SEASON 3 EPISODE 14 - Exposé

Written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz

Directed by Stephen Williams                                          Transcripts Courtesy of

[Shot of Nikki frantically running through the jungle. She is carrying a bag and after running a short distance she drops to the ground and digs a shallow hole with her hands. She then removes an object from her bag, drops it in the hole, and covers it with dirt. She then staggers back to her feet and places the bag across her shoulder and resumes running. The scene then flashes back to a shot of Nikki who apparently is a pole dancer in a night club]

Announcer   And now, dancing on stage 3, the pride of St. Paul, Corvette.

[Nikki is under a spotlight on a stage. She steps forward, strips off her coat, revealing a skimpy silver bikini. She then begins pole dancing while the song Rump Shaker by Wreckx-N-Effect is playing. As she dances she takes notice of a man off stage who is walking into the club area from behind a curtain. As she continues to watch him he walks by and up a set of stairs. The scene then shifts to Nikki, with her coat back on, entering an office. TV show type action music begins to play and Nikki approaches a desk with a man sitting behind it, but with his back to her]

Nikki  No.

[There is a shot of a suitcase full of money on his desk]

Nikki  That's the money for the orphanage. That means Mr. LaShade, you're the Cobra.

[The person in the chair turns around to reveal Billy Dee Williams]

Billy Dee    Sorry baby it's just business.

Nikki    All this time is was you.

Billy Dee    Pretty and smart. What a shame.

[The man she followed up the stairs starts to remove a gun from his coat]

Nikki    Razzle Dazzle!

[Nikki then kicks the gun from his hand and karate punches him across the face]

Nikki    Hiyah!

[She then picks up the gun, but LaShade has already pulled his own gun out and he shoots her twice. She staggers backwards and falls down. LaShade stands up, walks over to her, and shoots her again. The door opens and two young scantily clad women run in and see the scene before them]

Billy Dee    Autumn. Crystal. Bad news. Corvette was working for the Cobra. But fear not, he will pay.

TV Director    And cut!

[A man raises a clip board in front of Billy Dee and drops the clip signifying the end of the scene. The TV show name Exposé is on the board]

Man 1    Checking guide.

Man 2    Checking.

Billy Dee    [To Nikki] Well let me give you a hand.

[He helps Nikki off the floor]

Nikki    Oh, thank you. Billy Dee it was so great working with you.

Billy Dee    Well, the pleasure's all mine. Thank you so much.

Nikki    You're sweet.

Billy Dee    Take care.

Nikki    You too.

[She walks off set to where the crew is located and the producer removes his headphones and stands to address the group]

Howard    Alright, that's a series wrap for Corvette. Let's hear it for Nikki.

[Everyone begins to applaud]

Man 1  Well done Luv.

Man 2  Well done Nikki.

Nikki  Thank you.

Woman  Well done Nikki.

Nikki  Thanks.

[Howard and Nikki walk off the set together]

Howard  Brilliant Nikki as always. You know you don't need to die. We can bring you back next season.

Nikki  [Smiling and laughing] How?

Howard  Well, we could say that uh...Corvette was wearing a bullet proof vest.

[She opens her coat to reveal her silver bikini]

Howard  [Smiling] Bullet proof breast.

Nikki  [Smiling] Look, I'm just a guest star. We all know what happens to guest stars.

Howard  Now that your work's done here I suppose you'll be leaving Sydney and heading back to L.A.

Nikki  No I'm not leaving Sydney. I love you.

Howard  Oh, I love you too.

[They kiss and the scene shifts back to the island where Hurley and Sawyer are playing an intense ping pong game]

Hurley  Uhuh!

[Hurley scores a hard fought point]

Hurley  Whoa!

Sawyer  [Frustrated] Son of a bitch. Alright, c'mon let's go 1 more.

Hurley  You said best out of 5.

Sawyer  Well now we're going best of 7.

[Hurley and Sawyer stare at one another as Hurley thinks it over. They are interrupted by the sound of Nikki staggering out of the jungle]

Sawyer  Ah.

Hurley  Uh...you okay?

[Nikki collapses and falls as Sawyer and Hurley rush to help her]

Hurley  What happened?

Nikki  [Out of breath and wheezing] Para...lyzed.

Sawyer  What the hell she saying?

Hurley  I don't know.

Sawyer  Let's get her some water. Get help.

[Sawyer looks around and sees no one while Nikki lies on the ground with her eyes opened, unable to speak, and then she does not move]

Sawyer  What are you doing? Get moving.

[Nikki looks lifeless]

Hurley  Dude...Nikki's dead.

Sawyer  Who the hell's Nikki?

