THE COUNTRY SIDE INN - NIGHT
Long about midnight, in the hallway of a crappy backwoods motel, Sam walked to the ice machine with Castiel, carrying a couple of gray plastic ice buckets. They were in the middle of a friendly disagreement.
"I don't know," Sam said. "I don't think it's even worth the bargain bin price. The whole movie was totally self-righteous. Kinda promotes the Just-World Fallacy, you know?"
Castiel frowned, all confused. "What's the Just-World Fallacy?" he asked.
"It's this B.S. belief that we all deserve what happens to us," Sam said. They reached the ice machines and Sam began filling his buckets. "It's like when rich people rationalize getting rid of public assistance. They tell themselves poor people are only poor because they're lazy."
Castiel seemed even more confused. "What... does that have to do with Pinocchio?"
"Okay: every time something bad happens to Pinocchio, it's painted as being all his fault, for disobeying Geppetto. But in reality, the god of his world is a giant dick." Sam handed Castiel an ice bucket and they started back for the Winchester's room. "Pinocchio is brought to life, but he's empty and completely naive. The minute he's left alone, this conman shows up and takes advantage of his innocence. I mean, this world's full of bad guys, but they're never punished. Not. Ever. It's all laid at this poor kid's doorstep. So the only lesson you can come away from the story with, is 'be a good little puppet, or we'll use you for kindling.' I mean, that's a pretty dark world to live in."
Castiel gave Sam a critical look. "I thought it was the opposite of that," he said.
"Really?" As they came to the room, Sam handed Castiel the other bucket so he could find his key and unlock the door. "The world that turns kids into pack mules is a shining, happy one?"
Castiel shrugged. "Obviously."
"Fine, what do you think Pinocchio was about-. And if you say 'God,' you're banished to the car."
Castiel didn't answer. He and Sam stood looking at each other for a few seconds before Sam rolled his eyes and unlocked the door.
"Okay," Sam sighed, "how is Pinocchio about God?"
"Because the greater moral message of the story," Castiel said, "is that the universe is not indifferent. That somewhere, there is a caring God. When the angel came-.
"Fairy," Sam said, opening the door. "The Blue Fairy."
Castiel made a little derisive noise and went inside. He set the ice by the TV. "When she came," Castiel said, sounding annoyed, "it was because the man led a good life and his labors were holy. He's righteous, and so heaven smiled on his endeavors. And the puppet might have been lead astray by evil, but only because he ignored his conscience. He knew what he was doing when he betrayed the man, that's why he lied."
Sam thought about it for a second and went to the mini fridge. "Yeah, but what about Geppetto and the Fairy?" he asked. "They created a life, an inhuman life, and then left it to it's own devices. They basically unleashed a monster, albeit a helpless one." He got out a couple of beers and handed one to Castiel.
"They had faith in him," Castiel said, holding his beer up and staring at it. "He proves himself in the end."
Sam opened both bottles. "In the end," he said, "Pinocchio goes insane, climbs into the belly of the beast and dies. He gets his wish because the only thing that wins a god's respect in that psychotic universe is this crazy, fantasy fist-fight between a sea monster and a haunted doll."
"The puppet offered penance for his lies and betrayal," Castiel said, "and was rewarded with good fortune. He's not only resurrected, but the man's fondest wish for him - that he become human, and so have a chance at true happiness - is granted. That's why the insect sings that 'fate is kind.' If the universe was arbitrary, none of those miracles would've happened."
Sam considered it for a moment. He looked a somewhat surprised. "Huh. I think you might be right, Cas."
"Should we watch it again?" Castiel asked.
"Nope."
