[This story contains major spoilers from the penultimate episode of 1923 season two, “The Mountain Teeth of Monsters.”]
There’s a reason Jack Dutton was so trusting of Clyde when he came upon him in the woods during the dark of night. The Dutton played by Darren Mann, whose great uncle is Harrison Ford’s Jacob Dutton, had actually interviewed Clyde for a job for the Montana Livestock Association back in season one.
Clyde, as 1923 viewers now tragically know, is one of Banner Creighton’s (Jerome Flynn) henchmen who was sent to infiltrate the Dutton family and report back for the Yellowstone prequel’s big bad, Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton). In this week’s sixth and penultimate season two episode, titled “The Mountain Teeth of Monsters,” Clyde in a shock twist shoots and kills Jack. It’s a surprising scene — even for a series like 1923 where no one’s life is guaranteed. This episode actually killed off a whopping seven characters. Two of the deaths are sure to elicit cheers from the audience, while two others will bring about tears; and another two are also tragic, and put another Dutton in her most precarious position yet.
But Jack Dutton being gunned down without a fight is sure to elicit feelings. “If you’re a close second, I’m not too worried about the first,” said Clyde (Brian Konowal) as he stood over Jack’s body and vowed to go after his uncle, Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar). Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about filming Jack’s death scene — over two days on location in Montana — Konowal shares that everyone on set clapped for Mann once he wrapped.
“It’s a huge moment to lose Jack — so, apologies in advance to fans. We hugged it out. He’s just fantastic,” says Konowal, explaining that Jack’s death sets in motion a propulsive ending to season two. “Clyde has now been unleashed. He’s totally loyal to Banner. He’s been enjoying the badge and now he’s almost radicalized to go get these Duttons. He’s ready to destroy them. Viewers are going to be very happy with the ending. There will be surprises no one could anticipate, including the actors when they were reading the script. It will not disappoint.”
Jack leaves behind a pregnant wife, news that Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph) found out the episode prior, and he leaves an entire Dutton clan sure to seek revenge, no matter who may be coming for them. Now with both Elizabeth and Spencer’s wife Alexandra Dutton (Julia Schlaepfer) pregnant, speculation continues about who is carrying the child who will go on to continue the Dutton legacy through present day on the Yellowstone flagship series.
Below, Mann now takes his turn speaking with THR about grieving Jack Dutton and finding solace in what he’s leaving behind. “It’s like playing roulette with five bullets on a Taylor Sheridan show,” says Mann in the conversation below. “I kind of expected that I might go, but it’s still a shock when you finally read it.”
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I was totally shocked because Jack’s death came out of nowhere. How do you feel about it?
It’s a tough one. When I read it, I went through all sorts of emotions. I was angry at first. I was pissed off. I was sad. I really grieved him in a whole bunch of different ways because I love playing Jack so much. He’s such a beautiful character. He’s naïve in all the best ways. He’s not naïve from a place of ignorance, but from a place of love and heart. He’s always trying to do the right thing by everybody. So I was definitely saddened, because I just love playing this character. It was a nice character to be inside of. Some characters are pretty challenging just sitting with them day to day, but going to set and playing Jack was so much fun. He always trying to do the right thing.
That’s a good way to describe him — naïve in all the best ways. He’s also a classic, old school character that we just don’t see a lot of these days.
Nothing but pure intentions. It’s so fun to play that when everything you’re trying to do is for the right reasons.
From what I understand, Taylor Sheridan pitched 1923 as a two-season story, but perhaps it may continue. [Note: Paramount+ hasn’t confirmed if season two will be the last.] I know in season one you found out what was happening episode by episode when you got scripts, but for season two, you read all scripts ahead of time.
Yeah. With season one, starting right away in cowboy camp before we even started filming, there were rumors that the show would go into the second season. Everybody had their ideas. We would just sit around and pitch to each other what we all thought and where the story could go. I don’t know if any of us were right, but it was fun to sit around and try to guess. Then leading into season two, we had all the scripts and we knew where it was going and how it was going to end.
So did Taylor call you about your death or did you read about it when you got the script?
I received the scripts normal like everybody else. I read through and eventually got to that page and was like, “Well, god damn, there it is. Okay.” I went into the show figuring as much — it’s like playing roulette with five bullets on a Taylor Sheridan show. The chances of making it out are not looking that great! So I kind of expected that I might go, but it’s still a shock when you finally read it.
I mean, the total body count in this episode is seven dead.
Yes, there are a lot of deaths in episode six, that’s for damn sure!
It may be a two-season story if no one is alive by the end! Many of the Duttons have put themselves in harm’s way — Jacob (Ford), Spencer (Sklenar) and Alex (Julia Schlaepfer), the latter who is in the most precarious situation yet. But Jack was so surprising because he was home and presumably safe. How do you describe his need to get into the fight? Does he have a hero complex?
I think his and Jacob’s intentions were both from the best place. Jacob wanted him to stay back to protect him. But Jack, being the number two guy now in the squad riding behind Jacob, is thinking, “God it feels like this is a young man’s fight. I appreciate him leaving me behind and protecting me, but at the same time, it’s my job as the young guy. I’m supposed to be looking out for him. I should be out there putting myself on the line.” Jack takes a calculated risk when he realizes there are two other guys watching the front gate of the ranch. He doesn’t think the fight’s going to come here. The fight’s going to be where Jacob is, and he should be there taking a bullet for Jacob if he has to.
You called Jack naive, and it’s what gets him killed. He’s trusting of these men he comes upon in the woods. Was that his downfall?
