"
Ab Aeterno" is the ninth television episode of the
American Broadcasting Company's
sixth season of the serial drama television series
Lost and 112th episode overall. The episode aired on March 23, 2010.In an extended flashback, after the death of his wife,
Richard arrives on the island as a slave on the Black Rock in the 19th century. He then encounters the Man in Black (
Titus Welliver) and
Jacob (
Mark Pellegrino), both of whom offer him different deals.
The title is
Latin for "from eternity". The phrase is used to mean "since the beginning" or "for long ages".
Plot
Richard's flashback
In 1867, Richard, known as Ricardo, lives in the
Canary Islands with his extremely sick wife, Isabella (Mirelly Taylor). He travels to a doctor in order to obtain medicine, but the doctor refuses Ricardo's meek payment and Ricardo accidentally kills the man when they struggle over the medicine. Ricardo returns to home to find that his wife has died and he is subsequently arrested. In prison, he is visited by a priest, who, after learning that Ricardo can speak English, tells him that he will be hanged. Ricardo's attempts to seek forgiveness for his sins, but is bluntly told he'll be going to Hell. The priest, however, accepts a bribe and allows Ricardo to be taken as a slave to the
New World aboard the
Black Rock. The ship is caught in a storm and runs aground on the island, after crashing through the statue of
Taweret and smashing it to pieces.
When Ricardo comes to, one of the crew comes below deck to execute the slaves. Ricardo is the last to be executed, but before that happens, the
Smoke Monster kills everyone except for Ricardo. As he works to free himself, a vision of his wife appears and tells him that they are in Hell. She is then apparently killed by the Monster, as well. The Man in Black, who is the human form of the monster, frees Ricardo from his shackles. He confirms that they are in Hell and tells Ricardo that he must kill Jacob, whom he refers to as the devil, in order to get his wife back and leave the island.
Doing as he is instructed, Ricardo attempts to kill Jacob, but is easily overcome. Jacob convinces him that he isn't dead or in Hell. He explains that the island is like a cork: it prevents evil from being unleashed on the world, referring to the Man in Black. As the Man in Black sees it, people are inherently evil, while Jacob believes they are inherently good. To this end, he brings people to the island, so that they may prove this. When Ricardo points out that the Man in Black will corrupt them as he himself was corrupted, Jacob suggests that Ricardo become his adviser. In return, Jacob grants Ricardo immortality, after stating that he is unable to bring Isabella back from the dead or absolve Ricardo of his sins. Ricardo returns to the Man in Black and gives him
a white rock on Jacob's behalf; the Man in Black states that his offer is still open should Ricardo change his mind.
2007
Following the events of the episode "
Dr. Linus",
Ilana (
Zuleikha Robinson) explains to the group of survivors at the beach that
Jack Shephard (
Matthew Fox),
Sun Kwon (
Yunjin Kim) and
Hugo "Hurley" Reyes (
Jorge Garcia) are candidates to replace Jacob, the man in charge of the island, who has recently been murdered. When asked what comes next, she claims that Jacob told her Richard will know. Richard, who has become suicidal since Jacob's death, says he does not know what to do next and leaves the camp. He visits the site where he has buried his wife's necklace on the island, shouting that he has changed his mind and wishes to help the Man in Black. Hurley, who is able to communicate with the dead, arrives and acts as an intermediary between Isabella and Richard; she explains that Richard must not help the Man in Black. She says that Richard and the other survivors must prevent the Man in Black from leaving the island, or else "we'll all go to Hell."
