Difference between revisions of "12.04 American Nightmare"

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|imdb= [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5669114/ American Nightmare]
 
|imdb= [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5669114/ American Nightmare]
 
|download=  
 
|download=  
−
|outline= After a woman dies from what appears to be stigmata wounds. [[Sam]] and [[Dean]] investigate a devout religious family living off-the-grid, who are hiding a dangerous secret.
+
|outline= After a woman dies from what appears to be stigmata wounds, [[Sam]] and [[Dean]] investigate a devout religious family living off the grid, who are hiding a dangerous secret.
 
|motw= [[Gail Peterson]]
 
|motw= [[Gail Peterson]]
 
|timeline=  
 
|timeline=  
 
|location= Mason City, Iowa<br>Pleasant Valley, Missouri
 
|location= Mason City, Iowa<br>Pleasant Valley, Missouri
 +
|prevep= 12.03 The Foundry
 +
|nextep= 12.05 The One You've Been Waiting For
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
|Synopsis=
 
|Synopsis=
−
In Mason City, Iowa, bells ring as a woman walks bleeding into a church, her body is shaking as the blood drips from her hands and feet, she cries out as she is whipped by an invisible presence while she approaches the front of the chapel where the father stands and looks at her in horror.  She is speaking in tongues, and crying out, which frightens the others in the pew before she collapses that the father’s feet and dies.
+
In Mason City, Iowa, bells ring as a woman walks bleeding into a church. Her body is shaking as blood drips from her hands and feet. She cries out as she is whipped by an invisible presence while she approaches the front of the chapel where the father stands and looks at her in horror.  She is speaking in tongues, and crying out, which frightens the others in the pew before she collapses at the father’s feet and dies.
  
−
Entering under the guise of the clergy, Sam and Dean approach the front of the church introducing themselves as Father Penn and Father Deniro. Father Cantos doesn’t want to talk about it as they question him about black smoke or sulfur but the father questions what kind of priest they are.  Dean replies with “the old-fashion kind.”
+
Entering under the guise of the clergy, [[Sam]] and [[Dean]] approach the front of the church, introducing themselves as Father Penn and Father DeNiro. The priest is reluctant to talk to them at first, having been admonished by his superiors after telling the press that demons were at work in the woman's death. After the boys assure him that they believe him, he reports no black smoke or sulfur, and repeats the phrase she was calling before she died; he says it sounded like Hebrew, but Sam says it was probably Aramaic.
  
−
Dean steps out to make a call, and while speaking to Cas finds out what’s going on with him but asks to be kept informed as he goes along.  With a second to spare between the call and Sam coming back, Dean sends out a text to Mary: “Hey mom, just checking in. Is MOM still ok or weir? Should I call you Mary?”  He leans against the car and shakes his head, stating out load that “I’m a 13-year-old girl,” before Sam arrives.
+
Dean steps out to make a call to Cas, then sends a quick text to [[Mary]], checking in and asking if it's still okay for him to call her "mom". Once Sam returns, Dean reports that there's nothing on Angel Radio, so a rogue demon is out as a possible culprit in the case. Dean has also found out that Cas is "chumming it up with [[Crowley]]" and that they are hunting [[Lucifer]], who has taken rock star [[Vince Vincente]] as his new vessel and now at the bottom of the ocean, thanks to [[Rowena]]. Sam shares that the woman's last words were indeed Aramaic, a phrase meaning "Save me, oh God."
−
There’s nothing on Angel Radio so the rogue demon is out but Dean finds out that Cas is “chumming it up with Crowley” and that they are hunting Lucifer and they are actually having some luck at it, but now Lucifer is now Vince Vicente.  Dean’s dislike for the man is evident but Sam states that “It was the 80s” with a bit of admiration and that his “third album was kind of not horrible” to which Dean gives back in classic fashion “I hate you so much right now.” But getting back on the subject of the woman in the church Sam finds out that the words were Aramaic and that it means “Save me, Oh God.” “Save me from what?” Dean questions but they are off to the next clue.
 
  
−
At the Medical Examiner’s office, Sam questions Dean on why he is so “cranky” to everyone but Dean moves onto the findings to which Sam recognizes the Stigmata. “Bingo,” Dean answers, but it gets weirder as the report states that her skull was filled with a goopy mush. They find that they have nothing and decide to focus more on the case than on Dean’s obvious “Dr. Phil crap!”
+
At the Medical Examiner’s office, Sam questions Dean as to why he has been so "cranky" lately but Dean turns their attention to the case. The woman, Olivia, died with punctures through her hands and feet, pinprick wounds around the top of her skull, and deep cuts on her back as if she'd been whipped – stigmata.  It gets weirder, as the report states that her skull was filled with a "goopy mush."
  
−
At Child Protective Services, they find Beth, who was assistant and a Wiccan, which puts her instantly on Dean’s radar, but with the standard questions they find that Olivia had a lot of enemies being in the profession she was. Dean really thinks that Beth is the one who did it and Sam wants to make sure before Dean goes off and just shoots Beth.
+
At Child Protective Services, where Olivia worked, they find [[Beth Roberts]], who was Olivia's assistant and who mentions that she is a Wiccan, putting her instantly on Dean’s radar as a suspect. With the standard questions they find that Olivia had a lot of enemies due to her profession. After their interview Dean is positive that Beth is the culprit and is ready to "put a witch-killing cap in her ass". The boys argue, and Sam convinces his brother that a little more investigation is needed.
  
