NOW - Mental hospital - A redheaded young woman named Anna sits very still, head tilted, listening to what sounds like muted whispers. A psychiatrist asks, "Anna, do you know where you are? You're at the Connor Beverly Behavioral Medicine Center." Anna looks at a hospital bracelet on her wrist. "Do you know what you did?" asks the counselor. Anna nods. "You were hysterical," explains the counselor, "it took four people to restrain you." "I was trying to warn them. . .look, I get it, you t... read more NOW - Mental hospital - A redheaded young woman named Anna sits very still, head tilted, listening to what sounds like muted whispers. A psychiatrist asks, "Anna, do you know where you are? You're at the Connor Beverly Behavioral Medicine Center." Anna looks at a hospital bracelet on her wrist. "Do you know what you did?" asks the counselor. Anna nods. "You were hysterical," explains the counselor, "it took four people to restrain you." "I was trying to warn them. . .look, I get it, you think I'm nuts," says Anna, "but it's ALL true! The end is coming--the apocalypse. This demon, Lilith, is trying to break the 66 seals to free Lucifer from hell--Lucifer will bring the apocalypse. So, smoke 'em if you got 'em." The whispers begin again; Anna listens, then says, "There are 600 seals, and Lilith only has to break 66 of them, and no one knows which 66 she's gonna break. That's why it's almost impossible to stop her--and why the angels are losing! That's why we're all gonna die." An orderly with a med cart stops at Anna's room. "Time for your meds," he says. She's furiously drawing a stained glass church window with colored pencils. She turns, sees him and begins backing away. "Your face! What happened to your face?" she cries. "I know," he says, eyes going black, "I'm downright kissable." He closes and locks the door. Terrified, Anna sends the heavy clothing dresser into him, knocking his head against the glass in her door. She pulls open her locked door without help and flees. read less

Title

Sam's playing pool against a bald guy, drunkenly begging, "C'mon, give me a chance to win it all back." Dean intervenes: "My brother's a little sauced to be makin' bets." "He insisted," says the bald guy. Dean objects: "You've already taken two bills off him." "I'm fine," insists Sam, very stewed. "No you're not, you're drunk!" says Dean. "Let's make it five hundred," says Sam. "FIVE HUNDRED?" echoes Dean. The guy agrees, Sam plunks the money down. "Your break," says baldy. Sam and Dea... read more Sam's playing pool against a bald guy, drunkenly begging, "C'mon, give me a chance to win it all back." Dean intervenes: "My brother's a little sauced to be makin' bets." "He insisted," says the bald guy. Dean objects: "You've already taken two bills off him." "I'm fine," insists Sam, very stewed. "No you're not, you're drunk!" says Dean. "Let's make it five hundred," says Sam. "FIVE HUNDRED?" echoes Dean. The guy agrees, Sam plunks the money down. "Your break," says baldy. Sam and Dean exchange a look of triumph. Baldy watches, horrified, as Sam executes a perfect shot. Sam looks up and spies Ruby at another table. "Keep the money," he says, dropping the pole on the table. "Keep the money?" repeats Dean, not pleased. Sam walks over to Ruby, Dean follows and says, "You got a lotta nerve showin' up anywhere near me." She explains she's hearing whispers. "Demon whisperers--that's reliable," says Dean sarcastically. Ruby explains that Anna Milton escaped a locked ward yesterday and demons are very concerned about finding her. Some real heavy hitters turned up for the Easter egg hunt. I'm thinking she's important, because the orders are to capture her alive. I figure you might want to find this girl before the demons do." Dean lies that they're working in a case with big leads ("Sounds dangerous," mocks Ruby). More important than goose-chasing after a chick YOU says is important, snaps Dean. "I'm delivering the news," says Ruby, "as far as I'm concerned, I'm done!" Sam asks what hospital the girl escaped from. read less

