Now - A group of fans standing around a street magician applaud as he turns a white, heart-shaped balloon into a dove. A sign on a lamp pole tells us that Iowa celebrates Magic Week - Welcome the International Association of Magicians - Sioux City. Inside a bar, an older magician does a few card tricks for an admiring barmaid while Vance, a younger, drunk magician heckles him and his assistant tries to shut him up. The older man messes up the next sleight-of-hand, and the younger man guffaws ... read more Now - A group of fans standing around a street magician applaud as he turns a white, heart-shaped balloon into a dove. A sign on a lamp pole tells us that Iowa celebrates Magic Week - Welcome the International Association of Magicians - Sioux City. Inside a bar, an older magician does a few card tricks for an admiring barmaid while Vance, a younger, drunk magician heckles him and his assistant tries to shut him up. The older man messes up the next sleight-of-hand, and the younger man guffaws loudly at him. "Do a card trick for me," urges the barmaid. "Here we go, the incredible Jay," mocks Vance. Jay flips through the cards, telling the young lady when to stop. He shows her the card she chose--three of spades--and tells her to commit it to memory. Jay shows her all the cards face up and asks if she sees hers. No, she says. "Check his pockets," whispers Vance. "Vance," scolds his assistant. "Just check the damn pocket," says Vance, getting up and drunkenly weaving his way to Jay. He plucks the card from Jay's pocket and holds it up. "This your card?" he asks the barmaid. Jay angrily takes it away from him. "Why are you so mean?" asks the barmaid, "Can't you just leave the old guy alone?" She sees the hurt face on Jay at the words "old guy" and knows she said the wrong thing. (LATER) Jay and two friends watch a Criss Angel lookalike rehearse on-stage. "Is he wearing eyeliner?" asks Charlie. "I can't tell," says Vernon, "I'm blinded by all the silver." (jewelry) The magician on-stage starts complaining, "THE LIGHT HAS TO FIND ME!" "What a douchebag," says Jay's friends in unison. Jay tells them to give it a rest, they're giving him a headache. Vern says this guy is shaking his ass like an 8th avenue hooker. Charlie complains that magic used to be about skill. Used to be, says Jay, listen to the two of you, it's pathetic, bitter old men talkin' about the glory days, this douchebag isn't the joke, we are. Hey, who you callin' a joke? demands Charlie. Me, for one, says Jay. He points to the young man on-stage. That used to be us, says Jay. Maybe he is a douchebag, but he's playing the mainstage and we can't even afford an assistant--damn! "We're doing all right! says Charlie. No we're not, insists Jay--we're sad, old and dying. . .I'm going to do the Table of Death tonight. No you're not, says Vern, don't be crazy. You almost killed yourself the last time you did it and that was 30 years ago, Charlies reminds him. "Who cares if it kills me, at least I'll go out with a headline," smirks Jay. (LATER, to a sparsely packed house) - Jay, on-stage: "Ladies and gentlemen, what you are about to see is not a trick or an illusion, simply a display of daring and dexterity." He lies down on the Table of Death, where his hand and ankles are tightly clamped in place. He asks a young lady from the audience to come up and check the bindings to see that they are real and tight. She does so. "Damn straight they're tight," murmurs Charlie, "sure you can slip 'em?" Jay smiles and gazes up at the deadly batch of sharp spikes that will plunge into his body if this stunt goes awry. Vern crosses himself. Charlie closes curtains over Jay, comes over to Vern and shakes his head. Jay tests how tightly he is imprisoned. Charlie takes what looks like a tiny torch to the rope holding the spikes in place and burns a wick leading up to it. Outside, a drunken Vance, in full magician regalia, including top hat and cape, is reminded by his assistant that his show is in an hour--try to be on time. He waves her off. Inside, Jay, silhouetted for the audience behind the curtains, struggles to free himself from the shackles. The wick burns steadily, inexorably, toward the rope. Vance paces outside in front of the theater. Vern frets his knuckles with his teeth. The rope burns through, the spikes fall. Outside, Vance grabs his chest and falls to the ground. Inside, Jay, unharmed, steps out and bows to the wildly clapping audience. Beside him, stunned, Charlie applauds, too. Outside, Vance lays dead, a pattern of bloody stab wounds on his body matching that of the spikes on the Table of Death. read less

