Initial Reaction to "Happily Ever After"

Oh, brotha. I said that LOST would be picking up in the next couple of weeks and I'm happy to say that it definitely has. Desmond centric episodes are arguably the best of the series. You cannot deny that. You also cannot deny that the intelligent and sophisticated storytelling are not the only thing that makes the character of Desmond so uniquely and profoundly intriguing. Desmond's world is not only mythological, but it's emotionally charged in a way that is more realistic and intense than any other character on this show. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Desmond is the heart of this show. He is everything that makes it unlike any other show than there has ever been. It is not only because he has great importance to the mythology, but it's because he makes you laugh and cry and cheer for him when he gets a win. It is because, when Henry Ian Cusick is on screen and portraying the character of Desmond David Hume, you never want it to end. Not for a second. For someone that wasn't even on this show since the very beginning, I'd have to say it's pretty damn important for a character to have the ability to impact a show in such a way. For every moment that he's gone, there is something missing. Needless to say, I am glad to have Desmond back. Now, let's discuss our favorite Scotsman and yet another of his episodes that did not disappoint in the least.

From Lostpedia

3.21 Greatest Hits

1. Karl, running through the jungle, gets to the shore, takes a canoe, going somewhere.
2. Jack taking everyone somewhere, Desmond has a flash, tells Charlie he didn't, Jack says that Juliet told him everything, Danielle blows up a tree, Jack found help, for the past 3 days, Rousseau has been getting dynamite from the Black Rock, they know what they want, when coming to get it, and they have no idea, they'll be waiting for them, Juliet will mark the tents, no one will be inside, dynamite. From Lostpedia
3. "When Juliet told me they were coming, the first thing I thought was, "Where the hell are we gonna hide this time?" But hiding's pointless. They're just gonna keep coming back. So I went out and I found some help. And for the past few days she's been bringing dynamite back from the Black Rock. For the very first time we know exactly what they want, when they're coming to get it, and they have no idea that we're gonna be waiting for 'em. So Juliet's gonna mark the tents with the white rocks just like she was told to, but there's not going to be any pregnant women inside; there's gonna be plenty of what we just used on that tree. So tomorrow night we stop hiding, we stop running, we stop living in fear of them, because when they show up, we're gonna blow 'em all to hell." Jack
4. Drive Shaft, pulled over the on side of the road, blown tire, shitty gig, Charlie wants to quit the band because they're not making any money, but Liam says they're building their fan base, right then they hear their song on the radio, You All Everybody, they're excited. From Lostpedia
5. #5 The first time I heard myself on the radio.
6. Naomi asks Charlie who they're going to war with, she's from Manchester too, Charlie says his band got their start at the Night and Day Bar, Oldham Street, Drive Shaft, she says she knows him from the crash, he's the dead rockstar, they made big deal when they found the plane, had a memorial service, a new album, Greatest Hits.
7. "Hey, look on the bright side. You're not really dead, right?" Naomi "Yeah, right." Charlie
8. Jack and Juliet handling the dynamite, Rousseau handling the wiring, says they need more to trigger it from a safe distance, Jack says he can get people to strip the plane wreckage, Rousseau says they can be ready by tomorrow night.
9. Sayid wants to talk to Jack about the satellite phone, trying to get off the island, says the satellite phone can't transmit, Rousseau's distress signal overriding the frequency, wants to go to the radio tower, switch off the message, call for help, Naomi's boat 18 miles off shore, Juliet says no, Ben using a DHARMA station to block all the signals off the island, The Looking Glass, an underwater hatch, but Juliet says she had no idea where it is, but Sayid he knows where it is.
10. Claire wonders if they're coming for Aaron again, Charlie says he will protect her, Desmond asks to have a word with Charlie.
11. Desmond tells Charlie he saw Claire and the baby getting into a helicopter that lifts off, leaves the island, if Charlie doesn't die, none of it will happen.
12. "What I saw, Charlie, was Claire and her baby getting into a helicopter. A helicopter that lifts off--leaves this Island." Desmond
13. "We're getting bloody rescued! I thought you were gonna tell me I was gonna die again!" Charlie "You are, Charlie." Desmond "Wait, what?" Charlie "If you don't, none of it will happen. There won't be any rescue. I'm sorry, brother, but this time--this time you have to die." Desmond
14. Charlie's dad is teaching him to swim, says there's nothing to be afraid of, to jump in, that he'll catch him, Charlie jumps in, but his father doesn't catch him.
15. #4 Dad teaching me to swim at Butlin's. From Lostpedia
16. Charlie wants to know how it happens, Desmond says he's inside a hatch, room full of equipment, blinking yellow light above a switch, flip switch, light goes off, then he drowns.
17. Sayid map, The Looking Glass, underwater DHARMA station, Juliet says she's never been down there, doesn't know anyone who has, there was some accident, Ben said the station was completely flooded, Jack asks if it's flooded, then how it still works, Sayid says how is irrelevant, how they got it to stop working, diagram shows The Looking Glass connection to the island by a cable, wire from the beach, they swim in, through the moon pool, room with an open floor at base of the satin, for sub to dock, find relay switch, and disable, Jack asks about swimming back out, it's a suicide mission, Jack says no, Sayid says they have to do it or they'll never leave the island, Charlie says he'll go, he was Junior swim Champion in Northern England, can hold his breath for 4 minutes, Jack says no. From Lostpedia
