Difference between revisions of "8.19 Taxi Driver"
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|location= [https://twitter.com/ryan_curtis/status/319648773066334210 Kansas City, Missouri]<br>Warsaw, Missouri<br>[[Purgatory]]<br>[[Hell]]<br>100-Mile Wilderness, Maine | |location= [https://twitter.com/ryan_curtis/status/319648773066334210 Kansas City, Missouri]<br>Warsaw, Missouri<br>[[Purgatory]]<br>[[Hell]]<br>100-Mile Wilderness, Maine | ||
+ | |prevep= 8.18 Freaks and Geeks | ||
+ | |nextep= 8.20 Pac-Man Fever | ||
}} | }} | ||
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On [[Garth]]'s [[Fizzles' Folly|safe-boat]], [[Kevin]] is startled awake in the middle of the night by hearing [[Crowley]]'s voice taunt him. He looks around the boat for the source, but finds nothing. While the taunts warn Kevin about what further injury Crowley may inflict on him, he is distraught to notice that first one hand, then both feet and both arms have disappeared into bloody stumps. | On [[Garth]]'s [[Fizzles' Folly|safe-boat]], [[Kevin]] is startled awake in the middle of the night by hearing [[Crowley]]'s voice taunt him. He looks around the boat for the source, but finds nothing. While the taunts warn Kevin about what further injury Crowley may inflict on him, he is distraught to notice that first one hand, then both feet and both arms have disappeared into bloody stumps. | ||
− | [[Sam]] and [[Dean]] arrive at the safe-boat, and a fully limbed Kevin tells them that the reason he has called is that he has finished translating the second [[trial]] off the [[demon tablet]]. Though panicking that Crowley has gotten into his head, Kevin relays that the second trial is to rescue an innocent [[soul]] from [[Hell]] and deliver unto [[Heaven]]. | + | [[Sam]] and [[Dean]] arrive at the safe-boat, and a fully limbed Kevin tells them that the reason he has called is that he has finished translating the second [[trial]] off the [[demon tablet]]. Though panicking that Crowley has gotten into his head, Kevin relays that the second trial is to rescue an innocent [[soul]] from [[Hell]] and deliver it unto [[Heaven]]. |
Sam and Dean go to a [[crossroads]] where they summon a demon. A male crossroads demon appears and immediately attempts to leave when he sees it is the Winchesters, but cannot as he is caught in a massive [[Devil's trap (symbol)|devil's trap]] painted onto the road surface. The boys take the demon to an empty building and torture him into revealing that rogue [[reapers]] can smuggle people/souls into and out of Hell and Heaven. | Sam and Dean go to a [[crossroads]] where they summon a demon. A male crossroads demon appears and immediately attempts to leave when he sees it is the Winchesters, but cannot as he is caught in a massive [[Devil's trap (symbol)|devil's trap]] painted onto the road surface. The boys take the demon to an empty building and torture him into revealing that rogue [[reapers]] can smuggle people/souls into and out of Hell and Heaven. | ||
− | The boys drive | + | The boys drive into a seedy downtown neighborhood and walk over to a taxi driver named [[Ajay]], who is actually a reaper. While they negotiate the possibility of Ajay smuggling them into Hell, he reveals that he knows who they are because he is the one who transported [[Bobby Singer]] to Hell, as ordered by Crowley. The boys are surprised to hear about Bobby, as they had assumed he was in Heaven. Dean wants Ajay to send both he and Sam to Hell, but Sam argues that he must complete the trials alone, and tells Ajay to send only him. Ajay lets Dean know that the he and Sam will be back in exactly 24 hours. |
Ajay and Sam, hand in hand, pass through a gateway into [[Purgatory]]. Ajay gives Sam directions to get to a portal which serves as a back door from Purgatory into Hell. He reminds Sam to be back at that spot where they landed in Purgatory in precisely 24 hours, then vanishes. Meanwhile, Dean has gone back to the safe-boat to bring Kevin some food. He finds Kevin hiding in a heavily warded closet, convinced that Crowley knows where to find him. Dean gives Kevin a pep talk, and Kevin takes his food back to the closet to eat - along with Dean's [[pie]]. | Ajay and Sam, hand in hand, pass through a gateway into [[Purgatory]]. Ajay gives Sam directions to get to a portal which serves as a back door from Purgatory into Hell. He reminds Sam to be back at that spot where they landed in Purgatory in precisely 24 hours, then vanishes. Meanwhile, Dean has gone back to the safe-boat to bring Kevin some food. He finds Kevin hiding in a heavily warded closet, convinced that Crowley knows where to find him. Dean gives Kevin a pep talk, and Kevin takes his food back to the closet to eat - along with Dean's [[pie]]. | ||
