5.06 I Believe the Children Are Our Future

Air Date: 15 Oct 2009

THEN

Dean: You chose a demon over your own brother, and look what happened.

I did it. I started the apocalypse, and I set Lucifer free.

Sam: I'm sorry. I would give anything-

Anything-to take it all back.

Dean: I know you would.

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

If we're gonna be a team, you and I-

Sam: It has to be a two-way street.

We got to just grab on to whatever's in front of us-

-kick its ass and go down fighting.

Dean: I can get on board with that.

NOW

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Alliance, Nebraska

A Young Woman, whose name is AMBER, watches a movie on television. A hairbrush sits on top of the TV. AMBER leans forward and takes the brush, brushing her hair while she watches. AMBER hears something and turns around. She puts the brush back and gets up to look around.

AMBER

Jimmy?

AMBER walks a little further and slides a closet open-she is wearing plastic nails-to reveal a Boy, JIMMY, unmoving and covered in something red that looks like blood. AMBER sighs.

AMBER

I told you to go to bed.

JIMMY answers with minimal movement.

JIMMY

I can't. I'm dead.

AMBER leans down to touch the red stuff.

AMBER

What is this-ketchup? Gross!

JIMMY gets up.

JIMMY

Ow! You're mean.

AMBER

Yeah, that's what your parents pay me for-to be mean.

AMBER puts a hand on JIMMY's shoulder, pushing him along. He's wearing a headband with arrow halves on either side.

AMBER

Bed-now!

JIMMY

Okay, okay. Just wait.

AMBER lets go. JIMMY turns around and takes off the headband.

JIMMY

Wait. I'll go to bed if[i]you let me touch your boob.

AMBER sighs, shoving JIMMY along.

AMBER

Oh! Go!

AMBER watches JIMMY climb the stairs, then goes back to the movie. She hears barking and turns off the TV; the barking continues. AMBER goes to the window and moves the curtains to look out.

[i]EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

There's nothing but static on the TV. A Man and Woman, JIMMY's parents, walk past the window and into the house. AMBER is lying on her side on the sofa, apparently asleep.

JIMMY's Father

I'll, uh, take Amber home. Don't wait up.

The MOTHER, whose name is FRANCINE, goes upstairs. The Father shuts off the TV and goes to the back of the sofa.

JIMMY's Father

Amber.

No response.

JIMMY's Father

Amber.

No response.

JIMMY's Father

Amber?

The Father leans down to touch AMBER and feels something squelch. He turns on the light and looks at the liquid on his fingers: blood. The Father rolls AMBER onto her back. There is a hole in her skull that shows her brain.

JIMMY's Father

Francine!

ACT ONE

MORGUE

INT. MORGUE - DAY

Dean and Sam, wearing suits, hold up FBI badges.

Dean: Agents Page and Plant, FBI.

I BELIEVE THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE

Doctor: Gentlemen. What brings you by?

Sam: We need to see Amber Freer's body.

Doctor: Really? What for?

Starring

JARED PADALECKI

Dean: The police report said something clawed through her skull?

Doctor: You didn't read the autopsy report that I emailed out this morning?

JENSEN ACKLES

Sam: W-we had, uh, server issues.

MISHA COLLINS

The Doctor walks away. Dean and Sam follow. The Doctor opens one of the freezers and pulls out the slab with AMBER's body. He tosses back the sheet from her head.

Doctor: When they brought her in, we thought she was attacked by a wolf or something.

Dean: Or something.

Doctor: But we were wrong.

The Doctor picks up a plastic bag from the slab and shows it to Dean and Sam.

Sam: Is that a-

Doctor: It's a press-on nail. We found it in her temporal lobe.

Sam: Is that even possible?

Dean: Wait, are you-you saying that she did this to herself?

Sam: Uh-huh. She scratched her brains out. It'd take hours, and it'd hurt like hell, but sure-it's possible.

Dean: How?

Doctor: Pick your acronym-OCD, PCP. It all spells crazy.

Sam pulls back the sheet a little further. AMBER's right hand has four press-on nails still attached; the middle finger has nothing.

Doctor: My guess, some kind of phantom itch. I mean, an extreme case, but...

Sam: Phantom itch?

Doctor: Yup.

The Doctor covers AMBER's head and slides the slab back into the freezer, closing the door.

Guest Starring

GATTLIN GRIFFITH

Doctor: All it takes is someone talking about an itch-or thinking about one, even-and suddenly you can't stop scratching.

Sam: Thanks, doc.

EVER CARRADINE

Sam scratches under his collar and Dean scratches his ear.

JIMMY's HOUSE

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Sam is sitting in the armchair in JIMMY's family's living room, holding a notebook and pen, and JIMMY's Father and FRANCINE are sitting on the sofa. Dean is wandering around behind them.

Sam: Okay. Okay, now, some of these questions might seem a bit odd, but please just bear with me.