18. "How it still works is irrelevant. The question is, how do we get it to stop working, so we can use the satellite phone. The diagram shows that The Looking Glass is connected to the Island by a cable. I feel sure that this is the very same cable down the beach which runs into the ocean. So if we follow the cable, it should lead us to the station. We swim in. There's a moon pool. A room with an open floor at the base if the station, big enough for a submarine to dock. Even if the station's flooded, I think I'll be able to find the relay switch and disable it." Sayid
19. "No. And there's no reason to do this now, we're going to focus on the Others, and then we'll deal with this." Jack "Wait a minute. We have the chance to signal for a rescue." Sayid "Look, for ninety days I've been asked to make decisions for this entire camp. There you go. I just made one." Jack
20. Everyone is gathering the plane wrecking, working the wiring for the dynamite.
21. Jin asks Sun about what Juliet said, heard her name on the tape, Sun tells him about the baby, went to a medical station, the baby is okay, very healthy.
22. Karl arrives to the beach, Sayid tackles him, Sawyer says it's okay, Karl tells them they're coming, they say they know already, but Karl says they're coming RIGHT NOW. From Lostpedia
23. 6 hours ago--Ben back to camp, no Locke, Alex is gutting a rabbit, he gives Alex her gun back, tells Ryan that Jacob wants it to happen now, tells Richard John had accident, can bring his 10 best, Ryan says, by night fall, Richard says what if Juliet isn't ready, Ben says then they'll take all the women, if the men get in the way, kill them.
24. Alex tells Karl to go warn them, gives him the gun, Austen and Ford saved his life, asks Karl if Ben is her father.
25. Jack says everything has to happen at once, the wiring isn't ready yet, Sayid says shoot the dynamite, 3 tents and 3 guns, Karl gives them his gun, Rousseau too, but Jack says she's not staying, she has to lead everyone to the radio tower, contact Naomi's boat, everything has to happen at the same time, asks Charlie if he's up for a swim, Desmond goes with.
26. Charlie in bed with two birds, it's Christmas, Liam shows up, they're in Helsinki, Finland, gives him the DS ring, mom gave it to him, her father's, his before, family heirloom, named band after Dexter Stratton, Liam says Charlie will marry, have a family, a baby, the ring has to stay in the family, pass it on, Charlie says he'll hold on to it.
27. #3 The Christmas Liam gave me the ring. From Lostpedia
28. Charlie tells Claire he didn't want her to worry, he'll be fine, while he's gone, don't worry about him, he takes Aaron, tells him to take care of his mum, he loves him, kisses Claire.
29. "It's what needs to be done to get us all rescued. I'll be fine, Claire. Now you've gotta promise me something. While I'm gone, don't worry about me." Charlie From Lostpedia
30. Charlie playing Wonderwall on the street, he walks by an alley, hears a woman in distress, saves Nadia from a mugger, says his last fight, he was 8 years old, and he lost, she says that he's a hero, 3 people walked by and didn't help her.
31. "Three people walked by the alley. They saw me, but they just kept on going. You are a hero, sir. And don't let anyone ever tell you differently." Nadia From Lostpedia
32. #2 Woman outside Covent Garden calls me a hero.
33. Desmond and Charlie getting ready to go, Desmond makes a weight belt, asks Charlie how long he can really hold his breath.
34. Bernard practices shooting, Rose is worried, she wants to stay, Jack says no.
35. Jack says to get going, Rousseau said days to walk to radio tower, Sayid says he's not going, Jack is, be the leader, he can execute the plan.
36. "What are you more concerned about, killing the Others, or getting our people off this Island? This afternoon you said you were our leader. It's time for you to act like one. Lead them to the radio tower, Jack. And then take us all home." Sayid
37. Hurley wants to go with Charlie and Desmond, Charlie says he's too big, won't fit in the boat, he'll catch up with him later, remember he loves him. From Lostpedia
38. They're ready to leave, the tents are marked, Jin is the 3rd shooter, Hurley helps with Claire and Aaron.
39. "So here we go again, huh?" Kate "Here we go again." Jack
40. Charlie left the DS ring for Aaron. From Lostpedia
41. Charlie and Desmond find the wire on the beach, start paddling to the station.
42. First night of the crash, Charlie meets Claire for the first time, gives her a blanket, tells her it will be okay, they're alive on a beautiful island, they can sleep under the stars, then the helicopters will come and take them home.
43. "We're alive, we're on a beautiful Island. We'll sleep under the stars, and before you know it the helicopters will come and take us home." Charlie
44. #1 The night I met you.
45. Charlie and Desmond arrive at The Looking Glass, Charlie tells Desmond to give Claire his Greatest Hits, Desmond says he'll go, that maybe he keeps seeing Charlie die because he's supposed to take his place, Charlie asks what about his girl, but Desmond says what about his, that he might be luckier, to keep his memories to himself, but Charlie knocks Desmond out, puts Greatest Hits in his pocket, not supposed to take his place.
46. "I want you to give this to Claire for me." Charlie "What is it?" Desmond "It's the five best moments of my sorry excuse for a life. My greatest hits. You know, memories. They're all I've got." Charlie
47. "You don't have to do this Charlie. Maybe I keep seeing you die because I'm supposed to take your place." Desmond
48. "What about your girl, Penny?" Charlie "What about your girl? Besides, I might be luckier than you. Keep your memories to yourself. I'll take it from here." Desmond
49. "You and I both know you're not supposed to take my place, brother." Charlie
50. Charlie swims down to the station, goes through the moon pool, but it's not flooded, he survives, two women are in the station, they come out with guns. From Lostpedia
51. "I'm alive. AH! I'm alive!!!!" Charlie