−
At Joe’s Market that night, a young man is taken over in the same way as Olivia. On scene that morning, Dean finds out that everything is the same.  Contacting Beth, they find out that the family “the Petersons” that Olivia was working with at the time live “off the grid” and that they used to have a daughter, Magda, who died of pneumonia because they wouldn’t let the doctor help her, they said it was “God’s work.” So with “weird, creepy, off-the-grid, Children of the Corn people”, Dean is all in.
+
At nearby Joe’s Market that night, a young man is taken over in the same way as Olivia. On the scene the next morning, Dean finds out that everything is the same – the wounds, the scrambled brains.  Sam compares the delivery boy's route to Olivia's case load and finds a common family – the Petersons. Beth describes them as an ultra-religious family who live "off the grid." She says that they used to have a daughter, [[Magda Peterson]], who died of pneumonia because they wouldn't let the doctor help her, saying that whatever happened was God's will.
  
−
Out on a back road, the Sam and Dean find themselves dressed as Child Protective Services. They pull up to a gated drive. On the way to the house, Sam tries to defend Mary by reassuring Dean that Mary will be back but Dean is set on the fact that Mary doesn’t answer her phone and that she took money and wasn’t answering her cell phone. He believes that she bailed.
+
Out on a back road, Sam and Dean pull up to a gated drive. On the way to the house, the boys discuss their mother. Sam tries to defend Mary and reassure Dean that she will be back, but Dean is set on the fact that Mary isn’t answering her cell phone. He believes that she bailed. Using the ruse of being the new case workers, they meet [[Abraham Peterson|Abraham]] and [[Gail Peterson]], who ask if they boys know God.  Dean replies "oh, yeah, we're besties."  Abraham asks if one of them would help him with something.  When the scene cuts away, we see a helmeted man on a black motorcycle pull up to the back of the [[Impala]], check out the plates, and drive away. Dean helps Abraham and their son [[Elijah Peterson|Elijah]] replace wagon wheel, and he finds out that Abraham used to be a computer programmer before they moved to the county.  Abraham and Gail didn’t want the materialistic world for their kids, so they made the change.
  
−
Using the ruse of being the new case worker, they meet Abraham and Susan Peterson, who ask if they boys know God.  Dean replies “oh, yeah, we’re besties.” Abraham asks if one of them would help him with something.  When the scene cuts away, we see the black motorcycle pull up to the back of the Impala, check out the plates and drive away.
+
Inside, Sam looks at pictures of the family and listens to Gail as she explains that Abraham used to work 80 hours a week, that the kids were on meds, and she was in a car accident and she almost died.  She says she was so hopped up on pills that she couldn’t take it.  When things were at their worst, God came to her and told her to live a life of simplicity and he would take away the pain. Sam lets her know that the delivery boy is also dead, but when she shows no reaction Sam becomes upset and he asks about Magda. He tells her that God didn’t kill her daughter, she did, which is when Abraham steps in, asking them to leave.
−
Dean helps Abraham and Elijah with the wagon wheel, and he finds out that he used to be a computer programmer before moving to the county.  Abraham and Gail didn’t want the materialistic world for their kids, so they made the change.
 
  
−
Inside, Sam looks at pictures of the family and listens to Gail as she explains that Abraham used to work 80 hours a week, that the kids were on meds, and she was in a car accident and she almost died. She was so hopped up on pills that she couldn’t take it.  When things were at their worst, God came to her and told her to live a life of simplicity and he would take away the pain so they moved.  
+
Back at the Impala, Dean still believes that Beth is the killer but Sam wants to look into a [[vengeful spirit]] so they decide to split up. Back at the farm, Gail watches Elijah with the horses before she goes into the house, we move into the basement where singing can be heard. Laying on the cold floor before an altar, we find a young woman, whip marks on her back in a torn dress, living like a prisoner. Gail enters the basement and confronts her daughter, the one that everyone believes to be dead, and accuses her of killing Olivia and the delivery boy. Magda denies it, but Gail tells her that the Devil is in her, that he works through her, and that Magda needs to confess her sins.  She hands her daughter a whip and she begins to flagellate herself, alternately praying in Aramaic and gasping from the pain.
  
−
Sam lets her know that “Ricky” the delivery boy is also dead, but when she shows no emotions Sam becomes upset and he asks about Magda. He tells her that God didn’t kill her daughter, she did, which is when Abraham steps in, asking them to leave.
+
As night falls, Sam makes his way through the barn at the Peterson residence, looking for some sort of [[EMF]] but finding nothing. He ducks down into a stall and listens as Abraham and Elijah talk. Elijah is concerned that his mother is hurting Magda, but Abraham tells him that Gail is doing God’s work. He says that if anyone found out about her, they would try to take her away, and people would get hurt. "I love your sister," Abraham says, "but you know what she can do. Magda... Magda's our cross to bear.”
  
−
Back at the Impala, Dean believes that Beth is at fault for this but Sam wants to look into a vengeful ghost so they decide to split up, making it a bit of an unfriendly competition.
+
Dean arrives at the office to confront Beth. He asks her how she likes her new gig, gun ready behind his back, but he finds out that she hates it.  As he listens to her complain about being the boss, he realizes that she never wanted the job, so he tucks the gun away.
  
−
Back at the farm, Gail watches Elijah with the horses before she goes back into the house, but we move onto the basement where singing can be heard. Laying there on the cold floor before an altar, we find a young woman, whip marks on her back in a torn dress, living like a prisoner.
+
Sam watches from the window as Gail continues to torture Magda, but his cell phone goes off and he ducks away from the window.  Telling Dean that Magda is still alive, Dean questions what is really going on but Sam is confronted by Elijah with a shotgun and never sees the bat coming as Abraham swings at him from behind, knocking him out. Dean can’t get a response from Sam as he races back to the Impala and speeds out of the parking lot.
−
Gail enters the basement and confronts her daughter, the one that everyone is believed to be dead, and accuses her of killing Olivia and Ricky.  Magda denies it, but Gail tells her that the Devil is in her, that the He works through her and that Magda needs to confess her sins. As Gail grabs a bible and starts to read from the pages, Magda repeats what she hears and we hear the sound of whips across her back as an invisible force lashes against the girl.
 
