In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description! Finished? Click here to close.
Damon visits Stefan in the Torture Emporium, and when he realizes little brother has given up, he does the most Damon-y thing possible, he frees Stefan from his restraints and takes him out for blood and booze. While at a bar, Damon compels the bartender to let Stefan drink from her. Eventually, Mikael the Vampire-Vampire Slayer, aka MtVVS, aka Papa Original shows up. He orders Stefan to tell him where Klaus has gone. Stefan, who has been compelled not to share, initially refuses. MtVVS is hardcore, though. He thrusts his hand into Damon's chest and threatens to rip out his heart, if Stefan won't spill. Where Stefan's love for Elena wasn't potent enough to break through the Klaus-compulsion, his love for Damon seems like it just might be (okay, and maybe I should credit Lexi and her rapid detox, too).
Stefan says he'll get Klaus back to Mystic Falls. If it works, MtVVS will kill Klaus; if it fails, MtVVS will kill Stefan. Once the brothers are alone, Stefan makes sure Damon knows he didn't agree to work with MtVVS to save Damon. He just did it get rid of Klaus and blow this crappy town. Damon believes this exactly not one bit, and taunts, "Careful, Stefan, your humanity's showing." This infuriates Stefan, who doesn't understand why Damon is working so hard to save him. Damon has to save Stefan, because Stefan saved his life by sacrificing his freedom. Stefan: "Aw. Better be careful, brother. Your humanity's showing." Now it's Damon's turn to be ticked. Fisticuffs ensue. Well, actually, they're one-sided. Damon gives Stefan a sound (if brief) thrashing and leaves him lying in the street.
Early in the episode, Alaric and Damon bring Elena with them to see the cave drawings. While Alaric works with Bonnie to decipher them, Elena approaches Rebekah for some Original backstory, which means we get flashbacks -- featuring (not nearly enough of) ELIJAH!
Before the New World was "discovered," the Originals fled Europe to escape a plague, or possibly the plague. Esther, aka Mama Original learned of this brave, new world -- teeming with remarkably robust people -- from a witch named Ayanna. Buffy fans, raise your hand if you can't not say Anyanka in place of Ayanna. There should only be trolls.
Buffy is not the long lost show I should be referencing right now though, because Mama Original is played by the lovely and talented Alice Evans, who played the 1970s incarnation of Eloise Hawking, on Lost. My mind went to Buffy first, because Ms. Evans is married to the also lovely and talented Ioan Gruffudd, who plays Andrew Martin, on the new show I'm covering -- Ringer. Ringer also stars Buffy Sarah Michelle Gellar in dual roles. Her character, Siobhan, is married to Gruffudd's Andrew, and her other character, Bridget (Siobhan's twin) has assumed Siobhan's life, so she's currently pretending to be married to Andrew. Addled yet? Good. Then come sit by me so I won't stick out so much.
Anyhow... there's a drawback to the new world. Its remarkably robust inhabitants turn into wolves every full moon. The Originals cope, by hiding in caves every month, and get along well enough with their neighbors for a couple of decades. Then one night, Klaus and a younger brother sneak out to watch the neighbors transform into werewolves. The little brother gets killed, as little brothers often do. This means war between the Originals and the werewolves. The Originals beg Anyanka (yeah, I'm just going with it) to make them vampires, so they won't be as vulnerable. Anyanka refuses, so Mikael tells Eloise Hawking that it's up to her.
It's up to Eloise Hawking, because she's Eloise Hawking, and because SHE is the Original Witch. This pulls together so many dangling Lost mythology threads, that I really think Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse ought to treat Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec to a gourmet meal, accompanied by a flight of pricy wines. Eloise sets to turning the entire family (except herself, because she doesn't want to lose her witchiness) into vampires. This, of course, involves blood drinking and heart stabbing, which Mikael carries out. Klaus, it turns out, doesn't want to be turned, but turn he must.
The new vampires find blood irresistible. When Klaus makes his first kill, his inner-werewolf is released, which is how MtVVS realizes Eloise Hawking had been stepping out with one of the neighbors. According to Rebekah's account, MtVVS was so enraged, he ripped out Eloise Hawking's heart, and made Klaus watch. Rebekah didn't have an easy time of things back in the day, either, so she tells Elena she will retaliate if the Fellowship of the Falls wakes MtVVS.
When Elena brings her intel back to Alaric and Bonnie (at the cave), she becomes an instant expert in Viking-glyphics (perhaps that's the doppelganger's superpower) and realizes that MtVVS didn't kill Eloise Hawking after all. Klaus did! Elena foolishly rushes photos of the evidence back to Rebekah, who is not pleased. Rebekah refuses to believe this, freaks out and is going to kill Elena. Eventually though, she falls apart, instead of tearing Elena apart.
