"Alligator Farm" - An episode for late in Season 5

[hundredand8]

[align=center][size=large]Lost

”Alligator Farm”

An episode for late in Season 5

written by hundredand8[/size][/align]

On the island, the camp at night

Everyone is asleep except for Jin and Bernard who are on guard duty. The only sound is of the waves hitting the shore. Suddenly there appears to be a struggle, someone is groaning. This is followed by the sound of a thump. It is silent again. Vincent starts barking; one by one the survivors wake up.

KATE: Did you hear that?
SAYID: Yes, I heard that. We need to search the camp, try to account for everyone.
JACK: Who was on guard duty?
JIN: 나는 아무것도를 보지 않았다
SUN: He says he did not see anyone.
BERNARD: I didn’t see anyone either on my side.

Vincent is running around barking. More and more people arrive, the whole camp has now woken up

CLAIRE: What happened? Is everyone OK?
SAYID: We don’t know that yet.
HURLEY: They took Sawyer, man. His tent is empty.
JACK: That doesn’t mean they took him, Hurley. Your tent is empty too, but you are standing right here.
HURLEY: Dude, when I say empty I mean empty. His stash is gone.

On the island, at the edge of a swamp, early morning

Sawyer is surrounded by his captors. Alpert removes the hood from Sawyers head.

SAWYER: How sweet. You missed me so much you just had to go and catch me again.
BEN: Don’t flatter yourself, Ford. I need you and some of the items in your stash. If you help me, I will let you go.
SAWYER: So where are we, exactly? I didn’t see a thing under that damn hood.
ALPERT: And you would still be carrying it if we were on firm ground. But you need to watch every step now because we are going to walk through this.

Alpert points at the ground in front of them

SAWYER: Damn. A swamp. I hate swamps.
ALPERT: I know, I read your file, remember?
SAWYER: Tell me there are no alligators in this swamp. If there is one thing I hate more than a swamp it’s a swamp full of alligators.
BEN: You will love this one. This swamp is full of crocodiles.

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A visitors platform in the Everglades

Sawyer and Hibbs are leaning over the railing looking down on a huge alligator basking in the mid day sun

HIBBS: National Parks. What a waste of a good business opportunity. Have you any idea how much money you can make from one of these? Handbags, boots, Chinese restaurants in Miami will snap up the meat. You can even sell the teeth to tourists as souvenirs.
SAWYER: So that’s why you brought me here? You want to start a career poaching?
HIBBS: Hell no. You need more than a 9 millimeter to kill that son-of-a-b itch. And then? That thing weighs half a ton. And if you think about the mess you get when you try to extract the merchandise? Hell no, you should know me better than that. I’m after the fast buck. This would be work.
SAWYER: Then why did you bring me here?
HIBBS: Money laundering. I’ve got a shop in Tampa. Called “Aligator Farm”. Sells boots and handbags.
SAWYER: That doesn’t sound like a fast buck to me.
HBBS: It is if you don’t actually sell boots and handbags.

Sawyer and Hibbs start walking down the stairs from the viewing platform

HIBBS: Turns out there is an over population of alligators in the park. Rangers need to reduce it. That’s where you come in. They catch them for you; you just drive a truck down here and collect them.
SAWYER: You want me to drive a truck? To bring alligators to your farm?
HIBBS: No, I want you to release them back into the wild. Just after you picked them up. Rangers will be none the wiser.
SAWYER: You got a soft spot for wild things now? How is that a money spinning operation?
HIBBS: Look, its simple. We don’t make handbags, we don’t make boots. We never sell them either. We just tell the tax man we do. If they visit the shop they find a good collection there. We just move that around from time to time, redecorate the store. We declare some profit, Uncle Sam makes a few bucks, and we live the good life. Easy money.
SAWYER: But sure someone will buy these damn handbags?
HIBBS: If they are stupid enough? Maybe. There’s a shop just down the road from mine, sells much better quality, twenty percent cheaper. Trust me, we won’t have any real customers.
SAWYER: So the money we are laundering, where does that come from?
HIBBS: You don’t need to know that. All you need to know is every time you come down here, there is a black plastic bag waiting for you with 50000 bucks inside at the place where you release the alligators. You get to keep 5000, and you bring the rest back to Tampa.
SAWYER: 50000 bucks! Every time? Hell, how much have you got?
HIBBS: You don’t need to know that either. Tell you what, look at it as a steady job for the next two years. It will do you real good to settle down for a while. Tampa is a nice town. Let’s get out of here, I’ll show you the place where you release the alligators.

