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Ben has to summon ol' Smokey and submit himself to judgment for his past deeds. Locke, Sun, and Frank tag along for the ride, and we see some of our favorite special and unique snowflakes. What else can I tell you in so little time? Writing recaplets for this show sometimes seems a fool's errand. Luckily, I'm just the woman for the job!
I know you must have been surprised as I was to see Prince Valiant riding his trusty steed through Craphole in 1977, but it turns out it was just Charles Widmore, who isn't valiant at all, and doesn't think Richard should have rescued Ben. Ben doesn't want to go back to Daddy Dearest, so clearly, he remembers some things, just not how he got injured or why he's now with the Others.
In 1989, Ben and an adolescent Ethan sneak up on painfully young Danielle Rousseau's shelter. Ben steals her infant daughter, Alex, and warns Danielle that if she ever hears whispers, she should run the other way -- if she wants her child to live. An older Widmore is angry that Ben didn't follow his orders to exterminate the woman and says he should have killed it, too. Ben's all "It's not an it; it's a baby. If killing a baby is what Jacob wants -- you do it."
Circa 1992 (?), Widmore is exiled from the island for, among other things, leaving it frequently, and having a daughter with an outsider.
In 2007, Ben wakes up and is shocked Locke's alive, even though he "knew" it was going to happen, because he says there's a difference between believing and seeing (I thought seeing was believing). He tells Locke he has to evoke Smokey so he can atone for his past sins. Current sins must not count, though, because he then manipulates Caesar into being suspicious of Locke. But then when Ben and Locke decide to take an outrigger from Hydra to Craphole and Caesar tries to stop them (because he thinks he's saving Ben) Ben shoots Caesar with the weapon he stole from Caesar. Isn't that just like him?
Back on Craphole, Ben and Locke meet up with Frank and Sun who, as per Christian Shephard's instructions, have been squatting in Alex's room in Ben's house, waiting for Locke to arrive. Undead Locke is too much for Frank to handle, so after failing to talk Sun into accompanying him, he returns to Hydra Island alone.
At some point, Locke tells Ben what he really has to atone for is "killing" his "daughter" Alex. And at another point, Ben admits to that. Ben enters a secret doorway hidden inside the secret compartment in the hidden room in his repurposed Dharmaville cabin to summon Smokey. Ben takes the plug out of some mystical drain which lets the water out, which I guess is supposed to materialize (or is that vaporize) into Smokey. When Smokey fails to appear and judge Ben, Locke leads Ben to the Temple, but they do not enter it; they go underneath. Ben finally sets out alone and falls through a hole in the floor, and right smack dab into the Smokey Summoning Center. Smokey shows him scenes from his life and appears to judge him not guilty. BUT THEN!!! Alex appears (or maybe it's Smokey or the island, or my Shiraz that is just fueling an Alex vision) and she tells Ben that from here on out, he is to follow Locke and what ever orders he may issue, or she (he/it) swears she (he/it) will hunt Ben down and kill him.
But the very, very, very best part of the episode doesn't happen on any island. It happens at the Long Beach marina. Ben is there to hunt down and kill our darling Penny as he gloats to Widmore on the phone. Since Ben first runs into our special, unique, beautiful snowflake Desmond, he SHOOTS him (the dirty bastard), and then approaches the boat. Penny appears and Ben tries out his warped Inigo Montoya impersonation, despite Penny's protest that she hates her father as much as anyone else does. And then? Wee tot Charlie Also-A-Snowflake Hume appears and makes it clear Penny's his mom. Ben can't do the dastardly deed and leave another little boy motherless. But just to make sure, our special, unique, beautiful, precious, loveable and oh-so-handy, yet sadly gun-shot senior snowflake rises up and beats the tar out of Ben. He tosses him and his nasty, snowflake-shooting gun into the drink. Hurrah!
I'll catch you on the flipside with the full recap. Until then, a Good Passover and Happy Easter to you.
Want more? The full recap starts right below! Ben has to summon ole Smokey and submit himself to judgment for his past deeds. Locke, Sun, and Frank tag along for the ride, and we're treated to flashbacks starring some of our most favorite special and unique snowflakes. But first...Previously on Lost: Sayid shoots Ben. Sawyer and Kate deliver Ben to Richard and ask him to save the boy. Richard says if he does, Ben will never be the same again. "He will always be one of us." And we see him carry Ben into the Temple (which will learn is just a gate). Keamy orders Ben to come out of his cabin or he'll kill his daughter. Ben says, "I stole her as a baby from an insane woman. She means nothing to me, so if you want to kill her, go ahead and do it." Alex cries until a gunshot silences her for good. Frank reminds Sun that Ben is dangerous. "That boat I came here on was filled with commandos whose only mission was to get him." Ben snarks, "How'd that work out for everyone?" Sun, standing in for all her peers and much of the audience, clocks Ben with an oar from the outrigger -- knocking him cold. In the Hydra Island makeshift sickbay, Caesar and Locke stand over an unconscious Ben. Caesar says, "Do you know him?" Locke says, "Yeah. He's the man who killed me." And now...
