Chapter Fifty-four:

"I can't bring you back."

[At the beach, Ryan and Tom argue as they walk.]

Ryan: It was an order, Tom, we had to follow it.

Tom: Ben doesn't know what the hell he's talking about, he's lost it! I mean look at what they did to us. Instead of putting four bullets in the damned sand, we should have killed them for real.

[Sayid, Jin and Bernard are still tied up with a third Other pointing his gun at them. Andie still has her hands tied as she leans against a tree looking exhausted.]

[Further away, Juliet and Sawyer observe.]

Sawyer: All they got left is three guys and four guns.

Juliet: And all we've got, James, are two people and no guns.

Sawyer: So we'll wait til night.

Juliet: That isn't going to change the fact that we're unarmed, if you wanna kill yourself, fine, but before you go I can try-

Sawyer: Shh! You hear that?

[They turn to see the DHARMA van speed right by them. Hurley drives it through a tent and straight towards Ryan and Tom. Tom dives out of the way while Ryan fires at Hurley. He misses, however, and Hurley ploughs right towards him. Ryan dives out of the way just in time.]

Male Other: Ryan!!!

Ryan: Shoot them!!

[The Male Other watching Sayid is about to shoot Sawyer but Sayid kicks him, knocking him down before he can fire. Sayid then wraps his legs round his neck, breaking it before he shoots Sawyer. Then he swiftly slips his tied up arms through his legs so he can undo his ropes.]

[Hurley prepares to get out of the van but Sawyer pushes the car door back shut. Tom gets to his feet near Andie, but his attention is on the van so she takes the chance and trips him. Tom hits the ground heavily and Andie kicks him fiercely in the ankle with her heel, causing his ankle to break. He hollers in pain and tries to crawl away]

[Shot to Andie trying to get out of her ropes. Ryan advances on her quickly with his gun at her head.]

Ryan: So long, baby.

[He aims and is about to shoot when he's hit with two bullets in his back. As he falls, it's revealed that both Sawyer and Sayid shot him once. Sayid hurries over to her.]

[Shot to Hurley shutting off the van looking exhilarated.]

Hurley: Woo!

Sawyer: Stay in the bus, Hugo.

[Sawyer grabs Ryan's gun off the ground as Jin, Bernard and Sawyer all look with surprise, as Sayid nods to Sawyer. Tom crawls to another gun on the ground, but Juliet grabs it and steps on his hand, causing him to cry out with pain.]

Juliet (Points the gun at him) Stay right there, Tom.

Tom (Turns to Sawyer): Ok. I give up.

[Sawyer pauses, and then shoots him in the chest, surprising Juliet.]

Sawyer: That's for taking the kid off the raft.

Hurley: Dude it was over, he surrendered.

Sawyer: I didn't believe him.

[Shot to Sayid helping Andie out of her ropes.]

Sayid: How are you feeling?

Andie: Fine. You?

Sayid: I've been better.

[Sawyer comes into view. Sayid looks up at him and then stands. The two nod at each other then Sayid goes over to Bernard and Jin. Andie gets to her feet.]

Andie: Why did you come back?

Sawyer: Figured you'd need my help. (He looks her up and down) You okay?

Andie: Yeah, I think so. I got grazed by a bullet but it's not that bad.

Sawyer: I mean...the kid...

Andie: The baby's okay, James. At least I hope so.

[They're silent for a few moments.]

Andie: I'm glad you came back.

[She approaches him and hugs him. He pauses but then hugs her back quite tightly.]

Sawyer: Same here.

[They break apart as they hear Hurley on one of the Others walkies.]

Hurley: Attention, Others. Come in, Others. If you're listening in, I want you to know that we got you bastards. And, unless the rest of you wanna be blown up, you best stay away from our beach-

[Jack's voice comes over the walkie.]

Jack: Hurley?

Hurley: Jack?

Jack: Where are you, what's going on?

Hurley: Dude. I'm back at the beach.

Jack: What?

Hurley: Yeah I went back to help Juliet and Sawyer I, I saved them.

Jack: They're OK, Sawyer and -

Hurley: Everyone's fine. Me, Sawyer, Andie, Juliet, Sayid, Jin, Bernard. We're all-

Jack: What, wait. Bernard, Andie and Jin and Sayid, they're with you?!

Hurley: Yeah dude, I told you, I saved em all.

[Everyone's shouts with relief can be heard over the walkie.]

Jack: Hey, stay where you are, we're almost up to the tower. You'll be safer there.

Hurley: Yeah I got ya, we'll stay put until you like, phone home.

[More cheers can be heard. Then Claire's voice's comes over the speaker.]

Claire: What about Charlie, did he make it back yet?

Hurley: Not yet, but they're probably paddling home as we speak. Don't worry; I'm sure he's fine.

[Hurley looks out at an empty sea.]

Hurley: See you soon, guys.

