Two tents are set up near a fire ring. Crickets chirp. Inside one tent, two YOUNG MEN, BRAD and GARY, are playing head-to-head handheld video games.
BRAD
Dude, you're cheating.
GARY
No, you just suck.
Something growls outside. In the other tent, a third YOUNG MAN, TOM COLLINS, records a video message on his cell phone.
TOM
Hey Haley, day six, we're still out near Blackwater Ridge.
Something dark flicks behind the tent wall behind TOM, too fast to be identifiable as more than 'something dark'; the screen on TOM's phone, displaying the video as TOM records it, caught it.
TOM
We're fine, keeping safe, so don't worry, okay? Talk to you tomorrow.
TOM stops recording and sends the message.
BRAD closes his game system and tosses it aside. GARY stares at his system for a moment, then turns to look at BRAD, who is getting up and unzipping the tent.
GARY
Hey, where ya goin'? My moment of victory.
BRAD
"Nature calls." he goes outside and zips up the tent behind him. He goes to stand against the tree to relieve himself. The fire crackles. Something snaps a stick. BRAD looks towards the sound and sees the trees rustling. BRAD shakes his head and returns his attention downward, then looks up sharply. Something growls.
Inside TOM's tent, TOM, who is reading Joseph Campbell's The Hero With A Thousand Faces, hears BRAD scream. Inside GARY's tent, GARY hears the same and rolls over.
GARY
Brad?
TOM sits up.
TOM
Gary, what's goin' on?
GARY opens the tent and sticks his head out to look around. He sees nothing. Growling. He looks up. Something pulls GARY out of the tent. He screams.
TOM turns out the lantern he had on. Shadows move very quickly around the outside of TOM's tent, TOM looks around, his eyes following the shadows and growling. Silence falls. Something slashes open TOM's tent. TOM screams.
The Boys and Lydia were Driving in the Impalla towards Grand Junction and Lydia was watching her uncle fidgitting in the front seat.
LYDIA
Daddy is Uncle Sammy dreaming because the bad thing killed that Jessica woman and we didn't kill it?
DEAN
yeah honey it's really eat'n him up.
LYDIA
"Daddy am I gonna have bad dreams about the bad thing too?" she questioned
DEAN
"No, honey your not going to have bad dreams about this bad thing, it's just bothering Uncle Sammy more because he loved her so much, and he's not sure how to be brave right now, but your brave just like mommy asked you to be right?" He said
*********SAM'S DREAM************
Birds chirp. SAM, wearing a suit and tie and carrying a bouquet of various flowers excluding roses, walks through an otherwise deserted cemetery.
SAM sighs and stops next to a gravestone. It reads "JESSICA LEE MOORE", "Beloved Daughter", "January 24th 1984 – November 2nd 2005". There is a small picture of a grinning JESS set into the stone above her name, a black-and-white picture of her leaning against the stone between a white teddy bear and a wooden box with a crucifix leaning on the picture, a small American flag next to the box, and three candles standing on the gravestone; one is of the Virgin de Guadalupe.
SAM looks between the gravestone and the flowers.
SAM
I, uh...
SAM laughs.
SAM
You always said roses were, were lame, so I brought you, uh...
SAM looks at the picture set into the gravestone, then looks away, choking back tears. He steps closer to the gravestone.
SAM
Jess...oh God...
SAM kneels to set down the flowers.
SAM
I should have protected you. I should have told you the truth.
SAM leans the flowers in front of the crucifix. An arm covered in dirt shoots out of the ground and grabs SAM by the wrist.
SAM jerks awake. It is 10 Nov 2005, he is riding shotgun next to DEAN, he blinks and rubs his eyes. DEAN looks over, concerned.
Lydia
You okay uncle Sammy?
SAM glances over and away.
SAM
Yeah, I'm fine, Lydi.
LYDIA
it's not good to Lie to family Uncle sammy. she states sitting back in her booster looking out the window.
DEAN nods.
DEAN
Another nightmare?
SAM clears his throat.
DEAN
You wanna drive for a while?
SAM laughs.
SAM
Dean, your whole life you never once asked me that.
DEAN
Just thought you might want to. Never mind.
SAM
Look, man, you're worried about me.
SAM
I get it, and thank you, but I'm perfectly okay.
DEAN
Mm-hm.
LYDIA
Daddy can we go on a dirt road again so I can drive just like we did with grandpa?
DEAN
Maybe after this case, sweetie which did you like better Grandpa's truck or Baby?
LYDIA
Baby daddy, I like Baby the best.
Dean chuckles and turns his eye's back to the road.
DEAN
"That's my girl, me and my two best Gal's."
Lydi giggled and stroked the back of his head, she likes touching his hair, she likes the sensations of she gets touching her father it calms her and gives her assurance, and it seems to transfer the calm to Dean as well, they really have connected the last two years he told her often that he couldn't imagine his life with out her now she was such apart of him just like sammy had become a part of him they were his life and he would die to protect them.
SAM grabs a map.
SAM
All right, where are we?
DEAN
We are just outside of Grand Junction.
SAM folds down the map, which is of Colorado and has a large red X labeled 35-111.
SAM
You know what?
SAM
Maybe we shouldn't have left Stanford so soon.
DEAN
Sam, we dug around there for a week. We came up with nothing. If you wanna find the thing that killed Jessica—
SAM
We gotta find Dad first.
DEAN
Dad disappearing—
DEAN
—and this thing showing up again after twenty years, it's no coincidence.
DEAN
Dad will have answers. He'll know what to do.
LYDIA
Yes Grandpa John will know what to do and kill it so you won't have nightmares any more uncle Sammy.
SAM nodded his appreciation to Lydia, and reached around and squeezed her hand then went back to the map.
