07x06 - The Time of Our Lives

[bunniefuu]

Long flight?

Endless.

How much further?

You have some time.

If you want to sleep,
go ahead, sir.

(ENGINE ROARING)

(TIRES SCREECH)

MAN: No...

(EXHALES) Hey. Made some coffee for you.
It's insomniac strength.

(YAWNS)

This is the fourth night in a
row that you haven't slept.

Something wrong?
I don't know.

Maybe my subconscious
has a pressing need

to catch up on
my Facebook likes.

BECKETT: Martha, good morning.
Ah. Good morning, darling.

Would you like some breakfast?
No, thank you.

I'm fasting for clarity.

I've been asked to read
for the new Stoppard play.

So what's the problem?

Well, I haven't auditioned
for anything in ages.

I think I need to decide if that
particular train has left the station.

(CASTLE AND BECKETT CHUCKLE)

"Ms. Katherine Beckett"?
What's this?

Oh, an ex is getting married.

Do you remember Will Sorenson?

Your old FBI squeeze?
Yeah.

Oh, man, you're so lucky I came
along and saved you from that life.

Wait. You saved me?

Come on. Even you have
to admit he was boring.

Like, C-SPAN boring.

You know, what makes you think
that I would be with Sorenson

if you hadn't come along?

All right.
Where would you be?

If you weren't around
to distract me? Yeah.

Um, I would probably be
captain of my own precinct.

Wow.
Yeah.

Okay. Had I not been
bewitched by you,

I think by now I'd be working
on my second Pulitzer.

So we're bad for
each other, huh?

The worst.
Oh.

I guess we'd both be
better off if we never met.

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

It's like It's a Wonderful Life.

Every time your phone rings,
a victim gets their wings.

Beckett.

RYAN: His name
is Mathias Gensler.

His passport indicates
that he is a Swiss national.

Witnesses said
that two masked men

att*cked both
the driver and Gensler,

before cutting
a silver briefcase

handcuffed
to Mr. Gensler's wrist.

BECKETT:
So this was an ambush.

Whoever did this knew that
he had that case with him.

Looks like the attackers fled in
a late model G-Wagen, no plates.

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)

Is that a boot print
on his shirt?

k*ller must have held
him down with his foot.

So, what was in the case?

Nuclear launch codes?
Deadly virus?

We don't know yet.

The driver's log shows that Mr. Gensler
was picked up at Teterboro Airport

after arriving on a private
charter flight from Switzerland.

BECKETT: And where was
the car taking him?

Manifest only lists
the pick-up.

Did you call the car company?

Uh, there's no one to call.

The driver, Renzo Conrad,
owned the service.

He was a one-man band.

Speaking of one-man band,
where's your partner?

CASTLE: Yeah.

And Lanie.

LANIE: Wait, wait.

We're here.
We were just, uh...

Stuck in traffic.
Yeah.

BECKETT: Why don't you bring
Romeo here up to speed?

And contact the Swiss consulate.

Maybe they know
what Gensler was up to.

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

Castle, what are you
doing with my body?

Just pretend like
you don't know him.

Beckett, this is not dirt.
It's flinty. (SNIFFS)

Hints of carbon.

That's coal.

It's pulverized, unrefined coal.

So?

So, I used a clue like this in one
of my early Derrick Storm books.

It's pretty unusual
to find unrefined coal

outside a coal-fired
power plant.

All the coal plants in the city

are either shut down
or converted.

Right. But some of them
are still standing.

There's an abandoned one
on the Hudson

they're gonna turn
into a shopping mall.

Coal dust could have
come from a lot of places.

An abandoned plant
would be a perfect place

to launch a strike like this.

Lanie, why don't you
get CSU techs

to test the substance
on the victim's shirt?

We gotta go to Teterboro
and look into that flight.

And that coal plant
is right on the way.

Fine. We'll stop off
at the coal plant.

CASTLE: So,
you thinking about going?

Going where?

Sorenson's wedding.

Take a little trip
down memory lane?

