1.07 - The Moth

While Charlie struggles with withdrawal, Sayid implements a plan to attempt to locate the source of the distress signal. Meanwhile, Jack is trapped in a cave-in.

People survive plane crashes all the time.
Not like this one. The tail section broke off when we were still in the air. Our section cartwheeled through the jungle. And yet, we escaped with nothing but a few scrapes. How do you explain that?
Blind dumb luck.
No one is that lucky. --- Kate, Sayid

I wouldn't have taken you for a religious man.
I used to be. Hey, you want to hear my confession? It might take a while. --- Jack Shepherd, Charlie Pace

Charlie is playing his guitar but is sweating and suffering other signs of withdrawal. Locke appears and suggests he go for a walk. Charlie says he is planning on staying inside but Locke says the fresh air would do him good.

Jack is in his tent on the beach and looking at Kate's mug shot. Kate appears behind him and says she takes better pictures. He hands the mug shot to her and says he was just getting his things. He says he is moving to the caves and wonders why she isn't coming with the rest of them.

Kate says that it has only been eight days since the crash and that she isn't giving up hope on rescue yet. She says that Sayid has a plan to locate the source of the distress signal. Jack points out that whoever left that signal was never rescued after 16 years but she says she has hope that they will be.

Sawyer arrives and lays claim to Jack's tent, interrupting their conversation. Jack takes his backpack and suitcase and leaves.

Back near the caves, Charlie has left the cave and is wandering through the jungle looking for Locke. He hears animal noises and something starts chasing him. He turns and runs.

Flashback: Charlie is in a confessional booth and telling the priest that the evening before he had "physical relations" with two women, before watching them have relations with each other. He says that his band, "Driveshaft", is becoming popular and that he is facing more and more "temptations" as time goes on.

The priest observes that everyone faces temptations but that giving into them is a matter of choice. In fact, all life is, really, is a series of choices. Charlie says that he can only make one choice then; he has to quit the band.

Outside the confessional, he crosses himself and is about to leave when he hears someone drumming on the back of a pew. He enters the sanctuary and discovers his brother Liam with his boots propped up on the pew in front of him. He berates his brother for his behavior in a church but his brother pulls out an envelope and tells him that Driveshaft has just been signed to a recording contract.

"I bring good tidings of great joy." he says. "We've just been signed to a recording contract. You're going to be a rock god!"

Back in the present, Charlie is still running from the animal chasing him, which we now see is one of the boars. Suddenly the boar is caught in a net. Locke appears and thanks Charlie, telling him he makes good bait.

Charlie angrily confronts Locke and demands his drugs back. Locke refuses and Charlie wants to know why.

Locke says he will give the drugs back when Charlie asks for them for the third time. This was the first. Charlie asks why and asks why Locke doesn't simply destroy the drugs. Locke says he thinks Charlie is stronger than he suspects himself and that he wants it to be Charlie's choice. He says that making choices on more than instinct is what separates him from animals like the boar. So saying, he pulls one of his knives and cuts the throat of the boar.

Back at the beach, Sayid is explaining his plan to find the source of the signal to Kate and Boone. He has three antennas and gives one to each of them. The three of them will get into position and turn on their antennas. If the source of the transmission is within the three antennas, he will be able to locate it.

There are two problems. First, the batteries in the antennas will only last a minute or two so they all have to be in position before they turn them on. He gives each of them a bottle rocket (thanking "fireworks smugglers" as he does so) and says when he is in position he will fire off his rocket. The other two will fire off theirs when they see his and, when they have seen all three, all of them will turn on their antennas.

The other problem is that the battery in the transceiver is dead. He has been looking for a laptop to use the battery from it but hasn't been able to find one. Kate says she thinks she knows where one may be.

Kate finds Sawyer (who is reading Watership Down). She says she knows that Sawyer has been hoarding items since the crash. She also observes that she believes that he doesn't want off the island because he has no one and nothing to go back to. He asks if she feels sorry for him and she says she pities him. He pulls a laptop battery out and gives it to her, saying "All you had to do was say please."