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Sam and Dean, handsomely suited up, come upon the magician who's a dead ringer for Criss Angel, being filmed for posterity. He stands on the street, a crowd surrounding him, a deck of cards in his hands. The magician mysteriously says, "This is a demonstration about demons and angels, love and lust, all that stuff mixed up in my head." Sam tells Dean this guy is Jeb Dexter, who's kinda famous. Dean, who isn't sure he wants to know how Sam KNOWS that, asks, "For what--douchebaggery?" "Don't ... read more Sam and Dean, handsomely suited up, come upon the magician who's a dead ringer for Criss Angel, being filmed for posterity. He stands on the street, a crowd surrounding him, a deck of cards in his hands. The magician mysteriously says, "This is a demonstration about demons and angels, love and lust, all that stuff mixed up in my head." Sam tells Dean this guy is Jeb Dexter, who's kinda famous. Dean, who isn't sure he wants to know how Sam KNOWS that, asks, "For what--douchebaggery?" "Don't touch me," Jeb orders the crowd, "for your own safety." He appears to have a fit, yells, "GO BACK TO HELL, DEMONS!" and tosses the deck of cards toward a store window, where one--the ace of diamonds--sticks. "Is this your card?" he asks a girl. Apparently so, because she smiles and everyone else claps. "You gotta be kidding me, a fake demon possession?" says Dean. "I can't believe people actually fall for that stuff." They walk away. It's not all crap, says Sam. Dean wants to know what part of that wasn't a steaming pile of BS. "It's not all magicians, says Sam--it takes skill. Oh, yeah, Dean forgot Sam was into this stuff once, he had a deck of cards and a wand. "I was 13," Sam reminds him, "it was a phase." "It bugs and offends me," says Dean, "playing at demons and magic, when the real thing will kill you bloody?" "Like a guy who drops dead of 10 stab wounds, without a tear in his shirt?" asks Sam. "That's what I'm talkin' about," says Dean. (VANCE'S ROOM) - His assistant is packing up all his magic paraphernalia in a suitcase. Dean asks her if her boss had any enemies. Dean watches, fascinated, as she pulls a huge batch of tied-together handkerchiefs and a bunny from a suitcase. She strokes the bunny and explains that Vance stole from other musicians, all the time--stage effects, close up techniques--and these guys take this stuff pretty seriously. She shows them something she found in Vance's stuff that didn't belong to him--a tarot card. He hated card tricks and certainly wouldn't have any in his cape. The picture on the tarot card shows a man who has ten or so swords stabbing his body--a similar death to Vance's. Sam and Dean study the card. read less

In his hotel room, Jay works on his card dexterity. Charlie knocks at his door. "Are you going to tell me how you did it?" he asks. "The great ones never give away the how," smirks Jay. "Yesterday, you were sad, old and dying," says Charlie, "today, you're one of the great ones? C'mon, this is ME you're talkin' to." "You didn't think I could do it," chortles Jay. "No, I didn't," concedes Charlie, "you're my friend, my BEST friend, I just didn't want to see you get hurt!" Jay shows him a c... read more In his hotel room, Jay works on his card dexterity. Charlie knocks at his door. "Are you going to tell me how you did it?" he asks. "The great ones never give away the how," smirks Jay. "Yesterday, you were sad, old and dying," says Charlie, "today, you're one of the great ones? C'mon, this is ME you're talkin' to." "You didn't think I could do it," chortles Jay. "No, I didn't," concedes Charlie, "you're my friend, my BEST friend, I just didn't want to see you get hurt!" Jay shows him a card trick that he's been working on for years, trying to pull one ace from the deck. Now he can pull THREE! "Still missing the ace of hearts," notes Charlie. "I want to do the Executioner tonight," says Jay. "Are you TRYING to get yourself killed?" demands Charlies. "It's just a rope slip," says Jay. "Houdini wouldn't try the Executioner!" says Charlie. "EXACTLY!" says Jay, grinning. "Think about it, if I can pull this off. . . "I think you're pushing your luck," says Charlie. "It wasn't luck," insists Jay, "it WASN'T! Let's not end up like this, Charlie, a couple of old farts, birthdays and bar mitzvahs!" "It beats dying," insists Charlie. "Does it?" asks Jay. "I would do anything for you, you know that," the other man says, "but I will not watch you die--I'll miss that show." "Nah, you'll be there," says Jay, "you're always there for me. Check your pocket." Charlie does so, and in the pocket right over his heart, finds the ace of hearts. "That's good, Jay!" he says, "that's pretty damned good!" "I can do it, Charlie," he says passionately, "I wanna do it--please," Charlie nods. Jay is exultant. read less

