Tabula Rasa (Lost)

"Tabula Rasa" is the third episode of the first season of Lost. It was directed by Jack Bender and written by Damon Lindelof. It first aired on October 6, 2004 on ABC. The character of Kate Austen is featured in the episode's flashback.

[edit] Plot

The group tends to the marshal, and in the process, Jack learns about Kate's past.

The signal party returns down the mountain, but decides not to tell the others about the French transmission in the fear that the message will cause panic and deprive the survivors of their hopes. When a fight breaks out over who should keep the gun, they agree to give it to Kate. When they get back Kate secretly tells Jack about the French transmission.

In flashbacks, Kate is in Australia and is awakened by a farmer, Ray, who wants to know why she is sleeping in his barn. Using the alias Annie, Kate is offered a job on the farm. When she later leaves the farm, she accepts a ride from Ray to the train station, but learns that he is planning on turning her in to the authorities for reward money. When she sees the marshal driving behind them, she jerks the wheel and causes the vehicle to crash off the road. When trying to save Ray, though, she loses her chance to escape.

Walt finds Locke playing backgammon, of which he explains the history. Locke then reveals to Walt a secret about the island. Michael asks Walt about Locke, and instructs his son to stay away from the man. Walt says that Locke's secret is that a miracle happened to him. Michael looks for the dog Vincent in the jungle and stumbles upon a topless Sun washing herself. Locke eventually finds the dog by using a dog whistle that he made, but he gives the dog to Michael, saying that he thinks Walt's father should be the one to find the dog.

The marshal's loud moans of pain take a toll on the group. He tells Jack he wants to speak to Kate alone. While she is in the tent, Hurley tells Jack that Kate has a gun. Jack sees Kate leave the tent, and they hear the gun being fired. Sawyer walks out of the tent and says he did what had to be done. However, the cries continue, and Sawyer reveals that he shot him in the chest, not in the head. He was aiming for his heart but missed. The bullet pierced the Marshall's lung thereby prolonging his death. Jack throws an extremely shaken Sawyer out of the tent and then euthanizes the Marshall. He then walks out of the tent without saying a word to Sawyer.

Locke is sitting calmly and blowing a silent whistle that he was seen making earlier, after a short time Locke's motive and the fact that the whistle was a dog whistle is revealed when the dog Vincent emerges and sits just in front of Locke. Locke then smiles and walks over to Michael telling him he found his son's dog and offering him a noble gesture to present Vincent to Walt himself as a way of bonding.

Kate offers to tell Jack what she did, but he declines grimly stating that their past lives aren't really important seeing as how everyone aboard the plane is evidently dead to the world.

There is then a song, called "Washed Away", by Joe Purdy, that is played as all the main cast seem to become more hopeful and optimistic, as Michael presents the dog to Walt, the focus concentrates on the mysterious Locke who is sitting staring darkly in their direction.

[edit] Reception

v • d • e Lost
Production	DVD releases • Episode list • Music • Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4
Main characters	Ana Lucia • Ben • Boone • Charlie • Charlotte • Claire • Daniel • Desmond • Hurley • Jack • Jin • Juliet Kate • Libby • Locke • Michael • Miles • Mr. Eko • Nikki • Paulo • Sawyer • Sayid • Shannon • Sun • Walt
Supporting characters	Alex • Bernard • Christian • Ethan • Rose • Rousseau • Tom
Groups	Dharma Initiative • Hanso Foundation • Oceanic Airlines • The Others
Miscellaneous	Awards • Find 815 • Lost Experience • Lost: Missing Pieces • Lost: Via Domus • Mythology