The End

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The End
Season	6
Episode number	17
Airdate(s)	May 23, 2010
Length	105:34
Flash-sideways	Jack Ben Locke Sawyer Kate Desmond Hurley Miles Sayid Jin & Sun Claire
Writer	Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse
Director	Jack Bender
Guests	Neil Hopkins - Liam Pace Dylan Minnette - David Shephard John Pyper-Ferguson - Bocklin
Co-stars	Paul Mitri - Roadie Eric Nemoto - Oceanic Rep Alan Seabock - Sub Captain Christina Souza - Nurse
Transcript	The End transcript

"The End" is the 17th and final episode in Season 6 of Lost, the final episode of the series, and produced hours 120 & 121 (the second hour being extended) of the series as a whole. It was broadcast on May 23, 2010.

This episode was simulcast in many countries. Italy, Ireland, Israel, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and the United Kingdom showed the episode at the same time as in the West Coast of the USA. This meant an early morning broadcast in European countries.

The meaning of the sideways timeline is revealed. On the Island the Man in Black and Jack play out their last moves as the survivors make their final choices.

Synopsis

Previously on Lost

• Jacob tells Jack of The Light's location. Jacob then tells Jack he has to protect it for as long as he can. Jack replaces Jacob as leader of the island. ("What They Died For")
• Jacob witnesses his brother become the Monster. ("Across the Sea")
• The Man in Black throws Desmond in the well. ("Everybody Loves Hugo")
• The Man in Black and Ben return to the well, finding nothing. MiB says that when he finds Desmond, Desmond is going to help him "destroy the island". ("What They Died For")
• In the flash-sideways timeline, Desmond runs over Locke. ("Everybody Loves Hugo")
• Desmond turns himself in, with Sayid in his cell and Kate's right beside him. ("What They Died For")
• Desmond, Kate and Sayid are let go by Officer Cortez, with Hugo Reyes taking Sayid and Desmond taking Kate. Desmond then tells Kate that they are going to a concert. ("What They Died For")

Flash-sideways timeline

Opening montage

Christian's coffin arrives at LAX.

• Christian's coffin arrives at LAX.
• Dr. Jack Shephard studies x-rays in his office as he prepares for surgery.
• Ben Linus makes tea.
• John Locke is taken on a gurney to the operating room as he looks at his wheelchair.
• Christian's coffin is loaded on an Oceanic delivery truck.
• James Ford readies for a day's work and looks at the mirror he broke.

Outside Eloise's Church

Kate questions Desmond's intentions.

Kate waits in Hurley's Camaro as the Oceanic truck arrives at Eloise's church. Desmond signs for the body and Bocklin takes it into the church. ♪ Desmond returns to the car and informs Kate that the body belonged to Christian Shephard. She remarks at the appropriate first and last name in "Christian Shephard". When Kate asks why Desmond broke her out of jail and why they're going to a concert, Desmond responds that no one can tell her why she is here - not meaning the church, but rather this place. He tells her his name, that although she doesn't realize it, he is her friend, and that what he wants is to leave. Kate asks where he wants to leave to and Desmond drives off to show her. ♪

The Flightline Motel

Charlie refuses to accompany Hugo to the concert.

Hurley arrives at the Flightline Motel with Sayid, who appears nervous about what Hurley's plans are. Hurley tries to hand him a tranquilizer gun to remind him of their previous adventures at a motel with the gun. Sayid refuses the gun and calls Hurley insane, to which he agrees and asks him to wait. When Sayid asks what will happen if he doesn't wait, Hurley replies that it is his choice but that if he sticks with him he'll be happy he did. ♪ At Room 102, discombobulated rock star Charlie takes a swig from a bottle and rebuffs Hurley and insists that the doesn't care about the concert. Hurley tries to persuade him by telling him the concert is the most important thing he will ever do, but after being told to "sod off", Hurley shoots him with the tranquilizer gun, carries him to the Hummer, and dumps him in the back. ♪

The Benefit Concert

Hurley and Sayid arrive at the concert. Miles, who has just arrived, sees Sayid and calls Sawyer to tell him he's escaped. Miles asks him to check that Sun Paik, one of the survivors of Jarrah's gun-fight, is all right at the hospital.

St. Sebastian Hospital

Dr. Carlson inspects Sun's baby.

At the Hospital, Jin is at Sun's bedside when Dr. Juliet Carlson comes in to give Sun an ultrasound. As soon as she starts the procedure, Sun flashes back to the last time Juliet gave Sun an ultrasound. ♪ Sun, now crying, tells Jin that she remembers and once Juliet points out the baby on the monitor, he too remembers. Jin tells Sun that he remembers. When Juliet tells them their baby is fine and asks if they want to know the sex of the baby, Sun responds that it's a girl, and Jin tells Juliet that her name is Ji Yeon. ♪

Dr. Shephard talks to John Locke before his surgery. He jokingly tells John that there is a chance that he could kill him but that he is confident of success and will see him on the other side. John asks about his father's coffin, and Jack tells him it has been found. John says that he hopes it will bring him some peace. Jack says "If I can fix you, Mr. Locke, that's all the peace I'll need." John smiles. ♪

Jack and Juliet meet as Jack readies for the operation and Juliet asks whether he has the tickets for the concert, so he gives them to her. David asks who will use Jack's ticket and Jack suggests Claire. Juliet says she would love to meet this sister he never mentioned the entire time they were married. Jack ensures that Juliet will love her because she is "extremely pregnant." ♪ As Juliet and David leave they pass Det. Ford who has arrived to check on Sun's safety.

Outside a bar

Sayid and Shannon regain their memories of each other.

Hurley and Sayid are waiting in the street at nighttime. Hurley says he can't tell Sayid what they're doing but that he just needs to trust him. Hurley adds that he trusts Sayid because he thinks he's a good guy, despite Sayid believing what people have told him he was. ♪ Two men emerge from the bar in a fist-fight, soon followed by a woman who is pushed to the ground. Sayid goes to her aid and as soon as they touch, Sayid and Shannon remember each other. Meanwhile, one of the participants in the fight, Boone, approaches Hurley's car. He says it was a struggle to get Shannon here from Australia, but Hurley says that it was worth it. They allow Sayid and Shannon's kiss to last a little longer before they continue their trip.

