ACT ONE

EXT. SIMMZY’S BAIT AND TACKLE. DAY.

It’s an overcast day on the quaint main street of a small town. It’s early — the street is deserted, and the lights in the bait & tackle shop are off. CASTIEL walks across the street.

Castiel tries the door, but it’s locked. He checks the sign, which says “OPEN 9AM - 6PM.” He checks his watch. It’s 9:05. He peers inside the darkened shop.

ANDY (O.S.)

I’m sure the sheriff’s doing everything he can. Yep.

Castiel turns to see ANDY, the shop owner, a burly bearded man in flannels, approach. He’s talking on his phone, frowning.

ANDY

(to phone)

I will. You let me know. Okay, Cam.

Andy hangs up. He takes out his keys and begins to unlock the door.

ANDY

Morning, Clarence.

CASTIEL

Morning.

ANDY

Come on in, early bird.

Andy opens the door and they enter the shop.

ANDY

So, what can I do for you today? Bait working out good?

Andy walks behind the counter while Castiel picks out some bait and supplies from the display racks.

CASTIEL

The bait? It’s working out fine. I think it’s the fish. They’ve begun to anticipate me.

ANDY

Yeah, the fish can be smart. I’d switch up spots.

(pointing)

Maps are over there.

Andy indicates a rack of maps. Castiel walks over to it and flips through.

CASTIEL

Fishing is supposed to be meditative, I’m told. I can’t say I find it very relaxing myself.

Castiel looks up and sees that Andy is frowning down at his phone.

Castiel takes a map and walks to the counter with his purchases.

Andy looks up, clearly preoccupied.

ANDY

That everything you need?

CASTIEL

That’s it. Is everything all right with you, Andy?

ANDY

There’s some trouble in the neighborhood. Teenager went missing, lives in the house behind us. Sheriff’s Department was down at the lake this morning. Rumor has it they found someone — we’re hoping it’s not Alex.

Castiel looks troubled.

CASTIEL

I hope not.

TRANSITION TO:

EXT. CABIN. DAY.

Establishing shot of a little cabin in the woods. Cas’s car is parked out front.

INT. CABIN – KITCHEN. DAY.

Castiel enters the small kitchen, his arms full of fishing gear — a box and two fishing rods. CLINK, he sets his car keys down on the counter.

The sliding glass back door is ajar. Outside, woods and a porch railing are visible.

A voice comes in from the back porch:

VOICE (O.S.)

How was it?

CASTIEL

Good. I got everything we need. Andy said we should try a new spot.

Castiel sets the gear down. He goes to the back door, slides it open, and sticks his head out.

EXT. CABIN – PORCH. DAY.

JACK is sitting cross-legged on the deck, examining a jar full of sticks and leaves.

CASTIEL

How’s your houseguest?

JACK

He’s good. I think it’s time to let him out.

Jack holds the jar up and looks inside. There’s a stickbug crawling slowly up the twig.

CASTIEL

I think that would be for the best.

Jack stands up and takes the jar to the railing. He carefully unscrews the lid and the bug crawls out onto the railing. He looks at it with interest. Castiel watches Jack fondly.

Castiel’s phone BUZZES. He pulls it out of his pocket.

CALL FROM DEAN.

Castiel looks at the phone in his hand.

JACK

(without turning around)

Is that Dean?

Castiel DECLINES the call.

CASTIEL

No.

JACK

Are we going back home to the bunker soon?

Castiel sighs.

CASTIEL

Soon.

Jack turns around.

CASTIEL

Are you ready to go fish?

JACK

(smiling)

Ready.

EXT. LAKESIDE. DAY.

Jack and Castiel walk down the grassy slope. Jack carries the fishing gear, and Castiel is holding the unfolded map, reading it like a newspaper. He frowns at it.

CASTIEL

According to this, the dock should be at the end of this trail...

Jack puts a hand on Cas’s arm, stopping him.

JACK

Cas. Look.

Castiel looks up.

The dock is occupied by several uniformed Sheriff’s Department officers, and there’s a diver in the water. Crime tape divides the dock from the public. A few bystanders watch.

They approach the bystanders.

CASTIEL

What’s going on?

