Desmond David Hume

Character: Desmond David Hume
Played By: Henry Ian Cusick

Before The Boat Crash
Desmond Hume served with The Royal Scots (now The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Batallion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland). Around this time, he met and fell in love with Penelope Widmore, though her father never approved of the union. During his time with the army, Desmond managed to reach the rank of Lance Corporal. However, Desmond found himself dishonorably discharged soon after, and served time in Southway Garrison (a military prison) for "failing to follow orders" according to Kelvin; though the exact crime is still unknown.

When he was released from prison, Desmond gained his belongings back, including a book by Charles Dickens, "Our Mutual Friend". He said he was saving this book to read just before he died; he had read all of Dickens' other books and knew this would give him something to look forward to. When he left the prison area, Desmond was met by Charles Widmore, Penelope's father, who revealed he had intercepted every letter Desmond had ever sent to Penny, and told him he wanted him to stay away from his daughter. Desmond declined and enterred himself into a race sponsored by Charles in an attempt to win his trust.

While he was getting ready to train for the race at a stadium, Penelope finds him and asks why he didn't write. Instead of telling her the letters were intercepted, he tells her he is entering her father's race to win back his honor, and promises her he'll return in a year. Penny also briefly asks him if he has read his "beloved book", to which he replies "not yet".

Not long later, he meets Jack Shephard at the same stadium. After a short conversation, Desmond departs, using the phrase "See you in another life brother".

The race around the world is set to start in America, and Desmond is ready and waiting, only still without a boat. In a twist of fate, he meets Libby in a cafe, and she buys him a cup of coffee for $4. He jokingly asks her for $42,000, to buy a boat. In the ensuing conversation, he tells Libby about a the race, and to his surprise Libby reveals she has a boat that belonged to her late husband. Desmond takes the boat, promising to win the race in the name of love. However, whilst sailing across the Pacific, the boat is hit by a storm, and Desmond is knocked unconscious.

On the Island
Desmond awakes on the beach, as a man in a biohazard suit walks towards him. Blacking out once more, Desmond finally regains his senses inside the Swan station. The man who found him was named Kelvin, and he tells him that the outside environment is contaminated, and that his exposure might mean he is sick. Giving him a vaccine labelled CR 4-81516-23 42, he tells Desmond to inject himself with it every 9 days. Kelvin then explains the operation procedure in the station, including information about the button and the failsafe switch, the key to which Kelvin carries on his person.

Over the next two years, Desmond lives in the station, whilst Kelvin continually leaves in his suit to analyse the outside environment. However, on September 22nd 2004, Desmond notices that Kelvin's suit is ripped, and follows him outside. As he sees Kelvin take off the suit, he realises that he has been fooled. Following him, Desmond finds his sailboat, which has been repaired to almost perfect condition by Kelvin. Desmond confronts him, and in the struggle that follows, accidentally kills him by slamming against the rocks. Taking Kelvin's key, Desmond runs back to the Swan, where the countdown has reached zero. Though he manages to push the button in time to stop total failure, unbeknownst to him his actions inadvertently cause Oceanic Flight 815 to crash, as the realised electromagnetic charge short-circuits the plane's mechanics.

A distraughted Desmond begins to contemplate ending his life, as he questions whether everything in his world is real. Sitting down with a gun and a bottle of whiskey, he moves to open the Dickens novel, but notices a letter fall out. The letter is from Penny, who writes for Desmond to never give up, and says that she will always wait for him, and that she loves him. As Desmond cries, he hears pounding on the hatch above. Turning on the bright light, he looks up as Locke peers down; both men gaining their hope back.

Days later, Desmond sits in the Swan station, only to be interrupted by the Losties using dynamite to blow open the door. After meeting Jack once more, along with Kate and Locke, he accidentally shoots the computer, and in complete panic, flees the station, claiming that they are all going to die. Though we do not know what happened exactly, it is assumed that Desmond ran to the sailboat setting off to get as far away from the island as possible. However, the tides seemed to be against Desmond, and the boat sailed back toward the island.

Desmond was found on the boat by Jack, Sawyer and Sayid. Joining the Losties, Desmond was soon sought out by Locke, and together they decide to let the countdown finish, to see once and for all what happens. However, with the Pearl logs found by John, Desmond realises everything about the plane crash and the button. However, Locke disregards him and destroys the computer. In the final moments, as the station begins to be ripped apart, Desmond grabs the key, hidden in the Dicken's novel, and runs to the failsafe switch. With the words "I love you Penny", he turns the key, causing the discharge. Once more, unbeknownst to him, this act of love actually reveals his location to the world, and most importantly, Penelope.

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