Either they hold Ren Faires on the island, or that's Prince Valiant riding his trusty steed through the forest to ye merry olde encampment. Exactly how far back have we flashed? Is that a serf walking in front of the camera as Prince Valiant dismounts? Oh, wait, we're not that far back after all. Prince Valiant is wearing modern shoes and pants, which is a shame, because I wouldn't have minded seeing him in tights. And yeah, I've probably got my garb eras all garbled, but am I wrong about the rightness of him in tights? I think not. I'm also not wrong about using "am" in the sentence, even though MS Word insists I meant to say, "is I wrong," which is just wrong. Anyhow, this guy, by the way, is played by David S. Lee, and we're going to find out he's Charles Widmore, and that this is 1977, so I'm dropping the pretense, even though it will take away from the reveal, because once he opens his mouth it's pretty clear from his accent who he's supposed to be.
So, this young and yummy Charles approaches Richard and demands to know what he's done. Richard tells him to calm down. "This has nothing to do with you." Charles is incensed that Richard has brought one of "them to our temple." But Richard explains that he's just a boy -- a boy who was dying. Charles says he should have let him die. So they've met? Richard plays his trump card: "Jacob wanted it done." Charles looks at Richard sort of like you're always saying that shit. I think you make it up as you go along, I do, so Richard adds, "The island chooses who the island chooses. You know that." Charles all but bites his tongue, takes a breath and then says, "Yes, yes of course. What's his name?" Gee these two are pretty. I could watch them standing there talking right in each other's face for the whole hour. Who's with me? Not the writers and directors, apparently, because we cut to...
The inside of a tent. Charles enters to find wee Ben sleeping with his glasses on. His midsection is bandaged and Charles' face seems to soften as he takes in the scene. The boy wakes and Charles takes a seat at his bedside. "Hello, Benjamin." Ben asks what happened, and Charles explains to Ben that he was injured. But when he realizes Ben doesn't remember how, he doesn't elaborate. Ben wants to know where he is. Charles says that he's among friends who will care for him. Ben asks about his dad, so Charles assures Ben that he'll be back to his father "soon enough." Ben moans in pain as he explains that he doesn't want to go back. "I want to stay. I want to be one of you." Charles says, "Just because you're living with them doesn't mean you can't be one of us." The camera lingers on wee Ben whose neck and chest are dotted with beads of sweat. Charles adds, "You should be dead, Benjamin, but this island? It saved your life." Ben says, "Who are you?" Finally, Charles tells us his name. "I'm Charles, Charles Widmore." Second cousin to Bond. James Bond. My side of the family gives our given name, first. I don't know what's up with those Bonds. They always were different with their gadgets and their floozies. We then jump to...
2007; Hydra Island Makeshift Sickbay: Locke wakes the beaten and battered Ben and welcomes him back to the "land of the living." Ben's words and face betray his shock that Locke lives. Then he sits up. "I knew it. I knew this would happen." Clearly, the part of his brain that's in charge of obfuscating could do with some coffee, which does not escape Locke's notice. "Then why are you surprised to see me?" Ben says, "Because it's one thing to believe it, John. It's another thing to see it." Ah, but Ben, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed, you know, like John Locke.
Locke's not easily mollified and asks Ben why he was trying to run away to the main island. Ben says, "I broke the rules, John. I came back to the island. I was going to answer for what I'd done. I was going back -- to be judged." And hey, we know Richard and Ethan have left the island and returned before, so what's up with this new rule? Locke opens his eyes wide, but his voice remains a near whisper. "Judged? By whom?" Ben says, "John, we don't even have a word for it," (which has to be a lie, yeah?) "But I believe you call it the monster." Locke lifts his head as the music swirls up out and into the title card.
Hydra Island Beach: Ilana wishes Ben a good morning, and he asks her, "What's in the crate?" The "crate" is a huge, metallic case, about big enough to hold a casket, if you ask me. When they transport dead bodies on planes, do they put the caskets in something else? If you know, e-mail me. Ilana says, "Just some stuff we need to get moved." Ben offers to help but a big guy tells him they're all set, so Ben wishes them a "great day" and walks down the beach where he meets Caesar who inquires about his health. "How are you feeling, my friend?" Ben says he feels like "someone hit me with an oar, but I'll live." Caesar nods towards Locke who is standing at the shore line, undoubtedly chanting, "There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home." He wants to know what Ben makes of our boy Johnny. Oh Caesar, you're too new here to be asking Ben questions. You're totally going to give away more than you learn, even though you think you're the new island badass with your pilfered gun and flashlight.
