Happily Ever After

Happily Ever After
Season	6
Episode number	11
Airdate(s)	April 6, 2010
Flash-sideways	Desmond
Writer	Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse
Director	Jack Bender
Guests	Alan Dale - Charles Widmore Jeremy Davies - Daniel Widmore Fionnula Flanagan - Eloise Widmore Sheila Kelley - Zoe Dominic Monaghan - Charlie Pace Fisher Stevens - George Minkowski Sonya Walger - Penelope Milton
Co-stars	Jonathan Arthur - Simmons Hannah Bell - Nurse Steve Boatright - Goon Kayren Butler - Doctor Ben Cain - MRI tech Gerard Elmore - Clipboard guy Fred Koehler - Seamus Christopher McGahan - Techie #1 Sundra Oakley - Lawyer Grisel Toledo - Nurse Tyra Haley Williams - Widmore Assistant
Transcript	Happily Ever After transcript

"Happily Ever After" is the 11th episode in Season 6 of Lost and the 114th produced hour of the series as a whole. It was originally broadcast on April 6, 2010. Desmond wakes up and discovers he's back on the island.

Synopsis

Original timeline (2007)

Widmore reveals to Desmond that he is back on the Island.

Desmond wakes. Zoe introduces herself and explains that he has been unconscious for the last few days and that she has given him a shot to help him wake. Desmond calls out that he wants Penny. Charles Widmore says that that will not be possible. Widmore reminds Desmond that he was shot by Benjamin Linus. Desmond calls for Penny again but Widmore says she is not here but that she and their son are perfectly safe. Widmore says he didn't have a chance to explain but even if he had, Desmond would not have come. When Widmore tries to explain that he has brought him back to the Island, Desmond attacks Widmore and has to be restrained. He screams to take him back but Widmore says that he cannot because "the Island isn't done with you yet."

Widmore leaves the room. Outside the room, Jin has been watching and he asks what Desmond is doing on the Island. Widmore says he will show Jin and tells Zoe to bring Jin to the generator room where they can start the test. Zoe protests that the test is not scheduled yet but Widmore insists and says to get it ready now.

Zoe takes Jin to the experiment's area.

As Zoe leads Jin outside they pass generators and capacitor equipment and major cabling as well as one large central piece of equipment shaped like a cube. Upstairs in the control room of the Hydra Station preparations are underway with laptops, monitors and electrical controls. Seamus says to Zoe that they aren't even close to being ready. They turn the generator to full for a power test, but shortly the circuit fails. Seamus sends Simmons to check the circuit on the solenoids in the central structure outside. Seamus tells the white rabbit, Angstrom, that he is going in there next.

Simmons' dead body is carried out of the solenoids room.

Simmons goes into the outside unit but in the control room a technician finds the fault and immediately throws a switch to re-power the solenoids. They realize that Simmons is inside and he is engulfed in shock waves generated by the solenoids. Seamus and Zoe run down to the main box and find Simmons smoking and dead, his face charred. Widmore arrives and asks Zoe whether they are ready as Desmond is dragged, struggling, in. He looks aghast at the dead man.

Widmore warns Jin of a grim future.

The dead man is taken out and Widmore looks sadly at his face but orders Desmond to be taken inside. He says to Desmond that if what he has heard about him is true then he will be fine. Desmond is tied to a chair between the solenoids. Widmore tells Desmond that once the experiment is over he will ask Desmond to make a sacrifice. Desmond cynically asks Widmore what he knows about sacrifice. Widmore tell him that his son died here for the sake of the Island, that Penny hates him and that he hasn't even met his grandson. He adds that if Desmond won't help, it will all be for nothing as everyone will be gone forever. Desmond is locked in the solenoid chamber room.

Desmond is engulfed in the solenoids room.

In the control room Jin demands to know what is happening and Widmore explains that Desmond is the only person known to have survived a catastrophic electromagnetic event and that he needs to know that Desmond can do it again "or we all die." He orders the experiment to be turned on. The closed circuit vision show Desmond free of his binds frantically trying to escape from the room. Widmore pulls the switches to start the solenoids himself. Desmond is engulfed by the flux.

Flash-sideways timeline (2004)

Desmond examines the Oceanic Airlines board.

Desmond is examining the Oceanic Airlines arrivals board. Hurley passes and tells him the luggage is on carousel 4. At the carousel Claire is struggling with her baggage and Desmond helps her. He asks whether she is expecting a boy or a girl and when she says she doesn't know he says she is braver than he as he is not a fan of surprises. He offers her a lift and after she refuses he says that he bets the baby is a boy.

