6.06 You Can't Handle the Truth

Title	You Can't Handle The Truth
Episode #	Season 6, Episode 6
First aired	October 29, 2010
Directed by	Jan Eliasberg
Written by	story by David Reed, Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder ; teleplay by Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder
On IMDB	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1627723/
Outline	Sam and Dean investigate a town where people can't help telling the truth.
Monster	Veritas
Timeline
Location(s)	Calumet City, Illinois
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Synopsis

Sam and Dean travel to Calumet City, Illinois to investigate what is the city's fourth suicide in two weeks. Jane Peterson, a waitress at Biggerson's Restaurant, shot herself after being bombarded by several harsh truths, the worst of which came from her sister, Olivia. Sam and Dean learn of Olivia's culpability after questioning her, but she isn't sure why she said horrible things to Jane when what she really wanted to do was comfort her sister. Then, shortly after they arrive in town, a dentist named Dr Paul Connelly drills his friend Kenny to death in his dentist's chair after Kenny confesses to having sex with his young daughter.

Meanwhile, Dean confides in Bobby about Sam's actions in 6.05 Live Free or Twihard and asks him to research possible causes for Sam's strange behavior. Dean is convinced that his brother is not himself, and he decides to research the case in Calumet City on his own to get some time away from Sam. He learns that both Jane and Dr. Paul Connelly were taking music lessons at a music store called Harry's House of Horns, where an antique horn was recently stolen. He calls Castiel with the theory that it is a holy weapon, Gabriel's Horn of Truth, that is causing the disruption in Calumet City. Castiel shows up immediately after Dean mentions a holy weapon, and Dean is angry with him for only answering when it's in his own interest to. Dean starts to explain what's going on in town, but Castiel disappears before he can finish. He then reappears two seconds later and announces that the Horn of Truth is not causing the disturbance. Before he goes again, he tells Dean that he does want to help with Sam and that he'll make some inquiries.

Dean then goes to a bar for a drink, and when the bartender asks him what else he wants, he unwittingly invokes the truth curse by saying "I'd just like the freaking truth." Immediately, people start telling him embarrassing truths about themselves, and Dean calls Bobby to test his theory that he's been cursed. When it becomes obvious that he is, he decides to find Sam and demand answers from him. Sam denies that he let Dean be turned into a vampire, telling him that he just froze, and Dean is relieved when Sam tells him that he'll always have his back. Dean also gets a call and a dose of truth from Lisa. She tells him that she's sick of him burying his emotions and drinking too much. She also tells him that she's happy Sam's alive, but that she knew their relationship was over the minute he showed up again. She thinks Sam and Dean's relationship is unhealthy and that Dean can never be happy while Sam is in his life. Just before hanging up on Dean, she says that she and Ben can't be "in this" with him.

While Dean has been investigating on his own, Sam visits the morgue and discovers that the bodies of all but the latest suicide victim are missing. He also goes to the home of the first suicide victim, Corey, who's death had been ruled as an accident. He speaks to her roommate and learns that Corey was obsessed with finding the truth because she thought her boyfriend was cheating on her. Sam finds a box in her room that contains a cat skull, grains of paradise seed, and Devil's Shoestring: the ingredients needed to summon Veritas, the goddess of truth. They discover that Veritas, who can take human form, is in the city posing as an investigative reporter named Ashley Frank. Whoever asks for the truth in Calumet City will get too much of it, and when they kill themselves, Veritas takes and eats their bodies as tributes. They go to her home to kill her, but she captures them and, before eating them, decides to play "Truth or Truth." She forces Dean to admit that he wanted to kill Sam because he thought he was monster; however, when she questions Sam, she becomes agitated because she can tell that Sam is lying to her. She asks Sam what he is--he can't be human if he can lie to her. Sam and Dean use this distraction to kill her, but then Dean turns a knife on Sam and demands to know what he is. Sam asserts that he is himself, but admits that something is wrong with him: he hasn't been able to feel anything since he's come back from Lucifer's Cage. His emotions are completely absent, which was why he was able to let Dean be turned, and though he thinks that having no emotions makes him a better hunter than he's ever been, he tells Dean that he thinks he needs help. Dean responds by punching Sam in the face and then continuing to pummel him, and the episode ends with Sam lying bloody on the floor.

