The interaction with the bum felt genuine, but the last little bit of exposition felt a bit forced or out of place. It might have read better just by having your protagonist wonder to himself about his role as yada-yada and if he and his peers could possibly yada-yada-yada.

yes, THX gives the best advice! this is exactly how I feel; the ending was telling us, not showing us, and lost the flow and feel of the whole piece.