The Benefit Concert

Eloise asks Desmond about her son's part in his plan.

As guests arrive at the concert, Juliet is paged by the hospital and leaves David to escort Claire inside. In the band room, Charlie has passed out and is woken up by Charlotte. Also in the band room is Daniel Widmore, who introduces himself to Charlotte. Outside, David and Claire take their seat at table 23. Claire recognizes Kate from when Kate had helped her several days earlier. Pierre Chang welcomes his guests to the Benefit Concert for the Golden State Natural History Museum and introduces Mr. Daniel Widmore accompanied by Drive Shaft. As Daniel starts on the piano, Charlie looks into the audience and sees Claire and stares at her. Claire has a contraction and excuses herself with Kate following her as she goes into labor. Back at the table, Eloise Widmore joins Desmond, saying that she thought she made it clear that Desmond should stop what he's been doing. Desmond says she did, but that he ignored her. She asks, "And once they know, what then?" and Desmond answers, "Then, we're leaving." With concern she asks if they are going to take her son. Desmond reassures her, "Not with me, no."

Claire holds her newly born baby.

Kate starts to help Claire. Claire says she is still not ready and is scared. Kate says she is scared too. Charlie arrives backstage and Kate sends him for water and blankets. As Claire begins to push, Kate flashes the birth of Aaron on the Island. ♪ After she successfully gives birth, Claire has a similar flash upon seeing Aaron. Charlie arrives with the blanket and Kate presses him to give them to Claire. Claire takes Charlie's hand and he flashes their lives on the Island. ♪ Desmond arrives and asks Kate whether she understands. Kate gestures that she does and asks Desmond, "So, now what?"

St. Sebastian Hospital

Locke regains control over his legs.

John Locke is brought out of surgery. The orderly wheeling Locke's gurney asks Jack about his neck which is bleeding again. He's about to leave for the concert when he's called to Locke's side. He is unexpectedly coming out of anesthesia. His first words are: "It worked." He moves his feet and can feel his legs. He flashes his arrival on the Island. ♪ He asks Jack whether he remembers, Jack has a momentary flash but resists. ♪ Locke is ready to go, as Jack, confused tells Locke that he needs to see his son. John tells him: "You don't have a son." Jack now just wants to leave but John tells him, "I hope someone does for you what you've done for me".

Juliet and James regain memories of their lives together.

Sawyer finds Sun and Jin. They grin at him and when he shows them a mug shot of Sayid they go to leave saying that they don't need protection from Sayid. Sawyer says it is his job to keep them safe but Sun says that it is O.K. as they are safe. Jin adds "We'll see you there" as they leave.

Sawyer passes Jack and asks where he can get something to eat; Jack directs him to a vending machine. James selects the Apollo bar but the machine jams. Juliet tells him that if you unplug it and then plug it back in again the candy just drops straight down. James turns the power off and the lights short but Juliet hands him the Apollo bar, saying "it worked." As they touch they briefly flash, and Juliet tells Sawyer that they should get coffee sometime. They touch again, flash again, remember everything and embrace. ♪

The Benefit Concert

Kate promises Jack he will understand the meaning of his flashes.

Jack arrives at the concert after it has ended. Kate is there and he says that he is looking for his son. He recognizes Kate and asks where he remembers her from. She tells him that she stole his pen on Oceanic 815. Jack is confused, he says "and that's how I know you", but Kate says that is not how he knows her. She goes up to him and takes his face in her hands telling him how much she has missed him. Jack flashes, seeing images of himself and Kate on the Island, but still resists. She tells him that if he comes with her he will understand.

Eloise's Church

Ben and Locke say their goodbyes one last time.

Locke arrives at the church. The taxi driver helps him into a wheelchair. ♪ Ben is seated outside. John greets him. Ben confirms that most of "them" are inside. As John wheels to go in, Ben says he is sorry for what he did to him. He says he was selfish, jealous and wanted everything John had. He says that John was special and that he wasn't. John says he forgives him. Ben tells him how much it matters to hear that. He tells John that he has things to work out and will stay "here" for a while. ♪ He tells John that he doesn't need to be in the wheelchair anymore. John gets up and walks into the church. ♪

Hugo thanks Ben for his excellent job as a Number Two.

Hugo finds Ben outside. Ben tells him he's not coming in. Hugo says that Ben was a real good Number Two. Ben tells Hugo he was a great Number One. ♪ Jack and Kate arrive. ♪ Jack tells Kate that this is where he was going to have his father's funeral. He asks Kate why she brought him here. She says "Because this is where you were going to have your father's funeral." She goes to leave and she says that they will be waiting for him, once he's ready. Jack asks, "Ready for what?" Kate tells him, "To leave."

Jack looks over his deceased father's coffin.

Jack goes into the church via a back entrance. In a chapel filled with symbols of different religions, he finds Christian's coffin and touches it, awakening to more memories from the Island. ♪♪ He opens the coffin but it is empty. His father is in the room. Jack tells him he doesn't understand because Christian died and how can he be here now. Christian simply asks, "How are you here?" Jack realizes that he died too. They embrace tearfully and say they love each other. ♪

Christian reunites with his son.

When Jack expresses confusion, Christian explains that they are real, Jack's life was real, the people in the church are real. ♪ Jack becomes upset, but Christian reassures him, explaining that "everyone dies sometime, kiddo. Some before you, some long after you." Christian further explains they are all here now because "There is no now, here", and that Eloise's church is a place they all made together to find each other, because the most important part of Jack's life was the time spent with these people. They made it so they could find each other, remember, and "move on."

Christian opens the doors, releasing the white light.

Jack enters the nave of the church and meets Kate, Hurley, Libby, Sawyer, Juliet, Desmond, Penny, Sun, Jin, Charlie, Claire, Aaron, Sayid, Boone, Shannon, Locke, Rose and Bernard. Jack is welcomed as the group shares embraces and enjoys their reunion. ♪ After a time, they all sit down in the church pews as Christian walks to the back of the church through the middle aisle, pausing by Jack briefly to put his hand on his shoulder. ♪ Christian opens the doors of the church and glowing white light from beyond the doors washes over all present. Jack exchanges a smile with Kate, and then looks ahead as they are engulfed by the light. ♪

Original timeline (2007)

Opening montage

Jack takes in the morning as the Island's new protector.

