Paramount+’s 1923 returns from a one-month break with season one episode five, “Ghost of Zebrina,” premiering on February 5, 2023. But before we jump into the recap, a quick congrats to the cast and crew for earning a second season order. 1923’s an incredibly entertaining addition to the Yellowstone world and I for one can’t wait to see where Taylor Sheridan takes the story in season two.
And now on with the recap of an extended episode five. To make it easier to track, this recap’s split into three parts: events in Montana, events involving the boarding school, and Spencer and Alex’s journey.
Episode five begins with Cara (Helen Mirren) visiting the post office, anxiously awaiting news from Spencer. She confesses she likes to make the trip in the mornings so she can remove hope early and get on with her day.
Elsa’s voiceover informs us Cara’s days have become a series of melancholy routines. Cara gently treats Jacob’s horrible wounds, and the Duttons have lost themselves in the tedium of healing. Emma (Marley Shelton) is shown tending to her husband John’s grave, with the marker noting he was born June 23, 1877 and died August 28, 1923.
The Duttons and Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph) eat dinner in silence, with Emma staring off into the distance.
Days go by with little or no chatter, and Elizabeth can only watch as Jack heads off to patrol. Jack (Darren Mann) has chosen revenge over passion.
Cara only wants to help Emma, but Emma spurns her offers. Cara believes Emma needs to get back to living because her son, Jack, needs her. Emma suggests Cara keep her opinions about motherhood to herself since she never had a child. (That struck Cara at her very core.)
Emma can no longer handle the loss of her beloved husband and takes her own life.
Elsa (Isabel May) points out only four Duttons remain to survive another generation – Cara, Jacob, Jack, and Spencer.
Banner (Jerome Flynn) brings a map of the territory and meets with Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton). The Strafford widow who owned the property next to the Yellowstone Ranch has left, leaving it in the bank’s hands. It’s larger than the Yellowstone and has more mountains than the Duttons’ property.
Donald orders Banner to chase off more property owners surrounding the Duttons. He plans on choking the Duttons out. When Banner asks how much land he wants, Donald reveals he wants the entire valley.
Jack and Yellowstone Ranch foreman Zane Davis (Brian Geraghty) watch as the heifers are delivered for sale. Jack explains they’re trying to shrink the herd right now, and a rancher buying the heifers asks if Jack plans on heading off to Hollywood. Apparently, some of the Yellowstone hands and the Strafford boys (Elizabeth’s brothers) went west to play cowboys in motion pictures.
Back at the ranch, a doctor and nurses help Jacob (Harrison Ford) make his way outside as he walks slowly with the help of a cane. He needs sunlight to heal and takes a seat in the fresh air. Jacob points out Jack’s angry, and Jack confesses he’s upset the nearby ranches are being sold and people are moving on. Jacob believes it’s because they don’t have a leader since he’s been out of commission, and Jack volunteers for the job.
Jacob says it’s not Jack’s time yet, and this is a situation that must be handled delicately or else they’ll lose everything. Jacob admits the “f**kers” got him pretty good, and Jack vows revenge.
Cara’s next up for a heart-to-heart with Jacob, and he advises her to keep Jack close. He shouldn’t be allowed to go to town. Jacob wants Cara to oversee hiring livestock agents and not trust the charming ones. They’re the ones who’ll be working with Banner.
Jacob has also figured out Banner’s got a backer with deep pockets. Whoever it is, is also a monster. Jacob deduces it’s got to be someone involved in mining since mining is the one business that doesn’t have recessions. Plus, they’d benefit from the ranchers leaving the state.
The doctor advises Jacob to start moving and allows him to start eating bland food. After he leaves, Cara and Jacob exchange lighthearted banter, with Jacob pointing out if nine bullets didn’t kill him, he doubts a good steak would. Nope, Cara will not allow that. He’s going to eat boiled chicken and rice, just like the doctor said.
Elizabeth has had enough of Jack’s moping and temper and has it out with him. This isn’t the relationship she was promised. Plus, she’s an orphan now, too, so it’s not just all about him. He never brought up her wedding day, he won’t talk to her, and he never touches her anymore.
She chooses not to hate so there’s room in her heart for Jack. If he can’t make room for her, then she wants him to send her home. She runs outside and he follows, arguing that while she believes the ranch is her prison it’s not; it’s her home. He calls himself her husband and she corrects him, but Jack thinks that they don’t need a ceremony. Standing in front of God by themselves, he recites his wedding vows as Elizabeth laughs and cries. They kiss and he tells her to say it back. She does.
Cara spots the couple kissing and laughs into her hand.