Desmond is met by George, his driver. He asks to be taken to the office. George offers lovely ladies for companionship and when Desmond says he is here to work George says that that is why Desmond is the bosses right hand man and he is the driver.

Desmond and Widmore enjoy a glass of whiskey.

At the offices Desmond and Widmore greet each other warmly. Desmond looks at a sailing ship model as Widmore speaks on the phone saying to "Get him arraigned and get him out of there." Widmore explains that his son, the musician wanted to combine classical music with Rock at a charity event that Mrs Widmore is hosting. He says that the bass guitarist for Driveshaft overdosed and was arrested, he asks Desmond to babysit the guitarist and get him to the event otherwise Mrs Widmore will destroy him. When Desmond agrees to help Widmore is grateful that someone he trusts will do the job and adds that Desmond really has the life being free of all attachments. Widmore pours a 60 year old MacCutcheon whiskey to celebrate Desmond's indispensability.

Charlie explains to Desmond the need for spectacular, consciousness-altering love.

Desmond drives to the Courthouse. An attorney comes out with Charlie Pace. Desmond introduces himself but Charlie ignores him and walks across the Avenue oblivious to the traffic, into a bar named Jax. Desmond joins him inside. Charlie asks him if he is happy, and when Desmond reels off evidence of his material success Charlie says that what he is talking about is "spectacular, consciousness altering love." Charlie tells a story about how he saw a blonde woman in a dream while he was about to die from choking on the bag of heroin. Charlie says "I've seen something real. I've seen the truth." Desmond says the real truth is not this vision of love but to make a choice between continuing to drink or coming with Desmond to play at the charity show - with all its trappings.

Charlie's mission triggers a vision for Desmond.

As they drive away Charlie tells Desmond that the song on the radio is Driveshaft's first single and says ruefully that it was the beginning of everything great. Charlie then offers Desmond a choice between showing him what he is talking about or getting out of the car. Charlie grabs the steering wheel and they careen over a pier into the water and the car sinks. Desmond frees himself and when he can't release Charlie's seat belt he swims to the surface exiting through his open driver's side window. Desmond dives back and goes to Charlie's door. Charlie wakes, and staring at Desmond raises his palm to the window. For a moment Desmond sees Charlie show his palm at the Looking Glass hatch with the words "NOT PENNYS BOAT" written on his palm. He looks again and the vision has passed. Desmond gets the door open and brings Charlie to the surface.

Desmond experiences flashes while being examined.

A doctor examines Desmond. She asks whether he has had hallucinations; Desmond pauses and says that he's not sure. The doctor wants to do an MRI scan but Desmond says he doesn't have time and needs to find the person he was brought to the hospital with, but the doctor insists he have the MRI.

Desmond is prepared for the MRI by a technician. He's given a panic button and the test is started. Desmond immediately sees the vision of Charlie at the Looking Glass hatch showing the message on his palm. He then sees a glowing cavalcade of his life with Penny and their love for one another. Desmond presses the button and says he must find Charlie.

Shortly after, he asks at the nurse's desk about Charlie but is rebuffed. He sees Jack and reintroduces himself. As Desmond asks Jack for help finding Charlie, Charlie runs down the passageway pursued by an orderly. Desmond gives chase and when he corners him Charlie says he is running because no one at the hospital can help him. He denies trying to kill Desmond but instead says that he was trying to show him something. Desmond wants to see his hand. Charlie realizes that Desmond must have seen something. Desmond asks "Who is Penny?" Charlie says he is not going to perform because none of "this" matters. As he leaves, Charlie says to stop worrying about him and to start looking for Penny.

Eloise Widmore insists that Desmond is not ready to face Penny.

Desmond rings Widmore to tell him about not having Charlie. Widmore is angry and tells Desmond that he can explain to Mrs. Widmore what happened. At the Widmore mansion George asks whether Desmond has met Mrs. Widmore before implying that she is a difficult person, but when Desmond introduces himself to Mrs. Widmore she is charming and says that its about time they met and that he should call her Eloise. Desmond explains what had happened and Eloise says that its OK and that her son will understand because employing rock stars means some unpredictability must come with the territory. When Desmond asks if she is angry, Eloise says "Not at all dear, what happened, happened."

As he leaves Desmond hears the name "Penny" read from a list of guests but when he tries to see the list Eloise intervenes sternly, and takes the list from him. She takes him aside and tells him to stop, that whatever it is that he thinks he is looking for he should stop looking for it. She says that he should not need to look for anything as he has the perfect life and has attained the thing he wanted more than anything, the approval of Charles Widmore. She adds that it is, in fact a violation. When he presses her about the list she says that he can't see the list because he is not ready yet.