• Jack washes in the river and looks at his hands.
• Ben loads a magazine and looks up to see Locke packing rope.
• Sawyer walks over to Kate to care for her wound. ♪

The river

Kate observes Jack as he wades in the creek taking in what has just happened. She leaves him alone, but then Sawyer joins him and asks if he's okay and asks what's going on. When Sawyer asks if Jack feels any different now that he's the "new Jacob," Jack answers, "Not really." ♪ Later, Jack tells Kate, Hurley and Sawyer about the Heart of the Island that Jacob told him they needed to protect. Hurley asks if the Man in Black wants to put out the light at the source and Jack explains that, if he does, it would be the end of all of them. Sawyer guesses that Locke hasn't yet put out the light because he doesn't have what he needs: Desmond. After Sawyer suggests that "Jacob didn't really say anything about anything," he goes to get Desmond out of the well while the others go to the Source. Sawyer and Kate banter about whether or not she would come with or follow him. Hurley adds, "I have a bad feeling about this."

As they walk Jack explains to Kate that he took the job because he was supposed to, and because the Island is all he has left, that it's the only thing he hasn't managed to ruin. Kate stops him and tries to reassure him that he hasn't ruined anything because "nothing is irreversible" ("LA X, Part 1"). Hurley quips that their conversation would be sweet if they weren't all about to die. ♪

The well

The Man in Black lets Sawyer leave.

Sawyer covertly watches Locke at the well. Ben approaches Sawyer from behind, points a cocked rifle at him and invites him to join them. Sawyer tells Locke he came to get Desmond out of the well, but looking down the well notes that they were both beaten to the punch. When Locke asks, Sawyer guesses that Locke wants Desmond so that he can destroy the Island. Locke confirms that is his plan, but says he does not intend go down with the ship, instead Sawyer and the rest of "Jacob's little candidates" absolutely are. Sawyer counters that they are not candidates anymore. With Locke looking surprised at that revelation, Sawyer elbows Ben in the face, steals his rifle and leaves. After Locke makes no effort to go after him, Ben says he thought Locke was speaking figuratively when he said he was going to destroy the Island. Locke say he left out the bit about the Island being at the bottom of the sea. Now he offers Ben a place on the boat he is going to take to get off the Island. Locke notices paw prints near the well.

Rose and Bernard's camp

The Man in Black threatens to kill Rose and Bernard.

At Rose and Bernard's cabin, Vincent runs to Desmond and licks his face. Rose greets him and Bernard goes to check the traps for fish. Rose says they built their camp in '75 but since the sky lit up again she doesn't know when they are now. She tells Desmond he must move on after he eats because their rule is not to get involved with the Island's dramas. ♪ However, Vincent and Bernard return with Locke and Ben in tow. Bernard apologizes. Locke draws his knife and threateningly tells Desmond to come with him and do his bidding or he will kill Rose and Bernard, even that he'll make it hurt. Desmond agrees only after receiving Locke's word that he won't touch them, ever. When asked by Locke, Desmond says he must be taking him to a place where there is a bright light, increasing Locke's surprise at how much the survivors seem to know. ♪

The Barracks

When Miles tries to get through to Ben via the walkie talkie, Ben quickly turns it off. ♪ On the other end of the walkie is Miles. He was trying to tell Ben that he has found Richard. Richard wakes and asks Miles,whether the smoke monster is still there to which Miles says no. Richard checks that Miles still has the C-4 as he wants to go to Hydra Island to finish what they started: to blow up the plane.

Richard looks at his first gray hair.

Richard and Miles rush from the Barracks and ready an outrigger. Richard comments on the ominous storm clouds forming and Miles pauses to pluck a single gray hair from Richard's head. Richard smiles and tells Miles of his renewed desire to live. The two begin paddling. ♪ They pass through the debris of the sub, including the dead captain, and find Frank Lapidus hanging on to wreckage in the water. They haul him onto the outrigger and catch him up on the plan to blow up the plane. Frank asks why'd they do that when they could use the plane escape the island, saying, "In case you haven't noticed, I'm a pilot."

Trek to the Source

Sawyer meets up with Jack, Kate and Hurley and tells them Locke plans to destroy the island and how important it is to find Desmond before Locke and Ben do. Jack tells him it doesn't matter who finds Desmond because they are all going to the same place anyway. Sawyer asks what happens then. Jack answers, "And then it ends." ♪

You will not succeed.

Locke's group and Jack's group meet. Kate reacts by snatching Sawyer's gun and shooting at Locke, but to no effect. Locke tells her to save her bullets. He walks up to Jack and says: "So it's you", adding that he's somewhat surprised that Jacob chose Jack, as he is sort of the obvious choice. Jack corrects him and says he wasn't chosen, but that he volunteered. Locke assumes Jack is going to try and stop him but Jack admits that he can't and will instead go with him. Locke then thinks Jack doesn't understand what he plans to do, but Jack is clear that he certainly does, that he's going to the light, the place Jack has sworn to protect, where he thinks he's going to destroy the island. Jack says Locke won't destroy the island and instead he will kill him and that he'll have to wait to find out how.

As they hike toward the Source, Sawyer asks Jack how he is going to kill Locke. Jack simply answers, "Desmond" but that he's not yet sure exactly how it's going to work but that he's sure Jacob brought him back not as bait but as a weapon. When the group reaches the bamboo forest near the Source, Locke draws his knife and says it should just be him, Jack and Desmond from here on. Hurley steps up to Jack and says "I believe in you, dude." Locke comments on the bad storm approaching.

The Source

Desmond is lowered into the source.

Once at the cave of the Source, Locke ties a rope to a tree while Jack ties the other end around Desmond. ♪ Desmond tells Jack that this - killing Locke and destroying the Island - doesn't matter because once he goes into the cave, he'll go to the other reality where they can be with the ones they love, where they never have to see the island again, and where a happier version of Jack exists. ♪ After saying that maybe there's a way he could bring Jack there too, Jack says he already tried that and that he found there are no shortcuts or do-overs; that whatever happened, happened and that all of this matters. The three men enter the cave.

