Character Overview: Desmond Hume

In last week's recap, I promised I would post a theory involving Desmond. I'm going to renege on that promise...but just a little bit. Instead of a full-fledged theory, I'm going to offer a character overview, which I think will be more helpful than a theory as we watch Season 5 unfold.

You see, I can't put all the pieces together and produce a completely cohesive theory, but I think I've connected enough puzzle pieces to make the picture a little clearer.

Enough babble, here goes...

"Desmond Hume's Worlds of Experience"

After claiming I will "make the picture a little clearer," I'm going to start with a tangent that will probably only muddy the waters. But hey, I spent a lot of time researching this, so I'm not going to take it out now...

What's in a name?
It's clear that the LOST writers love playing with names. C.S. Lewis, Henry Gale, John Locke, Edmund Burke, and others have proved this quite well.

The list of philosophers is especially noteworthy, including not only Locke and Burke, but also appearances by Jeremy Bentham, Mikhail Bakunin, Anthony Cooper, Rousseau, and...David Hume, in the form of our friend, Desmond David Hume.

What do we know about Hume, the philosopher? Well he was Scottish, for starters.

Like a certain John Locke, he was also an empiricist. Empiricism, simplified as much as possible, is the theory of knowledge based upon the idea that knowledge results from experience.

More importantly, Hume's empiricist ideas were based on what is now called the "Problem of Induction," which asserts that we can't know that something will always happen in the future the way it has in the past. (Sound LOST-ish yet?) For example, we can't know for certain that the sun will rise in the east based solely on the knowledge that it always has. Or in an example provided by wikipedia, and one that's especially relevant when considering LOST, the problem of induction suggests that we can't know that the laws of physics, as we know them, will continue to hold in the future.

Again quoting wikipedia (I'm almost done, I promise), I found this interesting: "C.S. Lewis, a 20th century popular theologian, argues in Miracles that the past-future variety of problem of induction can be easily solved by presupposing the existence of a consistent Creator who would create a consistent Universe. Such a Creator allows us to stipulate that the Universe works according to consistent rules, since the Creator would not create a Universe that was so contrary to his own nature. Thus, we can assume that once we have learned one of the Creator's rules, it will continue to hold in the future."

Also worth mentioning, considering LOST's interest in "free-will vs. fate": Hume was, again quoting wikipedia, "a classical compatibilist about the notions of freedom and determinism. The thesis of compatibilism seeks to reconcile human freedom with the fact that human beings are part of a deterministic universe, whose happenings are governed by the laws of physics."

So let's sum up this muddy tangent:

Hume believed that free will and fate are compatible. We are free to make our own decisions, even though our world/universe might be determining the final outcomes. And this determinism is due, at least in part, to the laws of physics. But he also believed that we can't be certain that the laws of physics will remain constant. Meaning, in a sense, that things can be changed...(anyone else thinking of Desmond's flashes, and the way he changed the future in order to save Charlie's life?)

So you might be asking, "What's the point?" Or, if you read the above closely, you're probably thinking, "Wow, that summary was a really mangled and juvenile interpretation of Hume's ideas." If the latter is true, then I stick my tongue out at you. As for the former, well...

There might not be a point. But then again, maybe there is.

Let's not forget Daniel's words to Desmond: "The rules don't apply to you. You're special. You're uniquely and miraculously special."

"What rules?" you ask. Hmmm, could it be that physicist Daniel Faraday is referring to the rules (or laws) of physics? I think so. If we pause and think about it, I think it's only fair to ask ourselves, to what else could Faraday be referring?

So maybe, just maybe, that philosophical mish-mash about Hume and empiricism and the importance of experiences...maybe that's just a way of reinforcing Daniel's claim that Desmond is "uniquely and miraculously special."

Just for fun, let's sum Hume's beliefs up in one word. Since he was an empiricist, I can't think of a better word than "experience."

Now let's combine that with Desmond's first name...