Jeb, on the phone, is gazing up at the Table of Death, which bears the name THE INCREDIBLE JAY on the top, complaining, "It's a lame gig, I'm in a fleabag hotel, this man of the people crap, and freakin' Angel's in Vegas doin' Cirque de Soleil! THAT should have been mine!" He hangs up to pose for photos. "All right, boys, get it in gear, I don't have all day." Dean sits down with Vernon and introduces himself as FBI Agent Ulrich, looking into Vance's death. Being interviewed on camera, Jeb c... read more Jeb, on the phone, is gazing up at the Table of Death, which bears the name THE INCREDIBLE JAY on the top, complaining, "It's a lame gig, I'm in a fleabag hotel, this man of the people crap, and freakin' Angel's in Vegas doin' Cirque de Soleil! THAT should have been mine!" He hangs up to pose for photos. "All right, boys, get it in gear, I don't have all day." Dean sits down with Vernon and introduces himself as FBI Agent Ulrich, looking into Vance's death. Being interviewed on camera, Jeb calls Jay "Jim." "Jay," the other man corrects him. "Yeah, whatever," says Jeb, "we can loop it later." "What a douchebag," says Vern. "Couldn't agree more!" says Dean. Dean shows Vern the tarot card left at the scene of Vance's death. Vern says he used those in his act a long time ago, hasn't touched a deck in years, but there's a guy down on Bleeker Street, Charlie chimes in, "He peddles that kind of specialty stuff." "Vance crossed him, cost him fifty grand in royalties," adds Vern, "426 Bleeker." "Ask for Chief," says Charlie. Dean writes it all down and thanks them. (A DARK, DISGUSTING-LOOKING PART OF TOWN) - Dean knocks at what appears to be prison bars. "I'm here to see Chief," he tells the handsome young man who answers. "Stay here," the guy says, leading Dean to a dirty, gross basement. "Don't touch anything." All that can be heard is the rhythmic sound of base from music above. A door opens and a platform comes down. A man, lit from behind, comes into view. He's wearing a leather vest, cap and pants, carrying a whip, which he smacks into his other hand. "You are really gonna get it tonight, big boy," he tells Dean, who blinks in confusion. "There's been a misunderstanding," says Dean, "I think I've been had." "Oh, you ain't been had till you've been had by the Chief," the other man assures him--"oh, and before we get started, what's your safe word?" Dean gulps down his gorge. read less

Hotel - Sam, working on his computer, reluctantly lets Ruby in when she comes a-knocking. "What are you doing here?" he asks. She wants to know the same thing. I'm working a job, he says. The whole world's about to be engulfed in hellfire and you're in Magictown, USA, she says. Smiling, he asks, you got something against magic. That would almost be funny if 34 seals hadn't already been broken, she says, that's more than halfway--the angels are losing this war--someone has to do something. ... read more Hotel - Sam, working on his computer, reluctantly lets Ruby in when she comes a-knocking. "What are you doing here?" he asks. She wants to know the same thing. I'm working a job, he says. The whole world's about to be engulfed in hellfire and you're in Magictown, USA, she says. Smiling, he asks, you got something against magic. That would almost be funny if 34 seals hadn't already been broken, she says, that's more than halfway--the angels are losing this war--someone has to do something. "And that someone is ME?" demands Sam. "Who else?" asks Ruby. "I don't know where these seals are, I don't know squat!" he says. "So why don't you tell me where you want me to start?" "You can quit dickin' around here, for one thing," she says, "bigger fish, Sam, and if the seals are being broken, you might want to go after the one doing the breaking--Lilith--cut the head off the snake--you're the only one who can stop her, Sam! So step up and kill the little bitch!" "I'm game, believe me," he says, "it's not the psychic thing I got a problem with!" "I know what you got a problem with, but tough!--it's the only way!" "No," says Sam firmly. "This would all be so much easier if you'd admit to yourself that you like it," says Ruby, "that feeling that it gives you." "You don't know what you're talking about," he says. "Oh, I don't, huh?" she asks, "fine! It's simple--Lucifer rises, the apocalypse starts, you think you have demons on your hands now?--people are gonna die, oceans of people! So you just let me know when you're ready." She leaves. Sam looks torn.
