DODGE CITY, KANSAS

GRAVEYARD

It's late at night, in a graveyard and an owl hoots as Dean and a man in a white cowboy hat, Sarge, are searching in the graveyard with flashlights. A train whistle blows in the distance as something rustles nearby. Dean and Sarge aim rifles in the direction of the sound, but see nothing.

"What the hell?" Sarge Says

"Come on." Dean Says

An owl hoots again in the distance as they proceed cautiously, with their guns raised.

"Where'd he go?" Dean Asks

They hear the rustling sound on the other side of the graveyard now and turn to head back that way.

"He's messin' with us." Dean Says

"He's too damn fast." Sarge Says

"Not faster than bullets." Dean Says

Dean heads off in one direction, and gives Sarge a hand signal to head the other around a crypt. They meet up at the opposite side of the building.

"All right, you wait here. I'm-a flush him out." Dean Says

Sarge covers Dean while he heads out into the graveyard. As soon as Dean's back is turned, a hand reaches up through the ground below Sarge, grabs his ankle, and pulls him underground.

"Aah!" Sarge Says

Dean turns around to see a hole in the ground and Sarge's hat, rifle, and flashlight lying on the ground, and runs back to investigate. He looks down into the tunnel.

"Sarge? Aw, hell." Dean Says

________________________________

48 HOURS EARLIER

ALLEY WAY

In the alleyway Sam and Dean stand beside the Impala, and Cas waiting for them by the phone booth.

"Cas, is that really you?" Dean Asks

"No. You're–you're dead." Sam Says

"Yeah, I was. But then I...annoyed an ancient cosmic being so much that he sent me back." Castiel Says

"I don't even know what to say." Sam Says

"I do. Welcome home, pal." Dean Says, then
embraces Castiel, and then Sam hugs him as well.

"How long was I gone?" Castiel Asks

"Too damn long." Dean Says

"Where were you? In Heaven?" Sam Asks

"No. No, I was in the Empty." Castiel Says

"Really?" Dean Says

"Apparently, it's where angels and demons go when they die." Castiel Says

"What was it like?" Sam Asks

"Well, it's dark and...nothing. It's like...nothing. I was sleeping, and then I heard a voice that said
my name, and I woke up. I thought you...had
done something." Castiel Says

"No, we...we didn't even think we could bring you back." Dean Says

"So who was it? Chuck–uh, God?" Sam Asks

"No. No, he has no power in the Empty." Castiel Says

"Well, then, who does?" Dean Asks, Sam's eyes widen in disbelief.

"Jack." Sam Says

BUNKER

Inside the bunker's library, Jack is typing away at his laptop when Dean and Sam enter.

"How'd it go?" Jack Asks

"Well..." Dean Says

"Jack, um..." Sam Says

"What's wrong?" Jack Asks

Sam and Dean move aside as Castiel walks up the steps and enters the library.

"Hello, Jack." Castiel Says

"Castiel?" Jack Says

"Yeah, it's me." Castiel Says

"No. We burned your body, and what's burned stays dead. How..." Jack Says

"Well, that's the question we've been askin'." Dean Says

"Jack... did you, uh...Did you bring Cas back?" Sam Asks

"I don't know. I wanted him back. I...begged for him to come back, but..." Jack Says

"Well, here he is." Dean Says

"Because of me?" Jack Says

"We don't know. We don't know, Jack. But we–we– we think maybe." Sam Says

"Thank you, Jack." Castiel Says

Jack walks over to Cas and hugs him, while Dean stands at the opposite end of the table looking on.

"I missed you so much." Jack Says

"Sam and Dean tell me you're doing well." Castiel Says

"I am. I...Watch this." Jack Says

Jack walks back to the table and levitates a pencil for a few seconds, then chuckles.

"Wow." Sam Says

"I can move the pencil. And... I found a case, Hunter's case." Jack Says

"What kind of a–" Dean Says

"Zombies." He whispers confidentially to Castiel "I know what zombies are now." He pulls the came info up on the computer "You see?" Jack Says

"Wait. Where'd you learn to do that?" Dean Asks

"By watching you. And Sam. Three days ago, a vintage pocket watch with a personal inscription was sold at a pawn shop. But when they went to authenticate it, they found out that it'd been
buried with its owner...20 years ago. And
when they checked out the grave, it was empty. Which means...the dead are rising in Dodge City, Kansas." Jack Says

Cowboy music plays as a dreamy expression crosses Dean's face. Cas glances up as if he heard the music as well, and Dean looks down to hide his smile while Jack glances between the two of them, confused.

