TV SERIES

Dutton Ranch – S01E03 – Act of God Business – Transcript

July 7, 2026

As Beth works to secure their business, Rip faces a threat; tensions increase throughout Rio Paloma, and circumstances require everyone to make choices.

Dutton Ranch
Season 1 – Episode 3
Episode title: Act of God Business
Original release date: May 22, 2026

Plot: Beth travels to Dallas carrying a freshly cut ribeye and an unconventional sales pitch. Back at the ranch, Rip and Everett discover that one of the calves has contracted foot-and-mouth disease, threatening both the herd and the ranch’s future, prompting Rip to place the cattle under quarantine. Rip also diffuses a dangerous confrontation after a figure from Zachariah’s past arrives at the ranch seeking revenge. Beulah visits the home of Wes’ widow, only to discover that she has fled. After skipping school, Carter spends the day with Oreana, including vandalizing her unfaithful boyfriend’s truck. Later, Carter takes her back to the ranch where the two end up sleeping together. Upon returning home, Beth discovers that the disease has begun spreading through more of the cattle.

* * *

Transcript

Note for Students & Writers: This transcript is archived here for educational purposes, critical analysis, and screenwriting study. All rights belong to the original creators.

Walker told me about an opportunity in Texas.

Cheaper than rebuilding here, that’s for sure.

♪ dramatic music ♪

[Jeanie] I don’t want this ranch to become something I can’t recognize.

My husband and I will honor it.

Two, three days tops, I’m back.

Not this time. It was her decision.

[auctioneer bid calling] This is our boy, here.

[auctioneer] Got ten. Uh, give me, give me…

Again.

[auctioneer] Give me ten-five.

Sold to him over there at $10,000. Man in black.

[lock buzzes]

You know how to cowboy?

I am a cowboy.

Get in the fucking truck.

[truck engine starts]

You need to find out what they know before it gets more complicated.

Claudio, my friend, Beth.

Everett tells me that you cut the finest T-bone in the state.

I do.

[Beth] I’m gonna need the best cuts to hook the best buyers.

When do you think I could see you again?

I have a boyfriend.

♪ suspenseful, dramatic music ♪

[loud thud]

♪ gentle, peaceful music ♪

[birds singing]

[lowing softly]

♪♪♪

[objects clatter]

[liquid pouring]

Morning.

Morning. Want coffee?

I woke up in the night.

You weren’t there.

Yeah, well…

I got up that early.

Thanks. Mm.

Everything okay?

Yeah, I just got shit on my mind.

Okay.

♪ dramatic music ♪

I got to go to Dallas. I got that meeting at the Swexan.

Mm-hmm.

Well, you got time for a ride?

Always.

I’ll saddle some horses. I’ll get dressed.

All right.

[sighs]

[exhales]

[Beth] Hut!

[Rip clicking tongue]

[cattle lowing]

[Beth] Come on. Hup, hup.

[Rip clicking tongue]

[Beth] Hup, hup.

[Rip] Hup, hup. [clicking tongue]

[Beth] Hut!

[clicking tongue]

♪ gentle music ♪

[Beth] Hut!

[clicking tongue] Hup!

Come on.

[Beth] Hut, hut, hut!

[Rip] Hup!

Nice job. Thanks, honey.

[sighs]

See our girl?

Where is she? Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Beth] Looks right at home.

Tell you what, I’ll get ’em watered, and you get us a deal, sweetheart.

I’ll get us a deal.

All I need is one.

Shit, I almost feel bad for the poor bastard.

Oh, you should.

Love ya.

[Beth] Love you, too, baby.

♪ slow, dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

♪ gentle music ♪

[birds singing]

[horse snorts softly]

You ready to get back at it, mi compa?

Can’t wait.

Gracias. De nada.

Hey, honey.

You look nice.

Shouldn’t you be dressed for school?

I am dressed for school.

I know you don’t want to be there, but if you just keep your head down, work hard, try to learn something.

Where you going?

