Episode Analysis of 1.08 "Confidence Man"

WARNING: If you have not already seen all of LOST, please DO NOT READ THIS.

My LOST re-watch and in-depth episode analysis will include major details from the entirety that was LOST, and will be written with the perspective of having seen everything already. You will be SPOILED if you read any further. It is far better if you learn the story of LOST for yourself, as it is meant to be seen. Trust me on this, and don't say that I didn't warn you first. Seriously. Stop it. Now. Go watch it. Then, come back here.

To read my original post on this episode, please refer to Confidence Man.

This episode was written by Damon Lindelof, and directed by Tucker Gates. It originally aired on November 10th, 2004.

This is a James "Sawyer" Ford flashback-centric episode.

We begin with Kate, who is walking up the beach, along the shore-line, carrying a bunch of bananas over her shoulder.

Initial Reaction to "The Candidate"

WOW. That definitely was the most shocking and emotionally heart-wrenching episode of the season so far. I think that I cried pretty much the entire time that I was watching it. It was beyond incredibly sad. I had to watch the episode three times just to get it to sink in, and I think I'm still in utter shock. I don't even know what to say right now, so let's just get into the episode before the waterworks come...

From Lostpedia

Initial Reaction to "Recon"

Some loved it; some hated it. I was very entertained. Of course, there was some predictability and not a whole lot happened. I agree with that. When you invest yourself so thoroughly into a television show for six years, you get to know the people that create and write much better than you think. As much as we've (the fans) put ourselves into this show, they've invested way more than we can even imagine. The show, in a way, becomes a dialogue between the creators and the fans. We get to know eachother through the screen. I think we've become so accustomed to the craziness and confusion that is LOST that we almost try too hard to anticipate their every move at this point. In many ways, I think, especially in this final season, that they're trying to keep us on your toes, though in much subtler ways that they have before. Relax people. It's building. LOST has always been a character story. If this is the story that Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse wanted to tell, then regardless of if I like it or not, I respect that. I'm not going to set myself up for failure. I have loved this show for six years, and if the ending isn't every single thing that I had hoped and theorized it would be in those six years, I'm not going to stop loving it because of that. Perhaps, I will be a bit disappointed. That's a strong possibility. I expect they won't answer every question that I want answered. I'm okay with that. What LOST changed about television is that it never stops making you think, and I wouldn't expect any less if LOST left me thinking for the rest of my life. Now, I'll give you a topic and let's discuss... "Recon" is neither a "re" nor a "con," discuss!

