5.01 Sympathy for the Devil

Air Date: 10 Sep 2009

THE ROAD SO FAR

"Thunderstruck" by AC/DC plays.

THE ROAD SO FAR

From (...help), the Impala bounces along a road.

Music: Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

Music: Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

From (...help), Dean fires a shotgun.

Music: Thunder

Music: Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

Lilith is trying to break-

Anna: -the sixty-six seals-

Music: Thunder

-to free-

-Lucifer from hell.

Anna: Lucifer-

-will bring the-

-apocalypse.

Music: I was caught

Music: In the middle

Music: Of a

Music: Railroad

Music: Track

From (...help), Dean slashes a Demon's throat with Ruby's knife.

Music: Thunder

Music: Looked around

Music: And I knew

Music: There was no

Music: Turning back

Music: Thunder

Music: My mind raced

Music: And I thought

Music: What can I

Music: Do?

Music: Thunder

Music: And I knew

Dean: You're possessing some poor bastard?

Music: There was no help, no help

Castiel: This is a vessel.

Music: From you

I had to give my consent to invite him in.

Music: You've been thunderstruck

Music: I was shakin' at the

Music: Knees

Music: Could I come again please?

Dean: Chuck Shurley? We have a life.

You've been using it to write your books.

Castiel: Dean, let him go. This man is to be protected.

Music: Thunderstruck

Dean: Why?

Castiel: He's a prophet of the Lord.

Chuck: Who are you?

Music: Yeah yeah yeah

Zachariah: I'm Zachariah.

Music: Thunderstruck

I'm Castiel's superior.

Music: Yeah yeah yeah

Dean: And how'm I going to ice Lilith?

Zachariah: You're not.

Lilith's going to break the final seal.

Music: Thunderstruck

You don't want to stop it, do you?

Music: You've been

You are chosen.

Music: Thunderstruck

You will stop it.

Just not Lilith or-

Music: Thunderstruck

-the apocalypse. That's all.

Music: Thunderstruck

Music: Thunderstruck

Music: You've been thunderstruck

Sam: I'm sorry.

Dean: Sammy, let's go.

Sam: Dean-he's coming.

NOW

CHAPEL

INT. CHAPEL - NIGHT

Dean: Come on!

Sam finally lets Dean pull him away from the sigil. They run, and the doors slam shut. They rattle the doors. Seen from the far side, light bursts through cracks in the door.

A high-pitched noise. Sam turns to look at Dean, and both look back at the light. They squeeze their eyes shut, Sam holding up a hand to block the light, and cover their ears. They fall to their knees.

The light reaches the very edges of the sigil, then whites out everything.

PLANE

INT. PLANE - NIGHT

A cartoon red Devil leans over a large open book.

Devil: What the devil is your name?

Yosemite Sam: Sa-Sa-Sa-Sa-Yo-Yosemite Sam.

Devil: Yosemite Sam?

The Devil flips through the book. The view shifts away from what is apparently the in-flight movie, "Devil's Feud Cake".

Devil: Let's see. Ah, here it is. I could use a guy like you.

Dean and Sam are sitting on a plane, contorted exactly as they were a moment ago in the chapel. They look around, astounded. No one around them seems to have noticed anything.

Dean: What the hell?

Sam: I don't know.

Pilot (over intercom)

Folks, quick word from the flight deck. We're just passing over Ilchester, then Ellicott City, on our initial descent into Baltimore-

Dean: Ilchester? Weren't we just there?

INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT

Pilot

So if you'd like to stretch your legs, now would be a good time to-

The ordinary bird's-eye view of Maryland at night is interrupted by a column of light shooting into the sky.

Pilot

Holy crap!

The shock wave knocks the plane off kilter. People are thrown around the plane, screaming. Oxygen masks drop down. Sam and Dean put theirs on as the white light outside grows blinding. The high-pitched noise is back. Dean looks out the window, terrified.

ACT ONE

CAR

INT. CAR - NIGHT

Sam and Dean drive in a rented car.

Radio Announcer 1

-and Governor O'Malley urged calm-

"SYMPATHY FOR THE Devil"

Radio Announcer 1

-saying it's very unlikely an abandoned convent would be a target for terrorists, either foreign or homegrown.

Dean: Change the station.

Sam pokes a button on the digital radio.