(CHUCKLES) I don't think
that's such a good idea.

Why not?
(SIGHS)

I'm not really ready for
someone else's perfect day.

You know I'd give anything to
change what happened, right?

Yeah, I know you would.

Castle...

You were right.

(BEEPS)

The sh**t'
G-Wagen's here.

Espo, hey.

I need backup at
the Hudson River coal plant.

CASTLE: There's the case.

What's in it?

CASTLE: Some kind of artifact.

Must be valuable
if it was worth k*lling over.

(ALARM BUZZING)
Castle, what are you...

Get down!

Why do you always
have to touch everything?

I thought you
liked that about me.

Move!

(GRUNTS)

(METAL CLANKS)

(GROANS)

(DOOR SQUEAKS)

(WHISPERS) Beckett?

Beckett?

(LOUDLY) Beckett?

Beckett!

Guys! (PANTING) Hey, guys!
Beckett's in trouble.

I got away, but her car is missing.
I think she was abducted.

Uh, Captain?

You're okay!
You made it back!

Captain Beckett, this guy
claims you're in trouble.

"Captain"?
You know him?

I've never seen this man
before in my life.

Never seen me before?
Okay, that's very funny.

I'm just glad you're okay.
How did you get back here?

Excuse me?

From the power plant.
We were being sh*t at.

That's a nice suit, by the way.

Whoever you are,
I think you'd better leave.

Whoever I am? Ow!
ESPOSITO: Come on, pal.

Whatever trip you're on,
if you leave quietly,

I'm sure we can forget
this ever happened.

Okay! Whoa! I get it.

You guys are punking me.

Sorry. Just like, uh,
my birthday. This is good.

How did you stage that?

The double sh**ting,
the severed hand,

coal dust on the shirt?

He just described
our crime scene.

Where did you get
that information?

From being at the crime scene

with all of you.

Captain, we only got
the forensics

about the coal dust
five minutes ago.

And how do you know
so much about this case?

Kate, okay, you know what?
You got me. Joke's over.

You're right. It is.

No...

(LAUGHS) Guys, seriously,
what's going on here?

Mr. Richard Castle.
Ha, you're a novelist.

Why don't you tell us
the story about where you were

between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m.?

In bed with Beckett.

Maybe you shouldn't talk
about the captain like that.

How did you know
about that coal dust?

Well, that's where all
this started, at the plant.

There was...

There was an expl*si*n.

I must've gotten knocked out.
This is a dream, okay?

You guys are just
creations of my psyche.

This is me just
working out some issues.

That's why you don't know me.

Because you aren't real.

And you know what?
I can prove it.

Well-known fact,

it's impossible to read in a dream.
Hey!

"Richard Castle,
AKA Richard Rodgers."

You had me worried there.

For a second I thought
I didn't exist.

Whoa. Whoa,
whoa, whoa. Hey.

It says here I jumped on
a Macy's Parade float

and sang Let It Go
with Idina Menzel,

and then landed a hot air
balloon naked in Central Park.

I didn't do these things, guys.

Come on. I would never sing
Let It Go as a duet.

Mr. Castle, this is gonna go
much easier for you

if you just tell us what
you know about those murders.

Okay, Kate? Kate!

This guy's nuts.
Come on!

Please, just talk to me?

Sit down, or I'll
have to restrain you.

I know you're in there. Because
usually I'm right beside you.

(CASTLE GROANS)

Mr. Castle, sit down.

I'll handle this.

You sure, Captain?
Mmm-hmm.

Mr. Castle,
let's just say for a moment

that you and I
did meet each other.

Where would that have been?

At my book party.

You came to me.

You asked me to consult
on a copycat m*rder.

It was six years ago.
Your hair was short then.

It was adorable.

Six years ago, huh?

Well, it says here that you
met with a Detective McNulty.

Apparently, you helped him
solve the case.

No... No, no, no.
Kate, it was you.

All... I can't...

I woke up next to you this morning.
I'm not imagining that.