A new day breaks and Cara and Elizabeth cook breakfast as Elizabeth suggests they should set a date for the wedding. Cara thinks they should wait for the spring, but Elizabeth says that’s not possible. Her dress won’t fit then. Cara misinterprets and thinks she means she’s gaining weight from cake. Elizabeth stumbles through the truth, revealing she’s pregnant.
Elizabeth’s anxious as Cara covers her mouth, concealing her reaction. When she takes her hand away, Cara is overjoyed with the news. It’s the first good news she’s heard in months. They’ll plan a small wedding soon with a preacher who will backdate the license.
Teonna Meets a Sympathetic Stranger
The nuns and Father Renauld (Sebastian Roché) have discovered the murders of Sister Mary and Sister Kate, perpetrated by Teonna Rainwater before she fled the boarding school. Baapuxti (Leenah Robinson) is questioned and Father Renauld repeatedly hits her when she refuses to say where Teonna went. She continues to deny any knowledge and Renauld knocks her out with a vicious punch to the face.
Baapuxti is savagely beaten but will only say that Teonna went home. Renauld refuses to believe a girl could travel 400 miles on her own and thinks Baapuxti is a marionette for the devil. If she doesn’t speak the truth, he’ll send her to hell.
Baapuxti reacts by speaking in her native tongue, warning that Teonna will make it home and will return with the Kills Many Clan to kill him. Renauld punches her in the face again, causing Baapuxti to fall over backward while tied to a chair. Her head strikes the floor but she’s still conscious when Renauld stomps on her face.
Later, the nuns and priests spread out to look for any signs of Teonna’s tracks. A nun spots her footprints and Renauld orders three priests to head out on horseback and bring her back.
Teonna stops at a stream for water and uses a stick to figure out the direction to head. She has a small tree branch tucked in her clothing and pulls it behind her, covering her tracks.
Night falls and wolves sniff out her hiding space. Her scream briefly scares them off, but one returns and tries to attack her. She manages to hit it with a rock and takes off running. She scampers up a rock formation and the wolf follows, taking up a position at its base.
Teonna sobs and curls into a ball to sleep.
She awakens surrounded by a flock of sheep. A Native American man (Michael Greyeyes) rides up, wondering what she’s up to and asks if she’s lost. Teonna reveals she ran away from the Indian School and is headed home. He points out home is the first place they’ll look.
He instantly recognizes her name and knows her father. He explains he took the English name Hank because no one else wanted it. He’s in this area, which isn’t part of the rez, because it doesn’t belong to anyone. If the government finds out he’s got sheep, the government will take them – because they can.
Teonna confesses she killed the nun who beat her and the nun who raped her. Hank believes they had it coming and suggests she come with him. He’ll get word to her father and after that they’ll figure out where she should live.
She asks about his horse’s tracks, but they don’t need to worry. The sheep will cover them up.
Spencer and Alexandra Begin Another Leg of Their Journey
Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) and Alex (Julia Schlaepfer) are a short distance from the docks when he warns her to stay close. Mombasa can be dangerous.
Elsa pipes in once again and explains the Duttons are condemned to journey. They left Ireland to escape poverty and Tennessee to escape war. They traveled from Kentucky to offer salvation and they journeyed from Africa to seek vengeance.
“Montana is the magnet now. It is the next journey. And for my own brother, it will be his last,” reveals Elsa.
Spencer and Alex make their way through crowded streets to the Union/Castle Line office. They can’t book passage to America, but they can book it to London. From there they can travel to America. The trip should take about a month to London, but their ship will not be departing for three weeks.
Spencer can’t wait three weeks and the clerk informs him there aren’t any other options. Spencer’s determined to find one.
Spencer meets with a man who might be able to provide passage on a trawler. The man turns down his request since he’s traveling with his bride, a situation that will only lead to disaster if the deckhands decide they want her for themselves. However, the man does offer a possible solution. He points out a gentleman who’s transporting a tugboat and looking for deckhands for a trip to the Suez Canal. If Spencer signs on with him, then he should be able to book passage anywhere from the Suez.
Introductions are made and Lucca (Peter Stormare) isn’t impressed. Spencer offers to pay for transport and to work, and Lucca agrees. They’ll leave the next day. As they shake, Lucca correctly points out the scar on Spencer’s arm is from mustard gas. He knows because he captained a liner that was turned into a hospital ship.
Lucca spits blood into a cup just before Spencer walks away.
Morning arrives and Spencer’s packed and ready to go. He quietly places a letter where Alex will see it before heading toward the door, but he’s not going to make an escape that easily. Alex is awake and asks what the letter says. He explains it’s not safe and that she should book a passage back to London. He’ll send for her when it’s safe.