My knowledge of the French language is nominal at best, and it rarely comes in handy for anything. Ever. But for one rare moment, I thought it might have revealed something...

In French, "le monde" is "the world." And if you want to make that world plural, it would be "des mondes." "Des mondes" isn't exactly the same as "Desmond," but it's close...

And when you combine that with our one-word synonym for Hume:

"Desmond Hume" = "The worlds of experience"

Is that a stretch? Yes, definitely. But let's keep it in mind, anyway.

(If you'd prefer to extrapolate on a theory that Desmond's name is based on the
Desmond Rebellions, be my guest. And if you are so inclined, then I encourage you to note that Elizabeth I was the Queen of England, and she was the one who eventually put down the revolt, destroying the Desmond dynasty. After all, how did those Elizabethan soldiers travel to Ireland to put down the revolt? Well, by boat of course...and who provided our beloved Desmond Hume with his boat? That's right, good ol' Elizabeth, or Libby, if you prefer...dun dun dun...so extrapolate away, if you're so inclined...)

(One P.S. on Hume...I think it's ironic that LOST fans—or at least this one—would use Hume's name as a source for inferences, since he spent his life insisting that knowledge comes from experiences…it's kind of like, fifty years from now, having a fast-food chain name a platter of chili-cheese fries after Jenny Craig...but I really should get back to the point.)

If you've stuck with me this far, I appreciate it. And now I'll commence the overview.

I want to walk through Desmond's timeline, as we know it. But first, one last precursor.

I know I've referred to this before, but I must point it out again. Brother Campbell, the monk who eventually kicks Desmond out of the monastery, is shown in a picture (on his desk) with Eloise Hawking. We know that Eloise Hawking is a time-travel/island expert. We've also seen her sporting a robe (similar to the one Brother Campbell wore, no?) when she was working in her laboratory in a church in L.A. I think it's safe to at least suspect, if not assume, that Brother Campbell and Mrs. Hawking might be working together. And with that lodged in the forefront of your mind, here's what we know about Desmond:

Desmond's Daddy Issues
—According to Lostpedia, "Desmond did not graduate from university because he had to support his three brothers after something happened involving his father. The cause of the elder Hume's departure remains unknown."

My thoughts: So something happened to his daddy, but we don't know what. That might be worth remembering.

Desmond finds a calling…
—Later, Desmond is dating a woman named Ruth (for 6 years), but he ends up drunk in the street a week before their wedding, and he's having doubts, afraid to commit to her. (This, for me, is when things get interesting. Starting with this moment, Desmond's life is intersected at crucial moments by a list of people, all of whom, looking back, seem to have ulterior motives.)So, back to Desmond being in the street…

Again citing lostpedia, "Brother Campbell, a monk at a monastery in Eddington, Scotland, offered him help, which led Desmond to believe he had a calling to become a monk too. Desmond entered the monastery. He impressed and surprised Campbell by keeping his vow of silence, earning status as a novice monk and the title 'Brother.'"

My thoughts: So this monk appears out of nowhere and offers to help him. Coincidence? Chance? Fate? Or part of a plot by those who just might know Desmond is "uniquely and miraculously special."

Desmond Needs a New Calling
—After Brother Campbell finds Desmond drinking the monastery's wine one night, he tells him he doesn't think he should be a monk, but says Desmond "obviously is meant for a greater purpose."

My thoughts: Interesting... (For a second look at conversations Desmond has while in the monastery, see footnotes #1, #2, and #3.)

Desmond finds a Pretty Penny (pun intended)
—Then when Desmond leaves the monastery, he meets Penny and offers to help her load the wine into her vehicle. And the rest, as they say, is history…at least as far as the blossoming of the Desmond/Penny relationship is concerned.

My thoughts: Is it coincidental that he was expelled from the monastery just as Penny was arriving to pick up some crates of wine? Any chance Widmore, or Widmore and Brother Campbell (with perhaps a sprinkling of Mrs. Hawking), intended this? For a moment, I suspected that perhaps Penny was in on this, manipulating Desmond at the behest of her father and friends. But that would spoil the whole Desmond/Penny love story, so I chose to dismiss the thought, even if it might be true…
(See footnote #4 if you want evidence that suggests Brother Campbell subtly may have arranged the Desmond/Penny meeting.)

