STRANDED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, 48 SURVIVORS OF A PLANE CRASH MUST FIND THE STRENGTH TO WORK TOGETHER IF THEY ARE TO STAY ALIVE - BUT THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND HOLDS MANY SECRETS WHICH COULD PROVE FATAL TO THE BAND OF CASTAWAYS, ON A SPECIAL TWO-HOUR BROADCAST OF "LOST," SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, ON ABC

Out of the blackness, the first thing Jack (Matthew Fox, "Party of Five") senses is pain. Then burning sun. A Bamboo forest. Smoke. Screams. With a rush comes the horrible awareness that the plane he was on tore apart in mid-air and crashed on a Pacific island. From there it's a blur, as his doctor's instinct kicks in: people need his help, on a special two-hour broadcast of "Lost," SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network (Rebroadcast. OAD: 9/22&29/04).

Stripped of everything, the 48 survivors scavenge what they can from the plane for their survival. Some panic. Some pin their hopes on rescue. A few find inner strength they never knew they had -- like Kate (Evangeline Lilly), who, with no medical training, suddenly finds herself suturing the doctor's wounds. Hurley (Jorge Garcia) - a man with a warm sense of humor despite the desperate situation - does his best to keep his cool as he helps those around him to survive. Charlie (Dominic Monaghan, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy) is a faded rock star who harbors a painful secret. Sayid (Naveen Andrews, "The English Patient") is a Middle Eastern man who must wrestle with the racial profiling directed at him by some of his fellow survivors. Jin (Daniel Dae Kim, "Spider-Man 2," "24") and Sun (Yunjin Kim) are a Korean couple whose traditions, values and language are foreign, and thus causes much to get lost in the translation. Sawyer (Josh Holloway) has an air of danger surrounding him, and his intense sense of mistrust for everyone around him could prove to be fatal to his fellow castaways. Michael (Harold Perrineau, "Oz") has just gained custody of his nine-year-old son, Walt (Malcolm David Kelley, "Antwone Fisher," "You Got Served"), after the death of his ex-wife - they are a father and son who don't even know each other. Locke (Terry O'Quinn, "Alias," "Primal Fear") is a mysterious man who keeps to himself, and who harbors a deeper connection to the island than any of the others. Self-centered Shannon (Maggie Grace, "Oliver Beene") - who actually gives herself a pedicure amid the chaos - and her estranged controlling brother, Boone (Ian Somerhalder, "Smallville"), constantly bicker and must learn to get along if they are to survive. And young Claire (Emilie de Ravin, "Roswell") is eight months pregnant and ill-prepared for the hardships of motherhood - especially on a deserted island.

On the special broadcast, survivors of the mid-Pacific plane crash have landed on an island of harsh terrain, cruel weather and dark secrets, including a frightful creature that stalks the jungle. Strangers all, even those related by blood, the survivors' pasts - their ethics, religions, politics and attitudes - threaten to jeopardize the group's ability to endure. However, thanks to the calm leadership of quick-thinking Jack and level-headed Kate, the group has hope for survival and rescue. Meanwhile, the discovery of a transceiver among the plane's wreckage and the thought that rescue could be imminent temporarily raises the castaways' spirits. Still, the island's mysteries continue to baffle, with the discovery of handcuffs, a gun and an animal that shouldn't be able to survive in a tropical climate.

"Lost" stars Matthew Fox as Jack, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Ian Somerhalder as Boone, Dominic Monaghan as Charlie, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Maggie Grace as Shannon, Malcolm David Kelley as Walt, Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Harold Perrineau as Michael, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Terry O'Quinn as Locke, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin and Yunjin Kim as Sun.

Guest starring are Emilie de Ravin as Claire, L. Scott Caldwell as Rose, Fredric Lane as marshal, Kimberley Hawryluk as flight attendant no. 1, John Dixon as flight attendant no. 2, Michelle Arthur as flight attendant no. 3 and Greg Grunberg as pilot.

The special broadcast was written by J.J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof and directed by J.J. Abrams.

J.J. Abrams and Damo Lindelof created the series and also serve as executive producers, along with Bryan Burk ("Alias"). Jack Bender and David Fury ("Angel") are co-executive producers. "Lost," which is filmed entirely on location in Hawaii, is from Touchstone Television.

"Lost" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound.

This program carries a TV-14,L,V parental guideline.