Supernatural Sendoff
I'm going to miss Supernatural, I truly am. Well, technically I'm going to miss it about a year from now, and I plan to savor its last season like the last slice of pie. I initially didn't watch the show; it came on in 2005, and I started a new job that year with graveyard hours. It wasn't until later, when I caught the show during daytime hours thanks to TNT syndication that I realized Supernatural was "my show," my genre, my kind of characters. The brotherly relationship won me over, and the monster of the week premise -- that I thought would grow old fast, became a journey, a lifelong story.
So yes, I will miss Supernatural after its fifteenth season airs.
I became a part of the Supernatural fandom, although only along the fringes. The bucket list included seeing them at a Con, and I did that with the biggest of them all, ComicCon. I found the music of Louden Swain, I was persuaded to do good things with GISHWHES, I bought apparel to promote Always Keep Fighting, and I developed friendships with other fans.
Mostly though, as an always struggling writer, I learned that I was at least capable of tackling TV drama spec scripts. For anyone not familiar with the Hollywood market, a TV spec is a script written for an established show. It's fan fiction in screenplay format, where you're writing to prove you can create a story for established characters. it's a quirky process, because when you write said spec, you're not really writing to get it made. You're writing it to prove to other potentially show staffers that you can do it. I write a Supernatural spec, and it gets sent to, say Grimm (which is now off the air too, but you get the idea).
Anyway, I wrote four Supernatural specs, and two of them made it to competition lists. Intervention made it to the Austin Film Fest and Scriptapalooza. I Got You, Babe made the list of Final Draft's Big Break and Stage 32 Happy Writers. If you're a fan of the show, I hope you enjoy reading my unsold specs. I enjoyed writing them as much as I enjoy the show. Here's the first one.
For a cleaner formatted version of the script, click on the link to visit the blog.
SUPERNATURAL -- INTERVENTION
TEASER
Fade In:
EXT. DIVE BAR - NIGHT
It's more than a dive bar. The graphics on its sign advertise
pole dancing in bright neon. The parking lot hints at a busy
night.
Loud music and raucous yelling accompany LORNA as she pushes
her way out of the entrance. She's an attractive woman, by no
means a pole dancer, as she checks over her shoulder, hurries
to reach her car.
She turns over the engine, hastily pulls out, passing Dean's
Impala parked a few spots down. The Impala, empty.
Moments pass. Then BAM! The door breaks open from the force
of SAM and DEAN WINCHESTER being thrown out of the joint.
Sam, the first back on his feet. He staggers with a finger
pointed at the irritated BOUNCER who just threw them out.
It's more than obvious. Sam is more than just drunk.
SAMYou can't call my brother adick!... Even if he is one... Adick!
Dean, just as drunk, kneels in a mud puddle and laughs.
DEANThat's right, Sammy...sic 'em.
Sam engages in a standoff with the irritated bouncer. Dean
gets to his feet, pulls Sam away by the collar.
SAMGet offa me!
DEANShut up... We're going home...
The two of them turn around in a circle.
DEAN (CONT’D)...where's the car.
The bouncer watches them stagger in the wrong direction. He
shakes his head. Turns to go back inside as another man,
FIDEL, a tattooed biker type, passes him on his way out.
Fidel steps in behind Sam and Dean. They're too drunk to be
aware of it.
SAMGive me your keys.
Dean pushes Sam away.
DEANScrew you. I'm driving--
SAM--No you're not--
DEAN--I'm driving!
Sam persists. Dean shoves him again. Sam shoves back. The
beginning of another brawl, until Fidel steps in and
separates them. Both men square off in wobbly fighting
stances.
FIDELWhoa! Just everyone relax.
DEANWho the hell are you!
FIDELNow, now... I'm your friend! Youforget so soon?
Sam and Dean ease up after vague recollection.
DEANOh, yeah... Back inside. What wasyour name again?
Fidel claps Dean on the shoulder, lifts his keys from his
pocket.
FIDELDoesn't matter. Let me drive youhome.
He jingles the keys in Dean's face.
FIDEL (CONT’D)Which car is yours, again?
Sam and Dean scan the parking lot like the place is foreign
to them. Sam spots it first.
SAMIt's that way...
