Fin Del Camino and District of Columbia retrocession: Difference between pages

Revision as of 19:08, 1 May 2007

Revision as of 03:52, 11 May 2007

Line 1:

The [[District of Columbia]], the [[national capital]] of the [[United States]], was formed in 1790 from 100 [[square mile]]s that were [[cession|ceded]] to the federal government by the [[U.S. state|states]] of [[Maryland]] and [[Virginia]].

{{Infobox Television episode

| Title = Fin Del Camino

| Series = Prison Break

| Image = [[Image:2X21 Fin.jpg|250px]]

| Caption = Michael joins Bellick and Sucre in their hunt for T-Bag.

| Season = 2

| Episode = 21

| Airdate = [[March 26]], [[2007]]

| Production = 2AKJ21

| Guests = [[Tina Holmes]], <br />[[Callie Thorne]]

| Writer = [[Matt Olmstead]] &<br>[[Seth Hoffman]]

| Director = [[Bobby Roth]]

| Season list = {{Infobox Prison Break season 2 episode list}}

| Episode list = [[List of Prison Break episodes|List of ''Prison Break'' episodes]]

| Prev = [[Panama (Prison Break episode)|Panama]]

| Next = [[Sona (Prison Break episode)|Sona]]

}}

'''"Fin Del Camino"''' is the 43rd episode of the [[United States|American]] [[television series]], ''[[Prison Break]]'' and is the 21st episode of its second season. The English translation of the Spanish phrase, "fin del camino", is ''end of the road''.[http://www.buddytv.com/articles/prison-break/spoiler/prison-break-221-fin-del-camin-5145.aspx] Written by [[Matt Olmstead]] and [[Seth Hoffman]], and directed by [[Bobby Roth]], the episode first aired on [[March 26]], [[2007]]. The premise of the episode directly follows the events of the previous episode and includes two major plots with one taking place in [[Panama City]] and the other in [[Chicago]]. Regarding the casting of this episode, [[Rockmond Dunbar]] (who plays [[Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin]]), does not appear in this episode.

'''Retrocession''' is defined as the reversal of a [[cession]], returning land to the entities to which it originally belonged. The 32 square miles originally ceded by Virginia were returned to Virginia in 1847, and some have proposed that the remaining 68 square miles, or most of them, be returned to Maryland.

==Summary==

It is the third day of the trial of Doctor [[Sara Tancredi]] ([[Sarah Wayne Callies]]) in [[Chicago, Illinois]]. Despite objections from the prosecution, the judge allowed excerpts of Michael and Lincoln's "Declaration of Innocence" to be played for the jury and to be used as evidence. Meanwhile, [[Paul Kellerman]] ([[Paul Adelstein]]) hears about Sara's trial via a news report as he prepares to commit suicide. When his suicide attempt fails, due to his gun jamming, he calls his sister, who he confesses to about his previous misdeeds. Kristine ([[Tina Holmes]]) convinces him to start anew and that he can undo his wrongs. Paul Kellerman breaks into tears, as his sister embraces him tightly.

== Virginia retrocession ==

As Sara prepares herself to accept a [[plea bargain]] that will place her in a maximum security prison for twelve years, one of her lawyers announces that a new credible witness has come forward, willing to testify to Sara's accusation of conspiracy. To Sara's surprise, Paul Kellerman enters the courtroom.

Almost immediately after the "Federal City" was laid out north of the [[Potomac River]], the residents south of the Potomac in [[Alexandria County, D.C.]] began petitioning to be returned to Virginia's jurisdiction. Over time, a movement grew to separate [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]] from the District for several reasons:

* Alexandria was an important port and market in the [[Atlantic slave trade]]. There was increasing talk of [[Abolitionism|abolition]] of slavery in the national capital, and Alexandria's economy would suffer greatly if slavery were outlawed.

* There was an active abolition movement in Virginia, and the pro-slavery forces held a slim majority in the [[Virginia General Assembly]]. (Eighteen years later, in the [[American Civil War]], the most anti-slavery counties would secede from Virginia to form [[West Virginia]].) If Alexandria and Alexandria County were retroceded to Virginia, they would provide two new pro-slavery representatives.

* Alexandria's economy had stagnated as competition with the port of [[Georgetown, Washington, D.C.|Georgetown, D.C.]] had begun to favor the north side of the Potomac. The [[Chesapeake and Ohio Canal]] was already helping Georgetown take more business from Alexandria, and the canal was still being extended.

* Alexandria's residents had lost representation and the right to vote at any level of government.