Dallas.

What for?

Gonna sling some beef.

Sounds like fun.

Might be.

Change your shirt.

[door closes]

[organ music playing]

[Beulah] It’s hard to put into words what Ellis Logan meant to this community.

It’s harder to tell you what he meant to me.

If he was here right now, he’d say, “Come on, B, get on with it.

Daylight’s a-wasting.”

[soft laughter]

[Beulah] Rio Paloma’s a town of outlaws and cattle rustlers.

To be a sheriff in a community like ours is to be the most citizen of all citizens.

For nearly 20 years, Ellis didn’t just make that uniform look good, he was an incorruptible force for good.

But that doesn’t mean he was always law-abiding.

Like the time he snuck me and Becky Jo into the Starlite Drive-In, hidden in the trunk of his big, old, green Caprice.

[laughter]

Oh.

Rio Paloma’s gonna miss you, Ellis Logan.

I sure am, too.

[organist playing “Amazing Grace”]

[Beulah] So sorry for your loss.

[man] Thank you, ma’am.

Wonderful to see you. Take care of yourself now.

So sorry. So sorry for your loss.

Thank you for having me.

He was a good man.

Well…

You almost made me like Ellis.

[both laugh]

I almost made myself like him, too.

[sighs]

[Beulah laughs]

There comes a time when there are far more funerals than baptisms or birthdays.

Burials are all you go to.

Until you show up at your own.

We got a ways to go yet.

Oh, Everett.

This place will be the death of us, sooner or later.

Well, we’ll just greet it with a smile.

Well, I’ve missed you.

[Everett sighs]

♪ wistful music ♪

Yeah.

[sniffles]

Take care.

[Beulah sighs]

Buddy, I could do this all day.

You got a real problem, kid.

[entry bell jingles]

Just what you asked for. Wow.

[Claudio] The very best.

You’re a talent. Thank you.

Got your cooler?

Oh, shit.

You can use one of mine.

[grunts] Thanks. Business still good?

[Claudio] Still hard.

Last year, we serviced nine ranches.

Three gave up, three were sold off by the acre, and three were bought by Big Beef.

I’m sorry.

Well, you take care of my business, I’ll take care of yours.

♪ gentle music ♪

I like your sticker. It’s Felipe’s.

Do not remove.

Wouldn’t dream of it.

[entry bell jingles]

♪♪♪

Catch you later, buddy.

[truck door opens, closes]

Beulah, a moment?

Seeing you here, I feel like it’s coming up a cloud.

Nah, there’s no rain in the forecast, darling.

Just the matter of Wes Ayers going missing.

His wife’s mama is raising all kind of hell, and telling anybody who’ll listen, “10-Petal had a hand in it.”

Hmm. Did you listen?

It’s my job to listen, Beulah.

You think I don’t know your job?

I know not to tell you yours, but you need to get a handle on your bunkhouse.

Well, it’s handled.

But since we’re offering advice, why didn’t you call me about Oreana at the rodeo?

Well, it seemed like a small thing, mostly.

Oh. The election contribution I gave you was not.

Ellis– God rest his soul– he understood that.

Maybe that’s why he was so grateful.

Guess I’m still learning how to be grateful.

Learn faster, Sheriff Wade.

♪ ominous music ♪

Ma’am.

[vehicle door closes]

♪ All the gold ♪

♪ This valley’s ever sold ♪

♪ Charlene, I’ve been ♪

♪ Waiting on you… ♪

[sighs] What happened?

Fucking Hoyt.

Thanks for ditching.

‘Course. I like seeing you.

♪ Charlene, come and see… ♪

That’s a good look.

[sighs]

Anyway, we got into another fight ’cause he can’t keep his dick in his pants.

I called him out on it, and he fucking dropped me here.

But I got his lying ass this time.

I dropped an AirTag on that piece of shit’s truck.

He’s at Nicole’s.

♪ Charlene… ♪

Why date someone you hate so much?