Impala, driving down a rainy road - Sam is on his cell, requesting a copy of the missing person's report. "Anna Milton's real," says Sam. "Doesn't mean the case is real--and it's a three day drive to the hospital," complains Dean. "We've driven further for less," Sam reminds him, then, noting his unhappy face, says, "If you've got something to say, say it." "As far as you're concerned, the hell-bitch is practically family," says Dean. "Something major must have happened while I was downstai... read more Impala, driving down a rainy road - Sam is on his cell, requesting a copy of the missing person's report. "Anna Milton's real," says Sam. "Doesn't mean the case is real--and it's a three day drive to the hospital," complains Dean. "We've driven further for less," Sam reminds him, then, noting his unhappy face, says, "If you've got something to say, say it." "As far as you're concerned, the hell-bitch is practically family," says Dean. "Something major must have happened while I was downstairs, because I come back and you're BFF with a demon?" "She helped me go after Lilith," says Sam, face tight. "Thanks for the thumbnail, real vivid--you wanna fill in a little detail?" "Sure," says Sam sarcastically, let's trade stories--you first, how was hell?--don't spare the details." read less

Crossroad - Sam, booze bottle in hand, digs crazily and buries a box. He stands unsteadily, raises the bottle to his lips and drinks, long and hard. Breathing heavily, clearly drunk, he screams, "COME ON! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?" He tosses his bottle away. A male demon appears, explaining he was reluctant to do so: "You shot one of my co-workers. You don't look so hot, buddy." (His eyes flame red.) "I guess burying your brother didn't agree with you." Sam throws out his arms and gives a... read more Crossroad - Sam, booze bottle in hand, digs crazily and buries a box. He stands unsteadily, raises the bottle to his lips and drinks, long and hard. Breathing heavily, clearly drunk, he screams, "COME ON! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?" He tosses his bottle away. A male demon appears, explaining he was reluctant to do so: "You shot one of my co-workers. You don't look so hot, buddy." (His eyes flame red.) "I guess burying your brother didn't agree with you." Sam throws out his arms and gives a weak smile. The demon wants to see "that special little knife" first. Sam pulls it out of his pocket and puts it down. "No Devil's Traps, either," says Sam. "You want to make a deal. Round and round the Winchesters go," mocks the demon, "besides, it's not going to happen. Sam grabs the knife and plunges it into the demon's hand, pinning it to the table between them. "I don't want ten years," gasps Sam, "I don't want one year, I don't want candy, I wanna trade places with Dean--just TAKE ME, it's a fair trade!" No, says the demon. Why not? demands Sam, "Lilith wants me dead, let Dean go and she can have me!" The demon refuses: "It isn't about your soul, Sam. Dean's in hell, right where we want him. We have everything the way we want it. You wanna kill me? Go ahead--I've made peace with my Lord." Sam stares at him, furious, impotent. Impala - The brothers are silent for a long moment after Sam relates this part of his story. . read less

Hospital - Posing as men from the sheriff's office, the boys question Anna's shrink. She knocked her orderly unconscious, the blow resulted in some amnesia--he doesn't even remember coming into her room. "Quite a right hook for a guy who's got 80 pounds on her," remarks Dean. They think Anna planned this, waited behind the door, says the shrink. Two months ago, Anna was happy, a normal student, journalism major, lots of friends. "So what happened?" asks Dean. "She just flipped?" That's th... read more Hospital - Posing as men from the sheriff's office, the boys question Anna's shrink. She knocked her orderly unconscious, the blow resulted in some amnesia--he doesn't even remember coming into her room. "Quite a right hook for a guy who's got 80 pounds on her," remarks Dean. They think Anna planned this, waited behind the door, says the shrink. Two months ago, Anna was happy, a normal student, journalism major, lots of friends. "So what happened?" asks Dean. "She just flipped?" That's the tragedy of schizophrenia, in two weeks, Anna was overtaken by delusions--she thought demons were after her. It's not uncommon for our patients to believe monsters are real." "That's just batty," agrees Dean. She shows Sam and Dean the drawings Anna made. Sam pauses at one that says RISING OF THE WITNESSES, and SAMHAIN THE NEXT SEAL IS BROKEN. "That's Revelations," says Dean. The shrink wants to know since when did Revelations have jack-o-lanterns. "It's a little-known translation," says Dean. "Anna's father was a church Deacon, explains the shrink, when she became ill, her delusions took on religious overtones. She was convinced the devil was going to rise up and end the world. "I hope you find her--it's dangerous for her to be out there alone right now." Sam and Dean stop at Anna's house, calling for the Miltons. Anna's parents lie dead on their living room floor, throats cut. read less

