Burkitsville, Indiana - one year ago - Holly and Vince, a young couple leaving a restaurant, are seen off by an older couple and a young girl. Presented with a free pie, the giggling wife remarks that they should get lost more often--"Everyone in this town is so nice!" "Yeah, what's the catch?" asks the husband as the older man finishes filling up their car with gas. The young girl admires a fancy tattoo on Vince's arm. "So, let's get you back to the interstate," says the older man, and he and ... read more Burkitsville, Indiana - one year ago - Holly and Vince, a young couple leaving a restaurant, are seen off by an older couple and a young girl. Presented with a free pie, the giggling wife remarks that they should get lost more often--"Everyone in this town is so nice!" "Yeah, what's the catch?" asks the husband as the older man finishes filling up their car with gas. The young girl admires a fancy tattoo on Vince's arm. "So, let's get you back to the interstate," says the older man, and he and his wife give them what sounds like simple directions.

On the way out, however, the couple's white Mustang stalls. Not only did the car just die, but their cellphone, too. "How is that possible?" Holly asks, annoyed. They climb out of the car and look through the trees at the dark, creepy orchard. He spots a house, but she refuses to go in. He urges her to come with him, and side by side, they walk, coming upon a scarecrow. "Check it out," Vince quips, "if I only had a brain." "We wouldn't be lost," she shoots back. "Thanks," he says, "that has got to be the freakiest scarecrow I've ever seen." "It scares me," says Holly, and gasps. It moved! Even WE saw it. She urges her husband to hurry, which they do. They both hear the sound of a branch cracking, but no one responds when the husband asks who's there. Hearing a creepy voice, they begin to run, but Holly loses her husband and stops to call his name: "Vince?" Sobbing in terror, she runs even faster, pursued by someone. Falling over something, she turns and screams--it's Vince, his face ripped to pieces! She spots the scarecrow heading toward her and desperately crab-walks backward, screaming shrilly.

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Sam and Dean lie asleep in motel beds. The cell phone on the table between them rings. Sam mumbles for Dean to answer, but when he doesn't, picks it up himself. It's John. "Dad, are you hurt?" asks Sam. "I'm fine," John assures him. "We've been lookin' for you everywhere," says Sam, "we didn't know where you were, if you were OK." His father assures him he's all right--"What about you and Dean?" "We're fine," says Sam, turning to look at his brother "Dad, where are you?" Hearing "Dad," Dean wake... read more Sam and Dean lie asleep in motel beds. The cell phone on the table between them rings. Sam mumbles for Dean to answer, but when he doesn't, picks it up himself. It's John. "Dad, are you hurt?" asks Sam. "I'm fine," John assures him. "We've been lookin' for you everywhere," says Sam, "we didn't know where you were, if you were OK." His father assures him he's all right--"What about you and Dean?" "We're fine," says Sam, turning to look at his brother "Dad, where are you?" Hearing "Dad," Dean wakes up. John can't tell Sam where he is. "What?--why not?" demands Sam. "Is that Dad?" asks Dean. John closes his eyes, which have been in extreme closeup this entire time. He tells Sam he knows this is difficult to understand, "but you're just gonna have to trust me." "You're after it, aren't you?" realizes Sam--"the thing that killed Mom." "Yeah," admits John, "it's a demon." "A demon?" repeats Sam, "you know for sure?" Dean wants to know what John is saying. "I do," answers John--"listen, Sammy, I also know what happened to your girlfriend. . .I'm so sorry. I would have done anything to protect you from that." Dean slips on a shirt. "You know where it is?" asks Sam. "Yeah, I think I'm finally closing in on it," says John. "Let us help," insists Sam. "You can't," says John, "you can't be any part of it." "Why not?" asks Sam. We see John standing in a phone booth that says Sacratel on it. Dean demands the phone from Sam. John tells Sam that he and Dean have to stop looking for him--"I need you to write down these names." Sam is baffled--"Names??-- Dad, tell me what's going on." "Look, I don't have time for this," says John, "this is bigger than you think, they're everywhere; even us talking right now, it's not safe." Dean reaches for the phone. "No," insists Sam, "all right?--no way." "Gimmee the phone," demands Dean. "I've given you an order," says John, "now you stop following me and you do your job--you understand me?--now take down these names!" Sam is making a prime bitch face. Dean pries the phone from his brother's hand. "Dad," he says, it's me, where are you?--yessir. . .uh, yeah, I got a pen. What are the names?" Sam looks like someone took away his favorite toy.