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Sam and Dean meet in the auditorium. "Find anything interesting?" asks Dean. "No," answers Sam, "you?" "Nothing I want to talk about--or think about--ever again," replies Dean. (LOL!) Charlie holds a strait jacket. Vern asks him if he tried to talk Jay out of doing this dangerous trick. Till I was blue in the face, Charlie assures him--there was something in his eyes. You're both nuts, says Vern. Sam and Dean join them. "The Chief, huh?" asks Dean. "What's the matter, Chief not your t... read more Sam and Dean meet in the auditorium. "Find anything interesting?" asks Dean. "No," answers Sam, "you?" "Nothing I want to talk about--or think about--ever again," replies Dean. (LOL!) Charlie holds a strait jacket. Vern asks him if he tried to talk Jay out of doing this dangerous trick. Till I was blue in the face, Charlie assures him--there was something in his eyes. You're both nuts, says Vern. Sam and Dean join them. "The Chief, huh?" asks Dean. "What's the matter, Chief not your type?" asks Charlie, smirking. "I could have you both arrested for obstruction of justice," says Dean. "How?" asks Vern. "You're no Fed." "We con people for a living, son," Charlie reminds them. "Takes more than a fake badge to get past us." Caught, Dean says, "You got us. We are actually. . .aspiring musicians." We came to the convention because we thought we could learn something, says Sam. Get some ideas for our new show, adds Dean. It's a brother act, pushes Sam. Yeah, says Dean, with rings and doves. . .and rings. The awkwardness lingers amongst the four of them for several moments. Jay's show is announced, "You wanna learn something?" asks Charlie. "Stick around." On-stage, before a much bigger audience, Jay explains that this feat is so daring and dangerous, even the great Houdini didn't dare attempt it. "I give to you--the Executioner!" A hangman's noose falls down. Everyone gasps. In his room, Jeb gazes at himself in the mirror as hard rock music plays. A member of the audience ensures that Jay is tied into an authentic strait jacket. "I will have one minute, sixty seconds, to escape certain death," says Jay. "Let's see if I can do it." Vern closes the curtains over him and the clock above his head begins to run. In Jeb's room, where he is still primping in the mirror,a noose begins to unravel itself from a mannequin and curl around a fan above Jeb's head. Jay's down to the half-way mark in his act, struggling to free himself from the strait jacket. Dean and Sam exchange looks of concern. "I don't think he's gonna make it," says Dean. The floor opens up under Jay and it appears that he's been strangled and killed. The audience, horrified, rises to its feet. Back at Jeb's, the noose has encircled his throat and lifted him up into the air, garroting and killing him. Charlie goes over to part the curtains, but Jay, hale and hearty, strait jacket in his hand, beats him to it. The audience gives him a standing ovation. "That was AMAZING," says Dean, grinning. "Not humanly possible," opines Sam, very puzzled. Jeb turns as the fan turns, around and around, dead. read less

Hotel room - Doing research, Dean's on the bed with books, Sam at a table with his computer. Sam notes that Jay was a pretty big deal in the 70's--big enough to play Radio City Music Hall--he got old, which relegated him to the "where are they now" file. "So maybe he's using real magic to stage a comeback," suggests Dean. They can't figure out how the Tarot card mixes in. "Man," says Dean, "I hope I die before I get old." "You think we will?--die before we get old?" asks Sam. "Haven't we bot... read more Hotel room - Doing research, Dean's on the bed with books, Sam at a table with his computer. Sam notes that Jay was a pretty big deal in the 70's--big enough to play Radio City Music Hall--he got old, which relegated him to the "where are they now" file. "So maybe he's using real magic to stage a comeback," suggests Dean. They can't figure out how the Tarot card mixes in. "Man," says Dean, "I hope I die before I get old." "You think we will?