Episode 5 of Season 2 of "1923" unfolds with Father Renaud and the perseverant detective hot on the trail of Teonna Rainwater. Their quest takes a pivotal turn when they secure a crucial witness, albeit after Renaud ventures into a local bar, charming the town's Marshal enough to loosen his tight-lipped demeanor. The Marshal confesses to discovering Teonna in the canyon, assisting with herding, but remains vague about her current whereabouts. Nevertheless, the net tightens around her, and the pair edges closer to uncovering her hiding spot.
Elsewhere, Teonna and Pete devise a risky strategy to evade capture: they split up, with Pete bravely returning to buy her precious time. Meanwhile, Spencer is rudely awoken by Sheriff Mamie, a formidable female figure from previous episodes, who decides to escort him to Amarillo to uncover his hidden secrets. Surrounded by her deputies, Spencer finds himself with little room for negotiation.
Alex, on a train bound for Chicago, finds herself grappling with adversity. Her empty stomach gnaws at her as she hasn't paid for dinner service, but a compassionate conductor offers her meals in exchange for arduous labor—serving as a waitress, clearing tables, and preparing food. Soon enough, a sleazy passenger tests his luck with Alex when she accidentally spills hot water on him, setting the stage for a future confrontation. For now, Alex exhausts herself fulfilling her shift and ravenously consumes her stew and bread. She's then summoned for breakfast service the next morning, an early wake-up call that leaves her drained.
In her shared room, Alex's roommate shares her jaded perspective on life, emphasizing the importance of opportunism—whether through theft or marriage—to climb the social ladder. She doubts Alex's resolve to endure the harsh realities of American life. However, she admits her own motivations are rooted in providing for her children, echoing the timeless sentiment, "Mothers can endure anything."
At breakfast, the tables were sparsely populated, a scenario hardly surprising given the early hour of 6 am. A couple engaged in a conversation about finances caught Alex's attention, and she couldn't resist sharing her insights. With chirpy confidence, she elaborated on the woes of the French and their struggles with their Francs, as well as the loan mess they found themselves in. Impressed by her knowledge, the man generously rewarded her with a handsome tip.
However, to Alex's dismay, the creepy individual from dinner service was also present. He ended up violating her, pushing her over the edge. After enduring so much throughout the season, Alex snapped. She doused him with coffee and then repeatedly smashed the coffee jug over his head. This violent outburst earned her a one-way ticket to the makeshift cell at the back of the train, where the conductor was unmoved by her side of the story. Instead, he deferred the matter to the Chicago police for their judgment.
Upon their arrival in Chicago, the police roughly escorted Alex out. Fortunately, the kind couple from breakfast came to her aid, stepping forward to reveal the truth. They attested to Alex being the victim and were willing to provide statements in her defense. As first-class passengers, their words carried significant weight compared to those of ordinary people. Their testimony worked wonders, and Alex was soon freed.
Unfortunately, her train to Fargo had been cancelled, leaving her stranded indefinitely. That was until the couple graciously offered to take her under their wing and accompany her to Winnetka.
Meanwhile, back in Amarillo, Mamie was determined to uncover Spencer's true identity. She reached out to Sherriff McDowell, who verified Spencer's credentials. Though the sheriff didn't want war to descend upon the town, Spencer seemed oblivious to the brewing conflict. Mamie let him be and even secured a train ticket for Spencer to return home.
As the episode drew to a close, we cut back to Pete, who found himself spying on Father Renaud and the detective nearby. A chase ensued, but Pete lost his footing and stumbled off his horse. He quickly grabbed his rifle and fired... cutting to black before revealing the fate of those involved in the shootout.
