- Jacob: [to Richard] Imagine that this wine is what you keep calling hell. There are other names for it. Malevolence. Evil. Darkness. And it's all down here swirling at the bottom. Unable to get out, because if it did it would spread. Now, the cork is this Island.
- [puts a cork in the jug, trapping the wine]
- Jacob: And it's the only thing keeping the darkness where it belongs.
- Richard Alpert: There were other people here before me?
- Jacob: Yes, many.
- Richard Alpert: What happened to them?
- Jacob: They're all dead.
- Richard Alpert: If you brought them here, why didn't you help them?
- Jacob: I wanted them to help themselves. To know the difference between right and wrong without me telling them. It's all useless if I have to make them do anything. Why should I have to step in?
- Richard Alpert: If you don't he
- [referring to the Man in Black]
- Richard Alpert: will.
- Jacob: [pauses, taken aback] Tell you what, would you like a job?
- Richard Alpert: A job? Doing what?
- Jacob: If I don't step in, maybe you could. You could be my representative and intermediary to the people I bring to this Island.
- Richard Alpert: What would I get in return?
- Jacob: You tell me...
- Richard Alpert: I want my wife back.
- Jacob: I can't do that.
- Richard Alpert: Can you absolve me of my sins?
- Jacob: I can't do that either.
- Richard Alpert: Then I don't want to die... I want to live forever.
- Jacob: [smiles, lays a hand on his shoulder] Now that, I can do.
- [Hurley has just helped Richard make peace with his long deceased wife]
- Hugo 'Hurley' Reyes: She kinda said something else. Something you have to do.
- Richard Alpert: What?
- Hugo 'Hurley' Reyes: She said you have to stop The Man in Black. You have to stop him from leaving the Island. And she said that if you don't... we'll all go to hell.
- Ben Linus: [about Richard] I've known him since I was twelve years old, that should count for something.
- Frank Lapidus: So you guys met when you were kids, huh?
- Ben Linus: No, Frank, I was a kid. Richard looked just like he does today.
- Frank Lapidus: You're saying this guy doesn't age?
- Ben Linus: That's exactly what I'm saying.
- [the Man in Black sits on a log in the shade, holding a white stone. Jacob shows up]
- Jacob: Morning.
- Man in Black: Morning.
- Jacob: I see you got my present.
- Man in Black: Don't gloat, Jacob. It doesn't become you.
- Jacob: So you tried to kill me.
- Man in Black: You expect an apology?
- Jacob: I'd just like to know why you did it.
- Man in Black: Because I want to leave. Just let me leave, Jacob.
- Jacob: As long as I'm still alive, you're not going anywhere.
- Man in Black: Then now you know why I want to kill you. And I will kill you, Jacob.
- Jacob: Someone else will take my place.
- Man in Black: Well, then I'll kill them too.
- Jacob: [hands him a bottle of wine] Well, here's something to pass the time. See you around.
- [Jacob leaves]
- Man in Black: Sooner than you think.
- [he smashes the bottle against the log, releasing the wine]