1x14 NIGHTMARe
Written by: Sera Gamble & Raelle Tucker
Directed by: Phil Sgriccia
Transcript by: Rebecca
Edited and cleaned up by: Dana
TEASER
FADE IN: STREET
A man is parking his car in his garage. He turns off the gas and starts gathering some things in the car. All of a sudden, the garage door closes on its own. The car doors lock themselves. The key turns in the ignition and the car roars into life. The man watches, confused, as the garage and the car begin to fill with carbon monoxide. He starts coughing while trying to unlock the doors, which do not open. The man shakes the keys out of the ignition, but the car does not turn off. Panicking, he uses his jacket to cover the vents in the car, but the carbon monoxide continues to fill up the vehicle.
MAN
Help! Somebody, help me! Somebody, help!
He continues to pound on the doors and windows. Soon, he collapses on his seat, dead. There is a blinding flash of white light, and the scene cuts to a motel bedroom. SAM bursts awake. He sits up in his bed, sweating.
SAM
Dean.
(SAM shakes DEAN awake)
Dean.
DEAN groans. SAM gets out of bed and starts moving quickly around the room.
DEAN
What are you doing, man? It's the middle of the night.
SAM
We have to go.
He packs some items in a duffle bag and closes it.
DEAN
(sleepily)
What's happening?
SAM
We have to go. Right now.
INT. IMPALA
DEAN is speeding down the road, while SAM talks on the phone.
SAM
(reading from a piece of paper)
McCreedy. Detective McCreedy, badge number 15A. And I've got a signal 480 in progress. I need the registered owner of a two-door Sedan, Michigan license plate, Mary, Frank, 6037.
(...)
Yeah, okay, just hurry.
DEAN
Sammy, relax. I'm sure it's just a nightmare.
SAM
Yeah, tell me about it.
DEAN
No, I mean it. You know, a normal, everyday, naked-in-class nightmare. This license plate, it won't check out, you'll see.
SAM
It felt different, Dean. Real. Like when I dreamt about our old house and Jessica.
DEAN
Well, yeah, that makes sense. You're dreamin' about our house, your girlfriend. This guy in your dream, you ever seen him before?
SAM
No.
DEAN
No, exactly. Why would you have premonitions about some random dude in Michigan?
SAM
I don't know.
DEAN
Me neither.
SAM
(on phone)
Yes, I'm here.
(...)
Jim Miller. Saginaw, Michigan. You have a street address?
(...)
Got it. Thanks.
He writes down the information and hangs up, looking stunned.
SAM (cont'd)
Checks out. How far are we?
DEAN
From Saginaw?
SAM
Yeah.
DEAN
Couple hours.
SAM
Drive faster.
DEAN steps on the gas and they speed away.
EXT. MILLER RESIENCE
Police cars and ambulances are surrounding the area. Paramedics are putting Jim's body in a body bag, while police officers talk to Jim's family. DEAN and SAM pull up and observe the scene, looking disappointed. They exchange a look.
EXT. MILLER RESIDENCE - MINUTES LATER
DEAN and SAM are walking around, observing.
DEAN
(to nearby woman)
What happened?
WOMAN
Suicide. I can't believe it.
SAM
Did you know him?
WOMAN
I saw him every Sunday at St. Augustine's. He always seems-seemed so normal. I guess you never know what's going on behind closed doors.
DEAN
Yeah, I guess not.
SAM
How did-how are they saying it happened?
WOMAN
I heard they found him in the garage. Locked inside his car with the engine running.
DEAN and SAM exchange a look.
SAM
Do you know about what time they found him?
WOMAN
Oh, it just happened about an hour or two ago. Oh, his poor family. I can't even imagine what they're going through.
The camera pans to the front steps of the house, where a woman, who is presumably Jim's wife, is sobbing. SAM looks very upset and walks away. DEAN follows him to the car.
DEAN
Sam, we got here as fast as we could.
SAM
Not fast enough. It just doesn't make any sense, man. Why would I even have these premonitions, unless there was a chance that I could stop them from happening?
DEAN
I don't know.
SAM sighs deeply.
SAM
So, what do you think killed him?
DEAN
Maybe the guy just killed himself. You know, maybe there's nothing supernatural going on at all.
SAM
I'm telling you, I watched it happen. He was murdered by something, Dean. It trapped him in the garage.
