The Tail Section

Season 1 Episode 10
Title: Raised by Another
Director: Marita Grabiak
Writer: Lynne E. Litt
Flashback: Claire

This episode starts darkly and ends ominously. We are confronted head-on with the knowledge that there are forces off the island that have directed certain people to this doomed flight. Whether it be a supernatural determinism or a cleverly conceived conspiracy, it is unmistakable that some people are guided to the flight. We are also formally introduced to "an other."

Synopsis

Claire wakes in the familiar eye opening sequence. However, she wakes to a nightmare. She hears a baby crying, and realizes she’s no longer pregnant. Searching for her child through the jungle she runs across Locke sitting at Richard Malkin’s table drawing cards, possibly Tarot. He is also illuminated by the lamp that Richard used in his readings. When he draws a card it strangely sounds like drawing a knife from a sheathe. He tells her that she is responsible, and he says, "everyone pays the price now." He looks up revealing one black eye, and one white eye.

She hears the baby and continue to search for it. She finally runs across a crib with an oceanic airlines mobile that begins to move on its own. She reaches in to pull back the blanket and finds a pool of blood. She starts screaming and Charlie runs to her aid trying to wake her up from the walking nightmare She looks down at her hands which are bloody from digging her fingernails in her palms from the terror of the nightmare.

FlashBack

Claire and Thomas find out she is pregnant (about 2 months now), a panicking Thomas doubts the results, but then seems to want to take responsibility for this relationship.

On Island

Kate and Jack are on beach. Kate explains that she is sinking. Standing on the edge of the tide as each wave washes more sand away causing her feet to sink in the sand. Jack tells her that Sayid would be proud of her new plan to get off the island. Jack expresses confidence that something tells him that Sayid will be okay.

There is always time for tea. Charlie brings Claire a cup of tea for a quiet moment. Charlie expresses that they could be friends, to which she does not know what to say. In that awkward moment, Charlie does the gentlemanly thing and retreats.

Flashback

Claire and her friend Rachel visit Richard Malkin at Rachel’s urging. Mr. Malkin takes the money and begins the reading. He confirms that she is pregnant, and then something happens… something abrupt and unexpected. He stops the reading, returns her money and asks her to leave.

On Island

Claire is sleeping when some one puts a hand over her mouth. There are flashes of instruments and brightness, then she awakes screaming that someone attacked her. The cave dwellers immediately fan out to find the culprit while Jack instructs Ethan to go after water. Hurley and Jack then have a meaningful conversation about the need to take a census. An inside joke on the set is Hugo doesn’t know who Scott and Steve are.

Flashback

Claire is hanging curtains in Thomas’ apartment when he arrives with groceries, most importantly a 6-pack of beer. He takes one for courage, and breaks it off with Claire. He goes so far to do what many of us do to salve our conscience, blame the other person for the situation by accusing her of not taking the "pill." It is announced that this is three months after finding out that she is pregnant.

On Island

Locke is tanning the boar hide with aloe and sand when Hurley walks up taking his census. We find out that John spent most of life in Tustin, CA. We also find out that what he was looking for in Australia found him. This causes Hurley to strike up a conversation with someone else to get away from Locke.

Jack, Kate and Charlie discuss Claire night terrors. Jack shows concern for her level of stress making the inference that all of this is in her head. Charlie storms off in disapproval.

Hurley continues his census meeting Ethan, who has obviously taken basket weaving. We learn that there is a Lance, and Hurley confused him with Ethan. Ethan obliges by telling Hurley that he is Ethan Rom from Ontario. Ethan is curious as to why they are making a list.

Jack returns to the caves trying to convince Claire to take a sedative, to which she storms out upset with the lack of trust.

Flashback

Claire returns to Mr. Malkin’s house for another reading. As he reads, he tells her that her goodness has to be an influence on this child. She is not to allow the baby to be raised by another and that danger surrounds this baby. She only wanted to know what family would give the baby the happiest life, not that she should be responsible.

almost Four months later Mr. Malkin calls in the middle of the night, this time to tell her that he has a plan. And he pleads for her to reconsider going to adoptive services. To which, she hangs up.

On Island

Charlie catches up to Claire and uses well placed sarcasm to try and convince her to come back to the caves.

Hurley continuing his census with Shannon and Boone. Hurley lets it slip that Claire was attacked to which Shannon exclaims that she is so not going to the "rape caves." Boone helps Hurley by telling him that Sawyer has the manifest.

Hurley convinces Sawyer with his wit and reason that he should give him the manifest because he could use the points.

Back on the trail with Claire and Charlie… Claire tries to convince Charlie that he is only interested in Claire because he wants to rescue her. Claire begins having contractions and Charlie panics saying ,"If I can kick drugs, I can deliver a baby." To which Claire yells at him to get Jack.

FlashBack

In a lawyer’s office, Claire is ready to sign over the rights to her child to Arlene and Joseph Stewart. Both pens that the lawyer gives Claire do not write, which she takes as a message to consider Mr. Malkin’s offer.

On Island

Charlie, running to find Jack, finds Ethan gathering wood and instructs him to get Jack because Claire is in labor. Ethan appears to run for the caves. Charlie returns to Claire’s side where she tells him about the Psychic.

Flashback

Mr. Malkin has a plane ticket and $6000 for Claire to fly to Los Angeles the next day to meet adoptive parents for her child. Mr. Malkin assures her that these are good people.

On Island

Charlie supposes that maybe he was a psychic and knew that this was the only way that Claire would raise the child by herself. The conversation happens while the previous Flashback continues with Malkin telling her that she has to be on Flight 815. Claire realizes that Mr. Malkin that crash would happen and caused her to be on that flight. The contractions stop and they start heading back.

Sayid runs to the caves to tell Jack, Kate and Locke that they are not alone on the island.

Along the path, Charlie and Claire share a baby kick.

Hurley runs in while Jack is attending to Sayid and tells him that one of the people he interviewed is not on the manifest.

Charlie and Claire run into Ethan who did not go after Jack. Claire and Charlie realize that the silent Ethan has another purpose.