SAM
It's weird, man, These coordinates he left us, This Blackwater Ridge.
DEAN
What about it?
SAM
There's nothing there. It's just woods.
SAM puts down the map.
SAM
Why is he sending us to the middle of nowhere?
They drive past the National Forest sign that says, "Welcome to LOST CREEK COLORADO National Forest
they make their way to the ranger station both sam and Dean got out of the car Dean opened up the back door and Lydia got out of and grasped Dean's hand and they walked in, lydia makes her way to the restroom then after that she walks back to Dean and he lifts her up so she can see the picture of the huge bear trophy.
SAM looks at a 3D map of the national forest, paying particular attention to the ridge labeled "BLACKWATER RIDGE". DEAN looks at the decorations.
SAM
It's cut off by these canyons here, rough terrain, dense forest, abandoned silver and gold mines all over the place.
DEAN
Dude, check out the size of this freaking bear it's huge huh baby girl?
LYDIA
"Yes daddy it's the biggest I,ve ever seen." she whispered amazingly
SAM looks over. LYDIA and DEAN are looking at a framed photo of a man standing behind a much larger bear. SAM comes to stand next to DEAN.
SAM
And a dozen or more grizzlies in the area. It's no nature hike, that's for sure.
A forest ranger, RANGER WILKINSON, walks up behind them; when he speaks, DEAN continues to hold Lydia and SAM whip around, startled.
RANGER
You boys aren't planning on taking that cute little girl out near Blackwater Ridge by any chance?
SAM
Oh, no, sir, we're environmental study majors from UC Boulder, just working on a paper.
SAM laughs a little. DEAN grins and raises a fist.
DEAN
Recycle, man.
RANGER
Bull.
RANGER
and what about little Miss?
LYDIA
I'm trying to earn my Poisonous plant Merit badge for brownie Scouts I have to find Poison Ivy, Poison oak, and stinging knettle. and they are here to help me so I don't get into trouble.
SAM's eyes flick to DEAN, who doesn't move.
DEAN considers.
DEAN
Yes. Yes, we are, Ranger—
DEAN checks the RANGER's nametag.
DEAN
Wilkinson, and were friends with Haley collins and she asked us to check with you while we were helping Lydia here.
RANGER
Well I will tell you exactly what we told her. Her brother filled out a backcountry permit saying he wouldn't be back from Blackwater until the twenty-fourth, so it's not exactly a missing persons now, is it?
DEAN shakes his head.
RANGER
You tell that girl to quit worrying, I'm sure her brother's just fine.
DEAN
We will. Well try but Haley quite a pistol, huh?
RANGER
That is putting it mildly.
DEAN
Actually you know what would help is if I could show her a copy of that backcountry permit. You know, so she could see her brother's return date.
The RANGER eyes DEAN. DEAN adjusts Lydia in his arms and raises his eyebrows.
DEAN, LYDIA and SAM leave the ranger station. DEAN is holding a piece of paper and laughing.
DEAN
Baby girl that was some quick thinking on your part, how did you come up with that honey?
Lydia shrugged,
LYDIA
dunno it just popped in my head, I thought that he would believe my lie more more then yours daddy.
SAM
Dean how come your daughter is so insistant with honesty with us, but she can lie like a snake to anyone else?
DEAN
her mom was a reporter sam, Amanda never hid the truth from her in fact she insisted on total honesty and obediance and the only people you can trust 100% is family and my sweetgirl is a freaken lie detector anways so its just best that we back up that lesson and be honest, she is honest with us so we need to be with her, Lydi what did mommy say about honesty and obedience?
LYDIA
honesty and obdedience gives you freedom and freedom gives you power to do what you want to
do when people can trust you it makes it easier for you to trust others.
and with that Lydia skipped back to the car.
SAM chuckled at his niece, she was so adorable nobody could look at her and not believe her because of the innocence in her eyes, it Un-nerves him so much that she sees right through to people especially when they want to hide things so he deflects with humor.
SAM
"What, are you cruising for a hookup or something?"
sam pointed to the hiking permit in Deans hands.
DEAN
What do you mean?
SAM
The coordinates point to Blackwater Ridge, so what are we waiting for? Let's just go find Dad. I mean, why even talk to this girl?
DEAN opens up the back door for Lydia and she buckles her self in then he turns and SAM stops on the opposite side of the Impala.
DEAN
I don't know, maybe we should know what we're walking into before we actually walk into it, I can't go into the situation blind man I got Lydi to think about and I am not going to do the job half Ass'd just because your riled up.
A pause.
SAM
What?
DEAN
Since when are you all shoot first ask questions later, anyway?
SAM
Since now.
SAM turns away; the sound of the car door opening is heard.
DEAN
Really?
DEAN goes around the car, and Drives to the Collins Residence.
DEAN and SAM are standing at the door to a house Lydia was Told to stay in the car that it was time for crouching tiger hidden dragon again. The door opens to reveal HALEY COLLINS.
DEAN
You must be Haley Collins. I'm Dean, this is Sam, we're, ah, we're rangers with the Park Service. Ranger Wilkinson sent us over. He wanted us to ask a few questions about your brother Tommy.
HALEY hesitates.
HALEY
Lemme see some ID.
DEAN pulls out a fake ID with the name 'Samuel Cole' and holds it up against the screen. HALEY looks at it, then at DEAN, who smiles. HALEY opens the door.
HALEY
Come on in.
DEAN
Thanks.
The door swings open; HALEY catches sight of the Impala.
HALEY
That yours?
DEAN
Dean looks over to make sure Lydia can't be seen then he smirks at haley "Yeah."
SAM is looking back at the Impala.
HALEY
Nice car.