DEAN
Well, what? A spirit, a poltergeist, what?
SAM
I don't know what it was. I don't know why I'm having these dreams, I don't know what the hell is happening, Dean.
(DEAN stares at him)
What?
DEAN
Nothing, man, I'm just worried about you.
SAM
Well, don't look at me like that.
DEAN
I'm not lookin' at you like anything. Though I gotta say, you look like crap.
SAM
Nice. Thanks.
DEAN
Yeah, well-Come on, let's just pick this up in the morning. We'll check out the house, we'll talk to the family.
SAM
Dean, you saw them, they're devastated. They're not gonna wanna talk to us.
DEAN
Yeah, you're right. But I think I know who they will talk to.
SAM
Who?
DEAN smirks at him.
EXT. MILLER RESIDENCE - DAY
DEAN rings the doorbell. Although the camera does not show DEAN and SAM's bodies, SAM's hair is combed and gelled back neatly.
SAM
This has got to be a whole new low for us.
DEAN smiles. JIM's brother, ROGER, opens the door. The camera shows the brothers' bodies, and they are wearing ministers' outfits.
DEAN
Good afternoon. I'm Father Simmons, this is Father Frehley. We're new junior priests over at St. Augustine's. May we come in?
(ROGER nods, and they come in)
Thanks.
SAM
We're very sorry for your loss.
ROGER closes the door.
INT. MILLER RESIDENCE
DEAN
It's in difficult times like these when the Lord's guidance is most needed.
ROGER
Look, if you wanna pitch your whole Lord-has-a-plan thing, fine. But don't pitch it to me. My brother is dead.
Jim's wife comes into the hallway and overhears them.
MRS. MILLER
Roger, please.
ROGER
(to SAM and DEAN)
Excuse me.
He leaves.
MRS. MILLER
I'm sorry about my brother-in-law. He's just so upset about Jim's death. Would you like some coffee?
DEAN
That'd be great.
CUT TO: LIVING ROOM
SAM and DEAN are sitting on the couch. MRS. MILLER hands them two cups of coffee.
MRS. MILLER
It was wonderful of you to stop by. The support of the church means so much right now.
DEAN
Of course. After all, we are all God's children.
SAM looks at him strangely, and MRS. MILLER walks away. When she is gone, DEAN takes a mini hot dog from a platter and eats it. SAM scoffs.
DEAN (cont'd)
What?
SAM
Just tone it down a little bit, Father.
MRS. MILLER returns and sits down next to DEAN.
DEAN
(with his mouth full)
So, Mrs. Miller, did your husband have a history of depression?
MRS. MILLER
Nothing like that. We had our ups and downs, like everyone. But we were happy.
(She starts to cry)
I just don't understand how Jim could do something like that.
SAM
I'm so sorry you had to find him like that.
MRS. MILLER
Actually, our son, Max-he was the one who found him.
She points to a teenage boy sitting alone in the corner of another room.
SAM
Do you mind if maybe I go talk to him?
MRS. MILLER
Oh, thank you, Father.
SAM smiles and nods, then walks over to MAX in the dining room.
SAM
Max? Hey, I'm Sam.
CUT TO: LIVING ROOM
DEAN hands MRS. MILLER a tissue.
DEAN
Mrs. Miller, you have a lovely home. How long have you lived here?
MRS. MILLER
We moved in about five years ago.
DEAN
Hm. You know, the only problem with these old houses-I bet you have all kinds of headaches.
MRS. MILLER
Like what?
DEAN
Well, weird leaks. Electrical shortages. Odd settling noises at night, that kind of thing.
MRS. MILLER
No, nothing like that. It's been perfect.
She smiles.
DEAN
Hm.
(He pauses)
May I use your restroom?
MRS. MILLER
Oh, sure. It's just up the stairs.
DEAN
Okay.
He takes another hot dog, puts it in his mouth, and heads toward the stairs.
CUT TO: DINING ROOM
SAM is talking with MAX.
SAM
So, what was your dad like?
MAX
(sadly)
Just a normal dad.
SAM
Yeah? And you live at home now?
MAX
Yeah. I'm tryin' to save up for school, but it's hard.
They pause.
SAM
(hesitantly)
So, when you found your dad...
MAX
I woke up. I heard the engine running. I don't know why he did it.