Back home at Gilbert Gables, Elena finds Damon in her bedroom. At this point, I think she'd be startled if he wasn't there. He's just lounging on her bed (atop the covers). He tells her about MtVVS, and tells her to rip him a new one for releasing Stefan, who he says is, "...an even bigger dick than ever, it's just that now -- he's a dick that's on our side." Elena is tired, not angry. She crawls under the covers while Damon is still lying on them, and tells him about Rebekah and that she thinks she made some headway with her. When Damon asks what she learned from Rebekah, Elena says, "I learned she's just a girl...that she lost her mom too young, and she loves blindly and recklessly, even if it consumes her." By their expressions, it seems Elena and Damon each appear recognize themselves in that description. After giving each other meaningful, if surprised looks, Elena says, "When all is said and done, there's nothing more important than the bond of family." Damon rolls his eyes but then snuggles down to face Elena. "Yeah. You should tell that to my brother." Elena lets out a sad little snicker, but then grows serious. "I'm not mad at you for letting him out, Damon." She turns off the light. "I think that you're going to be the one to save him from himself. It won't be because he loves me. It'll be because he loves you." Damon looks down at her, but doesn't say anything. Drowsy, Elena asks, "Can I tell you the rest, tomorrow?" Damon smiles. "Sure." Elena nods in agreement, and then nods off to sleep. Damon watches her sleep as we fade to black. Title card.
Okay, so that's about 1500 words, and I left out so much. I'll hit it all in my weecap, which will go up ASAP. In the meantime, please grade the episode up top and join us in the forum, where Damon won't get off your bed, no matter how hard you tug at the covers, so you might as well snuggle down and enjoy the view.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!In a cavern, in a canyon,
Excavating, as they pine
There dwells Damon and Alaric
And Elena -- all so fine.
Oh my darlings, oh my darlings,
Oh my darlings, all so fine!
These cave etchings are just corny
Would you pour me some more wine?
Caveat Lector: My apologies, for the above, to those readers outside of North America, who may not be familiar with American folk songs. Also, my apologies to those of you who are familiar with "Oh My Darling, Clementine." It's been stuck in my head since last week's episode though, and I am determined to exorcise it by the end of this weecap, even if I must filk it out. So? Tag. You're it.
In A Cavern: Elena follows Alaric into the caves under the old Lockwood ruins. Alaric warns Elena to be careful where she shines her flashlight, "...because bats hate the light." Elena, who has been sleeping with one VAMPIRE for a year, and flirting with a second for nearly as long, stops dead in her tracks. "Wait. What?!" Someone send girlfriend a copy of Allyson Beatrice's book, The Amazing Adventures of Sam the Bat, for Christmas. Okay?
Behind our girl, something whispers her name: "Elena." She jumps, spins around and shines the light to reveal...it's just Damon, so she punches him in the gut. Pity, she's not wearing Alaric's handy dandy stake eject-o bracelet. Don't get me wrong. I don't want Damon dead, but any time any TVD human (who isn't Bill Forbes), injures any TVD vampire (who isn't Caroline Forbes), I get a happy and lose my soul. Then my friend Christy has to hit the 'net and get Lisa, Sarah, Amy, Denise, Jen and, of course, Theresa, to chip in and buy yet another Orb of Thesulah, so they can restoreth my soul. [It's a whole, big sucking thing. --Buffy]
As Alaric watches the shenanigans, his expression morphs into the one you get when that friend who occasionally kills you, starts stalking you, too. "Just ignore him. That's what I do." Hmm. I'd been under the impression the good Ship Bromance had been righted and was back on course. Boo.
Ponder they now, over cave scrawl,
Writ in Runic, you will find!
Ric is suddenly an expert,
Writers hope that we won't mind.
Sorry. I'll try to stop that. Anyhow, Damon is still magically prohibited from entering the main chamber of the cave. Has anyone even tried to invite him in, yet? I like to think they've purposefully neglected to try it -- like an ultimate game of Keep-away. Seriously, this place could serve as a safe house from any of our fangy friends, if need be. There are two types of etchings on the cave walls. Some are written in Viking script, i.e. Runic. Others are akin to Native American cave art, for which I give (some of) you, your word of the day: petroglyph.