From Lostpedia

4.11 Cabin Fever

1. Record player, Buddy Holly's "Everyday" is playing, it's the 1950s, a young girl getting ready, tells mom she's going out with him, that mom can't stop her, mom says he's twice her age, calls her Emily, says she loves him, runs out of house and is hit by a car, goes to hospital, says she's pregnant, five months, almost six months, the baby is born, it's a boy, nurse says he's okay, but it's real early, he's too little to hold, they take him away, Emily says to call him John. She is Emily Locke and the baby is John Locke.From Lostpedia
2. Hurley asks who builds a cabin in the middle of the jungle, Locke says he doesn't know, says hopefully the man in the cabin will tell them about the people trying to kill them, Ben says he's following Hurley, Locke says they should stop and make camp, says he doesn't know what will happen when the Freighties come back to the Island.
3. Sayid wakes Desmond, says the helicopter is back with injured men, Keamy wants to know how many people are on the Island, where they are, says the Captain gave him up, but the Captain says no, Keamy goes after Michael, says he gave his name to Ben, tries to shoot him, but nothing happens, Captain says he's only the guy who can fix the engine.
4. Locke's eye opens, by the campfire, Ben and Hurley are asleep, he hears someone chopping wood, introduces himself, Horace Goodspeed, wearing a DHARMA Initiative jumpsuit, knocks down the tree, building a getaway for he and the misses, needs a break from the DI, says he's not making sense, bloody nose, says that's probably because he's been dead 12 years, pushes over tree again, he's on a loop, "Hello, there," he says to find him, when he does, he'll find "him," Jacob, says he's been waiting for Locke a real long time, chopping, pushes over the tree again.From Lostpedia
5. Locke wakes up again, says he knows where to go now, Ben says that he used to have dreams.
6. John Locke is the youngest premature baby to ever survive in that Hospital, he's had infections, pneumonia, you name it, he's knocked them all out, nurse says, he's a fighter, they say he's a miracle baby, today they can take him out of incubator, so she can hold him, but Emily can't do it, leaves, mother asks about adoption, Richard Alpert is in the Hospital, watching, she says he's not the father, doesn't know who he is.From Lostpedia
7. Hurley asks why he's here, Locke says he can see the cabin, Hurley says he has a theory, they can see it because they're the craziest, Locke asks Hurley if he wonders where DHARMA Initiative went, says they're all gone, disappeared, going to see them, Ben happened.
8. "You ever wonder what happened to the DHARMA Initiative, Hugo? There must have been at least a hundred of 'em living on this island--manning the stations, building those homes, making all that ranch dressing that you like. And then one day, they're all gone. They just disappeared. You want to know where we're going? We're going to see them." Locke "Whoa. What happened to 'em?" Hurley "He did. [Points to Ben]" Locke
9. Richard goes to see John, he's playing backgammon, Richard says he runs a school for kids who are extremely special, thinks he's one of them, asks to show him some neat things, we see drawing of Locke and the Smoke Monster, Richard asks if he drew it, John says yes, Richard shows him a baseball mitt, Book of Laws, sand, compass, comic book, knife, tells him to look at the things and think about them, asks him which things belong to him, John asks to keep, but Richard says no, which ones belong to him already, Locke picks the sand, compass, hesitates, and then picks the knife, Richard asks if he's sure about the knife belonging to him, John says yes, but Richard says it doesn't, tells mom he's not ready for the school, says he's sorry he wasted her time, she asks Locke what he did wrong.From Lostpedia
10. "You like backgammon? Yeah? You seem to have a pretty good sense of the game. I'm Richard, John. I run a school for kids who are... extremely special, and I have reason to believe that you might be one them. Mind if I show you a couple of really neat things?" Richard Alpert
11. Hurley asks Ben if he shot Locke and left him for dead, Ben says he realizes that it was pointless, that he wasn't thinking clearly, Hurley asks why he killed all those people too, Ben says he didn't kill them, that it wasn't his decision, the others wiped out the DHARMA Initiative, it was their leader who made the decision, Ben wasn't always the leader, Locke finds the body of Horace Goodspeed, his jumpsuit says he was a Mathematician, Locke finds the blueprints for the cabin in the grave.From Lostpedia
12. Keamy asks for the Captain's key, Lapidus says Mayhew just died, the crew is asking questions about what happened, Keamy says he's dealing with it, tells Frank to gas up the chopper, says he's going back, Captain says there was a sickness while he was gone, that Regina threw herself overboard, Keamy says to give him the key, Captain says it's not the protocol, Keamy takes it anyway, Captain says they're only supposed to open the safe together, Keamy says it's the secondary protocol, that it says where Ben is going, DHARMA symbol, The Orchid, Captain asks how Charles Widmore would know that, Keamy says if Linus knows they're going to torch the Island, he has only one place to go, Captain says that wasn't the agreement, that it's supposed to be an extraction mission Keamy tells him to fix his gun.From Lostpedia
13. Desmond says the injured man had no gunshot wound, Captain tells Omar that Keamy wants him in the armory, Omar says he was supposed to watch Sayid and Desmond, but the Captain says he will, he tells Sayid and Desmond to go the the pantry and hide, that he left them food and water, to go before Keamy comes back, Sayid asks about Michael, Captain says he's not dead, Sayid says hiding is pointless, that he wants the Zodiac, that he can ferry people off the Island, Captain says ten minutes, boat will be in the water.
14. They look at a map and blueprints of the cabin, Locke says Hurley should head back, that it'll be dark soon, he'll hit the coast, then go North until he reaches their beach, doesn't want to put him in harms way, Hurley says he'll stick with them, Ben says thinks that Locke talked him into it, making him think it was his idea.From Lostpedia
15. Locke in locked in a locker, in high school, everyone is laughing, a teacher comes to help him out, he's bleeding, Geronimo Jackson poster in his locker, he gets a call form Portland, a camp doing exciting things in Chemistry, New Technology, place called Mittelos Laboratories, spoke with Dr. Alpert, interested in finding young, bright minds interested in new fields of Science, want him to go to their camp this summer, John says that's why he gets stuffed into lockers, John asks how they know about him, sent a representative to the Science Fair, John says he's not Scientist, that he likes boxing, fishing, cars, that he likes sports, his teacher says that it might not be what he wants to be, but it's what he is, John gets upset. 
16. "I'm gonna tell you something--something I wish someone had told me at your age. You might not want to be that guy in the labs surrounded by test tubes and beakers, but that's who you are, John. You can't be the Prom King. You can't be the Quarterback. You can't be a Superhero." Teacher 
17. "Don't tell me what I can't do!" JohnFrom Lostpedia
18. Frank asks Michael why he didn't tell him he was a survivor of Oceanic Flight 815, Michael says that we wouldn't believe him, Frank says that he's one of the only people in the world that thinks it was a hoax, Michael says that he didn't think he could trust him, that his boss put the plane on the bottom of the Ocean, he tells Frank that he can't fly Keamy back, that he'll kill everyone on the Island.
19. Captain tells Desmond ans Sayid to take the Zodiac, stay on bearing 305, Desmond says that he's not going, that he was on the Island for three years, that Penny is coming for him, Sayid leaves.From Lostpedia
20. Locke says the cabin should be about 200 yards away, Locke says he was told that is where it would be, Ben says he was told a lot of things, that he was chosen, that he was special, that he ended up with a tumor on his spine, daughters blood on his hands, Locke says he's sorry, Ben says it was his destiny, says Locke will understand there are consequences to being chosen, destiny is a fickle bitch, they find the cabin.
21. "I was told a lot of things, too--that I was chosen, that I was special. Ended up with a tumor on my spine and my daughter's blood all over my hands. Those things had to happen to me. That was my destiny. But you'll understand soon enough that there are consequences to being chosen... because, destiny, John, is a fickle bitch." Ben
22. Locke is in Physical Therapy after his eight story fall, the Orderly tells him don't give up, that anything is possible, Locke says he should read his file, that his spine was crushed, the Orderly says he did, that Locke survived falling eight stories, that it's a miracle, the Orderly is Matthew Abaddon, pushes his wheelchair to stairs, waiting for elevator, says that he needs to go on a walkabout, that it's a journey of self-discovery, go to the Australian outback, nothing but a knife and wits, went on a walkabout convinced of one thing, found another, that when he's ready, he'll listen, they'll run into eachother again, and Locke will owe him one.From Lostpedia
23. "You should read my file. My spine was crushed. There's a 98% chance I'll never get any feeling back in my legs. So I don't know why I'm even trying to--" Locke "As a matter of fact, I did read your file. You survived falling eight stories out of a building. That's a miracle, Mr. Locke." Abaddon
24. "Wha--what's a walkabout?" Locke "It's a journey of self-discovery. You go out into the Australian Outback with nothing more than a knife and your wits." Abaddon
25. "When you're ready, Mr. Locke... (presses button) you'll listen to what I'm saying. And then when you and me run into each other again... you'll owe me one." Abaddon
26. They're loading guns and supplies up for the chopper, Omar tells the Doctor, Ray, that the Morse Code message said the Doctor washed ashore with his throat slit, Lapidus says he was hired to fly Scientists, Keamy says to go, but Frank refuses, Keamy slits Doctor's throat, throws him in overboard, Captain is back, tells Keamy to stand-down, that he fixed his gun, and he will fire, Keamy shows the Captain a device on his arm, shoots the Captain, Lapidus says he'll fly the helicopter, and he has a satellite phone.From Lostpedia
27. Jack is out of bed, Juliet yells at him, they see a helicopter fly overhead, drops a package on the beach, it's a satellite phone, Jack says he thinks they want them to follow.
28. Cabin, Ben says he's not going in, the Island wanted him to get sick, and John to get well, it's his now, Hurley says that he's not going in either.
29. "I'm not going in there with you. The island wanted me to get sick and it wanted you to get well. My time is over, John. It's yours now." Ben
30. Locke takes a lantern, goes into the cabin, sees a man, asks if he's Jacob, he says he's not Jacob, it's Christian Shephard, he says he'll speak on Jacob's behalf, Locke asks if he knows why he's here, Christian says yes, asks if he knows why, Locke says because he was chosen, Christian says he's absolutely right, Locke hears a sound, notices that Claire is there, she says that she's fine, that she's with him, Locke asks about the baby, Christian says he's where he's supposed to be, and that's not here, he says not to tell anyone that he saw Claire, Locke tries to question it, but Christian says the Freighties are on their way back, to ask the one question that does matter, Locke asks how to save the Island.
    From Lostpedia
31. Hurley and Ben share an Apollo Candy Bar.
32. Locke tells Hurley and Ben that they have to move the Island.
33. "He wants us to move the island." Locke

