Air Date: 18 Sep 2008

TITLE CARD: THE ROAD SO FAR

AC/DC's "Shook Me All Night Long" plays over general badassery of Sam and Dean and the basic plot that Dean went to Hell because Sam couldn't stop it.

TITLE CARD: NOW

We see quick flashes of Dean being tormented, his eyes flicking back and forth, his face covered in blood.

Cut to Dean in a dark place; he breathes heavily, flicks his lighter on. He is inside a wooden coffin.

Dean: (extremely hoarse)

Help! Help! Help!

Dean pounds on the wood above his head; dirt rains down on his face. He continues to pound.

EXT. FIELD – DAY

In the middle of a grassy field, a simple wooden cross is planted. As we pan back, a HAND bursts out of the dirt, followed by another. It is Dean, and he crawls his way out of the ground, groaning and gasping. He lays on his back, panting. He stands, looks around in the glaring sunlight. Around his crude headstone is a perfect circle of d*ad trees, laying on the ground as if an unearthly powerful blast had felled them.

TITLE CARD: SUPERNATURAL

EXT. A COUNTRY ROAD – DAY

Through hazy heat, Dean walks down an empty road and approaches an abandoned gas station. He pounds on the door.

Dean: (hoarse) Hello?

INT. GAS STATION – DAY

Dean rolls up his outer shirt over his right hand, breaks the glass on the door. Inside, he grabs a water bottle from a fridge and gulps at it, gasping. He finds a newspaper and sees the date, which reads: Thursday, September 18th

Dean: September.

INT – GAS STATION BATHROOM - DAY

Dean washes his face in a dingy sink, then looks up and stares at his reflection. He wears a tight black t-shirt. Frowning, he stands, pulls the shirt up to expose his chest.

FLASHBACK

Dean's chest is ripped apart by the Hellhounds (3.16)

PRESENT

Dean stares at his unblemished, unscarred chest in the dingy gas station mirror. He turns his left shoulder to the mirror and pulls up the sleeve to reveal a large, raw HANDPRINT BRAND.

INT – GAS STATION MART – DAY

Dean pulls snacks and energy bars from the shelves, along with several bottles of water, and stashes them in a plastic bag. Stopping in front of a magazine stand, he grins slowly. On the stand is an Adult Magazine - "Busty Asian Beauties". He picks it up, smirks, flips through it, and stuffs it in the bag too.

He goes to the counter, sets down the bag, and hits a single button on the register, snapping his fingers in satisfaction when it pops open. As he's looting the cash, the TV to his left flicks on, showing only static. He shuts it off; only to have a radio to his right turn on to white noise. Not wasting a moment, he goes to another shelf and grabs a carton of salt, opens it, and begins to pour it along the windowsill.

A high-pitched single tone begins, and Dean clutches his left ear in pain as he continues to pour salt with his right hand. As it continues, he drops the salt and crouches to the floor, groaning in agony. The window above his head shatters as the sound continues, and he drops to the floor. He leaps to his feet to try to escape, and more glass on the ceiling and walls shatters. He looks around cautiously.

EXT. PHONE BOOTH – DAY

Dean dials a number, and hears only an alert tone.

RECORDED Voice

We're sorry. You have reached a number that has been disconnected.

Dean hangs up the pay phone and inserts another coin, dials another number. It rings once, then is picked up.

Bobby (V.O): Yeah?

Dean: Bobby?

Bobby (V.O): Yeah?

Dean: It's me.

Bobby (V.O): Who's "me"?

Dean: Dean.

A dial tone sounds. Dean hangs up the receiver and dials again.

Bobby (V.O): Who is this?

Dean: Bobby, listen to me.

Bobby (V.O): This ain't funny. Call again, I'll k*ll ya.

The dial tone again. Dean hangs up the phone, turns. He sees an old, b*at-up white car parked outside. His eyes light up; he hotwires the car and pulls away from the gas station.

INT. Bobby's HOUSE – DAY

To a pounding on the door, Bobby's hand appears to open it. On the doorstep is Dean, looking winded and apprehensive. He smiles cautiously. Bobby looks at him suspiciously.

Dean: Surprise.

Bobby: I, I don't...

Dean: Yeah, me neither. (He enters.) But here I am.

Behind his back, Bobby takes a silver Kn*fe. As Dean approaches, Bobby lunges forward and slashes at him. Dean grabs his arm and twists it around; Bobby breaks the grip and backhands him in the face.