Co-Producer

Jeremy CARVER

Sam: Have you noticed any cold spots in the house?

Co-Producers

JERRY WANEK

SERGE LADOUCEUR

JIMMY's Father

Uh...no.

Sam: Okay, uh, what about strange smells?

Producer

TODD ARONAUER

Dean looks around a corner. JIMMY is there.

JIMMY

Whatcha lookin' for?

Co-Executive Producer

PETER JohnSON

Dean: Don't know yet.

Dean walks up to JIMMY.

Executive Producer

SERA GAMBLE

Dean: It's, uh, Jimmy, right?

JIMMY nods.

Executive Producer

BEN EDLUND

Dean: So, Amber was your babysitter?

JIMMY

Yes, sir.

Dean: Yeah, most of my babysitters sucked.

Executive Producer

PHIL SGRICCIA

Dean: Especially Ms. Chancey. She only cared about two things.

Executive Producer

McG

Dean: Dynasty[i]and bedtime.

Dean Chuckles.

Dean: Did you, uh, you see anything strange that night?

JIMMY

No, sir.

Dean: You sure about that?

JIMMY

I-I would tell you if I knew something.

Dean looks at him.

JIMMY

I promise. One hundred percent. Cross my heart.

Produced by

JIM MICHAELS

Dean looks back over his shoulder, then back at JIMMY.

Dean: Well, Jimmy, I, uh...I happen to know you're lying.

JIMMY

I'm not.

Dean leans down and puts a hand on JIMMY's shoulder.

Dean: We gonna start talking truth, or are you and me gonna have to take a little trip downtown?

[i]EXT. HOUSE - DAY

Dean and Sam are leaving. Dean holds up a packet of itching powder.

Dean: Kid said he put this on the babysitter's hairbrush.

Sam: Dean, there's no way-

Created by

ERIC KRIPKE

Sam: -itching powder made that girl scratch her brains out. It's just ground-up maple seeds.

Written by

ANDREW DABB

& DANIEL LOFLIN

Dean: If you have any other theories, I'm open to 'em.

A cell phone rings. Sam pulls his out and answers it. Dean opens the Impala's driver's door.

Sam: Yeah? ...Yeah, we'll be right there.

Sam goes around behind the car. Dean gets in the car and closes the door.

HOSPITAL

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

A Nurse zips up a body bag and he and another Nurse roll it out of the room while the Doctor watches from the corridor. Sam and Dean come up behind him.

Sam: What happened?

Doctor: Guy got electrocuted.

Dean: Any idea how?

Doctor: Eh, maybe a loose wire or a piece of equipment shorted out. So far, we haven't found anything.

Sam: Witnesses?

Doctor: Yeah, guy in there-Mr. Stanley.

StanLEY is an old man sitting in a chair in the room, looking out the window.

Doctor: He says he saw it, but he's not making a lick of sense. Senile.

Sam: Thanks.

Sam and Dean enter the room. The Doctor leaves.

Sam: Um, Mr. Stanley?

StanLEY

It was just a joke. I didn't know it would really work.

Dean: What would work?

StanLEY looks at Dean.

StanLEY

All I did was shake his hand.

StanLEY holds out his hand: he's holding a joy buzzer. Sam and Dean look at it and each other.

MOTEL

INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY

Dean puts on a pair of goggles and a pair of gloves. He adjusts the goggles and picks up the joy buzzer. He looks at the joy buzzer for a moment, then turns to Sam.

Dean: You ready?

Sam: Hit it, Mr. Wizard.

Sam holds another pair of goggles to his eyes.

There is a large uncooked ham in two stacked aluminum-foil pans sitting on the table in front of Dean. Dean holds the joy buzzer over the ham, hesitates, and presses it to the ham. Electricity crackles. Steam rises from the ham as it changes color. When the ham is blackened, Dean removes the joy buzzer. The ham sizzles. Sam lowers the goggles and gawks. Dean flips up the dark-plastic visor on the goggles.

Dean: That'll do, pig.

Sam: What the hell?

Dean takes off the goggles, still staring at the now-cooked ham.

Sam: That crap isn't supposed to work.

Dean: This thing doesn't even have batteries.

Dean has taken off one glove and now removes the other.

Sam: So...so, what? Are-are we looking at cursed objects?

Dean: Sounds good.

Dean pulls out a knife, flips it open, and cuts a piece off the ham.

Dean: Maybe there's a powerful witch in town.

Dean eats the piece of ham.

Dean: Is there any link between the, uh, the joy buzzer and the itching powder?

Sam: Uh, one was made in China, the other Mexico, but they were both bought from the Same store.

Dean cuts off another piece of ham.

Dean: Hmm.

Dean holds up the piece of ham. Sam shakes his head. Dean eats the ham.