Questions:

1. Who is Emily Locke going to see? Anthony Cooper? Is the man John Locke's father?
   
2. Who ran Emily Locke over with their car?
3. How in the world was that girl almost six months pregnant?
4. Did John Locke live as an infant because he's special?
5. What is the significance of Locke's dream about Horace Goodspeed?
6. Why is Horace on a time loop?
7. Did Mrs. Locke really not know who Richard Alpert was?
8. How does Richard Alpert get off the Island?
9. Why can Hurley, Locke and Ben see the cabin but no one else can?
10. Why doesn't the knife belong to John already?
11. Was the sand directly from the Island?
12. Which items was John supposed to pick according to Richard?
    
13. What is the significance of the drawing John did of the Smoke Monster?
14. What miracle happened to Matthew Abaddon?
    
15. Why does Matthew Abaddon tell Locke to go on a walkabout? What did he do on his?
16. Why does Mr. Abaddon think that he and John Locke will run into eachother again?
17. Why is Claire with Christian Shephard in the cabin? Why is she so calm, so content?
    
18. Is Claire dead? Is she the Smoke Monster?
19. Why does Christian ask Locke not to tell that he saw Claire?
20. Why is Christian Shephard in the cabin?
    
21. Does the Island really move? Does it move through time and through space?
    

Favorites:

1. "How long?" Locke "I don't know. I've been following him." Ben "What? What do you mean, you've been following him?" Locke "I'm not even in front." Hurley "I have no idea where the cabin is. Hugo's the last one who saw it." Ben "Oh, this is just awesome." Hurley
2. "Oh, building a place--a little getaway for me and the misses. I mean, sometimes you need a break from the D.I., y'know? The DHARMA Initiative? (Laughs) I'm not making any sense, am I?" Horace Goodspeed 
3. "I'm Horace. [Grunting] Godspeed, John. [Thud]" Horace
4. "[Locke awakes] Hugo." Locke "(Muttering) Mallomars." Hurley "Wake up, Hugo." Locke
5. "You can't smoke in here, Mrs. Locke." Nurse [Mrs. Locke closes her lighter.] "Oh. Of course. I'm sorry." Mrs. Locke 
6. "Well, I have a theory as to why we're the only ones who can see it." Hurley "I'd love to hear it." Locke "I think we can see it 'cause we're the craziest." Hurley
7. [Playing Backgammon] "That game's stupid." John
8. "Okay, now tell me, John, which of these things belong to you?" Richard "To--to keep?" John "No, no, John. Which of these things belong to you already?" Richard
9. "So... This is where you shot Locke and left him for dead, huh?" Hurley "Yes, Hugo, I was standing right where you are now when I pulled the trigger. Should have realized at the time that it was pointless, but... I really wasn't thinking clearly." Ben [Hurley steps back a little] 
10. "He actually thinks staying was his idea. Not bad, John. Not bad at all." Ben "I'm not you." Locke "You're certainly not." Ben 
11. "I'm not a scientist! I like boxing and fishing and cars. I like sports!" John 
12. "Destiny, John, is a fickle bitch." Ben 
13. "I can't "walkabout" anything. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a cripple." Locke "Is that what you are, Mr. Locke? I went on my walkabout convinced I was one thing, but I came back another. I found out what I was made of, who I was." Abaddon "And here you are, an orderly." Locke 
14. "Yeah, I'm cool with you going in alone, too." Hurley
15. The scene with Hurley and Ben sharing the Apollo Candy Bar. Jorge Garcia and Michael Emerson are brilliant.

Notes:

1. Buddy Holly plays in the opening scene. Buddy Holly died in a plane crash.
2. It looks like Ben is the third wheel.
3. The search and tests for the leader of the Island given by Richard Alpert is much like the Tibetan Buddhist ritual for the choice of the Dalai Lama. The Panchen Lama chooses the Dalai Lama, which is much like Richard Alpert's role. I'm guessing that Jacob chose Richard as the Panchen. In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama also chooses the Panchen. So, which came first, the Panchen or the Dalai, the chick or the egg?
   
4. Richard Alpert gave young Locke the same compass that he gave him on the Island, which John then returned back to him in the past, which Richard then shows him in this episode.
5. The drawing of the Smoke Monster is reminiscent of the scene in Exodus, Part 2. 
6. From Lostpedia: The comic book that Richard shows to John is "Mystery Tales" Issue #40, which was published in April of 1956 by Atlas Comics. The cover contains the text "What was the Secret of the Mysterious Hidden Land?" and "Does it Pay to Ignore the Voice of Warning?"
7. I feel really bad for young and older Locke in this episode. He was abandoned by his Biological Mother, then his adoptive Mother is mean to him, Richard Alpert is snappy with hm, get gets beat up in high school, made fun of, and stuffed in a locker, and then he has to go through grueling Physical Therapy after getting thrown eight stories out of a window from his own father.
8. Locke is locked in a locker. He likes boxing. Very funny.
9. The way that Matthew Abaddon says "Mr. Locke" is just like Walt. This led to theories that this is future Walt, which is obviously impossible, but still cool.
10. The scene where Matthew Abaddon pushes John Locke in his wheelchair to a flight of stairs and stops totally freaks me out. Every time I watch it, I think he's going to push him down the flight of stairs. That scene just creeps me the hell out.
    
