Days Past is the nineteenth episode of the 5th Season of Walker, Texas Ranger. It aired February 22, 1997.
Since they first met Alex and Trivette, there was one story neither Walker nor C.D. told them throughout their years as Texas Rangers before the latter retired and opened his bar: the former was previously engaged to a woman named Ellen Garrett, and among the cases they solved was a notorious mobster by the name of Vince Pike. Throughout all the times Walker and C.D. busted Pike, he always managed to stay a step ahead of the law, until he murdered Ellen before she and Walker were to marry. Pike was put away for life, but somehow, after serving 10 years, he managed to get released early, and now, he has revenge on his mind by targeting Walker's close friends, including C.D., Trivette and Alex. In spite of the strong grudge he bears against Pike for his crime, Walker tries to put aside his anger to protect his friends and find the right evidence to send Pike back to prison once and for all.
Tropes seen in this episode:
- Amoral Attorney: Several times Walker and C.D. tried bringing him in, Pike always managed to hire one shyster lawyer after another. After he is sentenced to life for killing Ellen, he is granted an early release after 10 years.
- And Your Little Dog, Too!: Upon his release from prison, Pike plans to get his revenge on Walker by going after Trivette, CD and Alex. After CD is beaten up by Pike's men, Walker confronts him at his mansion for this crime and tells him he can do what he wants with him, but leave his friends out of it. Needless to say, Pike is not willing to oblige with this demand.
- Big Bad: Vince Pike.
- The Cameo: White Eagle. After learning Pike was granted an early release, Walker takes a leave of absence decides to visit him at the Reservation. He was placed back on duty the next day.
- Crusading Widow: It's one thing to have lost both his parents so young; the murder of his fiancée is another story. Since Pike murdered Ellen, Walker had, over the years, earned a reputation for being one of the best and toughest lawmen in Texas.
- Death Glare: Walker does this as he seethes with rage as he walks outside to his Dodge Ram after shattering his drinking glass. To say he was livid upon finding out Pike was released early would be a huge understatement!
- Even Evil Has Standards: Jack Mitchell, who was Pike's right-hand man during his stint in the slammer, is brutally murdered when he decides against going after Walker's friends, and his murder, plus, almost killing the heroes, is the key to getting Pike convicted and sent back to jail for good. The next morning, Trivette is the first Ranger to find Mitchell's body.
- A Glass in the Hand: This episode was famous for this scene during the prologue. Upon learning Pike was granted an early release after watching the late-night news, Walker shattered his drinking glass, mangling his hand with enough blood to make the shards cling to his flesh. He becomes so angry, he doesn't even let anyone nurse his wound, he walks out to his Dodge Ram and stamps it with a bloody handprint when lays his damaged palm against the passenger window as he seethes with rage and his eyes burn with a monstrous Death Glare.
- Groin Attack: Pike does this to Jack Mitchell when he objects to the idea of going after Walker's friends, followed by brutally beating him to death.
- Just Following Orders: Benny Flynn tried to have Walker, Trivette and Alex murdered, and he is charged with conspiracy to commit murder for killing Jack Mitchell, and attempted murder of the two Rangers and the ADA. When Flynn uses this excuse, he reluctantly agrees to testify against Vince Pike, especially when under threat of Death Row. This evidence is indeed enough to send Pike back to prison for good.
- Just Got Out of Jail: Pike was originally sentenced to life in prison for killing Ellen, but only served ten years. This is also lampshaded by C.D., who was the first to notice the news, moments before Walker shatters his glass:C.D.: How can they let that animal out in just ten years?!
- Left for Dead: After Pike shoots and kills Ellen, only Walker survived his gunshot wound, and it didn't take long for him and C.D. to link him to her murder. Just after getting out of the hospital, he shot and killed the two people responsible for the hit.
- Mooks: Jack Mitchell, Benny Flynn, JJ Mobley and numerous other heavies.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: The morning Trivette finds Jack Mitchell's body, Pike's men, led by JJ Mobley, enter CD's bar before it could open and give him a brutal beating, though not brutal enough to kill him. It was enough to leave his face bruised and his right arm in a sling.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Both Alex and Walker are hit with this at the same time upon watching the 10:00 news that Vince Pike was granted an early release. At the same time Walker has this moment when he shatters his drinking glass in his hand, Alex becomes shocked to notice Walker's wounds from doing so.
- Sarcasm Mode: When Walker confronts Vince Pike at his mansion after JJ Mobley and his boys beat up CD:Walker: You hurt a friend of mine.
Vince: Did I? Close friend? Oh, golly, that's awful. (to a henchman) Isn't that awful?
Henchman: Oh, yeah, Vince. That's just awful.
(Walker backhands the unprepared henchman in the face) - Special Guest: Jennifer Grant as Ellen Jordan Garrett, Don Harvey as Benny Flynn, Leon Rippy as Vince Pike and Frank Salsedo as White Eagle.