CONJURARIUM

INT. CONJURARIUM - DAY

Seen through the glass on the store door, Dean and Sam walk up. The door chimes when they walk in. Someone laughs and the door chimes again. Dean and Sam walk around.

Dean: Sam!

Dean picks up a whoopee cushion and holds it up, grinning. Sam sighs and shakes his head, turning away. Dean brings the whoopee cushion up to the checkout counter, which has a display of rubber chickens next to it. The OWNER comes out of the back room.

OWNER

Welcome to the Conjurarium, sanctum of magic and mystery.

Sam comes up to the counter.

Sam: You the owner?

OWNER

Yep.

Dean: You sold any itching powder or joy buzzers lately?

OWNER

Yeah, a grand total of one of each. They aren't exactly big-ticket items. Look, you boys here to buy something or what?

Dean pulls some cash out of his wallet, holds up the whoopee cushion, and hands the OWNER the cash.

Sam: So, you get many customers?

OWNER

Kids come in. They don't buy much, but they're more than happy to break stuff. These days, all they care about are their iPhones and those kissing-vampire movies. The whole thing makes me just-

Dean: Angry?

The OWNER pauses, then nods.

OWNER

Yeah. Yeah, I am angry. This shop has been my life for twenty years, and now it's wasting away to nothing.

Dean: Which is why you hate them.

OWNER

I suppose.

Dean: You wish there was something you could do about it.

OWNER

Yeah, I guess I do.

Dean: So you're taking revenge.

Dean pulls a rubber chicken off the display and slaps it down on the counter.

Dean: With this.

Dean holds up the joy buzzer and presses it to the rubber chicken. Electricity crackles. The OWNER yelps and leaps back.

OWNER

Oh! No!

The rubber chicken melts. The OWNER stares, making inarticulate noises. Dean and Sam watch the OWNER.

Sam: Yeah, something tells me this guy is not a powerful witch.

Dean: Sorry. Sorry.

Dean and Sam leave.

ANOTHER HOUSE

EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT

INT. Girl's BEDROOM - NIGHT

A Girl's Father holds up a baby tooth to show the Girl, who is sitting in bed.

Girl's Father

I'll just slip this tooth under your pillow, and while you're asleep, the tooth fairy will float down and swap it out for a quarter.

Girl: So some freak is gonna come in my room while I'm sleeping and take my tooth? Sounds scary. No, thank you.

Girl's Father

Come on.

The Father stands up and fusses with the Girl's pillows. The Girl lies back and the Father tucks her in, then gives her a kiss.

Girl's Father

Good night, sweetie.

The Father turns off the light as he leaves. The Girl shifts position.

INT. Father's BEDROOM - NIGHT

The Girl sneaks into her Father's room, tooth in hand, hides it under his pillow, and sneaks out. He doesn't notice. He rolls over. A long pause.

A hand covers the Father's mouth. He startles awake. A Man is standing there, wearing a pink tutu and sparkly wings: it's the TOOTH FAIRY.

TOOTH FAIRY

Shh! Hold still. You might feel just a little...pinch.

The TOOTH FAIRY reaches into the Father's mouth with a pair of pliers. The Father tries to scream. The TOOTH FAIRY pulls out a tooth.

ACT TWO

HOSPITAL

INT. HOSPITAL - DAY

The Girl's Father is lying in a hospital bed. A Nurse offers him a glass with a straw. He waves it away. Sam is in the room with a notebook and pen; he leaves. Dean is in the corridor, talking to another Nurse, whose name is JEN FREMONT.

Dean: Well, I, uh, appreciate that, Nurse...

Dean reads her name tag.

Dean: Fremont.

FREMONT

Please-call me Jen.

Dean: Oh. Jen it is.

FREMONT smiles at Dean and leaves. Sam clears his throat. Dean turns to him, clapping once.

Dean: What's up with Toothless? Cavity creeps get ahold of him?

Sam: Yeah. Close. He wrote up a description.

Sam reads from his notebook.

Sam: Five foot ten, three hundred fifty pounds, wings, and a pink tutu. Said it was the tooth fairy.

Dean: So he's obviously whacked out on painkillers.

Sam: Maybe. Whatever it was got past locked doors and windows without triggering the alarm.

Dean: Come on. Tooth fairy?

Sam: And it left thirty-two quarters underneath his pillow. One for each tooth.

Dean nods.

Dean: Well, I will see your crazy and raise you some. There's a couple of kids upstairs with stomach ulcers-say they got it from mixing Pop Rocks and Coke. Another guy...his face...froze that way.

Sam: What way?

Dean looks in all directions, then pulls out the sides of his mouth and crosses his eyes. He holds it for a moment and lets go.

Dean: He, uh, held it too long, and it-it stuck. They're flying in a plastic surgeon.

Dean pokes at his cheeks and wiggles his chin.

Sam: So, I mean, if you add all that up...