After a referendum, voters petitioned Congress and Virginia to return the area to Virginia. By an act of Congress on [[9 July]], [[1846]], and with the approval of the Virginia General Assembly, the area south of the Potomac (39 square miles [101 km²]) was returned, or "retroceded," to Virginia effective in [[1847]].[http://www.citymuseumdc.org/gettoknow/faq.asp]

[[Lincoln Burrows]] ([[Dominic Purcell]]) finds himself alone aboard the 'Christina Rose', docked in [[Panama]] and realizes his brother has gone to [[Panama City]] to find [[Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell|T-Bag]] ([[Robert Knepper]]).

The retroceded land was then known as [[Alexandria County, Virginia]], and now includes a portion of the [[independent city]] of [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]] and all of [[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington County]], the successor to Alexandria County. A large portion of the retroceded land near the river was an estate of [[George Washington Parke Custis]]. It would be passed on to his daughter and her husband, [[Robert E. Lee]], and would eventually become [[Arlington National Cemetery]].

[[Michael Scofield]] ([[Wentworth Miller]]) arrives in Panama City and quickly finds T-Bag at the Fin Del Camino hotel. He spots two undercover agents surveilling T-Bag. He is then met by [[Fernando Sucre]] ([[Amaury Nolasco]]) and [[Brad Bellick]] ([[Wade Williams]]). As Bellick brandishes his gun on Michael, Michael is told by Sucre that he had not posted the message on [[Europeangoldfinch.net]]. Michael puts two and two together and realizes the situation is a setup. Bellick and Michael reach a deal; while Bellick will get the money, [[Maricruz Delgado]] is to be unharmed and that T-Bag must be captured.

== Proposed Maryland retrocession ==

On his way to Panama City, Agent [[Alexander Mahone]] ([[William Fichtner]]) calls his wife, Pam ([[Callie Thorne]]). Their conversation leaves him with hope that he, his wife and his son might return to being a family again. Following this, Mahone makes telephone contact with the men surveilling T-Bag.

It has been proposed that the remainder of the District be given back to Maryland. Retrocession would take a simple act of [[U.S. Congress|Congress]], though it is generally accepted that Congress would not take such a step without the approval of Marylanders and Washingtonians via referenda. Currently, there is little support for retrocession, though some see it as a solution to the twin problems of [[D.C. voting rights]] and [[D.C. home rule]].

After setting off the fire alarm which forces T-Bag to leave the hotel, Michael, Sucre and Bellick stalk the two agents following T-Bag down a busy Panama City street. When Mahone attempts to join the fray, Lincoln suddenly strikes Mahone and drags him out of sight. The two fight, which Lincoln wins, before Mahone suddenly attacks him again and successfully captures him.

Such a move, according to some, would be [[constitutional]] if at least the part of the District that contains the main offices of government (the National Capital Service Area) were to remain in the District officially; the [[U.S. Constitution]] requires a national capital "not exceeding ten Miles square", but does not specify a minimum size for the District. However, it is unclear if the Constitution even requires the creation of a District to begin with; after all, the country did not have such a district until Washington was founded. If it does, then such a move would require, as a technicality, the repeal of the [[Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution|23rd Amendment]] due to there being no citizens of such a district. The only residents of such a rump district would be the [[First Family of the United States|First Family]], who vote in their hometown (plus, possibly, some [[homeless]] people).

After T-Bag enters a building, Michael, Sucre and Bellick disarm the agents, who were following T-Bag, and eventually tie them up in an alley. Although Michael is suspicious of the two agents, he follows Sucre and Bellick into the building. It turns out to be a trap when T-Bag locks them in a room with a murdered prostitute as the police sirens draw near. They escape but Bellick is shot in the leg by T-Bag and is hindered from moving. As Bellick gets arrested by the Panamanian police, Michael and Sucre successfully capture T-Bag after he is hit by a car. While Sucre looks for a car, T-Bag refuses to reply Michael's questions about his "new friends". Sucre successfully [[hotwire]]s an automobile and the three begin their trip to the American [[embassy]], where they will leave T-Bag. However, T-Bag grabs a nearby screwdriver and stabs Sucre, which causes Michael to crash their car.

The remainder of Washington would become a city in Maryland, allowing residents to vote for Maryland's Congressional delegation like any other resident of the state, as well as in state elections.