DEAN...then why are we going this way?
SAMDick.
Dean and Fidel head for the car. Sam hangs back until Fidel
motions him to hurry along.
FIDELCome on, Redwood. You're in on thistoo.
Sam rolls his eyes, tries to follow without looking soused.
He climbs in the back seat, Fidel behind the wheel. Dean
rides shotgun.
DEANWho are you again?
FIDELWhat do you say I stop along theway and pick up a six pack?
Dean grins.
DEANJust like old times.
He raises his hand to hi-five Fidel. He misses. It doesn't
phase him.
DEAN (CONT’D)Hear that, Sammy? A six pack! Ilike this guy.
Sam ignores him. Fidel pulls out of the lot.
SUPERNATURAL
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
INT. DINGY MOTEL ROOM - FLASHBACK - DAY
Empty bottles of alcohol litter the floor.
Sam and Dean lie passed out in uncomfortable positions, Dean
half hanging off the bed, Sam sprawled haphazardly on the
floor... or is it the other way around?
Dean wakes with a start. He groans, rakes his fingers across
his face. He gets to his feet, trips over Sam’s feet on his
way to the bathroom. Dean almost curses.
DEANNice face plant, gigantor. Nexttime you come home from a bender,try aiming for the bed.
Sam responds with a groan. That’s it.
Dean scratches his belly, reaches the bathroom. A sweet groan
of relief as he’s heard peeing forever.
Back in the room, Sam breathes to life. Head hung low, he
manages to reach all fours. He cups a hand over his head,
notes something strange.
SAMYou dick... Did you cut my hair?
It doesn’t matter. He manages to sit, then works at a bit of
hangover pang settling behind his eyes.
DEAN (O.S.)What’s that? I don’t hear whinybitches all that well.
Sam rolls his eyes.
SAMWhatever.
DEAN (O.S.)What?
SAMI said whatever!
Toilet flushes. Dean steps out to the vanity, muddles about
to find toothpaste and a brush. About to pop the brush in his
mouth when he startles at his own reflection.
What he sees isn’t him. It’s Sam.
DEANS-...Sam?!
SAMWhat!
DEANSam!
Sam, moved to his feet by the urgency of the shout. He rounds
the corner, finds himself staring at... himself.
Sam checks his own reflection. Finds he’s wearing Dean’s
skin.
SAMWhat the hell?!
Dean nods.
DEANWhat the hell?!
SAMWhat did you do?!
DEANWhat did I do? What did you do?! Doyou even remember last night--
SAMYou can’t put this on me--
DEANLike hell I can’t. I can hold myliquor!
Sam rolls his eyes. He stalks away.
SAMGreat! You go out of your way toget me drunk, and now... now--
DEANQuit your whining! You just got anupgrade, handsome! Look what I’vegot to deal with.
Dean circles his face - Sam’s face with his finger. He
grimaces at his reflection.
DEAN (CONT’D)Although...
He pulls up his shirt, admires the six pack underneath. He
even strokes it as Sam turns back to catch him. Disgust.
SAMDude! Please don’t!
DEANWhat? I just gave you a compliment.
More disgust. Sam walks away.
LATER
Silence as the two men pretend the other isn’t there. Sam
cleans bottles and trash off the floor. Dean slips on his
coat, finds it’s too small. He drops it and finds Sam’s coat
to slip into.
SAMDude!
Sam indicates the dropped coat.
DEANWhat do you care? It’s not yours.
SAMJust hang it up.
Dean mimes a nagging parent. He stoops down to pick up the
coat. When he stands, his head catches the end of a low
hanging ceiling lamp.
DEANCrap!
Sam gives a quiet smirk.
DEAN (CONT’D)Not funny! How do you even breatheup here?
SAMYou can make jokes all you want.They’re not going to fix this.
DEANWell, I for one, would like to knowhow the hell it happened.
SAMWe let our guard down. That’s how.
DEANYeah, well a memory or two would benice. If I didn’t know better, I’dblame it on Gabriel.
SAMOf course you would.
Dean watches Sam continue to clean. He scratches his head
before he takes a defiant stance.
DEANYou got something to say to me?
SAMNope.
DEANWhy not?