  
−
Cut to night and Sam makes his way through the barn at the Peterson residence, looking for some sort of EMF but he’s finding nothing. He ducks down into a stall and listens as Abraham and Elijah talk about Gail being with Magda, hurting her but Abraham tries to convince Elijah that Gail is doing God’s work and if anyone had found out about her, they would try to take her away and that would never happen.  Abraham implies that they couldn’t let that happen. “Magda is their cross to bear.”
+
Sam wakes up in the basement with Magda singing. He asks her if she's Magda Peterson and she tells him that she's the Devil. She confesses to having abilities, and Sam asks her for a demonstration. Magda makes the cross levitate. Sam admits that he used to have visions and could make things move with his mind but he doesn’t believe that he has them anymore. He says that it didn’t make him evil, it made him who he was. She tells him that if that was the case, than he is evil, too.  She tells him that she liked Olivia and Ricky so she prayed that they could help but when she reached out to them, they never came. Her mother said that she killed them. Sam tries to convince her that she can learn to control her abilities but Elijah and Abraham come down and bring them up to the dinner table, tying Sam to the chair. Sam finds out that it was Magda’s abilities that caused the accident that sent them on the path to the place where they are now. Gail blames everything on Magda. They pray over dinner and Abraham takes the first bite, but before Elijah takes a bite, Abraham starts to foam at the mouth. Gail has poisoned the food so that they can enter Heaven as a family. Gail tells Elijah to eat and Sam tries to convince Elijah not to; Magda send the spoon across the room using her powers. Gail comes at Magda with a knife but Elijah steps in front of the blade to protect Magda and he is killed.  Magda turns the blade on Gail but Sam begs her to stop, telling her that she can control it, that no one else has to die, she doesn't have to be the monster that they told her she was. Magda lets Gail go, as the knife drops to the floor.
  
−
Dean arrives at the office to confront Beth, asking how she likes her new gig, gun ready behind his back, but he finds out that she hates it. As he listens to complain about being the boss, he finds that she never wanted the job so he tucks the gun away.
+
Ambulances and police cars surround the residence as Gail is led away in cuffs, spouting off how Magda is the Devil even as she is put in the back of the police car. Magda sits in the ambulance as Beth tells Sam and Dean that there is an aunt in California that will take her, with a lot of land and space for her to be able to adjust. Beth pulls Dean aside as Sam assures Magda that she will learn to control her powers in time, but if she needs anything she can always call him. Afterwards Dean admits that he understands that Mary needs some time on her own to adjust. He says that her return and subsequent departure have left him shaken, but he’ll try and be "less of a dick" about it. Before getting in the car, Dean checks his messages.  Mary has texted back that her phone had died, she'll always be "Mom," and to tell Sam that she loves him too. The boys get in the car and drive off.
  
−
Sam watches from the window as Gail continues to torture Magda but his cell phone goes off and he ducks away from the window. Telling Dean that Magda is still alive, Dean questions what is really going on but Sam is confronted by Elijah with a shotgun and never sees the bat coming as Abraham swings at him from behind, knocking Sam out.
+
At a bus stop, Magda heads towards the bathrooms. She passes by a black-clad figure, the same one that had stopped to check out the Impala, and she never notices him until it’s too late. With two shots fired from the silenced gun, we see Magda lying on the bathroom floor, dead.  The cellphone in man's hand rings and [[Mr. Ketch]] confirms that he has "cleaned up" the Winchesters’ mess.  
  
−
Dean can’t get a response from Sam as he races back to the Impala and speeds out of the parking lot.
 
−
 
−
Sam wakes up in the basement with Magda singing.  He asks her if she’s Magda Peterson and she tells him that she’s the Devil.  She confesses to having abilities, but Sam can relate. He wants to see what she can do so Magda makes the cross levitate.
 
−
 
−
Sam admits that he used to have vision and could make things move but he doesn’t believe that he has them anymore, that it didn’t make him evil, it made him who he was and she tells him that if that was the case, than he is evil too.  She tells him that she liked the Olivia and Ricky so she prayed that they could help but when they reached out to them, they never came. Her mother said that she killed them.
 
−
 
−
Sam tries to convince her that she can learn to control her abilities but Elijah and Abraham come down and bring them up to the dinner table, tying Sam to the chair. Sam finds out that it was Magda’s abilities that caused the accident that sent them on the path to the place where they are now.  Gail blames everything on Magda.
 
−
 
−
They pray over dinner and Abraham takes the first bite, but before Elijah takes the first bite, Abraham starts to foam at the mouth.  Gail has poisoned the food so that they can enter Heaven as a family. Sam tries to get Elijah to not eat the food and Magda send the spoon across the room using he powers.  In an attempt to kill Magda, Elijah steps in front of the blade that Gail holds, killing the boy.  Magda turns the blade on Gail but Sam begs her to not kill her, that she could control it, she didn’t have to be the monster that they told her she was and Magda lets Gail go, as the knife drops to the floor.
 
−
 
−
Ambulance and police surround the residence as Gail is lead away in cuffs, spouting off how Magda is the devil, even as she is put in the back of the police car.  Magda sits at the ambulance as Beth tells Sam and Dean that there is an aunt in California that will take her, with a lot of land and time for her to be able to adjust. They agree that it will be best for her and Beth pulls Dean aside as Sam assures Magda that she will be able to control her powers but it will take time, but if she needs anything she can always call him.
 
