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"What Kate Did" is the thirty-fourth episode of Lost. It is the ninth episode of the second season. The episode was directed by Paul Edwards, and written by Steven Maeda and Craig Wright. It first aired on November 30, 2005 on ABC. The character of Kate Austen is featured in the episode's flashbacks.

Plot

Flashbacks

A series of flashbacks explain Kate's crime. Kate Austen is sitting on a porch playing with a cigarette lighter when her stepfather, Wayne Jansen, arrives inebriated. As Kate rides away from the house on a motorcycle, the house explodes. She rides to a diner where her mother, Diane Jansen, works. Kate confronts Diane about an injury caused by Wayne and then presents her with a homeowners' insurance policy, telling Diane that she'll be taken care of. Later, Kate is trying to buy a ticket to Tallahassee, when she is arrested by United States Marshal Edward Mars. He says that Kate's mother had turned her in. On a country highway during a rainy night, Mars is driving a handcuffed Kate to her arraignment in Iowa. Suddenly, a black horse passes in front of the car. The car crashes after swerving to avoid the animal. With Mars momentarily stunned by the opening of the driver's airbag, Kate grabs the handcuff keys and tries to escape. Kate kicks Mars out of the car, and reverses the lightly damaged car. To her surprise, the headlights show the black horse standing next to the road quietly looking at her for a few seconds before leaving into the darkness. Kate next visits a U.S. Army recruiting station and meets Sergeant Major Sam Austen. She tells Austen that she recently discovered that he was her stepfather and that Wayne was her biological father. Sam reveals that he had known this all along but hid the truth because he feared Kate would kill Wayne if she ever found out. He informs Kate that he must call the authorities but agrees to give her a one-hour head start.

On island

In the Swan hatch, Jack watches over Sawyer, who mutters, "Where is she?" (referring to Kate) and then whispers, "I love her." Meanwhile, Kate is collecting fruit in the jungle. She is shocked to see a black horse standing in the undergrowth. She returns to the Swan hatch to attend to Sawyer and the computer so that Jack can attend Shannon's funeral. At the funeral, Sayid tries to say a few words but, overcome by emotion, can only declare that he loved her before walking away.

At the Swan hatch, Kate tells the sleeping Sawyer that she saw a horse outside. Sawyer begins to mumble, and as Kate leans in to hear better, Sawyer grabs her by the neck and says, "You killed me. Why did you kill me?" Jack and Locke return to the Swan hatch to find the alarm blaring, Sawyer on the floor, and Kate nowhere to be seen. With only twenty-three seconds remaining, Locke hastily enters the numbers.

Outside, Kate bumps into Charlie in the jungle and asks if he thinks there are horses on the island. He replies that he has seen polar bears and heard monsters but never horses. Jack tracks her down and accosts her for leaving the Swan hatch. In the ensuing confrontation, Kate shouts, "I'm sorry I'm not as perfect as you. I'm sorry that I'm not as good." Jack grabs Kate's arm in an attempt to hold her close but she struggles until she gives in, breaking down and crying as he holds her. Without warning, Kate kisses Jack, looks confused and then runs off into the jungle as Jack calls after her but does not follow.

Sayid, going to Shannon’s grave to place his necklace on her cross, discovers Kate sitting there. She apologizes for missing the funeral and confesses that she thinks she is going crazy. When asked if he believes in ghosts, Sayid says that he saw Walt in the jungle just before Shannon was shot and asks if that makes him crazy too. Kate returns to the Swan hatch and relieves Sun, who has been tending to Sawyer.

In the Swan hatch, Locke uses bolt-cutters to finally remove the handcuff that Jin has worn since "House of the Rising Sun". Michael asks Locke about the blast door in the ceiling, which Locke admits he had not noticed. Locke shows the DHARMA Initiative "Orientation" film to Michael and Eko and then explains that he has set up two-person shifts every six hours to enter the code. He demonstrates to Michael that the keyboard works only when the alarm sounds — Michael asks to inspect the equipment, and Locke hesitantly agrees.

Later, Eko calls Locke aside and, after leading in with a story about Josiah and the book found during Josiah's rule, reveals a hollowed-out Bible which contains a small reel of film. The book was found by the tail-section survivors in the DHARMA building they inhabited during "The Other 48 Days". Locke unrolls part of the reel and recognizes Dr. Marvin Candle, the narrator from the original film.

Back in the Swan hatch, Kate, believing that Wayne's ghost has somehow possessed Sawyer's body, confesses aloud that she killed him after finding out that he was her biological father. It was too much to bear for her to know that the man who she hated would always be a 'part of her'. Following Kate's confession, Sawyer awakes as his normal self, and his comments reveal he has heard the whole conversation. Kate is embarrassed but relieved. She shows Sawyer around the Swan hatch before taking him outside to prove that they have not been rescued. As the two talk, the black horse reappears. Sawyer reveals he can see the horse as well. Kate approaches and pets it, and after a moment, the horse walks back into the jungle.

Eko and Locke splice the film from the book back into the main film reel. Locke marvels at the odds of them finding the missing piece, but Eko advises him not to "mistake coincidence for fate." They watch the missing section of the film, in which Dr. Candle expands on his warning that the computer is to be used only to enter the code. He explains that while the isolation of Station 3 may tempt one to use the computer to communicate with the outside world, such action could lead to another "incident".

Meanwhile, as this part of the movie plays, Michael examines the computer equipment. He hears a strange beeping from the terminal and goes to inspect. He notices there are still fifty-one minutes remaining on the timer and that the text "Hello?" is shown on the screen. Unlike Locke in his earlier attempt, Michael is able to enter text and replies with "Hello?" A moment later, "Who is this?" appears, and Michael responds "This is Michael. Who is this?" After a few seconds, the word "Dad?" appears on the screen.

Development

Hurley comments that he did not expect Rose's husband to be white, before Jack quickly changes the subject. The producers felt it was important to address that they are an interracial couple, and that Hurley was saying what the audience would be thinking.^[1] Caldwell agreed with them and thought it would be odd if the issue was not addressed.^[1] Anderson also was glad that Hurley brought up the issue, and liked that Jack did not pay any attention.^[1]

References