Taxi Driver is the 19th episode of Season 8. It aired on April 3rd, 2013.
Summary[]
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There was something about being there... It felt pure. This episode summary is an official CW press release. It may contain errors. DO NOT CHANGE! |
Sam and Dean respond to a call from Kevin (guest star Osric Chau), who is terrified after hearing Crowley's (guest star Mark Sheppard) voice in his head. After hearing Kevin's news, Sam and Dean team up with reaper named Ajay (guest star Assaf Cohen), who helps them deal with the second trial from the Tablet. Meanwhile, Dean receives a visit from Naomi (guest star Amanda Tapping) and realizes he must find Benny (guest star Ty Olsson) and ask for a huge favor.
Plot[]
At the Crossroads.
Kevin wakes up in the middle of the night and is hearing Crowley. He looks all around him, but cannot see him. Crowley tells him he is in his head and everywhere else. He threatens Kevin by telling him: "You irked me last time and lost a finger. Imagine what will happen this time." Kevin sees that his whole hand is missing and his legs gone.
Sam and Dean go to see Kevin, who is terrified after hearing Crowley's voice in his head. They get there and see Kevin freaking out. Neither one thinks Kevin is hearing Crowley in his head but they try and calm him down. Kevin explains that he has decoded the second trial. The trial involves going to Hell to rescue an innocent soul and deliver it to Heaven. Not sure of how to get into Hell (other than the usual approach, of course), Sam and Dean agree they need some more info and go out to get some.
Sam and Dean torturing the Crossroads Demon.
Sam and Dean go to a Crossroad to find a demon. They summon a demon and trap him. They take the demon to an undisclosed location and start torturing him. Sam says it would be easier if he just told them how to get into Hell. He won't tell, because it's a secret and they (other demons) will kill him. They pour more holy water on his head. He explains: "Wait... you get someone to smuggle you across the border for a price." He also says that they have secret ways in and out of hell and heaven and that it is used to smuggle souls. The demon wants to die at the hands of the brothers rather than a painful, torturous death by Crowley. Dean agrees, but only after he tells them everything.
Later, they go to meet a taxi driver, a reaper named Ajay. They explain that they want to do business and cross the border. Ajay is confused because they are mortal and no one wants to get into Hell while alive. Sam persists in his questioning, asking if it was possible. He does have special skills. It would also require overhead.
Ajay says it could be pricey. Dean asks how pricey. He says they are resourceful enough and that one day they will owe him a favor. Sam is confused by the fact he seems to know them. Ajay comments: "Of course, you're the Winchesters." Dean is confused by this. Ajay says that he is the reaper who took Bobby to Hell. Sam is confused because they burned his bones so he should have gone to Heaven. "Not necessarily," says Ajay. Dean gets irritated and retorts that good guys go to Heaven. Ajay says that usually but it depends on who you know. They find out it was Crowley who sent Bobby to Hell; but this, in turn, makes him the perfect innocent soul to liberate out of Hell for Sam to complete the second trial. Dean, wishing to accompany Sam, asks for two tickets down and three back. Sam pulls Dean aside to discuss it. Sam reminds him that he has to do the trials himself. Dean can't come and he promises to bring Bobby back. Sam tells Ajay it will be just him and Dean asks how it would work. Ajay assures Dean that Sam will be back in 24 hours and not to worry.
Ajay and Sam in Purgatory.
Sam goes with the Reaper. They come to a back alley with a lot of graffiti and in the middle of it is a painted door. Ajay tells Sam to take his hand. Once they go through the door, Sam and Ajay appear in a forest. Only it is not Hell, but Purgatory. Believing that the reaper reneged on their agreement, Sam becomes pissed off and says this is not what he paid for. Ajay calms him down and tells him to follow the stream where three trees meet and that is the portal to Hell. He warns Sam to be back in 24 hours precisely and to be there if he wants to get back home. Ajay will not be joining Sam, as it was dangerous enough to bring a still-living mortal to Hell through Purgatory; but a Winchester at that? Frankly, Ajay doesn't have a death wish.