TOWNSPERSON #1

They found a body. They think it might be Alex. It looks like he drowned.

Jack, holding the fishing gear, looks at Castiel.

JACK

Cas, should we look into it?

Castiel looks hesitant.

CASTIEL

It was probably an accident. And... we’re on vacation.

JACK

But helping people is what we do.

Castiel looks at Jack very fondly. He smiles slightly.

CASTIEL

Okay. We can try.

Jack smiles. Then he GLITCHES for a second. For a second, his image vanishes, then reappears as if nothing happened.

Castiel doesn’t seem to notice.

TRANSITION TO:

INT. DARK CAVE - UNKNOWN. NIGHT.

We move slowly through a cramped, damp, blue-lit cave. Moss hangs from the ceiling.

A young man, ALEX GREGORY (19) is unconscious, tied up by his wrists to the ceiling. His face is bruised, and he has a needle in his neck, connected to a tube of glowing blue liquid. Next to him, a YOUNG WOMAN (20s) is tied in the same way.

And next to her is Castiel, tied by his wrists and unconscious, syringe in his neck.

CUT TO BLACK

ACT TWO

INT. SHERIFF’S DEPT – WAITING ROOM. DAY.

Jack, now dressed in a suit and tie, stands in front of the RECEPTIONIST’s desk. She’s reading a paperback novel.

She looks up at him over her glasses.

JACK

Do you know when the sheriff will be back?

RECEPTIONIST

Could be five minutes. Could be an hour.

JACK

Because he’s still at the crime scene?

RECEPTIONIST

Oh, no, dear. He gets his hair cut on Tuesdays.

Jack raises his eyebrows.

JACK

His hair?

RECEPTIONIST

That’s right.

Behind Jack, Castiel is sitting with his hands folded in a chair against the wall. The woman sitting next to him, MELLY KROKOWSKI (40s), fiddles with her scarf anxiously. She checks her phone. Castiel notices her agitation.

Jack turns around, giving Castiel an open-handed shrug. Castiel tilts his head and raises his eyebrows.

Jack wanders over to the bulletin board.

MELLY

Is that your son?

Castiel looks at her. She nods towards Jack.

Castiel glances at Jack. He looks back at Melly with his bland smiling lie face.

CASTIEL

No.

MELLY

You two are staying down at the Dowelings’ cabin, right?

Castiel opens his mouth, not sure how to respond.

MELLY

(apologetically)

Uh, small town. You heard about the boy in the lake, right?

CASTIEL

Yes. That’s why we’re here. We’re... with the FBI.

MELLY

(with interest)

FBI? So you aren’t here on vacation?

CASTIEL

Yes. No. It’s a... team-building retreat. Jack is my... protégé.

MELLY

Can you help me find my son?

CASTIEL

(concerned, sitting forward)

Is he missing too?

MELLY

Yes. I think so.

RECEPTIONIST

Honey, it’s only been a few hours. He’ll turn up.

They both look at her. Melly explains to Cas:

MELLY

We let him camp out in the woods by himself last night. His first time camping alone. He was supposed to come home first thing this morning, but… we haven’t heard from him.

She glances at Jack, who is looking up at the bulletin board.

By the bulletin board, Jack gazes up at the flyers. Among flyers for local events, there are a lot of missing persons flyers. Jack spots one for ALEX GREGORY, the missing teen. He pulls it down and examines it. We recognize his face from the cave earlier.

Jack sees something out the corner of his eye. He looks up.

For a moment, a pale, ghostly image of a young man flashes in the hall next to him.

Then he’s gone.

Jack frowns.

Back in the chairs, Castiel looks at Melly with concern and sympathy.

MELLY

I’m worried something happened to him. Can you help me, Agent...?

CASTIEL

Worley. Yes. We’ll help you look for your son.

MELLY

Thank you.

Melly’s phone BUZZES. She looks down at it.

MELLY

Oh, this is my husband calling. I have to take this.

Castiel nods understandingly. She stands up and walks away to talk on the phone.

Jack approaches.

JACK

Cas, I think I just saw something.

Castiel stands up.

CASTIEL

What was it?

JACK

I think it was a ghost. It was a young man — he looked like this.

He holds up the flyer. Castiel takes it.