Radio Announcer 2

-Hurricane Kinley, unexpectedly slamming into the Galveston area-

Radio Announcer 3

-announced a successful test of the North Korean nuclear-

Radio Announcer 4

-a series of tremors-

Radio Announcer 5

-swine flu-

The radio shuts off. Sam sighs. Silence.

Sam: Dean, look-

Dean: Don't say anything.

A pause.

Dean: It's okay. We just got to keep our heads down and hash this out, all right?

A pause.

Sam: Yeah, okay.

Dean: All right, well, first things first-How did we end up on Soul Plane?

Sam: Angels, maybe? I mean, you know, beaming us out of harm's way?

Dean: Well, whatever. It's the least of our worries. We need to find Cas.

Chuck's HOUSE

INT. Chuck's HOUSE - DAY

Sam and Dean walk through the devastated house. A noise, and they both turn: nothing. They keep looking around.

Starring

JARED PADALECKI

JENSEN ACKLES

MISHA COLLINS

Guest Starring

JIM BEAVER

Chuck jumps out and hits Sam on the head with a toilet plunger. Sam stumbles back, hand to his head.

Sam: Geez! Ow!

Chuck: Sam.

Sam: Yeah!

Dean: Hey, Chuck.

Chuck: So...you're okay?

Sam: Well, my head hurts.

Chuck: No, I mean-I mean, my-My last vision.

KURT FULLER

Chuck: You went, like, full-on Vader.

ROB BENEDICT

Chuck: Your body temperature was one-fifty. Your heart rate was two hundred. Your eyes were black.

Dean: Your eyes went black?

Sam looks back over his shoulder.

Sam: I didn't know.

Dean: Where's Cas?

Mark PELLEGRINO

Chuck: He's dead. Or gone. The archangel smote the crap out of him. I'm sorry.

Dean: You're sure? I mean, maybe he just vanished into the light or something.

BELLAmy Young

Chuck: Oh, no. He, like, exploded.

Rachel MINER

Chuck: Like a water balloon of chunky soup.

Sam takes a closer look at Chuck and waves a hand at his own left ear.

Sam: You got a-

Chuck waves a hand at his own right ear.

Chuck: Uh...right here?

Sam indicates the other side of Chuck's head.

Sam: Uh, the...

Chuck feels at his hair.

Chuck: Oh. Oh, god.

Chuck pulls something out.

Chuck: Is that a molar?

It is.

Chuck: Do I have a molar in my hair? This has been a really stressful day.

Dean: Cas, you stupid bastard.

Sam: Stupid? He was trying to help us.

Dean: Yeah, exactly.

Sam: So, what now?

Dean: I don't know.

Chuck: Oh, crap.

Sam: What?

Chuck: I can feel them.

Zachariah: Thought we'd find you here.

Sam and Dean turn around: Zachariah is there, two ANGELS accompanying him.

Zachariah: Playtime's over, Dean. Time to come with us.

Dean points at Zachariah.

Dean: You just keep your distance, asshat.

Co-Producer

Jeremy CARVER

Zachariah: You're upset.

Co-Producers

JERRY WANEK

SERGE LADOUCEUR

Dean: Yeah. A little. You sons of bitches jump-started judgment day!

Zachariah: Maybe we let it happen. We didn't start anything.

Producer

TODD ARONAUER

Zachariah: Right, Sammy?

Zachariah winks.

Zachariah: You had a chance to stop your brother, and you couldn't. So let's not quibble over who started what. Let's just say it was-

Co-Executive Producer

PETER JohnSON

Zachariah: -all our faults and move on. 'Cause like it or not-

Executive Producer

SERA GAMBLE

Zachariah: -it's Apocalypse Now.

Executive Producer

BEN EDLUND

Zachariah: And we're back on the Same team again.

Dean: Is that so?

Zachariah: You want to kill the devil.

Executive Producer

PHIL SGRICCIA

Zachariah: We want you to kill the devil. It's...synergy.

Dean: And I'm just supposed to trust you?

Executive Producer

McG

Dean: Cram it with walnuts, ugly.

Zachariah: This isn't a game, son.

Produced by

JIM MICHAELS

Zachariah: Lucifer is powerful in ways that defy description. We need to strike now, hard and fast-before he finds his vessel.

Sam: His vessel? Lucifer needs a meat suit?

Zachariah: He is an angel. Them's the rules.

