# Numfar! Do the dance of Lost 1.12:Whatever the Case May Be **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 5, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220 "2005-01-05T17:11:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/81 "2005-01-06T15:02:35Z")
> [@shadowfax33](#): > > Gotta agree there. I don’t think she offed daddy. I love my dad, but he will never be called the “man I loved.” I’ll be very surprised if it isn’t a romantic interest. > > Any ideas on _why_ the “man [she] loved” would find importance in a toy airplane? Or why Kate would choose that as a keepsake of this important person? That’s pretty bizarre. Of course, practically everything on this show falls under the category of “pretty bizarre.” > > Word. If she has never really loved anyone in her life, so that her father is the only man she ever loved it’s possible that she would say “the man I loved” because saying “I killed my father” sounds even worse. Besides this is Kate here, she’s not exactly free with the correct info. ---
**Author:** ![kka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@kka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kka)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/82 "2005-01-06T15:09:13Z")
Have they ever explained what happened to the body of Jack’s father? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/83 "2005-01-06T15:11:58Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > Michael and Hurley seemed to think it was obvious that Halliburton cases are hard to open. Is that common knowledge? I know about the brand, but not that they have locks that are difficult to pick. I thought that was contrived, especially when Hurley backed Michael up on it. But the joke depended on it, and there’s no other brand they could have used that would have been better, so I’ll let it slide. Or maybe they’re both in law enforcement! ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/84 "2005-01-06T15:19:59Z")
After rewatching the first five episodes during the break, I agree that the series has been going sideways for the last two episodes. Things are built up for let down explanations or ones that make you scratch your head and wonder what the big deal was. A couple of quick points: 1. The Island has owned Locke since the crash- it gave him everything he wanted and he is unlikely to be in much of a rush to go back to his old life. He has been constantly misleading people about what happen it him with the monster, the wheelchair and now the hatch among other things. 2. The case should not have been under those seats. But then again- they shouldn’t have survived the crash, their shouldn’t be polar bears or giant pilot eating, tree knocking over monsters either (or jack’s dad, Locke’s ability to walk)- the island did it for its own end. 3. Doesn’t seem like anyone misses Claire too much, other then half-hanged hobbit. 4. 3 9mm and ammo- our kidnapper is quite out gunned now. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/85 "2005-01-06T15:20:46Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > I doubt she was lucky. Kate has never been entirely clear on what she was doing before the crash. We know she was arrested but not why she was arrested. We know she has tracking skills which she has attributed to her father being an army ranger, but she could have lied about that. Actually, I thought it’s now clear that she was a fugitive because of her role in the bank robbery. Both the bank manager and the bank robbers knew that she was involved in the crime. So it’s safe to assume she was on the run from an armed robbery charge. However it’s not clear why the toy airplane was enough for her to get involved in the bank robbery to begin with. (Although I think her original plan would have allowed her involvement to be hidden, so if everything had gone according to plan, she would not be implicated.) And I agree with those who say that the man she loved whom she had to kill was more likely to be a romantic partner than a father. I doubt it was even her husband, as she would have used that word in that case. > [@av8rmike](#): > > **Dewey** and **viva** , I was :rolleyes: 'ing that the writers chose the name “Halliburton” for the brand of suitcase, thinking they just used a recognizable name and were looking for a cheap joke. I guess 5 second with Google would have shown me there really _is_ a brand name of cases called, well, “Zero Halliburton”. No, Halliburton was used because it was a Halliburton case, not as a cheap joke. It’s exactly the sort of thing the marshal might have used for transporting his guns. I was just wondering if Michael and Hurley’s knowledge of those cases indicated something about their backgrounds. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/86 "2005-01-06T15:24:08Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > I thought that was contrived, especially when Hurley backed Michael up on it. But the joke depended on it, and there’s no other brand they could have used that would have been better, so I’ll let it slide. > > Or maybe they’re both in law enforcement! Also, it was a way of getting Michael to mention the axe, providing a segue into what Boone and Locke are up to on their own. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/87 "2005-01-06T15:35:33Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > I was just wondering if Michael and Hurley’s knowledge of those cases indicated something about their backgrounds. I have a mild suspicion that Hurley might have been laughing just because Michael was laughing, and he laughed along just to needle Boone a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/88 "2005-01-06T15:36:14Z")
Am I the only one who thinks the Boone and Shannon might not really be brother and sister? That maybe it’s their cover story to cover up a relationship for some reason? That would explain Boone’s jealous reaction over Sayid and Shannon becoming friends. It doesn’t explain the “boyfriend” comment she made, however. It would make sense though, since everyone on that island is turning out not to be what we expected and everyone has a secret. Maybe that’s Boone and Shannon’s secret? ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/89 "2005-01-06T15:40:12Z")
And by “Boone”, of course, I mean “Sawyer.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/90 "2005-01-06T15:52:38Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > (Although I think her original plan would have allowed her involvement to be hidden, so if everything had gone according to plan, she would not be implicated.) Not quite sure how that was going to work. Her confederates had no idea about the SD box. She had the key. The Bank Manager wouldn’t open the box except under duress. I can’t see at all how she was going to get into the box without being found out. Maybe she just figured, get in there backed up with some guns and get the box, damn the consequences. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/91 "2005-01-06T15:52:56Z")