Desmond has Daddy-in-Law Issues
—Eventually Desmond goes to Widmore's office to apply for a job, but he reveals that he's actually not interested in the job. Instead, he would like Widmore's permission to marry his daughter. Widmore doesn't grant it. Instead, he says Desmond isn't worth enough to share his whiskey with him, and he certainly isn't worth his precious Penny (yup, intended).

My thoughts: (This is when we first learn that Widmore is a royal jerk. But then again, if Widmore knows that Desmond is special. If he knows he needs to be on that island, then maybe he has no choice but to turn Desmond away.)

Desmond Drops His Penny…and he goes (into the) Clink (I really tried—too hard, obviously—to make this a pun…and I apologize)
—We know that Desmond ended things with Penny and then, at some point, he enlisted in The Royal Scots Regiment. And according to lostpedia, "Desmond managed to reach the rank of a lance-corporal before being dishonorably discharged and serving time in the Southway Garrison military prison for failing to 'follow orders.' His exact offense is still unknown."

My thoughts: I just wish we knew more here.

"Pick a box, Desmond, any box…as long as it's the one I say"
—When Desmond is released from prison, a car is waiting for him. And who do we see inside that car but the beloved Mr. Charles Widmore. He shows Desmond that he has confiscated every letter Desmond wrote to Penny while he was locked up. He tells Des that this box represents his past, and he shows him a second box—full of money—and this one, he says, represents Desmond's future. But only if he ceases all contact with Penny.

My thoughts: I didn't realize it at the time, but since we've learned a little more about Widmore since this time, it seems especially odd that Widmore would try to buy off Desmond. Why? Well, because it doesn't seem like Penny is the top priority in Widmore's life. After all, when Des showed up for the "job interview" only to ask for Penny's hand in marriage, wasn't that the first time he'd ever met Desmond? (Maybe not, but it sure seemed like it.) And being the wealthy, important man he is, do we think it's logical that he would make this Desmond/Penny issue his top priority? It just seems odd to me. I think it's more likely that he was trying to keep Desmond away from Penny because he needs Desmond to go to the island and push the button.

(If you want to read that conversation between Widmore and Des, see footnote #5.)

Come Sail Away, Come Sail Away
—Desmond decides he's going to win his "honor back" by winning the Widmore-sponsored boat race around the world. One problem, he has no money and no boat…until he meets a woman at an airport who is quick to offer the boat that belonged to her recently-deceased husband. That woman is the one and the same Libby, the flight 815 tail-section surivor, the object of Hurley's crush, and the former resident of the Santa Rosa Mental Health Institute.

My thoughts: Oh ho, Libby. Fool me once, shame on you… Libby might be my favorite mystery, but only because I think I figured her out awhile ago. At first, I really wanted to know why she was in that Institute. I really wanted to know how this sweet woman, this former psychiatrist (the same woman who was kind enough to offer her expensive boat as a gift to a man she just met), became a vacant-eyed, disheveled resident of Santa Rosa's.

And then it hit me! If we hadn't already known Libby, if we hadn't already thought she was a sweetheart, there's no way we would have believed that she would give away such an expensive boat just minutes after meeting someone. And then I realized, we wouldn't have believed it because we shouldn't believe it! So why would she give away that boat? Why was she in Santa Rosa's? Two questions, but one answer: Libby was just doing her job. I don't know if she's a Widmore employee or an accomplice, but either way, I think she was just carrying out business. Widmore, Hawking, and whoever else needed Desmond to have a boat to get to the island, so they concocted this plan to give him one. As for Santa Rosa's, remember Hurley's Connect Four-playing, number-spouting buddy, Lenny? After Hurley first suspected that "the numbers are bad," remember when he tried to visit Lenny to find out the source of the numbers? And remember how his request was denied because he wasn't family? (Until he saw a doctor who remembered him, that is.) So in Widmore's quest to rediscover the island, it makes sense that he would send someone undercover to learn something—if possible—from a guy who spouts "the numbers" non-stop. And if Libby really had been a psychiatrist (I have my doubts), then she's the perfect choice for an undercover assignment posing as a mental patient.

