# Lost 4.11: "Cabin Fever" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 8, 2008, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553 "2008-05-08T13:19:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/81 "2008-05-09T16:28:05Z")
I’d like to see some episodes based on the island in the past. And we need a solid Richard episode. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/82 "2008-05-09T16:31:29Z")
Here’s a transcript of the exchange in question between Claire and the psychic. This is from [Lostpedia](http://lostpedia.com/wiki/S1E10_-_Raised_by_Another_Transcript) and not the actual script from the show, so it does not tell us whether the psychic means “another” or “an other.” However, I bolded the parts in question for clarity. > [@Lostpedia](#): > > MALKIN: The father of this child will play no part in it’s life, nor yours. > CLAIRE: So what exactly are you saying? > MALKIN: **This child parented by anyone else, anyone other than you – danger surrounds this baby. . .** > CLAIRE: Danger? > MALKIN: Your nature, your spirit, your goodness, must be an influence in the development of this child. > CLAIRE: If Thomas and I don’t get back together I’m putting this baby up for adoption. I just wanted to find out what would give the baby the happiest life. > MALKIN: There is no happy life – not for this child, not without you. > CLAIRE: I don’t. . . > MALKIN: **It can’t be another. You mustn’t allow another to raise your baby.** > CLAIRE: Okay, great. Thanks for taking my 200. > MALKIN: Oh, no look, take it. Ms. Littleton; I am begging you just to consider… > CLAIRE: I can’t raise this child by myself. > MALKIN: You have to listen to me. > CLAIRE: Thanks for your time, and my money back. > MALKIN: Ms. Littleton, please. The baby needs your protection. Ms. Littleton, please. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/83 "2008-05-09T17:01:46Z")
From that same script: [QUOTE=Lostpedia] CLAIRE: So you’re giving me 6000 dollars to give my baby to a couple of strangers in Los Angeles? MALKIN: 12,000. The other 6 when you arrive in Los Angeles. And they’re not strangers, Claire. They’re good people. [/QUOTE] So have we actually seen this? Aaron is being raised in Los Angeles by Jack and Kate, who are not strangers to Claire. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/84 "2008-05-09T17:11:07Z")
So we know that Ben, Locke and Aaron all are the products of unusual/difficult births. They were identified, pre-birth, as being special in some way. Walt, too, is “special”, but we don’t know that it was identified pre-birth. It’s almost like they are looking for a… Messiah? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/85 "2008-05-09T17:17:35Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Locke had a compass on the Island, but the one Richard showed young Locke looked much older. The knife looked quite old, too. Of course time is relative, right? [/QUOTE] Sure, but it didn’t just look old, it looked primitive. It seemed pretty obvious to me that the objects that Locke was supposed to pick out (and did pick out) were the ones that belonged to the Captain of the Black Rock, who may or may not be Jacob. They were all olde timey, and they could all be seen as having a nautical theme. Maybe this is all just about Jacob getting a body back? ETA: At this point I really doubt that Locke’s dad is Cooper. That’s just the husband of the woman who Locke’s adopting mother was married to. Dad is going to be someone far more interesting than Cooper, I assure you. A donor match doesn’t make them guaranteed relatives. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/86 "2008-05-09T17:40:43Z")
I think Cooper is Locke’s dad because Locke was a match when it came to the kidney transplant. I know that’s not a guarantee but I think it makes it more likely. However, I never though Swoozie Kurtz was really is mom. She was someone Cooper hired to find Locke and bring him to him. And now I totally think Locke and Ben are brothers! ---
**Author:** ![Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crown_Prince_of_Irony)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/87 "2008-05-09T18:59:37Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] \ ETA: At this point I really doubt that Locke’s dad is Cooper. That’s just the husband of the woman who Locke’s adopting mother was married to. Dad is going to be someone far more interesting than Cooper, I assure you. A donor match doesn’t make them guaranteed relatives. -Joe [/QUOTE] I dunno about that - I would imagine the docs, having been told this was a son-to-father donation, would have run tests to make sure, and held off when non-paternity was discovered. I know, suspension of disbelief and all, but this seems like a slipup bordering on a plot hole. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/88 "2008-05-09T19:24:23Z")
Kevin Tighe is only 8 years older than Terry O’Quinn. Locke’s father would have to be 30 years older. But I still think he is Locke’s father and we are just supposed to think he is older than he is. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/89 "2008-05-09T19:33:22Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] The women we see raising him looks nothing like her and his grandmother was asking about adoption. This might have been covered in the Season 1 episodes that I missed, but does John know he’s adopted? [/QUOTE] I don’t think Locke was adopted. Someone else was raising him but it wasn’t an adoption. His grandmother was called Mrs Locke several times. John still has that last name. Unless he happened to be adopted by someone with the same name. > [@](#): > > What was that thing on Martin’s arm?! I doubt it was a bomb. A bomb that small would just blow up his corpse which wouldn’t do much good. It is a detonator. For something really really bad. Probably something on the ship. ---
**Author:** ![Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crown_Prince_of_Irony)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/90 "2008-05-09T19:35:45Z")
Also, I noted Richard’s reaction to young-Locke’s picture of the smoke monster (I presume that’s what it was) attacking a stick figure. He seemed shocked, extremely concerned, but almost pleased? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_The\_Younger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d9b06d/32.png) [@Paul\_The\_Younger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_The_Younger)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/91 "2008-05-09T19:56:45Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] I doubt it was a bomb. A bomb that small would just blow up his corpse which wouldn’t do much good. It is a detonator. For something really really bad. Probably something on the ship. [/QUOTE] I agree, it’s probably a detonator (or at least a controller of some kind.) But Keamy wouldn’t blow up the ship, anymore than he would kill Frank or Michael when they were still useful to him. He wants Michael to fix the engines – so they can leave when their mission is accomplished. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/92 "2008-05-09T19:59:04Z")