Created by

ERIC KRIPKE

Zachariah: And when he touches down, we're talking Four Horsemen, red oceans, fiery skies-

Written by

ERIC KRIPKE

Zachariah: -the greatest hits. You can stop him, Dean, but you need our help.

Dean: You listen to me, you two-faced douche.

Directed by

Robert SINGER

Dean: After what you did, I don't want jack squat from you!

Zachariah: You listen to me, boy! You think you can rebel against us? As Lucifer did?

Blood drips from Dean's hand.

Zachariah: You're bleeding.

Dean: Oh, yeah-a little insurance policy in case you dicks showed up.

Zachariah: No!

Sam and Chuck flinch. Zachariah vanishes in white light. When Dean looks, the other ANGELS are gone as well.

Dean: Learned that from my friend Cas, you son of a bitch.

Chuck: This sucks ass.

MOTEL

EXT. REGENT INN MOTEL - DAY

Sam rushes down a staircase past a couple making out and enters the motel.

INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY

Dean loads a gun. Sam enters the room.

Dean: Hey.

Sam: Hey.

Sam closes the door, pulls something out of his shirt, and tosses it to Dean. Dean catches it and examines it.

Sam: Here. Hex bags. No way the angels will find us with those. Demons, either, for that matter.

Dean: Where'd you get it?

Sam: I made it.

Dean: How?

Sam hesitates long enough for Dean to look up at him.

Sam: I...I learned it from Ruby.

Dean puts the gun down and approaches Sam.

Dean: Speaking of. How you doing? Are you jonesing for another hit of bitch blood or what?

Sam: I-it's weird. Uh, tell you the truth, I'm fine. No shakes, no fever. It's like whoever...put me on that plane cleaned me right up.

Dean: Supernatural methadone.

Sam: Yeah, I guess.

Sam pauses.

Sam: Dean-

Dean: Sam.

Dean turns away.

Dean: It's okay. You don't have to say anything.

Sam: Well, that's good. Because what can I even say? "I'm sorry"? "I screwed up"? Doesn't really do it justice, you know? Look, there's nothing I can do or say that will ever make this right-

Dean: So why do you keep bringing it up?!

Sam sighs. Dean turns back to him.

Dean: Look, all I'm saying is, why do we have to put this under a microscope? We made a mess. We clean it up. That's it.

Sam nods.

Dean: All right, so, say this is just any other hunt. You know? What do we do first?

Sam: We'd, uh, figure out where the thing is.

Dean: All right. So we just got to find...the devil.

Nick's HOUSE

EXT. Nick's HOUSE - NIGHT

Pike Creek, Delaware

A Man (his name is Nick) walks along the sidewalk to his house. He opens his front gate, which creaks, and lets it swing shut behind him. A wind picks up, swinging the gate forward and back, and Nick turns back to look. The gate bangs open and shut.

INT. Nick's BEDROOM - NIGHT

Nick lies in bed, alone and restless. He pulls his hands out from under the blankets: they're bloodstained. He tosses the blankets back and there's blood all over him and the sheets, a lot of it, as though someone bled to death a moment ago. Nick gets out of bed and switches on the bedside light. There's no blood.

Nick: All right, keep it together. Keep it together, man.

Nick turns off the light and lies down. He rolls over and there's a Woman in bed next to him, blood on her cheek. He sits up, shocked: he knows her-her name is Sarah-and the last thing he expected was to see her.

Sarah: It's you, Nick. You're special. You're chosen.

Nick shakes his head, disbelieving, and covers his eyes with one hand. When he looks back, Sarah is gone.

ACT TWO

Becky's ROOM

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Becky: "And then Sam touched-" No. "-caressed Dean's clavicle. 'This is wrong,' said Dean. 'Then I don't want to be right,' replied Sam, in a husky voice."

A message appears on her screen: CARVER EDLUND CALLING

Becky frowns and clicks Accept. The window expands to a videophone: it's Chuck. He glances over his shoulder and back. Becky covers her mouth, excited enough that it causes her difficulty speaking.

Becky: Oh...my...god. You. You're...

Chuck: Carver Edlund, yeah. Hi, Becky.

Becky: You got my letters. And my marzipan.

Chuck can't quite meet her eyes.

Chuck: Yeah, yeah. Um...yummy. But, uh-

Becky: I am your number-one fan. You know, I'm Samlicker81.

Chuck: I'm sorry. You're-You're what?

