Murder Inc.--A Joint Widmore, Paik, and Hanso Venture

[aggiesean]

Murder Inc.--A joint Widmore, Paik, and Hanso venture

Summary
The crash of Oceanic Flight 815 was too convenient for The Widmore Corporation, Paik Heavy Industries and the Hanso Corporation to have been an accident. The Widmore Corporation used the island to get rid of two individuals detrimental to Charles Widmore: Desmond Hume and Gary Troup. Paik Heavy Industries became involved when Mr. Paik determined it was necessary to eliminate Jin-Soo Kwon. The Hanso Corporation needed more human subjects for its island experiments. By ensuring Gary and Jin were on the flight already determined by The Hanso Corporation to be the source for its experimental subjects, the three corporations effectively killed three birds with one stone.

Threads with related themes:
aggiesean's Frame Story/Historical Fiction: Understanding The Lost (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22894)Experience (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22894)
clayseason1's Paik's Plan
(http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21825)HugoGrim's How they crashed the plane (WMT) (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19954)

Corporate Links
Though the three companies and individual were introduced separately within the show, the concrete links that tie them together were apparent in the opening days of TLE. In "Bad Twin", released on May 2, Gary Troup centers a fictional disappearance/murder story around the American branch of the Widmore family, as well as citing the large Widmore Corporation. Working within the Widmore building is an office of the Hanso Corporation, described in detail (pages 31-32). Also cited is Thomas Mittlewerk of the Hanso Corporation, described as "ambitious and brilliantly two-face, a man acting out an agenda all his own." (Page 254). Finally, Mr. Paik and Paik Heavy Indstry are cited on Page 41 as a partner with Widmore Corporation, though "old man Paik is tough as they come"--a characterization also apparent in Lost itself.

It is important to note that both the show Lost and the novel Bad Twin are considered fiction within TLE. That being said, as I pointed out in Frame Story/Historical Fiction, both sources contain elements of fact from the world of TLE that aren't fact in real life. For example, even though in our world Oceanic Airlines does not exist, in the world of TLE, there was a real crash of Oceanic Flight 815; this is confirmed by the cover and editor's notes of Bad Twin. The fact that separate fictional sources, "Bad Twin" and Lost, share the details regarding Mr. Paik in conjunction with the three corporations suggests that in the world of TLE, his characterization is as well known as the three organizations.

Two Convenient Widmore Disappearances on the Same Island
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/aggiesean/charles.jpg

In "Live Together, Die Alone", we discovered that, though Desmond Hume and Penelope Widmore loved each other, they were effectively separated by Charles Widmore, Penelope's father. Widmore views Desmond as a coward, a label Desmond wants to disprove by winning a race around the world run by Widmore's one corporation. He tries to keep Penelope from Desmond, yet she finds him in California as he is training.

I think Charles knew Penelope met with Desmond, and determined that more needed to be done to remove Desmond from the picture. Luckily, this race around the world included a leg through the south Pacific, where his contacts in the Hanso Corporation operated an island research facility. Desmond did not crash on this island by chance; he was brought there to do work in the Swan hatch, thus removing him from the outside world and (as far as Charles was concerned) keeping him out of Penelope's life.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/aggiesean/henry_cusick.jpg

Three years later, however, a former non-fiction writer by the name of Gary Troup put together a manuscript titled "Bad Twin." Though selling it as a fictional crime story, it included references that cast the Widmore family in a bad light. It made harsh statements about Mittlewerk and Paik, two partners of his organization.

This wasn't suprising coming from Troup, however. He had investigated The Hanso Foundation before for his book on the Valenzetti Equation, a book that the public didn't need to see. Yet even by buying all available copies and rights to reprint, The Hanso Foundation couldn't silence Gary Troup. In an interview with Laird Granger that was posted in sections on various book-seller websites, Gary talked extensively about the cover-up of his book, with relatively little prodding from the interviewer. This was an author who WANTED to tell what he knew about the Valenzetti Equation, which the Hanso Foundation believed should be kept out of the public eye.