Sam hesitates. Dean raises his eyebrows.

Sam: I got nothing.

Sam starts down the hallway past Dean, who turns around to walk alongside him.

Dean: I thought sea-monkeys were real.

Sam: They are. They're brine shrimp.

Dean: No, no, no, I mean like in the ads. You know, like the sea-monkey wife cooks the pot roast for the sea-monkey husband, and the sea-monkey kids play with the dog in a sea-monkey castle-real. I mean, I was six, but I believed it.

Sam: Okay.

Dean: Point is...

Dean stops. Sam stops and turns.

Dean: Maybe that's the connection. The tooth fairy, the Pop Rocks and Coke, the joy buzzer that shocks you-they're all lies that kids believe.

Sam: And now they're coming true. Okay, so whatever's doing this is-is reshaping reality. It has the powers of a god. Or-

Sam rolls his eyes.

Sam: -of a trickster.

Dean: Yeah, with the sense of humor of a nine-year-old.

Sam: Or you.

Sam walks off. Dean follows.

MOTEL

INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY

Dean sits at the table and takes another bite from a sandwich. The remnants of the cooked ham sit on the table. The door opens and Sam comes in, holding a map. Dean looks up.

Sam: Dude, seriously-still with the ham?

Dean talks through the mouthful.

Dean: We don't have a fridge.

Sam closes the door and puts the map down in front of Dean.

Sam: Well, I found something.

Dean stands up for a better view. Sam points to a red X on the map for every incident.

Sam: Um, tooth fairy attack was here, Pop Rocks and Coke was here, then you've got itching powder, face freeze, and joy buzzer-all located within a two-mile radius.

Sam indicates the area containing all the red X's.

Dean: So, we got a blast zone of weird, and inside, fantasy becomes reality.

Sam: Looks like.

Dean: And what's the A-bomb at its center?

Sam: Four acres of farmland...and a house.

Dean: Our motel isn't in that circle, by any chance?

Sam: Yeah. Why?

Dean hesitates, then holds up his right hand: the palm is covered in hair. Sam looks away, closing his eyes.

Sam: Ugh, dude-

Sam sighs.

Sam: That's not what I think it is, is it?

Dean: I got bored. That nurse was hot.

Dean grins.

Sam: You know you can go blind from that, too.

Dean: Give me five minutes. We'll go check out that house.

Dean walks around Sam.

Sam: Hey, do not use my razor!

Dean smirks.

Jesse's HOUSE

EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

A mail truck drives past the house and past the Impala, which pulls up and parks. Dean and Sam, wearing suits, get out and cross the street, walking up to the house. Dean checks Ruby's knife, which is tucked into his belt. Sam bends down to pick the lock, but straightens up in a hurry when the door opens. A Boy is there; his name is Jesse.

Jesse: Can I help you?

Sam: Hi. Uh, what's your name?

Jesse: Who wants to know?

Sam and Dean glance at each other.

Dean: The, uh...

Dean clears his throat and pulls out his badge, showing it to Jesse while Sam goes for his badge.

Dean: FBI.

Sam holds up his badge. Jesse takes Dean's.

Jesse: Let me see that.

Jesse examines Dean's badge and hands it back. Sam puts his away.

Jesse: So, what, you guys don't knock?

Dean: Are your parents home?

Jesse: They work.

Sam: Well, you mind if we ask you a few questions, maybe take a look around the house?

Jesse: I don't know.

Dean: Come on. You can trust us. We're the authorities.

Dean holds up his badge again. Jesse is unimpressed. He glances between the two of them. Dean and Sam try to smile reassuringly.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

A pot of soup is boiling on the stove. Jesse goes up to it and turns it off. Sam and Dean follow him into the kitchen, looking around. Dean hangs back.

Sam: What's that?

Jesse: It's called soup.

Jesse takes the pot off the stove.

Jesse: You heat it up and you eat it.

Sam Chuckles.

Sam: Right. I, I know. It's just, um...I used to make my own dinner, too, when I was a kid.

Jesse: Well, I'm not a kid.

Dean notices the artwork on the fridge.

Sam: Right. No, I, I know. Um...

Sam holds out a hand.

Sam: I'm Robert, by the way.

Jesse shakes Sam's hand.

Jesse: Jesse.

Sam: Jesse, nice to meet you.

Dean steps closer, holding a picture of a bearded man with pink wings and tutu.

Dean: Did you draw this?

Jesse nods.

Jesse: It's the tooth fairy.

Dean: That's what you think the tooth fairy looks like, huh?

Jesse: Yeah. My dad told me about him.

Dean glances at Sam.

Dean: Huh.

Jesse: What, didn't your dad tell you about the tooth fairy?

Dean: My dad?

Dean Chuckles.

Dean: My dad told me different stories.

Jesse: Well, the tooth fairy isn't a story.

Jesse: What do you know about itching powder, Jesse?

