Originally aired: 18/10/2005

Writer: John Shiban 
Director: Robert Duncan McNeill
Guest Stars: Amy Grabow as Rebecca Warren Aleks Holtz (Zachary Warren), Shiraine Haas (Bystander), Marrett Green (Anchorman), Anita Brown (Lindsay), Peter Shinkoda (Alex) Ron Blecker (SWAT Captain) Nick Allen (SWAT Cop)

WB Description

Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) come to the aid of Sam's old college buddy after he is accused of a murder he swears he didn?t commit. The brothers discover a shapeshifter is adopting the likenesses of others and murdering people. The brothers' race to stop the shapeshifter takes a terrifying turn when he shifts into the likeness of Dean.

Full Synopsis

St. Louis, MO: The camera fades in into a house, that SWAT teams have seemed to surround. They get in to see blood on the walls, and a woman that is badly scratched up with tape around her mouth. She points over to see a man leaving the house... the man that is, Dean.

One Week Earlier: They then cut to one week earlier as Sam and Dean drive in to a gas station. Dean is trying to discuss with Sam where there next destination is and how long it will take them to get there. Sam has his face in a device as he checks his e-mail. Dean gets out of the car to fill it up with gas. Dean then questions Sam about his friends. Dean considers that Sam leaves his friends, as he did, because its "not safe" for him to get close to people in there line of work.

Sam gets worried by an email sent by his friend, Rebecca Warren. She said her brother, Zack, was convicted of murdering his girlfriend. Sam has a strong feeling that Zack didn't do it so Sam and Dean go to St. Louis to check things out.

Rebecca's Parents House: Rebecca "Becky" is shocked and happy to see Sam. Dean introduces himself and she lets them both in. She decided to stay at her parents place and take a semester off of school due to this murder, while her parents are in Paris. Becky describes how Zack saw Emily (his murdered girlfriend), beaten up and tied to a chair. He called 911 but the police arrested him. Becky said the only way Zack could have killed Emily was if he was at two places at once. A police camera shows Zack walking into where Becky was at 10:30 and Emily was murdered only shortly after that time period. Sam asks if they could go to Zack's house as he lies and says Dean is a detective. Rebecca agrees as she goes to get her coat. Dean still says that it isn't his type of business but they go anyway.

Zack's House: Sam and Dean enter although Becky is a little hesistant, but she eventually goes in because she wants to try to aid them. The police told Becky there was no sign of a break-in and that Emily let the attacker in. Sam questions if it could have been anyone else. Becky replies by admitting that someone did steal some of Zack's clothes, but the police felt it was nothing. They look outside to find a dog barking ficiously. Becky says it used to be a nice dog until the night of the murder. Sam questions Dean if its still "not their problem", Dean replies saying "probably not" but he wanted to check it out anyway. They ask if Becky knew where the police tape was as she nods her head and admits that she stole it.

Outside(Somewhere Else): A man that looks exactly like convicted Zack watches a man and woman outside of there house as the husband leaves to go to a meeting. As he leaves you can see Zack's eyes light up.

Becky's Parent House: They all watch the tape and it shows that Zack is at Becky's place around 10. Sam asks if Becky could get some beers and sandwiches for Dean and himself in order to get her out of the room. Sam slows down the tape to reveal that Zack's eyes light up. They dicuss among themselves and think that Zack has a doppelganger.

Man/Lindsay's House: The man that "Zack" saw outside his house enters the house and notices blood on the walls. He checks the house only to find his wife badly beat up and tied to a chair. As he starts to untie her she begs for him not to hurt her anymore. With a confused face he goes out to search the house only to find a man that looks identicial to him, attack him with a bat.

Behind Zack's House: As the video tape shows Zack entering the house but not exiting. That means the killer left in the back door, so Sam was looking for a trail and noticed blood but only in one spot. They then notice an ambulance speeding down.

Murder Scene: Sam and Dean follow the Ambulance which was accompanied by the police. They ask a neighbour if they knew what happened and they said that a man beat up his wife. Dean goes to a patrol officer and asks him about the murder. Then going up to Sam and admitting to him that it is there kind of problem. The patrol officer said that a witness saw the man come back from a business trip after his wife was beat. They now think its a shapeshifter, and its the same person. Sam thinks it might be able to fly which would explain the disappearing trails. Dean notices that there might be another way to go which is down.

Sewers: Dean and Sam go down in the sewers and believe the shapeshifter uses the sewers to get around.They notice some skin lying on the ground. Now they believe that whenever it shapeshifts it sheds.

Dean's Car: Dean knows no matter what kind of shapshifter it is they all die the same way, a silver bullet to the heart. Becky calls Sam to tell him that she doesn't need his help anymore. Apparently she went to the police to tell them about how they went into the house because she thought Dean was a detective. They have done some research and found that there was never a detective named Dean Winchester before. She feels betrayed because that could have ruined the case, so she hangs up on him as he tries to explain. Dean confronts Sam and tells him that is what happens when he lies, and he hands Sam a gun.