HALEY turns to lead DEAN and SAM into the kitchen, where BEN COLLINS is sitting at the table on a laptop. DEAN turns his head to mouth (WOW) to SAM, who rolls his eyes.
SAM
So if Tommy's not due back for a while, how do you know something's wrong?
HALEY comes back into the room with a bowl she places on the table.
HALEY
He checks in every day by cell. He emails, photos, stupid little videos—we haven't heard anything in over three days now.
SAM
Well, maybe he can't get cell reception.
HALEY
He's got a satellite phone, too.
DEAN
Could it be he's just having fun and forgot to check in?
BEN
He wouldn't do that.
DEAN eyes BEN. BEN looks away. HALEY puts more food on the table.
HALEY
Our parents are gone. It's just my two brothers and me. We all keep pretty close tabs on each other.
SAM
Can I see the pictures he sent you?
HALEY
Yeah.
she pulls up pictures that Tommy has sent her and Ben from his hike.
HALEY
That's Tommy.
HALEY clicks twice and another picture comes up, then the still frame opening the latest video.
TOM
Hey Haley, day six, we're still out near Blackwater Ridge. We're fine, keeping safe, so don't worry, okay? Talk to you tomorrow.
SAM spots the shadow flicking past.
DEAN
Well, we'll find your brother. We're heading out to Blackwater Ridge first thing.
HALEY
Then maybe I'll see you there. Look, I can't sit around here anymore. So I hired a guy. I'm heading out in the morning, and I'm gonna find Tommy myself.
DEAN
I think I know how you feel.
SAM
Hey, do you mind forwarding these to me?
HALEY
Sure.
**** Later at a Bar and Grill***
Someone breaks a game of pool. A waitress goes past carrying beer. SAM and DEAN sit down at a table and Lydia is beside him, Dean was eating his signiture bacon cheese burger and beer and sam was having the house salad and a coke.
SAM
So, Blackwater Ridge doesn't get a lot of traffic. Local campers, mostly. But still, this past April, two hikers went missing out there. They were never found.
SAM opens John's journal.
DEAN
Any before that?
SAM pulls out newspaper articles to show DEAN.
SAM
Yeah, in 1982, eight different people all vanished in the same year. Authorities said it was a grizzly attack.
DEAN reads the headline in The Lost Creek Gazette.
GRIZZLY BEAR ATTACKS!
UP TO EIGHT HIKERS VANISH IN LOST CREEK AREA
HIKERS DISAPPEARANCE BAFFLE AUTHORITIES'
Families continue search and rescue efforts in spite of disappointing [...]
SAM pulls out his laptop.
SAM
And again in 1959 and again before that in 1936.
SAM opens the laptop, which already has a window open to TOM's video.
SAM
Every twenty-three years, just like clockwork. Okay. Watch this. Here's a clincher. I downloaded that guy Tommy's video to the laptop. Check this out.
SAM pulls up the video and goes through three frames of the video one at a time. A shadow crosses the screen.
DEAN
Do it again.
SAM repeats the frames.
SAM
That's three frames. That's a fraction of a second. Whatever that thing is, it can move.
DEAN hits SAM. SAM looks up.
DEAN
Told you something weird was going on.
LYDIA
"Yeah."
she says licking the honey off her fingers from dipping her chicken fingers in honey packets then sipping her apple juice.
SAM closes the laptop, and hands her some wet wipes so she won't get any of the research or his laptop sticky, she smiles at him and he smiles back they have been making progress slowly she still prefers Dean's Company to his but at least she's trying.
SAM
I got one more thing.
SAM hands over another newspaper article.
SAM
In 'fifty-nine one camper survived this supposed grizzly attack. Just a kid. Barely crawled out of the woods alive.
Lydia's head perked up, at that and she turned to dean.
LYDIA
the bad thing took that little boys mommy and daddy, he must have lots of nightmares because you haven't killed it yet.
she stated wide eyed at dean.
SAM
don't worry Lydi we will kill it now so he can get a good night sleep and we'll save Tommy to
LYDIA
that is good uncle sammy, Haley and Ben might be having night mares too I bet they miss Tommy and awful lot, just like I missed mommy before daddy killed the bad thing that took her.
Sam gave Lydia a sad look, but she just sat up straight and looked back at him right in the eyes, he was learning that she was reminding her self to be brave when she did that.
DEAN looks at The Lost Creek Gazette.
DEAN
Is there a name?
he asked, and sam returned his attention back to his brother.
SHAW HOUSE
An OLD MAN, MR. SHAW, talks to SAM and DEAN and Lydia while leading them inside his house. SHAW has a cigarette in his mouth.
SHAW
Look, ranger, I don't know why you're asking me about this. It's public record. I was a kid. My parents got mauled by a—
SAM interrupts.
SAM
Grizzly? That's what attacked them?
SHAW takes a puff of his cigarette, takes it out, and nods, Lydia stays out of the direct path of the cigarette because it made her cough and it smelt really bad.
DEAN
The other people that went missing that year, those bear attacks too?
A pause.
DEAN
What about all the people that went missing this year? Same thing?
A pause.
DEAN
We knew what we were dealing with, we might be able to stop it.
SHAW
I seriously doubt that. Anyways, I don't see what difference it would make.
SHAW sits down.
SHAW
You wouldn't believe me. Nobody ever did.
SAM sits down across from SHAW.
SAM
Mr. Shaw, what did you see?
SHAW looks at Lydia and pauses.
SHAW
"I don't want to scare the little one."
LYDIA
I don't get scared Mr. shaw, My daddy is gonna kill the bad thing so I don't have to have nightmares and you won't have to have them either any more cause it will be gone and it won't come back, you can tell my daddy the truth and he'll believe you.
