LOST DISCOVERIES

 

LOST:

HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN

Created by: J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof

Story by: Javier Grillo-Marxuach

 

Air date: Wednesday, October 27th, 2004

 

A Day in the Sun

By Vlad

 

A Soulful Spike Society Review

www.soulfulspike.com

 

Synopsis

 

Teaser

Sun’s eye opens. She is holding a flower and observes her husband fishing by hand at great distance. Her attention is drawn to Jack and Kate as they are preparing to go on an expedition for water.

 

Kate prods and pokes and kids Jack about his tattoos. Charley notices and makes light of the fact they seem to be growing closer, even using the words “verbal copulation.” Sun is drawn out of her observance of the expedition by her husband killing a large fish by brutally bashing it against some wreckage.

 

She goes into a flashback: It is a party at an oriental mansion. Sun is laughing with several other guests and then is served champagne by Jin, who is dressed as a waiter. The scene changes to Sun sitting by herself far away from the party and Jin meets her. They are obviously in love. Sun wants to run away with Jin to elope. Jin disagrees, saying that he will talk to her father, get him to agree to their coupling. Sun doesn’t believe it will work, but Jin is confident and gives her a simple flower and they embrace and kiss, lovingly.

 

Sun is brought out of her flashback by Jin crying out angrily and racing down the beach to viciously attack Michael, who has apparently not provoked the attack. He tries to drown Michael in the ocean.

 

Act One

Sawyer and Sayid rush to break up the fight. Jin is definitely intending to hurt, if not kill Michael, but they manage to separate them. Using the handcuffs, they shackle Jin to a large piece of wreckage.

 

The scene changes to the water expedition. Jack shows them the wreckage and the water. Charley says that perhaps the wreckage should be investigated for salvage and heads away on his own. Once out of sight in the jungle, he pulls out the small amount of drugs he has left. Locke appears and tells him not to move. It turns out Charley is standing on a hive of bees. Moving will break the hive, angering the bees. Jack and Kate show up and Locke tells them to get something to seal the bee nest.

 

Back on the beach, Sayid questions Michael about the attack. There is much confusion and anger on the part of Michael, who claims to not know why Jin came after him. Standing next to Jin, Sun points to her wrist and says something in Korean. Sayid says the cuffs remain on until they know why he attacked Michael. Sun looks hapless and goes into a flashback:

 

An anxious Sun is standing on a walking bridge on the same estate as before. She looks at her gold watch A well-dressed Jin walks up to her. She asks Jin what happened. Jin tells her that her father gave permission for them to marry. She is ecstatic. He then tells her that after a year of training management and a year working at the factory that they will have all the money they need. She is not happy at him working for her father. He tells her it’s temporary and then gives her a huge engagement ring, which she says he can’t afford. He says that he can now. Sun takes it, both happy and at the same time obviously troubled. She comes back out of the flashback, looking very distraught.

 

Back at the hive, while Jack is attempting to cover the hole, Charley fidgets and breaks the nest wide open and bees come swarming out. Jack, Charley, Kate and Locke all run off in different directions, being chased by the irate insects. Jack and Kate strip their bee filled clothes as they run, eventually winding up back in the cave that Jack had found with the water. Kate, finally safe, leans against a ledge in the cave and is startled by finding the ancient remains of a body.

 

Act Two

Jack comes over and examines the two bodies. He doesn’t think they died of brutal cause. He guesses that they may be 40-50 year old remains, judging by the decomposition of their clothing. Jack finds two polished stones, one white and one black in a pouch on one of the corpses. Locke and Charley show up. When Locke questions, “Who are these men,” Jack informs them that one was a female. Locke then dubs them Adam and Eve.

 

Back on the beach, Sun attends to the chaffed wrist of Jin. While doing so she has a flashback to her former life: She walks into a moderate apartment and finds a puppy in a box, an obvious gift. Jin, in a business suit with his jacket off tells her that it will keep her company since he is working such long hours and that she will have to train it and take care of it. When she asks him if he remembers when all he had to give her was a simple flower, his cell phone rings. It’s her father and he has business which Jin needs to attend. The flashback ends.

