Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Claire returns to the survivors but remembers none of her time on the island, including her friendship with Charlie. Ethan confronts Charlie and demands that Claire be returned, threatening to kill one survivor each day until they comply. The camp organizes guards and traps, but Ethan approaches from the sea and kills Scott. Jack decides that waiting behind their defenses will not protect them and prepares an armed ambush with Claire as bait.
Flashbacks show Charlie pursuing Lucy, a wealthy young woman, as part of Tommy's plan to steal something valuable and finance their heroin use. Charlie develops feelings for her and tries to become respectable by accepting a job selling photocopiers. Nevertheless, he steals her father's antique cigarette case. Withdrawal ruins his first sales demonstration, during which he vomits and collapses. The stolen object is discovered, and Lucy rejects his explanation that he wanted to care for her.
On the island, Jack, Kate, Sayid, Sawyer and Locke wait for Ethan to approach Claire. Jack fights and subdues him, leaving the group with a chance to question their captive. Before they can learn why he took Claire, Charlie picks up Jack's gun and shoots Ethan dead. He later says Ethan deserved to die, frustrating the others' efforts to obtain answers. Claire subsequently remembers their imaginary peanut butter and tells Charlie that she wants to trust him.