He's Our You, Initial Reaction

I was really glad to see Sayid back in the mix again, as we've seen so little of him this season. Although, I was a little disappointed with certain aspects of this episode. I'm also wondering if Sayid going rogue means we're not going to be seeing him for a while. Obviously, I wouldn't be very happy with that, considering Sayid and Desmond are my two favorite characters, and having them both out of the show would suck in my opinion.

Questions:

• Is young Ben Linus really dead? Can he die or is he somehow reborn like John Locke?
• Did Sayid change the future? How can he change it without it being paradox?
• If he did, and the purge didn't happen, then what happened to Dharma?
• Are the DeGroots in Ann Arbor, Michigan? Are they the be-all, end-all to the decision making on the island?
• Was the book, A Separate Reality, a hint that we are somehow in a separate reality?
• Why was Richard Alpert dressed differently, with long hair, when he met Ben? Have they been in contact since their first meeting?
• Who lit the Dharma van on fire and sent it into the barracks? Did someone help Ben?
• Why is Oldham out in the middle of the jungle by himself?
• How did they find out that Sayid was the one who killed Peter Avellino?
• Did Ben hire Ilana to bring Sayid to Guam so that he would get on the Ajira Airways flight?
• Is Jack the whipping boy now?

Notes:

• Sayid tripping his face off is fucking hilarious. Any time that Sayid is funny it's great because it's such a rare occasion that he lets it all hang out.
• The book that Ben gave Sayid was A Separate Reality by Carlos Castinada.
• Sayid was drinking MacCutcheon's Whiskey at the bar with Ilana.
• The truth serum that was given to Sayid appeared to be liquid LSD on a sugar cube.
• Right now, I'm not even sure that I care if it's a paradox if Sayid did, in fact, kill young Benjamin Linus, that was just too fucking awesome.
• Radzinsky and Phil really annoy me. I wish they would just die already.
• Oldham is their Sayid? Really? This dude didn't seem very creepy or threatening at all. In fact, he didn't even lay a hand on Sayid other than to put a sugar cube in his mouth. Sorry, not very impressed with that one.
• It was interesting to see young Sayid, as we never have before, and to know that he has a brother. We've never really learned anything about Sayid's family and childhood.
• It was nice to get back to the traditional flashback again.
• Young Benjamin Linus creeps me the fuck out.
• Ilana wanted Sayid. Even I have a man-crush on off-island, suave Sayid.
• Yeah, don't protect baby Ethan. Let the kid die.
• I don't like the "He's our you" line being the title of the episode. It had little and almost nothing to do with the episode. That guy was not their Sayid.
• I'm surprised Kate doesn't know anything about cars.

4.09 The Shape of Things to Come

1. Jack doesn't feel well, has a stomach bug, Kate wonders why they aren't back from the boat yet, Jack says Sayid said the engine is down, he's trying to fix it, that's he's probably wondering why they can't get in touch.
2. Vincent barking, Bernie calls for help, they find the body of doctor washed ashore, Daniel and Charlotte recognize him, Dr. Ray from the Freighter, his throat is slit.From Lostpedia
   