CASTIEL

Alex?

JACK

This might be a real case. Should we call Dean?

Castiel looks up at him. But before he can answer —

RECEPTIONIST

He’s ready for you, agents.

TRANSITION TO:

INT. SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT – OFFICE. DAY.

SHERIFF ROY, a middle-aged man with a shaved head, peers through the shades, out at the waiting room, where Melly is still talking on her phone.

SHERIFF ROY

Melly Krokowski. From the day that woman graced us with her presence, it's always something... too much fluoride in the water, too much noise from the high school football games, not enough cleanup at the lake.

Out in the waiting room, Melly hangs up her phone call and sits down, still looking worried.

In the office, the sheriff looks at Castiel and Jack.

CASTIEL

(frowning)

Her son is missing, Sheriff.

SHERIFF ROY

He’s been “missing” for a couple hours. She’s overreacting.

Sheriff Roy nods at them.

SHERIFF ROY

Why’s the FBI interested, anyway?

JACK

Sheriff, a lot of people go missing in this town.

He sets Alex’s “Missing” flyer on the desk.

JACK

Is this who you found in the lake this morning?

SHERIFF ROY

You’re awful young for the FBI, aren’t you, son?

CASTIEL

He’s 30.

The sheriff glances at Castiel, sees his hard look, and looks back at Jack.

SHERIFF ROY

We don’t get a lot of local deaths. But this is a tourist town. Hikers come up, sometimes they get lost. And sometimes, we get drifters staying in the woods in the summer. O.D.-ing in the woods. Fallin’ in the lake cause they’re stumblin’ drunk. Not much we can do to prevent it.

JACK

So what about Alex?

SHERIFF ROY

Cause of death was drowning. I had to guess, he was drunk.

Castiel and Jack exchange a look.

CASTIEL

We’d like to take a look at the body.

SHERIFF ROY

I’m sorry, you can’t. It’s already on its way to Cheyenne — we don’t have an M.E.

Castiel stands up.

Jack quickly follows suit.

CASTIEL

Then any casework you have will be fine.

Sheriff Roy narrows his eyes at the two of them.

CUT TO:

INT. SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT – CONFERENCE ROOM. DAY.

MONTAGE: Castiel and Jack go through the files.

They start with a stack of folders.

Then the folders are open on the desk, photos and files spread out. Jack considers one of the missing persons files. On the wall, Castiel tacks up his fishing map.

Then the photos are tacked up around the map, and Castiel is drawing Xs around the lake, holding one file up for reference. Jack reads another file.

JACK

I think we should go look at the lake.

Castiel nods.

Tight on the map, the lake ringed with red Xs.

ACT THREE

EXT. LAKESIDE. DAY.

Castiel and Jack walk down the grassy slope again. Once again, Castiel holds the map, but this time he directs them with more certainty. Jack is in casual clothing again.

CASTIEL

I’m still not convinced there’s something paranormal going on here, Jack. We should focus on looking for Caleb.

They stop at a trailhead. Castiel lowers the map.

CASTIEL

This is where Melly said she dropped him off to go camping.

JACK

It’s a lot of people to disappear in one little town.

CASTIEL

Well let’s hope Caleb isn’t one of them. Come on.

They enter the woods.

EXT. WOODS. DAY.

Castiel and Jack walk through the woods together.

JACK

Do you think it could be vampires?

CASTIEL

It’s possible.

JACK

But that wouldn’t explain what I saw.

CASTIEL

The ghost?

JACK

I don’t know if it was a ghost. It felt very real. Wait — look.

Jack stops. Castiel stops too, and turns to see Jack pointing into the trees.

JACK

There!

A pale figure is standing, half-concealed behind a tree.

Alex.

He flickers, like he’s not really there.

He vanishes.

Castiel squints.

JACK

Did you see it?

CASTIEL

I think so. I saw something.

Castiel walks into the woods, towards where the ghost was.

But when he reaches the ridge, he finds something else.

CASTIEL

Jack?

Jack follows.

JACK

Yeah?

As Jack reaches him, we see what he sees — a little tent and a burnt-out campfire. Discarded on the ground is a Gameboy.

JACK

Is this Caleb’s campsite?