SAM
I know it's rough. Losing a parent. Especially when you don't have all the answers.
MAX says nothing.
CUT TO: UPSTAIRS
DEAN looks around to make sure no one is there. From his jacket, he removes an infrared thermal scanner and turns it on. He looks through every room on the top floor but sees nothing unusual. He hears someone coming up the stairs and quickly puts the scanner away. SAM comes upstairs.
SAM
Anything?
DEAN shakes his head.
DEAN
Zip.
They go back downstairs.
INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
DEAN is sitting on the bed, cleaning all of his weapons.
DEAN
So, what do you have?
SAM
A whole lot of nothing. Nothing bad has happened to the Miller house since it was built.
DEAN
What about the land?
SAM
No graveyards, battlefields, tribal lands, or any other kind of atrocity on or near the property.
DEAN
Hey, man, I told you I searched that house up and down. There were no cold spots, no sulfur scent, nada.
SAM
And the family said everything was normal?
DEAN
Well, I mean, if there was a demon or a poltergeist in there, don't you think somebody would've noticed something? I used the infrared thermal scanner, man, there was nothing.
SAM
So, what, you think Jim Miller killed himself? And my dream was just some sort of freakish coincidence?
DEAN
I don't know. But I'm pretty sure that there's nothing supernatural about that house.
SAM
Yeah.
He grimaces and starts massaging his temples.
SAM (cont'd)
Well, you know, maybe, uh-maybe it has nothing to do with the house. Maybe, it's just, uh-gosh-maybe it's connected to Jim in some other way.
He clutches his head in pain.
DEAN
(concerned)
What's wrong with you?
SAM inhales sharply and falls to his knees on the floor.
SAM
Yeah-my head!
He screams in pain. DEAN rushes over to him and grabs him by the shoulders.
DEAN
Sam? Hey. Hey! What's goin' on? Talk to me.
SAM looks at DEAN, horrified. There is another flash of white light, and the scene cuts to ROGER MILLER's kitchen. ROGER enters the kitchen with a bag of groceries and sets it on the counter. He opens a beer and drinks from it, with his back turned away from the door. A dark figure walks past the camera. Inside the kitchen, the window on the opposite wall opens. ROGER feels the draft and turns around. He closes the window and locks it. He turns back to the bag of groceries. While putting them away, the window unlocks itself and opens again. ROGER, confused, walks back to it and tries to shut it, but it does not budge. He sticks his head out the window and looks up. Suddenly, the window slams shut on top of ROGER's head, and there is a large amount of blood spattered on the glass. The scene cuts back to the motel, where SAM is panting and sweating, looking terrified.
SAM
(panicked)
It's happening again. Something's gonna kill Roger Miller.
INT. IMPALA
DEAN is behind the wheels while SAM is on the phone.
SAM
Roger Miller.
(...)
No, no, just the address, please.
(...)
Okay. Thanks.
(He hangs up)
450 West Grove, Apartment 1120.
DEAN nods.
DEAN
You okay?
SAM
Yeah.
DEAN
If you're gonna hurl, I'll pull the car over, you know, 'cause the upholstery-
SAM
I'm fine.
DEAN
Alright.
SAM
Just drive.
DEAN
Alright.
SAM sighs.
SAM
Dean, I'm scared, man. These nightmares weren't bad enough, now I'm seein' things when I'm awake? And these visions, or whatever, they're getting more intense. And painful.
DEAN
Come on, man, it'll be alright. You'll be fine.
SAM
What is it about the Millers? Why am I connected to them? Why am I watching them die? Why the hell is this happening to me?
DEAN
I don't know, Sam, but we'll figure it out, okay? We face the unexplainable every single day, this is just another thing.
SAM
No. It's never been us. It's never been in the family like this. Tell the truth, you can't tell me this doesn't freak you out.
DEAN pauses.
DEAN
This doesn't freak me out.
EXT. ROGER'S APARTMENT
ROGER is walking down the street with a bag of groceries. DEAN and SAM pull up beside him.
SAM
Hey, Roger!
DEAN
Hey, hold up a second.
ROGER
(annoyed)
What are you guys, missionaries? Leave me alone.
SAM
Please!
They pull over to the side of the road, stop the car, and get out. They run towards the apartment building, where ROGER is entering.