Questions:

1. Did Desmond really see Claire and Aaron getting into a helicopter?
2. Will Claire and Aaron get in a helicopter and lift off the island?
3. Why did Charlie say that he couldn't swim?
4. If Desmond hadn't told Charlie how he dies and why, would it have still happened?
5. Did Charlie learn how to swim in the past in order to save Claire in the future?
6. Will Claire ever get Charlie's Greatest hits?
7. Will Aaron get the DS ring?

Favorites:

1. "Anyone want to venture a guess as to what Jack's going to be showing us out here in the middle of nowhere?" Charlie "I dunno. Stuff. Probably secret stuff." Hurley "Why does everything have to be such a secret? How about some openness for a change?" Charlie "We kept the parachute lady secret." Hurley "Ah, that's different." Charlie "Different how?" Claire "Well, because we weren't out there playing football with them..." Charlie
2. "Oh, bloody hell!! Why are we even doing this?!" Charlie "Chin up, mate. We're headlining." Liam "Headlining? We're playing Clitheroe--the arse-end of nowhere." Charlie
3. "We're on the bloody radio!" Charlie "I told you, baby brother, we're gonna be bloody rock stars!" Liam
4. "Who are you people about to go to war with?" Naomi "Now that's a long story. Wanna ask me something else?" Charlie "You having a laugh?" Naomi "No, of course not. I'd never disrespect a fellow Mancunian." Charlie
5. "If you're angry, I doubt that you'll be happy to make a sincere apology later." Sayid
6. "You're swimming, Charlie, you're swimming!" Mr. Pace
7. "I'll do it. Swim down, turn off that bloody switch, swim back up. Piece of cake." Charlie "Charlie, you don't even know what we're talking about." Jack "I was Junior Swim Champion in Northern England. I can hold my breath for four minutes. I know exactly what you're talking about, Jack." Charlie
8. "Rose, that's a sailor's hitch. It's not gonna hold. You wanna do a sheet bend like mine." Bernard "Oh, so now you're knot expert?" Rose "Well trust me its, er..." Bernard [Rose pulls his knot apart easily, then makes her own perfect sheet bend knot very quickly and pulls it taut to demonstrate its strength] "How did you do that?" Bernard "Watch and learn, dear. Watch and learn." Rose
9. Karl running toward them on the beach, Sayid sacking him like what.
10. "Get off him, dammit, its okay." Sawyer "What?!!! He's one of them!" Sayid "I know, I know, its okay. He was in the cage next to me. I know this guy. What the hell are you doing here, Karl?" Sawyer
11. "I thought you were bringing rabbit." Karl
12. "She's a spy. She's supposed to mark the tents of the pregnant women with white rocks so they can take them." Karl "They know, Karl, but thanks." Juliet
13. "Radio tower?!" Claire
14. "Ho ho ho! It's here, baby brother. Christmas is here. Oi, are these the birds from row two? Well done, mate. Well, as you have spent another year as the only drug-free rock star in the world, I'm gonna share a little known fact with you. Father Christmas lives just down the street from here." Liam
15. "Hey! All right, turnip head, now you take care of your Mum while I'm away, okay? [Pauses] I love you." Charlie
16. "Pardon me while I have a heart attack. The last time I was in a fight I was eight years old. [Laughs] And I lost." Charlie
17. "So how long can you really hold your breath for?" Desmond "Does it matter?" Charlie
18. "Bernard, this is not pheasant hunting in Montgomery County." Rose "I know what I'm doing." Bernard "No, you don't. Pheasants don't shoot back." Rose
19. "Everyone's gathering down at the south end of the beach. No one's staying behind but the shooters." Jack "Says who? You wanna give me your word that nothing's going to happen to my husband, then I go." Rose "I'll give you my word that if we don't kill everyone that shows up here in about an hour, it's not gonna matter where Bernard is." Jack "I like you better since you got back, Jack. You're almost an optimist. [To Bernard] Come on. If you're gonna be hiding in the bushes, let's get ya into something dark." Rose
20. "Dudes, wait! I heard. I heard what you're doing. I wanna come with. Everyone--they're all going to the radio tower--and I'm sick of trekking and, you know, explosions. I think I can help you guys out. I'm a really good paddler." Hurley
21. "Because...you're too big! You won't fit in the boat." Charlie "That's uncool, man." Hurley [Hurley begins to go] "Wait, wait, wait!" Charlie [Charlie hugs him] "Dude, it's fine. I don't even wanna go on your stupid boat." Hurley "Catch up with you later. Just remember I love you, man." Charlie "Yeah, whatever, love you too." Hurley
22. "So, first plane crash?" Charlie "[Sarcastically] What gave it away?" Claire "Ah, you can always spot the newbies. We're gonna be okay, you know." Charlie

Notes:

1. Uh, Jack, probably not a good idea to blow a tree up just to make a point, and doing so probably isn't the most intelligent thing to do, considering the Others might hear you, plus you're wasting dynamite, Jackass.
2. When Charlie's father is teaching him how to swim, you can hear someone in the background clearly say, "Desmond, come on!"
3. In White Rabbit, Charlie exclaimed, "I don't swim! I don't swim!"
4. I love this episode, the acting, the music, the direction, everything about it, so glad Charlie's character was vindicated and I started to like him again.
5. The shot of the shoe is the saddest thing ever.

