The Tail Section

Season 1 Episode 12
Title: Whatever the Case May Be
Director: Jack Bender
Writer: Damon Lindelof, Jennifer Johnson
Flashback: Kate

Synopsis:

Once again, we find that Kate is up a tree. This time she is collecting fruit. Once she gets back down to the ground, she picks up some remaining items and she hears a twig snap. It’s close. She freezes like a deer warned by a sound or a smell. She makes her way again, alert to her surroundings. Another rustle in leaves and twigs snap. She reaches down grabs a rock and hurls it in the direction of the sound. It thuds against something… we hear, "Son of a Bi…"

Kate has stalker by the name of Sawyer, who like many stalkers, claim he’s following her for her "protection." If he only knew.

They continue their playful, verbal ping-pong when Kate hears another sound. First like a bird, then the sound of rushing water. Sawyer at first doesn’t hear it, but as they draw closer the sound is distinct. It is a waterfall. They both decide to relax from their concerns and take a swim. Upon diving deep into the pool below, they encounter two people still strapped in their seats ravaged by a couple of weeks of decay.

Sawyer, like the human vulture he is, goes back to collect their belongings. As they dive down, Kate sees a case under the seat. She appears agitated by it and insists they get it.

On the beach, the tide shifts and quickly rises as if unnaturally. They acknowledge that very soon the fuselage will be washed away to parts unknown. Claire is prominent on people thoughts and Jack uses Charlie’s grief as leverage to Sayid to begin deciphering Rousseau’s maps and notes.

Boone comes back to the beach. For the last 4 days, he and Locke have been going out early in the morning and returning late at night. Boone snidely chastises Shannon for being productive. And, she pops off asking if Boone has found a new boyfriend.

Back in the Jungle, Kate and Sawyer are at a campfire, and Kate stares intently at the case as Sawyer carries it away.

Flashback (finally)

At a New Mexico Bank, Mark Hutton is in the process of approving a loan for a Ms. Ryan (Kate), when men with ski masks rush into the bank with guns drawn.

Island

Kate try to take the case from a sleeping Sawyer. This never works, he is obviously going to place her in a compromising position.

Back on the Beach, Shannon is tanning again. At least we know from Sayid that we are close to the equator. Sayid asks Shannon for help translating the notes.

Sawyer tries to pick the lock of the case at his make-shift bungalow which draws the jeers and heckles of Michael and Hurley. Apparently, you can’t pick the lock of a halliburton case. So, Michael suggests impact velocity as a solution. Try the axe.

In the jungle, Boone brings Locke the axe. Locke makes sure that Boone was not followed.

Back on the beach, Rose gets Charlie out of his funk and coerces him to help her move part some items to the second beach camp. He surprised at her directness and agrees to help.

Sawyer beats the case against everything hard he can find. He climbs a tree and drops it. This time, Kate was doing the following and she grabs the case and runs off. Sawyer quickly gets down and pursues (a them in Kate’s life). He catches up and wrestles the case away from her. He proposes that they trade, he’ll give her the case if she tells him what is in it. She walks away.

FlashBack

One of the customers rushes a robber and his gun slides to Kate. She picks it up but doesn’t know what to do with it. THe lead robber grabs the gun an takes her to the back, where they kiss passionately.

Beach

Shannon is translating the notes, but not well. She tells Sayid that she learned French from one of her boyfriends. It was sweet exchange where Shannon actually smiles.

In the Caves, Sun is potting herbs that will help with headaches. Kate interrupts and tells Jack we have a problem. (Kate is wearing Dark clothes in this episode.) She reveals that the case is the marshal’s and has gun’s in it. Sawyer has the case, but the key is in the marshal’s wallet. Jack asks what else is in the case? And agrees to help if they open it together.

Charlie and Rose talk a little more. This time, he opens up saying that maybe he shoul have died in the jungle.

Jack and Kate go to the spot where the marshal is buried. She asked Jack why he didn’t burn him with the others and it was because he "had" to bury him.

FlashBack

After the Kiss, Maggie (Kate), tells pretty robber boy to hit her. He does and they come out of the back where he handles her roughly. To coerce the Bank Manager to open the vault, the robber holds the gun to on Kate and threatens to kill her. THe manager breaks down and agrees to help.

Burial Site

Jack and Kate did down to the body. Yes, he is dead and the smell confirms it. Kate gets the wallet and palms the key. Jack can’t find the key, but is on to Kate and opens her palm.

At the beach, Shannon is saying, "the sea of…" It is taking awhile for her to translate and Sayid is getting impatient. Shannon leaves to go join her private party of self pity.

Jack gets the case from Sawyer, this time by using the antibiotics as a bargaining chip. Sawyer warns Jack that Kate is lying.

FlashBack

It is revealed to the banker that Maggie (Kate) was the one that setup and executed the bank robbery. It is obvious that banker will be killed by the robbers now that he has taken off his ski mask in front of him. Kate quickly draws the gun from another robber and holds it on him. Kate quickly shoots all of the robbers, not killing them, just winging them. And she convinces the Mr. Hutton to open box 815. In it is an envelope. The whole robbery was for that one envelope.

Island:

Kate and Jack open the case. He gives her the envelope which has a toy plane inside. Jack confused asks why all the trouble for a toy. She admits it belonged to someone she loved and killed.

Sunset on the beach as they have moved to higher ground. Rose tells Charlie that she has confidence/faith that Bernard is sill alive, even though he was in the tailsection when the plane went down. Charlie breaks down because of the strength of her faith. She can only pray for him.

Shannon goes to Sayid and begins to explain why the words were familiar. It was from a poem La Mer. In the French dubbed version of Finding Nemo, it was sung at the end of the movie which her boyfriends child watched over and over. She begins to sing to Sayid the song, and we focus in on a Boone sneering at the two behind the trees.

Final shot, Kate flying the plane while being warmed by the signal fire.