11. Terry O'Quinn's acting in the Physical Therapy scenes is so great. He doesn't use his legs at all. He really makes you feel his pain and believe that he's paralyzed.
12. John Locke finally takes Matthew Abaddon's advice and goes on a walkabout in Walkabout.
    
13. Claire clearly had been smoking some illegal substances in that cabin. She also freaks me out in that scene.
    

3.19 The Brig

1. Locke is in a dark room, reading a file, throws it in the fire, he has kidnapped someone, there's banging and muffled screaming, Locke tells them to save their breath, that no one will hear them.
2. 8 days ago--Anthony Cooper in the room when they open the door, Locke wants to know why they brought him there, Ben says Locke brought him there, Locke approaches him and Cooper bites him, Tom tasers him, Cooper asks Locke if he knows where he is, Ben says they're leaving first thing in the morning, going to an old place, Locke say he'll go with, Ben says they're holding Kate, that he should say goodbye to her. From Lostpedia
3. "We're going to a new place. Well an old place, actually. Would you like to come with us?" Ben "Yes." Locke "Good. We're holding Kate a few buildings over from here, maybe you'd like to say goodbye." Ben
4. Kate is in Sawyer's tent, says she's going back to her tent, Sawyer's going to pee, he sees Hurley and Jin rustling outside a tent, asks what they're doing, he goes to pee, hears something and pulls his gun, Locke returns, says that he's looking for him, says he infiltrated the Others, kidnapped Ben, tied him up, dragged him into the jungle, wants Sawyer to kill him, Locke says he's a not a murderer, that Sawyer killed a man in Sydney, they have files on all of them, Sawyer reluctantly goes with him. From Lostpedia
5. "I'm not a murderer." Locke "Neither am I!" Sawyer "Except for the man you killed in Sydney. They got files on us, James. All of us." Locke
6. 3 days ago--Locke helps Cindy with her tent, people are watching him, Emma and Zack, she says that they're excited he's there, they've been waiting for him, Tom says Ben's asking for him, Ben is listening to Juliet's tape recording, tell him she's gathering information, determining if they're pregnant, going to go in and take them, Ben says no one will get hurt, he says a week ago, he couldn't move his toes, has Locke to thank for it, Ben says he's not ready to know what the island can do yet. From Lostpedia
7. "A week ago I couldn't move my toes. But the minute you showed up, I started to feel pins and needles. And this is only the beginning, John. I can't wait to show you what this Island can do. But unfortunately, you're not ready, John." Ben "Well er, no, I'm ready." Locke "No, John, you're not. You're still crippled by the memories of the man you used to be before you came to this Island. And you'll never be free, until you release the hold that your father has over you. Why do you think you brought him here?" Ben "Oh oh oh, the, magic box, okay Ben, how about you show me..." Locke "The magic box is a metaphor, John. I can't show you anything until you can show me that you're ready and willing to be one of us. When people join us here on this Island, they need to make a gesture of free will, of commitment. That's why you're going to have to kill your father." Ben
8. Charlie is stocking up on food to bring to Naomi, Jack asks where they went, he tells Jack they were exploring the beach, male bonding.
9. Charlie says they should tell Jack, Hurley says he should check at her wound, but Desmond says Jack was with them for 10 days, that they have to keep the parachutist safe, to bring someone in that they cant trust.
10. "Aye, Juliet. Two weeks ago she had your friends in cages. Naomi, I mean you heard everything that she said. If we keep her safe, she's our way off this Island. So given that, do you trust Jack? Or don't you?" Desmond
11. Sawyer wants to know what's in his file, Locke says his parents died when he was young, but it didn't say why his father shot his mother, or why he turned the gun on himself, his transcripts, criminal record, con jobs he was arrested for, why he uses an alias, bringing him to kill Ben, won't do it himself because he can't, Sawyer says no, they bring him back, Locke says he'll change his mind when he hears what he has to say.
12. "The file they got on me." Sawyer "Not much. That your parents died when you were very young. But it doesn't say why, your father, shot your mother, or why he turned the gun on himself. That must have been hard for you." Locke "What else?" Sawyer "High school transcripts. Er, criminal record. All the con jobs you were arrested for. I guess that's why you use an alias huh? Why did you choose the name Sawyer..." Locke [Sawyer hits Locke over the head with his gun, knocking him to the ground. He grabs Locke's knife and puts it to his throat] "How stupid do you think I am, huh? I already been conned by Ben once. Maybe you heard about it, bunny with a number painted on it? Think I'm just gonna follow you through the jungle..." Sawyer "James, please, you have to, you have to trust me..." Locke "Where are you taking me? Tell me the truth. What do you want from me?" Sawyer "I'm bringing you there to do exactly what I said. I need you to kill Ben." Locke "Why did you come back to get me?" Sawyer "I had to." Locke "Why me! Why won't you do it yourself?" Sawyer "James, please!" Locke "Don't call me James! Why won't you do it yourself!" Sawyer "Because I can't! I can't!!! I can't do it! That's why I came back for you." Locke "I'll go to wherever you got him, but then we're bringing him back to our camp. I ain't killing nobody, you understand me?" Sawyer "Yeah. I understand. But you'll change your mind. When you hear what he has to say. You'll change your mind." Locke
13. Hurley gets Sayid, interrupts him digging an anonymous hole, Charlie says they haven't told Jack, Sayid questions the parachutist, she says her name is Naomi Dorrit, took off from a ship, a freighter 80 nautical miles West, she was part of a search and recovery team, Flight 815, entire plane found off the coast of Bali, in an ocean trench 4 miles deep, they sent down cameras, all the bodies where there, she's looking for Desmond, company hired by Penelope Widmore, doesn't know why, she never met her, was given a set of coordinates, did a GPS grid search, didn't know about the island, was given coordinates in the middle of the ocean, 3 days ago, she was flying back, and the clouds cleared, she saw land, instruments started spinning, she grabbed her shoot and bailed, Sayid questions her, if they actually saw her helicopter, if she has a was of communicating with her ship off the shore, she shows him the satellite phone. From Lostpedia
14. "What was your name? Sayid?" Naomi "Yes." Sayid "Remind me not to rescue you, Sayid." Naomi
15. Sawyer asks about what Ben has to say, tells Locke the guy in Sydney was a mistake.
16. "Look, what you read in that file, about the guy in Sydney. I thought he was someone else, I made a mistake I didn't mean to kill him." Sawyer
17. 3 days ago--Ben wakes Locke, brings him out in front of everyone, tells him it's time to kill Anthony Cooper, Locke is hesitant, Cooper says that he can't do it, Ben says he has to, knows about the walkabout, says that Locke can't do it, he's not who they thought he was, humiliates him in front of the whole group. From Lostpedia
18. "You're doing this to yourself. As long as he's still breathing, you'll still be that same sad pathetic little man that was kicked off his walkabout tour because you couldn't walk." Ben