Caesar tells Ben how, when he was unconscious, Locke said Ben killed him. And hats off to Michael Emerson (now and, yeah, in every scene he's ever had on this show, ever) -- his delivery here is just incomparable. "I killed him?! Really, 'cause he looks fine to me." Hee. Ben then sows yet more seeds of doubt about Locke in Caesar's mind and fertilizes them with his usual brand. "You know, I don't really remember him from the plane. Do you? [...] What if... he was already here before we crashed? If he thinks I killed him, then he's insane. We may be dealing with a man who's dangerously deranged. Then the question is: what are we gonna do about it?" Caesar says, "Don't worry, my friend," then reveals the shotgun in his bag. "I have your back." Before Caesar departs, they introduce themselves to one another. As Ben stands on sand, drinking his water, and looking from Locke to the departing Caesar, you can almost see him doing the math. And we jump to...
1989; Jungle; Nighttime: What the hell is that? Two minutes ago, I would have told you that Michael Emerson could sell anything. And? I would have been lying like my name was Benjamin Linus, because you know what he can't play? A guy thirty years younger. I kid you not. The whole scene is a(n unintentional) sight gag that defies description other than perhaps HaaaaaaaaaWIGheeeeeeeee! BoyScoutUniformSNORRRRRRRRRRRT heeehaaahoooooo! so see for yourself.. Since they obviously thought Tom Connolly was too young to pull off Charles Widmore circa 1977, whatever made them think Emerson could play Ben in 1989, about a month after the character's 24th birthday? I think I might have more readily accepted young Sterling Beaumon as Ben in this time period. Oh my. I have to get back on track. Everyone close your eyes, wave your hands, because no matter what they tell you, sometimes even seeing isn't believing.
Anyhow, it's 1989. Ben has a 12-year-old Ethan "Rom" Goodspeed (Devon Gearhart) with him, and they're stalking poor, post-partum Danielle Rousseau. A spooky little rat bastard, even at age 12, Ethan says, "You want me to do it?" Ben shushes him or (perhaps our laughter at the absurdity of his appearance) but Ethan persists that he can do it if Ben wants him to. Ben tells him to shut up, stay put, and then goes in for the kill.
Gun drawn and cocked, he enters Danielle's shelter, ready to shoot her, when a baby cries and catches him almost as far off guard as his appearance catches us. Ben turns and knocks over Danielle's music box. She reaches for her gun, but Ben warns her against grabbing it. Danielle then accuses him of being the one who "infected" them. The baby continues to cry so Ben picks her up. Danielle yells (mostly in French) at Ben not to take her baby. But we know this story, and that he does. Babe in his arms, he starts to back out of the shelter, gun still pointed at Danielle. She's desperate, now. "Please don't take my Alex!" Ben asks if she wants her baby to live. When Danielle demands to know where and why he's taking her child, Ben fires his warning shot in the sand. "Be grateful you're still alive. Now you listen to me. If you try to follow me or if you ever come looking for me, I'll kill you. And if you want your child to live, every time you hear whispers, you run the other way." He leaves Danielle in tears.
I've got to stick up for Danielle for a moment, because there's been talk about how she didn't fight for her child. Danielle and her crew crashed on the island in what -- November of 1988? By January of 1989, this young woman has seen a smoke monster (who killed the only other woman with them and chowed on a crew member's arm). She's watched as her whole gang went crazy, including her beloved Robert who would have killed her if she hadn't disabled his gun. She's had to kill Robert. She's delivered their baby utterly and completely on her own and has had to forage for food for her post-partum, nursing self. She has been caring for that baby without the help of another soul, and without any of the conveniences the modern mother often thinks of as necessities. LIKE OH SAY DIAPERS.
Now she gets startled in the night by some 54-year-old who is wearing a wig which matches only Jack's beard in its incredible fug. He then takes her baby and shoots at her. She just probably doesn't have much fight left in her. And she's scared to death this maniac will infect and or kill her child. And depending on how far ahead she's thought, she's probably wondering what kind of life she can give her baby, all alone on this island. So just STEP THE HELL OFF, M'KAY? I get it. You are perfect human beings possessed of limitless skills. Your morals are flawless; your decision-making processes should be modeled world-wide, and your shit is, apparently, ice cream. Sheesh.
Ahem. A little bit more about Danielle, before I move on. I just want to nod in approval at whoever cast Melissa Farman as young Rousseau. She's as soft and sweet as Mira Furlan is hardened and lean. The two do not resemble one another much, and yet I can see how 16 to 18 years like the ones Danielle has lived have led to most of those changes. When I first saw Farman, I thought she'd never pull it off, but now she's as much Rousseau to me as Furlan is, and although Tania Raymonde more closely resembles Furlan, I can accept her character, Alex, as the daughter of either Danielle. Okay, let's get back to the story, shall we?
Hydra Island Office; 2007: Ben rifles through the desk until he finds a picture of himself and Alex (which looks like a bad Photoshop). He removes it from its frame and pockets it quickly when he's interrupted by Locke, who asks what he has there. Ben brushes it off as a sentimental something and they exposit about how this office was once Ben's. Locke is awesome, here. He subtly sneers at how "corporate" that seems, as he takes the seat behind the desk which once belonged to Ben. I love how laden this gesture is. He suggests they talk about the elephant in the room, and I assume that's going to be how Locke found time to visit ghost-hallucination Ana-Lucia's diabolic dentist while on the mainland, because just look at those choppers! But no, Locke wants to talk about Ben killing him. Oh Locke, like you're going to get a straight answer.
