12.08 LOTUS

Title	LOTUS
Episode #	Season 12, Episode 8
First aired	December 8, 2016
Directed by	Phil Sgriccia
Written by	Eugenie Ross-Leming Brad Buckner
On IMDB	LOTUS
Outline	After Lucifer takes possession of the President of the United States, the Winchesters, Castiel, Crowley, and Rowena formulate a plan to finally send Lucifer back to the Cage.
Monster	Lucifer
Timeline
Location(s)	St. Louis, Missouri Lebanon, Kansas Boca Raton, Florida Indianapolis, Indiana
[[{{{prevep}}}|« Previous Episode]] | [[{{{nextep}}}|Next Episode »]]

Synopsis

Lucifer has been hopping from vessel to vessel trying to find one that can contain him, focusing on people in positions of power including billionaire businessman Wallace Parker and the archbishop of St. Louis.

After learning of Wallace Parker's mysterious death, Sam and Dean arrive at the morgue, only to be surprised by the presence of Castiel and Crowley, who reveal to them that Parker had been a vessel for Lucifer. They've realized that Lucifer is not just hopping from one random vessel to the next and is specifically going for people with influence, making him even more dangerous. Back at the Bunker, Sam is researching who Lucifer may have jumped into after Parker when he notices that the archbishop of St. Louis is visibly different in recent photographs and has cancelled all public appearances. With their first lead, the Winchesters make their way to the archdiocese of St. Louis. When no one answers the phones or door, Sam and Dean enter to find the building ransacked. Dean finds a still-living priest on the floor, who tells him how he witnessed crucifixes being turned upside down in the archbishop's presence. Believing him to be possessed by a demon, the staff attempted an exorcism, which only led to Lucifer slaughtering everyone in the building. Sam and Dean continue their search of the building, finding more bodies strewn about, until they find the archbishop, dead, having been burned out by Lucifer's possession.

President Jefferson Rooney sits on his bed, hands clasped in prayer. Unbeknownst to him, he has struck a deal with Lucifer to become his new vessel. Upon consenting, President Rooney is bathed in a white light as Lucifer gains possession of his body. With Lucifer now in control, he begins conversing with President Rooney in his mind, telling him that as high profile as he is, he is going to need extra help making people believe he is actually the president. President Rooney obliges, and gives Lucifer the information he needs. In the midst of their conversation, a Secret Service agent overhears what appears to be President Rooney speaking to himself. When Lucifer sees him, he quickly kills the agent. In the aftermath of the death, President Rooney's aide, Kelly Kline, has Lucifer say a prayer; much to Lucifer's chagrin, he takes hold of a Bible and says a few words.

In the Bunker, Castiel is going over the photos from the archdiocese, remarking on the brutality of the murders, as Sam continues researching where Lucifer could have gone next. Dean tells him sarcastically to check who won the Nobel Peace Prize.

The next morning, as Lucifer is sitting in on one of the president's daily briefings, he casually suggests they just nuke their enemies. As the room becomes tense, Lucifer lets out a laugh, indicating to the staff he was joking. After the briefing, Kelly informs Lucifer that he (as Jefferson Rooney) is officially the most popular sitting president, according to a recent poll. While Lucifer is impressed by the news, Kelly tells the Secret Service agent watching them to take a break. When Lucifer asks Kelly if there was anything else, the two end up having sex. Post-coital, Lucifer learns from Kelly that they have been having an affair for some time now, with Kelly telling him she hopes one day they could be a couple in public. She wants for them someday to get married and have a child, remarking that Jefferson would make a good father.

Through one of Crowley's contacts in the president's entourage, he learns of the death of the Secret Service agent. The doctor reveals to Crowley that while she declared the death to be from natural causes, it wasn't. At the Bunker, Dean powers down the warding, telling a confused Castiel and Sam that Crowley has some news for them. Sam doesn't like that Crowley can just pop in the Bunker whenever he feels like it now. As Crowley begins telling them of what he has found out, an annoyed Sam tells him to get to the point. Crowley finally reveals that Lucifer has taken possession of President Jefferson Rooney.

Lucifer, aware that the Winchesters are after him, fabricates a story for the Secret Service, telling Rick Sanchez that they are cult members intent on assassinating him because they think he is actually Satan. At the Bunker, Sam places a call to Mick Davies, but after getting his voice mail, quickly hangs up. He rejoins Dean and Castiel and they try to formulate a plan to get to Lucifer.