"Right. O-or maybe it's a-a grave robbery, but..." Sam Says

"Oh." Jack Says

"Yeah, but we should probably check it out." Dean Says

"Wait. Really?" Castiel Says

"Yeah, we've done more on less. Besides Dodge City's kind of, uh, kind of awesome. All right, well... two salty hunters, one half-angel kid, and a dude who just came back from the dead. Again. Team Free Will 2.0. Here we go." Dean Says

DODGE CITY, KANSAS

STAMPEDE MOTEL

At the Stampede Motel in Dodge City, the Impala drives up to the motel and he parks it. Moments later the boys are seen walking down the hall, towards their suite.

"All right, this is supposed to be the best room in the joint." He unlocks the door, and switches on the light. "Oh, ho! The Wild Bill suite." Dean Says

Dean laughs as he looks around at all the cowboy decor, horse paintings, horns, antlers, animal heads, and photos of famous old west figures.

"Wow." Sam Says

Sam, Castiel , and Jack are more bewildered than impressed, but Dean's having the time of his life.

"Pretty cool, right? Dude! Check it out, check it out, check it out. Clay Allison, gun fighter extraordinaire, right? And, uh, Curly Bill Brocius, which now, now, now, little fun fact here–was killed by Wyatt Earp himself. Not kidding. Johnny Ringo, Billy the Kid. Oh, look!" Dean Says, while looking at the pictures on the wall.

"He really likes cowboys." Jack Says

Dean boops a stuffed buffalo head on the nose "Hey, big guy. How you doin'? That's...What's going on, Calamity Jane?"

"Yes. Yes, he does." Castiel Says

"Doc Holliday! Hey-oh! This is awesome. All right, I say quick shower, steak dinner, and then tomorrow, we hit up the cemetery." Dean Says

"Sounds like a plan." Sam Says

A set of swinging saloon doors creak as Dean goes to the bedroom and we hear him call out from the next room.

"Oh, yes! Stirrup hangers!" Dean Says

"You can have the couch if you want, I don't sleep much." Jack Says

"I don't sleep at all." Castiel Says

Dean opens up the closet so he and Sam could hang up their FBI suits.

"Still can't believe you brought your own hat." Sam Says

"Well, I can't believe you didn't." Dean Says

"You're in a good mood, huh?" Sam Says

"Yeah. And?" Dean Says

"Nothing. No, no, I-I-I just, uh...you've been having a rough go, so it's...it's good to see you smile." Sam Says

"Well, I said I needed a big win. We got Cas back, that's a pretty damn big win." Dean Says

"Yeah. Fair enough." Sam Says

ROAD

Later at that night, a police car has pulled over behind another apparently abandoned vehicle on a foggy roadside. The cop calls in to dispatch over a staticky radio.

"Run that plate, would you, Sophie?" Carl Asks

"Copy, Carl. Will do." Sophie Says over the radio

"Let's see who this pile of junk belongs to." Carl Says

Carl sees the passenger door of the apparently abandoned truck open, and gets out of his car to investigate. He approaches the truck cautiously, shining his light into the empty cab, when he hears the radio from inside his car.

"Carl, we got a match on that plate. Looks like the truck was stolen."

He hears a rustling noise across the street and turns to investigate, but while his back's turned the truck's door slams shut. When he turns back to the truck, he hears the noise behind him again, and turns again, and is grabbed by the ankles and dragged under the truck.

"Aah!" Carl Says

"Carl? Carl?, Is everything all right? Carl, do you copy?"

STAMPEDE MOTEL

Sam and Dean are asleep in their motel beds, while Cas and Jack sit at the table talking quietly while Jack researches on his laptop.

"And then there were these angels and they tried to kill me, but...I thought angels were good?" Jack Says

"Well, in Heaven, "good's" a relative term." Castiel Says

"What's it like? Heaven?" Jack Asks

"Well, that depends." Castiel Says

"But it's nice?" Jack Says

"It can be." Castiel Says

"That's good. My mother's in Heaven." Jack Says, as Castiel gives him a sympathetic look.