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In the seedy downtown neighborhood, Ajay walks up to his taxi and gets in the driver's seat, not realizing that Crowley is in the back. Crowley questions him about making a [[deal]] with the Winchesters, and Ajay reluctantly reveals that he assisted Sam in getting into Hell, although he does not know Sam's reasons for wanting to go. Once Crowley has gotten this information from Ajay, Crowley stabs and kills him. | In the seedy downtown neighborhood, Ajay walks up to his taxi and gets in the driver's seat, not realizing that Crowley is in the back. Crowley questions him about making a [[deal]] with the Winchesters, and Ajay reluctantly reveals that he assisted Sam in getting into Hell, although he does not know Sam's reasons for wanting to go. Once Crowley has gotten this information from Ajay, Crowley stabs and kills him. | ||
− | Back in Purgatory, Sam continues to search for the back door to Hell. He is attacked by and kills a [[monster]] before finding the portal and getting sucked through it. Once in Hell, he makes his way through its prisoners until he finds Bobby | + | Back in Purgatory, Sam continues to search for the back door to Hell. He is attacked by and kills a [[monster]] before finding the portal and getting sucked through it. Once in Hell, he makes his way through its prisoners until he finds Bobby, who at first mistakes Sam for another in a long line of demons wearing the likeness of Sam. He soon recognizes it is actually Sam and is relieved to find out that Sam is not there because he has died, but rather because he is there to rescue Bobby. |
At Crowley HQ, the King of Hell angrily questions one of his demons, demanding that she help figure out what the Winchesters are up to and orders her to find Kevin Tran along with the other half of the demon tablet. Aboard the safe-boat, Kevin surprises Dean by returning from a trip to hide the tablet. He refuses to reveal its location to Dean, and retires to the closet. [[Naomi]] appears inside the safe-boat and introduces herself to Dean. She attempts to convince him that she is on his side, spinning the truth of her interactions with [[Castiel]], and providing him with the information that Ajay took Sam into Purgatory in order to help him get into Hell. Dean then goes in search of Ajay, but finds him dead in his cab. | At Crowley HQ, the King of Hell angrily questions one of his demons, demanding that she help figure out what the Winchesters are up to and orders her to find Kevin Tran along with the other half of the demon tablet. Aboard the safe-boat, Kevin surprises Dean by returning from a trip to hide the tablet. He refuses to reveal its location to Dean, and retires to the closet. [[Naomi]] appears inside the safe-boat and introduces herself to Dean. She attempts to convince him that she is on his side, spinning the truth of her interactions with [[Castiel]], and providing him with the information that Ajay took Sam into Purgatory in order to help him get into Hell. Dean then goes in search of Ajay, but finds him dead in his cab. | ||
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Back topside, Dean calls [[Benny Lafitte]] and tells him he needs a big favor. Benny meets him, and it becomes evident that Dean wants Benny to return to Purgatory in order to help Sam get out, now that Ajay is dead. Benny agrees to go back, telling Dean that he could use a break. Dean promises to help him once Benny gets back from Purgatory with Sam. They embrace, and Dean slices off Benny's head. | Back topside, Dean calls [[Benny Lafitte]] and tells him he needs a big favor. Benny meets him, and it becomes evident that Dean wants Benny to return to Purgatory in order to help Sam get out, now that Ajay is dead. Benny agrees to go back, telling Dean that he could use a break. Dean promises to help him once Benny gets back from Purgatory with Sam. They embrace, and Dean slices off Benny's head. | ||
− | Just before Sam and Bobby are attacked by a trio of monsters in Purgatory, Sam admits to Bobby that Dean had spent a year there in Purgatory, and that Sam had not looked for Dean during that whole time. Bobby berates Sam for abandoning Dean. As Sam and Bobby are attacked, Benny appears out of nowhere and helps them fight off the monsters. Bobby assumes that Benny is also a monster, and Sam moves in to save Benny before Bobby | + | Just before Sam and Bobby are attacked by a trio of monsters in Purgatory, Sam admits to Bobby that Dean had spent a year there in Purgatory, and that Sam had not looked for Dean during that whole time. Bobby berates Sam for abandoning Dean. As Sam and Bobby are attacked, Benny appears out of nowhere and helps them fight off the monsters. Bobby assumes that Benny is also a monster, and Sam moves in to save Benny before Bobby can kill him. |
