Shannon Rutherford

"Shannon" redirects here. For the character from Bad Twin, see Shannon Widmore.

Shannon Rutherford
Actor	Maggie Grace
First	"Pilot, Part 1"
Last	"Exposé" (flashback)
Centric	"Exodus, Part 1" "Abandoned"
Age	20
Birth	1984
Death	8 November 2004
Death Episode	"Abandoned"
Place	Los Angeles, California, USA
Profession	Ballet instructor
Reason in Australia	...to live with her latest boyfriend
Reason For Trip	...to return home
Family	Adam Rutherford - Father Sabrina Carlyle - Stepmother Boone Carlyle - Stepbrother Ex-husband

Shannon Rutherford was a middle section survivor of Oceanic Flight 815 and was Boone's stepsister, whom she frequently argued with. She was very selfish at times, though she eventually formed a romantic relationship with Sayid. Shannon survived on the Island for 48 days before she was unintentionally shot and killed by Ana Lucia Cortez.

Before the Island

Childhood

Shannon grew up without a mother and lived her early childhood years alone with her father. At the tender age of 8, Shannon's father married a woman by the name of Sabrina Carlyle, and along with Sabrina was her 10-year-old son, Boone Carlyle. This resulted in Sabrina becoming Shannon's stepmother and Boone becoming Shannon's stepbrother. Shannon never had a good relationship with Sabrina, but Shannon's and Boone's relationship blossomed as the years dragged on. ("Do No Harm")  ("Abandoned").

Father's death

Shannon became a ballet instructor at the age of 18 along with her best friend, Nora. After wrapping up a class, Shannon received a call from Sabrina saying that they need to meet at St. Sebastian's Hospital, as Adam had been involved in a car accident. At St. Sebastian's, Jack is visible for a brief moment as he walks into the doctor informing the family about Adam's accident. The doctor then proceeds to inform the family that Adam stopped breathing at the scene of the accident and they were unable to revive him. Shannon was devastated, and from then on, tried to distance herself from Sabrina as much as possible. ("Abandoned").

Shannon and Boone at their father's funeral. ("Abandoned")

Shannon and Boone reunited after a long time apart at Adam's funeral. Shannon was relieved to have a familiar shoulder on which to cry and immediately turned to Boone. Shannon told Boone that she had applied for a prestigious internship at the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York city. Shannon assured Boone that she may get it, even though the odds were not on her side. Boone agreed but still showed some doubt. ("Abandoned")

While having breakfast at her apartment, Nora walked in with an envelope in her hand; it was the reply for her internship entry. To Shannon's joy and shock, she had got in and was over the moon. As the realization sunk in, Shannon received a call from the bank and was told that her checks were bouncing. Nora found this unbelievable as she knew that Shannon was wealthy. ("Abandoned")

Shannon reluctantly turned to Sabrina for help. Shannon told Sabrina about her situation, and Sabrina's reaction was extremely cold. When Shannon asked about the money that her Father had given her in the will, Sabrina stated that there was no money left for Shannon in the will. Shannon was shocked and angry. Shannon asked why, but Sabrina responded indirectly: "Maybe he wants you find your own way." Sabrina left without giving any help to Shannon. ("Abandoned")

Shannon asked Boone if he could somehow get the money from Sabrina. Shannon found out that Boone had failed at receiving the money when he turned up in her apartment, empty handed. Boone assumed that it was because she (Sabrina) knew why he asked for the money. Shannon asked if she could stay with Boone at New York, when another bombshell was pelted at Shannon: Boone was leaving New York. Boone offered some of his own money, but Shannon's temper was rising as she refused. She pushed the envelope into Boone's hands as a sign that he was unwelcome to give her anything. ("Abandoned")

Shannon smirks in success at conning her brother Boone. ("Hearts and Minds")

Conning Boone

After returning from the au pair job, Shannon began to routinely con money out of her stepmother and/or Boone in an attempt to get the money that she felt was owed to her. Boone said he had paid off 3 men to break up with her. Shannon's most recent attempt to get money was by faking an abusive relationship with Bryan, the man she was living with in Sydney, Australia. When Boone found out that Shannon was lying to him, Bryan assaulted him. Shannon begged Bryan to stop, allowing Boone to escape back to his hotel. In Boone's hotel room, Shannon told him that Bryan took all of the money. Sensing Boone's true feelings for her, she seduced him the night before they boarded Flight 815.("Hearts and Minds")

According to Boone, Shannon had been married once, but was not anymore. ("Hearts and Minds")

Flight 815

Shannon at Sydney airport. ("Exodus, Part 1")

