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Season 1: Episode 7 - 'The Math'
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We open on the eye of a
guitar and pan up to find Charlie, struggling to play the chords that
once came easily. He's going through the initial stages of withdrawal
-sweating, nervous and agitated. Locke encourages him to take a walk,
but Charlie refuses.
Meanwhile, Jack tries in vain to convince Kate to come to the caves
and Sawyer moves into the infirmary tent on the beach.
Charlie walks through the woods, hears what he thinks might be the
monster and runs. We FLASHBACK to a confessional booth, where Charlie
confesses to giving in to the temptations that come with his rock-star
lifestyle. On the advice of the priest, Charlie considers quitting the
band, until his brother Liam delivers news that they've been signed to
a recording contract.
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Back in real time, it turns out
that Locke was using Charlie as bait to catch a boar. Fed up, Charlie demands
his drugs back. Locke explains that he's going to let Charlie ask three times
and that on the third time, he's going to let him have the drugs back—this
was the first. Charlie begs Locke to throw the drugs away, but Locke reasons
that would take away his choice, the only thing that separates us from the
animals.
Back on the beach, Sayid tells Kate about his plan to triangulate the French
broadcast -they'll set up three antennae and signal one another with bottle
rockets as to when to turn them on. However, he needs a battery for the
transceiver. Kate goes to Sawyer, knowing full well he has been hoarding
stuff, and attempts to persuade him into contributing a battery. Kate claims
to understand Sawyer—he has nothing and no one to return to, which is why he
acts so selfishly. She says that she pities him. In an act of defiance, Sawyer
gives up the battery.
Jack and Hurley continue to move bags from the beach to the caves. Charlie
offers his help, but only gets in the way. When one of the bags pops open,
Charlie spots some pill bottles and considers pocketing one. Jack catches him
in the act. Charlie claims he has a "headache", but Jack tells him
Diazepam is a little strong for a headache and dismisses him. Charlie returns
to his guitar and we launch into another FLASHBACK, where Liam attempts to
talk Charlie into staying with the band—tempting him with fame & fortune
and appealing to his ego. Liam promises to look out for him and Charlie agrees
so long as Liam promises they can walk away if things get too crazy.
At the caves, Hurley asks Charlie to move his guitar to make room for
supplies. This pushes Charlie over the edge and he confronts Jack, going on an
irrational rant. Suddenly, the cave walls begin to collapse, sending rocks and
dirt everywhere. While Charlie escapes, Jack is trapped inside!
Kate & Sayid trek through the jungle to set the antennae and talk about
fate, while Charlie runs to the beach to gather help. Boone leaves Shannon
with the responsibility of firing off his bottle rocket and powering up his
antenna. Sawyer volunteers to go tell Kate what happened to Jack, leaving
Charlie behind. We FLASHBACK to the heyday of Drive Shaft. Charlie is up on
stage next to Liam, enjoying the throngs of screaming fans. But as they launch
into their hit song, "Y'all Everybody" Liam takes the chorus and
sings it himself. Backstage, Charlie confronts his brother for singing his
part. Liam claims that he was just caught up in the moment and dismisses
Charlie, who stands by watching as his older brother takes a film canister
from a girl and pulls out a familiar bag of brown powder. Liam throws Charlie
a wink and a smile, before retreating to do the drugs.
Back in real time, everyone works together to clear the rocks from the mouth
of the cave. When Michael arrives, he puts his eight years of construction
experience into action and halts the work until he can figure out a good place
to dig based on stability.
Out in the jungle, Sawyer intercepts Kate & Sayid to deliver news of Jack.
But Kate's harsh comments cause Sawyer to have a change of heart and he
decides to withhold the information and invite himself along on their mission.
As Locke works to skin another boar, Charlie approaches and tells him about
the situation with Jack. But Locke knows the real reason Charlie came out into
the jungle — he wants his stash. Locke shows Charlie a cocoon, where a moth
struggles to emerge. He explains that he could help it out, but it would be
too weak to survive—the struggle is nature's way of strengthening it. And
off that nugget of wisdom, Locke reminds Charlie that if he asks again, the
drugs will be his.
At the caves, Michael tunnels through to where Jack is able to hear their
calls. Jack tells them he's pinned down and unable to move. Michael informs
the group that someone small will have to go in after Jack. Charlie emerges
from the woods and volunteers.
Back in the jungle, Sayid, Kate and Sawyer stop to place the second antenna.
Sayid instructs Kate to watch for his bottle rocket at 5 o'clock, then sets
out on his own, leaving Kate and Sawyer together. Sawyer attempts to suss out
what Kate sees in Jack. Kate tells Sawyer he doesn't hold a candle to Jack,
which leads Sawyer to reveal that Jack is probably dead.
Charlie crawls through the small tunnel towards Jack. In his FLASHBACK, he
tunnels his way through the crowd backstage. Charlie finds Liam drinking and
drugging with some groupies and berates Liam for missing sound check again and
getting high before another show. While Liam takes it all very lightly,
Charlie threatens to cancel the rest of the tour, claiming that things have
gotten out of control and that it's time to walk away, as they agreed. Charlie
tells Liam that he's destroying Drive Shaft, but Liam's ego has grown out of
control—he thinks he is Drive Shaft. Liam tells Charlie he's nothing without
the band and leaves him behind. Devastated, Charlie picks up one of the film
canisters and empties its contents into his hands. He stares at it, tears
welling up in his eyes as he contemplates taking them himself…
Halfway through the tunnel, the walls begin to collapse behind Charlie. He
makes it to Jack, but now they're both trapped inside. Charlie unpins Jacks
arm from under a rock and fixes his dislocated shoulder before we go into
another FLASHBACK—
—to a suburban house in Australia. Charlie knocks on the door and a
clean-cut Liam answers it. Charlie delivers news that he's lined up a gig for
Drive Shaft as an opening act in L.A. Charlie wants a revival—needs a
revival. But Liam is settled and likes his new life—he has a wife and child
now. When Charlie takes off his sunglasses, Liam realizes that he's using
again. Liam offers to get him some help and invites him to stay, but Charlie
storms out and heads for the fateful flight back to Los Angeles.
Outside the cave, the group has nearly given up hope until Kate arrives and
insists on continuing the rescue effort. Inside, Jack is quick to recognize
signs of Charlie's withdrawal and tells him he'll help him though it, if they
ever make it out—they're using up oxygen—FAST. But Charlie notices a moth
flying around inside the cave and he follows it to a shaft of light where he
begins digging for fresh air—
—as Kate and the others dig on the other side. Charlie and Jack break
through the surface and stumble back into camp. Kate turns, relieved to see
Jack alive and runs into his arms. Jack credits Charlie for getting them out.
Meanwhile, Sayid prepares to turn on his antenna and sets off his bottle
rocket. Shannon miraculously holds up her end of the bargain from the beach
and the third rocket is launched from Kate's position. Sayid turns on the
antenna, about to receive the signal, when he's suddenly conked on the head
with a log—someone or something doesn't want them to get off the island.
That night at the caves, Charlie goes to Locke and asks for his drugs. This is
the third request and Locke sticks to his word, surrendering the little bag to
Charlie. But Charlie unexpectantly tosses the bag into the fire. Locke tells
Charlie he's proud of him and knew he could do it. Charlie watches as a moth
dances over the fire, finally free of his addiction. |
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Information
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