In the opening of Episode 2 of Lord of the Flies, Jack embarks on a perilous quest to trap and slay a piglet, his mind wandering back to the turbulent moments preceding the plane crash. He recalls the embrace of his fellow children’s parents as Piggy’s mother passionately kisses him goodbye. The memory of the plane’s erratic flight and his desperate attempt to soothe Maurice before it began its downward spiral lingers. As the plane descends into chaos, Jack’s panic is palpable.
Flashing back to the present, the piglet eludes capture once more, prompting Jack to lash out at Maurice and return to the island. Meanwhile, Piggy weaves a tale for the younger ones as Ralph strives to erect a shelter. Ralph questions whether Jack will lend a hand and the hunters’ distracted state. A heated argument ensues between Jack and Ralph, which they temporarily while immersing themselves in the calming embrace of the ocean. Jack asserts that he’s on the brink of securing food by slaying a pig, and Simon joins them in their discussion of the little ones’ fear of a mythical beast. Refusing to contribute to shelter construction, Jack chooses instead to hone his hunting skills.
Piggy joins the group, voicing concerns about the younger boys’ well-being. Ralph enlists him to address these issues at their next meeting. Piggy notes that they four serve as leaders, though Jack dismisses this notion and exits. On the other side of the island, Jack discovers remnants of the crashed plane perched on a cliff. He ventures up to investigate but becomes stranded at a precarious height. Although terrified, he finds it impossible to descend easily. The boys guide him back to safety, and Jack thanks them tearfully, requesting that they keep the incident secret.
In parallel, the hunters maintain their signal fire. Later, Jack spies a herd of pigs and devises a strategic plan for a coordinated attack. Simon finds him, and they discuss their parents. Jack insists that his father will rescue him, but Simon gently challenges this notion and encourages faith in the other boys’ families. Simon aids Jack in painting his face for the hunt.
The following morning, Jack attempts to scrape flint to create a knife. At a group meeting, Piggy emphasizes the need for order, particularly regarding toilets, but the boys mock him. Ralph supports Piggy and reiterates the importance of rules. As the hunters work on their knives, Ralph addresses the younger boys’ fears.
Jack eventually plucked up the courage and dismissed their concerns, confidently claiming that there were no beasts on the island. A little boy described seeing something terrifying at night, and the boys' laughter turned to silence as they listened. Percival spoke of his fear, causing distress among the younger children. Jack later told Ralph that Percival believed he saw a beast emerging from the sea.
That night, the hunters painted their faces and surrounded the pigs. The piglets managed to escape, but the boys focused their attack on the mother. One boy struck her, and Jack ultimately stabbed and killed the animal. Despite being shaken by the blood, the boys convinced Jack that everyone would praise him. They briefly wondered what would happen to the piglets before carrying the pig back and bathing in a waterfall.
On the mountain, one boy found Simon's briefcase and began mocking him until Jack intervened. They also discovered another briefcase containing women's clothing and makeup, which they used to further disguise themselves before returning to camp. Jack noticed that the signal fire had gone out as a ship passed in the distance. Piggy confirmed that the fire was dead, while Jack rushed to the cliff with the hunters to relight it and found Ralph attempting to restart it. Simon pointed out that the ship was already moving away.
Jack defended himself, arguing that securing food was equally important, but Ralph blamed him for neglecting rescue. Maurice apologized for the failure, and Jack insisted that there would be other opportunities for rescue. The conflict escalated when Jack punched Piggy, breaking his glasses. Furious, Jack declared that he was separating from Ralph and Piggy's group and invited others to follow him. When no one initially joined him, Jack stormed off alone and broke down while staring at his reflection.
That night, Piggy warned Ralph that he must remain chief because Jack was becoming dangerous. Eventually, Maurice and several choir boys joined Jack, while others stayed with Ralph to continue building the shelter. Simon discovered the dead pilot's body lodged in a tree. The episode ended with Jack privately reading Simon's diary.