Alaric shows Elena petroglyphs depicting the phases of the moon, and man and a wolf -- i.e. ancient werewolf documentation. Damon: "Yeah, it's The Lockwood Diaries, Pictionary-style." I would have headlined this weecap, "The Lockwood Diaries" if Mason any Lockwoods actually appeared in it, but alas, they do not (neither do Caroline, Matt or the Germ). This Lockwood lack makes me doubly sad, because Editor-In-Chief, Angel Cohn, alerted me to this delightful bit of celebrity gossip, this week: Uncle Mason "Brick House" Lockwood is stepping out with Lady Gaga. I had been planning to work that in this weecap, somehow. Oh, look there. I just did. Ta-da!
Elena's understanding is that the Lockwoods arrived in Mystic Falls with the rest of the fraudulent "Founders" in the 1860s. This cave art predates that. Alaric says it is ancient. He then shows points out Runic words carved in stone. Translated they are Niklaus, Elijah, and Rebekah. We flashback to...
Ye Olde Ancient Times: A fey, British-Film-Jesus from the 1970s, pesters Rebekah about carving her name in the cave wall. Oh wait. That's not a fey, British-Film-Jesus. It's Klaus, who says Father would be displeased to learn his penis-lacking progeny is wielding a blade. The Beckster will wield a blade whenever she pleases, thank you very much. She tells Klaus he's a chicken when it comes to their father, and always ends up tattling on them. Klaus says Father frightens him.
Rebekah: "He frightens us all. That is why we stick together as one -- always and forever." The incest fic just writes itself with these Vikings, doesn't it? Rebekah adds, "Right, traitor?" [FORESHADOWING!] She smiles when she says it though, and Klaus smiles back. They make out. No. No. No. Come back. I'm only kidding. Rebekah asks Klaus to finish her graffiti, while she helps Mother prepare the meal.
Klaus: "Yes, go tend to dinner. Leave the blades to the men, little sister." She hands him her knife, blade side down, and not all that gently. Klaus looks at the gash in his palm. "Ahhh, Bekah!"
Rebekah smiles. "It's just a little blood. Be a man about it.
Today: Elena wonders if this is one of Klaus's faked up legends, like the Sun/Moon Curse. Alaric thought the same thing until he saw another name on the wall: Mikael. Elena's all, "Mikael as in -- the vampire hunter who knows how to kill Klaus?"
She's not wrong, but around these parts, we call him Mikael the Vampire-Vampire Slayer, or MtVVS, for short. Damon adds, "And I like to call him Papa Original." That would be because he is Elijah and Rebekah's father, and long thought he was Klaus's father too, but more on that later. Commercial.
Oh wait. That's no commercial. It's a montage of Alaric photographing the cave art, but it's set to Foster the People's "Don't Stop (Color On the Walls)" -- also used in a ubiquitous ad spot. Given this show's penchant for product placement, you'll understand why it originally took me a good three minutes before I realized I'd just fast-forwarded through an actual scene.
Gilbert Gables: Alaric explains to Damon and Elena that the etchings will tell them a story, if only they can decipher them. The latter two seem intent on role playing one of Angel and Buffy's training sequences. Damon gets the better of Elena and deems her technique sloppy. Elena: "Shut up. I'm new at this." She then kicks him in the gut, as he explains that the, "Ghost of Christmas Past, Mason Lockwood" said the cave art would lead them to a Klaus-killing weapon.
Elena says she thought MtVVS already had just such a thing. Damon says he does, but since they've lost Mikael, maybe the pictures will lead them to him. Oh, so it's psychic-GPS Viking and Native American cave art. [Thanks for the Dadaist pep talk. I feel much more abstract, now. --Buffy]
Damon and Elena are still training. When he bests her again, he whispers in her ear, "Bang. You're dead." After he plays at biting her neck (don't worry, his fangs don't even get through her hair), she pushes him off, sneers at him and rolls her eyes. So say we all, baby doll.
Alaric is being all Giles-y, so his back is to Elena and Damon the whole time (and given the heat between them, that's probably for the best). When he says the images may tell them what the weapon is, Elena walks over to examine the photos and says, "Then all we have to do is find out what they mean." Damon mocks their optimism and asks how they expect to do that. Elena: "Well, if the story's about the Original Family living here, then we go straight to the source." We cut to...
MFHS, Exterior, Cheerleading Practice: Elena finds Rebekah, which is easy to do, because other than Caroline, she's the only other student throwing herself into school and extra-curricular activities, with anything approaching enthusiasm. When Elena asks if they can talk, Rebekah figures she is there to talk about their common love interest and says, "About Stefan? Don't worry. I'm off him, until he starts treating me better." A beat. "In fact, you should probably take a page out of my book, if I'm being honest." Preach it.
