#and missouri back to sell the themes of fate and free will

[shallowseeker]

In a way, the events of 12x19 The Future kinda happened, just not for Cas.

(This is so awful, I’m sorry. ) He saw the future through Jack’s eyes, but Cas interpreted it through his own psyche, needs, motivations, and imagery:

From above (12x19):

Kelly, standing on a BEACH— in the surf— looking out at the ocean.

Sam, racing across an OPEN FIELD. Chasing something.

Dean, in tight closeup. A look of relief— of happiness on his face.

DEAN: Cas— thank you.

Castiel. Shirtless. Standing against a wall, as his WINGS FLARE. But they’re not broken anymore. They’re full and majestic.

These images are script only, but they're a fascinating window into Cas's mindset.

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Full wings:

Jack did get his wings back, full-glory, when he ate Michael in 14x14 Ouroboros.

From above (14x14):

Jack drops his arms, opens his mouth, and inhales the grace! All that’s left of Michael. He consumes it. As Jack closes his mouth and swallows, everything goes quiet. Jack’s eyes return the normal, and Michael is finally dead.

DEAN: Jack—

JACK: Michael… he’s dead. (he turns to our guys, calm and emotionless) I’m me again.

Suddenly, he bursts in a golden, fiery glow. His eyes flare hold, and his wings flare behind him. Jack has his powers back.

The shirtless majesty in the 12x19 vision was just Cas’s perspective/reinterpretation, superimposing a psychosexual component on top of the vision— his need to be strong and protect his human family.

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Thank you (script only):

And Dean did say, with relief, “Jack…Thank you,” in 14x17 Game Night.

From above (14x17):

On Dean. Knows how much he owes this kid, he got there in the nick of time.

DEAN: Jack, I— thank you.

Jack smiles, so happy to be needed, so loved.

Again, Cas’s 12x19 vision tightened that image into an intimate, close-up, because it’s filtered through his desire for Dean to be relieved and safe. (Remember, in 12x19, Cas comments that he didn’t mean to ignite “Dean’s distress.”) That’s why this vignette directly triggered the shirtless Cas/protector-driven imagery in the script. They’re one after another-> Kelly at peace -> Sam (supposedly) running free -> Dean intimately relieved & thankful -> Cas majestic, healed, and strong. Seeing Dean like that made Cas feel like that.

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Open field:

Sam did run through a small field, when rushing to stop the Equalizer confrontation in 14x20 Moriah.

From above (14x20):

EXT. ROAD - DAY

The road outside the cemetery. A car rips up—

And Sam bursts out— racing for— (Through what looks like an open field, Sam enters the cemetery)

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Beach:

As for Kelly and the beach, this is a loose allusion to Jack’s place of birth: Washaway Beach in North Cove, Washington.

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The future vision was a tragedy. Perhaps, Jack wasn’t making promises at all.

Perhaps, it was merely Jack’s power surging, tapping into the potential of the cosmos, and Cas saw what he wanted to see because he has trouble facing his own desires.

That’s the problem with seeing the future, Missouri Moseley might say, even when you see it, it’s hard to interpret, and it can be out of order and wrong and misleading in so many heartbreaking ways. You might not even be getting your own perspective.

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(Text Attributions// Supernatural scripts here via @spnscripthunt. Transcripts are located here via SPNWiki. Visit their Tumblr to donate.)