Becky: Webmistress at morethanbrothers dot net?

Chuck: Oh. Yeah. No, yeah. You're my...number-one fan.

Becky grins.

Chuck: That's why I contacted you. You're the only one who will believe me.

Chuck looks heavenward. Becky frowns, concerned.

Becky: Are you all right?

Chuck: No. I'm being watched. Okay, not, not now-at least, I don't think so. But I don't have much time. I need your help.

Becky switches back to overexcited.

Becky: You need my help?

Chuck: That's right. I need you to get a message to Sam and Dean. Okay?

Becky sighs, reality intruding.

Becky: Look, Mr. Edlund... Yes, I'm a fan, but I really don't appreciate being mocked. I know that Supernatural'[i]s just a book, okay? I know the difference between fantasy and reality.

Chuck: Becky, it's all real.

Becky snaps back to overexcitedness.

Becky: I knew it!

MOTEL

[i]INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY

Sam stares at John's journal. Dean is watching TV.

Voice 1

How would you then explain an earthquake, a hurricane, and multiple tornadoes, all at the Same time, all around the globe?

Voice 2

Two words. Carbon emissions.

Dean (to environmentalist on TV)

Yeah, right, wavy gravy.

There is a knock at the door. Dean pulls his gun. Sam answers. It's Becky, so excited she's having trouble breathing.

Sam: You okay, lady?

Becky: Sam...is it really you?

Sam glances back at Dean. Becky steps closer and puts a hand on Sam's chest.

Becky: And you're so firm.

Sam: Uh, do I know you?

Becky pulls back. Sam continues to stare, bewildered.

Becky: No. But I know you. You're Sam Winchester. And you're-

Becky looks at Dean, who's staring at her, his gun hand out of sight.

Becky: -not what I pictured. I'm Becky.

Becky pushes past Sam into the room.

Becky: I read all about you guys. And I've even written a few-

Becky glances down, giggling a little.

Becky: Anyway, Mr. Edlund told me where you were.

Dean stands up.

Dean: Chuck?

Sam closes the door.

Becky: He's got a message, but he's being watched. Angels. Nice change-up to the mythology, by the way. The demon stuff was getting kind of old.

Sam: Right. Just, um...what's the message?

Becky: He had a vision. "The Michael sword is on earth. The angels lost it."

Dean: The Michael sword?

Sam: Becky, does he know where it is?

Becky: In a castle, on a hill made of forty-two dogs.

Dean: Forty-two dogs?

Sam: Are...you sure you got that right?

Becky: It doesn't make sense, but that's what he said.

Becky steps closer to Sam.

Becky: I memorized every word.

Becky touches Sam's chest.

Becky: For you.

Sam glances over at Dean and down at Becky: awkward.

Sam: Um, Becky, c-uh, can you...quit touching me?

Becky: No.

MOTEL, LATER

EXT. REGENT INN MOTEL - DAY

Bobby arrives in the Impala.

INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY

A knock on the door. Dean opens it. It's Bobby.

Dean: Hey, Bobby.

Bobby hugs Dean, slapping him on the back.

Bobby: Good to see you boys all in one piece.

Bobby hugs Sam, who's grinning. Dean closes the door.

Dean: You weren't followed, were you?

Bobby: You mean by angels, demons, or Sam's new superfan?

Sam laughs.

Sam: You heard.

Bobby: I heard, Romeo. So...sword of Michael, huh?

Dean: You think we're talking about the actual sword from the actual archangel?

Bobby: You better friggin' hope so.

Bobby opens a book to a painting of Michael surrounded by other angels. In this painting, Michael looks like a winged woman and the other angels like naked babies with wings.

Bobby: That's Michael. Toughest son of a bitch they got.

Sam flips to another painting. Again, Michael has a feminine face.

Dean: You kidding me? Tough? That guy looks like Cate Blanchett.

Bobby: Well, I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley, believe me. He commands the heavenly host. During the last big dust-up upstairs, he's the one who booted Lucifer's ass to the basement. Did it with that sword.

Bobby points to the sword in the painted Michael's hand.

Bobby: So if we can find it...

Sam: We can kick the devil's ass all over again. All right. So, where do we start?

Bobby: Divvy up and start reading-try and make sense of Chuck's nonsense.

Sam gets up and heads for a pile of old books, presumably brought by Bobby. He stares at the books for a long moment, not reaching for them.

