Castle s08e19 Episode Script
Dead Again
[Hold music playing.]
Woman: Customer service.
May I help you? Yes.
I'm here.
Alan Masters.
It's account number 34697721.
You guys recently added the Adventure Channel, and I paid to get it, - but my screen is all wavy, so - Wrong department, sir.
No, what do you mean, wrong department? - I pressed 3.
- Please hold.
Don't you put me on hold.
I've been on hold for 45 min [Hold music plays.]
Wow.
Mm-mm! Woman: Your call is very important to us.
- Please continue holding.
- Hello, hello, hello, hello! [Hold music resumes.]
Sorry about that, sir.
I can connect you to the correct department now.
Sir? Are you okay? Hello? [Thud.]
What are you doing? Watching you sleep.
Is that creepy? Mnh-mnh.
I think it's sweet.
I took some pictures.
Less sweet.
They're part of a series.
Usually you don't wake up.
And now it's creepy.
Hey.
I've been thinking Oh, no.
Oh, relax.
I'm over that whole sex-in-zero-g thing.
Good, 'cause that was just an accident waiting to happen.
Seriously, though.
I think it's time we shake things up.
Move to Paris, you know, search for buried treasure in Nepal.
We could fly a hot air balloon across the Sahara.
You know what? I love all of those ideas, but I just became captain, and you have your P.
I.
business.
And then there's LokSat.
Exactly.
[Cellphone rings.]
We have responsibilities, right? But what if we didn't? Hold, please.
Um, I might need that.
That might be a homicide.
The victim's not gonna get any deader.
Listen.
Let's say we find LokSat and take him down Without getting killed.
Mm-hmm.
What then? You're not gonna be captain of the 12th Precinct for very long.
You're on a rocket.
Sky's the limit.
So you know what happens then? Mnh-mnh.
We become normal.
No, Castle, you're never gonna be normal.
I'm serious.
- Think about it.
- I will.
What do you got? Lanie: Alan Masters.
All signs point to poison Dilated pupils, bluish discoloration around the lips.
That's a giveaway, but I'll know for sure after the autopsy.
Who called it in? Customer-service operator for his cable company.
She was on the phone with him when it happened.
What a way to go.
Poisoned or on the phone with the cable company? Well, at least the poison was quick.
Looks like our killer jimmied that window open.
Neighbor thought she heard somebody on the fire escape last night around 8:00.
How was he poisoned? In his water.
The filter underneath the kitchen sink was tampered with.
Ironically, he works for the city as a safety inspector.
Mm.
You know, if I were an expert on character, which I am, I would say that Alan was a bit of a dreamer, spending his days on the ground inspecting things but his nights in the clouds, fantasizing of adventure.
Tragically, his life was cut short before he ever truly lived.
Man: Hey.
What's going on? [Clipboard clatters.]
Or not.
What are you all doing in my apartment? Um, Lanie.
Don't "Um, Lanie" me.
That man was dead! Well, he's very much alive now.
He had no pulse, no breath sounds, and his pupils were dilated and fixed.
Was there rigor mortis, lividity? No, but he'd been dead less than an hour.
Lanie, hey.
Is it true that our victim was He was dead, okay? I know how to do my job.
Okay, calm down.
It's all good.
I just No, no, no.
It's not all good.
I almost stuck a thermometer in his liver.
Uh, so is he stable? Well, I'm still running tests, but he seems completely healthy despite having ingested a deadly dose of tetrodotoxin.
Hm? TTX.
It's a neurotoxin found in several species of fish.
It's extremely potent.
And yet he survived, so do you have an explanation.
No, but your husband sure does.
You are a modern-day Lazarus, risen from the grave to answer the eternal question What's on the other side? I'm sorry.
Who are you again? You'll have to forgive him, Mr.
Masters.
He's very excitable.
Well, excuse me if I find pulling back the curtain on what happens when we die just a tad exciting.
Was there a white light or is it more of a tunnel thing? The last thing I remember, I was taking my pills, trying to get my cable fixed, and then I woke up to an apartment full of police.
So, no out-of-body experience? Do you have any enemies? Me? No.
I'm an average guy.
I go to work, I come home.
But you dream of so much more, don't you? How do you know that? Did you read my diary? No, I saw your pictures on your Wait, you keep a diary? As a grown man, call it a journal.
What about work? Have you upset anyone there recently? Yeah.
There is this guy that works for me Well, used to work for me Dave Barton.
I had to fire him because he was letting serious infractions slide with just a warning.
Was it for money? That was the rumor.
And he did seem a little miffed when I let him go.
I'll play you the message that he left me.
Dave: You slimy little maggot.
I'm gonna stab you with a rusty spoon and strangle you with your own intestines.
Or better yet, I'm gonna force-feed you your toes one by one, and then I'm gonna light you on fire.
First, I'm gonna paralyze you with a claw hammer and then cover you with ants, you son of a bitch! And it goes on and on like that for a while.
And you never thought to call the police? On Dave? No! He's just got a big personality.
What can I say? I have anger issues.
And a gift for murderous creativity.
Threatening to "nail Alan to the ceiling by his feet and piñata the hell out of his face with a Fungo bat.
" It's all just talk.
I actually get nauseous at the sight of blood.
Oh, is that why you decided to poison Alan last night? Hey, I was home last night with my wife and my mother-in-law, which, believe you me, is no good for my anger issues.
I mean, that woman drives me crazy.
Sometimes I just think about getting a blender and a trowel and Kidding.
Well, you better hope your alibi holds up, 'cause you had all the motive in the world.
You want motive? We're safety inspectors.
You think we're making friends handing out millions in fines? We're not getting any Christmas cards.
Especially Alan.
What do you mean, especially Alan? The guy's got a rep for being a real stickler.
He doesn't let anything slide.
Oh, is that what you did Let things slide in exchange for a payday? Maybe I did, maybe I didn't.
Doesn't make me a killer.
The point is that Alan refuses to play the game.
And that pisses off a lot of people.
Hey.
Did Lanie really declare a live guy dead? No.
Well, yeah, But do yourself a favor Don't mention it to her.
So, you got something? I might have broken open LokSat.
You found them? Unfortunately, no, but I did find someone else.
Based on Castle's discovery of the exact time and date LokSat flew into L.
A.
, I've been scrubbing footage from all the Los Angeles area airports.
Look who showed up.
Caleb Brown? But he was traveling under an alias Peter McCaffery.
So, Caleb must have gone to L.
A.
to meet with LokSat.
But who's driving the S.
U.
V.
? I don't know.
I can only read part of the plate, but I'm generating a list of possible matches.
Captain.
[Knocks.]
Dave Barton alibied out, but we're getting a list of all the companies that Alan has either fined or shut down for violations recently.
Then we're gonna run the list past Alan.
Whose would-be killer is still out there, so what precautions are you taking? Squad car just brought him home from the hospital.
We got a uniform posted outside his door, which makes his only real concern your husband.
Yeah.
So, you have died and been reborn.
What are you gonna do now? Going to bed.
I have a full day of inspections tomorrow.
I need to be focused.
You can't just go back to work like nothing happened.
You had a near-death experience.
That's a wake-up call.
Get out there.
Live this life you've always dreamed about.
Just because I have a few pictures on my wall doesn't mean I'm not happy with my life.
Right.
Your drab, solitary life.
It's not solitary.
So there's a Ms.
Safety Inspector? Not exactly.
But there is a woman I have my eye on.
She's funny and smart.
Doesn't know you exist? No.
Man: All clear.
I'll be right outside if you need anything.
Great, thanks.
You should really call this woman.
Okay, I will.
And you honestly don't remember anything about being dead? Really don't.
Who does that? Who gets a second chance like that and just goes to work the next morning? I would.
I like work.
[Electricity surges.]
[Clattering.]
Whoa! Alan! Someone rigged the bed to electrocute him.
Is he dead? Sorry, Castle, but this time, he really is dead.
What a waste.
To be given a second chance and have it taken away like this.
He was just gonna go back to work like nothing happened.
What? If I hadn't been so focused on his rebirth, I might have noticed that wire.
I could have saved him.
You can't beat yourself up, Castle.
I was starting to think he was some kind of medical miracle.
Turns out, he was just lucky.
And in the end, his luck ran out.
[Coughing.]
[Grunts.]
[Sighs.]
Forget lucky.
Somebody cooking barbecue? [Sniffs.]
He's immortal.
S08E19 Dead Again - He was definitely dead.
- That's what you said last time.
He was dead the last time, too.
Uh, sorry.
Um, can we have a minute, please? - Of course.
- Thanks.
I'm sorry.
I'm just rattled.
You know, people can come back from being poisoned and from being electrocuted, but both in the same day? So, is there an explanation? I can think of two.