back again - read on some other site (slow day at work) that the book Richard showed young John in his test was a Bahai book; another said it was a satanist work. Any thoughts? Bahai would tie in with Persia/Iran/Iraq/Sayid, possibly Useless Charlotte the archaeologist. A satanist work would tie in with - everything - Christian Shepard specifically. Also, was Desmond cowardly or selfish to stay on the freighter? I think he can ultimately do his friends just as much good there as with Sayid. Besides, he’s already saved the world once, down in the hatch when the sky turned purple, right? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/93 "2008-05-09T20:09:56Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] I doubt it was a bomb. A bomb that small would just blow up his corpse which wouldn’t do much good. It is a detonator. For something really really bad. Probably something on the ship. [/QUOTE] It’s a dead man switch. Gotta be. > [@](#): > > Also, was Desmond cowardly or selfish to stay on the freighter? I think he can ultimately do his friends just as much good there as with Sayid. Besides, he’s already saved the world once, down in the hatch when the sky turned purple, right? I think Sayid is being valiant and stupid with his plan to rescue 40 people from an island through weird weather in a rubber boat…because if he makes it back to the boat with some people then the mercs will suddenly decide to NOT kill said people? Not sure I see the sense there. It’s not like having them on the boat with other witnesses will make them less likely to be killed - look what happened to the Doctor and the Captain. Hell, the Doctor was just to make a point! -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/94 "2008-05-09T20:32:11Z")
[QUOTE=Paul The Younger] I agree, it’s probably a detonator (or at least a controller of some kind.) But Keamy wouldn’t blow up the ship, anymore than he would kill Frank or Michael when they were still useful to him. He wants Michael to fix the engines – so they can leave when their mission is accomplished. [/QUOTE] Actually, Keamy pulled the trigger on Michael several times, and his gun didn’t fire. Then he told the captain to fix his gun. I think Keamy would have been happy to go ahead and kill Michael right then and there. But he needs Frank more, for the piloting-the-chopper skills. ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/95 "2008-05-09T20:38:25Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] I think Sayid is being valiant and stupid with his plan to rescue 40 people from an island through weird weather in a rubber boat…because if he makes it back to the boat with some people then the mercs will suddenly decide to NOT kill said people? Not sure I see the sense there. It’s not like having them on the boat with other witnesses will make them less likely to be killed - look what happened to the Doctor and the Captain. Hell, the Doctor was just to make a point! [/QUOTE] I’m not sure his primary purpose is to rescue them with the zodiac. I think he mainly wants to go and warn them that these people in the helicopter are very dangerous and mean them harm. And to help them fight. Heck, if they win, they’re not going to need the zodiac. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/96 "2008-05-09T20:49:59Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] It’s a dead man switch. Gotta be. [/QUOTE] That is what I meant. But for what? It is not a self contained bomb, that wouldn’t be big enough. I must be a dead man switch for something big and bad. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/97 "2008-05-09T21:15:35Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] That is what I meant. But for what? It is not a self contained bomb, that wouldn’t be big enough. I must be a dead man switch for something big and bad. [/QUOTE] Well, the way he pointed to it when the Captain was holding the gun on him, it seems to me that it’s going to do something nasty to the boat, not the island. I don’t see the Captain caring all that much about the island, but the boat? I think he’d care. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/98 "2008-05-09T21:36:33Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] Well, the way he pointed to it when the Captain was holding the gun on him, it seems to me that it’s going to do something nasty to the boat, not the island. I don’t see the Captain caring all that much about the island, but the boat? I think he’d care. -Joe [/QUOTE] But he put it on in preperation for going to the island. It is for something bad to happen to the islanders in case another monster or something gets them. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/99 "2008-05-10T18:52:18Z")
I’m concerned. This new direction seems very out there. I’m on board for some wackiness, but I want it to make sense. The more esoteric that they try to get, the better the chance they’ll swing and miss on the delivery. I’ve long argued that there was some cyclical nature of the time travel because I think Adam and Eve are actually two of our characters. Now I feel sure given that Locke was supposed to have owned the items in the test. If Scott Bakula shows up, I think it is over! I also enjoyed the candy bar scene. In fact, I thought Ben was hilarious the whole episode. There was something about his interaction with the most decent character on the show, Hurley, that made for quite a contrast. “Yes, Hurley. I shot him. Right in the spot you are now standing.” (Hurley shifts slightly to the left). Plus, we get a big denial from Ben on whether the idea to gas the DI was his idea. I am going to go back and rewatch that episode where we first get a Ben flashback. I want to see Richard’s scenes especially. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553/100 "2008-05-10T19:42:30Z")
I still say they are all in a [snow globe](http://www.tvacres.com/signoffs_finales_elsewhere.htm). 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-4-11-cabin-fever/448553.md?page=6)