The Impala drives quickly down the road. Dean and Sam discuss the names of three couples John gave them, all from different towns and states--Washington, New York and Colorado --each took a cross-country trip and never arrived at their destination, nor were they ever heard from again. Big country, says Sam, they could have disappeared anywhere. Except, says Dean, that all couples ended up in the same part of Indiana, always in the second week of April, one year after another after another--and THIS is the second week of April. "So Dad is sending us to Indiana before another couple vanishes?" asks Sam in disbelief. "Yahtzee," says Dean, "can you imagine putting together a pattern like this, all the obits Dad had to go through?--the man's a master." Sam abruptly pulls over. "We're not going to Indiana," he announces, "we're going to California--Dad called from a pay phone, Sacramento area code. If this demon killed Mom and Jess and Dad is closing in, we gotta be there, we gotta help." "Dad doesn't want our help," says Dean. Sam doesn't care. "He's given us an order," says Dean. "I don't care!" reiterates Sam--"we don't always have to do what he says." "Dad is asking us to do jobs, to save lives," Dean reminds him, "it's important." Sam gets that, and understands, "but I'm talkin' one week here, to get answers, to get revenge." "I know how you feel," says Dean softly. "Do you?" demands Sam--how old were you when Mom died?--four? Jess died six months ago--how the hell would you know how I feel?" "Dad said it wasn't safe," Dean reminds him, "for any of us." Sam shakes his head. Dean continues, "He obviously knows something we don't; if he says to stay away, we stay away!" "I don't understand the blind faith you have in the man," says Sam, "I mean, it's like you don't even question him!" "Yeah, it's called being a good son!" says Dean. Sam exits the car and closes the door, hard. Dean does, too, and says, "You're a selfish bastard, you know that?--you just do whatever you want--don't care what anybody thinks." They're both standing at the trunk now, Sam reaching for his duffel. "That's what you really think?" asks Sam. "Yes it is!" says Dean. Sam huffs, loops his duffel over his shoulder and says, "Well, then this selfish bastard is going to California." He turns and walks away. "C'mon, you're not serious," says Dean. "I am serious," Sam assures him. "It's the middle of the night," says Dean, "hey, I'm takin' off, I will LEAVE your ass, you hear me?" Sam turns to look at him. "That's what I want you to do," he says. A muscle works in Dean's right cheek. Sam doesn't say anything. "Good-bye, Sam," says Dean, slamming the trunk closed. Sam eyes him steadily, not moving, as Dean gets back into the car and roars away into the fog. Sam walks on, determined.


Dean drives into Burkitville, where it's thundering, raining hard. He passes a church, a kid riding a bike, and stops. He holds up his phone, stops on Sam's number, but snaps it closed without calling him. He walks over to Scotty's Cafe. "Lemme guess--Scotty," he says to a man sitting on a bench in front of the place. "Yep," the man says, not smiling. Dean introduces himself as John Bonham. "Isn't that the drummer for Led Zeppelin?" asks Scotty. Caught, Dean says, "Wow. . .good--classic rock fan." "What can I do for ya, John?" asks Scotty. Dean shows him missing person photos of vince and Holly Parker, the couple we saw getting murdered earlier. "Nope, who are they?" Scotty asks. "Friends of mine," answers Dean, "they went missing about a year ago." He explains they passed through here and he already asked in Scottsburgh and Salem. . . " "Sorry," Scotty interrupts, handing back the fliers, "we don't get many strangers around here." "Scotty, you got a smile that lights up a room, anybody ever tell you that?" Dean asks the dour man. Scotty just looks at him coldly. "Never mind, see ya around," says Dean, and walks off.

Sam, hitchhiking along a stretch of road, comes across a pretty young woman with short blond hair who is sitting on the side of the road, listening to her Ipod. "Hey" he greets her, but when she doesn't hear him, he taps her shoulder. Startled, she rises to her feet with a gasp, popping the ear buds from her ears. "You scared the hell out of me!" she says. "Sorry, I thought you might need some help," he says. "I'm good, thanks," she says, rolling up the ear bud wires and putting them away. He asks where she's headed. "No offense," she says flirtatiously, "but no way I'm telling you--you could be some kind of freak--I mean you ARE hitchhiking." "Well so are you," he chuckles. She laughs. A car comes by, horn tooting. The driver wants only the girl, not Sam. "I ain't takin' you," the driver says. Meg climbs in and looks at Sam. "You choose Shady Van Guy over me?" Sam asks her. "Definitely," she says, giving Sam a huge, white shark's smile. They drive off, leaving Sam alone, huffing in annoyance.

