1.15 - Homecoming

Claire returns, with no memories of anything since boarding the ill-fated flight. Ethan threatens to kill the survivors one-by-one until Claire is returned and Jack must decide how to best protect everyone.

Who is he?
Ethan? Ethan's the bad guy. --- Claire Littleton, Charlie Pace

Well, Charlie, I think my lovely daughter would agree that you're the most impressive person who's ever had dinner with us.
My condolences, sir. --- Frank Heatherton, Charlie Pace

Why did you do it, Charlie?
Because he deserved to die. --- Jack Shepherd, Charlie Pace

There is much commotion in the caves as Boone and Locke bring an unconscious Claire to Jack. Charlie rushes to her side as other Lostaways crowd around.

Jack is examining Claire when she suddenly regains consciousness and, with a cry, backs away from him. It is quickly learned that Claire does not remember who any of them are; the last she remembers is being on the flight from Sydney to Los Angeles. Jack explains that all of them were on the flight; that it crashed on the island a month ago and they are the only survivors. Claire, now scared, asks why no one has come for them. No one has an answer.

Boone asks Locke what happened and Locke points out that Boone was with him when they found Claire so Boone knows as much as he does. Boone wonders if Ethan is around and Locke says he hopes he isn't.

Jin asks Sun what is happening and Sun says she doesn't know. He asks if Claire is all right and Sun says she thinks that she is. He then asks if the baby is all right and Sun says that she thinks it is all right too.

Charlie leads Claire to her sleeping area and gives her diary to her saying that it might help. He tells her that he was with her when she was kidnapped and that Ethan took both of them. He says that the others found him but not her. She asks if they were friends and he says that they were.

Flashback: Charlie and Tommy are on a street somewhere, both doing a shot of heroin. Tommy comments that they are low on money and asks Charlie if he is ready to "fall in love".

They go to a bar where Tommy points out several young woman, among them Lucy Heatherton. Tommy says that Lucy's father is wealthy and that Lucy herself is apparently a Driveshaft fan.

A bit later, Tommy has just started playing "You All, Everybody" on the jukebox. Charlie is at a table with all three women and joking about how he is not going to let them get him drunk and take advantage of him. All of them seem to be having a good time.

Charlie, Jack and Sayid are at the beach and discussing Claire. Sayid is suspicious of the fact that Claire was able to escape from Ethan and suggests that maybe Ethan sent her back for some reason. Jack says that her amnesia may be a result of stress and Sayid asks him if he has ever seen genuine amnesia of this type. Jack admits that he has not.

Charlie gets angry that Sayid does not trust Claire and leaves. He encounters Jin heading back towards the caves and starts walking with him, commenting that there is safety in numbers. Jin of course does not say anything but Charlie continues to talk, saying how nice it must be for him to not have to worry about all the problems on the island and to just take care of his wife.

The two hear a strange whirring noise and both stop. A rock flies from the bushes and hits Jin in the head, knocking him out. Charlie turns and is confronted by Ethan. Ethan grabs Charlie and says that if they do not return Claire to him, then he will kill one of the survivors every day until they do. He also says that he will be sure to kill Charlie last.

Later, Charlie, Jack and Locke are talking about Ethan's threat. Charlie wants to go hunt for Ethan and Jack seems to agree but Locke is opposed to the plan. He points out that the last time they went after Ethan Jack was beaten up and Charlie was hung from a tree. He thinks they should just tell a few people about the threat and to post guards.

Jack opposes telling just a few people and wants to tell everyone. He also wants to move everyone to the caves. Locke opposes this, suggesting that Ethan may not be alone and that he may simply want to get everyone together in a confined space. Jack says that Locke obviously has a plan in mind and asks what it is.

Back at the caves, Sun is tending to Jin's wound. She asks him if he knows what is going on and he frustratedly asks how he would know. Sun suggests that maybe the others would know and Jin angrily says that he was attacked because of something they did.

Elsewhere, Claire encounters Charlie and asks him what is going on. Charlie, somewhat unconvincingly, claims that nothing is going on. Claire says that she feels as if everyone is avoiding her. Charlie asks if she is remembering anything and she says she is not. She puts her diary away and says that maybe some things are best forgotten.

Flashback: Charlie has walked Lucy home from their first date. She invites him in for tea and Charlie asks if she really means tea or if she has something else in mind. She offers him some tea.

They go inside and while Lucy is making tea Charlie looks around and sees an ornate cigarette case. Lucy appears and says that it belonged to Winston Churchill and says that her father is a collector. She asks Charlie if he wants to meet her father, who she says was quite excited to discover that she was dating a genuine rock star. Charlie says he would.