Dean: Bobby! It's me!

Bobby: My ass!

Dean: (shoves a chair between himself and Bobby, holds his hands out) Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait! Your name is Robert Steven Singer. You became a hunter after your wife got possessed, and... you're about the closest thing I have to a father. Bobby. It's me.

Bobby lowers the Kn*fe, steps forward slowly. He places a hand gently on Dean's shoulder. Suddenly he slashes again, but Dean quickly subdues and disarms him.

Dean: I am not a shapeshifter!

Bobby: Then you're a Revenant!

Dean shoves Bobby away, having taken the Kn*fe. He holds it out in front of him.

Dean: Alright. If I was either, could I do this – with a silver Kn*fe?

Dean rolls up his left sleeve, and, grimacing, slices his arm above the elbow with the Kn*fe. A line of blood appears.

Bobby: (starting to believe it) Dean?

Dean: That's what I've been trying to tell you.

Bobby breaks, grabbing Dean in for a tight hug. Dean returns the hug with enthusiasm, relief on his face. They pull apart.

Bobby: It's... It's good to see you, boy.

Dean: Yeah, you too.

Bobby: But... how did you bust out?

Dean: I don't know. I just, uh, I just woke up in a pine box...

Suddenly, Bobby splashes water in Dean's face. Dean pauses, spits.

Dean: I'm not a demon either, you know.

Bobby: Sorry. Can't be too careful.

They go further into the house, Dean wiping his face with a towel.

Bobby: But... that don't make a lick of sense.

Dean: Yeah. Yeah, you're preachin' to the choir.

Bobby: Dean. Your chest was ribbons, your insides were slop. And you've been buried four months. Even if you could slip out of hell and back into your meat suit -

Dean: I know, I should look like a Thriller video reject.

Bobby: What do you remember?

Dean: Not much. I remember I was a Hellhound's chew toy, and then... lights out. Then I come to six feet under, that was it. (Bobby sits.) Sam's number's not working. He's, uh... he's not...

Bobby: Oh, he's alive. As far as I know.

Dean: Good... Wait, what do you mean, as far as you know?

Bobby: I haven't talked to him for months.

Dean: You're kidding, you just let him go off by himself?

Bobby: He was d*ad set on it.

Dean: Bobby, you should've been looking after him.

Bobby: I tried. These last months haven't been exactly easy, you know. For him or me. We had to bury you.

Dean: Why did you bury me, anyway?

Bobby: I wanted you salted and b*rned. Usual drill. But... Sam wouldn't have it.

Dean: Well, I'm glad he won that one.

Bobby: He said you'd need a body when he got you back home somehow. That's about all he said.

Dean: (suspicious) What do you mean?

Bobby: He was quiet. Real quiet. And then he just took off. Wouldn't return my calls. I tried to find him, but he didn't want to be found.

Dean: Oh, damnit, Sammy.

Bobby: What?

Dean: Oh, he got me home okay. But whatever he did, it is bad mojo.

Bobby: What makes you so sure?

Dean: You should have seen the grave site. It was like a nuke went off. And then there was this... this force, this presence, I don't know, but it, it blew past me at a fill-up joint. And then this. (He strips his jacket, pulls up his sleeve to reveal the brand.)

Bobby: (standing) What in the hell?

Dean: It was like a demon just yanked me out. Or rode me out.

Bobby: But why?

Dean: To hold up their end of the bargain.

Bobby: You think Sam made a deal.

Dean: It's what I would have done.

INT Bobby's HOUSE – DAY

Dean: (into the phone) Yeah, hi, I have a cell phone account with you guys, and uh, I lost my phone. I was wondering if you could turn the GPS on for me. (b*at) Yeah. Name's Wedge Antilles. (b*at) Social is 2-4-7-4. (b*at) Thank you.

Dean hangs up the phone and crosses to a laptop on the table.

Bobby: How'd you know he'd use that name?

Dean: You kiddin' me? What don't I know about that kid?

The laptop is open to a web browser; Dean types in the address for ARC MOBILE.

Dean: (picking up one of the many empty liquor bottles scattered around) Hey, Bobby? What's the deal with the liquor store? What, are your parents out of town or something?

Bobby: Like I said. Last few months ain't been all that easy.

Dean: (holds his gaze for a moment) Right.