Jack and Hurley arrive at the caves, both carrying heavy suitcases. Jack says he took all the supplies he could without leaving the people at the beach shorthanded. Charlie offers to help but Jack says they don't any. He tries anyway and picks up a suitcase, which turns out to have a broken zipper. It falls open and dumps drugs all over the ground.

Charlie apologizes and Jack says it is OK. Jack and Hurley go back out to get more suitcases and Charlie starts digging through the drugs. Jack returns and finds him and Charlie says he was only looking for something for a headache. Jack observes that Charlie isn't looking very well and suggests he get some water and rest. He says they don't need any help and tells him to rest. Charlie, looking irritated, sits down to play his guitar.

Flashback: Liam is still trying to convince Charlie to stay with the band. Charlie says he doesn't care about the fame; it's just about the music to him. Liam points out that it is Charlie who writes the songs and he just sings them; to him Charlie is Driveshaft.

Charlie says he is afraid of losing himself and asks Liam to promise that if things get too crazy, they will just walk away. Liam says of course; they are brothers and will look after each other.

Sun and Jin are in the caves, Jin tending to his wrist which is still raw from the handcuffs. Sun wants him to have the doctor look at it but Jin says he will be all right.

Jin notices that Sun is wearing a spaghetti-strap top and says she needs to cover herself. She says it is too hot. He looks unhappy but doesn't press the issue.

Hurley brings Charlie's guitar case to him and asks if it belongs to him. Charlie says it does and starts talking about Driveshaft. Hurley cuts him off, saying that Jack simply wanted it moved because it was in the way.

Charlie becomes angry and stalks into the caves. He confronts Jack, yelling that some people look up to him and that he doesn't appreciate Jack treating him like a child and telling him that he is in the way.

Jack is confused but starts to realize that there is something wrong with Charlie. He asks Charlie to let him look at him but Charlie starts yelling about someone looking out for him and how he isn't interested. He yells that he is a rock god.

There is a rumble and rocks start to fall from overhead. Outside, Hurley, Sun and Jin watch as the entrance to the tunnel collapses. Charlie, barely having run out in time, picks himself up from the ground. Hurley asks where Jack is and Charlie points to the pile of rocks now blocking the entrance to the caves.

Hurley wants to know what happened and Charlie says he and Jack were talking and the roof collapsed. Hurley says they need help and tells Charlie to go to the beach. Charlie runs off and Hurley yells after him to be sure to tell Kate what has happened.

Kate and Sayid are in the jungle. Kate wants to know what the odds of the plan working and Sayid says they are no worse than the odds of them surviving the crash. Kate says that people survive crashes all the time but Sayid points out that they don't survive crashes like the one they were in; the tail section broke away while they were still in the air and their section cartwheeled through the jungle before stopping. He says no one is that lucky but Kate says that sometimes things just happen.

At the beach, Charlie arrives and yells for help then tells everyone what has happened. Michael takes charge and, calling to a few of the other survivors, heads towards the caves. Boone starts to follow then stops and tells Shannon what needs to be done with the antenna. Shannon doesn't seem too interested or concerned but insists that she knows what to do. Boone runs off after the others.

Charlie suddenly remembers and says he needs to tell Kate. Sawyer overhears him and tells him that Kate and Sayid have left. Charlie asks where they have gone but Sawyer tells Charlie to go back to the caves. He says he will get the message to Kate. Sawyer leaves and Charlie stares into the distance.

Flashback: Driveshaft is performing on stage in front of a large crowd. Charlie starts to sing but Liam starts ahead of him. Charlie seems angry but can't do anything in the middle of the song.

Later, the band heads backstage. Fans line the corridor, yelling for them; mostly for Liam. In the dressing room, Charlie confronts Liam about singing his part of the song but Liam seems unconcerned.

A woman enters the dressing room and Liam goes to meet her. The two go towards a back room together, Liam pulling out some drugs as they do. Charlie stares in disbelief. Liam sees him and tells him to relax, before closing the door behind him and the woman.