On the Island. An area of slightly higher ground in the middle of the swamp

BEN: We are here.
SAWYER: Here where?

Ben points at a metal door in the ground

SAWYER: Another hatch?
ALPERT: They called it the Frog.
SAWYER: Now what?
BEN: You will go inside and retrieve something for me. Something which is very important to – our survival.
SAWYER: Why me? Why not send some of your own men?
BEN: As you may have noticed, there aren’t that many of us left, Ford. Thanks to you and your – merry bunch of friends. And retrieving the item I want is dangerous. I can’t risk the life of one of our own people.
SAWYER: What if I get killed?
BEN: I’ll get Jarrah to do it.

Two of the Others open the door

BEN: Take off your shoes, and get ready to go down this shaft.
SAWYER: What the hell - no ladder?
BEN: Which is why you need this.

He takes out a rope from Sawyers stash.

BEN: You also need this torch, a walkie talkie, and this.

He takes out a ¼ inch Allen key

SAWYER: What’s that for?
BEN: I will explain it to you when you have found the box.
SAWYER: The box?
BEN: I said, take off your shoes.

At the edge of a swamp in the everglades, at night

Sawyer, driving a truck with “Alligator Farm” written on its side, stops in a lay by. As he opens the door “Down Town” by Petula Clark is heard for a brief moment. He walks straight down to a water hole, and picks up a black plastic bag. He opens the passenger door, to the sound of “Down Town”, and leaves the bag inside.

SAWYER: Easy money.

Sawyer opens the back of the truck, lets down the ramp and pushes a lever on the side. He quickly gets back into the truck and watches in the rear mirror, to the last notes of “Down Town”

SAWYER: See you later, alligator.

The radio starts playing a different song. Only a fraction of the first line is heard: “When I saw my baby walking...”

On the island, Kate, Jack, Sayid and Desmond are walking through the undergrowth

SAYID: It would appear that we are lost.
KATE: I know. The trail has been cold for the last hour. But we have got to find him. Who knows what they will do to him.
JACK: This is a waste of time. I think we should head back to where we last had a trail and start over.
SAYID: I agree in principle. But maybe we should climb that hill first, since we are almost there. Maybe we can see something in the distance.
JACK: OK, you and Desmond do that, Kate and I just stay put here and rest for a while.
KATE: Rest? I know you are not as desperate as I am to get him back. But we can’t afford to rest!
JACK: No I’m not as desperate as you are, but what would you have us do? Head back while they are going up there? We need to stay together.
DESMOND: So why don’t you come with us then, brotha?
SAYID: I agree with Desmond. You two should come with us.
KATE: You heard the man.

On the Island. An area of slightly higher ground in the middle of the swamp

Ben is holding a walkie talkie to his ear

BEN: Do you see it?
VOICE OF SAWYER: There is a rack full of old electronic junk, a couple of chairs and SON-OF-A-B ITCH!
BEN: What is it, Ford?
VOICE OF SAWYER: I just dropped the damn torch.
BEN: Just pick it up and carry on.
VOICE OF SAWYER: How do you mean pick it up? Its pitch dark!
BEN: Use your initiative. It can’t be far from where you are standing. Just get down on your knees and look for it.

A few moments pass

VOICE OF SAWYER: Wooaah! JESUS CHRIST! You didn’t tell me there were huge ugly spiders down here!
BEN: If I had told you, you wouldn’t have gone in. Pull yourself together, look for the box!
VOICE OF SAWYER: But I’m barefoot!
BEN: I know. As I said, look for the box.

A diner at a crossing

Sawyer parks the truck, locks it, enters the diner, sits down at a table and studies the menu. The waitress, a very pretty asian woman with curvy figure, approaches him.

WAITRESS: Anything you see that you like?
SAWYER: Yes, but it’s not on the menu.

The waitress smiles but gives Sawyer a disapproving look nonetheless

WAITRESS: James!
SAWYER: Steak sandwich, two beers.
WAITRESS: You got it.

A young man walks into the diner, wearing a T-shirt with a Geronimo Jackson album cover.