[84 Days Ago. A flashback to Howard's home where Nikki and he are seated at a table having lunch]

Nikki  Mmm...Howie the frittata is amazing.

Howard  My new chef is fantastic. Paulo, come in here.

[Paulo enters the room carrying rolls]

Paulo  Yes sir.

Howard  Paulo, my boy, you have a new fan. I'd like you to meet Nikki.

Nikki  [To Paulo] The food is amazing.

Paulo  You're too kind. The secret is the um...shaved truffles. Luckily for you, they're in season.

Nikki  You know, [Whispering] you should ask for a raise.

Paulo  [Smiling] Hmm...

[Nikki laughs and Howard pretends to be hurt]

Paulo  Excuse me.

[Paulo exits]

Howard  He just came to Sydney. Heard I was hiring and showed up at my office every day until I gave him the job. Apparently back home, he is the Wolfgang Puck of Brazil.

Nikki  Wow.

Howard  Here. Try one of these homemade rolls. Please, please do.

[Nikki takes a roll and underneath it is a necklace]

Nikki  Oh it's...beautiful. Howie, you shouldn't have.

Howard  [Laughing] I realize of course, it's not a ring...not yet...but when my wife...

[Howard struggles to catch his breath and clutches his chest in pain]

Howard  Ohhh!

Nikki  Paulo! Paulo!

[Howard sighs one last time and dies. Paulo checks Howard's wrist for a pulse]

Paulo  He's gone.

[Nikki then leans over and rips Howard's shirt open. A key is visible on a chain around his neck and Nikki rips that off as well]

Nikki  I would have loved it if you could've figured out a way where I didn't have to eat the same food as him.

[The scene then shifts to Nikki and Paulo entering Howard's closet]

Paulo  So nobody else knows about this thing?

[Nikki removes a panel from the wall revealing a safe]

Nikki  Everything in here is way off the books.

[She begins to open the safe while Paulo starts to light a cigarette. She snatches it from his hand to his surprise]

Paulo  What?

Nikki  Ashes are evidence, Paulo. We poisoned him. Let's not poison ourselves.

[She hands the cigarette back and opens the safe revealing a matryoshka doll which she opens the contents and sees, but we do not]

Nikki  Razzle freaking dazzle.

[The scene shifts to Nikki lying unconscious on the beach with Sun, Charlie, Sawyer, Hurley, and Jin gathered around and sitting by her]

Charlie  What happened?

Hurley  We don't know. She's got no gunshot wound...no knife wound...no polar bear bite...nothing.

Sun  Maybe it was something she ate.

Charlie  Maybe she was poisoned.

Sun  We should check the food supply to see if anyone else is sick.

[Charlie lifts Nikki's arm and examines her hand]

Charlie  She's got gunk under her fingernails. [To Sawyer] Where'd you find her.

Sawyer  Right here. She stumbled out of the jungle...face planted...said something like plywood...and...an sayonara.

Hurley  Actually I think she said power lines.

Sawyer  Who the hell knows what she said. She was 5 seconds from dying. Probably seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...

Hurley

[Interrupting] Paulo lies! That's what she said, Paulo lies, not power lines, Paulo lies.

Sawyer  Who the hell's Paulo?

Hurley  Paulo's her...husband...or...or...boyfriend...or...whatever. They live down the beach.

Sawyer  Well, where the hell is he? Cause if he lies that might be a good place to start.

[80 Days Ago. A flashback to the Sydney airport where Paulo reads a newspaper at a table where they are sitting]

Paulo  [Reading out loud] English expat Howard L. Zukerman the creative force behind such hit shows as 'Exposé', 'Strike Team Alpha', and 'Dr. Kincaid, Esquire', was found dead in his palatial Sydney estate from heart failure.

[Nikki and Paulo laugh and kiss]

Nikki  Hmm. Are you chewing gum?

[He opens a bag with Exposé written on it and pulls out Nicotine gum and shows her. It is the same bag Nikki ran through the jungle with at the start of the episode]

Paulo  Nicotine gum. I quit.

[They raise their wine glasses]

Paulo  A toast. To our new life together.

Nikki  Cheers.

[They clink glasses and sip. Suddenly they are interrupted by the sound of Shannon complaining in the background]

Shannon  There's no where to sit. No tables. No chairs. Nothing. Good call Boone.

Boone  You want me to just grab a chair from the restaurant?

Shannon  No forget it, let's just leave. You already screwed us out of seats in first class. Why would you be able to find them here?

[Boone approaches Nikki's and Paulo's table and motions toward a chair]

Boone  [To Paulo] Hey, can I have this chair please?

Paulo  Yep. Be my guest.