Jesse: That stuff will make you scratch your brains out.

Dean: Pop Rocks and Coke?

Jesse: You mix them, and you'll end up in the hospital. Everyone knows that.

Dean pulls the joy buzzer out of his pocket and holds it up.

Jesse: You shouldn't have that.

Dean: Why not?

Jesse: It can electrocute you.

Dean: Actually, it can't. It's just a wind-up toy. It's totally harmless. Doesn't even have batteries.

Jesse: So it can't shock you?

Dean: Nope. Not at all. I swear.

Jesse: Oh. Okay.

Dean: I mean, all it does is just shake in your hand. It's kind of lame. See?

Dean presses the joy buzzer to Sam's chest. It buzzes. Sam stiffens up and turns to Dean, looking murderous.

Dean: What did you say your name was, again?

ACT THREE

Jesse's HOUSE

EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

Sam and Dean leave Jesse's house.

Sam: Dude, what the hell?

Dean: I had a hunch. I went with it.

Sam: You risked my ass on a hunch?

Dean: You're fine.

Sam: Besides, now we know who's turning this town into Willy Wonka's worst nightmare.

Sam: The kid.

Sam stops walking; so does Dean.

Dean: Yeah. Everything Jesse believes comes true. He thinks the tooth fairy looks like Belushi, uh, joy buzzers really shock people, boom, that's what happens.

Sam: Yeah, but convince him the joy buzzers don't actually work, and they go from killing machines back into crap toys.

Dean: He probably doesn't even know he's doing it.

Dean and Sam look back at the house. The curtains on an upstairs window part and Jesse looks out at them. Dean waves.

Dean: How is he doing it?

Dean and Sam walk away. Jesse watches them go.

MOTEL

INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY

Dean, still in his suit though without the jacket, sits in bed, reading something that isn't John's journal. The door opens. Dean looks up. Sam, still in his suit and jacket, closes the door.

Sam: So, dug up what I could on Jesse Turner. It's not much. Uh, B student, won last year's Pinewood Derby. But get this. Jesse was adopted. His birth records are sealed.

Dean: So you unsealed them, and?

Sam: There's no father listed, but Jesse's biological mom is named Julia Wright. She lives in Elk Creek, on the other side of the state.

Dean closes his book and throws it down on the bed.

JULIA's HOUSE

EXT. RUNDOWN HOUSE - DAY

A sign reading "NO TRESPASSING" hangs on the gate of a rusty, overgrown fence. Dean pushes the gate open and walks through, Sam right behind.

Elk Creek, Nebraska

Sam and Dean walk around to the front door, which has two deadbolts. Dean rings the doorbell. A woman, JULIA, speaks without opening the door.

JULIA

Whatever you're selling, I'm not interested.

Dean looks at Sam.

Dean: We're not salesmen. Agents Page and Plant, FBI.

Dean and Sam pull out their badges and hold them up to the peephole.

JULIA

Put your badge in the slot. Your partner's, too.

Dean obeys. A pause while the locks clatter. The door opens. JULIA hands back the badges.

JULIA

What do you want?

Sam: Um...

Sam and Dean put their badges away.

Sam: We just had a few questions. About your son.

JULIA

I don't have a son.

Sam: He was born March twenty-ninth, nineteen ninety-eight, in Omaha.

JULIA looks up, face expressionless.

Sam: You put him up for adoption?

JULIA

What about him?

Sam: We were just wondering, um, was it...was it a normal pregnancy?

JULIA says nothing.

Dean: Was there anything strange?

JULIA slams the door.

JULIA

Stay away from me!

Dean: Mrs. Wright, wait!

Dean pushes the door open and he and Sam follow JULIA inside. JULIA runs to the kitchen and shuts the door, but quickly realizes she can't hold it shut against two large men and retreats. Dean pushes the door open.

Dean: We just want to talk!

JULIA grabs a canister of table salt, wrenches it open, and tosses the contents at Dean and Sam. When it hits them, nothing happens. JULIA stares; this isn't what she expected. Dean and Sam stare back.

JULIA

You're not demons?

Dean: How do you know about demons?

JULIA's PAST

INT. DINING ROOM - DAY

JULIA sits at the table with a cup of tea. She sets the cup on a saucer and folds her arms.

JULIA

I was possessed. A demon took control of my body, and I hurt people. I killed people.

Sam and Dean are sitting across from JULIA.

Sam: That, that wasn't you.

JULIA

But I was there. I heard a woman beg for mercy. I...felt a young girl's blood drip down my hands.

Dean: That's how you knew about the salt.

JULIA

Yeah, I picked up tricks. It was in my head for months.

Dean: How many months?

JULIA

Nine.

Sam: So your son...

JULIA

Yeah, the whole time. The pregnancy, birth-all of it. I was possessed.

