Episode Report Card Daniel: B+ | 1 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT If you don't know Des by now, you will never, never, never know him.
By Daniel | Season 2 | Episode 23 | Aired on May 23, 2006
We're in prison, a new-looking military prison, with a clean-shaven, short-haired, and consequently almost unrecognizable Desmond getting his personal effects: a set of keys, gold-plated pocketwatch, and a photograph. Desmond picks that last one up and looks at it for a moment -- it's of him and a woman, apparently from a less-incarcerated time. There's also a book: Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens. Given the hype surrounding the finale, I'm mildly surprised they didn't go with Great Expectations. The master sergeant asks why Desmond didn't bring that book in with during his sentence. Dude, do you know what they do to guys who read Dickens in prison? Desmond gives this sounds-profound-but-is-really-kinda-stupid speech about how he's read "every wonderful word" written by Dickens, except that book so he's saving it, because he wants it to be the last thing he reads before he dies. Ugh. I guess he figures he'll know when his death is coming, huh? The guard makes some sort of comment along those lines too, before formally dishonorably discharging "Lance Corporal Desmond David Hume" from the Royal Scots Regiment of Her Majesty's Armed Forces. "Long live the Queen. Enjoy your sodding book," he finishes. So...no hug, then? All right. But we had some good times, right? Remember that time you pulled that surprise cell inspection and found that shiv tucked into a bedpost and you beat me into concussed submission and then threw me in the hole for a week? And I don't think any of us will forget that time Jerry "The Bugger" Bugofsky hung himself. Good times.
Outside, it's pouring rain as Desmond leaves the prison. There's a black sedan waiting for him. The driver gets out, and the rear passenger window powers down as some old bastard menacingly asks Desmond if he needs a lift. "Not from you," sneers Desmond, but the old guy doesn't have time for this, and just orders him into the car.