10.14 The Executioner's Song
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| Title | The Executioner's Song |
| Episode # | Season 10, Episode 14 |
| First aired | February 17, 2015 |
| Directed by | Phil Sgriccia |
| Written by | Robert Berens |
| On IMDB | The Executioner's Song |
| Outline | When Cain suddenly returns and begins killing humans, Dean is forced to finally confront the father of murder. |
| Monster | Cain |
| Timeline | One week after 10.13 Halt & Catch Fire |
| Location(s) | West Livingston, Texas (Polunsky Unit) Illinois Ohio Lebanon, Kansas |
| [[{{{prevep}}}|« Previous Episode]] | [[{{{nextep}}}|Next Episode »]] | |
Contents
Synopsis
At a prison in Texas, Tommy Tolliver, a death row inmate, taunts the guard. Later, the lights dim and Cain walks down the hallway. He appears in Tommy's cell where he stabs him, and disappears with Tommy's body.
On the way to the prison to investigate the disappearance of Tommy, Dean teases Sam about his serial killer obsession while they discuss the case. Once in the prison they question the warden, and while reviewing the security cameras, Dean recognizes Cain.
In Illinois, Castiel interrogates a demon about Cain's whereabouts. Once he gets the information he wants, Cass kills the demon and follows up on the lead. At the same time, Sam discover that Tommy's father has also disappeared. When Cas calls them, he confirms that Tommy is dead and that Cain has been busy killing people. A disturbance causes Cas to hang up on Dean and Sam, Cain has arrived, and he confirms that he is killing his descendants to rid the world of his bloodline.
Cas meets Sam and Dean at the Bunker and fills them in on Cain, now that they know Cain is killing his descendants, they believe he will go after another Tolliver, Tommy's 12-year-old son, Austin, who lives in Ohio. Dean believes that he needs to kill Cain, and despite Sam's concerns for Dean, they decide to go to Ohio.
Meanwhile, Crowley listens to a crossroads demon complain about not being given his credit for collecting souls, Rowena goads and manipulates Crowley into killing the demon for whining. Crowley knows his mother is manipulating him, but he agrees to help her with a witch, Olivette, from the Grand Coven, that is until Dean calls. Dean tells Crowley that Cain is back and has Crowley on his list of people to kill. Dean wants Crowley to bring the First Blade. As Crowley is about to leave, Rowena begins chastising him, telling him she thinks it is a bad idea to help the Winchesters
When the Winchesters and Castiel arrive in Ohio, Dean and Cas want to use Austin as bait and again Sam has concerns. Crowley arrives and Dean makes it clear that Crowley is not part of the team. However, Crowley has a plan and he won't hand over the Blade unless Cain is trapped, Sam is worried about will happen once Cain is trapped and what Dean will do. Dean reiterates his words from last week about going down swinging, but he didn't think it would be so soon. He admits to Sam that he is scared.
As Austin leaves the barn, Cain arrives. Cas steps in and tells the kid to run, he goes into the barn where Sam is waiting. Cain easily forces Cas out of the way and then appears in the barn. He stabs Austin only to discover that the kid isn't real, with Crowley's help, they have set up an illusion spell and the real Austin is long gone, while also trapping Cain in a large devil's trap hidden under the straw on the barn floor.
Dean insists it is his turn, Sam and Cas want to help, but Dean thinks they will be a liability in the fight with Cain, as Dean will be worried about them. Besides, Sam, Cas, and Crowley have to be there to take out whatever comes out –- whether it be Cain or a demonic Dean. Crowley hands over the First Blade while demanding a promise that Dean will give it back. Dean reassures Sam that his is good before going to fight Cain.