Michael and the others from the beach arrive at the caves and Michael immediately tells them to stop digging while he checks out the situation. He tells Hurley that he has eight years experience in construction and so knows something about excavation. Walt suggests they go get Locke but Hurley says no one knows where he is. Michael finds a safe spot to start digging and, organizing everyone, starts to work.

Sawyer catches up to Kate and Sayid. Kate asks why he is there and Sawyer says he has something to tell her. Kate sarcastically says that she isn't interested in anything he has to say.

Sawyer seems taken aback then, also sarcastically, says that he was going to tell her that she was right; he doesn't care about anyone but himself. So, he decided to come out and help them. Kate rolls her eyes and they all set off again.

Charlie finds Locke, who is now roasting the boar. He tells Locke about Jack but Locke realizes that doing so wasn't his real reason for coming there. Charlie then asks for his drugs again, saying he can't stand feeling the way he does.

Locke pulls Charlie to one side and shows him a moth cocoon. He points out a small hole in the top, saying that it means that the moth inside is trying to get out. He says he could widen the hole himself, making it easier for the moth, but that if he did then the moth would be too weak to survive; the struggle to escape is what gives the moth its strength. He shows Charlie his drugs and tells him that if he asks again, he will give them to him.

At the caves, Michael and his team break through the collapse but the opening is too small to get through. They yell for Jack who eventually responds. He is OK but is trapped under some rocks. Jack yells back, asking about Charlie and Hurley tells him that Charlie got out safely.

Kate, Sayid and Sawyer reach a point where Sayid thinks they should set up the second antenna. Kate takes it from her pack and Sayid gives it to Sawyer, telling him to climb a nearby tree and place it as high as he can. Sawyer sarcastically thanks him and does.

As he climbs, Sayid says he doesn't trust Sawyer. Kate points out that no one does. Sayid then clarifies that he doesn't trust Sawyer with her. Kate says she will be all right.

Back at the caves, everyone is discussing how to get someone in to free Jack. Jin says something that is untranslated and Hurley says they can't understand Chinese. Michael corrects him; pointing out that Sun and Jin are Korean.

Suddenly, Charlie arrives and says he will crawl in after Jack. Everyone seems surprised but he points out that everyone else has someone else on the island. He says he will go in.

Elsewhere, Kate and Sawyer are waiting on Sayid's signal. Sawyer wonders why Kate is so interested in Jack and says that if he had some bandages and peroxide, then he could run the island as well as Jack. Kate is surprised that Sawyer is comparing himself to Jack. Sawyer says that if Jack had lived longer, she may have learned that they really weren't that different.

Kate suddenly realizes what Sawyer said and asks him to explain. He feigns forgetfulness and says he forgot to tell her about Jack being trapped in the cave-in. Kate throws the bottle rocket at him and rushes off.

At the caves, everyone wishes Charlie luck as he starts to crawl into the opening.

Flashback: Charlie makes his way through a crowd backstage and finds Liam sitting between two women. He chases them and several other women out and confronts Liam, saying that he missed the sound check. His brother, obviously under the influence, doesn't seem concerned and starts looking through his drugs.

Charlie confronts him and tells him they are going to walk away, like they agreed. Liam dismisses him, saying that he is Driveshaft; no one even knows who the bass player is. He says that if Charlie walks away then he will be nothing. Liam leaves.

Charlie sits down at the table and looks at Liam's drugs. He picks up a bag and examines it, tears on his face.

The tunnel starts to collapse again and Charlie barely manages to get through the last few feet before it does.

Outside, everyone is trying to determine what to do after the latest collapse. Kate arrives and asks what is happening and they tell her. She becomes upset that no one is digging and, rushing to the tunnel, starts pulling out rocks. The others join in.

Inside, Charlie manages to move the rocks trapping Jack but Jack's shoulder is dislocated. Jack asks Charlie to help. At first Charlie says he can't but eventually he does and, pulling Jack's arm, pops his shoulder back into place. Jack moans in pain while Charlie stares into the distance.