3. "We're all gonna die." Hurley
   
4. Locke, Hurley, Sawyer are playing risk, babysitting Aaron, Hurley says that Australia is the key to the game.
5. "I can't believe you're just giving him Australia. Australia's the key to the whole game." Hurley
   From Lostpedia
6. Keamy is holding Alex captive, he tells her to turn the sonic fence off, she asks him to spare Aaron's life, the code she uses on the fence is 1623.
7. The phone rings while Locke, Sawyer, Hurley and Aaron are at Ben's house playing Risk, the phone broadcasts code 14J, Locke leaves and tells Ben, he gets a shotgun out of the piano bench, says they have to get to other house for better positioning, they're here he says.
8. Ben flashes to the desert, wakes up, he's wearing a DHARMA parka, says Halliwax on the nameplate, he breathes out cold air, he's in the Sahara Desert, he vomits, he has a gash on his arm, Arabs arrive on horseback, one of the men starts to frisk him, Ben whips out his death beating-stick, flips the tables, kills the other dude with his friend's gun, destroys both of them instantly.From Lostpedia
9. Ben says that the code 14J is an early warning system, one of their people has been captured, they tripped panic switch at the security fence, they had a five minute debate about it before they went and got him, Ben sent Rousseau, Karl and Alex away yesterday and he says they're safe, Sawyer wants to grab Claire form the other house, Locke wants to go with him, but Ben says it's important that John survives what's about to happen, to stay close to him, people coming won't risk hurting him, that he's the best chance to live.
10. Daniel is examining the Doctor, Jack says his throat is slit, wants to know if he knows anything about it, Dan says he was fine the last he saw him, says when is a relative term, Jack says about fixing the satellite phone, but Dan says it could only be used for beeps and boops, Bernie says telegraph.
11. Ben says he's scared of the people that are coming, they cover the doors with bookshelves and furniture, Hurley takes care of Aaron, wonders how Sawyer is going to get back in the house.
12. Sawyer is on his way to Claire's house, talks to a random log carrying guy, asks about Claire, all of a sudden, the log carrier is shot mid-sentence, then there's a rocket explosion on Claire's house, then more gunshots, log carriers die, but Sawyer escapes without a scratch.From Lostpedia
13. Ben arrives at a Hotel in Tunisia, asks for a room, says it's not his first time in Tunisia, he's a preferred guest, Dean Moriarty, he asks woman at the desk the date, which is October 24, 2005, he sees Sayid Jarrah on the television, they mention the Oceanic 6, he says he wants to bury his wife in peace.
14. Aaron is crying, Locke asks why he has to survive this, Ben says there's only one person that can save them and that's Jacob, that he and Locke have to go to Jacob together, Locke says he doesn't know where the cabin is, but Ben says that Hurley knows where. 
15. Sawyers saves Claire from the rubble of her former house, she's disoriented and asks for Charlie, Sawyer tries to take her back to the house, but the door is barricaded, Hurley tries to move stuff, but then throws an ottoman through the window and tells Sawyer and Claire to come through, the door bell rings, Miles arrives with walkie, says they let him go and want to talk.
16. In Tikrit, Iraq, Sayid is at Nadia's funeral, Ben pulls out a camera and watches a bald man drinking coffee, Sayid is carrying the casket, looks up and finds Ben, tracks him down, Ben says he's there to find the man who murdered wife, that he took Desmond's boat to get off the island, The Elizabeth, he followed a heading to Fiji, says Charles Widmore tried to convince the world that his plane was on the bottom of the ocean, Sayid asks what that has to do with him and Nadia, Ben says there was a man there, named Ishmael Baker, and that he's one of Widmore's men, five days ago in Los Angeles, a photograph was taken by a traffic light camera, on the corner of La Brea and Santa Monica, three blocks from where Nadia was killed, Sayid asks why they would want to murder her.From Lostpedia
17. Miles says there's six of them, told him they were security, to escort Ben back to mainland, Miles says to take the walkie, that they have a hostage, Ben says his people are prepared to die, but Miles says it's his daughter.
18. Keamy answers the walkie talkie, tells him his name and that he's an employee of Charles Widmore.Martin Keamy, employee of Charles Widmore, says he wants to talk face to face, to look at him, states his terms, to put his hands on his head and walk straight to him, once in custody, no one else will be harmed.
19. Ben says his name is Martin Christopher Keamy, former First Sargent of the United States Marines Corps, served with distinction from 1996-2001, since worked with Mercenary Organizations, specifically in Uganda, knows exactly who he is, so dispense with the formalities.
20. Keamy calls out for Alex to be brought to him, he tells Ben to come out or he'll kill her, Ben says he wants to present a counter proposal, for he and his friends to leave and go back to helicopter, to forget they were ever on the island. 
21. Keamy tells Alex to say goodbye, she talks to Ben, says he killed Karl and her mother, begs him, Ben says it's under control, that she's not his daughter, that he stole her as a baby from an insane woman, that she means nothing to him, she's a pawn, says he's not coming out of the house, to go ahead and do it, and Keamy kills Alex execution style, Ben is completely shocked, because Keamy called his bluff.From Lostpedia
22. Alex is dead and Keamy has disappeared, Ben says that he changed the rules, Sawyer says that they should just toss him out, but Locke says he doesn't think they'll let them walk out alive no matter what they do.
    