At the Jorgeson General store, Dean shows his missing person photos to the blond woman who gave Vince and Holly the pies, asking if they came here for gas, but she and her husband both say they don't remember the pair. "Were they friends of yours?" asks the husband. Dean answers yes. The young girl comes down the stairs. "Did he have a tattoo?" she asks. "Yes he did," replies Dean. She looks at the picture of Vince. "Don't you remember?" she says--they were just married." "You're right," says the older man, "they did stop for gas, weren't here more'n ten minutes." Dean asks if he remembers anything else. Told 'em how to get back to the interstate, says the old man, "but they left town." Dean asks to be pointed in the same direction. "Sure," the man agrees.

Dean heads off in the Impala. Hearing the EMF meter squawking in the back seat, he mutters "What the hell?" and pulls over. Taking it out, he notes that the lights are all lit and it's going crazy.

Walking through the foggy orchard, Dean comes across the scarecrow, which looks even worse in daylight, stares at it and says, "Dude, you fugly!" He gazes at the dangerous-looking scythe in its hand and moves over a ladder so he can climb up and look more closely at its arm--which appears branded in the same tattoo Vince had! Just to be sure, he unfolds the photo of Vince to compare them. "Nice tat," Dean tells the scarecrow.

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Dean returns to Jorgeson's, where the pretty gal greets him at the gas pumps: "You're back." "Never left," says Dean. "Still looking for your friends?" she asks. "Mind filling her up there, Emily?" he asks, reading her name necklace. Grinning, she nods and kneels behind the Impala to fill up the tank. He asks if she grew up here. She explains she came when she was 13, after losing her parents in a car accident --"My aunt and uncle took me in." "They're nice people," says Dean. "Everybody's nice ... read more Dean returns to Jorgeson's, where the pretty gal greets him at the gas pumps: "You're back." "Never left," says Dean. "Still looking for your friends?" she asks. "Mind filling her up there, Emily?" he asks, reading her name necklace. Grinning, she nods and kneels behind the Impala to fill up the tank. He asks if she grew up here. She explains she came when she was 13, after losing her parents in a car accident --"My aunt and uncle took me in." "They're nice people," says Dean. "Everybody's nice here," says Emily. "So what, it's the perfect little town?" asks Dean. "Well, you know, it's the boonies," she says, "but I love it, the towns around us, people are losing their homes, their farms, but here, it's almost as if we're blessed." Dean asks if she's been out to the orchard, if she's seen the scarecrow. "It creeps me out," she confesses. "Whose is it?" Dean asks. "I don't know," she says, "it's just always been there." Dean nods at a car in the garage. "That your aunt and uncle's?" he asks. She turns to look at it. "Customer, had some car troubles," she explains. "It's not a couple, a guy and a girl?" he asks. "Mmm-hmm," she says, nodding.

Bus station - Sam learns the bus he wanted to catch doesn't leave until tomorrow, 5:05 PM. "There's got to be another way," he tells the clerk. "There is," she says, "buy a car." He huffs, gives her a bitch face along with a shake of his head, and turns away. He's about to dial Dean when he spots the pretty blond sitting on the floor, legs crossed sexily. Hey, they say to each other. "You again," she says, adding, you were right, that guy was shady, all hands--I cut him loose." Noting impatience on his face, she asks, "What's the matter?" He tells her he's just trying to get to California. "No way!" she says, standing-- "me, too--you know, next bus isn't until tomorrow." "Yeah, that's the problem," he says. "Why, what's in Cali that's so important?" she asks. "Just something I've been looking for a long time," says Sam. "Well, then I'm sure it can wait one more day, right?" she says, giving him her big eyes and bright smile. He grins back and shyly ducks his head. "I'm Meg," she says. "Sam," he returns, smiling.