EDDIE: Are you the guy who drives the truck with “Alligator Farm” written on its side?
SAWYER: Sure am!
EDDIE: You got gators in there?
SAWYER: Sure do!
EDDIE: Dead or alive?
SAWYER: Live and kicking. But not for much longer.

Sawyer grins

EDDIE: Can I see them?
WAITRESS: Steak sandwich, two beers.
SAWYER: Thanks.
EDDIE: I’m Eddie.

They shake hands

SAWYER. James. No you can’t see them, too dangerous. Damn alligators can bite a man’s hand off without even trying.
EDDIE: So why do you drive them around alive? If they are so dangerous?
SAWYER: Keeps the meat fresh.

Sawyer grins again, while Eddie still looks disappointed

SAWYER: Here have the other beer.
EDDIE: Thanks.
SAWYER: Don’t mention it. Shouldn’t really have ordered two. Old habit - forgot I’m driving.
EDDIE: So where are you taking these gators?
SAWYER: Slaughterhouse outside Tampa. Real cheery place.
EDDIE: Tampa? What a coincidence! That’s where I’m going! Can you give me a ride?
SAWYER: Do not mistake coincidence for fate, Eddie.

On the island, Kate, Jack, Sayid and Desmond have reached the top of the hill

KATE: What is – that?

She points at a giant granite arm sticking out of a swamp in the distance

SAYID: I think we found another piece of the statue that I told you about.
DESMOND: You mean the foot with four toes, brotha?
SAYID: Indeed, and if I’m not mistaken then the hand has six fingers.
JACK: Any signs of Sawyer?
KATE: Why would he be at that statue?
JACK: I don’t mean that, I mean - anywhere.
SAYID: This was a mistake, I am sorry. I think it is time to go back and try to pick up the trail again.
DESMOND: I say this hike was worth it for the view alone.
JACK: So how do you think the foot ended up on one side of the island, and the arm in that swamp?
SAYID: You and I have seen far more mysterious things on this island since we crashed. Maybe we will find the rest of the statue one day, and then we can answer the question. Until then I suggest we worry about Sawyer.
KATE: You heard the man.

On interstate 75, heading north

Sawyer is driving the truck, Eddie is sitting in the passenger seat

EDDIE: Strange, I don’t hear any noises from the back.
SAWYER: Its pitch dark in there. Guess they are busy sleeping.
EDDIE: But don’t gators hunt at night?
SAWYER: Quit asking, OK? I’m not some god damn high school science teacher. I pick them up, I drop them off. That’s all I need to know about alligators.

The radio plays “I feel like going home“ by Muddy Waters

SAWYER: What about you, what’s in Tampa?
EDDIE: I heard that there was some work there as a life guard.
SAWYER: Oh, is that what you do?
EDDIE: That might be what I do. I don't know. All I know is I had to get out of where I came from. Dad's dead. Mom's a drunk. What about your parents?
SAWYER: I don’t have any parents.
EDDIE: Oh OK, sorry for asking.

On the Island. An area of slightly higher ground in the middle of the swamp

Ben is holding a walkie talkie to his ear

VOICE OF SAWYER: I’ve got it.
BEN: Well done! Just so you know, I had complete faith in you all this time.
VOICE OF SAWYER: You shut up. Now what?
BEN: Undo the sixteen screws on the lid, and open it.
VOICE OF SAWYER: But I need a free hand for this.
BEN: Its OK, just put down the walkie talkie while you are doing it. You will obviously need the torch.
ALPERT: What if he drops it on the way back?

Ben takes down the walkie talkie

BEN: What do you want me to do about that? If you wanted to, you could have gone with him.
ALPERT: No thanks.
BEN: Thought so.

Ben holds the walkie talkie to his ear again

BEN: Ford, how are you getting on?

A few moments pass

BEN: Ford?
VOICE OF SAWYER: Those damn screws are rusty, this will take a while. Quit hassling me, OK?
BEN: As you wish.

Ben looks at Alpert who frowns.

BEN: Trust me. This is going to work.

At the edge of a swamp in the everglades, at night

Sawyer, driving a truck with “Alligator Farm” written on its side, stops in a lay by. As he opens the door “Easy Money” by Billy Joel is heard for a brief moment. He walks straight down to a water hole, and picks up a black plastic bag. He opens the passenger door, to the sound of “Easy Money”, and leaves the bag inside.

SAWYER: Easy money.

As Sawyer walks to the back of the truck, two FBI agents suddenly appear, weapons drawn.