Castiel picks up the Gameboy.

CASTIEL

(looking at the toy)

Do you have Sheriff Roy’s card?

JACK

Yes.

CASTIEL

Give it to me.

Jack comes down and hands him the card.

Castiel takes it, and takes out his phone, and dials.

CASTIEL

Hello. Is this the Sheriff’s Department? Yes, I need to speak with Sheriff Roy. This is Agent Worley…

It’s getting dark. Jack wanders away, deeper into the woods, and Cas’s voice FADES behind him.

Up ahead, Jack notices something — a figure.

A small figure — a kid. Jack tilts his head.

JACK

(calling out)

Caleb?

The figure retreats behind a tree. Jack speeds up, walking towards him.

JACK

Caleb! Your mom is worried about you. Are you lost? We’re here to help.

He reaches the tree. There’s no one there.

JACK

Caleb?

BACK TO:

EXT. WOODS.

Castiel hangs up the phone, still standing in Caleb’s campsite.

CASTIEL

Okay, I called it in. I couldn’t get ahold of the Sheriff, but they’re going to start organizing search parties...

He turns as he speaks, and then sees that Jack is gone.

CASTIEL

...Jack?

Wide shot. Castiel is alone in the woods, blue in the dusk.

CASTIEL

(loudly)

Jack?

His voice ECHOES.

EXT. LAKESIDE. NIGHT.

Castiel walks quickly down the slope, flashlight in hand.

CASTIEL

Jack?

He reaches the edge of the water and flashes his light around, but sees nothing.

CASTIEL

Jack!

He points the flashlight into the woods. As he turns—

MELLY

Hey!

Castiel starts back.

CASTIEL

Melly! You startled me.

MELLY

(upset)

I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I just — I had to come out and look. I didn’t know what else to do.

Castiel puts a hand on her arm.

MELLY

Where’s your protégé?

CASTIEL

He’s — I don’t know. I’m looking for him.

Melly looks worried.

Castiel looks around, then SIGHS, coming to a decision. He hands her the flashlight.

CASTIEL

Wait here a moment.

Castiel walks a few steps away, towards the lake. He takes out his phone and dials someone.

The phone RINGS.

RINGS.

Castiel closes his eyes as it RINGS again.

DEAN (O.S.)

(on phone)

Hello?

Castiel opens his eyes.

DEAN (O.S.)

(on phone)

Cas?

CASTIEL

Yes — Dean. Hello.

DEAN (O.S.)

(on phone)

Cas. It’s — good to hear from you. I’m glad you finally picked up.

Castiel SIGHS.

CASTIEL

Dean, something’s wrong. I can’t find Jack.

DEAN (O.S.)

(on phone)

Can’t find Jack? What happened? Where are you?

CASTIEL

Oregon. We’re working a case, and he—

MELLY (O.S.)

(yelling)

Agent Worley!

Castiel turns, but not fast enough. A dark silhouette rears up behind him, and HITS him, knocking him out.

His phone FALLS to the ground, screen still lit.

DEAN (O.S.)

(on phone)

Cas? What happened? Cas? CAS!

CUT TO BLACK.

ACT FOUR

INT. CAVE. NIGHT.

Castiel is tied up by his wrists in the cave. No needle in his neck. His face is bruised. Someone is shaking him awake.

DEAN

Cas. Cas!

Castiel blinks, blearily, and opens his eyes.

CASTIEL

(hoarse)

Dean.

Dean has his hands on Cas’s shoulders. He moves his hands up to cradle Cas’s face.

DEAN

Cas — hey.

Castiel nods.

CASTIEL

(hoarse)

Where’s Jack?

He turns his head to his right to see Jack, tied up and bruised, but breathing.

Castiel turns back to Dean. Dean tips Cas’s face up to look into his eyes.

DEAN

(gruff)

You okay?

Castiel is blinking. The interior of the cave flashes, suddenly, and the image of Dean in front of him WAVERS.

DEAN

(more distant)

I got here as quick as I could...

Castiel GROANS. He blinks again, woozy. Someone else’s face swims in front of him — Melly.

INT. CAVE. NIGHT.