The couple with car trouble is getting the royal treatment at Scotty's Diner, complete with a huge meal, free, fresh apple pie and a smile from Scotty himself! Dean enters and orders a black coffee, sees the pie, and asks for a slice for himself. "How you doin'?" Dean asks the couple. "Road trip," the wife answers. "Me, too," says Dean. Scotty pours more of what I guess is apple cider into their glasses and coldly tells Dean, "I'm sure these people want to eat in peace." "Just a little friendly conversation," says Dean, "oh, and that coffee, too, by the way." Scotty glares at him. "So what brings you to town?" Dean asks the couple. "We just stopped for gas," explains the wife, "and the guy at the gas station saved our lives." "Is that right?" asks Dean. "One of our brake lines was leaking," says the husband, "we had no idea, and he's fixing it for us." "Nice people," says Dean, "so how long till you're up and running?" When he hears sundown, Dean says that's a long time to fix a brake line. "I know a thing or two about cars," says Dean, "I could probably have you up and running in an hour, wouldn't charge you anything." The couple exchanges glances. "Thanks a lot," says the wife, "but I think we'd rather have a mechanic do it." "Sure," says Dean, "it's just that these roads. . .they're not real safe at night." The pair look at him oddly, and the wife says, "I'm sorry?" "I know it sounds strange," says Dean, "but, uh, you might be in danger." Once again, the couple exchanges glances. "We're trying to eat, OK?" says the husband coolly. "You know, my brother could give you this puppy-dog look, and you'd buy right into it," says Dean half to himself. Scotty enters. "Thanks for coming, Sheriff," he says, and the two of them speak quietly. "I'd like to have a word," the sheriff says to Dean. "Come on, I'm havin' a bad day already," complains Dean. The sheriff leans over Dean's table. "You don't wanna make it worse," he advises.

The Impala, pursued by the sheriff's car with sirens blaring, is run out of Burkitsville. The police car does a U-turn and returns to town.

Bus stop - Sam and Meg, a pile of junk food between them, are getting to know each other better. He asks if she's on vacation. "Yeah, right," she teases, "it's all sipping Cristal poolside for me. . .no, I had to get away from my family. I love my parents, and they want what's best for me, they just didn't care if I wanted it. I was supposed to be smart, but not smart enough to scare away a husband. . .it's just. . .because my family said so, I was supposed to do what I was told, so I just went on my own way instead. I'm sorry--the things you say to people you hardly know." "No, it's OK, I know how you feel," Sam assures her, "remember that brother I mentioned before I was road-tripping with?--it's kinda the same deal." "And that's why you're not riding with him anymore?" asks Meg. He shakes his head and they survey each other solemnly. She raises what looks like a beer but might just be soda. "Here's to us," she says, "the food might be bad, and the beds might be hard, but at least we're living our own lives--and nobody else's." They clink their bottles together on that and drink.

Dean races back to Burkitsville, where it's now dark. A train passes over the trestle as he passes under it, horn lonely in the night.