Leaving Sucre to a bystander to take him to a hospital, Michael chases T-Bag to a shack by a river. The two fight before Michael stabs T-Bag in his right arm and nails it to the floor. The police arrive at the shack after Michael leaves with the money and returns to the 'Christina Rose' to find his brother missing. As he attempts to make telephone inquiries to local hospitals to find Sucre, Michael receives a call from Lincoln. Lincoln tells Michael that he is sorry before giving Mahone the phone. Mahone tells Michael that he had captured Lincoln and that he needs to disappear as well. He gives Michael an ultimatum; his ship and the five million dollars (his plan) for his brother's life.

=== Arguments for retrocession ===

{{spoiler-end}}

Proponents like the Committee for the Capital City feel such a move would be of financial benefit to Washington; the city would be relieved of burdens not shared by other American cities such as running a [[prison]] system and a [[Department of Motor Vehicles]], and it would finally be free from the veto power of the [[United States Congress]]. Maryland would benefit from the prestige of being the home state of the national capital of the world's [[superpower]] and would gain additional tax revenue. Congress would benefit from no longer having to scrutinize the decisions of the city government; committees overseeing DC government have traditionally been amongst the least prestigious jobs for members. Further, it would give most residents of the District a say in federal government, as they would be able to vote for a representative and senators, and thus have representation.

==Response==

On its original airdate, the episode was watched by an average of 8.01 million viewers, which was one of the lowest audience figures received by the series. In total viewership, the show was ranked behind [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Dancing With the Stars]]'' and a repeat episode of ''[[Deal or No Deal]]'' on [[NBC]] in its 8:00 pm timeslot. Overall, the episode obtained 5.2% household rating and 8% household share, with a 3.3/9 rating for the 18-49 demographic.<ref>[http://entertainmentnow.wordpress.com/2007/03/27/broadcast-tv-ratings-for-monday-march-26-2007/ Broadcast TV Ratings for Monday, March 26, 2007], ''Entertainmentnow.wordpress.com''. March 27, 2007. Retrieved on March 29, 2007.</ref>

=== Arguments against retrocession ===

==References==

{{Reflist}}

Proponents of [[D.C. statehood]] are against the idea of retrocession because they feel that the city, having been separated from Maryland since the [[18th century]], has a separate identity; although Maryland is mere city blocks away from many Washingtonians, there is no connection to the state for them. Others see it as a means to block proper representation, which they feel includes two senators. Because the city is a stronghold of the [[U.S. Democratic Party|Democratic Party]], [[U.S. Republican Party|Republican]]s in the [[U.S. Senate|Senate]] would not be eager to admit the District as a state. Republicans would have less of a problem giving the city back to Maryland, as that would, given the city's current population, add only a single Democrat to the [[U.S. House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]. Many in Washington object to Maryland's use of the [[death penalty]], which has been abolished in the District. Many in Maryland, meanwhile, object to retrocession because they feel that the city, which has relatively high crime and poverty rates, would be a burden on state government agencies. Others feel that the federal government should have a role in running the national capital; such a role allows for proper management of the city as a symbol of the nation and can be used to reject projects that would be seen by a majority of Americans as ruinous to the capital. Finally, the measure still fails to completely solve the problem of voting representation for all Washingtonians, because any transfer of less than the entirety of the District could still leave some citizens without representation.

==External links==

*[http://www.fox.com/prisonbreak/recaps/recap_221_1.htm Official episode summary for Prison Break season 2 episode 21] at Fox.com

*[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings.aspx?id=20070309fox03 Original summary from Fox's press release] at [[The Futon Critic]]

*[http://www.prisonbreakmanhunt.com/episodes/?episode=44 Another version of the episode summary] at a ''Prison Break'' fansite

{{Prison Break}}

== Current legislation ==

[[Category:Prison Break episodes]]

On April 16, 2007, Rep. [[Louie Gohmert]] ([[Republican|R]]-[[Texas]]) introduced H.R. 1858, the "District of Columbia-Maryland Reunion Act," which would transfer the bulk of Washington to Maryland if Maryland will have it.[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.1858.IH:]

[[fr:Fin Del Camino (épisode de Prison Break)]]

==See also==

*[[Washington, D.C.]]

*[[District of Columbia voting rights]]

*[[District of Columbia home rule]]

*[[District of Columbia Vote in House of Representatives]]

*[[D.C. Statehood]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.washingtonmd.org Committee for the Capital City (pro-retrocession)]

*[http://www.dcvote.org/pdfs/mdrretro062004.pdf The Debates over the Retrocession of the District of Columbia, 1801&ndash;2004]

[[Category:History of the District of Columbia|Retrocession]]

[[Category:Home rule and voting rights of the District of Columbia]]