Mr. Shaw glanced between her and Dean, Dean nodded telling him that every thing that Lydi said was true, and Mr shaw believed her she was stating fact not some little child's admiration of her father but truth and He could see that Dean was a seasoned warrior.
SHAW
Nothing. It moved too fast to see. It hid too well. I heard it, though. A roar. Like...no man or animal I ever heard.
SAM
It came at night?
SHAW nods.
SAM
Got inside your tent?
SHAW
It got inside our cabin. I was sleeping in front of the fireplace when it came in. It didn't smash a window or break the door. It unlocked it. Do you know of a bear that could do something like that? I didn't even wake up till I heard my parents screaming.
SAM
It killed them?
SHAW
Dragged them off into the night.
SHAW shakes his head.
SHAW
Why it left me alive...been asking myself that ever since.
A pause. SHAW's hands go to his collar.
SHAW
Did leave me this, though.
SHAW opens his collar to reveal three long scars. Claw marks. SAM and DEAN look at them, Lydia shivered and moved over to dean and tucked her self into his side, he wrapped his arm around her and rubbed up and down her arm.
SHAW
There's something evil in those woods. It was some sort of a demon.
LATER
DEAN and LYDIA and SAM walk the length of a corridor with rooms on either side.
DEAN
Spirits and demons don't have to unlock doors. If they want inside, they just go through the walls.
SAM
So it's probably something else, something corporeal.
DEAN
Corporeal? Excuse me, professor. Lydia giggled at her dad poking fun at uncle Sammy and his know it all brain
SAM
Shut up. So what do you think?
DEAN
The claws, the speed that it moves...could be a skinwalker, maybe a black dog. Whatever we're talking about, we're talking about a creature, and it's corporeal. Which means we can kill it they Leave Lydia in the locked Hotel room to get washed and changed and then they went back to the car to load up their wepons bag.
DEAN opens the trunk of the Impala, then the weapons box, and props it open with a shotgun. He puts some guns in a duffel bag. SAM leans in.
SAM
We cannot let that Haley girl go out there.
DEAN
Oh yeah? What are we gonna tell her? That she can't go into the woods because of a big scary monster?
SAM
Yeah.
DEAN looks at SAM.
DEAN
Her brother's missing, Sam. She's not gonna just sit this out. Now we go with her, we protect her, and we keep our eyes peeled for our fuzzy predator friend.
DEAN picks up the duffel.
SAM
Finding Dad's not enough?
SAM slams the weapons box shut, then the trunk.
SAM
Now we gotta babysit too?
DEAN stares at SAM.
SAM
What?
DEAN
Nothing.
He throws the duffel bag at SAM and walks off. SAM stares after him, they walk back to the motel room and start cleaning their guns Sam was surprised to see the cleaning supplies already laid out neatly on the table waiting for them.
SAM
Does Lydi clean the wepons? he questioned
Dean looked at him like he was an idiot
DEAN
Of course not, dude she's going to be turning eight, she just knows what we need and sets it out for us to be helpful.
SAM
You and Dad taught her that?
DEAN
Yeah we couldn't just let her sit around could we, she learned to read by reading dad's journal and lore books, she learned math by counting silver bullets she learned to write by copying down exorsisms; she couldn't go to first or second grade we were traveling all the time so we (home schooled) her, she could take you to school when it comes to saying an exorsism, she knows them all by heart it's what we read to her to go to sleep when she didn't want her grimm fairy Tales book we did what we could, she didn't complain or anything she's a great kid.
Dean looks over at Lydia snuggled in his bed grnning, then turning back to cleaning the guns.
Sam was stunned Lydi was just a bit older then dean was when he was forced to start living the life and they were doing with her what john had done with them and it didn't seem to be having any adverse affects on her like it did with sam, he never could (get with the program) as his dad would say but her start was so similar to theirs, her mother taken by the supernatural and then she had to go off with her father on the road to save people and hunt things, it started to make him feel like an outsider, a freak again because here was a little girl; dean's daughter and she seemed to just have it in her blood.
FOREST
A MAN, ROY, talks to HALEY (who is wearing shorts) and BEN while checking a shotgun. They're all carrying full backpacks.
ROY
I'll tell you again, I don't think Ben should come.
HALEY
Roy—
ROY
Look, you're paying me good money to keep everybody safe. I think Ben's safest at home.
The Impala pulls up. ROY, HALEY, and BEN stare. HALEY shakes her head atSAM and DEAN then she openly gapes at Lydia when she gets out of the car. SAM opens the back door of the Impala on his side and pulls out the duffel bag.
DEAN
You guys got room for three more?
HALEY
Wait, you want to come with us, and your bringing a little girl?
ROY
Who are these guys?
HALEY
Apparently this is all the park service could muster up for the search and rescue.
SAM heads past everyone.
ROY
You're rangers?
DEAN
That's right.
HALEY
And you're hiking out in biker boots and jeans?
DEAN looks down at himself.
DEAN
Well, sweetheart, I don't do shorts.
Lydia Giggles at dean's comment and the look on Haley's face and started pulling Dean up the trail.
DEAN Chuckles at Lydia's enthusiasm at being in the forest as heads past HALEY.
ROY
What, you think this is funny? It's dangerous back country out there. Her brother might be hurt.
SAM turns back.
DEAN
Believe me, I know how dangerous it can be. We just wanna help them find their brother, that's all.
DEAN heads past SAM
********** in the Mine**************
A mine shaft lets in light. TOM and GARY are hanging by their wrists from the ceiling. There are assorted corpses with them. Growling. GARY spots a tall skinny shape and starts yelling. TOMMY does his best to turn away and does close his eyes tightly as GARY yells.
*****Back at the forest*******
The group hikes through the forest, ROY in the lead, then DEAN, LYDIA, HALEY, BEN, and SAM bringing up the rear.