--die before we get old?" asks Sam. "Haven't we both already?" asks Dean with a smile. "You know what I mean," says Sam, "do you think we'll still be chasing demons when we're 60?" "No, I think we'll be dead--for good," answers Dean. (make me cry, why doncha?) "Why?" asks Dean. "You wanna end up like Travis? Or Gordon, maybe?" "Bobby," supplies Sam. "Oh, there's a poster child for growin' old gracefully," says Dean. "Maybe we'll be different," says Sam stubbornly. "What kinda Koolade you drinkin', man?" asks Dean. "Say it ends bloody or sad, that's just the life." Sam closes his computer and gazes out the window. "What if we could win?" he asks. "If there was a way we could just put an end to all of it?" "Is there somethin' goin' on you're not tellin' me?" asks Dean, worried. "No," says Sam, "I just wish there was a way we could go after the source--cut the head off the snake." "The problem with the snake is that it has a thousand heads," says Dean. "Evil bitches just keep pilin' out of the Volkswagen." "Yeah," says Sam, arms crossed over his chest, "I guess you're right." "Go see if you can track down Jay," says Dean, "I'll see what I can take up on this Tarot card." As Sam enters Jay's hotel, we see a poster of Jeb Dexter with lightning sprouting from his hands. They wheel Jay's body out past Sam, who sees Dean standing at the desk. "Some maid found Jeb hanging from the ceiling fan," reports Dean. "police think it was a suicide, I beg to differ. I pulled a little sleight of hand myself." He shows Sam the Tarot card he removed from Jeb's body--The Hanged Man. "If this spell is a death transference, then these cards work like black magic targets," explains Dean. "Jeb was a total douchebag to Jay yesterday. Vance was apparently heckling Jay at the bar the day he was killed." Sam says, "So Jay sneaks a card into Vance's pocket, does the Table of Death. . ." ". . .and Vance takes 10 swords to the chest," finishes Dean. "The Jay slips a noose and Jeb doesn't," says Sam, "hell of a trick." Dean says they need to talk to Jay--"any luck tailin' him?" "He slipped me," reports Sam, embarrassed. "He's 60!" says Dean. "He's a magician," Sam reminds him. Jay enters his room. Sam and Dean peer around the corner and, armed, Dean kicks his door open. Dean orders him up against the wall and Sam tells him they know what he's been up to. "Been workin' some real bad mojo to jump start your act," accuses Dean. Jay has no idea what they're talking about. "We know you put a spell on those tarot cards," says Sam. "Messin' with REAL magic!" says Dean. "There's no such thing as real magic," insists Jay, "I've been around this stuff my whole life, it's illusions, tricks!" They point their guns right at him, very close. "Jeb Dexter strung up, was that just an illusion?" demands Dean. "Something happened to Jeb?" asks Jay, clueless. "He was found hanged in his room," supplies Sam. "Right after you slipped the noose last night," says Dean. "I don't know what you're talking about," says Jay, shaken, "please, let me go." Dean says something's not right. "Usually they're whoopin' some bad ass hoodoo at us by now," says Sam. They tie Jay to a chair and quietly discuss who else it could be. Even if Jay's not doing the magic, he's still reaping the reward, says Dean, his shows are selling out. Sam points out whoever it is must be in Jay's corner. Vernon and Charlie are on the list, says Dean. We could always ask him, suggests Sam. They turn to do just that, but the slippery magician has escaped. "Guess we should have seen that one comin'," says Dean. "He couldn't have gotten that far," says Sam. They leave the room. Jay exits the closet. Sam and Dean run down to the lobby but Jay isn't there. Dean says maybe he vanished; he really is good. Sam thinks he might have used a back door. A police car pulls up in front of the hotel. Jay races downstairs and points to the brothers. "That's them," he says, "those are the two nutjobs who just broke into my room!" "FREEZE!" says one of the two cops, both holding guns on them. "Hands in the air where I can see 'em!" read less