[He turns off the walkie and goes over to the others.]

Hurley: There almost at the tower.

Bernard: Sayid, I'm sorry I told them about the radio tower.

Sayid: We're getting rescued; I forgive you.

Andie: Oh my God; we're getting rescued. We're really going home.

Hurley: I know; it's—hey!

[He spots something down the beach.]

Hurley: Hey. Hey; it's Desmond. Look, Desmond's back.

[They all look. Shot to down the beach where Desmond is trudging back.]

[Shot of Andie.]

Andie: Where's Charlie?

---

[FLASHFORWARD]

[Shot of an expensive looking car pulling up to a home. Scan shot reveals Andie getting out of the car. She is wearing an engagement ring on her ring finger. She walks up to the house and knocks on the door. No one answers so she just opens it and goes in.]

[Shot of inside the house; it's a mess. The sink is overflowing, there are clothes and half unpacked boxes everywhere, beer bottles lying on the floor and most of the lights are off.]

Andie (calls): Hey; it's me! The door was open!

[There's no response.]

Andie: Hello?

[She enters the living room and sees someone half asleep on the floor in the midst of all the mess. Shot pans up to reveal Jack; beard and all.]

Andie (under her breath): Jesus.

[She moves closer to Jack.]

Andie: Jack? Jack!

[She claps her hands.]

Andie: Look alive, Jack!

[Jack stirs. Andie goes over to him and kneels before him. She takes his head in her hands and shakes him a little.]

Andie: Jack? It's Andie. Wake up.

[Jack opens his eyes.]

Jack: Andie?

Andie: Yeah.

Jack: What are you doing here?
Andie: You called me.

[She stands up and starts absentmindedly picking up the crap around Jack; like she's done it a million times.]

Jack: Oh yeah.

Andie: Dammit, Jack, I didn't help you get this place so you could trash it.

Jack: I'm sorry.

[As she's cleaning, Andie picks up a ripped newspaper article. Jack sees her looking at it.]

Jack: You heard?

Andie: Yeah, I heard.

[She tosses the article back down.]

Jack: You going to the funeral?

Andie: I don't know yet.

[She gives up cleaning and looks at Jack.]

Andie: You look like hell.

[Jack laughs.]

Jack: I feel like hell.

Andie: Come on.

[She reaches for Jack. He takes her hands and she pulls him to his feet. He slings an arm around her shoulder as she leads him out of the room.]

[Shot to Jack's bedroom. Andie sits him on the bed and watches him concernedly.]

Andie: Why are you doing this to yourself?

Jack: Doing what?

Andie: Don't play dumb; you know what. The drinking, the drugs, shutting out everyone in your life who cares about you; it's crazy.

Jack: A lot of things are crazy, Andie.

Andie: What does that even mean?

[Jack doesn't answer, he just lies back on his bed. Andie gives up and heads out.]

Jack: Wait, Andie, wait.

[She pauses and turns back.]

Andie: What?

Jack: How, ah, how are things? With you?

[She goes back to him.]

Andie: What are you doing?

Jack: I wanna know how things are going. (Beat) How's the baby?

[She sighs.]

Andie: Good. Bigger every day.

Jack: Kids tend to do that. And, how's, ah, how's-

Andie: Stop it, Jack.

Jack: What?

Andie: Pretending that we're okay. We're not; not after what happened.

Jack: Andie.

Andie: I gotta go.

[She starts to leave.]

Jack: Andie; wait.

[He follows her.]

[Shot to the hallway where she's heading for the door. Jack comes stumbling out behind her.]

Jack: Andie; please.

[Andie turns around.]

Andie: What is it?

Jack: Do you ever...think about what would have happened? If we hadn't been rescued?

[Andie sighs.]

Andie: Sometimes.

Jack: What would you say if I told you I wanted to go back?

[Andie almost laughs.]

Andie: Don't be stupid.

Jack: I'm serious.

Andie: Then you really are crazy, Jack. We had to get out of that place and...no matter what has happened since then I still think it was the best thing to do.

Jack: We have to go back.

[Andie sighs and gets teary eyed.]

Andie: Do what you want. I don't care anymore.

[She heads for the door. Jack goes after her.]

Jack: Wait.

Andie: Kate asked me to tell you; stop calling her.

Jack: Wait.

[Andie heads outside to her car. Jack follows.]

Jack: Andie; don't go.

[Andie, who is half in her car, turns back to Jack, tears in her eyes.]

Andie: I have to get back to my family.

[She leaves a heartbroken looking Jack, gets in her car and pulls out of the driveway. Jack slinks over to the front steps, sits down and cries.]

[Shot of Andie driving away, tears streaming down her face.]

[End of episode]

[End of season three.]

AUTHORS NOTE - Season 4 – Detrimental – will be up tomorrow :] Also, unlike seasons 2 and 3 of Andie Parker, this one will not be written in script format :] Hope you tune in!! ;]