(If you'd like to read the Desmond/Libby conversation, see footnote #6.)

Desmond Flashes (At this point, my timeline is out of sorts. But I wasn't sure where to place this event. And really, can you blame me?)
—So after he turns the fail-safe key, Desmond starts getting flashes. And when he's riding in the helicopter on the way to the freighter, his consciousness starts jumping. And when Des finds himself back with Penny again, he decides this time he's going to propose. But when he tries to buy the ring, the jewelery store employee tells him he's not supposed to buy the ring. This employee is the now infamous Ms. Hawking. And she explains to Desmond that he doesn't/shouldn't propose to Penny because he needs to go to the island to push that button. She also tells Desmond that what is supposed to happen will happen. She says "the universe, unfortunately, has a way of course-correcting." She is implying that Desmond is powerless to change things.

(If you'd like to read their conversation, please see footnote #7.)

My thoughts: First of all, knowing what we know about Ms Hawking now, and also knowing that Damon Lindelof says she's a "temporal policeman," do we really believe that she spends her days polishing the display cases in a small jewelry store? I, for one, don't buy it.

I think she was there solely to meet Desmond.

But why does Ms. Hawking bother telling Desmond he can't change things? If he really couldn't change the course of history, then why bother to tell him? Why not just let him try, and fail? Unless, of course, he can change things. And I think we have reason to believe he can. Not only is he "unique and miraculously special," but by saving Charlie's life (albeit temporarily), he changed the course of the future. Would Penny's boat ever have been able to locate them if Charlie (the musician they needed to play "Good Vibrations" on the keyboard to disarm the jamming frequency) hadn't been alive to swim down into the Looking Glass?

I think Ms. Hawking, along with Widmore, Brother Campbell, Libby, and probably others, know Desmond is special, and that's why they're keeping tabs on him.

I have a related theory in regards to this. Ms. Hawking definitely seems to understand time travel. So it's not far-fetched to think she might be a traveler. If they know Desmond is special (I don't know how they know, although perhaps it could trace back to Desmond's father, the one who disappeared/died in a manner not explained to us. But the point is, these people, all or some of them, former islanders, know...), then maybe someone stopped pushing the button, and maybe the island blew up. So, being the time travelers they are, they needed to find someone in history who could change time, someone special. And they, working together, took the steps necessary (calling him a coward, making sure he couldn't be with the woman he loved, stripping him of his honor, suggesting he has a calling, etc., etc.) to make sure Desmond landed on that island, and to make sure he'd keep pushing the button, or develop the courage, in the words of Kelvin Inman, to "pull his finger out of the dam and blow the whole thing up."

Questions:
1) So, why and how is Desmond "uniquely and miraculously special"?
2) Is it possible that Ms. Hawking was lying about what Desmond was "supposed" to do? Maybe, left to his own devices, he would have purchased the ring for Penny, and maybe they would have married…and maybe it's only because of outside interference that he never followed through. You think?
3) Why was Desmond imprisoned? Because he didn't "follow orders"?
4) Why/How did Desmond's dad die when he was a kid? Who was his dad? Any chance he was an Other/Hostile who knew Widmore, Ms. Hawking, and the rest?


Other things to note:
1) Because of the system failure that occurred when he was following Kelvin instead of pushing the button, Desmond was the one who caused the crash of Flight 815.
2) Desmond was also the one who got the Oceanic 6 off the island, since it was his jumping consciousness that enabled him to make contact with Penny, prompting her to be waiting by the phone years later, and leading her on her epic quest to find him.