Sam just sighs and shakes his head.
SAMI found a job, so let’s just get itdone.
DEANLike this. You and me, we’realready under each other’s skin.And you don’t care? Focus? On ajob?
Sam abandons the clean up. He closes in on Dean with a
sharply pointed finger.
SAMFine! You want to talk about this?Let’s start with why you were atthat bar--
DEANI was there to get you!
SAMI didn’t ask you to!
DEANYou’re not putting this on me, Sam.You decide it’s time to pull a oneman ‘intervention’, and when itdoesn’t work--
SAM--You have a problem, Dean--
DEAN--you go off and drown your failureaway?!
SAMI’m sorry that I care about mybrother! Okay? And to be perfectlyhonest, you’d drive anyone todrink. You’re a real head case--
DEANOh, I’m the head case? Me? Have youlooked in the freaking mirror, Sam?
Sam just stares at him.
DEAN (CONT’D)Okay, bad choice of words rightnow. But I’m telling you. Walkingaround like Chewbacca is not how Iplan to spend the rest of my livingdays. It’s-- ...awkward--
SAM--Fine!
DEANFine!
More silence. More cleaning up. Then...
SAMSo we head back to the bar?
Dean gives a noncommittal shrug.
DEANThat’s where it all started. Right?
SAMYeah... Yeah, it did.
DEANTime to suit up, then.
EXT. DINGY MOTEL - DAY
Sam and Dean, now dressed in their FBI best, head for their
car. Sam heads for the driver side.
DEANWhat are you doing?
SAMDriving.
DEANOh no. You don’t drive. I drive. Ialways drive.
Sam reaches into his pocket. Pulls out the keys with a grin.
DEAN (CONT’D)When this is over? I will take youout.
SAMWhat is your problem? Technicallyspeaking, you are still driving.
Sam unlocks the door. Gets comfortable in the driver seat.
Dean pouts. It’s quickly replaced by a grin and a wink when
he spots a scantily clad hooker passing through.
The hooker likes what she sees, gives him a wink in return.
SAM (CONT’D)Dude! Don’t even.
DEANOh I’m sorry! Your body is a‘temple.’(to hooker)His body is a temple. Maybe nexttime, though.
SAMGet in the car!
Dean waves goodbye. He hunches down into the passenger seat,
curses when he knocks his head on the door frame.
EXT. DIVE BAR - DAY
The parking lot nearly empty. the place looks more like an
abandoned hole in the wall than it did the night before.
I/E. CAR
Sam and Dean watch the entrance. They watch Lorna, a
barkeep’s apron around her waist, enter the bar.
DEANShe’s the one you talked to?
SAMYeah, only she left work early lastnight, so no leads.
DEANAnd the boyfriend was convicted ona drug charge?
SAMSeveral. Meth, cocaine, heroin. Youname it. He was killed doing time,but she stands by her story.
DEANThat she saw him with the last girlkilled in the alley... So how’s heback to do it?
Sam shrugs.
SAMThe remains were cremated, so noghost.
DEANShape shifter? Leviathan? Afreaking angel? I mean, this couldbe anything. And you’ve gotnothing?
SAMHey, at least I tried. If yourbrain wasn’t soaked in whiskey halfthe time--
DEANGet off the soapbox, Caruso.
SAMI’m just saying. It doesn’t help--
DEANHey, I’ve been good! I’ve cut outthe junk food. I’m eating yourhealthy crap--
SAM--Because you have to.
DEANI don’t have any problem with alittle fun once in a while! Alittle release now and again.Lesser men would develop ulcersfrom what we do.
SAMI don’t have one.
DEANAre you listening? Did you listento what I said?
SAMI’m just saying--
DEAN--Well, don't. because if we'rebeing honest? Being inside youfeels like crap.
Sam about to open his mouth, when Dean stops him.
DEAN (CONT’D)--Don't say it. And it's not thehangover.
Sam shuts it. He gets out of the car.
Dean does too, again knocks his head on the door frame on the
way out.
INT. DIVE BAR
It’s early. The place empty, as Lorna inventories liquor.
Dean gives an appreciative look at a stripper’s pole before
Sam pulls him toward the bar.
SAMLorna Rosser?