Elena pulls out one of Alaric's cave photographs -- Rebekah's name in Runic. She'd rather talk about why Becky and Satan Klaus have spent 1,000 years running from MtVVS, their Daddy Dearest. Rebekah blows this off and starts to head back to join the other cheerleaders. Elena's a pit bull though. "Well, then maybe I'll ask Mikael, when we wake him."
Becky's face gets OMGWTFMtVVS (sorry, Cleolinda). "You're bluffing. You don't know where he is. No one does."
Elena: "So who's rotting away in that old cemetery in Charlotte?"
Becky walks back and gets right in Elena's grill. "If you wake Mikael, we are all doomed."
Elena: "So then tell me [...] why don't you want me to wake him?" I believe she just did, Elena. A terrified-looking Rebekah says she has to get back to the girls and walks off. We flashback to...
Ye Olde Ancient Times: Fey-British-'70s-Film-Jesus Klaus is having a sword fight with ELIJAH! Om nom nom nom. When Rebekah arrives, both brothers light up. So it's 3-way incest fic, then? Oh dear. Mama Original (Esther, played by Lost's, Alice Evans, i.e. Eloise Hawking) and Papa Original (Mikael, played by Supernatural's Sebastian Roché, i.e. Balthazar) stroll over to the scene. At first I think MtVVS is miffed at Klaus because he's openly flirting with his own siblings, but no, he's furious at him (but not Elijah) for having a playful sword fight.
MtVVS rants about how they fight for their survival (if so, isn't practice a good idea?), not for fun, then bullies Klaus into fighting with him. It's mere moments before MtVVS has knocked Fey-British-'70s-Film-Jesus Klaus to the ground. He holds his sword to the boy's neck and looms over him. "You are a foolish and impulsive man, my boy."
When Klaus is speechless, MtVVS yells, "What? No more LAUGHTER?" Eloise Hawking says, "You've made your point, Mikael." MtVVS thrusts the sword with all his might. It plunges into the ground, a hair's breadth away from Fey-British-'70s-Film-Jesus Klaus's neck. And thus, the woobification of Satan Klaus, our once most fearsome villain, is nearly complete, and he hasn't even taken his turn on Damon's magical toad stool.
Gilbert Gables: Alaric is in that weight room/study that's new this season, labeling his petroglyph pictures: vampire, werewolf... We cut to Elena walking upstairs to her room, as she talks to Damon on her phone. She knows Becky is scared of Mikael. Elena's prepared to engage in a little "Mean Girl power struggle" if that's the only way to get her to talk. Damon: "Just make sure she doesn't power-struggle you into a wheelchair." Or an early grave.
As the talk turns to Stefan, we cut to the Torture Emporium. Elena asks how her prisoner looks. Damon peers through the window at his baby brother. "Pasty and pouty." Elena says, "He'll have to get over it. Call me later."
Mossy Manse: Elena and Alaric are now together in the kitchen. Elena assures Alaric that Rebekah will come around. Alaric: "Are you sure about that? I mean a thousand year old vampire, I'm sure, has learned the art of patience." Just then, Elena gets a text message reading: "Come over for a chat. Rebekah." How did Rebekah get Elena's phone number? Elena looks at Alaric. "She's a thousand year old vampire who's joined the cheerleading squad." She shows him the text. "There's a whole different set of rules in play here, Ric. I've got this." That's sort of a theme, tonight. I'm just psyched that finally, we know the doppelganger's superpower. Her superpower is being a teenaged girl. How did I not see that spoiler hiding in plain sight?
Torture Emporium: Stefan isn't really in the mood to entertain company, even though Damon proclaims it is "Family Day at Vampire Rehab." When Damon references Elena's faith in Lexi's recovery plan, Stefan says, "We should all listen to Elena, right? I mean her plans always work out so well, don't they?" Stefan tries to get Damon to leave by implying Elena might be in danger from Rebekah, but Damon isn't worried. Once he decides Stefan really has given up, he frees him from his bonds. Stefan asks what he's doing. Damon: "Screw this Lexi Plan. I think we could both use a drink." With Damon out the door, and his restraints removed, Stefan stays in the chair for a moment. Some of Stefan's humanity remains, indeed. Look at how sad he is -- sad in part, to be free.
Mossy Manse: Elena arrives to find Rebekah blaring music. Rebekah is all smiles as she fills two champagne flutes. A compelled bevy of beauties parades out in the various dresses Rebekah is considering for the Homecoming dance. She asks Elena her opinion on the frocks. Elena's not there to shop. She wants to know about Mikael. Rebekah takes Homecoming dress selection so seriously that she Stealth-Salvatores over to one of the girls, puts on her game face, and hovers her fangs over her victim's neck. Elena gives in and makes a choice. "The red one." Becky sends the girls away, telling them to remember nothing.