Characters

• Sam Winchester
• Dean Winchester
• Lisa Braeden
• Castiel
• Bobby Singer
• Veritas aka Ashley Frank
• Jane Peterson
• Olivia
• Dr Paul Connelly
• Kenny

Definitions

• The Meaning of Episode Titles
• Music
• Gabriel's Horn of Truth
• Devil's Shoestring
• Pagan Gods
• Biggerson's Restaurant

Quotes

Cook: I pity you.

Jane: I'm sorry?

Cook: You're sad and pathetic and I pity you - only reason I'm giving you a heads up. Stay away from the clam chowder. I flavored it with my own "seasoning."

Bobby: We need facts, cause if it ain't Sam, we don't know what it is. And if we're gonna put him down, we need to know how.

Dean: I don't even want to ride in the same car with him, much less work a damn case.

Bobby: Get in the car. He's your case.

Olivia: I don't understand. Why would federal investigators be interested in a suicide?
Sam: Well, it's a new, more caring administration.

Sam: You know what a "tell" is?

Olivia: Excuse me?
Sam: It's a poker term. For when you're bluffing. Like what you just did with your hair.
Olivia: What are you trying to say?
Sam: You're lying.
Olivia: What?

Sam: Tell us what you did to your sister.

Dean: I don't know how much longer I can do this, Bobby. You gotta figure out what the hell he is and fast.

Bobby: I'm trying, but Dean, there's a worst case scenario.
Dean: What, Satan is my co-pilot? Yeah, I know.
Bobby: Well, that'd be the other worst case.
Dean: Well then what?

Bobby: Maybe it's just Sam.

Sam: Dentist drilled a guy to death.
Dean: You mean the non-sexy kind of drilling, right?

Castiel: No, he's not Lucifer.

Dean: And how do you know that?

Castiel: If Lucifer escaped the cage, we'd feel it.

Dean: What happened to you, Castiel? You used to be human, or at least like one.
Castiel: I'm at war--certain regrettable things are now required of me.

Castiel: Well, it isn't the Horn of Truth.

Dean: What are you talking about? You were gone for like two seconds. Where did you look?

Castiel: Everywhere.

Woman in Bar: I'm sitting like this so you'll look at my breasts. I just bought them. I need a lot of attention.
Dean: Good luck with that.

Bobby: Tori Spelling. I'm a huge fan. Girl's a real talent.

Dean: I guess it does work over the phone.
Bobby: You know what else? I get a pedicure once and a while at this nice Vietnamese joint.
Dean: Okay, please stop.
Bobby: This one girl, Nhung Phuong, name means "velvet phoenix." Tiny thing, but the grip on her! She starts on my toes and I feel like I am gonna -
Dean: Whoa, whoa, come on, man. Now I'm scarred for life! Thank you.

Bobby: I never told anyone that. Why am I telling you? Maybe because you're my favorite. Although Sam's a better hunter - lately, anyway. Whoa, whoa, why the hell am I telling you this?

Bobby: Did you know my first girlfriend turned out to be a -
Dean: No! (hangs up the phone) No, uh-uh, uh-uh.

Lisa: You want to know the truth?

Dean: Probably not.
Lisa: You've got so much buried in there, and you push it down and you push it down. Do you honestly think you can go through life like that and not freak out? Just what? Drink half a fifth a night and you're good?
Dean: Hey, you knew what you signed up for.

Lisa: Yeah, but I didn't expect Sam to come back. And I'm glad he's okay, I am, but the minute he walked through that door, I knew it was over. You two have the most unhealthy, tangled up, crazy thing that I've ever seen, and as long as he's in your life, you're never gonna be happy.