Both organizations wanted Gary Troup to be done away with. In consultation with his partners at the Hanso Foundation, I think Widmore discovered that a plane leaving September 22, Oceanic Flight 815, would be "lost" to the Hanso island...the same island Widmore sent Desmond to three years prior. He made sure that Gary would be silenced by organizing the promotional tour of Australia mentioned in the letters preceding "Bad Twin", and for his return flight to be the "lost" flight.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/aggiesean/GaryTroup.jpg

Two dangerous individuals to Charles Widmore. Both end up on the island three years apart. How convenient for Widmore Corporation.

Jin-soo Kwon: An Unworthy Employee and Son-in-Law
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/aggiesean/mrpaik.jpg

Meanwhile, in South Korea, Mr. Paik had a problem on his hands with his son-in-law. He saw himself as a businessman who simply did what needed to be done to protect the business and his honor; outsiders would describe him as a criminal. He had an image to protect, a sense of honor and shame that consumed what he did and was personified to his organization, as seen in "Glass Ballerina." This involved having employees that would deliver effective "messages" to those who have disappointed him, so that others would see what Mr. Paik had done to his adversaries and subsequently get in line.

One of these strongmen was meant to be Jin. But was Jin actually a strong man?

-In "...in Translation," Jin only tells Secretary Han that Mr. Paik is "disappointed." This isn't a proper message, and Mr. Paik sends a gunman to kill the Secretary to teach Jin what a proper message is. Before he does, however, Jin beats up Secretary Han in front of the gunman in order to "save" his life. The gunman would know that Jin didn't allow the proper message, and would tell Mr. Paik.

-In "Glass Ballerina," Mr. Paik cannot bring himself to tell Jin that their common bond, Sun, was caught in bed with Jae. Only that Jae needs to be taken care of. Jin again fails, in Mr. Paik's eyes; he only beats up Jae. Jae does eventually jump out the balcony and dies, but onto Jin's car, and with witnesses who see that Jin did not kill Jae. This also would have gotten back to Mr. Paik.

The fact remains that we have yet to see Jin actually kill somebody. This is weakness. Mr. Paik cannot deliver weak messages; it means a loss of influence in government, in personal matters, in business.

Jin was also "weak" in another area. In "The Whole Truth", we learn that Jin is sterile. Originally, the doctor tells Sun and Jin that Sun is the one that is infertile, and explains to Sun later that it was out of fear of what Jin could do. But the truth could be learned by anyone looking through Jin's medical file, unless the truth was never written down. A sterile man protecting Mr. Paik could also be seen as weakness; nothing like being "protected" by a man who cannot "prove" his manhood.

Jin was a liability to Paik Heavy Industries. He needed to be taken care of. Through his Widmore and Hanso partners, Mr. Paik worked to get Jin on Oceanic Flight 815. It would help him out more if his associates in South Korea knew the weak Jin was on the plane, but not that it was associated with Widmore and Hanso. Nothing would reinforce his tough image like the impression that he brought down a whole plane to target one weak employee.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/aggiesean/sunandjin.jpg

What of his daughter? Why would he want to kill his daughter in the collateral damage? I don't think Sun was meant to be on the plane. In "...In Translation (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15429)," Jin tells his father:

JIN [subtitled]: Her father wants me to deliver watches to his associates in Sydney and Los Angeles.

The trips are supposed to be business trips. No mention of her father wanting Sun to go along. It's Jin's father, however, that talks him into inviting Sun along:

FATHER [subtitled]: Then let that be the last thing you do for him -- then walk away. Don't come back. Go to America. Save your marriage.

Conclusion
Three major corporations--or at least the bosses of the major corporations--all would reap benefits if Oceanic Flight 815 was lost over the Hanso research island. These corporations had formed partnerships in the past, and were familiar with the work of the others. A thorn in the side of Widmore (Gary Troup) and an embarrassment to Paik (Jin-soo Kwon) went down with a plane that brought children and others to be subjects for the Hanso Corporation. Coincidence? More like the end result of a three-company partnership; a businessman's "Murder Inc."

:Cowdance:

[RoseArienh]

First of all, I love this!!!! Nicely done, and a terrific read, Aggie! :)

Now, let's debate.