Either I'm really bad at my job or Castle's right and this guy is immortal.
He is not immortal, and you are a genius at your job.
We just got to keep looking for answers, starting with who wants to kill this guy so badly.
Is there any forensics on the second attempt? No.
The bed must have been wired after the apartment was already released from being a crime scene, which means the killer had about a two-hour window before Alan and Castle got there.
Hey.
So, the toxin that should have killed Alan, TTX, is a controlled substance, available through only a few pharma supply companies.
CDC is sending us over a list right.
So, finding the buyer might lead to the killer.
Any idea how our boy Alan is still with us? Uh, no.
But Castle has a theory.
You are a superhero.
No, I'm really not.
I'm just an ordinary guy.
You were an ordinary guy, Alan.
That's how most superheroes start out Mild-mannered weaklings, and that's you! Wow, thanks.
Relax.
It's all to maximize your transformative arc.
If I agree with you, will you leave me alone? Don't be silly.
We're just getting started! First, we need to figure out what triggered your transformation, your origin story, if you will.
Why? Because the origin story is everything! What, there's, what, nine Spider-Man movies about it? Yo.
We got a lead.
We need to come up with a superhero name for Alan.
No.
No, we really don't.
How about Safety Man? No, that's terrible.
Well, does he have any other powers? I don't know.
We should really run some tests.
Um, you said something about a lead Right.
Yeah, we've been checking into your inspection history to see if there's somebody you might have pissed off.
I think we have a winner Zantium Labs.
You just hit them with a six-figure fine.
Yeah, they're a biopharmaceutical company.
I threatened to shut them down after they had a bad chemical spill two days ago.
Whoa.
A chemical spill? Mystery solved.
Exposure to dangerous materials is the most common superhero origin story there is.
Sorry.
The spill was L.
A.
H.
It's an inorganic compound used as a catalyst to make other chemicals, which The point is, it can be explosive, but there's nothing about it that would ever turn anyone into a, I don't know Captain Cool? No.
But keep trying.
Hey, who's on the hook for that spill? The lab manager, Frank Patchett.
He begged me not to fine him.
He said the lab was hemorrhaging money.
That sounds like motive.
Come on, Castle.
Let's go talk to this guy.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Maybe I should come with you.
Why? No reason.
The girl.
The one who doesn't know you exist.
She works there, doesn't she? No.
Yes.
Her name is Gwen.
She's in marketing.
Sorry, Alan.
You got to stay here.
If there's someone at Zantium Labs trying to kill you, I'd be the worst cop on the force if I took you there.
Don't worry, Alan.
I'll put in a good for you with Gwen! No, no! Please Please don't! I can't believe someone would try and do that to poor Alan.
He's such a sweet man.
- So you do know him? - Of course.
People around here kind of hate him, but, I don't know, I think he's really funny.
Oh, I'll tell him you said that.
Oh, that's Frank.
Hey, Frank.
Thank you.
Mr.
Patchett.
I'm Detective Esposito.
I need to ask you a few questions about Alan Masters.
Is he doing okay? I heard someone tried to kill him.
Twice.
How's the cleanup going? Oh, well, we're almost done here.
Accidents happen.
Luckily, nobody was hurt.
Nobody except Alan.
You think what happened to him is connected to the spill? Maybe.
So why don't you get changed, and we can go talk about it.
Okay.
Locker room's over there.
We'll go with you.
Actually, I'm gonna go take a look around.
Origin story.
[Chuckles.]
Oh, wow! Hey.
[Chuckles.]
Oh.
- Excuse me.
- Yes.
Can I help you with something? Yes, as a matter of fact, you can, uh, Mike.
Look, um, if you had to pick something in this lab that would turn somebody into a superhero, what would it be? I'm I'm sorry.
What? Radioactive spider, secret alien technology, super-soldier serum Yeah, we don't have anything like that here.
Then what is What about this? What are you working on right here? We've discovered an accelerated method for growing hair cells in the mice.
Accelerated cell regeneration? That could be the key to immortality.
Frank: I've been supervising this cleanup for the last 48 hours.
Even if I wanted to kill Alan, I didn't have the opportunity or the energy.
But you did have the motive.
You begged him not to fine you, and he did anyway.
Yeah.
He's a pain in the ass, but the damage was already done.
Killing him would have accomplished nothing.
You know, something odd did happen when I walked him out to the parking lot.
Odd how? There was someone hanging out at Alan's car, but he took off when he saw us coming.
I didn't think much of it at the time, but Does your parking lot have security cameras? - Yeah.
- Let me see him.
Mr.
Hume, so you're an operations manager at a plastics factory that Alan recently shut down.
Is that correct? I didn't do anything to Alan.
I'm innocent.
Innocent men don't usually stalk their victims in parking lots.
I just wanted to talk to Alan.
That's all.
I needed to find the right moment.
We had to be alone.
Okay.
What did you want to talk to him about? Mr.
Hume, if all you wanted to do was talk to him, then why did UNis find you with two suitcases and a ticket to Mexico? Because I don't want to die.
They came after Alan and I'm next.
Who's "they"? If you know who went after Alan, you need to tell us.
Was it someone from your company? Are you a whistle-blower, Glen? Is there something you're trying to expose? Is that why you wanted to talk to Alan? The NYPD can protect you, and if someone really is trying to kill you, you're a lot safer in here with us than out there, on your own.
Okay.
But it's not someone from my company.
It's the mob.
What would organized crime want with Alan? Waste management.
Yeah.
They strong-armed me into giving them the contract for my factory's hazardous-waste disposal.
They've been doing the same thing all over town.
And they just dump the stuff into the landfill.
So, why would they target Alan before you? Because Alan fired Dave Barton, the only inspector that they could buy.
So Alan was becoming a big problem, and their only solution was to kill him.
The mob is trying to kill me? Trying and failing.
But do you know why? Because I'm I'm, what, Rogaine Man? Yuck.
Worst name yet.
But it does explain why you keep coming back to life.
Your cells regenerate at an amazing rate.
Except they don't.
What? Just got the test back.
No sign of abnormal regenerative activity in blood or tissue cells.
In fact, no sign of anything abnormal at all.
Told you.
I'm Boring Man.
Except for the contract out on my life.
Just to be sure, maybe we should cut off one of his fingers, see if it grows back.
What? Just the tip.
Okay, I'm done.
Whoa, whoa.
Where you gonna go? Home.
Or not home.
Somewhere safe.
Where is that? My place.
We have yet to unlock the secrets of your powers.
Lanie's a doctor.
She can strip you down and check you out.
No! Forget it! Come on! You owe him! No.
No, she doesn't! Castle, it's been a long day.
I am very overwhelmed.
I just want to go back to my life.
That's too bad.
You can't.
Spidey couldn't go back after the bite.
Hulk couldn't go back after the bomb.
The Ant-Man couldn't go back after I can't remember.
Point is, you have an obligation.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Let's go to my place and get some pizza on the way.
There is no way I'm going back to your place to eat pizza and explore my superpowers.
I'll tell you what Gwen said about you.
Okay.
Hey.
Where are we on the waste-management company? It's a new entity called Bullseye.
We're not sure who's running it, but rumor is it's a new player on the scene.
I don't know.
Electrocution and poisoning doesn't sound like the mob.
No.
Unless they're trying to keep a low profile.
The best way to stay off our radar is to fly under it.
Yeah, true.
Why don't you guys head down to the second floor, see if Organized Crime has any insight? Okay.
We know you can survive poisoning and electrocution.
Now it's time to see if you can survive penetrative wounds.
How about if we start with some smaller, like a paper cut? Okay, this is all a little overwhelming.
I understand.
All right.
Let's Let's test for some other powers first.
Telekinesis.
Try to move the piano with your mind.
Oh.
If I try this, will you tell me about Gwen? Deal.
Ow! What the hell? That was a trick.
I was actually testing for Spidey-sense.
I don't have it! Clearly.
Can we take a break, please? Fine.
Ah, no, no.
I don't drink.
All right.
Do you want to know what Gwen said? Yes.
Finally.
All right.
I'll tell you.
Well? I'm telling you with my mind.
- You're not getting it? - No.
Okay.
Well, bad news is no telepathy.
Good news is I think Gwen is into you.
She told me she thinks you're funny.
Really? Funny ha-ha, not funny strange? Yeah.
- Yeah, what? - Exactly.
So are you gonna use your double death as a wake-up call and finally ask her out? What if she says no? What if she says yes? Okay, I'll do it.
That is the spirit, Alan.
Well, I didn't think you meant right now! Alan, there is no time like the present.
[Ringing.]
Mm! It's ringing.
This is very exciting.
Oh, my God.
I'm gonna be sick.
I don't know what to say.