Auditorium - Charlie shines his shoes while Jay rants about what the Winchesters accused him of--his act is killing people, he's using REAL magic, casting spells on Tarot cards. "Real magic," mocks Charlie, "you're lucky to be alive." "You don't think. . ." says Jay, "the things I can do now. . .the cards?" "You've been workin' the cards your whole life," Charlies reminds him. "What about the escapes?" asks Jay. "I haven't been able to slip a pair of cuffs in 30 years! And then there was th... read more Auditorium - Charlie shines his shoes while Jay rants about what the Winchesters accused him of--his act is killing people, he's using REAL magic, casting spells on Tarot cards. "Real magic," mocks Charlie, "you're lucky to be alive." "You don't think. . ." says Jay, "the things I can do now. . .the cards?" "You've been workin' the cards your whole life," Charlies reminds him. "What about the escapes?" asks Jay. "I haven't been able to slip a pair of cuffs in 30 years! And then there was the way that Patrick Vance died, and Jeb Dexter, , ," "No great loss there," says Charlie. "He didn't deserve to die!" says Jay. "You had nothin' to do with it!" says Charlie. "He was HANGED the same night I performed The Executioner!" says Jay. "Are you tellin' me you actually believe those guys?" asks Charlie. "That there was some kind of real magic involved?" "No," says Jay doubtfully. "I dunno. . .maybe. I shouldn't go on tonight." "Are you kidding me?" demands Charlie. "You have a sold-out house out there--sold out! When was the last time that happened?" "The other night," says Jay, "when I was doing the Table of Death, I was gonna kill myself. and I have no idea how I got our alive." "But you did," Charlie says, "SOMEHOW, you did!" He places his hand on Jay's shoulder. "When you were in your day, you were incredible--the Incredible Jay--the best I ever saw. And now you got it back. I don't know how, but it doesn't matter--just to see you at the top of your game--hell, it makes me feel young!" "But. . ." says Jay. "NO BUTS, Jay!" insists Charlie. This may be manna from heaven, I dunno, but whatever it is, you DON'T throw it away." Jay gazes down, then back up at Charlie, sad. (LATER, ON-STAGE) Charlie lights the wick for the Table of Death. As Jay struggles underneath the deadly spikes, Charlie looks at Vern and rushes away. The spikes come down and it appears that Jay has perished; the audience is buzzing. Jay parts the curtains and presents himself, whole and alive, to a standing ovation. Hearing a woman scream, Jay rushes away and finds Charlie, dead in front of the theater as Vance was, 10 puncture wounds in his chest. Sam and Dean join him. "Thanks for dropping the charges," says Sam. "Would you mind telling us why you did it?" asks Dean. "We have to talk," says Jay quietly. (BAR) Jay sips his drink; the brothers sit across from him. "I was just a kid when we first met. All I knew was how to cheat at cards, Charlie got me outta more scrapes then I can count. Hell, I woulda been dead by the age of twenty if it hadn't been for him. He was more than my friend. He was my brother. Look, I shoulda listened to you guys when you told me that my show was killing people." "Well, you weren't the one pullin' the trigger," says Dean. "Yeah," says Jay, but someone did and I wanna find out who did this to Charlie so I'll do whatever you guys say, just tell me what to do." "Jay," says Sam, "whoever's doin' this, they like you. They're probably close to you.
Did Charlie and Vernon get along?"
"No, no its not Vernon," says Jay in disbelief. "He's the only one that makes sense," says Dean. "Charlie and Vernon were your family, Jay." "And now Charlie's gone," says Dean. "Yeah," says Jay, "but they butted heads sometimes but Vernon could never do something like this." "See," says Dean, "the thing about real magic is, it's a whole lot like crack--people do surprising things when they get a taste of it."