 

Back at the cave, Locke says that he will stay and help Charley go through the wreckage while Kate and Jack return with the water. Jack theorizes that they should bring the people to the caves to live, instead of living on the beach. Kate says nothing but looks thoughtful.

 

At the ocean, Michael catches Walt watching the Koreans. The father accuses the couple of talking to Walt and storms away with the boy in tow. As they walk away, Walt questions Michael about why “they” don’t like them, which results in the two of them talking about the fact that neither knows much about each other, including Walt not knowing his father’s birthday.

 

Back at the wreckage, Sun tries to get Jin to let her go explain his actions. He questions how she would explain and then says that they will not explain themselves to a thief. This causes Sun to have another flashback: It’s late and Jin comes into their apartment and rushes to the bathroom. There he washes much blood from his hands. At first she is concerned he is hurt but then realizes the blood is not his. He only tells her he was working. She asks what it is he does for her father. He doesn’t reply, frustrating her until finally she slaps him. He stares at her without retaliation and says “I do whatever your father tells me. I do it for us.”

 

Act Three

Jack and Kate are making the long walk back to the wreckage on the beach. Kate stops to tie her boot. She sees Jack watching her and asks with a laugh if he is checking her out. He jokes it off and she gets him to reveal what was on his mind, which to her apparent disappointment is more on the caves and how to fix them up than her. He then says he is going to need her help convincing the people to move. She says with a laugh that he hasn’t convinced her yet.

 

Back at the cave, Locke stops Charley from going off on his own. The musician claims he is going to the bathroom. Locke changes the subject, saying he knows who he is, the bassist from Driveshaft. Turns out that Locke is a fan. They discuss Charley’s missing guitar. Locke tells Charley that he will see the guitar again; that he has faith.

 

Near the beach camp, Kate and Jack run into Sayid chopping wood. Sayid tells them about the issue with Michael and Jin and how he is going to interrogate the Koreans to find out the truth. Jack asks if Sayid has it under control and then announces his plan to move everyone to the caves. Sayid is vehemently against this, telling Jack that he is deciding for all. Sayid believes they need to stay on the beach and keep the signal fire burning, that it’s their only hope for rescue. Kate mildly argues in Jack’s favor that it is the only source of fresh water they have found. Sayid stands and walks away saying he refuses to admit defeat.

 

We return to the beach where Sayid and Jack privately go about drumming up support for their two different groups. Sayid gains Michael’s support; Jack has Hurley’s vote. Sawyer comes up to Kate and asks her where she is going. He reiterates the differences between the two plans without saying one or the other is right. She asks him where he is going. He gives her a grin and says that he asked first.

 

We cut to Sun watching Michael chopping wood in seclusion. As she watches, she has another flashback: Sun is talking secretly in the Koreans’ apartment to a women. It soon becomes evident that Sun is planning on running away from Jin and her father and this woman is secretly facilitating it. She has made arrangements for Sun and asks if she had completed her lessons. Sue affirms this. She tells Sun that once she is gone, there will be no going back and that she is to take nothing with her. She explains that Sun is to make an excuse to leave Jin’s side at the airport and then disappear, that there will be a car waiting to take her away at 11:15 Sun comes back out of her flash back and walks up to Michael. He is unhappy to see her. She then tells him the she needs to talk to him… in English.

 

Act Four

Michael is astonished. He asks why she didn’t say anything before. She says that her husband doesn’t know she can speak the language. She tells him that Jin has a bad temper. She then goes on to tell him that Jin was upset over the watch that Michael is wearing. Michael explains he found it on the beach two days before. She tells him that her father gave it to her husband and he feels honor bound to protect it. She then asks Michael for his help.

 

Back at the caves, Locke asks Charley for his drugs. He tells him that he should give it up before he runs out, so that it will be his choice. Charley seems unconvinced. Then Locke asks him which he values more, his guitar or his drugs. Having got Charley’s attention he says, “What I know is this island might give you what you are looking for, but you have to give the island something.” Charley reaches into his pocket and hesitantly pulls out his package of heroin and hands it to Locke. Locke then tells him to look up. Above them, on a vertical cliff, lays Charley’s guitar case among some other debris. It looks undamaged.