I'm still not convinced that an actual plane crash was part of the plan. I do think that the plane's destination was the island, though. The disappearance of the plane is bound to be taken as a crash by the outside world, no need to actually crash, and it would serve the same purpose.

I agree about Charles Widmore manipulating Desmond to the island. I think that manipulation may have gone even further back than we think. I wonder what kind of equipment we (or any of our islanders) have not seen on that boat??

Jin - yes, not a strong man (in that sense). I got the impression watching "...in Translation" that Jin didn't even know what Mr. Paik meant the first time he was sent to Secretary Han. I think that Jin was very naive about what his duties were at that point.

It makes sense that Mr. Paik would not want to kill his daughter, but I think he was instrumental in her scheme to leave Jin in Australia. A guy like Paik knows what is going on, I'm sure he has eyes on every member of his family to ensure that they are not getting out of line. I wouldn't be surprised if the interior designer was also working for him.

I love the way you've brought all this together!!!

[littlelabrynth]

Aggiesean,

I agree that there is most definitely a connection between THF, Widmore, and Paik.


I have often wondered if anything would ever come from me reading Bad Twin, but I did not have my hopes up. However, you have shown that there are connections made between the three forces in the novel Bad Twin and through the Lost Experience, as well as in the show. :) Great job.



Corporate Links
Though the three companies and individual were introduced separately within the show, the concrete links that tie them together were apparent in the opening days of TLE. In "Bad Twin", released on May 2, Gary Troup centers a fictional disappearance/murder story around the American branch of the Widmore family, as well as citing the large Widmore Corporation. Working within the Widmore building is an office of the Hanso Corporation, described in detail (pages 31-32). Also cited is Thomas Mittlewerk of the Hanso Corporation, described as "ambitious and brilliantly two-face, a man acting out an agenda all his own." (Page 254). Finally, Mr. Paik and Paik Heavy Indstry are cited on Page 41 as a partner with Widmore Corporation, though "old man Paik is tough as they come"--a characterization also apparent in LOST itself.



I really enjoyed reading your theory and I hope I can offer some supporting evidence.
I guess I better make it clear up front that most of the information that follows is verifiable, but it is mixed up along with speculation. I have tried to make it clear when I am speculating and when I am stating fact, but I may have missed something...

Widmore Connections
In addition to the Hanso Foundation having an office in the Widmore Corporation’s building in New York City (Ch. 6), Alvar Hanso sat on the Board of Directors for the Widmore Corporation until he was replaced by Thomas Werner Mittelwerk (Ch. 23).

I believe this may have occurred in 2002 when Alvar “went missing”.


Widmore Family & the Widmore Corporation’s Board of Directors
According to the novel Bad Twin, Arthur Widmore is the head of the American branch of the family, and CEO of Widmore Corporation. His son, Clifford Widmore, is the acting CEO of the Widmore Corporation. Although his father is still officially the CEO, Arthur Widmore has little to do with the day-to-day operations of the company.


In Chapter 23 of Bad Twin, this conversation takes place between the father and son:
(p.149-150)

“You ask me,” Arthur Widmore was saying, “the board’s getting too damn democratic. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone’s full of advice.”

“Dad, that’s why we have a board.”

“Then why do we have a chairman?” the father countered. “I’ll tell you why. Because at the end of the day, someone has to be in charge. This dirty word, hierarchy. What’s wrong with it? Someone has to be accountable, and you can’t ask someone to be accountable while denying him the right to do things as he sees fit. The Old Laws, in their wisdom, recognized that.”

“Dad, those laws might have worked in feudal Scotland—“

“Damn right, they worked! And that new fellow from Hanso—Mudworm or whatever his name is—“

“Mittlewerk,” his son corrected him.

“Whatever. I don’t trust him. I think he’s sneaky. I much preferred having Alvar on the board. Alvar is a gentleman.”

“Really?” said Cliff “What makes him a gentleman? The fact that you made a ton of money together? If that’s the definition, I think Mittelwerk’s a gentleman. He’s got ideas, ambition—“

“Everything but morals,” the old man interrupted. “Everything except a conscience.”