Jack and Locke enter the cave and begin to lower Desmond into the brilliant abyss. The Man in Black remembers John Locke's memories of Jack and he looking at Desmond down in a hole in the ground, lightheartedly commented on their bickering on whether or not to push the button. Jack cuts him short. "You're not John Locke; you disrespect his memory by wearing his face, but you are nothing like him." Jack insists that John was right about almost everything, and wished he got to tell him this when he was still alive. Locke says John wasn't right about anything and that when the Island drops into the ocean and Jack drops with it, then he will realize this. Jack suggests they just watch and see who turns out to be right, and the two look down the waterfall now that Desmond has reached the bottom.

Desmond reaches a chamber below after passing skeletons. He finds the Source, a glowing pool, filled by a small waterfall, with an elongated stone with ancient markings engraved on it at its center. He enters the water as electromagnetic energy emanates from the source. ♪ Jack and Locke hear his screams. Desmond reaches the center stone and lifts it, like removing a giant stopper in the center of the pool. The stream from the waterfall stops, the electromagnetic force recedes, the light goes out, the pool dries up and there is a red hot glow emitting from the center. Desmond screams "No!" Locke says to a very worried Jack: "It looks like you were wrong." Locke says goodbye and leaves as earthquakes begin to wrack the Island.

The Man in Black is shocked to see that he's bleeding.

Jack chases Locke out of the cave in a fit of fury, punching him in the mouth and jumping on him when he falls. Locke bleeds from the mouth. Jack sees the blood and says, "It looks like you were wrong too." Jack's hands move towards Locke's throat as they struggle. Locke finds a rock and hits Jack over the back of the head with it, and gets up and runs off.

Hydra Island beach

The outrigger has reached Hydra island. Miles calls Ben, who is sitting with Sawyer, Kate, and Hurley. Miles informs him they're going to fly off the Island and that they should get to Hydra Island now. Claire emerges from the bushes and hold's Miles' group at gunpoint and shoots into the sand. Through the walkie talkie, Kate hears that Claire is there. Claire assumes Locke has sent them there to kill her. To convince her this isn't the case, Richard tells her they can go home and be free of Locke. He invites Claire to join them but she refuses and leaves.

The jungle

The predicted wild storm arrives and the earthquakes continue. A large tree falls and traps Ben, pinning him. Sawyer, Hurley and Kate can't lift it. Sawyer says Locke was right, the Island is going down. Miles radios Ben. Kate finds Ben's walkie in the mud. Miles tells Kate that Frank is fixing the plane and they should get over there quick smart. He also tells Kate that Claire is around but won't come. Ben says he knows how they can get to Hydra Island - that Locke has a boat. Sawyer uses a fallen tree branch as a lever to try to free Ben. ♪

The Cliffs

"I saved you a bullet."

Locke stands on the cliff above the cliffside cave, looking at the Elizabeth is anchored a short distance offshore. He smiles. Jack arrives and yells "Locke!" Locke turns round and the two face each for the final showdown. Locke draws his knife and they run at each other across the uneven ground. Jack leaps at Locke and they fight as the storm rages and cliffs disintegrate. Locke at first drops his knife, then finds it during the struggle and runs Jack through under the rib cage. ♪ He is about to finish Jack off by pushing the knife through his neck, but pauses and says, I want her to know Jack, you died for nothing.” The point of the blade enters Jack's neck. There is a single gunshot, and Locke falls off Jack. Kate stands in the rain and screams, "I saved you a bullet!" Locke is fatally injured, but as the quakes continue he smiles and says that they are too late. Jack struggles to his feet and kicks him off the edge of the cliff. The Man in Black plummets off the cliff, impacts on a smaller cliffside below, and dies.

The Man in Black falls to his death.

Kate holds Jack who looks at the knife wound in his side. Jack says "I'll be fine, just find me some thread and I'll count to five." Sawyer, Hugo and Ben arrive and as Kate tells them that it's over the Island shakes with a violent earthquake.

Final kiss.

Ben tells the group that Frank and the rest are leaving and if they are going to catch up they had better climb down the ladders on the cliff face, get to the boat, sail to Hydra island, get on the plane, and fast. Jack says that whatever Desmond turned off he needs to turn it back on again. But he says that if people are going to leave they need to get on that plane. ♪ Kate tells him that he doesn't need to do this but Jack is adamant that he does. Jack wishes Sawyer good luck. Ben passes Sawyer the walkie saying that if the Island is going down then he is going down with it. Hugo refuses to climb the rickety wooden ladders and tells Jack that he is with him. ♪ Kate and Jack share a tearful goodbye - they have a final kiss and declare their love for each other. ♪ The island continues to shake uncontrollably. Sawyer calls Frank, who tells them he is going to leave while there is still ground to leave on. Sawyer follows Kate as she jumps off the cliff into the sea. They swim out to the Elizabeth.

Ajira landing strip

Frank, Miles and Richard are in the cockpit of the plane. Frank turns on the electronics, to find that everything is working except for the hydraulics in the front. He turns to Miles and Richard and asks if either of them has mechanical experience. Richard looks bewildered; Miles says he worked for a contractor for a couple of summers renovating apartments. The island and the plane continue to shake terribly. Frank rips a page from his manual, throwing it and a roll of duct tape at Miles and tells him and Richard to get down there and make sure everything is together.

Miles wraps a wad of duct tape around a metal hydraulic hose. Richard is helping and asks if it is going to work. Miles says that he doesn't have faith in a lot of things but that he believes in duct tape and thinks they will have things together soon. Frank is trying to get things squared away in the cockpit. He hears Ben's voice on the radio. Frank tells Ben to leave him alone and throws the radio aside to continue working.

Kate convinces Claire to come with them.

Frank fires the plane up. Kate and Sawyer swim ashore to Hydra Island and find a disconsolate Claire sitting on the beach. The Island continues to disintegrate. They hear the Ajira warming up. Claire says to Kate that she won't come because "the Island has made her crazy". Kate offers to help her and they all run for the plane. Lapidus prepares for takeoff and doesn't hear Sawyer's plea on the walkie for him to wait. ♪ Just then they make it to the runway, and Kate, Sawyer and Claire climb aboard.

Ajira takes off as the runway disintegrates. Tears all round on board. ♪

The Source

Jack passes protection of the Island to Hurley.