- Just be yourself.
- Be myself.
So, something like, "Hi, this is Alan Masters from the City Department of Safety Inspection, - badge number 62475 - New plan, new plan.
Do not be yourself.
Say this Hi, Gwen.
Hello.
This is Alan Masters of Yes, that's right.
I'm much better, thanks.
You? Oh, nothing.
I was just calling to see if you wanted to have dinner with me.
Oh.
Okay.
I'll see you there.
Bye.
[Beep.]
She said yes.
Well done, Alan! Now all we have to do is plan the perfect date.
How much time do we have? Well, we're meeting at Botticelli's in 30 minutes? Tonight? You said yourself it's time to start living.
Yes, I just thought it would be after we apprehended your would-be murderer.
I know.
I will just embrace my powers.
Maybe this is my origin story, and my dinner with Gwen will be the beginning of something really terrific! That's the spirit, Alan.
And I'm going with you.
Please don't.
The first two attempts on your life were meant to be anonymous, quiet.
It's very unlikely they'd try something in a public place.
Exactly.
Well, they did fail twice.
They may try to kick it up a notch.
What are you saying? Don't order an appetizer.
You found something.
Yeah.
I ran the partial plate from that S.
U.
V.
Caleb Brown got into, generated a list of names.
Guess who's on it.
Brooks.
Guy with the bag of spiders who tried to take down Castle and me.
If Brooks picked up Caleb at the airport, then this ties Caleb directly to LokSat.
Well, look, it's a start anyway.
A start? It's photographic evidence.
Of what? That he got into a car with a bad guy? Caleb's a public defender.
He represents bad guys.
He was using an alias.
We can use this to go at Caleb, get him to reveal LokSat's identity.
Until he alerts LokSat that we're onto him, and then we're all dead.
No, we got to wait until we have something more concrete.
Fine.
Caleb's alias Peter McCaffery.
I'll look into and see what other trips he's taken under that name, see if it leads somewhere more definitive.
Look, I know this is frustrating.
But we're getting close.
We just have to tread carefully.
There she is.
[Gasps.]
She looks nice.
This is a huge mistake.
I'm a safety inspector.
That's not even a little sexy.
This is so much scarier than dying.
You are Alan Masters, superhero.
Chicks dig superheroes.
Should I tell her I'm a superhero? I wouldn't open with that.
Okay.
I'm going in.
Wish me luck.
Good luck.
[Laughing.]
Hi, Gwen.
Hi.
- Wow, you - Good to see you.
- Oh.
- You look - Oh! - You look great.
Thanks for having dinner with me.
I was surprised that you called, after the day you've had.
- What a day, right? Crazy.
- Yeah.
Just nuts.
I I-I-I'm a superhero.
What? Nothing.
I sneezed.
You You sneezed, "I'm a superhero"? Yeah.
Allergies.
[Sneezes.]
Superhero! Excuse me.
[Sniffles.]
[Cellphone rings.]
Hey, Ryan.
We I.
D.
'd the owner of Bullseye Waste Management.
He's a guy named Horatio Spate.
That's a good supervillain name.
This is not a joke.
Spate is suspected of executing over a dozen people.
I texted you his picture just to put him on your radar.
Whatever you do, don't leave the loft.
Don't leave the loft.
Got it.
[Laughter.]
Wait, what's that noise? Uh [Indistinct conversations.]
Crap.
- Hello, Alan.
- Do I know you? Sorry to interrupt your romantic dinner.
Careful, Alan.
He's your archnemesis.
Seriously? I have an archnemesis? Is that how they dress? Alan, you're cute and I like you, but this is all a bit much.
You say that you're a superhero, and he's a supervillain.
So does that make you his sidekick? Sidekick? Please.
I'm the mentor.
And I'm his date.
Or at least I was.
I'm sorry.
This is just weird.
And she thinks I'm crazy.
Thank you so much.
This is all your fault.
Actually, it's his.
Alan, meet Horatio Spate.
He's the new owner of Bullseye Waste Management.
So, you're the one who's trying to kill me? Hardly.
If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead already.
Well, what do you want? An arrangement.
One that would benefit both of us.
Twice someone's tried to kill you.
And you're still with us.
How long before Lady Luck abandons you? Oh, let me guess.
A man like you can offer protection.
More than offer.
I can guarantee it.
In return, all I ask is that you adopt a more laissez-faire interpretation of your inspection policies.
This is a moral test.
Every superhero is presented with a moral dilemma by the villain, trying to corrupt him.
Horatio Spate, my answer is no.
Gun, gun.
Relax, boys.
It's ginkgo.
Just started taking it.
Here's what it does.
It improves memory, it sharpens brain function, and it helps a person make really, really good decisions.
Perhaps you should try one, then you can rethink your answer.
Careful.
Dangerous out there.
It's as if he stepped off the pages of a graphic novel.
You should have been there to see him in person.
Yes.
They should have.
Not you, and definitely not Alan.
Now, tell me how dangerous it was for you to take him out in public, 'cause I know that you knew.
He's in love, Beckett.
And I love love.
And I'm sorry, and I won't do it again.
No, you won't, and you know why? Because I've had him sent to a real safe house until we track down Horatio.
Boss, I know we were talking about flying under the radar, but that really doesn't seem to be Horatio's style.
I mean, he solves problems with bullets, not poisons and elaborate electrocution traps.
So why would he guarantee protection? Oh, maybe he knows the actual identity of our would-be killer.
And stopping the hit could benefit his waste-disposal company by giving him leverage on Alan.
Are any of Horatio's associates recent buyers of TTX? 'Cause that could help us narrow down who's trying to kill Alan.
We've got the list right here.
Wait a minute.
Lucky Dragon Herbologists? Horatio had a pillbox with a dragon logo on it.
That's it.
That's the same logo.
It says here that it's a front for the White Lotus Chinese Triad.
Okay, so how does an international gang get cleared to possess TTX? Because Lucky Dragon is a legitimate business and there are small doses of TTX in Eastern medicine.
Hold up.
This doesn't make sense.
According to Intel, the Triad sees Horatio as a threat to their territory.
They're gearing up for war.
So, no way is Horatio guaranteeing Alan's safety with the Triads.
Unless Horatio said he just started taking ginkgo.
What if the two empires are hammering out some kind of an alliance? An alliance that Alan unknowingly stumbled onto and put him right in the cross hairs of the Triad.
But what could bring two warring gangs together to join forces? Well, get a search warrant for Lucky Dragon Herbologists and find out.
Hey.
Uh, Caleb.
What are you doing here? I hate to bother you, but I could really use your help with a client.
Can I borrow you for a quick minute? Yeah, sure.
So, who is this client? I think you're familiar with him Peter McCaffery.
Uh, no, it It doesn't sound familiar.
No? Let me fill you in.
So, there's this overzealous cop.
You know the type.
She never knows when to give up.
And she has her tech guy look into Peter McCaffery's recent travel.
Okay.
Yeah, well, Mr.
McCaffery's a very private person, so he set up some unexpected digital trip wires.
That's bad news for the tech guy and his boss.
And so this cop, she keeps marching toward this kill zone, and unless she makes an about-face, it is not going to end well.
I don't get it.
You served a full term in the Peace Corps.
You worked for the EPA.
You brought legal action against corrupt corporations.
What's your point, Kate? What happened? You used to make a difference.
Why did you sell out? Look.
My client is forced to work for a man that he cannot fight.
And take my word for it.
Neither can you.
Let's help each other out here.
We can bring down LokSat.
I'm giving you a second chance to make a difference.
Captain, just do yourself a favor, hmm? Heed my warning.
No, you heed mine.
You have until 8:00 tomorrow night.
Then what? I'll expose you.
And then we'll both be looking over our shoulders, waiting for LokSat to tie up loose ends.
Because once they find out that your cover is blown and I'm onto you, then you're gonna be as dead as I am.
Seven minutes, Kate.
Seven minutes.
That's how long the brain continues to function after the body dies, and as all of those synapses slowly stop firing off, that's when they say that our lives flash before our eyes.
Now, when your seven minutes come, I sincerely hope that you do not flash to this moment, when you had a chance to live and you chose not to.
Hey.
Hey.
Do you want me to handle that? You're on edge this morning.
On edge? Why would I be on edge? Because LokSat's henchman knows we're onto him and assassins could come through the door at any second.
I mean, why aren't you on edge? Well, Caleb is a lot of things, but he's not suicidal, and working with us is his only recourse.
He threatened your life.
Because he was scared.
Trust me, Castle.
I turned him.
I'm positive he's gonna come in today.
Oh, yeah, I think he's coming in, too.
Well, either him or LokSat's kill squads.
- Hey.
- Hey! Geez.
So, Judge Kober just denied our search warrant request for The Lucky Dragon.
