Difference between revisions of "13.08 The Scorpion and the Frog"
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|Synopsis= | |Synopsis= | ||
+ | '''Cambridge, England''' – A woman uses the confusion of closing time to access the Staff Only portion of the Cambridge Museum. When a passcode does not work, she muscles her way through the locked door. She finds what she is looking forward in some old parchments. When a guard interrupts, it is revealed that she is a demon as it leaves her and possesses the guard, who takes the documents and leaves. The possessed guard meets the crossroads demon Barthamus in a dark alley and hands over the documents. The guard’s inquiries about what reward Asmodeus will bestow is swiftly answered with death by angel blade. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At the Bunker, Dean is cleaning his gun when Sam enters relaying that he has talked to Cas, Jack is still missing and no word on Ketch. Dean’s phone rings - it is who knows they are looking for a Nephilim and has something that they may find useful. The Winchesters quickly pick up that he is a demon. The business demon, then sets up a meeting. | ||
+ | |||
+ | On their way, Dean discusses with Sam about how demons are not to be trusted and after Crowley, he swore he would never work with one again. Barthamus declares that he replaced Crowley as the King of the Crossroads when Crowley became the King of Hell. He tries to ingratiate himself by offering Dean pie and giving Sam an authentic spell to track a Nephilim. But, it is only half the spell and he needs the Winchesters’ help. Dean refuses, but Bart appeals to Sam to research the spell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At the Bunker, Sam tells Dean that the spell does check out. It’s Canaanite. King Solomon commissioned it to keep tabs on the Queen of Sheba who was half angel. Dean brings up that things like this usually go wrong. Sam replies that they don’t have a choice. They agree to meet Bart. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bart and two people are waiting, impatiently. Bart expresses confidence the Winchesters will show right before they arrive. Bart introduces his companions, Smash a young woman and an excellent safecracker, and Grab, a demon who can get past any Supernatural security system. Dean surmises that this is a heist. Bart relays the particulars of the score. The mark is Luther Shrike, the item is a mahogany box locked in a safe that can only be opened by a man that has been to Hell and back. Since Dean went to Hell because of a deal, his blood is what is needed. When Sam asks what is in the trunk, Bart refuses. When the Winchesters start to decline, Bart threatens he will give the spell the Asmodeus. The Winchesters go off to discuss, deciding that they must go along with it, but plan on killing Bart as soon as possible. They go back the Bart, Smash, and Grab to plan. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile, an Asmodeus demon warns Luther that Bart is coming, and wants to deal. Luther instead exorcises the demon, saying he will be ready and he doesn’t take orders. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Baby then pulls up to the gate with Sam driving, while Dean and Smash hide in the back. Under the guise of selling a family heirloom, the gates open. Halfway to the house, Dean and Smash get out. Sam and Dean tell each other not to get dead, then go their separate ways. Sam goes to distract Luther while Dean and Smash go to summon Grab bypassing the warding. They bond over a super caffeinated soft drink while Dean wonders why she works for a demon. When the spell is done, Grab instantly appears. He reveals that Dean’s blood will be a dousing rod to find the vault. For a moment, the spell Grab doesn’t seem to work, when suddenly, Dean’s arm starts pulling him toward the vault’s location. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile, Sam enters Luther’s house. They talk about Luther’s collection, Sam corrects him about a piece. Then the “heirloom” is revealed: Ruby’s knife. Dean is still a human compass but is worried about Sam, confusing Grab. They finally find come to a storm cellar. Grab refuses to enter. So Dean leads after Smash opens it. | ||