Bobby: Kid? You all right?

Sam turns to face Bobby.

Sam: No, actually. Bobby, this is all my fault. I'm sorry.

Dean: Sam...

Sam: Lilith did not break the final seal. Lilith was the final seal.

Dean: Sam, stop it.

Sam: I killed her, and I set Lucifer free.

Bobby: You what?

Sam: You guys warned me about Ruby, the demon blood, but I didn't listen. I brought this on.

Dean says nothing. Bobby stands up and walks closer.

Bobby: You're damn right you didn't listen. You were reckless and selfish and arrogant.

Sam: I'm sorry.

Bobby: Oh, yeah? You're sorry you started Armageddon? This kind of thing don't get forgiven, boy. If, by some miracle, we pull this off...I want you to lose my number. You understand me?

Sam nods. His expression barely changes: this can't be much different from what he expected. Dean doesn't protest.

Sam: There's an old church nearby. Maybe I'll go read some of the lore books there.

Bobby: Yeah. You do that.

Sam leaves. Bobby turns back to Dean, who stays silent.

EXT. REGENT INN MOTEL - DAY

Sam walks along the street.

INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT?

Bobby and Dean sit doing research.

Bobby: I never would have guessed that your daddy was right.

Dean: About what?

Bobby: About your brother.

Dean looks up.

Bobby: What John said-you save Sam or kill him. Maybe...

Dean: Maybe what?

Bobby: Maybe we shouldn't have tried so hard to save him.

Dean: Bobby.

Bobby: He ended the world, Dean. And you and I weren't strong enough to stop him proper. That's on us. I'm just saying, your dad was right.

Dean: Dad.

Dean rummages through his bag. He pulls out a plastic Ziplock full of cards.

Dean: It's got to be in here somewhere.

Bobby: What the hell are you talking about?

Dean: Here.

Dean pulls one out and reads it. Bobby stands up. Dean comes over.

Dean: I don't believe it.

Bobby: What the hell is it?

Dean: It's a card for my dad's lockup in upstate New York. Read it.

Bobby takes the card.

Bobby: "Castle Storage. 42 Rover Hill."

Dean: Castle on a hill of forty-two dogs.

Dean takes the card back.

Bobby: So you think your dad had the Michael sword all this time?

Dean: I don't know. I'm not sure what else Chuck could have meant.

Bobby: Yeah. Okay. It's good enough for me.

Bobby attacks Dean, knocking him through the barrier between the kitchenette and the beds. Bobby yanks Dean up and slams him down again. Bobby's eyes go black.

ACT THREE

MOTEL

INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT?

'Bobby' grabs Dean by the throat and drags him to his feet. A Female Demon enters, a MALE Demon behind her.

Female Demon: I always knew you were a big, dumb, slow, dim pain in the ass, Dean. But I never dreamed you were so V.I.P.

The Female Demon sees Ruby's knife on the table and picks it up.

Female Demon: I mean, you're gonna ice the devil? You? If I'd have known that, I'd have ripped your pretty, pretty face off ages ago.

Dean: Ruby.

Female Demon: Try again. Go back further.

Dean: Meg?

Meg: Hi. These are the days of miracle and wonder, Dean. Our father's among us. You know we're all dreaming again for the first time since we were human? It's heaven on earth. Or hell. We really owe your brother a fruit basket.

Dean: My god, you like the sound of your own voice.

Meg: But you, on the other hand, you're the only bump in the road. So every demon-every single one-is just dying for a piece of you.

Dean smirks.

Dean: Get in line.

Meg: Oh, I'm in the front of the line, baby. Let's ride.

Meg kisses Dean.

Dean: What is that, peanut butter?

Meg: You know, your surrogate daddy's still awake screaming in there. And I want him to know how it feels slicing the life out of you.

Meg hands the knife to 'Bobby', who raises it to Dean's throat. Dean struggles.

Dean: Bobby!

'Bobby' looks back at Meg.

Meg: Now!

'Bobby' raises the knife to stab Dean.

Dean: Bobby! No!

The black fades from 'Bobby's eyes. The knife comes down and Bobby flashes gold as the demon 'Bobby' dies: Bobby stabbed himself. Bobby collapses.

Dean rushes Meg and the MALE Demon. The MALE Demon slams Dean into the wall, then the floor. Sam enters and sees Bobby on the floor bleeding and Dean getting beaten.