Shannon  Boone! Let's just go!

Boone  [To Paulo] Thanks anyway.

Shannon  Boone!

Boone  I'm coming, Shannon.

Shannon  If you'd quit flirting with random guys, maybe we could actually get on the plane.

[They leave]

Nikki  Promise me we'll never end up like them?

Paulo  [Smiling] I promise.

PA System  Paging Captain Stewart. Please pick up courtesy phone. Captain Stewart...

[The scene shifts to the day of the crash were Shannon is heard screaming on the beach]

Jin  [Says something in Korean]

Shannon  Boone! Boone! Boone! Help! Help me! Please Help! Boone!

[Nikki is seen running through the wreckage. She sees Jack who is helping Claire, and Boone who is helping Rose]

Shannon  Boone!

[Nikki looks at the wing of the plane sticking in the air]

Shannon  Boone!

[She passes by Locke and a man who are helping an injured man walk. Locke turns back to another man standing too close to the jet engine]

Locke  Hey! Hey! Get away from there! [To Nikki] Hey get back! Get down! Get away from there!

[Turbine Man is sucked into the engine and it explodes]

Woman  Where are you?

[Nikki continues to stumble through the wreckage]

Nikki  Paulo! Paulo!

[She helps roll over a man she thinks might be Paulo, but it is Dr. Arzt]

Leslie Arzt  Are we alive? Did we survive? Look at me, am I okay? Am I okay?

[Boone runs up to Nikki]

Boone  Hey! Do you have a pen? Do you have a pen?

Nikki  Pen.

[Boone runs away]

Boone  Hey, does anyone have a pen?!

[Nikki continues to wander towards the end of the crash site and spots Paulo staring at the ocean. She approaches and he is in shock, breathing heavily, has blood on his face, but appears to not be seriously injured]

Nikki  Paulo. Paulo. Are you okay?

Paulo  Yeah. I think so.

Nikki  Baby, look at me. Look at me.

[She takes his head in her hands and he looks at her]

Nikki  Where's the bag?

Paulo  What?

Nikki  [Frustrated] The bag. Paulo, where is it?

[The scene shifts to show Paulo laying in the jungle in the same unconscious or dead state as Nikki. Sawyer, Hurley, and Jin can be heard approaching]

Sawyer  I'm telling you this is the trail.

Hurley  What do you know about tracking?

Sawyer Well, I know what a footprint is.

Jin  Over here.

[They look down at Paulo]

Hurley  Whoa.

Sawyer  I'm guessing that's Paulo.

Hurley  He's just like Nikki. No wound, no nothing.

Jin  [Says something in Korean]

Hurley  Yeah, I know.

[Sawyer looks around and sees a shoe in a tree]

Hurley  Why are his pants undone?

[Sawyer takes Paulo's shoe from a tree]

Hurley  And why is his shoe in that tree?

Sawyer  Maybe he stepped on something.

[Sawyer tosses Paulo's shoe to Hurley who catches it. Jin looks through a backpack while Sawyer looks deep into the jungle]

Hurley  You see something? Sawyer?

Sawyer  Nothing.

[Jin pulls a bottle of water from the backpack and screws off the cap. Sawyer sees this and runs toward him]

Sawyer  No! Don't.

[He takes the bottle of water from Jin and pours it out on the ground]

Hurley  Dude? What are you doing?

Sawyer  2 people are dead. You ever think they might have been poisoned?

Hurley  That's evidence. You're messing up the crime scene.

Sawyer  Crime scene? There a forensics hatch I don't know about?

Jin  Stop. Monster.

[75 Days Ago. Flashback to Nikki and Paulo looking through luggage]

Nikki  How many times do I have to tell you there is no such thing as monsters?

Paulo  Maybe it was a dinosaur.

Nikki  It's not Jurassic Park, Paulo, it's the South Pacific.

Paulo  Then what was it? You saw the trees move.

Nikki  Would you start focusing? We've been here for 6 days, okay. The coast guard is going to get here any second and I really don't think that they're going to take 'Hey, you know what? I'm looking for my script bag' as an excuse for not getting on the rescue boat.

Paulo  Okay, okay, okay.

[Ethan walks up]

Ethan  Hey. Did you guys lose your luggage? Yeah, I lost mine too. I found some other stuff though. So if you need anything, pants or sweatshirt...I can help you find some that fit. I'm Ethan, by the way.

Nikki  Hi, I'm Nikki.

[Nikki and Ethan shake hands]

Ethan  Hey, Nikki.

Nikki  And this is Paulo.

[Paulo and Ethan shake hands]

Paulo  Hi.

Ethan  Paulo.

