'Dead is Dead' Summary

OK, here we go: We start out with an older Widmore coming to talk to Ben. He basically begins Ben on his path to being an Other. In fact, we come to see a younger Ben (with Ethan along for the ride) stealing Alex. We come to learn that Ben was supposed to kill Rousseau, but Ben cannot. Instead, he takes Alex and warns Rousseau to never come and look for her. An older, but still on-island Widmore, clearly demonstrates the friction when he insists that Ben kill Alex. We eventually flash forward to the banishment of Widmore, who is still steaming about Ben's failure to kill Alex, and who states that his hunt for the island will begin. Older, injured, 316er Ben wakes up to find Locke. He insinuates to Cesar that Locke is potentially dangerous. Cesar says he has Ben's back. Later, Locke comes across Ben in his old office (on Hydra island) looking at a picture of him and Alex. Ben (who does not apologize for killing Ben) says he's come back to be judged her his sins. Locke eventually contradicts him, saying that he thinks Ben is there to be judged for killing Alex. The duo decide to travel to the main island, in the process Ben kills Cesar (that is his apology to Locke). It seems this is the end of Cesar but we cannot be sure. They come to Ben's New Otherton (dharma barracks) house and meet Sun and Frank. Sun says that Christian told her to wait for John Locke, but she is sure he's dead. Then again, there he is! We jump back to a present-day Marina where Ben finds Desmond and Penny. He shoots Desmond but cannot shoot Penny because he sees Charlie. He lowers his gun and Desmond crashes into him (yay! he's still alive!) and beats him up and then proceeds to chuck him in the water. According to the official podcast, however, Desmond is not out of the woods yet so fingers crossed. Ok, back to Sun, Frank, Ben, and Locke in New Otherton. Frank tells Sun that he's going back and urges her to come but she does not and Frank leaves without her. Ben retreates to his secret room we saw in Season Four and opens the Secret Door within the Secret Room (you know, the one with all the hieroglyphics on it). We then see a muddy pool of water in what looks like a cave-type room. He reaches into the water and pulls a plug (or something, it's rather like an earthy bath tub) and drains the pool. A hole is left open and he says he'll be waiting outside. When the smoke monster doesn't come soon enough, however, Locke decides to lead Ben directly to Smokey. It turns out to be under the temple and the two go in. I believe it's the same opening that the French people went into but I there's no way of being sure. Ben falls through the floor and into a secret room with a stone-etched drawing and a grate beneath it, out of which comes Smokey. Smokey surrounds Ben and shows him images of Alex and his' past. When it retreates back into the grate Alex is left standing there. She grabs him, shoves him up against a pillar, and tells him menacingly to follow John Locke. If he doesn't, she (the island) will personally destroy him. He agrees.