Dean gets back to the boat after picking up some burgers for him and Kevin. He comes in calling for Kevin and hears nothing at first. He calls for Kevin again and then Kevin comes out of one of the closets saying: "I thought it was safer in here." Kevin tells Dean how terrified he is of Crowley finding him. Dean tells him to get a grip. Kevin says he can't take it anymore. But Dean urges him to keep going, because that's what they do best.
Crowley finds Ajay eating in his cab. After suffering much fear and stress, he cracks and tells Crowley everything. After hearing what he wants from Ajay, Crowley stabs him in the back, killing him.
Sam is in Purgatory looking for the backdoor to hell. He is attacked by a monster and he cuts off its head with its own weapon. He sees a set of rocks and removes one. Air rushes into the opening; it's the portal to Hell. Sam disappears down the "rabbit hole." Sam finds himself in a long passage and starts to walk. The sounds of tortured souls trapped in cages are everywhere. While Sam is trying to find Bobby, he looks to the side and sees a girl. She is asking him if he is here for her and she knew he would come. She keeps repeating those phrases over and over. He finally comes upon a cage in which a man is turned around and stares at the wall. He opens the door to the cage and says "Bobby?" Bobby turns around and punches him in the face. Bobby tells him to get out of here you black-eyed son-of-a-bitch. Sam says that it's him, Sam Winchester. To prove he is who says he is, Sam tells Bobby about the time he got a free pedicure at Mall of America. Bobby hugs Sam in relief. Bobby asks Sam why he is there and Sam tells him it is to get him out and hands him the knife.
Crowley is back at his office freaking out that the Winchesters have once again been a thorn in his side. He has no idea what they are up to and wants to know before Kevin finishes the translation. He insists he needs Kevin. He claims that Kevin and Dean have the good half of the tablet while he has the crappy half with the acknowledgements. He shouts at his assistant to find Kevin.
Meanwhile, Dean is making breakfast for him and Kevin. Kevin comes in from outdoors and says that he temporarily hidden the tablet. Dean is very angry and Kevin locks himself in his room. Dean receives a visit from the angel Naomi. She tells Dean she is the one who rescued Castiel from Purgatory. Dean is pissed at her because she is the one who had Castiel spy on them. She tells Dean that she has reached out to Castiel to try and help him because when he came back from Purgatory he was extremely damaged. Dean tells her he doesn't trust angels and she points out the fact that he did not ward the place from them. She tries to explain that all she wants is to help Castiel and close the gates of hell. Dean does not believe her. She tells him that Ajay's way into Hell is through Purgatory. Dean is shocked and she tells him that they are on the same side.
Sam and Bobby are walking through the corridors of Hell to get back to Purgatory. Along the way, they come into contact with a couple of demons and kill them. Then they run into a demon that looks just like Sam. Bobby is confused and not sure which one to trust, so he stabs one and it dies. Sam asks: "You knew it was me right?" Bobby tells him he guessed. And they run.
Meanwhile, Dean goes to find Ajay and finds him dead in his cab.
Sam and Bobby get out of Hell and back into Purgatory. Bobby asks "What is this?" Sam tells him not to get mad but they are in Purgatory. Bobby exclaims "Balls!" Sam says lets go and they head off to the meeting spot.
Dean calls Benny and tells him he needs to ask for a huge favor.
Back in the woods, Bobby asks Sam how many more trials he has and he says just one. Bobby is super excited to be reunited with Sam and is happy that he will be able to be around them again. Unfortunately, Sam tells Bobby that in order for the trial to be complete, his soul must go to Heaven and since they burned his bones they have nothing to tie him to earth anymore. Disappointed, Bobby resigns himself to his fate. Bobby tells Sam he has to find a way to spring him from heaven. Sam starts to get nervous. Bobby asks what is wrong and Sam tells him the reaper isn't back to get them out.