The laptop beeps; the display shows a city map with a blue arrow pointing to a star. The locator reads: Phone Location: 263 Adams Road

Pontiac, Illinois.

Dean: Sam's in Pontiac, Illinois.

Bobby: Right near where you were planted.

Dean: Right where I popped up. Hell of a coincidence, don't you think?

EXT. ASTORIA MOTEL – NIGHT

Dean and Bobby walk down a dingy hallway and knock on a door with the number 207 inside a red heart. The door is opened by a HOT Young Woman with dark hair, wearing only a t*nk top and underwear. She looks at them expectantly.

HOT Young Woman

So where is it?

Dean: (looks at Bobby, confused) Where's what?

HOT Young Woman

The pizza... that takes two guys to deliver?

Dean: I think we got the wrong room.

Sam steps into the light. He is grim and focused, and wears a grey t-shirt and jeans.

Sam: Hey, is...

Sam stops d*ad when he sees Dean. He swallows, shocked, his eyes flicking between Dean and Bobby.

Dean: (quietly, with much feeling) Heya, Sammy.

Sam is silent. Dean steps into the room, ignoring the H.Y.W., who steps aside to let him in. As Dean gets close, Sam pulls a Kn*fe and lunges at Dean. H.Y.W. screams; Dean blocks Sam's att*ck and Bobby pulls Sam off, gripping him around the shoulders. Sam struggles.

Sam: (shouting) Who are you?!

Dean: Like you didn't do this?!

Sam: Do what?!

Bobby: It's him. It's him. I've been through this already, it's reallyhim.

Sam: (stares at Dean as the struggle slowly goes out of his body) What...

Dean: (advancing cautiously, staring at Sam) I know. I look fantastic, huh?

Bobby lets go of Sam, who looks on the verge of tears as he steps forward and pulls Dean into a desperate hug. They embrace for several seconds, heavy with emotion, as Bobby looks on with tears in his eyes. Sam pushes Dean back to arm's length. H.Y.W. is looking on, looking confused.

HOT Young Woman

So are you two like... together?

Sam: (like he's just remembered that she's there) What? No. No. He's my brother.

HOT Young Woman

Uh... got it. I... I guess. Look, I should probably go.

Sam: Yeah. Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Sorry.

EXT. MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

Sam, now wearing a white button-down, opens the door to let the H.Y.W., now dressed in an adorable blue plaid shirt, out.

HOT Young Woman

So, call me.

Sam: Yeah. Yeah, sure thing, Kathy.

HOT Young Woman: (disappointed) Kristy.

Sam: Right.

She leaves, and Sam shuts the door.

INT. MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

Sam comes back into the room and sits down. Dean is standing above him, arms crossed. He and Bobby are both looking at Sam suspiciously.

Dean: So tell me, what'd it cost?

Sam: (smiling) The girl? I don't pay, Dean.

Dean That's not funny, Sam. To bring me back. What'd it cost? Was it just your soul, or was it something worse?

Sam: You think I made a deal?

Bobby: That's exactly what we think.

Sam: Well, I didn't.

Dean: (intensely) Don't lie to me.

Sam: I'm not lying.

Dean: (advancing) So what now, I'm off the hook and you're on, is that it? You're some demon's bitch-boy? I didn't want to be saved like this.

Sam: (standing, angrily) Look, Dean, I wish I had done it, all right?

Dean: (grabs Sam by the front of his shirt) There's no other way that this could have gone down. Now tell the truth!

Sam: (breaking Dean's grip) I tried everything. That's the truth. I tried opening the Devil's Gate. Hell, I tried to bargain, Dean, but no demon would deal, all right? You were rotting in Hell for months. For months, and I couldn't stop it. So I'm sorry it wasn't me, all right? Dean, I'm sorry.

Dean: (relenting) It's okay, Sammy. You don't have to apologize, I believe you.

Bobby: Don't get me wrong, I'm gladdened that Sam's soul remains intact, but it does raise a sticky question.

Dean: If he didn't pull me out, then what did?

END ACT ONE

INT. MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

Dean and Bobby are seated the couch. Sam enters and passes out bottles of beer, then sits across from Dean.

Dean: So what were you doing around here if you weren't digging me out of my grave?

Sam: Well, once I figured out I couldn't save you, I started hunting down Lilith, trying to get some payback.

Bobby: (accusing)

All by yourself. Who do you think you are, your old man?

Dean sees something, frowns, and crosses towards it.

