Special - Recap

Michael is walking through the jungle and looking for Walt. He runs into Jack and Hurley. They haven't seen him. Michael continues his search. Hurley tells Jack that Michael seems like he hates being a father. However in his FLASHBACK, Michael is ecstatic about becoming a father. He wants the best for his son whilst he and his girlfriend are shopping for cribs. He picks one of the most expensive ones. Michael says he is going to do construction to make money while Susan finishes law school. She's concerned that Michael is giving up his art, but Michael insists that he will go back to it later. Michael picks the name "Walt" for his baby - after his father. They continue playful conversation about the baby.

Back in the jungle, Locke is teaching Walt how to throw a knife whilst Boone watches on. Walt completely misses the tree the first few times. Locke encourages him to keep trying and tells him to picture hitting the tree in his mind's eye. This time, Walt throws the knife and hits the target perfectly. Boone is amazed. Locke is impressed. Michael finds them and is furious. He tells Walt to go back to camp. He yells at Locke for letting Walt play with knives. Michael brandishes the knife towards Locke, which prompts Boone to lunge at Michael, to protect Locke. They wrestle until Locke breaks them apart. Locke tells Michael that Walt is special and should be treated like an adult. This way he will realize his full potential. Michael tells Locke to stay away from Walt.

FLASHBACK: Walt is a baby. Michael is playing with him whilst arguing with Susan. Susan says she has a huge job opportunity in Amsterdam and that she is going to take Walt with her. She says that they both know the relationship hasn't been working and they need some time apart. Michael refuses to let Walt go. However, Susan tells him that she can provide better for Walt since Michael hasn't worked in months. Since they aren't married, any court would certainly side with the child's mother. Michael takes a last look at Walt and is heartbroken.

Back on the island, Michael is sitting by a camp fire and watching Walt sleep. Sun approaches him. Michael admits that he doesn't really know how to be a good father but he does know that it would not be good for Walt to grow up on the island. He is determined to build a raft; he finds Jack and Sayid so he can tell them his plan. However, Jack and Sayid don't think it would work, so Michael decides to build it on his own. He finds Walt, who is reading a comic book, and gets him to help.

FLASHBACK: Michael is standing at a payphone. He is begging to speak to Walt. Susan says he is only 2 and can't talk to him. A man's voice can be heard in the background. Michael learns that Susan is dating her boss, Brian. Michael says he is coming to Amsterdam to get his son. He slams down the phone and walks across the street. Just as he takes his first step onto the road, he is struck by a car. Michael lays unconscious and bloody in the middle of the road.

Back on the island, Charlie is searching through Claire's belongings. He wants to find clues if he can, but he is also looking to give himself some comfort. He finds that her diary is missing. Kate tells Charlie to find Sawyer, because he most likely has it. Sawyer, never known to give up something easily, teases Charlie about the diary. He knows Charlie is curious as to what Claire wrote about him. Charlie punches Sawyer in the face, grabs the diary and runs off. After he is gone, Sawyer tells Kate that he hadn't gotten around to reading the diary yet.

Walt and Michael are scavenging through the plane remains and other materials. They are looking for things to use to build the raft - metal, tubes, cushions, plastic, tarps, etc. Walt sees Locke and Boone walking back to the caves. He tells Michael that he is going to get some water but he secretly follows them. Shannon stops Boone and asks him why they haven't brought back any boar. She tells him that his time would be spent better if he came and helped build the raft with her and Michael. Boone refuses her invitation. Locke tells Walt that they have to respect his father's wishes and that he cannot come see him anymore. Michael finds them and is furious at Locke for talking to Walt again. Locke explains that he just told Walt that he wouldn't be spending any more time with him. He gives Michael a pencil as a peace offering. Michael doesn't accept and says that if he sees Locke with Walt again, he'll kill him. Walt calls Michael a jerk for sending Locke away and also for not being there when he was growing up. "You only showed up when Mom died. You're not my father." Michael is clearly hurt by Walt's words, but he tells Walt that he is going to have to start listening to him. He yells at Walt to stay where he is and then throws his comic book in the fire.