Ben clucks his tongue and says Locke's death was the only way to convince the Escape-aways to come back to the island. Locke points out that he was all set to kill himself, but Ben says, "You had critical information that would have died with you. And once you'd given it to me..." Ben closes his eyes halfway through rolling them. "Well, I just didn't have time to talk you back into hanging yourself." Hee, he's too tired to lie. I don't think it was the whole truth, mind you, but it was truthy. My pet theory right now is that Ben was hoping to bring back the corpse of Locke to Richard and the Others, just like Locke once upon a time brought them the corpse of Anthony Cooper (Locke's daddy a.k.a. "Tom Sawyer"), to show them he was worthy of... erm... something. Answers. Yeah, I think it was answers. Ben continues explaining -- he took a "shortcut." Heh. He then blabbers on about how he was right and it worked. "That's why I did it, because it was in the best interests of the island." Oh, I think he's gotten a second wind, there.
Locke removes his fingers from his lips. "I was just hoping for an apology," which cracks me up, and surprises Ben. Locke then rises to his full height and tells Ben he's decided to help him. Hats off to Terry O'Quinn, here, because he's made Locke a brand new man in this episode, and it's not just the devilishly perfect teeth. It's his entire demeanor. Ben wonders what sort of help he means. Locke wants to help Ben do what he said he was going to do -- be judged. "If everything you've done has been in the best interest of the island, then I'm sure the monster will understand." Ben looks more (truly) scared than maybe he ever has, and this brings a twinkle to Locke's eye as he says, "Let's go." We cut to...
The beach: Ben and Locke remove the natural camouflage from the remaining outriggers. Caesar wants to know what they're doing, so Locke explains that they're taking a boat over to the main island. Caesar isn't too keen on that idea. "I don't think so, my friend." But Locke plays it light, innocent and friendly. "I'm just going to borrow one. I'm happy to leave the other boat for you, in case you want to follow us." Caesar picks up on that last word and asks Ben if he's going with. Ben's still working both angles and whines, "He didn't really give me a choice." Caesar then puts his foot down, and claims to be in charge. Oh my friend, you are so low down on the food chain, Craphole plankton aren't sure you're edible. He tells Locke, "What you are going to do is to sit down and tell us how you know so much about this island, my friend." Locke's as cool as only the resurrected probably can be, and shakes the sand out of Christian Shephard's shoes as he notes, "You're in the habit of calling people 'friends' but I don't think you mean it." Heh. I'm laughing at just about everything Locke says and does this episode, because I so love the new, empowered him, so just assume laughter unless I tell you otherwise.
Caesar orders Locke away from the boat. The two goons behind him move in closer, but Locke's not impressed. Caesar reaches in his bag as he starts to tell Locke he's not going anywhere, but the shotgun is gone. Ben pulls it out of his ass, and says, "Are you looking for this?" Before Caesar can react, Ben shoots him dead or at least "dead." He then points it at the goons and says, "This gentleman and I are taking the boat. Does anyone else have a problem with that?" They don't and back off. Ben turns to Locke, tosses him the shotgun and says, "Consider that my apology." Don't you love how Linus works? He set Caesar up in such a way that if Locke hadn't been inclined to give Ben a chance, Caesar would have protected him. Once it is clear Locke's not going to stop Ben from going back to Craphole, he uses the pre-manipulated Caesar to make it look like he's so on John's side that he'll even kill for him. I love to hate that evil little genius.
It's still daylight when Ben and Locke arrive at the Craphole dock and Ben exclaims, "Home sweet home," with more than a little trepidation. When Locke notices the other outrigger, Ben explains that Sun and Lapidus are already here. "I showed 'em where the boats were, and Sun thanked me by smashing me on the head with a paddle." Locke asked if she's the one who hurt the arm Ben has been favoring, but Ben says someone else did that. Meeeep. I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHERE BEN GOT HIS INJURIES. When Locke cracks, "You just make friends everywhere you go," Ben replies, "Well, I've found sometimes that friends can be significantly more dangerous than enemies, John." Locke brings up shooting the unarmed Caesar and Ben explains that Caesar was only unarmed because Ben had already stolen his gun, with which he would have killed Locke. Locke laughs. "No sense in me dying twice, right?" Yeah, it's not like you're Buffy or anything.
They blah blah blah about going to Ben's house because that's the only place from which he can summon Smokey, and about how he'll either be forgiven or won't. Then Locke accuses him of lying. John, it only took you a few seasons, but you're all caught up now. Good for you and your scary teeth. Oh wait, what he thinks Ben's lying about is his desire to "be judged for leaving the island and coming back because it's against the rules." He's probably right about that. Locke adds, "I don't think you care about rules." Ben asks what Locke thinks he wants to be judged for, then. Locke says, "For killing your daughter." He walks off and leaves Ben there to have an epiphany. And we jump to...