Hurley helps Jack as they return with Ben to the Source. Jack tells them he is going down alone and makes it clear that he knows he will not survive. Jack explains to an overwrought Hurley that this is what is supposed to happen. Jack tells Hugo that it is he who the Island needs, that his job was to fix the source but after that it should be Hugo. Jack tells Hugo that he believes in him. Hugo agrees, but only till Jack returns. Ben finds an Oceanic bottle and Jack fills it from the stream and gives it to Hurley. After Hurley drinks Jack tells him "Now you are like me". ♪ Ben and Hugo lower Jack into the Source. Jack finds Desmond and carries him back to the rope. ♪ Desmond wants to return the plug but Jack tells him he has done enough and he needs to go home to be with his wife and son. Desmond asks Jack what will happen to him. Jack says that he'll see him in another life, "Brother".

Jack has succeeded, the light returns.

Jack finds the plug and drops it into the Source.

Jack lies exhausted in the empty pool but a trickle of water starts flowing and then the light starts to return. Hugo and Ben haul on the rope and find Desmond on the end of it. Below, Jack sobs with relief as he is engulfed in the light. ♪

Ben and Hugo are with Desmond. Hugo takes in the idea that Jack has gone. ♪ Ben comforts him by telling Hugo that he did his job. Ben tells a frightened Hugo that he can do his job as the island's new protector by doing what he does best: taking care of people. Hugo asks how he can do things like helping Desmond to go home when people can't leave the Island. ♪ Ben says that that is how Jacob ran things and that maybe there is a better way. Hugo asks Ben for his help, saying he needs someone with experience. Ben says he would be honored. ♪

Live together and you won't die alone.

The bamboo grove

Jack awakens in the creek outside of the Source. ♪ Knowing that his life is ending, he slowly finds his way back to the bamboo grove. As he does, he passes by the white shoe, still hanging from the branch, and collapses to the ground in the same spot where he awoke after the crash of Flight 815.

He hears a dog barking and turns his head to see Vincent running toward him through the trees. Jack laughs to himself as the dog licks his face and lies down beside him. ♪♪

Looking towards the sky, he sees the Ajira plane soar overhead. His eyes close. ♪♪

Trivia

General

• The box Christian Shephard's coffin was transported in has stickers displaying the following airport codes: BWN (Brunei International Airport), GUM (A.B. Won Pat International Airport, Guam), HKG (Hong Kong International Airport, China), and LAX (Los Angeles International Airport).
• In the scene where Jack opens the empty coffin, the stained glass window shows symbols of various faiths: the star and crescent of Islam, the Star of David (Judaism), the Aum (widely used as a symbol of Hinduism, but also present in Buddhism and Jainism), the Christian cross, the Dharmacakra (Buddhism) and the Yin/Yang disk (Taoism).
• "You" is the last word spoken in the series. John Locke says it, when he tells Jack: "We've been waiting for you", after Jack and Christian enter the chapel.
• As Hurley is pulling into Charlie's motel with Sayid, a man walking his dog cross the driveway in front of them. The dog is Jack Bender's adopted dog Lulu, who has appeared in 6 episodes.

The Plug showing Cuneiform script.

• Desmond, Penny, and Juliet are the only characters in the church scene who were not on Oceanic Flight 815.
• Every character in the church scene has been on the show since the first or second season, except for Juliet who was introduced at the very beginning of the third.
• Boone's observation that he had difficulty getting Shannon back from Sydney is likely an in-joke at the difficulty in scheduling Maggie Grace to return for the final season, having had to already write her out of "LA X".
• The final scene with Jack making his way back to the bamboo field and dying is a recreation of the opening scene of Lost in reverse, with some slightly different camera angles and different behavior of Vincent. YouTube
• The plug in the Source has markings on it. The clearest markings are cuneiform script. This form of writing was used for a very long time by different civilizations in the area that is now Iraq, notably Akkadian/Sumerian language groups C5000-1000BC.

Leaving the Island

• Kate is the only original cast member to leave the Island, return to civilization, come back to the Island, and leave again.
• Miles leaves the Island after 3 years.
• Sawyer and Claire leave the Island for the first time after 3 years and a few months.
• Sawyer and Claire are the only characters to arrive on the Island for the first time in the very first episode, and to leave it for the first time in the very last episode.

Characters that survived, with last known status

From Oceanic 815:

• Left the Island: Kate, Sawyer, Claire
• Remained on the Island: Hurley, Rose, Bernard, Vincent
• Unknown fate: Cindy, Zach and Emma, and any other Tailies that may have joined the Others

From the DHARMA Initiative/Others:

• Remained on the Island: Ben
• Unknown fate: Amelia, Harper Stanhope, Adam, Vanessa, and those from the Temple who had joined Locke and fled after the mortar attacks, etc.

From the Black Rock:

• Left the Island: Richard

From the Kahana:

• Left the Island: Miles, Frank

From the Elizabeth:

• Remained on the Island: Desmond (Ben suggested Hurley should send him home.)

Off-Island

• Previously left the Island: Walt, Aaron, Eloise Hawking
• Never been on the Island: Penny and Charlie Hume, Ji-Yeon Kwon