"Yeah, I know she is. Kelly was...she was a very brave woman." Castiel Says

"She left me a message. She said I had an angel watching over me." Jack Says

"Jack, I'm so sorry. I-I should've been here for you." Castiel Says

"No. It's okay. It's just... I understand why she trusted you. Why I trusted you." Jack Says

"You remember that?" Castiel Says

"I remember feeling...safe." Jack Says

"Jack, your mother, she believed that you would do amazing things. She said that you would change the world for the better. And now, looking at you, talking to you, I know that she was right, that we were right. Kelly would be so proud of you." Castiel Says

The laptop beeps, drawing Jack's attention. He types something in and it beeps again, turning the laptop to show Castiel what he's found.

"Oh, wow. I'll go tell them." Jack Says

"Jack. Jack!" Castiel Says

Jack jumps up and rushes to wake up Dean, while Cas attempts to stop him. Jack taps Dean's shoulder anyway, as Castiel rushes into the room.

"Dean? Dean?" Jack Says

"Jack, I wouldn't do that!" Castiel Says

"Aah!" Dean Says

Dean wakes up violently, pulling a gun from beneath his pillow and aiming it at Jack.

"No, no, no! Dean, it's me. It's me." Jack Says, holding up his hands.

Castiel tands by the swinging saloon doors in resignation.

"Ah, hey. Who's making me coffee?" Dean Says,
he relaxes and lays back down.

Some time later, after sunrise, Dean pours coffee into a mug in the motel room and shuffles over to slump down on the sofa and slurp his coffee as he wakes up.

"I told you. He's an angry sleeper. Like a bear." Castiel Says

"Okay, so "code three" means an officer down. Looks like the victim was–" Sam Says

"Covered in bite marks. Like from a zombie." Jack Says

"Or anything else that has teeth." Dean Says

"All right, change of plans. Jack and I will hit the graveyard. You and Cas hit up the crime scene." Sam Says

"Works for me." Dean Says

Sam and Jack get up to leave, and Cas rises as well, but Dean holds up one finger, and then points at his coffee. Without a word, Cas sits back down to wait for him to finish.

________________________________

ROAD

Dean and Cas drive up to the crime scene along the highway where Carl was killed and park a short distance away. They remain in the car, Cas wearing a cowboy hat with a hat band advertising their motel, and discuss their strategy.

"All right, listen, these Dodge City cops aren't likely to trust big city folks, so we're gonna have to blend." Dean Says

"Which is why you're making me wear this absurd hat." Castiel Says

"It's not that bad. Well, actually, yeah, it kind of is. Hang on." He reaches over and removes the hat band and tosses it in the back seat "All right, that's better." Dean Says

"Is it?" Castiel Says, then looks in the rear view mirror.

"Yeah. Look, just act like you're from Tombstone, okay?" Dean Says

"The city?" Castiel Says, furrowing his brows in confusion.

"The movie. With Kurt Russell? I made you watch it." Dean Says

"Yeah, yeah. Yeah. The one with the guns and tuberculosis." He uses his deep cowboy voice "I'm your Huckleberry." Castiel Says

"Yeah, exactly. Well, it's good to have you back, Cas. All right, follow my lead. We'll fit right in." Dean Says

As they exit the car, Dean puts on his own cowboy hat, and we see his cowboy boots. They walk in slow motion together toward the crime scene as Steve Miller's "Space Cowboy" plays. They pass someone investigating the crime scene.

"Howdy, pardner." Castiel Says

"Who's in charge here?" Dean Asks, The officer points out the person in charge.

"Much obliged." Castiel Says

"Sheriff Phillips?" Dean Says

"It's Sarge. Sergeant Joe Phillips. Sheriff's on vacation." He Says

"Well, I'm Agent Russell. This here is my associate." Dean Says

Castiel looks confusedly at Dean, and Dean tilts his head encouraging him to introduce himself. Minor awkwardness ensues all around.

"Uh, Kilmer. My name is Val Kilmer." Castiel Says

"Yeah, okay. What do you want?" Sarge Asks

"Well, we heard about the attack over the wire last night. Wondering what you can tell us about the victim." Dean Says

"His name was Carl Phillips. Deputy Carl Phillips. He's...was my nephew. Some psycho slit his throat and left the body out for the coyotes to chew on. I knew that boy since he was a day old." Sarge Says

"Well, we're deeply sorry for your loss." Castiel Says, as Sarge clears his throat, looking down at the ground.

