4.16 On the Head of a Pin (transcript)
Written by:
Directed by:
Air Date:
Written by: Ben Edlund
Directed by: Robert Singer
Contents
TEASER
Night. Castiel works among a pile up of smashed cars. At the centre on the road, an angel lies dead.
Castiel: Goodbye, sister.
Castiel walks away as the police arrive
Police officer: What the hell?
Act One
Int. Impala. Sam is driving. Dean rouses from sleep.
Sam: Ruby’ll meet us outside Cheyenne. She’s been trackin’ some leads. Look, I know she’s not exactly on your Christmas list, but if she can help us get to Lilith –
Dean: Hey man, work with Ruby, don’t. I don’t really give a rat’s ass.
Sam: What’s your problem?
Dean: Pamela didn’t want anything to do with this and we dragged her back into it, Sam.
Sam: She knew what was at stake.
Dean: Oh, yeah saving the world. And we’re doing such a damn good job of it.
Sam: Dean –
Dean: I’m tired of burying friends, Sam.
Sam: Look, we catch a fresh trail...
Dean: And we follow it, I know. Like I said, I’m just... I’m just getting tired.
Sam: Well - get angry.
Int. Motel room. Night.
Dean: Ah, home crappy home.
Uriel: Winchester and Winchester.
Dean: Oh, come on.
Uriel: You are needed.
Dean: Needed? We just got back from ‘needed’.
Uriel: Now, you mind your tone with me.
Dean: No, you mind your damn tone with us.
Sam: We just got back from Pamela’s funeral.
Dean: Yeah, Pamela. You know, psychic Pamela? You remember her? Cas, you remember her, you – you burned her eyes out. Remember that? Good times. Yeah, then she died savin’ one of your precious seals. So maybe you could stop pushin’ us around like chess pieces for five freakin’ minutes!
Uriel: We raised you out of Hell for our purposes.
Dean: Yeah, what were those again? What exactly do you want from me?
Uriel: Start with gratitude.
Dean: Oh,...
Castiel: Dean, we know this is difficult to understand.
Uriel: And we don’t care. Now, seven angels have been murdered. All of them from our garrison. The last one was killed tonight.
Dean: Demons? How’re they doin’ it?
Uriel: We don’t know.
Sam: I’m sorry but what do you want us to do about it? I mean, a demon with the juice to ice angels has to be out of our league, right?
Uriel: We can handle the demons, thank you very much.
Castiel: Once we find whoever it is.
Dean: So you need our help hunting a demon?
Castiel: Not quite. We have Alastair.
Dean: Great. He should be able to name your trigger man.
Castiel: But he won’t talk. Alastair’s will is very strong. We’ve arrived at an impasse.
Dean: Yeah, well, he’s like a black belt in torture. I mean, you guys are out of your league.
Uriel: That’s why we’ve come to his student. You happen to be the most qualified interrogator we’ve got.
Castiel: Dean, you’re our best hope.
Dean: No, no way. You can’t ask me to do this, Cas. Not this.
Uriel: Who said anything about asking?
The angels and Dean disappear
Sam: Dammit!
Warehouse. Outside torture room. Night.
Castiel: This Devil’s Trap is old Enochian He’s bound completely.
Dean: Fascinating. Where’s the door?
Castiel: Where are you going?
Dean: To hitch back to Cheyenne, thank you very much.
Uriel: Angels are dying, boy.
Dean: Everybody’s dying these days. And, hey, I get it, you’re all powerful, you can make me do whatever you want. But you can’t make me do this.
Castiel: This is too much to ask, I know. But we have to ask it.
Dean: I want to Cas alone.
Uriel:I think I’ll go seek revelation. We might have further orders.
Dean: Well, get some doughnuts while you’re out.
Uriel: Ha! This one just won’t quit, will he? I think I’m starting to like you, boy.
Dean: If you guys don’t walk enough, you’re gonna get flabby. You know, I’m starting to think Junkless has a better sense of humour than you do.
Castiel: Uriel’s the funniest angel in the garrison. Ask anyone.
Dean: What’s goin’ on, Cas? Since when does Uriel put a leash on you?
Castiel: My superiors have begun to question my sympathies.
Dean: Your sympathies?
Castiel: I was getting to close to the humans in my charge: you. They feel I’ve begun to express emotions; doorways to doubt. This can impair my judgement.
Dean: Well, tell Uriel, or whoever, you do not want me doing this. Trust me.
Castiel: Want it, no. But I’ve been told we need it.
Dean: You ask me to open that door and walk through it, you will not like what walks back out.
Castiel: For what it’s worth, I would give anything not to have you do this.