Production notes

General

• The sound that accompanies the "LOST" logo in the end of every episode is changed for this episode: instead of the suspense-like sound, a more peaceful sound is played.
• The end credits of the episode ran alongside images of what appears to be the wreckage of Oceanic Flight 815 with no living people present. These were not part of the episode; ABC have confirmed that they were added as a soft, nostalgic transition between the ending of Lost and the next show. [1]
• Matthew Fox claims that he knew from the start of the show that the final shot would be Jack dying and closing his eyes.
• "The End" aired just five days after the previous episode, "What They Died For". This is the second-shortest time between airings of original episodes in the US, after "Because You Left" and "The Lie", which appeared back-to-back on the same night.
• "The End" is the longest running episode of LOST at 105:34 minutes.
• "The End" was followed by JKL! Aloha to Lost, a special wrap-up retrospective of the show featuring many of the cast.
• ABC estimates that 20.5 million unique viewers watched the series finale of Lost during its 2-1/2 hour broadcast. The final half-hour was watched by 15.31 million viewers and a 6.4/19 (rating/share) with adults 18-49. 1
  • The simulcast broadcast between 5 and 7:15 am in the UK attracted an average audience of 635,000 viewers, more than its regular Friday night time slot. In Spain the same simulcast had an audience of 400,000 viewers. 2
  • Despite the simulcast (which was partially to reduce piracy), this episode was the most pirated television episode ever on bit torrent networks. [2]
• As the Ajira Flight 316 plane flies over the Island, it makes the same sound as that used as the transition sound to the "Flash-sideways timeline".
  • This is the last sound that Jack hears before dying.
• Elizabeth Mitchell filmed the hospital scenes on her birthday in the early hours and the cast and crew had a small celebration for her (March 27th).
• Filming wrapped up at 5am on Saturday 24th April 2010. This is also the same day that filming for the pilot wrapped up 6 years earlier and also Damon Lindelof's birthday.
  • Post production was completed on Monday 17th of May 2010.
• The scene where the MiB stabs Jack on the cliffs involved swapping out a real knife for a collapsible one. During one take, the swap was not made properly and Matthew Fox was stabbed by the real knife, which was fortunately stopped by a Kevlar pad that Fox wore under his shirt. Matthew Fox tried out various protection pads for that scene and it just so happened that when the accident happened he was wearing the kevlar pad, the others of which were not stab proof. It was even suggested that he not bother using a pad at all before the incident happened. (Geronimo Jack's Beard)
• The penultimate scene with Jack and Christian in the back room of the Church was witheld from shooting scripts. When the scene was filmed, the set operated with a high level of security and was off-limits to everyone with the exception of Matthew Fox, John Terry and a few select members of crew. Even other cast members were not allowed near the set when that scene was taking place. (Geronimo Jack's Beard)

Appearances

• Zuleikha Robinson (Ilana) does not appear.
• Maggie Grace (Shannon) appears in this episode, her first appearance since "Exposé", an absence of 59 episodes.
• Vincent appears in this episode, his first appearance since "The Incident, Part 1", an absence of 17 episodes.
• Ian Somerhalder (Boone) appears in this episode, his first appearance since "LA X, Part 1", an absence of 15 episodes.
• Most of the episode's guest stars are credited alongside the main cast instead of in the usual guest portion of the credits for the final episode. This meant that twenty-eight actors were credited as starring, the most of any episode. The guest stars credited with the principal cast included:
  • All former main cast members who appear — Jeremy Davies, Maggie Grace, Rebecca Mader, Elizabeth Mitchell, Dominic Monaghan, Ian Somerhalder, and Cynthia Watros.
  • The majority of long running recurring guest actors — Sam Anderson, L. Scott Caldwell, Francois Chau, Fionnula Flanagan, John Terry, and Sonya Walger.
    • This is the first time Chau has been credited for his performance.
  • Cynthia Watros and Sonya Walger appear without lines.
• Ana Lucia, Eko, Ilana, Michael, Nikki, Paulo, and Walt are the only main characters of the series to not appear in new footage in the finale. This episode also makes Eko, Nikki, Paulo, and Walt the only main characters not to appear in new footage in season 6.
  • Walt is shown in archival footage during a revelatory montage and Ana Lucia appears in archival footage on the "Previously on Lost" segment.
  • Eko, Nikki and Paulo are the only main characters never to make an appearance after departing the series, all in season 3.
  • Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Eko) was offered a guest spot in this episode, but negotiations failed as it is claimed he asked for a fee five times what he was offered. [3]
• Saïd Taghmaoui (Caesar) was originally meant to be an important part of the setup of the ending of Lost, but this was changed when the actor refused to come back because of other filming commitments. [4]. [5]
• Jack, Kate, Hurley, Locke, Sun, Jin, Boone, Shannon, Claire, Charlie, Sayid, Sawyer, Rose, Walt and Vincent are the only characters who appear in the first and last episode of the series. Michael is the only main character of the first episode who doesn't appear, although Walt appears in archival footage only.
  • Rose and Vincent are the only recurring characters who appeared in the first and last episode of the series.

Bloopers and continuity errors

• In the scene where the Man in Black asks Desmond if he knows where they are going, the same shot of MiB turning around in surprise is used twice. First when he is surprised to hear Desmond guess correctly that they are going to a "very bright light", then again when he hears Ben's walkie-talkie.
• When Jack and the Man in Black are standing over the Heart of the Island, the rope hangs slack when he reaches the bottom but the wires of his harness can be seen on the left side of the screen.
• Where Jack and the Man in Black fight in the rain on the cliffs, the aerial shots show dry cliffs and surfaces.
  • When the rain stops and Kate, Hurley and Sawyer appear, the ground around them changes from wet to dry repeatedly.
  • During the fight in the rain, several nearby cliff faces collapse but when the sun comes out the cliffs look no different than they did previously.
• Kate's breath briefly fogs the camera while she talks to Jack after his fight with the Man in Black.
• While Jack is walking through the bamboo, the blood from his nose appears and disappears.
• The amount of blood on Ben's chin changes between shots after Sawyer hits him at the Well.

Analysis

Recurring themes

• The episode ends with a shot of Jack's eyes. (Eyes)
• Jack and the Man in Black die. (Life and death)
• Richard and Frank are revealed to be still alive. (Life and death)
• Jacob, then Jack, then Hurley take it on faith that the world will be destroyed if they stop protecting the light. This parallels Desmond's reason for pressing the button. (Faith)
• Sun and Jin reunite. (Relationships)
• Jack tells the Man in Black he chose to be the island's protector, later Jack tells Hurley he has to be the protector even though he doesn't want to. (Fate versus free will)
• Sawyer calls the Man in Black "Smokey", Miles "Enos", Hurley "Bigfoot", Frank "Chesty", Juliet "Blondie" and refers to Jacob as "the burning bush" and Desmond as a "magic leprechaun". (Nicknames)
• Desmond discovers a skeleton at the Heart of the Island. (Life and death)
• At the concert the main guests sit at table 23. (The Numbers)
• The number of the candy in the vending machine Sawyer wants is G23. (The Numbers)
• In position G24 in the vending machine is a bar called 'Avalon'. (Religion)
• The Man in Black tells Benjamin he would leave him in charge of the island only to later tell him he's going to bury the island at the bottom of the ocean. (Deceptions and cons)
• Sayid and Shannon reunite. (Relationships)
• It rains when the stone in the Source is pulled out. (Rain)
• Claire gives birth to her son Aaron in the afterlife. (Life and death)  (Rebirth)
• Claire and Charlie reunite. (Relationships)
• Sawyer and Juliet reunite. (Relationships)
• Kate tries to shoot the Man in Black for killing their friends on the sub. (Revenge)
• Desmond successfully pulls out the stone in the Source because of his resistance to electromagnetism. (Electromagnetism)
• Ben suggests to Hurley that the latter can run things on the Island different to Jacob. (Leadership)
• Hurley and Ben forge a new partnership to protect the Island. (Relationships)
• After all the survivors reunite in the church, they proceed to "move on". (Religion) (Redemption)
• Vincent is with Rose and Bernard and later beside Jack as he dies. (Animals)
• A low electromagnetic hum can be heard during each character's revelatory montage. (Electromagnetism)
• Ben seems to join the Man in Black. He then joins Jack in his effort to halt the Man in Black. He then risks his life to save Hurley and ultimately allies with him to protect the Island. (Redemption)

