Another branch has been added to the Dutton family tree

Fans might have had to wait, though 1923 has returned to Paramount+ with more joy and tragedy for the Dutton family.

Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren and the rest of the cast returned for a 70-minute episode of yellowstone Precursor. Episode 4 ended with several characters embarking on a new journey, and Episode 5, Ghost of Zebrina, revealed how challenging their quests would be.

Teonna is on the run, Spencer and Alex fight to return to America while the Duttons are still reeling from the shooting at Yellowstone Ranch.

Here’s everything that happened in Episode 5 of the Taylor Sheridans 1923.

Cara’s everyday life

A celebratory Cara rides to the post office, as she seems to do every day, to see if there is any word from Spencer. Again nothing.

Through the narration, Elsa Dutton lets the audience know how hard life had gotten for the Duttons while they were waiting for Spencer. Cara tends to Jacob’s wounds, who seems better looking but is still struggling. Jack and Elizabeth have both seemingly recovered from their respective wounds, although Jack is on high alert and taking the spark out of their relationship.

Emma Dutton is still mourning, angry at the hand that was bestowed on her. In the last exchange we see of her, she snaps at Cara before a gunshot reveals that she took her own life.

The narrator Elsa correctly points out that the Dutton numbers are dwindling or “dying out”. Next we see Spencer spending the episode returning to Montana to “get revenge”. For her brother Spencer, Elsa ominously suggests that this will be his last trip, meaning he will either never arrive or never leave Montana again.

Back in Africa, Spencer and his fiancé Alex are on a boat near Mombasa, Kenya. Spencer’s popularity in Africa is evident, with the boat’s captain giving him his latest ride for free.

With limited options at their disposal, Alex and Spencer must begin their journey to America by first getting to the Suez Canal in Egypt and then to London. They meet an ailing captain named Lucca, played by Peter Stormare.

On the morning of her trip, Spencer had planned to leave without Alex, telling her the journey was too dangerous. She fights off his attempts to leave and comes with him. It is fortunate that she is there as she informs him that he can send messages from ships to America. They board a Navy ship to send the said message, informing the Duttons of their intention to return.

When they arrive at their smuggler, it looks like they are in dire need. Alex is unfazed, but they board anyway to begin the first leg of their journey. The vacation is over, “but the adventure is just beginning”.

Teonna’s actions

In the last episode we saw Teonna take revenge on Sister Mary and beat her to death. Back at the Indian school, the nuns understand what happened. Father Renaud sees what happened to Sister Mary, but then another nun is found dead in her bed with a knife in her chest. That was the nun Teonna thrust herself on a few episodes ago.

Knowing it was Teonna, Renaud begins beating and interrogating one of the remaining girls, Baapuxti, to find out where she went. Baapuxti remains steadfast and begins to communicate in her own language, infuriating Renaud enough to knock her unconscious.

The crowd catches up with Teonna, who has made it onto rockier ground. Later that night while she is resting, a wolf crosses her path and to seek shelter she yells at the animal, startling it into running away. It suddenly falls, forcing her to flee and climb high ground for safety. Trapped in a precarious position, she begins to cry before trying to sleep.

When she wakes up the next morning, she is surrounded by sheep. They are driven by a Native American who is helping her. At her introduction, we discover Teonna’s last name for the first time: “Rain Water”.

Teonna confesses her crimes to the man who sides with her. He offers to help her get back to her father.

Banner and Whitfield

Continuing their plot against the Duttons, Banner Creighton and Don Whitfield meet to discuss mining the land above Yellowstone. We have been informed that the Strafford Ranch, formerly owned by Elizabeth’s family, has now been purchased. Whitfield plans to smother the Duttons out of their land since he wants the whole valley.

Don shows Banner his conveniences like light switches, gas stoves, and faucets before gifting him the house, which seemingly further buys his loyalty.

Back at the ranch, Jack sells the herd’s heifers for a quick buck. It seems that while the film industry is booming, other cowboys, like those from the Strafford ranch, are making their way to Hollywood.

Jacob continues his rehabilitation and the doctors take him outside to soak up some sunlight. In a brief exchange, Jacob tells Jack they need a leader, but he’s not the man for the job – not yet.

Jacob describes his injuries and says he needs to learn how to shoot with his left hand. The doctor tells him that starting tomorrow he can eat solid food and that the cowboys have to help him walk. Jacob tells Cara that the cowboys can’t see him that faintly.

Jacob also tells Cara to keep a close eye on Jack and not let him go into town. When he starts her livestock agency, he tells her that she needs to interview the agents since Banner’s men will try to infiltrate her. Jacob also deduces that a wealthy gold miner will fund Banner’s efforts.

When the now orphaned Jack has a breakdown in the kitchen, Elizabeth passionately pleads with him to take the hatred out of his heart. The gambit works and it lifts the weight off his back. He tells her he will marry her before God, which makes her cry with joy. Cara sees them make up, which also warms her heart.

The final moments of Episode 5

As Spencer, Alex and Lucca sail, they see a larger ship, which worries the captain. It is a “ghost ship” that floats idly across the seas.

Later that night, Spencer and Alex have first watch while the captain sleeps, and between them they try to learn the basics. As Alex brightens the mood, Spencer thanks her, once again happy that he has fallen in love with her.

Later that night, as they glide through the pitch black ocean, Spencer watches over Alex who is sleeping. At shift change, he wakes up the captain, but worries as he is obviously ill and is constantly coughing up blood.

Back at the ranch, Jacob attempts to climb the stairs alone but visibly struggles. He seems to be pacing, possibly to build his strength.

In the kitchen, Elizabeth nervously tells Cara that she wants to bring the wedding forward until she can still fit in her dress.

Despite a gunshot wound to her abdomen, she became pregnant. Great timing as the Dutton numbers kept getting lower. This supports the theory of many fans that Jack Dutton is the grandfather of John Dutton III, making the late John Dutton Sr. his great-grandfather and the late James Dutton his great-great-grandfather.

Back at sea, Spencer and Alex both wake up at dawn. Spencer notices the engines aren’t running and rushes upstairs to find the captain dead at the wheel. He tries to steer the ship again as they are on course to hit another ghost ship, nearly overthrowing them.

Back at the ranch, Don Whitfield arrives with Banner and introduces himself to Cara. He offers her the Strafford land, which she adamantly refuses. He then asks for time to see Jacob and she again refuses him. Don suggests just stopping by the ranch instead.

After Cara leaves, Don predicts that by spring she will ask him to buy it.

Cara starts her day again and arrives at the post office, but this time finally gets a cable from Spencer. His message is simply: “Aunt Cara…I got your letter and I’m coming home. Spencer.”

However, the last shot we see shows the tow tractor turned around, Spencer and Alex can’t be seen.

1923 is back weekly now and Episode 6 airs Sunday, February 12th on Paramount+.