“And who’s Alvar?” said Cliff. “Jiminy Cricket?...But look, we have a visitor.”
So…Arthur Widmore and Alvar Hanso definitely knew each other; they both served on the Board of Directors for Widmore and they made a lot of money together. I’m not sure if Clifford Widmore ever dealt with Alvar or not, but he has definitely had associations with Mittelwerk.


There has also been speculation that Arthur Widmore from the novel and Charles Widmore on the show are brothers. If true, it is likely that Charles Widmore is also on the Board of Directors and knows Alvar as well.


In Chapter 8, we learned that the Widmore Corporation was interested in forming a partnership with Paik Heavy Industries (p. 41). Clifford’s brother, Zander, was originally being considered for the position:

“My father wanted to start him at quite a high level in the company,” Cliff went on, shaking his head incredulously. “Actually wanted to put him in charge of a big business deal we were making in South Korea, going into a partnership with Paik Heavy Industry. But old man Paik is tough as they come.” He would have eaten Zander alive. Thank God the board insisted on having a more experienced person to handle the deal.”

There is no proof that Paik Industries is connected with Mr. Paik, but that does sound like a pretty accurate description of Sun’s father. We are not told who actually did finalize the deal between the Widmore Corporation and Paik Industries though.


Another connection between the Hanso Foundation, Widmore, and Paik was presented on Thomas Mittelwerk’s voice mail recording on the Hanso Foundation’s phone line. (Transcript available at LostPedia (http://lostpedia.com/wiki/Hanso_phone_line))

<RAP><RINGING>(automated female voice) Welcome to Verizon's voice messaging service.<VOICEMAIL GREETING>(Austrian male voice) You've reached the office of Dr. Thomas Werner Mittelwerk, Senior Vice President, COO and Chief Technologist of the Hanso Foundation. I will be unreachable for the next three weeks. However, for those employees of Paik Heavy Industries and Widmore Corporation engaged in active projects, I will be continuously updating the confidential information line. Please refer to your project manual for hotline access instructions. Thank you, and, namaste.
Finally, in 2006, Paik Heavy Industries built the ship “Helgus Antonius” for Mittelwerk’s “Spider Protocol”.


Who knew where the island was?
In the DHARMA Orientation film of 1975, Alvar Hanso stated, “The precise location of the facility is known only to myself, the DeGroots, and the few high ranking members of my organization.” We do not know what became of the DeGroots, but what about these other “few high ranking members” of his organization”?

Just who exactly did Alvar Hanso trust enough to reveal the location of his secret island to? One possibility would be one or more members of the Widmore family. It seems that Arthur and Alvar shared a long, powerful history together. It could be possible that the same partnership existed with Charles Widmore as well…it could have been an even closer partnership.

Someone had to construct the hatches on the island…and if it was done by Widmore Construction, which is based out of England, then the likelihood that Charles Widmore was one of the few high ranking members of Alvar’s organization who knew of the islands location grows phenomenally.


Mr. Paik also seems like a likely candidate for somebody like Alvar Hanso to form a partnership with. It has been discussed in the past that Paik may have knowledge of where the island is. This screenshot from “In Translation” helps to support that theory:


http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/8701/sofficehv7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


However, Mittelwerk did not know the location of craphole island as late as the TLE timeline of 2006. Alvar never entrusted Mittelwerk with that information. This was the reason why Mittelwerk did not just get rid of Alvar, but instead kept him as a prisoner from 2002 until 2006.


I think that Mittelwerk could have discovered that Charles Widmore possibly knew the location of the island and tried to use his position on the Board of Directors for the Widmore Corporation to try and discover it. He probably also found out about Paik’s possible knowledge and Mittelwerk could have been the member of the board who took over the duty of trying to form a partnership between Widmore and Paik, thus creating a partnership with Paik himself as well.


