He’s locked up.

Paramount Network’s hit ranch drama “Yellowstone” is reportedly in its penultimate episode.

And for some reason, the episode spent most of its time with creator Taylor Sheridan writing a sequence that focused on itself.

Spoilers for the thirteenth episode of season five, “Give the World Away.”

“Yellowstone” is about the Dutton family, the owners of the largest ranch in Montana. There’s the late patriarch John (Kevin Costner), who was also governor, and his adult children Kayce (Luke Grimes), Jamie (Wes Bentley), Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Beth’s husband Rip (Cole Hauser).

Due to rumors of a feud with Sheridan, Costner left the series after the first half of the fifth season. The series dealt with his absence by killing John – in a murder by a hitman that was initially staged as a suicide.

In addition to creating and writing the series, Sheridan also plays Travis, the horse trainer. In this episode, Travis is dating Sadie, a woman played by supermodel Bella Hadid.

During this hour, Beth visits Travis and Sadie opens his door. Beth soon finds Travis partying with a group of younger women in a scene worthy of the late Hugh Hefner.

When Beth asks why Sadie is with Travis – pointing out that he’s a smug idiot who’s 25 years older – Sadie replies: “Have you seen him ride?”

Then the camera switches to Sheridan riding, who is supposed to blind us.

To reiterate, when Yellowstone star Kevin Costner left, creator Taylor Sheridan apparently decided to fill his absence by writing more scenes for himself. In a long, unnecessary, smug sequence, he shows off his riding skills and makes Travis a ladies’ man. Sheridan even writes a line to Beth telling his character, “You’re such a king asshole, it’s almost attractive.”

This is how “Yellowstone” spends its penultimate episode. That is certainly a choice.

Eventually the plot turns to more important things.

The FBI searches Sarah (Dawn Olivieri)’s old office after her death with the help of a hit man. Sarah had registered John’s murder, so the police are investigating the cause of John’s death.

Jamie, who had a romantic relationship with Sarah, visits the mother of his child, Christina (Katherine Cunningham). Now that John’s death is being investigated as a murder and Sarah has just died suspiciously, Jamie is sweating and living under a cloud of suspicion.

Christina, who also served as Jamie’s campaign manager during his race for Montana Attorney General, gives him political advice. She calls on Jamie to give a speech praising his father and declaring his death “more than a murder”… It was a murder of the people of Montana’s right to choose their representative… a murder of their freedom. And you will avenge them.”

The ranch later auctions off the horses and cattle. Beth explains that they made $30 million from this move, which will pay off the ranch’s astronomical taxes and give them “another year.”

Rip asks his oldest ranch hand, Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith), to stay on the ranch and continue working. Lloyd is touched as he points out that the ranch has been his home for over forty years.

But he is also confused. “There is no reason to stay here,” he says.

“Yes, there is if we rebuild it,” replies Rip.

Meanwhile, “Yellowstone” also reminds us that John Dutton didn’t even have a funeral. So it is likely that the show will end with this melancholic scene.

Kayce reveals that he has a secret plan to save the ranch. When he talks to Beth about money, she tells him that taxes depend on what you pay for something.

Beth has a fiery moment when she finds out what Kayce is up to. He explains his plan by saying, “The only way to save this place – you have to give it away.”

The episode ends with this cryptic line.

As “Yellowstone” prepares for next week’s fifth season finale – and perhaps the series finale – it looks like it will end with a funeral for John, a showdown between Beth and Jamie, and Kayce taking over the ranch somehow saves by “giving them away.”

“Yellowstone” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on Paramount Network.