23. Ben takes off, pulls back his bookshelf, flicks a switch and escapes into his secret room, where a door comes down behind him, before Sawyer can catch him, he pulls back his rack of suits to reveal an ancient stone wall with markings, hieroglyphs, Ben pushes the heavy door open.From Lostpedia
24. Ben watches and sips tea in a café, he then follows Ishmael Bakir, but gets caught, tells him his name is Benjamin Linus, and that he wants him to deliver a message to Charles Widmore, Says kill him, but keeps shooting even after the gun no longer has any bullets left, Ben says they're finished, Sayid says he has no life, they took it from him, that he spent the last 8 years searching for the woman he loved, he married her and he buried her yesterday, he wants to know who's next, Ben says he'll be in touch.
25. "I spent the last eight years of my life searching for the woman I love. I finally found her and I married her. And I buried her yesterday. So don't tell me this is not my war. Benjamin... Who's next?" SayidFrom Lostpedia
26. Hurley and Claire come out of the bedroom with Aaron.
27. "You all right, sweetheart?" Sawyer "Yeah, a bit wobbly, but, uh, I'll live." Claire "Well, I wouldn't be too sure about that." Miles
28. Ben comes out of the hidden room, he's covered in dirt, he tells everyone to run from house when he says, and to head straight for the treeline, the house begins to shake, the smoke monster comes, they leave the house, the smoke monster comes out and it attacks the men, summoned, Ben says goodbye to Alex.
29. "Did you just call that thing?" HurleyFrom Lostpedia
30. Daniel Faraday gets signal from the satellite phone and sends Morse Code, asks what happened to the doctor, says reply is that their friends are fine and the helicopter is coming back in the morning, Bernard says he's lying, that they didn't know what he was talking about and said that the doctor is fine, Jack asks why he said the helicopter was coming back, that they were never going to take them off the island, Dan says no, Jack is sick, collapses in pain.
31. Sawyer, Claire, Aaron and Miles are heading back to the beach, Locke threatens Sawyer, Hurley stays because Locke and Ben need him to find the cabin with them.
32. London, England, Ben arrives at a Penthouse, says he's there to see Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick in 4E, but it's really Charles Widmore's apartment, Ben enters a dark room, tells him to wake up, Widmore says he wondered when he would show up, Ben asks when he started sleeping with a bottle of Scotch (MacCutcheon) by the bed, Widmore replies that he did when the nightmares started, asks if Ben has come to kill him, but Ben says they both know he can't kill him, that he's there because Widmore murdered his daughter, Widmore says that Ben did it, not to blame him, everything that he has, he took from him, Ben says he's going to kill his daughter, he'll understand how he feels and he'll wish he hadn't changed the rules, Widmore says he'll never find her, that the island is his, that it always was and it will be again, but Ben says he'll never find it, Widmore says that the hunt is on for both of them. 
33. "You creep into my bedroom in the dead of night, like a rat, and have the audacity to pretend that you're the victim? I know who you are, boy. What you are. I know that everything you have you took from me." Widmore "I'm here, Charles, to tell you that I'm going to kill your daughter. Penelope, is it? And once she's gone, once she's dead, then you'll understand how I feel. And you'll wish you hadn't changed the rules." BenFrom Lostpedia

Questions:

1. How does the doctor's body arrive at the Island before he is killed on the Freighter?
   
2. What is the time difference between the Freighter and the Island?
   
3. Is the Risk game a clue? Is Australia really the key to everything?
4. Why is Sawyer impervious to bullets?
5. Did Claire die in the house explosion?
6. Did Ishmael Bakir really kill Nadia? Is he really working for Charles Widmore?
   
