Act 1, Scene 19
A small crowd, including Boone, Shannon, Kelso, Michael and Walt, have gathered on the beach to hear the Marshall speak. Carla and Turk are also present, and we see Jack and Dr. Cox approach.
MARSHALL: …the last thing I want to do is alarm anyone.
SHANNON: Oh right, so there's a murderer on the loose and we're supposed to be the Brady Bunch about it?
TURK: Hey I know you're upset, but there is no need to badmouth the Bunch.
BOONE: Helpful as ever, Shannon.
WALT: I don't believe him.
MICHAEL: (putting his arm around him) Walt, now's not the time-
WALT: (shakes off his father's arm)I don't care if now's not the time. I spoke to her and she was nice. Besides, why would she want to hurt any of us? We're all stuck here on this dumb island together. Hurting us won't get her anything.
MARSHALL: You're all hoarding various supplies for yourselves, I assume? (off their looks) Yeah, I thought as much. You really think a murderer will stop at anything if she's starving, or thirsty, or needs medical supplies?
CARLA: So she doesn't get any of those things, is that right? And here's a question for you; what are you going to do with her if you do catch her, Mr Lawman? Build a jail out of bamboo sticks and guava? Pass sentence yourself? Stand guard over her for however long it is before we get rescued?
JACK: (to Dr. Cox) I like her.
DR. COX: Steady, stubble boy. There's a line.
MARSHALL: I'll decide what's to be done with her after she's back in my custody.
KELSO: That's what this place needs, dammit! A man of conviction! Not another simpering pathetic snivelling doctor!
There is a low – but noticeable – undercurrent of assent from one or two people standing in the main crowd.
MARSHALL: I'm proposing a few of us go into the island to flush her out. Another few can stay here and guard the women and children on the beach.
TURK: (to the Marshall, as we see Carla bristle beside him) Ouch. Shouldn't have said that.
CARLA: Guard the women? And maybe later you heroes can come back and we'll wash your feet and bring you the latest copy of Tropical Island Gazette, would you like that too?
JACK: I don't think it's a good idea.
MARSHALL: I don't think I asked you.
DR. COX: Well hell, I'm asking him. (turns to Jack standing beside him, arms folded) Say Jack ol' buddy, seeing as how you're in possession of 100 more of that thing us pathetic snivelling doctors like to call a brain than certain other individuals who I won't name (he turns and, arms still folded, makes manic jumping motions to indicate the Marshall) can you tell the class why it's a bad idea?
JACK: We've got bigger priorities right now.
MARSHALL: Bigger? Bigger than catching a murderer?
During the following speech Jack walks very slowly and purposefully toward the Marshall, and Dr. Cox jumps up and down with excitement.
JACK: Well, yes! Bigger as in we still have to dispose of the bodies before disease spreads and there's no-one left for her to murder, since she is obviously the most crazed serial killer the world has ever known…bigger as in we are running out of bottled water extremely quickly and if we don't have any water, then what's she going to stab us to death for in one of her inevitable killing sprees…bigger in that we need shelters; it just rained for two hours and if it does that during the night we are in serious danger of hypothermia and besides, if we don't have some sort of shelter then what's she going to store all of our mangled corpses in? I'd say all of those are pretty big problems, wouldn't you Marshall sir?
Dr. Cox, Turk and Carla explode with rapturous applause. Dr. Cox wipes away an imaginary tear and pats Jack on the shoulder.
DR. COX: Not even two days I've had this boy. And look at him. (fake sob) Why do they have to grow up so damn fast on you…
MARSHALL: (addressing everyone) Looks to me like you've got a choice, people. We're stuck here. We don't know how long for. But until rescue comes we need to have someone who makes the tough choices. And since we're all (he glares at Jack and Cox) civilised people here I figure we should vote for who that person oughta be. So…I nominate myself.
CARLA: Get outta town! You wanna run?
MARSHALL: (ignoring her) I've been in law enforcement for over twenty years. I will keep us from descending into anarchy. I will guarantee the security of each and every person here. I will organise us to find water, gather food, build shelter, and maintain a signal fire. I swore an oath to protect the innocent and I will keep that oath.
KELSO: Got my vote.