Act Two
Int. Room in wrehouse. Alisatair is chained. Dean enters pushing a trolley.
Alastair: [sings]: Heaven. I’m in heaven. And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak. And I seem to find the happiness I seek when we’re out together and dancing cheek to cheek.
I’m sorry. This is a very serious, very emotional situation for you. I shouldn’t laugh, it’s just that, I mean, are they serious? They sent you to torture me?
Dean: You’ve got one chance. One. Tell me who’s killing the angels. I want a name.
Alastair: You think I’ll see all your scary toys and spill my guts?
Dean: Oh, you’ll spill your guts one way or another. I just didn’t want to ruin my shoes. Now answer the question.
Alastair: Or what? You’ll work me over? But then, maybe, you don’t want to. Maybe, you’re a little scared to.
Dean: I’m here, aren’t I?
Alastair: Not entirely. You left part of yourself back in the Pit. Let’s see if we can get the two of you back together again, shall we?
Dean: You’re gonna be disappointed.
Alastair: You have not disappointed me so far. Come on, you’ve gotta want a little payback for everything I did to you, for all the pokes and prods. No? Well, how about for all the things I did to your Daddy?
Int. Motel Room. Sam lets Ruby in.
Ruby: I can still smell them. Seriously, Sam, I’m not exactly dying to tangle with angels again.
Sam: I need you to find out where they took Dean.
Ruby: Not sure I see the problem. You know they have Alastair strung up six ways from Sunday. Dean cuts himself a slice, Al’s reduced to a quivering heap and the good guys get the goods. What’s wrong with that?
Sam: He can’t do it.
Ruby: Look, I get it – you don’t want him going all torture master again...
Sam: No, I mean he can’t do it. He can’t get the job done. Something happened to him downstairs, Ruby. He’s not what he used to be, he’s not strong enough.
Ruby: And you are?
Sam: I will be.
Warehouse.
Alastair: I had your pop on my rack for close to a century.
Dean: You can’t stall forever.
Alastair: John Winchester made quite a name for himself. A hundred years. After each session I’d make him the same offer I made you: I’d put down my blade if he picked one up...
Dean: Just give me the demon’s name, Alastair.
Alastair: ... but he said nine, each and every time ... I couldn’t break him. Pulled out all the stops. But John, he was made of something unique, the stuff of heroes. And then came Dean. Dean Winchester. I thought I was up against it again. But, daddy’s little girl, he broke. He broke in thirty. Ah, just not the man your daddy wanted you to be, huh, Dean? No. Now we’re getting somewhere. Holy water? Come on. Grasshopper, you’re gonna have to get creative to impress me.
Dean: You know something, Alastair? I could still dream, even in Hell. And over and over and over, you know what I dreamt? I dreamt of this moment. And believe me I’ve got a few ideas. Let’s get started.
Dean: Let me know if you want some more, there’s plenty left. Alastair: Go directly to Hell. Do not pass ‘Go’, do not collect two hundred dollars.
Int. Motel room. Ruby is chanting Latin over a burning map.
Ruby:Relax. The fire is our friend. Besides, the only part of the map we need, is the ‘where’s Dean?’ part. Out. There. Your brother is there. Now, it’s a good thing angels aren’t concerned with hiding their dirty business. Not used to being spied on, I mean, who’d be stupid enough to try?
Sam: Ruby, it’s been weeks. I need it.
Ruby: You don’t seem too happy about it.
Sam: You think I want to do this? This is the last thing I.... But I need to be strong enough.
Ruby: It’s okay. It’s okay, Sammy. You can have it. Ruby kisses Sam briefly, and then cuts her arm. Sam drinks her blood. It’s okay, Sam.
Torture Room.
Alastair: There’s that little pig poker. I wondered where it went. Do you really think this is gonna fix you? Give you closure? Oh, well, that is sad. That’s really sad. Sad, sad. [Dean stab’s Alastair with Ruby’s knife covered in salt] I carved you into a new animal,Dean. There is no going back.
Dean: Maybe you’re right. But now it’s my turn to carve.
Warehouse
Castiel: Anna.
Anna: Hello, Castiel.
Castiel: Your human body.
Anna: It was destroyed, I know. But, I guess I’m sentimental. Called in some old favors, and....
Castiel: You shouldn’t be here. We still have orders to kill you.
Anna: Somehow, I don’t think you’ll try. Where’s Uriel?
Castiel: He went to receive revelation.
Anna: Right.
cut to Alisatir's torture
Alastair: You know, it’s your professionalism that I respect.
Warehouse
Anna: Why are you letting Dean do this?
