Charlie Pace

Template:Infobox Lost character Charlie Hieronymus Pace is a fictional character on the ABC television series Lost played by Dominic Monaghan. Template:Spoiler

Fictional character biography

Prior to the crash

Charlie is a musician from Manchester, England. He is the former bass player and principal song-writer for DriveSHAFT, a rock band he formed with his brother Liam. Charlie is originally very hesitant to capitalize on DriveSHAFT's growing success, but is ultimately convinced by Liam to participate in the band's future, after Liam explains that Charlie "is the band." Charlie elicits a promise from Liam that they would dissolve the band if they ever felt it was too much. DriveSHAFT's fame increases, and Charlie notices that Liam is becoming more controlling of the band and more self-destructive in his addiction. Shortly before a concert, Charlie calls Liam on his promise to end the band, but Liam storms off shouting that he is the band now. Alone in the dressing room and pained by the realization that he has let things go too far, Charlie turns to Liam's heroin stash (“The Moth”).

DriveSHAFT’s success eventually fades and the band is reduced to incorporating its hit song, “You All Everybody,” for a diaper commercial. Charlie begins writing new songs in an effort to have the band make a comeback. However, he comes home one day to find that his piano is missing. Liam tells Charlie that he sold it to buy a plane ticket to Sydney, where Liam’s daughter and her mother have moved, and where he intends to enroll in a rehab clinic (“Fire + Water”).

With the band gone, Charlie resorts to theft to support his heroin addiction. He romances a wealthy woman named Lucy in an attempt to rob her, but develops sincere feelings for her. Her father gets him a job selling copiers. Their relationship fails when Lucy discovers Charlie’s original intentions (“Homecoming”). Charlie finds an opportunity for DriveSHAFT to embark on an eight-week tour opening for another band, and flies to Australia to convince Liam to join the band’s reunion. Liam, now married, clean, and settled down, declines the return to a rock-star lifestyle. Liam tries to get Charlie to remain in Sydney and enter a drug treatment program, but Charlie angrily storms off (“The Moth”).

In "Exodus: Part 2", Charlie wakes up in a hotel room, with another woman in bed with him. Trying not to wake her, he frantically searches through the mass pile of clothes and garbage for his heroin stash. Just before he leaves, the woman he was sleeping with had woken up and catches him trying to leave with the heroin. The two struggle, and eventually she storms out of the room, leaving Charlie with the heroin. Charlie, in a hurry, catches the elevator, but is delayed when Hurley tries to enter, only to find it completely full. In Pilot: Part 2", whilst on board the airplane, Charlie experiences withdrawal symptoms, alerting the cabin crew to his status. In an attempt to avoid being caught, Charlie races to the front of the plane, pushing past Jack and Rose, and into the toilets, where he administers some heroin, just before turbulance hits.

After the crash

Charlie maintains a gentle, nice attitude during his early days on the island. He joins many survival initiatives, often out of a desire to avoid exclusion and be seen as useful. He tries to talk fellow survivors into recognizing his celebrity status, with mixed results. In “Pilot,” Charlie accompanies Jack and Kate on a mission to find the transceiver. At the wreckage site of the plane’s front section, he discreetly recovers his heroin stash from the forward lavatory where, during the flight, he is shown attempting to dispose of it moments before the plane loses control. Thus, Charlie is able to continue his drug use on the island.

Locke discovers Charlie’s addiction and convinces Charlie to forfeit his stash by reuniting Charlie with his guitar (“House of the Rising Sun”). In “The Moth,” Charlie suffers withdrawal and demands that Locke return his heroin. Locke is unintimidated, but agrees to return the stash if Charlie considers the consequences and asks for it three times. When Jack is trapped by some collapsed rock in one of the caves, Charlie is able to crawl through the rubble and find an escape. He makes his third request for the heroin and tosses the remaining stash in the fire, gaining a measure of respect from Locke.

Charlie develops a fondness for the pregnant Claire and encourages her to move to the caves (“Confidence Man”). Charlie and Claire are abducted by Ethan, and he nearly dies when he is blindfolded and left hanging from a tree (“All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues”). After Claire returns to the camp, Ethan comes to Charlie with a threat of killing the remaining survivors one by one until Claire is brought to him. The survivors devise a plan to capture and interrogate Ethan, but, in the ensuing fight, an angered Charlie kills Ethan by shooting him with Jack's dropped gun. (“Homecoming”).

After Claire gives birth to Aaron, Charlie develops a nurturing relationship for mother and child (“The Greater Good”). In "Exodus," Rousseau kidnaps Aaron, and Charlie and Sayid follow her. Charlie is injured by one of Danielle’s traps but the two eventually find Danielle and recover the child. While tracking Danielle, the two pass the Beechcraft plane (where Boone was mortally injured in “Deus Ex Machina”) and Sayid casually notes the plane's cargo of heroin hidden within Virgin Mary statues. Later, one of the statues is seen in Charlie’s bag.