19. Locke takes Sawyer to the Black Rock, says Ben is inside, in the brig, he says that it's an old slaving ship, mid 19th century, Locke guesses they captured salves, to try to mind the island, says the boxes have dynamite in them, Sawyer hears muffled screaming from the back, says they're not killing him, Locke closes the door and locks him inside, Sawyer takes the hood off his head to reveal that he is not Ben, and in fact, Anthony Cooper. From Lostpedia
20. "I said shut up! [Sawyer pulls off the bag to reveal Cooper] Who the hell are you?" Sawyer
21. Sayid is trying to fix the satellite phone with Hurley, he says he's never seen equipment that sophisticated, Sayid says there's no audible channel, interference is blocking their ability to send out their own transmission, Kate discovers them, Sayid leaks the secret.
22. Rousseau goes to the brig, there for dynamite, doesn't ask any questions.
23. 2 days ago--Richard introduces himself to Locke, says Ben wanted to embarrass him, that he knew he wouldn't kill his father in front of everyone, wanted to watch him fail, that he's a man with a broken spine who could walk, the people are excited, he's someone special, Ben is wasting his time with fertility, they're looking for someone to remind them that they're there for more important reasons, he wants Locke to find a purpose, but Anthony Cooper has to go, he gives him Sawyer's file, says to read it. From Lostpedia
24. "Ben knew you weren't going to kill your own father. He put you in front of everyone in our camp just so they could all watch you fail." Richard "Why?" Locke "Because when word got back here that there was a man with a broken spine on the plane who could suddenly walk again, well, people here began to get very excited because that, that could only happen to someone who was extremely special. But Ben doesn't want anyone to think you're special, John." Richard "And why are you telling me this?" Locke "Ben has been wasting our time with novelties like fertility problems. We're looking for someone to remind us that we're here for more important reasons." Richard "What do you want from me?" Locke "I want for you to find your purpose. And to do that, your father has to go, John. And since you're not gonna do it, I'm gonna suggest someone else." Richard
25. Locke knows that there's no bullets in Sawyer's gun when he threatens him, Cooper says that's his son, he was driving I10 in Tallahassee, slammed into the back of a car, went into the divider at 70 mph, the paramedics in the ambulance, one smiles at him as he puts the IV in, then it goes black, he wakes up in a dark room, guy, door, John Locke, he threw him out a window, his dead son, survived the window, but was paralyzed, he's dead because he was in a plane crash in the Pacific, says they're in hell, they found the plane in the bottom of the ocean, he conned Locke for his kidney, has gone by the names Adam Seward, Anthony Cooper, Ted MacLaren, Tom Sawyer, Lewis Jackson, James says his name is Sawyer too.
26. "Island? Okay. I'm driving down I10 through Tallahassee when bam, somebody slams into the back of my car. I go right into the divider at seventy miles an hour, the next thing I know, the paramedics are strapping me to a gurney, stuffing me into the back of an ambulance and one of them actually smiles at me as he pops the IV in my arm. And then, nothing. Just, black. And the next thing I know I wake up in a dark room tied up, gag in my mouth, and when the door opens, I'm looking up at the same man I threw out a window, John Locke. My dead son." Cooper "And he's dead cause you threw him out a window?" Sawyer "No, he survived that. But it paralyzed him, permanently. He's dead because the plane he was flying on crashed in the Pacific." Cooper "Well, I got bad news for ya pops, cause I was on that plane with your son. He sure as hell wasn't crippled. And we didn't crash in the Pacific, we crashed here on this Island." Sawyer "You sure its an Island?" Cooper "Well what else is it?" Sawyer "Little hot for heaven isn't it?" Cooper "Oh okay, so we're dead?" Sawyer "They found your plane on the bottom of the ocean. One minute I'm in a car wreck and the next minute I'm in a pirate ship in the middle of the jungle. If this isn't hell friend, then where are we?" Cooper "Why did you throw Locke out a window?" Sawyer "He was becoming a nuisance. I conned him into giving me one of his kidneys. He never got over it." Cooper "Conned?" Sawyer "Yes sir, conned." Cooper "What's your name?" Sawyer "Hmm?" Cooper "Your name." Sawyer "A con-man goes by many names friend. I've been Adam Seward, Anthony Cooper, Ted MacLaren, Tom Sawyer, Louis Jackson, and Paul..." Cooper "Tom Sawyer." Sawyer "I was young and Huck Finn was taken. And the ladies loved that one. Made me charming." Cooper "Well how about that." Sawyer "How about what?" Cooper "Sawyer's my name too." Sawyer
27. Yesterday--The Others are packing,, moving, Ben says that Locke can't go, has to stay behind, Anthony Cooper is his mess, but they'll leave a trail, and he can only return if he comes carrying his father's body on his back. From Lostpedia
28. "But I thought I was special." Sawyer "Well everyone makes mistakes. We're leaving now. We'll leave a trail, one you can track. And John, unless you're carrying your father's body on your back, don't bother." Ben
29. Sawyer asks Cooper if he's ever been to Jasper, Alabama, says he killed his daddy, gives him the letter he carries, Cooper says he ran that con 2 dozen times, Sawyer says his mom was Mary, Cooper says she begged him to take her $38,000, says it's not his fault, tears the letter, Sawyer kills him, Locke says thank you. From Lostpedia
30. "You ever been to Jasper, Alabama?" Sawyer "Why?" Cooper "Have you or haven't you?" Sawyer "Yeah I been to Jasper. Don't tell me I'm your daddy?" Cooper "No. You killed my daddy. [Sawyer gets his letter out of his pocket] Read it." Sawyer "“Dear Mr Sawyer.” What is this?" Cooper "Just read it." Sawyer "“You don't know who I am, but I know who you are. And I know what you done. You had sex with my mother, and then you stole my dad's money all away, so he got angry and he killed my mother, and then he killed himself” blah blah blah blah. So what? Is this supposed to be you, you wrote this letter? Hey wait a second. Did you take my name because you were on some kind of revenge kick?" Cooper "Keep reading." Sawyer "Easy, easy, don't get all worked up. Look, I ran that con two dozen times. If your mother was one of the..." Cooper "Mary. Her name was Mary." Sawyer "Mary from Jasper, Alabama. Yeah, I remember her. She practically begged me to take her thirty-eight thousand dollars and to rescue her from her sorry little life." Cooper "You finish the letter." Sawyer "Look, I only took her money. It ain't my fault your dad overreacted. If he pulled the old murder suicide then I'm sure he's down here somewhere. Er, maybe you could take this up with him..." Cooper "FINISH IT!!!" Sawyer "Okay. Okay." Cooper [He rips up the letter into pieces, and Sawyer attacks him, choking him with the chains around the room] "You wanna go to hell? You wanna go to hell!!" Sawyer
31. Kate is a tattle-tale, she tells Jack about Naomi, no one trust him, she has a satellite phone, Juliet says they should tell her, but Jack says no. From Lostpedia
32. Sawyer gets sick, Locke says to go back, that Cooper ruined his life and Sawyer's, had it coming,he says Juliet's a mole, she's working for Ben, in 3 days they're coming, says he's telling him to warn the camp, he's not really undercover, he's on his own journey now, he gives Sawyer the tape, so they'll believe him, Sawyer asks if he really was a cripple, if his father pushed him out a window, Locke says not anymore.
33. Locke returns to the Others' camp with his father's body on his back. From Lostpedia