Lorna turns in time to see Sam and Dean flash fake badges.
SAM (CONT’D)I’m agent Liebovitz. This is agentColbert--
DEANColberT. T’s not silent. Cole-BerT.
Dean smiles as Lorna gives the badges a once over...
So yes, I will miss Supernatural after its fifteenth season airs.
I became a part of the Supernatural fandom, although only along the fringes. The bucket list included seeing them at a Con, and I did that with the biggest of them all, ComicCon. I found the music of Louden Swain, I was persuaded to do good things with GISHWHES, I bought apparel to promote Always Keep Fighting, and I developed friendships with other fans.
Mostly though, as an always struggling writer, I learned that I was at least capable of tackling TV drama spec scripts. For anyone not familiar with the Hollywood market, a TV spec is a script written for an established show. It's fan fiction in screenplay format, where you're writing to prove you can create a story for established characters. it's a quirky process, because when you write said spec, you're not really writing to get it made. You're writing it to prove to other potentially show staffers that you can do it. I write a Supernatural spec, and it gets sent to, say Grimm (which is now off the air too, but you get the idea).
Anyway, I wrote four Supernatural specs, and two of them made it to competition lists. Intervention made it to the Austin Film Fest and Scriptapalooza. I Got You, Babe made the list of Final Draft's Big Break and Stage 32 Happy Writers. If you're a fan of the show, I hope you enjoy reading my unsold specs. I enjoyed writing them as much as I enjoy the show. Here's the first one.
For a cleaner formatted version of the script, click on the link to visit the blog.
SUPERNATURAL -- INTERVENTION
TEASER
Fade In:
EXT. DIVE BAR - NIGHT
It's more than a dive bar. The graphics on its sign advertise
pole dancing in bright neon. The parking lot hints at a busy
night.
Loud music and raucous yelling accompany LORNA as she pushes
her way out of the entrance. She's an attractive woman, by no
means a pole dancer, as she checks over her shoulder, hurries
to reach her car.
She turns over the engine, hastily pulls out, passing Dean's
Impala parked a few spots down. The Impala, empty.
Moments pass. Then BAM! The door breaks open from the force
of SAM and DEAN WINCHESTER being thrown out of the joint.
Sam, the first back on his feet. He staggers with a finger
pointed at the irritated BOUNCER who just threw them out.
It's more than obvious. Sam is more than just drunk.
SAMYou can't call my brother adick!... Even if he is one... Adick!
Dean, just as drunk, kneels in a mud puddle and laughs.
DEANThat's right, Sammy...sic 'em.
Sam engages in a standoff with the irritated bouncer. Dean
gets to his feet, pulls Sam away by the collar.
SAMGet offa me!
DEANShut up... We're going home...
The two of them turn around in a circle.
DEAN (CONT’D)...where's the car.
The bouncer watches them stagger in the wrong direction. He
shakes his head. Turns to go back inside as another man,
FIDEL, a tattooed biker type, passes him on his way out.
Fidel steps in behind Sam and Dean. They're too drunk to be
aware of it.
SAMGive me your keys.
Dean pushes Sam away.
DEANScrew you. I'm driving--
SAM--No you're not--
DEAN--I'm driving!
Sam persists. Dean shoves him again. Sam shoves back. The
beginning of another brawl, until Fidel steps in and
separates them. Both men square off in wobbly fighting
stances.
FIDELWhoa! Just everyone relax.
DEANWho the hell are you!
FIDELNow, now... I'm your friend! Youforget so soon?
Sam and Dean ease up after vague recollection.
DEANOh, yeah... Back inside. What wasyour name again?
Fidel claps Dean on the shoulder, lifts his keys from his
pocket.
FIDELDoesn't matter. Let me drive youhome.
He jingles the keys in Dean's face.
FIDEL (CONT’D)Which car is yours, again?
Sam and Dean scan the parking lot like the place is foreign
to them. Sam spots it first.
SAMIt's that way...
DEAN...then why are we going this way?
SAMDick.
Dean and Fidel head for the car. Sam hangs back until Fidel
motions him to hurry along.
FIDELCome on, Redwood. You're in on thistoo.
Sam rolls his eyes, tries to follow without looking soused.