“There is no sending for me, Spencer. We have a life together or we live our lives apart,” says Alex. She asks if he can live his life without her and he doesn’t reply. She warns him he only has the opportunity to choose her once. She won’t offer again.
She stares him in the eyes as one lone tear streaks down her face. He responds, “Get your things.”
They hold hands on their way to the ship and Spencer confirms he hasn’t been able to send a wire home yet. Fortunately, Alex knows something he doesn’t – ships can send wires anywhere. They make a brief pitstop and board the Mauretania, and Spencer apologizes for the intrusion and asks for a favor. He explains his family suffered a tragedy and he needs to send word to the States that he’s returning home. They agree to send a wire.
Without Alex, Spencer wouldn’t have read Cara’s letters. And now without Alex he wouldn’t be able to tell her he’s coming home. Alex is quite pleased with herself and certain she’ll be called upon to save the day again.
They arrive at their ship and Alex is shocked it’s just a tugboat. She’s not even sure those are supposed to leave the harbor. (It doesn’t look seaworthy.)
Lucca greets them with a warning that the seas will be rough and the quarters are small. He puts Spencer right to work on the ropes but needs to speak in plain English since Spencer doesn’t speak nautical. As they leave the dock, Spencer warns Alex this is the easiest part of their journey. (It’s only the three of them.)
They’ll catch a ship at the Suez Canal to anywhere that can further their journey to America. Spencer warns her the vacation is over and Alex chimes in and says the adventure’s just beginning.
Their first meal is beans and bread, and then Lucca looks worried as he spots a massive ship straight ahead. Spencer follows him to the wheelhouse and Lucca explains it’s a ghost ship. It should have sunk but didn’t after its boilers blew. “Now she lists back and forth, haunting captains who don’t pay attention,” says Lucca.
They skirt the ship, with Spencer and Alex amazed by the sight of this massive ship so close to their tiny, unimpressive boat.
That night they drink while Lucca shares stories of ghost ships. There’s no one piloting the boat right now, so they need to decide on who has the first watch. Alex volunteers and Spencer goes with her to learn about steering and how to follow the compass. Lucca explains how to use the throttle and says they shouldn’t steer the ship unless there’s something blocking their way.
After Lucca heads to bed, Alex takes the captain’s chair and gently places her hands on the wheel. She’s not going to turn it; she’s just ready to react to any calamity. She demands a hat because “one shouldn’t pilot a ship” without one.
She teases Spencer that this situation is more serious than a tree in the Serengeti. Spencer thanks her for everything and she warns him to never doubt her in the future. He claims he didn’t doubt her, he was worried. He agrees never to worry again, and she agrees he can be her love slave. (I can’t get enough of these two!)
Later, Spencer takes over the watch as Alex sleeps.
His watch ends and they head down below to wake Lucca. His pillow’s splattered with blood and the cloth in his hand is soaked in it, so Spencer’s willing to let him sleep. But Lucca wakes up and insists it’s his turn.
Later, Spencer wakes to discover the engines aren’t running. He hurries to the wheelhouse and finds Lucca dead in the captain’s chair. He uses the radio and calls in a mayday. The ship that replies asks for his compass reading and if he has a map. Spencer does, but now he’s also got a ghost ship in his path.
Spencer’s able to get the engine to turn on but not in time. The ship T-bones the tug and both Spencer and Alex are sent flying as the small boat leans over on its side. Spencer hits the throttle before being sent flying again.
Winter Arrives in Montana
The snow is beginning to fall as Cara rides in her buggy with two cowboys following behind, heading to the post office. Donald and Banner are in a car about to pass by when they stop and pull up alongside. Donald introduces himself as the new owner of the Strafford ranch. He asks if there’s a time when Jacob might allow him to stop by for a visit. Cara claims she’s not the keeper of her husband’s calendar and Donald keeps pressing the matter, saying he’ll just stop by then and see if Jacob’s free.
Donald suggests raising cattle is no longer a legitimate business; it’s more of a dream. He’d like to discuss the subject with Jacob. They part ways without settling the matter.
Donald assures Banner that by springtime Cara will beg him to buy the Yellowstone since she doesn’t have her husband to run it.
Episode five ends with good news from the post office. The cable arrived and it reads: “Aunt Cara – I’ve received your letter and I’m coming home.”
- Recap of 1923 Episode 1
- 1923 Season 1 Episode 2 “Nature’s Empty Throne” Recap
- 1923 Season 1 Episode 3 “The War Has Come Home” Recap
- 1923 Season 1 Episode 4 “War and the Turquoise Tide” Recap
- 1883 Season 1 Episode 10 Recap: “This Is Not Your Heaven” Season Finale
- Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 1 Recap: “One Hundred Years is Nothing”
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