Quite a few others murmur their assent.
MARSHALL: Anyone else want to stand?
All eyes naturally turn to Jack. He seems distinctly uncomfortable.
BOONE: I do.
This takes everyone by surprise, except Shannon it seems. She rolls her eyes.
SHANNON: You? You couldn't inspire steam from a kettle.
BOONE: (hotly) I manage my own company, Shannon. When was the last time you managed anything – apart from maxing out your credit limit?
They begin to bicker. We move over to Turk and Carla as they do so.
TURK: (to Carla) huh?
CARLA: (to Turk) I don't speak WASP. We need Elliot to translate.
TURK: Elliot. (shakes his head in wonderment) Man, of all the people not to need to win the Lottery. How did she do it?
CARLA: I know…
Dr. Cox has had enough of the sibling rivalry. He steps in with his trademark 'quit it right now if you know what's good for you' whistle.
DR. COX: Did I change channel to reruns of Tropical Island 90210 without realising? Now…Legs, Skinny…we all realise you've probably got some buried rich-people problems and I'd just like a moment to reassure you all that, well, we don't care. None of us. Not even idle curiosity. So stow it. And by the way, I nominate Jack.
MARSHALL: Anyone else? (when none is forthcoming, he indicates Boone and Jack)Would either of you like to say something?
BOONE: Yeah, sure. (clears his throat nervously) I know I haven't had much opportunity to speak to any of you yet, but uh, like I say I run my own company and so I've got good organisational skills. And I'll, I'll treat everyone with respect.
SHANNON: Wow. Now I know how people felt listening to the Gettysburg Address.
BOONE: Thank you, Shannon. Knew I could count on you.
The Marshall turns to Jack and raises his eyebrows challengingly. Jack, again under scrutiny, glances around at everyone and then seems to relax slightly.
JACK: I have no particular desire to lead anyone. You pretty much all heard what my priorities were a few seconds ago – getting rid of the bodies, water source, shelter. If you choose me, fine. If you don't, I'll still work toward those things, because it's what I feel we have to do, what we need to do until we get off this island.
He stops speaking and shrugs slightly, as if to say 'I'm done'.
MARSHALL: Show of hands fine with you two?
Jack and Boone glance at each other, and nod.
MARSHALL: (not entirely sincerely)Best of luck…
Act 1, Scene 20
JD is sprinting through the trees. Some distance to his left, Sawyer is running as fast as he can; to his right, Charlie is doing likewise. All are being pursued by the unseen monster. Trees are toppling like ninepins. JD leaps from a log and half-falls, half-stumbles down a small slope, hitting the bottom and getting up to begin running again almost immediately. He's absolutely terrified…and suddenly, there is no sign of Sawyer or Charlie behind him, but every sign of the monster chasing.
And gaining.
JD risks a glance behind and sees a tree be tossed aside, the huge bark whizzing mere feet above his head. His pace falters as he realises he's not going to outrun whatever it is that's after him. He has only one other option.
There's a thick cluster of trees to his left. He dives in and slides between them, keeping close to the ground. After a few seconds he stops, completely out of breath and yet trying as hard as he can to make no noise whatsoever, hoping against hope that the thing out there won't find him.
But it has.
It begins to tear into the trees around him, stripping away his hiding place piece by piece. The roaring and mechanical whirring and clanking are deafeningly loud, and all JD can do is lie there and wait to be taken just as the pilot was.
And then-
JANITOR: Hey! Hey! Over here!
JD looks out of his tiny hiding hole, disbelieving. Across the clearing the Janitor has emerged from the trees and is waving his arms and jumping up and down, trying to attract the monster's attention. He pauses for a moment to look at the amazed JD.
JANITOR: (shrugs) Figure I owe you one.
His dancing around has the desired effect. The presence detaches from its attack and moves with terrible swiftness toward the Janitor. All JD can see through a cloud of dust and leaves is the Janitor pulled flat onto his back and dragged into the trees, disappearing with one last cry.
JD is too shaken, too stunned to speak. We stay on his face as he shakily gets to his feet and stares at the spot where the Janitor vanished. We pull back into the trees ourselves and leave him standing there, alone.