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‘Marshals’ Episode 4 ending explained: Kayce faces a criminal investigation amid tensions with Randall

The latest episode of the CBS drama saw Kayce being investigated by his teammates for killing one of Randall Clegg's sons in an intense shootout

Kayce becomes the subject of a criminal investigation in Episode 4 of 'Marshals,' which aired on March 22 on CBS. Titled 'The Gathering Storm,' the episode deals with the aftermath of last week's events, in which he killed one of Randall Clegg’s sons during a forest shootout over the Broken Rock mines. The 'Yellowstone' spinoff series, featuring Kayce Dutton's second outing as a US Marshal, shows him facing past enemies and new threats as his family's dark secrets follow him. 

After his son's death, Randall (the Dutton family's longtime enemy) files a complaint with the Department of Justice claiming that Kayce shot his son despite being unarmed, thus violating his civil rights. The Chief Marshal Harry Gifford asks Cruz to lead the investigation into the incident, promising to accept her wish to be reassigned to Washington, D.C. With help from Miles and Skinner, Cruz discovers Kayce and his family's dangerous past, but the investigation ends after they find trail cam footage clearly showing that the younger Clegg son was armed when Kayce shot him. Kayce's name is cleared with this revelation, but Randall promises to exact his revenge on John Dutton's youngest son.  

During the investigation, Cruz and her team also find evidence of the Dutton family's so-called 'frontier justice.' Episode 4 references a pivotal moment from 'Yellowstone' Season 2 Episode 9, 'Enemies by Monday'. Kayce's son, Tate, gets kidnapped by Malcolm and Teal Beck, forcing the Dutton family to unleash their full-blown anger. After successfully rescuing Tate, who was held by a militia group in the Crazy Mountains, Kayce shoots Teal while he's seated on the toilet, and the family patriarch, John Dutton, shoots Malcolm in the stomach.    

Throughout the episode, Kayce keeps himself busy by helping Cal in a Forest Service rescue mission. The wealthy rancher, Tom Weaver, crashes his helicopter in the Montana wilderness and is barely alive when Cal and Kayce find him. His daughter, Dolly, is introduced in the episode as a romantic interest for Kayce, who has only been dealing with high-stakes action so far in the series. At the end of the episode, Kayce and Dolly head to the local saloon with Kayce's teammates. The two engage in some light-hearted flirting, as Kayce seems more relaxed around her. When she asks if he will show her around Montana, he replies with a smile, "Maybe."

The show's latest episode also sheds light on Cal's dynamic with bartender Maddie from the Bullet ’n Barrel Saloon, which he frequents. In the first three episodes, Maddie was seen taking jabs at Cal, while he uncharacteristically kept mum. "The bartender’s my kid," he tells Skinner in the episode, before explaining that they've been estranged for more than 20 years. Cal adds that he took this job to be closer to his daughter, but laments that "she’d rather have me out of her life than in her bar." Skinner tells Cal not to lose hope and to "Give it time." Catch the latest developments in the lives of Kayce and the rest of the gang on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS or stream the episodes the next day on Paramount+.