell would he need reading glasses?!
* Richard. Ricardo. Ricardus.
* Richard comes from a very "religious/faith" based background and that is what the "Island" played on all these "years".
* Richard was literally being "blindly" led.
* The Black Smoke doesn't kill Ricardo and returns Isabella's cross.
* Crazy. Lost mind. Somebody may have a serious case of split personality and need to pull themselves together.
* The medicine bottle was corked and the wine bottle was corked.
* Medicine. Wine/alcohol
* Some of Richard's details were just like Desmond's details. Boat journey on a stormy night, running for the Doc, pushing a man who hits his head/killing him. That's not coincidence.
* Are they all in jail or just imprisoned by their own suffering?
* We don't see MIB eat or drink. We only see Jacob with food/drink. Here the selfish doctor was eating.
* Why did one of the prisoners claim the statue/island to be the devil?
* Is it only Jacob that ever left the "Island" to recruit people?
* Sun was taught English so she could go to America.
* The “new world”.  Jin and Sun wanted to escape to America.
* Whitfield.  In The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham, Locke comes across three instances with the word "field" in his travels: SouthField. Fieldcroft. Westerfield.  
* Teach. Learn. Language.
* Real. Not real.
* Boar-scavenger, Butterfly, Isabella… Was it MIB? Isabella was inside the ship while the black smoke can be heard outside in the distance.
* Who would grant someone eternal life? Did Jacob literally give eternal life or did Ricardo assume it and/or ask for it? {wish} The MIB touched Ricardo too.
* 1867: The Black Rock voyage was to have begun March 22 1845
* The "Island" is guarded "by" the devil.
* Would the "devil" admit he's the devil?   No.
* Would the "devil" try to convince someone that someone else is the devil? 
* Ilana is bandaged and then she's not. WTF? How was she healed? How much time passed?
* Why was Richard seeming pretty sure that Jack is dead?
* Michael told Jack and Locke that the computer wasn't what they thought it was.
* Black book/Bible.   Black smoke. 
* Be careful who you think is good and who you think is bad. Things and people still aren't what you think they are.
* The very patient MIB still seems as if he wants to be free of the game.
* Is it Jacob who doesn't use the "Isabella" card again until he needed it or is there a third grand master in play?
* What is the "Island"?

Vocabulary and Research...
* Ab Aeterno (Translation) Counting from Eternal
1). Since the beginning of time. 2). (figuratively) Since a very long time ago.
* Abaddon: The Hebrew word meaning "destruction" is sometimes used as a synonym of Hell.
* Diyu is typically depicted as an underground maze with various levels and chambers, to which souls are taken after death to atone for their sins committed when they were alive.
* The Hellschreiber or Feldhellschreiber was a facsimile based teleprinter invented by Rudolf Hell. It has since been emulated on computer sound cards by amateur radio operators; the resulting mode is referred to as Hellschreiber, Feld-Hell, or simply Hell. "Hellschreiber" translates into English as "Light Writer," "Bright Writer," or "Clear Writer," and is a pun on the name of its inventor Hell (the adjective) is German for "light," the adverb is "bright."
* Cork anagrams to ROCK.
* Ab Aeterno anagrams to- Eaten Boar
* El Socorro anagrams to- Rose Color 



I am so happy that the writers gave Nestor this chance to shine.  His portrayal of suffering Richard was amazing and truly engaging.

The LOST story makes total and perfect sense if you understand the metaphor of it all.  Everyone there has lost something that has caused a part of them to die.  Also part of the metaphor is to "let go" and also to let part of you/your ego to die so you can become new/reborn...to really live.
I still believe they need to face things, rid the negative and find themselves.  And when they accomplish "balance" they don't have to be in hell or in “this place” anymore...They can just walk through the escape hatch.

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.