A suspected Triad front.
Does she know that we like them for two attempts on Alan's life? Says we still need probable cause.
Okay, we got to go at this a different way.
You know, if Horatio and the Triads are working together, this is something big.
Guys.
I know how to get in.
Stick to the plan.
Relax.
I totally got this.
Welcome to Lucky Dragon herbs and remedies.
Can I help you? Surprise safety inspection.
FYI, sir, he's holding out a badge that says Department of Safety and Health and he's got a serious look on his face.
Very serious look.
Okay.
But why two inspectors? Uh, because he is my trainee Trainee.
And it helps to have a second set of eyes.
Not that one set of eyes or no sets of eyes is a bad thing.
Bring all the eyes you would like.
I'm sure you'll find my medicines violate none of your Western laws.
We'll be the judge of that.
[Coughs.]
I ask we stay together so I may address your inspection concerns.
Of course.
I'll cause a distraction.
You slip to the back room.
Here are some of my most precious herbs.
Impossible to grow in this country.
Oh, you mean these herbs right here? Your assistant's very clumsy.
Yes, he is.
Which is why the sooner we get out of your way, the better.
Take us to your back room now, please.
But of course.
Wait.
I sense something.
Something powerful.
An unnatural presence in the order of things.
What kind of presence? What kind, indeed? When is a man not a man? When his life-force cannot be extinguished, when he cannot die.
Then he is a god.
I think he senses your powers.
Yeah? You do? Either that or he's buying time while his guys get the contraband out the back door.
You guys drop the cases.
NYPD.
On your knees, fellas.
What the hell is this? Lanie: Heroin.
Castle: Since when does heroin look like that? Since it's synthetic heroin, an opioid manufactured to replicate a heroin high.
In fact, this stuff actually improves on it because, according to the analysis I ran, it's laced with TTX.
The same poison that almost killed me? What, heroin isn't dangerous enough? Because that poison works by blocking synapses.
In small doses, it's a powerful analgesic specifically used for the pain of heroin withdrawal.
So it makes the drug more addictive by reducing the painful side effects.
So more addictive heroin that doesn't have to be smuggled into the country because Because it can be made right here in the good old U.
S.
of A.
That explains why the Triads and Horatio are willing to put their difference aside, because synthetic heroin could be worth billions.
What does this have to do with me? Why would anybody want me dead? Well, clearly this stuff is made in a lab somewhere, and your job is to inspect laboratories, so You know, this shade of yellow looks very familiar.
What is it that gives it this color? An inorganic catalyst commonly referred to as L.
A.
H.
Lithium aluminum hydride? That is the same chemical that spilled when I was inspecting Zantium Labs.
This is why they wanted you dead.
When the synthetic heroin hits the streets, it'll come out that it was made with L.
A.
H.
And since you knew the lab had purchased large amounts of L.
A.
H They couldn't take the risk that I might see something on the news, put the pieces together, - and report it to the authorities.
- Which means Someone at Zantium Labs is trying to kill me! Someone at Zantium Labs is trying to kill you! Oh, my God.
Is that what we sound like? Certainly hope not.
I mean, it was cute but just overly cute.
Alan.
Huh? Do you know who ordered the L.
A.
H.
for Zantium? I do.
Mike Lin, the lead chemist.
I remember seeing his name on the purchase order.
He's probably the guy who's trying to kill me.
He could be very dangerous.
We need to get down there and figure something out before he hurts someone else.
No.
We have to be very smart about this.
There is no way that Mike, a chemist, would be working alone here, so we have to get a court order to impound the entire laboratory and make sure that nobody destroys any of the evidence.
Well, how long will that take? Don't worry.
We'll get this guy.
Oh, Castle.
There you are.
We got the warrant.
Let's go.
Yeah.
Where's Alan? I thought he was with you guys.
Oh, no.
Gwen! Alan.
What are you doing here? Come with me if you want to live.
Alan, what is going on? Mike Lin is secretly making synthetic heroin in the lab.
He's the one who's trying to kill me.
Oh, my God.
Alan, are you sure? Yeah.
But don't worry.
The cops are on the way, and until then, I'll protect you.
This'll work.
Yeah, if that old blind guy could use it, so could I.
Or Or that's actually better.
Wait.
Why do you have a gun? - I'm gonna kill Mike.
- No.
No, no, no.
The cops will arrest him.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Mike is the only person here who knows that I'm running this drug operation.
What? Wait, you're the one who poisoned me? And electrocuted you, yeah.
I was trying to be discreet.
I mean, my boyfriend Horatio said I should just shoot you in the head, but Hold on! Stop everything! Wha Horatio is your boyfriend? So I guess a second date is out of the question? Aww, Alan.
You seriously thought a guy like you had a shot with me? Ow.
I thought dying twice was painful.
Well, maybe it won't be so bad the third time.
- Police! - Nobody move! NYPD! Right now! Put up your hands! Get 'em up! Get your hands where we can see 'em! Hands.
Hands.
Any sign of Alan? No, not yet.
I'm sure he came here.
See if you can find Gwen's office.
Alan! Oh, no.
This is my fault.
I forced the superhero mantle onto him.
I filled his head with crazy ideas of being invulnerable, and then, like some superhero Icarus, he flew too close to the sun.
Alan, I'm sorry.
I am so sorry.
I let you down! Thank you.
Don't mention it.
Alan! You're alive? Shh! Not so loud.
I've got a splitting headache.
I'll, uh, call an ambulance? Relax.
I'm fine.
I just need a couple of Advil.
What? What is it, Castle? You Did I get shot in the head? Right in the middle! I mean, how did you even Wait, that means you've seen your killer.
Who Who was it? You're never gonna guess.
Yo.
I took her down just before she put a bullet in Mike the chemist.
Why the hell won't you die? I never thought she was right for you.
Coolest thing ever.
[Cellphone clicks.]
As you can see, the slug pierced but didn't penetrate the vertical plate of Alan's skull.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
I realize it was only a .
22-caliber revolver, but it was fired at point-blank range.
Hey, you sound a little upset that I'm still alive.
No.
It's just Oh, come on.
I don't suppose you have an explanation this time.
Well, considering he's already died three times in 48 hours, does it even matter? Welcome to the club.
Alan, it's my professional medical opinion that you're the luckiest man who's ever lived and kept living even after he died.
Thanks, Doc.
How you feeling? You know, I'm grateful.
Especially for the new friend I made.
I sure hope we could stay in touch.
Are you kidding? You and me? This is the start of a beautiful I don't think he's talking to you.
[Cellphone rings.]
Hey, maybe you have a few secret powers we haven't seen yet.
Which is what I've been saying all along.
But perhaps discovery of those abilities is best left to a medical expert.
Buh-bye, Castle.
- Get to stepping.
- Thank you.
Okay, yeah, thanks.
That was Vikram.
The DEA just arrested Horatio and a few members of the Triad.
So, what's wrong? Caleb's deadline has come and gone and Vikram's said that he's disappeared.
He gone off-grid.
He's running.
Too scared to face LokSat, too scared to work with us.
Which means we just lost our only lead.
So, what do we do? I don't know.
Maybe you're right.
Maybe it is time for a change.
I hear Paris is nice this time of year.
So long as I'm with you, I'll go anywhere.
Oh, don't Don't shoot me.
I might spill my Scotch.
I think you mean my Scotch.
And my most expensive Scotch.
It's worth it.
You had a change of heart, Caleb? You know, every morning we wake up and we choose who we want to be.
I wake up and I ask myself, "Why are you choosing this?" Because you're right, Kate.
I was a good guy once.
And you still can be.
Who is LokSat? - I don't know.
- Oh, come on.
You work for him.
Yes.
But I started out working for his partner.
- Senator William Bracken? - Mm-hmm.
So, what, LokSat inherited you? It was more like drafted.
After Bracken's murder, I received this on my doorstep with a note.
And I quote, "Mr.
Brown, you now work for me.
This cellphone is enabled with GPS and will only function at the northernmost end of Astor Park.
Be there every third Monday of the month at 8:00 a.
m.
to receive your orders.
Kate, it's yours.
And hopefully you can trace LokSat's next call.
Mnh-mnh.
They're gonna know I'm not you.
We don't have a conversation.
The phone rings, I answer.
An electronically modified voice gives me instructions.
It lasts no more than 60 seconds, so have your best people ready.
Where are you going? Um I'm gonna go to the same places that I always go work, home.
I'm gonna act as if nothing has changed.
Yeah, but it has.
And we can protect you.
All I want from you is your promise that you will see this thing through.
And remember who I chose to be today because nobody else will.
That's a damn fine Scotch, Rick.
This is it.
It's our one shot at LokSat.
Yeah.