In Boca Raton, Rowena has found out that her current fiancé, whom she has been conning for his money, was conning her for her money. When Crowley shows up in the middle of their screaming match, the man assumes he is there for the laundry. Crowley causes the man's head to explode with a snap of his fingers, covering Rowena in his blood and brains, an act which Rowena declares the sweetest thing he has ever done for her. Back at the Forester Estate, Lucifer and Kelly have once again had sex. Kelly remarks that something was different this time, that she feels something has changed. With a smile Lucifer tells her that maybe something has. In the Bunker, Castiel's head is besieged with the sounds of angel radio. He tells Sam and Dean that there has been a massive surge of celestial energy, indicating a Nephilim has come into being. Due to the power involved in the surge, it could not have been a regular angel, only Lucifer.

As Sam, Dean, and Castiel hit the road, Sam tasks Crowley with locating any girlfriends, mistresses, or favorite hookers the president may have. The Secret Service are able to catch up with the Winchesters and Castiel after a local cop sees the Impala and reports it. Sam and Dean attempt to pass themselves off as FBI, but Agent Sanchez tells them he knows who they really are. A fight ensues, and the Secret Service quickly get the upper hand. The Winchesters and Castiel are standing in the middle of the road with the Secret Service agent's guns drawn on them when Mr. Ketch fortuitously arrives. Casually stepping out of his car, he destroys the Secret Service's SUV with a grenade launcher and renders the agents unconscious, then orders Castiel to wipe their memories. He introduces himself to the stunned Winchesters as Arthur Ketch of the British Men of Letters. Later that night Mr. Ketch explains that he is there to help, telling them when Sam called Mick Davies and hung up, he was dispatched to find them in case they were in trouble. When Dean still does not trust him, Mr. Ketch has Castiel read his mind and assure them that he is not lying. He shows them a number of weapons that mix technology and magic, including a hyperbolic pulse generator which is used for exorcising demons. When Sam asks if it could be used on an angel; intrigued, Mr. Ketch questions what they have gotten themselves into. Dean tells him if he wants their trust, he'll have to trust them first, and he freely gives them the pulse generator.

As the group formulates a plan, they first task Crowley with abducting Kelly. He is able to teleport Kelly away to the motel and they try to explain to her that the president is Lucifer, and that she is pregnant with his child. When she finds this news hard to believe, Castiel has her place her hand on a Bible, which bursts into flames at her touch. They get Kelly to call Lucifer and ask him to come to the motel.

Lucifer waits in the car as the room secured by the Secret Service; Castiel alters one of the agents' minds into believing there is only Kelly in the room. With the all-clear, Lucifer enters the room, where Kelly tells him she has decided she can't keep the child. Angry, Lucifer begins strangling Kelly. Sam bursts into the room and activates the pulse generator, which beats Lucifer back. Dean opens the adjoining room door and reveals Rowena, who begins a spell as Lucifer continues fighting back. Realizing he is losing the fight, Lucifer tells Sam it isn't over before he vacates the president. Believing they have finally taken care of Lucifer, Crowley and Rowena teleport out of the motel. As a tearful Kelly calls out for Jefferson, Sam and Dean have Castiel sneak her out through the adjoining room while the boys stay behind to check on the unconscious president. Unknown to them, the manipulation Castiel placed on the Secret Service agent has worn off, and before they can make their escape, the agents break into the room and arrest the Winchesters for attempted assassination. Sam and Dean are heavily chained and driven away in an armored vehicle.

Sometime later, at a diner, Kelly excuses herself to the bathroom, but while Castiel is not looking, she sneaks out the back entrance and calls a taxi. By the time Castiel realizes she is gone, Kelly is already down the road. She calls him from the cab to tell him that she can't get rid of the baby. She says she can feel it inside of her and that she is still its mother, before hanging up.

Characters

• Sam Winchester
• Dean Winchester
• Castiel
• Crowley
• Lucifer
• Rowena
• Mr. Ketch
• President Jefferson Rooney
• Rick Sanchez
• Kelly Kline

Definitions

• Acting in Unison
• Alcohol
• Angel Radio
• Archangel
• Costumes & Disguises
• Hyperbolic Pulse Generator
• Impala
• Men of Letters
• Men of Letters Bunker
• Moose
• Nephilim
• Sam & Dean's Arrests
• Spells
• Table of Death
• Witches

Music

• "Take Five" by The Dave Brubeck Quartet

(playing from Mr. Ketch's car as he blows up the Secret Service SUV)

Quotes

Crowley: Lucifer's not content with slutting it from one random vessel to the next. He's moving on to blue chips -- celebrities, captains of industry. He just got a lot more dangerous.

Lucifer: Yes. Words. Nothing we ever say feels like enough. Babies... That's what we are. Innocents. All of us struggling to... walk upright with purpose and -- and pride. And yet, we need "our Father"... to... be there when we fall. Today, we lost a brother. Tomorrow, we will continue our work for the country. Amen.

Castiel: Ugh. These pictures... The level of violence, it's completely unnecessary.

