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It's an awkward and uncomfortable reunion on the Beach when Kate and Sayid bring Jack back to camp. Probably because Jack insisted that they bring Juliet with them. He has anointed her as his bestest and most trusted friend, and no one can make her feel bad about torturing them or plotting their demise or generally being an active member of the Others. That doesn't mean they have to like her though! Except Hurley. He has to. It's in his contract or something. Juliet doesn't make it easy, though, what with confessing to having masterminded the attacks on Claire, creating a serum that is causing a deathlike reaction in Claire, and admitting that there is a "problem" on the Island that kills pregnant women. Oh yes, Juliet is popular at Camp Lostaway. But that all changes when she saves Claire's life.
While Sayid and Sawyer don't trust Juliet even a little, you, as the lucky viewer of magic flashbacks, know that she has had a rough time since she got on the Island. Not only did she have to sleep with Goodwin (ugh!) and hang around with Creepy Ethan (double ugh!), but she was on the receiving end of many of Ben's fun head games! He told her she would be on the Island for six months but kept her for over three years. He said her sister was dead and then showed her a video of her sister alive and well and playing with her very own little boy! Super Evil!
But Sayid and Sawyer may be on to something, because as soon as we start to feel bad for Juliet, we find out that she wasn't so much left behind as planted. And that illness that Claire has? Caused by remote control implant. Her saving of Claire? Totally planned. Geez. Does anyone know if mindfuck has a hyphen? Want more? The full recap starts right below!
It's a beautiful day on Craphole Island. The sun is filtering through the clouds and making Kate, Jack, Sayid, and Juliet's walk back to the beach much more pleasant than if the monsoon season that started last episode had lasted. Kate and Juliet are still covered in mud from their wrestling competition. Apparently they opted not to take advantage of the showers in the Barracks. But hey, why start now? Sayid still has the bandage on his arm from the gunshot. Even without antibiotics he looks like he has fully recovered from the bullet and subsequent bullet removal. Sayid: Too Badass for 'Biotics. Wouldn't that look great on a campaign button? After they ford a stream, Sayid announces that it's getting late and that they should make camp. Jack proclaims that he is going to get firewood and Kate says she's going with him. As they walk off, Jack shoots Juliet a look that clearly says, "Don't let the Iraqi torturer I'm leaving you alone with intimidate you." Juliet just looks at him blankly, because she made a quick stop at the Island Spa, had her entire head Botoxed, and now can do nothing but smirk. I love it! In the woods, Kate and Jack smash firewood into impending splinters. Kate asks Jack if wants to talk about it. He has no idea what she's on about. She drops the wood, walks over, and kicks him in the shins. "The week? That you spent with the Others? You want to talk about that?" Jack says that after they left, he made a deal with Ben that he would take care of him, and he would let him off the Island. So he kept his head down, did what was asked of him, and didn't ask any questions. But Jack, where does flag football fit into that equation? Kate can't believe that was it, but Jack just goes back to collecting wood.
Juliet is cleaning off some of the mud while Sayid stares at her. She finally gets uncomfortable enough to stop and tell Sayid, "Okay, let's have it." Sayid has some questions: "I want to know what you people are doing on this Island. Why you are terrorizing us. Making lists, kidnapping children. I want to know everything. But the first thing I want to know is. Who are you?" Thank god! Someone is finally asking questions. And we will finally get some answers! Hallelujah! Juliet stares at him, silently trying to determine how long her character will last on the show if she actually gives up an answer. She stares at him so long that the camera gets bored and cuts to a flashback.