Nikki  And you are so sweet Ethan, but actually we're not looking for clothes. Yeah, see Paulo here lost his nicotine gum.

Ethan  Ouch. You might have more luck looking inland.

Paulo  In the jungle?

Ethan  The plane split apart when it was over the island so some of the stuff might have rained down in there.

[In the distance an argument can be heard]

Boone  It was just sitting in the tail.

[Dr. Arzt passes by Ethan, Paulo, and Nikki]

Leslie Arzt  Boone! Boone took the water.

[The scene shifts to survivors arguing about the water shortage]

Boone  It got out of hand. No one would have understood.

Kate  What is going on?

Boone  Someone had to take responsibility for it. It would have never lasted...

[Charlie yells and pushes Boone to the ground and the scene is interrupted by Jack]

Jack  Leave him alone! It's been 6 days. We're all still waiting for someone to come. We have to stop waiting. We need to start figuring things out. Now I found water...fresh water up in the valley. I'll take in a group at first light. If you don't want to come then find a way to contribute. Because every man for himself is not gonna work. But if we can't live together...we're gonna die alone.

[The scene shifts to Nikki lying on the ground. In the distance Jin, Hurley, and Sawyer are carrying Paulo's body]

Hurley  I'm with Jin, it's the monster.

Sawyer  Yeah, because that makes the most sense.

Hurley  It does. Locke said when Eko died his last words were, 'you're next'. And Nikki and Paulo were with them. He was talking about them.

[They lay Paulo's body down beside Nikki's at the gravesite]

Sawyer  He wasn't saying 'you're next' about them. He was saying 'you're next' as in...'you're ALL next'.

Hurley  Yeah, that's not...really better.

Sawyer  Alright, so here's how I see it. We want to know what happened, we gotta find out whatever we can about these jabonies.

Jin  Jabonies.

Sawyer  Nina and Pablo.

Hurley  Dude, show some respect. You know their names. It's Nikki and Paulo.

Sawyer  Whatever, Hugo. Where's their tent?

[They begin to walk away]

Sawyer  We better get some shovels.

[57 Days Ago. Flashback of Nikki visiting Dr. Arzt hut in her bikini. He is busy examining something and his hut is stacked with jars containing his bug collection]

Nikki  Hey Dr. Arts.

Leslie Arzt  Oh, hi.

Nikki  You're a scientist, right?

Leslie Arzt  And...and an educator, yes.

Nikki  What are you doing with all this stuff?

Leslie Arzt  Oh, uh...well, since we've got here I've discovered 20 new species. I'm gonna be the next Charles Darwin.

[Nikki picks up a jar with a spider in it which concerns Dr. Arzt and he takes it from her]

Leslie Arzt  Uh...ah...ah...um...that is uh...Latrodectus regina. Very dangerous. They call her the Medusa spider. Her pheromones are very strong. One whiff and every male of the species would be here in seconds. [Smiling] Not unlike you I guess.

Nikki  [Smiling] So, you're probably too busy to help me then.

Leslie Arzt  Me...no...no...not...not at all. I'm fine. I can help you. What...what can I do you for.

Nikki  Well, I'm trying to find my luggage and since the plane broke apart over the jungle, I was wondering if you knew about trajectories...and stuff.

Leslie Arzt  [Laughing] Do I? Do I know about trajectories? Allow me to draw you a map madam.

[Scene shifts to Nikki and Paulo walking in the jungle with Dr. Arzt's map]

Paulo  Are you sure we should be listening to a high school science teacher?

Nikki  Junior high and yes. What's your problem with Leslie anyway?

Paulo [Sarcastically] Leslie.

Nikki  Oh, you're jealous.

Paulo  Of him? Huh? Never.

Nikki  Yeah, his spiders turn me on so much, I had to sleep with him to get the map.

Paulo  I wouldn't be surprised. You slept with Zukerman.

Nikki  [Hurt] I did that for us.

Paulo  Okay, I'm sorry, I just...I don't trust that guy. You should have gone to Ethan. He would have helped.

Nikki  Paulo, look.

[They look up and see the smuggler's plane]

Paulo  Another plane. Looks like it's been here awhile.

Nikki  Go up there. Maybe there's a radio or somewhere...

Paulo  Are you insane? If I go up there that thing is gonna fall.

Nikki  You're not gonna fall.

Paulo  What? You want me to die?

[Nikki just stares at Paulo like he's being dramatic]

Nikki  Come on. Let's keep moving.

[They keep walking and hear their feet land against something metal]

Nikki  What is that?

[They kneel and wipe the dirt off the hatch to The Pearl Station. Nikki turns the latch on one side and Paulo uses a rock to turn the latch on the other side.