Once they're alone, Rebekah picks up her glass of champagne and walks over to Elena. Standing far too close, Becky grits her teeth and says, "You do not threaten me. You'll learn what I allow you to learn. Is that clear?" Elena nods. Commercial.
Gilbert Gables: Bonnie arrives and gives Alaric the "necklace that wouldn't die." Sensing her sorrow, he gives her a little pep talk before getting to work. "Listen, Jeremy is an idiot. And I know this with certainty, because I was once a Jeremy. Trust me. We...learn. Eventually." When Bonnie gives him a half smile and Alaric grins back at her, I realize something about myself. Whenever any two characters on this show have any sort of moment, my inner 'shipper gets all excited. Stop that, inner 'shipper. I have work to do, and I can't see the show hooking Alaric up with any of our main three girls, at least not while they're still matriculating at the school in which he teachers. Anyhow, Alaric holds up a picture of another petroglyph. It seemed familiar to him, because it is. It's the same design that is on Elena's necklace. After confirming with Bonnie that Grams said the necklace once belonged to the witch who put the hybrid curse on Klaus, Alaric notes that the symbol is repeated throughout the cave. He then labels that photo witch.
Mossy Manse, Stefan's Room: It's tidy, now. Damon must have cleaned up after his tantrum in which he destroyed the place, because we know Stefan doesn't clean. Rebekah wants this to be girlie-time, in which they snoop through their mutual boyfriend's stuff. Elena isn't there to play. Rebekah pouts because Elena is not into dishing about Stefan's modern boxer briefs, as opposed to the undies he wore in the 1920s.
The conversation turns to the Original Family's motivation for leaving Europe and coming to this continent. Before the New World was "discovered" by anyone mentioned in the MFHS history books, a plague struck Europe. The Originals had just started their family. After they lost a child, they fled Europe to protect their future family. Eloise Hawking learned of this brave, new world -- teeming with remarkably robust people -- from a witch named Ayanna. Buffy fans, raise your hand if you can't not say Anyanka in place of Ayanna. There should only be trolls.
Elena realizes those inhabitants "blessed with speed and strength" were werewolves. The Originals lived in peace with them for 20 years, during which time the parents had more children, including Beckster. Thanks to the magic of the L-edit, Rebekah's current day narration extends beyond the video of this scene. She tells Elena, "Once a month, our family retreated to the caves beneath our village. The wolves would howl through the night, and by morning, we'd return home."
Ye Olde Ancient Virginia, Early Morning After a Full Moon: Anyanka (look, I already can't remember that other name, so I'm just going with it) watches as Rebekah wanders through a home. Captivated by the charms dangling in front of the window, Becky reaches out to grab the one that will someday be Elena's necklace. When it burns her, Anyanka says, "That is not yours to touch."
Outside, Fey-British-'70s-Film-Jesus Klaus runs screaming back into the village. In his arms lies a lifeless looking Original baby brother, Heinrich. The boys had broken the rules and snuck out to watch their neighbors transform into wolves. Heinrich paid the ultimate price for these hijinks. Eloise Hawking begs Anyanka to find a way to save him. Anyanka says the spirits will not give them one. The boy is gone. And with a J-edit, we hear present day Rebekah, finish her explanation to Elena, before cutting away from the video showing Ye Olde Rebekah, Klaus, Eloise Hawking and Anyanka, mourning over Heinrich. Present-day Rebekah: "And that was the beginning of the end of peace with our neighbors." Whoooooosh.
Mossy Manse, Stefan's Room: Rebekah continues: "And one of the last moments my family had together, as humans." They're interrupted by Elena's phone. As Becky predicts, it's Damon, checking up on Elena. He's at some food-and-drink-serving-place that isn't the Mystic Grill! Elena overhears her other Salvatore boyfriend say he'll be at the bar. She asks Damon, "Is that Stefan?" Damon admits it is. "Yeah, I kind of went off book." Elena is peeved, but Damon tells her he's "got this" and hangs up.
Not-the-Grill: Damon orders himself a shot of the best whiskey in the house, and then compels blonde bartender Callie to let Stefan feed on her. Callie gasps when Stefan sinks his teeth into her wrist. Damon positions himself so that the other patrons can't see what's going on and eye-things at her. "Hi, Callie." Commercial.
Stefan is Quarters virtuoso. He credits fifty years of being on the boring bunny diet for his coin bouncing precision. Damon sends Callie off for another bottle of bourbon. Stefan's only drinking Callie. Alone, the boys have some bitchy bonding time.