The couple is already lost in the orchard, their car having crapped out on the road. The scarecrow passes behind, toying with them. "Steve," says the wife, frightened. It does it again. "Who's there?" calls Steve. The scarecrow, scythe ready, comes into their view, and they run. Dean shows up in front of them, shotgun in his hand. "Get back to your car!" he says tersely, and after a moment of stupid hesitation, when Dean yells, "GO, GO!", they comply. Dean fires several shots at the scarecrow, but he continues to run after him and the couple. The three of them have reached the car. Dean cocks his rifle, ready for more shots, but the scarecrow has seemingly disappeared. "What the hell was that?" asks Steve, his scared face nearly on Dean's shoulder. "Don't ask," advises Dean.
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Bus station - Meg lies asleep. Sam, on the phone with Dean, whispers, "The scarecrow climbed off its cross?" "I'm tellin' ya, Burkitsville, Indiana, fun town," says Dean, but assures him it didn't kill the couple--"I CAN cope without ya, ya know." "Something must be animating it," says Sam, "a spirit." It's more than a spirit," says Dean, it's a pagan god--the annual cycle of its killings, the victims are always a man and a woman, like a fertility rite--and you should see the locals, the way the... read more Bus station - Meg lies asleep. Sam, on the phone with Dean, whispers, "The scarecrow climbed off its cross?" "I'm tellin' ya, Burkitsville, Indiana, fun town," says Dean, but assures him it didn't kill the couple--"I CAN cope without ya, ya know." "Something must be animating it," says Sam, "a spirit." It's more than a spirit," says Dean, it's a pagan god--the annual cycle of its killings, the victims are always a man and a woman, like a fertility rite--and you should see the locals, the way they treated this couple, fattening them up like a Christmas turkey." "The last meal given to sacrificial victims," says Sam. "I'm thinkin' ritual sacrifice to appease some pagan god," says Dean. "So a god possesses the scarecrow," outlines Sam. "And the scarecrow takes its sacrifice," finishes Dean, and for another year, the crops won't wilt and disease won't spread." "You know which god you're dealin' with?" asks Sam. "Not yet," says Dean. "When you figure out what it is, you can figure out a way to kill it," says Sam. "I know," says Dean, "I'm actually on my way to a local community college, I've got an appointment with a professor, you know, since I don't have my trusty sidekick geek-boy to do all the research." Sam grins. "You know, if you're hinting you needed my help, just ask," he says. "I'm not hinting anything," says Dean, "actually, I want you to know, we don't think. . ." "Yeah, I'm sorry too," says Sam. "You were right," says Dean, "you gotta do your own thing, you gotta live your own life." "You serious?" asks Sam "You've always known what you want," says Dean, "you go after it--stand up to Dad--you always have--hell, I wish I. . .anyway, I admire that about you.. .I'm proud of you, Sammy." Eyes blinking, near tears, Sam says, "I don't even know what to say." "Say you'll take care of yourself," asks Dean. "I will," promises Sam. "Call me when you find Dad," asks Dean. "OK," says Sam, "'bye, Dean." They both hang up, eyes misty. Meg rises from the floor and comes over to him. "Who was that?" she asks. "My brother," Sam says throatily. "What'd he say?" she asks. "Good-bye," says Sam, a muscle working in his cheek.

Dean walks downstairs with a professor at a college who is eager to tell him about pagan idolatry. "Call it a hobby," says Dean. "You said you were interested in local lore?" asks the prof--"I'm afraid Indiana isn't known for its pagan worship." "What if it was important?" asks Dean--"like the Pilgrims brought their religion over?--wasn't a lot of this area settled by immigrants?--like that town near here, Burkitsville, where are their ancestors from?" "Northern Europe, I believe, Scandinavian," says the professor. "Maybe you can tell me about those Pagan gods," suggests Dean. Chuckling, the professor says there are hundreds of Norse gods and goddesses. "Actually I'm lookin' for one," explains Dean, "might live in an orchard." An ancient book is tossed down and opened; the professor puts on his glasses. "Woods god, hm?" asks the prof, "let's see. . ." Dean stops him at a page featuring a hanging scarecrow and reads, "The Vanir were Norse gods of protection and prosperity, keeping the local settlers safe from harm. They would build effigies of the Vanir in their fields. Other villagers practiced human sacrifice, one male and one female. Ya know, that looks like a scarecrow, huh?" asks Dean, pointing to the drawing in the book. "I suppose," says the prof uncertainly. "This particular Vanir, its energy sprung from the sacred tree?" reads Dean. "Pagans believed all sorts of things were infused with magic," explains the Prof. "So what would happen if the sacred tree was torched?" queries Dean--"ya think it would kill the god?" "Son, these are just legends!" laughs the professor. "Of course," Dean agrees, "you're right. . .listen, thank you very much." He holds out his hand and the professor shakes it. "Glad I could help," the prof says. Dean turns his head to smile at the prof as he opens the door, which diverts his attention from the butt end of the sheriff's gun hitting him directly in the face. As Dean falls to the floor, unconscious, the cop and the teacher eye each other triumphantly.

Stacy, Harley, Scotty, and the Sheriff are standing in the rain under umbrellas talking, upset. "You don't understand, Harley," says Scotty, "all of us here--it's our responsibility to protect the town." "I understand, better than all of you," says Harley, "I'm the one that gives 'em directions. I'm the one that sends 'em down to the orchard." "Harley, please," begs the sheriff. "We all close our doors," Harley reminds them, "look the other way. Pretend we can't hear the screams. But this is different--this. . .this is MURDER!" "It's angry with us," says Stacy, "already the trees are beginning to die. Tonight's the seventh night of the cycle. Our last chance." "If the boy has to die, the boy has to die," insists Harley, "but why does it have to be her?" They say nothing, but stare at the ground, guilty and worried. The camera pans away from them, showing falling heavily on their conjoined black umbrellas.