Gary Troup
Originally, I had believed that if Gary Troup was intended to be on Flight 815 as part of conspiracy to get rid of him, that it was orchestrated by the Hanso Foundation alone because of this statement he made during his interview with Laird Granger about the novel Bad Twin: (Transcript available at LostPedia (http://lostpedia.com/wiki/Gary_Troup_Interview))

“The Hanso Foundation promotes itself as "bettering humanity"... um, and that's all I am gonna say about it right now because I am gonna to be writing a book about this, and I'll tell you this, that as soon as people find out what is going on inside this huge, famous, supposedly benevolent foundation.. it's going to shock you.”It is a fact that Alvar Hanso and THF had already tried to silence him in the past when he was writing his book, The Valenzetti Equation:

…look at every turn Alvar Hanso and the Hanso Foundation... they tried to stop me from writing it. I mean, for whatever reason, they want to keep Valenzetti and his work a secret. They don't want the public to know anything about it.And now… here Troup was stating that he had plans on writing an even more revealing book about the Hanso Foundation. That would definitely be motivation enough for THF to want rid of him before he could do any damage. They had already gone through the trouble of locating and purchasing all the copies of The Valenzetti Equation that had been published as well as the exclusive rights to any reprinting in an effort to guard their secrets.


I hadn’t really thought much about his novel Bad Twin though. I just assumed that since it was published, it wasn’t a big deal. Yes, it does cast a somewhat unfavorable view of the American Widmore family, but books are published everyday that portray people, businesses, government, etc. in an unfavorable light…plus, the book is considered a work of fiction.


But then after I thought about it a little more, I realized that it could very well be a joint venture between THF and Widmore. At the time of the crash of Flight 815, the Bad Twin book had not been released yet. In fact the only known manuscript for the book was said to have been in the possession of Gary Troup, who was a passenger on that flight.

The loss of the manuscript and the disappearance of the author would mean that the novel Bad Twin would never be published, and the Widmore clan would not have to worry about their family’s reputation being tarnished.

But something tells me that that is not all of the story…If Troup would not have been on Flight 815 when it crashed on craphole island, then not only would Bad Twin have been published, but Troup would have began work on his next book.

In the interview, Troup blatantly states that his next book is going to be all about how corrupt THF really is. I believe that not only would this book expose the activities of the Hanso Foundation, but those of its partners as well (Widmore and Paik).

This could not be allowed to happen and so arrangements were made for Gary Troup to disappear.



Because Mittelwerk did not know of the island’s location as late as 2006, he must have had help from someone else who did…possibly Charles Widmore.

If Widmore did know the location of the island, and he was behind Desmond’s disappearance, then I am sure he would have had no problem getting rid of another possible thorn in his side. Troup’s disappearance would mean that the secrets of THF, Widmore, and Paik would never be revealed.

But why not just kill Gary Troup and be done with it instead of sending him to the island?...Because, Troup was one of the few individuals in the world who had some knowledge of the Valenzetti Equation…and Mittlewerk may have believed that his knowledge might come in handy some day.

I do not believe that Widmore or Paik would ever betray Alvar Hanso’s trust and reveal the location of the island to anyone, but they could certainly help arrange for someone to be sent there.

Without betraying Alvar’s trust, Widmore could have shown Mittlewerk that the island’s location was known and that the island was accessible by sending the hot air balloon to the island in an attempt to verify the island’s location.

This balloon was either property of, or sponsored by, Widmore. The person who was operating the balloon was the real Henry Gale. It is speculated that he crashed on the island in 2003. If he did crash in 2003, then it is possible that either Henry Gale was in a hot air balloon “race around the world” or that he was sent there deliberately to prove the island’s existence.

The only clue we have from the real Henry Gale is a note that was written on a $20 bill, and it doesn't really give us any information:

“Jennifer,
Well you were right. Crossing the Pacific isn’t easy. I owe you a beer. I’m hiking to one of the beaches to start a signal fire, but if you’re reading this, I guess I didn’t make it. I’m sorry, I love you Jenny, always have, always will. Yours, Henry.”
No hint at all as to why he was crossing the Pacific in a hot air balloon.


Was Sun supposed to be on Flight 815 or not?
I agree that Paik had probable reason for wanting to get rid of Jin.