Sam: Uh, yeah, I'm sorry, Bobby. I should have called. I was pretty messed up.

Dean picks up what he'd seen

a pink flowered bra. He holds it up.

Dean: Oh yeah. I really feel your pain.

Sam: Anyways, uh, I was checking these demons out of Tennessee, and out of nowhere they took a hard left, booked up here.

Dean: When?

Sam: Yesterday morning.

Dean: When I busted out.

Bobby: You think these demons are here 'cause of you?

Sam: But why?

Dean: Well, I don't know – some badass demon drags me out and now this? It's gotta be connected somehow.

Bobby: How you feelin', anyway?

Dean: I'm a little hungry.

Bobby: No, I mean, do you feel like yourself? Anything strange, or different?

Dean: Or demonic? Bobby, how many times do I have to prove I'm me?

Bobby: Yeah. Well, listen. No demon's letting you loose out of the goodness of their hearts. They've gotta have something nasty planned.

Dean: Well, I feel fine.

Sam: Okay, look, we don't know what they're planning. We got a pile of questions and no shovel. We need help.

Bobby: I know a psychic. A few hours from here. Something this big, maybe she's heard the other side talking.

Dean: Hell yeah, it's worth a sh*t.

Bobby: I'll be right back

Bobby exits.

Dean stands as if to leave.

Sam: Hey, wait. (stands) You probably want this back.

Sam reaches into his collar and pulls out a cord. It is Dean's AMULET. He places it in Dean's hand. Dean looks at it, touched.

Dean: Thanks.

Sam: Yeah, don't mention it.

(Dean puts the AMULET on)

Hey Dean, what was it like?

Dean: What, Hell? I don't know, I, I must have blacked it out. I don't remember a damn thing.

Sam: (nodding)

Well, thank God for that.

Dean: Yeah.

INT. MOTEL BATHROOM – NIGHT

Dean flicks on the light and stares at himself in the mirror. He runs a hand over his chin and leans forward on the sink.

FLASHBACK

Closeup of Dean's bloody, terrified face, with screams and eerie sounds.

PRESENT

Dean pulls back from the mirror, blinking in confusion.

EXT. MOTEL PARKING LOT – NIGHT

Bobby leads the boys down a set of steps.

Bobby: She's about four hours down the Interstate. Try to keep up.

Bobby gets in his car.

Sam: I assume you'll want to drive.

Sam pulls the keys out of his right pocket and tosses them at Dean, who catches them easily.

Dean: (Chuckling)

Oh, I almost forgot!

(he approaches the Impala and runs a hand along it lovingly.)

Hey, sweetheart, did you miss me?

Dean gets in the driver's side, settles in. He sees an iPod plugged into the stereo, pauses, and gives it a dirty look. Sam gets into the passenger's seat, smiling. Dean glares at him.

Dean: What the hell is that?

Sam: That's an iPod jack.

Dean: You were supposed to take care of her, not douche her up.

Sam: Dean, I thought it was my car.

Dean sneers, sighs, and turns the key in the ignition. "Vision" by Jason Manns begins to play. Dean rolls his eyes and glares at Sam again, looking pained.

Dean: Really?

Sam shrugs innocently. Dean rips the iPod out of the jack and tosses it in the back seat.

EXT. TWO-LANE BLACKTOP – NIGHT

Dean and Sam are back in their familiar places, having a heart-to-heart in the Impala on a dark road.

Dean: There's still one thing that's bothering me.

Sam: Yeah?

Dean: Yeah, the night that I bit it. Or... got bit.

(he Chuckles at his own wit)

How'd you make it out? I thought Lilith was going to k*ll you.

Sam: Well, she tried. She couldn't.

Dean: What do you mean, she couldn't?

Sam: She fired this, like, burning light at me, and... didn't leave a scratch. Like I was immune or something.

Dean: Immune?

Sam: Yeah. I don't know who was more surprised, her or me. She left pretty fast after that.

Dean: Huh. What about Ruby, where is she?

Sam: d*ad. For now.

Dean: (bites his lip, like he's not sure he wants to ask)

So you've been using your, uh, freaky ESP stuff?

Sam: No.

Dean: You sure about that? Well, I mean, now that you've got... immunity, whatever the hell that is... just wondering what other kind of weirdo crap you've got going on.

Sam: Nothing, Dean. Look, you didn't want me to go down that road, so I didn't go down that road. It was practically your dying wish.