FBI AGENT#1: Put your hands where I can see them!
FBI AGENT #2: And don’t try anything funny!
SAWYER: What the hell?
FBI AGENT #1: James Ford, you are under arrest for posession of stolen currency and for conspiracy to...

A car approaches at high speed, tyres screeching. The two FBI agents jump to the side. The car swings round, and comes to a halt. From the open window, Hibbs fires his gun at the FBI agents who start to return the fire. As suddenly as the chaos started, it finishes again. Hibbs gets out of his car and looks down at the two FBI agents who are motionless. Also Sawyer has been hit, and is bleeding heavily from his chest

SAWYER: You set me up!
HIBBS: Does this look like a set up to you?

Hibbs turns one of the FBI agents over with his foot to look at his face

HIBBS: Do you have any idea how the feds got onto us?
SAWYER: I have - no - idea.
HIBBS: When you find out, let me know. I believe you have my number.

Hibbs turns around, and takes the money out of the truck. A fraction of the first line of a different song is heard: “When I saw my baby walking...”. He gets into his car and drives away as two alligators emerge from the water.

On the island, back at the edge of the swamp.

Alpert takes the handcuffs off Sawyer.

BEN: Thanks for your help.
SAWYER: Don’t mention it.
BEN: You can go back now.

Ben and his people walk off into the jungle, Sawyer shoulders his back pack, turns around and starts walking off the other way.

BEN: Oh and Ford...
SAWYER: What?

Ben aims his gun at Sawyer and pulls the trigger

BEN: I lied.

Sawyers body, thrown back by the bullet hit, lands in the swamp. Ben turns around and walks away as two crocodiles emerge from the water.

A bed in the ER at Miami Central University Hospital

Sawyer is connected to a life support machine. Eddie, wearing a uniform, stands by his bed watching one of the monitors. Sawyer wakes up.

SAWYER: You!
EDDIE: Lucky for you the gators are fed every morning by the rangers. Wouldn’t be possible to have visitors this close to them otherwise.
SAWYER: How did I get here?
EDDIE: Ambulance?
SAWYER: Thanks.
EDDIE: Don’t mention it.

Through the window, an Oceanic Airlines plane is seen approaching Miami airport. Eddie sits down besides Sawyer

EDDIE: I’ve got to give it to you, James. That was a clever scheme you and Hibbs have been running for the last eight months. But you forgot one thing.
SAWYER: And what would that be?
EDDIE: The parks gators are all tagged. Rangers got a bit suspicious when they starting catching the same ones over and over again.
SAWYER: Hibbs! Damn... you!
EDDIE: James Ford, you are under arrest for the murder of a federal agent and the attempted murder of a second federal agent. You have the right to remain silent. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
SAWYER: Amen.

[The Wizard]

Very good

[hundredand8]

Glad you liked it.

Just made a few tweaks to the lines before the shooting, and to the hospital theme. I thought it would be better if Eddie revealed to Sawyer where it all started to go wrong, rather than some arbitrary FBI agent.

[-x-madegurl-x-]

i loved that

haha "amen"

[Kiowa Warrior]

That was really good 108! Nice to see an interpretation of what Sawyer's Tampa job could be, and that Eddie is continuing his under cover career. And I'm shocked, deeply shocked, that Ben lied to Sawyer and then shot him after his usefullness was over :P

[Malion]

I like... and Eddie is back... he needed to be back. :P

This makes me want to write a future LOST ep... like, super future... LOST...In Space!

Battlestar Ga'lost'ica. :P

Ok... off topic... but I thought that was quite well written, you and me... we've got a lot in common.

[hundredand8]

Originally Posted by murl

i loved that

haha "amen"

I always felt that reading someone their rights on cop shows has a prayer like quality, so thats where that came from

Originally Posted by Ki

That was really good 108! Nice to see an interpretation of what Sawyer's Tampa job could be, and that Eddie is continuing his under cover career. And I'm shocked, deeply shocked, that Ben lied to Sawyer and then shot him after his usefullness was over

Thank you! Well, you know Ben...

Originally Posted by Malion

I like... and Eddie is back... he needed to be back.

This makes me want to write a future LOST ep... like, super future... LOST...In Space!

Battlestar Ga'lost'ica.

Ok... off topic... but I thought that was quite well written, you and me... we've got a lot in common.

Thank you! Except when it comes to voting in character games