And when the time comes, we're gonna make it count.
Woman: Customer service.
May I help you? Yes.
I'm here.
Alan Masters.
It's account number 34697721.
You guys recently added the Adventure Channel, and I paid to get it, - but my screen is all wavy, so - Wrong department, sir.
No, what do you mean, wrong department? - I pressed 3.
- Please hold.
Don't you put me on hold.
I've been on hold for 45 min [Hold music plays.]
Wow.
Mm-mm! Woman: Your call is very important to us.
- Please continue holding.
- Hello, hello, hello, hello! [Hold music resumes.]
Sorry about that, sir.
I can connect you to the correct department now.
Sir? Are you okay? Hello? [Thud.]
What are you doing? Watching you sleep.
Is that creepy? Mnh-mnh.
I think it's sweet.
I took some pictures.
Less sweet.
They're part of a series.
Usually you don't wake up.
And now it's creepy.
Hey.
I've been thinking Oh, no.
Oh, relax.
I'm over that whole sex-in-zero-g thing.
Good, 'cause that was just an accident waiting to happen.
Seriously, though.
I think it's time we shake things up.
Move to Paris, you know, search for buried treasure in Nepal.
We could fly a hot air balloon across the Sahara.
You know what? I love all of those ideas, but I just became captain, and you have your P.
I.
business.
And then there's LokSat.
Exactly.
[Cellphone rings.]
We have responsibilities, right? But what if we didn't? Hold, please.
Um, I might need that.
That might be a homicide.
The victim's not gonna get any deader.
Listen.
Let's say we find LokSat and take him down Without getting killed.
Mm-hmm.
What then? You're not gonna be captain of the 12th Precinct for very long.
You're on a rocket.
Sky's the limit.
So you know what happens then? Mnh-mnh.
We become normal.
No, Castle, you're never gonna be normal.
I'm serious.
- Think about it.
- I will.
What do you got? Lanie: Alan Masters.
All signs point to poison Dilated pupils, bluish discoloration around the lips.
That's a giveaway, but I'll know for sure after the autopsy.
Who called it in? Customer-service operator for his cable company.
She was on the phone with him when it happened.
What a way to go.
Poisoned or on the phone with the cable company? Well, at least the poison was quick.
Looks like our killer jimmied that window open.
Neighbor thought she heard somebody on the fire escape last night around 8:00.
How was he poisoned? In his water.
The filter underneath the kitchen sink was tampered with.
Ironically, he works for the city as a safety inspector.
Mm.
You know, if I were an expert on character, which I am, I would say that Alan was a bit of a dreamer, spending his days on the ground inspecting things but his nights in the clouds, fantasizing of adventure.
Tragically, his life was cut short before he ever truly lived.
Man: Hey.
What's going on? [Clipboard clatters.]
Or not.
What are you all doing in my apartment? Um, Lanie.
Don't "Um, Lanie" me.
That man was dead! Well, he's very much alive now.
He had no pulse, no breath sounds, and his pupils were dilated and fixed.
Was there rigor mortis, lividity? No, but he'd been dead less than an hour.
Lanie, hey.
Is it true that our victim was He was dead, okay? I know how to do my job.
Okay, calm down.
It's all good.
I just No, no, no.
It's not all good.
I almost stuck a thermometer in his liver.
Uh, so is he stable? Well, I'm still running tests, but he seems completely healthy despite having ingested a deadly dose of tetrodotoxin.
Hm? TTX.
It's a neurotoxin found in several species of fish.
It's extremely potent.
And yet he survived, so do you have an explanation.
No, but your husband sure does.
You are a modern-day Lazarus, risen from the grave to answer the eternal question What's on the other side? I'm sorry.
Who are you again? You'll have to forgive him, Mr.
Masters.
He's very excitable.
Well, excuse me if I find pulling back the curtain on what happens when we die just a tad exciting.
Was there a white light or is it more of a tunnel thing? The last thing I remember, I was taking my pills, trying to get my cable fixed, and then I woke up to an apartment full of police.
So, no out-of-body experience? Do you have any enemies? Me? No.
I'm an average guy.
I go to work, I come home.
But you dream of so much more, don't you? How do you know that? Did you read my diary? No, I saw your pictures on your Wait, you keep a diary? As a grown man, call it a journal.
What about work? Have you upset anyone there recently? Yeah.
There is this guy that works for me Well, used to work for me Dave Barton.
I had to fire him because he was letting serious infractions slide with just a warning.
Was it for money? That was the rumor.
And he did seem a little miffed when I let him go.
I'll play you the message that he left me.
Dave: You slimy little maggot.
I'm gonna stab you with a rusty spoon and strangle you with your own intestines.
Or better yet, I'm gonna force-feed you your toes one by one, and then I'm gonna light you on fire.
First, I'm gonna paralyze you with a claw hammer and then cover you with ants, you son of a bitch! And it goes on and on like that for a while.
And you never thought to call the police? On Dave? No! He's just got a big personality.
What can I say? I have anger issues.
And a gift for murderous creativity.
Threatening to "nail Alan to the ceiling by his feet and piñata the hell out of his face with a Fungo bat.
" It's all just talk.
I actually get nauseous at the sight of blood.
Oh, is that why you decided to poison Alan last night? Hey, I was home last night with my wife and my mother-in-law, which, believe you me, is no good for my anger issues.
I mean, that woman drives me crazy.
Sometimes I just think about getting a blender and a trowel and Kidding.
Well, you better hope your alibi holds up, 'cause you had all the motive in the world.
You want motive? We're safety inspectors.
You think we're making friends handing out millions in fines? We're not getting any Christmas cards.
Especially Alan.
What do you mean, especially Alan? The guy's got a rep for being a real stickler.
He doesn't let anything slide.
Oh, is that what you did Let things slide in exchange for a payday? Maybe I did, maybe I didn't.
Doesn't make me a killer.
The point is that Alan refuses to play the game.
And that pisses off a lot of people.
Hey.
Did Lanie really declare a live guy dead? No.
Well, yeah, But do yourself a favor Don't mention it to her.
So, you got something? I might have broken open LokSat.
You found them? Unfortunately, no, but I did find someone else.
Based on Castle's discovery of the exact time and date LokSat flew into L.
A.
, I've been scrubbing footage from all the Los Angeles area airports.
Look who showed up.
Caleb Brown? But he was traveling under an alias Peter McCaffery.
So, Caleb must have gone to L.
A.
to meet with LokSat.
But who's driving the S.
U.
V.
? I don't know.
I can only read part of the plate, but I'm generating a list of possible matches.
Captain.
[Knocks.]
Dave Barton alibied out, but we're getting a list of all the companies that Alan has either fined or shut down for violations recently.
Then we're gonna run the list past Alan.
Whose would-be killer is still out there, so what precautions are you taking? Squad car just brought him home from the hospital.
We got a uniform posted outside his door, which makes his only real concern your husband.
Yeah.
So, you have died and been reborn.
What are you gonna do now? Going to bed.
I have a full day of inspections tomorrow.
I need to be focused.
You can't just go back to work like nothing happened.
You had a near-death experience.
That's a wake-up call.
Get out there.
Live this life you've always dreamed about.
Just because I have a few pictures on my wall doesn't mean I'm not happy with my life.
Right.
Your drab, solitary life.
It's not solitary.
So there's a Ms.
Safety Inspector? Not exactly.
But there is a woman I have my eye on.
She's funny and smart.
Doesn't know you exist? No.
Man: All clear.
I'll be right outside if you need anything.
Great, thanks.
You should really call this woman.
Okay, I will.
And you honestly don't remember anything about being dead? Really don't.
Who does that? Who gets a second chance like that and just goes to work the next morning? I would.
I like work.
[Electricity surges.]
[Clattering.]
Whoa! Alan! Someone rigged the bed to electrocute him.
Is he dead? Sorry, Castle, but this time, he really is dead.
What a waste.
To be given a second chance and have it taken away like this.
He was just gonna go back to work like nothing happened.
What? If I hadn't been so focused on his rebirth, I might have noticed that wire.
I could have saved him.
You can't beat yourself up, Castle.
I was starting to think he was some kind of medical miracle.
Turns out, he was just lucky.
And in the end, his luck ran out.
[Coughing.]
[Grunts.]
[Sighs.]
Forget lucky.
Somebody cooking barbecue? [Sniffs.]
He's immortal.
S08E19 Dead Again - He was definitely dead.
- That's what you said last time.
He was dead the last time, too.
Uh, sorry.
Um, can we have a minute, please? - Of course.
- Thanks.
I'm sorry.
I'm just rattled.
You know, people can come back from being poisoned and from being electrocuted, but both in the same day? So, is there an explanation? I can think of two.