When the food stores of the hatch are distributed to the survivors, Charlie relishes the opportunity to provide Claire the peanut butter she craves (“Everybody Hates Hugo”). When Claire discovers Charlie’s Virgin Mary statue, he explains that he found it in the jungle but does not mention the heroin. Charlie’s deception is revealed after Claire tells Locke and later Eko about the statue. Charlie insists that he is not using the heroin but Claire tells him to leave and stay away from her (“The 23rd Psalm”).

In “Fire + Water,” Locke discovers a cache of Virgin Mary statues that Charlie has hidden in the jungle and confiscates them. Charlie has a series of dreams leading him to believe that Aaron is in danger. He talks to Eko, who suggests that Aaron may need to be baptized. Charlie has another dream and wakes to find that he is at the water’s edge holding Aaron. Claire reclaims her child, slaps Charlie, and angrily returns to camp. That evening Charlie starts a fire as a distraction, steals Aaron, and runs to the ocean. When Charlie is discovered he explains that he is trying to baptize the baby like Eko said, but a disturbed Eko replies "This is not the way". Charlie finally hands Aaron to Locke, who, after returning Aaron to Claire, beats Charlie in the face, all the way to the ground. (And leaving a large gash in his cheek) Charlie is utterly dejected, seeing his credibility damaged and his place in Claire’s life replaced by Locke.

In “The Long Con,” Charlie fakes an attempt by The Others to abduct Sun as part of an elaborate scheme concocted by Sawyer to steal the guns from the hatch. Sawyer offers Charlie one of the Virgin Mary statues as payment, but Charlie refuses, saying that he doesn't want the drugs and only cooperated with Sawyer to humiliate Locke and make him look and feel "Like a fool".

Charlie joins Sayid and Ana Lucia in the search for Henry Gale's balloon (“The Whole Truth”). Charlie develops a bond with Eko based on their mutual religious beliefs and assists him with a project to build a church (“Dave”). He attempts to mend his relationship with Claire by giving her a vaccine from the hatch so Aaron can be inoculated. When Eko abandons construction of the church, Charlie continues alone (with poor results). Vincent the dog leads Charlie to Sawyer’s stash of supplies. Charlie removes all the remaining Virgin Mary statues from the stash and hurls them into the ocean, finally freeing himself from his addiction's temptation (while Locke watches from a distance). (“Three Minutes”).

In "Live Together, Die Alone", Charlie agrees to help Eko reenter the hatch after being locked out by Locke and Desmond. Charlie provides Eko with dynamite but becomes worried as he watches Eko arrange the dynamite beside the hatch’s blast door and light the fuse. The explosion throws Charlie back and leaves a ringing in his ears. Charlie struggles to help an injured Eko leave the hatch amid the system failure of the hatch computer, but eventually escapes alone. He returns to camp unaware of the fates of the others in the hatch; his hearing apparently damaged. It is unknown if this is permanent or merely temporary. As night falls, Charlie and Claire rekindle their relationship and kiss.

In "Further Instructions", Charlie's hearing is back to normal after a day. Locke returns to camp unable to speak. He asks Charlie to stand guard while he speaks to the island in a sweat lodge. Charlie initially refuses because he still harbors a grudge against Locke because of the beating he received after abducting Aaron. Still, Charlie decides to wait outside the sweat lodge, which Locke emerges from in a panic. Able to speak again, he says that he has to save Eko. Charlie joins him in his quest because he also wants to help Eko, despite Locke's objections.

The two discover Hurley in the jungle and learn about the fate of Jack, Kate, and Sawyer. Charlie also discovers that the hatch imploded after the fail-safe was activated, leaving a large crater. They also discover a cave, which Locke believes houses a polar bear that has Eko. Charlie waits outside while Locke enters the cave. Eko is indeed inside, and Charlie and Locke carry an injured and unconscious Eko back to camp. When Charlie fetches some water, he returns to see Locke talking to Eko, claiming that Eko woke up and talked to him. Charlie does not believe him. It seems that Charlie and Locke are no longer at odds after this journey together. He soon interrupts Desmond's attempt of convincing Claire to leave her tent for the day. He is later spared from lightning, along with Claire and Aaron, thanks to Desmond's lightning rod.

Later, Charlie and Hurley are asked to follow Desmond into the jungle where they are informed by Locke of Eko's demise. Suddenly Desmond runs to the beach where he saves Claire from drowning, and Hurley tells Charlie of Desmond's precognitive abilities. Charlie resolves to extract this information from Desmond and after a night of drinking and a somewhat violent confrontation Desmond reveals that it was Charlie's life that was being saved as in Desmond's premonition Charlie was killed by the lightning and then drowned while trying to save Claire. Desmond informs Charlie that he can't stop Charlie's eventual death because "the universe has a way of course-correcting".