Castiel: He’s doing God’s work.
Anna: Torturing? That’s God’s work? Stop him, Cas. Please. Before you ruin the one real weapon you have.
Castiel: Who are we to question the will of God?
Anna: Unless this isn’t His will.
Castiel: Then where do the orders come from?
Anna: I don’t know. One of our superiors maybe. But not Him.
cut to Alisatir's torture
Dean: Who’s murdering the angels?
Anna: The Father you love, you think He wants this? You think He’d ask this of you? You think this is righteous? What you’re feeling, it’s called doubt. These orders are wrong and you know it. But you can do the right thing. You’re afraid, Cas. I was too. But, together we can..
Castiel: Together? I am nothing like you. You fell. Go.
Anna: Cas,...
Castiel: Go.
cut to Alisatir's torture
Alastair: You’re just not getting deep enough. Well, you lack the resources. Reality is just too concrete up here. Honestly, Dean, you have no idea how bad it really was and what you really did for us.
Dean: Shut up.
Alastair: Oh, the whole bloody thing, Dean. The reason Lilith wanted you there in the first place.
Dean: Well, then I’ll just make you shut up.
Alastair: Lilith threw you down—
[Dean pours salt down Alastair’s throat]
Alastair: There’s something caught in my throat ... I think it’s my throat.
Dean: Hm, well, strap in, ‘cause I’m just starting to have fun.
Alastair: You know, it was supposed to be your father. He was supposed to bring it on. But in the end, it was you.
Dean: Bring what on?
Alastair: Every night, the same offer, remember? The same as your father. And finally you said, ‘Sign me up.’ Oh, the first time you picked up my razor, the first time you sliced into that weeping bitch – that was the first seal.
Dean: You’re lying.
Alastair: And it is written that the first seal shall be broken when a righteous man sheds blood in Hell. As he breaks, so shall it break. [Dean turns and walks away, stopping with his back to Alastair] We had to break the first seal before any of the others. Only way to get the dominoes to fall, right? Top of the one at the front of the line. When we win, when we bring on the apocalypse and burn this earth down, we’ll owe it all to you, Dean Winchester. Believe me, son. I wouldn’t lie about that. It’s kind of a religious sort of thing with me.
Dean: No. I don’t think you are lying. But even if the demons to win, you won’t be there to see it.
Dean turns to find Alisatair is free
Alastair: You should talk to you plumber about the pipes.
Alastair starts beating Dean.
Alastair: You’ve got a lot to learn, boy. So I’ll see you back in class bright and early Monday morning.
Castiel attacks Alastair with Ruby's Knife.
Alastair: Oh, almost. Looks like God is on my side today.
Alastair: You know, like roaches, you celestials. I really wish I knew how to kill you. But all I can do is send you back to heaven.
Alastair starts chanting in latin but Sam appears adn throws him against the wall.
Alastair: Stupid pet tricks.
Sam: Who’s murdering the angels? How are they doing it?
Alastair: You think I’m gonna tell you?
Sam: Yeah, I do. How are the demons killing the angels?
Alastair: I don't know.
Sam: Right.
Alastair: It’s not us. We’re not doing it.
Sam: I don’t believe you.
Alastair: Lilith is not behind this. She wouldn’t kill seven angels. She’d kill a hundred, a thousand. Oh, go ahead, send me back. If you can.
Sam: I’m stronger than that now. Now I can kill.
Act Three
int. Hospital. Sam sits at dean's bedside. Castiel apepars at the door and Sam follows him into the hall.
Castiel: Sam. Sam: Get in there and heal him. Miracle! Now! Castiel: I can’t. Sam: You and Uriel put him in there Castiel: No. Sam: because you can’t keep a simple Devil’s Trap together. Castiel: I don’t know what happened. That trap .... It shouldn’t have broken. I am sorry. Sam: This whole thing was pointless. You understand that? The demons aren’t doing the hits. Something else is killing your soldiers. Castiel: Perhaps Alastair was lying. Sam: No, he wasn’t.
Ext. Park bench. Day. Uriel: Castiel. I received revelation from our superiors. Our brothers and sisters are dying and they … they want us to stop hunting the demon responsible. Something is wrong up there. I mean, can you feel it. Castiel: The murders. Maybe they aren’t demonic. Sam Winchester said the demons had nothing to do with it. Uriel: If not the demons, what could it be? Castiel: The will of heaven. We are failing, Uriel, we are losing the war. Perhaps the garrison is being punished. Uriel: You think our Father would— Castiel: I think maybe our Father isn’t giving the orders anymore. Maybe there is something wrong. Uriel: Well, I won’t wait to be gutted.