Questions:

1. How did Anthony Cooper get to the island?
2. Did Sawyer's file say that Anthony Cooper was the reason for his parents' murder-suicide or did Locke just know that it was him?
3. Did Ben really think Locke would kill his father or did he want him to get someone else to do it for him?
4. Did Ben know that Richard talked to Locke, gave him Sawyer's file?
5. Why does Naomi have technology that Sayid has never seen before?
6. How did Naomi get the photograph of Desmond and Penny?
7. Was Naomi's story completely true, was she lying?
8. Why couldn't Locke kill Anthony Cooper?
9. When did the fertility problems start?
10. What does Richard think is more important? What are they there for?

Favorites:

1. "I can't sleep if I'm not in my own tent." Kate "Fine, let's go to your tent." Sawyer "Erm... its nothing personal, its just... old habits, you know?" Kate "Fine, scram! You want me to walk you home?" Sawyer "It's five tents. I think I'll make it." Kate "Sure? I gotta pee anyway." Sawyer "That is so romantic." Kate
2. "What the hell are y'all doing?" Sawyer "What the hell are you doing?" Hurley "Going to take a leak." Sawyer "Yeah, well, so were we." Hurley "Well, alrightey then." Sawyer
3. "Hello, James. Wanna zip your pants up?" Locke "The hell are you doing here?" Sawyer "Looking for you, actually." Locke "Okay, Tarzan, so now that you're back from your blow up everything that could get us off the Island tour, how bout you tell me why you joined up with the damn enemy?" Sawyer
4. "The magic box is a metaphor, John." Ben
5. "You're wasting your time, bug-eye, me and him have been through all this. All he wants is his daddy..." Anthony Cooper
6. "I'll be here the rest of the week John if you change your mind..." Anthony Cooper
7. "[Points his torch at skeletons] Friends of yours?" Sawyer
8. "Son of a bitch. You really kidnapped the little bastard." Sawyer
9. "What's that? Is that a radio? Where'd you get it?" Kate "Er, the luggage." Hurley "What you just found a radio in the luggage?" Kate
10. "Rousseau." Locke "Locke." Rousseau "What brings you to the Black Rock?" Locke "Dynamite. And you?" Rousseau "[In the next room] Open this door! Open up!" Sawyer "Crates are right over there." Locke "[In the next room] Open this damn door!" Sawyer "Be careful, it's unstable." Locke
11. "Sawyer! Why would Sawyer kill my father, he doesn't even know him." Locke "Keep reading." Richard
12. "You're not gonna shoot anyone, James." Locke "One! Two!" Sawyer "If there were any bullets in that gun, why would you hold a knife to my throat?" Locke "Ah! Son of a bitch!!" Sawyer "Guess I didn't raise no dummies." Cooper "The hell's that mean?" Sawyer "It means that bald headed bastard outside the door is my son." Cooper "Come again?" Sawyer "My son. As in I'm his father. You do speak English?" Cooper
13. "You missing those cheeseburgers yet?" Jack "Only every second." Juliet

Notes:

1. Desmond questioning Jack and Juliet's loyalty, excellent.
2. Sawyer kills Anthony Cooper Star Wars stylee, the same way that Princess Leia kills Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi.
3. Kate, why can't you shut your mouth and listen to the damn Iraqi? Do you have to tell Jack everything that happens on the damn island, especially after he's canoodling with his favorite Other? That scene is so lame.
4. When Anthony Cooper says he doesn't raise dummies, I originally thought that he was saying he was Sawyer's father too.
5. Anthony Cooper is the real Sawyer and James Ford get to kill him, what a great pay-off.
6. Josh Holloway is phenomenal in this episode.
7. I don't think Ben literally meant to return carrying your father's body on your back, Locke.