+ | Inside, during negotiations, Luther reveals he knows that Sam is a distraction and thinks he’s a demon. A fight ensues. Sam stabs Luther with Ruby’s knife, but it’s discovered Luther’s immortal. Luther knocks Sam out and leaves. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At the vault, Dean is distressed that he has to put his hand in a statue’s mouth (there might be spiders) to open it. He panics further as it grabs his hand, but it simply pricks his finger. The door opens, Smash steps in and is saved from a deadly dart by Dean. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Just then, Luther arrives, kills Grab, and makes his way down. Smash racks him and flees. Dean asks about Sam, and after being reassured, he shoots Luther to no avail. Then Sam runs in informing Dean that Luther is immortal, so Dean knocks him out. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After Luther refuses to help, Sam has a crazy idea. They strap Luther to a chair and roll him through the chamber to “collect” darts, clearing the path. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile, Smash (Alice) has made it to the gate, only to be stopped by Bart. She tells him everyone is dead, the mission a failure. But Bart won’t let her go. So, as the Winchesters ponder how to get into the safe, she appears. They figure she is doing this because of a deal, and offer to help. She feels she must take care of herself. | ||
+ | |||
+ | They retrieve the trunk, but notice Luther is no longer tied up. They quickly try to escape only to be met by Luther in a big, red pickup. He tries to run them down, but is no match for Dean’s driving and Sam’s shooting. During a standoff, Luther discloses that he sold his soul to Bart to save his son’s life, but his son dies later anyway. Then he has the Winchesters open the trunk to reveal Bart’s bones. Without warning, Bart appears and decapitates Luther. He congratulates everyone and offers the Winchesters the other half of the spell. They refuse. Bart grabs Alice and threatens to kill her. The Winchesters concede and slide the bones over. Bart sends an apologetic Alice to retrieve the bones. Dean surreptitiously indicates to Alice to look in the trunk, where his has secretly placed a lighter. Bart goes up in flames as Alice burns the bones, unfortunately burning the rest of the spell. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After the Winchesters see Alice off on a bus they return to the bunker. Dean opens beers for them and asks if Sam is ok. Sam replies that he is not, they failed to find a way to locate Jack and he’s worried. Dean reassures him that they will keep looking until they find him, because that’s what they do. Sam expresses relief to hear Dean talk like that. And they clink their beers in a toast. | ||
|Characters= | |Characters= |
Revision as of 02:47, 12 December 2017
Title | The Scorpion and the Frog |
Episode # | Season 13, Episode 8 |
First aired | November 30, 2017 |
Directed by | Robert Singer |
Written by | Meredith Glynn |
On IMDB | The Scorpion and the Frog |
Outline | A crossroads demon offers Sam and Dean a spell to locate Jack, in exchange for their assistance on an unusual heist. |
Monster | Barthamus |
Timeline | |
Location(s) | Cambridge, England Lebanon, Kansas |
[[{{{prevep}}}|« Previous Episode]] | [[{{{nextep}}}|Next Episode »]] |
Contents
Synopsis
Cambridge, England – A woman uses the confusion of closing time to access the Staff Only portion of the Cambridge Museum. When a passcode does not work, she muscles her way through the locked door. She finds what she is looking forward in some old parchments. When a guard interrupts, it is revealed that she is a demon as it leaves her and possesses the guard, who takes the documents and leaves. The possessed guard meets the crossroads demon Barthamus in a dark alley and hands over the documents. The guard’s inquiries about what reward Asmodeus will bestow is swiftly answered with death by angel blade.
At the Bunker, Dean is cleaning his gun when Sam enters relaying that he has talked to Cas, Jack is still missing and no word on Ketch. Dean’s phone rings - it is who knows they are looking for a Nephilim and has something that they may find useful. The Winchesters quickly pick up that he is a demon. The business demon, then sets up a meeting.
On their way, Dean discusses with Sam about how demons are not to be trusted and after Crowley, he swore he would never work with one again. Barthamus declares that he replaced Crowley as the King of the Crossroads when Crowley became the King of Hell. He tries to ingratiate himself by offering Dean pie and giving Sam an authentic spell to track a Nephilim. But, it is only half the spell and he needs the Winchesters’ help. Dean refuses, but Bart appeals to Sam to research the spell.