Sam gives him a look, clearly thinking Dean must be talking about him. Jay, uncertain, says, "You better be damn sure about this. Vernon is all I got left." He looks really sad as he nurses his drink. read less

Vern lies on his bed on his hotel room, watching TV. His phone rings, he answers and promises to "be there in two shakes. I've got something to tell you, anyway." He shuts off the TV and leaves his room. No sooner is he gone than Sam and Dean let themselves into his room. They note that Vern doesn't travel light, and the place looks like a magic museum. "You must be in heaven," teases Dean. They start searching through Vern's stuff. (AUDITORIUM) - Vern finds Jay staring at the spikes on th... read more Vern lies on his bed on his hotel room, watching TV. His phone rings, he answers and promises to "be there in two shakes. I've got something to tell you, anyway." He shuts off the TV and leaves his room. No sooner is he gone than Sam and Dean let themselves into his room. They note that Vern doesn't travel light, and the place looks like a magic museum. "You must be in heaven," teases Dean. They start searching through Vern's stuff. (AUDITORIUM) - Vern finds Jay staring at the spikes on the Table of Death. "I spoke to the head of the convention," says Vern, "the headliner gig is YOURS!" "I can't do it," says Jay, "Charlie's gone." "Charlie would have wanted you to go on," insists Vern, "this is your shot--this is OUR shot!" Hands in pockets, disheartened, Jay says, "Really? This is what Charlie would have wanted? Charlie's dead!" "Hey," says Vern, "he was my friend, too, you know." "That's a hell of a way to treat a friend," says Jay, advancing on Vern. "Again, what are you talkin' about?" asks Vern. "You killed him, didn't you?" accuses Jay. "And for what?--so that I--so that WE--could be back on top?" "That's insane," says Vern, "you're scaring me!" "First it was Vance, then Jeb Dexter, even if you thought you were doin' it for me," says Jay--"how in God's name could you kill Charlie?" "Ooh, you are crazy," says Vern. "You used me," says Jay," and you used my act to do this to him--if you think. . ." "I wouldn't be so hard on him, Jay," says a voice across the room, "he didn't do it." (VERN'S ROOM) - The brothers haven't found anything suspicious--no herbs, candles, or Tarot cards. Dean, going through some programs of past magic acts, holds one up--The Great Dessertini--to Sam and asks, "Look like anyone we know?" The scar over the right temple makes the youthful man on the cover look exactly like a young version of Charlie! The camera fades in on that same young man now staring and smiling at Jay and Vern. The latter whispers, "Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" Jay mutters, "Charlie!" read less

"It's really me, Jay," 30-year-old Charlie tells his astounded friends, standing near the Table of Death. "How the hell?" asks Vern. "You forget what it feels like to be young!" chortles Charlie. "It's amazing." "How old are you?" asks Vern. "It depends on what you mean by old," says Charlie, "right now, technically, about 28, but I've been around a lot longer than that." "How long?" asks Jay, stunned. "Long enough to have shilled for Barnum," answers Charlie, "and he gave me something, the... read more "It's really me, Jay," 30-year-old Charlie tells his astounded friends, standing near the Table of Death. "How the hell?" asks Vern. "You forget what it feels like to be young!" chortles Charlie. "It's amazing." "How old are you?" asks Vern. "It depends on what you mean by old," says Charlie, "right now, technically, about 28, but I've been around a lot longer than that." "How long?" asks Jay, stunned. "Long enough to have shilled for Barnum," answers Charlie, "and he gave me something, the Grimoire, a book of real magic. At first I thought it was a scam, but then I tried one of the spells and it really worked. In fact, they ALL worked! So when I got to the end and there was one for immortality. . ." "My God!" says Vern. "In my show, the things that I can do," says Jay. "Different spell," says Charlie, "but it gives you a taste of what is possible." He pulls a deck of Tarot cards from his pocket and fans them out. Vern reaches out to take one. "I wouldn't touch those," warns Charlie, "they're still radioactive." "YOU killed Vance and Jeb Dexter," accuses Jay. "You think this is a parlor game?" asks Charlie. "You were being humiliated by those punks, a washed-up old man who couldn't even defend himself." "You used me--to do these terrible things," says Jay. "I used them to give you a gift," says Charlie, "and you wanted it, Jay, I saw it in your eyes." Jay shakes his head. "No, I