We leave Cas’s POV and see reality. Melly is on tiptoes in front of Castiel, trying to untie his wrists. Her hands are shaking. He is tied, bruised, and has a needle in his neck, connected to a tube of blue liquid.

Castiel is blinking slowly, very out of it.

BACK IN THE DREAM:

DEAN

...I got here as quick as I could. Let me cut you down.

Castiel nods.

CASTIEL

(hoarse)

Thank you.

DEAN

I’m gonna get you two out of here.

Castiel nods again.

CASTIEL

(whispering)

And then... we’ll go fishing.

DEAN

(still untying)

Huh? Yeah.

Melly POV. She finishes untying Cas’s hands.

MELLY

(frightened)

Agent Worley, I think he’s coming back.

Castiel blinks at her, seeming to see her. He squints at her in the dark.

CASTIEL

(whispering)

Dean...?

MELLY

It’s Melly. I’m sorry...

Castiel looks over to where Jack was tied up. He's gone. Instead, he sees the young woman.

MELLY

(afraid)

I’m sorry, I have to pull this out.

She takes ahold of the needle in his neck and begins to pull it out.

Castiel looks back at her and blinks, breathing heavily.

He sees Dean, face close and concerned — then Melly.

Melly pulls the needle out slowly.

Cas’s fingers close around Melly’s wrist — stopping her.

Melly hesitates, confused.

She and Castiel look at each other in the darkness. His eyes are almost closed as he holds her wrist.

Then she CRIES OUT, jerking backwards. Someone has grabbed her from behind.

The figure turns —

SHERIFF ROY.

Djinn tattoos now visible on his face and bald head.

Castiel EXHALES hoarsely, mouth open.

CASTIEL

You.

SHERIFF ROY

You and Melly shouldn’t have come looking for me, “Agent.” ... It almost threw me, a hunter showing up here. And an angel! I thought I was in real trouble. But I got lucky.

Melly, holding her son (CALEB, 12) in the corner of the cave, watches with eyes full of fear.

The djinn gets closer to Castiel, his eyes sparking blue.

SHERIFF ROY

You’re weak. Barely an angel at all. I only needed a little extra juice to keep you under.

Castiel grits his teeth and lifts a shaking hand to the needle in his throat.

SHERIFF ROY

And I’ll just need a little more to put you back. And then I’ll take care of Melly and her little boy...

Castiel YANKS the needle out.

CASTIEL

I don’t think so.

He lunges forward, and before Sheriff Roy can block him, grabs him by the shoulder and puts his palm on his forehead to smite him.

Castiel’s hand lights up — then it FLASHES once, twice, and the light DIMS.

Not enough juice.

Castiel’s eyes widen in horror. THUNK, the djinn catches him in the jaw with his fist, and Castiel is knocked back onto the floor of the cave.

Sheriff Roy turns on Melly and her son.

SHERIFF ROY

Close your eyes, Melly. This won’t hurt a bit.

MELLY

You stay away from us!

She clutches Caleb to her chest.

Sheriff Roy leans down, his eyes lighting up blue, a SPARK on his fingertips.

Melly and Caleb cover their eyes—

THUNK — the sheriff CRIES OUT as an angel blade appears out the front of his throat.

He SLUMPS to the side, dead. Castiel, bruised, blade in hand, stands above them.

Melly and Caleb open their eyes and look up at him in shock.

Castiel closes his eyes, breathing heavily.

FADE OUT

ACT FIVE

EXT. LAKESIDE. DAY.

It’s sunset. Two ambulances are parked by the edge of the woods. Alex, still alive, is being loaded into one on a stretcher.

Caleb, wrapped in a blanket, sits on the back of the other. An EMT is tending to his broken ankle.

Castiel and Melly stand off to the side with another EMT. Melly also has a blanket around her shoulders. The EMT is putting a blanket around Castiel’s shoulders.

CASTIEL

Um. Thank you.

The EMT nods and leaves.

Castiel lifts the hems of the blanket in his hands, looking at it — then leaves it on. Melly is talking to him:

MELLY

You and I talked at the sheriff’s office this morning, and you said you’d help me. Then a few hours later, you called me, saying you had found Caleb’s campsite... but he wasn’t there.

They both look over at Caleb.

MELLY

You were telling me where it was, by the old silver mine, and then I heard you get jumped.