SAM (cont'd)
Hey, Roger, we're tryin' to help! Please! Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
ROGER shuts the front door and locks it.
ROGER
(through the glass)
I don't want your help.
He walks away.
SAM
We're not priests! You've gotta listen to us!
DEAN
Roger, you're in danger!
ROGER does not come back. SAM and DEAN look around.
DEAN (cont'd)
Come on! Come on, come on!
They leave.
CUT TO: ALLEY
DEAN and SAM run to the side of the building, which is blocked by a gate. DEAN kicks it down, and they run down the narrow alley. They reach the fire escape and begin climbing the countless flights of stairs. A minute later, they hear a crashing noise. They climb one more flight and reach ROGER's window, which is covered with blood. DEAN and SAM are in disbelief. Flustered, DEAN takes a few rags out of his pocket and hands one to SAM, who looks sick to his stomach.
DEAN
Here, start wiping down your fingerprints, we don't want the cops to know we were here. Go, go, come on.
SAM takes the rag and starts wiping the railing of the fire escape.
DEAN (cont'd)
I'm gonna take a look inside.
He opens another nearby window and climbs in. SAM glances at the bloodstained window and cringes.
EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - LATER
DEAN and SAM are walking back to their car.
DEAN
I'm tellin' you, there was nothing in there. There's no signs either, just like the Millers' house.
SAM
I saw something in the vision, like a dark shape. Something was stalking Roger.
DEAN
Well, whatever it was, we can be sure it's not connected to their house.
SAM
No, it's connected to the family itself. So, what do you think we got? A vengeful spirit?
They stop at the car and get inside.
DEAN
Yeah, there's a few that have been known to latch onto families, follow 'em for years.
SAM
Banshees.
DEAN
Basically like a curse. So, maybe Roger and Jim Miller got involved in something heavy. Something curse-worthy.
SAM
And now something's out for revenge. And the men in their family are dying. Hey, you think Max is in danger?
DEAN
Let's figure it out before he is.
He starts the car.
SAM
Well, I know one thing I have in common with these people.
DEAN
What's that?
SAM
Both our families are cursed.
DEAN
Our family's not cursed. We just... had our dark spots.
SAM laughs.
SAM
Our dark spots are pretty dark.
DEAN
You're - dark.
He drives away.
INT. MILLER RESIDENCE; LIVING ROOM - DAY
SAM and DEAN are dressed as ministers again, talking to MAX.
MAX
My mom's resting. She's pretty wrecked.
DEAN
Of course.
MAX
All these people kept coming with, like, casseroles. I finally had to tell them all to go away.
He gestures to the dining room table, which is covered with trays of casserole.
MAX (cont'd)
You know, 'cause nothing says "I'm sorry" like a tuna casserole.
They laugh. MAX motions for them to sit down.
SAM
How you holdin' up?
MAX
I'm okay.
SAM
Your dad and your uncle were close?
MAX
Yeah, I guess. I mean, they were brothers. They used to hang out all the time when I was little.
SAM
But not lately much?
MAX
No, it's not that. It's just-we used to be neighbors when I was kid. And we lived across town in this house, and Uncle Roger lived next door, so he was over all the time.
SAM
Right. So, how was it in that house when you were a kid?
MAX
It was fine. Why?
DEAN
All good memories? Do you remember anything unusual? Something involving your father and your uncle, maybe?
MAX
(flustered)
What do you-why do you ask?
DEAN
Just a question.
MAX
(emotionless)
No. There was nothing. We were totally normal. Happy.
DEAN
Good. That's good. Well, you must be exhausted. We should take off.
SAM
Right.
(to MAX)
Thanks.
MAX
Yeah.
EXT. MILLER RESIDENCE
SAM and DEAN are walking back to the car.
DEAN
Nobody's family is totally normal and happy. Did you see when he was talkin' about his old house?
SAM
Sounded scared.
DEAN nods.
DEAN
Yeah, Max isn't tellin' us everything. I say we go find the old neighborhood, and find out what life was really like at the Millers'.
They get in the car.
EXT. NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE; PREVIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD
SAM
Have you lived in the neighborhood very long?
NEIGHBOR
Yeah, almost twenty years now. It's nice and quiet. Why, you lookin' to buy?
SAM
No, no, actually, we were just wondering if you might recall a family that used to live right across the street, I believe.