What's the take-away?

In short, Desmond is special. And I think Widmore and Ms. Hawking and others have known it for a long time, long enough to be altering and impacting his life in a way that will suit their purposes. His name, Desmond Hume, could be a clue about his ability to operate outside the laws of physics, potentially changing the past (or future).

Consequently, Widmore might not be a jerk. He might just be acting in the ways necessary to achieve an ultimate goal (and if we are to take Ms. Hawking's statements literally, this goal might involve saving the lives of all mankind). A brief tangent: Similar to this Widmore-might-not-be-evil thought, I've often wondered if Ben isn't evil. If he knows, because of Jacob, what is going to happen, maybe all his actions are based on a desire to make the process to that unalterable result as smooth as possible. If he knows someone is going to die, then instead of being sentimental or trying to save anyone, maybe he's just trying to expedite the process since the island/universe is going to course-correct anyway. If this is true, instead of being diabolical, Ben is more like a slave to fate.

Widmore, in contrast, would seem to have the opposite motive. If Ben is a slave to fate, carrying out Jacob's wishes, then perhaps Widmore is working with others (not the Others) to defeat fate, using someone like Desmond as the conduit.

(Of course, Ms. Hawking seems to be working with both Widmore and Ben, so I can't make any sense of that. But we'll save that for another post.)

Footnotes

Footnote #1: Dialogue from "Catch-22":

DESMOND: Are you firing me?
MONK: I am indeed.
DESMOND: You can't do that, I heard the call.
MONK: I'm sure you did hear the call, but the abbey clearly isn't where you were meant to end up. I have little doubt that God has different plans than you being a monk, Desmond. Bigger plans.
DESMOND: Oh aye, I'm sure he does.
MONK: He does! You've just spent too much time running away to realize what you may be running toward.
[The monk moves to leave]
DESMOND: Hey. What am I supposed to do now?
MONK: Whatever comes next.


Footnote #2: Dialogue from "Catch-22":

MONK: You do realize you are free to talk again, brother Desmond.
DESMOND: Used to being quiet I suppose. [He looks at the "Moriah Vineyards" label]
DESMOND: Moriah. I find the name the brothers have chosen for the wine made here, interesting.
MONK: And why is that brother?
DESMOND: Well Moriah's the mountain where Abraham was asked to kill Isaac. Its not exactly the most, festive locale is it.
MONK: And yet God spared Isaac.
DESMOND: Well one might argue then, God may not have asked Abraham to sacrifice his son in the first place.
MONK: Well then it wouldn't have been much of a test, would it brother? Perhaps you underestimate the value of sacrifice.

My thoughts: Interesting chatter about Abraham and Isaac…and perhaps worth remembering that Isaac is the father of Jacob.

Footnote #3: Dialogue from "Catch-22"

DESMOND: OK, yes, I was scared about the wedding, so I had a few pints too many, maybe I, I raised my eyes, and I asked am I doing the right thing, and that's the last thing I remember. And when I woke up, I was lying on my back in the street, and I dunno how I got there and, there was this man standing over me, Ruth. And he reached out his hand and he said to me, can I help you brother. And the first thing I noticed was the rope tied round his waist, and I looked at him and I knew, I knew, I was supposed to go with him. I was supposed to go with him, I was supposed to leave everything that mattered behind, sacrifice all of it, for a greater calling.

RUTH: Well its a good thing a bloody shepherd didn't help you up, or as I suppose you'd be off with the sheep wouldn't you? Next time you want to break up with someone, Des, don't join a monastery. Just tell the girl you're too bloody scared.

My thoughts: good thing "a bloody shepherd" didn't help him? Or is it a good thing that a "bloody Shephard" (as in Jack or Christian) didn't help him? Maybe it's nothing. Maybe.

