Well, after almost two and a half seasons and countless fakeouts, we finally, FINALLY, FINALLY know why Locke was in a wheelchair for four years. And it's pretty f*cked up.

We also learn that Locke's father is probably the most evil person on the show.

FLASHBACK:

We open with another fakeout. Locke is meeting with a government worker about his disability payment. We find out that he's NOT on disability because of his paralysis, but because of depression (ed. note: WHAT!?!? I've been diagnosed with depression. How do I get some of this magical depression money?) But his disability payments are suspended when the worker finds out that Locke hasn't been going to therapy.

Locke is in his sad, lonely, single man's apartment when there is a knock on the door. He tells the cute young man to go away, even showing him a "No Solicitors" sign on his door (hee!) Locke won't let the kid in until the kid says, "How many kidneys do you have?"

Inside the sad, lonely, single man's apartment, the kid, Peter Talbot, tells Locke that his very rich mother is about to marry a man named Adam Seward. And Peter doesn't trust Seward. He did a background check to find that Seward's real name was Anthony Cooper, and that Anthony Cooper had a kidney transplant. Peter found out that Locke was the donor and figured that Anthony couldn't be THAT bad if Locke offered his kidney. But Locke lies and tells Peter that it was an anonymous donation.

Later, Locke tracks down his father and new fiancee at a flower shop. He pulls Anthony aside and tells him to break off the engagement. He said that Anthony makes people think that they're family, then destroys their lives, and that if he doesn't break off the engagement, Locke will tell the woman what his father did to him. He also lets him know that Peter is suspicious of him. Anthony agrees to break it off.

Some time afterwards, Locke is approached by two detectives. Peter Talbot was found dead - murdered - and the detectives wanted to know why he had Locke's name and address in his pocket. Locke learns that the Talbots are worth $200 million.

Locke goes to see his father at the condo he shares with Peter's mother, who is not home. Anthony denies killing Peter and tells Locke that Peter's mother, distraught with grief over her son's death, broke off the engagement herself. When Locke doesn't believe it, Anthony shows Locke the phone by the window and suggests he call the Peter's mother. Locke picks up the phone and asks Anthony for the number. But instead of giving Locke the number, Anthony PUSHES LOCKE THROUGH THE PLATE GLASS WINDOW and Locke falls eight stories, landing on his back.

The detectives visit Locke in the hospital to tell him that his father has fled to Mexico. Locke's physical therapist comes in and dismisses the detectives, telling Locke that it's time for him to try out the wheelchair. Locke claims he can't do it, but the therapist responds, "John, you fell eight stories out of a window and survived. I don't want to hear about what you can't do" (one of Locke's early catchphrases, if you will). He picks Locke up, puts him in the wheelchair, and then steps out. Locke weeps.

ON THE ISLAND:

Locke, Sayid, Kate, and Rousseau watch Jack play football with Tom. Rousseau disappears and the rest watch Juliet bring Ben out in a wheelchair, and Ben and Jack shake hands. Kate wants to rescue Jack but Sayid suggests that maybe he doesn't want to be rescued. Locke suggests that they wait until dark and then sneaking into the barracks to talk to Jack.

After dark, the three of them split up. Sayid goes around the front of the house, Locke around the back, and Kate in the side door. She hears soft piano music and sees Jack playing. She (stupidly, idiotically) puts down her rifle and approaches Jack, who tells her to leave, pointing out cameras in the ceiling. Guards burst into the house. Some restrain Kate and some are holding Sayid. They hold a gun to Kate's head and ask her how many other people are with them. She says none.

Meanwhile, Ben wakes up and calls for Alex, but is surprised by Locke. Locke tells Ben that he's not there to rescue Jack, he's there for the submarine. Ben plays dumb about the sub until Locke reveals that Mikhail told him about it - right before he killed him. Alex comes in and Locke holds her at gunpoint. They hear people coming and Locke brings Alex into the closet. Tom and someone named Richard come into Ben's room. Tom tells Ben that Kate and Sayid have been captured, then leaves. Ben asks Richard to bring "the man from Tallahassee" and then Richard leaves as well. Locke tells Alex to bring them the backpack that Sayid had, and Alex leaves as well.

Ben asks Locke to help him get into his wheelchair, saying that it'd give him dignity. He figures out that, if Locke met Mikhail, that he must have been at the Flame Station, so he must have the C4, so he must want to blow up the submarine (how he came to that conclusion, I have NO idea, even if he is totally right). He tells Locke that he knows his whole story and then asked "did it hurt?" Locke tells him that he felt his back break.

Kate is handcuffed in some sort of rec room. She's trying to escape when Jack comes in. He tells her that the Others did nothing to him, that the children they took are safe, that everyone lives there, and that he made a deal with Ben - he is going to leave the island tomorrow morning. He promises Kate that he'll come back to rescue the rest of them. Juliet enters and we find out that they are both leaving the island the next morning.

Sayid is tied to a swingset being guarded when Alex comes to get his pack. She tells the guard, Ryan, that her father wants the backpack, and he lets her take it. Sayid says that he can tell she's Alex becuase she looks like her mother. Alex tells Sayid her mother is dead. Sayid says, "I'm sure that's what they told you" before getting smacked upside the head by the guard. Alex leaves

Ben tries to convince Locke not to blow up the sub because doing so it would give him "a big problem" with his people. He says he was born on the island but many of the Others weren't. That the submarine helps them to remain committed to be on the island. Ben promises to show Locke "things he wants to see very badly." He suggests that the island contains a "very large box" that can manifest anything you wish for. Locke suggests Ben should wish for a new submarine. He says Ben is a hypocrite for using electricity and guns. Ben asks how Locke thinks he knows the island better than he does, and Locke replies "because you're in the wheelchair and I'm not."

Alex returns with the bag and Locke demands that she take him to the sub. Ben pleads one more time, telling Locke about his deal with Jack. He says the sub can never come back after it leaves because the anomaly destroyed their communications. Outside, Alex tells Locke that Ben was manipulating him. She shows him to the dock and we see Rousseau watching her from the trees. Locke enters the empty sub (with a shot that looks EXACTLY like when he first saw Swan Station) and looks around.

Ben is interrupted by Jack and Juliet at his house. Jack asks for "one last favor." He wants his friends to be released after he is gone. Ben agrees to let them go, "just as soon as you've left the island." Juliet thanks him for keeping his promise.

Locke leaves the sub and is confronted by the Others with Jack and Juliet. Locke apologizes to Jack just as the sub explodes.

Later, Locke is cuffed in an industrial room when Ben and Richard enter. Locke claims Ben wanted him to destroy the sub, and Ben confirms that Locke "made his dream come true" by allowing him to keep Jack from leaving. Locke asks about the magic box and Ben says he will show him what came out of it. Ben asks what it felt like when Locke's "own father tried to kill him". He says Locke is afraid of Cooper and that the island is the one place he can never get to. Locke has "some communion" with the island and that makes him very important.

He unlocks a door, revealing Locke's father, bound, beaten, and very scared-looking!