−
 
−
Sam and Dean stop to reflect on Mary coming back and then suddenly leaving and Dean admits that he agrees, she needs some time  and that he’ll try and be better at it.  Dean checks his messages.  Mary has texted back that her phone had died, Mom was fine and to tell Sam that she loves him too. They get in the car and drive off.
 
−
 
−
At a bus stop, we see Magda headed towards the bathrooms.  She passes by a black-clad figure, the same one that had stopped to check out the Impala and she never notices him until it’s too late. With two shots fired from the silenced gun, we see that Magda is lying on the bathroom floor, dead.  The cellphone in hand of the man with a cross rings and Mr. Catch confirms that he has “cleaned up” the Winchesters’ mess.
 
 
|Characters=  
 
|Characters=  
 
* [[Sam Winchester]]
 
* [[Sam Winchester]]
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* [[Unconscious]]
 
* [[Unconscious]]
 
* [[Witches]]
 
* [[Witches]]
 +
* [[Witch-Killing Bullets]]
  
 
|Music=
 
|Music=
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{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
'''Sam:''' So what's the word? Cas have anything?<br>
 
'''Sam:''' So what's the word? Cas have anything?<br>
−
'''Dean:''' Yeah. Good news, there's nothing on angel radio and Heaven's still on lockdown. So rogue angel is out.<br>
+
'''Dean:''' Yeah, uh... Well, good news, there's nothing on angel radio and Heaven's still on lock down. So rogue angel is out.<br>
 
'''Sam:''' Bad news?<br>
 
'''Sam:''' Bad news?<br>
 
'''Dean:''' Cas is chumming it up with Crowley. They're hunting Lucifer together. That's right. One's an angel, one's a demon and apparently they solve crimes.
 
'''Dean:''' Cas is chumming it up with Crowley. They're hunting Lucifer together. That's right. One's an angel, one's a demon and apparently they solve crimes.
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{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
'''Gail:''' Do you know God, gentlemen?<br>
 
'''Gail:''' Do you know God, gentlemen?<br>
−
'''Dean:''' Oh yeah. Yeah, we're besties.
+
'''Dean:''' Oh yeah. Yeah, we're- we're besties.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
'''Sam:''' So what happened to your daughter, was that God's plan?<br>
 
'''Sam:''' So what happened to your daughter, was that God's plan?<br>
 
'''Gail:''' Yes.<br>
 
'''Gail:''' Yes.<br>
−
'''Sam:''' She didn't have to die. She was sick, if you had taken her to a doctor.<br>
+
'''Sam:''' She didn't have to die. She was sick. If you had taken her to a doctor.<br>
 
'''Gail:''' God does not-<br>
 
'''Gail:''' God does not-<br>
 
'''Sam:''' God doesn't care what kind of life you live. Trust me. And God didn't kill your daughter. You did.
 
'''Sam:''' God doesn't care what kind of life you live. Trust me. And God didn't kill your daughter. You did.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
−
'''Sam:''' Magda. Magda Peterson?<br>
+
'''Sam:''' Magda? Magda Peterson.<br>
 
'''Magda:''' That's not my name. I'm not Magda. I'm the Devil.<br>
 
'''Magda:''' That's not my name. I'm not Magda. I'm the Devil.<br>
 
'''Sam:''' No. No, you're not. You're really not.
 
'''Sam:''' No. No, you're not. You're really not.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
−
'''Sam:''' Magda. You're not the Devil, you're just psychic. There are others out there like you, like-like me. I had powers too. I get visions sometimes and I can move things with my mind.<br>
+
'''Sam:''' Magda... You're not the Devil. You're just psychic. There are others out there like you, like-like me. I have powers too. I'd get these visions sometimes and I could move things with my mind.<br>
 
'''Magda:''' You can do that?<br>
 
'''Magda:''' You can do that?<br>
 
'''Sam:''' Well, no. Not anymore, I don't think. But it didn't make me the Devil, it just made me who I am.
 
'''Sam:''' Well, no. Not anymore, I don't think. But it didn't make me the Devil, it just made me who I am.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
−
'''Sam:''' Magda, that wasn't your fault. You are not the Devil, you're not evil. And it's scary. I know it's scary. But you can learn to control it, you don't have to hurt anyone ever again.  
+
'''Sam:''' Magda, that wasn't your fault. You are not the Devil. You're not evil. And it's scary. I-I know it's scary. But you can learn how to control it. You don't have to hurt anyone ever again.  
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
'''Dean:''' Sorry I missed all the psycho.<br>
 
'''Dean:''' Sorry I missed all the psycho.<br>
−
'''Sam:''' Yeah, and you thought our family was crazy.
+
'''Sam:''' Hey, you thought our family was crazy.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
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}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
−
'''Sam:''' Magda. I know it doesn't feel like it now. But, you're gonna be all right. You can do this. You will do this. Just remember. That power, it doesn't control you. You control it. If you ever need anything. Anything. Call, me okay? I'll be there.
+
'''Sam:''' Magda. I-I know it doesn't feel like it right now. But, you're gonna be all right. You can do this. You will do this. Just remember, that power... It doesn't control you. You control it. <br>
 +
'''Magda:''' I know.<br>
 +
'''Sam:''' If you ever need anything. Anything. Call, me okay? I'll be there.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
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'''Dean:''' She gave me her number. Her personal number.<br>
 
'''Dean:''' She gave me her number. Her personal number.<br>
 
'''Sam:''' You were gonna shoot her.<br>
 
'''Sam:''' You were gonna shoot her.<br>
−
'''Dean:''' Yeah. Kinda weird, kinda hot.<br>
+
'''Dean:''' Yeah, I know. Kinda weird, kinda hot.<br>
 
'''Sam:''' Hey, did you mean what you said back there?<br>
 
'''Sam:''' Hey, did you mean what you said back there?<br>
−
'''Dean:''' Yeah. You were right. This whole Mom thing. It's-I mean, we get her back and then she leaves, I hate it. But I get it. I do. I guess I'm just working through some of that crap. I'll just try to be less of a dick about it.
+
'''Dean:''' Yeah. You were right. This whole Mom thing. It's-I mean, we get her back and then she leaves, I hate it. But I get it. I do. I guess I'm just still working through some of that crap. I'll try to be less of a dick about it.
 