Sam kneels and checks the sulphur left on the floor: "The demons beat us here." he says. They really want her and aren't screwing around, agree the brothers. Taking the mail from the mantel, Dean says, "I'm Girl, Interrupted, I know the score of the apocalypse, just busted out of the nut box, possibly using super-powers, by the way, where do I go?" Sam, looking over the photos on the mantel, asks to see Anna's drawings. They realize she was drawing the window of her church, over and over. "... read more Sam kneels and checks the sulphur left on the floor: "The demons beat us here." he says. They really want her and aren't screwing around, agree the brothers. Taking the mail from the mantel, Dean says, "I'm Girl, Interrupted, I know the score of the apocalypse, just busted out of the nut box, possibly using super-powers, by the way, where do I go?" Sam, looking over the photos on the mantel, asks to see Anna's drawings. They realize she was drawing the window of her church, over and over. "If you were religious scared and had demons on your ass, where would you go to feel safe?" asks Sam. Church - Dean and Sam enter, guns ready. They spot her moving behind a stained-glass window and quickly put away their guns. "Anna, we're not gonna hurt you," promises Sam, "we're here to help." He mentions their full names. "Sam?" asks Anna. "Not Sam Winchester?" The brothers exchange a glance: WTF? Anna steps out. "And you're Dean," she says. "THE Dean?" "Well, yeah," he says modestly, THE Dean, I guess." Sam makes a "not again" face. "It's really you," she says reverently, walking toward them, "my God! The angels talk about you. You were in hell, but Castiel pulled you out, and some of them think you can help save us." She turns to Sam. "And some of them don't like you at all." He makes a face. "They talk about you all the time lately," babbles Anna, "I feel like I know you." "So you can talk to angels?" asks Dean. "No, they don't even know I exist," she says, "I just kind of overhear them--they talk, and I just hear them in my head." "Right now?" asks Dean. "Not now," she says, but a lot, and I can't shut them out, there are so many of them." "So they lock you up with a case of the crazies when really, you were just tuning in to angel radio?" asks Dean. "Yes! Thank you," she says. Sam asks her when the voices started. She knows exactly, September 18th." "The day I got out of hell," says Dean. "First words I heard, clear as a bell," she says, "'Dean Winchester is saved.'" Dean asks his brother, "What do you think?" Above my pay grade," answers Sam. (EDITOR: Writers use the term pay grade a lot in this show.) "At least we know now why the demons want you so bad," says Dean smiling, "they get a hold of you, they can hear everything the other side's cookin'--you're 1-900-ANGEL." Anna smiles for the first time, at Dean, then asks, "Do you know if my parents are OK? I didn't go home, I was afraid." Ruby rushes in, "You got the girl? Good, let's go!" Anna backs away. "Her face!" she cries. Sam assures her she's here to help. "We have to hurry," insists Ruby, "demons are coming, big time--we can fight later, Dean." Dean finds it very suspicious that Ruby shows up just when they've found the girl, big wig on her tail. "I didn't bring him here, you did," says Ruby, "he followed you from the girl's house, we gotta go now." The statue of Mother Mary begins to cry blood. "It's too late," says Ruby, "he's here?" Sam hustles Anna away. and locks her in a closet. "Don't move," he says. Sam pulls out a flask of holy water. "No Sam, you gotta pull him right away," insists Ruby. "Hold on a minute," says Dean. "Now is not the time to bellyache about Sam going dark-side," snaps Ruby, "he does his thing, he exorcises that demon, or we die." Sam puts the flask back in his pocket. The door flies open, a man, sneering, comes in. Sam raises his hand to perform his mind mojo. The white-eyed demon coughs. "That tickles," he says. "You don't have the juice to take me on, Sam!" The demon flings him down the stairs, Dean attacks with the special knife. He and the demon grapple, he loses the knife; the demon says, "Hello again, Dean." The demon beats him brutally. Ruby goes to Anna and pulls her, screaming, from the closet. "Don't you recognize me?" asks the demon between savage punches. "Oh, I forgot, I'm wearing a pediatrician. We were so close--in hell!" Bleeding from nose and mouth, Dean says, "Alistair." Sam stabs the demon with the special knife. "You'll have to try a whole lot harder than that," chortles Alistair, gripping the knife to pull it from his body. Sam and Dean realize they must get away or die. They run, launching themselves through a giant plate glass window, falling several stories down. Alistair looks angrily out the ruined window, special knife in his hand. He'll get them, says his face--and they won't live through the next time. read less