Cellar - Dean sits by himself. The cellar door opens and Emily, crying, appears, struggling in her uncle's grip. The sheriff and her aunt are up there, too. "Aunt Stacy. Uncle Harley, please," begs Emily. They force her down the steps, beside Dean, and leave her there, returning upstairs. "Why are you doing this?" sobs Emily. "For the common good," answers her aunt, shutting the cellar door, leaving Dean and Emily in the dark.
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Bus Station - Meg tells Sam that their bus has come in. He tells her to catch it alone, he's got to go--to Burkitsville. "I've been tryin' to call my brother for the last three hours, I'm just getting his voice mail. When she suggests maybe his phone is turned off, Sam says, "That's not like him--I think he might be in trouble." "What kind of trouble?" she asks. "I can't really explain right now," says Sam, "I'm sorry, look, I don't want you to miss your bus." "But I don't understand," she says,... read more Bus Station - Meg tells Sam that their bus has come in. He tells her to catch it alone, he's got to go--to Burkitsville. "I've been tryin' to call my brother for the last three hours, I'm just getting his voice mail. When she suggests maybe his phone is turned off, Sam says, "That's not like him--I think he might be in trouble." "What kind of trouble?" she asks. "I can't really explain right now," says Sam, "I'm sorry, look, I don't want you to miss your bus." "But I don't understand," she says, "you're running back to your brother? The guy you ran away from? Why, because he won't pick up his phone? Sam, come with me to California." "I can't. I'm sorry--he's my family." Sam leaves. Meg watches him go, close to tears.

Cellar - Dean tries to open the cellar door, to no avail. "I don't understand," cries Emily, "they're gonna kill us?" "Sacrifice us," says Dean, "which is, I don't know, classier, I guess?" He walks over to her "You really didn't know anything about this, did you?" he asks. "About what?" she asks--"the scarecrow god? I can't believe this." "Well," he says, "you better start believing, cause I'm gonna need your help." "Okay," she says, calming down. "Now, we can destroy the scarecrow, but we gotta find the tree," he explains. "What tree?" she asks. "Maybe you can help me with that," he says, "it would be really old. The locals would treat it with a lot of respect, you know, like it was sacred." "There was this one apple tree," she says, "the immigrants brought it over with them. They call it the First Tree." "Is it in the orchard?" he asks. "Yeah, but I don't know where," she says. The cellar door opens; the four elders are standing there, the sheriff pointing a gun at them. "It's time," says Stacy. Dean and Emily look at each other fearfully.

The elders are tie Dean and Emily to two adjacent trees. Dean tries guilt: "How many people have you killed, Sheriff? How much blood is on your hands?" "We don't kill them," rationalizes the sheriff. "No, but you sure cover up after," says Dean, "I mean, how many cars have you hidden, clothes have you buried?" The sheriff ignores him, holding his gun on them. "Uncle Harley, please," begs Emily. "I am so sorry, Emma. I wish it wasn't you," he says sincerely. "Try to understand," pleads Stacy, "it's our responsibility. And there's just no other choice. There's nobody else but you." "I'm your family," Emily reminds her. "Sweetheart, that's what sacrifice means," says Stacy, caressing Emily's cheek even as her niece turns her face away bitterly, "giving up something you love for the greater good. The town needs to be safe. The good of the many outweighs the good of the one." (Yes, Mr. Spock, thank you!) The four elders walk away. "I hope your apple pie is freakin' worth it!" shouts Dean. "So, what's the plan?" asks Emily. "I'm workin' on it," he assures her.