}}
 
}}
  
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}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
−
'''Dean:''' So, Lucifer. The lord of evil, the angel of light, is now the master of butt rock. He jumped into Vince Vincente.
+
'''Dean:''' So, Lucifer. The Lord of Evil, the Angel of Light, is now the Master of Butt Rock. He jumped into Vince Vincente.
−
:''In the '90s rock music radio stations used the tagline "Rock. Nothing but Rock." -- which [http://www.houstonpress.com/music/top-10-butt-rock-bands-of-all-time-6519109 people quickly parodied] as "Nothing Butt Rock." Butt rock became slang for bad rock music - which of course varied depending on your tastes! It can be assumed with [[Sam]] being a fan of Bon Jovi and [[Vince Vincente]], that his musical tastes veered more towards '80s hair/glam metal growing up, which is in contrast to [[Dean]] and [[John]]'s classic hard rock and heavy metal tastes.''
+
:''In the '90s rock music radio stations used the tagline "Rock. Nothing but Rock." – which [http://www.houstonpress.com/music/top-10-butt-rock-bands-of-all-time-6519109 people quickly parodied] as "Nothing Butt Rock." Butt rock became slang for bad rock music – which of course varied depending on your tastes! It can be assumed with [[Sam]] being a fan of Bon Jovi and [[Vince Vincente]], that his musical tastes veered more towards '80s hair/glam metal growing up, which is in contrast to [[Dean]] and [[John]]'s classic hard rock and heavy metal tastes. The name of Lucifer's chosen vessel could also be a play on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinnie_Vincent Vinnie Vincent], who was the lead guitarist for KISS from 1982-1984, a band some would describe as butt rock. Vincent's career with KISS and his life after the band was the subject of [http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-long-kiss-goodbye-the-search-for-vinnie-vincent-20140408 a lengthy Rolling Stone story in 2014].''
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
−
'''Sam:''' The victim's skull was filled with a goopy mush.<br>
+
'''Sam:''' 'The victim's skull was filled with a goopy mush.'<br>
−
'''Dean:''' That Carl paints quite the picture. What can do that?<br>
+
'''Dean:''' That Carl paints quite a picture, doesn't he? All right. What can do all that?<br>
 
'''Sam:''' I got nothing.<br>
 
'''Sam:''' I got nothing.<br>
−
'''Dean:''' Me neither. Well, maybe we should focus on the case and less of the Dr. Phil crap.
+
'''Dean:''' Me neither. Well, maybe we should focus more on the case and less on the Dr. Phil crap.
 
:''"Dr. Phil" is a reference to TV personality and relationships advice guru [http://www.drphil.com/ Phil McGraw.]''
 
:''"Dr. Phil" is a reference to TV personality and relationships advice guru [http://www.drphil.com/ Phil McGraw.]''
 
}}
 
}}
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'''Dean:''' Well, that was easy.<br>
 
'''Dean:''' Well, that was easy.<br>
 
'''Sam:''' What?<br>
 
'''Sam:''' What?<br>
−
'''Dean:''' What? The Wicked Witch of the West in there. Miss 'positive energy,' wanted a bigger office, did a little hoodoo. Boom. I say we put a witch-killing cap in her ass and call it a day.
+
'''Dean:''' What? The Wicca'd Witch of the West in there. Little Miss 'positive energy,' wanted a bigger office, did a little hoodoo. Boom. I say we put a witch-killing cap in her ass and call it a day.
 
:''[[The Wicked Witch of the West]] is an evil witch from the Oz books by Frank Baum. She also appeared in the episode [[9.04 Slumber Party]].''  
 
:''[[The Wicked Witch of the West]] is an evil witch from the Oz books by Frank Baum. She also appeared in the episode [[9.04 Slumber Party]].''  
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
−
'''Dean:''' Weird creepy off-the-grid ''Children of the Corn'' people. Yeah, I'm in.
+
'''Dean:''' Weird creepy off-the-grid ''Children of the Corn'' people? Yeah, I'm in.
 
:''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_the_Corn Children of the Corn] is a story by Stephen King (and subsequent movie franchise) about a town where children kill their peers on their 19th birthdays as a sacrifice to an evil deity who lives in the cornfields.''
 
:''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_the_Corn Children of the Corn] is a story by Stephen King (and subsequent movie franchise) about a town where children kill their peers on their 19th birthdays as a sacrifice to an evil deity who lives in the cornfields.''
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
−
'''Dean:''' She hates the way we were raised. She hates the fact that we're hunters. Maybe she starts walking and doesn't stop, you know? She obviously has zero interest in keeping this family together.<br>
+
'''Dean:''' She hates the way that we were raised. She hates the fact that we're hunters. Maybe she starts walking and she doesn't stop. You know, she obviously has zero interest in keeping this family together.<br>
−
'''Sam:''' Well, you know sometimes families do better with a little time apart.<br>
+
'''Sam:''' Well, you know sometimes families do better after a little time apart.<br>
 
'''Dean:''' Yeah, who? The Mansons?
 