DEAN
Yeah, the Millers. They had a little boy named Max.
SAM
Right.
The man looks slightly sad.
NEIGHBOR
Yeah, I remember. The brother had the place next door.
He points to the house across the street.
NEIGHBOR (cont'd)
So, uh, what's this about? That poor kid okay?
SAM
What do you mean?
NEIGHBOR
Well, in my life, I've never seen a child treated like that. I mean, I'd hear Mr. Miller yellin' and throwin' things clear across the street. He was a mean drunk. He used to beat the tar out of Max. Bruises-broke his arm two times that I know of.
SAM
And this was going on regularly?
NEIGHBOR
Practically every day.
(SAM looks disgusted)
In fact, that thug brother of his was just as likely to take a swing at the boy, but the worst part was the stepmother. She'd just stand there, checked out, never lifted a finger to protect him. I must have called the police seven or eight times, never did any good.
DEAN
Now, you said stepmother.
NEIGHBOR
I think his real mom died. Some sort of accident-a car accident, I think.
(to SAM)
Are you okay, there?
SAM is clutching his head and breathing sharply, just like he did when he had a vision earlier.
SAM
(painfully)
Yeah.
DEAN
Thanks for your time.
SAM
Yeah, thank you.
DEAN helps SAM back to the car. SAM stops and stares, looking terrified. There is a blinding flash of light, and the scene cuts to the Millers' kitchen.
INT. MILLER RESIDENCE; KITCHEN
MRS. MILLER is chopping vegetables quickly.
MRS. MILLER
(tearfully)
I don't know what you mean by that. You know I never did anything.
MAX
(crying)
That's right. You didn't do anything. You didn't stop them, not once!
The knife on the cutting board begins to move, then levitates in the air.
MRS. MILLER
How did you-?
The knife flies through the air towards her and she pins herself against the wall. The knife points itself directly at her eye, barely a centimeter away.
MRS MILLER (cont'd)
Max, please!
MAX
For every time you stood there and watched. Pretending it wasn't happening!
MRS. MILLER
I'm sorry!
MAX
No, you're not. You just don't want to die.
The knife moves backwards then flies straight towards MRS. MILLER and goes right through her head. Blood sprays on the wall. MAX stands there, shocked.
FADE IN: INT. IMPALA
SAM and DEAN are driving.
SAM
Max is doing it. Everything I've been seeing.
DEAN
You sure about this?
SAM
Yeah, I saw.
DEAN
How's he pullin' it off?
SAM
I don't know. It looked like telekinesis.
DEAN
So, he's psychic? He's a spoon-bender?
SAM
I didn't even realize it, but this whole time he was there. He was outside of the garage when his dad died, he was in the apartment when his uncle died. These visions, this whole time, I wasn't connecting to the Millers, I was connecting to Max. The thing I don't get is why, man? I guess because we're so alike?
DEAN
What are you talking about? The dude's nothing like you.
SAM
Well, we both have psychic abilities. We're both-
DEAN
Both what? Sam, Max is a monster. He's already killed two people, and now he's gunnin' for a third.
SAM
Well, with what he went through-the beatings. To want revenge on those people, I'm sorry, man, I hate to say it, but it's not that insane.
DEAN
Yeah, but it doesn't justify murdering your entire family.
SAM
Dean-
DEAN
He's no different than anything else we've hunted. Alright, we've gotta end him.
He pulls the car over and shuts off the engine.
SAM
We're not gonna kill Max.
DEAN
Then what? I hand him over to the cops and say "Lock him up, officer, he kills with the power of his mind."
SAM
Forget it. No way, man.
DEAN
Sam-
SAM
Dean. He's a person. We can talk to him. Hey, promise me you'll follow my lead on this one.
DEAN pauses.
DEAN
Alright, fine. But I'm not lettin' him hurt anybody else.
He reaches into the glove compartment and pulls out a gun. They get out of the car.
INT. MILLER RESIDENCE; KITCHEN
Just as in SAM's vision, MS. MILLER is chopping vegetables and crying.
MRS. MILLER
You know I never did anything.
MAX
That's right. You didn't do anything.
The knife begins to rattle on the cutting board.
MAX (cont'd)
You didn't stop them, not once!
DEAN and SAM burst through the kitchen door. The knife stops moving.
MRS. MILLER
Fathers?