Juliet pulls up to a guard station at a private airport. She rolls down the window and tells the guard that she is Juliet Burke with Mittelos Bioscience. The guard says he will let them know she's there. Juliet's sister, Rachel, is in the car with her. They are listening to "Downtown" by Pet Clark and giggling together. Rachel is surprisingly not falling-down drunk (er, maybe that's just the character she played on Deadwood); she points out the security cameras taping them and says that they are taking the corporate secrecy thing a little too seriously. Juliet doesn't notice the giant Anvil of Foreshadowing as it crashes on the hood of her car. She giggles that she is never going to fit in with these people. Ha ha! Creepy Ethan knocks on the window of the car and tells her that if she pops the trunk, he'll get her bags. Richard Alpert shows up, and Juliet and Rachel get out of the car. Richard thanks Rachel for letting them borrow her sister for a few months. Rachel asks that they just get her back in one piece. Richard says that for security reasons, he has to escort Juliet the rest of the way in, and that whenever she's ready he'll be waiting. Juliet turns to her sister to say goodbye and express some serious doubts about her decision. Her sister swears that it's better this way. That she won't get sick again, the cancer is gone and she's a hundred percent preggers. I freakin' hate that word. But alas, I am just the scribe. Juliet promises she will be back before the baby comes. Which is Hi-lar-i-ous! They hug, and Juliet makes her way through the giant gate, which slowly closes behind her.
Sayid is still staring at her as she comes out of her flashback. Sayid asks again, "Who are you?" Juliet says, "If I told you who I was. If I told you everything I know. You would kill me." Sayid bursts out laughing. He laughs so hard he has to curl up in a ball! He has tears streaming down his face. After five minutes he comes out of it. Straightens himself up, looks at Juliet, and says, "What do you think I will do if you don't?" Just then Jack swoops into save Juliet and tells Sayid to leave her alone. Sayid points out that sooner or later she will answer his questions. Jack glares at him and says, "She will answer your questions when she's ready. And you will wait until she is. She's under my protection." Yes, he seriously said that. Sayid shoots him an eyebrow of disbelief. He stares at Jack. Then he bursts out laughing again. This giggle fit lasts for a solid ten minutes. He is pounding the ground and has tears streaming down his face. "Stop! Stop! You guys are killing me with this!" He is still laughing to himself as we cut to commercial. Oh, Jack, sometimes you really put the "Jack" in "jackass." Good grief.
On the beach, Charlie is walking around the camp when he hears Aaron crying. He barges into the tent and finds Claire passed out to the screaming baby. He picks Aaron up and soothes him while trying to wake Claire. She slowly rouses herself. Charlie is concerned because she apparently has gone deaf. She is thrilled at the prospect of not having to hear any of these whiny no-talent crybabies anymore. (Hee! Just kidding!) She claims she is just off and that she didn't sleep well. Charlie suggests that she's coming down with something. He offers to take Aaron so she can sleep. She readily agrees.
Like sulky teenagers on a hiking trip, Kate and Sayid are walking about a mile in front of Juliet and Jack. Juliet opines that it's probably not worth asking them to wait up. Jack says she just needs to give them time. Juliet half laughs, "My people kept Sayid chained to a jungle gym for three days and then I dragged Kate through the jungle, handcuffed myself to her, and lied about it. How much time do you think they need?" I think she was being sarcastic, but it was kind of hard to tell since her face didn't move. Jack says that they're a few hours from the beach and he's sure they will be over it by then. She and Jack laugh at this. I guess Jack already knew about the whole handcuffing thing? Or he's just a complete ass who doesn't care what happens to his friends. He asks if she's nervous and she says yes. Aw, Jules! Don't be nervous. I'll give you the same advice my mom gave me when I transferred schools in eighth grade: Just be yourself! I'm sure once they realize what a wonderful personality and wide range of facial expressions you have, they will totally forgive you for helping torture, terrorize, and traumatize them. Don't be shy! I'm sure they'll love you.