'''Dean:''' Yeah, who? The Mansons?
 
:''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manson_Family The Manson Family] refers to the followers of cult leader and murderer Charles Manson.''
 
:''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manson_Family The Manson Family] refers to the followers of cult leader and murderer Charles Manson.''
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
−
'''Gail:''' Olivia Sanchez was a papist. But at least she believed in God.
+
'''Gail:''' Olivia Sanchez was a papist, but at least she believed in God.
 
:''"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papist Papist]" is disparaging term for Roman Catholics typically used by sectarians.''
 
:''"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papist Papist]" is disparaging term for Roman Catholics typically used by sectarians.''
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 
|Minutiae=
 
|Minutiae=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 
[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0531966/ William MacDonald], who played [[Abraham Peterson]], previously played Sheriff in [[5.08 Changing Channels]].
 
[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0531966/ William MacDonald], who played [[Abraham Peterson]], previously played Sheriff in [[5.08 Changing Channels]].
 +
}}
 +
{{TriviaQuote |Text=
 +
The grandfather clock shown when Sam and Dean first talked to the Petersons was used previously in [[7.12 Time After Time]] at the home of [[Chronos]] and [[Lila Taylor]].
 
}}
 
}}
  
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|Sides_Scripts_Transcripts=
 
|Sides_Scripts_Transcripts=
 
* [[12.04 American Nightmare (transcript)]]
 
* [[12.04 American Nightmare (transcript)]]
 +
* [https://www.slideshare.net/JulesWilkinson/1204-american-nightmare American Nightmare Script] (Production Draft)
  
 
|Promotion=
 
|Promotion=
 
* [http://www.ksitetv.com/supernatural/supernatural-spoilers-foundry-description/125136/ Synopsis]
 
* [http://www.ksitetv.com/supernatural/supernatural-spoilers-foundry-description/125136/ Synopsis]
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSFTJU0qT7o Promo]
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSFTJU0qT7o Promo]
−
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sztXfT4WiU Sneek Peak]
+
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sztXfT4WiU Sneak Peek]
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:12}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:12}}
 
[[Category:Canon|12]][[Category:Episodes|12]][[Category:Season 12]]
 
[[Category:Canon|12]][[Category:Episodes|12]][[Category:Season 12]]

Revision as of 03:53, 16 May 2022


SPN-1204.jpg
Title American Nightmare
Episode # Season 12, Episode 4
First aired November 3, 2016
Directed by John F. Showalter
Written by Davy Perez
On IMDB American Nightmare
Outline After a woman dies from what appears to be stigmata wounds, Sam and Dean investigate a devout religious family living off the grid, who are hiding a dangerous secret.
Monster Gail Peterson
Timeline
Location(s) Mason City, Iowa
Pleasant Valley, Missouri
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Synopsis

In Mason City, Iowa, bells ring as a woman walks bleeding into a church. Her body is shaking as blood drips from her hands and feet. She cries out as she is whipped by an invisible presence while she approaches the front of the chapel where the father stands and looks at her in horror. She is speaking in tongues, and crying out, which frightens the others in the pew before she collapses at the father’s feet and dies.

Entering under the guise of the clergy, Sam and Dean approach the front of the church, introducing themselves as Father Penn and Father DeNiro. The priest is reluctant to talk to them at first, having been admonished by his superiors after telling the press that demons were at work in the woman's death. After the boys assure him that they believe him, he reports no black smoke or sulfur, and repeats the phrase she was calling before she died; he says it sounded like Hebrew, but Sam says it was probably Aramaic.

Dean steps out to make a call to Cas, then sends a quick text to Mary, checking in and asking if it's still okay for him to call her "mom". Once Sam returns, Dean reports that there's nothing on Angel Radio, so a rogue demon is out as a possible culprit in the case. Dean has also found out that Cas is "chumming it up with Crowley" and that they are hunting Lucifer, who has taken rock star Vince Vincente as his new vessel and now at the bottom of the ocean, thanks to Rowena. Sam shares that the woman's last words were indeed Aramaic, a phrase meaning "Save me, oh God."

At the Medical Examiner’s office, Sam questions Dean as to why he has been so "cranky" lately but Dean turns their attention to the case. The woman, Olivia, died with punctures through her hands and feet, pinprick wounds around the top of her skull, and deep cuts on her back as if she'd been whipped – stigmata. It gets weirder, as the report states that her skull was filled with a "goopy mush."

At Child Protective Services, where Olivia worked, they find Beth Roberts, who was Olivia's assistant and who mentions that she is a Wiccan, putting her instantly on Dean’s radar as a suspect. With the standard questions they find that Olivia had a lot of enemies due to her profession. After their interview Dean is positive that Beth is the culprit and is ready to "put a witch-killing cap in her ass". The boys argue, and Sam convinces his brother that a little more investigation is needed.

At nearby Joe’s Market that night, a young man is taken over in the same way as Olivia. On the scene the next morning, Dean finds out that everything is the same – the wounds, the scrambled brains. Sam compares the delivery boy's route to Olivia's case load and finds a common family – the Petersons. Beth describes them as an ultra-religious family who live "off the grid." She says that they used to have a daughter, Magda Peterson, who died of pneumonia because they wouldn't let the doctor help her, saying that whatever happened was God's will.

