First, my favorite moment in the whole episode is when Ben asks Jack if he can please go with John. That was so funny. I think Ben is quite happy to be the beaten prisoner right now. With these other freighter people coming to the island, he doesn't want to appear in charge of anything. I think he figures he is safer that way. (Like Lt Dan telling Forrest not to salute him cuz it would get him killed by the enemy.) He's been awful quite, seems if he wanted to be let go he would be running his mouth more trying to manipulate his way free.