It was during this same time period that Mr. Paik realized that Jin was not a “strong man” and was a detriment to his tough image. Paik, knowing of Widmore and Mittlewerk's plan, arranged for Jin to be sent to craphole island as well. His daughter, Sun, was not supposed to be on the plane though. I agree with RoseArienh that the interior designer who was helping Sun leave her husband was doing it under Paik’s orders to try to ensure that Sun was not on that plane.

She was VERY insistent the Sun leave Jin at the airport at exactly 11:15am.

I also hold reservations about whether the crash was planned or not, but agree that the island could have been the final destination for Flight 815.



I hope I have made some sense. I had all this information just floating around inside of my head and putting it together was like trying to catch butterflies without a net.

There is much more to speculate about with this theory, but I think I'll shut up for now...I'm long winded enough.


I look forward to any updates or further information from you and other members. Once again, Great Job! :thumbs_up

[aggiesean]

Thank you for the input, Rose and littlelab. :)

One issue you both addressed that I've been speculating upon is the role of Sun's interior designer. As I stated, I don't believe Mr. Paik wanted Sun to go to Sydney and Los Angeles, that it was meant to be a "work trip" for Jin only. But Jin's father convinced him to bring Sun along to make an escape to America. Of course Mr. Paik would learn that Sun would be aboard the fated flight, and not want her to go.

Thus, on first glance the interior designer would be a great opportunity to get Sun off that plane at the last minute in Sydney. But here's where another problem arises. Sun may have had conflicted feelings toward Jin at this stage, but Jin loved her. If Sun left at 11:15 while Jin was still in line at the ticket counter, why would he get on the plane? No loving husband (or even most of the unloving ones, for that matter) would get on an international flight with his wife having disappeared a couple of hours before it left.

Other than this one issue, however, I like the ideas you brought forth. I'm intrigued by the inclusion of the real Henry Gale in this as well...I had not considered him. :scratchch

:Cowdance:

[littlelabrynth]

One issue you both addressed that I've been speculating upon is the role of Sun's interior designer. As I stated, I don't believe Mr. Paik wanted Sun to go to Sydney and Los Angeles, that it was meant to be a "work trip" for Jin only. But Jin's father convinced him to bring Sun along to make an escape to America. Of course Mr. Paik would learn that Sun would be aboard the fated flight, and not want her to go.

Thus, on first glance the interior designer would be a great opportunity to get Sun off that plane at the last minute in Sydney. But here's where another problem arises. Sun may have had conflicted feelings toward Jin at this stage, but Jin loved her. If Sun left at 11:15 while Jin was still in line at the ticket counter, why would he get on the plane? No loving husband (or even most of the unloving ones, for that matter) would get on an international flight with his wife having disappeared a couple of hours before it left.



This is why I think that the interior designer might be part of Paik's plan:


Originally, Sun was introduced to Jae Lee because Mr. Paik arranged for his wife to introduce the two. Mr. Paik already had business arrangements with Jae Lee's father and it was Mr. Paik's hope that the two of them would hit it off and get married. This would not only appease his wish that Sun were married but it would strenghten his business associations with Jae Lee's father.

Unfortunately for Paik, although Jae Lee was interested in Sun, he was already in love with some American woman and planning on returning to the United States.

Only because Paik loved his daughter so much, and because Jin was so willing to do anything, did he allow them to marry. But mostly because Paik knew he could control Jin's every move.

From: "In Translation" (thank you, Spooky)
MR. PAIK [subtitled]: What would you do for my daughter?

JIN [subtitled]: Anything.

MR. PAIK [subtitled]: Even work for me?

JIN [subtitled]: Of course.

MR. PAIK [subtitled]: Why would I give my daughter to a man who sells his own dreams so easily?

JIN [subtitled]: Because -- she is my dream. Sir.
A fews years later, Jae Lee returns to Korea. His relationship with the American woman has ended. Mr. Paik still has business arrangements with Jae Lee's father.


I wonder where Sun got the idea to take English lessons. Did she think of that on her own or did somebody else implant that idea into her head...like say maybe an interior decorator?