Dean and Benny meet up at the spot where Sam and Ajay had entered Purgatory. Dean tells Benny that if he does not want to do it, he completely understands. Dean explains to Benny how sorry he is and he does not want to send him back there but it's for his little brother. Benny agrees to do it. Dean says that he owes Benny. Benny says that Dean doesn't owe him anything. He says he needs a break from this world and that he doesn't fit in with humans or vampires. Dean says he will get him out. He tells him to catch a ride with Sam like he did with him. Benny nods in agreement. They hug, Dean says thank you and proceeds to cut off Benny's head.
Back in Purgatory, Bobby is giving Sam an earful for letting Dean survive in the monster realm and not trying to get his brother out, even mentioning that their rule of not looking for each other was crap, which makes Sam feel guilty. Soon they find themselves surrounded by creatures in Purgatory and they have to fight them off. A few seconds later, Benny appears to help and Sam stops Bobby from trying to kill him. Sam's confused and asks why he is there. Benny tells them that Dean sent him. Bobby is mad that Dean is friends with a vampire, questioning what else he's been missing in his absence.
Dean is putting the weapon he used to kill Benny back in the trunk and drive off unaware a demon was watching him the whole time.
In Purgatory, Sam thanks Benny for saving them and Dean. Benny says he is a disgrace to his own people and chuckles at saving the hunter who wanted to kill him. They get to the portal and Bobby asks if that is it, which Benny confirms. Sam cuts his arm and Bobby cuts his arm while Sam says the spell to absorb Bobby's soul into his arm. They join arms and Sam takes in Bobby's soul. Sam says it is Benny's turn. Benny just looks at him. Someone calls out Benny's name. It is a group of three vampires. Benny tells Sam to go and walks over to the vampires. Sam tries to get Benny to come with but he says: "Nah. I was never any good up there.You tell Dean bye for me." Sam understands and runs to the opening but not before throwing him the weapon he stole from the first creature he killed in Purgatory.
In the 100 mile wilderness in Maine, Dean is waiting in the forest. Sam comes out and, without a word, Dean grabs Sam and hugs him tight. Dean asks if he got them out. Sam tells him: Only Bobby. Dean is confused. Sam proceeds to explain that Benny got them out by using himself as bait against a bunch of vamps. Sam tells Dean that it didn't seem like Benny wanted out. Dean agrees but is clearly upset by it.
Dean asks how Bobby is and Sam tells him he is good but worried. Sam says a chant and cuts his arm open and release Bobby's soul to the sky. They're confused when something seems to be preventing Bobby's soul from going anywhere. Crowley appears and says that Bobby is his and belongs in Hell. Crowley gets confused when something prevents him from dragging Bobby back to hell.
Crowley looks around and sees Naomi, which annoys him. Naomi says: "Let me see if I have interpreted the situation correctly. The Winchesters have freed an innocent from Hell, to which you are wrongfully trying to return." Crowley can't believe she's siding with the Winchesters and tries to argue that before they're through, they will lock them both away. Naomi says she hopes they lock him away and will worry about everything else later. Crowley pisses her off by calling her a Bureaucrat. She tries to kill Crowley but he flees. She lets Bobby's spirit soar toward Heaven. She smiles at Dean and says "I told you you can trust me." Sam asks who that was and Dean says he will tell him later and to get the trial done and Sam reads from a paper. His hand begins to glow and fill with pain. Dean becomes concerned putting his hand on his brother's shoulder but the pain passes quickly and Sam tells him it is ok and it is done.
Back at the boat Kevin is freaking out cause he is still hearing Crowley. He keeps telling himself it is just a dream. Soon the whole house shakes and gets loud. Kevin puts his hands over his ears as the glass on the windows breaks. Crowley shows up and says that he killed his mother to find him and found him by her cellphone. A few seconds later, Kevin's screams are heard.