Lisa: I'm not saying don't be close to Sam. I'm close to my sister. But if she got killed? I wouldn't bring her back from the dead.

Dean: Okay, Lisa. I'm not gonna lie. Okay, me and Sam, we've got issues, no doubt. But you and Ben -

Lisa: Me and Ben can't be in this with you. I'm sorry.

Dean: And that's -

Sam: Dog's blood.
Dean: Do I even want to know where you got that?

Sam: Probably not.

Veritas: The tongue is the tastiest part. It's where the lies roll off. (takes a bite of Dr. Paul Connelly's tongue) Mmm, I cannot wait to eat yours. I mean, I've seen liars before, but you two? Gold standard.
Dean: Point of professional pride.

Veritas: Hey, Dean, I'm curious. What do you really feel about your brother?

Dean: Better now. As of yesterday I wanted to kill him in his sleep. I thought he was a monster, but now I think -
Veritas: Now you think what?

Dean: He's just acting like me.

Dean: I told myself I wanted out. That I wanted a family.

Veritas: But you were lying.

Dean: No, but what I'm good at is slicing throats. I ain't a father, I'm a killer. And there's no changing that, I know that now.

Sam: And that's it. That's the truth.

Veritas: No. No, it's not.
Sam: You said yourself I can't lie.
Veritas: How are you doing that? That's not possible. You're lying to me.
Sam: No, I'm not.
Veritas: What are you? (to Dean) What is he?
Sam: I don't know what you're talking about.

Veritas: Really? I doubt that. I doubt anything that comes out of your mouth right now. You're not human.

Sam: Dean, it's me.

Dean: You are not my brother.
Sam: Just listen.
Dean: What are you?!
Sam: It's me, Dean! Look. Please, just let me explain.
Dean: Why the hell should I believe anything you say?
Sam: Okay, okay, you want the truth? Here it is, here it is. God's honest. She was right. There's something wrong with me, really wrong. I've known it for a while. I've lied to you, yeah. And... I let you get turned by that vamp. Because I knew there was a cure, Dean. And we needed in that nest! And I knew you could handle it!
Dean: Handle it?! I could've died! I could've killed Ben.
Sam: And that should stop me cold. But... I just don't feel it.
Dean: You what?

Sam: Ever since I came back, I am a better hunter than I've ever been! Nothing scares me anymore! 'Cause I can't feel it! I don't know what's wrong with me! I think... I need help.

Trivia & References

The title of the episode refers to a famous quote by the character Colonel Jessep from the play and later film A Few Good Men. Jensen appeared in a production of the play in Fort Worth in June 2007.

The news story about Jane Peterson's suicide mentions that Jane's method of suicide was jumping from a building, even though the episode shows her shooting herself in the head: "Jane hadn't shown any signs of depression," Peterson's sister said. "I mean, she was a little high-strung, but I can't believe she'd jump off a building. None of us can."

The investigative reporter Ashley Frank, aka Veritas, can be seen on her news program in the background of several scenes throughout the episode. Her show is playing on televisions in Big Gerson's, Dr Paul Connelly's dentist's office, and the bar where Dean invokes her curse.

Ashley Frank, aka Veritas, drives what appears to be a Jaguar E-Type or XK-E, a British automobile manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. This is appropriate given her character's connection with cats.

Serinda Swan who plays Veritas appeared in 1.21 Salvation as the hospital receptionist Dean flirted with.

Dean: Right, and then big sis' "Taxicab Confession" sends her over the edge.
Taxicab Confessions is an HBO documentary series in which taxi passengers are asked to tell stories about themselves while they are being recorded by hidden cameras during the ride.

Dean: What, Satan is my co-pilot?
A play on the phrase "God is my co-pilot," which comes from the book and movie of the same name. It's also the name of a band from New York City. Finally, the phrase has also become popular as a bumper sticker.