Night has fallen. An owl hoots. Dean and Emily are still tied up, awaiting sacrifice. "You don't have a plan, do you?" asks Emily.
"I'm workin' on it," says Dean, voice cool, face panicky, "can you see? Is he moving yet?" he asks. "I can't see," she says. A shadow moves near the trees. "Oh my God!" whispers Emily. As it moves closer, Dean feverishly tries to untie his ropes. "Oh my God!" repeats Emily. Sam comes out from behind the trees. "Dean?" he calls. "Oh! Oh, I take everything back I said!" gasps Dean, relieved, "I'm so happy to see you. Come on." Sam begins untying Dean from the tree. How'd you get here?" "I, uh--I stole a car," answers Sam. "Haha! That's my boy!" approves Dean--"and keep an eye on that scarecrow. He could come alive any minute." "What scarecrow?" asks Sam. Dean stands and sees the scarecrow's post is empty. He and Sam exchange a worried look.
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Dean, Sam and Emily race through the orchard.
"All right, now," says Sam, "this sacred tree you're talking about. . ." "It's the source of its power," says Dean. "So let's find it and burn it," says Sam. "Nah, in the morning," says Dean, "let's just shag ass before Leather Face catches up." The three of them reach a clearing. Waiting for them with guns and flashlights are the elders and other townspeople. "This way," says Dean. They turn around but are blocked in all directions. "Please,... read more Dean, Sam and Emily race through the orchard.
"All right, now," says Sam, "this sacred tree you're talking about. . ." "It's the source of its power," says Dean. "So let's find it and burn it," says Sam. "Nah, in the morning," says Dean, "let's just shag ass before Leather Face catches up." The three of them reach a clearing. Waiting for them with guns and flashlights are the elders and other townspeople. "This way," says Dean. They turn around but are blocked in all directions. "Please, let us go," pleads Emily. "It'll be over quickly, I promise," says Harley. "Please!" cries Emily. "Emily, you have to let him take you. You have to. . ." insists Harley. All of a sudden, the scarecrow sticks his scythe through Harley's chest from behind. Stacy and Emily scream, then the scarecrow grabs Stacy, too. Emily runs into Dean's arms while her aunt and uncle are borne away by the scarecrow. The rest of the townspeople run away in fright. "Come on, let's go," gasps Dean. Emily, Dean and Sam start running again. They hear a terrible noise and turn around, but the scarecrow and his victims have disappeared. The three of them look around at the now-calm orchard.

Orchard - The Winchester brothers and Emily walk to the sacred tree, which is covered with ancient symbols. Sam douses it with gas. Dean applies a lighter to a branch. "Let me," says Stacy. Dean hands the burning branch to her. "You know, the whole town's gonna die," he reminds her. "Good," she says bitterly, and tosses the burning branch onto the tree. They watch it go up in flames. Sam and Dean look at each other, while Stacy can't take her eyes off the hungry conflagration before her.

Bus station - Sam and Dean see Emily off on a bus heading to Boston. She smiles at Dean, who waves to her. She waves back and takes a seat. The brothers watch the bus leave. "Think she's gonna be all right?" Sam asks. "I hope so," answers Dean. "And the rest of the townspeople, they'll just get away with it?" asks Sam. "Well," says Dean, "what'll happen to the town will have to be punishment enough." They walk toward the Impala. "So, can I drop you off somewhere?" "No," says Sam, "I think you're stuck with me." They stop at the car." "What made you change your mind?" asks Dean. "I didn't," says Sam, "I still wanna find Dad. And you're still a pain in the ass." Dean nods. "But, Jess and Mom-- they're both gone. Dad is God knows where. You and me. We're all that's left. So, if we're gonna see this through, we're gonna do it together." Dean stops walking. "Hold me, Sam," says Dean, putting his hand on Sam's shoulder, "that was beautiful." Sam knocks Dean's hand away. They laugh. "You should be kissing my ass," insists Sam, "you were dead meat, dude." "Yeah, right," says Dean, "I had a plan, I'd have gotten out." "Right," says Sam sarcastically. They smile and get in the car.

As "Bad Company" appropriately plays on the soundtrack, Meg has hitchhiked a ride with another guy. "So, where to, pretty lady?" he asks. "How about you pull over?" she suggests. "OK, that works," he says eagerly, and pulls over. Meg reaches into her bag and pulls out a silver bowl. "What's that?" the driver asks. "I've got to make a call," she says, and reaches into the bowl to get something. "I've got a cell phone you could use," he offers. "It's not that kind of call," she says, and swiftly pulls out a knife and slits the driver's throat. She holds the bowl under his neck and lets his blood flow into it. "Thanks for the ride," she says. She stirs the blood in the bowl with her finger. "Tire quiero patem me a di." The blood swirls around and she speaks: "It makes no sense. I could've stopped Sam. Hell, I could've taken them both. Why let them go?" She pauses, seemingly listening to someone we cannot hear."Yes." She pauses again. "Yes." Another pause. "Yes, Father." read less

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