Sam and Dean are driving back when Dean tells Sam that he buried Benny but he did not burn his bones. He tells Sam that Benny stuck his neck out for him and he did not think it was right to burn them. Sam doesn't argue and thinks he understands Benny now. He tells Dean it's okay if he wants to leave the door for Benny open. They both decide that it's time to check on Kevin again.
Sam and Dean get to the boat. Dean calls out for Kevin. No one is there. They are not sure what happened. They think Kevin finally snapped and left. Everything is gone, including his notes on the tablet.
Characters[]
Main Cast[]
Recurring Cast[]
Special Guest Stars[]
Guest Stars[]
Co-Stars[]
- Amanda Tapping as Naomi
- Ty Olsson as Benny Lafitte
- Assaf Cohen as Ajay
- Jennifer Huva as Bloodied Soul
Featured Supernatural Beings[]
- Angel (Naomi)
- Crossroad Demons (Crowley and Unnamed male)
- Demons (Sam Winchester imposter, Hell Dungeon Guards)
- Ghosts (Bobby Singer)
- Reaper (Ajay)
- Vampire (Benny Lafitte)
- Seraph (Castiel, mentioned only)
Continuity[]
- This is the first appearance of Bobby Singer since Survival of the Fittest.
- This is the first appearance of Hell since Man's Best Friend With Benefits.
- The Purgatory portal previously appeared in A Little Slice of Kevin.
Trivia[]
- The episode title could be referencing the rogue Reaper Ajay, who moonlighted as a taxi driver. It could also be referencing Sam being a taxi for Bobby's soul.
- The episode shares the same name as Martin Scorcese's film from 1976.
- The bumper sticker on Ajay's taxi reads "HOW'S MY DRIVING? CALL 1-555-GO2-HELL" Source
- When Sam was trying to convince Bobby that he wasn't a demon, he was referencing the episode You Can't Handle The Truth, when Bobby told Dean about being a fan of Tori Spelling and getting a pedicure.
- Garth's boat is named "Fizzles' Folly". Mr. Fizzles is Garth's sock puppet in Party On, Garth.
- The giant Devil's trap at the crossroads in this episode is where Supernatural Shake was filmed.
- The CW's official summary for this episode contains an error where an 'a' is missing between the words 'with' and 'reaper'.
- As of this episode, all of the original members of Team Free Will have been to Purgatory.
- As of this episode, both Winchesters have been to Hell, Heaven and Purgatory.
- When Crowley said patience isn't one of his virtues and that he doesn't have any to begin with, it could be a reference to the Seven Heavenly Virtues (counterparts to the Seven Deadly Sins).
Quotes[]
- Dean: [to the male Crossroads Demon] What happened to the hot chicks?
- Ajay: [to Sam] Smuggling a mortal across the border is risky enough, but gate-crashing a Winchester into Hell seriously blows.
- Crowley: [to Ajay] Patience isn't one of my virtues. Well, I don't have any virtues, but if I did I'm certain that patience wouldn't be one.
- Bobby: [to Sam] You're the 200th Sam I've seen today. That's how they screw with me, just endless Sams and Deans all wearing the same black eyes.
- Sam: [to Bobby] 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.
- Crowley: [to Kevin] What you people never seem to understand is that you are nothing. Fleeting blips of light. I am forever!
- Sam: When we get to Earth, and I release you, it's express straight to heaven. No time for goodbyes.
- Bobby: I already said goodbye to you once, Sam. Didn't seem to take. No reason to think I won't see you again, somewhere down the road. But if they give me a rocking chair up there, I'm raising hell.
International Titles[]
- German: Taxi Driver
- Hungarian: A taxisofőr (The Taxi Driver)
- Finnish: Taksikuski (Taxi driver)
- Portuguese (Brazilian): Motorista de Taxi (Taxi Driver)
- Italian: Un Taxi per L'Inferno (A Taxi to Hell)