Prior to John Dutton's untimely demise, Beth (portrayed by Kelly Reilly) and Rip (played by Cole Hauser) exchanged poignant farewells within the confines of a Texas hotel, with Beth resolved to embark on a night-long journey back to Montana. Meanwhile, Kayce and his family were engrossed in furnishing their abode, unaware of the impending tragedy.
We are then privy to the grim operation that led to John's demise. Three figures clad in somber black infiltrated the governor's mansion stealthily, seizing a slumbering John and rendering him unconscious through a chokehold. They subsequently transported him to the bathroom, meticulously staging his apparent "suicide."
As Beth navigated the dark, empty roads through the night, an inexplicable wave of dread washed over her. Instinctively, she reached out to Rip to ascertain his well-being; thankfully, he was unharmed. Similarly, Kayce was disturbed by an unsettling premonition , waking from a slumber that seemed but a malignant dream. However, the reality of his plight dawned upon him when the phone rang, revealing the caller to be the police.
These recollections conclude our journey through the episode's flashbacks. Returning to the present, we encounter the newly appointed governor, who is being sworn into office ahead of a formal election. Despite his previous role as John's lieutenant governor, he reveals to Jamie (embodied by Wes Bentley) that he and John were not aligned in their visions for Montana's future. He expresses his desire to revive the Market Equities deal, to which Jamie accommodates without reservation.
After the solemn oath-taking ceremony, Jamie and Lynelle (Wendy Moniz) ventured into the governor's office, where they were greeted by Clara (Lilli Kay), John's efficient assistant, who had been tendered the prestigious position of chief of staff for the incoming governor. The trio delved into the intricacies of the Market Equities deal, with Jamie harboring definite plans to reinstate the lease and thwart John's intention to convert the land into a conservation easement.
The governor posed a question, probing if the state could invoke eminent domain to seize the land, thereby wielding control over the lease. Jamie welcomed the suggestion with an open mind. However, Lynelle viewed this proposal with skepticism, arguing that exercising eminent domain could be a lengthy and arduous process, and that dismantling the conservation easement would be far more challenging than Jamie anticipated. She further contended that, albeit self-serving, John's policies had reduced the region's reliance on tourism and real estate, and feared that embracing this novel approach might exacerbate pressures on Montana's economy.
With that, Lynelle excused herself from the conversation, yet the discourse persisted between Jamie and the governor. Jamie insisted that he owed it to preserve the ranch if feasible, convinced that the Market Equities deal represented the sole viable path to accomplishing this. Given Beth and Kayce's steadfast refusal to sell, he reasoned that the government's intervention through eminent domain was imperative to propel the project forward.
Having absorbed every detail of the discussion, Clara respectfully declined the offer for the chief of staff position. She hastily pursued Lynelle, who, in turn, extended an invitation for Clara to join her team in the Montana office. Prior to Clara's official onboarding, Lynelle astutely noted her current unemployment status, implying—with a knowing wink—that she was not shackled by confidentiality clauses.
Convinced beyond doubt that John's demise was not a suicide, Kayce embarks on a mission to prove it. He pays a visit to the coroner who conducted the autopsy, earnestly requesting a toxicology report and advocating for a fresh examination, treating the case as though it were a homicide.
Initially, the coroner draws a blank, failing to uncover any new evidence. However, Kayce, leveraging a technique employed by soldiers during covert missions to incapacitate individuals, guides the coroner's attention to bruising on John's neck and legs. This revelation prompts the coroner to entertain the possibility that John was forcibly restrained, although she hesitates to conclusively deem it a homicide, opting instead to amend the cause of death to "undetermined."
Kayce then seeks out the detective assigned to the case, requesting to inspect the murder weapon. The gun, a service pistol belonging to the Livestock Commission, was inexplicably absent from its locked storage in another city; security footage could potentially identify its unauthorized taker. Armed with this information, Kayce urges the police to publicly declare John's death a homicide. While acknowledging that this revelation might not lead directly to the killers, Kayce believes it could shed light on who hired them.
Kayce's quest takes him to one final destination. He forcefully enters Jamie's office, literally sweeping Jamie across his desk. Jamie, instantly recognizing the implications, attempts to assure Kayce that he shouldn't heed Beth's words. He defiantly inquiries if Kayce genuinely believes he could orchestrate such a heinous act and insists that his efforts remain focused on safeguarding the ranch. Kayce harbors a glimmer of hope that Jamie is indeed telling the truth.
However, maintaining this faith may become increasingly challenging for Jamie. The police press conference, revealing the homicide classification, sends shockwaves through Sarah (Dawn Olivieri) and Grant (Matt Gerald), the architects of the hit. Compounding Jamie's woes, the governor, addressing the state assembly to revoke John's policies, orders Jamie to recuse himself from all matters pertaining to John, including the Market Equities deal, in light of the latest revelations.
Beth, perched at the ranch to witness the governor's address, conveys to Kayce a stark ultimatum: either they sell portions of their beloved ranch for a mere fraction of its true worth or face the prospect of losing it altogether. Amidst this dire situation, Rainwater (portrayed by Gil Birmingham) and Mo (Mo Brings Plenty) arrive, extending their heartfelt sympathies and engaging in a profound discussion.
Rainwater, turning his gaze towards Beth, confides that he deeply understands John's aspirations to preserve the ranch. Although their motivations differed, Rainwater harbors that same dream; he stands ready to lend a helping hand, determined to keep the land in its "untouched purity." Beth acknowledges the presence of private equity groups keen on maintaining open land for "experiential hospitality," yet she is acutely aware that such entities can only temporarily delay the inevitable encroachment of development. She sighs, wishing that John had been more proactive in monetizing the land, thereby retaining control over its evolution. As it stands, they are now mere spectators to its impending demolition.
Kayce, troubled by a vision from season 4 that foretold a coming dilemma between his family and the ranch, confesses his bewilderment to Mo. Mo, wise and serene, assures Kayce that when the crucial moment arrives, he will instinctively know the right path. It won't feel like a decision imposed by free will, but rather as an inevitable fate guiding his steps.
Sarah purchases a burner phone with the intent of reaching Grant, but discovers with frustration that the number provided is now defunct. Her demeanor is more frazzled than ever before. Jamie arrives on the scene, confessing that his grand scheme has fallen apart; his career stands on the brink of collapse. He reveals that the governor is attempting to sever ties with him and shift the blame onto Jamie's shoulders to bolster his chances in the upcoming election. Regarding the murder investigation, they lack concrete evidence, merely a series of explanations that can be brushed aside. Nothing ties back to Jamie; instead, she bore the risks, claiming she acted for his sake. Her taunts about Jamie's weakness provoke him to slap her, but Sarah retaliates swiftly. As she prepares to leave, she delivers a parting shot: "When the man who built a name passes away, the name fades into obscurity; without John, Jamie's influence wanes considerably."
Sarah doesn't venture too far before Jamie calls, his voice tinged with apology. She insists that he must place his trust in her. While halted at a traffic light, a couple pulls up next to her car, engaging her in conversation by asking for directions. The man inquires whether she is Sarah Atwood. She wonders aloud how he could possibly know her name, but instead of answering, he draws a gun and executes her with a shot to the head, followed by several more to the chest to ensure her demise.
Jamie, still on the line, listens helplessly as the tragic events unfold. Panic sets in as he realizes that his number will be the last dialed on Sarah's phone, a crucial piece of evidence when police seize it.