I, uh...
I'm sorry, Mr. Castle.

We don't have a relationship.

Before today,
you and I have never met.

Now, is there someone
that you would like to call?

Who should I make this out to?

Uh, Kevin, Mrs. Rodgers. Uh-huh.

All right, Kevin.

Your Mama Rose in Gypsy?
Perfection.

Ah, thank you.
You are a dear, sweet boy.

RYAN: (CHUCKLES) Well...

You were robbed
of that third Tony.

Oh, well.

Mother?
Richard!

Darling, you look like hell.

Thank God. You know me.

(STUTTERS) No, don't, please.
Darling, you're filthy.

You're lucky your mommy could
alibi you out for the m*rder.

Oh, he only kills on paper.
(BOTH LAUGH)

And I'll have you know that
coming down to the police station

to get my grown son
out of prison

is the last thing
I have time for.

You know full well
we open in two days.

We open what?

BOTH: Mame!

My revival of Auntie Mame.

Exactly how hard
did you party last night?

Apparently, very, very hard.

Oh, that can't be good.

Come on, kiddo.
Come on. Oh, dear.

Don't worry, darling. Once you're
home, you'll feel much better.

CASTLE: Oh, my God, Mother!

What have you done
with my place?

Oh, Richard,
we have talked about this.

Now that we share the
mortgage, it is our place.

And since you have lost
most of your life savings...

Whoa! Lost my savings? How?

You invested poorly.
Mostly blondes and racehorses.

And it's not as if
your great American novel here

is flying off the shelves.

CASTLE: "Finite Laughter"?

I did not write this.
This...

(READING)
"Babcock was a small man.

"A small man with large dreams,

"and one of those dreams
was Betty."

This is awful!

Exactly what the critics said.

But I am pleased
to see that distance

has given you some
perspective. Good.

ALEXIS: Oh, hey, Dad.

Hey.

I see you made bail.

Alexis, your hair!
When did you do that?

Uh, three years ago.
Before I moved to LA.

LA?

Richard, don't start.
Alexis is here for a few days.

She's taking time off
from saving the world

to come to my opening night.

Okay. Okay, that's it.

That's it. I'm done.

(SCOFFS)

Gram, is he okay?

He had a rough night.

Oh.

Whatever all of this is,

a coma, a dream,

some weird hallucination,

or even just
an undigested bit of pizza...

I'm ending it.

It's time to wake up.

(PANTING)

I don't understand.

I've never had a dream like this before.
Why aren't I waking up?

ALEXIS:
Maybe it's not a dream.

Maybe you traveled
into some alternate universe.

MARTHA: Oh, Alexis,
don't tease your father.

Darling, maybe you'd
just better lie down.

Yeah. Maybe I should.

Hey, Richie.

I used your hidden key
like you said.

Who are you?

Oh, is that what we're playing?

Okay.
Oh!

I saw you at the bus stop,
mister, and I followed you home.

Okay, obviously we know
each other... "Chelsea"?

Oh, it was the funnest
two weeks of my life.

Okay... (STUTTERS)
I really can't do this.

Sure you can, sure you can.

I got a couple
little blue pills in my purse.

Oh, no, no.
I mean, no, I just... I...

(STAMMERING)
I have to get back to work.

Look, you seem like a
lovely, young... Mmm.

...young woman.

But I think you should go.

Seriously?

(HUFFS)

Writers are so strange.
(SIGHS)

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

MAN: It was like suddenly

I walked through a doorway
where I knew everyone.

But everything was different.

My wife was married
to another man.

I came back home and my
parents didn't recognize me.

They didn't know me.

Well, good morning, darling.

Are you feeling better today?
Much.

Because I know what's going on.
I know why I'm here.

It's this.

MARTHA:
"Swiss archeological team

"discovers ancient
Incan artifact"?

Not just any artifact.

Given its markings,
some mystics believe

that it's connected to the
Incan "Gateway to the Gods,"

a doorway through which shamans

were known to travel
into other realms.

Dad, I was joking.