♪ Come and see your good friend… ♪

Why don’t you save me?

♪ Charlene… ♪ [sighs]

Hmm?

[vehicle approaching]

Boss, you’re gonna want to see this.

♪ dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

[lowing]

[Rip] Easy. Easy.

Easy.

Easy. Easy.

Any ideas?

[Rip] Easy.

Shit.

Goddamn it.

♪ tense music ♪

[gunshot]

♪ upbeat music ♪

[indistinct chatter]

[woman] Oh, wait, let’s get these guys.

[woman 2] Hey, can you guys come take a picture with us?

[woman 1] Please?

[woman 3] Him, too. Come on.

[woman 2] Take our picture.

[woman 1 gasps] Yes. Yes, yes.

Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks. Okay.

Yes, yes, yes. You got to come, too.

Come on.

No, horizontal. Just get over here.

[woman 1] Okay, everybody ready?

One. Two. Three. Say, “Girls trip.”

[cheering] Okay, wait, go higher.

Go higher with the camera. Yeah, vertical next.

[woman 1] Okay, ready?

[cheering]

[woman 1] Girls weekend!

[horn honks]

Oh, my God. Rude.

[scoffs] You and your dusty truck.

Okay… [scoffs]

♪ dramatic music ♪

♪ exciting music ♪

[elevator bell dings]

[elevator doors slide open]

[Moore] We’ve got 65 covers in the first seating this evening, so I need everyone on their game.

Also, Sam Kauffman’s coming in tonight, so let’s make sure we send a bottle of Screaming Eagle Cab, on the house.

Finally, let’s not have a repeat of last night’s circus, Paula.

[scoffs] Please. The kitchen knows exactly how many covers we did last night. 218.

The tip-out was easily $750 short. It’s basic fucking math.

It’s not the time or place. Let’s get to work.

Tip-outs are tomorrow’s issue. Thanks, everyone.

[woman] Yes, sir.

[man] Yes, sir.

[quiet chatter]

[man clears throat]

[quietly] Prick.

Well, fuck that, and fuck him.

♪ dramatic music ♪

[quiet chatter]

[chef] Can you toss the bread in the oven?

[chef 2] Still breaking down those chickens.

[chef 3] We got five minutes on family.

[Beth] That’s pretty shitty about the tip-outs.

I’ll double last night’s shortfall if you add one perfectly-grilled rib eye to the family meal.

$1,500.

Medium rare.

The only way.

Julio. Yes, Chef?

Crank up that grill. Yes, Chef.

Attagirl.

♪ tense, dramatic music ♪

I’m afraid you’re right, Rip.

Foot-and-mouth.

It’ll burn through your whole damn herd if you don’t act quick.

There hasn’t been a case of FMD in decades.

Well, not that you’d hear, but we got anti-vaxxers running wild, hmm?

Animals shipping all over.

Mexico’s 70 miles south, and that screwworm infestation shut down live cattle imports for months, hurt a lot of pocketbooks. [sighs]

Borders don’t… they don’t give a shit about critters or desperate ranchers.

All it takes is one.

Or a new fucking bull.

[quiet chatter]

Hundred and forty years.

[Moore] Excuse me?

One hundred and forty years.

That’s how long my family’s been raising cattle.

And you are…?

Beth Dutton.

Dutton?

Yes, sir.

Uh, the Yellowstone was a cow-calf operation.

It was.

My husband and I, we moved to Texas, and we’re raising beef now out of Rio Paloma.

Ms. Dutton, I have an exhausting excess of eager ranchers all singing the same ranch-to-table song.

Oh, sure you do.

That’s not my tune.

You see, I have the crown fucking jewel, Giles.

Impeccable genetics, certified Black Angus, refined over decades in the Winter Garden.

Rio Paloma.

You bought Bill Edwards’ ranch?

Sure did. His and Jeanie’s.

[scoffs]

[sighs]

I’m bringing my next one to Nick and Sam’s in about a minute.