Dean: Yeah, well, let's keep it that way.

Sam broods.

EXT. PAMELA's HOUSE – DAY

They knocks on the door, and PAMELA opens it. She is in her thirties, strong and beautiful with a ready smile.

PAMELA

Bobby!

She grabs him into a hug, lifting him briefly off the ground. Sam and Dean share a look.

Bobby: You're a sight for sore eyes.

PAMELA steps back and looks Sam and Dean up and down appraisingly.

PAMELA

So, these the boys?

Bobby: Sam, Dean. This is Pamela Barnes, best damn psychic in the state.

Dean: (flirting, of course)

Hey.

Sam: (a little awkwardly)

Hi.

PAMELA

Mmm-mmm-mmm. Dean Winchester. Out of the f*re and back in the frying pan, huh? Makes you a rare individual.

Dean: If you say so.

PAMELA

Come on in.

INT. PAMELA's HOUSE – DAY

PAMELA ushers them in, first Bobby, then Dean, then Sam, and shuts the door behind them.

Bobby: So, you hear anything?

PAMELA

Well, I Ouija'd my way through a dozen spirits. No one seems to know who broke your boy out, or why.

Bobby

So what's next?

PAMELA

A séance, I think. See if we can see who did the deed.

Bobby: You're not gonna... summon the damn thing here.

PAMELA

No. I just want to get a sneak peek at it. Like a crystal ball without the crystal.

Dean: I'm game.

INT. SEANCE ROOM – DAY

PAMELA spreads a black tablecloth covered in symbols over a small table. Sam and Dean look at it warily; Dean cocks his head as PAMELA squats in front of a cabinet, revealing a scrawled tattoo across her lower back that reads: Jesse Forever

Dean: Who's Jesse?

PAMELA

(laughs)

Well, it wasn't forever.

Dean: His loss.

PAMELA stands with several pillar candles in her hands, stops in front of Dean with a smirk.

PAMELA

Might be your gain.

As she passes by, Dean turns to Sam and lowers his voice.

Dean: Dude, I am so in.

Sam: Yeah, she's gonna eat you alive.

Dean: Hey, I just got out of jail. Bring it.

PAMELA

(passing by again, to Sam with a wink)

You're invited too, grumpy.

Dean: You are NOT invited.

LATER

PAMELA, Bobby, Sam, and Dean are seated around the small table, which now has six lighted candles in the center.

PAMELA

Right. Take each other's hands.

(they do)

And I need to touch something our mystery monster touched.

PAMELA slides her hand along Dean's inner thigh. He jumps.

Dean: Whoa. Well, he didn't touch me there.

PAMELA

My mistake.

Dean looks around, nervous, then takes off his outer shirt, pulls up his left t-shirt sleeve to reveal the BRAND. Sam stares at it, shocked, looks at Bobby. PAMELA lays her hand on the BRAND.

PAMELA

Okay.

(All four close their eyes as PAMELA begins to chant)

I invoke, conjure, and command you, appear unto me before this circle.

I invoke, conjure, and command you, appear unto me before this circle.

I invoke, conjure, and command you, appear unto me before this circle.

(a television flicks on to static; she continues)

I invoke, conjure, and command... Castiel? No. Sorry, Castiel, I don't scare easy.

Dean: Castiel?

PAMELA

Its name. It's whispering to me, warning me to turn back.

(white noise and static continues, and the table begins to shake)

I conjure and command you, show me your face.

I conjure and command you, show me your face.

I conjure and command you, show me your face.

I conjure and command you, show me your face.

Bobby: (as the white noise and rattling become more violent)

Maybe we should stop.

PAMELA

I almost got it.

I command you, show me your face!

Show me your face now!

Suddenly the candles flare up several feet in the air and PAMELA begins to scream. Her eyes fly open and are filled with a white-hot flame. She collapses; the rattling, white noise, and flames die out.

Bobby: (catching her and lowering her to the floor)

Call 9-1-1!

Sam scrambles out of his chair and into the next room. Dean crouches over PAMELA and Bobby. She is conscious, but bleeding and b*rned. Her eyelids fly open to reveal black, empty sockets. She sobs.

PAMELA

I can't see! I can't see! Oh god!

In the next room we can hear Sam calling for an ambulance.

END ACT TWO

INT. JohnNY MAC's DINER – DAY

Dean is sitting at a table giving his order to a Waitress.