never wanted this," he says. "You were ready to kill yourself," Charlie reminds him, "I saved your life." "Is that right, Jay?" asks Vern. "I was there for you, like I've always been," Charlie reminds him, "like I'll always be--come with me, both of you! You think the first time around is good, the second time's even better--all the know-how, none of the aches and pain." While Vern looks very willing, Jay says, "No, I won't do this, I won't." "I've never made this offer before," says Charlie, "but then again, I've never had friends like the two of you before. Let me do this for you." "And who else has to die so we can live forever?" asks Jay sarcastically. "What's the price tag on immortality? This isn't right, Charlie, what you're doing; somewhere, you know that!" "I know I don't wanna come back alone," says Charlie, "to start all over alone." "Jay," says Vern, "we can be young again." "The three of us together, vital and alive!" presses Charlie--"forever!" "Not so fast!" calls Dean. "I ain't Guttenberg and this ain't COCOON!!" With his gun, Dean separates Vern and Jay from Charlie. "Immortality," says Dean, "that's a neat trick." "It's not a trick," says Charlie. "It's magic." A noose loops around Dean's neck and lifts him off the floor, choking him. Sam shoots Charlie, who catches the bullet in his mouth, throws it up in the air and dematerializes. Dean is pulling at the rope around his neck, trying not to die. Charlie reappears. Sam points his gun at him. "Let him go!" he orders. "Just leave me and my friends alone," Charlie says. "I said NOW! commands Sam. "All right," says Charlie, "I will give it up, the spells, the hexes, this is the last time, I promise." Seeing that Dean is still hanging and struggling, Sam attacks Charlie, who disappears, reappears, then pushes Sam onto the Table of Death and locks him into the hand and foot shackles. The rope is beginning to fray of its own accord. Sam struggles against the shackles, gazing at the terrible spikes, Dean tries to hold the rope away from his throat and prevent strangulation. Jay gazes into Charlie's eyes sadly and stabs himself in the belly. Charlie cries out and grabs his stomach, from which blood has begin to seep. Jay has no wound at all. Charlie sinks to his knees, staring at Jay. Vern, miserable, shakes his head over the tragedy of it all. Jay pulls the full Tarot deck from his pocket. Charlie reaches into his pocket and finds a single card, which he tucks back in. "You picked these strangers over me?" he asks Jay, and falls over, revealing that he's holding The Magician card. Sam is immediately released from the Table of Death. No sooner does he climb off than the deadly spikes fall. Dean's noose loosens and he tumbles to the floor. Coughing, he pulls the noose over his head. "You OK?" Sam asks his brother. "Yeah,I'm all right," gasps Dean. Frowning, Jay gazes down at his dead friend. read less

Jay sits alone at a table, messing up a card trick. He looks very depressed. Dean and Sam come over to him. Dean thanks him for what he did yesterday. "I killed my best friend yesterday," Jay says, "and you wanna thank me?" "Where's Vernon?" asks Sam. "He's gone," says Jay, "says he doesn't want to talk to me again after what I did to Charlie." "You know Charlie was never gonna give up what he was doin'," says Dean, "EVER. You did the right thing." "You sure about that?" asks Jay. "You ... read more Jay sits alone at a table, messing up a card trick. He looks very depressed. Dean and Sam come over to him. Dean thanks him for what he did yesterday. "I killed my best friend yesterday," Jay says, "and you wanna thank me?" "Where's Vernon?" asks Sam. "He's gone," says Jay, "says he doesn't want to talk to me again after what I did to Charlie." "You know Charlie was never gonna give up what he was doin'," says Dean, "EVER. You did the right thing." "You sure about that?" asks Jay. "You know, Charlie was like my brother, and now he's dead--because I did the right thing. He offered me a gift and I just threw it right back in his face. So now I have to spend the rest of my life old and alone--what's so right about that?" He starts to leave the bar, but the barmaid reminds him that he left something behind: "Jay, your cards." "Throw 'em away," he says, and leaves. "I don't know about you, says Dean, "but I could go for a beer." "I'm gonna take a walk," says Sam, deadly serious, and leaves. He opens the door on Ruby's passenger side and leans in. "OK," he says, "I'm in." He climbs in beside her and closes the door. "What made you change your mind?" asks Ruby. "I don't wanna be doin' this when I'm an old man," answers Sam. They drive off. read less

Credits