When Benny, Bobby, and Sam arrive at the portal for leaving Purgatory, Sam absorbs Bobby's spirit into his arm in order to transport him out. When Sam goes to do the same with Benny, Benny refuses, choosing to stay in Purgatory. At that moment, a group of [[vampires]] appears and Benny goes to fight them, leaving Sam to exit Purgatory without him. As Sam enters the portal, he catches a final glimpse of Benny under a pile of attackers. | When Benny, Bobby, and Sam arrive at the portal for leaving Purgatory, Sam absorbs Bobby's spirit into his arm in order to transport him out. When Sam goes to do the same with Benny, Benny refuses, choosing to stay in Purgatory. At that moment, a group of [[vampires]] appears and Benny goes to fight them, leaving Sam to exit Purgatory without him. As Sam enters the portal, he catches a final glimpse of Benny under a pile of attackers. | ||
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* [[Angel Blade]] | * [[Angel Blade]] | ||
* [[Angel Lore]] | * [[Angel Lore]] | ||
− | * [[Balls]] | + | * [[Balls]] |
+ | * [[Biggerson's]] | ||
* [[Crossroads]] | * [[Crossroads]] | ||
* [[Crossroads Demon]] | * [[Crossroads Demon]] | ||
* [[Deals and Pacts]] | * [[Deals and Pacts]] | ||
+ | * [[Demon-Killing Knife]] | ||
* [[Demonology]] | * [[Demonology]] | ||
* [[Devil's trap (symbol)|Devil's Trap]] | * [[Devil's trap (symbol)|Devil's Trap]] | ||
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* [[Purgatory Weapons]] | * [[Purgatory Weapons]] | ||
* [[Reapers]] | * [[Reapers]] | ||
− | * [[ | + | * [[Shapeshifting]] |
* [[Spells]] | * [[Spells]] | ||
* [[Tablets]] | * [[Tablets]] | ||
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|Trivia_References= | |Trivia_References= | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
− | The episode is named after the 1976 Martin Scorsese film ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075314/ | + | The episode is named after the 1976 Martin Scorsese film ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075314/ Taxi Driver.]'' |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
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}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
− | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descent_to_the_underworld Katabasis] - the epic convention of the hero's trip into the underworld - is a recurring theme in mythologies of multiple cultures and religions. Among the most well known figures in Greek mythology to have to go to the underworld were [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Labors#Twelfth_Labour:_Cerberus Hercules], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus Orpheus], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysseus Odysseus.] | + | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descent_to_the_underworld Katabasis] -- the epic convention of the hero's trip into the underworld -- is a recurring theme in mythologies of multiple cultures and religions. Among the most well known figures in Greek mythology to have to go to the underworld were [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Labors#Twelfth_Labour:_Cerberus Hercules], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus Orpheus], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysseus Odysseus.] |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
'''Ajay:''' No one wants to get into Hell.<br> | '''Ajay:''' No one wants to get into Hell.<br> | ||
'''Sam:''' But could a coyote like you do it? | '''Sam:''' But could a coyote like you do it? | ||
− | :''[[Dean]] and [[Sam]] refer to [[Ajay]] as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_smuggling#Coyotes coyote], a term used to describe people who arrange to get people into the United States without going through official channels, most commonly over the | + | :''[[Dean]] and [[Sam]] refer to [[Ajay]] as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_smuggling#Coyotes coyote], a term used to describe people who arrange to get people into the United States without going through official channels, most commonly over the Mexico/America border.'' |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
− | '''Sam:''' The rabbit hole - this is nuts. | + | '''Sam:''' The rabbit hole -- this is nuts. |
:''Sam is referring to the rabbit hole which Alice falls down to enter the fantasy world in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice%27s_Adventures_in_Wonderland Alice in Wonderland.]'' | :''Sam is referring to the rabbit hole which Alice falls down to enter the fantasy world in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice%27s_Adventures_in_Wonderland Alice in Wonderland.]'' | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