DEAN
Roy, you said you did a little hunting.
ROY
Yeah, more than a little.
DEAN
Uh-huh. What kind of furry critters do you hunt?
ROY
Mostly buck, sometimes bear.
DEAN passes ROY.
DEAN
Tell me, uh, Bambi or Yogi ever hunt you back?
ROY grabs LYDIA who is holding onto Deans hand which makes him stop and turn around. SAM looks on.
DEAN
Whatcha doing, Roy?
ROY grabs a stick and pokes the bear trap DEAN had almost stepped in. HALEY looks annoyed.
ROY
You should watch where you're stepping. Ranger.
ROY drops the stick and retakes the lead.
DEAN
It's a bear trap, he points out to Lydia who looks at it wide eyed.
LYDIA
we have to be careful daddy, we don't want to get bit by those; that would hurt.
They hike on. HALEY catches up to DEAN.
HALEY
You didn't pack any provisions. You guys are carrying a duffel bag, you brought a little girl with you. You're not rangers.
HALEY grabs DEAN's arm, Dean sends Lydia up to sam so he could talk with Haley.
HALEY
So who the hell are you?
BEN goes past HALEY and DEAN. SAM looks at DEAN, who indicates with his expression that SAM's to take Lydia and to go on by; SAM obeys and offers Lydia a piggy back ride which she accepted. DEAN watches them go for a moment.
DEAN
Sam and I are brothers and Lydia is my daughter, and we're looking for our father, her Grandpa. He might be here, we don't know. I just figured that you and me, we're in the same boat.
HALEY
Why didn't you just tell me that from the start?
DEAN
I'm telling you now. 'sides, it's probably the most honest I've ever been with a woman. ...ever besides my little girl. So we okay?
A pause.
HALEY
Yeah, okay.
DEAN
And what do you mean I didn't pack provisions?
DEAN pulls out a big bag of peanut MMs and sticks his hand in the bag as he hikes on. HALEY waits a moment, then follows.
LATER
ROY leads the way, followed by SAM, BEN, HALEY, Lydia, and DEAN.
ROY
This is it. Blackwater Ridge.
SAM heads past ROY.
SAM
What coordinates are we at?
ROY
Thirty-five and minus one-eleven.
DEAN and Lydia come up to SAM. They listen.
DEAN
You hear that?
SAM
Yeah. Not even crickets.
LYDIA
that means the animals are scared right?
Dean and sam nod at her in conformation.
ROY
I'm gonna go take a look around.
SAM
You shouldn't go off by yourself.
ROY
That's sweet. Don't worry about me.
ROY waves his gun and pushes between DEAN and SAM making Lydia stumble, Dean catches her and keeps her steady, Roy retakes the lead. DEAN turns back to the others as BEN and HALEY catch up.
DEAN
All right, everybody stays together. Let's go.
he say's as he grips Lydia's hand tighter in his.
CAMPSITE
SAM, DEAN, LYDIA, BEN, and HALEY are looking around near a large rock.
ROY
Haley! Over here!
HALEY runs towards ROY's voice, followed closely by the others. They come to a halt.
HALEY
Oh my God.
The tents are torn open and bloody and all the supplies are scattered.
ROY
Looks like a grizzly.
DEAN and HALEY look around.
HALEY
Tommy?
HALEY takes off her backpack and goes through the campsite.
HALEY
Tommy!
SAM moves to catch up with HALEY.
SAM
Shh.
HALEY
Tommy!
SAM
Shh-hh-hh!
HALEY
Why?
SAM
Something might still be out there.
DEAN
Sam!
SAM goes over to DEAN and LYDIA, snapping a stick, and crouches next to them.
DEAN
The bodies were dragged from the campsite. But here, the tracks just vanish. That's weird.
LYDIA
maybe they climb the trees?
DEAN, LYDIA and SAM stand up.
DEAN
I'll tell you what, that's no skinwalker or black dog.
They all go back to the campsite and SAM follows. HALEY picks up TOM's cell phone; it's bloody. She cries. She turns the phone over and the back is open. DEAN crouches next to her.
DEAN
Hey, he could still be alive.
HALEY gives DEAN a Look.
SOMEONE
Help! Help!
ROY leads the way as everyone runs to the aid of the shouter.
SOMEONE
Help! Somebody!
They find no one.
HALEY
It seemed like it was coming from around here, didn't it?
They listen.
SAM
Everybody back to camp.
Back at the campsite, all the supplies are missing.
HALEY
Our packs!
ROY
So much for my GPS and my satellite phone.
HALEY
What the hell is going on?
SAM
It's smart. It wants to cut us off so we can't call for help.
ROY
You mean someone, some nutjob out there just stole all our gear.
SAM goes to DEAN and Lydia.
SAM
I need to speak with you. In private.
SAM and DEAN and Lydia head a little ways away from the group.
SAM
Good. Let me see Dad's journal.
DEAN hands it over. SAM opens it and flips through until he finds a particular page.
SAM
All right, check that out.
SAM points to a First Nations–style drawing of a figure.
DEAN
Oh come on, wendigos are in the Minnesota woods or, or northern Michigan. I've never even heard of one this far west.
SAM
Think about it, Dean, the claws, the way it can mimic a human voice.
DEAN
Great.
DEAN takes out his pistol.
LYDIA
Well that won't work daddy.
She points to Deans Gun, and Dean sighs frustratedly and puts it back in his wasteband.
SAM gives DEAN back John's journal and heads past DEAN, stopping for a moment.
SAM
We gotta get these people to safety.
Back at the campsite, SAM addresses the group.
SAM
All right, listen up, it's time to go. Things have gotten...more complicated.
HALEY
What?
ROY
Kid, don't worry. Whatever's out there, I think I can handle it.