 

Back at camp, Jack asks Kate if she is ready to go. She sits staring out at the ocean and tells him that she isn’t going, that she doesn’t want to be Eve. He tells her that she doesn’t have to be. He says that someone else can stay and keep the fires going, that it doesn’t have to be her. She still negates going. He is confused and asks her how she got to be this way. She tells him that he had his chance to know, referring back to when she volunteered telling him about herself on the beach. Frustrated, Jack leaves, telling her gently that if she needs him, she knows where to find him. As he walks away she says to herself, “You know where to find me, too.”

 

We then find Michael approaching Jin, who is still handcuffed to the wreckage, with the fire axe. He explains to an uncomprehending Jin where the watch came from and takes it off, tossing it at him. He then warns him to stay away from him and his kid and viciously chops the chain on the handcuffs in two, freeing Jin. Sun stands at a distance watching. She then has a flash back:

 

She is standing in the airport, while Jin is waiting in line. It is 11:15 and she is trying to gather her resolve to leave him and sees the car outside waiting for her. Her husband looks at her from a distance and smiles, unaware of her intentions. He holds up a flower very like the one that he gave her in the first flashback, before they were married. She starts crying silently and rejoins her husband in line, forgoing her escape.

 

Act Five

Jack leads a group of people to the caves. It seems Hurley, the Koreans, Charley and Locke are all going to be there along with others. Hurley plays a song by Willy Nelson on his Walkman, the lyrics asking the question “Are you sure that this is where you want to be?” Charley plays his guitar.

 

Back on the beach, we see the other castaways, including Kate, Sayid, Sawyer, Michael and Walt all sitting around the signal fire. Walt asks his father about his father’s birth date. Michael smiles and the two share a moment of masculine hugs and laughter. At their respective camps, both Jack and Kate stare into the flames, each looking forlorn.

 

Going against the “House”

 

There is a house in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun.
It's been the ruin of many a poor girl, and me, O God, for one.

 

If I had listened what Mamma said, I'd 'a' been at home today.
Being so young and foolish, poor boy, let a rambler lead me astray.

 

Go tell my baby sister never do like I have done.
To shun that house in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun.

– House of the Rising Sun, Traditional lyrics

The traditional version of House of the Rising Sun is not about a boy’s experience, but a girl’s; that of a prostitute. This is an interesting correlation, because, as we find out, Sun’s original inclination, to run away with Jin to America, may have indeed been the right one. Instead, she allowed his drive to capture them both into a life that she doesn’t want. But, she took the easy path allowing herself to be swayed with promises that it would be all right in the end, that “it’s only temporary and soon they would “have all the money they need.” That sounds very much like the argument that most prostitutes make to themselves when they get involved in the business. Jin at first seems to be the one taking the harder route, by sticking to formality, asking for her hand in marriage and facing her evidently odious father. But, as time goes by, it seems that sometimes doing what is expected of you is not always the correct path to take. Had they been willing to shun tradition and eschew family, then their lives would have perhaps been much different and happier. When you start off in a house of prostitution, or in this case the house of Korean mafia, then perhaps the best thing you can do is go astray. Sun realizes this and makes the hard decision to leave everything she has, her family, her husband, her wealth, and go off alone. The fact that a strange new place, with a new language and customs is preferable over what she has is very telling of her unhappiness.

 

_______________________

 

My mother she's a tailor; she sold those new blue jeans.
My sweetheart, he's a drunkard, Lord, Lord, drinks down in New Orleans.

 

The only thing a drunkard needs is a suitcase and a trunk.
The only time he's satisfied is when he's on a drunk.

– House of the Rising Sun, Traditional lyrics

Jin is indeed a drunkard. Originally drawn to Sun by his love, he gets caught up in “success,” believing that he has to work harder and harder and do wrong and distasteful things to keep her nearby. Ironically, the harder he works to have the thing he wants(Sun), the farther he drifts from her, losing sight of his original plan. He looks about at their growing opulence and believes it to be right. But he sees the dissatisfaction in Sun. That is why he buys her the puppy, to try to make her happy and give her companionship. But Sun doesn’t want that from a dog, she wants it from her husband. She never asked for the things he is doing “for them.” She originally wanted Jin and only Jin and was willing to run away in disgrace of her family to have him. But the harder Jin works and stays away, the easier it is for him to believe what he is doing is right. It is obvious that while he loves his wife, he doesn’t know her.

