Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Richard leaves the beach camp after telling the survivors that he has no answers about what they should do next. His history begins in Tenerife in 1867, when he is known as Ricardo. Desperate to obtain medicine for his wife Isabella, he struggles with a doctor and accidentally kills him. Isabella dies before Ricardo returns. Sentenced to hang, he is instead sold into slavery because he can speak English. The Black Rock carries him to the island during a violent storm, smashing through the statue and landing inland. The smoke monster kills the men executing the chained captives, but leaves Ricardo imprisoned aboard the wreck.
The Man in Black frees Ricardo and persuades him that killing Jacob will reunite him with Isabella. Jacob defeats Ricardo's attack, denies that they are dead and describes the island as a cork containing a dangerous darkness. Ricardo agrees to act as his intermediary with the people brought there. Jacob cannot restore Isabella or absolve his sins, but grants his request to live indefinitely. In the present island story, Richard returns to the place where he buried Isabella's cross and calls out to accept the Man in Black's old offer. Hurley arrives instead and relays Isabella's words, allowing Richard to speak with her. Her final message tells him to stop the Man in Black from leaving the island.