Ben Linus quotes from Lost

Locke

The Man from Tallahassee? What is that some kind of code?

Ben

No John, unfortunately we don't have a code for "there is a man in my closet holding a gun to my daughter's head". Although we obviously should.

Ben

Would you mind helping me get into my chair. No tricks, I promise. I just want some dignity. You of all people should understand what means to want some dignity. Thank you. So tell me John, how do you plan on piloting our submarine. Its a complicated piece of machinery. You just don't press submerge.

Locke

I'll figure something out. For all you know I was a commander in the Navy. Put your arm around my neck and I'll lift under your knees.

Ben

What's in the pack, John? If you met Mikail that means you were at the communications station, which means you found the explosives. So you're not planning on piloting the submarine anywhere, you're planning to destroy it. I know you, John Locke.

Locke

You don't know me at all.

Ben

I know you were born in California. I know that you were raised in foster care. I know that you wasted a big part of your life in Tustin, pushing papers at a place that manufactures industrial boxes. I know that you spent the four years prior to arriving on this island in a wheelchair, and I know how you ended up in it.

Locke

Where do you get electricity?

Ben

We have two big hamsters running around in this giant wheel in our secret underground lair.

Locke

Yeah, that's funny.

Ben

I know you think you need to do this John, but if you blow up my submarine, I'll have a big problem with my people.

Locke

Is that supposed to be an incentive not to blow it up?

Ben

I was born on this island; not many of my people can say that. Most of them were recruited and brought here, and as much as they love this place, as much as they would do anything to defend it, they need to know that they can leave if they want to. The sub maintains that illusion.

Locke

So you're lying to them?

Ben

No... they're here because they want to be here. Some of them are just not ready to make a full commitment yet. But you John, you've already made that commitment. And now you have a choice, because if you stop and think, I can show you things. things I know that you want to see very badly. Let me put it so you'll understand: picture a box. You know something about boxes, don't you John? What if I told you that somewhere on this island there is a very large box and whatever you imagined, whatever you wanted to be in it, when you open that box, there it would be. What would you say about that John?

Locke

I'd say that I hope that box is big enough for you to imagine up a new submarine.

Ben

Why are you so angry John?

Locke

Because you're cheating. You communicate with the outside world whenever you want to, you come and go as you please, you use electricity and running water and guns. You're a hypocrite. You don't deserve to be on this island. If you had any idea what this place was you wouldn't be putting chicken in your refrigerator.

Ben

You have been on this island for 80 days, John. I have been here my entire life. So what makes you think you know this island better than I do?

Locke

Because you're in the wheelchair, and I'm not.

Ben Linus

When I asked you earlier if it hurt when you suffered your injury, I think you misunderstood me. Seems fairly obvious that when a person's back smashes into a hard surface after being thrown from a building, that that's going to sting a little. But I really wasn't asking about the physical pain.

John Locke

What, do you want to know if it hurt my feelings?

Ben Linus

No, John. I wanted to know what it felt like when your own father tried to kill you.

Juliet Burke

If you can cure cancer Ben, then why do you have it?

Ben Linus

I don't know.

Juliet Burke

I want to talk to her. I want to talk to Rachel, I want to talk to her, now!

Ben Linus

It's not going to happen Juliet, but I can promise you that Rachel is fine.

Juliet Burke

You never cured her!

Ben Linus

I did!

Juliet Burke

You're a liar!

Ben Linus

No, Juliet—

Juliet Burke

[yelling] You lied to me!

Ben Linus

I told you the truth!

Ben Linus

I gave you my word.

Juliet Burke

[beginning to cry and leaning on Ben] I know. I wanna go home. I wanna go home, Ben, please. Can't you please just let me go home?

Ben Linus

[beat] No.

Ben

[Hands Locke a knife] I know it won't be easy. But the quicker the better.

Cooper

[After Ben ungags him] You're kidding me, right? You expect him to kill me?

Ben

John, the hesitation you're feeling is just the part of you that still feels that he has a perfectly good explanation for stealing your kidney. Throwing you out of an eight-story window. Don't you wanna be free from him?

Cooper

The hesitation he's feeling is because he is a spineless--

Locke

[Growing anxious] Shut up! I, I've gotta think...

Ben

Don't think, John.

Cooper

You're wasting your time, bug-eye. Me and him have been through all of this. All he wants is his daddy.

Locke

Shut up! I SAID SHUT UP!

Ben

Let go of him, John.

Locke

Why are you doing this to me?

Ben

You're doing this to yourself. As long as he's still breathing, you will still be that same sad, pathetic little man who was kicked off of his walkabout tour because you couldn't walk!

Cooper

[Mocking] I'll be here the rest of the week, John, if you change your mind.

Ben

I'm sorry. He's not who we thought he was.

Ben

We're here. You'll want to turn off your flashlight, John.

Locke

Why?

Ben

Jacob feels the same way about technology as you do. Once I open this door, there's no turning back. Are you sure this is what you want? So be it. Jacob, I'm here with John Locke. We're coming in now. Jacob, this is John. Don't you going to say hello, John?

Locke

What?

Ben

I told you he wouldn't.

Locke

Who? What are you talking about?

Ben

You can't see him?

Locke

See who?

Ben

Jacob. He's sitting right here in this chair. Yes, I know, but he insisted.

Locke

What is this?

Ben

You wanted the secrets of the island, well here they are. This is the man who can answer every single... I am not! He made me bring him here! Did you think that that was my... Sir, may I finish?!

Locke

You're crazy.

Ben

Excuse me?

Locke

You don't know anything about the island, do you? You just made it all up.

Ben

Jacob, please, I can't hear him if you're going to talk...