3.17 Catch-22

1. Desmond, Hurley, Charlie, Jin, walking through the jungle, it's raining, Hurley and Charlie are arguing about a Superman vs. The Flash showdown, Charlie steps on a trip-wire, gets an arrow through the middle of the throat, suffocates, chokes on his blood, dies. From Lostpedia
2. Hurley picking up the beach wire during the day, then it's night, a beacon blinking in the sky, Desmond and Penny photograph, Jin, Hurley and Charlie holding a tarp, Charlie and Hurley arguing, a parachutist, hanging from a tree in the jungle, Penny.
3. Desmond has a flash, he asks Hurley where the wire is, the cable buried in the sand, if he knows where it is, says that it's important, that someone's coming.
4. Desmond is praying in a Monastery, reading the bible, a monk comes in, gives him a robe, says he had a vow of silence, that it challenges his patience and faith, he didn't think he would last that long, that his path led him there, he's now one of us, welcomes him.
5. "God tests our faith in many ways. So, as you well know, we have our own test here. A vow of silence that lasts as long as we see fit. This challenges both one's patience, and his faith. For some, it may last a week. Those we are less sure about, a month. Personally, Desmond, I never thought you'd last. And so now I stand corrected. For whatever reason, your path has led you here. And now you're one of us. Welcome, brother." Brother Campbell
6. Desmond asks Jack for a medical kit, says he twisted his ankle, while Hurley tries to act coy, Jack gives it to him.
7. Hurley asks if someone will get hurt, wants an explanation, Desmond says he saw a sequence of events, things that are going to happen, it's like a jigsaw puzzle, he saw Hurley pulling a cable out of the sand, not trying to stop something from happening, he wants it to happen, he's not trying to stop it.
8. "So you're not trying to stop something from happening, you want it to happen." Hurley "[Desmond sees himself and Penny posing for their photograph, of him wiping Penny's tear at the stadium, of her kissing him in their flat] More than anything." Desmond
9. Sawyer asks Kate if she told Jack about them, she says no, but he knows, he saw them on the surveillance camera in The Hydra station, he asks her to have sex, she says no, so he asks her if she wants him to make her a mix-tape. From Lostpedia
10. Desmond says Jin was there with them in the flash, but doesn't know how to get him to go with them, Hurley convinces him to come with, says they're going camping, under the stars, with marshmallows, Jin agrees.
11. Desmond goes to get Charlie, but he's suspicious, says he doesn't want him to go camping, that he had another vision of him dying, Desmond tells him that someone's coming to the island, that he's not going to die this time, Charlie agrees, asks to bring his guitar. From Lostpedia
12. "Right, but with all due respect, you haven't previously told Jin or Hurley that they're gonna die." Charlie
13. They're walking to the wire, whistling The Bridge on the River Kwai, Jin spots the wire, Hurley picks it up from the sand, Desmond has a flash of when he saw him picking up the wire on the beach, they agree to camp there for the night, Desmond tells Charlie that they're coming soon.
14. Desmond and Brother Campbell are packing wine for Moriah Vineyards, Desmond says Moriah is the mountain where Abraham was asked to kill Isaac, but Brother Campbell says that God spared Isaac, that it was a test, a sacrifice.
15. A man comes to see Desmond, punches him in the face, says he's sorry and leaves. From Lostpedia
16. Kate is eating oatmeal, says it's awesome, she says it's strange being back, Jack borrows her spoon, is going to have dinner with Juliet, and Kate is jealous, so she has sex with Sawyer to compensate, she's crying, Sawyer doesn't mind.
17. Jin tells ghost stories, Hurley gets scared, Charlie plays guitar, they toast marshmallows, Desmond shows Charlie the photograph of Penny, Charlie asks how he left her behind, he says he's a coward, he tried to run away and she tracked him down, he says that maybe she meant it, that she never gave up, spent the last 3 years looking. From Lostpedia
18. "You know I tried to run away from her and she, she tracked me down. With enough money and determination you can find anyone, she said. And I used to wake up in nights, thinking if she actually meant it, that she never gave up, then maybe she's spent the last three years looking for me." Desmond
19. They hear a helicopter, see it off in the distance, over the ocean, hear it getting choppy, crashes into the water, see a beacon, Jin says it's the pallet, Hurley says maybe they ejected, Charlie says you can't eject out of a helicopter, Desmond wants to leave now, but Charlie says they can't go into the jungle in the middle of the night, with Rousseau's death traps, that it will be light in 2 hours, Desmond says she can't wait, that they could be hurt, that's the way it's supposed to happen, Charlie says it's supposed to happen without him, but then Desmond has a flash and remembers that it was day time when they find the parachutist, says that they'll leave at first light, together. From Lostpedia
20. Desmond goes to a house, the man who punched him, Derek, answers the door, his sister is Ruth, Desmond says he's a monk now, she says he left one week before their wedding, dated 6 years, disappeared, everything was paid for, closest to religious experience was Celtic winning the cup, Desmond was scared, he says he had a calling, drank too much, asked if hew was doing the right thing, woke up in the street, a man asked if he could help, he was a monk, knew we was supposed to go with him, a sacrifice for a great calling. From Lostpedia
21. "I had a calling. Okay, 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 don't know 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 leave everything that mattered behind, sacrifice all of it, for a greater calling." Desmond
22. Sawyer and Jack play ping-pong, Sawyer says that it's strange being back, Jack says that Kate said the same thing last night in the kitchen, that he had dinner with Juliet, Sawyer figures out that Kate used him because she was jealous of Juliet and Jack. From Lostpedia
23. It's daylight, they go looking for the parachutist, the beacon, Charlie thinks Desmond is lying, Desmond says to trust him, Charlie spots a little Hula girl doll, they find a backpack in a tree, a Portuguese Catch-22, a satellite phone, the photograph of Desmond and Penny.
24. "Look, mate. I've saved your life three times now, if that hasn't bought me your trust I don't know what will. Let's move." Desmond From Lostpedia
25. Sawyer gives Kate The Best of Phil Collins tape, he asks her why she jumped him, says it's because she saw Juliet and Jack, that she doesn't have to use him, he calls her out on it. From Lostpedia
26. Charlie says that Desmond thinks the parachutist is Penny, Desmond has a flash of Charlie getting pierced by the arrow again, it starts to thunder and rain.
27. "You think its her don't you?" Charlie "Who?" Desmond "Your girl. Penny. You think it actually her who bailed out the helicopter." Charlie "Earlier, I hoped it. Now, I know it." "Why didn't you tell us?" Charlie "Would you come if I had?" Desmond "Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Charlie "I didn't wanna tell you because, I didn't want anything to change." Desmond "Fair enough. Look if whatever you're seeing leads to your girl getting us rescued, why would we want to change anything, right?" Charlie
28. Desmond gets drunk on Moriah Vineyard's wine, Brother Campbell catches him, says it costs 100 quid, bottled 108 cases that year, says Desmond isn't cut out to be a monk, fires him, but Desmond says he heard the call, Brother Campbell says God has bigger plans for him, that he's spent too much time running to realize what he's running toward. From Lostpedia
29. "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." Brother Campbell "Oh, aye, I'm sure he does." Desmond "He does. You've just spent too much time running away to realize what you may be running toward." Brother Campbell
30. The flash that Desmond had in the opening happens, Hurley and Charlie argue over Superman vs. The Flash, while there is a flash that appears in front of Hurley when he says the word flash, the wire, the arrow, but Desmond stops Charlie from dying. From Lostpedia
31. "I'm moving as fast as I can. In case you haven't noticed dude I'm not exactly The Flash." Hurley
32. They disagree about where the parachutist landed, so agree to split up, Desmond and Charlie, Jin and Hurley, go looking.
33. Charlie questions if Desmond knew, if he was going to sacrifice him, Desmond says the flashes have to happen the way he saw them, says that maybe it's a test.
34. "If the flashes don't happen exactly how I saw them, the picture changes. I was supposed to let you die, Charlie." Desmond "What's that supposed to mean?" Charlie "It means its bloody pointless. I keep saving your life, and what good has it done? Its just gonna keep happening again and again, maybe that's the point eh? Maybe its a test." Desmond "Test?" Charlie "Like God, testing Abraham, except I failed, because I changed what I saw." Desmond
35. Jin and Hurley find the parachutist hanging from a tree.
36. Desmond returns the robe to Brother Campbell, he says he can get a ride with Brother Martin into town, help loading the cases of wine for them before he goes, there is a photograph on the desk of Brother Campbell and Ms. Hawking in front of the Monastery. From Lostpedia
37. Desmond helps load the cases of wine, a woman says her father sent the check, 10 cases of wine, it's Penelope Widmore getting wine for Charles Widmore, Desmond meets her, tells her he used to be a monk, she asks him to help her unload the cases in Carlisle.
38. "You know I was told under no uncertain terms that the abbey wasn't where I was meant to end up. Just a, step along a path. You know, God allegedly has bigger plans for me." [On the Island, Desmond cuts free the chute, and the others catch it.] "Something tells me you don't entirely believe that." Penny "I suppose that's because I don't." Desmond "Well maybe they're right. I mean, just think, if you hadn't have got fired, we wouldn't have met, and then, how could you possibly help me unload these crates in Carlisle." Penny "Did I say I was coming to Carlisle with you?" Desmond "Not yet." Penny From Lostpedia
39. Desmond climbs up into the tree to cut the parachutist down, he's sure it is Penny, the scene cuts back and forth between him cutting her down and meeting her, she falls from the tree, Charlie, Jin and Hurley catch her, Desmond says to wait.
40. Desmond takes her helmet off, it's not Penny, but she knows Desmond. From Lostpedia
41. "Desmond?"

Questions:

1. Did Desmond change what happened because he saved Charlie?
2. How did Naomi get the photograph of Penny and Desmond and why did she have it?
3. Why was there a photograph of Brother Campbell and Ms. Hawking?
4. What is their relationship to eachother?
5. Was Brother Campbell someone to guide Desmond along his path to the island?
6. Did Desmond really have a calling?
7. Why doesn't Desmond remember what happened when had the call?
8. Is Desmond's destiny to push the button?

