"The Long Con" Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

The episode opens with the opening of the gun vault, the silhouettes of Jack and Locke peering inward at the island's supply of weaponry. Jack confirms that all six of the guns are in the case, along with a box of ammo.
Recall that there were originally only four 9mm guns in the Marshal's case, however, and one on his person which Sawyer had immediately claimed (and with which he shot the polar bear).
Recall Kate informing Jack of the case's content upon his inquiry, as well as the Marshal's insistence on carrying five guns on board the plane.
One might assume the loss and gain of a gun or two throughout the time since, including four guns of various sorts recently relinquished to the Others after the unsuccessful hunting party. It is unclear how many of the original five 9mm guns remain, although it is fairly unlikely that all are still contained within the case.
Jack also removes, for the first time since acquiring the case, the key on a chain worn for weeks around his neck.
The guns, an invaluable commodity on such a perilous and unpredictable place, have been an integral part of survival-- from Sawyer's raft gun (which was also the fatal weapon for Shannon) to those taken on the manhunts for Ethan and Rousseau, the hatch exploration, and even the boar.
When the gun-filled armory was discovered, the issue seemed to be resolved. (Or, so one would be inclined to assume.) In truth, it was only the beginning of yet another battle of philosophical difference for Jack and Locke.
Locke, having changed the combination for the third time, attempted to establish a basis of trust and agreement with Jack. He explained the heroin-filled statues on the top shelf, noting that he was too superstitious to break seven Virgin Maries but adding the drugs could be used for therapeutic value as a last resort.
It is interesting to note the reversal of standpoints by Locke and Jack since earlier days. When Sun is attacked the group consults and Jack argues that the guns should come out, while Locke contends that the survivors would be more likely to shoot one another than an Other. Only several weeks earlier, during the manhunt for Ethan, Jack had insisted the exact same phrase while arguing against firearms as Locke rallied the group to fight back against the abducting, intrusive island inhabitants.

Answer: Pain killers

In Sawyer's flashback, a scenario occurs in which the situation is set nearly identical to that in the previous episode "Confidence Man" (in which Sawyer cons another woman, Jessica, and succeeds). This time, however, Sawyer and Cassidy decide to join forces in one "long con"-- which ends up having been part of Sawyer's plan all along. Sawyer reiterates that details are vital to the success of a con, and deceiving a person into believing the manipulator's idea is their own as well. Thus, the flashbacks foreshadow the revelation yet to come following Sawyer's discovery of Jack ransacking his tent.
Charlie, meanwhile, interacts briefly with Sawyer as he relocates his tent up the beach away from Claire and Locke.
Meanwhile, Kate volunteers to read an old magazine from the hatch (called "Elegant") after Sawyer's loss of glasses following the raft misfortune and comments about Jack's confiscation of the pain killers. Sawyer returns a rather comical reply concerning "Jacko's" and "Ana-Lulu's" revolution.
The situation becomes far more serious after shouts are heard echoing through the downpour from the jungle. When Sun is found unconscious and bound at the wrists, tensions rise and Ana is fast to announce, "They're back!"

Answer: Yes

After Jack's ransacking, Kate and Sawyer have a discussion in which Sawyer notes that he is not "the only one on the outs with the doc", seeing as Kate had note yet heard about the army-in-progress. Following Sun's attack Jack, Sawyer, Kate, Locke, Sayid and Ana meet to determine the next step in which to take. While the group debates about the reinstatement of guns among the anxiety-ridden survivors, Sawyer suggests that he and Kate return to the scene of the crime.
When Sun awakens she hesitantly recounts what had occurred when she was attacked in her garden. After another of Vincent's unusual appearances and a timely rainstorm, Sun had been bagged, tied and dragged.
Note that one who watches closely during the attack may observe that Charlie's large, distinctive wristwatch can be seen as the bag is being tossed over Sun's head.
While at the site of the incident, Sawyer intentionally proceeds to mislead Kate with the "wrong" details. All which follows in sequence thereafter, from Kate's request to Sawyer to warn Locke of Jack's gun distribution plan through Locke's final relocation of the armory contents, was in precise accordance with Sawyer's original scheme to avenge the invasion of his stash.
Sawyer's convincing theory prompts Kate to inquire to Jack about his personal trust and depth of knowledge with Ana-Lucía, and the two strong-willed women have an intense stare down on the beach.
Ana's announcement to Jack of more survivors willing to take up arms (including the perpetuation of the long-running confusion between the living Steve and deceased Scott) leaves him in suspicion as well, all of which falls into Sawyer's plan.

