Denby Summary:

Kirkendall meets up with Don - she's known all along that he wasn't dead and has been in contact with him for some time. She hasn't come forward with the information because he's taken one of her kids, Frankie, and put him in a 'safe place' until everything is dealt with.

Hearing a noise from the bathroom Kirkendall opens the door to reveal Denby sitting on the toilet - probably taking drugs, although it's uncertain. Pulling his pants on he stands up and greets her but she ignores him, asking Don if Frankie is still safe before leaving.

At the 15th, almost everyone knows that Kirkendall isn't quite as innocent as she's been saying, and the general consensus between Diane and Sorenson is that the best thing for Kirkendall is if Don 'disappears'.

The Boss calls Diane into his office and tells her that The Job already know about Kirkendall's involvement, and she doesn't have much time at all. Knowing what she's supposed to do with this 'secret', Diane tells Kirkendall so she can get out of town, but instead Kirkendall warns Don and Denby.

Meeting Diane one last time, Denby tries yet again to persuade her to come with him. He's convinced that she reached out to Kirkendall because she knew Kirkendall would in turn reach out to him. Again she rejects him.

Don and Denby - with Frankie - meet up with Kirkendall, but before anything can happen the detectives of the 15th ambush them...

Denby Pictures:

Thanks to Jenn for her help!

Denby Quotes:

(Kirkendall opens a door, Denby is sitting on the toilet, probably taking drugs. Standing, he pulls up his trousers and steps out) "Detective, that was a travesty of proper procedure; failing to identify yourself as a police officer."
(To Don) "Is he alive?"
"Jill, trust me. It's gonna work. Keep the city safe."
"My best to your partner."

***

"I'm developing my leisure skills. You find this rendezvous brazen, given the possibility that we're being watched?"
"Not for you."
"I just bought this checkers set from an African-American gentleman who says it's been in his family for twenty years. How easily we put the past up for bid."
"Tell me Denby."
"Of all the qualities I want in a friend you exhibit. Steadfast, loyal to the point of personal and professional risk. Referring to you reaching out to your partner, who reaches out in turn. So here's the picture; fugitive's in flight. Not funky fugitives, Diane. Affluent, fleeing in comfort. It must have some appeal, or why give your partner the push?"
"I didn't see you or Don in the picture Denby. I thought she might grab her kids and go."
"Not to quibble, perhaps you had some deeper intention, perhaps you were employing a self-motivation technique with which I am personally familiar, i.e., painting yourself in a corner."
"Do you know what 'half smart' means, Denby?"
"Diane, cornered I find that what I've never considered before not only possible but intriguingly, what I've wanted to do all along."
"So that's how a scumbag turns into a skel?"
"Diane, all this putting yourself in harms way. Are we being a hundred per cent honest with ourselves? And I ask in this hurried fashion because I'm planning a trip and I'm now convinced you'd like to come."
"Ask yourself this one, Denby; are you trying to turn me out, or do you want me to pull you back?"
"It's a little late for that, Diane. Getting saved has to wait for my next time at the plate. It you wanna hurry that along I like it fast and from the back, and I like it to be surprised. And if you do it, I bequeath all these checkers to you. (Starts to walk away) Ready, aim..." (When she doesn't shoot he shakes his head in disappointment, continues walking away, and gives the finger to the man watching them).

Observations:

* Denby on the toilet - woo hoo! I live for moments like that. I never, ever dreamed that I'd see it, yet I did. There's something so wonderfully perverse about the whole thing. I'm trying to get pictures of it, but the pictures from my American copy of the episode aren't turning out particularly well...grrr. I may have to wait until it airs in the UK, which is in about twelve weeks. That's three months! Grrr...

* Of course I was a little disappointed he wasn't in it more, especially since it was a double length episode, but I'm glad for what I was given. Loved the toilet scene, and that great first line. "Detective, that was a travesty of proper procedure..." He's just been caught on the toilet, literally with his trousers around his ankles - probably one of the most undignified positions you can be caught in - yet he still manages to come out on top. Metaphorically of course. Physically causes all kinds of images to form.

* So, there's a revelation. Or not, if you've been watching the whole season but I haven't. Kirkendall knew about Don all along, and apparently knew about Denby for quite some time, too. Maybe the whole time. Now there's a back-story waiting to be written. Any volunteers?

* Terrific scene with Diane once again outside the station house, but this time on the opposite side of the street. The point of the meeting is Denby's convinced that by warning her partner she was secretly hoping Kirkendall would warn him - which she did. He therefore assumes that Diane really does have some 'affectionate' (for lack of a better term) feelings for him, and isn't being completely honest to herself about what she feels for him. After watching the scene several times, the beginning of it has gained deeper meaning.

Denby calls her to arrange the meeting and when they do - even though the meeting was his idea - he points out to her, almost as a warning, that the meeting is very 'brazen' given the fact that they're being watched (as he does so he indicates the very obvious man in a suit on the other side of the street who is trying unsuccessfully to look like he's reading a newspaper). By pointing this out it's as if he's proving to himself that she really does want to meet up with him because a) she knew they would be watched, and b) she came anyway. I can see his point, although I don't know if I agree with it.

If you think about it...knowing The Job was watching and meeting up with him really did put Diane in some kind of danger - mostly professional, but still danger. Can't help but wonder...

* Shoot me! Well, shoot Denby! Hey, he told her to. So the theory that Denby wants Diane to kill him is developed further and very, very nicely. Of course being Denby he doesn't play it straight but behind the bullsh*t is the basic message of "I can't be a good person in this life, so you might as well kill me now so I can start over in the next one." Would be interesting to see which choices he makes in the next life, but obviously we have no way of knowing.

* The finger! BWA! He gave the guy watching them the finger! Hee hee.

* Liked very much how the 'last roundup' scene was filmed. Nice direction, Scott holding a gun, nice music, Scott holding a gun, tension, Scott holding a gun...

(THWACK)

That's better.

He didn't shoot, either. He had the opportunity. In fact he had ample opportunity, which leads me to think that either a) the detectives at the 15th didn't cover themselves properly making them look rather silly, or b) the writers didn't want him to go as far as actually murdering someone (perhaps because he can still make a good life out of the one he has).

Sigh.

He'd better return next season. Or I'll be mad as hell.

Maybe not. More like very disappointed.

* My own last roundup:

Great scripts for Denby, great acting by Scott, great acting by Kim. THANK YOU to whoever invented the character, whoever cast Scott, and whoever contributed to his lines.

* My demands:

More Denby next season. Come on! Let's see him in rehab or prison or wherever else someone like him is likely to turn up (apart from being dead). You'll keep a lot of people happy.

In short: more. Or things will get ugly. I'll get an urge to do something...and I don't do good resisting those.

UP NEXT: 'Nothing Yet'
- Denby in season eight. Please? -