Favorites:

1. "You're insane, mate. Superman can fly around the entire planet in the blink of an eye." Charlie "Dude, if we're going by a pure footrace, Supes would get dusted by The Flash." Hurley "But, why would the Man of Steel agree to a sodding footrace?" Charlie "Er, for charity. And Flash would totally win cause he can like, vibrate through walls and stuff." Hurley "Oohh vibration, whatever would Superman do if he came up against a wall?" Charlie "Well, no smashing allowed." Hurley "No flying, no smashing, any other restrictions I need to know about? Perhaps we should fit Superman with a pair of Kryptonite..." Charlie
2. "Something wrong Hurley?" Jack "Nah, uh uh, just, keeping Desmond here company. Cause, we're friends." Hurley
3. "Well, you weren't around when I lost the bet, so you're...[Sawyer enters the tent to see Kate getting dressed]... Exempt." Sawyer "[Kate looks at Sawyer as he ogles] What's up?" Kate "Er, I wanted to ask you something." Sawyer "Yep? [Kate notices Sawyer ogling her breasts] I'm up here." Kate
4. "You know, did you tell the Doc? About you and me?" Sawyer "No. But he knows. He saw us on one of those surveillance monitors." Kate Thought you said the camera was broken?" Sawyer "Well they had another camera." Kate "Perverts." Sawyer
5. "Well now that, that's out the way, maybe a little afternoon delight. [Kate doesn't look impressed] It means sex." Sawyer "I know." Kate "Come on, Freckles, wait, now look, you need me to make ya a mix tape?" Sawyer "Yeah why don't you do that." Kate
6. "Watch the master. [Hurley walks towards Jin]" Hurley "Camping?" Jin "Yeah, you know, like sleeping under the stars, fire on the beach. Marshmallows." Hurley "Camping. Yes." Jin "[To Desmond] Everybody likes marshmallows." Hurley
7. Hurley, Charlie, and Jin whistling The Bridge on the River Kwai.
8. The ghost story that Jin tells, Hurley getting scared.
9. "Dude, I love the part about the bird. It was a bird right?" Hurley "[To Hurley] You." Jin "Me? Okay erm, have you heard the one about the Chupacabra.." Hurley "Chupa...?" Jin "Yeah, like a bear with spines..." Hurley
10. "That's not bad, Des. Not bad at all." Charlie
11. "We dated for six years, and the closest you ever came to a religious experience was Celtic winning the cup." Ruth
12. "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." Ruth
13. "What, your dad never taught you to use a hammer?" Juliet "No my dad taught me how to drink." Jack "Oh, well, at least it's something." Juliet
14. "Hope I'm not interrupting. You two arguing over whose your favorite Other?" Sawyer "What do you want, Sawyer?" Jack "Well, what I wanted, Doc, was to inform you there's been some developments since you were AWOL. So tell me...[He holds up some paddles]...How's your backhand?" Sawyer
15. "So where'd you get the table?" Jack "Don't you recognize it? Fell out of the purple haze. We don't play every hundred and eight minutes, the Island's gonna explode! [Sawyer wins the point] Finally, something I can beat you at." Sawyer
16. "Dude, seriously I'm gonna have a coronary." Hurley "Actually, you're not." Desmond
17. "It can't be Rousseau's, if it was Rousseau's a massive rock would be flying at my head right now." Charlie
18. "Crap, it's dead." Hurley "Shocker." Charlie
19. "The Best of Phil Collins, huh?" Kate "Don't get picky. And if Bernard asks, I don't know a thing about it." Sawyer
20. "Well, it's a grand old team to play for, and its a grand old team to see. And if you know your history, its..." Desmond "Brother Desmond. What are you doing?" Brother Campbell
    "Well, I believe I'm, getting pissed on a lovely wine." Desmond
21. "Who's Penny?" Jin "She's this chick Desmond used to date. And now he thinks she fell from the sky. So we're gonna go save her life, and she's gonna get us rescued. Dude, even if I spoke Korean it wouldn't make any sense." Hurley
22. "You better drive safe Miss, this vineyard only makes a limited number of these cases each year." Desmond "Is that so?" Penny "Aye, it's because the monks are lazy. [Penny laughs]Yeah, its easier making grape jelly than wine." Desmond "And how do you know so much about monks?" Penny "Because I'm an ex-monk." Desmond "Really?" Penny "As of last night I was fired. [Penny laughs again] Ah, it wasn't that funny." Desmond "I'm sorry I never I, I didn't know monks could be fired. I mean of course if an ex-monk already has plans, then..." You know I don't usually get into cars with strangers." Desmond "Well in that case, I'm Penelope. Penny." Penny "Desmond. Very nice to meet you, Penny." Desmond

Notes:

1. Jin's ghost story: "And the girl turned to the man who saved her and said, 'Thank God. I was afraid you were the Hook Man.' And the man looked at the girl with a smile and said, 'Don't worry, little girl. My hook is....STILL IN YOUR FATHER'S HEAD!"
2. If Desmond wouldn't have gotten scared and left Ruth, he wouldn't have gone to the Monastery, wouldn't have become a monk, then he wouldn't have been fired from being a monk by Brother Campbell, which he then wouldn't have met Penny, fallen in love with her, met her father, Charles Widmore, broken up with her, and then entered the boat race to get his honor back, ship-wrecked on the island and net Kelvin, ending up pushing the button for the next three years, and eventually not doing so, causing Oceanic Flight 815 to crash on the island, which also causes Desmond to get rescued with them, and reunite with Penny. So, is this Desmond's destiny?