♪ tense, dramatic music ♪

The myth of that cattle’s floated around Texas for years.

How’d you get your hands on it?

Fifty seconds. It’s getting cold.

[sighs]

[sighs] I’ll do what I can to mitigate this, keep it a secret for you and Beth.

No need to go causing a panic yet, but if this thing breaks bad…

I understand. I got it.

Is that Zach Moss over there?

[Rip] It is.

[Everett] You trust him?

I’m trusting you, ain’t I?

Azul, Zachariah, we’re gonna quarantine the herd and put a pasture in between.

I want you to go get all the fucking camping supplies and bring it down here.

We’re gonna be here for a few days.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

I’ll help you guys load up.

How worried should we be?

Really fucking worried, but you and the horses will be fine.

[Everett] It was good to see you, Zach.

[Zach] Hello, Mr. Everett.

[truck engine starts]

[kissing sounds]

[Oreana] Fucking bitch.

[sighs] I knew he’d fucking be here.

Why so many stickers?

More stickers, smaller the dick.

Huh. [chuckles]

Where you going? Be right back.

The fuck?

[grunts]

[Carter laughs]

[chuckles]

Hell, Oreana, he might be a keeper.

[opens glove box]

[exhales]

[closes glove box]

Hey!

Oh, fucking run. Shit. Fuck you!

Yeah, run! Get out of here!

♪ suspenseful music ♪

Get the fuck out of here!

[engine starts]

You better run!

This ain’t over!

I’m-a kill you, boy!

[indistinct P.A. announcement]

Breaks a heart to see this.

[sighs]

A few things to make you comfortable, huh?

Thank you, ma’am.

Uh, I’ve spoken with Chet.

He’ll apologize, and you’ll accept.

I’d sooner kill him.

Well, I’m not sure how that helps.

I guess I ain’t feeling so helpful.

Well, all your bills will be paid, of course.

[sighs] But if there’s anything more that I–

I’d take another beating before I take your money.

I might’ve thought less of you if you’d been inclined otherwise.

Mm.

Oh.

I just want to do my job, the way it was before.

That ain’t so hard.

Hmm. Not always so easy, either.

Truth be told, I can make this a lot harder for all y’all.

Let’s wait till you’re back on your feet, and get you home, huh?

♪ tense, dramatic music ♪

Yes, ma’am.

There you go. That’s a good cowboy.

♪♪♪

[ringing]

[sighs]

Yes?

[Mariano over phone] I’ve heard you got a new foreman.

I do.

We have a lot of cattle moving this month.

Mm-hmm. I’m aware.

I expect no surprises.

And I expect you to let me run my ranch as I see fit.

No surprises, Beulah.

[call beeps off] ♪ suspenseful, dramatic music ♪

[sighs]

[line ringing]

[Joaquin over phone] Yes, Mother?

Joaquin, I want you to give me Whitney Ayers’ address.

I’m paying her a visit, too.

♪ dramatic music ♪

[lowing]

[tires screech]

What the fuck is going on around here?

Fucking… [clicking tongue]

♪ exciting music ♪

[Anna] Zachariah.

[panting]

[car alarm chiming]

[Everett] Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Anna…

Put that gun down.

I’m ready.

Anna. Please.

No. [panting]

[Everett] Put it down.

[Rip] Azul. Azul.

Drop that rifle.

Rip, this is Anna Dupree.

[Rip] Anna, this is my ranch, and I would appreciate if you dropped that gun.

He’s got to pay.

Well, I’m not saying he doesn’t… but it’d help to know what he did.

It’s my retribution. Shut your mouth.

[alarm continues chiming] You shut the fuck up.

Goddamn it, Azul, close that fucking door.

[car door closes, alarm stops]

[Rip] Anna.

Hey, I’m here. What did he do?

[crying] He killed my baby.

You take someone I love…

[Anna sobs]

…and I would feel the same as you.

You understand? I do understand.

Anna, what was your daughter’s name?

Theresa.

[Rip] Whoa, Anna.

