From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Born to Run”
Lost (TV series) episode
Jack, Sayid and Locke at the hatch
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 22
Written by	Story by Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Teleplay by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz
Directed by	Tucker Gates
Guest stars	Carter Jenkins (Young Tom (voice), Anosh Yaqoob (Sanjay), Daniel Roebuck (Dr. Arzt), Tamara Lynch (Nurse), Beth Broderick (Diane), Skye McCole Bartusiak (Young Kate (voice)), MacKenzie Astin (Tom)
Production no.	120
Original airdate	May 11, 2005
Episode chronology ← Previous Next → "The Greater Good" "Exodus"
Episode chronology

"Born to Run" is the 22nd episode of Lost. It is the twenty-second episode of the show's first season. The episode was directed by Tucker Gates and written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, based on a story by Javier Grillo-Marxuach. It first aired on May 11, 2005 on ABC. The character of Kate Austen is featured in the episode's flashbacks.

Charlie and Kate discuss the fame that awaits them if and when they are rescued, which disturbs Kate. After the group is told the raft needed to leave already, Michael hurries to finish the raft, and Kate seeks a spot on the raft. Michael refuses, saying the raft is full. However, after a conversation with Sawyer, Michael reconsiders, which prompts Sawyer to storm off to confront Kate. Sawyer explains that he knows why Kate wants on the raft: to escape before being captured.

In the meantime, Sayid and Jack meet Locke at the hatch. Surprised by what he sees, Jack asks why Locke hid his find, setting up a brief confrontation between the two leaders. Jack then states that he believes the hatch needs to be opened. This prompts a furiously nervous response from Sayid, but the question is left unsettled.

While working with Jin, Michael suddenly becomes ill. Jack, having returned from the hatch, examines Michael and searches for the cause of the illness, eventually discovering partially dissolved drugs in a water bottle. When he tells Michael, he immediately suspects Sawyer. In short order, Kate also is suspected, which leads Jack to confront Kate about the drugging. At the same time, Walt explains to Locke that he didn’t drug his father. When Locke touches Walt's arm, Walt becomes frightened and tells Locke not to open the hatch.

Sawyer walks up to Michael and teases him about his illness. Michael becomes angry and kicks Sawyer off the raft. Sawyer decides that he has had enough, and exposes Kate to everyone. Stealing her bag, he opens it and shows that Kate had stolen a passport, forcing Kate to reveal that she was the person in the Marshal's custody.

In flashbacks, it briefly shows Kate wearing a wig, changing the licensce plates for her car, and stripping naked and taking a shower as well as getting a letter with the alias of Joan Hart. Later Kate returns to her home town to see her dying mother, and meets up with former boyfriend Tom Brennan, who is now a doctor at the hospital. This visit prompts the two to dig up a lunchbox time capsule. Among the items in the capsule were Tom's toy airplane and a recording of the two of them some years earlier. Later, with Tom's help, Kate is able to be alone with her mother, who begins screaming for help upon seeing her. Forced to escape, she runs into Tom, who gives her keys to his car and joins her. When police try to block them, Kate tells Tom to leave, but he refuses. As the police fire at the car, Kate rams their vehicle before crashing into another. After the car stops, Kate looks over at Tom and finds him dead. Left with no choice but to flee, Kate runs.

As the raft is hurried toward completion, Jack walks up to Sun and confronts her about her poisoning attempt. Sun confesses that she did it, explaining that she wanted to keep Jin from going on the raft. Later, in a private conversation with Kate, Sun promises not to tell anyone that the drugging was Kate’s idea.

That night, Kate and Sawyer say goodbye, while Walt confesses to Michael that he was responsible for the fire that destroyed the first raft. Walt says he did it because he wanted to stay on the island, which prompts Michael to say they can stay. However, Walt insists that they have to leave.