7. What is the significance of the hieroglyphs in Ben's hidden room?
   
8. Did one of the polar bears turn the frozen donkey wheel?
9. What are the rules in which Ben is referring to? How has Widmore broken them?
10. Why does Miles say "I wouldn't be too cure about that." when referring to Claire living?
11. Why can the Smoke Monster be summoned from beneath Ben's house?
    
12. Why can't Ben kill Charles Widmore?
13. What is the true connection between Ben and Widmore?
    

Favorites:

1. "No. My gut says we're getting off this island." Jack "I thought your gut was sick." Kate
2. "We're all gonna die." Hurley "Calm down, Chicken Little. The sky ain't falling just yet." Sawyer "This is exactly what he wants--to fight amongst ourselves. You're making a big mistake, dude." Hurley "It's his to make, Hugo. (To Sawyer) Let's get on with it." Locke "Right. ...I'm attackin' Siberia." Sawyer
3. "Surrender! Surrender!" Arab Man "Oh, so you do speak English." Ben
4. "Let me guess. "14-J" ain't the code for the pizza boy." Sawyer 
5. "When? "When" is kind of a relative term." Daniel 
6. "What's going on?" Doug
7. The whole scene where the log carriers die and Sawyer escapes without a scratch.
8. "I think the technical term is "shock and awe"." Ben 
9. "Charlie?" Claire
10. "Those people were murdered to make you angry, James. So you'd be more likely to come storming in here and throw me to the wolves." Ben "[Sawyer grabs Ben] Yeah, what's wrong with that? Sounds like a great plan to me. (To Locke) What do you say, on three?" Sawyer 
11. "(Sing-song) I wouldn't if I were you." Ben 
12. "How did you get here?" Sayid "I came across the Syrian border. It's really not as difficult as you might--" Ben "How did you get off the island?" Sayid 
13. "Well, Miles, sounds like you're not gonna collect your $3.2 million." Ben
14. "(Whispers to Locke) Who's Charles Widmore?" Sawyer "Later." Locke 
15. When Sayid keeps shooting the gun, even after it's out of bullets. Sayid is badass. 
16. "Hang on. "Jacob"? Who the hell's Jacob?" Sawyer
17. "(To Locke) You harm so much as one hair on his curly head... I'll kill you." Sawyer "Fair enough." Locke
18. The entire scene with Benjamin Linus and Charles Widmore.

Notes:

1. Ben shows up in Tunisia, which is the same place that Charlotte found the polar bear bones during her flashback in Confirmed Dead.
2. The painting seen in Charles Widmore's bedroom is the same one seen at the auction in The Constant.
3. The scene with Ben and Charles Widmore is very symbolic. Ben is seen in the dark, and Widmore is seen in the light. This is yet another representation of black and white, and could perhaps be a clue, especially if you've seen the end of Season 6.
4. I remember how mind-bending this episode was when it first aired. You could not believe that they actually killed Alex right in front of Ben, and that he just stood there and let her die. I remember feeling complete and utter shock in that moment.
5. The scene where Sawyer is going to get Claire and all the random log carrying guys die is hilarious.
6. This episode shows a lot of guts. My favorite episodes are when the writers take risks and don't assume that I'm too stupid to understand what's going on. I love when they stay complicated and don't spoon-feed me details. Give me the benefit of the doubt.
7. When Ben arrives in the Sahara Desert and the Arab men on horseback find him, they have a conversation. One notes that there is no trail, the other man wonders where he came from, and asks if he fell from the sky.
   