In the private airport, Richard tells Juliet that he knows that six months sounds like an eternity, but she will be amazed at how the time will fly by once she gets there. She replies that she can't wait to find out where "there" is. Richard ignores the question, and Creepy Ethan asks if he can take some of her vitals. Juliet looks a bit confused by this request, but agrees. Mr. Conspiracy Theory has sent over a messenger pigeon with a note that the name of the airline is "Herarat." Don't worry, Mr. Conspiracy Theory, I'm totally on top of it: "Herarat" is Etruscan (yes, the pre-Roman, ancient civilization) slang for "meta-symbolism gives me hives." Now you know! As Creepy Ethan takes her blood pressure, Richard pours a glass of orange juice, takes out a packet of extra-special mystery powder, and spikes the punch. He tells Juliet that everyone at the company is really excited about her arrival. They think her research is going to have a major impact. Richard walks over and hands Juliet the roofie. She asks what it is, and he tells her it's orange juice mixed with a significant amount of tranquilizer. Juliet looks at him in dawning horror: "You want me to drink that?" Creepy Ethan and Richard both laugh and say that she will definitely want to be unconscious for the trip because it can get kind of intense. Yeah, frat parties are like that. Juliet is really uncomfortable with slipping herself a mickey, because girls just don't know how to have fun! C'mon, Juliet, knock yourself unconscious. They may be total strangers now, but they're future co-workers! Why wait until the office holiday party to make an ass of yourself? Just drink it already! She says she was okay with signing all their papers. Okay with agreeing not to talk to anyone in her life for six months. Even okay with the fact that no one in the medical community had ever heard of Mittelos Bioscience. Richard cuts her off to ask, "Why were you okay? Why were you fine with that? It's a big leap for a job opportunity. We're not paying you that much." D'oh! He's got you there, girl. Now shut up and drink the damn Kool-Aid! Richard continues, "I think it's because you know you are going somewhere special." Oh, is "Somewhere Special" the theme of your frat party? That totally has a better ring to it than "Toga 'Tastic! '07." Richard rudely ignores me and continues trying to convince Juliet to drink the spiked OJ. He has decided to use flattery. "You took a woman, your sister, whose reproductive system was ravaged by chemo. She was sterile. You made her pregnant. You created life where life wasn't supposed to be. You have a gift, Juliet. Don't you think you are meant to do something significant with it? Where we are going you can do just that."
Juliet interrupts his seductively sweet sultry patter to ask, "Where exactly are we going?" Richard can't tell her that, but he can tell her that she will see things there she has never imagined. Stuff like: Murder? Kidnappings? Blackmail? Acting lessons? (Oops, too mean!) Richard says that no one is forcing her to do anything, so if she's changing her mind, they can take her back. They'll just make fun of her, call her a whore, and smear her name all over campus. Juliet grabs the OJ and in true sorority style totally shotguns it. The frat boys are totally impressed. She passes out, only to wake up strapped to a cot. How very Re-animator! Just as she is about to panic, Creepy Ethan is there. Of course. He apologizes for strapping her in, but the last leg of the trip can be pretty bumpy. And he's sorry she can't talk, but that will wear off. She jumps off the bunk barefoot, grabs her purse and jacket, and follows Creepy Ethan out. He says that they're here. And Juliet asks, where? Creepy Ethan points up a ladder. Then he stands there while Juliet climbs up the ladder in her skirt. Pervert. Juliet emerges from the submarine miraculously wearing her high heels. She is confused. When did she have time to put her shoes on? She blinks into the sun and realizes that she has arrived on an Island via a submarine. A man approaches. He says, "Hello, Dr. Burke, I'm Ricardo Montalban Benjamin Linus. I'm really looking forward to working with you." Tattoo runs up to grab her bags as they make their way down the dock.