Waitress: Be up in a jiff.

As she leaves, Sam enters, talking on his cell phone.

Sam: (into the phone) You bet. (he sits)

Dean: What'd Bobby say?

Sam: Pam's s*ab. And out of I.C.U.

Dean: And blind, because of us.

Sam: And we still have no clue who we're dealing with.

Dean: That's not entirely true.

Sam: No?

Dean: We got a name. Castiel, or whatever. With the right mumbo-jumbo we could summon him, bring him right to us.

Sam: You're crazy. Absolutely not.

Dean: We'll work him over. I mean, after what he did?

Sam: Pam took a peek at him and her eyes b*rned out of her skull, and you want to have a face to face?

Dean: You got a better idea?

Sam: Yeah, as a matter of fact I do. I followed some demons to town, right?

Dean: Okay.

Sam: So, we go find them. Someone's gotta know something about something.

The Waitress reappears with two plates of pie. She sets them on the table.

Sam: Thanks.

The Waitress then plops down in a chair at the end of the table. Dean looks at her, smirking.

Dean: You angling for a tip?

Waitress: I'm sorry. Thought you were looking for us.

Her eyes go demon-black for a moment; a UNIFORMED Man by the counter and a COOK behind the counter also show the demon-black; the UNIFORMED Man goes to the door, locks it, and stands in front of it.

Demon Waitress

(eyes going back to normal) Dean. To hell and back. Aren't you a lucky duck.

Dean: That's me.

Demon Waitress

So you get to just stroll out of the pit, huh? Tell me. What makes you so special?

Dean: I like to think it's because of my perky nipples. I don't know. Wasn't my doing, I don't know who pulled me out.

Demon Waitress

Right. You don't.

Dean: No. I don't.

Demon Waitress

Lying's a sin, you know.

Dean: I'm not lying. But I'd like to find out, so if you wouldn't mind enlightening me, Flo...

Demon Waitress

Mind your tone with me, boy. I'll drag you back to hell myself.

Sam, who has been staring daggers at her through this exchange, shifts as if to att*ck. Dean holds a hand up and Sam stops, settles back into his seat.

Dean: No, you won't.

Demon Waitress

No?

Dean: No. Because if you were you would have done it already. Fact is, you don't know who cut me loose. And you're just as spooked as we are. And you're looking for answers. Well, maybe it was some turbo-charged spirit. Or, uh, Godzilla. Or some big bad boss demon. I'm guessing at your pay grade that they don't tell you squat. Because whoever it was, they want me out. And they're a lot stronger than you. So go ahead. Send me back. But don't come crawling to me when they show up on your front doorstep with some Vaseline and a f*re hose.

Demon Waitress

I'm going to reach down your throat and rip out your lungs.

Dean leans forward, a challenge in his eyes. He throws a right hook at her, which she takes. He throws another. She still does nothing but glare at them, looking more and more nervous.

Dean: That's what I thought. Let's go, Sam.

They stand, and the demon sits there, fuming. Dean pulls a roll of cash out of his pocket and carefully peels off a ten dollar bill. He holds it up and drops it on the table like an insult.

Dean: For the pie.

EXT. JohnNY MAC's DINER – DAY

Sam and Dean stalk out of the diner and across the street, tense and quick.

Dean: Holy crap, that was close.

Sam: We're not just going to leave them in there, are we, Dean?

Dean: Well yeah, there's three of them, probably more, and we've only got one Kn*fe between us.

Sam: I've been k*lling a lot more demons than that lately.

Dean: Not anymore – the smarter brother's back in town.

Sam: Dean, we've got to take 'em. They are dangerous.

Dean: They're scared. Okay? Scared of whatever had the juice to yank me out. We're dealing with a bad mofo here. One job at a time.

INT. ASTORIA MOTEL – NIGHT

Dean is dozing on the couch with a large book open in his lap. Sam sneaks out, checking to make sure Dean doesn't wake.

EXT. ASTORIA MOTEL – NIGHT

Sam drives away in the Impala.

INT. ASTORIA MOTEL – NIGHT

As Dean dozes, the television flicks on to the now-familiar static, and the radio starts whining as well. It wakes Dean, who rubs the sleep out of his eyes and rolls quickly to grab a g*n lying by the bed. He looks around cautiously, glances at Sam's bed and sees that it is empty. He grimaces. The painfully high-pitched noise begins again, and he grabs his right ear, keeping the w*apon up in his left hand. A mirror on the ceiling shatters and rains broken glass down on him. He crumples to the ground, clutching both ears as all the glass in the room shatters explosively. He screams.