Either I'm really bad at my job or Castle's right and this guy is immortal.
He is not immortal, and you are a genius at your job.
We just got to keep looking for answers, starting with who wants to kill this guy so badly.
Is there any forensics on the second attempt? No.
The bed must have been wired after the apartment was already released from being a crime scene, which means the killer had about a two-hour window before Alan and Castle got there.
Hey.
So, the toxin that should have killed Alan, TTX, is a controlled substance, available through only a few pharma supply companies.
CDC is sending us over a list right.
So, finding the buyer might lead to the killer.
Any idea how our boy Alan is still with us? Uh, no.
But Castle has a theory.
You are a superhero.
No, I'm really not.
I'm just an ordinary guy.
You were an ordinary guy, Alan.
That's how most superheroes start out Mild-mannered weaklings, and that's you! Wow, thanks.
Relax.
It's all to maximize your transformative arc.
If I agree with you, will you leave me alone? Don't be silly.
We're just getting started! First, we need to figure out what triggered your transformation, your origin story, if you will.
Why? Because the origin story is everything! What, there's, what, nine Spider-Man movies about it? Yo.
We got a lead.
We need to come up with a superhero name for Alan.
No.
No, we really don't.
How about Safety Man? No, that's terrible.
Well, does he have any other powers? I don't know.
We should really run some tests.
Um, you said something about a lead Right.
Yeah, we've been checking into your inspection history to see if there's somebody you might have pissed off.
I think we have a winner Zantium Labs.
You just hit them with a six-figure fine.
Yeah, they're a biopharmaceutical company.
I threatened to shut them down after they had a bad chemical spill two days ago.
Whoa.
A chemical spill? Mystery solved.
Exposure to dangerous materials is the most common superhero origin story there is.
Sorry.
The spill was L.
A.
H.
It's an inorganic compound used as a catalyst to make other chemicals, which The point is, it can be explosive, but there's nothing about it that would ever turn anyone into a, I don't know Captain Cool? No.
But keep trying.
Hey, who's on the hook for that spill? The lab manager, Frank Patchett.
He begged me not to fine him.
He said the lab was hemorrhaging money.
That sounds like motive.
Come on, Castle.
Let's go talk to this guy.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Maybe I should come with you.
Why? No reason.
The girl.
The one who doesn't know you exist.
She works there, doesn't she? No.
Yes.
Her name is Gwen.
She's in marketing.
Sorry, Alan.
You got to stay here.
If there's someone at Zantium Labs trying to kill you, I'd be the worst cop on the force if I took you there.
Don't worry, Alan.
I'll put in a good for you with Gwen! No, no! Please Please don't! I can't believe someone would try and do that to poor Alan.
He's such a sweet man.
- So you do know him? - Of course.
People around here kind of hate him, but, I don't know, I think he's really funny.
Oh, I'll tell him you said that.
Oh, that's Frank.
Hey, Frank.
Thank you.
Mr.
Patchett.
I'm Detective Esposito.
I need to ask you a few questions about Alan Masters.
Is he doing okay? I heard someone tried to kill him.
Twice.
How's the cleanup going? Oh, well, we're almost done here.
Accidents happen.
Luckily, nobody was hurt.
Nobody except Alan.
You think what happened to him is connected to the spill? Maybe.
So why don't you get changed, and we can go talk about it.
Okay.
Locker room's over there.
We'll go with you.
Actually, I'm gonna go take a look around.
Origin story.
[Chuckles.]
Oh, wow! Hey.
[Chuckles.]
Oh.
- Excuse me.
- Yes.
Can I help you with something? Yes, as a matter of fact, you can, uh, Mike.
Look, um, if you had to pick something in this lab that would turn somebody into a superhero, what would it be? I'm I'm sorry.
What? Radioactive spider, secret alien technology, super-soldier serum Yeah, we don't have anything like that here.
Then what is What about this? What are you working on right here? We've discovered an accelerated method for growing hair cells in the mice.
Accelerated cell regeneration? That could be the key to immortality.
Frank: I've been supervising this cleanup for the last 48 hours.
Even if I wanted to kill Alan, I didn't have the opportunity or the energy.
But you did have the motive.
You begged him not to fine you, and he did anyway.
Yeah.
He's a pain in the ass, but the damage was already done.
Killing him would have accomplished nothing.
You know, something odd did happen when I walked him out to the parking lot.
Odd how? There was someone hanging out at Alan's car, but he took off when he saw us coming.
I didn't think much of it at the time, but Does your parking lot have security cameras? - Yeah.
- Let me see him.
Mr.
Hume, so you're an operations manager at a plastics factory that Alan recently shut down.
Is that correct? I didn't do anything to Alan.
I'm innocent.
Innocent men don't usually stalk their victims in parking lots.
I just wanted to talk to Alan.
That's all.
I needed to find the right moment.
We had to be alone.
Okay.
What did you want to talk to him about? Mr.
Hume, if all you wanted to do was talk to him, then why did UNis find you with two suitcases and a ticket to Mexico? Because I don't want to die.
They came after Alan and I'm next.
Who's "they"? If you know who went after Alan, you need to tell us.
Was it someone from your company? Are you a whistle-blower, Glen? Is there something you're trying to expose? Is that why you wanted to talk to Alan? The NYPD can protect you, and if someone really is trying to kill you, you're a lot safer in here with us than out there, on your own.
Okay.
But it's not someone from my company.
It's the mob.
What would organized crime want with Alan? Waste management.
Yeah.
They strong-armed me into giving them the contract for my factory's hazardous-waste disposal.
They've been doing the same thing all over town.
And they just dump the stuff into the landfill.
So, why would they target Alan before you? Because Alan fired Dave Barton, the only inspector that they could buy.
So Alan was becoming a big problem, and their only solution was to kill him.
The mob is trying to kill me? Trying and failing.
But do you know why? Because I'm I'm, what, Rogaine Man? Yuck.
Worst name yet.
But it does explain why you keep coming back to life.
Your cells regenerate at an amazing rate.
Except they don't.
What? Just got the test back.
No sign of abnormal regenerative activity in blood or tissue cells.
In fact, no sign of anything abnormal at all.
Told you.
I'm Boring Man.
Except for the contract out on my life.
Just to be sure, maybe we should cut off one of his fingers, see if it grows back.
What? Just the tip.
Okay, I'm done.
Whoa, whoa.
Where you gonna go? Home.
Or not home.
Somewhere safe.
Where is that? My place.
We have yet to unlock the secrets of your powers.
Lanie's a doctor.
She can strip you down and check you out.
No! Forget it! Come on! You owe him! No.
No, she doesn't! Castle, it's been a long day.
I am very overwhelmed.
I just want to go back to my life.
That's too bad.
You can't.
Spidey couldn't go back after the bite.
Hulk couldn't go back after the bomb.
The Ant-Man couldn't go back after I can't remember.
Point is, you have an obligation.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Let's go to my place and get some pizza on the way.
There is no way I'm going back to your place to eat pizza and explore my superpowers.
I'll tell you what Gwen said about you.
Okay.
Hey.
Where are we on the waste-management company? It's a new entity called Bullseye.
We're not sure who's running it, but rumor is it's a new player on the scene.
I don't know.
Electrocution and poisoning doesn't sound like the mob.
No.
Unless they're trying to keep a low profile.
The best way to stay off our radar is to fly under it.
Yeah, true.
Why don't you guys head down to the second floor, see if Organized Crime has any insight? Okay.
We know you can survive poisoning and electrocution.
Now it's time to see if you can survive penetrative wounds.
How about if we start with some smaller, like a paper cut? Okay, this is all a little overwhelming.
I understand.
All right.
Let's Let's test for some other powers first.
Telekinesis.
Try to move the piano with your mind.
Oh.
If I try this, will you tell me about Gwen? Deal.
Ow! What the hell? That was a trick.
I was actually testing for Spidey-sense.
I don't have it! Clearly.
Can we take a break, please? Fine.
Ah, no, no.
I don't drink.
All right.
Do you want to know what Gwen said? Yes.
Finally.
All right.
I'll tell you.
Well? I'm telling you with my mind.
- You're not getting it? - No.
Okay.
Well, bad news is no telepathy.
Good news is I think Gwen is into you.
She told me she thinks you're funny.
Really? Funny ha-ha, not funny strange? Yeah.
- Yeah, what? - Exactly.
So are you gonna use your double death as a wake-up call and finally ask her out? What if she says no? What if she says yes? Okay, I'll do it.
That is the spirit, Alan.
Well, I didn't think you meant right now! Alan, there is no time like the present.
[Ringing.]
Mm! It's ringing.
This is very exciting.
Oh, my God.
I'm gonna be sick.
I don't know what to say.
- Just be yourself.
- Be myself.