At the Bunker, Sam tells Dean that the spell does check out. It’s Canaanite. King Solomon commissioned it to keep tabs on the Queen of Sheba who was half angel. Dean brings up that things like this usually go wrong. Sam replies that they don’t have a choice. They agree to meet Bart.
Bart and two people are waiting, impatiently. Bart expresses confidence the Winchesters will show right before they arrive. Bart introduces his companions, Smash a young woman and an excellent safecracker, and Grab, a demon who can get past any Supernatural security system. Dean surmises that this is a heist. Bart relays the particulars of the score. The mark is Luther Shrike, the item is a mahogany box locked in a safe that can only be opened by a man that has been to Hell and back. Since Dean went to Hell because of a deal, his blood is what is needed. When Sam asks what is in the trunk, Bart refuses. When the Winchesters start to decline, Bart threatens he will give the spell the Asmodeus. The Winchesters go off to discuss, deciding that they must go along with it, but plan on killing Bart as soon as possible. They go back the Bart, Smash, and Grab to plan.
Meanwhile, an Asmodeus demon warns Luther that Bart is coming, and wants to deal. Luther instead exorcises the demon, saying he will be ready and he doesn’t take orders.
Baby then pulls up to the gate with Sam driving, while Dean and Smash hide in the back. Under the guise of selling a family heirloom, the gates open. Halfway to the house, Dean and Smash get out. Sam and Dean tell each other not to get dead, then go their separate ways. Sam goes to distract Luther while Dean and Smash go to summon Grab bypassing the warding. They bond over a super caffeinated soft drink while Dean wonders why she works for a demon. When the spell is done, Grab instantly appears. He reveals that Dean’s blood will be a dousing rod to find the vault. For a moment, the spell Grab doesn’t seem to work, when suddenly, Dean’s arm starts pulling him toward the vault’s location.
Meanwhile, Sam enters Luther’s house. They talk about Luther’s collection, Sam corrects him about a piece. Then the “heirloom” is revealed: Ruby’s knife. Dean is still a human compass but is worried about Sam, confusing Grab. They finally find come to a storm cellar. Grab refuses to enter. So Dean leads after Smash opens it. Inside, during negotiations, Luther reveals he knows that Sam is a distraction and thinks he’s a demon. A fight ensues. Sam stabs Luther with Ruby’s knife, but it’s discovered Luther’s immortal. Luther knocks Sam out and leaves.
At the vault, Dean is distressed that he has to put his hand in a statue’s mouth (there might be spiders) to open it. He panics further as it grabs his hand, but it simply pricks his finger. The door opens, Smash steps in and is saved from a deadly dart by Dean.
Just then, Luther arrives, kills Grab, and makes his way down. Smash racks him and flees. Dean asks about Sam, and after being reassured, he shoots Luther to no avail. Then Sam runs in informing Dean that Luther is immortal, so Dean knocks him out.
After Luther refuses to help, Sam has a crazy idea. They strap Luther to a chair and roll him through the chamber to “collect” darts, clearing the path.
Meanwhile, Smash (Alice) has made it to the gate, only to be stopped by Bart. She tells him everyone is dead, the mission a failure. But Bart won’t let her go. So, as the Winchesters ponder how to get into the safe, she appears. They figure she is doing this because of a deal, and offer to help. She feels she must take care of herself.
They retrieve the trunk, but notice Luther is no longer tied up. They quickly try to escape only to be met by Luther in a big, red pickup. He tries to run them down, but is no match for Dean’s driving and Sam’s shooting. During a standoff, Luther discloses that he sold his soul to Bart to save his son’s life, but his son dies later anyway. Then he has the Winchesters open the trunk to reveal Bart’s bones. Without warning, Bart appears and decapitates Luther. He congratulates everyone and offers the Winchesters the other half of the spell. They refuse. Bart grabs Alice and threatens to kill her. The Winchesters concede and slide the bones over. Bart sends an apologetic Alice to retrieve the bones. Dean surreptitiously indicates to Alice to look in the trunk, where his has secretly placed a lighter. Bart goes up in flames as Alice burns the bones, unfortunately burning the rest of the spell.