Charlie is entertaining Aaron with a mango (Stupid baby! Mangoes aren't toys!) and back-seat cooking whatever it is Hurley's making. He is adding too much water and making it soggy! Hurley points out that it's oatmeal and is supposed to be soggy. Heh. Sawyer strolls past with his quip du jour: "Well, if it isn't three men and a baby!" Hurley and Charlie look unimpressed, so Sawyer throws out the zinger: "I counted Hugo twice!" Ba-dum-bah! Sawyer laughs at his own "wit." Claire stumbles up to the group looking like a zombie extra from Shaun of the Dead. Charlie asks what she is doing out of bed. She says her head is pounding and she needs an aspirin. Uh oh, did Charlie roofie her? Is that the theme of this week's episode? I totally saw an Afterschool Special with this plot. Sawyer is still wearing his Crown of Leadership, and offers to go get her some aspirin from his personal stash. But hey, isn't a doctor better than an aspirin? 'Cause here comes Jack! Sawyer is impressed. So impressed that he braves the wrath of the post-Imus FCC and says, "Son of a bitch." I'm blushing! Then Sawyer sees Kate, walking the obligatory ten paces behind Jack. In a moment of great acting, Sawyer looks simultaneously incredibly happy and incredibly sad. Sun sees Jack and points him out to Jin. The other people on the beach notice too, and everyone runs up to surround him. Sawyer and Jack shake hands and then end up man-hugging each other. After everyone has moved away, Sawyer grabs Kate and hugs her a long time and rubs her head. It's sweet! He totally drops her when he realizes she hasn't showered in two wee-- I mean, when he sees Juliet standing a ways down the beach. He demands to know what she's doing there. Everyone stops and stares and makes her feel like the vegetarian at the barbecue. I'm sure she would be cringing if, you know, she hadn't frozen all of her facial muscles.
Juliet is sitting alone on the beach like the bald-headed girl at the French-braiding competition. Or the anorexic at the pie-eating contest. (I could keep going, but I won't.) Hurley says hey and sits down to her. He asks if she's one of them, but she doesn't fall into that trap, and just says she's Juliet. Hurley says he doesn't remember her from the dock. You know, when you put bags on our heads after you shocked us. She says she had the day off. This makes Hurley almost smile. He says he heard that she's a doctor. She explains that she's actually a researcher. Then she asks if they sent Hurley over there to keep an eye on her. He nods and adds, "The last one of you guys that came over here. Ethan? He kidnapped Claire. And Charlie got upset. We buried him over there." Was that a threat? From Hurley? Aw, cute!
In flashback, Juliet is wearing scrubs and standing in an operating room observing Ethan, who is also wearing scrubs, declaring time of death. He pulls off his mask and gloves and walks out. Goodwin is there too. He's wearing scrubs as well, so it's either an Other fashion trend or he's also a doctor. Goodwin tells Juliet it's okay. It's not her fault, because she tried. He tells her to take off, and that he will talk to Ben. Later, Juliet is sitting cross-legged on the rocks, watching the water, and looking contemplative. Ben walks up, sits to her, and says that it was Sabine's choice to get pregnant. She knew the risks. Juliet replies that she thinks it happens at conception. And if that's the case, then there's nothing she can do about it here. Ben doesn't get it. She explains that she would have to take someone off the Island. Ben refuses to let anyone leave. Juliet says that there's nothing else she can do. She knows he put a lot of faith in her, and she's sorry she let him down. Her sister is giving birth in three months and she hasn't even been able to call her. It's time for her to go home. She pats Ben on the back and gets up to leave. Ben calls after her, "Your sister won't be giving birth in three months, Juliet. She will be dead before then. Her cancer is back. " Way to sugarcoat it there, Ben. No, really. Have you thought about a career in the clergy? Ben reaches into his man purse and pulls out a medical chart. He hands it to Juliet, who flips it open. Have I mentioned that it is incredibly windy on the rock? So windy that you may not want to open a file full of paper? Meh. Juliet demands to know where he got it. Ben says it came from Mikhail. He's sorry, he should have told her sooner, but he couldn't see the point. Juliet looks at him in horror. She could have gone home! She could have been with her! Ben says that she can still go home and be with her sister in her final hours. Or she can stay and help him with their problem. Why would she stay? Because if she does, Ben will cure her sister's cancer. Apparently, Ben is magic! He probably has a pet unicorn and a velvet cape with stars on it! She asks if she's supposed to take that on faith. Ben says that she's been there six months and she has never seen anyone with cancer. She agrees, but that's only true on the Island and he won't let her bring her sister there. Ben says that Jacob said he would take care of it himself. Ooh, Jacob is magic! Unless, of course, she doesn't have faith in him. Every woman on this Island needs Juliet's help, he tells her. If she chooses to stay, they will save Rachel's life. If you believe in Jacob, then clap your hands! It's the only way to save Tinkerbell Rachel! C'mon, everybody, clap!