Please don't tell me
you believe this.

Alexis, I was holding this.

And right at that moment, as the
grenade was rolling between us,

I was thinking maybe
I wasn't good for her.

Maybe Beckett would be
happier if we had never met.

That's what changed.

That's where I am!
In a world where we never met.

It's like the last
six years didn't happen.

Who... Who's Beckett?

Exactly. You don't know who she
is because she and I never met.

So I didn't write Nikki Heat,

I wrote that god-awful
piece of trash instead.

And with less money coming in,

you were forced to
go out and be successful.

I found success because
of my boundless talent.

And somehow we drifted apart.
Somehow?

I'm not crazy. This is not my world.
I need to get back home.

How do you intend to do that?

By helping this world's
Beckett find that artifact.

So I can get back to my reality.
(ALEXIS SIGHS)

This is why I live with Mom.

(DOOR OPENS)

CASTLE: So, you're a fan.

And here I thought
you didn't know me.

Yeah, I don't. I mean, I didn't.
I... (STAMMERS)

Didn't recognize me
in my deranged state?

Listen... (LAUGHS)
I have to apologize.

How I acted, you must
have thought I was crazy.

Well, yeah.
That's because you were.

Yeah. It's this new book
I've been working on.

I have been
working non-stop.

I mean, I have been drinking
coffee, popping NoDoz.

I haven't slept in days.

And to make matters worse,
the new character,

I kind of based her on you.

What I've read about you.

So, she's savvy
and smart and driven,

and I have fallen
in love with her.

I mean, I eat with her,
I sleep with her.

But I know you are not her.

You know, none of this explains

how you know so much
about the crime scene.

I have a police scanner, and I
was tracking the investigation.

Actually, that's why
I'm here, Captain.

I know what was
in the briefcase,

I know where it's going, and
I think I know who took it.

And how do you know all that?

It's complicated, but I do.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Hey, Cap.

What's he doing here?
I'm not sure.

Okay. So, I heard back
from the courier company.

Turns out our victim
was transporting...

An ancient Incan artifact.

Yeah. And, uh,
it was on its way...

To the Lamont-Doherty laboratories
in Palisades, New York, for studies.

Scientists believe it was
fashioned from a meteorite,

but it's proven impenetrable
to conventional scans.

How did I know all this?

I used to be a crime novelist,

and I still have a few sources.

Captain, this is what
your victims were k*lled for.

And why would
someone k*ll for this?

Well, the folks at the lab

said an object like that would
be invaluable to any collector.

Mr. Castle, you said that
you might know who took it.

Not exactly who,
but I know who is involved.

So, the car service was going to
pick up Gensler, the courier,

from the airport here,
take him to the lab here.

Basically, north.

Yet for some reason,
when they were att*cked,

they ended up here,
in Spanish Harlem.

The opposite way.

Yes. So either this driver had a
terrible sense of direction...

Or he was in on it.

And maybe his partners
k*lled him to silence him.

Detective Ryan, get me everything
you can on that driver.

That was surprisingly
helpful, Mr. Castle.

Do you mind if I hang around?
See how this turns out?

Mmm-hmm.
Break room's over there.

I know.

Yo, writer boy,

tell me how you know
about that coal plant.

What? The one you
were talking about

when you came in yesterday.

The captain had me check it out.

You know what I found?

Tire tracks.
The same tire tracks

that we found
at our crime scene.

Now, you knew that our doers were
using it as a staging ground.

And the only way you would know
that is if you were involved.

Okay, fine.

I don't usually like to tell
people this, but I have a gift.

I know things.
You know things?

You and I haven't met
before yesterday, correct?

Yeah.

So then how would I know that
you had a thing with a woman

whose initials were L.P.?

And how would I know that
she moved on and you can't?

Ryan has a big fat mouth.
That's how you know.

What happened?
Commitment issues?

(DOOR OPENS)

Hey, man.
We got something.

Okay, so, over the last four
days before he was k*lled,

our driver made a...