Hotel - Sam grunts as he stitches up his own bloody shoulder, Dean spits blood into the sink, takes a drink of water, gargles, spits. "You almost done?" asks Dean, in pain. "I'm going as fast as I can," hisses Sam, also in pain. Dean has a dislocated shoulder, and Sam promises to pop it back when he's finished. Dean takes a stiff drink from a bottle of booze. Sam asks for the bottle and pours the liquor over his wound with another series of grunts (all somehow exciting). "You lost the mag... read more Hotel - Sam grunts as he stitches up his own bloody shoulder, Dean spits blood into the sink, takes a drink of water, gargles, spits. "You almost done?" asks Dean, in pain. "I'm going as fast as I can," hisses Sam, also in pain. Dean has a dislocated shoulder, and Sam promises to pop it back when he's finished. Dean takes a stiff drink from a bottle of booze. Sam asks for the bottle and pours the liquor over his wound with another series of grunts (all somehow exciting). "You lost the magic knife," says Dean. "Yeah, saving your ass," Sam reminds hm, "who the hell was that demon?" "No one good," says Dean, "we gotta find Anna." "Ruby's got her," says Sam, "she's OK." He arranges Dean into position to pop his shoulder into place. "On three," says Sam, but pops it in on "One." Dean cries out in agony, gazes at himself in the mirror and says, "You sure about Ruby? I think she used us to find radio girl and then brought that demon in to kill us." Sam assures him Ruby's keeping Anna safe. Why hasn't she called? wonders Dean, applying an ice pack to his shoulder. "That demon is probably watching us right now," says Sam, "waiting to follow us right back to Anna again, that's why he let us go. Killing us would have been no problem for that thing. That's why we got to lay low and wait for Ruby to contact us." "Why do you trust her so much?" asks Dean. "I need to know more, I deserve to know more."
"Because," says Sam, "she saved my life." (FLASHBACK - six months earlier) Sam, drunk, weaves his way down a hallway and enters room 9. He comes into the light and we see how horrible he looks, pale and sickly. He's set upon by two demons, male and female. The latter takes the special knife. "Thanks for keeping this warm for me, Sam," she says. The other demon holds Sam in his grasp while Ruby holds the knife on him. "Where I was, even for hell it was nasty. I guess I really pissed Lilith off; imagine my relief when she gave me one last chance to go topside, and all I had to do was find you and KILL you." Sam wrests free of the demon's hold. "Fine, kill me," he says, right in her face. "Do it." She swings back the knife, but buries it into the other demon instead. Sam is stunned, unable to grasp what happened. "Grab your keys," she says, "we'd better go--NOW!" read less

Six months earlier - Ruby, driving beside Sam in the Impala, expresses a strong urge for French fries--"I just escaped hell, I deserve a treat," she says. Sam is silent. "A thank you would be nice," she says. "Who asked for your help?" says Sam. "You have no idea what I've been through," she says, "when Lilith gets pissed, she gets creative." Sam doesn't want to hear about the corners of hell Ruby has seen or what she had to do to convince Lilith she was sorry; he figures she's in line for ... read more Six months earlier - Ruby, driving beside Sam in the Impala, expresses a strong urge for French fries--"I just escaped hell, I deserve a treat," she says. Sam is silent. "A thank you would be nice," she says. "Who asked for your help?" says Sam. "You have no idea what I've been through," she says, "when Lilith gets pissed, she gets creative." Sam doesn't want to hear about the corners of hell Ruby has seen or what she had to do to convince Lilith she was sorry; he figures she's in line for a fat Christmas bonus. "I'm a fugitive, for YOU, Sam," she reminds him. "I took all of this risk to get back to you, so, yeah, I deserve a damn thank you." Learning she can't save Dean, Sam pulls the car over. "Then I have no use for you--get out," he orders. "Whose body are you riding, Ruby?" he asks. She wonders why he cares, he never asked before. "I'm asking now," he says. "Some secretary," she answers. "Let her go," says Sam, "or I send you right back to hell." Hospital room, where Jane Doe lies in a bed, comatose. "All right, pull it," orders the doctor. The breathing equipment is removed from her mouth. She flatlines. Seconds later, she sits up, gasping, to the astonishment of the doctor. "Who do I have to kill to get some French fries around here?" she asks. read less