Answer: 46

In an effort to persuade Kate, Sawyer implies that the attack on Sun was employed as a method of prompting the group to join the newly established "army".
His estimation on the number of survivors leaves one to consider the overall shift in survivor population of the island since their arrival.
The most recent survivor to be buried was Shannon, leaving 43 survivors of the fuselage section remaining. Subtracting the missing Michael and Walt from the current camp population and adding the four tail section survivors leaves the current camp total at 45.
Another island census check: The total number of deceased survivors of the original 48 from the fuselage group is six, the result of both accident and murder. The addition of baby Aaron raised the count back to 43.
Thus, Sawyer was one estimate away from the truth in his statement regarding the number of survivors at the camp. Due to Ana's satisfaction in the increased number of willing volunteers to join following the incident, Jack begins to suspect her involvement-- all according to Sawyer's expectation.

Answer: Bait-and-switch

The pigeon drop is a common scam of which there are many variations, but the basic premise of which is convincing a victim to trade a small sum of money in order to gain a larger sum (and of course, they receive nothing in return).
The term "Lookie-Lou" is often used to describe a person who visits shops and never buys. The name was likely appointed to a scam created by Sawyer and Cassidy using this technique.
Meanwhile, the "Tulsa Bag Scam" is probably a trick devised entirely by the pair.
(The "bait-and-switch" is simply a tactic often used by stores through advertisement, in which customers are lured by the low price of an item only to find that it is "sold out" and offered a more expensive product with higher profit involved.)
During their first real con together, involving a fraudulent jewelry scam at a convenience store, Sawyer tells "Dimples" that the success lies all in the details and writes price tags as he leans against a black car. (Later, the car in which Gordy is supposedly waiting for them is also black.)
These common street scams were not enough to satiate the adventurous desires of Cassidy, and she longed to do one "long con" before she and Sawyer retired to a sunny island and celebrated their fraudulent fortunes.
It turned out that Cassidy's idea was not her idea at all, but a part of Sawyer's "long con". So in the end, Sawyer kept the six hundred grand-- and he got the island.

Answer: False

A glass display case located in the diner when the scene opens (with the word "Iowa" clearly identifiable on a plate as the camera angles into view) immediately places the setting in Kate's home state. Although Kate's mother Diane is the waitress, however, the pair is not located in the same diner as that in which Kate was seen meeting with her mother. Upon close comparison one will recognize the difference in details, such as uniform color, overall appearance of the restaurant, etc.
The intersection of the brief connection to Kate once again cautiously reinforces the parallel in their past existences.
Sawyer, clearly uncomfortable, finds himself once again less than willing to go through with a deal as his perspective shifts between moral indecisiveness. Much to Gordy's annoyance, Sawyer shows true concern and defense for Cassidy and almost refuses to go through with it. Gordy responds first with reasoning, and later threats. Insisting that being a con man is not what Sawyer does but what he is, as an identity, Gordy attests that a "tiger doesn't change his stripes".
Gordy's sleazy rationale proved successful, although to what extent in his own benefit is uncertain, as Sawyer finally accepted himself as a con man by character and went through with the long con despite his feelings for Cassidy.
When approached by Kate's accusations of his desires to be hated, Sawyer repeated Gordy's metaphor as symbolic representation of his transition to acceptance of the role into which his life (and Kate's, inevitably) had led. "You run, I con. A tiger don't change her stripes."

Answer: Looking through books

Although the library is, like most other aspects of the hatch, a bit outdated Locke seems to have taken up a particular interest in "alphabetizing". In reality, he seems to be searching the pages of every book on the shelf for something in particular (which one might assume to be more missing Dharma film splices, like the one found in the Bible). Locke is seen with one book in particular at the time of Sawyer's entrance, Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". The story synopsis revolves around a man being executed (via being hung from the bridge) who escapes, swims to freedom and is reunited with his wife at home. In the end it is revealed that the prisoner never escaped and had been hung, all subsequent events merely a tragic fantasy. Most novels read or mentioned by the survivors seem to relate in some way to thematic foundations of the island, including "Lord of the Flies", "Watership Down" and "The Third Policeman", with allusions to "Alice in Wonderland", etc.
Sawyer approaches under the false pretense of warning Locke as a favor (in order to take personal revenge for Jack's prior ransacking). Indeed Jack is furious upon his return to an empty vault and Sawyer's smug returning of the pills. In reality, everyone is involved in Sawyer's successful plan to acquire possession of all island armories as retribution for the dividing of his stash while he was away.
The survivors react with frightened, stunned, and angry faces glowing in the firelight. Charlie looks on in a daze, which one may be unable to distinguish between drugged, indifferent, or guilt-ridden features.
Eying the battling leaders Jack and Locke closely, Sawyer announces that there is "a new sheriff in town".