8. Finally, Claire mentions Charlie. What took you so long?
9. I like how Sawyer is taking charge in this episode and that he's worried about Claire.
10. Ben's flashforward takes place on October 24, 2005, which is one year, one month and two days after the crash of Oceanic Flight 815.
11. According to Wikipedia: On October 24,1593 a man named Gil Pérez, who was a Spanish Solider serving the Filipino Guardia Civil, suddenly appeared in the Plaza Mayor in Mexico City.
12. Any woman that hooks up with Sayid must have a death wish. Every woman he loves dies. Poor Sayid. No wonder why he has to kill people. He's just making it even.
13. The scene were Alex dies is so sad. The last thing she hears before she dies is that she means nothing to the man she thought was her father, and this is after having to go through the death of her mother who she just met after 16 years and her boyfriend dying right in front of her. That scene is just heart-wrenchingly painful to watch.
14. The Smoke Monster scene is friggin' awesome. Except for the fact that no one really dies from it.
    
15. From Lostpedia: The symbols on Ben's secret room door appear to be hieroglyphs that are determinative signs in Egyptian, a basic translation of these hieroglyphs is "to summon protection."  
16. If you go to If the Earth Were A Sandwich you can see that Tunisia is on the opposite side of the world from the South Pacific, where the Island is, which could be why Ben transports to the Sahara Desert, in theory.
17. The final scene with Ben and Widmore is one of the two scenes in LOST history that hasn't been shot in Hawaii. It was shot in England to accommodate Alan Dale.
    
18. In a deleted scene for this episode, Ben is seen in the Sahara Desert after he kills the men and steals their horse, retrieving money hidden under a rock. When he arrives, he looks around to see if anyone is there, and another Ben is seen in the background laying in the sand, much like when Ben was transported there. The shot can be seen at the 0:25-0:27 mark.

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.

