Easy, easy, says Bryan Burk, executive director of ABC's Emmy-nominated "Lost." Answers are coming.

What's inside that infernal hatch? We'll find out when the show resumes Sept. 21.

What's the deal with the new characters Ana-Lucia (Michelle Rodrigues) and Emeka (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje)? They'll join the fray rather "sooner than later," Burk assures.

In a phone interview from Los Angeles, Burk also promises that Season II will shed light on Jack and his wife ("and why Jack is not wearing his wedding ring"), Kate's criminal past, Hurley's portentous lottery numbers, and a lot more.

"This season will reveal a lot of things," Burk says. "A good portion of the mysteries from the first season will be answered, but there will be new questions — not necessarily new mysteries, but new questions."

Much of last season was spent in flashbacks of the character's lives before the fateful airplane crash. Burk said the flashbacks will continue this season, melding with the quick-moving developments of present life on the island to provide a deeper understanding of who each survivor really is.

"You've seen just the tip of the iceberg with all of the people on the island," Burk says. "This season, complexities of who they are will start to unravel."

Burk says the show is still following the original five-season story arc outlined when the series was first created.

He's quite aware how rabidly every development, big or small, is devoured by the show's ardent fan base. Boone is dead, but is he really dead? Is Shannon going to die next? Is Walt?

Burk confirms that Boone is still "deceased" and will remain deceased. But have we seen the last of him on the show?

"You never know on 'Lost,' " Burk says.

Viewers will continue to see a lot of Shannon (Maggie Grace), despite earlier rumors that Grace was leaving the show to work on the next X-Men film. (She isn't in the film.)

Malcolm David Kelley (Walt) is also back, and will be at the center of one of the early plot lines.

"Walt clearly has some issues, having been taken by the Others," Burk says.

Production on Season II began on July 28 on O'ahu.

This season the show will be filming on location near Mokule'ia, at the indoor "cave" site at the old Xerox building on Nimitz Highway and at the former "North Shore" soundstage at the Hawai'i Film Studio near Diamond Head, as well as other locations. (The show shot a scene at Aloha Stadium last week.)

"This season is more exciting than ever and I think it will be better than last season," Burk says. "We're going to dive in head first. For all those people who said they wanted answers, all I can say is, be careful what you hope for."

DOWN THE HATCH

The first three episodes of the new season of "Lost" will expose what lies beneath the mysterious hatch the islanders blew open last season.

"And it won't be another hatch," joked executive director Bryan Burk.

Burk can say for certain what else isn't in there: a refundable tax credit.

Executives of the hit TV series lobbied for tax-incentive measures for TV and film productions here. The measures failed.

While Touchstone Television executive vice president Barry Jossen has said that the show intends to remain in Hawai'i for the foreseeable future, the issue of "Lost" costs is ever looming.

It "is an expensive show, period," Burk said. "The amount of resources needed to put on the show — and we aren't talking salary — is a big deal.

"A sitcom might have three cameras and one location, but that isn't what we are," he said. "By our very nature, we are an expensive show."

Burk said "Lost" producers were disappointed that the Legislature did not pass a film-incentive package. "What was originally attractive to us — in addition to the location and the crews — was the idea that we could afford this," he said.

Burk said the show uses local vendors and crews almost exclusively. And in his view, it has been an effective vehicle for marketing Hawai'i to the rest of the world. "It's a big benefit for Hawai'i because we show Hawai'i in a way that (canceled Fox series) 'North Shore' and (canceled NBC series) 'Hawai'i' didn't," Burk said. "We show the beaches, the jungles and the rest of the natural environment in a way that is beautiful and breathtaking. It's a win-win.

"The reality is each season costs more until you reach a point where you can't realistically do the show," Burk said. "We want to keep the show here because we have a real affection for Hawai'i. If there's anything we can do, any way to help alleviate the costs, we'd welcome it."