MAX
What are you doing here?
DEAN
Uh, sorry to interrupt.
SAM
Max, could we, uh-could we talk to you outside for just one second?
MAX
About what?
SAM
It's-it's private. I wouldn't wanna bother your mother with it. We won't be long at all, though. I promise.
MAX glances at his stepmother.
MAX
Okay.
SAM
Great.
MAX walks to SAM and DEAN. DEAN opens the front door. MAX glances in the mirror by the door and sees the gun sticking out of DEAN's jeans. The door suddenly slams shut, along with all the windows.
MAX
You're not priests!
DEAN takes out the gun and points it at MAX, but MAX uses telekinesis to grab the gun from DEAN. It drops on the floor, and MAX picks it up. He points it at SAM and DEAN.
MRS. MILLER
Max, what's happening?!
MAX
Shut up!
MRS. MILLER
What are you doing?!
MAX jerks his head, and MRS. MILLER is flung into the kitchen counter. She collapses on the floor.
MAX
I said shut up!
SAM
Max, calm down!
MAX
Who are you?!
SAM
We just wanna talk to you.
MAX
Yeah, right, that's why you brought this!
SAM
That was a mistake, alright? So was lying about who we were, but no more lying, Max, okay? Just, please-just hear me out.
MAX
About what?
SAM
I saw you do it. I saw you kill your dad and your uncle before it happened.
MAX
What?
SAM
I'm having visions, Max. About you.
MAX
You're crazy.
SAM
So, you weren't gonna launch a knife at your stepmom?
(He points to his eye)
Right here? Is it that hard to believe, Max? Look what you can do. Max, I was drawn here, alright? I think I'm here to help you.
MAX
No one can help me!
SAM
Let me try. We'll just talk. Me and you. We'll get Dean and Alice out of here.
DEAN
Nuh-uh. No way.
SAM holds up his index finger. The light fixture above them starts to shake.
MAX
Nobody leaves this house!
SAM
And nobody has to, alright? They'll just-they'll just go upstairs.
DEAN
Sam, I'm not leavin' you alone with him.
SAM
(quietly)
Yes, you are.
(to MAX)
Look, Max, you're in charge here, alright? We all know that. No one's gonna do anything that you don't want to, but I'm talkin' five minutes here, man.
DEAN
Sam.
SAM holds up his index finger again.
MAX
Five minutes.
(The light fixture stops shaking)
Go.
DEAN moves to the kitchen and shakes MRS. MILLER awake. She groans. DEAN picks her up.
CUT TO: LIVING ROOM
MAX and SAM are sitting on couches, facing each other. With his mind, MAX moves a letter opener so that it is standing upright and slowly it begins to spin.
SAM
Look, I can't begin to understand what you went through.
MAX keeps his eyes fixed on the letter opener.
MAX
That's right, you can't.
SAM
Max, this has to stop.
MAX
It will. After my stepmother.
SAM
No. You need to let her go.
MAX
Why?
The letter opener begins to spin faster on its tip.
SAM
Did she beat you?
MAX
No. But she never tried to save me, she's a part of it, too.
SAM
Look, what they did to you, what they all did to you, growing up-they deserve to be punished.
MAX
Growing up? Try last week.
He stands up and raises his shirt. There is a large bruise on his stomach and ribs, along with multiple cuts.
MAX (cont'd)
My dad still hit me, just in places people wouldn't see it. Old habits die hard, I guess.
He sits back down.
SAM
(stunned)
I'm sorry.
The letter opener spins faster.
MAX
When I first found out I could move things, it was a gift. My whole life I was helpless. But now I had this. So, last week, Dad gets drunk-first time in a long time. And he beats me to hell-first time in a long time. And then I knew what I had to do.
SAM
Why didn't you just leave?
The letter opener falls over and SAM jumps.
MAX
It wasn't about getting away-just knowing that they'd still be out there. It was about not being afraid. When my dad used to look at me, there was hate in his eyes. Do you know what that feels like?
SAM
(softly)
No.
MAX
He blamed me for everything. For his job, for his life, for my mom's death.
SAM
Why would he blame you for your mom's death?
MAX
Because she died in my nursery. While I was asleep in my crib.
(SAM's eyes grows wide)
As if that makes it my fault.
SAM
She died in your nursery?