INT. EMPTY ROOM - NIGHT

Past-JULIA, heavily pregnant, lies on the floor, screaming. JULIA narrates the flashback in voiceover, with cuts back to the present day.

JULIA

The night the baby was born, I was alone. And the pain was-the pain was overwhelming. I, I screamed, and it came out a laugh, because the demon was happy. It used my body to give birth to a child. When it was over, something changed. Maybe the-the demon was tired or if the pain helped me fight it, but...

Past-JULIA has demon-black eyes.

JULIA

Somehow, I took control.

Past-JULIA squeezes her eyes shut and opens them: they're human. She pants, exhausted.

JULIA

And the demon wailed inside me. It pounded against my skull. I thought my head was gonna explode. But I knew. I knew what I had to do.

Past-JULIA grabs fistfuls out of a bag of road salt and pours it down her throat. Black smoke rushes out of her.

JULIA

And when I was alone with the baby...

A baby cries.

JULIA

A part of me...part of me wanted to kill it.

INT. DINING ROOM - DAY

The flashback is over.

JULIA

But, God help me, I couldn't do that. So, I put it up for adoption, and I ran.

Dean: Who was the father?

JULIA

I was a virgin.

Dean and Sam look at each other.

JULIA

Have you seen my son? Is he human?

Dean: His name's Jesse. He lives in, uh, Alliance. He's a good kid.

JULIA nods.

EXT. JULIA's HOUSE - DAY

Sam and Dean leave.

Sam: So, now what?

Dean: We need help.

MOTEL

INT. MOTEL - NIGHT

Sam and Dean enter the motel room. They both look up: Castiel is waiting for them.

Sam: I take it you got our message.

Sam sits at the table. Dean closes the door.

Castiel: It's lucky you found the boy.

Dean: Oh, yeah, real lucky. What do we do with him?

Castiel: Kill him.

Sam pauses in the middle of loosening his tie. He and Dean stare at Castiel. Castiel stares back.

Dean: Cas.

Castiel: This child is half demon and half human, but it's far more powerful than either. Other cultures call this hybrid cambion or katako. You know him as the antichrist.

Castiel sits at the table. Fart noises. The noises continue as Castiel shifts position. Dean watches, raising his eyebrows.

Castiel: That wasn't me.

Castiel pulls out a whoopee cushion, presumably the one Dean bought earlier.

Dean: Who put that there?

Sam: Anyway, I don't get it. Jesse is the devil's son?

Castiel sighs.

Castiel: No, of course not. Your Bible gets more wrong than it does right. The antichrist is not Lucifer's child. It's just demon spawn. But it is one of the devil's greatest weapons in the war against heaven.

Dean: Well, if Jesse's a demonic howitzer, then what the hell's he doing in Nebraska?

Castiel: The demons lost him. They can't find him. But they're looking.

Dean: And they lost him because?

Castiel: Because of the child's power. It hides him from both angels and demons. For now.

Dean: So he's got, like, a force field around him. Well, that's great. Problem solved.

Castiel: With Lucifer risen, this child grows strong. Soon, he will do more than just make a few toys come to life-something that will draw the demons to him. The demons will find this child. Lucifer will twist this boy to his purpose. And then, with a word, this child will desTroy the Host of Heaven.

Dean: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait. You're saying that-that Jesse's gonna nuke the angels?

Castiel: We cannot allow that to happen.

Sam: Wait.

Sam stands up.

Sam: We're the good guys. We-we don't just-kill children.

Castiel: A year ago, you would have done whatever it took to win this war.

Sam: Things change.

Dean steps forward, putting a hand on Sam's arm and putting himself between Sam and Castiel.

Dean: Okay. Hey, look, we are not going to kill him. All right? But we can't leave Jesse here either. We know that. So...we take him to Bobby's. He'll know what to do.

Castiel: You'll kidnap him? What is going on in this town, it's what happens when this thing is happy. You cannot imagine what it will do if it's angry. Besides, how will you hold him? With a thought, he could be halfway around the world.

Dean: So we-

Sam: So we tell him the truth. You say Jesse's destined to go dark side-fine. But he hasn't yet. So if we lay it all out for him-what he is, the apocalypse, everything-he might make the right choice.

A long pause.

Castiel: You didn't. And I can't take that chance.

Sam glares. Castiel vanishes. Sam sighs.

Sam: Damn it.

JULIA's HOUSE

EXT. JULIA's HOUSE - NIGHT

JULIA walks up to her door, then unlocks each of the locks. A MAILMAN walks up behind her. She turns around and gasps, startled.

JULIA

Oh. Sorry. I'm sorry.

MAILMAN

It's-it's no worries. You okay?

JULIA

Yeah. It's just today-a little...shaky.

MAILMAN

Ah. Well, talking to the Winchesters will do that to you.

JULIA's expression changes: no one should know that. The MAILMAN steps forward, pressing JULIA against the door.