Desmond meets the musician, Daniel Widmore.

At his limo, Desmond has a drink when a knock comes at his window. The man knows Desmond's name and introduces himself as Daniel Widmore and says they need to talk. Desmond starts to apologize for Charlie's absence but Daniel asks if he believes in love at first sight. Daniel tells of his love for a redhead who works at the museum. He says when he saw her it was as if he already loved her. He continues that that night he woke and wrote in his notebook. He shows Desmond the notebook entry and explains that a mathematician friend said that these were advanced quantum mechanics equations which would need a lifetime of study to understand. He tries to explain to Desmond that it is like something catastrophic was about to happen and the only way to stop it was to release a huge amount of energy, such as exploding a nuclear bomb. He rhetorically asks whether this life was not meant to be our life and that there was another "life" and for some reason "we changed things."

Penny asks Desmond if they met before.

He adds that he doesn't need to explode a bomb because he thinks he already has. Desmond says he doesn't know what this has to do with him. Daniel then asks why Desmond is looking for Penny. When Desmond says he doesn't know what he has found and that it is just an idea but Daniel tells him he knows and that what he found is love. When Desmond says he doesn't even know that this woman exists, Daniel says "No, she's my half sister" and he tells Desmond where to find her.

Penny is exercising in the stadium doing a tour de stade. Desmond watches and then approaches her and asks if she is Penny, introduces himself and offers his hand. Penny takes it and they shake hands.

Original timeline (2007)

"These people are extremely dangerous"

Seamus and the other technicians go into the chamber and find Desmond alive. Widmore asks him how he is and when Desmond asks how long he has been unconscious, he is told that only a few seconds have passed. Widmore says his talent is vital to the mission and begins to explain why. Desmond interrupts, states that he understands and is ready to begin doing whatever it is that is so important.

Zoe and two others escort Desmond back to their base. Desmond explains his cooperativeness by saying a lot can happen in twenty minutes. Sayid leaps out of the bushes, flattens the two escorts and points a gun at Zoe telling her to run. She runs off. Sayid says to Desmond that "these people are extremely dangerous" and that he and Desmond need to go now. Desmond cooperatively answers, "Of course; lead the way."

Flash-sideways timeline (2004)

"I just need to show them something"

Desmond revives and asks what happened. Penny explains that he fainted and that she must have quite an effect on him. He agrees. She asks if they have met before to which Desmond says they would have remembered. Desmond invites Penny to coffee and they make plans to meet in a coffee shop in an hour. Desmond returns to the limousine. George, the driver asks Desmond whether he found what he was looking for and Desmond says he did. George asks if he can get Desmond anything else and Desmond asks for the Oceanic Flight 815 manifest saying, "I just need to show them something."

Trivia

• This episode, similar to previous Desmond episodes ("Flashes Before Your Eyes" and "The Constant"), does not feature a flash-sideways, but rather consciousness-travel between the two timelines.

Production notes

• This is Hurley's 100th episode of Lost.
  • Hurley became the third character to appear in 100 episodes, following Jack and Kate.
• Nestor Carbonell (Richard), Michael Emerson (Ben), Jeff Fahey (Frank), Josh Holloway (Sawyer), Yunjin Kim (Sun), Ken Leung (Miles), Evangeline Lilly (Kate), Terry O'Quinn (Locke/Man in Black) and Zuleikha Robinson (Ilana) do not appear in this episode.
• This episode only features six of the fifteen main cast members of Season 6, a season record low.
  • Matthew Fox (Jack), Emilie de Ravin (Claire), Jorge Garcia (Hurley) only appear in the Flash-sideways storyline.
• Fisher Stevens (Minkowski) makes his first appearance since "Meet Kevin Johnson", after a 32-episode gap.
• There is no "Previously on Lost" segment. Recon is the only other episode this season without the segment.
• This is the second episode, after "Not in Portland" which only has scenes off-island and on Hydra Island.
• Despite both being former main cast members, Jeremy Davies (Daniel) and Dominic Monaghan (Charlie) are credited as guest stars and not special guest stars, continuing the Season 6 trend of one entirely alphabetical guest cast list.
• Daniel appears for the first time since "Follow the Leader", a gap of 12 episodes.
• This episode was watched by 9.45 million viewers, tying for the series low in the adults 18-49 demographic [1].
• This is the first episode to be nearly all flash-sideways story, just as episodes such as "Meet Kevin Johnson" and "Ab Aeterno" were nearly all flashbacks.