It's campfire time back on the Beach. After they roast weenies, toast marshmallows, and sing a few rounds of "Boom Chicka Boom" (with Jack leading, of course), they settle into a serious discussion. Sun doesn't understand why they should trust Juliet; she is one of Them. Jack says that she was left behind, so she isn't one of Them anymore. Hurley wants to know where the Others went. Jack says Juliet doesn't know. Sawyer has a wacky plan: "Why don't we let the resident Iraqi take a stab at her. Literally!" Sayid explains that he doesn't do that anymore, which Sawyer finds convenient. Sawyer says that he doesn't trust her, but Jack pleads for time. Sayid wants to know how much time? Jack pulls out his Very Serious Face and says, "The fact that I trust her should be enough." Everyone around the fire starts snorting and giggling and rolling their eyes. Then a round of coughing starts: *cough* douchebag *cough*, *cough* Michael *cough*, and *cough* chucklehead *cough*. Desmond asks where Locke went. Jack says that he went with Them right after he blew up the sub that was going to take him off the Island. No one can believe he was going to be let go. Sawyer wants to know who said he could leave? Jack says it was Ben. Sawyer explains for the Just-Tuned-In crowd, "Oh, the guy whose life you saved? You should have let that bug-eyed bastard die!" Kate calls him James, and that totally shuts Sawyer up for second, but then he demands to know why Jack is taking the side of one of the Others. Just as it looks as if we might get an answer, Claire totally ruins the mood by barfing up blood. Geez, Claire, couldn't you have held it in a minute? Things were just getting good!
Charlie yells to Jack, sweeps Claire up in his arms, and carries her off. Some extra beats them to her lean-to with a torch so the tent is properly lit for the shot. He is noticeably awkward in his torch-wielding and should probably just get back to his day job making piña coladas for the tourists at the Honolulu Hilton. Juliet comes up to Sun and asks, "What happened to her?" Jin says something in response and Sun translates, "He says, 'Why do you care?'" Juliet, you're definitely not getting the Korean vote either. Juliet runs up to Kate and practically begs her to get Jack. Kate wants to know why. Juliet thinks she knows what is wrong with Claire, because she, Juliet, did it to her. Wow, Jules, you are so not getting voted Miss Congeniality! Better luck week. Kate conferences with Jack and Juliet, while Sawyer and Sayid, you know, lurk. They do it well. Juliet is explaining that Claire is having a latent reaction to a medication that was designed (by Juliet!) to keep her alive during the later terms of pregnancy. For some reason, women on the Island can't have babies. Their bodies start to treat the pregnancy as a foreign object, and turn on it. Every pregnant woman dies. Kate looks slowly over at Sun. Juliet continues, "Every woman, that is, until Claire." Jack demands to know what they did to her. Juliet says that someone infiltrated the camp and started taking blood samples from Claire, and she started showing the same symptoms. That someone was Creepy Ethan. They tried to save her life by giving her a serum that Juliet designed. Jack interjects, "And kidnapping her?" Juliet says that wasn't the plan, that Creepy Ethan was administering the injections, but once they figured out he wasn't on the plane, he had to improvise. He kidnapped her on his own -- it wasn't the plan. Claire would have died without the serum, and now she is in withdrawal. Juliet volunteers to go get Creepy Ethan's stash of serum, which he kept to the caves where the Losties used to live. She can bring it back before it's too late. Jack says go. And she does. He's totally the boss of her.
