Yellowstone (TV Series)

An Acceptable Surrender (2020)

Kevin Costner: John Dutton

Photos 

Quotes 

• John Dutton : We're gonna mark a little territory, grandson. Get to it.

  Tate Dutton : Just in one spot?

  John Dutton : Everywhere you can. Let 'er rip... Whoa, hey, don't mark me!

• Tate Dutton : Thought ranching would be tougher.

  John Dutton : This isn't ranching, grandson. This is the spoils of it.

  Tate Dutton : What's that mean?

  John Dutton : It means this is the reason we do it. Ranching's a... Ranching's a terrible business, grandson.

  Tate Dutton : Terrible? How?

  John Dutton : Well, where do I start... We can't control the price of beef, or hay, or the diesel it takes to take the cattle to auction, or the hay out to the cattle. There's, uh, federal regulations and state regulations and county regulations and these people in the city suing us, and complaining about the way we raise the food they eat. What else? Then there's blizzards and droughts and half the herd is trying to kill itself in the river and the other half looking for a hole in the fence so he can go stand in the middle of the highway and get hit by a car. Or wander into the forest and get eaten by a wolf or a grizzly... or a big, stinkin' Sasquatch...

  Tate Dutton : What the hell is a Sasquatch?

  John Dutton : I don't know.

  Tate Dutton : There's no such thing as a Sasquatch, is there?

  John Dutton : Well, I've never seen one.

  Tate Dutton : Well, if ranching's so hard, how come we do it?

  John Dutton : Because it's one hell of a life, Tate. One hell of a life.

• John Dutton : Here goes the day.

  Jamie Dutton : Governor wants to see us.

  John Dutton : You mean the Governor wants to see you. I'm retired. And enjoying it.

  Jamie Dutton : She said both of us. I can bring the chopper out here. We can be in Helena in an hour.

  John Dutton : Sounds important.

  Jamie Dutton : Sounds like it.

  John Dutton : If it's that important, she shouldn't mind coming to see me. And I'll be at the rodeo in Livingston.

  Jamie Dutton : Well, we can get back by...

  John Dutton : I said I'll be at the rodeo. I'm sure her voters would enjoy watching her partake in something they actually care about. Rip, decide who's stayin' with the herd tonight. I'm gonna take this outfit to town and we're, uh... we'll go watch Jimmy rodeo.

• John Dutton : When elk are babies, they don't have any scent. So the only way the wolf can find it is if it loses faith in its mama, makes a run for it. I'm feeling a little sentimental, Grandson. I'd like to see that little elk live. What do you say we tip the scales in his favor?

  [Tate and John urinate on the ground to create a scent which will misdirect the wolf] 

• Jamie Dutton : Governor.

  Governor Lynelle Perry , John Dutton : Jamie.

  John Dutton : Can we just enjoy the evening and talk about the problem tomorrow? Come on, Lynelle, that's the one good thing about problems: they'll still be problems tomorrow.

  Governor Lynelle Perry : You want to walk me through the plan behind that dirty grin?

  John Dutton : Well, that all depends.

  Governor Lynelle Perry : On what?

  Governor Lynelle Perry : On how big your security detail is.

  [Both laughing] 

  Governor Lynelle Perry : How's, uh... forced retirement?

  John Dutton : Bliss.

  Governor Lynelle Perry : I'll make you a deal. All right. I'll give you the solution tonight and the problem tomorrow. You agree to the solution, and we can play teenager for the remainder of the night.

  John Dutton : All right. What's the solution?

  Governor Lynelle Perry : I appoint Jamie interim Attorney General and Jamie appoints a person of your choosing to run the Livestock Commission.

  John Dutton : Something happened.

  Governor Lynelle Perry : Is what I'm proposing best for the state? I don't know. Is it best for you? Yes. Is it best for the people in this valley? I... I think so. In my heart, I think it is. thing.

  John Dutton : And we do all this with what goal in mind?

  Governor Lynelle Perry : To negotiate an acceptable surrender.

  John Dutton : What are we surrendering?...

  John Dutton : The problem... There's plenty... but problem number one is: I don't have anyone to replace Jamie.

  Governor Lynelle Perry : What about the war hero?

  John Dutton : Already asked him. He won't do it.

  Governor Lynelle Perry : You've never asked anybody for anything in your life.

  [John laughs] 

  Governor Lynelle Perry : You tell. I'll ask him. And he won't say no. If that's what you want for him.

  John Dutton : It's all I've ever wanted for him.

  Governor Lynelle Perry : Then let me put a little sugar on this pill. John Dutton admitting that he can't do everything. I admitted no such thing.