1989; Nighttime: Ben, baby Alex, and Ethan return to camp, where Alan Dale's Charles Widmore chews Ben out for not exterminating the woman and it, meaning the baby. Ben argues that Danielle is a crazy woman and no threat and that the baby isn't an it, but a child. Widmore says that every decision he's made he has made in order to protect the island, so Ben trots out Richard's well-worn trump card. "Is killing this baby what Jacob wants?" Widmore seems to be sizing Ben up, and Richard looks on with great interest. Alex fusses as Ben makes to hand her over to Widmore. "Then here she is." Baby Alex cries that she won't go with Widmore unless she can have a Desmond of her own when she grows up. Ben ignores that and says, "You do it." Widmore scoffs and walks away. Ben and the baby seem to have a moment, then he searches Richard's face, and perhaps he finds approval there, it's hard to tell, but I don't think it would have mattered to Ben if he didn't. And we jump to...
2007; New Otherton: The sign from the processing center sways in the breeze. The place looks as beat up as the last time we saw it. Locke asks Ben if it was his idea to move the Others from the jungle to Dharmaville after they murdered all the Dharma Initiative people. "It just doesn't seem like what the island would want." Ben says, "You don't have the first idea what this island wants." He's lying to himself there as much as Locke, I think. They notice a light in Alex's room in Ben's old house. Locke sends Ben off to check it out. The cabin looks just the same as it did when the Lostaways fled it after Keamy came and killed Alex. The game of Risk lies on the table, waiting for someone to play with it. Ben slowly makes his way to Alex's room and finds...
Sun! Ben scares the heck out of her, but from the look on his face and the sound of his voice, I think her presence is as much of a surprise to him. Was he hoping for Jacob? Christian? Richard? Frank comes in and asks what he's doing there. Ben says it used to be his house and he saw the light on. When he asks what they're doing there, Lapidus hands him the picture of the new Dharma recruits from 1977, featuring Jack, Kate and Hurley. Ben is obviously shocked to see Jack and crew in the shot and wants to know where they got the photo. Frank, who is as every bit as grey as you-know-who says, "We met some crazy old man outside. He said his name was Christian. He told us to come in here and wait." Sun adds that Christian told them they were to wait for John Locke. Frank says, "But considering he's dead, we ain't holding our breath." Ben tells them to look outside. Sun and Frank cross to the window and she draws open the curtains to reveal Locke standing out by the clothesline. Locke gives a cute little wave, and Dun!
When we return from commercial, Ben, Locke, Sun and Frank are together in Ben's old living room, and Sun tells Locke that what he's saying is "impossible" like it's her first time on the island. Locke says, "But here I am. I don't know how; I don't know why, but I'm sure there's a very good reason for it." Frank says, "As long as the dead guy says there's a reason, well then I guess everything's going to be just peachy." Hee. He's not done. "And forget about the fact that the rest of your people are supposedly 30 years ago. Now the only ones who are here to help us are a murderer and a guy who can't seem to remember how the hell he got out of a coffin." He begs Sun to return to Hydra and the plane with him, but Locke warns her that if she leaves with Frank, she'll never again find Jin, then adds, "I'm all the help you need." Who's cock of the walk, now? Frank's leaving no matter what, but Sun can't abandon this course while there's any chance she can find her man. Frank says, "Well, for God's sake, watch your back," then walks out. Bye, Frank. You watch your back, too!
After Frank's gone, Sun asks Locke how to find Jin, but Locke tells her Ben has something to do first. Locke tells him to get to it, so Ben pulls the bookcase from the wall and enters his super seekrit room, goes to the closet, pushes the clothing aside and opens a panel behind it. The wall beyond seems to be solid stone with various carvings in it. It's not a wall though, it's a door and Ben struggles to push that open, too. Once inside, he lights a lantern and descends a handful of steps to a short tunnel through which he has to crawl. At its end, he can again stand. He puts his lantern down to the murky puddle at his feet, kneels down, and fishes around in it, until he... finds the drain stopper? No. Really. He pulls it out and the water drains away. Clockwise. Not that that matters. Ben's voice shakes as he tells the hole where the puddle used to be, "I'll be outside." He grabs his lantern and rises to his feet as we jump to...
Sometime After the Purge -- 1992 or later: Ben pushes little-girl Alex (who looks more like she's six years old than three) on the New Otherton swing set. He's still wearing an awful wig, but somehow it helps to think he's 30ish. Okay, not much, but let's pretend. Richard comes over and tells Ben the sub is leaving but that he doesn't have to see "him" off. Over the sounds of Alex squealing, "Higher daddy, higher," Ben tells Richard that he does. And we cut to...
