Chapter Eight: "All that's left are wasted years…"

[Shot of Andie washing some clothes near the ocean at the beach. She's staring out to sea as she wrings the clothes in her hands, off in a world of her own.

Sawyer: You know there's a washer and dryer down at the hatch. You never seen a Laundromat?

Andie: My bras are too delicate for the machine; it'd destroy the fabric.

[She shows him one of her bras. He gives her a cheeky smile.

Andie: And I'd like to keep the clothes I have in somewhat good condition.

Sawyer: You been washing everyday up here. What's the attraction? Same as every other part of the beach.

Andie: Not exactly the same. (She pauses) You're not here.

[She turns and smiles at him.

Sawyer: Funny.

Andie: Is there something that you want, Sawyer?

Sawyer: Thought I'd say hi; forgive me for being polite.

[He turns to leave.

Andie: Hey Sawyer?

[He turns back.

Andie: Thank you...y'know…for everything.

[She looks at him uncomfortably.

Sawyer: Anytime.

[She gives him a half-smile. He walks away.

[Close up on Andie's face leads into Flashback.

[Shot of Andie doing the washing up at the sink in a home. She looks absentmindedly out the window as she does it.

[A man enters. Nick Matthews. He has short brown hair, is quite muscly and has a Texan accent. He is wearing only a pair of jeans.

Nick: Hey, baby, have you seen my shirt?

Andie: Check the laundry.

[Nick goes into a room and comes out throwing a shirt on. He comes up behind Andie and kisses her neck.

Nick: I wish you didn't have to go.

Andie: I know, but I do.

Nick: L.A. is so far away, tell Cindy to change the ticket to somewhere in this country.

Andie: Oh, I thought you'd be happy; I'm heading back to your old home.

Nick: Texas is not L.A.

Andie: But I went to Texas, didn't I?

Nick: Yeah, so, let's go back.

Andie: I can't, Cindy got this ticket out of luck. One person. Straight to L.A. No changes.

Nick (sighs):How long will you be gone?

Andie: No longer than a couple of weeks, I promise.

[She turns and hugs him.

Andie: The second I get off the plane I'll get a return ticket. I'll be back before you know it.

Nick: Yeah, well, two weeks is too long. We haven't been apart longer than three days for almost three years now.

[She stops hugging him and places her hands on his chest.

Andie: I know. (Pause) So, think of it as a challenge. We'll be stronger by the end of it.

Nick: Then will you marry me?

Andie: Ask me when I get back.

[Nick smiles and they kiss.

Nick: Okay, I gotta get to work.

[He kisses her cheek and starts to leave.

Andie: Hey Nick?

[He turns around.

Andie: Thanks.

Nick: Anytime.

[Flash back to the island. Andie still washing the clothes and looking out to sea.

[Shot of Jack sleeping on the couch at the hatch. Kate enters and the sound of her steps wakes him.

Jack: Hey.

Kate: Hey.

[Jack sits up. Kate sits beside him.

Kate: Sleep okay?

Jack: Not really. But who can? (Pause) What's up?

Kate: I wanted to talk to you about Andie.

Jack: What about her?

Kate: Do you know what happened with her in the jungle the night before last?

Jack: Yeah. I talked to her but she doesn't really want to talk about it. Why, what happened?

Kate: I'm worried about her. She doesn't talk to anyone anymore; not even Claire. She leaves the beach in the morning and doesn't come back 'til dark. It's messing with her.

Jack: She was stranded here on her own before being taken by the Others then stumbles across you in the jungle and realizes she's not alone here. I can't even begin to think what that's like. Maybe this is how she deals with things. (Pause) Maybe she doesn't want our help.

[Shot to Andie walking through the jungle with clean laundry. She trips and stumbles forward. She drops the clothes and they spill everywhere.

Andie: Crap.

[She bends down and picks them up, but suddenly stops and looks at her left hand.

Andie: Oh god. (She grabs her finger) My ring. My ring!

[Andie starts frantically grabbing through the clothes and luckily finds her ring. She sighs and sits cross legged on the ground, looking at it.

[Head into FLASHBACK.

[Andie jumps out of her truck which is parked out the front of her home. The rain is pouring down so she runs inside. She shuts the door behind her and leans against it looking miserable. Nick comes in from the other room.

Nick: Andie? What's wrong?

[He goes over to her.

Nick: Where've you been?

[Andie doesn't reply.

Nick: Andie!

[He grabs her shoulders and looks at her.

Nick: What's going on with you?

Andie: I just…I…(she looks at him) I have to get packing.

[She pushes away from the door and from Nick and walks through the house.

[Shot of Andie in the shower. As she's washing her hair, she gets flashes of memory. She sees herself shooting the gun, Joseph face as she kills him, and the faces of his children as he falls to the ground; dead.

[Time lapse – Andie comes out of her bathroom in a towel and walks into her bedroom. Nick is sitting on the edge of the bed.

Nick: Feel better?

Andie: Yeah.

Nick: You're not gonna tell me why you're upset, are you?

Andie: I'm fine, Nick. I swear.

Nick: Well, you're lying. (She smiles) Maybe this will make it better.

[He hands her a small, ring box. Andie hesitates before sighing and taking the box.

Andie: This better not be what I think it is; cos we had a deal.

Nick (smiling): It's not, its--just open it.

[Andie does. It's the ring. It's silver with an amethyst stone in the centre with a diamond on either side.

Andie: Oh…Nick…

Nick (standing):Now, don't freak out, okay? It's not an engagement ring.

Andie: Oh, well you can see how the ring would throw me off.

Nick: It's just like…a promise, I guess.

Andie: A promise?

Nick: Call it an engagement, engagement ring. Like, you're agreeing that sometime in the future we'll actually get engaged.

Andie (smiles): You are so lame it's cute.

Nick: It's my Southern charm.

Andie: Oh, really?

Nick: Oh yeah.

[He leans in and kisses her.

Andie: Alright, I'll take the damn ring.

[She takes the ring and puts in on her finger. She admires her finger.

Andie: Oh, that's pretty.

Nick: Have I said I'm gonna miss you?

Andie: Once or twice.

[He goes to kiss her again but the phone rings.

Nick: I'll get it. You wait here.

[Nick leaves. Andie watches him go then sits on the end of the bed and looks at the ring.

[Flashback to Andie on the island sitting on the ground almost exactly like she is on the bed in her memory.

[Andie sighs and starts packing up the rest of the clothes. She stands up and continues on her way back to camp.

Man's Voice: Hello Andie.

[Andie freezes and turns to her right. She sees a man wearing old jeans and a checked shirt; Danny Pickett.

Andie: Who are you?

Pickett: You don't remember me?

[He starts walking towards her.

Pickett: You're very clever. You got away from us.

[Andie starts to breathe heavily.

Andie: Oh my God. You're one of them.

Pickett: Not gonna happen again.

[Andie screams.

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