I wrote an episode of Lost featuring characters from classic Victorian literature for my lit class. It might make zero sense if you haven't read Middlemarch or Jude the Obscure; my apologies.
Previously on Lost: While en route to Australia, a ship crashes onto a seemingly deserted tropical island during a violent storm. There are nine survivors: the recently widowed DOROTHEA, her acquaintance WILL, the physician LYDGATE, Lydgate’s wife ROSAMOND, the wealthy banker BULSTRODE, his wife MRS. BULSTRODE, the stonemason JUDE, Jude’s lover SUE, and Jude’s young son FATHER TIME. Some survivors quickly sort through the wreckage of the ship and make plans for survival as they are unsure when or if they will be rescued. Others have difficulty becoming acclimated to their new environment. LYDGATE and JUDE emerge as de facto leaders of the group, promptly putting their respective medical and physical labor skills to good use. As the survivors begin to explore their surroundings, it becomes clear that they are not alone on the island; there is a SMOKE MONSTER, too. It attacks them on their first night on the island, but no one is seriously injured.
[Shot of JUDE gathering boulders inland from the beach.]
JUDE: Lydgate, Will, Bulstrode! May I request some help moving these stones?
WILL: [Grabs a large boulder.] Certainly. Pardon my asking, Jude, but what was your occupation before we found ourselves in this unfortunate situation? You are very good at constructing makeshift shelters on tropical islands, especially for someone of such high intellect!
JUDE: Well, I was a stonemason. [Pauses. Looks at Will.] Though, to be honest, I once desired to be a learned man, a scholar of great renown. But I gave up that dream. I found I didn’t care for social success any more at all. I feel, with out current condition, I should like to do some good thing for the others here (1). And how about yourself, Will?
WILL: I was something of a wonderer before coming here. I had little family to speak of, so I learned to work my own way and depend on nobody else than myself (11).
[LYDGATE approaches JUDE and WILL]
LYDGATE: Bulstrode won’t be joining us; he says he has a pain in his head (2). Personally, I am of the opinion that he does not want to dirty his hands with us; I think he dislikes physical labor.
JUDE: What a strange fellow. Earlier when I spoke with him, he gave me the impression that such work was not fit for him. What was his occupation in Middlemarch? You both know him well, do you not?
LYDGATE: Indeed, yes. [Places boulder on pile.] Bulstrode is a banker, a very powerful man in our town. However, he is not popular in the least. Personally, I look upon him quite impartially, as he has aided me financially in my medical efforts. But he has a reputation for being masterful and rather unsociable, and he is concerned with trade (3).
WILL: He’s primarily concerned with his own interests, as far as I can tell. He seems to enjoy the company of members of his own class above all others, which may explain why he is unwilling to haul stones with the rest of us.
LYDGATE: Unfortunately, in this stupid world most people never consider that a thing is good to be done unless it is done by their own set (3).
[Shot of BULSTRODE and MRS. BULSTRODE sitting under a palm tree, at a distance from the others.]
WILL: Which means we most likely will not have this shelter completed by nightfall . . .
JUDE: [With a frightened expression] . . . and then who knows if we will be safe from that . . . that thing.