Mossy Manse: Elena asks Rebekah if she's ever going to stop snooping through Stefan's stuff and get back to the story. Looking at a photo of Elena and Stefan together, Beckster says she doesn't get them as a couple. She talks all big about how vampires are predators and don't have time to care about humans and their silly little lives.
Elena zings Rebekah about her earlier fashion show and her over-investment in the Homecoming dance. Elena tells her to go compel herself a friend, and is going to leave. This gets Rebekah talking again. "The necklace wasn't Stefan's to give..." Since she's still facing the bedroom doorway, Elena is free to grin. Rebekah continues, "It belonged to the Original Witch," who not only put the hybrid curse on Klaus, she also turned the Originals into vampires.
Ye Olde Ancient Virginia: Mikael and Eloise Hawking implore Anyanka to call upon the spirits to help them find a way to protect their kids. Anyanka refuses, even when Eloise asks all pretty like.
Mossy Manse: Rebekah and Elena go back downstairs as Rebekah fills Elena in on more backstory. When Elena asks why the Originals didn't just leave after the troubles began, Rebekah says, "Pride." Her father wanted to be superior to the wolves in every way.
Ye Olde Ancient Virginia: The Originals plead with Anyanka some more, but she leaves, saying she'll have no part in it. Blah blah blah balance-of-nature cakes. Mikael tells Eloise Hawking, "If she will not protect our family, then it is in your hands alone, my love." Eloise Hawking's face is all, "I've got this."
Mossy Manse: When Elena wonders what Eloise Hawking could do about anything, I say, "Apparently, you never watched Lost. Eloise Hawking is not subject to the laws of the Universe, Elena." She doesn't listen to me. Instead, she waits for Rebekah who says, "Because my mother was also a witch. [...] The witch of the Original Family -- the Original Witch!"
What a rip-off -- not story-wise... It's just that for two and a quarter seasons, we have been watching African-American witch after African-American witch, fly through this show and to her fiery and/or bloody doom. Now we learn the ORIGINAL witch is white? And not just white-ish. She's a bloody Viking, that's über-white. The show cuts to commercial so I can calm down.
After the break, Rebekah explains that because a witch is nature's servant and a vampire is an abomination of nature, you can never be both. "My mother did this for us. She did not turn." To turn her family, Eloise Hawking, "...called upon the sun for life, and the ancient white oak tree -- one of nature's eternal objects -- for immortality." Staring at the fire, Rebekah continues: "That night, my father offered us wine laced with blood, and then he drove his sword through our hearts." Elena's voice is but a whisper. "He killed you?" Now holding a bottle of wine, Rebekah turns back toward Elena. "And he wasn't delicate about it, either." She pulls the entire top of the wine bottle off and flings it in the fireplace for emphasis.
Ye Olde Ancient Virginia: Klaus and Rebekah wake after being stabbed by Daddy. As Klaus comforts Rebekah and says they'll be all right, MtVVS brings in a young girl and tells the kids, "We must finish what we started." Tossing the girl down in front of them and slitting her wrist, he adds, "You have to drink if you want to live." Klaus refuses. He tries to stop MtVVS, who pushes him down. MtVVS gets Rebekah to feed.
Back in the present, Rebekah describes the experience as "euphoric" but allows that the Anyanka witch was right about consequences. "The spirits turned on us. For every strength, there was a weakness." The sun burned them, so they had to remain inside until Eloise Hawking found a solution to that problem. Other problems included social isolation. In a flashback, we see other girls avoiding Rebekah as they look on her with horror and contempt. The Originals learned they were unable to enter homes without an invite. When Rebekah goes to pick some vervain, "The flowers at the base of the white oak burned."
In the present, she adds that vervain also prevented compulsion. "And the spell decreed that the tree that gave us life could also take us away, so we burned it to the ground" Flashback to Ye Olde Elijah, Rebekah, and Fey-British-'70s-Film-Jesus Klaus watching the tree in full flame. It seems the Original Parents never anticipated their kids' blood lust, either. They couldn't control it.
Not-the-Grill: While Stefan feeds on Callie, Damon dances on top of the bar with a couple of other girls. When he returns to Stefan, Damon compels an onlooker into believing there's nothing to see there. True enough. The real show was Damon dancing on the bar. Can we see that again? Once she's gone, Damon pulls Stefan off Callie and tells him to ease up. He then ties a red scarf around her neck and sends her off.