Our driver made a series of
phone calls to a pay phone

located inside of a restaurant.

The only problem is,
the place has been shut down

the past couple of months.

Who was he calling? I have
no idea, but check it out.

The deserted restaurant,
El Chozo,

maybe that's
where he was headed.

It's right near
where the SUV was att*cked.

All right. Get up there,
see what you can find.

Uh, Captain, would it be
possible for me to ride along?

Uh, strictly for
research purposes.

Is he kidding?

I would just love
the chance to observe,

get some details for my book.

Yeah, sure, Cap. We'll take him along.
What the...

Dude, that's Martha Rodgers' son.
He can get us house seats.

You can get us
house seats, right?

Absolutely.

Okay. But do as they say,
and don't interfere.

RYAN: Come on.
Let's go, house seats.

So, the captain...
Is she seeing anyone?

She has boyfriends.
None of them serious.

Why, writer boy?

What, you think
you have a chance with her?

And what are you doing,

telling crazy over here
about everyone's private life?

Me?

Yeah. You told him
about Lanie and me.

No, no, no, I didn't.
(ALL TALKING)

I'm telling you. Listen to me!

I have a gift, all right?

I look at people
and I see things.

(LAUGHS) Yeah? Okay.

Uh, what do you see
when you look at me?

Honey milk and freckles.

No!

That's Jenny O'Malley.

Yeah, she used to
make me honey milk.

She could have been the one.

"Could have"?
Yeah.

Um, well, when Beckett
was promoted to captain,

our caseload doubled.

Well, I guess I never
had time for her.

Maybe you should
give her a call.

Maybe you should
mind your own business.

CASTLE: Oh!

All right, here are the rules.

Stay in the car or I sh**t you.

Got it?

You wanna cr*ck a window for me?

(SCOFFS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

I can't believe the captain's
making us babysit this nut job.

Oh, he's not so bad.

Yes!

Okay.

Take me home.

Come on.

Hand it over or you die.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

Who sent you?
What do you know?

Nobody sent me. Nobody, uh...

This, it sent me.

The object, it sent me.
(STAMMERING)

I saw a blue light,
and I ended up here.

NYPD! Drop your Kn*fe, now!

No!

(SIGHS)

What the hell, man? You were
supposed to wait in the car.

What does it matter now?
It's broken.

Now I'm never getting home.
I'm stuck here in this life.

But the real one
would never break.

This is a fake!
This is a fake.

Where did you get this?
And where's the real one?

Cuff him, too.

(SIGHS)

BECKETT: What the hell
do you think you were doing?

You could've
gotten yourself k*lled.

I had backup. And I did
help capture a suspect.

No, you were supposed to
accompany and observe,

not participate and...
Annoy.

Risk my people's lives.

Now, after this
morning's antics,

I expected you
to be on your best behavior.

Actually, that kind of is
my best behavior.

What?

Oh, I'm just enjoying the show.

Our suspect's name
is Maria Sanchez.

She's wanted by
the Peruvian government

in connection with the bombings
at a government building,

not to mention the theft and
trafficking of stolen artifacts.

Then that's her.
And she's behind it.

We need to talk to her.

No, Mr. Castle.
They need to talk to her.

You need to go home.

You're done with this case.
But...

You're lucky I don't
arrest you for obstruction.

Officer, please escort
Mr. Castle to the elevator.

I want him gone.

You don't understand.
I need to find this artifact.

Beckett, please!

Yes, Detective Esposito?

You're not letting him
get to you, are you?

Don't you have a case to close?
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Mmm.

(ESPOSITO CHUCKLES)

MARIA: You call it smuggling, we call
it taking back our rightful legacy.

That artifact was
considered divine

by our shamans and belongs
to the Incan people.

Was that legacy
worth the lives of two men?

No. That wasn't the plan.

What was the plan, Maria?

Come on. Just ask her
where the artifact is.

My cousin Renzo,
he was the driver.

He put sedatives in the courier's
water to knock him out.

Once Gensler was asleep,

we were going to bring him to the
restaurant and switch the cases.