3.12 Par Avion

From Lostpedia

1. A close-up of Claire's eye, she is dazed and bloody, was in a car accident, her mum went through the wind-shield, is laying in the street, unconscious, a truck is in front of them. From Lostpedia
2. Claire wakes up, Charlie fixed a picnic for her, says he wants to seize the day.
3. Sayid says the Others are 2 miles away according to the map, Locke says it's an electrical wiring map, it may not be accurate, Sayid and Locke argue, but Kate just asks Mikhail if they're going the right way, he says yes, Rousseau says to shoot Mikhail, but Kate says no.
4. Claire and Charlie are having their picnic, but Desmond shows up and asks Charlie to go boar hunting with him, Claire sees birds flying overhead and says she thinks she knows how to get off the island.
5. Claire wants Jin's nets and fish, a flock of sea birds flew over, they're migratory, heading south, scientists tag birds to track them, they'll eventually land in Australia or New Zealand, someone gathers them, they can catch one and send a message with it.
6. Charlie is doubtful about Claire's plan, asks how she knows so much about birds, she says she watched a lot of nature shows with her mum.
7. Claire gets stitches, an Officer questions her, asks how the accident happened, she says that a truck forced her off the road, she was driving, father died when she was 2, truck hit them, came out of nowhere, the Officer says it's standard procedure when there's fatality, but her mother isn't dead, she's in surgery.
8. Kate questions why Rousseau hasn't asked questions about Alex, Rousseau asks her if she cares about her friend, Jack.
9. "Imagine sixteen years from now, you’re told he’s still alive, but in your heart, you know that he wouldn’t remember you, he wouldn’t know you. He wouldn’t even know that you ever cared about him. I haven’t asked you questions about my daughter, because I do not want to know the answers." Rousseau
10. Mikhail says he was recruited when he was 24, approached by a man, brought in on the submarine, 2 weeks ago underwater beacon stopped emitting locator signal, an event, electromagnetic pulse, impossible to come back, not capable of understanding because she's not on the list.
11. "The man who brought me here, who brought all of my people here, he is a magnificent man. I will try to make this as simple as I can. You are not on the list because you are flawed. Because you are angry, and weak, and frightened." Mikhail
12. "The more I learn about your people, the more I suspect you’re not as omniscient as you’d have us believe. Don’t speak to us as if you know us." Sayid
13. Mikhail knows all of them, about them.
14. "Of course I don’t know you, Sayid Jarrah. How could I? And you, Kate Austen, are a complete stranger to me. But you John Locke, you I might have a fleeting memory of, but I must be confused, because the John Locke I know was paral—" Mikhail From Lostpedia
15. Rousseau interrupts Mikhail to point out the sonic fence.
16. Jin and Sun help Claire, get nets, make chum, Sun says her mother had high hopes for her, this would be her worst nightmare, Claire says her mum was a librarian.
17. Claire visits her mom in the hospital, Aunt Lindsey blames her, doctor says stabilized immediate injuries, mom suffered a severe head trauma, wait for swelling in her brain to go down before determining the extent of her injuries, looking at widespread damage, that right now machines are keeping her alive. From Lostpedia
18. The expenses have been taken care of, the doctor has been asked to keep it confidential.
19. Claire is about to catch one of the birds, but Desmond scares the birds away with gun shots, Desmond says sorry, he was catching a boar, but Claire wants to know what's going on, is suspicious of Demond and Charlie.
20. Sayid says don't touch the pylons, Mikhail says they're a security parameter, sensors triggered if anyone passes between them, alarm system, trap, Mikhail says it hasn't functioned in years, they encircle entire barracks, no way around. From Lostpedia
21. Locke pushes Mikhail through the sensors to see if they work or not, the barrier goes on, Mikhail starts to have a seizure, falls to the ground, from a cerebral hemorrhage, blood coming out of the ears, foaming from the mouth. From Lostpedia
22. "Thank you" Mikhail
23. Sayid and Kate are angry about what Locke did, but say they'll talk about it later, first they have to figure out how to get through the fence, Kate says they don't go through, they go over the fence, asks Sayid to get the axe, which is in Locke's pack, which also has C4. Sayid asks why, Locke says you never know when C4 will come handy.
24. Charlie doesn't want to give Claire false hope, thinks she might be overreacting, but she kicks him out of her tent, doesn't want her baby around liars.
25. Christian Shephard is with Claire's mom, Lindsey says Carole wouldn't want him there, they argue, but Christian tells Claire he's the one taking care of the bills, that he's her father.
26. They chop down a tree and place it on top of the pylon, Kate climbs up the tree and over the fence, jumps down, she's okay, everyone follows.
27. "The system appears to fire a sonic pulse when an object breaks the plane between two pylons. So, as long as we don’t break the plane, we should remain unharmed." Sayid
28. Sun tells Claire she has every right to be upset, Charlie and Desmond are arguing, Claire asks Sun to watch Aaron, says she's going to get some answers.
29. Christian goes to see Claire at her piercing shop, they have coffee, he says his doctor friend told him about the accident, him and mom had a fling, was in Los Angeles when she was pregnant, came out a bunch of times when she was little, stayed over, gave her toys, sang to her, stopped coming because Lindsey hates him, mother didn't like that he had another family, that he came because he wants to help, wants her to look at alternatives, to relieve her pain, Claire gets angry, doesn't want to kill her, says he might be her father, but she doesn't even know his name, and wants to keep it that way. From Lostpedia
30. "Claire! Claire, Claire listen to me. Do not keep your mother alive for the wrong reasons. Now there is hope and there is guilt. And believe me, I know the difference. Bye kiddo, it was great seeing you again." Christian
31. Claire follows Desmond, he catches a bird, she asks how he knew, he says he didn't, but Claire says he walked straight there, Desmond tells her what's going on with Charlie. From Lostpedia
32. "I don’t know, but you know, you walked straight here, no doubt at all about where you were going. You came right to this beach and right to this rock, and lo and behold, there’s the bird. What the hell is going on Desmond?" Claire "See that spot over there? That’s where Charlie slipped and fell in and got pounded again and again by the rocks and broke his neck." Desmond "What? What are you talking about?" Claire "That’s where Charlie died." Desmond
33. Claire shows Charlie the bird that Desmond caught, with the tag on it.
34. "Desmond told me everything. About all his visions; that he knew you were gonna get hit by lighting; that you were gonna drown, trying to rescue me in the ocean; how you died trying to get me this bird." Claire
35. Claire goes to see her mom in the hospital, she's pregnant, she turns the television on so mom can hear her nature shows, tells her about the baby, giving it away, for the best, doesn't know how she did it, raising her alone, that she's sorry, for the awful things she said to her in the car, that she wished she was dead, the accident, everything. From Lostpedia
36. Charlie reads the note Claire wrote and Claire sets the bird free with the note attached.
37. "To whom it may concern, we are survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. We have survived on this island for 80 days. We were 6 hours into the flight when the pilot said we were off course and turned back towards Fiji. We hit turbulence and crashed. We’ve been waiting here, all this time, waiting for rescue that has not come. We do not know where we are, we only know you have not found us. We’ve done our best to live on this island. Some of us have come to accept that we may never leave it. Not all of us have survived since the crash, but there is new life too, and with it, there is hope. We are alive. Please don’t give up on us." From Lostpedia
38. Claire says she's not giving up on Charlie, that it's going to be okay, they'll get through it together.
39. Kate sees the birds flying overhead, they arrive at the barracks.
40. They see Jack running toward them, but he's playing football with Tom, being friendly. From Lostpedia

Questions:

1. How did Mikhail know John Locke?
2. Why wasn't Locke on Jacob's list?
3. Why does Claire think her mother, Carole, is dead?
4. Why didn't Desmond just let Claire catch the bird the first time?
5. Did Desmond's vision have to happen exactly the way he saw it?
6. What happened to the bird with the message?

