‘Yellowstone’ recap: Dutton siblings pull out all the stops to save the ranch

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Yellowstone episode 513, “Give the World Away.”

With only two episodes remaining before Yellowstone picks up stakes and rides off into the sunset, this week’s entry sees emotions, both good and bad, begin to brim — and boil — over.

The penultimate episode, aptly titled, “Give the World Away,” begins at the titular ranch, where Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser) are preparing to sell off all its assets, from livestock to tractors, in hopes of holding onto it a bit longer. Beth also informs her husband she’s off to Texas to ensure his loyal friend — arrogant, hard-partying horse trainer Travis (Taylor Sheridan) — doesn’t screw up the sale of their show steeds.

Meanwhile, Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) is visiting the in-progress pipeline, pondering the Broken Rock Reservation’s uncertain future. The leader tells Mo (Moses Brings Plenty) there’s nothing more he can do to stop the project, but hints his people could potentially be rallied to sabotage it. Mo warns such an act would start a war. 

Over at the Market Equities’ boardroom, Ellis and his fellow suits are watching the news. Word is spreading nationally that Montana Governor John Dutton (Kevin Costner) was not only murdered, but was likely killed over his opposition to the multi-billion dollar airport project. Ellis suggests ME distance itself from Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), but it’s too late; Detective Dillard (Rory Cochrane) storms in, search warrant in-hand, ready to turn the femme fatale’s former office upside down.

Jamie (Wes Bentley) is also watching the news — from the same couch he’s spent the last three episodes on — which is reporting on some very damning and personal details regarding his relationship with Sarah. Assuming Beth has leaked the sensitive info to ruin him, he immediately calls her and threatens to expose the family’s darkest secrets. But Beth is way past all that. She calmly reminds her stepbrother that she fully intends to keep her last promise to him.

Following the opening credits, we catch up with Kayce (Luke Grimes), who is returning home to Monica (Kelsey Asbille) after “counting coup” in last week’s episode to ensure Grant Horton (Matt Gerald) doesn’t come after his family. He tells his relieved wife he’s finally ready to put the Dutton ranch, and all its baggage, behind them and move on with their lives. 

After their truncated stint in Texas, Teeter (Jennifer Landon), Walker (Ryan Bingham), and Ryan (Ian Bohen) also return home. Lloyd (Forrest J. Smith) attempts to comfort the former — who’s grieving the recent loss of Colby (Denim Richards) — by giving her his hat, while the latter delivers Rip a fat check from the cattle they sold in the Lone Star State. 

Rip also informs his friend that he should start looking for a new job, as he can only afford to keep Lloyd and Carter (Finn Little) employed at the Yellowstone once its assets are sold off. Later that day, he also approaches Lloyd about staying on. The old cowboy tearfully accepts, saying he’s not ready to leave his home of 43 years.

When we catch up with Beth, she’s arrived at the Bosque Ranch, where Travis immediately pisses her off. The trainer seems more interested in partying and hanging with his bikini-clad housemates than selling the Dutton’s show horses to the impatient Brazilian buyers waiting outside. He quickly redeems himself, however, not only putting on an impressive show for the clients, but manipulating the sale — with some faux counter offers — to the tune of $3 million. 

While Beth frowns upon Travis’ frat-boy lifestyle, she’s able to look past all the debauchery and appreciate his special set of skills. She humbly asks the horse trainer to come back to Montana with her to work his magic at the Yellowstone auction. He agrees to help for no fee, but not before messing with Beth a bit during a head-to-head game of strip poker. 

When Jamie finally stops sulking on the couch, he heads to the home of his former campaign manager/girlfriend/baby mama, Christina (Katherine Cunningham), who we haven’t seen since season 4. She’s as surprised as we are that her ex has reached out after all this time. Jamie being Jamie lies to her about how much he knows regarding Sarah’s involvement in his father’s death.

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Christina has no love for Jamie, but agrees to help him for the sake of their young son’s legacy. She suggests he call a press conference and announce that he’s launching his own investigation into the deaths of John and Sarah. She also advises him to put his deceased father on a pedestal, deny any personal relationship with Sarah, and vow to support the people of Montana. More than all that, she stresses that he must connect Atwood to his dad’s murder. 

Back at the Dutton estate, Beth informs Monica that whatever money they make at the auction will only serve to buy them some time — there’s no rescuing the ranch from its financial troubles. Beth and Kayce also receive word that John’s body is ready to be picked up from the coroner’s office. To save the grieving siblings some pain, Monica kindly offers to take this difficult task on for them. 

Despite the sad and somber circumstances, the Duttons hold one hell of a pre-auction bash complete with live country music, free BBQ, an open bar, and plenty of other rootin’ tootin’ activities. As the party rages on, Kayce cryptically tells Monica he has a plan to help secure the ranch’s future. “I know in my heart it’s gonna work. And I know it’s the right thing,” he says as they share a slow dance.

We also reunite with Senator Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz), who quietly reminisces about John with Beth. The Dutton daughter is planning a small, family-only funeral for her dad, but she wants his former flame to attend. Beth soon pays another kindness, this time to Teeter, who’s now wearing Colby’s hat and crying in her deceased beau’s bunk. The pair head out to a fancy tourist bar to get drunk and verbally eviscerate the rich, out-of-town bros that attempt to pick them up. Or, as Beth puts it, “Slice them from pecker to sternum…metaphorically speaking, of course.”

The next day, before the bidding begins, John and Colby receive lengthy, heartfelt farewells from the auctioneer. As Teeter runs off in tears, we see recently sold Dutton machinery driven off on the back of trailers. Beth comforts Carter, who’s wondering what to do now that the horses are being sold. She gives him a warm kiss on the cheek, and playfully tells him to sleep in.  

When the long, difficult day comes to a close, the Dutton siblings find themselves sitting on a fresh $30 million. But even that astronomical amount apparently won’t be enough to save the ranch for more than a year or so. Thankfully, Kayce is cooking something up. He asks Beth some hypothetical questions about a vehicle’s sales tax, and how it would differ if the car was paid for based on its value versus being gifted. The pair then part ways. 

But as Kayce begins to drive off with Monica and Tate, Beth stops in her tracks, says to herself, “Why didn’t I think of that!,” and runs after her brother’s truck. When she catches up with him, she asks, “Who?” He confidently replies, “Give me a day, just to make sure.”

She gives him a peck on the cheek and leaves him with, “You’re smarter than you look, little brother.” Wondering what the hell just transpired, Monica pushes Kayce to fill in the blanks. “The only way to save this place: Gotta give it away,” he says. And with that, the cowboy drives away while Beth sheds a bittersweet tear in front of the ranch’s iconic white barn.