When the boys mosey over to the bar, Stefan wants to know why Damon set him free. Damon says he wanted to remind Stefan what freedom is like. Stefan says freedom is not possible while Klaus is alive, and Klaus can't be killed. Just then, MtVVS strolls up and says, "Maybe I can help with that." He waits a beat until he has their attention. "The Salvatore boys, I presume." Stefan rises from his stool and turns around. There's a flicker of recognition in his eyes, from their meeting in Gloria's speakeasy, back in the 1920s. Finally he nods and says, "Mikael." Commercial.
Mossy Manse: Elena asks why MtVVS started hunting Klaus. Rebekah explains that when "Nik" made his first kill, it triggered his werewolf gene, and this became Mikael's biggest shame. Elena already knew from Elijah about Klaus's true paternity. Rebekah says her mother tried to set things right with Mikael by putting the hybrid curse on Klaus, and turning her back on her own son. "But Mikael's biggest weakness as a human was his pride. As a vampire, that was magnified." She says MtVVS went on a rampage, killed half the village, and then came home and killed their mother, tearing her heart from her chest, as "Nik" watched. Mikael fled in a rage. Klaus stayed to help Rebekah bury their mother.
Ye Olde Ancient Virginia: At Eloise Hawking's graveside, Rebekah assures Klaus that their mother didn't hate him; she just feared him. She promises never to turn her back on her brother. Elijah comes out of nowhere and adds, "Nor will I." Rebekah grabs her brothers' hands. "We stick together as one. Always and forever." When the brothers join hands, their love triangle circle is complete.
Mossy Manse: Elena wonders if getting locked in a coffin for 90 years doesn't sort of break that "always and forever" clause of their pledge. Rebekah: "We're vampires. Our emotions are heightened. I'm stubborn, Elijah -- moral, and Nik...has no tolerance for those who disappoint him. Over a thousand years as a family, we've all made that mistake at least once. I've made it several times."
Elena: "But you still love him?"
Rebekah: "He's my brother and I'm immortal. Should I spend an eternity alone, instead?" When Rebekah finds her own story getting to her, she tells Elena it's time to go. She insists Elena leave and then says, "I don't know what you are up to, but I am no longer playing along."
Elena says she's looking for one good reason not to wake Mikael. Rebekah says she's given her a thousand. It's no secret Elena wants Klaus dead. Rebekah says, "Do what you need. Wake Mikael at your own peril. Make no mistake. If you come after my brother, I will rip you apart. And? I get my temper from my father. Now leave."
Not-the-Grill: MtVVS asks Stefan all sorts of questions about Klaus, where he might be, when Stefan last saw him, but all Stefan can answer is, "I can't tell you," over and over. Finally Stefan says, "I am compelled to do what he says, and he says to keep my damn mouth shut." Damon just hopes "...this game of 20 Questions isn't your secret weapon." When Damon starts to mouth off, MtVVS plunges his hand into Damon's chest and says, "Careful, Stefan, one more and his heart's gone. Now, where is Klaus? Tell me, what is the trick question, Stefan? One twist, and he's dead, unless you don't care, of course."
Damon croaks, "His emotions have been shut off. He can't care."
MtVVS: "Really, his link to Klaus is so strong that he would let his own brother die?" When MtVVS tells Damon that Stefan and he are dead ends, he shoves his hand further in Damon's chest.
Stefan grabs MtVVS's arm and says, "Wait. I can bring him back. I can lure Klaus back to Mystic Falls."
Pleased that Stefan has been inspired to find a loophole, MtVVS pulls his hand out of Damon's chest, with a disgusting squicky sound. He tells Stefan, "Get Klaus back to Mystic Falls, and I will gladly drive a stake through his heart. Fail, I'll drive it through yours." Commercial
In A Cavern: Elena meets up with Alaric and Bonnie at the cave. He's putting up his sticky-note labels: vampire, werewolf, slaughter, mayhem, etc. Elena identifies the etching of the white oak, which had been the only way the Original Vampires could be killed. Alaric notes they already knew the tree equals a weapon of some sort. He's still not sure about the witch symbol combined with what looks like a bleeding heart. They're upside which often signifies death.
Looking at the drawings, Elena says, "Mikael killed the witch by ripping out her heart. She puzzles over another symbol and asks about it. Bonnie tells her they haven't gotten that far, yet. The symbol looks like a combination of the werewolf and vampire petroglyphs. A lightbulb goes on over Elena's head. "Oh my God. Rebekah doesn't know the real story."
Mossy Manse: Rebekah is pouring herself a drink when Elena walks in. Rebekah wants her to leave, but Elena asks how she knows Mikael is the one who killed Eloise Hawking. Rebekah says "Nik" witnessed it and told her. Elena: "He lied to you. [...] The cave where you carved your name is covered in symbols -- the story of your family -- how your parents arrived. How they made peace. The spell that turned you into vampires, and this." Elena has laid out a picture corresponding to each element above. The picture for this is the hybrid petroglyph. She shows Rebekah the symbol for her mother. Beckster says, "Her necklace?" Then Elena shows her the death story. She narrates: "The hybrid killed the Original Witch -- not Mikael, Klaus."
