Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Sacrificial Ham
By Cindy McLennan | Season 5 | Episode 5 | Aired on 02.11.2009
Respectful silence.
Down at the bottom of the well, Locke continues to scream in agony. He's got a rock sticking into his leg. Why doesn't he pull it out? I mean, I know it will hurt, but no more than leaving it in there. Is this a blood loss stopping-techni...oh my lunch. That's his BONE sticking out of his leg. He shouts out for "James" -- for anyone. The sound of footsteps approaching and the shadow that falls on the wall before him make him second guess his cries for anyone I bet. He calls out, "Who's there?" and it's none other than Doctor Christian "Loaded Name" Shepherd. Of course Locke doesn't know that (well, I think Locke knows his first name is Christian from when Christian told Locke to move the island; but I'm pretty sure he doesn't know the last name). Shepherd takes a lantern from the wall, and tells Locke he's there to help him the rest of the way. But first, he scolds Locke because he told Locke to move the wheel. Locke explains that Ben said he had to move the island while Locke had to stay and lead his people. Shepherd asks, "And since when did listening to him get you anywhere worth a damn?" Thank you Christian Shepherd or whatever you are (Smokey? Jacob?) that's wearing his face! And no wee Ben-who-lives-in-my-top-right-drawer, don't try that turn-this-van-around nonsense on me. I invented that shit. Okay, I didn't. Some mother (still being maternal with that reference; I avoid the other) did, way back whenever, and it probably involved a horse and cart, or maybe just a wheel, but you get my point you bug-eyed bastard.
Christian lets his words sink in for a moment, then encourages Locke to keep going. He tells him that he has to get every single one of his friends who left together, persuade them to leave, and then the L.A. Woman, Eloise Hawking, will tell him exactly how to get back to the island. When Locke (and to give him credit, he's probably remembering his promise to Jin here, at least in part) wants to know what happens if he can only convince some of them to come back, Christian merely says that he believes in Locke, because for some Others, Cryptic is the new Latin.
Locke, still lying on the ground, and in obvious pain, has a hitch in his voice as he tells Christian, "Richard said I was going to die."
Sherpa Shepherd looks down and then right at Locke. "Well, I suppose that's -- that's why they call it sacrifice." Tears of pain -- and maybe fear -- stream down Locke's face as he summons his resolve. And he does. "All right. Okay." He works to control his breathing. "Okay, I'm ready."