Paulo  Okay, let's do it.

[They stand and lift each side of the hatch open which reveals the ladder which descends to the station. Paulo starts to climb in]

Paulo  Let's check it out.

Nikki  Whoa. So, our carry on bag fell from the sky, opened a manhole, crawled inside, and closed the doors behind itself? You don't want to climb up to a plane, but...

Paulo  ...Yeah...

Nikki  ...Now you want to climb down a ladder into a dark tunnel? I don't think so.

[Nikki slams her half of the hatch door down and walks away. The scene shifts to Sawyer looking through Nikki's and Paulo's shelter as Hurley looks on]

Hurley  Hey man, be careful.

Sawyer  Why, they don't live here anymore?

[Charlie walks up]

Charlie  So, Sun checked the food. They're eating the same as us and no one else is getting sick. Could be a virus.

Hurley  Dude, monster.

[Hurley notices a jar with butterflies in it]

Hurley  Creepy. They collected bugs?

Charlie  Ah, I think these were Arts's. He collected all kinds of different creepy crawlies before he...exploded.

Hurley  They must've been friends.

[Charlie finds a copy of a script that's labeled Exposé]

Charlie  Exposé.

Hurley  Did you just say Exposé?

[He takes the script from Charlie and begins flipping through it]

Charlie  Yeah.

Sawyer  What the hell's Exposé?

Hurley  Only the most awesome hour of television ever. It's like Baywatch only better. About Autumn and Crystal, 2 strippers that solve crimes with the help of their suave smooth talking club owner, Mr. LaShade.

Sawyer  How'd I miss that one.

Hurley  Check it out? Look at the cast list. Nikki Fernandez. That's gotta be why she was in Australia. This must've been her big break.

Charlie  It certainly sounds like it.

[Hurley continues to read the script]

Hurley  No way. Mr. LaShade was the Cobra?

Charlie  Is that supposed to mean something?

Hurley  Dude, the Cobra's this big bad guy. His identity's been shrouded in mystery for 4 seasons.

[Sawyer discovers a walkie and turns it on which makes it squawk]

Hurley  They had a walkie-talkie?

Sawyer  Every damn one of those bastards on the other side of the island had one exactly like this hanging from their belts.

Charlie  So how did Nikki and Paulo get one?

Sawyer  I'll tell ya how. They were working with the Others.

[48 Days Ago. Flashback of Kate, Shannon, and Dr. Arzt arguing on the beach]

Shannon  What gives you the right?

Kate  You have to understand we thought it was best for everybody.

Leslie Arzt  I'm sorry, are you my mother? Because she knows what's best for me. Other than that, I decide.

[Nikki and Paulo walk up to the group]

Nikki  Hey, what's going on?

Shannon  Kate and her 2 boyfriends found a case of guns that fell out of the plane, but they decided that they really didn't need to tell the camp...

Kate  Look. The case is locked. The key is around Jack's neck, alright. I promise you they're safe.

Leslie Arzt  You're all out of control. The pigs are walking here. Huh? The pigs are walking!

[Dr. Arzt and Shannon walk away and Kate looks confused]

Nikki  So, where did you say you found that case?

[The scene shifts to the waterfalls where Sawyer and Kate found the Marshal's case]

Nikki  It's just water, Paulo. Stop being such a wus and dive in.

Paulo  Why me?

Nikki  Well, as you had no trouble reminding me, I slept with Howie Zukerman, so the least you could do is go for a swim...and Kate said they found the case on the bottom.

Paulo  Let me ask you something?

Nikki  What?

Paulo  If you didn't need me to find that bag, would we still be together?

Nikki  That bag is worth 8 million dollars. Just dive in, Paulo.

[Paulo dives in and finds the bag underwater. He surfaces, but does not bring it to the surface]

Nikki  Well?

Paulo  Nothing.

Nikki  There's nothing down there?

Paulo  Just dead bodies.

[Nikki walks away and Paulo takes a deep breath and goes back under the water. The scene shifts to the gravesite where Nikki and Paulo lay. Charlie, Sun, Jin, Hurley, and Sawyer are standing around]

Hurley  Okay, so they had a walkie-talkie. You think they were working with the Others, like how?

Sawyer  Like Michael.

Charlie  If that's the case then why did they kill Nikki and Paulo?

Sawyer  Who knows why those people do anything. What matters is they could be out there right now waiting to get us.

Hurley  I don't know, dude. I was with the Others like, 2 weeks ago. They're on the total other side of the island.

Sun  Then who dragged me into the jungle?

[Charlie looks guilty and looks at Sawyer]

Sun  The Others came into our camp. They grabbed me, put a bag over my head, and if I hadn't gotten away they would've killed me.