Hey, stay with me, now. Stay here.

♪ somber music ♪

[Anna breathing shakily]

Do you think Theresa would find peace in this?

‘Cause I promise you, you won’t.

But he might.

[sobbing]

Now go on, just put it down.

Now, go on and give me the gun. It’s okay.

[whimpers]

This is too damn heavy. [sobbing]

Just breathe. Everett, you mind?

[Anna sobbing]

I’ve got her. I’ve got her. Yeah.

Come on. Hey, hey, it’s okay.

Zachariah, your prayers better not be for show.

[sighs]

[Rip] Or I’ll shoot you myself.

Now get up.

Azul, get him out of here.

♪ dramatic music ♪

[soft music playing]

I’m glad you came to me, but… the competition is fierce, even with beef as good as yours.

Most of these Texas outfits, they have a significant lead.

Well, I plan on catching up.

You’ll need to deal with Frontier Hospitality Group.

They supply nearly every high-end hotel and restaurant in Texas, including mine.

I know. That’s why I came to you.

I’ll place the call.

But Zane Nash can be… difficult.

I handle difficult.

I’m sure you do, Beth.

Whatever Miss Dutton wants for dinner, it’s on the house.

[laughs] Yeah!

[siren wailing]

[Oreana gasps]

Don’t stop.

Come on.

[sighs] Great.

[sighs]

[indistinct radio chatter]

Young lady, I know some people find your antics exciting, charming, even…

Hmm. [Wade] …but I don’t.

I’ve got you for disturbing the peace, vandalism–

[Oreana] What about that gun that Hoyt was waving around?

There’s only so much you Jacksons can push me, get under my skin.

Before what?

Before the weight of this badge buries you.

Son, I think I’ve extended you about all the courtesy I can.

I want to like you, I do, but do not give me one more fucking reason not to. Do you understand?

Go home, Oreana.

Go fuck yourself.

[chuckles]

[Wade] Take her home.

Kicking and screaming if necessary.

I see either one of you again, I’m putting you in cuffs.

Have a nice day.

Piece of shit.

♪ tense, dramatic music ♪

[insects trilling]

[Beulah] Only a moment.

Mrs. Ayers?

Whitney?

Hello?

♪ suspenseful music ♪

[exhales]

♪♪♪

[insects trilling]

Whitney’s gone.

And this is a fucking problem.

[owl hooting in distance]

[Zach grunts] How you doing, Zach?

Still praying for salvation through the Lord’s judgment.

Yeah, He works in mysterious ways.

Why don’t you tell me about Theresa, Zachariah?

She was Terry Jane to me.

We were in love.

A secret we kept from her family, from Anna.

For reasons that don’t matter anymore.

We got in an argument.

I was drunk.

I was blinded by hurt.

I tried to run away.

Threw my truck in reverse.

♪ somber music ♪

It was an accident.

It was an accident that… don’t really feel like an accident.

Makes you… wonder if some things are unforgivable.

Everybody thought I was the devil.

I did, too.

Till I found the Lord.

Rio Paloma’s got a long memory and bigger feelings.

Everybody took Terry Jane’s death hard.

Zach took the brunt of it.

Big time.

I ain’t saying that’s fair or right, but… that was the way of it.

I deserved every bit of it.

That’s not true.

My old man used to say you can’t ask for forgiveness.

All you can do is give it.

Even to yourself.

[soft jazz music playing]

I want that one. Two of those.

[woman 1] No, no, make it…

[overlapping chatter]

I hear it was impressive, what you did with Giles earlier.

Let me guess.

One for the wife, one for the girlfriend, one for the boyfriend?

[laughs]

This one’s for business.

This one, too. And so is that one.

That’s a lot of business.

I represent the 10-Petal Ranch in Rio Paloma.

You follow me here? That your fucking business?

I’m just friendly competition.

There’s no such thing.

My name is Joaquin Reyes.

Oh, you’re not a cattleman.

Transcript

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Read More