Juliet is eating yogurt. In bed. Naked. With Goodwin. Ooh. Ew. She says she just realized that tomorrow is her three-year anniversary on the Island. Goodwin kisses her a few times and offers to make her a cake. I love cake! Make German chocolate! Or Red Velvet! Yay, cake! The cake plan is interrupted by a knock on the door. Juliet tells Goodwin to stay. Then she scratches him behind the ear and gives him a Milkbone. Goodwin comes out of the bedroom and finds Juliet looking at X-rays that Carl developed for her. He asks if something is wrong. He does not ask why she has a light board in her living room. Juliet storms across the compound with the X-rays in her hand. She knocks on Ben's door. He is reading Carrie. He doesn't know why she picked it. Ben, she picked it because Stephen King is a fan of the show! The writers like to point this out occasionally! Duh! Juliet does not sugarcoat the news: Ben has a tumor. When he looks stunned, she asks why. He raises his eyebrows and says, "You just told me I had cancer Juliet." She says, "I didn't say you had cancer, I said you had a tumor. Why are you scared? If no one get cancer on this Island, if you can cure cancer, Ben, then why do you have it?" Ben has poured himself a glass of water, but Juliet knocks the glass out of his hand. She demands to speak to her sister. She knows he lied. She knows he never cured her. He says he told her the truth. He gave her his word. Juliet then cries, wails, leans on him, and begs to go home. He says no. She cries some more. Ben is wearing a pink shirt, and it kind of makes him looks like a boiled shrimp. A boiled shrimp wearing glasses.
Juliet sets off from the Beach at night, running. Now it's daylight and she is still running. Maybe she's bionic? Or maybe her desire to be popular is giving her a huge adrenaline rush? She reaches a giant tree with a symbol carved on it. Mr. Conspiracy Theory is texting me to let me know that the symbol is damn close to the mark Juliet got branded into her back after killing a fellow Other. So I guess she'll remember it, eh? The secret stash of serum is in a case buried under some leafy greens. As she grabs the case, Sawyer and Sayid tag-team her. They have guns. My tween neighbor IMs me to say, "They R 2 hott!" Yeah, the hottest vigilante squad ever! As they grab the case, Juliet tries to explain that it's medical supplies for Claire and Jack knows all about it. Sawyer and Sayid really don't care. It's time to talk. Juliet says they don't have time. But Sawyer says they cleared their schedules! Didn't her Outlook scheduler send her the update? She should really sync up her Blackberry. Juliet decides to bitch her way out of the situation: "It's interesting that you two are now the camp's moral police. Sayid, how long did it take to tell everyone about how many people you tortured? Did you tell them about Basra?" Then she turns on Sawyer, except she calls him "James" so he totally knows he's in trouble. She asks if he gathered everyone together to tell them how he murdered that shrimp shack guy? She suggests that they skip the part where they pretend to be the ethics committee. She's going to take that case and save Claire, because the last thing that they need right now is more blood on their hands. She looks like she's going to puke as she takes the case out of Sawyer's hand and leaves the boys standing there saying a whole lot of nothing. Sawyer, Sayid? What the hell happened to you? Not one snappy comeback? Not a single word about how the Others killed all the Tailies? No mention of the kidnapping and torture? No? ... Sigh.