Bloopers and continuity errors

• Desmond wears a wedding ring on Oceanic 815 ("LA X, Part 1"). However in this episode he is not wearing one.
  • This could be due to the fact that Desmond is "special" because of his previous experience with electromagnetic activity in the Swan Hatch. This episode seemed to imply that Desmond was sent into the flash-sideways world by the electromagnetic burst, and he was not wearing any metallic objects at that time (as double-checked by one of Widmore's men).
• Hurley tells Desmond that their bags are at carousel 4, but when Desmond picks up his bag he is at carousel F-2.
• Charlie explains to Desmond that Kate and Edward Mars were sitting two rows in front of him before he went to the lavatory to swallow his heroin. However Charlie was sitting two rows behind Jack, just as he was in the original timeline and can be seen in wide angle shots and when Jack gets up to go to the restroom. It's not until after Charlie is arrested that he is moved to the same area of the plane as Kate and even then it was much further than two rows. ("LA X, Part 1")
• When the technician throws the switch to the breaker which activates the electromagnetic field, he pulls the lever down. However, after being ordered to turn it off, he once again pulls it down.
• When Desmond has an MRI scan he is asked if he has any metal on him. This questioning is always done outside the room. An MR scanner is magnetized whether a scan is in progress or not. Entering the room with metal is potentially life threatening. Also the pen, clipboard and shelves would probably not be in the room due to the potential danger.
• Desmond's car can not be seen in the reflection on the police station door despite having parked directly in front of it only moments earlier.
• The painting in Charles Widmore's office (depicting a balance weighing light and darkness) moves from the left side of the office as Desmond enters the room, to the right side of the office as the scene progresses.

Analysis

Recurring themes

• The episode opens with a shot of Desmond's eye. (Eyes)
• Hurley tells Desmond that the bags are on Carousel 4. (Numbers)
• The Oceanic flight schedule contains all six of the Numbers in various places. (Numbers)
• The man looking for a crossed circuit in the box is accidentally killed when the power is restored. (Life and death)
• Charlie calls Desmond "Perky". (Nicknames)
• Charles Widmore and Eloise are married in the flash-sideways timeline. (Relationships)
• Charles Widmore apparently raised Daniel in the flash-sideways timeline, while he raised Penny in the main timeline. The last names of Daniel (Widmore or Faraday) and Penny (Milton or Widmore) reflect their different relationships. (Parent Issues)
• Charlie drives Desmond's car off the road and into the water. (Car accidents)
• Widmore's LA office features a large painting of a set of scales with black objects in one pan and white objects in the other. (Black and white)

  

  A painting of balanced scales in Widmore's office

• There is a white research rabbit with red eyes named Angstrom that is kept in a cage. (Animals)
• Widmore tells Desmond that if he survives, he must make a sacrifice. (Sacrifice)
• Widmore locks Desmond in the electromagnetic experiment chamber. (Imprisonment)
• Desmond tells Claire that her baby will be a boy. (Pregnancies)
• In the bar, Desmond gives Charlie two choices in which Charlie does not see as a real choice. (Fate versus free will)
• The brooch Eloise is wearing in the shape of a starburst is very similar to the mark branded on Juliet. Eloise wears two of these brooches. (Jewelry) (Symbolism)
• The flash-sideways timeline begins with Desmond's reflection in the Oceanic arrival board. (Alt Timeline Mirrors)
• Desmond's reflection is also seen in the police station door. (Alt Timeline Mirrors)
• Daniel Widmore's reflection is seen in Desmond's car window. (Alt Timeline Mirrors)
• Charlie has black and white checkered shoes when he runs from Desmond at that hospital. previously in the episode, his shoes were all white. (Black and White)

Storyline analysis

• Sayid attacks and may have killed Desmond's escorts. (Crimes)
• Desmond attacks Widmore when he awakes but later agrees to help him. (Rivalries) (Relationships) (Irony)

Cultural references

• Harold C. "Rabbit" Angstrom: The white rabbit's name is Angstrom. Harold C. "Rabbit" Angstrom is the main character in five of John Updike's novels (Rabbit, Run; Rabbit Redux; Rabbit Is Rich; Rabbit at Rest; Rabbit Remembered). The novels follow the human themes of life, death, and redemption. (Literary works)
• Anders Jonas Ångström : (1814-1874) The white rabbit's name is Angstrom. Ångström was a physicist. The ångström unit (1 Å = 1 x 10 E−10 m) was named after him. His early work was in the study of magnetism. (Science)
• Caltech: Daniel references this university in Los Angeles. (Science)
• John Milton: Penny Milton in the flash-sideways timeline may be a reference to John Milton, the author of Paradise Lost, a 17th Century poem which deals with themes of the Fall of Man: the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. It further touches on fate and predestination. (Literary works)
• Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor, by Frédéric Chopin, is played (once again) on the piano by Daniel. (Music)
• The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands: Desmond's flashes of the original timeline and memories of a life not lived are very reminiscent of the split timelines experienced by Roland Deschain and Jake Chambers in the early part of this book.
• Fairy Tales: The episode title, "Happily ever after" is a phrase commonly associated with the ending of fairy tales. (Books)