3.13 The Man From Tallahassee

1. Locke has an appointment with a social worker, asks about his condition, he says he's single, has no girlfriend, was raised in foster care, that he never knew his parents, he stopped going to therapy, the woman says that his benefits have been suspended, that depression can be temporary, and if he starts going to therapy again, his benefits will be reimbursed. From Lostpedia
2. Jack is still playing football with Tom, he stops to talk to Juliet, Kate tells Sayid and Locke that Juliet helped them escape, Rousseau is gone, they watch, Jack goes to see Ben at his house, who is in his wheelchair, shakes his hand, talks to him.
3. "This is going to be more complicated than we thought." Locke
4. Kate tells them they're here to rescue Jack, Sayid says they can't just start shooting, that the circumstances have changed, Jack may not want to be rescued, Kate says that's not him, that they drugged them, but Sayid says that he doesn't look drugged, that until they know, their lives are a risk, Locke says that Jack must have reasons, they should wait until dark, when Jack is alone, and if he wants out, they'll get him out. From Lostpedia
5. "It's Jack. The first time I saw him he was risking his life pulling people out of burning airplane wreckage. If he's shaking hands with the Others, I'm sure he has a good reason. We just have to go down there and find out what it is." Locke
6. Locke is alone in his apartment, watching Exposé, eating a TV dinner, a man comes to his door, Peter Talbot, wants to talk about his mother who is in trouble, she met a man, Adam Seward, a retired computer entrepreneur from Ontario, had something special, after 2 months she agreed to marry him, but Peter sensed there was something wrong about him, he says that Locke donated a kidney to him, that Adam Seward used to be Anthony Cooper, but Locke lies and says that it was anonymous. From Lostpedia
7. It's night, they watch Jack talk to Juliet, and then go into a house. Kate goes in while Locke and Sayid guard the house, Jack is playing piano inside, there are cameras in the house, Jack says that they're watching them, that she has to go, but Sayid is captured and brought in by Ryan, Kate surrenders, she says it's only the two of them. From Lostpedia
8. Locke goes to Ben's house, Ben says he can tell him where Jack is, but Locke says he's looking for the submarine, that they use it to travel to and from the island, Mikhail told him before he killed him, Alex comes in, there is a knock at the front door.
9. Tom is at Ben's house while Locke hides in the closet with Alex, he says Austen and Jarrah have been captured, Ben says separate them, that he wants to know how they found them, Ben wants to talk to Richard, Tom leaves, says he'll wait outside. From Lostpedia
10. Ben tells Richard to bring him the man from Tallahassee, Richard asks what they need him for, Ben says to just do it, he leaves, Locke asks what that means.
11. Locke wants the pack Sayid had with him, sends Alex to go and get it, Ben says that his daughter currently hates him, but Alex agrees to go.
12. John follows Cooper to a flower shop, where he's picking out flowers for his wedding with Mrs. Talbot, Locke says he's conning her, tells him about her son, Peter, wants him to end the relationship, leave town, or he'll tell her the truth, Cooper says he'll do it. From Lostpedia
13. "Because. Because it's not fair! You make people think that you're their family. And then you leave their life in ruins. And I'm not going to let you do it again! You're going to call off your engagement and go... or I'm going to tell her the truth. I want to hear you say it! You say you're going to leave!" Locke
14. Ben wants to get out of bed, sit in his wheelchair, says Locke knows what it's like to want some dignity, asks how he's going to pilot the sub, Ben says if he met Mikhail, he was in the communications station, he found the C4, that he's not planning on piloting the sub, but planning to destroy it, says he knows him, born in California, raised in foster care, wasted big part of his life in Tustin, pushing papers of company that manufactured industrial boxes, 4 years prior to the island he was in a wheelchair, knows how he ended up in it, asks if it hurt, Locke says he felt his back break.
15. Kate is being held in the rec-room, getting out of the handcuffs, Jack visits her, Tom tells him to be careful, Jack says they didn't hurt him, Kate says they didn't hurt her either, Jack says that this is where they live, Kate wants to know about the people they took, the kids, Jack says they're all safe, that's he's not with anyone, that he told her not to come back, he tells her he made a deal with them, they're going to let him go home, first thing in the morning, he trusts them because she told him to, when she asked him to save Sawyer's life, that it's their best chance, Juliet says they have to go, he says that he asked her not to come back for him and he wishes that she hadn't, but that he'll come back for her. From Lostpedia
16. Locke is returning home with groceries, detectives are waiting for him, they question Locke about Peter Talbot, he says he was a solicitor, but the detectives say that he's wroth $200 million, they say that John's name and address were on a paper in his pocket, that they know that because he's dead.
17. Ben says it wasn't easy being in the hatch knowing Locke had no business walking around, couldn't ask about it without telling who he really was, so Locke says to ask him now that he knows, Ben wants to know if he was walking the day of the crash, if it was immediate, the moment he got there, Locke says he's wondering why it hasn't happened for him, Ben says he wants to destroy the sub because he's afraid it'll go away, the he knows if he ever leaves the island, he'll be back in the wheelchair again. From Lostpedia
18. "That's what immediate means, Ben. You’re wondering why it hasn't happened for you. You're not recovering as fast as you'd like. How long has it been since Jack fixed you? A week? Now that I think about it, how'd you get sick in the first place?" Locke
19. Sayid is being held by Ryan, tied to a swing-set, Alex comes to get the pack, tells him her dad wants it, Sayid calls Alex by her name, says she looks like her mother, but Alex says her mother is dead, Sayid says he's sure that's what they told her, but before they can continue, Ryan beats him, tells him to shut up. From Lostpedia
20. Locke asks where they get their electricity, eats some of Ben's chicken, Ben says if Locke blows up the sub, there's a big problem with his people, says he was born on the island, not many can say that, most were recruited and brought there, love the place, do anything to defend it, but they need to know they can leave if they want to, the sub maintains that illusion, they're here because they want to be, but some not ready to make a full commitment, John has made that commitment, he can show him things, he says to picture of a box, imagine somewhere on the island, there's a very large box, that whatever he imagined, when you open the box, there it would be, Locke says imagine himself a sub, says Ben is cheating, that he's a hypocrite, Ben's in a wheelchair and Locke isn't. From Lostpedia
21. "And now you have a choice. Because if you stop and if you think, I can show you things. Things I know you want to see very badly. Let me put it so you'll understand. Picture a box. You know something about boxes, don't you, John? What if I told you that somewhere on this island, there's a very large box... and whatever you imagined, whatever you wanted to be in it, when you opened that box, there it would be. What would you say about that, John?" Ben
22. "Because you're cheating! You and your people. Communicate with the outside world whenever you want to, you... you come and go as you please... you use electricity and running water and guns... You're a hypocrite! A pharisee. You don't deserve to be on this island. If you had any idea what this place really was... you wouldn't be putting chicken in your refrigerator!" Locke
23. "You've been here 80 days, John; I've been here my entire life! So how is it that you think you know this island better than I do?" Ben "Because you're in the wheelchair, and I'm not." Locke
24. Alex returns with the pack, Locke takes the C4, Ben says Jack is leaving, the anomaly wiped out communications, it's a one way ticket, the sub can never come back, no one will find the island.
25. Alex says Ben manipulates people, she brings Locke to the sub, he goes inside. From Lostpedia
26. "That's what my father does. He manipulates people. He makes you think it's your idea, but it's his." Alex
27. Rousseau watches Alex on the pier from the jungle.
28. Ben is putting the chicken away, Jack and Juliet show up to talk to him, Jack asks a favor of him, Ben says he'll let friends go as soon as he leaves, gives Jack his word. From Lostpedia
29. Locke is leaving the dock, dripping wet, Juliet and Jack show up with the Others, Locke says that he's sorry, he blows up the submarine, the Others capture him. From Lostpedia
30. Locke confronts Anthony Cooper about Peter Talbot, says he thought he was going to leave, accuses him of killing Peter, Cooper says he was looking for an angle to make some money, that he's a con man, not a murder, that Mrs. Talbot is upset, she called off the wedding, he's drinking MacCutcheon's Whiskey, Locke doesn't believe him, says he's going to call the woman, but Cooper pushes him out the window. From Lostpedia
31. Locke is in the hospital, he survived, the detectives visit him and say that his father is gone, fled to Mexico, disappeared, could be anywhere in the world right now, a physical therapist tells the detectives that's enough, Locke has work to do, but he doesn't want to, the physical therapist forces Locke out of bed, says he fell 8 stories and survived, he picks him up and puts him in a wheelchair, Locke is frightened. From Lostpedia
32. "John. You fell eight stories and survived, okay? I don't want to hear about what you can't do. Now let's go. It's going to be all right." Physical therapist
33. Locke is being held prisoner by Ben, he says he knows Ben wanted it to happen, that's why he left the C4 in Sayid's bag, that he wanted him to make it happen, Ben tells Richard to uncuff Locke.
34. "Do you remember earlier, John, when you called me a cheater? When you said I didn't deserve to live on this island? Well get this: there I was, shaking hands with Jack, and thinking I'd give almost anything to come up with a way to stop him from leaving... because to let him go would be a sign of weakness, of failure, of defeat. People would see that. They would know it. And that, John, would be the end of me. But to kill him... that would be cheating, because my people also heard me make a promise, and to break my word... that would be the end of me too. And then you came striding out of the jungle, John, to make my dream come true." Ben
35. Richard, Ben and Locke leave the room, head down the hall.
36. "When I asked you earlier if it hurt when you suffered your injury, I think you misunderstood me. Seems fairly obvious that when a person's back smashes into a hard surface after being thrown from a building, that that's going to sting a little. But I really wasn't asking about the physical pain." Ben "What, do you want to know if it hurt my feelings?" Locke "No John. I wanted to know what it felt like when your own father tried to kill you. He's the reason you destroyed the submarine, isn't he? You're afraid. You're afraid of him and this is the one place he can never find you. This is the one place he can never get to." Ben "What do you want from me?" Locke "I don't know how it happened, but you seem to have some communion with this island, John, and that makes you very, very important. You have no idea what you're talking about, of course, but in time you'll have a better understanding of things. So what do I want? I want to help you, John." Ben "Why?" Locke "Because I'm in a wheelchair and you're not. Are you ready to see?" Ben
37. Ben shows Locke what's in the magic box, Locke is amazed, it's Anthony Cooper. From Lostpedia
38. "Dad?" Locke