FLASHBACK: Michael is sitting in a wheelchair in a hospital. He tells his nurse that he is making a card for Walt's 2nd birthday. Suddenly, Susan appears in the doorway. She was concerned because she hadn't heard from him in two months. Michael is disappointed because she didn't bring Walt with her. Susan says she is paying for all of his medical costs. Michael knows there is something else going on. Susan tells him that she and Brian are getting married and moving to Italy. Oh, and Brian wants to adopt Walt. She tells Michael to think of what's best for Walt, not his own feelings.

Back on the island, Hurley tells Michael that Walt took off with Vincent. Michael says he knows where Walt is going and heads straight for Locke. Locke has no idea where Walt is and says he will help Michael find him. Walt is walking with Vincent in the jungle when a noise startles them. Vincent breaks his leash and runs away. Walt chases him.

FLASHBACK: Walt is staring at Vincent while Susan and Brian talk about work. Walt interrupts them. Susan tells him to do his homework. Walt says he needs help with his report on the birds of Australia. Susan starts to feel sick and stops paying attention to Walt. Walt continues to call out for attention, when a bird flies into the sliding glass door that leads to their porch. Brian looks freakishly at Walt, almost blaming him for this.

Back in the jungle, Walt is searching for Vincent when he is startled again by another noise. FLASHBACK: Michael is in his own apartment. He opens his door and finds Brian. Brian tells him that Susan is dead. He confesses that he doesn't want to be a father and that he adopted Walt because Susan wanted it that way. He gives Michael plane tickets and money. Though Michael wants to take Walt, he thinks of Walt's best interests and says that Walt needs Brian right now. Brian is the only father Walt really knows. Brian says he can't take care of Walt and says that there is something "different" about him.

On the island, Michael and Locke find Vincent's leash. Suddenly, Walt cries out for help. FLASHBACK: Michael is waiting in Brian's house for Walt to come home from school. A nanny tells Michael that Walt will be home soon and then gives Michael a box filled with unopened cards and letters. It is everything Michael has sent to Walt over the last eight years. He has never seen them.

In the jungle, Walt is trapped inside the vines of a Banyan tree. There is a giant polar bear banging on the outside of the tree. FLASHBACK: Walt returns from school and sees Michael in his living room. Walt doesn't recognize his own father until Michael tells him that's who he is. Michael tells Walt the he's going to take care of him now and tries to make him feel better by telling him that he can bring the dog too. Walt tells him that Vincent is Brian's dog. Michael says that Brian is giving Vincent to Walt.

In the tree, Walt calls for his dad to help him. Michael and Locke find the Banyan tree. They climb a different tree and then walk along vines to get over to Walt. Since the polar bear is attacking, Locke throws Michael a knife. Michael then drops the knife down to Walt. Walt stabs the polar bear, which allows Michael to climb down to Walt. He wraps his son in vines and Locke pulls him to safety. The polar bear returns and attacks again. This time Michael stabs the bear in the neck, injuring it and forcing it to run away. Walt is worried about Vincent but Locke tells him that he has returned once and will return again. Michael smiles appreciatively at Locke.

Later, at the campfire, Michael decides to finally show Walt the box. Walt is surprised to learn that his father had sent him all these things over the years. Walt is confused as to why his mother never gave them to him. Michael tells Walt that she saved them because she wanted him to have them someday. Meanwhile, Charlie tries to fight temptation but finally gives in and reads Claire's diary. Claire wrote about how Charlie made her feel safe. He also finds out that she had some dreams about a "black rock". Charlie tells Sayid about her dream. Sayid confirms that the French woman mentioned a "black rock" in her papers. They think this might be where they can find Claire, but they cannot look for her in the middle of the night. Out in the jungle, Locke and Boone are looking for Vincent when they see something rustling in the leaves. Locke is concerned it may not be the dog so he takes out his knife. Suddenly, Claire walks through the bushes. She is dazed and confused, but nonetheless alive...

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