The Dock: Widmore is being escorted to the sub when Ben catches up to him and says he came to say goodbye. Widmore corrects that Ben came to "gloat." Ben says he brought this on himself. "You left the island regularly. You had a daughter with an outsider. You broke the rules, Charles." Charles says, "And what makes you think you deserve to take what's mine?" Ben says that he won't be selfish. Ha. "I'll sacrifice anything to protect this island." Charles points out that Ben wouldn't sacrifice Alex. Ben says, "You're the one who wanted her dead, Charles, not the island." I love all the implications in this. I mean, I'm a religious person myself, but I love how these guys claim to know what the island wants, just like people claim to know what God wants. Widmore adds, "I hope you're right, Benjamin, because if you aren't and it is the island that wants her dead, she'll be dead. And one day, you'll be standing where I'm standing now. You'll be the one being banished, and then you'll finally realize that you cannot fight the inevitable." He gets right in Ben's face. "I'll be seeing you, boy." The guards escort Charles to the sub, as Ben chews on the bitter cud of his words. And we jump to...
Ben's Cabin; 2007: Sun is sitting on the front porch when Ben comes out from unplugging Smokey's drain or whatever that was, and is looking for Locke. Sun says Locke had something to do; she didn't ask what. She then muses that Jack must have lied about Locke being dead. She's trying to figure out scenarios in which Locke could have faked his own death, but Linus assures her he really was gone. "Trust me. I'm sure." Ask him how, Sun. Ask him how! She doesn't listen to me. Instead, she asks Ben if he knew John would come back to life if they brought him back to the island and Ben says, "Sun, I had no idea it would happen. I've seen this island do miraculous things. I've seen it heal the sick, but never once has it done anything like this." Then he gets to say the episode title: "Dead is dead. You don't get to come back from that, not even here. So the fact that John Locke is walking around this island? Scares the living hell out of me." And oh my word, I think he's telling the truth again. I think he was faking when he told Locke he "knew" it would happen, and is telling the truth now. But only if I don't think about it for too long. When I think about it for too long it doubles back on itself and I think he's lying. Then I decide he's lying both times, or neither time, which doesn't make any sense, so clearly that's the right answer. Oh help.
There's a rustle in the bushes and Ben warns Sun to go inside, "Because what's about to come out of that jungle is something I can't control." And he's telling the truth again, because it's John Locke! John can't believe it's taking this long and suggests they go to it, instead. Ben says he only knows how to summon it, he doesn't know where it is. Locke says, "I do." Commercial.
Inside Ben's cabin, Locke makes some torches as he tells Sun that all this being alive again stuff is weird for him, too? "But I assure you Sun, I'm the same man I've always been." He doesn't seem to be lying exactly, but there's at least more to him now, don't you think? When Ben joins them and Locke asks if he's ready. Ben says, "Lead the way," and shakes his head. And we jump to...
Long Beach Marina; 2007: Ben calls Charles Widmore and gloats that he's going back to the island. Charles, who is standing outside Widmore Industries, tells Linus the island won't let him. "Trust me. I've spent almost 20 years trying to return." And people are in a tizzy about this, because at most, it's been 15 (because the conversation is happening in 2007) -- should we give him a pass for rounding up? Charles strikes me as melodramatic, anyhow. If he's spent an hour doing something, he's worked on it all day, you know? Besides, we need to direct the full breadth and depth of our fannish wrath at the show for being too lazy or cheap to cast a 24-year-old actor in the part of 24-year-old Ben. I know wee Ben morphs into current Ben unbelievably well, but there had to be someone you could have cast as the young-man version, Show. Yes, other than Daniel Radcliffe, I mean.
Ben tells Widmore he will succeed where Widmore failed. "Just as soon as I do one thing. [...] Kill your daughter. In fact, I'm looking at Our Mutual Friend right now." We see Penny on deck as the two men continue their conversation. Run, Penny! Run! Widmore says he doesn't know what Ben's talking about, so Ben explains that "Our Mutual Friend" is the name of Des and Penny's boat. Widmore growls, "Don't you dare," but Ben's not intimidated, because Widmore's all the way over in Old Blighty. He says, "Goodbye, Charles," then hangs up, leaving Widmore staring at his phone.
Craphole; 2007; Daylight: Locke, Ben and Sun work their way through the jungle. Ben wants to know how Locke knows where he's going. When Locke says he doesn't know, Ben presses the subject. "I mean, how does that work, exactly? [...] The knowing. I mean, did it come upon you gradually, or did you wake up one morning, suddenly understanding the mysteries of the universe?" Bitter, much? Locke pretty much says the same thing. Ben doesn't like "having to ask questions that you don't know the answers to, blindly following someone in the hopes that they'll lead you to whatever it is you're looking for." Ben thinks it sucks, and Locke's all in your face. Sun has to nudge them to keep moving.
When they reach the Temple, Ben starts to figure it out, saying it's the same place they brought him when he was a child. "It's where the island healed me." Locke says to hope it's as generous this time around. The three of them take in the ruins and finally Sun asks what it is. Ben says, "It's the wall around our Temple." The temple is about a half mile inside. So that's just the wall? Huh. "We built this wall to keep people like the two of you from ever seeing it." What did Sun ever do? Other than smash Ben with an oar, I mean. Oh, and have an affair? And lie about speaking English. And plan to kill Ben. Oh, never mind. Locke says they're not going in Ben's temple. He walks up to the hole where Haughty Snotty got his arm bit off and looks down, as the music gets ridiculously ominous. "We're going under it."