'''Crowley:''' Something is going on. My hellhound has been killed. Winchester jumbo size is trying to break into the mothership. And that prophet of theirs is madly translating away. Add it up! | '''Crowley:''' Something is going on. My hellhound has been killed. Winchester jumbo size is trying to break into the mothership. And that prophet of theirs is madly translating away. Add it up! | ||
− | :''The Mothership is the nickname used for the | + | :''The Mothership is the nickname used for the Los Angeles [[Supernatural]] offices.'' |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
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'''Bobby:''' What?<br> | '''Bobby:''' What?<br> | ||
'''Sam:''' You're a fan. Yeah. Or -- or, uh... Okay. What about your free pedicure at the Mall of America? You made Dean swear to never tell another living soul how it changed your life. | '''Sam:''' You're a fan. Yeah. Or -- or, uh... Okay. What about your free pedicure at the Mall of America? You made Dean swear to never tell another living soul how it changed your life. | ||
− | :''In [[6.06 You Can't Handle the Truth]], the influence of [[Veritas]] | + | :''In [[6.06 You Can't Handle the Truth]], the influence of [[Veritas]] meant that people could only speak the truth to Dean. [[Bobby]] revealed to him his love for actress [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tori_Spelling Tori Spelling] and her reality shows with her husband Dean. He also confided that he gets pedicures and loves having his feet massaged. Dean obviously passed this all on to Sam!'' |
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
+ | Sam's journey through [[Purgatory]] and [[Hell]] mirrors that of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_Alighieri Dante Alighireri] from the ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Comedy Divine Comedy]'', though Sam's journey is somewhat reversed. While Sam's journey begins in Purgatory, rather than Hell, both Dante and Sam traverse a dark wood before entering Hell proper. While Dante enters Purgatory from Hell through a mountain, Sam enters Hell from Purgatory through a grouping of rocks of which the portal to Hell is in-between. Also, like Dante, Sam's journey from his time on Earth to Purgatory and Hell takes around five to six days. With the death of Ajay, Sam lost his guide out of Purgatory, only to have [[Benny Lafitte]] arrive and lead him and [[Bobby Singer]] to the exit [[portal]]; which is not dissimilar to Virgil parting ways with Dante at the Earthly Paradise in Purgatory, where Beatrice di Folco Portinari then takes over as Dante's guide. | ||
}} | }} | ||
|Minutiae= | |Minutiae= | ||
+ | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
+ | '''Filming Locations:''' [https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1SpjMITbs7lY65rNATOSTYLuaIVQ8V5ud&usp=sharing Map of known filming locations.] | ||
+ | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
As in [[7.18 Party On, Garth]], [[Jim Beaver]] is not listed in the credits, presumably to catch fans by surprise with his return. This was also done with [[Mark Sheppard]] in [[6.07 Family Matters]] and [[6.19 Mommy Dearest]]. | As in [[7.18 Party On, Garth]], [[Jim Beaver]] is not listed in the credits, presumably to catch fans by surprise with his return. This was also done with [[Mark Sheppard]] in [[6.07 Family Matters]] and [[6.19 Mommy Dearest]]. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
− | [https://twitter.com/TheJimMichaels/status/319619757659787265/photo/1/large There is a bumper sticker] on Ajay's cab that reads "How's my driving? Call 1-555-GO2-HELL." | + | '''Crowley:''' Last time you irked me, you lost a finger. Imagine what will happen this time. |
+ | :''[[Crowley]] is referencing when he cut off [[Kevin Tran]]'s finger in [[8.07 A Little Slice of Kevin]].'' | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
+ | [[Dean]] questions "What happened to the hot chicks?" when a male [[crossroads demon]] appears. Prior to this episode all crossroads demons that Dean had summoned were female, with one male being summoned by [[Sam]] in [[4.09 I Know What You Did Last Summer]]. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
+ | [https://twitter.com/TheJimMichaels/status/319619757659787265/photo/1/large There is a bumper sticker] on [[Ajay]]'s cab that reads "How's my driving? Call 1-555-GO2-HELL." | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