Sawyer  Look, ya'll stay here. Let me see if I can see any sign of them.

[Sawyer removes a gun from the back of his pants]

Sawyer  I'll do a perimeter sweep.

Hurley  Where'd you get the gun?

Sawyer  [Motions to Nikki and Paulo] Got it off one of them.

Hurley  And when were you going to let us know?

Sawyer  I guess right now.

[Sawyer walks off and Hurley turns to the rest of the group]

Hurley  What exactly is a perimeter sweep?

Charlie  Shouldn't we cover them up?

Sun  Yes, of course.

[They pull a blanket over them. 32 Days Ago. Flashback of Paulo taking nicotine gum out of the Exposé bag. He then takes a 2 pieces of gum out and chews them. He looks around and begins to dig a hole on the beach. He is interrupted by Locke]

Locke  Nice night.

[He hides a matryoshka doll from Locke's view]

Locke  Whatcha doing?

Paulo  Nothing.

Locke  It looks like you're digging a hole. Every man's entitled to his secret's Paulo, but can I give you a piece of advice?

Paulo  Please, John.

Locke  You should put the shovel away and save yourself some trouble.

Paulo  Why is that?

Locke  Things don't stay buried on this island. The beach is eroding. Winter's coming, high tide. Whatever it is you're hiding, make sure you pick a spot that won't wash away. See ya back at camp.

[Locke leaves and the scene shifts to Paulo descending The Pearl Station. He explores the station using a flashlight and notices the monitors and a bathroom. He enters the bathroom and decides to store the matryoshka doll in the tank of the toilet. When he finishes he hears a voice, hides, and watches]

Ben  Who left this open?

Juliet  Tom was down here a couple of days ago.

Ben  Have him cover it up with the plane.

[They walk up to a monitor and tune it to the Swan station. Jack is visible on the screen]

Juliet  That him? Shephard?

Ben  Yes.

Juliet  He's cute. Why are we doing this? Shephard will never agree to do the surgery.

Ben  No, I can convince him to do it.

Juliet  How?

Ben  Same way I get anybody to do anything. I find out what he's emotionally invested in...and I exploit it.

Juliet  So, what, we just grab all 3 of them...Ford and Austen too.

Ben  No, they need to come to us.

Juliet  And how do we make that happen?

Ben  Michael of course.

Juliet  Are we done here? This place gives me the creeps.

[They turn off the lights and leave. Paulo then exits the bathroom and notices a walkie-talkie which he turns on to test and takes with him. The scene shifts to Hurley walking down the beach]

Hurley  Hey! Desmond, did you hear about what happened to Nikki and Paulo?

Desmond  Aye, tragic.

Hurley  So, do you know anything?

Desmond  How do you mean?

Hurley  Can you...ya know, use your physic powers?

Desmond  Doesn't work like that. I only see flashes.

Hurley  No offense, dude, but as far a super powers go, your's is kinda lame. Thanks anyway.

[Hurley turns and walks away]

Desmond  I do know she was with your mate this morning.

Hurley  My mate?

Desmond  I saw her with your...your boy, Sawyer.

[Hurley walks back to him]

Desmond  The dead girl, Nikki.

Hurley  He said he didn't know her?

Desmond  Then why was she yelling then.

Hurley  Yelling?

Desmond  Aye.

Hurley  At Sawyer this morning?

Desmond  Right before she died.

[The scene shifts to Vincent who is pulling the blanket off of Nikki and Paulo and runs off with it]

Hurley  Vincent, dude!

[Charlie and Hurley are digging a grave while Sun looks on]

Charlie  So he saw Sawyer and Nikki fighting. That doesn't prove anything.

Hurley  Look at the facts and ask yourself, 'Why is Sawyer so gung-ho about investigating this?' What's in it for him? He pretended he didn't know their names, but then he was fighting with Nikki.

Sun  Sawyer's not a murderer. He went all the way across the island to help Michael. It is the Others. I know what they can do.

Hurley  Okay, you know what? I'll go get Desmond. He'll tell you exactly what he saw.

[Hurley leaves]

Charlie  Sun? It was me.

Sun  What?

Charlie  It was me who took you, not the Others. I wasn't myself...after Locke hit me...after he humiliated me. Sawyer told me I could get even by helping him steel the guns. We just made it...look like the Others. I didn't mean to hurt you.

[Sun walks away]

Charlie  [Quietly] I'm sorry.

[9 Days Ago. Flashback to Locke, Desmond, and Sayid walking purposefully into the camp]

Locke  Hey everybody. We're heading out to the Pearl Station. There's a computer there that might help us find our people. Anybody want to come along?