"Anyway, what the hell's the Texas Rangers even doing up here?" Sarge Says

"Well, actually, we're FB–" Castiel Says

"Rangers. That's right. Texas Rangers." Dean Says

"Mm-hmm." Sarge Says

"We've been tracking a fugitive who skipped across state lines. He's a real mean son of a gun, he's been robbing graves." Dean Says

"Oh. We got us one of them. Carl was the one looking in on it. You think there's a connection?" Sarge Says

"Could be." Dean Says

"Well, you boys are more than welcome to poke around, but...I catch up with your runner first, there ain't gonna be much left of him to take back to Texas. You can count on it." Sarge Says

"Mm." Dean Says

MORGUE

At the funeral home adjacent to the cemetery where the grave robberies occurred, Messer Chups' "They Call Me Zombie" playing while a mortician wearing pink headphones prepares a body for burial with bubblegum pink embalming fluid.

Sam and Jack enter the room, but the woman can't hear them speaking over the music and her back is to them as she works. After several attempts to get her attention, she finally turns and is startled to see them standing there.

"Dude! What the hell?" Athena Says

"Sorry. Sorry, I-I didn't mean to scare–Um, there was no one upstairs." Sam Says

"Yeah, it's just me." Athena Says

"And you are..." Sam Says

"Athena Lopez, undertaker. And you are?" She Asks

"Agent Elliot." He points to Jack, but Jack's wandered off looking around the room "That's Agent Paxton. FBI." Sam Says

"He's an FBI agent?, did his parents sign a permission slip?" Athena Says

"He's a trainee. Top of his class. Anyway, we're here about the grave robbery. Uh, you live on the premises, right?" Sam Says

"All my life." Athena Says

"But according to the police report, you didn't see anyone that night." Sam Says

"I was out. Amanda Palmer concert." Athena Says

"Amanda Palmer?" Sam Says

"What about anything weird? Cold spots?,
Strange smells?" Jack Asks

Sam clears his throat pointedly in Jack's direction, since he's not asking the right questions.

"I just said, I wasn't here." Athena Says, Sam laughs and tries to cover up for Jack.

"Right. We're just trying to figure out what happened. That's all." Sam Says

"You and me both. Look, if you guys wanna check out the grave, the cops have it roped off, over on the west plot." Athena Says

"Great. Thanks. Again, sorry." Sam Says

GRAVEYARD

Sam and Jack walk through the graveyard, Jack holds the EMF meter, which warbles wildly.

"There's something here. No, wait. There." Jack Says, Sam laughs.

"Jack, put that away. We're in a graveyard, there's gonna be EMF everywhere." Sam Says

"The police report said something about rats damaging the coffin." Jack Says

Sam opens the coffin, where most of one end is missing.

"That's one big rat." Sam Says

"Yeah." Jack Says

"All right. Here goes nothin'." Sam Says

Sam sighs, and jumps down into the grave, and begins digging through the dirt at one end. He
pulls out a bone and holds it up.

"What's that?" Jack Asks

"I think it's..." Sam Says

STAMPEDE MOTEL

Back at the motel, Dean inspects the bone that Sam brought back.

"Leftovers." Dean Says

"Yeah, bite marks. Looks like a ghoul." Sam Says, as
Jack looks to Castiel, confused.

"Oh, a ghoul is a monster that feeds on the dead. They can take the form of whomever they've eaten. Decapitation kills them." Castiel Says

"Yeah, or bashing their brains in." Dean Says, then
tosses the bone to Castiel.

"So like a...zombie shape-shifter?" Jack Says

"Pretty much, yeah. And he could have tunnels all over that graveyard." Sam Says

"But if it could be anyone, how do we find it?" Jack Asks

Athena is listening to her headphones as she walks around the mortuary. Thaddeus Rose & The Thorns' "Hot Rod Rockin'" playing as a shadowy figure follows behind her. Back in the motel room,
Dean opens a beer and tosses the bottle cap.