Storyline analysis

• The Man in Black becomes mortal again upon the disconnection of the Source. (Life and death)
• Jack passes the job of the Island's protector to Hurley after he decides to restore the Source. (Leadership)
• Sayid and Shannon, Claire and Charlie, Sawyer and Juliet, and Jack and Kate all reunite in the afterlife. (Relationships)
• The Man in Black mentions Jack and Locke's previous disagreement over pushing the button in the Swan. (Rivalries)

Cultural references

• Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
  • Hurley thinks that Jacob is worse than Yoda, the enigmatic Jedi master introduced in this 1980 film. (Movies and TV)
  • Later in the same scene he says "I have a bad feeling about this", a recurring phrase in the Star Wars movies. (Movies and TV)
• The Dukes of Hazzard: Sawyer refers to Miles as "Enos," the deputy on this 1970s television show. (Movies and TV)
• Bigfoot: Sawyer refers to Hurley as "Bigfoot", after the large hairy creature that supposedly inhabits forests in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. (Pop culture references).
• Mountain/Burning bush: Sawyer says to Jack "Why don't you come down from the mountain and tell us what the burnin' bush said." In the Biblical book of Exodus, the burning bush is the location at which Moses was appointed by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into Canaan. "Come down from the mountain" refers to the later story of Moses descending from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, which had been written onto stone tablets by God Himself. (Religion and Ideologies)
• The Prisoner: Hurley says Ben was "a real good Number Two" and Ben says Hurley was a "great Number One" - on the 1960s British sci-fi/espionage series "The Prisoner," the mysterious leader of The Village and his second in command were refered to as "Number One" and "Number Two." Like Jacob (and possibly Hurley), Number One is never seen and issues orders from behind the scenes, while Number Two, like Richard and Ben, acts as an emmissary for and advisor to Number One. (Movies and TV)

Literary techniques

• The flash-sideways is revealed to be a place created by most of the characters to find each other after death before "moving on". (Plot twist)
• In the opening montage, we see Ben loading the gun that would eventually defeat MiB as he glances at him. (Foreshadowing)
• As Kate empties her gun pointlessly on the Man in Black, he jokingly advices her to save her bullets. Later on, Kate would use the remaining bullet in the decisive moment of the fight. (Irony)  (Foreshadowing)
• Jack and MIB, representing good and evil, work together to lower Desmond into the cave. (Symbolism)
• After Desmond is lowered into the Heart of the Island, Jack and Locke peer from above in the same way they once did, down on the Swan's hatch, where Desmond first appeared. (Juxtaposition)
• Though Boone disliked his sister's relationship with Sayid, in the flash-sideaways he willingly helps bring them together again. (Juxtaposition)
• Before Locke is wheeled into his operation, Jack jokes that he could kill him. On the Island, Jack would kill the Man in Black in Locke's form. (Foreshadowing)
• After being thankful he was not Jacob's replacement, Hurley instead becomes Jack's replacement. (Irony)  (Plot twist)
• The Man in Black takes the form of John Locke, a man who fell eight stories and broke his back, to manipulate the other characters. He dies after being kicked off a cliff and landing on his back, presumably breaking it. (Irony)
• Sawyer hits Ben with his elbow, only to later try to save Ben when he's pinned under a fallen tree. (Irony)
• When Juliet tells Sawyer the secret to get the candy bar out of the vending machine, she says you can unplug it and plug it back in again and that it's technically legal. This is what Desmond and Jack do with the Heart of the Island. (Foreshadowing)  (Symbolism)
• After Jack plugs the Source, sacrificing himself, we cut to the statue of Christ the Redeemer. (Symbolism)
• As the flash-sideways ends, the characters sit in rows on either side of an aisle, forming a scene similar to an airplane cabin. (Symbolism)
• Jack goes to the same spot and dies where he originally regained consciousness right after the crash of Flight 815. On his way there, he passes the same single white sneaker he passed running to the crash site. It is now very dirty and worn after more than three years of hanging on the branches in the elements. (Symbolism)
• Before Jack's death, Vincent arrives so he doesn't "die alone." (Symbolism)
• The series finale ends with a visual effect opposite to how the show began, with the closing of Jack's eye and a pan over the wreckage. (Symbolism)
• After Jack kills the Man in Black, the scene cuts to flash-sideways where a nurse comments "Nice work, Dr. Shephard." (Juxtaposition)
• Jacob, the protector of the Island was kicked into fire by the Man in Black. Jacob's successor, Jack, kicks the Man in Black off the cliff much in the same manner. (Symbolism)