Juliet is listening to Pet Clark to make herself feel better. She stares in the mirror and dances and puts everything in order for her book club. That's when the plane explodes over the Island and everyone runs around in shock and confusion. Ben realizes that there may be survivors from the crash. He sends Goodwin and Ethan off to pretend to be passengers and to listen and learn, but not get involved. They run off. Ben walks up to Juliet, looks at the book she's clutching in her arms, and realizes that he is out of the book club. Juliet stares blankly at him, turns, and walks away. Ben says he was looking for her this morning because they need to talk. He takes her to Patch Adams's farm. He tries to get Mikhail on the walkie-talkie, but Mikhail apparently never has his on, so Ben is reduced to hollering. He shouts, "Mikhail! It's Ben. I'm with Juliet. We're approaching the house. Don't shoot us!" Mikhail yells back to hurry up then. Heh. Patch Adams asks if they saw the giant plane that burst into pieces directly over their heads. Ben thanks him for pointing out the bleeding obvious, asks what he has found out so far, and orders detailed files for everyone on board. Patch Adams says he's already working on it. Juliet is still holding her copy of Carrie. Didn't it take Kate, Sayid, and Locke like two days to get to the Barracks? How did Ben and Juliet get there so quickly? Oh, right, Ben is magic. Maybe they rode unicorns! Ben asks Patch to upload Richard in Acadia Park. He turns to Juliet: "Yesterday you called me a liar. That hurt me." Aw, poor little boiled shrimp. Did mean Juliet hurt your feelings? How can she be so cruel to a little baby shrimp? Juliet rolls her eyes, and Ben puts on a headset and asks if Richard can hear him. Richard takes a photo of a newspaper to show the date. He then pans up to show a little boy playing at a park. When a woman picks up the little boy, Juliet suddenly realizes that the woman is her sister. Juliet laughs and cries and pounds the screen. Ben intones that a little over two years ago, much to everyone's surprise, Rachel's cancer went into remission and she gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Julian. Ben turns off the camera and Juliet cries. Ben tells Richard to hurry back because they have some new visitors. Juliet again demands to go home. Ben is not moved by her tears: "That's not our agreement. You have to stay here until your work is finished." Juliet complains that it's impossible -- the mothers keep dying! Ben says that they'll find more mothers. Maybe there was even one on that plane! Then the little baby shrimp is squashed flat by an Anvil of Foreshadowing. Der.
Jack is putting his years of medical school and top-notch surgical training to use by dabbing Claire's forehead with a damp cloth. Juliet rushes up with her case, but Charlie won't let her near Claire. Why should he trust her when she did this to her? Jack borrows a pen and paper, writes a note, and hands it to Charlie. The notes says: I trust her. Do you trust me? Check Yes or No. Charlie scratches his head for a second, sighs, and hands the note back to Jack. Jack unfolds it and sees the Yes! He nods and asks for a couple of minutes alone with Juliet. As Charlie walks off, Jack turns to Juliet: "This should work in a few hours, right? If this doesn't work, if something happens to her, I won't be able to protect you anymore. You'll be on your own. No pressure." Juliet tries really really hard to knit her eyebrows together in concern, gives up, and just says, "I'm already on my own, Jack." A microphone drops from the sky, the lights dim, and Juliet walks out onstage and starts singing "All By Myself." As the song ends, she pushes a giant-ass needle into Claire's stretch-mark-free tummy.
Claire wakes up in her tent feeling much better. Since it appears that Juliet is not going to get tarred and feathered immediately, Jack helps settle her in to the Losties' luxurious accommodations. He gives her a blanket and some airline pillows and says there's a lean-to they were using for shade, but everyone agreed she can camp out in it. She says thanks. Jack takes the opportunity to explain that they are good people. They're willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. But eventually they're going to need some answers. She nods her head and then asks, "Why don't you? Why don't you need answers?" Jack explains that she was standing there to him when that submarine exploded. He saw the look in her eye and he knows that she wants to get off the Island more than anything else in the world. He says, "That makes you one of us." She moves up to the lean-to and manages to move her top lip into a semi-smile. Sort of. It's more of an implied smile.
Juliet is sitting at a table with Ben in what is apparently the Others' conference room. Ben says, "Let's go over it again." Juliet says she's got it: "I drag Austen out into the jungle, handcuff myself to her, and then tell her I was gassed just like she was. Admit it and tell her it was the only way to earn her trust. Then they will take me back to the beach. I know you want me to go there, but after everything we've done to them... It's going to be a problem." Ben says, "We've activated the implant in Claire. She should be symptomatic within 48 hours. By the time you get there, you'll have a nice big crisis to solve." Juliet pipes in that she will need supplies. Ben says, "Price is already on his way. You can pick them up at Ethan's old drop point. Tell Jack that you can save her. He trusts you." Ben stops to ask if she is all right. She says she's fine. Ben hands her a gas mask and wheels off, saying, "I'll see you in a week." Judging from the ambulance sounds door, Mr. Conspiracy Theory has apparently had an apoplectic fit over all of this. Back on the beach, Juliet continues to settle into her lean-to. She studies Jack. She looks happy, and then evil. All without moving her face! What an actress!