Rebekah angrily refuses to accept Elena's theory. "No. No. He wouldn't." Elena reminds her it was Eloise Hawking who cursed Klaus, and then she rejected him on top of it. The werewolf gene carries with it aggression and violence. Klaus killed their mother and then blamed it on Mikael, so he wouldn't lose Rebekah. Rebekah goes into a rage, and throws the pictures in the fire and demands to know why Elena is "doing this" to her. Elena says, "Klaus killed your mother. He has a hold on you, on me, on everyone. He has for a thousand years. We have to make it stop."
Rebekah vamps out, shoves Elena against the wall and throttles her. "Shut up. Shut up. Don't talk anymore. Nothing." Has she compelled Elena into silence? I don't think so. Elena seems to be looking down most of the time, and I'd imagine she's taking vervain. For a moment, it looks like Rebekah is going to kill Elena, but eventually, she releases her. Beckster's game face relaxes. She fights back the tears, but it's no use. Falling to her knees, she weeps. For a moment, I expect Elena to hug her, but I guess that would be too much even for Elena, after almost having been killed three seconds before.
City Streets, Night: Damon scolds Stefan for waiting to the last second to have his breakthrough. Stefan denies having had any such thing. Damon pretends he's Stefan and mocks: "Ooh, ooh. My brother's about to die and I just have to save his life for the bajillionth time." He pats Stefan on the back and adds, "Careful, Stefan, your humanity's showing." This ticks off Stefan, who says doesn't understand why Damon is trying to save him. Damon says he has to. He owes Stefan. Stefan saved his life by sacrificing his freedom. "And? I just can't leave you in a cell to rot."
Stefan bites Damon in the ass with his own words. "Aw. Better be careful, brother. Your humanity's showing." Now it's Damon's turn to get mad. Fisticuffs ensue. Well, actually, they're one-sided. Damon gives Stefan a sound (if brief) thrashing and leaves him lying in the street. Nitey-nite, Stefan. Sleep tight. Don't let the street bugs bite.
Mossy Manse: Rebekah is still on her hands and knees, sobbing in front of the fire.
Gilbert Gables: Back home at Gilbert Gables, Elena finds Damon in her bedroom. At this point, I think she'd be startled if he wasn't there. He's just lounging on her bed (atop the covers). He tells her about MtVVS, and tells her to rip him a new one for releasing Stefan, who he says is, "...an even bigger dick than ever, it's just that now -- he's a dick that's on our side." Damon thinks Mikael's weapon must be a stake. Elena says, "Well then, they must have carved it from the white oak tree, before they burned it down." Damon laughs about being right. "After all that, the wall just led us to Mikael." Elena says, "It led us to more than just that. I think it got Rebekah on our side, too."
Elena is tired, not angry. When she tugs at her covers, Damon ignores this hint to get off her bed, so she crawls under the covers while he is still lying on them. Damon, surprised to hear that Rebekah may join the Fellowship of the Falls, asks what she learned from Rebekah. Elena says, "I learned she's just a girl...that she lost her mom too young, and she loves blindly and recklessly, even if it consumes her." By their expressions, it seems Elena and Damon each appear recognize themselves in that description.
After giving each other meaningful, if surprised looks, Elena says, "When all is said and done, there's nothing more important than the bond of family." Damon rolls his eyes but then snuggles down to face Elena. "Yeah. You should tell that to my brother." Elena lets out a sad little snicker, but then grows serious. "I'm not mad at you for letting him out, Damon." She turns off the light. "I think that you're going to be the one to save him from himself. It won't be because he loves me. It'll be because he loves you." She's not wrong. Damon looks down at her, but doesn't say anything. Drowsy, Elena asks, "Can I tell you the rest, tomorrow?" Damon smiles. "Sure." Elena nods in agreement, and then nods off to sleep. Damon watches her sleep as we fade to black. Title card.
I'm hearing that the long, holiday hiatus is going to start after week's episode, "Homecoming." Ugh. The show just came back. Why can't the writers, actors and crew give up more of their lives and make -- I don't know -- 48 episodes a year? A month's vacation is considered decent in the rest of the country. I'll see you Friday morning with the recaplet. In the meantime, please grade the episode up top and join us in the forum, where Damon won't get off your bed, no matter how hard you tug at the covers, so you might as well snuggle down and enjoy the view.