Kate finds Jack sharpening a knife and says that Locke has told everyone about Ethan's threat. She reminds him of the guns in the Marshal's case but Jack says that he doesn't want to hand out guns to everyone. He is afraid that someone will hear something and shoot one of their own people by mistake. Kate says that she thinks they are beyond the point of knives.

Elsewhere, Boone is demonstrating a tripwire setup that sets off an alarm. Locke says that he has similar devices set up all around the camp. Sayid approves and says that he has a number of volunteers for guard duty and is assigning them to rotating shifts. Boone says that he wants to volunteer and Sayid accepts.

Back at the caves, Charlie finds Jack and says that he wants to move Claire, perhaps to another cave. Jack says that Claire is safer where she is. Charlie protests that no one is safe.

Jack is taken aback by Charlie's outburst and Charlie admits that he feels responsible for what happened to Claire. He says that he should have been able to protect her and he couldn't. Jack repeats that Claire will be safe.

Flashback: Charlie is at dinner with Lucy and her father, Frank Heatherton. Frank seems to be happy that his daughter is dating Charlie and reveals that he was once in a band too. Charlie asks what happened and Lucy jokes that the band was awful. Her father laughs then says that he had gotten married and Lucy was on the way and he felt that he had to be able to provide for his family and start thinking about the future. He then asks Charlie if he is working on a new album.

Charlie hesitates then says that he doesn't know. He mentions that his brother has just had a daughter but that the two of them don't talk much anymore then says that there is a problem with their royalties. He says he has thought about trying to do a solo album but admits that Driveshaft may be over.

Later, Charlie is in a bar with Tommy. Tommy is angry that Charlie hasn't stolen anything from the Heathertons for him to sell yet. He points out that Charlie has been using his heroin for a week without paying him.

Charlie says that he has gotten a job. Tommy is surprised and asks why. Charlie says that he is going to be selling copiers for Frank Heatherton and that he needs to start thinking about his future. Tommy says that he should think about the fact that he isn't getting any more drugs until he pays him and wonders how well Charlie will do at his new job when he hasn't had a fix in a few days.

It is night on the island and several people are standing guard, including Boone, Locke and Sayid. Boone seems to doze off. Suddenly, one of the alarms goes off. Boone jerks awake. It is now daylight. Boone rushes towards the sound but trips and falls. Vincent comes trotting up and licks his face.

Locke and Sayid come running up and see what has happened. Sayid comments that they have found another missing castaway. Further comments are cut off by a scream from the beach. Everyone rushes towards the sound to find a woman staring at a body.

Later, Charlie, Kate and Hurley are talking. Charlie wonders how Ethan got past the guards and Kate says that Locke was able to determine that Ethan came from the ocean. Hurley asks if they are sure that it was Ethan and suggests that he may have drowned. Kate says that his neck was broken, as were both of his arms and all of his fingers. Hurley cuts her off before she can continue.

Sawyer arrives and makes the comment that Steve drew the short straw. Hurley corrects him, saying that it was Scott who was killed.

Later, several people are standing around as Scott is buried. Hurley tries to say a few words then apologizes for always calling him Steve.

At the caves, Claire notices several people staring at her. She confronts Shannon, who at first denies staring. When Claire insists that she was and asks what is going on, Shannon asks if no one has told her what happened.

Later, an angry Claire confronts Charlie and demands to know why he didn't tell her what was going on. Charlie tries to defend himself by saying that he was trying to take care of her. Claire angrily says that she can take care of herself.

Flashback: Charlie, sweating and looking ill-at-ease, is wearing a suit and tie. Lucy is telling him that he looks great and asks if he is all right. Charlie says he is nervous and says that she didn't need to buy him a suit. She says that he had to look the part and asks if he has memorized the manual. She asks him to "say something impressive" and he rattles off a sales pitch for the "Heatherton C815".

Lucy says that if he can stand in front of thousands of screaming fans then he should be able to sell a copy machine to a few men. She says that her father has already set things up so that they will buy the machine to boost his confidence and that she believes in him. She also says that she has something else for him. She leaves the room. While she is gone, Charlie steals the cigarette case.

Lucy returns and gives Charlie a briefcase, saying that he needs it to look respectable. Charlie, looking uncomfortable, says that he needs to go to catch the bus but Lucy insists that he isn't riding the bus; she will drive him herself.

Jack finds Boone and Locke. Boone is sharpening a spear. Jack asks Locke to take a walk with him. Once away from Boone, Jack asks Locke what he thinks will happen that evening. Locke says that if they don't turn Claire over to Ethan then Ethan will kill another one of them.