Castiel nods, frowning.

CASTIEL

I’m starting to remember now.

Melly nods.

MELLY

I called the sheriff’s department. But I knew they — well, I knew they weren’t going to take me seriously, so I came down myself. And I found Caleb. His ankle was broken, but he told me that he saw you getting dragged away... So we went looking for you.

Castiel nods.

MELLY

And we found you in the cave. With... with him.

CASTIEL

I’m grateful you did.

MELLY

You’re grateful? You saved us!

Castiel shakes his head.

CASTIEL

I... Who knows how long I would have stayed down there. You and Caleb saved me.

He looks away from her. The weight of his words mostly goes over her head, but she frowns sadly, and adjusts the blanket over his shoulders in a mom-like way.

CASTIEL

Thank you.

She pats his shoulder.

MELLY

But what... what was he?

Castiel sighs and looks back at her.

CASTIEL

Melly, there are things in this world that... aren’t human. The sheriff, he was... one of them. He wasn’t human. He was only pretending.

Melly doesn’t understand. She opens her mouth to ask more questions, but before she can—

CALEB

Mom?

They look over at Caleb, sitting in the ambulance. An EMT stands next to him. Castiel and Melly walk over.

CALEB

Do you know where Dad is?

MELLY

He’s coming, sweetheart.

Melly slides off her blanket and puts it around his shoulders.

CALEB

Mom, I already have one.

EMT

We’re going to take him to the hospital. He needs a cast.

The EMT walks off. Castiel watches her go.

He turns back to Caleb.

CASTIEL

Mind if I take a look?

Caleb pulls back his blankets to reveal his bloody ankle.

Castiel lifts his hand and holds it over Caleb’s leg. His hand begins to glow. Caleb and Melly both watch in wonder. Then the light FLICKERS again.

Castiel grits his teeth, rallying his strength. The light steadies, and with a quiet CRUNCH, Caleb’s bone knits back together and his skin heals over.

Caleb and Melly both GASP.

Castiel drops his hand, a little dizzy from the effort. He blinks. Melly looks up at him.

MELLY

How — but you —

Caleb runs his hand up and down his smooth shin.

CALEB

Holy crap! It’s a miracle!

MALE VOICE

Hey.

All turn. MELLY’S HUSBAND is there.

CALEB

Dad!

Caleb’s dad gathers him up in a hug. Then Melly hugs them both, wrapping her arms around her husband’s shoulders.

MELLY’S HUSBAND

(muffled)

I’m so glad you guys are okay…

Melly wipes tears from her eyes.

MELLY

Yeah...

Over her husband’s shoulder, she makes eye contact with Castiel. She smiles at him through tears. Castiel smiles back and gives a small nod.

He turns and walks away towards the lake with his hands in his pockets. The sun is setting over the water, turning it gold. Cas looks out at the view, squinting against the light. Then he turns back to look at the family again. Melly has her arm around her husband, who is ruffling Caleb’s hair.

Castiel turns back towards the water. He walks to a driftwood log on the shore, and sits down on it. He folds his hands and bows his head.

CASTIEL

Jack. I don’t think you can hear me, wherever you are. I just want to say that I’m sorry. I didn’t protect you. All I wanted was for you to be happy, and safe. That was my job. And I let you down. And I’ll never...

(He breaks off. Resets with a ragged breath)

And I’ll tell you that when we see each other again.

Cas sits for another moment, facing the shining lake. Then he stands, and begins walking along the beach, pulling out his phone.

He opens his call log. He has several missed calls from Sam, and two voicemails. He scrolls. Nothing else.

Tight on Castiel looking at his phone, disappointed. He sighs and closes his eyes for a moment, dropping his arm to his side. Then he opens his eyes, and lifts his phone to his ear to listen to his messages.

SAM (O.S.)

(recorded message, on phone)

Hey Cas. It’s Sam. I don’t know where you are right now, but Chuck is back — give us a call.

BEEP.

Next message begins. Castiel turns his back on the ambulance, looking out over the lake. Wide shot as he listens to the next message:

SAM (O.S.)

(recorded message, on phone)

Hey Cas. Sam again...

FADE TO BLACK.