Literary techniques

• The title of the episode implies that the flash-sideways timeline is a blissful environment, where Desmond gains his much wanted respect from Charles Widmore. But he should have been careful what he wished for, because he lost Penny in the process. (Irony)
• Sayid tells Desmond that "These people are extremely dangerous," right after ambushing his group, dispatching two of his escorts and holding a third at gunpoint. (Irony)
• Desmond was hated by Widmore in the original timeline, but is loved by Widmore in the flash-sideways timeline. (Juxtaposition)
  • In the flash-sideways timeline, Widmore tells Desmond he is "worth it" (drinking the MacCutcheon whiskey), but in the original timeline, he is deemed not worthy. (Irony) (Juxtaposition)
• Desmond is not successful in rescuing Charlie from drowning in the original timeline, but is successful in the flash-sideways timeline. (Juxtaposition) (Irony)
• During the MRI, Desmond is told not to push the button, while on the island, his job was to push the button in the Hatch. (Irony)
• In the original timeline, the young Daniel wanted to be a pianist, but was convinced by Eloise to pursue physics instead. In the flash-sideways, Daniel achieved his ambition of being a musician. (Juxtaposition)
• A man is accidentally killed inside the box after a circuit was reset. (Redshirt)
• Eloise tells Desmond, "What happened, happened." (Regularly spoken phrases)
• Widmore tells Desmond, "The Island isn't done with you yet." (Regularly spoken phrases)
• Charlie says "None of this is real" about life in the flash-sideways. (Regularly spoken phrases)

Episode references

• Charlie hears "You All Everybody" on the radio and tells Desmond that was his first hit. ("Greatest Hits")
• Desmond saves Charlie from drowning, and sees a vision of Charlie drowning at the Looking Glass. ("Through the Looking Glass, Part 2")
• Desmond sees visions of him first meeting Penny from the original timeline during his MRI scan. ("Catch-22")
• Desmond sees visions of his son Charlie Hume from the original timeline during his MRI scan. ("Jughead")
• Daniel tells Desmond that he already detonated a nuclear bomb. ("The Incident, Part 2")
• Widmore says that Desmond is possibly the only person in the world to survive a catastrophic electromagnetic incident. ("Live Together, Die Alone, Part 2")
• Charles pours his 60-year old MacCutcheon whiskey, this time happily sharing it with Desmond. In Flashes Before Your Eyes, Widmore only poured one glass and told Desmond he would never be a great man. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")
• Daniel's profession in the flash-sideways timeline is a classical pianist. ("The Variable")
• Daniel carries a book in which he has written down quantum mechanics formulas. ("The Constant")
• Daniel tells Desmond that Penny is his half-sister. ("The Variable")
• Desmond reminds Jack of their interaction on Oceanic 815. Charlie speaks of his near-death experience on the same flight. ("LA X, Part 1")
• Widmore mentions the death of his son when Desmond questions his experience with sacrifice. ("The Variable")
• Daniel speaks of seeing Charlotte at the museum. ("Recon")
• Penny is doing a tour de stade when Desmond finds her, instead of Jack. ("Man of Science, Man of Faith")
• Desmond meets Susie Lazenby in this timeline who worked at the Santa Rosa Mental Health Institute in the original timeline. ("Dave")
• Minkowski, who worked for Widmore and reconnected Penny and Desmond in the original timeline, works for Widmore and takes Desmond to meet Penny in the flash-sideways timeline. ("The Constant")
• Daniel refers to a woman who he saw in a museum and fell in love with, presumably Charlotte, as eating a chocolate bar. This is probably a reference to her final words in the original timeline. ("This Place Is Death")

Unanswered questions

Unanswered questions
Do not answer the questions here. Keep the questions open-ended and neutral: do not suggest an answer. More details...

For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Happily Ever After/Theories

Original timeline

• What is the sacrifice that Charles Widmore wants Desmond to make?
• How does Desmond survive huge bursts of electromagnetism?

Flash-sideways timeline

• What did Eloise Widmore believe Desmond wasn't ready for?
• How and when did Charles and Eloise leave the Island?

External Links

• ABC Press Release