Somehow, Sun and Jae Lee hook-up and begin English lessons. They are regularly held at in Jae Lee's suite at the hotel...a hotel that Mr. Paik frequently visits and has close business arrangements with...

It is possible that Paik arranged for Sun to meet the interior decorator. The whole learn English and run away to America could have been suggested by her under Paik's orders.

I believe that Paik knew all along about his daughter frequenting the hotel. I'm sure there were video surviellance cameras everywhere and that someone reported to him everytime she entered the building and what times she entered and left Jae Lee's room etc.

I wonder what kind of control Paik exerted over Jae Lee? Was Jae Lee instructed by Mr. Paik to give his daughter English lessons but not to get personally involved? Mr. Paik did not seem surprised to find his daughter in Jae Lee's room but he sure did seem angry that she was in his bed.

Maybe this is why he commited suicide...If Jae Lee understood that Paik had sent Jin, then I'm sure he probably understood that the message was supposed to be final. Jae Lee had crossed the wrong line and Paik would just send another messenger to finish the job, only it would probably be a more painful lesson.

So far as Jin goes...I believe that Jin's weak 'messages' could have been a source of shame for Mr. Paik. How are people going to be fearful of his power if they are just going to get a few black eyes and maybe a bloody nose?

IF Paik did arrange for Jin to be on Flight 815, knowing it was headed for the island, I am sure that he did not want Sun be on that flight. But how was he supposed to tell Sun that she could not accompany him? He couldn't. He had to rely on the interior decorator to convince Sun to leave Jin at the airport. This is why the interior decorator was so insistent that Sun know the plan by heart.


From: "House of the Rising Sun" (thank you, Spooky)
INTERIOR DECORATOR [subtitled]: Are you sure about this?

SUN [subtitled]: Yes.

INTERIOR DECORATOR [subtitled]: You've taken your lessons?

SUN [subtitled]: Yes.

INTERIOR DECORATOR [subtitled]: Do you realize that your husband and your father will do everything they can to find you? Are you sure you and your husband can't reconcile?

SUN [subtitled]: When I'm gone will you care for my dog?

INTERIOR DECORATOR [subtitled, handing Sun an American passport]: During your trip, at the airport, at 11:15. . . You make an excuse and walk out of the airport. Bring nothing! A car will be waiting. For the first week your family will assume you've been kidnapped. You will stay out of sight until they come to think you are dead. After that you will be free to move wherever you want. Now, tell me when.

SUN [subtitled]: The airport, 11:15.

INTERIOR DECORATOR [subtitled]: Again.

SUN [subtitled]: 11:15. 11:15. 11:15.
I really got tripped up by this valid statement you made:
If Sun left at 11:15 while Jin was still in line at the ticket counter, why would he get on the plane? No loving husband (or even most of the unloving ones, for that matter) would get on an international flight with his wife having disappeared a couple of hours before it left.


But I think I figured it out...That's what the guy was for that Jin met in the bathroom at the airport...to make sure Jin caught that flight no matter what.

From: Exodus Part 2 (Thank you, Spooky)
HAWAIIAN SHIRT [subtitled]: I work for Mr. Paik. Your father-in-law, and employer.

JIN [subtitled]: You've been following me?

HAWAIIAN SHIRT [subtitled]: Yes. I know you're planning to run away. But you're going to take that watch to Mr. Paik's friend in California. You do anything else -- anything -- you will lose her. You are not free. You never have been, and you never will be.


http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/2893/jin1lp6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[LAN]

Along these lines, I think it is fairly easy to include Hurley in Widmore's plot.

Widmore found out that Hurley was investigating the numbers. He had gotten so far as Lenny who told him that he heard the numbers while on patrol in the ocean. Widmore was very worried that Hurley would press the issue and people would find out about the island. So he had him arranged to be on that plane as well.

[island_maverick]

Aggie, I just provided an advert thread for this thread in the non-TLE theories forum.

[aggiesean]

Along these lines, I think it is fairly easy to include Hurley in Widmore's plot.

