2.08 Crossroad Blues
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| Title | Crossroad Blues |
| Episode # | Season 2, Episode 8 |
| First aired | 16 November, 2006 |
| Directed by | Steve Boyum |
| Written by | Sera Gamble |
| On IMDB | http://imdb.com/title/tt0868625/ |
| Outline | When two professionals die after claiming to be haunted, Sam and Dean investigate a local bar and discover a demon has been making people's dreams come true in exchange for their souls. |
| Monster | |
| Timeline | |
| Location(s) | Lloyd's Bar - Greenwood, Mississippi |
| [[{{{prevep}}}|« Previous Episode]] | [[{{{nextep}}}|Next Episode »]] | |
Contents
Synopsis
In Rosedale, Mississippi in 1930, Robert Johnson makes a deal with a demon, asking to be the greatest blues guitarist that ever lived. The deal is sealed with a kiss.
In Greenwood Mississippi, in August 1938, Robert Johnson is playing blues guitar at a bar called Lloyds. There is a sound outside, and he leaves, running as he hears dogs chasing him until he takes refuge in a house. Soon after he is found dying, mumbling about the black dogs that are after him.
In the present day, Sam and Dean are researching the case of an architect, Sean Boyden, who jumped to his death from a building he designed. He had previously reported seeing a dog in the building. Thinking this may be a supernatural black dog, the boys decide to investigate and under the guise as writers from Architectural Digest, interview Sean’s partner. They discover he had been working as a bartender at a bar called Lloyds ten years ago, when suddenly he’d shown great talent and become an overnight success.
Dean and Sam start tracking all the complaints against black dogs in the area recently. At the house of Dr Silvia Pearlman, who has risen to be Chief of Surgery at a young age, her maid confirms the report, and adds that the doctor left unexpectedly a couple of days before. Dean finds a photo of the doctor at Lloyds.
In a hotel room, Dr Pearlman screams as she is attacked by an invisible dog.
Sam and Dean go to Lloyds bar, which is situated near a crossroads. The intersection is surrounded by yarrow, a plant used in summoning rituals, and at its centre they dig up a tin contain bones and the photo of George Darrow. They realise that the black dog are actually hell hounds which are collecting the souls due in payment of a deal with a demon.
The boys visit George Darrow, a painter, who admits to having summoned a demon ten years ago, and having made a deal for artistic talent. After the deal however, the demon stayed at Lloyds bar for week and made deals with Sean Boyden, Silvia Growman and a man named Evan Hudson. George is resigned to dying, and the boys leave him to his fate.
At Evan Hudson’s house, he admits to Sam and Dean to having made a deal with the demon to save his wife from dying from cancer.
Dean suggests he go and summon the Crossroads Demon and try and exorcise it, while Sam protects Evan. Sam is wary of the plan, like Dean he has been wondering if their father made a similar deal with the Yellow-Eyed Demon for Dean’s life, and is wary of Dean’s motives. But as they hear the howling of the hell hounds, he agrees to go along with the plan.
Dean summons the Crossroads Demon, and tries to lure her into the Impala, which is parked over a devil’s trap . When she realises the trap and begins to taunt Dean about how much he has suffered since John’s death. She offers to bring him back, in exchange for Dean’s soul to be claimed in ten year’s time. Just as it appears Dean may make the deal, the crossroads demon realises she is trapped under a devil’s trap painted ion the water tower she is standing under. Meanwhile Sam and Evan stand inside a protective circle as the hellhounds approach.
Dean starts to exorcise the demon, but she offers to free Evan Hudson from his deal, sealing her offer with a kiss. Dean continues the exorcism, while the enraged demon taunts him with how much his father is suffering in hell. Finally the demon is exorcised, leaving behind a confused young woman.
Back in the Impala, Sam and Dean talk about the deal their father made. Dean feels undeserving and while Sam tries to convince him otherwise, he asks whether Dean considers accepting the crossroad demon’s deal. Dean doesn’t answer.
Characters
Definitions
- Black Dogs PoD
- Hellhound PoD
- Robert Johnson PoD
- Goofer Dust PoD
- Exorcism PoD
- Crossroads PoD
- Devil's trap (symbol)
- Crossroads Demon
Music
- Robert Johnson - Crossroad Blues
- Big Bill Broonzy/Little Walter - Key to the Highway
- Son House - Downhearted Blues
Quotes
George:' Hell no. 'Course, I asked for talent. Shoulda gone for fame. I'm still broke, and lonely. Just now I got this pile of paintings don't nobody want. But that wasn't the worst.
It's all you ever think about. You wake up and your first thought is, "I can't do this anymore." You're all lit up with pain. I mean, you loved him so much. And it's all your fault.
You blew it, Dean! I could have given you what you need.Trivia & References
- Let's Make A Deal: TV game show that started in the 60s.
Minutiae
Sides, Scripts & Transcripts
Sides
- Robert Johnson (PDF)
- Crossroads Demon (PDF)
- George (later renamed "Evan Hudson" (PDF)
Promotion
At the end of this episode a promo was aired that became known as the "Soon" promo, as the word "soon" appeared on the title card. It was a compilation of scenes from upcoming episodes: 2.09 Croatoan and 2.10 Hunted, ending with the moment before Dean reveals to Sam what John and told him. The music in the clip is Hair of the Dog by Nazareth.