Ben's eyes grow to twice their normal size which means they'd put an anime character to shame, and he approaches the hole. Locke smiles and says, "After you." Ben looks at it for another moment then turns to Sun. "I need to ask a favor of you, Sun. If you can ever get off this island, find Desmond Hume for me. Tell him I said I was sorry." Sun says, "Sorry for what?" The audience says, "Sorry for What?" The recapper says, "SORRY FOR WHAT?!" Ben shakes his head, or rather his head shakes, almost as if he's afflicted with some sort of palsy. He draws in a sharp breath. "He'll know." He takes one more look at the hole and then climbs down into it. Hold your breath and cross your fingers, because it's time, finally, to jump to our answer.
Long Beach Marina; 2007: Ben approaches Penny, and passes right by Desmond, who is getting groceries out of the car, and is clean shaven. His hair is as puffy as a character from an 80s movie. I can't take my eyes off it. He must recognize Ben from behind, because he hollers out, "Hey, what are y'doin' here?" Ben turns, pulls his gun from out of his jacket and SHOOTS OUR VERY SPECIAL AND UNIQUE SNOWFLAKE, KNOCKING HIM AND HIS GROCERIES TO THE GROUND AND I HATE YOU BEN DIE DIE DIE! The bullet pierces the grocery bag and a half gallon of milk before mixing with Desmond's blood. Wait. Where's the blood? Where's the bullet hole? There's none! There's none! Desmond isn't shot. I don't think. He falls like he's shot, but I've watched this scene in slow-mo more times than I care to admit and there's not even a wrinkle in his shirt. I don't think he was even grazed. Thank you for being such a bad shot, Ben.
Of course Ben doesn't know he's a bad shot, yet. When Penny sees what happens she screams Desmond's name, but Ben moves in on her and tells her not to say another word. He introduces himself and says, "I'm sorry that you're caught up in the middle of this thing, but your father--" A tearful, frightened Penny's all, My father? I don't even talk to that sod. But Ben's too bent on vengeance and murder to listen. "Your father is a really terrible human being. He's responsible for the killing of my daughter. That's why I'm here." As he takes aim and readies himself to fire right into our Penny's heart, her beautiful little boy comes up on deck. "Mummy?" Penny tries and fails to keep her fear out of her voice as she turns toward him. "Charlie, go back inside, babe." Um, Penny, I know you named the tyke after Charlie Pace, but your father's name is Charles, and you're trying to convince a murderer that you hate your old man as much as he does, so perhaps you should have left the boy's name out of it. Just a thought.
Charlie's a toddler, so he's not going to listen. Penny pleads with Ben not to hurt her son, whatever else he must do. But it's Ben's face here that tells the real story. He can't do it. He can't kill this woman and leave her little boy motherless, as he was. Charlie calls out, "Mummy?" again, and Penny snaps at him. "Charlie, go inside!" Again with the name, Pen. But Ben doesn't even hear it. He lowers his gun, and what he would have done , we'll never know, because whatever happened, happened and what happens here is that the most unique and special snowflake in the world, the one who looked all shot but wasn't, he leaps out of nowhere, tackles Ben, knocks his gun into the water, beats the stuffing out of his face then picks him up and throws him in the harbor. HOORAY! That was awesome. Just awesome. The underwater cam shows us Ben's descent into the deep, blood and bubbles streaming from his nose. Do it, again! Do it, again!
Hydra Island; 2007: Frank arrives on shore and is greeted by a guy yelling his name. He tells Frank that Ilana and three of the others found guns and say they're in charge, now. Frank approaches Ilana, who is still fiddling with the "crate." What's in the box?! He asks her what's going on. She draws out a gun and says, "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" Oh, I know this one. Ben Linus's mouth! It also lies out in the sun, in the various stations, on the phone, and basically whenever it's open. She can't hear me, so she repeats her question to Frank. Who's all, "What?" Some big meathead who is also armed points his weapon at Frank and orders him to answer the question. Ilana asks again, "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" Frank squints at her. "I have no idea what..." Ilana whacks him with the butt of her weapon and knocks him down. Frank looks up at her while she orders the meathead to get everyone else. "And tell them it's time. And tie him up. He's coming with us." The meathead smiles a meaty smile and runs off. Ilana looks back down at Frank who decides consciousness is too much trouble, and closes his eyes. Sleep well, sweetie.