Questions:

1. How did Ben know that they would need the man from Tallahassee?
2. When did Richard and Ben discuss Anthony Cooper? How did Richard get him?
3. Why is Locke dripping wet when he leaves the sub?
4. How and when did Anthony Cooper get to the island?
5. What is the magic box?

Favorites:

1. "I'm sorry. No solicitors. [points to a sign that says "NO SOLICITING"] I have a sign." Locke
2. "The man from Tallahassee? What is that? Some kind of code?" Locke "No, John, unfortunately we don't have a code for "There's a man in my closet with a gun to my daughter's head." Although we obviously should." Ben
3. "So tell me, John. How do you expect to pilot our submarine? I mean, it's a complicated piece of machinery. You don't just press "submerge." Ben
4. "Where do you get electricity?" Locke "We have two giant hamsters running in a massive wheel at our secret underground lair." Ben
5. "Mmm. I never really appreciated chicken until right now." Locke
6. "I'd say I hope that box is big enough to imagine yourself up a new submarine." Locke

Notes:

1. If Jack had actually left the island, that probably would have been the last time he saw Kate.
2. Did it hurt? Did it hurt, when you fell from the sky, John?
3. I love the scene where the physical therapist is putting John in the wheelchair, it's shot phenomenally well. The wheelchair becomes a character and Locke is so frightened by it. Good work, Jack Bender.
4. One of the best episode endings ever.
5. The food in Ben's refrigerator changes from when Locke opens it to when Ben opens it.