Bobby bursts into the room as more glass shatters.

Bobby: Dean!

END ACT THREE

EXT. ROAD – NIGHT

Bobby drives his car as Dean, in the passenger's seat, wipes blood from his face.

Bobby: How you doin', kid?

Dean: Aside from the church bells ringing in my head, peachy.

Dean pulls out his cell phone and dials a number.

EXT. JohnNY MAC's DINER – NIGHT

Sam is in the Impala, staking out the diner full of demons. His cell phone rings; he answers it.

Sam (PHONE)

Hey.

Dean (PHONE)

What are you doing?

Sam: Couldn't sleep, went to get a burger.

Dean: In my car?

Sam: Force of habit, sorry. What are you doing up?

Dean: Well, uh, Bobby's back. We're going to grab a beer.

(on Bobby's shocked look, Dean holds up a finger.)

Sam: All right, well, uh, spill some for me, huh?

Dean: Done. Catch you later.

(They hang up.)

Bobby: Why the hell didn't you tell him?

Dean: Because he just tried to stop us.

Bobby: From what?

Dean: Summoning this thing.

(Bobby looks at him in shock. Again.)

It's time we faced it head-on.

Bobby: You can't be serious!

Dean: As a heart att*ck. It's high noon, baby.

Bobby: Well, we don't know what it is. It could be a demon, it could be anything.

Dean: That's why we've got to be ready for anything.

(he pulls out Ruby's Demon-k*lling Kn*fe)

We've got the big-time magic Kn*fe, you've got an arsenal in the trunk...

Bobby: This is a bad idea.

Dean: Yeah, I couldn't agree more, but what other choice do we have?

Bobby: We could choose life.

Dean: Bobby, whatever this is, whatever it wants, it's after me. That much we know, right? I've got no place to hide. I can either get caught with my pants down again, or we can make our stand.

Bobby: Dean, we could use Sam on this.

Dean: Nah, he's better off where he is.

INT. JohnNY MAC's DINER – NIGHT

Sam sneaks into the darkened diner and slips his lock-picking tools into his shirt pocket. A song is playing on the jukebox. Sam sneaks in quietly, sees the COOK from earlier face-down on the floor, his hands bloody. Sam crouches and turns the man over; he is d*ad, his eyes b*rned out and drying blood caked on his cheeks. Sam stands.

A figure tackles him from behind – it is the Demon Waitress. They trade blows for a few moments until Sam shoves her away. She too has empty, b*rned out eye sockets and blood trickling down her face. She looks both terrifying and terrified.

Sam: Your eyes.

Demon Waitress

I can still smell your soul a mile away.

Sam: It was here. You saw it.

Demon Waitress

(sobbing)

I saw it.

Sam: What was it?

Demon Waitress

It's the end. We're d*ad. We're all d*ad.

Sam: (insisting)

What did you see?

Demon Waitress

Go to hell.

Sam: Funny. I was going to say the Same thing to you.

Sam steps back, plants his feet, and shuts his eyes in concentration. He extends his right hand towards the demon. She heaves and begins to vomit black smoke into her hand; in seconds, the Waitress has collapsed to the floor as the Demon is sucked down into the Pit. Sam opens his eyes and crosses to the woman on the floor. He checks her pulse, sighs in disappointment.

Sam: Damn it.

The kitchen door opens and a woman comes out. He looks up, apparently not surprised to see her. It is the HOT Young Woman from ACT ONE.

HOT Young Woman (henceforth called Ruby)

Getting pretty slick there, Sam. Better all the time.

Sam stands and they share a smoldering look. He looks down at the corpse at his feet, his face falling.

Sam: What the hell is going on around here, Ruby?

Ruby: I wish I knew.

Sam: We were thinking some high level demon pulled Dean out.

Ruby: No way. Sam, human souls don't just walk out of Hell and back into their bodies easy. The sky bleeds, the ground quakes. It's cosmic. No demon can swing that. Not Lilith, not anybody.

Sam: Then what can?

Ruby: Nothing I've ever seen before.

INT. WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

Bobby draws a symbol with white spray paint on the cement floor. As he stands, we see that the entire floor, walls, and ceiling of the empty rectangular warehouse are covered in similar images.