No one was supposed to get hurt.

But someone att*cked them.
Someone else took it.

You don't know where it is?

That att*ck happened just a few
blocks from the restaurant.

How did they know
the car was gonna be there?

Who else was involved, Maria?

Who else besides you and Renzo
knew about the change in route?

No one.

(SIGHS)

Except the guy at the airport.

What guy?
What guy?

The plan only worked
if Renzo made the pick-up.

But the courier, Gensler,
was using another car service.

So we paid the concierge
at the private jet terminal

to change limo companies.

Maybe he told someone.

Or maybe he knows
where the artifact is.

Just ask her his name.

ESPOSITO:
Do you remember his name?

Mr. Castle!

Hey. I was... I just, um...

(CELL DOOR SLAMS) I can't
believe she locked me up.

She... She has no idea.

She's stopping me
from getting back to her.

I don't know, man.

Maybe this is your real life,

because the one where you're rich and
famous and engaged to the hot cop

sounds pretty
made-up to me.

BECKETT:
I called your mother.

She refused to come and get you.

Oh, well, she always
did believe in tough love.

That doesn't seem to have
worked out in your case.

No.

What is it with you and this case, Mr.
Castle?

Well, I'm a mystery writer.

I'm compelled to know
how the story ends.

With you.
(DOOR BUZZES)

Going home.

You're letting me go?

Well, I could
let you stay overnight,

but then I would have to
do the paperwork.

No, no, I'll go.
(DOOR BUZZES)

You know, you were right.

We have met before.

We have?

On a book tour for
an old Derrick Storm novel.

I, uh, waited in line
to get it signed by you.

I used to love those books.

You never told me that.

Well, we've only known
each other for a day.

Although it feels a lot longer.

I have that effect on people.

There's something I've
been meaning to ask you.

Anything.

Why did you k*ll off
Derrick Storm?

Hey, Captain.
We've got something.

Another time, I guess.
Good night, Mr. Castle.

So, we talked to the
concierge at the airport.

He admitted to taking a bribe from
Maria to switch the limo companies,

but he swore he
didn't tell anyone.

But when we held
his feet to the fire,

he came clean about
what he saw that night.

A black G-Wagen
sitting outside

the airport gates
with two guys in it.

BECKETT: Our sh**t.

So they must have been
waiting for Gensler,

and then they followed
him from the airport.

Yeah, and while
they were waiting,

one of them stepped out
for a smoke.

Surveillance caught him
on camera.

We issued a BOLO,

and we're gonna run the tattoo
through the database in the morning.

All right. Why don't you
gentlemen keep me apprised?

RYAN: Yeah.

Hi. I thought we agreed
that you were leaving.

Well, I had
a thought about the case.

You're not on the case.

Actually,
I was thinking about you.

I was wondering
if I could buy you a drink.

It's the least I could do.
I owe you that much.

Right, well, I don't think
that that would be a good...

And if you come, I will tell you
why I k*lled Derrick Storm.

So, youngest woman
to ever make captain.

That's impressive.

It's not all that
it's cracked up to be.

No?
No.

And if you really are
basing a character on me,

then she's gonna be boring.

Oh, I doubt you
could ever be boring.

Well, my life mostly consists
of paperwork and politics.

Ah, you miss the streets.

Um...

Truthfully, I don't think that I was
meant to be a homicide detective.

Why would you say that?

Because the case
that made me wanna be a cop,

I was never able to solve.

Anyway, back to you.

Why did you k*ll off
Derrick Storm?

Ah.

It's complicated.

Wait. What is this place?
I thought this was a date.

Okay, hang on.
Hear me out.

You're still working the case?

Listen, the crimson rhino is the
mascot for an Australian rugby team.

If our suspect has it
tattooed on his neck,

he's gotta be a major fan.

I looked it up.

There's only one bar in New York
that plays their games live.

And there's one on right now.

I knew this was a mistake.

Beckett, wait.

It's him.

Stay here.

Excuse me. NYPD.