Sewers: Back in the sewers they go to look for the shapeshifter. They find him as he sucker punches Dean and runs away. Sam follows him.

Outside the sewers: Sam and Dean exit the sewers and decide to spilt up to find the Shapeshifter. Unfortunately they couldn't find him, although Sam didn't realize that the Dean he was talking to was the actual shapeshifter.

Back at the car: Sam questions Dean if their dad has ever faced a shapeshifter. Dean answers no and that it was only a psychic projection. Dean opens the trunk and Sam comes out to him with his gun pointed and tells Dean that he is not his brother because his left shoulder that got hit appeared to be fine. Dean was actually, the shapeshifter that then knocks Sam out.

Back in the Sewers: Sam is tied up and asks the shapeshifter where Dean was. The shapeshifter appears to learn about Dean and his family and gets a headache when information gets relayed to him. The shapeshifter admits all the things Dean feels. Dean feels jelous of Sam, his accomplishments, his friends, etc. The shapeshifter admits that he is left with no one, although he is meeting some nice people, like Becky which Dean has an attraction to her.

Becky's House: "Dean" knocks on Becky's door and wants to admit that he was lying and wants to try to clear things up.

Meanwhile (Sewers): Sam is tied up trying to get himself free. Dean coughs and so Sam knows that Dean is there.

Back at Becky's: "Dean" then tells Becky's about the Shapeshifter in which Becky has a hard time believing. The Shapeshifter then explains his background to Becky.

Sewers: Sam and Dean are trying to cut themselves free and Dean succeeds first as Sam tries to explain to him that the Shapeshifter was "downloading" Dean's thoughts into his head, so that is why the Shapeshifter didn't kill them, he needs a psychic connection.

Outside: Now outside of the sewers Sam and Dean have to get to Becky's house in order to save her.

Becky's House: The Shapeshifter feels as if he and Dean are alike, they have no one. Dean then attempts to kiss her but she says that he should leave, and that she is going to call the police, but he rips the phone out of the jack.Then he forces her down and ties her hands down.

By this time he has already cut her up and tied her up. Now cutting to the beginning scene of the show the swat team comes in. The Shapeshifter attempts to leave but is stopped by the swat team. He throws his knife at a cop in order to cause a distraction as he exits the house.

Sewers: Down in the sewers we see the Shapeshifter go through he very disturbing transformation.

The streets: Sam and Dean have passed some televisions that show Dean's face about his attempted murder on Becky. They go and discuss how they will take him down but they establish they need to go back to the car and get weapons.

Near Becky's House: Sam and Dean go running to the car, except Dean has to make an early exit due to the police. Sam warns Dean not to go into the Sewers alone.

Next Day: Dean goes to the car and get a gun and apologized to Sam that he can't wait.

Sewers: Dean then finds Becky underneath a blanket tied up and afraid.

Becky's House: Sam is now with "Becky" at her house and they talk about the shapeshifter as he starts drinking a lot. Becky then smashes a bottle over Sam's head to knock him out.

Meanwhile (Sewers): Dean unties Becky and realizes he has to go save Sam because Sam went to go visit her.

Meanwhile (Becky's House): The shapeshifter has now turned into Dean, because the Shapeshifter wanted Dean to be hunted. They he tells Sam that he should be more greatful of Dean and his great qualities. The Shapeshifter gets out a knife, which Sam uses to his advantage. Sam kicks The Shapeshifter and uses the knife to cut the rope that constrained his hands together. Now free Sam and The Shapeshifter have a fist fight exchaging martial arts moves, as the Shapeshifter says things that Dean would say.

The Shapeshifter pins Sam down and starts choking him. Close to suffocation, Dean comes to Sams rescue and shoots down the Shapeshifter. Becky runs over to Sam to see if he is okay, as Dean goes over the Shapeshifter to reassure that he is dead.

Next Day: Becky understands what Sam does and asks if anyone else knew, including Jessica. Sam replies no. Becky states that everyone misses him, as Sam departs.

In reference to Zack they blame Dean Winchester for Emily's death.

On the Road: Dean apologizes to Sam about how he wishes things could be different. Sam says that even in college he was still different. Dean tells Sam that hes gonna stick by him all the way, and he is going to miss it.. seeing his own funeral that is.

Episode Music

"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"  by Iron Butterfly
"Poison Whiskey"  by Lynyrd Skynyrd 
"Hey Man, Nice Shot"  by Filter 
"All Right Now"  by Free

Extras

Episode Promos  WB Trailer  Episode Screencaps  Episode Review  Inside the Legend UK Trailer Audio Clips


Video Clips

Shapeshifter

Perks

Lair

Skin

Handsome

Dead

Freak