Shannon is then seen in the waiting area sitting down and doing a crossword puzzle. Sayid asks Shannon if she can watch his bag and says that he'll be back in a moment. Shannon rudely replies, "Sure, whatever." She later walks off with Boone, leaving the bag on the chairs unattended. Shannon initiates an argument with Boone over why he failed to purchase first class seats on the flight instead of coach seats in the middle of the plane. Boone contends that Shannon cannot take care of herself and that she needed him. To prove her independence and cunning, she informs a security guard that "some Arab guy left his bag in the chairs downstairs and then just walked away," showing Boone that she is capable of things that he never expected. ("Exodus, Part 1")

In the airport, prior to boarding, Nikki and Paulo were interrupted by Shannon loudly complaining about a lack of seating in the café waiting area and Boone being responsible for them not getting first class tickets. Boone politely asks Paulo for their extra chair, and he agrees, but Shannon pulls Boone away, accusing her "flirting with random guys" of delaying them. ("Exposé")

Shannon sat in seat 9F, Business Class, next to Boone, who was sat in 9E on the plane. ("Exodus, Part 2")

On the Island

Season 1 (Days 1-44)

Traumatized Shannon, right after the crash ("Pilot, Part 1")  (promotional still)

Shannon and Boone were only able to survive the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 due to the fact that they were denied seats in first class, the area of the plane in which nobody survived. After the crash, Shannon screams at the crash site where a man tells her to watch the gas. Shannon wanted little to do with everyone else and refused to help build camp, believing that they'd soon be rescued. She was offered a candy bar by her brother, which she flatly rejected, stating that she wasn't going to give up on her diet, because they would be off the Island soon enough. ("Pilot, Part 1")

The next day, Shannon sunbathes and talks to Claire. Later Shannon cries over the dead body of the crewman who refused to put her into first class, effectively saving her life. When Boone criticized her for not helping out, she went on a jungle trek with Sayid, Kate, Charlie, Sawyer and Boone to prove to him that she wasn't useless. Her assistance was vital in translating the French distress signal that Sayid received on the radio from the cockpit. ("Pilot, Part 2")

Shannon charms Charlie. ("Walkabout")

On the way back to the beach, Boone lifts the gun from Sawyer, who awakens. The group fights and Shannon tells them that Boone doesn't agree with guns. When they arrive back to the beach, Shannon complains that Edward Mars is dying too loudly. A few hours later, Boone gives a pair of sunglasses to Shannon. ("Tabula Rasa")

The next day, Shannon and Boone argue over caring for others and catching food. Shortly after the argument, Shannon uses her charm to get Charlie to catch her a fish. After Charlie catches the fish, Shannon shows Boone the fish, telling him that she told him she could get a fish. Just after they begin to argue again over using people. ("Walkabout")

After Boone left her in charge of their part in triangulating the signal, he ran to the caves to help Jack after he fell victim to a cave-in. Although distracted, she succeeded in letting off the signal bottle rocket on time. ("The Moth")

Later, Shannon began experiencing asthma attacks, which was unusual since many of the other survivors' physical ailments ceased after the crash. To compound the problem, Boone could not find the extra inhalers that he had brought in his luggage on the plane. As Shannon's attacks became more life-threatening, Boone began to suspect that Sawyer was hoarding them with other items he confiscated in the luggage. Sawyer refused to cooperate with the investigation, which led to him being tortured by Sayid. It was later discovered that Sawyer did not, in fact, have the inhalers. ("Confidence Man")

While Shannon sunbathed, Boone told her that Hurley and others made a golf course in excitement. Boone and Shannon went to the golf course and watched everyone play. ("Solitary")

Shannon considers moving to the caves with Boone, but when Hurley is collecting everyone's information she expresses her doubts about the caves' safety after hearing that Claire got attacked. ("Raised by Another")

After Claire was kidnapped by Ethan, Shannon tells Boone not to go out into the jungle to find Claire; however, he goes anyway. At night in the caves, Shannon approaches Kate and expresses her worry about Boone. Kate tells her that Locke and Boone have not returned yet. ("All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues")

Boone unties Shannon in his hallucination. ("Hearts and Minds")  (promotional still)

After Sayid returned from his encounter with Rousseau, he asked for Shannon's help in translating the French writing on the maps. Shannon reluctantly agreed and had trouble at first, becoming frustrated with Sayid and herself. It was during her work with the map translation that Shannon began to develop feelings for Sayid. At night Shannon tells Sayid about Laurent repeatedly watching a movie featuring the song "La Mer". Realizing the connection between the song and their current situation, Shannon then begins to sing it. ("Whatever the Case May Be")

Shannon's attraction to Sayid grabbed the attention of Boone, who was visibly displeased. Boone explained to Locke, "You don't know Shannon. She's smart and she's special in a lot of ways". Locke drugged Boone, sensing he might tell Shannon of their secret trips to uncover the hatch.