After the Winchesters see Alice off on a bus they return to the bunker. Dean opens beers for them and asks if Sam is ok. Sam replies that he is not, they failed to find a way to locate Jack and he’s worried. Dean reassures him that they will keep looking until they find him, because that’s what they do. Sam expresses relief to hear Dean talk like that. And they clink their beers in a toast.
Characters
- Sam Winchester
- Dean Winchester
- Alice aka "Smash"
- Barthamus
- Grab
- Luther Shrike
Definitions
- Alcohol
- Aliases
- Angel Blade
- Crossroads Demon
- Deals and Pacts
- Demon Smoke
- Devil's Trap
- Exorcism
- Holy Oil
- Holy Water
- Impala
- Pie
- Men of Letters Bunker
- Nephilim
- Ruby's Knife
- Sam Drives the Impala
- Silver
- Spells
- Table of Death
- Unconscious
- Warding Sigils
Music
None
Quotes
Sam: How about this? Let's just hear the guy out.
Barthamus: How very Dean of you.
Sam: Doesn't matter. Jack is out there, in the world, and he's alone, and he's scared, and he's dangerous. And if this is our chance to find him, we have to take it.
Sam: Not if we screw him over first. Listen, we want that spell, right? I mean we need that spell. We definitely don't want Asmodeus getting his hands on it. So, let's do this. Have him hand over the other half of the spell.
Dean: And then?
Dean: You too.
Dean: You know, we could help you.
Dean: Yeah, that. And we just don't like you.
Sam: Yeah, not really. Not exactly the best day, you know?
Dean: Well, it's not the worst. We did save somebody. That felt good.
Sam: Yeah. Yeah, it did. But back to square one with Jack.
Dean: We'll figure something else out. And if that doesn't work, then we'll move on to next, and then whatever's after that. We just keep working, 'cause it's what we do.
Sam: It feels really good to hear you talk like that again.
Trivia & References
- John Dortmunder is the name of a fictional character in the novels of Donald Westlake. He is a criminal whose careful plans usually go awry.
- Dean is referring to actor Winona Ryder, who was something of a style icon in the 1990's, and whom "Smash" evokes, particularly with her flower-patterned Doc Marten boots.
Sam: Actually, that's not, um... So, whoever sold this to you had it wrong. Uh, basilisk fangs are hollow. This is actually a gorgon tooth. Still really cool though. You know, I would love to see more of your collection.
- The basilisk is a snake-like creature from European mythology. Gorgons are creatures from ancient Greek legend which resemble women with snakes for hair.
- In the Indiana Jones movies, the titular hero often faces elaborate puzzles which must be solved in order for him to reach his goal. Indiana is also famously afraid of snakes.
Shrike: I'm more of a book guy.
- Richard Brake who plays Leonard Shrike played the Night King in seasons 4 and 5 of fantasy TV series Game of Thrones based on the books by George R.R. Martin.
Dean: Did you just say Entrapment?
Sam: I don't know. I mean, I don't -- I don't watch a whole lot of those kind of movies.
Dean: Yeah, but you saw Entrapment?
Sam: ...Catherine Zeta Jones.
- Entrapment is a 1999 heist movie starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Sean Connery. In its most famous scene, Zeta-Jones must contort her body under and over a series of laser beams in order to avoid setting off alarms during a robbery.
- To "cottontail" is a phrase referencing the cottontail rabbit, and means to turn tail and run away.
Alice: And if I could take it back, I would. But sorry, Charlie. I can't. So here I am. And as long as I keep working for him, Bart never collects. So you gonna let me do my thing or what?
- "Sorry Charlie" is the catchphrase of Charlie the Tuna, mascot for the Starkist brand of tuna.