So, something like, "Hi, this is Alan Masters from the City Department of Safety Inspection, - badge number 62475 - New plan, new plan.
Do not be yourself.
Say this Hi, Gwen.
Hello.
This is Alan Masters of Yes, that's right.
I'm much better, thanks.
You? Oh, nothing.
I was just calling to see if you wanted to have dinner with me.
Oh.
Okay.
I'll see you there.
Bye.
[Beep.]
She said yes.
Well done, Alan! Now all we have to do is plan the perfect date.
How much time do we have? Well, we're meeting at Botticelli's in 30 minutes? Tonight? You said yourself it's time to start living.
Yes, I just thought it would be after we apprehended your would-be murderer.
I know.
I will just embrace my powers.
Maybe this is my origin story, and my dinner with Gwen will be the beginning of something really terrific! That's the spirit, Alan.
And I'm going with you.
Please don't.
The first two attempts on your life were meant to be anonymous, quiet.
It's very unlikely they'd try something in a public place.
Exactly.
Well, they did fail twice.
They may try to kick it up a notch.
What are you saying? Don't order an appetizer.
You found something.
Yeah.
I ran the partial plate from that S.
U.
V.
Caleb Brown got into, generated a list of names.
Guess who's on it.
Brooks.
Guy with the bag of spiders who tried to take down Castle and me.
If Brooks picked up Caleb at the airport, then this ties Caleb directly to LokSat.
Well, look, it's a start anyway.
A start? It's photographic evidence.
Of what? That he got into a car with a bad guy? Caleb's a public defender.
He represents bad guys.
He was using an alias.
We can use this to go at Caleb, get him to reveal LokSat's identity.
Until he alerts LokSat that we're onto him, and then we're all dead.
No, we got to wait until we have something more concrete.
Fine.
Caleb's alias Peter McCaffery.
I'll look into and see what other trips he's taken under that name, see if it leads somewhere more definitive.
Look, I know this is frustrating.
But we're getting close.
We just have to tread carefully.
There she is.
[Gasps.]
She looks nice.
This is a huge mistake.
I'm a safety inspector.
That's not even a little sexy.
This is so much scarier than dying.
You are Alan Masters, superhero.
Chicks dig superheroes.
Should I tell her I'm a superhero? I wouldn't open with that.
Okay.
I'm going in.
Wish me luck.
Good luck.
[Laughing.]
Hi, Gwen.
Hi.
- Wow, you - Good to see you.
- Oh.
- You look - Oh! - You look great.
Thanks for having dinner with me.
I was surprised that you called, after the day you've had.
- What a day, right? Crazy.
- Yeah.
Just nuts.
I I-I-I'm a superhero.
What? Nothing.
I sneezed.
You You sneezed, "I'm a superhero"? Yeah.
Allergies.
[Sneezes.]
Superhero! Excuse me.
[Sniffles.]
[Cellphone rings.]
Hey, Ryan.
We I.
D.
'd the owner of Bullseye Waste Management.
He's a guy named Horatio Spate.
That's a good supervillain name.
This is not a joke.
Spate is suspected of executing over a dozen people.
I texted you his picture just to put him on your radar.
Whatever you do, don't leave the loft.
Don't leave the loft.
Got it.
[Laughter.]
Wait, what's that noise? Uh [Indistinct conversations.]
Crap.
- Hello, Alan.
- Do I know you? Sorry to interrupt your romantic dinner.
Careful, Alan.
He's your archnemesis.
Seriously? I have an archnemesis? Is that how they dress? Alan, you're cute and I like you, but this is all a bit much.
You say that you're a superhero, and he's a supervillain.
So does that make you his sidekick? Sidekick? Please.
I'm the mentor.
And I'm his date.
Or at least I was.
I'm sorry.
This is just weird.
And she thinks I'm crazy.
Thank you so much.
This is all your fault.
Actually, it's his.
Alan, meet Horatio Spate.
He's the new owner of Bullseye Waste Management.
So, you're the one who's trying to kill me? Hardly.
If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead already.
Well, what do you want? An arrangement.
One that would benefit both of us.
Twice someone's tried to kill you.
And you're still with us.
How long before Lady Luck abandons you? Oh, let me guess.
A man like you can offer protection.
More than offer.
I can guarantee it.
In return, all I ask is that you adopt a more laissez-faire interpretation of your inspection policies.
This is a moral test.
Every superhero is presented with a moral dilemma by the villain, trying to corrupt him.
Horatio Spate, my answer is no.
Gun, gun.
Relax, boys.
It's ginkgo.
Just started taking it.
Here's what it does.
It improves memory, it sharpens brain function, and it helps a person make really, really good decisions.
Perhaps you should try one, then you can rethink your answer.
Careful.
Dangerous out there.
It's as if he stepped off the pages of a graphic novel.
You should have been there to see him in person.
Yes.
They should have.
Not you, and definitely not Alan.
Now, tell me how dangerous it was for you to take him out in public, 'cause I know that you knew.
He's in love, Beckett.
And I love love.
And I'm sorry, and I won't do it again.
No, you won't, and you know why? Because I've had him sent to a real safe house until we track down Horatio.
Boss, I know we were talking about flying under the radar, but that really doesn't seem to be Horatio's style.
I mean, he solves problems with bullets, not poisons and elaborate electrocution traps.
So why would he guarantee protection? Oh, maybe he knows the actual identity of our would-be killer.
And stopping the hit could benefit his waste-disposal company by giving him leverage on Alan.
Are any of Horatio's associates recent buyers of TTX? 'Cause that could help us narrow down who's trying to kill Alan.
We've got the list right here.
Wait a minute.
Lucky Dragon Herbologists? Horatio had a pillbox with a dragon logo on it.
That's it.
That's the same logo.
It says here that it's a front for the White Lotus Chinese Triad.
Okay, so how does an international gang get cleared to possess TTX? Because Lucky Dragon is a legitimate business and there are small doses of TTX in Eastern medicine.
Hold up.
This doesn't make sense.
According to Intel, the Triad sees Horatio as a threat to their territory.
They're gearing up for war.
So, no way is Horatio guaranteeing Alan's safety with the Triads.
Unless Horatio said he just started taking ginkgo.
What if the two empires are hammering out some kind of an alliance? An alliance that Alan unknowingly stumbled onto and put him right in the cross hairs of the Triad.
But what could bring two warring gangs together to join forces? Well, get a search warrant for Lucky Dragon Herbologists and find out.
Hey.
Uh, Caleb.
What are you doing here? I hate to bother you, but I could really use your help with a client.
Can I borrow you for a quick minute? Yeah, sure.
So, who is this client? I think you're familiar with him Peter McCaffery.
Uh, no, it It doesn't sound familiar.
No? Let me fill you in.
So, there's this overzealous cop.
You know the type.
She never knows when to give up.
And she has her tech guy look into Peter McCaffery's recent travel.
Okay.
Yeah, well, Mr.
McCaffery's a very private person, so he set up some unexpected digital trip wires.
That's bad news for the tech guy and his boss.
And so this cop, she keeps marching toward this kill zone, and unless she makes an about-face, it is not going to end well.
I don't get it.
You served a full term in the Peace Corps.
You worked for the EPA.
You brought legal action against corrupt corporations.
What's your point, Kate? What happened? You used to make a difference.
Why did you sell out? Look.
My client is forced to work for a man that he cannot fight.
And take my word for it.
Neither can you.
Let's help each other out here.
We can bring down LokSat.
I'm giving you a second chance to make a difference.
Captain, just do yourself a favor, hmm? Heed my warning.
No, you heed mine.
You have until 8:00 tomorrow night.
Then what? I'll expose you.
And then we'll both be looking over our shoulders, waiting for LokSat to tie up loose ends.
Because once they find out that your cover is blown and I'm onto you, then you're gonna be as dead as I am.
Seven minutes, Kate.
Seven minutes.
That's how long the brain continues to function after the body dies, and as all of those synapses slowly stop firing off, that's when they say that our lives flash before our eyes.
Now, when your seven minutes come, I sincerely hope that you do not flash to this moment, when you had a chance to live and you chose not to.
Hey.
Hey.
Do you want me to handle that? You're on edge this morning.
On edge? Why would I be on edge? Because LokSat's henchman knows we're onto him and assassins could come through the door at any second.
I mean, why aren't you on edge? Well, Caleb is a lot of things, but he's not suicidal, and working with us is his only recourse.
He threatened your life.
Because he was scared.
Trust me, Castle.
I turned him.
I'm positive he's gonna come in today.
Oh, yeah, I think he's coming in, too.
Well, either him or LokSat's kill squads.
- Hey.
- Hey! Geez.
So, Judge Kober just denied our search warrant request for The Lucky Dragon.