Sam, in some ramshackle hideaway, is cleaning his guns when someone knocks at his door. He brings his gun along when he opens the door to Ruby, who has paperwork proof that she recycled her current body--Al Gore would be proud. She grabbed a coma patient, made sure the spirit was gone. Ruby surveys the messy conditions in which he's living--and all the booze bottles. She admits she can't bring Dean back, but she can get him something else he wants--Lilith. He's ready to use his psychic gift... read more Sam, in some ramshackle hideaway, is cleaning his guns when someone knocks at his door. He brings his gun along when he opens the door to Ruby, who has paperwork proof that she recycled her current body--Al Gore would be proud. She grabbed a coma patient, made sure the spirit was gone. Ruby surveys the messy conditions in which he's living--and all the booze bottles. She admits she can't bring Dean back, but she can get him something else he wants--Lilith. He's ready to use his psychic gift, too! When she was in the pit, Ruby heard Lilith was cooking up something "apocalyptic big". They don't want to half-ass it like before; they have time to do it right. "What do you need from me?" asks Sam, taking a hit from a bottle. "Patience and sobriety," says Ruby, "promise me that, and I will teach you everything I know." (PRESENT) "So, what did she teach you?" asks Dean. "First thing I learned," says Sam, "is that I'm a crappy student." (PAST) Ruby and Sam have a demon tied to a chair. Sam, holding out his hand, tries to use his mind to force the demon out. The smoke starts to exit the body, but goes right back in. Sam, sweating heavily, tries again and gets a nosebleed and terrible headache. The demon laughs at him. Ruby stabs him in the throat, killing him. "Not funny," says Ruby. Sam buries the dead host, comes in and takes aspirin. "Give it time," Ruby assures him, "it'll get better." "What, I need more practice?" asks Sam, downing the aspirin with booze. "I'm not talking about pulling demons," says Ruby, "I know losing Dean was. . ." "Hey," interrupts Sam, "I don't wanna talk about it. . .you know what? Where do you get off slapping me with that greeting card time heals all crap--what the hell do you know?" "I used to be human," she reminds him, "I still remember what it feels like to lose someone." She touches his shoulder. "I'm sorry." "Don't," he says, his face screwed up, near crying. "I can't." Ruby moves closer. "Sam, you're not alone," she says, within kissing distance, and she presses her lips to his. He battles with himself about allowing it, but finally pushes her away. "No, what are you doing?" He sits in front of the fireplace. "Sam, it's OK!" she assures him. "No," he says, wiping his mouth, "that is anything but OK!" "What's wrong?" she asks. "What's wrong?" he repeats. "Where do I start?" "Is it because of the body?" she asks, kneeling between his legs, cozying up to him. "Because I told you, it's all me in here. There's no one else in here, and it's nice inside this body, Sam, soft, and warm " She slides his hands on her body, under her t-shirt while pressing her lips to his. "Is it because you're scared to go there with a demon, because it's wrong and it's bad and we shouldn't?" No longer able to resist Ruby's seduction, Sam grabs her head and returns her kisses. He lifts her onto his lap and pulls off her shirt; then she draws off his. Someone's pants fly to the floor all the while they're kissing, making wild bestial love before the fire. (PRESENT) "Sam," says Dean, "too much information." "I told you I was coming clean," says Sam. "But not I feel dirty," says Dean. "OK, brain stabbing imagery aside, so far all you told me about is a manipulative bitch who screwed you, played mind games with you and did everything in the book to get you to go bad." "There's more, don't worry," says Sam. "Just skip the nudity, please," says Dean. Pretty soon after THAT, they put together some signs that Lilith was in town, says Sam, and he wanted to strike her first. Five months earlier - Sam and Ruby argue over whether or not Sam is ready to take Lilith out. Either way, Sam is determined to go, and takes the special knife with him. Ruby realizes Sam wants to die fighting Lilith and doesn't care if he survives or not. If Sam tries and survives, he has to go on without his brother. "This isn't what Dean wanted, what he died for," Ruby reminds Sam. "Get out of my way," commands Sam. "No, this is suicide," cries Ruby. Sam manhandles her out of the way, stares at her for a few moments and leaves. read less