Actually, I suspect the whole thing with Michael pointing out that Sawyer was never going to be able to pick the lock was just a way of setting up the situation with Kate and Jack and the key, etc. Kate had to get the case back, then she had to get Jack to help her get the key, so now Jack knows about the case, so he’s curious about what’s so important in it for Kate, which sets up the confrontation between them, Kat’s revelation, and breakdown. None of this works unless we already know that the lock is unpickable. Michael and Hurley, the engineer and the geek, are simply two convenient, likely characters for revealing this. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@shadowfax33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shadowfax33)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/92 "2005-01-06T15:54:09Z")
> [@elf6c](#): > > 1. Doesn’t seem like anyone misses Claire too much, other then half-hanged hobbit… Ditto. I thought it a bit implausible that they wouldn’t still be combing the island for Claire. Sayid didn’t even know her name; he just referred to her as “the pregnant girl.” So there’s no trail. It’s an island–she’s gotta be somewhere. Just how big is this frigging island, anyway? Do we have any clue? And how much time has passed since the kidnapping/hobbit hanging? The marks on Charlie’s neck were clear as day, but I have no experience–thankfully–in how long strangulation marks would remain. > [@elf6c](#): > > 1. 3 9mm and ammo- our kidnapper is quite out gunned now. C’mon, castaways, let’s go get Ethan! 😉 BTW, any theories on why Locke and Boone want to keep their little metal discovery to themselves? I’m sure it’s Locke’s idea, but why? ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/93 "2005-01-06T16:02:17Z")
By the way, how long does a course of antibiotics usually take? Jack fixed Sawyer’s arm on the day Sayid left. Kate (I think) mentioned that Sayid had been gone for at least a week just before he returned. I think Shannon said something to Boone about him going off with Locke on their little project for something like 4 days. So that’s at least 11 days on Sawyer’s antibiotics, with, from what Jack said, at least a couple days left. Does that sound right? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/94 "2005-01-06T16:03:20Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Not quite sure how that was going to work. Her confederates had no idea about the SD box. She had the key. The Bank Manager wouldn’t open the box except under duress. I can’t see at all how she was going to get into the box without being found out. Maybe she just figured, get in there backed up with some guns and get the box, damn the consequences. That’s the mystery. Why would she get involved with a major felony like bank robbery over a _toy airplane_? Unless she didn’t know that the thing in the safe deposit box _was_ the toy airplane. Wild speculation, but what if the “man she loved” was being held prisoner and would be killed unless she could bring back the contents of the safe deposit box. Or what if there was supposed to be something else there, but someone had already taken it? And wasn’t there a mobile of toy airplanes in Claire’s nursery? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/95 "2005-01-06T16:19:11Z")
When Kate told the story about the case – marshal had to check it, it contained guns & ammo – I figured her story was a complete lie, since it obviously hadn’t been checked. And why would it have been under someone else’s seat? So I was 😕 when the contents were as she described them. And who the hell would put a toy airplane in a safety deposit box? ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/96 "2005-01-06T16:20:45Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > By the way, how long does a course of antibiotics usually take? Jack fixed Sawyer’s arm on the day Sayid left. Kate (I think) mentioned that Sayid had been gone for at least a week just before he returned. I think Shannon said something to Boone about him going off with Locke on their little project for something like 4 days. So that’s at least 11 days on Sawyer’s antibiotics, with, from what Jack said, at least a couple days left. Does that sound right? Well, if he keeps swimming in dodgy water with corpses, he’s going to be on antibiotics for the rest of his natural life. And why the heck was that case stowed under someone’s seat? Marshall: Can I bring my briefcase with guns and money on the plane? Flight Clerk: I’m going to go with no. Marshall: But I’m a US Marshall, and for some reason, I need three more guns than I have hands. Flight Clerk: Oh, well, when you put it that way, no. Marshall: Wellllll, can\* this\* guy bring it on? _(points to random stranger)_ Flight Clerk: Sure. Marshall: Hold this for me, will ya buddy? Random Stranger: Bgawk? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/97 "2005-01-06T16:28:04Z")
The case wasn’t stowed under that seat, it just happened that both the case and the seat with people fell in the same place. Quite an odd coincidance, sure, but look at where we are. Every odd thing is happening for a reason. We just don’t yet know the reason. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/98 "2005-01-06T16:40:23Z")
> [@Dante](#): > > Well, if he keeps swimming in dodgy water with corpses, he’s going to be on antibiotics for the rest of his natural life. > > And why the heck was that case stowed under someone’s seat? > > Marshall: Can I bring my briefcase with guns and money on the plane? > Flight Clerk: I’m going to go with no. > Marshall: But I’m a US Marshall, and for some reason, I need three more guns than I have hands. > Flight Clerk: Oh, well, when you put it that way, no. > Marshall: Wellllll, can\* this\* guy bring it on? _(points to random stranger)_ > Flight Clerk: Sure. > Marshall: Hold this for me, will ya buddy? > Random Stranger: Bgawk? Funny and I wouldn’t be surprised if something like that actually happened. Yeah, the thing about the case having been checked and then being under some random people’s seats bugged me. Re: Sawyer’s wound, 10 to 11 days may seem like it would be the end of his treatment regime, however it was a pretty deep wound and they are not exactly in a pristine hospital setting (like hospitals are really all that clean) so it’s not unusual that he would need a longer course of antibiotics. Re: Sun, she’s really going to have to start showing more signs of “learning” the language because she is understanding people and then speaking Korean back or miming the answer. People are going to start to wonder if she’s just psychic or they are really good communicators for her to understand whay they are saying. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/99 "2005-01-06T16:42:01Z")
Does anyone think the fact that the corpses were a man and a woman is any kind of reference to Adam and Eve in the caves? That’s the first thing I thought of when I saw them. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220/100 "2005-01-06T17:42:06Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > Does anyone think the fact that the corpses were a man and a woman is any kind of reference to Adam and Eve in the caves? That’s the first thing I thought of when I saw them. Actually, the first thing I thought when I saw them was that they were going to be Kate and the Marshall’s corpses. But I rejected that immediately, since it’s way too early to reveal that they all died in the crash. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numfar-do-the-dance-of-lost-1-12-whatever-the-case-may-be/283220.md?page=6)