Widmore found out that Hurley was investigating the numbers. He had gotten so far as Lenny who told him that he heard the numbers while on patrol in the ocean. Widmore was very worried that Hurley would press the issue and people would find out about the island. So he had him arranged to be on that plane as well.
My only concern here is Hurley's (and Lenny's) credibility. Both were in an insane asylum, after all. Wouldn't HansoCorp be able to point to that fact to discredit him?

Gary Troup, on the other hand, was a world-renowned non-fiction author. In his mouth, the truth would be much more dangerous.

mav: Noted the link. Thanks. :)

:Cowdance:

[yung23]

aggie.. I am watching this thread... and marshalling others toward it as we speak...

(you know I love the paik, "island eyes" ideas)

[sawyerhasbestlines]

The trips are supposed to be business trips. No mention of her father wanting Sun to go along. It's Jin's father, however, that talks him into inviting Sun along.


In Translation was one of my all time favorite episodes. Thank you for writing a theory that gives greater understanding to Jin's story. I looked at Jin's father prior to reading this, as merely a plot device to making Jin's character dynamic, but I didn't think about the subtle aspect of the change in plan, and how it will effect the plan now that Sun is with him. I'm wondering now that Sun has killed someone, if this too, will have unforeseen consequences, and or interventions from the outside.

Nice thread, and most enjoyable theory to read in a long time.

[deumilcat]

Fun to see that i havent followed any of the TLE but came to similar conclusions (and more!) last summer .. read all about it :D (signature)

[princeofamerica]

This is why I think that the interior designer might be part of Paik's plan:




But I think I figured it out...That's what the guy was for that Jin met in the bathroom at the airport...to make sure Jin caught that flight no matter what.

From: Exodus Part 2 (Thank you, Spooky)
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/2893/jin1lp6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I think the Hawaiian Shirt have had a MUCH bigger part to play.


1. Make sure Jin gets on Plane.
2. Make sure Gary Troup gets on Plane.
3. Probably called Paik the second he realized that Sun was also getting on the Plane.
4. Get on the plane and account for all the people they were watching.
5. Made the "List". (I think He's Jacob) and phone it or text it in.
6. Kill the communications on the plane. After all, that had nothing to do with the island. That must have happened long before the plane got lost.
7. Die in a plane crash as a man who sacrificed himself for the cause.

[aggiesean]

:bump:ing because of last night's episode

We effectively received confirmation last night that the crash footage shown at the beginning, that was used to tell the world that everyone died, was faked. The question then is, who would go through such lengths to create such an elaborate hoax?

Who else, besides one of the Murder Inc. would have the resources/motive to do so?

:Cowdance:

[RadioDave]

Who else, besides one of the Murder Inc. would have the resources/motive to do so?


First of all... I love the theory... thanks for bumping it since I hadn't seen it since now. And I agree with pretty much the whole thing.

Second.. I'd like to add a little to your theory, by saying that the coverup of the 815 crash and the people on the freighter are related.

Who was on the Freighter?
Naomi- She had a picture of Des and Penny... but it didn't come from Penny. We're left to assume she got it from Charles Widmore

Charlotte- Who apparently is interested in the DHARMA Initiative, since she flashed that big smile when she found the DHARMA collar on the polar bear.

Daniel- A physicist... why would you bring someone like that to the island unless you knew the island had some weird physics-related properties?

Miles- Ghost whisperer... again, why bring someone like that along unless you knew there was some creepy stuff on the island?

Sounds like at the very least DHARMA and Widmore put this little expedition together... and through your theory we're already assuming that those two groups would have more then enough reason to want to keep people from finding this island.

And through Find815 we know that the wreckage was discovered by a ship that was commissioned by the Maxwell Group, a branch of the Widmore Corp.

Here's What I Think Happened

Des blows the hatch, and the island becomes visible at least for a short time.
Wid-DHAR-Paik-more realize they need to work fast to keep it hidden, so they set up the fake wreckage to throw people off the scent, then decide to send a team to the island to fix the cloaking device, or set up a new one. While on the island, they rescue those who want to be rescued (The Oceanic 6) but swear them to secrecy about the island.

[boo6585]

I agree in the corporate connection.