Yeah, for sure. I wish it wasn’t his downfall, because I love that about him. I wish that a guy like him could survive and live in a world like that. But I think you’re right. I think that is what gets him killed, unfortunately. He’s just so trusting and so face value with everybody that, why wouldn’t they be like that back to him? It’s unfortunate in the cruel world, especially back then, that guys like him got taken advantage of and unfortunately don’t make it.
As we’re talking, I’m actually getting some vibes of Kayce Dutton [the character Luke Grimes plays in Yellowstone]. Kayce is also well-intentioned, even when life makes him hardened. Can you also see that parallel?
For sure, I could definitely see that. Who knows where the lineage goes? I’m not quite sure. It seems as though mine will live on, which is amazing and that’s such a beautiful, final thing for Jack, because I think lineage and legacy is everything in this world, especially when you really need the hands to keep it running. You need the kids and the family in the next generation. So it’s nice that he gets to leave behind one little gift.
I’m worried for the grieving wife Jack leaves behind. Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph) was giving up on ranch life. Then she got pregnant, against the odds she had believed. That seems to bring her back around, but we never get to see her and Jack discuss their life plans. How will his death be a turning point for her?
Thinking as Jack, I would hope that that she’d stay [in Montana] and learn to love the life that I loved, and to show my kid that way of life their dad loved. I know my family will be there for them and help her. So I just really hope that she stays.
Maybe this is when we will start to see some Beth Dutton fire in her [the Yellowstone Dutton played by Kelly Reilly].
Maybe this is the turning point! It could be.
I know you as a cast are close. 1923 been described by everyone I’ve spoken to as being a special experience. Your final scene wasn’t with a lot of your co-stars. What was it like when they called the final cut on Jack Dutton?
For the death scene, I was feeling pretty anxious that day. I’m not typically one to talk with the director much. I just kind of do my own thing and when he needs to speak to me, he’ll find me. He’s got a lot to do. But that day, I can remember really needing to confide in Ben [Richardson] and be like, “How are we doing? Is there anything [you need more of from me]?” I wanted to make sure I did justice to Jack’s last scene, so I think I was feeling a little self-conscious. The crew is always so great. They’re so loving. It’s a giant family. So there was a big “Awwww” at the end and definitely a lot of hugs around set. I loved working with all of them so much. I think we all were a little sad and mourning what just happened in the story that day.
But my last scene was actually with Harrison [Ford], which was so cool. I had a last day that was pretty much just him and me riding horses and moving through the snow, packing out pack horses and moving elk and riding away. It was just little clips. It felt like the most perfect button to this amazing adventure, getting to hang out with this man that I idolized forever that I’ve now become friends with and who I truly love getting to spend time with. Just having those final moments with him and getting to give him a big hug when I was done. I’ll never forget working on this show and getting to become friends with Harrison and Helen [Mirren], and how cool that has been and how awesome both of them are.
Did Harrison Ford impart any wise words when you two hugged and went your separate ways?
He said, “Let’s find another one, kid.” And I said, “Damn straight. I would love that. I’d be there in a second.”
That’s a very Jacob Dutton thing of him to say. I’m nervous for when he finds out what happened… Jack’s body is dragged into the woods and left there. In addition to the wife he leaves behind, there are the rest of the Duttons — Jacob, Cara [Mirren] and Spencer — who are going to want justice and revenge. And Jack’s killers are now hunting them. How does Jack’s death kick off what I can only imagine is an all-out war to end the season?
The revenge that I was after, I think the family makes sure to get that.
Do you feel like justice is done for Jack? When you read the ending, how did it make you feel?
All sorts of feelings: happy, sad, all of it. It’s a beautiful ending. It’s great writing. I can’t wait to see it come together. I always love seeing the stuff I’m not in. I’ve read it, so I have a vision that I’ve put together, but it’s always exciting to see what it actually looks like. I’m just as excited as the fans for that finale, and I think they will not be disappointed with how it all unfolds. You’re flying from here on out! Don’t take your eyes off the screen. You might miss a death.
How has working on 1923 changed or impacted you?
Great question. I liked riding before, but not to this extent. I found a newfound love in riding. I’d love to do another part where I get to ride. On all the days off where my job is to go practice riding, you can’t ask for a better gig than that. Especially for a young man who grew up wanting to be a cowboy. This show has shown me how much fun it is to play in a Western. I had always dreamed that it would be a lot of fun and it turns out that I was right. It is fucking awesome. The stakes are high. There’s love, there’s excitement, there’s action, there’s fighting. It’s a pretty sweet world to play in.
Well, this world continues to expand thanks to Taylor Sheridan. In addition to The Madison and other previously announced Yellowstone spinoffs, the Rip [Cole Hauser] and Beth [Reilly] spinoff is in development and there was a recent Puck report about a possible Kayce spinoff with Luke Grimes. [Note: Paramount+ has not officially announced either.] Would you want to continue playing in this world as someone different?
Who would play Jack’s son better than Jack?! I feel like we should clean me up, give me a shave and then it’s 1944: Jack Jr., I’m back. Let’s go.
Looking back, do you have a favorite day on 1923? And did you take anything from set?
I always take my chair backs. They have the show’s name and your name, and are just a cool piece to hang on to. I should have taken my wooly chaps! They’re probably very expensive.
The first thing that pops into my head was the season one scene between me and Jacob. It was episode four or five when I came outside and confronted him. He’s gotten old and he’s sick. That scene wasn’t written that it was supposed to be emotional. But when I started doing it with Harrison and we were connecting with each other, he was looking at me saying, “I’ve been old, son.” Whatever that was, just a Jack moment or a human moment, it turned into this beautiful little emotional scene that Harrison and I had together. He shared some messages and tips for me that day. It was a very special little scene that I’ll never forget.
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1923 releases its season two finale Friday on Paramount+. Follow along with THR’s season coverage and interviews.
Source: Hollywoodreporter
