In a flashback, Locke’s off-island mission to reunite the Oceanic Six and return them to the island is aided by Charles Widmore and Matthew Abaddon. Locke tracks down Sayid who is doing humanitarian work but Sayid refuses to go back.

Next, Locke meets Walt in New York, but doesn’t ask him to come back to the island. Locke goes to see Hurley in his mental institution, but gets cold feet after seeing Mr. Abaddon, Locke’s driver. Locke speaks to Kate who refuses to go for Aaron’s sake. Defeated, Locke goes back to his hotel and prepares to hang himself. Ben arrives and Locke mentions that Alpert told him about Eloise Hawking, who can help them all get back to the island; Ben strangles Locke to death and hangs him in order to make it appear as a suicide.