Nikki  I'll go.

Locke  Great.

Paulo  [To Nikki] What?

Locke  Anybody else want to come, meet us at the tree line in 10 minutes and bring water.

Paulo  You're not serious?

Nikki  What? You always whine about not being included. Now's your chance.

[The scene shifts to the Pearl Station where the group is looking around inside.]

Nikki  Hey guys? What are these other TVs for?

Locke  Sorry?

[The scene shifts to the bathroom where Paulo takes the lid off the tank to retrieve the matryoshka doll. Nikki's voice can be heard]

Nikki  All these TVs. This guy says that there is 6 stations.

[The sound of Mark Wickman's voice is heard on the tape while Paulo opens the matryoshka dolls one at a time. The last doll is stuck so he crushes it under his foot. It contains a small black bag which he sticks in his pants and he places the matryoshka dolls and the broken pieces of the smallest doll in the toilet tank]

Nikki  Project...so maybe some of these facilities are connected to the other hatches.

Locke  So, I'm suddenly feeling very stupid.

Sayid  Perhaps I could patch in one of the other feeds. See if we can get another picture.

[Paulo puts the cover back on the tank and flushes the toilet. He then rejoins the group where they look at him funny]

Paulo  The toilet still works.

[The scene shifts to Sun, Jin, Hurley, Charlie, and Desmond who are digging a grave as Sawyer walks up to them]

Hurley  Give me the gun.

Sawyer  Hell you talking about.

Hurley  Give it to me.

[Sawyer ejects the clip from the gun and holds it up to Hurley]

Sawyer  It ain't even loaded.

Hurley  Then how are you sweeping the perimeter? Quit lying, dude. Desmond saw you fighting with Nikki this morning.

Sawyer  Oh, I see what this is. Villagers have got themselves some torches.

Hurley  Did you kill them?

Sawyer  No. [Sarcastically to everyone else] No I didn't kill them.

[The group stares at Sawyer]

Sawyer  Yeah, me and Nikki went at it this morning. Cause she wanted a gun.

Hurley  Why didn't you tell us this before?

Sawyer  Cause the dirt under her nails.

Hurley  What?

Sawyer  She was digging. And when we found him I saw a fresh mound of dirt. She was burying something. And if you take the time to dig a hole right before you die, then what you're hiding's probably pretty damn good.

Sun  So what was it? What did she hide?

[Sawyer tosses Sun a black pouch. Sun opens the pouch and pours out diamonds]

Sawyer  Go ahead, take 'em. Cause whatever happened to those 2 [Motions to Nikki and Paulo], I had nothing to do with it.

[Sawyer walks off. 12 Hours Ago. Flashback with Nikki sitting on the beach and Paulo comes up to talk to her]

Nikki  Did you know Thanksgiving was 2 weeks ago? We missed it Paulo...just like we're going to miss everything.

Paulo  They're going to find us. We'll get rescued. You'll see.

Nikki  [Laughing] Okay, where did this sudden burst of optimism come from?

Paulo  I don't know, I guess...it's how we look at things. Like the bag. I mean, maybe not finding it was good for us.

Nikki  How do you figure that?

Paulo  Look what it did...might have torn us apart.

Nikki  [Smiling] Yeah.

Paulo  Wait here. I'm gonna get us some breakfast.

Nikki  [Smiling] Okay.

[They kiss and Paulo leaves. Nikki looks down to where Paulo was sitting and notices his nicotine gum. The scene then shifts to Sawyer reading a book and Nikki approaching him]

Nikki  Okay, I know you have them. Give me a gun.

Sawyer  I don't have the guns. A-Team took them all.

Nikki  Right, except for the ones you kept for yourself.

Sawyer  Even if I had a gun I wouldn't give it to you. Judging by the fire you're breathing, I got a feeling no good would come of it.

Nikki  Sawyer, give me a gun.

[Desmond looks on as Sawyer and Nikki talk]

Sawyer  I got a better idea, sister. How 'bout you go stick your head in the ocean and cool yourself off.

Nikki  Thanks for nothing.

[Nikki walks off]

Sawyer  And who the hell are you?!

[The scene shifts back to the grave site where Sawyer leans over Nikki's body]

Sawyer  Thanks for nothing.

[He reaches down and closers her eyes. The scene then shifts to Sawyer digging the grave when Sun approaches him]

Sun  Charlie told me it was your idea.

[Sawyer does not respond]

Sun  To kidnap me.

Sawyer  [Sighs] You gonna tell Jin?

Sun  No.

Sawyer  Why not?

Sun  Because then we'd have to dig another grave.