Favorites:

1. "Well it’s certainly not as infallible as the magical carvings on your stick." Sayid
2. "What do you suggest; we shoot him like a dog?" Sayid "No, I like dogs." Locke
3. "Pardon me, for not knowing that they had err, err, a sonic weapon fence." Locke

Notes:

1. Par Avion is French for "by way of air" and is used to designate Air Mail.
2. Christian Shephard telling Claire he is her father, a very Star Wars moment, with Claire and Jack becoming Luke and Leia.
3. I love the scene where Desmond catches the bird, a wave crashes on him.
4. Mr. Friendly throws like a girl.

3.08 Flashes Before Your Eyes

1. Desmond watches by, as Charlie and Hurley go through Sawyer's tent, Desmond wants them to come with him, to tell him about Eko's death, bring him to his grave, where Locke says they buried him yesterday, the island killed him.
2. Desmond runs to the beach out of nowhere, saves Claire, Charlie asks him how he knew.
3. "That guy sees the future, dude." Hurley
4. Desmond, looking at the photograph of him and Penny, Claire comes by to say thank you, she says Penny's beautiful.
5. Charlie plots to get Desmond drunk to find out what's going on with him, he steals a bottle of whiskey from Sawyer's stash.
6. Charlie says thank you to Desmond, that he has a peace offering, MacCuthcheon's whiskey, Desmond sees the bottle and starts laughing, agrees, says let's drink, they sing. From Lostpedia
7. They get bloody drunk, Charlie asks Desmond how he knew Claire was drowning, he says that he could hear her calling for help, Hurley says he was a mile away, Desmond says he has good hearing, Charlie asks if he hears the lightning as well, by chance he pitched his rod outside Claire's tent, then lighting strikes, Desmond doesn't want to talk about it and leaves, Charlie called him a coward, then Desmond attacks him.
8. "Hey, I don't know what you're doing--you best tell us. Oy! You think because you turned some key that makes you a hero? You're no hero, brother. I don't know how you're doing what it is you're doing, but I know a coward when I see one." Charlie
9. "You don't want to know what happened to me when I turned that key!" Desmond
10. Desmond has a flashback of what happened in the hatch, the clock, alarm going off, hieroglyphs, telling Locke see you in another life, Desmond turning to failsafe key, saying he loves Penny, he has flashes of his life, then it turns to a close-up of his eye, covered in red, paint, Penny, apartment, ice, ladders and drinking. From Lostpedia
11. Desmond's apartment, the clock is 1:08, Desmond getting dressed in a suit and tie, job from Penny's father, she says it's not the end of the world if he's too daft to see how brilliant Desmond is, he hears beeping like the computer from the hatch, but it's the microwave, Desmond tells Penny he had deja vu. From Lostpedia
12. Desmond goes to the job interview at Widmore Industries, asks for Mr. Widmore and there is a man delivering a parcel for 815, Desmond has a flash of the numbers, computer, clock. From Lostpedia
13. In Mr. Widmore's office, painting on the wall with a polar bear, a Buddha, Namaste written backwards, Mr. Widmore looks at Desmond's resume, he worked in set design at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Desmond says he looked after his 3 brothers, after his father, but then gets cutoff by Mr. Widmore, didn't graduate from University, no military experience, Desmond sees a model boat, Mr. Widmore's foundation sponsoring solo race around the world, Desmond has a flash of the sailboat, Elizabeth, the storm, dead Kelvin, Widmore says he'll give Desmond a position in the administrative department, Desmond says that he's really there to ask for his daughter hand in marriage, they've been together 2 years, she moved in, that he loves her, wants his permission, that it would mean everything to him, Mr. Widmore says he's impressed, noble gesture, he takes out a 60 year MacCutcheon, named after Anderson MacCutcheon, an esteemed Admiral from the Royal Navy, retired with more medals than any man before or since, moved to the Highlands, a great man, whiskey was his crowning achievement, pours one glass, says the swallow is worth more than Desmond can make in a month, to share it would be a waste and disgrace to the man who made it, because Desmond will never be a great man, not worthy of drinking his whiskey, certainly not worthy of his daughter. From Lostpedia
14. When Desmond leaves Widmore Industries, takes off his tie, hears music, he sees Charlie outside, playing guitar, Wonderwall.
15. "I said maybe; You're gonna be the one who saves me; Maybe; And after all; You're my wonderwall." Charlie
16. Desmond asks where he knows him from, remembers, says he's Charlie, but Charlie says it's because of his sign that says his name, Charlie Hieronymus Pace, Charlie says he'll remember if he could get some help, some money.
17. Desmond has a flash, the hatch, the button, bookshelf, getting the failsafe key, Charlie saying "Can I get some help?"
18. "Who--they--they. It--it was in the hatch. I remember seeing you. There was a--there was a computer. There was a button. We--we were on an island. No this--I remember this. This all happened before. Today--th--th--this happened today. This--I remember that he said I wasn't worthy--and then I--and then I--and then I came down and I--and I took off my tie and I--and then I lost my tie and Penny said where was it and then it started to rain and... [It starts to rain.]" Desmond is confused. From Lostpedia
19. "Your thesis is a bit neat. The wild card part which is unpredictability--run the same test 10 times, you'll get 10 different outcomes. It's what makes life so wonderfully..." Donovan
20. Desmond goes to see his friend, Donovan, they go to a pub, he asks him about time travel, tells him story about the island, Donovan is a physicist, Desmond says he's gone back in time, living his life over again, Donovan questions if the events with Mr. Widmore are influencing Desmond, he hears the Mama Cass song on the radio, Make Your Own Kind of Music, Desmond says he remember that night, Gray Bridge came from 2 goals down, Jimmy Lennon hits the bartender with a cricket bat, owes him money, but he's wrong, it doesn't happen, Donovan says no such things a time travel, to just marry Penny.
21. Desmond goes home, tells Penny he didn't get the job, that her father was lovely, Penny says they should celebrate, fate has spare him a miserable existence at Widmore Industries, lobsters at the pier, her treat, because she loves him, Desmond asks why she loves him, she says that he's a good man, and they're hard to come by.
22. Desmond goes to pick out a ring at a second hand shop, tells the woman that he's not a man of means, but he hopes someday, she picks one out, he says that he'll take it, but the ring lady says that he doesn't buy the ring, that he has second thoughts, she calls him Desmond, he wants to know how she knows his name, she says he doesn't ask Penny to marry him, that he enter a sailing race to prove her father wrong, that it brings him to the island, where he spends the next 3 years pushing the button, he sees the failsafe key. From Lostpedia
23. "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." Ms. Hawking "I don't know what you're on about." Desmond "You don't buy the ring, Desmond." Ms. Hawking "How do you know my name?" Desmond "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." Ms. Hawking
24. Across from the London Underground, Ms. Hawking and Desmond talk over chestnuts, there is a man in red shoes that she points out, Desmond says she's part of his subconscious, that there is no island, no button, a building nearby collapses on the man in the red shoes, Desmond says she knew it would happen.
25. "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." Ms. Hawking "I'm going to meet Penny in an hour. I've got the ring, she'll say yes. I can choose whatever I want." Desmond "You may not like your path, Desmond, but pushing that button is the only truly great thing that you will ever do." Ms. Hawking
26. On his way to meet Penny, Desmond passes an advertisement for the Royal Scots Army. From Lostpedia
27. Desmond meets Penny on the Thames, they pass a man taking photographs, says it's something to show the grand kids, they take a photograph in front backdrop of a marina scene, Desmond has no money to pay for the photograph, 5 quid, but Penny does, which causes Desmond to have an epiphany. From Lostpedia
28. "I can't do this." Desmond
29. Desmond says that Penny deserves someone better, that loves isn't enough. Penny is very upset and tells him to admit that he's a coward.
30. "It's all happening too soon -- you moving in. You're painting rooms; you're changing things. I don't even like red. Why would you leave your flat, your expensive flat..." Desmond "[slapping Desmond's face] Don't do that. Don't you pretend you don't care. And don't you dare rewrite history. I left my expensive flat because you were too proud to live there, remember? If you want me to go, if you want me to leave, then don't make this about what I do or don't deserve. And have the decency to admit that you're doing this because you're a coward." Penny "I'm sorry, Pen, but this--we're not supposed to be together." Desmond
31. Penny leaves, and Desmond throws the ring in the water. From Lostpedia
32. Desmond goes back to the pub, he sees the MacCutcheon's whiskey behind the bar, but asks for a pint of the cheapest they have, he tells the bartender that he made the biggest mistake of his life, the worst part is that he thinks he's made it before, the bartender tells him that it's deja vu, he hears the song again, Make Your Own Kind of Music, Gray Bridge comes from 2 goals down, Desmond realizes that he had the wrong night, Jimmy Lennon comes in with cricket a bat.
33. "I had the wrong night. I was right. I was off by a night. I heard the song and then--I remember this. I'm not crazy. I can still change things. I can still change it." Desmond
34. "Duck, brotha." Desmond says, then he gets cracked with the cricket bat.
35. Desmond wakes up in the jungle after the hatch implosion, he sees the photograph of him and Penny on the ground.
36. "Please, let me go back. Let me go back one more time. I'll do it right. I'll do it right this time. I'm sorry, Penny. I'll change it. I'll change it." Desmond
37. Desmond flashes back to when he attached Charlie, Hurley pulls him off, Desmond tells Charlie he's a good man, tells him what happened, that he was saving him, not Claire, that he's going to die, that he drowned trying to save Claire. From Lostpedia
38. "When I turned that key my life flashed before my eyes. And then I was back in the jungle and still on this bloody island. But those flashes, Charlie--those flashes--they didn't stop." Desmond "So, you're telling me you saw a flash of Claire drowning this morning--that's how you knew how to save her?" Charlie "I wasn't saving Claire, Charlie, I was saving you. This morning you dove in after Claire. You tried to save her but you drowned." Desmond "What are you talking about? I didn't drown." Charlie "When I saw the lightening hit the roof you were electrocuted. And when you heard Claire was in the water you--you drowned trying to save her. I dove in myself so you never went in. I've tried, brother. I've tried twice to save you, but the universe has a way of course correcting and--and I can't stop it forever. I'm sorry. I'm sorry because no matter what I try to do you're going to die, Charlie." Desmond