Craphole; 2007: Locke and Ben are underneath the temple. Sun must have wisely stayed outside. Locke lights their torches and they set out on their way through the underground as Ben confesses that Locke was right that Ben needs to be judged for Alex's death, because he could have just gone with Widmore's men. "So you were right, John. I did kill Alex. And now I have to answer for that. I appreciate you showing me the way, but I think I can take it from here." Locke says, "You've got it," and stands behind as Ben goes it alone. He only makes it a few steps though, before the ground beneath him opens up and swallows him whole. Ben falls to yet a lower level beneath the temple. And just as Sawyer looked down the well for Locke, Locke looks down into the hole, for Ben. The difference is, there's been no time flash, so Ben's still there. He assures Locke that he's all right and Locke goes off to find "something to get [him] out of there." Ben tries to tell him to wait, but Locke's gone. Ben rises to his feet and looks around at the chamber into which he's fallen. There are hieroglyphs all over the walls and pillars. He approaches what might be an altar and we see a picture of Anubis (not Horus), on his knees. He seems to be summoning Smokey. There's a rattling sound and Ben looks down to see a stone filled with little holes -- holes that might be perfect to vent smoke. I'm just sayin'... With a puff, his torch goes out. The rattling gets louder and black smoke pours from the holes in the stone. It surrounds Ben like the Angel of Death-smoke surrounds the first born Egyptians in The Ten Commandments. The smoke envelops Ben as he stands there, burnt out torch still in hand.
The feel of The Ten Commandments disappears in all the smoke. Now, Ben, who first told us he was Henry Gale, seems to be playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. He hears and sees past scenes of his life as Smokey surrounds him. Twenty-four year old Ben tells Widmore that he didn't tell him Rousseau had a child and asks what he was supposed to do. We see Widmore's face as he says, "Kill it!" Ben's voice echoes that she's not an it but a child. , we see Ben push little-girl Alex on the swing. , the face of teenaged Alex appears and she tells Ben she hates him and wishes he were dead. She's replaced by a calmer Alex who says, "These people, you said they were dangerous. More dangerous than you?" She evaporates and it's time for the grand finale. Keamy holds Alex hostage and she pleads for her life. "Dad, they're serious. They killed Karl, and my mother. Please, Dad, help me." Ben cries as he hears his past self say, "She's not my daughter. She means nothing to me. So if you want to kill her, go ahead and..." A shot rings out and Alex falls to her death. Smokey rattles and ticks and the smoke clears as he returns to the stone from whence he came.
Ben's torch flares back to life, startling him, but not as much as the young woman's voice, behind him. "Daddy?" He turns to see Alex. He says her name with such love. She smiles a small smile and says, "Hi, Dad." Ben says, "Oh, Alex. I'm so, so sorry. It was all my fault." She moves closer and is it just me, or does it look like they're going to kiss and not in a parent/child way? Shudder. Thank goodness that doesn't last long. Instead, Alex says, "I know." Ben's frightened, and he should be. Alex grabs him by the collar and shoves him up against the wall with more strength than seems humanly possible for that slender young woman, but seems totally possible if she's, oh, say, a Smoke Monster. Ben's torch falls to the floor. Alex-monster says, "Listen to me, you bastard! I know that you're already planning to kill John again and I want you to know that if you so much as touch him, I will hunt you down and destroy you. You will listen to every word John Locke says, and you will follow his every order. Do you understand?" Speechless, Ben finally manages to nod, but that's not enough for the Alex-monster. "Say it! Say you'll follow him!"
Ben says, "Yes, I will. I'll follow him. I swear." Alex-monster shoves him against the wall one more time. Ben closes his eyes and holds a hand up, defensively, in front of his head. His face betrays his fear, pain and shame, all at once. He cringes and waits for his final judgment, but nothing happens. He opens his eyes to find the Alex-monster gone. Amazed, he picks up his own torch and starts to walk back in the direction he came. From above, Locke calls his name three times as he lowers a vine down into the hole. Finally, Ben walks into his view. Locke asks what happened. Ben says, "It let me live." Locke looks at him in shock, but nobody's more shocked than Ben himself. Dun Bad robot!
Well, there are lots of theories swirling around at this point -- mainly that Locke is another manifestation of the monster, because he disappeared before the monster appeared. But I keep flashing back to when we saw Locke eat the mango Ilana handed him. I think when he tells Sun that he's the same man he always was, he's telling the truth. And yet he's not in some ways, because he's so transformed in this episode. Everything weak and waffling about Locke seems to be gone. And in his place seems to be this man Locke could have and should have been.
I think leaving Ben alive only to follow Locke might be, for Ben, a fate worse than death. It's hard to imagine he'll obey the monster -- he's not big on rules -- and yet that whole judgment must have been a transforming experience.
There is a lot of speculation swirling around that Ben still killed Penny after Desmond beat the tar out of him, but I don't think that's true and don't want to, so I won't unless or until I see it. Ben had already decided not to kill Penny -- not to kill the mother of a little boy -- before Desmond jumped him. I think he can understand Desmond's reaction, and I think the apology he relayed to Sun was just for the attempt (and for attempting to shoot Des), not for anything worse. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
This week, we get "Some Like It Hoth" in which the Dharmaville residents grow suspicious when wee Ben is no longer in St. Jacob's Hospital, and Miles has to deliver and important package. 'Til then, stay out of trouble and do whatever John Locke tells you to do.
Got a theory about Lost? Want to rip apart Cindy's delusion that Penny, Desmond and wee Charlie Hume will still be standing, relatively unscathed, when the series takes its final bow? Go ahead, test the island and e-mail her at CynthiaMcLennan[at]gmail.com
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