[Sun walks up to Sawyer, takes his hand, and puts the black pouch of diamonds in it]

Sawyer  Why are you giving me these?

Sun  Because they are worthless here.

Sawyer  See, and I thought I was gonna get out of this without a lesson...

[Sun slaps Sawyer hard across the face, turns, and walks away. The scene then shifts to Nikki's and Paulo's funeral. Hurley is officiating and both Nikki and Paulo have been laid in the grave]

Hurley  Nikki and Paulo. I guess we really didn't know you very well. And it appears you killed each other for diamonds. But I know there are good parts to you too. You were always nice to me. And you were a member of the camp. And...I really loved Exposé. Okay, then. Goodbye.

[Hurley scoops a shovel full of dirt]

Sawyer  Wait.

[Sawyer steps forward, opens the black pouch, and pours the diamonds into his hand]

Sawyer  Rest in peace Nikki and Paulo.

[Sawyer sprinkles the diamonds over Nikki. 8 Hours Ago. Flashback to Nikki and Paulo walking through the jungle]

Paulo  C'mon you can just tell me.

Nikki  Nuh uh, it's a surprise. We're almost there. Okay, ready?

Paulo  Yeah.

Nikki  I found the diamonds, Paulo.

Paulo  What? Where?

Nikki  Right here.

[Paulo starts looking around the ground]

Nikki  [Frustrated] Give them to me.

Paulo  What are you talking about?

Nikki  What am I talking about?

[She reaches into her pocket and pulls out the nicotine gum]

Nikki  What's this? Your nicotine gum. You wanted to stop looking for the bag because you'd already found it. [Angry] I know you have them, Paulo, so where are they?!

Paulo  Calm down, okay.

[Nikki pulls out a jar with a spider in it and unscrews the lid]

Paulo  What the hell is that?

[She throws the spider in his face at it bites him on the neck]

Paulo  Owww.

[Paulo crushes it with his hand and throws it to the ground]

Paulo  Are you out of your mind?

Nikki  You remember Dr. Arzt friend? [Sarcastic] Did it bite you? Does it hurt? He told me why they call it the Medusa spider. Want to know why?

[Paulo grabs Nikki]

Paulo  [Frantic] What did you do?

[Paulo drops his bag and it appears his arms are cramping]

Nikki  Because one look from Medusa would turn anyone to stone. Just like 1 bite from the spider will paralyze you. For ohhhh...about 8 hours. It won't kill you. It will just slow your heart rate down to the point that even a doctor would have a hard time...

[Paulo falls to the ground]

Nikki  [Laughing]...hearing it beat. You won't be able to move a muscle, so I'll be able to do all sorts of nasty things to you. And since it bit you on your neck, I'd say paralysis will happen fast.

[Paulo starts shaking and Nikki stoops down beside him]

Nikki  I'm guessing that you have the diamonds on you.

[Nikki playfully slaps Paulo]

Nikki  Huh?

[She begins searching him by looking under his shirt, feeling his pants legs, and finally taking off his shoe]

Nikki  In the shoe, maybe?

[Nikki doesn't find it and she throws his shoe and it sticks in a tree]

Nikki  I think I know where.

[She bends over, undoes his belt, unzips his pants, and finds the black bag with diamonds]

Nikki  Son of a bitch.

[She pours the diamonds in her hand]

Paulo  I'm sorry.

Nikki  You're only sorry because you got caught.

Paulo  [Crying] I was afraid of losing you. If you found the diamonds...you wouldn't need me anymore.

[Nikki looks at him sadly and the clicking sound of the monster can be heard in the background. Nikki looks around for the source of the sound and sees nothing. Suddenly, lots of spiders are crawling towards her and one bites her on the leg.

Nikki  Owww. Damn it. Oh no. No, no, no.

[Nikki starts running through the jungle. After running a short distance she drops to the ground and digs a shallow hole with her hands. She then removes an object from her bag, drops it in the hole, and covers it with dirt. She then staggers back to her feet and places the bag across her shoulder and resumes running. She runs out of the jungle onto the beach and sees Hurley and Sawyer playing ping pong]

Hurley  Uh...you okay?

[Nikki collapses and falls as Sawyer and Hurley rush to help her]

Hurley  Hey. Hey, what happened?

Nikki  [Out of breath and wheezing] Para...lyzed.

[The scene shifts to Nikki lying in the grave. Sawyer, Hurley, and Charlie begin shoveling dirt over her and Paulo. The survivors attending the service begin to walk off. Nikki opens her eyes just as a shovel of dirt covers her face. Neither Sawyer nor Hurley realize she is alive. They continue shoveling dirt and walk away after the grave has been completely filled]