+ | In [[2.16 Roadkill]] Sam tells [[Molly McNamara]] how [[John]] believed burning bones was like death for [[ghosts]], but admitted he wasn't sure what happened. Similarly [[7.19 Of Grave Importance]], [[Bobby]] and [[Annie Hawkins]] believed that once a ghost's bones are burned, they are just "gone." Sam even suggests this end for ghosts when he tells Ajay it was "end of story" for Bobby because they burned his bones. However, this episode revealed that when a ghost's bones (or object tethering them) are burned, the spirit is taken to their destined afterlife. In the case of Bobby, he was diverted to [[Hell]] rather than [[Heaven]] due to Crowley's machinations. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
+ | '''Ajay:''' Whoa, whoa, Winchester, detach. This is Hell-adjacent. Been down this highway many times before. Follow the stream to where three trees meet as one. Where they meet, there are rocks. Between the rocks is the portal. | ||
+ | :''Crowley had previously referred to Purgatory as "Hell-adjacent" in [[6.07 Family Matters]]. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
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}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
− | Upon entering | + | Upon entering Hell, Sam uses his watch as a marker to find the entrance again. Sam removing his watch could also be seen as a reference to time having no meaning in Hell. |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
− | Sam spends at least two days in [[Purgatory]] and Hell; | + | Sam spends at least two days in [[Purgatory]] and Hell; it takes Sam 7 hours to and 7 hours from the back door into Hell from the spot he arrived in at Purgatory, as Ajay tells Crowley he will be retrieving Sam in 17 hours when Sam arrives at the entrance to Hell. It is not known how long Sam actually spends in Hell looking for Bobby, but if we are to use the "real time" in the episode, he is in Hell for around 5 minutes, which would be around 10 hours in Hell time. It then takes Sam, Bobby, and [[Benny]] at least 24 more hours to reach the exit in Purgatory (in the script Sam makes mention to Benny that the three had been traveling for a day and a half), as it would still take [[Dean]] 20+ hours to make the drive from Kansas City to the 100-mile Wilderness even if he was speeding the entire way. |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
[https://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=kansas+city&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x87c0f75eafe99997:0x558525e66aaa51a2,Kansas+City,+MO&ei=fF5dUcbzG5az4AOv_oDgAg&ved=0CL4BELYD It is approximately 1680 miles] and a 26 hour drive from where Dean killed Benny in Kansas City to the 100-mile Wilderness in Maine where Sam and Bobby re-emerge from Purgatory. | [https://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=kansas+city&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x87c0f75eafe99997:0x558525e66aaa51a2,Kansas+City,+MO&ei=fF5dUcbzG5az4AOv_oDgAg&ved=0CL4BELYD It is approximately 1680 miles] and a 26 hour drive from where Dean killed Benny in Kansas City to the 100-mile Wilderness in Maine where Sam and Bobby re-emerge from Purgatory. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
+ | With this episode Sam, Dean, [[Castiel]] and Bobby have all been to [[Heaven]], [[Hell]], and [[Purgatory]]. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
+ | [[Supernatural Shake]] was filmed at the crossroads where Sam and Dean summoned the [[crossroads demon]]. | ||
}} | }} | ||
|Sides_Scripts_Transcripts= | |Sides_Scripts_Transcripts= | ||
* [[8.19 Taxi Driver (transcript)]] | * [[8.19 Taxi Driver (transcript)]] | ||
+ | * [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eH6iZUS_fzf4HH9pHL-MCm9zTboYfC61/view Taxi Driver Script] (Production Draft) | ||
+ | * [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-MonRM91lz7SbwF8hbl9Idu3HnBWg7wI/view Taxi Driver Call Sheet] (Day 1 of 8) | ||
+ | * [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SRcezFSzUJw3H0lw_mrdfqUx5zrUnXFE/view Taxi Driver Call Sheet and Script Sides] (Day 6 of 8) | ||
|Promotion= | |Promotion= |
Revision as of 05:21, 22 January 2023
Title | Taxi Driver |
Episode # | Season 8, Episode 19 |
First aired | April 3, 2013 |
Directed by | Guy Norman Bee |
Written by | Eugenie Ross-Leming Brad Buckner |
On IMDB | Taxi Driver |
Outline | In order to complete the second trial, Sam must rescue an innocent soul from Hell. |
Monster | Crowley Demons Vampires |
Timeline | |
Location(s) | Kansas City, Missouri Warsaw, Missouri Purgatory Hell 100-Mile Wilderness, Maine |
« Previous Episode | Next Episode » |
Contents
Synopsis
On Garth's safe-boat, Kevin is startled awake in the middle of the night by hearing Crowley's voice taunt him. He looks around the boat for the source, but finds nothing. While the taunts warn Kevin about what further injury Crowley may inflict on him, he is distraught to notice that first one hand, then both feet and both arms have disappeared into bloody stumps.