3.08 Flashes Before Your Eyes

1. Desmond watches by, as Charlie and Hurley go through Sawyer's tent, Desmond wants them to come with him, to tell him about Eko's death, bring him to his grave, where Locke says they buried him yesterday, the island killed him.
2. Desmond runs to the beach out of nowhere, saves Claire, Charlie asks him how he knew.
3. "That guy sees the future, dude." Hurley
4. Desmond, looking at the photograph of him and Penny, Claire comes by to say thank you, she says Penny's beautiful.
5. Charlie plots to get Desmond drunk to find out what's going on with him, he steals a bottle of whiskey from Sawyer's stash.
6. Charlie says thank you to Desmond, that he has a peace offering, MacCuthcheon's whiskey, Desmond sees the bottle and starts laughing, agrees, says let's drink, they sing. From Lostpedia
7. They get bloody drunk, Charlie asks Desmond how he knew Claire was drowning, he says that he could hear her calling for help, Hurley says he was a mile away, Desmond says he has good hearing, Charlie asks if he hears the lightning as well, by chance he pitched his rod outside Claire's tent, then lighting strikes, Desmond doesn't want to talk about it and leaves, Charlie called him a coward, then Desmond attacks him.
8. "Hey, I don't know what you're doing--you best tell us. Oy! You think because you turned some key that makes you a hero? You're no hero, brother. I don't know how you're doing what it is you're doing, but I know a coward when I see one." Charlie
9. "You don't want to know what happened to me when I turned that key!" Desmond
10. Desmond has a flashback of what happened in the hatch, the clock, alarm going off, hieroglyphs, telling Locke see you in another life, Desmond turning to failsafe key, saying he loves Penny, he has flashes of his life, then it turns to a close-up of his eye, covered in red, paint, Penny, apartment, ice, ladders and drinking. From Lostpedia
11. Desmond's apartment, the clock is 1:08, Desmond getting dressed in a suit and tie, job from Penny's father, she says it's not the end of the world if he's too daft to see how brilliant Desmond is, he hears beeping like the computer from the hatch, but it's the microwave, Desmond tells Penny he had deja vu. From Lostpedia
12. Desmond goes to the job interview at Widmore Industries, asks for Mr. Widmore and there is a man delivering a parcel for 815, Desmond has a flash of the numbers, computer, clock. From Lostpedia
13. In Mr. Widmore's office, painting on the wall with a polar bear, a Buddha, Namaste written backwards, Mr. Widmore looks at Desmond's resume, he worked in set design at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Desmond says he looked after his 3 brothers, after his father, but then gets cutoff by Mr. Widmore, didn't graduate from University, no military experience, Desmond sees a model boat, Mr. Widmore's foundation sponsoring solo race around the world, Desmond has a flash of the sailboat, Elizabeth, the storm, dead Kelvin, Widmore says he'll give Desmond a position in the administrative department, Desmond says that he's really there to ask for his daughter hand in marriage, they've been together 2 years, she moved in, that he loves her, wants his permission, that it would mean everything to him, Mr. Widmore says he's impressed, noble gesture, he takes out a 60 year MacCutcheon, named after Anderson MacCutcheon, an esteemed Admiral from the Royal Navy, retired with more medals than any man before or since, moved to the Highlands, a great man, whiskey was his crowning achievement, pours one glass, says the swallow is worth more than Desmond can make in a month, to share it would be a waste and disgrace to the man who made it, because Desmond will never be a great man, not worthy of drinking his whiskey, certainly not worthy of his daughter. From Lostpedia
14. When Desmond leaves Widmore Industries, takes off his tie, hears music, he sees Charlie outside, playing guitar, Wonderwall.
15. "I said maybe; You're gonna be the one who saves me; Maybe; And after all; You're my wonderwall." Charlie
16. Desmond asks where he knows him from, remembers, says he's Charlie, but Charlie says it's because of his sign that says his name, Charlie Hieronymus Pace, Charlie says he'll remember if he could get some help, some money.
17. Desmond has a flash, the hatch, the button, bookshelf, getting the failsafe key, Charlie saying "Can I get some help?"
18. "Who--they--they. It--it was in the hatch. I remember seeing you. There was a--there was a computer. There was a button. We--we were on an island. No this--I remember this. This all happened before. Today--th--th--this happened today. This--I remember that he said I wasn't worthy--and then I--and then I--and then I came down and I--and I took off my tie and I--and then I lost my tie and Penny said where was it and then it started to rain and... [It starts to rain.]" Desmond is confused. From Lostpedia
19. "Your thesis is a bit neat. The wild card part which is unpredictability--run the same test 10 times, you'll get 10 different outcomes. It's what makes life so wonderfully..." Donovan
20. Desmond goes to see his friend, Donovan, they go to a pub, he asks him about time travel, tells him story about the island, Donovan is a physicist, Desmond says he's gone back in time, living his life over again, Donovan questions if the events with Mr. Widmore are influencing Desmond, he hears the Mama Cass song on the radio, Make Your Own Kind of Music, Desmond says he remember that night, Gray Bridge came from 2 goals down, Jimmy Lennon hits the bartender with a cricket bat, owes him money, but he's wrong, it doesn't happen, Donovan says no such things a time travel, to just marry Penny.
21. Desmond goes home, tells Penny he didn't get the job, that her father was lovely, Penny says they should celebrate, fate has spare him a miserable existence at Widmore Industries, lobsters at the pier, her treat, because she loves him, Desmond asks why she loves him, she says that he's a good man, and they're hard to come by.