Sam: No!

Meg: Heya, Sammy. You miss me? 'Cause I sure missed you.

Sam: Meg?

Meg grins. Sam swings and misses. Meg kicks him in the crotch and knocks him to the ground while the MALE Demon pounds Dean.

Meg: It's not so easy without those super-special demon powers, huh, Sammy?

The MALE Demon kicks Dean. Meg punches Sam. Dean kicks the feet out from under the MALE Demon, grabs the knife out of Bobby's stomach and stabs the MALE Demon in the chest. Dean stands up. Meg backs away. Dean advances. Meg screams and smokes out of the Woman, who collapses. Dean lowers the knife.

Nick's HOUSE

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Pike Creek, Delaware

Nick carries a blanket and teddy bears past a freestanding baby rocker to a cardboard box. The rocker starts moving on its own. Nick turns to look, then goes over and stops it.

A baby's cry. Nick digs frantically through the box and pulls out a baby monitor. He stares at it, listening to the crying.

INT. NURSERY - NIGHT

Nick opens the door, still listening. He stares at the crib for a moment. The crying goes silent. He turns on the light. Silence. He turns away and the crying begins again. He turns back and sees blood pouring out of the crib onto the carpet.

Nick: No...

Nick goes up to the crib and falls to his knees, sobbing.

The crib is empty. It and the carpet are clean.

EMERGENCY ROOM

INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - NIGHT

Dean and Sam burst into a hospital emergency room, carrying Bobby.

Dean: Need some help here!

Nurse: What happened?

Sam: He was stabbed.

Nurse: Can we get a gurney?

Two NURSES rush a gurney over to Bobby.

Dean: Hang on, Bobby. Hang in there. You're gonna be okay.

They get Bobby onto the gurney and rush him off. Sam and Dean follow. The Nurse stops them.

Nurse: Just wait here.

Sam: We can't just leave him.

Nurse: Just don't move. I've got questions.

The Nurse leaves.

Dean: Sammy, we got to go.

Sam: No. No way, Dean.

Dean: The demons heard where the sword is. We got to get to it before they do, if we're not too late already. Come on!

Dean leaves. Sam follows.

John's LOCKUP

EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

The Impala rushes along.

EXT. CASTLE STORAGE - NIGHT

Dean opens the trunk. He and Sam load guns and close the trunk. Dean unlocks the storage room, Sam standing watch.

INT. John's LOCKUP - NIGHT

Sam and Dean enter the room, shotguns ready. They find dead demons sprawled across the floor.

Zachariah: I see you told the demons where the sword is.

Dean and Sam turn. Zachariah is there with two ANGELS escorting.

Dean: Oh, thank god. The angels are here.

Zachariah: And to think...they could have grabbed it any time they wanted.

Zachariah waves a hand to close the door.

Zachariah: It was right in front of them.

Sam: What do you mean?

Zachariah: We may have planted that particular piece of prophecy inside Chuck's skull, but it happened to be true. We did lose the Michael sword. We truly couldn't find it. Until now. You've just hand-delivered it to us.

Dean: We don't have anything.

Zachariah: It's you, Chucklehead. You're the Michael sword.

Dean stares.

ACT FOUR

John's LOCKUP

INT. John's LOCKUP - NIGHT

Zachariah continues to address Dean.

Zachariah: What, you thought you could actually kill Lucifer? You simpering wad of insecurity and self-loathing? No. You're just a human, Dean. And not much of one.

Dean: What do you mean, I'm the sword?

Zachariah: You're Michael's weapon. Or, rather, his...receptacle.

Dean: I'm a vessel?

Zachariah: You're the[i]vessel. Michael's vessel.

Dean: How? Why-why me?

Zachariah: Because you're chosen! It's a great honor, Dean.

Dean: Oh, yeah. Yeah, life as an angel condom. That's real fun. I think I'll pass, thanks.

Zachariah: Joking. Always joking. Well...no more jokes.

Zachariah raises one hand, fingers like a gun, and points at Dean, then shifts to Sam.

Zachariah: Bang.

A loud crunch. Sam falls, unable to stand.

Sam: God!

Dean: You son of a bitch!

Zachariah: Keep mouthing off, I'll break more than his legs. I am completely and utterly through screwing around. The war has begun. We don't have our general. That's bad. Now, Michael is going to take his vessel and lead the final charge against the adversary. You understand me?