 

There is an interesting juxtaposition here with Sun and Jin as compared to Kate and Jack. Kate is obviously interested in Jack and is so obvious about it that others notice, such as Hurley, Charley and even Sawyer. She flirts with him in the jungle, only to be taken for granted and dismissed while Jack ponders his grandiose plans of relocating to the caves. It seems that Kate isn’t thrilled with this idea from the start, but goes along with Jack, tentatively backing him up in the argument with Sayid. She has no other reason to do this than Jack himself, her desire to be with him. But, after her talk with Sawyer, who lays the cards out on the table for her to make her own decision, she chooses what she thinks is best: her original feeling that staying on the beach is a better idea. As much as it’s apparent she would love to follow Jack, she instead does what she feels is best for her. I disagree with her plan, but understand it. Jack, for his part, is as bad as Jin, making assumptions about what has to be done without listening to others’ input. Sayid made some good points and a good leader would have tried to come up with a compromise that was more beneficial to everyone.

 

_______________________

 

 

Fills his glasses to the brim, passes them around.
Only pleasure he gets out of life is hoboin' from town to town.

- House of the Rising Sun, Traditional lyrics

Some people don’t have real choices to make, however, but can only choose how to deal with where life has left them. Charley is going to run out of drugs. There’s no hope that he is going to find more. How he deals with the fact that he is going to run out is his choice, however. He can choose to be strong and face it on his terms or he can simply allow it to hit him upside the head. Regardless, this time he cannot just run away from his problem. He has, seemingly, a friend in Locke, a man that stayed behind to help him deal, rather than expose his secret to Jack or the group. Locke believes in personal strength and facing your fears. I am sure that he would let Charley lean a bit on him, to help him through it. It seems that Charley’s days of denial and running from his problems are finally at an end. It’s going to be interesting to see how he manages.

 

_______________________

 

 

One foot is on the platform and the other one on the train.
I'm going back to New Orleans to wear that ball and chain.

 

Going back to New Orleans, my race is almost run.
Going back to spend the rest of my days beneath that Rising Sun.

– House of the Rising Sun, Traditional lyrics

Sun and Jin

Sun was at the crossroads, faced with a decision between two courses of action, neither of which seemed wonderful. Should she leave Jin and her family and her country and, in a way, herself? Or should she stay, with the knowledge that it’s very hard to change people and make relationships work? Was there happiness to be found at the end of either path?

 

In the end, it’s hard to say whether Sun gives up hope to return or whether she still has hope for Jin. The pessimist says the former; the optimist says the latter. But are those really the labels? It is my belief that she kept the hope and stayed by her husband’s side, resolving to correct the relationship from within rather than abandon it. Now that they are upon the island, it is interesting to note they follow Jack to the caves, part of the party that has “given up hope” of rescue and instead are going to attempt to make their way at a new life, dealing with the realities of what has happened to them. Perhaps they are going to start confronting life together, Jin allowing Sun to help him along their path. Perhaps Sun is getting what she wants and Jin is getting what he needs. After all, the island “might give you what you are looking for, but you have to give the island something.” Sun already made her sacrifice in hope of a successful marriage and is following the same path she started when she decided not to run away. Now it seems that Jin may be sacrificing some of his control for the same. Both have escaped the clutches of her father.

 

Charley

Charley made a tough decision to give up his last few doses of artificial happiness in return for a possibility at real pleasure through his guitar and music. He is bravely going forward into a new world, fully aware that it’s going to be tough, but willing to lean on his companions and hunt for his own inner strength.

 

Kate

Kate had two distinct options: go to the caves with Jack or stay on the beach away from him. In the end she chooses to wait for him to find her, rather than her chasing him about. She is patiently waiting, hoping that things will get better, unwilling or unable to effect change herself.

 

Three different courses of action, all with one common goal: hope for the future. They are all optimists. That is why they are survivors: none of them, no matter their actions, has given up hope. They believe that it is indeed possible, if not probable, to beat “the House.”