Step away from the bar

and put your hands
where I can see 'em.

Sure thing. (CHUCKLES)
Hey!

(GRUNTS)

(HANDCUFFS CLICKING)

We make a pretty
good team, you and I.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

Well? What did he say?

Nothing, on the advice of
his high-powered counsel.

Okay, so what's our next move?

There is no next move.

You asked to stick around
until this case was resolved.

It's resolved.
How is it resolved?

Detectives Ryan and Esposito
found the G-Wagen

and the m*rder weapons
at our suspect's place.

This is open-and-shut.

What about the artifact?
We need to find it.

Whoever had them steal it, it
and they are long gone by now.

Someone has to know where it is.

There's the other sh**t.

Okay. But we have
no way to find him.

Look, the DA is gonna
ask for a plea deal.

But trust me, this suspect's
ex-m*llitary, he's not gonna roll.

So that's it?

This isn't one of
your books, Mr. Castle.

We don't always get the answers.

We cleared the case.
It's a win.

No, you know, that can't be it.

The Kate Beckett in my world
would never call this a win.

The Kate Beckett
where I come from,

she would be unrelenting in the face
of anything that's thrown in her path.

She would find the truth.

And she would never compromise.

I don't know what twilight-zone
world you think you come from,

but you don't know me.
And don't pretend you do.

Goodbye, Mr. Castle.

We're done here.

Hey!

You're still up?

Still on LA time.

Right.

So, did you find
your mystic meteor?

No. No, um...

Trail went cold.

Guess you're
stuck here with us then.

Come, come sit with me.

Come on, just give me a chance.
Just, um...

For old times' sake.

I have a question for you,

and I would love
a non-ironic answer.

What happened between us?
Why did you move to LA?

You know why.
Uh...

Tell me again.

Because you gave up.

You read all those terrible
reviews on your magnum opus

and you couldn't move past it,

and I couldn't
stick around and watch.

But you know what?

Now I think I understand it.

What do you mean?

I had all these plans, you know?

To change the world.

But this non-profit
I'm working for,

everything we do
seems so small and pointless.

It's like nothing I do
matters, so why try?

Sweetie, no, um...

Everything you do matters.

Every moment,
every decision you make,

it affects the people
around you,

it changes the world in a
million imperceptible ways.

No matter what your reality,
you can make it better.

We both can.

I've missed you, Dad.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

(MARTHA SCATTING)

Ah, darling,
where are you off to?

(SIGHS)

I'm gonna take my own advice.

I know why the universe
sent me to this world.

So, the most important day
of our lives got screwed up.

Big deal.

She's better off with me,
and I'm better off with her.

Even in this world.

If I can prove to this Beckett
how extraordinary she is,

she can help me
find that artifact.

And I can get back home.
Ah.

There you go. That's a
large cappuccino for Rick,

and a large skinny latte, two pumps
sugar-free vanilla, for Kate.

Right? Awesome.
Perfect!

Thank you very much.

Taxi!

That's okay.
I'll give you a ride.

I hate this world.

(TIRES SCREECHING)

Hey, take it easy.

That's him.

Marcus Lark, Lark Development.

So you're behind this.

What do you know about this, Mr.
Castle?

I know you k*lled
two men for it.

Oh, you know more than that.

My attorney overheard you
at the police station,

so I had him check up on you.

Pretty strange behavior
the last two days.

Which means either
you're psychotic,

or this isn't your world.

I have no idea
what you're talking about.

I think you do.

Do you know how many years
I spent looking for this?

Hearing the whispered secrets,

ancient alien technology,

naturally-occurring quantum
anomalies, the power of God.

I spent years untangling
legend from truth.

The Incans believed it was
a gateway to the gods,

but it's not.

It's a doorway to the infinite.

A chance to change my destiny.

I know everything
about this, Mr. Castle.

Except how it works.

You're rich, successful.

You have everything.

Why would you
wanna change your destiny?

No man lives without regrets.

Now then, Mr. Castle,

how does it work?