SAM
It's not me I'm worried about. If you shoot this thing, you're just gonna make it mad. We have to leave. Now.
ROY
One, you're talking nonsense. Two, you're in no position to give anybody orders.
DEAN
Relax.
SAM
We never should have let you come out here in the first place, all right? I'm trying to protect you.
ROY steps right into SAM's space.
ROY
You protect me? I was hunting these woods when your mommy was still kissing you good night.
SAM
Yeah? It's a damn near perfect hunter. It's smarter than you, and it's gonna hunt you down and eat you alive unless we get your stupid sorry ass out of here.
ROY laughs.
ROY
You know you're crazy, right, you think you two and a little girl art gonna kill a monster?
SAM
Yeah? You ever hunt a wen—
DEAN pushes SAM.
HALEY
Roy!
DEAN
Chill out.
HALEY
Stop. Stop it. Everybody just stop. Look. Tommy might still be alive. And I'm not leaving here without him.
A long pause.
DEAN
It's getting late. This thing is a good hunter in the day, but an unbelievable hunter at night. We'll never beat it, not in the dark. We need to settle in and protect ourselves.
HALEY
How?
CAMPSITE
The group has built a campfire, and DEAN instructs Sam and LYDIA to draw something in the dirt around the campsite while HALEY pokes at the fire.
HALEY
One more time, that's—
DEAN
Anasazi symbols. It's for protection. The wendigo can't cross over them.
ROY laughs, gun over his shoulder.
DEAN
Nobody likes a skeptic, Roy.
DEAN heads over to sit next to LYDIA and SAM, who is at the edge of the campsite.
DEAN
You wanna tell me what's going on in that freaky head of yours?
He asks Sam.
SAM
Dean—
DEAN
No, you're not fine. You're like a powder keg, man, it's not like you. I'm supposed to be the belligerent one, remember? and LYDIA here is the calm one and she's just about to turn 8.
A pause.
SAM
Dad's not here. I mean, that much we know for sure, right? He would have left us a message, a sign, right?
DEAN
Yeah, you're probably right. Tell you the truth, I don't think Dad's ever been to Lost Creek.
SAM
Then let's get these people back to town and let's hit the road. Go find Dad. I mean, why are we still even here?
DEAN
This is why.
DEAN comes around to SAM's front and holds up John's journal.
DEAN
This book. This is Dad's single most valuable possession—everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. And he's passed it on to us. I think he wants us to pick up where he left off.
LYDIA
saving people, hunting things. The family business.
SAM shakes his head.
SAM
That makes no sense. Why doesn't he just—call us? Why doesn't he—tell us what he wants, tell us where he is?
DEAN
I dunno. But the way I see it, Dad's giving us a job to do, and I intend to do it.
SAM
Dean...no. I gotta find Dad. I gotta find Jessica's killer. It's the only thing I can think about.
DEAN
Okay, all right, Sam, we'll find them, I promise. Listen to me. You've gotta prepare yourself. I mean, this search could take a while, and all that anger, you can't keep it burning over the long haul. It's gonna kill you. You gotta have patience, man.
Lydia looks over to sam intently.
LYDIA
Be brave sam, daddy will find grandpa then you can kill the bad thing.
she said then she laid her head on his lap hugging his leg.
SAM looks down, then up.
SAM
How do you and Lydia do it? How does Dad do it?
DEAN looks over at HALEY and BEN.
DEAN
Well for one, them, and her he points to his daughter.
SAM looks over at HALEY and BEN, then down at his niece breathing deeply, she trusted him enough to fall asleep on him and it warmed him a bit.
DEAN
I mean, I figure our family's so screwed to hell, maybe we can help some others. Makes things a little bit more bearable.
A pause.
DEAN
I'll tell you what else helps.
SAM looks back at DEAN.
DEAN
Killing as many evil sons of bitches as I possibly can.
SAM smiles. A twig snaps.
SOMEONE, presumably the WENDIGO
Help me! Please!
DEAN stands and readies his gun.
WENDIGO
Help!
SAM stands waking Lydia with a start and shines a flashlight about.
DEAN
He's trying to draw us out. Just stay cool, stay put.
ROY
Inside the magic circle?
WENDIGO
Help! Help me!
Growling.
ROY points his gun at the sound.
ROY
Okay, that's no grizzly.
HALEY talks to BEN.
HALEY
It's okay. You'll be all right, I promise.
Something rushes past. HALEY shrieks.
SAM
It's here.
ROY shoots at the rustling, then again.
ROY
I hit it!
ROY goes to see what he hit.
DEAN
Roy, no! Roy!
DEAN turns to HALEY and BEN and Lydia.
DEAN
Don't move.
HALEY's holding a stick, burning at one end, as a weapon. DEAN and SAM run after ROY.
ROY
It's over here! It's in the tree!
The WENDIGO reaches down from the tree and snaps ROY's neck.
DEAN
Roy!
SAM shines the flashlight around.
CAMPSITE
SAM was sitting against a hollow tree stump, holding John's journal and playing with a lanyard attached to it, and Lydia sat next to him. DEAN and HALEY and BEN are among the tents.
HALEY
I don't...I mean, these types of things, they aren't supposed to be real.
DEAN
I wish I could tell you different.
HALEY
How do we know it's not out there watching us?
DEAN
We don't. But we're safe for now.
HALEY
How do you know about this stuff?
A pause while DEAN considers.
DEAN
Kind of runs in the family.
HALEY
and your daughter know's as well?
DEAN
yeah, her mom called me about a case and she asked of we would check it out, she was a reporter and it was her story that got her thinking that it was supernatural and well she got to close to the monster and was killed 2 years ago, I had just learned I had a daughter so it was quite the wirlwind meeting.
