So what happens if the numbers are not enter into that dusty old computer?

[Under the Hatch]

It seems that Desmond has been left behind, or has chosen to take refuge in the under ground bunker. Not a lot to do down there, but from what we've seen, at regualr intervals he must input the numbers into the computer, what is the purpose of this?
Is it to tell someone he is there manning his post, or to answer something in code, or is it perhaps a way of signaling for help? Many possibilties, your thoughts please...

[dingbat]

This doesn't answer your question, but my first guess is that his entering the numbers at 108-minute intervals USED to have some kind of purpose, but no longer does. There's something about Desmond that makes me think crazy-without-a-reason-anymore. Maybe it was his comment about the world being "out there" still.

[Cardielost]

Most likely either the hatch complex or the whole island is set to be destroyed should the Dharma Corp. computer Desmond is communicating with not receive the correct code. I imagine that the broadcast of the numbers served a similar purpose.

I would speculate that Dharma was up to something on that island, probably started during the Cold War. Something happened, and a terrible sickness was let loose. Anyone contaminated may never leave the island, but the vaccine may ward off the disease, leaving the person a carrier but not symptomatic. When the last of the Dharma reps is no longer there, the on island computer will automatically self-destruct.

I think the twist is going to be that Dharma gave up on the place right after Desmond was stationed there, perhaps because the disease is no longer contagious. They aren't sending a replacement, and that modern washer-dryer is just a mistake. So he was left behind on his own.

The big conspiracy that brought the plane down will turn out to come from another source than Dharma, or else Dharma has a completely new plan for the island. Perhaps if the execute button is not pushed and the clock counts down, something good will now happen. Walt did say that the button was bad.

Cardie

[Under the Hatch]

Supposing something happens to Desmond, he is killed or dies...and if the survivors believe the code must be entered at regular intervals, who stays down there to do it? Locke perhaps based on scenes from next week?

I think it is possible that Desmond was tricked into staying down there and having to keep entering the numbers is a way of keeping him down there. I hope he doesn't die like Ethan did, before he can share what he knows about the Island.

[MadWatch]

I would speculate that Dharma was up to something on that island, probably started during the Cold War. Something happened, and a terrible sickness was let loose.

This may have something to do with Desmond, almost being a doctor and perhaps his "race around the world" was a "race" to find some vaccine for some illness.

[sharma1]

Originally Posted by Under the Hatch

It seems that Desmond has been left behind, or has chosen to take refuge in the under ground bunker. Not a lot to do down there, but from what we've seen, at regualr intervals he must input the numbers into the computer, what is the purpose of this?
Is it to tell someone he is there manning his post, or to answer something in code, or is it perhaps a way of signaling for help? Many possibilties, your thoughts please...

I guess we will find out next week because according to the preview:

Spoiler:

someone accidently shoots the computer, and crazy Desmond says "what did you do, we are all going to die now"

[adamh]

Perhaps the reason why Desmond has to keep typing in the numbers is to prevent him from leaving. Maybe something will happen to him if he doesn't type them in.

[Malachy]

Originally Posted by Under the Hatch

It seems that Desmond has been left behind, or has chosen to take refuge in the under ground bunker. Not a lot to do down there, but from what we've seen, at regualr intervals he must input the numbers into the computer, what is the purpose of this?
Is it to tell someone he is there manning his post, or to answer something in code, or is it perhaps a way of signaling for help? Many possibilties, your thoughts please...

That's the big question from last night's episode isn't it? (And one that will hopefully be answered in next week's episode.)

The numbers are a seuquence which must be entered into the computer in order to re-set the countdown (which is the sum of the numbers). So what happens if he doesn't enter the numbers and re-set the countdown?

I think right now it's hard to really speculate anything other than the majorly abstract thought that the failure to re-set the countdown would result in something "bad" and that re-setting the countdown is extremely important.

One thing I do think is that when Desmond kept asking Locke if he was "him", he was refrreing to Desmond's relief--e.g., the guy the organization (Dhamra?) was supposed to send to relieve and take over from Desmond the task of continually re-setting the countdown.

[Malachy]

Originally Posted by Cardielost

Most likely either the hatch complex or the whole island is set to be destroyed should the Dharma Corp. computer Desmond is communicating with not receive the correct code. I imagine that the broadcast of the numbers served a similar purpose.

Cardie

Cardie

One thing I was wondering about from "Man of Science...", was when Jack was looking around at the end of the episode he found all those containers of concrete dried up. I didn't think anything of it the first time around, but upon repeat viewing, it looked as though the concrete was reinforced by hastily (and seemingly randomly) installed steel beems and that the concrete was more freshly laid (than that of the rest of the complex) and meant to block off that section of the underground facility. (Whether to lock something in or lock something out.)

Maybe Desmond is there to make sure whetever's in there stays in there (or out of his section of the complex) and failure to re-set the countdown is a signal to Dhamra that everything is not OK (the wall's been breached). It seems like this is also tied to the source of the magnetic force, since this is also where Jack's key was raised. Not sure if (or how) this fits, but it definitely seems to be leading to the "purpose" of the island.

[fugitivekate]

I figured that Desmond has to enter the code every 108 minutes as a check-in method... I have no idea if it's good for him or bad for him, though. Meaning, I don't know if it's self-imposed check in so that in case something happens to him, if he doesn't check in the bunker will explode or something will happen so that no one will be able to do something... Or if it's a means of him checking in with someone on the outside, so they know that he's still in the bunker. I would guess that it isn't a "Secret" password though, seeing as he had no problem telling Locke what the "Code" was, and it's printed on the hatch itself, as well as several things inside the hatch (injection bottles, etc). But I'm totally excited to find out more about it, that's for sure!!!!

My other crackpot theory that came to me while drinking lots of wine while watching last night's episode is that he is transmitting the signal every time he pushes the numbers in, maybe??

What does everyone else think about Walt's backwards prophesy of "The button is bad" - do you think he was referring to the 'Execute" button that Locke was so wary of pressing?? Or do you think that was to throw us off, and there's another Button somewhere??

Heres a link of what walt is saying played in reverse