MAX
Yeah. There was a fire. And he'd get drunk and babble on like she died in some insane way. He said that she burned up. Pinned to the ceiling.
SAM looks shocked
SAM
Listen to me, Max. What your dad said about what happened to your mom-it's real.
MAX
What?
SAM
It happened to my mom, too. Exactly the same-my nursery, my crib. My dad saw her on the ceiling.
MAX
Then your dad must have been as drunk as mine.
SAM
No. No, it's the same thing, Max. The same thing killed our mothers.
MAX
That's not possible.
SAM
This must be why I've been having visions during the day. Why they're getting more intense. 'Cause you and I must be connected in some way. Your abilities-they started six, seven months ago, right? Out of the blue?
MAX
How'd you know that?
SAM
Because that's when my abilities started, Max. I mean, yours seem to be much further along, but still, this-this means something, right? I mean, for some reason, you and I-you and I were chosen.
MAX
For what?
SAM
I don't know. But Dean and I-my brother and I, we're hunting for your mom's killer. And we can find answers. Answers that can help us both. But you gotta let us go. You gotta let your stepmother go.
MAX looks thoughtful for a moment, then his expression turns cold again. He shakes his head.
MAX
No. What they did to me-I still have nightmares! I'm still scared all the time, like I'm just waiting for their next beating! I'm just tired of being scared. If I do this, it'll be over!
He gets up and starts walking towards the stairs, but SAM runs in front of him.
SAM
No, don't you get it? It won't. The nightmares won't end, Max, not like this. It's just more pain. And it makes you as bad as them. Max, you don't have to go through all this by yourself.
MAX stares at him for a moment.
MAX
I'm sorry.
SAM gets flung into a closet and the doors shut.
SAM
No!
Max uses his abilities to move a large cupboard in front of the closet. SAM pounds on the doors.
SAM (cont'd)
No, Max! No! Max!
MAX walks to the stairs.
CUT TO: UPSTAIRS BEDROOM
DEAN is kneeling next to MRS. MILLER, holding a washcloth to her head. The bedroom door opens on its own, MAX enters, and the door closes. DEAN starts to walk towards MAX, but DEAN is thrown into a wall. He falls to the ground. MAX pulls out the gun.
MRS. MILLER
Max!
DEAN gets up from the floor and starts moving towards MAX, but when he lets go of the gun, and it hovers in the air, DEAN stops, staring at it. MRS. MILLER followes the gun with her eyes as it floats towards DEAN. The gun stops in front of MRS. MILLER and is cocked, then it turns towards her.
MRS. MILLER (cont'd)
No. Max.
DEAN moves to stand in front of her. The gun shifts its aim towards DEAN, to stop him.
MAX
Stay back. It's not about you.
DEAN
If you wanna kill her, you gotta go through me first.
MAX
Okay.
The trigger is pulled and DEAN is shot through the head. The wall behind him is covered in blood, and he collapses to the floor. The camera pans from the bloody wall to DEAN lying dead on the floor. Another flash of white light brings the scene back to the closet. SAM is sweating heavily and leaning against the door of the closet in pain. The screen flashes once more quickly to DEAN on the floor and then back to SAM.
SAM
No! NOO!
Outside, the cupboard moves away from the closet. Inside, SAM pants and looks confused. He cautiously pushes the closet door open.
CUT TO: UPSTAIRS BEDROOM
The scene that we saw in SAM's vision is already playing out, MAX has the gun in the air, pointed at his stepmother. DEAN is looking at MAX, clenching his jaw, angry.
MRS. MILLER
Max. No.
With his eyes on MAX, DEAN steps forward in front of MRS. MILLER. The gun immedietly shifts and is now aimed as DEAN.
MAX
Stay back. It's not about you.
DEAN
If you wanna kill her, you gotta go through me first.
MAX smiles coldly.
MAX
Okay.
He is about to pull the trigger when SAM bursts through the door. The gun flinches, just like MAX.
SAM
No, don't! Don't! Please. Please, Max. Max, we can
help you, alright? But this-what you're doing-it's not the solution. It's not
gonna fix anything.
MAX stares at him for a moment, desperation on his features.
MAX
You're right.
SAM smiles slightly. Suddenly, MAX points the gun towards himself and shoots himself in the head. He falls to the ground, dead.
SAM
No!
DEAN, SAM, and MRS. MILLER look stunned.