Dean: (at a table, setting up equipment)

That's a hell of an art project you've got going there.

Bobby: Traps and talismans from every faith on the globe. How you doin?

Dean: Stakes, iron, silver, salt, Kn*fe. I mean, we're pretty much set to catch and k*ll anything I've ever heard of.

Bobby: This is still a bad idea.

Dean: Yeah, Bobby, I heard you the first ten times. What do you say we ring the dinner bell?

Bobby nods reluctantly. He goes over to another desk, takes a pinch of some powder from a bowl, and sprinkles it into a larger bowl, which begins to smoke. He chants in Latin.

INT. JOHHNY MAC's DINER – NIGHT

Ruby and Sam are seated across from each other at a small table.

Ruby: So. Million dollar question, are you going to tell Dean about what we're doing?

Sam: Yeah, I just gotta figure out the right way to say it.

(Ruby gives him a look)

Look, I just need time, okay? That's all.

Ruby: Sam, he's going to find out, and if it's not from you he's going to be pissed.

Sam: He's going to be pissed anyway. I mean, he's so hardheaded about this psychic stuff he'll just try and stop me.

Ruby: Look. Maybe I'll just take a step back for a while.

Sam: Ruby, you...

Ruby: I mean, I'm not exactly in your brother's fanclub. But he is your brother, and I'm not going to come between you.

Sam: I don't know if what I'm doing is right. Hell, I don't even know if I trust you.

Ruby: Thanks.

Sam: But what I do know is that I'm saving people. And stopping demons. And that feels good. I want to keep going.

INT. WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

Dean and Bobby are seated on tables, swinging their legs and looking bored.

Dean: You sure you did the ritual right?

(Bobby gives him a look)

Sorry. Touchy, touchy, huh?

As if on cue, a loud rattling shakes the roof. Dean and Bobby arm themselves with g*n and take positions at the far end of the warehouse.

Dean: Wishful thinking, but maybe it's just the wind.

The door bursts open and a handsome man in a business suit and trenchcoat stalks in Castiel.

The light bulbs above his head shatter in a shower of sparks as he passes them. As he approaches, Dean and Bobby both open f*re, but the sh*ts do not even slow him down. Dean takes the MAGIC Kn*fe as Castiel gets close.

Dean: Who are you?

Castiel: I'm the one who gripped you tight and raised you from perdition.

Dean: Yeah. Thanks for that.

Dean rears back and plunges the MAGIC Kn*fe into Castiel's chest. Castiel looks down, unconcerned, and pulls it out, drops it to the floor. Behind him, Bobby att*cks; without looking, Castiel grabs Bobby's w*apon and uses it to swing him around. Castiel touches Bobby on the forehead with fingertips and Bobby crumples to the ground.

Castiel: We need to talk, Dean. Alone.

END ACT FOUR

Dean crouches over Bobby, checking his pulse. He glares at Castiel.

Castiel: Your friend's alive.

Dean: Who are you?

Castiel: Castiel.

Dean: Yeah, I figured that much, I mean whatare you?

Castiel: I'm an Angel of the Lord.

Dean: Get the hell out of here. There's no such thing.

Castiel: This is your problem, Dean. You have no faith.

Lightning flashes, and on Castiel's back great shadowy wings appear, stretching off into the distance. The light goes out and the image disappears.

Dean: Some angel you are. You b*rned out that poor woman's eyes.

Castiel: I warned her not to spy on my true form. It can be... overwhelming to humans, and so can my real voice. But you already knew that.

Dean: You mean the gas station and the motel. That was you talking? (Castiel nods.) Buddy, next time, lower the volume.

Castiel: That was my mistake. Certain people, special people, can perceive my true visage. I thought you would be one of them. I was wrong.

Dean: And what visage are you in now, huh? What, holy tax accountant?

Castiel: This? This is... a vessel.

Dean: You're possessing some poor bastard?

Castiel: He's a devout man, he actually prayed for this.

Dean: Well, I'm not buying what you're selling, so who are you really?

Castiel: (frowning) I told you.

Dean: Right. And why would an angel rescue me from Hell?

Castiel: Good things do happen, Dean.

Dean: Not in my experience.

Castiel: What's the matter? You don't think you deserve to be saved?

Dean: Why'd you do it?

Castiel: Because God commanded it. Because we have work for you.
{"type": "series", "show": "Supernatural", "episode": "04x01 - Lazarus Rising"}