"Can I just say I'm getting real sick and tired of fighting things that look like other things?" Dean Says

"Maybe the ghoul is this Athena." Castiel Says

"Yeah. A-a ghoul who owns a mortuary. That's smart, but... " Sam Says

"No. She's got access to the bodies before they're ever in the ground. Anything she wants, she would just take. She doesn't have to dig 'em back up." Dean Says

"Right." Sam Says

Athena prepares another body, still listening to her headphones, as the shadowy figure looms behind her. Meanwhile Jack finds something on his computer and shows the others.

"I think I found something. I tracked the plates on the stolen truck from the crime scene, and I went through the city's traffic camera footage, and look. This is it, from yesterday, before the deputy was killed." Jack Says

"Well, then, who's drivin'?" He kneels down and zooms in on the traffic camera footage to see the driver. "Holy crap. That's Dave Mather." Dean Says

At the mortuary, the shadowy figure approaches Athena and slaps her rear as she's bent over the body she's working on. It's Dave Mather, from the traffic camera image, wearing a black cowboy hat.

"Who?" Sam and Castiel Asks

"Dave Mather." Dean Says

"Dave!, Not cool." Athena Says

"What?, It's your own fault, bent over all sexy." Dave Says

"I don't like when you do that." Athena Says

"You do like it. Sometimes." Dave Says

"Cowboy. Outlaw. One of the Dodge City gang." Dean Says

"Come here." Dave Says

Dave pulls Athena into a kiss, and she smiles. Dean pulls Dave Mather's photo down off the wall as the cowboy music starts up again.

"He was one of the greatest gunfighters ever. I mean, he died in 1886, which makes this a little weird, but...Mysterious Dave Mather. I'm gonna get my boots on. One of the best gunslingers ever! Whoo!" Dean Says

"You got a letter, and it's from that makeup school. Thought you said you weren't gonna apply." Dave Says

"Changed my mind. And it's not "that makeup school." It's the Ben Carruth Makeup and Special Effects Program. It's the best." Athena Says

"The Carruth Program. Got it." Dave Says

Athena reading the letter aloud "Dear Ms. Lopez, after reviewing your portfolio, we've decided to accept you into our fall semester." Babe, I got in."

"Cool." Dave Says

"Don't get too excited." Athena Says

"No, I... I think it's great that you got in that." Dave Says

"But?" Athena Says

"But it's in Los Angeles, and we're not exactly swimming in cash here. City living, it's expensive." Dave Says

"Yeah, and they've got loans. I could sell this place if I needed to." Athena Says

"Athena, don't you think we have a good thing here? Why do you wanna go mess it up?" Dave Says

"Whatever. I have to work." Athena Says

"Athena." Dave Says

"Two FBI agents came by today." Athena Says

"What for?" Dave Says

"It was about the grave robbery, but they asked these weird questions about cold spots, strange smells." Athena Says

Back At the motel, everyone is getting ready for the hunt, checking their weapons.

"So our ghoul ate some Old West gunfighter and stole his face?" Dean Says

"That's what it looks like." Sam Says

"Ha." Dean Says

"I think I've seen him before. There was a picture at the mortuary. He's Athena's boyfriend." Jack Says

________________________________

MORGUE

The Impala pulls up outside the mortuary, Jack and Cas stay in the back seat, while Dean and Sam get out.

"All right." Dean Says

"So what do we tell Athena?" Sam Says

"Well, we keep it simple, tell her the guy she's banging eats dead people, and we're here to kill him. Or we could lie." Dean Says

"Yeah, we definitely lie." Sam Says

They get out the Impala and walks inside the morgue and to find Athena.

"Athena?" Dean Says

"What the hell are you doing in my house? Again." Athena Says

"Look, I-I'm a..." Sam Says

"I know who you are. Answer the question." Athena Says

"Okay, my–my associate and I, we're–we're looking for your boyfriend." Sam Says

"Why? Is this about the grave robbery?" Athena Says

"And a murder." Dean Says

"A what?" Athena Says

"Sheriff's deputy was killed last night." Dean Says

"We just wanna talk to him. That's all. So...do you know where he is?" Sam Asks

"He said he had to go to the bank." Athena Says

STAGECOACH CREDIT UNION

inside the Stagecoach Credit Union, a guard holds the door while a customer leaves.

"Have a good night, ma'am." He walks to the teller "Hey, Shawnte. Locking up."

"Okay, sounds good." Shawnte Says

Dave enters the bank wearing a bandana as a mask and brandishing a gun in the guard's face.

"Howdy, pardner." Dave Says