Jack then asks Locke if he can follow Ethan's trail from where he attacked Charlie and Jin. Locke says that he can but that he won't. He says that the situation is the same as before; if they go into the jungle then they are in Ethan's territory and Ethan has the advantage. Jack says that he has a way to get the advantage back and Locke asks what that might be.

Jack leads Locke to where he has hidden the Halliburton case. Jack opens the case and Locke, with mild surprise, says that Jack has been holding out on them. Jack hands Locke one of the guns and asks if he knows how to use it. Locke expertly examines the gun, indicating that he does.

Later, Jack, Locke and Sayid are at the caves and arguing with Charlie. Charlie is saying that their plan is too dangerous. Sayid says that the only way they will be able to capture Ethan is by setting a trap for him and that to do so they need something to use as bait. Charlie repeats that it is too dangerous.

Claire suddenly appears and tells Charlie that she can talk for herself. She says that she doesn't remember Ethan or what he did to her but that if she can keep him from hurting someone else then she has to help the others with their plan.

Charlie gives in but asks if he can come along, since they have an extra gun. Locke asks Charlie if he has ever used a gun. Charlie's expression drops and Jack starts making plans.

Flashback: Charlie, obviously suffering the effects of withdrawal, is trying to give the sales presentation on the copier but is failing. He tries to demonstrate the copier but can't get it to work. He becomes more and more desperate but things just go from bad to worse and he eventually gets sick and throws up all over the copier.

Jack, Locke and Sayid are reviewing their plan. Locke says that Charlie was right; there are four guns so they should have four people.

A brief time later, the three of them and Kate are standing outside of Sawyer's tent. Sawyer is surprised but Jack asks if he knows how to use a gun. Sawyer reminds them of the polar bear that he shot. Jack reminds him that he also shot the Marshal, and missed. Jack hands Sawyer the fourth gun. Sawyer is surprised and asks Jack where the guns came from. Jack doesn't answer.

Kate indicates that she wants to go along too but Jack says they are out of guns and that he doesn't want anyone along without one. Sawyer asks Jack if he has extra 9mm ammunition then produces the gun that he took from the Marshal. He gives the gun to Kate and the five of them prepare to go. Charlie watches as the five and Claire leave for the jungle.

Later, it is raining. Claire stands alone in the center of a clearing, the other five hidden in the brush around her. Ethan appears and starts towards her and she turns and runs.

Jack runs up behind Ethan and tackles him; his gun flying away. The two fight but Jack is able to get the upper hand and knocks Ethan to the ground. The others come running up as Jack stands up. Ethan starts to stand but finds himself facing several guns. Sawyer demands that he explain what is going on.

Before Ethan can say anything, he is shot several times in the chest. Everyone turns to see Charlie, holding the gun Jack dropped.

Later, Charlie is at the beach, staring at the ocean. Jack arrives and sits down next to him. Jack asks Charlie why he did it and Charlie said it was because Ethan deserved to die. Jack says that Ethan could have told them where he came from and why he wanted Claire. Charlie disagrees, saying that Ethan would not have told them anything and that he would not let Ethan get near Claire again.

Flashback: Charlie arrives at the Heatherton's home and knocks on the door. Lucy, obviously hurt and angry, answers and Charlie says that he wants to explain to her. Lucy cuts him off, saying that she knows that he just pretended to like her in order to steal from them. She says that the EMTs found the cigarette case in Charlie's pocket when they took him to the hospital.

Charlie tries to protest, saying that he didn't mean to do anything but Lucy, now obviously hurt and crying, cuts him off and calls him a liar. She says she knows that he stole the case because he was a junkie, but wants to know why he took the job. Charlie says that it was because he wanted to be able to take care of her. Lucy, sadly, says that Charlie will never be able to take care of anyone and closes the door.

Later, at the caves, Claire comes up to Charlie and says that she remembers peanut butter. She wonders why she remembers peanut butter. Charlie says that it was imaginary peanut butter. Claire thinks a moment then says that she can't remember anything and that she is scared. She then says that she wants to trust Charlie.

"Goodnight, Charlie." she tells him.
"Goodnight, Claire." he replies.

Ethan captured Claire in Raised by Another. She returned at the end of Special.

Jack got access to the Halliburton case of guns in Whatever the Case May Be.

Sawyer shot a polar bear in Pilot (Part 2). The botched mercy killing of the Marshal was in Tabula Rasa.

Charlie and Claire shared imaginary peanut butter in Confidence Man.

Charlie's heroin addiction has come up several times but it was central in House of the Rising Sun and The Moth.