Out on a back road, Sam and Dean pull up to a gated drive. On the way to the house, the boys discuss their mother. Sam tries to defend Mary and reassure Dean that she will be back, but Dean is set on the fact that Mary isn’t answering her cell phone. He believes that she bailed. Using the ruse of being the new case workers, they meet Abraham and Gail Peterson, who ask if they boys know God. Dean replies "oh, yeah, we're besties." Abraham asks if one of them would help him with something. When the scene cuts away, we see a helmeted man on a black motorcycle pull up to the back of the Impala, check out the plates, and drive away. Dean helps Abraham and their son Elijah replace wagon wheel, and he finds out that Abraham used to be a computer programmer before they moved to the county. Abraham and Gail didn’t want the materialistic world for their kids, so they made the change.

Inside, Sam looks at pictures of the family and listens to Gail as she explains that Abraham used to work 80 hours a week, that the kids were on meds, and she was in a car accident and she almost died. She says she was so hopped up on pills that she couldn’t take it. When things were at their worst, God came to her and told her to live a life of simplicity and he would take away the pain. Sam lets her know that the delivery boy is also dead, but when she shows no reaction Sam becomes upset and he asks about Magda. He tells her that God didn’t kill her daughter, she did, which is when Abraham steps in, asking them to leave.

Back at the Impala, Dean still believes that Beth is the killer but Sam wants to look into a vengeful spirit so they decide to split up. Back at the farm, Gail watches Elijah with the horses before she goes into the house, we move into the basement where singing can be heard. Laying on the cold floor before an altar, we find a young woman, whip marks on her back in a torn dress, living like a prisoner. Gail enters the basement and confronts her daughter, the one that everyone believes to be dead, and accuses her of killing Olivia and the delivery boy. Magda denies it, but Gail tells her that the Devil is in her, that he works through her, and that Magda needs to confess her sins. She hands her daughter a whip and she begins to flagellate herself, alternately praying in Aramaic and gasping from the pain.

As night falls, Sam makes his way through the barn at the Peterson residence, looking for some sort of EMF but finding nothing. He ducks down into a stall and listens as Abraham and Elijah talk. Elijah is concerned that his mother is hurting Magda, but Abraham tells him that Gail is doing God’s work. He says that if anyone found out about her, they would try to take her away, and people would get hurt. "I love your sister," Abraham says, "but you know what she can do. Magda... Magda's our cross to bear.”

Dean arrives at the office to confront Beth. He asks her how she likes her new gig, gun ready behind his back, but he finds out that she hates it. As he listens to her complain about being the boss, he realizes that she never wanted the job, so he tucks the gun away.

Sam watches from the window as Gail continues to torture Magda, but his cell phone goes off and he ducks away from the window. Telling Dean that Magda is still alive, Dean questions what is really going on but Sam is confronted by Elijah with a shotgun and never sees the bat coming as Abraham swings at him from behind, knocking him out. Dean can’t get a response from Sam as he races back to the Impala and speeds out of the parking lot.

Sam wakes up in the basement with Magda singing. He asks her if she's Magda Peterson and she tells him that she's the Devil. She confesses to having abilities, and Sam asks her for a demonstration. Magda makes the cross levitate. Sam admits that he used to have visions and could make things move with his mind but he doesn’t believe that he has them anymore. He says that it didn’t make him evil, it made him who he was. She tells him that if that was the case, than he is evil, too. She tells him that she liked Olivia and Ricky so she prayed that they could help but when she reached out to them, they never came. Her mother said that she killed them. Sam tries to convince her that she can learn to control her abilities but Elijah and Abraham come down and bring them up to the dinner table, tying Sam to the chair. Sam finds out that it was Magda’s abilities that caused the accident that sent them on the path to the place where they are now. Gail blames everything on Magda. They pray over dinner and Abraham takes the first bite, but before Elijah takes a bite, Abraham starts to foam at the mouth. Gail has poisoned the food so that they can enter Heaven as a family. Gail tells Elijah to eat and Sam tries to convince Elijah not to; Magda send the spoon across the room using her powers. Gail comes at Magda with a knife but Elijah steps in front of the blade to protect Magda and he is killed. Magda turns the blade on Gail but Sam begs her to stop, telling her that she can control it, that no one else has to die, she doesn't have to be the monster that they told her she was. Magda lets Gail go, as the knife drops to the floor.

Ambulances and police cars surround the residence as Gail is led away in cuffs, spouting off how Magda is the Devil even as she is put in the back of the police car. Magda sits in the ambulance as Beth tells Sam and Dean that there is an aunt in California that will take her, with a lot of land and space for her to be able to adjust. Beth pulls Dean aside as Sam assures Magda that she will learn to control her powers in time, but if she needs anything she can always call him. Afterwards Dean admits that he understands that Mary needs some time on her own to adjust. He says that her return and subsequent departure have left him shaken, but he’ll try and be "less of a dick" about it. Before getting in the car, Dean checks his messages. Mary has texted back that her phone had died, she'll always be "Mom," and to tell Sam that she loves him too. The boys get in the car and drive off.

At a bus stop, Magda heads towards the bathrooms. She passes by a black-clad figure, the same one that had stopped to check out the Impala, and she never notices him until it’s too late. With two shots fired from the silenced gun, we see Magda lying on the bathroom floor, dead. The cellphone in man's hand rings and Mr. Ketch confirms that he has "cleaned up" the Winchesters’ mess.

Characters

Definitions

Music

  • "Golden Dunes" by The Budos Band
(playing on iPod as Ricky Copeland is killed)
  • "Down in My Heart" by Paloma Kwiatkowski
(sung by Magda Peterson as Sam and Dean leave the Peterson home)
  • "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" by Paloma Kwiatkowski
(sung by Magda Peterson as Sam comes to)

Quotes

Sam: So what's the word? Cas have anything?