22. Desmond goes to pick out a ring at a second hand shop, tells the woman that he's not a man of means, but he hopes someday, she picks one out, he says that he'll take it, but the ring lady says that he doesn't buy the ring, that he has second thoughts, she calls him Desmond, he wants to know how she knows his name, she says he doesn't ask Penny to marry him, that he enter a sailing race to prove her father wrong, that it brings him to the island, where he spends the next 3 years pushing the button, he sees the failsafe key. From Lostpedia
23. "This is wrong. You don't buy the ring. You have second thoughts; you walk right out that door. So, come on, let's have it." Ms. Hawking "I don't know what you're on about." Desmond "You don't buy the ring, Desmond." Ms. Hawking "How do you know my name?" Desmond "Well, I know your name as well as I know that you that don't ask Penny to marry you. In fact, you break her heart. Well, breaking her heart is, of course, what drives you in a few short years from now to enter that sailing race, to prove her father wrong, which brings you to the island where you spend the next 3 years of your life entering numbers into the computer until you are forced to turn that failsafe key. And if you don't do those things, Desmond David Hume, every single one of us is dead. So give me that sodding ring." Ms. Hawking
24. Across from the London Underground, Ms. Hawking and Desmond talk over chestnuts, there is a man in red shoes that she points out, Desmond says she's part of his subconscious, that there is no island, no button, a building nearby collapses on the man in the red shoes, Desmond says she knew it would happen.
25. "Because it wouldn't matter. Had I warned him about the scaffolding tomorrow he'd be hit by a taxi. If I warned him about the taxi, he'd fall in the shower and break his neck. The universe, unfortunately, has a way of course correcting. That man was supposed to die. That was his path just as it's your path to go to the island. You don't do it because you choose to, Desmond. You do it because you're supposed to." Ms. Hawking "I'm going to meet Penny in an hour. I've got the ring, she'll say yes. I can choose whatever I want." Desmond "You may not like your path, Desmond, but pushing that button is the only truly great thing that you will ever do." Ms. Hawking
26. On his way to meet Penny, Desmond passes an advertisement for the Royal Scots Army. From Lostpedia
27. Desmond meets Penny on the Thames, they pass a man taking photographs, says it's something to show the grand kids, they take a photograph in front backdrop of a marina scene, Desmond has no money to pay for the photograph, 5 quid, but Penny does, which causes Desmond to have an epiphany. From Lostpedia
28. "I can't do this." Desmond
29. Desmond says that Penny deserves someone better, that loves isn't enough. Penny is very upset and tells him to admit that he's a coward.
30. "It's all happening too soon -- you moving in. You're painting rooms; you're changing things. I don't even like red. Why would you leave your flat, your expensive flat..." Desmond "[slapping Desmond's face] Don't do that. Don't you pretend you don't care. And don't you dare rewrite history. I left my expensive flat because you were too proud to live there, remember? If you want me to go, if you want me to leave, then don't make this about what I do or don't deserve. And have the decency to admit that you're doing this because you're a coward." Penny "I'm sorry, Pen, but this--we're not supposed to be together." Desmond
31. Penny leaves, and Desmond throws the ring in the water. From Lostpedia
32. Desmond goes back to the pub, he sees the MacCutcheon's whiskey behind the bar, but asks for a pint of the cheapest they have, he tells the bartender that he made the biggest mistake of his life, the worst part is that he thinks he's made it before, the bartender tells him that it's deja vu, he hears the song again, Make Your Own Kind of Music, Gray Bridge comes from 2 goals down, Desmond realizes that he had the wrong night, Jimmy Lennon comes in with cricket a bat.
33. "I had the wrong night. I was right. I was off by a night. I heard the song and then--I remember this. I'm not crazy. I can still change things. I can still change it." Desmond
34. "Duck, brotha." Desmond says, then he gets cracked with the cricket bat.
35. Desmond wakes up in the jungle after the hatch implosion, he sees the photograph of him and Penny on the ground.
36. "Please, let me go back. Let me go back one more time. I'll do it right. I'll do it right this time. I'm sorry, Penny. I'll change it. I'll change it." Desmond
37. Desmond flashes back to when he attached Charlie, Hurley pulls him off, Desmond tells Charlie he's a good man, tells him what happened, that he was saving him, not Claire, that he's going to die, that he drowned trying to save Claire. From Lostpedia
38. "When I turned that key my life flashed before my eyes. And then I was back in the jungle and still on this bloody island. But those flashes, Charlie--those flashes--they didn't stop." Desmond "So, you're telling me you saw a flash of Claire drowning this morning--that's how you knew how to save her?" Charlie "I wasn't saving Claire, Charlie, I was saving you. This morning you dove in after Claire. You tried to save her but you drowned." Desmond "What are you talking about? I didn't drown." Charlie "When I saw the lightening hit the roof you were electrocuted. And when you heard Claire was in the water you--you drowned trying to save her. I dove in myself so you never went in. I've tried, brother. I've tried twice to save you, but the universe has a way of course correcting and--and I can't stop it forever. I'm sorry. I'm sorry because no matter what I try to do you're going to die, Charlie." Desmond