Five months earlier - Sam looks through the window of a house and sees a little girl sitting at the table. Lilith! He enters the house, special knife in his hand. He checks the closet--empty. The little girl in the dining room wears a blue dress and sits before a feast of cake and candy. She turns, terrified. "Please, I want to go home!" she wails. Sam is attacked by two demons. "Lilith sends her regrets," taunts one demon, choking Sam against the wall. She couldn't make it." Ruby appe... read more Five months earlier - Sam looks through the window of a house and sees a little girl sitting at the table. Lilith! He enters the house, special knife in his hand. He checks the closet--empty. The little girl in the dining room wears a blue dress and sits before a feast of cake and candy. She turns, terrified. "Please, I want to go home!" she wails. Sam is attacked by two demons. "Lilith sends her regrets," taunts one demon, choking Sam against the wall. She couldn't make it." Ruby appears, grabs the fallen knife and kills one demon. "Take the girl and run!" yells Ruby, fighting the other demon. Sam does so. When he comes back, the other demon has Ruby pinned to the wall with one hand around her throat and is taunting her with what they're going to do to her when they get her down to the basement. Sam uses his mind mojo only to exorcise the demon from the host. "Sam!" gasps Ruby, noting his bloody nose. "I'm OK," Sam assures her,"thanks." (PRESENT) "Ruby came back for me," says Sam. "whatever you have to say, she saved me--more than that, she got through to me--it's what YOU would have said. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here." Housekeeping knocks at the door. "I've got clean towels," she says. "Leave 'em at the door," says Dean. A heavyset black woman enters and closes their drapes. She hands Sam a piece of paper and says rapidly, "I'm at this address. Go now. Go through the bathroom window. Don't stop. Don't take your car. Don't pass go. There are demons in the hallway and the parking lot." "RUBY?" demands Sam. "OK, yes, so I'm possessing this maid for a hot minute," confesses Ruby, "sue me." "What about. . .?" asks Sam. "Coma girl?" finishes Ruby. "Slowly rotting on the floor in the cabin with Anna, so I gotta hurry back--see you when you get there--GO!" She hustles out. Dean stares after her, his eyes huge. read less

The boys find their way to a secluded cabin in the woods where Ruby answers the door and Anna is safe. "Ruby's not like other demons," says Anna, smiling, "she saved my life." "I hear she does that," says Dean, looking at Ruby, "I guess I uh. . .owe you. . .Sam. I just want. . .you know. . ." "Don't strain yourself," says Ruby. "OK then, is the moment over?" asks Dean, "good, 'cause that was awkward." Anna wants to call her parents and reassure them she's all right, but Sam sits beside her... read more The boys find their way to a secluded cabin in the woods where Ruby answers the door and Anna is safe. "Ruby's not like other demons," says Anna, smiling, "she saved my life." "I hear she does that," says Dean, looking at Ruby, "I guess I uh. . .owe you. . .Sam. I just want. . .you know. . ." "Don't strain yourself," says Ruby. "OK then, is the moment over?" asks Dean, "good, 'cause that was awkward." Anna wants to call her parents and reassure them she's all right, but Sam sits beside her and she guesses that her parents are dead. "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?" she sobs. "They're coming!" Anna announces as the lights begin to flicker. "Back room," orders Dean. With Anna hidden, the other three move to arm themselves, and Sam and Dean are forced to tell Ruby they lost the knife. "Impeccable timing," she tells them. The door blows open. Castiel and Uriel enter. Ruby's eyes go black. "Please tel me you're here to help," begs Dean. "We've been having demon issues all day." "I can see that," says Uriel, gazing at Ruby, "do you want to explain why you have that STAIN in the room?" "We're here for Anna," says Castiel. "Here for here like HERE for her?" asks Dean. "Stop talking!" orders Uriel. "Give her to us." "Are you going to help her?" asks Sam. "No," says Castiel, "she has to die." (TO BE CONTINUED) read less

Credits