Sam and Dean arrive at the safe-boat, and a fully limbed Kevin tells them that the reason he has called is that he has finished translating the second trial off the demon tablet. Though panicking that Crowley has gotten into his head, Kevin relays that the second trial is to rescue an innocent soul from Hell and deliver it unto Heaven.
Sam and Dean go to a crossroads where they summon a demon. A male crossroads demon appears and immediately attempts to leave when he sees it is the Winchesters, but cannot as he is caught in a massive devil's trap painted onto the road surface. The boys take the demon to an empty building and torture him into revealing that rogue reapers can smuggle people/souls into and out of Hell and Heaven.
The boys drive into a seedy downtown neighborhood and walk over to a taxi driver named Ajay, who is actually a reaper. While they negotiate the possibility of Ajay smuggling them into Hell, he reveals that he knows who they are because he is the one who transported Bobby Singer to Hell, as ordered by Crowley. The boys are surprised to hear about Bobby, as they had assumed he was in Heaven. Dean wants Ajay to send both he and Sam to Hell, but Sam argues that he must complete the trials alone, and tells Ajay to send only him. Ajay lets Dean know that the he and Sam will be back in exactly 24 hours.
Ajay and Sam, hand in hand, pass through a gateway into Purgatory. Ajay gives Sam directions to get to a portal which serves as a back door from Purgatory into Hell. He reminds Sam to be back at that spot where they landed in Purgatory in precisely 24 hours, then vanishes. Meanwhile, Dean has gone back to the safe-boat to bring Kevin some food. He finds Kevin hiding in a heavily warded closet, convinced that Crowley knows where to find him. Dean gives Kevin a pep talk, and Kevin takes his food back to the closet to eat - along with Dean's pie.
In the seedy downtown neighborhood, Ajay walks up to his taxi and gets in the driver's seat, not realizing that Crowley is in the back. Crowley questions him about making a deal with the Winchesters, and Ajay reluctantly reveals that he assisted Sam in getting into Hell, although he does not know Sam's reasons for wanting to go. Once Crowley has gotten this information from Ajay, Crowley stabs and kills him.
Back in Purgatory, Sam continues to search for the back door to Hell. He is attacked by and kills a monster before finding the portal and getting sucked through it. Once in Hell, he makes his way through its prisoners until he finds Bobby, who at first mistakes Sam for another in a long line of demons wearing the likeness of Sam. He soon recognizes it is actually Sam and is relieved to find out that Sam is not there because he has died, but rather because he is there to rescue Bobby.
At Crowley HQ, the King of Hell angrily questions one of his demons, demanding that she help figure out what the Winchesters are up to and orders her to find Kevin Tran along with the other half of the demon tablet. Aboard the safe-boat, Kevin surprises Dean by returning from a trip to hide the tablet. He refuses to reveal its location to Dean, and retires to the closet. Naomi appears inside the safe-boat and introduces herself to Dean. She attempts to convince him that she is on his side, spinning the truth of her interactions with Castiel, and providing him with the information that Ajay took Sam into Purgatory in order to help him get into Hell. Dean then goes in search of Ajay, but finds him dead in his cab.
Sam and Bobby, having exited Hell, travel through Purgatory, look for the landing spot where Sam arrived with Ajay. Sam explains the trials to Bobby as they go, and Bobby tells Sam that if the boys can figure out a way to bring him back, he's ready and willing to get into the fight again. Sam is distressed to realize that Ajay has not showed up at the agreed time and place.
Back topside, Dean calls Benny Lafitte and tells him he needs a big favor. Benny meets him, and it becomes evident that Dean wants Benny to return to Purgatory in order to help Sam get out, now that Ajay is dead. Benny agrees to go back, telling Dean that he could use a break. Dean promises to help him once Benny gets back from Purgatory with Sam. They embrace, and Dean slices off Benny's head.
Just before Sam and Bobby are attacked by a trio of monsters in Purgatory, Sam admits to Bobby that Dean had spent a year there in Purgatory, and that Sam had not looked for Dean during that whole time. Bobby berates Sam for abandoning Dean. As Sam and Bobby are attacked, Benny appears out of nowhere and helps them fight off the monsters. Bobby assumes that Benny is also a monster, and Sam moves in to save Benny before Bobby can kill him.