HALEY
and none of this scares her?
DEAN
Honestly it might but the last thing her mom said to me to tell her was "obey mommy and be Brave."
so she is.
Haley looks over at Lydia talking to sam about the skinwalker she seemed so calm and attentive to everything her uncle was saying it was amazing.
HALEY
well your obviously doing a great job with her.
Dean shruggs
DEAN
she's naturaly a good kid always obedient which in our business save her life and mine and sam's she does what she's told and that lets us do our job.
SAM and Lydia comes over.
SAM
Hey.
HALEY stands up.
SAM
So we've got half a chance in the daylight. And I for one want to kill this evil son of a bitch.
DEAN
Well, hell, you know I'm in.
LYDIA
yes , daddy you need to kill the bad thing so there won't be nightmares.
Dean hugs his daughter close then gives his attention to sam, SAM shows the wendigo page of John's journal to HALEY and BEN.
SAM
'Wendigo' is a Cree Indian word. It means 'evil that devours'.
DEAN
They're hundreds of years old. Each one was once a man. Sometimes an Indian, or other times a frontiersman or a miner or hunter.
HALEY
How's a man turn into one of those things?
DEAN picks a couple things up off the ground.
DEAN
Well, it's always the same. During some harsh winter a guy finds himself starving, cut off from supplies or help. Becomes a cannibal to survive, eating other members of his tribe or camp.
BEN
Like the Donner Party.
SAM
Cultures all over the world believe that eating human flesh gives a person certain abilities. Speed, strength, immortality.
LYDIA
If you eat alot of it, over years, you become a monster. You're always hungry.
HALEY
So if that's true, how can Tommy still be alive?
DEAN
You're not gonna like it.
DEAN glances at SAM and LYDIA, then back to HALEY.
HALEY
Tell me.
DEAN
More than anything, a wendigo knows how to last long winters without food. It hibernates for years at a time, but when it's awake it keeps its victims alive. It, uh, it stores them, so it can feed whenever it wants. If your brother's alive, it's keeping him somewhere dark, hidden, and safe. We gotta track it back there.
HALEY
And then how do we stop it?
DEAN
Well, guns are useless, so are knives. Basically—
DEAN holds up the can of lighter fluid, the beer bottle, and the white cloth he'd picked up.
LYDIA
We gotta burn it Haley.
she say's in her matter of fact tone.
FOREST
DEAN leads the way through the woods, Molotov cocktail in hand. LYDIA follows, then Haley, BEN, then SAM. They pass trees with claw marks and blood.
SAM is leading the group now.
SAM
Dean.
DEAN catches up glancing back to keep an eye on Lydia.
DEAN
What is it?
SAM and DEAN look around at the trees. There are bloody claw marks and broken branches everywhere.
SAM
You know, I was thinking, those claw prints, so clear and distinct. They were almost too easy to follow.
Growling. SAM and DEAN whip around. Trees rustle.
HALEY is standing under a tree. Blood drips on her shirt. She notices and looks up, then leaps out of the way; ROY's corpse lands where she'd stood.
DEAN examines ROY as SAM goes over to HALEY.
SAM
You okay? You got it?
DEAN
His neck's broke.
SAM helps HALEY up. More growling.
DEAN
Okay, run, run, run, run, go, go, go!
Everybody takes off, Dean grabs Lydia's hand urging her forward.
BEN falls and SAM hurries back to help him up, dividing the group two and two.
SAM
Come on, I gotcha, I gotcha.
DEAN, LYDIA and HALEY stop short: the wendigo is in front of them. HALEY screams, while LYDIA clings to her dad.
BEN
Haley?
SAM stops running and picks up Dean's Molotov cocktail, the bottle broken, then he sees LYDIA laying crumpled in a bush off to the side, he rushes over and checks on her, she's breathing and un- injured; he helps her up all the while looking around for his Brother and Haley.
SAM
Dean!
LYDIA
DADDY!, uncle sammy we have to find him.
she says and looks at him desperately,her eyes scanning the forest this way and that, Sam Kneels down to her level and looks directly into her eyes so she can see the truth of his words.
SAM
I will find him Lydi, I will find both of them ok then we will kill the bad thing alright?
LYDIA
Yes uncle sammy, your right that's what we will do, I'm ok now
Sam stood up and grabs Lydia by the hand and walks her over to where Ben is standing.
BEN
If it keeps its victims alive, why would it kill Roy?
SAM
Honestly? I think because Roy shot at it, pissed it off.
BEN finds a trail of peanut MMs and picks one up.
BEN
They went this way.
SAM catches up to BEN, who hands over the MM. SAM laughs.
LYDIA
Daddy's candy just like Hansel and Gretel like in my Fairy tales, It's better than breadcrumbs Daddy was smart to bring them.
SAM tosses the MM away.
SAM, LYDIA and BEN follow the trail. They come to a mine entrance marked with a sign that says WARNING! DANGER! DO NOT ENTER EXTREMELY TOXIC MATERIAL. SAM looks at BEN, shrugs, and He and Lydia go inside. BEN follows. Above the entrance is a larger sign that says KEEP OUT NO ADMITTANCE.
MINE
SAM shines the flashlight ahead of them. Growling; SAM shuts off the light and pulls LYDIA and BEN against the wall. The WENDIGO comes towards them. SAM covers BEN's mouth before he can scream and motions for Lydia to do the sam with her own, she knows that she shouldn't make any noise, so it won't know where they are. The WENDIGO takes a different tunnel at the crossing. SAM , LYDIA and BEN keep going. The floorboards creak and BEN and SAM fall through the floor; they land in a pile of bones Sam looks up and see's Lydia Dangeling from the hole they fell through, sam jumps up and grabs her legs and lowering her back to the ground. Ben hadn't got up yet he was looking around and he spots another pile nearby of skulls he leaps backwards and sam catches him before he could smush Lydia.