In their confrontation, Dean believes it is too late to save Cain, and Cain agrees. When he killed Abel, he released a stain on the earth, and extinguishing his descendants is the least he owes the world. Dean approaches Cain with the First Blade, but Cain easily rebuffs Deans advances. He knows that Dean is holding back because Dean believes he can control the darkness if he doesn't let it all out. Cain knocks Dean down and then tells Dean that there is no beating the Mark. He reveals to Dean that he played Cas in order for him to get Dean to bring the First Blade to the fight and he easily takes it from Dean. Cain says that he is doing Dean a favor by killing him because Dean is living Cain's life in reverse, Cain started down the path by killing his brother and Dean's story will end when Dean kills Sam. Dean denies it, but Cain continues by saying that Dean will kill Crowley first -- which be conflicting for him, then Castiel -- which will be difficult, but killing Sam will be the act that Dean will not survive. As Cain brings down the First Blade towards Dean, Dean grabs the knife from Cain's belt and cuts off Cain's hand. Dean grabs the First Blade; he begs Cain to tell him that he doesn't have to kill him, that he can stop, but Cain confirms that he will never stop. Dean raises the First Blade and brings it down, with a wet thump and a clap of thunder, finally killing Cain.
When Dean returns, Crowley demands the Blade, but Dean hands it to Castiel instead. Dean tells Crowley that he lied to him twice today, Crowley was never on Cain's list and Dean will not give Crowley the Blade. Crowley then disappears, as Dean collapses into Sam's arms and Sam comforts his brother. Crowley returns to his headquarters to find his mother with bags packed. Crowley doesn't want to hear any “I told you so's” from Rowena, but Rowena tells him she is disappointed at what Crowley has become. She was proud that he was the King of Hell, but now he is the Winchester's bitch.
Back at the Bunker, Sam reassures Dean because if Dean can kill Cain without losing himself than there is hope, and Dean halfheartedly agrees. When Cas arrives and confirms that he hid the First Blade somewhere safe, Dean excuses himself, and after he leaves, Cas asks about Dean. A worried Sam responds that Dean is in trouble.
Characters
Definitions
- Aliases
- Angel Blade
- Crowley's Palace
- Devil's Trap
- EMF
- Grand Coven
- Hugs
- Impala
- The First Blade
- Mark of Cain
- Men of Letters Bunker
- Spells
Music
- "Diamond Side Down" by Jamie Dunlap, Ryan Franks and Scott Nickoley (MasterSource)
- (playing as Austin leaves the barn and runs into Cain)
Quotes
Castiel: What have you done?
Cain: Yes. And soon it will be a genocide. My children, my whole poisoned issue. Lot of them out there right now -- killers, fighters, thieves. Some more peaceful than others, but they still carry it -- the disease. If the Mark wants blood, I'll give it mine.
Castiel: You are Adam and Eve's first born, your descendants are legion.
Cain: At most I'm culling... one in ten.
Castiel: Of everyone?
Rowena: You think I have an ulterior motive, that I've been manipulating you?
Crowley: You couldn't be more transparent.
Dean: We know where Cain's gonna be. The kid's in danger.
Sam: Okay, so what, we track him down to Ohio and then what?
Dean: I survive and I come out there and don't give it back, you'll all have a much bigger problem on your hands.
Cain: Oh I prefer to think I've finally gotten clear. When I made my bargain with Lucifer -- killed Abel. I released a stain upon the earth, a stain deeper and far more lasting than precedence.
Dean: You're bloodline is tainted, so you say.
Dean: Saving me from what?
Cain: From your fate. Has it ever occurred to you? Have you never mused upon the fact that you are living my life in reverse. My story began when I killed my brother, and that's where your story will inevitably end.
Dean: No. Never.
Cain: It's called the Mark of Cain for a reason! First, first you'd kill Crowley -- there'd be some strange mixed feelings on that one, but you'd have your reason, get it done, no remorse. And then you'd kill the angel Castiel, now that one, that I suspect would hurt something awful. And then! Then would come the murder you'd never survive, the one that would finally turn you into as a much of a savage as it did me...
Dean: No.
Sam: Cas... Dean's in trouble.
Trivia & References
- "Split the baby" is a reference to the Judgement of Solomon from the Hebrew Bible.