Sam: Lucifer doesn't like being messed with. I guess when the archbishop's priests figured out he was possessed, they tried to keep it quiet, do an an exorcism. I mean, not that it would've worked. Lucifer blew town, but not before he slaughtered the entire staff. So we were on the right trail. Where's it go now?

Dean: I don't know. Who won the Nobel Peace Prize? Why don't we start there?

Sam: Crowley, can we just get the damn news without the drama?
Crowley: Can I get you without the flannel? No. Still, I endure.

Castiel: Something's happened. Something... Angel radio... There are so many voices.

Dean: What are they saying?
Castiel: There's been a massive surge in celestial energy. A Nephilim is come into being. It's the offspring of an angel and a human.
Dean: And that's big news?
Castiel: Yes, But the power to produce this is immense. It's much, much greater than a typical angel.
Sam: Lucifer.

Dean: W-- Lucifer? I didn't know he was dating.

Mr. Ketch: You. Angel. Wipe their memories. U.S. government plates. Elite dogcatcher level. Someone special wants you. Whose hydrant have you lads been tinkling on?

Dean: I'm sorry. Who the hell are you?

Mr. Ketch: Oh. Where are my manners? Arthur Ketch. British Men of Letters.

Mr. Ketch: You. Halo. Do you sense I'm lying?

Castiel: My name is Castiel. And... no. But the truth can be situational.

Mr. Ketch: Oh. Oh, I do enjoy an angel. But I understand your hesitation. You haven't exactly seen us at our best. Lady Bevell is a bit... excitable.

Mr. Ketch: Hyperbolic Pulse Generator. Exorcisms are unreliable. This device emits a force which drives the possessing demon from the vessel.

Sam: What about a, uh, possessing angel?

Mr. Ketch: And what might you boys be working on?

Kelly: Who are you people?

Rowena: Well, dear, I'm a witch. He's an angel.
Crowley: And I'm the King of Hell.
Kelly: Oh, God.

Castiel: No, actually, he left.

Lucifer: This isn't over, Sam!
Sam: Go to Hell!

Dean: We got him. We got Lucifer.

Trivia & References

"LOTUS" is a play on the acronym POTUS (President of the United States), in this case standing for "Lucifer of the United States."

As Lucifer is walking down the hall in the body of the archbishop, crosses begin turning upside down. An upside down cross, or Cross of St. Peter is actually a Christian symbol; only in the last few decades has it been tied to anti-Christian imagery.

Castiel / Crowley: Agents.

Dean: Okay, this has gotta stop. All right, give me that.
Crowley: Armani!

Armani is an Italian luxury fashion brand known for their suits, shoes, watches, and other accessories.

Castiel: I agree with Agent Zappa.

Reference to musician Frank Zappa.

Dean: Well, we'll have a look around. If it is Lucifer, we'll call the rest of the Scooby Gang.

Scooby Gang was the name of the team consisting of Buffy Summers' friends and colleagues on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This, in turn, was a reference to the meddling kids (and their dog) who solved crimes together on the animated series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! and its associated spin-offs, reboots, and movies.

Castiel: Well, at least he'll be outside of the mansion.

Sam: Yeah, guarded like the Hope Diamond.

The Hope Diamond is one of the most well-known jewels in the world, weighing at 45.52 carats.

Sam: Do we have a plan?

Dean: Impeach LOTUS and find Rosemary's baby.

Impeachment is the process by which Congress removes the president from office, as outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

Rosemary's Baby is a 1968 horror movie about a woman who gives birth to the son of Satan.

Sam: I hung up.

Mr. Ketch: Yes, you did. Which made Mr. Davies think that you were in trouble. Which you were. So he rings me. Bing, bang, boom, meet Bob, he's your uncle. Oh, and um, you're welcome. Hmm?

"Bob's your uncle" is an English expression for "everything will be fine."

Kelly: Jeff's been under a lot of stress. He...

Crowley: Wrong. He's the Devil. Horns, pitchfork, the whole nine.

The whole nine yards is an American colloquial phrase denoting something being done "all the way."

Lucifer: I grant a full pardon... Hmm... to Charles Manson.

Charles Manson is an American criminal and was the leader of the Manson Family, most famous for orchestrating the brutal murder of actress Sharon Tate and her friends in 1969.

Minutiae

The episode aired exactly one month after the U.S. presidential election.

Before this episode the only other time there has been an inverted crucifix in the presence of Lucifer has been in 4.22 Lucifer Rising, when Azazel speaks with Lucifer through the dead nun conduit in the church.

Sides, Scripts & Transcripts

• 12.08 LOTUS (transcript)

Promotion

• Synopsis via KSiteTV
• Promo
• Sneak Peek