I don't know.

I was holding on to it,
and it just happened.

Look, I don't wanna hurt you.

But I will if you don't
tell me how it works.

I swear to you, I don't know.

sh**t out his knee.
What?

NYPD! (COCKS g*n)
Drop your w*apon, now!

Regret this!

Are you okay?
Yeah.

How'd you find me?

I couldn't stop thinking about
what you said, about compromise.

So I decided to
retrace the investigation.

It's just pure luck that it
brought me here when it did.

Or fate.

Why are you here? What
did they want from you?

Something I guess I didn't have.

Look out!

Oh, God!

Mr. Castle,
you saved my life.

Why?

Because I love you, Kate.

Mr. Castle.

No, please don't go.
Stay with me.

Stay with me.
Castle. Castle?

Castle.

Castle?

Castle.

Castle.

Beckett?
(CHUCKLES)

It's you!
Yeah.

My you! I'm back!

I'm back!

And I'm not dead.

What happened?
You hit your head?

No. How long was I gone?

I don't know.
We got separated.

Ryan and Esposito got here
just in time with backup.

Hey, Castle, you missed
all the excitement.

We were awesome.
Weren't we, Javi?

As usual.

Lark?

It looks like he was
behind the theft.

Although none
of them are talking.

You know, the one thing that
we haven't been able to find

is the object that
was in the briefcase.

When you hold this,

do not wonder even for a second

if you'd be better off
anyplace else but here.

(MOUTHING) Okay.

So, in this alternate universe,

I was the captain and you
and I have never met?

You were married to your work.

A lot like when you were
when I met you.

And how were you without me?
Did you win the Pulitzer?

Uh, I was still waiting to hear.

But I admit that my life was nowhere
near as wonderful without you.

That's quite a dream.

Magical artifacts
and parallel worlds.

Yeah, it was
a lot more than that.

You know, the only other world
I would ever want to visit

is the one where
I made it to our wedding.

Me, too.

Yeah, I know.

It's the reason
I haven't been sleeping.

And I keep trying
to figure it out.

How do you live with a man who's
lost two months of his life

and left you at the altar?

How do I live with the pain
I know I've caused you?

How do we get past this?

I wish I knew.

I think I have the answer.

We just do.

So, Katherine Beckett,
will you marry me?

(CHUCKLES)
I've already said yes.

Will you marry me right now?

CASTLE: Hey.

Thank you for coming
on such short notice.

(CHUCKLES)
And you, Mother.

Oh, darling,
I am so proud of you.

Mother, you know that audition?

Yeah.

I really think
you should go for it.

All right.

Thank you.

Okay. Let's do it.
Oh, I got it, okay.

(SEA BIRDS CALLING)

(EXHALES)

Oh. (WHISPERS) Alexis.

(CASTLE CLEARS THROAT)

Hi.
Hi.

Whenever you're ready.

Yes.

The moment that I met you,

my life became extraordinary.

You taught me
to be my best self,

to look forward to
tomorrow's adventures.

And when I was vulnerable,
you were strong.

I love you, Richard Castle,

and I wanna live my life
in the warmth of your smile

and the strength
of your embrace.

I promise you I will love you.

I will be your friend

and your partner
in crime and in life.

Always.

The moment we met, my life
became extraordinary.

You taught me more about myself

than I knew there was to learn.

You are the joy of my heart,

and you're the last person

I wanna see every night
when I close my eyes.

I love you, Katherine Beckett.

And the mystery
of you is the one

I want to spend the rest
of my life exploring.

I promise to love you,

to be your friend

and your partner
in crime and life.

Till death do us part,

and for the time of our lives.

(CHUCKLES)

By the power vested in me
by the state of New York,

I now pronounce you
husband and wife.

(BECKETT LAUGHS)

MAN: Cheers.
(GLASSES CLINK)

To the wedded couple.

Mrs. Castle,
may I have this dance?

There's no music.

(ROMANTIC MUSIC
PLAYING ON PHONE)

It's perfect.