Footnote #4: Dialogue from "Catch-22"

[Desmond enters the monk's office carrying his religious clothes in his arm]
MONK: I was afraid you'd let without saying goodbye.
DESMOND: No.
[He lays the clothes down]
DESMOND: I nearly took this with me.
[Desmond heads to leave]
MONK: If you're not in a hurry, brother Martin's heading into town in a few hours, he can give you a ride. That is, if you don't mind doing some heavy lifting.
[Desmond laughs]
[Outside, Desmond wheels cases of the vineyard wine to a car, as the monk chats with a woman]
MONK: All ten cases are ready to go. Desmond there is just getting the last one.
PENNY: Thank you, and my father sent the check in advance.
MONK: Please thank him for his generous donation. Always a pleasure to see you.
[The monk leaves, shaking Desmond's hand as he goes]
MONK: Goodbye Desmond.
[Desmond carries some of the crates round to the back of the car]
PENNY: I think we should be able to fit it all in the back, and if not we'll put the rest in the front. [She turns and looks at Desmond] Is that alright?
DESMOND: Absolutely.

My thoughts: "If you don't mind doing some heavy lifting"…that's just subtle enough, methinks.

Footnote #5: Dialogue from "Live Together, Die Alone":

[We see Desmond exiting the garrison as a limo pulls up. A man, Charles Widmore, rolls down the window.]
WIDMORE: You want a ride?
DESMOND: Not with you.
WIDMORE: Get in the car.
[Desmond gets in and notices boxes on the seat.]
DESMOND: Did you bring me a present?
WIDMORE: Actually, two presents. One of these boxes contains your past, Hume. The other, your future. Go ahead, open it.
[Desmond opens a box and finds it filled with letters which are unopened and addressed to Penelope Widmore, sent by Desmond.]
DESMOND: You're a bastard, you know that?
WIDMORE: The fact that she never received your sentiments is good for her. Good, because as far as she's concerned you've forsaken her. And that's the way it's going to stay.
DESMOND: Is it now?
WIDMORE: Penelope's moved on, Hume. She's getting married. [He opens the other box which is filled with money.] This is for your new life—away from my daughter. The conditions are simple—no contact, no calls, no posts. You just run away, Desmond.
DESMOND: And what makes you think I would just run away?
WIDMORE: Because you're a coward.

Footnote #6: Dialogue from "Live Together, Die Alone"

[We see Desmond at a coffee bar counter.]
DESMOND: Just give me which ever one has the most caffeine in it, brother. [he opens his wallet] Damn, um, I'm sorry. I've just arrived and I spent all my American money on a taxi.
LIBBY: [putting money on the counter] I've got it.
DESMOND: That's not necessary.
LIBBY: It's just 4 bucks.
DESMOND: I don't suppose you have 42,000 more of those do you?
LIBBY: Depends on what it's for.
DESMOND: I was joking.
LIBBY: No you weren't.
[We see Libby and Desmond sitting with each other. Libby is looking at a brochure for a sailing race. There's a picture of Widmore on the brochure.]
LIBBY: So, a sailing race around the world?
DESMOND: I have 8 months to get into the best shape of my life. I'll tell you what, miss, I'm going to win.
LIBBY: And what do you get if you do?
DESMOND: What really matters is who I win it for. [he pushes the brochure toward her]
LIBBY: [looking at the brochure] Charles Widmore.
DESMOND: He tried to buy me off. And when I didn't take his money, he took away the only thing in the world that I ever truly cared about.
LIBBY: Who is she?
DESMOND: His daughter. I was unsuitable on several levels.
LIBBY: And what' the 42 grand for?
DESMOND: It's a wee bit complicated. As of yet, I don't actually have a boat. [Libby looks sad] Sorry, did I say something wrong?
LIBBY: I have a boat. It was my husband's but he got sick. He wanted to sail the Mediterranean—he never—he passed away about a month ago.
DESMOND: I'm sorry.
LIBBY: I want you to have it.
DESMOND: I can't take your boat, miss.
LIBBY: But you have to. He'd want you to.
DESMOND: What was your husband's name?
LIBBY: David.
DESMOND: And what did he name his boat?
LIBBY: Elizabeth. He named it after me.
DESMOND: Then I thank you, Elizabeth. And I shall win this race for love.