Under the influence of the hallucinogen, Boone heard Shannon screaming in the jungle and saw she was tied up to a tree by Locke, while the Monster is heard. Boone un-cuts her and runs and hides from the Monster in a mangrove trunk. As they got out of the mangrove trunk, the monster was gone, and as they walked through the jungle Shannon questioned why Locke tied her up. Eventually, Boone told her about the hatch and why he tied her up, leading to more questions. A few minutes later, the Monster is heard again and it viciously attacked Shannon. Boone searched for Shannon, but when he found her bloody, crumpled body lying by the stream, he realized it is too late. That night, Boone approaches Locke in the caves and attacks him for indirectly causing Shannon's death. Boone, however realizes that Shannon is alive and well and chatting happily with Sayid. Locke tells Boone it was a vision and Boone admits that he felt free from the burden of caring for his step-sister. ("Hearts and Minds")

The next day, Shannon and Sayid explain Rousseau's map to Jack. Michael interrupts them, telling them his idea of making a raft. Shannon dismisses the idea, "I get really sea-sick". When Claire arrives back at the camp, she asks Shannon why everybody is avoiding her. She then tells Claire about the death of Scott. ("Special") ("Homecoming")

Shannon and Sayid grow closer. ("...In Translation")

Shannon and Arzt argue with Kate about the case of guns found in the waterfall. When Boone later talks to Sayid, causing him to temporarily reconsider their relationship, Shannon heads to the jungle to quarrel with Boone, but only finds Locke. In their conversation, Locke tells Shannon that everyone gets a new life on the Island, and advises her to start hers. She accepts John's advice and is determined to begin her own with Sayid. ("...In Translation") ("Exposé")

After falling in the drug smugglers' plane, Boone was seriously injured. While Boone was dying, Shannon was on a date with Sayid on another beach and tells Sayid the truth about her relationship with Boone. As Shannon and Sayid happily holding hands come back, Jack tells her about Boone. Shannon goes straight to the caves and cries over Boone's body. ("Do No Harm")

Shannon holds Vincent as the raft leaves ("Exodus, Part 1")  (promotional still)

After Boone's death, Sayid asks Shannon if there is anything he can do, but Shannon doesn't reply. At the funeral, Shannon does not say anything, instead Sayid gives a speech. After the funeral, Shannon sits at the beach in silence. Locke walks over tentatively, and offers her Boone's belongings. Locke tells Shannon that Boone was brave, and that he knows how it feels to lose someone you love. Shannon was distraught and looked for someone to blame. Shannon became convinced that Locke was responsible for her step-brother's death. Back at Sayid's tent, Shannon reminds Sayid that he offered to help her. The only help that she wants is revenge on John Locke. However, Sayid doesn't kill or hurt Locke and tells her he is telling the truth that Boone's death was an accident. After hearing from Kate about the Halliburton case containing guns, Shannon stole the key from Jack and took one with the intent to kill Locke. Kate, Jack and Sayid ran off into the jungle and found to find Shannon with a gun pointed at Locke. Sayid intervened and saved Locke, but caused Shannon to turn away from him. Eventually, she did manage to forgive him. ("The Greater Good")

Right before Walt headed off on the raft, he gave Shannon the responsibility of taking care of Vincent. Walt told her he was good company when his Mother died, and that he might do the same for Shannon after Boone's death. When the raft leaves, Vincent jumps into the sea to follow Walt, making Shannon to go into the sea to get him. ("Exodus, Part 1")

Before going to the caves, Shannon tried to bring Boone's suitcase full of clothes, but Shannon falls over dumping out all of Boone's clothes. Sayid helps her and she leads the group with Sayid to the caves. After Claire was attacked by Rousseau, Shannon was the first on the scene with Sayid and Charlie. At the caves, Sun tells Shannon about being punished on the Island. When Sayid came back, Shannon ran back into Sayid's arms when he arrived from rescuing Aaron. ("Exodus, Part 2")

Season 2 (Days 44-48)

Shannon claims to have seem Walt. ("Man of Science, Man of Faith")  (promotional still)

Shannon tried to find Vincent when he ran off into the jungle, as she felt strongly that it was her responsibility to do so. Because she is still exhausted from not sleeping since Boone's death, Sayid attempts to dissuade her, but when he fails, he goes with her into the jungle. When the pair becomes separated, Shannon falls then begins to hear whispers and then sees a vision of Walt standing in front of her, dripping wet and speaking backwards to her. However the vision is gone by the time Sayid returns to her with Vincent. After returning to the caves, Shannon insists on recounting her vision of Walt and hearing the whispers, possibly of others, a prospect which upsets Claire, Sun and the rest of the group. When Jack returns from the hatch, Shannon asks him if he saw the others. She becomes upset when Charlie tells her that they don't exist. ("Man of Science, Man of Faith")

