Room 104 – The Last Man

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

We are taken to about 132,478 years ago where the mighty Kyran (Kevin McKidd) awaits another battle against his foe, Durkon (Desean Terry). Before Durkon arrives to the scene Kyran sings a rather positive, determined tune—that he will be the first man to bring about peace. As lightning strikes and Durkon enters, it is revealed that Kyran and Durkon have battled for years and years, losing count of their fights. But another battle begins and now both Kyran and Durkon sing about what it would cost them to have “One Wrong Move” during their battle.

Ultimately, Durkon manages to overpower and is about to defeat Kyran, but a swirling cloud of dust takes him away from the scene. In his absence an older woman named Granada (Suzanne Nichols) enters the scene and reminds Kyran that he needs to train to understand his opponent in order to win. During their training Granada continually pushes how Kyran needs to realize how alike he and Durkon are and how it would benefit if they would turn towards one another rather than to battle. When Granada has completed her training with Kyran she disappears, as does Kyran in a dust cloud similar to the one that took Durkon away.

Fast forward to 132,478 years later where a random family is in the thick of a Monopoly game—quickly interrupted by Kyran landing right smack in the middle of the bed. Shocked and freaked out, the family flees the room as Kyran sits up and takes stock of the room around him. Unfortunately, this is not the same hopeful Kyran but rather a jaded, depressed version. Grabbing a glass and the open bottle of wine nearby, he pours himself copious amounts of red wine as he settles onto the bed in Room 104 and peruses the options on television. Kyran begins to sing about being ready to give up on this battle as neither him nor Durkon have finished their fight—it goes on and on for them. Changing into the clothes that the one man who vacated the room left behind, Kyran then prepares to take his own life by wedging his sword into the radiator and running right into it. However, before he can complete the task, Durkon suddenly appears and stops the radiator-assisted suicide.

Durkon also seems to be quite weary of the fight as well, questioning whether or not they have been in this hotel room the whole time during all of their battles. However, the contemplation is short-lived and what is considered the “final battle” has begun. Unlike the more jovial mood of the prior fight, this one is brutal and has no soundtrack. Both Kyran and Durkon are ready to fight to the death, which is proven truth as both have impaled one another with the other’s swords. Both Kyran and Durkon realize in this moment that instead of fighting one another they should have put their swords down rather than using them to hurt one another. As they both lament their choices through music Granada appears to them, saddened by the turn of events. It seems that Granada not only mentored both Kyran AND Durkon after their last battle, but is the mother of both men.

They are brothers despite outward appearances and the advice that Granada had continued to offer about turning to each other rather than away now makes sense. Kyran and Durkon decide to honor Granada’s words in their death and turn towards one another. This move then flashes us back to a 60’s/70’s version of Room 104 where a young Kyran and Durkon are little boys playing with fake swords and costumes. Granada now sits in a chair near the door, dressed in retro clothing rather than medieval attire, watching them play and smiling.