Kate settles down next to the fire, Sawyer on the opposite side. Two outlaws, camped out under the stars. Hell, if we didn't know any better?
We'd think this was downright romantic.
Sawyer digs around his pack, finally finds what he's looking for -- a MINI-BOTTLE OF VODKA. Cracks it open. Tosses it back in one cool shot. REVEAL Kate, having watched the whole process.
KATE
Where'd you get that?
SAWYER
Plane.
KATE
Jack was looking for the alcohol cart --
SAWYER
-- Well, it's a good thing I found it instead then, huh?
Kate just looks at him. No idea what she's thinking. Then --
KATE
Got anymore of those?
SAWYER
I got more a' everything. But you ain't got carte blanche yet.
KATE
Is that a “no?”
Now it's his turn to look at her. And dammit if Sawyer ain't charmed. Reaches into his pack, emerges with a whole HANDFUL of mini-bottles.
SAWYER
All right, Sassafrass -- but you wanna drink? You gotta play.
KATE
(smelling the rat)
Play what?
SAWYER
I never.
KATE
What?
SAWYER
I. Never.
KATE
Am I supposed to know what that is?
SAWYER
A game is what it is. Call it a way to get to know each other better. For example...
(grins)
I know you never went to college.
KATE
(he's right)
And how do you know that?
SAWYER
If you had, you'd a heard of “I Never.”
Sawyer tosses her a MINI-BOTTLE --
SAWYER (CONT'D)
Simple. You say “I never...” and then finish the sentence. If it's something you did, you drink. If it's something you never did, you don't drink.
Kate absorbs this. Then --
KATE
That makes absolutely no sense.
SAWYER
Then learn by example.
(declares)
I have never kissed a man.
(a beat)
Now you drink.
(another beat)
'Cause you've kissed a man.
Subtext -- That man being him. Kate sighs --
KATE
What's the object of this game?
SAWYER
What's the object of anything?
ON KATE. Deciding whether or not to embark on this foolishness. Sawyer's just lookin' at her, eyes twinkling -- So she cracks open her bottle. DRINKS. Sawyer grins, impressed --
SAWYER (CONT'D)
Your turn.
KATE
(thinks; then)
I've never implied I went to college when I really haven't.
And Sawyer's grin is GONE. But rules are rules. He drinks.
SAWYER
I never been to Disneyland.
Kate does NOT drink.
SAWYER (CONT'D)
Aww. That's plain sad.
KATE
I've never worn pink.
Sawyer GLARES at her. But DRINKS. By way of explanation --
SAWYER
The eighties.
(moving on)
I never voted Democrat.
Kate doesn't drink.
KATE
I've never voted.
Sawyer smiles. Drinks.
SAWYER
I never been in love.
KATE
(bullshit)
You've never been in love.
SAWYER
Ain't drinking, am I?
Kate might not buy it (hell, WE might not buy it), but she drinks. Then --
KATE
I've never had a one-night stand. Sawyer takes a healthy swig.
SAWYER
I gotta drink for each one?
KATE
(ha-ha)
Your turn.
SAWYER
I never been married.
Kate eyes him for a second. And then she takes a little sip.
KATE
Didn't last long.
Sawyer, INTRIGUED as she reaches for a new bottle --
KATE (CONT'D)
I never blamed a boar for all my problems.
O-kay. Now it's getting personal. Yet, Sawyer DRINKS. Fires back --
SAWYER
I never cared about getting carte blanche 'cause I just wanted to spend some time with the only other person on this island who just don't belong.
On KATE. And that flash of VULNERABILITY. Yeah – He fucking NAILED her. But she meets his gaze. Takes a drink. And fires right back:
KATE
I never carried a letter around for twenty years because I can't get over my baggage.
And Sawyer goes cold. Locks that stare into her. But drinks. Holds the stare for a beat, then:
SAWYER
I never killed a man.
And there it is. After all this time. The handcuffs. The case. The guns. The Marshal. It doesn't matter when he found out, but he KNOWS.
He looks at her, for a reaction. SEES a flash of intense vulnerability, then covers it. She doesn't want to give him the fucking satisfaction.
And she drinks.
ON SAWYER. Not as surprised as we might expect him to be. But what is surprising...
Is that Sawyer drinks TOO. Drains his whole mini-bottle. And when he's done --
SAWYER (CONT'D)
Well, looks like we got something in common after all.