INT. MILLER RESIDENCE; LIVING ROOM - LATER
Police officers are investigating the house. MRS. MILLER is talking to a cop.
MRS. MILLER
Max attacked me. He threatened me with a gun.
POLICE OFFICER
(gesturing towards SAM and DEAN)
And these two?
MRS. MILLER
They're... family friends. I called them as soon as Max arrived, I was scared.
(Her voice breaks)
They tried to stop him. They fought for the gun.
POLICE OFFICER
Where did Max get the gun?
MRS. MILLER
(hysterically)
I don't know! He showed up with it, and-
She is unable to go on.
POLICE OFFICER
It's alright, Mrs. Miller.
MRS. MILLER
I've lost everyone!
She continues to sob.
POLICE OFFICER
(to SAM and DEAN)
Okay. We'll give you a call if we have any further questions.
DEAN
Thanks, officer.
(to SAM)
Come on.
They leave.
EXT. MILLER RESIDENCE
SAM and DEAN are walking back to the car.
SAM
(shaking his head)
If I just said somethin' else. Gotten through to him somehow.
DEAN
Don't do that.
SAM
Do what?
DEAN
Torture yourself. It wouldn't have mattered what you said, Max was too far gone.
SAM
When I think about how he looked at me, man, right before-should've done something.
DEAN
Come on, man, you risked your life. I mean, yeah, maybe if we had gotten there twenty years earlier.
They stop at the IMPALA.
SAM
Well, I'll tell you one thing-we're lucky we had Dad.
DEAN
(surprised)
I never thought I'd hear you say that.
SAM
Well, he could've gone a whole 'nother way after Mom. A little more tequila, a little less demon-hunting, and we would've had Max's childhood. All things considered, we turned out okay-thanks to him.
DEAN pauses.
DEAN
All things considered.
He gets in the car.
INT. MOTEL ROOM
DEAN and SAM are getting ready to leave, packing their bags.
SAM
Dean, I've been thinking.
DEAN
Well, that's never a good thing.
SAM
I'm serious. I've been thinking-why would this demon, or whatever it is, why would it kill Mom and Jessica and Max's mother, you know, what does it want?
DEAN
No idea.
SAM
Well, you think maybe it was after us? After Max and me?
DEAN
Why would you think that?
SAM
I mean, either telekinesis or premonitions, we both had abilities, you know? Maybe it was after us for some reason.
DEAN
Sam, if it wanted you, it would've just taken you, okay? This is not your fault. It's not about you.
SAM
Then what is it about?
DEAN
It's about that damn thing that did this to our family. The thing that we're gonna find, the thing that we're gonna kill. And that's all.
SAM
Actually, there's, uh, somethin' else, too.
DEAN
Oh, jeez, what?
SAM
When Max locked me in that closet, that big cabinet against the door-I moved it.
DEAN laughs.
DEAN
You've got a little bit more upper body strength than I give you credit for.
SAM
No, man, I moved it-like Max.
DEAN
(disbelieving)
Oh. Right.
SAM
Yeah.
DEAN grabs a spoon and holds it up.
DEAN
Bend this.
SAM
I can't turn it on and off, Dean.
DEAN
Well, how'd you do it?
SAM
I don't know, I can't control it. I saw you die, and it just came out of me, like a punch. You know, like a freak adrenaline thing.
DEAN puts the spoon down.
DEAN
Well, I'm sure it won't happen again.
SAM
Yeah, maybe. Aren't you worried, man, aren't you worried that I could turn into Max or something?
DEAN
Nope. No way. You know why?
SAM
No. Why?
DEAN
'Cause you've got one advantage that Max didn't have.
SAM
Dad? Because Dad's not here, Dean.
DEAN
No. Me.
(He smiles)
As long as I'm around, nothing bad is gonna happen to you.
(grabs his duffelbag and starts for the door)
Now then, I know what we need to do about your premonitions. I know where we have to go.
SAM
Where?
DEAN
Vegas.
He smiles. SAM scoffs and goes outside to the car.
DEAN (cont'd)
What? Come on, man. Craps table. We'd clean up.
DEAN turns off the light in the motel room as SAM gets in the car. DEAN watches him for a second from the door, thoughtful, clearly not taking it as easily as he lets on. Finally he closes the door to the motel room.