Dean: How many humans die in the crossfire, huh? A million? Five, ten?

Zachariah: Probably more. If Lucifer goes unchecked, you know how many die? All of them. He'll roast the planet alive.

Dean: There's a reason you're telling me this instead of just nabbing me. You need my consent. Michael needs my say-so to ride around in my skin.

Zachariah: Unfortunately, yes.

Dean: Well, there's got to be another way.

Zachariah: There is no other way. There must be a battle. Michael must defeat the serpent. It is written.

Dean: Yeah, maybe. But, on the other hand... Eat me. The answer's no.

Zachariah: Okay. How about this? Your friend Bobby-we know he's gravely injured. Say yes, and we'll heal him. Say no, he'll never walk again.

Sam glances up at Dean.

Dean: No.

Zachariah: Then how about we heal you from...stage-four stomach cancer?

Dean doubles over, coughing. He spits into his palm: blood.

Dean: No.

Zachariah: Then let's get really creative. Uh, let's see how...Sam does without his lungs.

Dean turns to look at Sam, who gasps for breath.

Zachariah: Are we having fun yet? You're going to say yes, Dean.

Dean: Just kill us.

Zachariah: Kill you? Oh, no. I'm just getting started.

Bright light flashes. Zachariah turns. One of the ANGELS collapses, a bloody hole in his throat. Castiel stands beside him. The other ANGEL fights Castiel. Dean and Zachariah stare; Sam tries to take a breath. Castiel and the ANGEL slam each other around. Castiel stabs the other angel in the back. Bright light flashes. Zachariah stares. Castiel walks closer. In the background, Sam is still and silent.

Zachariah: How are you...

Castiel: Alive? That's a good question. How did these two end up on that airplane? Another good question. 'Cause the angels didn't do it. I think we both know the answer, don't we?

Zachariah: No. That's not possible.

Castiel: It scares you. Well, it should. Now, put these boys back together and go. I won't ask twice.

Zachariah vanishes. Sam looks up and around, surprised. Dean and Sam stand up.

Castiel: You two need to be more careful.

Dean: Yeah, I'm starting to get that. Your frat brothers are bigger dicks than I thought.

Castiel: I don't mean the angels. Lucifer is circling his vessel. And once he takes it, those hex bags won't be enough to protect you.

Castiel puts one hand on Dean's chest, the other on Sam's. Dean and Sam gasp.

Dean: What the hell was that?

Castiel: An Enochian sigil. It'll hide you from every angel in creation, including Lucifer.

Dean: What, did you just brand us with it?

Castiel: No. I carved it into your ribs.

A pause.

Sam: Hey, Cas, were you really dead?

Castiel: Yes.

Dean: Then how are you back?

Castiel vanishes. Sam and Dean are alone with the dead.

Nick's HOUSE

[i]INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Nick lies in bed in an empty room.

Sarah: Nick.

Nick sits up. Sarah stands at the foot of the bed.

Sarah: Nick. You're dreaming, Nick. But it doesn't mean this isn't real.

Nick: Sarah?

Sarah: I'm not your wife, Nick. I'm an angel.

Nick: An angel?

Sarah: My name is Lucifer.

Nick: Sure. Naturally. Um... Could you do me a favor there, Satan, and remind me to quit drinking before I go to bed?

Lucifer: I'm here because you're special, Nick. There's very, very few people like you.

Nick: Is that so?

Lucifer: You're a vessel-a very powerful vessel.

Nick swings his legs off the bed.

Nick: Meaning what, exactly?

Lucifer: I need to take control of your mind and your body. To be honest, it'll probably be unpleasant for you. But it is necessary.

Nick: Okay, look...if it's just the Same to you, I think I'd like to wake up now.

Lucifer: I told you-this is real. Don't be afraid. This is your choice.

Lucifer sits on the bed next to Nick.

Lucifer: You need to invite me in.

Nick: Even if this is real-which it's not, but assuming it was...why the hell would I do something like that?

Lucifer: You people misunderstand me. You call me "Satan" and "devil", but... Do you know my crime? I loved God too much. And for that, he betrayed me-punished me. Just as he's punished you. After all, how could God stand idly by while that man broke into your home and butchered your family in their beds?

Nick swallows, not looking at her.