Questions:

1. Did Desmond time travel?
2. Did Desmond really meet Charlie in the past? If so, why didn't either of them remember?
3. Did Thomas paint the painting in Mr. Widmore's office?
4. Has Desmond met Ms. Hawking before? How does she know about him?
5. Why does Desmond have to push the button? Why would everyone die?
6. How did Penny get a copy of the photograph?
7. Why did Desmond go back to the island when the cricket bat hit him?
8. Why did the failsafe key and the hatch implosion make Desmond have flashes?
9. Could Desmond have changed what happened?
10. What happened to Desmond's brothers? His father? Are they okay?

Favorites:

1. "He would want us to ransack his tent and take his stash? Yeah, that sounds exactly like Sawyer." Hurley "Well, he stole all this in the first place. I mean, people need food. They need medical supplies. They need--[Charlie looks down and sees a stack of magazines] shocking amounts of pornography."
2. "Dude, you okay? Hey guys, what's wrong with Desmond?" Hurley
3. "I don't buy this precognitive insanity rubbish. Look, if the bearded wonder could predict the future he wouldn't have ended up here, would he?" Charlie
4. "You do realize he's going to know your plan before you even come up with it, dude." Hurley "In that case, we're going to have to get him really bloody drunk." Charlie
5. "Alright then, let's have it. No, the bottle, brother. I mean, if you've come to drink, let's drink." Desmond
6. "Hey, do you know any songs about drinking and fighting and girls with one leg?" Hurley "Well, girls with one leg and a heart of gold." Charlie and Desmond
7. "Well, what's happening is the result of combining ladders, painting a ceiling, and alcohol. Are you okay? You nauseous?" Penny "This is my flat?" Desmond "Mmm-hmm, although, if you want me to feel at home you might start calling it our flat. How many fingers, Des? [he looks around, awestruck] Love, look at me. What's wrong?" Penny
8. "We are on an island, mate. This is England." Charlie
9. "That's why we don't do drugs." Charlie
10. "Case in point, who could have known that a drenched Scotsman would appear in this rotunda?" Donovan
11. "Which part? The island full of mysterious hatches? Or the computer which keeps the world from ending?" Donovan
12. "Alright, then--what happens next?" Donovan "It doesn't work like that. I don't remember everything, just--just bits and pieces." Desmond "How wonderfully convenient." Donovan
13. "You smell like a pub." Penny "That's because I was at the pub." Desmond
14. "Do you like chestnuts?" Ms. Hawking "What?" Desmond
15. "Just thought it was a bold fashion choice worth noting." Ms. Hawking
16. " Oh, come on, Des, let's do it--for all those grandkids." Penny
17. "Ah, I love the Alps." Desmond "Oh, I hate the Alps." Penny

Notes:

1. Guitar in case, Charlie, not sign.
2. Ms. Hawking is a reference to Stephen Hawking.
3. The man wearing red shoes who has a building fall on top of him is a reference to The Wizard of Oz.
4. Flashes Before Your Eyes aired on Valentine's Day 2007. How appropriate.
5. How Henry Ian Cusick has not won an Emmy, I really don't know.
6. Desmond and Penny's storyline often makes me unable to distinguish the difference between the show, fantasy and the real world, because I get so caught up in it. This episode still makes me head hurt, even after watching about a billion times, and I love it nonetheless.