A suspected Triad front.
Does she know that we like them for two attempts on Alan's life? Says we still need probable cause.
Okay, we got to go at this a different way.
You know, if Horatio and the Triads are working together, this is something big.
Guys.
I know how to get in.
Stick to the plan.
Relax.
I totally got this.
Welcome to Lucky Dragon herbs and remedies.
Can I help you? Surprise safety inspection.
FYI, sir, he's holding out a badge that says Department of Safety and Health and he's got a serious look on his face.
Very serious look.
Okay.
But why two inspectors? Uh, because he is my trainee Trainee.
And it helps to have a second set of eyes.
Not that one set of eyes or no sets of eyes is a bad thing.
Bring all the eyes you would like.
I'm sure you'll find my medicines violate none of your Western laws.
We'll be the judge of that.
[Coughs.]
I ask we stay together so I may address your inspection concerns.
Of course.
I'll cause a distraction.
You slip to the back room.
Here are some of my most precious herbs.
Impossible to grow in this country.
Oh, you mean these herbs right here? Your assistant's very clumsy.
Yes, he is.
Which is why the sooner we get out of your way, the better.
Take us to your back room now, please.
But of course.
Wait.
I sense something.
Something powerful.
An unnatural presence in the order of things.
What kind of presence? What kind, indeed? When is a man not a man? When his life-force cannot be extinguished, when he cannot die.
Then he is a god.
I think he senses your powers.
Yeah? You do? Either that or he's buying time while his guys get the contraband out the back door.
You guys drop the cases.
NYPD.
On your knees, fellas.
What the hell is this? Lanie: Heroin.
Castle: Since when does heroin look like that? Since it's synthetic heroin, an opioid manufactured to replicate a heroin high.
In fact, this stuff actually improves on it because, according to the analysis I ran, it's laced with TTX.
The same poison that almost killed me? What, heroin isn't dangerous enough? Because that poison works by blocking synapses.
In small doses, it's a powerful analgesic specifically used for the pain of heroin withdrawal.
So it makes the drug more addictive by reducing the painful side effects.
So more addictive heroin that doesn't have to be smuggled into the country because Because it can be made right here in the good old U.
S.
of A.
That explains why the Triads and Horatio are willing to put their difference aside, because synthetic heroin could be worth billions.
What does this have to do with me? Why would anybody want me dead? Well, clearly this stuff is made in a lab somewhere, and your job is to inspect laboratories, so You know, this shade of yellow looks very familiar.
What is it that gives it this color? An inorganic catalyst commonly referred to as L.
A.
H.
Lithium aluminum hydride? That is the same chemical that spilled when I was inspecting Zantium Labs.
This is why they wanted you dead.
When the synthetic heroin hits the streets, it'll come out that it was made with L.
A.
H.
And since you knew the lab had purchased large amounts of L.
A.
H They couldn't take the risk that I might see something on the news, put the pieces together, - and report it to the authorities.
- Which means Someone at Zantium Labs is trying to kill me! Someone at Zantium Labs is trying to kill you! Oh, my God.
Is that what we sound like? Certainly hope not.
I mean, it was cute but just overly cute.
Alan.
Huh? Do you know who ordered the L.
A.
H.
for Zantium? I do.
Mike Lin, the lead chemist.
I remember seeing his name on the purchase order.
He's probably the guy who's trying to kill me.
He could be very dangerous.
We need to get down there and figure something out before he hurts someone else.
No.
We have to be very smart about this.
There is no way that Mike, a chemist, would be working alone here, so we have to get a court order to impound the entire laboratory and make sure that nobody destroys any of the evidence.
Well, how long will that take? Don't worry.
We'll get this guy.
Oh, Castle.
There you are.
We got the warrant.
Let's go.
Yeah.
Where's Alan? I thought he was with you guys.
Oh, no.
Gwen! Alan.
What are you doing here? Come with me if you want to live.
Alan, what is going on? Mike Lin is secretly making synthetic heroin in the lab.
He's the one who's trying to kill me.
Oh, my God.
Alan, are you sure? Yeah.
But don't worry.
The cops are on the way, and until then, I'll protect you.
This'll work.
Yeah, if that old blind guy could use it, so could I.
Or Or that's actually better.
Wait.
Why do you have a gun? - I'm gonna kill Mike.
- No.
No, no, no.
The cops will arrest him.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Mike is the only person here who knows that I'm running this drug operation.
What? Wait, you're the one who poisoned me? And electrocuted you, yeah.
I was trying to be discreet.
I mean, my boyfriend Horatio said I should just shoot you in the head, but Hold on! Stop everything! Wha Horatio is your boyfriend? So I guess a second date is out of the question? Aww, Alan.
You seriously thought a guy like you had a shot with me? Ow.
I thought dying twice was painful.
Well, maybe it won't be so bad the third time.
- Police! - Nobody move! NYPD! Right now! Put up your hands! Get 'em up! Get your hands where we can see 'em! Hands.
Hands.
Any sign of Alan? No, not yet.
I'm sure he came here.
See if you can find Gwen's office.
Alan! Oh, no.
This is my fault.
I forced the superhero mantle onto him.
I filled his head with crazy ideas of being invulnerable, and then, like some superhero Icarus, he flew too close to the sun.
Alan, I'm sorry.
I am so sorry.
I let you down! Thank you.
Don't mention it.
Alan! You're alive? Shh! Not so loud.
I've got a splitting headache.
I'll, uh, call an ambulance? Relax.
I'm fine.
I just need a couple of Advil.
What? What is it, Castle? You Did I get shot in the head? Right in the middle! I mean, how did you even Wait, that means you've seen your killer.
Who Who was it? You're never gonna guess.
Yo.
I took her down just before she put a bullet in Mike the chemist.
Why the hell won't you die? I never thought she was right for you.
Coolest thing ever.
[Cellphone clicks.]
As you can see, the slug pierced but didn't penetrate the vertical plate of Alan's skull.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
I realize it was only a .
22-caliber revolver, but it was fired at point-blank range.
Hey, you sound a little upset that I'm still alive.
No.
It's just Oh, come on.
I don't suppose you have an explanation this time.
Well, considering he's already died three times in 48 hours, does it even matter? Welcome to the club.
Alan, it's my professional medical opinion that you're the luckiest man who's ever lived and kept living even after he died.
Thanks, Doc.
How you feeling? You know, I'm grateful.
Especially for the new friend I made.
I sure hope we could stay in touch.
Are you kidding? You and me? This is the start of a beautiful I don't think he's talking to you.
[Cellphone rings.]
Hey, maybe you have a few secret powers we haven't seen yet.
Which is what I've been saying all along.
But perhaps discovery of those abilities is best left to a medical expert.
Buh-bye, Castle.
- Get to stepping.
- Thank you.
Okay, yeah, thanks.
That was Vikram.
The DEA just arrested Horatio and a few members of the Triad.
So, what's wrong? Caleb's deadline has come and gone and Vikram's said that he's disappeared.
He gone off-grid.
He's running.
Too scared to face LokSat, too scared to work with us.
Which means we just lost our only lead.
So, what do we do? I don't know.
Maybe you're right.
Maybe it is time for a change.
I hear Paris is nice this time of year.
So long as I'm with you, I'll go anywhere.
Oh, don't Don't shoot me.
I might spill my Scotch.
I think you mean my Scotch.
And my most expensive Scotch.
It's worth it.
You had a change of heart, Caleb? You know, every morning we wake up and we choose who we want to be.
I wake up and I ask myself, "Why are you choosing this?" Because you're right, Kate.
I was a good guy once.
And you still can be.
Who is LokSat? - I don't know.
- Oh, come on.
You work for him.
Yes.
But I started out working for his partner.
- Senator William Bracken? - Mm-hmm.
So, what, LokSat inherited you? It was more like drafted.
After Bracken's murder, I received this on my doorstep with a note.
And I quote, "Mr.
Brown, you now work for me.
This cellphone is enabled with GPS and will only function at the northernmost end of Astor Park.
Be there every third Monday of the month at 8:00 a.
m.
to receive your orders.
Kate, it's yours.
And hopefully you can trace LokSat's next call.
Mnh-mnh.
They're gonna know I'm not you.
We don't have a conversation.
The phone rings, I answer.
An electronically modified voice gives me instructions.
It lasts no more than 60 seconds, so have your best people ready.
Where are you going? Um I'm gonna go to the same places that I always go work, home.
I'm gonna act as if nothing has changed.
Yeah, but it has.
And we can protect you.
All I want from you is your promise that you will see this thing through.
And remember who I chose to be today because nobody else will.
That's a damn fine Scotch, Rick.
This is it.
It's our one shot at LokSat.
Yeah.
And when the time comes, we're gonna make it count.