Footnote #7: Dialogue from "Flashes Before Your Eyes" (my emphasis added, in bold)

MS. HAWKING: I have just the thing. [she shows him a ring] This won't blind any queens, to be sure, but still has the sparkle of life.
DESMOND: I'll take it.
MS. HAWKING: [surprised] I'm sorry?
DESMOND: It's perfect. I'll take it.
MS. HAWKING: No you won't. Give me the ring. Give it here.
DESMOND: I don't understand.
MS. HAWKING: This is wrong. You don't buy the ring. You have second thoughts; you walk right out that door. So, come on, let's have it.
DESMOND: I don't know what you're on about.
MS. HAWKING: You don't buy the ring, Desmond.
DESMOND: How do you know my name?
MS. HAWKING: Well, I know your name as well as I know that you that don't ask Penny to marry you. In fact, you break her heart. Well, breaking her heart is, of course, what drives you in a few short years from now to enter that sailing race -- to prove her father wrong -- which brings you to the island where you spend the next 3 years of your life entering numbers into the computer until you are forced to turn that failsafe key. And if you don't do those things, Desmond David Hume, every single one of us is dead. So give me that sodding ring.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
MS. HAWKING: [when Desmond doesn't give her the ring] Oh, you're going to be difficult about this, I can see.
DESMOND: Who are you?
MS. HAWKING: Do you like chestnuts?
DESMOND: What?
[Scene switches to Ms. Hawking buying chestnuts from a street vendor.]
MS. HAWKING: Thank you.
[She notices a man climbing stairs from the Underground.]
MS. HAWKING: That man over there is wearing red shoes.
DESMOND: So, what then?
MS. HAWKING: Just thought it was a bold fashion choice worth noting.
DESMOND: This isn't really happening, is it?
MS. HAWKING: Sorry?
DESMOND: I've had a concussion. You're my subconscious.
MS. HAWKING: [amused] Am I?
DESMOND: You're here to talk me out of marrying Penny. Well, it won't bloody work.
MS. HAWKING: Oh, yes it will.
DESMOND: No, there is no island. There is no button. It's madness. I love her. She loves me. I'm going to spend the rest of my life with her.
MS. HAWKING: No, Desmond, you're not.
[Suddenly, there is a loud crash behind the bench Ms. Hawking and Desmond have been sitting on. Some scaffolding has fallen and killed the man with red shoes.]
DESMOND: Oh, my God. You knew that was going to happen, didn't you? [she nods] Then why didn't you stop it? Why didn't you do anything?
MS. HAWKING: Because it wouldn't matter. Had I warned him about the scaffolding tomorrow he'd be hit by a taxi. If I warned him about the taxi, he'd fall in the shower and break his neck. The universe, unfortunately, has a way of course correcting. That man was supposed to die. That was his path just as it's your path to go to the island. You don't do it because you choose to, Desmond. You do it because you're supposed to.
DESMOND: I'm going to meet Penny in an hour. I've got the ring; she'll say yes; I can choose whatever I want.
MS. HAWKING: You may not like your path, Desmond, but pushing that button is the only truly great thing that you will ever do.
DESMOND: How much for the ring?
[Ms. Hawking looks disappointed and walks away.]
[Cut to Desmond walking down a street. He passes an Armed Forces Careers office, and eyes a recruitment poster with the tag line: Become a man you can be proud of.]

And one last piece of dialogue to consider:

LOCKE: Blow it open with what?
CHARLIE: With dynamite from the old ship in the jungle.
DESMOND: It would take an atom bomb, brother. Tell him not to bother.
LOCKE: You're sure it'll hold?
DESMOND: Aye, I'm sure.

My thoughts: "It would take an atom bomb" to blow up the hatch, eh? That's interesting since we know now that there's a 60-year-old atom bomb buried somewhere (maybe in that very hatch) on that island.