When Benny, Bobby, and Sam arrive at the portal for leaving Purgatory, Sam absorbs Bobby's spirit into his arm in order to transport him out. When Sam goes to do the same with Benny, Benny refuses, choosing to stay in Purgatory. At that moment, a group of vampires appears and Benny goes to fight them, leaving Sam to exit Purgatory without him. As Sam enters the portal, he catches a final glimpse of Benny under a pile of attackers.
Sam exits the portal into Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness, and Dean is there waiting for him. Sam relates to Dean how Benny used himself as bait to save Sam. Sam then releases Bobby's spirit to make its way to Heaven, but as it is doing so, Crowley appears and prevents Bobby's spirit from ascending. He attempts to send it back to Hell, but just then, Naomi shows up, scaring Crowley off and allowing Bobby's spirit to complete its ascent to Heaven before vanishing herself. Sam recites the Enochian incantation to finish the second trial, collapsing in pain as he does so.
As Kevin adds some touch ups to warding symbols at the safe-boat, Crowley blasts through the windows and announces to Kevin that he has killed Kevin's mother.
As the boys make their way back to the safe-boat, Dean admits that he has buried, not burned, Benny's bones. Sam affirms that Benny was different than he had first thought, and that leaving the door open to bring him back is the right thing to do. When the boys arrive at the safe-boat, the windows are shown to still be intact, although Kevin is gone along with all his notes and belongings.
Characters
Definitions
- Acting in Unison
- Angel Blade
- Angel Lore
- Balls
- Biggerson's
- Crossroads
- Crossroads Demon
- Deals and Pacts
- Demon-Killing Knife
- Demonology
- Devil's Trap
- Enochian
- Fizzles' Folly
- Heaven
- Hell
- Hell Gates
- Holy Water
- Pie
- Purgatory
- Purgatory Weapons
- Reapers
- Shapeshifting
- Spells
- Tablets
- Trials
- Vampires
- The Veil
- Warding Sigils
Music
None
Quotes
Dean: What?
Dean: By who?
Crossroads Demon: Rogue reapers. They got secret ways, in and out. Not just Hell -- the Veil, Heaven.
Sam: Rogue reapers smuggling people?
Crossroads Demon: People, souls...
Ajay: Whoa, whoa, Winchester, detach. This is Hell-adjacent. Been down this highway many times before. Follow the stream to where three trees meet as one. Where they meet, there are rocks. Between the rocks is the portal.
Bobby: A buddy?
Benny: A good buddy.
Dean: You're probably right. So, uh... Bobby -- how -- how'd he hold up down there?
Sam: He's good, all things considered. Ornery as hell, of course.
Naomi: Don’t call me a bureaucrat.
Trivia & References
Sam: But could a coyote like you do it?
- Sam is referring to the rabbit hole which Alice falls down to enter the fantasy world in Alice in Wonderland.
- The Mothership is the nickname used for the Los Angeles Supernatural offices.
Bobby: What?
Sam: You're a fan. Yeah. Or -- or, uh... Okay. What about your free pedicure at the Mall of America? You made Dean swear to never tell another living soul how it changed your life.
- In 6.06 You Can't Handle the Truth, the influence of Veritas meant that people could only speak the truth to Dean. Bobby revealed to him his love for actress Tori Spelling and her reality shows with her husband Dean. He also confided that he gets pedicures and loves having his feet massaged. Dean obviously passed this all on to Sam!
Minutiae
- Crowley is referencing when he cut off Kevin Tran's finger in 8.07 A Little Slice of Kevin.
- Crowley had previously referred to Purgatory as "Hell-adjacent" in 6.07 Family Matters.
Sides, Scripts & Transcripts
- 8.19 Taxi Driver (transcript)
- Taxi Driver Script (Production Draft)
- Taxi Driver Call Sheet (Day 1 of 8)
- Taxi Driver Call Sheet and Script Sides (Day 6 of 8)
Promotion
- Title
- Synopsis
- Promo pics by Seat 42F
- Promo Video by Comunidade Supernatural
- Sneak Peek by SNTeamFreeWill
- CHCH promo
- Winchester Radio's podcast for this episode, with special guest Guy Bee
- Adam Williams highlights some of the VFX in the episode