Tabula Rasa (Lost)

Infobox Television episode | Title = Tabula Rasa
Series = Lost
Season = 1
Episode = 3
Guests = Fredric Lane
Nick Tate
Airdate = October 6, 2004
Production = 101
Writer = Damon Lindelof
Director = Jack Bender
Episode list = "Lost" (season 1)
List of "Lost" episodes


Caption = Jack finds Kate's mugshot
Prev = Pilot
Next = Walkabout

"Tabula Rasa" (Latin: blank slate) 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.

Plot

The signal party return down the mountain, but decide not to tell the others about the French transmission, fearing that the message will cause panic and deprive the survivors of their hopes. When a fight breaks out over who should keep the gun, the others agree to give it to Kate. Upon arriving at the beach, Kate secretly tells Jack about the French transmission.

The group of survivors continue to tend to the Marshall. In the process, Jack and Hurley learn about Kate's past as a convict. The Marshall's moans of pain have an effect on the other survivors, who believe that Jack is unable to save him. He tells Jack that he wants to speak with Kate, to find out about the favour she tried to request on the plane before it broke apart. While Kate is in the tent, Hurley tells Jack that she has a gun. Jack sees Kate leave the tent, followed by a gunshot from inside; Sawyer then walks out from the tent. He explains that he shot the Marshall in the chest, aiming for his heart, as an act of kindness. However, it is revealed that he missed, piercing the Marshall's lung instead, and leaving him in even more pain. Jack says that it will take hours for the wound to bleed out and throws an extremely shaken Sawyer out of the tent. After the sound of a struggle from within the tent, Jack emerges looking distant and upset. He walks by Sawyer without saying a word. It is implied that Jack was forced to suffocate the marshall in order to end his suffering.

Elsewhere, Michael asks Walt about his conversation with Locke. Walt tells Michael that Locke believes a miracle happened on the island; Michael then instructs his son to stay away from Locke. Michael searches for Walt's dog Vincent in the jungle. However, loud roaring causes him to panic and he flees, stumbling across a topless Sun washing herself. Locke eventually finds Vincent using a dog whistle that he made; however, he leaves it to Michael to return Vincent to Walt, saying that he thinks Walt's father should be the one to find the dog.

Kate offers to tell Jack what her crime was. However, he declines, grimly stating that their past lives aren't important and that they all died when their plane crashed.

The episode ends with shots of the main cast, seemingly more hopeful and optimistic, including the mysterious Locke who is staring darkly at Walt and Michael.

"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 to turn her in to the authorities to claim reward money. When she sees the marshall driving behind them, she jerks the wheel and causes the vehicle to crash off the road. She loses her chance to escape, however, when she pulls Ray from the burning vehicle."