Discuss all Desmond related topics here.  



Resided in: Unknown
Occupation: Unknown
Reason for Travel: Solo Race Around the World (sailing)
Flight Seat #: NA

Desmond was in the Royal Army, and fell in love with Penelope Widmore.  He went to jail sometime afterwards (details unexplained), and on his release, was discharged from the military.  After he got out, Mr. Widmore (Penny's father) showed him that none of the letters he wrote Penelope made it to her.  He then bribed him never to see his daughter again, who he claimed was getting married to another man.  Mr. Widmore told Desmond that he was a coward.

Desmond resolved to participate in a solo sailing race around the world, which was sponsored by Mr. Widmore.  He didn't have a boat, but ran into Libby in a coffee shop.  Even though she was a stranger to him, after hearing his story, she offered to give him a sailboat.  She said it was called The Elizabeth (named after her) and belonged to her recently deceased husband David.

Desmond went to a stadium late one night to get in shape for the sailing race.  Penelope tracked him down and found him in the parking lot, and asked him not to go.  He never told her about the letters he wrote her, and let her know he knew about her marriage plans.  He told her he must win the sailing race to win back his honor.

In the stadium, he ended up running steps at the same time as Jack, and they met in this way.  He told Jack about the sailing race, and then talked to Jack about Sarah, asking Jack what it would be like if a miracle happened and Sarah was able to walk again. He departed, saying "See you in another life, brother".

During his race, Desmond wrecked on the island and was taken to the Swan by Kelvin.  Inside the facility, they had electricity, running water, food, music, and Desmond was taught to inject himself with the medication every 9 days.  He learned from Kelvin that the button protocol consisted of them taking shifts and entering the numbers into a computer every 108 minutes.

Kelvin taught him many of the secrets of the Swan station (which he in turn, learned from Radzinsky), including how to make the lockdown happen, and that a secret map was being painted with detergent on the blast door (which can only be seen under black lights).  Kelvin told him Radzinsky commited suicide.  Kelvin got drunk one night and told him that entering the Numbers in the computer released built up electromagnetism in the hidden room that would otherwise leak and cause another Incident; he then shows him the failsafe key procedure.  

Kelvin went on exploring trips outside the station, but was always seen with a biohazard suit on, according to him, because of "the sickness."  He refused to let Desmond go, but one day Desmond followed him, after seeing that Kelvin had a break in his suit.  He saw Kelvin remove the suit and Kelvin then caught him following him.  Desmond confronted him that he knew he was lying about "the sickness."  Kelvin told him that he played him for a fool because he needed someone to keep pushing the button after he ran away in his boat (which Kelvin had repaired).  In a scuffle, Desmond hit Kelvin's head against a rock; Desmond believes he killed him. Running back to the station after this incident, he realized he was too late to reset the countdown clock, and saw the words SYSTEM FAILURE on the screen; metal objects in the room were affected by the electromagnetic force that was set free in the station, though it somehow resets after he tries entering the numbers again.

From that point on, Desmond was alone, despondant, and contemplating suicide himself.  He looked in his favorite book, Our Mutual Friend (which he guarded on his trip all these years), and found a love letter Penelope placed inside years ago, saying that she would wait for him always.  He was at a low point, when he suddenly heard Locke banging on the hatch door from above, and thought it was his salvation.

When Kate, Locke and Jack later enter the hatch, Desmond confronts them at gunpoint with the question "What did one snowman say to another."  When Locke fails to know the answer ("It smells like carrots" is the passphrase DHARMA employees should know), Desmond knows he is not one of the replacements for the Swan.

After the computer is destroyed by a stray bullet, Desmond panicks.  He tells them briefly about his history with Kelvin and about the orientation film before fleeing into the jungle, leaving the survivors to fix the computer and continue the protocol.  As it turns out, he was headed for his boat, and wanted to leave the island.

Weeks later, Desmond's boat is spotted by those on the beach camp during Libby's funeral.  Desmond says that he was sailing due West for 2 1/2 weeks at 9 knots, and should have been in Fiji by now, but ended up back where he started.  

Locke recounts his findings from the Pearl Stationto him, and then Desmond too is disillusioned by the button pushing protocol he performed for so many years without questioning.  Desmond helps Locke to lock Eko out of the Swan station in an effort to let the clock run down.  He realizes at the last minute from Locke's printout from the Pearl that the date he failed to prevent system failure was the same date of the plane crash.  He believes he caused it by failing to stop the giant magnet.  The countdown clock again runs down at that moment, and when the electromagnetic force starts up this time, Desmond realizes their error, and decides to turn the failsafe key.  

--Last edited by TheIsland on 2006-07-11 15:24:36 --

I was very glad to see that Henry got an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Desmond. I think he did a great job in the season finale!

And I lurve his accent.

I think we have enough following here for me to recreate my fan club. Please PM me any ideas for the club name. I dare not steal my own club name back.

Desmond's S3 promo pic.

I want more short haired Des! Maybe in a flashback...

They've also been dressing Des way too baggy!!  Did you see the getup he had on in one of his recent interviews -- a lumberjack shirt??  Ugh.  Give him some slick clothes folks!!

It is interesting that Demond did not have any vision or premonition of what would happen to Nikki and Paulo.

It could be that he did have a premonition, but chose to let the universe take its course...wise one, that Des.

Ralf

Ooh I like that idea Ralf

Curious - why is he always alone on the beach? After the boar was killed we see him just sitting off by himself. Its almost as if people are a bit afraid to be near him. Or maybe its the other way around?

It may be the other way around. He was alone for a long time. Most of them formed bonds with eachother, and now he's kinda like an "intruder" of sorts. It's possible that there's more to it, mebbe we'll learn more about it in his epi?

I wonder why he mainly seems to be predicting Charlie`s death? Even when he was seeing the parachutist arriving, it was connected with Charlie dying.

I'm starting to wonder if Charlie isn't important in some way that we have yet to realize.

If its anything like Final Destination, then Charlie has to die before the next person to die can.

I signed a petition to save Charlie last night LOLOL.

Here it is:
http://www.petitiononline.com/lost4815/petition.html

Since Desmond wasn`t on the plane, does Ben & co know as much about him as they do with the rest of the Losties?
They must have seen him from the monitors watching the Swan station.
And we have never heard Desmond ask any questions about the Others, have we? If he had been secluded in the hatch all his time on the island, and only heard mention about "the hostiles" why aren`t he asking more questions about them now he is out and realize the Losties have had several encounters with them?

I think Desmond just might not care. After being trapped there for 3 years, he just has no need to know about the rest. He just wants to be back with Penny, and it's all he cares about.

but wouldn`t he then inquire more about them, to find out if they have a way of contacting the world for example?

I dunno, Kelvin might have freaked him out with all the talk of the Hostiles and everything.

And you never know with this show, Des may have been fully informed of everything they know about the Others, but we just didn't see it LOL.