He climbs in the back seat, Fidel behind the wheel. Dean
rides shotgun.
DEANWho are you again?
FIDELWhat do you say I stop along theway and pick up a six pack?
Dean grins.
DEANJust like old times.
He raises his hand to hi-five Fidel. He misses. It doesn't
phase him.
DEAN (CONT’D)Hear that, Sammy? A six pack! Ilike this guy.
Sam ignores him. Fidel pulls out of the lot.
SUPERNATURAL
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
INT. DINGY MOTEL ROOM - FLASHBACK - DAY
Empty bottles of alcohol litter the floor.
Sam and Dean lie passed out in uncomfortable positions, Dean
half hanging off the bed, Sam sprawled haphazardly on the
floor... or is it the other way around?
Dean wakes with a start. He groans, rakes his fingers across
his face. He gets to his feet, trips over Sam’s feet on his
way to the bathroom. Dean almost curses.
DEANNice face plant, gigantor. Nexttime you come home from a bender,try aiming for the bed.
Sam responds with a groan. That’s it.
Dean scratches his belly, reaches the bathroom. A sweet groan
of relief as he’s heard peeing forever.
Back in the room, Sam breathes to life. Head hung low, he
manages to reach all fours. He cups a hand over his head,
notes something strange.
SAMYou dick... Did you cut my hair?
It doesn’t matter. He manages to sit, then works at a bit of
hangover pang settling behind his eyes.
DEAN (O.S.)What’s that? I don’t hear whinybitches all that well.
Sam rolls his eyes.
SAMWhatever.
DEAN (O.S.)What?
SAMI said whatever!
Toilet flushes. Dean steps out to the vanity, muddles about
to find toothpaste and a brush. About to pop the brush in his
mouth when he startles at his own reflection.
What he sees isn’t him. It’s Sam.
DEANS-...Sam?!
SAMWhat!
DEANSam!
Sam, moved to his feet by the urgency of the shout. He rounds
the corner, finds himself staring at... himself.
Sam checks his own reflection. Finds he’s wearing Dean’s
skin.
SAMWhat the hell?!
Dean nods.
DEANWhat the hell?!
SAMWhat did you do?!
DEANWhat did I do? What did you do?! Doyou even remember last night--
SAMYou can’t put this on me--
DEANLike hell I can’t. I can hold myliquor!
Sam rolls his eyes. He stalks away.
SAMGreat! You go out of your way toget me drunk, and now... now--
DEANQuit your whining! You just got anupgrade, handsome! Look what I’vegot to deal with.
Dean circles his face - Sam’s face with his finger. He
grimaces at his reflection.
DEAN (CONT’D)Although...
He pulls up his shirt, admires the six pack underneath. He
even strokes it as Sam turns back to catch him. Disgust.
SAMDude! Please don’t!
DEANWhat? I just gave you a compliment.
More disgust. Sam walks away.
LATER
Silence as the two men pretend the other isn’t there. Sam
cleans bottles and trash off the floor. Dean slips on his
coat, finds it’s too small. He drops it and finds Sam’s coat
to slip into.
SAMDude!
Sam indicates the dropped coat.
DEANWhat do you care? It’s not yours.
SAMJust hang it up.
Dean mimes a nagging parent. He stoops down to pick up the
coat. When he stands, his head catches the end of a low
hanging ceiling lamp.
DEANCrap!
Sam gives a quiet smirk.
DEAN (CONT’D)Not funny! How do you even breatheup here?
SAMYou can make jokes all you want.They’re not going to fix this.
DEANWell, I for one, would like to knowhow the hell it happened.
SAMWe let our guard down. That’s how.
DEANYeah, well a memory or two would benice. If I didn’t know better, I’dblame it on Gabriel.
SAMOf course you would.
Dean watches Sam continue to clean. He scratches his head
before he takes a defiant stance.
DEANYou got something to say to me?
SAMNope.
DEANWhy not?
Sam just sighs and shakes his head.
SAMI found a job, so let’s just get itdone.
DEANLike this. You and me, we’realready under each other’s skin.And you don’t care? Focus? On ajob?
Sam abandons the clean up. He closes in on Dean with a
sharply pointed finger.