 

_______________________

 

 

What Worked?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Didn’t?

 

 

 

 

Questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Missing: Update

 

Jack – Matthew Fox

Jack, open your eyes! You got what you needed from the island: your ability to make decisions. But what did you give up? Your ability to read others? Your ability to listen? You have a pretty and intelligent girl in front of you, that obviously likes you and you like her. She could have cared less about hospitals by the pool. She just wanted to be with you

Kate – Evangeline Lilly

You silly girl! Jack makes a lot of sense. There is no reason why everyone should remain on the beach. I believe there is far more to your decision to stay behind than simple dissatisfaction with either the plan of Jack’s or the fact he seems a little oblivious of you. What ever is causing the ‘tude, you’d better spank that inner- moppet and get over it.

 

Charley – Dominic Monaghan

Oh, Charley! Your little funnies at Jack and Kate’s expense, how your eyes lit up at Locke recognizing you, I am truly enjoying you! I am glad you were able to hand over the drugs to Locke. It was a hard decision and I hope you are able to stick with it. I am also glad you were able to do it, only on the “chance” you may find your guitar, not as a real choice between the two.

 

Hurley – Jorge Garcia

That’s right, you stick with Jack. Follow the food and water and medicine. Oh, and while you are there, convince him that he needs to get together with Kate. I don’t know how long the party will be able to stand the forlorn looks by the two of them. It’s worse than Kate’s former googly eyes.

 

Claire – Emilie de Ravin

Where were ya, darlin’? We missed your bright face and cheerful disposition. Though of course it has only been a day since your fainting spell and I guess you were resting in the tent. Get well soon, deary.

 

Boone – Ian Somerhalder

and

Shannon – Maggie Grace

On the other hand, I didn’t miss either of you at all. I imagine Boone was off sulking over his rejection by the group the day before, but where were you, “Sticks”? Let me guess, trying to get one of those nameless survivors to catch you a bite of lunch? Good luck.

 

Sayid – Naveen Andrews

Sayid, I am seeing a tiny distressing tendency in you. You seemed far too gleeful in your plans of how to make the Koreans talk. Does a good man really relish interrogation so much? And what was the sudden antagonism towards Jack? His plan, while not perfect, made as much sense as yours of tending to the fire. A wise man, and that’s what I had come to think of you as, would see the need to compromise both plans and make a good comprehensive one. Instead, you stormed away like a petulant child.

 

Michael – Harold Perineau

and

Walt – Malcom David Kelley

*Sigh* I know he jumped you, but, just for me, couldn’t you have done a little more damage to Jin? Messed up his face a little? Something. Oh well, at least you threatened him with that axe. I enjoyed the look of fear on his face.

 

Oh, and keep up the good work with Walt. You did much better this time out. I hope your goring is healing up.

 

Sawyer – Josh Holloway

I missed you, my man. But at least you did the important thing. Nice head job on Kate and great tactic of getting her to declare her intentions first. I knew you had more “devious” in you than being the guy who let Hurley know you had nuts. I say keep it up. It’s obvious she will wind up with Jack, but you might get a romp out of the deal first.

 

Locke – Terry O’Quinn

Okay, just how long did you know that guitar was up there? You see waaay too much! You spotted Charley’s drugs, the bee nest and his guitar. You almost found out about the “thing” they are keeping from everyone. I wonder how it’s going to go over when the news breaks there’s a 16 year old message of doom in French. Nice work on Charley, though.

 

Jin – Daniel Dae Kim

and

Sun – Yunjin Kim

Okay, look you blind bastard, the woman loves you enough to throw her life away, not once but TWICE on you. Wake up and smell the sushi. She is the best thing that has ever happened to you. You are the one that has made or forced all the mistakes. I certainly hope you start listening to and respecting her. Otherwise, she has my vote to be Walt’s new mom. You can hang out on the beach tending the fire and catching fish.

 

The Dog (Vincent)

Sorry no chew toy for you after all, boy. But, maybe if Mike takes Walt up to the caves, you might dig up one of those shallow graves and have a bone to gnaw on. I am sure Adam and Eve wouldn’t mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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