MAILMAN

Don't you recognize me, sweetheart?

The MAILMAN's eyes go black: this is a Demon, presumably the Same one that once possessed JULIA.

Demon: We had some great times together, didn't we? And then you stole something from us, hid it away. That was very, very naughty of you. So we watched, and we waited. And now...they told you where he is, didn't they? I think it's time we go and visit our son.

The Demon holds JULIA's mouth open. Black smoke pours out of the MAILMAN's mouth into JULIA's, while the MAILMAN leans forward as if for a kiss. When the last of the black smoke is out of the MAILMAN, he drops like a stone. JULIA's eyes go black, and the Demon walks forward.

Jesse's HOUSE

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Jesse gets a cup of water from a five-gallon jug. Castiel appears. Jesse backs away, dropping the glass, which smashes.

Castiel: Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you.

Castiel advances, Ruby's knife held behind his back. Jesse continues to back away.

Jesse: Mom! Dad!

Castiel: Your mother and father are sleeping. I assure you, they won't wake until morning.

Jesse breathes hard.

Castiel: I'm sorry.

Castiel raises the knife.

Dean and Sam kick in the front door. Jesse stares at them.

Dean: Was there a guy here? In a trench coat?

Jesse points at the floor: there is an action figure wearing Castiel's suit and trench coat and holding a silver knife. Dean kneels to pick him up and looks up at Sam, then Jesse.

ACT FOUR

INT. Jesse's LIVING ROOM - DAY

Dean sets the Castiel action figure on the mantelpiece. Jesse is sitting on the couch, Sam on a chair.

Jesse: Was he your friend?

Dean: Him? No.

Jesse: I did that. But how did I do that?

Dean: You're a superhero.

Jesse: I am?

Dean: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, who else could turn someone into a toy? You're Superman-minus the cape and the go-go boots. See, my-my partner and I, we work for a secret government agency. It's our job to find kids with special powers. In fact, we're here to take you to a hidden base in South Dakota, where you'll be trained to fight evil.

Jesse: Like the X-Men?

Dean: Exactly like the X-Men.

Dean Chuckles.

Dean: In fact, the, uh, guy we're taking you to-he's even in a wheelchair. You'll be a hero. You'll save lives. You'll get the girl. Sounds like fun, right?

Dean is flung against the wall. The Demon possessing JULIA walks in.

Demon: They're lying to you.

Sam stands up. The Demon flings him against the wall with Dean. Jesse stands up.

Demon: Stay right there, dreamboat. Can't hurt you. Orders. You, on the other hand? Hurting you's encouraged.

The Demon flicks her wrist and slams Dean against the opposite wall, then back.

Dean: No! Uh!

Jesse: Leave him alone!

The Demon leans down to Jesse, speaking sweetly.

Demon: Jesse. You're beautiful. You have your father's eyes.

Jesse: Who are you?

Demon: I'm your mother.

Jesse: No, you're not.

Demon: Mm-hm. You're half human...half one of us.

Dean: She means demons, Jesse!

The Demon straightens and holds up a hand clenched into a fist. Dean groans in pain. The Demon leans back down to Jesse.

Demon: Those people you call your parents-they lied to you, too. You're not theirs-not really.

Jesse: My mom and dad love me.

Demon: Do they? Is-is that why they leave you alone all day? Because they love you so much? These people-these imposters-they told you that the tooth fairy was real and that your toys could hurt you and a hundred other things that aren't true. They love you so much, they made your whole life a lie. Look into your heart, Jesse. You've always known you weren't theirs. You've always known you were different. Everyone has lied to you. They're not FBI agents. And you're not a superhero.

Jesse: Then what am I?

Demon: You're powerful. You can have anything you want. You can do anything you want.

Dean: Don't listen to her, Jesse!

The Demon holds up a hand and Dean groans.

Demon: They treated you like a child. Nobody trusted you. Everybody's lied to you. Doesn't that make you angry?

Jesse clenches his fist. The room rattles. The Demon looks up, exultant. The fire flares up and the lights flicker.

Demon: See? It does make you angry. But I'm telling you the truth, Jesse.

Things begin to shatter.

Demon: Wouldn't it be better if there were no lies? Come with me and you can wash it all clean. Start over. Imagine that-a world without lies.

Sam: She's right. We lied to you.

The Demon looks at Sam, eyes black.

Sam: But I'll tell you the truth.

The Demon raises a fist. Something crunches. Sam tries to speak through the pressure on his throat.

Sam: I just want...to tell...

Jesse: Stop it.

Sam drops to the floor, released. He gasps in breath

Jesse: I want to hear what he has to say.

Demon: You're stronger than I thought.

Sam stands up.

Sam: We lied to you. And I'm sorry. So here's the truth. I'm Sam Winchester. That's my brother, Dean. W-we hunt monsters.

Demon: Except when you are the monster. Right, Sammy?