Charlie soon develops a sense of depression the next day, in "Tricia Tanaka Is Dead". He is confronted by Hurley, who convinces him to talk about Desmond's prediction. While they are talking, they notice Vincent with a skeleton's arm in his mouth. Hurley offers Charlie to join him, to which he declines and remains on the beach. During this time, he asks Desmond to tell him how he will die, but Desmond responds that it isn't as simple as that. Hurley returns soon after, telling everyone about the discovery of a van. He asks for help, and tells Charlie that he could do with some excitement to lift his spirits. Charlie declines again, as does everyone else (except Jin). Charlie is sat on the beach when he is confronted a third time by Hurley. Charlie snaps out of his depression and follows him to the van, where Jin and Sawyer are drinking still. He and Hurley sit in the van while the other two push it down a hill, bearing jaggered rocks at the bottom. At the last second, Hurley manages to get the van working, and narrowly evades the rocks. After this, the four of them engage in a session of joy-riding before returning to camp with renewed hope. Charlie's mood is lightened, and is shown when he returns home to Claire on the beach.

The next day, in "Par Avion", Charlie is still in good spirits, and is shown via surprising Claire by taking care of Aaron, and also by holding a special picnic for her. However, this kind gesture is interrupted when Desmond arrives, saying that Charlie would benefit more by hunting with him instead. When Claire begins telling everyone of her idea that could have everyone rescued, Charlie surprisingly rejects her idea, and soon leaves with Desmond. Soon after Desmond thwarts Claire's attempts of catching a bird, he is confronted by her, knowing that Charlie is somehow involved with Desmond's antics. Unsure whether to tell her about Desmond's vision, Charlie tells her that her idea is crazy, and doesn't want to bring about more false hope. Later, Charlie argues with Desmond, which stirs curiosity in Claire. She later confronts Charlie, after learning of his eventual death on the island, and asks him to release the bird with her, to which he agrees.

DriveSHAFT

Fictional band DriveSHAFT, which has several similarities to real life band Oasis, was formed in Manchester, England by brothers Charlie and Liam Pace. The band experienced explosive chart success after their song "You All Everybody" (Based on Oasis' song "Rock 'n' Roll Star") became a hit in both the United Kingdom and the United States. The brothers' struggle with heroin addiction eventually leads them to go their separate ways. After a hiatus, Charlie arranges to reunite the band for an eight week tour, opening for the band "Meat Coat" in the US. Unfortunately, Liam is now living in Australia with a family. Charlie travels to see him, to try to persuade his brother to join the comeback tour, saying, "they won't book DriveSHAFT without you." When Liam proclaims he does not want to come back, an angry Charlie runs off to catch a flight to Los Angeles presumably to start the tour anyway. On October 4, 2006, DriveSHAFT re-merged as SPIN.com's Artist of the Day.

In "Everybody Hates Hugo", Hurley classifies DriveSHAFT as a "one-hit wonder" and Hurley's friend also refers to them as 'suckSHAFT' while shopping at a music store.

In "Flashes Before Your Eyes" Charlie is a street performer singing Oasis' song "Wonderwall".

• In "House of the Rising Sun", Locke mentions that DriveSHAFT's two albums are named "DriveSHAFT" and "Oil Change."

During the fourth season of another J.J. Abram's produced television show on ABC, Alias, "You All Everybody" is heard playing in the background at main character Sydney Bristow's Halloween party.

Trivia

• Charlie was originally intended to be a forty-one-year-old rock star who had fallen out of the public eye, but the casting staff liked Dominic Monaghan's audition for Sawyer so much that he was given the role of Charlie.
• The characters of Charlie and his brother in the band DriveSHAFT are modeled after the Gallagher Brothers (Liam and Noel) of the band Oasis.
• In the third season episode Flashes Before Your Eyes Charlie is shown as a street corner musician in Desmond's flashback. The song he is playing is "Wonderwall" by the band Oasis. This can be shown as another reference to DriveSHAFT being modeled after Oasis.
• The guitar Charlie has on the island is a ruby-red Ovation CC024.
• Charlie (along with Monaghan) bears a tattoo on his left arm that reads "Living is easy with eyes closed." This is a line from the song "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles. He also bears a tattoo on his right arm with the elvish number 9, which Dominic got while filming The Lord of the Rings.
• In Further Instructions when Locke states he needs to talk to the island, Charlie makes many sarcastic suggestions, including saying he heard the trees are wonderful conversationalists. A similar statement was made by Merry, also played by Monaghan, in The Two Towers.
• On the DVD commentary of "The Moth," the episode is jokingly referred to as The Dominic Monaghan Show.
• In real life, the actress who portrays Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly) is the girlfriend of the actor who portrays Charlie Pace (Dominic Monaghan).
• During his heroin scenes, Monaghan is snorting brown sugar.
• Charlie's middle name Hieronymus points to comparison between his character and the works of Hieronymus Bosch, which often times depicted sin and human moral failings.
• Charlie is loosely modeled on Larry Underwood in The Stand.

External links

• DriveShaft