Scene 14: Outside. Night. Castiel: Anna! Anna, please. Anna: Decided to kill me after all? Castiel: I’m alone. Anna: What do you want from me, Castiel? Castiel: I’m considering disobedience. Anna: Good. Castiel: No, it isn’t. For the first time, I feel… Anna: It gets worse. Choosing your own course of action is confusing, terrifying. [Anna touches his arm. He looks down at her hand. She pulls away.] Oh, that’s right. You’re too good for my help. I’m just trash, a walking blasphemy. Castiel: Anna, I don’t know what to do. Please tell me what to do. Anna: Like the old days? No. I’m sorry. It’s time to think for yourself. [Castiel notices the handle for a water fountain]
Scene 15: Torture room. [Castiel ponders the broken Devil’s Trap. Turns the water off telekinetically] Uriel: You called. What do you say, Castiel? Will you join me? Will you fight with me? Castiel: It’s strange. Strange how a leaky pipe can undo the work of angels when we ourselves are supposed to be the agents of fate. Uriel: Alastair was much more powerful than we had imagined. Castiel: No. No demon can overpower that trap. I made it myself. We’ve been friends for a long time, Uriel. Fought by each other’s sides, served together away from home. For what seems like forever. We’re brothers, Uriel. Pay me that respect, tell me the truth. Uriel: The truth is, the only thing that can kill an angel [a long metal stake falls from his sleeve so that the handle rests in his hand] is another angel. Castiel: You. Uriel: I’m afraid so. Castiel: And you broke the Devil’s Trap, set Alastair on Dean. Uriel: Alastair should never have been taken alive. Really inconvenient, Cas. Yes, I did turn the screw a little. Alastair should’ve killed Dean and escaped and you should’ve gone on happily scapegoating the demons. Castiel: For the murders of our kin? Uriel: Not murders, Castiel. No, my work is conversion. How long have we waited here? How long have we played this game? By rules that makes no sense. Castiel: It is our father’s world, Uriel. Uriel: Our father? He stopped being that, if he ever was, the moment he created them. Humanity. His favourites. Those whining, puking larvae. Castiel: Are you trying to convert me? Uriel: I wanted you to join me and I still do. With you we can be powerful enough to – Castiel: To? Uriel: To raise our brother. Castiel: Lucifer. Uriel: You do remember him. How strong he was. How beautiful. And he didn’t bow to humanity. He was punished for defending us. Now if you want to believe in something, Cas, believe in him. Castiel: Lucifer is not God. Uriel: God isn’t God anymore. He doesn’t care what we do. I am proof of that. Castiel: But this.... What were you going to do, Uriel? Were you going to kill the whole garrison? Uriel: I only killed the ones who said no. Others have joined me, Cas. Now, please, brother, don’t fight me. Help me. Help me spread the word. Help me bring on the apocalypse. All you have to do is be unafraid. Castiel: For the first time in a long time, I am. [punches Uriel through a wall] [They fight. Uriel gains the upper hand. Castiel is on his knees] Castiel: You can’t win, Uriel. I still serve God. Uriel: You haven’t even met the man! There is no will. [punches Cas] No wrath. [punches Cas] No God. Anna: [stabs Uriel through the neck from behind] Maybe. Maybe not. But there’s still me.
Scene 16: Dean’s hospital room. Castiel: Are you alright? Dean: No thanks to you. Castiel: You need to be more careful. Dean: You need to learn how to manage a damn Devil’s Trap. Castiel: That’s not what I mean. Uriel’s dead. Dean: Was it the demons? Castiel: It was disobedience. He was workin’ against us. Dean: Is it true? Did I break the first seal? Did I start all this? Castiel: Yes. When we discovered Lilith’s plan for you, we laid siege to Hell. And we fought our way to get to you before you – Dean: Jump-started the apocalypse. Castiel: We were too late. Dean: Why didn’t you just leave me there then? Castiel: It’s not blame that falls on you, Dean. It’s fate. The righteous man who begins it is the only one who can finish it. You have to stop it. Dean: Lucifer? The apocalypse? What does that mean? Hey! Don’t you go disappearing on me you son-of-a-bitch. What does that mean? Castiel: I don’t know. Dean: Bull! Castiel: I don’t. Dean, they don’t tell me much. I know our fate rests with you. Dean: Well, then you guys are screwed. I can’t do it, Cas. It’s too big. Alastair was right. I’m not all here, I’m not—I’m not strong enough. Well, I guess I’m not the man either of our dads wanted me to be. Find someone else. It’s not me.