When Claire finds the message bottle from the raft, Shannon became the second to know about the second raft being destroyed after Claire told her. Shannon and Claire also tell Sun about finding it. Later Shannon shares her food with Vincent. ("Everybody Hates Hugo")

Shannon and Sayid see Walt in the jungle ("Abandoned")  (promotional still)

While feeding Vincent, Sayid came up to her and told her he has something he has to show her. Sayid built Shannon a new tent to live in, which they eventually made love on the same night. Moments after, when Sayid stepped out of the tent, to get water, Shannon had another vision of Walt. She screamed at the top off her voice, making many people wake up. When she told Sayid what she saw, he does not believe her, saying that it was only a dream. Shannon once again felt that no one takes her seriously and left Sayid in frustration. ("Abandoned")

On day 48, Shannon was determined to find Walt. Shannon asked Hurley and Rose where Walt's clothes were, so Vincent could pick up Walt's scent and lead her to him. Shannon tells the dog to "find Walt." Vincent then leads her directly to Boone's grave, where Sayid finds her and assumes she's there to mourn her dead step-brother. Shannon sets off into the jungle, determined to find Walt. While looking for Walt, Shannon told Sayid about the bottle and ran off again. Sayid caught up with her and tried to apologize for doubting her. Later, Shannon once again saw Walt, but this time Sayid did too. Sayid then told her that he believes her and loves her. As Shannon ran toward Walt, she was shot once in the stomach by Ana Lucia Cortez, who thought she was one of the Others. ("Abandoned")

Post-Death

After Shannon is shot dead, Sayid places her body on the ground gently, and tries to attack Ana Lucia. While Sayid is tied up, Ana Lucia talks to Shannon and tells her that she is sorry for killing her, and that it was a mistake. Later on, Sayid carries her body back to camp to be buried. ("Collision")

Sayid puts Shannon's body on the ground. ("Collision")

Having had her grave dug by Sayid, Shannon was buried next to her brother, Boone, who had died four days earlier, and the others in the graveyard the next day. Sayid professed his love for her when he gave her eulogy. The Tailies, Eko, Libby and Bernard attended the funeral, paying their repsects, but Ana Lucia refused to. ("What Kate Did")

When Ben was captured by the castaways, it was Sayid's love for Shannon and his grief over her death that pushed him into torturing the captive, after Sayid didn't feel that Henry's testimony of burying his wife was believable, exclaiming "You would remember!" ("One of Them")

While they were trekking to Henry Gale's balloon, Sayid eventually forgives Ana Lucia for her shooting, claiming she was just protecting her people - blaming Shannon's accidental death on The Others. ("Lockdown")

According to the Oceanic 6 story, her brother survived the intial crash, though she never made it out of the plane. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 1")

Producers' commentary

• On the Season 2 DVD special, Lost: On Location (Season 2), Damon Lindelof comments:

“

We knew that Shannon was going to die before we started Season 2. Shannon's death served a number of story purposes, the most important being, that we wanted the tail section people, and our core group of castaways to be sort of forced to merge under incredibly uncomfortable circumstances.

”

Trivia

• During an interview about consceiving the idea of Shannon, producers stated that Shannon was based on Paris Hilton.
• Shannon was the fourteenth character to have a flashback and the last of the original cast.
• Shannon's episode count so far is 28. She died on her 25th (Sayid & Shannon's POV) and 26th (replayed but in the Tailies POV) appearance. In her 27th she was only present with her corpse and in her 28th appearance she returned via flashbacks.
• Shannon has never met Ben, Juliet, Desmond, Daniel, Charlotte and Miles. However, she's met the rest of the main fuselage-survivors.
• Died 6 days after her brother Boone.
• Maggie Grace was billed as a special guest star in "Collision" and in "Exposé."
• Shannon was the second main character to be killed.
• Shannon was the first main character to be killed at the conclusion of their flashback episode. The pattern seems to follow on with Ana Lucia, Mr. Eko, Nikki and Paulo.
• Maggie Grace, who now has brown hair, wore a blonde wig to shoot her flashback scenes for Season 3.
• Of the 14 original main characters, Shannon is the only one neither seen or referred to in season 4.
• Shannon is one of three characters portrayed by principal cast in Season 2 never to appear in the Swan (the other two being Walt and Claire).

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: Shannon Rutherford/Theories

• Who was her mother?
• Who was her husband? Why did they separate?
• Why and how did Walt appear to her?