2.08 Crossroad Blues
Title | Crossroad Blues |
Episode # | Season 2, Episode 8 |
First aired | 16 November, 2006 |
Directed by | Steve Boyum |
Written by | Sera Gamble |
On IMDB | http://imdb.com/title/tt0868625/ |
Outline | When two professionals die after claiming to be haunted, Sam and Dean investigate a local bar and discover a demon has been making people's dreams come true in exchange for their souls. |
Monster | Crossroads Demon |
Timeline | |
Location(s) | Lloyd's Bar - Greenwood, Mississippi |
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Contents
Synopsis
In Rosedale, Mississippi in 1930, Robert Johnson makes a deal with a demon, asking to be the greatest blues guitarist that ever lived. The deal is sealed with a kiss.
In Greenwood Mississippi, in August 1938, Robert Johnson is playing blues guitar at Lloyd's Bar. There is a sound outside, and he leaves, running as he hears dogs chasing him until he takes refuge in a house. Soon after he is found dying, mumbling about the black dogs that are after him.
In the present day, Sam and Dean are researching the case of an architect, Sean Boyden, who jumped to his death from a building he designed. He had previously reported seeing a dog in the building. Thinking this may be a supernatural black dog, the boys decide to investigate and under the guise as writers from Architectural Digest, interview Sean’s partner. They discover he had been working as a bartender at a bar called Lloyds ten years ago, when suddenly he’d shown great talent and become an overnight success.
Dean and Sam start tracking all the complaints against black dogs in the area recently. At the house of Dr. Silvia Pearlman, who has risen to be Chief of Surgery at a young age, her maid confirms the report, and adds that the doctor left unexpectedly a couple of days before. Dean finds a photo of the doctor at Lloyd's.
In a hotel room, Dr. Pearlman screams as she is attacked by an invisible dog.
Sam and Dean go to Lloyd's Bar, which is situated near a crossroads. The intersection is surrounded by yarrow, a plant used in summoning rituals, and at its center they dig up a tin containing a vial of graveyard dirt, black cat bones, and the photo of George Darrow. They realize that the black dog are actually hell hounds which are collecting the souls due in payment of a deal with a demon.
The boys visit George Darrow, a painter, who admits to having summoned a demon ten years ago, and having made a deal for artistic talent. After the deal however, the demon stayed at Lloyd's Bar for week and made deals with Sean Boyden, Silvia Growman and a man named Evan Hudson. George is resigned to dying, and the boys leave him to his fate.
At Evan Hudson’s house, he admits to Sam and Dean to having made a deal with the demon to save his wife from dying from cancer.
Dean suggests he go and summon the Crossroads Demon and try and exorcise it, while Sam protects Evan. Sam is wary of the plan, like Dean he has been wondering if their father made a similar deal with the Yellow-Eyed Demon for Dean’s life, and is wary of Dean’s motives. But as they hear the howling of the hell hounds, he agrees to go along with the plan.
Dean summons the Crossroads Demon, and tries to lure her into the Impala, which is parked over a Devil’s Trap. When she realizes the trap and begins to taunt Dean about how much he has suffered since John’s death. She offers to bring him back, in exchange for Dean’s soul to be claimed in ten years time. Just as it appears Dean may make the deal, the crossroads demon realizes she is trapped under a devil’s trap painted on the water tower she is standing under. Meanwhile Sam and Evan stand inside a protective circle as the hellhounds approach.
The demon refuses Dean's offer of her freedom in exchange for Evan Hudson's life so he begins to exorcise her while Sam and Evan desperatly try to avoid the Hellhound. Finally, the demon relents and with a kiss to Dean, breaks Evan's deal and calls off her Hellhound. While Dean initally considers continuing the exorcisim, he instead keeps to his deal and breaks the Devil's Trap. However, the demon taunts him about John's fate, but before he can do anything to it, it flees its meatsuit, leaving behind a confused young woman.
Back in the Impala, Sam and Dean talk about the deal their father made. Dean feels undeserving and while Sam tries to convince him otherwise, he asks whether Dean considers accepting the crossroad demon’s deal. Dean doesn’t answer.
Characters
- Dean Winchester
- Sam Winchester
- Robert Johnson
- Evan Hudson
- Crossroads Demon
- George Darrow
- Dr. Silvia Pearlman
- Sean Boyden
Definitions
- Black Dog PoD
- Hellhound PoD
- Robert Johnson PoD
- Goofer Dust PoD
- Exorcism PoD
- Crossroads PoD
- Devil's trap (symbol)
- Crossroads Demon
Music
- Robert Johnson - Crossroad Blues (Performed by Robert Johnson in the opening prologue sequence. Also heard when Robert Johnson is making his deal with the Crossroads Demon)
- Son House - Downhearted Blues (Played when Sam and Dean visit George Darrow's apartment)
- Big Bill Broonzy/Little Walter - Key to the Highway (Played when Sam and Dean are driving and discussing John Winchester's deal)
- Nazareth - Hair of the Dog (Played during the "Soon" sequence teasing upcoming episodes)
Quotes
Dean: Dude, I'm like Dillinger or something.
Sam: Dean, it's not funny. Makes the job harder, we've got to be more careful now.
Dean: What have they got on you?
Sam: [mumbling] I'm sure they just haven't posted it yet...
Dean: What, no accessory, nothing?
Sam: Shut up.
Dean: [laughs] You're jealous.
Sam: They're seeing dogs alright, but not black dogs. They're seeing Hellhounds. Demonic pit bulls.
George: Hell no. 'Course, I asked for talent. Shoulda gone for fame. I'm still broke, and lonely. Just now I got this pile of paintings don't nobody want. But that wasn't the worst.
Dean: You don't, but you're kind of running low on options there, buddy boy.
Dean: And by can't, you mean don't want to? Last chance. Evan and his wife get to live to a ripe old age. Going... going...
Crossroads Demon: Let's talk about this.
Dean: Oh, you're just going to go on a little trip. Way down south.
Crossroads Demon: Sealing the deal.
Trivia & References
- Let's Make A Deal is a TV game show that started in the 60s.
- MTV Cribs is a reality program that offers a look into the homes of celebrities.
- A Star Wars reference. When Princess Leia is captured by Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi she is forced to wear a golden bikini marking her as a slave-girl.
- John Dillinger was an American bank robber who was considered a dangerous criminal. His activities in the 1930's contributed to the further development of the FBI. John Dillinger's exploits and law enforcement's efforts to catch him were the subject of the 2009 movie Public Enemies.
- MySpace is a website that allows people to meet others with similar interests.
Minutiae
Sides, Scripts & Transcripts
Sides
- Robert Johnson (PDF)
- Crossroads Demon (PDF)
- George (later renamed "Evan Hudson" (PDF)
Promotion
- Episode Stills
- Episode Promo: 2.08 Crossroad Blues
- At the end of this episode a promo was aired that became known as the "Soon" promo, as the word "soon" appeared on the title card. It was a compilation of scenes from upcoming episodes: 2.09 Croatoan and 2.10 Hunted, ending with the moment before Dean reveals to Sam what John and told him. The music in the clip is Hair of the Dog by Nazareth.