Lucifer: There are only two rational answers, Nick-either he's sadistic, or he simply doesn't care. You're angry. You have every right to be angry. I am angry, too. That's why I want to find him-hold him accountable for his actions. Just because he created us doesn't mean he can toy with us, like playthings.

Nick: If I help you...can you bring back my family?

Lucifer: I'm sorry. I can't. But I can give you the next best thing. God did this to you, Nick. And I can give you justice. Peace.

Nick: How do I know you're telling the truth?

Lucifer: Because, contrary to popular belief, I don't lie. I don't need to. What I need...is you. Nick, I need you to say yes.

Nick remembers the empty baby rocker, the blood pouring from the crib, the empty crib.

Nick: Then yes.

EXT. Nick's HOUSE - NIGHT

The high-pitched screech of angel speech. White light flares from all the upper windows of Nick's house.

EPILOGUE

INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT

A Nurse walks down a hospital corridor past a PATIENT with a mobile IV stand. Both pass a closed door, behind which Bobby is heard yelling.

Bobby: "Unlikely to walk again"?! Why, you snot-nosed son of a bitch! Wait till I get out of this bed!

The door bursts open and a Doctor flees. Inside, Bobby sits in a hospital bed and Sam and Dean stand by the window.

Bobby: I'll use my game leg and kick your friggin' ass! Yeah, you better run!

Bobby looks over at Sam and Dean.

Bobby: You believe that yahoo?

Dean: Screw him. You'll be fine.

Sam: So, let me ask the million-dollar question. What do we do now?

Bobby: Well... We save as many as we can for as long as we can, I guess. It's bad. Whoever wins, heaven or hell, we're boned.

Dean: What if we win?

Bobby stares at him. Sam turns to face Dean, who sounds a bit too confident.

Dean: I'm serious. I mean, screw the angels and the demons and their crap apocalypse. Hell, they want to fight a war, they can find their own planet. This one's ours, and I say they get the hell off it. We take 'em all on. We kill the devil. Hell, we even kill Michael if we have to. But we do it our own damn selves.

Bobby: And how are we supposed to do all this, genius?

Dean: I got no idea. But what I do have is a GED and a give-'em-hell attitude, and I'll figure it out.

Bobby: You are nine kinds of crazy, boy.

Dean: It's been said.

Dean pats Bobby on the shoulder.

Dean: Listen, you stay on the mend. We'll see you in a bit.

Dean heads for the door. Sam follows.

Bobby: Sam?

Sam stops.

Bobby: I was awake. I know what I said back there. I just want you to know that...that was[i]the demon talking. I ain't cutting you out, boy. Not ever.

A long pause. Sam sighs.

Sam: Thanks, Bobby.

Bobby: You're welcome. I deserve a damn medal for this, but...you're welcome.

Dean and Sam leave.

[i]EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT

An ambulance drives past. Sam and Dean walk out to the cars.

Sam: You know, I was thinking, Dean-maybe we could go after the Colt.

Dean: Why? What difference would that make?

Sam: Well, we could use it on Lucifer. I mean, you just said back there-

Dean: I just said a bunch of crap for Bobby's benefit.

Dean stops in the middle of the road. Sam stops, looking at him.

Dean: I mean, I'll fight. I'll fight till the last man, but let's at least be honest. I mean, we don't stand a snowball's chance, and you know that. I mean, hell, you of all people know that.

Dean goes around Sam.

Sam: Dean...

Dean stops and turns back.

Sam: Is there something you want to say to me?

A long pause.

Dean: I tried, Sammy. I mean, I really tried. But I just can't keep pretending that everything's all right. Because it's not. And it's never going to be. You chose a demon over your own brother-

Sam rolls his eyes.

Dean: -and look what happened.

Sam: I would give anything-anything-to take it all back.

Dean: I know you would. And I know how sorry you are. I do. But, man...you were the one that I depended on the most. And you let me down in ways that I can't even...

Dean pauses, struggling for words.

Dean: I'm just-I'm having a hard time forgiving and forgetting here. You know?

Sam: What can I do?

Dean: Honestly? Nothing.

Sam nods a little, looking down: this doesn't surprise him.

Dean: I just don't...I don't think that we can ever be what we were. You know?

Sam nods again: this isn't a surprise either.

Dean: I just don't think I can trust you.

Sam looks up: this he wasn't expecting. Dean shakes his head and walks away, pausing at the trunk of the Impala to look back, then gets into the driver's seat.