Going Under the Dome: Neal Baer Answers Burning Questions on Why the Military Has Left

[Warning: This story contains major spoilers from Monday's episode of Under the Domeas well as the Stephen King novel the series is based on. Read at your own risk.]

As if things couldn't get worse in the town of Chester's Mill, nearly half of the residents came down with a lethal case of meningitis — and there aren't any real doctors in the town!

Going Under the Dome: Neal Baer answers burning questions on "dome fever"

Thanks to that little outbreak, Julia (Rachelle Lefevre) discovered almost the whole truth about Barbie (Mike Vogel) and his connection to her husband Peter (R. Keith Harris), but he held back on some of the particulars — like how he murdered Peter. To find out Barbie's motivations and get the scoop on why the military deserted the town, TVGuide.com turned to showrunner Neal Baer to get some answers:

Why is the military leaving the dome?
Ever since the dome descended upon Chester's Mill, the military has surrounded the town. But three days later, they have decided to vacate their positions.
Neal Baer's response: The military is leaving the dome because there is a larger plan afoot for dealing with the dome that will revealed next week. It's explosive!

Why did Barbie lie to Julia about Peter's whereabouts?
After tracking down Peter's car, which was then in Phil's (Nicholas Strong) possession, Julia went on the hunt to figure out her husband's connection to Barbie. Julia discovers the cabin, but passes out after finding out that Peter had gone completely broke. Phil then tells Barbie that Peter had asked him about a hit man, but then sold his car to Phil before presumably disappearing. But when Julia questions Barbie, he lies and tells her that Peter likely skipped town.
Baer's response: Barbie just can't bring himself to tell Julia that he killed her husband in self-defense. He's falling for her and knows that this information will likely doom their relationship — and possibly send him to prison. He feels he just can't risk it. And yet, but not telling her, Julie is suffering, wondering why her husband left her and why he didn't tell her he had a terrible gambling problem. Matters of the heart are complicated, no?

Going Under the Dome: Neal Baer addresses the mechanics of the dome

Will Coggins (Ned Bellamy) really be able to leave the business?
The Reverend gives Big Jim (Dean Norris) his share of the profits and says he's getting out of their business.
Baer's response: Yes. He's serious about turning over a new leaf, as you'll see next week when he reveals he's receiving messages from God through his cochlear implant to repent!

Will we find out who's in charge of their business?
Clearly someone other than Big Jim is in charge of their business. Could this same person be connected to the bookie that Barbie works for?
Baer's response: Of course we will, but you'll have to wait until Episode 9.

How will CBS' Under the Dome differ from Stephen King's novel?

What are Junior's motives?
Junior (Alexander Koch) got his first taste of real power after being enlisted by his father to make sure no one leaves the clinic. But when the town tries to push him so they can leave, he gives an impassioned speech that he is one of them. Is he doing all this to prove a point to his father?
Baer's response: He's trying, like many young men, to live up to his father's expectations. He feels his father won't love him unless he proves that he's a man.

Is the dome talking through the seizures?
Joe (Colin Ford) and Norrie (Mackenzie Lintz) touch again so they can have another seizure while videotaping it. During the episode, Joe puts a finger over his mouth to shush them, which the pair later interprets as the dome telling them not to talk about it.
Baer's response: It sure does look like the dome is talking to them through the seizures, doesn't it? Joe and Norrie are about to embark on a wild journey that will reveal so much more. Here's a clue: We were inspired by Dr. Seuss' The Cat in The Hat Comes Back. If you remember the book, The Cat in the Hat had to resort to some quick thinking to remove the pink from all over the house. What did he do? That's the clue.

Under the Dome's Britt Robertson: Will Angie survive?

Will Big Jim help Angie?
After failing to stab Junior so she could escape, Angie (Britt Robertson) found a two-way speaker in the fall-out shelter. But she broke a pipe, and the shelter gets flooded. When Jim hears her on the other side of the speaker, he comes down to find her before the episode cuts to black.
Baer's response: Well, honestly, you'll just have to watch next week!

What did you think of this week's Under the Dome? Submit your questions in the comments section below for next week's edition of Going Under the Dome.

Under the Dome airs Mondays at 10/9c on CBS.

(Full disclosure: TVGuide.com is owned by CBS.)