Episode connections

Revelatory montages

• During Sun's ultrasound, we see clips from her previous ultrasound, Sun revealing she speaks English, the launching of the raft, their reunion after the raft sank, Sun announcing her pregnancy to Jin, Jin massaging Sun, Sun presenting her baby at Jin's grave, the Kahana explosion, their reunion after three years and their death. ("D.O.C.")  ("...In Translation")  ("Exodus, Part 1") ("Collision")  ("The Whole Truth")  ("Ji Yeon") ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 3")  ("The Last Recruit")  ("The Candidate")
• When Sayid and Shannon touch, we see clips of them at Shannon's shelter on the night they made love, Sayid brushing Shannon's hair at her first shelter he helped build, Sayid helping Shannon pick up her belongings, their last and first kisses and Sayid taking Shannon to a planned picnic. ("Abandoned")  ("...In Translation")  ("Exodus, Part 2") ("Do No Harm")
• As Claire gives birth, we see a clip of her earlier delivery. ("Do No Harm")
• When Charlie and Claire touch, we see clips of their first meeting, Charlie's imaginary peanut butter, Claire cutting his hair, Charlie's bjorn and their kiss. ("Greatest Hits")  ("Confidence Man")  ("Born to Run") ("Exodus, Part 2")  ("Live Together, Die Alone, Part 2")
• When Locke's feet move, we see clips of his regaining the power to walk, smiling with an orange peel, throwing knives with Walt, embracing the rain and seeing the monster. ("Walkabout")  ("Pilot, Part 1")  ("Special") ("All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues") Right after, we see Locke and Jack look down the hatch. ("Exodus, Part 2")
• When Sawyer and Juliet touch, we see clips from their kiss in the Barracks, Sawyer at the docks convincing her to stay on the island, Juliet's last words, their realizing the Dharmaville time was over and Juliet falling down the Swan shaft. ("LaFleur")  ("LA X, Part 1")  ("Follow the Leader") ("The Incident, Part 2")
• When Kate touches Jack's face after the concert, we see clips from their formal introduction, their first meeting and their first kiss. ("Pilot, Part 1") ("What Kate Did")
• After Jack touches Christian's coffin, we see clips of his first sight of the island, his helping survivors among the wreckage, reviving Charlie, operating on Boone and helping Shannon with her asthma. Locke pulling him up a cliff, hearing of Sawyer's meeting Christian, calling the freighter, flying away in the helicopter, passing Kate on the way to the lighthouse, talking to Kate while imprisoned, meeting Kate for the first time, and Jack and Kate's final kiss goodbye. ("Pilot, Part 1")  ("All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues")  ("Do No Harm") ("White Rabbit")  ("Exodus, Part 1")  ("Through the Looking Glass, Part 2") ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 3")  ("Lighthouse")  ("Every Man for Himself") ("The End")

Episode references

• Jack tells Desmond that he had once tried to change their destiny, but failed and there are no "do overs", and that whatever happened, happened. ("The Incident, Part 2")
• Jack is wounded in the neck and the vicinity of his appendix (previously removed by Juliet) by the Man in Black, injuries which spontaneously manifested on a few occasions in the flash-sideways universe. ("Something Nice Back Home")  ("LA X, Part 1")  ("Lighthouse") ("What They Died For")
• The Man in Black asks Jack if he is reminded of their hatch entrance while lowering Desmond inside, followed by mentioning their argument over pushing the button. ("Man of Science, Man of Faith")  ("Orientation")
• In the "flash sideways timeline", Charlie is wearing white tape on 4 fingers of his left hand which has the letters "F A T E" on them in black marker. ("Pilot, Part 1")
• When Kate examines Jack's stab wound he says, "I'll be fine, just find me some thread and I'll count to five." ("Pilot, Part 1")  ("The Incident, Part 2")

Episode allusions

• The first episode of the series, "Pilot, Part 1", begins with Jack opening his eyes, near Vincent, in the bamboo grove with Christian Shephard's white tennis shoe nearby. The final episode of the series ends with Jack returning to the same location and closing them, as Vincent lies down beside him. ("Pilot, Part 1")
• Jack dies with a stab wound in the right side of his abdomen, mirroring the wound he had on the left side of his abdomen when he woke after the crash. ("Pilot, Part 1")
• Claire gives birth to Aaron assisted by Kate. ("Do No Harm")
• The scene of the Man in Black and Jack looking down the cave is similar to Locke and Jack looking down the blown up hatch. ("Exodus, Part 2")
• When Sawyer hears of Jack's plan, he says, "That's one hell of a long con." ("The Long Con")
• Juliet gives Sun an ultrasound. ("D.O.C.")
• Jack, Kate, Hurley and Sawyer meet the Man in Black, Ben and Desmond on the very same ridge where the survivors met Ben and Alex in the Season 3 finale. ("Through the Looking Glass, Part 1")
• The title of this episode hearkens back to the title of the first episode of Season 4. ("The Beginning of the End")
• The opening of the coffin is similar to opening Locke's coffin in the Season 4 finale. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 3")
• The circular pool at the bottom of the cave of light, with a removable plug in the center, appears to be a larger version of the sink hidden in Ben's house which Ben drained to summon the Smoke Monster. ("Dead Is Dead")
• The hospital vending machine again sticks when delivering an Apollo bar. ("The Incident, Part 2")
• Juliet's last words (both before and after her death) are repeated. ("LA X, Part 1")  ("LA X, Part 2")
• Jack announces the ending to Sawyer, as foretold by Jacob. ("Across the Sea")
• Jack is stabbed right where his appendix was taken out, preventing more serious damage. This mirrors Locke losing his kidney and it saving his life when Ben shoots him. ("Something Nice Back Home")  ("Deus Ex Machina")  ("The Man Behind the Curtain")
• Jack kicks the Man in Black down the cliffs reminiscent of the way the Man in Black kicked Jacob into the fire. ("The Incident, Part 2")
• As the Man in Black observes to Jack, the act of lowering Desmond into the cave of light is reminiscent of the survivors' initial exploration of the Hatch. ("Man of Science, Man of Faith")
• Hurley shoots Charlie with a tranquilizer dart and brings him into his car with Sayid. ("Because You Left")
• Locke regaining feeling in his legs after the operation is similar to Jack's ex-wife realizing she still has sensation in her legs after her operation. ("Man of Science, Man of Faith")
• The stone plug we see in the light cavern was alluded to by the corked wine bottle that Jacob showed Richard and the Man in Black, a bottle which the Man in Black was unable to uncork. ("Ab Aeterno")
• Jack looks into Christian's empty coffin. ("White Rabbit")
• The Man in Black being kicked off the cliff by Jack mirrors Locke being thrown out of the window by Anthony Cooper. ("The Man from Tallahassee") ("The Incident, Part 2")
• Christian's final conversation with Jack about "all things being real" was very similar to the speech Libby gave to Hurley when they were on the cliff. ("Dave")

Unanswered questions

For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: The End/Theories

External links

• ABC Press Release
• 20.5 Million Watch At Least 6 Minutes Of Lost Finale