In Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 6 entitled “Cigarettes, Whiskey, A Meadow And You,” the Duttons and their cowboys have plenty of reasons to remember why they are fighting so hard to retain the Yellowstone and their land in Paradise Valley. After an almost perfect day of herding their cattle, Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser) slip away to their own little slice of heaven for a romantic rendezvous. As Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Tate (Breckin Merrill) work on healing, John (Kevin Costner) relishes in cowboying with this old pal Emmett (Buck Taylor) who unexpectedly is taken in his sleep.
In the middle of prepping for the branding/ spring gathering party, Summer (Piper Pearbo) seeks to better understand John and his way of life by visiting the Dutton family graveyard and listening to Monica’s (Kelsey Asbille) wise counsel. Back in the city, Jamie (Wes Bentley) and Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) turn his home into a love shack and plot their next move against the Governor as Sarah reveals her real mission. Finally, on the Broken Rock Reservation, both Mo Brings Plenty (Mo Brings Plenty) and Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) are taken by surprise when Angela Blue Thunder (Q’orianka Kilcher) turns up with a special friend who endorses Thomas’s rival for Chairman.
From a blissful sunset in Rip and Beth’s special place to the death of a true cowboy, here are 5 things to pay attention to in Episode 6.
SARAH ATWOOD’S “TRUE” MOTIVE REVEALED
Jamie is right to be wary of Sarah’s sudden and intense affection. After hooking up with him in the locker room of the Deerfield Club after drinks in Season 5, Episode 4, Sarah’s intention to assassinate John’s character so that he won’t be re-elected is clear. But what does she want from Jamie? She clears things up after a wild night of sex.
As she’s getting ready to leave, she asks Jamie: “Why aren’t you governor? You clearly have the skill for it. You orchestrated the lease and the build leaving no legal recourse for the company that’s completely fucked.” Susceptible to flattery, Jamie listens as Sarah explains her plan: “Get you elected Governor, reinstate our lease and push through our project with a contract you cannot weasel out of and save this state from its policy of hiding its head in the sand and hoping that the rest of the world just walks by.” Jamie has no problem with bringing about the downfall of his estranged adopted father and his precious ranch—but can he trust her? Me thinks not.
THOMAS RAINWATER’S RIVAL GETS A NEW ALLY
Angela’s quest to remove Thomas from power on the Broken Rock Reservation is picking up steam halfway through Season 5. When Mo discovers—due to the helicopter and dozens of security service men—that the President of the United States is making a surprise stop on the reservation, he doesn’t have to think hard about who is responsible for the presence of the Commander In Chief.
As Thomas arrives on the scene, he is greeted by Angela herself. Thomas argues that his approval is required for gatherings on the reservation, but Angela points to a loophole in the tribal charter: “This isn’t assembling—this is greeting the President of the United States.” Angela admits the visit was last minute, but justifies her action: “it’s important that the people know we aren’t invisible.” As the President’s Director of Native American affairs, Angela also has secured his endorsement for Martin Kills Many (Christian Wassana) for Chairman of Broken Rock. He was briefly introduced in Season 5, Episode 3. May the best man win!
THE DUTTON FAMILY GRAVEYARD
Poor Summer. Left with a busted face and no direction, she wanders around the Yellowstone until she finds the Dutton family graveyard where we see two familiar names: James Dutton (Tim McGraw) and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill). Though the numbers are hard to make out, it looks like James died in 1893. If that date is correct, we may have seen the events leading up to James’ death in Season 4, Episode 8. After James is shot while chasing horse thieves, we see him stumble onto the family’s home porch. In a plea to the Almighty, James says under his breath: “You can’t let me die out here. They won’t make it.” After he collapses inside, the camera cuts to a long shot and we can only hear Margaret screaming. Seems pretty final, doesn’t it?
As Summer surveys the tombstones, Monica approaches. “Family’s been here that long,” Summer opines. “And it was my family’s before it was theirs,” Monica says. As Summer sees the freshly dug grace of Monica’s son, she apologizes and starts to leave. “If your goal is knowing John Dutton then this is exactly where you should be,” Monica replies simply. Summer is finally beginning to understand his attachment to his family’s home.
RIP FOUND THEIR MEADOW
Remember Rip and Beth’s hasty wedding in the Season 4 finale? Well, the circumstances were less than ideal. Before the rushed ceremony, Rip told Beth, “I thought you wanted to find a place that was just ours,” and she replied, “I do and we will take that ride I promise.” In Season 5, Episode 5, it appears that Rip did his own scouting for his and Beth’s perfect piece of Paradise Valley. Beth is moved to tears by the beauty of the landscape.
Rip reminds Beth of a previous conversation in Season 4, Episode 6: “I found it a year ago when you said you wanted to be married in a place with no memories… till we made them.” Beth admits sheepishly, “I kinda rushed the wedding, didn’t I?” Beth explains: “In my defense, I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life in prison so I had to put the pedal to the medal.” Oh, those crazy kids!
REST IN PEACE, EMMETT WALSH
Even a cowboy like John needs an older, wiser confidante, and he had that in local rancher Emmett Walsh (Gunsmoke star Buck Taylor), who appeared in 7 episodes over the course of 5 seasons. Emmett’s final day on Earth is the stuff of cowboy dreams: he spends it herding cattle, fishing, and sleeping under a sky full of stars. As they settled down for the night, John tells him: “I’ve come to believe that perfection only lives in little moments. Can’t be sustained over hours, just instances, little whisps of time and the world becomes imperfect again. This day damn near proved me wrong.” “Well, John, if it wasn’t perfect, it was damn close,” Emmet replies as he drifts off to his final sleep.
When John discovers him the next morning, he is sad, but, surprisingly, envious. “Well, Emmett, I couldn’t have dreamed up a better death if you paid me. You sure earned it, old friend,” John eulogizes. After John coordinates the removal of Emmett’s body, he quickly rides to inform Emmett’s widow, Ella (Anne Cullimore Decker), and the two share a touching moment. Emmett had been a dependable and wise presence in John’s life. He’ll be missed.