Dean: Yeah, uh... Well, good news, there's nothing on angel radio and Heaven's still on lock down. So rogue angel is out.
Sam: Bad news?

Dean: Cas is chumming it up with Crowley. They're hunting Lucifer together. That's right. One's an angel, one's a demon and apparently they solve crimes.
Gail: Do you know God, gentlemen?
Dean: Oh yeah. Yeah, we're- we're besties.
Sam: So what happened to your daughter, was that God's plan?

Gail: Yes.
Sam: She didn't have to die. She was sick. If you had taken her to a doctor.
Gail: God does not-

Sam: God doesn't care what kind of life you live. Trust me. And God didn't kill your daughter. You did.
Sam: Magda? Magda Peterson.

Magda: That's not my name. I'm not Magda. I'm the Devil.

Sam: No. No, you're not. You're really not.
Sam: Magda... You're not the Devil. You're just psychic. There are others out there like you, like-like me. I have powers too. I'd get these visions sometimes and I could move things with my mind.

Magda: You can do that?

Sam: Well, no. Not anymore, I don't think. But it didn't make me the Devil, it just made me who I am.
Sam: Magda, that wasn't your fault. You are not the Devil. You're not evil. And it's scary. I-I know it's scary. But you can learn how to control it. You don't have to hurt anyone ever again.
Dean: Sorry I missed all the psycho.
Sam: Hey, you thought our family was crazy.
Magda: Beth called my aunt in California. I'm gonna be staying with her.

Beth: She has a ranch. Lots of wide-open country.

Dean: Well, that's great. You know sometimes in order to figure things out a person needs space.
Sam: Magda. I-I know it doesn't feel like it right now. But, you're gonna be all right. You can do this. You will do this. Just remember, that power... It doesn't control you. You control it.

Magda: I know.

Sam: If you ever need anything. Anything. Call, me okay? I'll be there.
Dean: Think you made the right call back there letting her go?

Sam: I hope so. I mean Magda didn't know what she was doing, she had no idea. I think she deserves a second chance. What did Beth want?
Dean: She gave me her number. Her personal number.
Sam: You were gonna shoot her.
Dean: Yeah, I know. Kinda weird, kinda hot.
Sam: Hey, did you mean what you said back there?

Dean: Yeah. You were right. This whole Mom thing. It's-I mean, we get her back and then she leaves, I hate it. But I get it. I do. I guess I'm just still working through some of that crap. I'll try to be less of a dick about it.

Trivia & References

"American Nightmare" is a song by The Misfits. Writer Davy Perez tweeted a link to the song just before this episode aired.
Sam and Dean use the aliases Fathers Penn and DeNiro as priests. References to actors Sean Penn and Robert DeNiro who also pretend to be priests in the movie We're No Angels. They also use James Morrison and Ray Manzarek while posing as social workers, a reference to Doors singer Jim Morrison and keyboard bass player Ray Manzarek.
Dean: So, Lucifer. The Lord of Evil, the Angel of Light, is now the Master of Butt Rock. He jumped into Vince Vincente.
In the '90s rock music radio stations used the tagline "Rock. Nothing but Rock." – which people quickly parodied as "Nothing Butt Rock." Butt rock became slang for bad rock music – which of course varied depending on your tastes! It can be assumed with Sam being a fan of Bon Jovi and Vince Vincente, that his musical tastes veered more towards '80s hair/glam metal growing up, which is in contrast to Dean and John's classic hard rock and heavy metal tastes. The name of Lucifer's chosen vessel could also be a play on Vinnie Vincent, who was the lead guitarist for KISS from 1982-1984, a band some would describe as butt rock. Vincent's career with KISS and his life after the band was the subject of a lengthy Rolling Stone story in 2014.
Sam: 'The victim's skull was filled with a goopy mush.'

Dean: That Carl paints quite a picture, doesn't he? All right. What can do all that?
Sam: I got nothing.
Dean: Me neither. Well, maybe we should focus more on the case and less on the Dr. Phil crap.

"Dr. Phil" is a reference to TV personality and relationships advice guru Phil McGraw.
Dean: Well, that was easy.

Sam: What?
Dean: What? The Wicca'd Witch of the West in there. Little Miss 'positive energy,' wanted a bigger office, did a little hoodoo. Boom. I say we put a witch-killing cap in her ass and call it a day.

The Wicked Witch of the West is an evil witch from the Oz books by Frank Baum. She also appeared in the episode 9.04 Slumber Party.
Dean: Weird creepy off-the-grid Children of the Corn people? Yeah, I'm in.
Children of the Corn is a story by Stephen King (and subsequent movie franchise) about a town where children kill their peers on their 19th birthdays as a sacrifice to an evil deity who lives in the cornfields.
Dean: She hates the way that we were raised. She hates the fact that we're hunters. Maybe she starts walking and she doesn't stop. You know, she obviously has zero interest in keeping this family together.

Sam: Well, you know sometimes families do better after a little time apart.
Dean: Yeah, who? The Mansons?

The Manson Family refers to the followers of cult leader and murderer Charles Manson.
Gail: Olivia Sanchez was a papist, but at least she believed in God.
"Papist" is disparaging term for Roman Catholics typically used by sectarians.

Minutiae

William MacDonald, who played Abraham Peterson, previously played Sheriff in 5.08 Changing Channels.
The grandfather clock shown when Sam and Dean first talked to the Petersons was used previously in 7.12 Time After Time at the home of Chronos and Lila Taylor.

  • Posted by VFX compositor Alexandre Boucher. Top image shows how VFX erased the blood mechanisms seen in the bottom image.

  • Special effects makeup by Celine Godeau.

Sides, Scripts & Transcripts

Promotion

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