Locke

Stop... Stop... Shut up! You're putting on a show for me! Or, do you... Do you really think there is someone there?

Ben

I know there is someone there.

Locke

You don't know anything.

Ben

I'm sorry you feel that way, John. And I'm sorry that you're too limited to see.

Locke

You're pathetic.

Jacob

Help me.

Locke

What did you just say?

Ben

I didn't say anything.

Locke

Oh yes you did. I heard you. You said...

Ben

That's enough, you've had your fun!

Locke

What was that?

Ben

That was Jacob.

Ben

What did you hear in there, John? What did Jacob say to you?

Locke

He didn't say anything to me. You did.

Ben

What are you talking about?

Locke

There is no Jacob, Ben. I'm not going to be taken in by the little show you put on last night. You're a fraud. And it's time your people were told the truth. And this is not the way we came!

Ben

I'm taking us back another way. I wanted to show you something first.

Locke

I've seen enough.

Ben

You know, John, you're not wrong. Some of the things I've told you, some of the things I've told everyone, are not true.

Locke

Like what?

Ben

Well, for starters, I wasn't born on this island.

Locke

Then where did you come from?

Ben

That's what I want to show you.

Ben

This is where I came from, John. These are my people. The DHARMA Initiative. They came here seeking harmony, but they couldn't even coexist with the Island's original inhabitants. And when it became clear that one side had to go, one side had to be purged, I did what I had to do. I was one of the people that was smart enough to make sure that I didn't end up in that ditch, which makes me considerably smarter than you, John.

Ben

What did Jacob say to you?

Locke

Why did you do this?

Ben

Because you heard him. Now I need to know what he said.

Locke

"Help me."

Ben

John, I'm not going to ask you again! What did he say to you?

Locke

He said... "help me."

Ben

Well I certainly hope he helps you, John.

Richard Alpert

You should go home now, your people will be looking for you.

Ben Linus

I don't want to go back there! I hate it there! Take me with you.

Richard Alpert

Maybe that can happen, maybe. But if that's what you really want, Ben, if that's what you want, I want you to really think about that. And you're gonna have to be very, very patient.

Roger Linus

Listen...if it makes you feel any better, I will do my best to remember your birthday next year.

Ben Linus

I don't think that's going to happen, Dad. [starts to unzip bag]

Roger Linus

What do you mean?

Ben Linus

You know, I've missed her too. Maybe as much as you have. But the difference is, for as long as I can remember, I've had to put up with you. And doing that required a tremendous amount of patience. [pulling out a gas mask] Goodbye, Dad.

Ryan Pryce

Well, if I take my ten best, we could set up to hit 'em by nightfall.

Ben Linus

Then you'd better get going.

Richard Alpert

No, no, Ben, wait, moving at this schedule, Juliet may not be ready. What if she hasn't had time to...

Ben Linus

Then we'll take all their women. And we'll sort out the ones we need later.

Ryan Pryce

And the men?

Ben Linus

If any of them are stupid enough to get in your way, kill 'em.

Bonnie

[on radio, to Ben] One of them is here.

Ben

Which one?

Bonnie

I don't know. he won't say.

Charlie

It's Charlie! Tell him I said hi!

Ben

Not so long ago, Jack, I made a decision that took the lives of over forty people in a single day. I'm telling you this because history is about to repeat itself, right here, right now.

Jack

Let me guess you've got us surrounded and if I don't do what you say you're gonna, you're gonna kill all of my people?

Ben

No, Jack, you are.

Jack

[Laughs] And how am I going do that, Ben?

Ben

The woman you've been traveling with. The one who parachuted onto the island from that helicopter. She's not who she says she is.

Jack

She's not, huh?

Ben

No she's not.

Jack

Then who is she?

Ben

She's a representative of some people who've been trying to find this island, Jack. She's one of the bad guys.

Jack

Oh, I almost forgot, you're the, you're the good guys.

Ben

Jack listen to me. If you phone her boat, every single living person on this island will be killed. So here's what has to happen. Get that device, that phone she carries with her, and give it to me. I will turn around, we'll walk back to my people, you will turn around and walk back to your people.

Jack

I'm not going anywhere.

Ben

May I have my walkie talkie back?

Jack

What?

Ben

There's something you need to hear. Please?

Ben

Tom are you there?

Tom

Yes I'm here.

Ben

[To Jack] Your plan killed seven of my people, but the ones you failed to kill are now holding your friends: Jin, Sayid, Bernard, at gunpoint.

Sayid

Jack, don't give him anything.

Bernard

Leave him alone!

Ryan

I said shut up!

Jack

And what's to stop me from snapping your neck?

Ben

Tom unless you hear my voice in one minute, shoot all three of them.

Tom

Got it.

Ryan

I said don't move.

Ben

Bring me the phone, Jack.

Sayid

Don't negotiate with him-

Ben

Forty Five seconds.

Jack

No. I'm getting them all of the island. All of them!

Ben

Let me ask you something, Jack. Why do you wanna leave the Island? What is it that you so desperately want to get back to? You have no one. Your father's dead, your wife left you, moved on with another man. Can you just not wait to get back to the hospital? Get back to fixing things? It's twenty seconds now. Just get me the phone, Jack.

Jack

No.

Ben

Ten seconds. Bring me the phone.

Jack

No.

Ben

I'm not bluffing!

Jack

I WON'T DO IT!

Ben

Five. Four. Three.

Jack

No.

Ben

I'm so sorry, Jack.

Jack

Tom are you there?

Tom

Yeah, Jack, I hear ya.

Jack

I'm going to lead my people up to the radio tower. And I'm going to make a call and get them all rescued. Every one of them. And then I'm gonna come find you. And I'm gonna kill ya.