Charlie arrives at a suburban house in Sydney and knocks. Liam, now conservatively dressed greets him with surprise.

Liam plays with his daughter while Charlie tells him the reason for his visit. Another band wants to book Driveshaft as its opening act but won't do it without Liam as the lead singer. Charlie wants Liam to come back to the band.

Liam says he can't. He reminds Charlie that he wasn't there when his daughter was born and that he has cleaned himself up and put all of it behind him. Charlie begs him and Liam suddenly realizes that Charlie is still on drugs. He becomes alternately angry and concerned, demanding to know why Charlie didn't get help and offering to help him himself. Charlie becomes angry.

"You did this to me!" he shouts. "It was about the music! Music, Liam. You took that away from me!"

Liam tries to get Charlie to stay with him and his wife, saying that they can help him. Charlie refuses and angrily starts to leave.

"I'm just looking out for you!" Liam shouts.
Charlie spins in anger. "You never looked out for me!" he shouts back. He leaves.

In the cave, Jack notices Charlie sweating and shaking and finally realizes what is happening. He asks Charlie how long it has been since his last fix and Charlie says a day and a half. Jack asks why he didn't tell him, saying that he could have done something to help him, but Charlie says he didn't want everyone thinking he was a useless junkie. Jack says he doesn't think Charlie is useless; that Charlie risked his life to help him and that he won't forget it.

Charlie observes that the cave feels like a confession booth. Jack says he never thought of Charlie as religious and Charlie says he was, once. He jokes about confessing but then sees something moving. He discovers it is a moth and watches where it flies up towards the roof. He starts digging in the roof in the area where the moth disappeared.

Outside, everyone is continuing to move rocks despite seeming exhaustion. Michael tells Kate to take a break but she just stares at him and keeps moving rocks.

Charlie continues to dig in the roof. Then, a view from the outside shows his hand break through the surface. He laughs.

Back at the cave entrance, everyone is still moving rocks. Vincent starts barking and Walt yells as Jack and Charlie walk into view. Kate runs to Jack and hugs him while everyone else crowds around. Everyone asks how Jack and Charlie freed themselves and Jack gives all the credit to Charlie. Everyone crowds around Charlie and congratulates him.

Somewhere in the jungle, Sayid looks at his watch, mutters a quick prayer and launches his rocket.

On the beach, Shannon is talking with another survivor when someone points out the rocket. Shannon curses and quickly launches her own rocket.

Sayid sees the rocket from the beach then turns towards the third rocket. There is a pause, then he sees it launch as well. He turns on the transceiver and watches the display as it acquires a signal.

He is so engrossed in the display that he fails to notice someone come up behind him. The unseen person hits him in the back of the head and he collapses, unconscious.

At the caves, Jack and Charlie are sitting side by side. Charlie is sweating and shivering. Hurley brings some water and asks what is wrong. Before he can say anything, Jack says he has the flu. Hurley expresses sympathy and leaves. Charlie thanks Jack then, saying he needs to stretch his legs, gets up and leaves.

Walt has been exploring the caves and asks Michael if they can stay there. Michael turns to look at Sun, who looks back with some concern.

Kate arrives and puts a sling around Jack's arm. She jokes with Jack about the "safe" caves and he says Michael has checked them out and the rest of them are sound. He asks if she is staying and she says no, she is going back to the beach. Hopefully Sayid was able to locate the transmitter, which would mean they are closer to being rescued.

Charlie approaches Locke, who is still roasting the boar. He asks Locke for his drugs. Locke looks at him and points out that this is the third time he has asked. Charlie just tells him to give them to him.

Locke hesitates for a moment, then does. Charlie looks at the small bag for a moment, then throws it into the fire.

Locke smiles. "I'm proud of you, Charlie. I always knew you could do it."

Charlie stares at the fire for a moment, then suddenly looks upwards. Overhead, a moth is flying upwards into the night. Locke looks to see what Charlie is looking at and the two smile as the moth flies away into the night.