Dean: Anything from Marathon Man?
A reference to the novel and film of the same name, in particular the famous interrogation scene where the main character is tortured by a dentist.

Before Dean goes to investigate the dentist's office, he is researching doppelgangers on his laptop.

Dean: Castiel, hello, possible loose nuke down here.
The phrase "loose nukes" originally referred to poorly secured nuclear materials in the former Soviet Union which might be tempting targets for thieves or terrorists. Today, the phrase more broadly is used to refer to nuclear weapons, materials, and know-how that could fall into the wrong hands. Dean also used the phrase to describe holy weapons, more specifically the Staff of Moses, in 6.03 The Third Man.

Dean: Are you kidding me? I have been on red alert about Sam and you come for some stupid horn?
"Red alert" is the final stage of alert in which enemy attack appears imminent or, more broadly, a state of alert brought on by impending danger. In the United States, the Homeland Security Advisory System uses the color red to denote a severe risk of terrorist attacks.

Sam: Now, I'd actually like to see all the suicides that came in this week - not just Dr. Giggles.
Dr. Giggles is a 1992 slasher film directed by Manny Coto, and starring Larry Drake as the titular antagonist. Dr. Giggles. There was also a two issue limited comic book adaptation published by Dark Horse Comics.

Dean: So that would make her our patient zero, right?
The phrase in medical terms refers to the first patient in the outbreak of an epidemic. The phrase itself is most associated with And the Band Played On,Randy Shilts's book about the early years of the AIDS epidemic in which he cites a study that tied a French Canadian flight attendant to many of the earliest AIDS cases in the United States.

Bobby: Well, I'm here hitting the books while drinking a nice glass of milk and watching "Tori & Dean."
Tori & Dean is a reality show on the Oxygen Network starring actress Tori Spelling and her second husband, actor Dean McDermott.

Dean: You froze? You have been Terminator since you got back.
"The Terminator" refers to a number of fictional characters portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger – a cyborg, initially portrayed as a programmable assassin, main protagonist, and military infiltration unit.

Dean: So all that tribute vanishing from the morgue - what do you think, a Soylent Green situation?
Soylent Green is a 1973 American science fiction film directed by Richard Fleischer that features a dystopian future in which much of the population survives on processed food rations, including the newly produced "soylent green." As revealed in the famous final lines of the movie: "Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!"

Veritas (to Dean): So Sam walking back into your life must've been a relief. Mallory to your Mickey.
Mickey and Mallory Knox are the murderous couple who feature in the 1994 Oliver Stone/Quentin Tarantino movie Natural Born Killers

Veritas (to Sam): And how do you feel about the band getting back together, hmm Sam?
The line is a reference to the Dan Aykroyd/John Belushi movie The Blues Brothers

The picture of Veritas that Sam and Dean see online and that the goddess displays in her house is actually a portrait of the Byzantine Empress Theodora. This is a detail from a larger mosaic called "Empress Theodora and Her Retinue". Theodora was the wife of Roman Emperor Justinian who has a matching mosaic called "Emperor Justinian and His Retinue" Both mosaics are located in the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. You can see both mosaics and read some history about them here

Sides, Scripts & Transcripts

• 6.06 You Can't Handle The Truth (Transcript)

Promotion

It was produced fifth but aired sixth.

• Episode title
• Character spoiler from the actor's Twitter
• Photos from the set by arcticfront
• Photos from the set by shaula on SFO
• Character, plot, and casting spoiler from Fancast
• Plot spoiler from Ausiello
• Short synopsis from SpoilerTV
• Synopsis from SpoilerTV
• Character spoiler from the actor's Twitter
• Updated short synopsis from SpoilerTV
• Plot spoilers and pics from Zap2it
• Behind-the-scenes video with plot and character spoilers
• Plot summary from TV Guide
• Promo clip
• Preview clip
• Plot summaries for sweeps eps (6.06-6.09) from SpoilerTV
• Space promo
• Space preview