Sam: And that woman right there, her name is Julia. She's your mother. But the thing inside of her, the thing that you're talking to-it's a demon.

Jesse: A demon?

Demon: He's done nothing but lie to you since the moment you met him. Don't listen to him. Punish him.

Jesse: Sit down and shut up.

A chair scoots up behind the Demon, who is forced into it, silent. She struggles to speak.

Sam: There's, uh, kind of a...a war between angels and demons, and...you're a part of it.

Jesse: I'm just a kid.

Sam: You can go with her if you want. I can't stop you. No one can. But if you do...millions of people will die.

Jesse: She said I was half demon. Is that true?

Sam: Yes. But you're half human, too. You can do the right thing. You've got choices, Jesse. But if you make the wrong ones, it'll haunt you for the rest of your life.

Jesse: Why are you telling me this?!

Sam: Because I have to believe someone can make the right choice, even if I couldn't.

Jesse thinks about this. He clenches his fist and looks at the Demon.

Jesse: Get out of her.

The chair flies back against the wall. Black smoke pours out of JULIA's mouth and vanishes up the chimney. Dean drops to the ground, panting.

Dean: How did you do that?

Jesse: I just did.

Dean: Kid...you're awesome.

EPILOGUE

Jesse's HOUSE

INT. Jesse's LIVING ROOM - DAY

Jesse looks at JULIA, slumped in the chair.

Jesse: Is she gonna be all right?

Dean looks at JULIA.

Dean: Eventually.

Dean leans down and picks up the Castiel action figure, which fell down at some point.

Dean: Look, uh, truth is, he's kind of a buddy of mine. Is there any way you could turn him back?

Jesse: He tried to kill me.

Dean: Right. Uh. But he's a-he's a good guy. He was just confused.

Jesse says nothing.

Dean: Okay. It's been a long night. We'll...talk about it later.

Dean puts the Castiel action figure back on the mantel.

Jesse: What now?

Dean looks back at Sam.

Dean: Now we take you someplace safe, get you trained up. You'd be handy in a fight, kid.

Jesse: What if I don't want to fight?

Sam: Jesse.

Sam comes forward to sit in front of Jesse.

Sam: You're powerful. More powerful than...pretty much anything we've ever seen. That makes you-

Jesse: A freak.

Sam: To some people, maybe. But not to us. See, we're kind of freaks ourselves.

Jesse: I can't stay here, can I?

Dean: No. The demons know where you are, and more will be coming.

Jesse: I won't go without my mom and dad.

Sam: There's nothing more important than family. We get that. And if you really want to take them with you, we'll back your play. But you got to understand-it's gonna be dangerous for them, too.

Jesse: What do you mean?

Dean: Our dad...he would take us with him wherever he went.

Jesse: Where is he now?

Sam: Dead. A demon killed him.

Dean: Look, Jesse...once you're in this fight...

Dean leans down to Jesse.

Dean: You're in it till the end, win or lose.

Jesse: What should I do?

Sam: We can't tell you. It's your choice. It's not fair. I know.

Jesse: Can I go see my parents? I, I need to...say goodbye.

Dean: Sure.

Jesse climbs the stairs.

INT. Jesse's PARENTS' BEDROOM - NIGHT

Jesse peeks into the room and sees his parents asleep in bed. He looks at them for a moment and closes the door.

INT. Jesse's BEDROOM - NIGHT

Jesse flops down on his bed, then sits up, looking at a poster on his wall: it shows a surfer and says AUSTRALIA.

INT. Jesse's LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Sam examines the Castiel action figure and puts him back on the mantel without any of the care Dean showed.

Dean: He's been up there a long time.

INT. Jesse's BEDROOM - NIGHT

Sam and Dean enter the room. It's empty.

Castiel: He's gone.

Sam and Dean turn; Castiel is behind them.

Sam: Where?

Castiel: I don't know. Jesse put everyone in town back to normal-the ones still alive. Then he vanished.

Sam notices a note on Jesse's bed and picks it up.

Sam: Hey.

Dean: What does it say?

Sam: That he had to leave to keep his parents safe, that he loves them, and he's sorry.

Dean: How do we find him?

Castiel: With the boy's powers, we can't. Not unless he wants to be found.

Impala

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

The Impala drives past.

INT. Impala - NIGHT

Dean: You think Jesse's gonna be okay?

Sam takes a deep breath.

Sam: I hope so.

Dean: You know, we desTroyed that kid's life by telling him the truth.

Sam: We didn't have a choice, Dean.

Dean: Yeah. You know, I'm starting to get why parents lie to their kids. You want them to believe that the worst thing out there is mixing Pop Rocks and Coke-protect them from the real evil. You want them going to bed feeling safe. If that means lying to them, so be it. The more I think about it...the more I wish Dad had lied to us.

Sam: Yeah, me too.