SAM
Hey, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay.
SAM, Lydia and BEN look up; DEAN and HALEY are hanging by their wrists from the ceiling. SAM runs to DEAN, BEN to HALEY.
SAM
Dean!
BEN
Haley, wake up!
SAM grabs DEAN and shakes him.
SAM
Dean!
DEAN opens his eyes.
SAM
Hey, you okay?
DEAN winces.
DEAN
Yeah, where's Lydi?
LYDIA
Here, Daddy I'm ok.
He smiles and nods at her.
BEN
Haley, Haley, wake up, wake up!
SAM cuts DEAN down and BEN takes care of HALEY. They help them over to an empty patch of floor and get them sat down. DEAN makes pained noises.
SAM
You sure you're all right?
DEAN grimaces.
DEAN
Yeah. Yep. Where is it?
SAM
it's gone for now.
HALEY divests herself of rope. She stands up and spots TOM still hanging and starts crying.
HALEY
Tommy...
HALEY touches TOM's cheek. TOM's head jerks up. HALEY jumps back and shrieks. She turns to SAM.
HALEY
Cut him down!
SAM cuts TOM down.
HALEY
We're gonna get you home.
The stolen supplies are piled in the corner. DEAN picks up flare guns.
DEAN
Check it out.
SAM
Flare guns. Those'll work.
SAM grins. DEAN laughs and twirls the guns.
They head down a tunnel, DEAN, Lydia and SAM in the lead with the flare guns and HALEY and BEN supporting TOM, who is limping.
Growling.
DEAN
Looks like someone's home for supper.
HALEY
We'll never outrun it.
DEAN looks back at the others.
DEAN
You thinking what I'm thinking?
SAM
Yeah, I think so.
DEAN
All right, listen to me. Stay with Sam. He's gonna get you out of here, you to Lydia ok?
She nods Intently not making a noise, she hugs him tightly before walking over to sam.
HALEY
What are you gonna do?
DEAN winks and starts walking and yelling.
DEAN
Chow time, you freaky bastard! Yeah, that's right, bring it on, baby, I taste good.
The rest of DEAN's words are indistinct.
SAM waits until DEAN is a safe distance away.
SAM
All right, come on! Hurry!
The Collinses and Lydia follow SAM down the tunnel.
DEAN
Hey, you want some white meat, bitch! I'm right here!
SAM, Lydia , HALEY, BEN, and TOM hurry down a tunnel.
Growling. SAM points the gun at it, then lowers the gun and turns to the LYDIA and the Collinses.
SAM
Get them outta here.
HALEY
Sam, no.
SAM
Go! Go! Go!
HALEY
Ben, Lydia Come on,
HALEY and BEN help TOM along the mine tunnel while Lydia holds the flashlight so they can see.
SAM holds the flare gun ready to shoot, looking down the tunnel.
SAM
Come on. Come on.
Growling. SAM turns: the WENDIGO is right in his face. SAM shoots and misses, then runs after LYDIA and the Collinses.
HALEY
Sam!
SAM catches up and grabs Lydia's hand dragging her forward.
SAM
Come on, hurry, hurry, hurry.
They run to the end of the tunnel, the WENDIGO right behind.
SAM
Get behind me.
SAM is large enough to hide all three collins's and lydia behind him.
The WENDIGO approaches, taking its time.
DEAN comes up behind the WENDIGO.
DEAN
Hey!
The WENDIGO turns. DEAN shoots it in the stomach. The flare goes off and the WENDIGO goes up in flames.
DEAN
Not bad, huh?
SAM grins.
while Lydia launches her self at her dad giving him a hug almost knocking him over.
EPILOGUE
An ambulance loads up TOM. Two POLICE OFFICERS interview BEN; SAM stands behind BEN.
OFFICER
And the bear came back again after you yelled at it?
BEN
That's when it circled the campsite. I mean, this grizzly must have weighed eight hundred, nine hundred pounds.
SAM nods.
OFFICER
All right, we'll go after it first thing.
HALEY talks to DEAN he had just put Lydia in the back seat of the Impalla all three have already been patched up.
HALEY
So I don't know how to thank you.
DEAN smirks lasciviously. HALEY smiles despite herself.
HALEY
Must you cheapen the moment?, your daughters right there.
DEAN
Yeah.
A PARAMEDIC comes up to HALEY.
PARAMEDIC
You riding with your brother?
HALEY
Yeah.
The PARAMEDIC heads back to the ambulance. HALEY turns to BEN.
HALEY
Let's go.
SAM and BEN nod at each other. HALEY kisses DEAN on the cheek.
HALEY
I hope you find Her Grandpa for her, she sure seems to want him found.
Dean Looks at Lydia and smiles.
DEAN
yeah what can I say she likes the old man.
He says then smirks.
HALEY smiles at him again then her and BEN head for the ambulance.
HALEY
Thanks, Sam.
HALEY and BEN climb in the ambulance with TOM, who is shirtless and bandaged.
SAM sits on the Impala's hood with DEAN.
PARAMEDIC 2
Close her up.
A third PARAMEDIC closes the ambulance doors.
DEAN
Man,I think Lydia and I hate camping.
SAM
Me too.
Noises of the ambulance driving away, sirens on.
DEAN
Sam, you know we're gonna find Dad, right?
SAM
Yeah, I know. But in the meantime? I'm driving.
Dean tosses SAM the keys.
DEAN
Fine but remember road saftey sam, I have precious cargo aboard; nodding to his daughter, sam acknowledges that and then He and DEAN get in the car, slamming the doors almost in sync. The car starts and drives off.