SAMFine! You want to talk about this?Let’s start with why you were atthat bar--
DEANI was there to get you!
SAMI didn’t ask you to!
DEANYou’re not putting this on me, Sam.You decide it’s time to pull a oneman ‘intervention’, and when itdoesn’t work--
SAM--You have a problem, Dean--
DEAN--you go off and drown your failureaway?!
SAMI’m sorry that I care about mybrother! Okay? And to be perfectlyhonest, you’d drive anyone todrink. You’re a real head case--
DEANOh, I’m the head case? Me? Have youlooked in the freaking mirror, Sam?
Sam just stares at him.
DEAN (CONT’D)Okay, bad choice of words rightnow. But I’m telling you. Walkingaround like Chewbacca is not how Iplan to spend the rest of my livingdays. It’s-- ...awkward--
SAM--Fine!
DEANFine!
More silence. More cleaning up. Then...
SAMSo we head back to the bar?
Dean gives a noncommittal shrug.
DEANThat’s where it all started. Right?
SAMYeah... Yeah, it did.
DEANTime to suit up, then.
EXT. DINGY MOTEL - DAY
Sam and Dean, now dressed in their FBI best, head for their
car. Sam heads for the driver side.
DEANWhat are you doing?
SAMDriving.
DEANOh no. You don’t drive. I drive. Ialways drive.
Sam reaches into his pocket. Pulls out the keys with a grin.
DEAN (CONT’D)When this is over? I will take youout.
SAMWhat is your problem? Technicallyspeaking, you are still driving.
Sam unlocks the door. Gets comfortable in the driver seat.
Dean pouts. It’s quickly replaced by a grin and a wink when
he spots a scantily clad hooker passing through.
The hooker likes what she sees, gives him a wink in return.
SAM (CONT’D)Dude! Don’t even.
DEANOh I’m sorry! Your body is a‘temple.’(to hooker)His body is a temple. Maybe nexttime, though.
SAMGet in the car!
Dean waves goodbye. He hunches down into the passenger seat,
curses when he knocks his head on the door frame.
EXT. DIVE BAR - DAY
The parking lot nearly empty. the place looks more like an
abandoned hole in the wall than it did the night before.
I/E. CAR
Sam and Dean watch the entrance. They watch Lorna, a
barkeep’s apron around her waist, enter the bar.
DEANShe’s the one you talked to?
SAMYeah, only she left work early lastnight, so no leads.
DEANAnd the boyfriend was convicted ona drug charge?
SAMSeveral. Meth, cocaine, heroin. Youname it. He was killed doing time,but she stands by her story.
DEANThat she saw him with the last girlkilled in the alley... So how’s heback to do it?
Sam shrugs.
SAMThe remains were cremated, so noghost.
DEANShape shifter? Leviathan? Afreaking angel? I mean, this couldbe anything. And you’ve gotnothing?
SAMHey, at least I tried. If yourbrain wasn’t soaked in whiskey halfthe time--
DEANGet off the soapbox, Caruso.
SAMI’m just saying. It doesn’t help--
DEANHey, I’ve been good! I’ve cut outthe junk food. I’m eating yourhealthy crap--
SAM--Because you have to.
DEANI don’t have any problem with alittle fun once in a while! Alittle release now and again.Lesser men would develop ulcersfrom what we do.
SAMI don’t have one.
DEANAre you listening? Did you listento what I said?
SAMI’m just saying--
DEAN--Well, don't. because if we'rebeing honest? Being inside youfeels like crap.
Sam about to open his mouth, when Dean stops him.
DEAN (CONT’D)--Don't say it. And it's not thehangover.
Sam shuts it. He gets out of the car.
Dean does too, again knocks his head on the door frame on the
way out.
INT. DIVE BAR
It’s early. The place empty, as Lorna inventories liquor.
Dean gives an appreciative look at a stripper’s pole before
Sam pulls him toward the bar.
SAMLorna Rosser?
Lorna turns in time to see Sam and Dean flash fake badges.
SAM (CONT’D)I’m agent Liebovitz. This is agentColbert--
DEANColberT. T’s not silent. Cole-BerT.
Dean smiles as Lorna gives the badges a once over...
No comments have been added yet.