Answer: Sage Flower Motel

After explaining to Cassidy the "truth" behind the supposed "Mercado deal", Sawyer confesses that she had in fact been the "long con". Winning her trust back as quickly as he lost it, Sawyer concedes that he had told Gordy he would not take Cassidy's money.
Ironically, he is professing the truth at this time.
Sawyer quickly transfers the bundles of dollars from the briefcase into a duffel bag and instructs Cassidy to meet him at the Sage Flower Motel in Sioux City. (This suggests that they are still in Iowa.) Before ushering her out the door, an armful of counterfeit cash in hand, Sawyer tells Cassidy that he loves her. The sincerity in his voice overrides the deceptive conformation of the task at hand, leading one to glimpse a momentary bit of genuine remorse before his completion of another scam.

Answer: A wider bandwidth

Earlier in the day, Sayid was busy venting his frustration on coconuts and immune even to Hurley's good humor. Hurley announced that upon visit to Bernard and Rose's tent, he had learned that Bernard was formerly a dentist-- most likely, a particularly useful occupation on a deserted island, along with Jack's multitude of medical skills.
Hurley also presented Sayid with the radio used by Bernard and the tailies to transmit to Boone in the Nigerian plane (which had been found in a trunk in the second known Dharma station). Sayid showed no interest until approaching Hurley that evening and attempting to get a signal successfully-- and fortunately, no hike to higher ground required.
Amidst broken reception and static, the close frequency radio picked up a transmission quite easily. Sayid passed the message off as Rousseau's distress call picked up earlier, although a careful listener may hear something different about the overall tone and urgency of the message. (Or maybe, it is a new message entirely-- without the primary translator, more French deciphering would be unlikely anytime soon.)
Also notice the manuscript Hurley is reading by the campfire, entitled "Bad Twin" by Gary Troup. This WILL be seen again.
For now the two enjoy Glen Miller's "Moonlight Serenade" thanks to the wider bandwidth, as Sayid mentions before locating an old music station called "WXO".
The radio waves came to the island from a presumed thousands of miles away, offering a brief connection back to the "real world" far away. Sayid reflects, peering at the dark starlit sky, that the sound could be coming from anywhere. Hurley replies, "Or any time."
Another simple yet powerful reminder of the lengthening distance between the survivors and the world they had left behind, where time and place hold little importance.
One continues to wonder the same puzzle Charlie contended in the beginning: Where are we?

Answer: False

When the starlit sky fades into the blackened jungle, Sawyer arrives soundlessly and is met by the shadowy figure of a most unlikely alliance.
Charlie, donning the dark hood and returned from hiding the guns, had an agenda all his own. With easy access and no motivation, Charlie's refusal of the statue offered by Sawyer lies in accordance with his previous testimony of being heroin-free. This not only places his behavior in question, but the bizarre "hallucinations" as well.
It seems Charlie's participation in the con masked a vengeance against Locke, in repayment the humiliating incident with Claire and the baby.
At this point commences the ending of two complex cons. Sawyer recalls returning to the house after Cassidy's hurried "escape", and approaching the black car with the briefcase in hand.
Notice the other black car, presumably their own, is parked in the driveway.
After staring at the empty driver's seat beside him for several seconds, Sawyer reenters the house-- his face full of unreadable expression-- and removes the real money from a second duffel bag hidden under the table. Just before walking through the door after another successful con, Sawyer gazes at a framed photo of he and Cassidy before turning another part of his life face down. He exits with a solemn glare quite distant from that of a triumphant accomplishment.
Having officially removed the newly gained, short-lived amiability and replaced himself back into the former niche of most despised among the survivors, Sawyer confirms to Charlie his perpetuation of a lifelong series of conning: "I am not a good person, Charlie. I never did a good thing in my life."