Questions:

1. Did Desmond time travel?
2. Did Desmond really meet Charlie in the past? If so, why didn't either of them remember?
3. Did Thomas paint the painting in Mr. Widmore's office?
4. Has Desmond met Ms. Hawking before? How does she know about him?
5. Why does Desmond have to push the button? Why would everyone die?
6. How did Penny get a copy of the photograph?
7. Why did Desmond go back to the island when the cricket bat hit him?
8. Why did the failsafe key and the hatch implosion make Desmond have flashes?
9. Could Desmond have changed what happened?
10. What happened to Desmond's brothers? His father? Are they okay?

Favorites:

1. "He would want us to ransack his tent and take his stash? Yeah, that sounds exactly like Sawyer." Hurley "Well, he stole all this in the first place. I mean, people need food. They need medical supplies. They need--[Charlie looks down and sees a stack of magazines] shocking amounts of pornography."
2. "Dude, you okay? Hey guys, what's wrong with Desmond?" Hurley
3. "I don't buy this precognitive insanity rubbish. Look, if the bearded wonder could predict the future he wouldn't have ended up here, would he?" Charlie
4. "You do realize he's going to know your plan before you even come up with it, dude." Hurley "In that case, we're going to have to get him really bloody drunk." Charlie
5. "Alright then, let's have it. No, the bottle, brother. I mean, if you've come to drink, let's drink." Desmond
6. "Hey, do you know any songs about drinking and fighting and girls with one leg?" Hurley "Well, girls with one leg and a heart of gold." Charlie and Desmond
7. "Well, what's happening is the result of combining ladders, painting a ceiling, and alcohol. Are you okay? You nauseous?" Penny "This is my flat?" Desmond "Mmm-hmm, although, if you want me to feel at home you might start calling it our flat. How many fingers, Des? [he looks around, awestruck] Love, look at me. What's wrong?" Penny
8. "We are on an island, mate. This is England." Charlie
9. "That's why we don't do drugs." Charlie
10. "Case in point, who could have known that a drenched Scotsman would appear in this rotunda?" Donovan
11. "Which part? The island full of mysterious hatches? Or the computer which keeps the world from ending?" Donovan
12. "Alright, then--what happens next?" Donovan "It doesn't work like that. I don't remember everything, just--just bits and pieces." Desmond "How wonderfully convenient." Donovan
13. "You smell like a pub." Penny "That's because I was at the pub." Desmond
14. "Do you like chestnuts?" Ms. Hawking "What?" Desmond
15. "Just thought it was a bold fashion choice worth noting." Ms. Hawking
16. " Oh, come on, Des, let's do it--for all those grandkids." Penny
17. "Ah, I love the Alps." Desmond "Oh, I hate the Alps." Penny

Notes:

1. Guitar in case, Charlie, not sign.
2. Ms. Hawking is a reference to Stephen Hawking.
3. The man wearing red shoes who has a building fall on top of him is a reference to The Wizard of Oz.
4. Flashes Before Your Eyes aired on Valentine's Day 2007. How appropriate.
5. How Henry Ian Cusick has not won an Emmy, I really don't know.
6. Desmond and Penny's storyline often makes me unable to distinguish the difference between the show, fantasy and the real world, because I get so caught up in it. This episode still makes me head hurt, even after watching about a billion times, and I love it nonetheless.