Dead Is Dead
"Dead Is Dead" is the 12th television episode of the fifth season of ABC's Lost. The 98th episode of the show overall, "Dead Is Dead" aired on April 8, 2009, on ABC in the United States and aired on April 12, 2009 on Sky1 in the United Kingdom. The episode was written by editor Brian K. Vaughan and co-executive producer Elizabeth Sarnoff and directed by Stephen Williams.
In 2007, Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson) summons the Monster in order to atone for his sins. In flashbacks, the origins of the strained relationship of Ben and Charles Widmore (Alan Dale) are revealed.
In 2009, Emerson won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode.
Plot
Flashbacks
In 1988, Ben kidnaps Alex as a baby from her mother Danielle Rousseau (Melissa Farman), whose life he spares. Before leaving, Ben tells Rousseau to run the other direction if she hears whispers. He returns to the Others' camp with the baby, which disappoints their leader, Charles Widmore (Alan Dale), who wanted Ben to kill both mother and daughter. Some time later, Charles is banished from the island for breaking the rules by leaving the island frequently and fathering a daughter with an outsider. Before he leaves the island by submarine, Charles tells Ben that Ben will ultimately be banished as well, because he was unable to sacrifice Alex's life. Following Alex's death and his leaving the island, Ben confronts Penny Widmore (Sonya Walger), Charles's daughter, and shoots her husband Desmond Hume (Henry Ian Cusick). Ben states his intention to kill Penny in retribution for his own daughter's death, but hesitates upon seeing Penny's son, Charlie. Ben's hesitation allows Desmond to recover and severely beat him.
