Under the Banner of Heaven Banner
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Recap

Jeb sleeps on the couch. The phone rings and Jeb answers it -- Taba is at the "dream mine" and needs him. Jeb says goodbye to Rebecca and leaves.

Taba and Onias have a discussion in the trailer. A shadow passes outside the window. Taba draws his gun.

Taba asks about when Ron snapped. Onias recounts how he had hoped Ron was the One Mighty and Strong but worried that the temptations of the flesh would be too much for him to resist (Ron had another woman he was hoping to "marry.")

Ron addresses the School of Prophets, telling Robin to bet on a horse in Nevada to make fast money. Robin reluctantly agrees. Ron asks Matilda about the missionaries. Matilda stresses that she has warned Dianna to stop "fornicating."

Ron asks Matilda who helped Dianna. Matilda tells him that it was the Lowes, the Stowes, and Brenda.

Jeb arrives at Onias's trailer, coming across another man who looks like a miner. Jeb attacks him. Taba and Onias appear, and Jeb gets off the miner.

Jeb introduces himself to Onias as they, along with Taba, head back into the trailer. Onias continues his tale of Ron's revelations and list.

Ron reads his revelations of the "individuals who should be removed" and displays the instruments with which they were to be dispatched -- straight razors. Onias is dubious about Ron's words, but Dan defends his brother.

Onias tells Ron that Robin got to Nevada and lost the last of their money. Ron quotes his father, reminding his brothers that the Laffertys can do anything.

Jeb asks Onias about Dianna. Onias tells Jeb that Ron called Dianna and read his revelations over the phone, demanding she come home. His son David had sent a letter with a return address in Florida, which Ron took as a sign from God.

Onias says he believes Dianna and her children are likely dead, "atoned" by Ron.

At the station, Jeb cuts himself, sharpening a pencil. Taba and Jeb discuss Dianna, wondering why she would be in Florida. An officer tells Jeb his wife is on the line, but Jeb says to tell her he'll call back later.

Jeb tells Taba that Rebecca wants him to bear his testimony, but he can't because he doesn't believe it anymore.

Allen explains to Jeb that Dianna quit nursing school when she met Ron in order to marry him. He thinks Brenda would have encouraged Dianna to go back to school, even with six kids.

Taba enters with Stake President Ballard, who says the Holy Spirit urged him to come. Jeb insists he can say whatever he needs to in front of Allen.

Ballard mentions that the LDS church is having some troubles of late, public perception is a struggle, and they don't need more around speculation of the FLDS connection with this case.

Ballard asks Taba about his heritage, if he is Paiute, and reminds him of their "shared history" in 1857 when Mormons and Paiute fought together against the local militia.

Brigham Young discusses with his generals, suggesting that they should fight, and asks for confirmation that the Paiute are on their side and ready to fight with them.

Taba laughs at Ballard, telling him that the Indigenous peoples tell a very different version of that story. Taba leaves.

Allen and Ballard have a disagreement about Mormon history. Ballard ignores Allen and bids Jeb to come together for the sake of the church and his eternal family.

Jeb asks for clarity. Ballard reminds Jeb of another case where he used his position in the church to get info about a boy scout leader charged with child abuse.

Allen accuses Ballard of putting the church's reputation above justice for Brenda and Erica. Ballard asks Jeb to ask Allen to mind his tongue. Jeb doesn't reply.

Ballard leaves, shaking the dust off his feet as an act of condemnation. Allen reassures Jeb that it's not all that bad.

Allen recounts how a few weeks ago, he truly understood the pain he had caused Brenda and knew that he belonged to his wife and daughter, not to a church or his brothers.

Allen urges Jeb to find and protect Dianna and her kids, as that had been Brenda's calling.

Taba gets Dianna's address in Florida. Jeb calls the police there, asking them to perform a welfare check. He stresses the danger of the situation and that the woman's husband killed a baby, and the detective in Florida says she'll do what she can.

In Florida, the police check the home. It's empty. Meanwhile, Jeb reads what his daughter has written about being a good Mormon wife one day.

The detective in Florida relays information to Jeb -- that they found three Mormon coloring books on the shelf but nothing else. Jeb asks her to check for prints that might be a match for Matilda.

Another officer in Florida shares that they found security footage of a white woman and six kids dressed formally. Some had spooked Dianna, and she and the kids had left without their groceries or paying. This was four days ago.

Jacob Lafferty arrives at the station, saying he has a message for Jeb. He goes to pull something out of his coat, and the officers tackle him. Jeb pulls out a book from Jacob's coat. The officers lead him to another room.

In cuffs, Jacob tells Jeb that Sam gave him Dan's journal. Jacob ran from Sam's cabin during the raid in Under The Banner Of Heaven Season 1 Episode 3.

Jacob says the Holy Spirit kept him safe until he learned what happened to "his" Brenda. He'd heard the press conference on his radio, which made him come to the station.

Jeb removes Jacob's cuffs and asks where Dan and Ron are now. He says he doesn't know, but the diary will tell Jeb where he's been. Jeb thanks Jacob, who is then taken away by Officer Stephens.

Jeb reads the diary. Dan paid a visit to Brenda, uninvited, startling her. She asked him to leave. He warned her to stop driving wedges in the family -- Allen and Dianna must return immediately. Brenda asked him to go again. He said he was the hand of God, and if she obeyed, she would be forgiven. He left.

Jeb continues reading the diary, which tells that Dan and Ron went to Reno after the school of prophets disbanded. They found more willing "converts," a woman named Sandy and two men -- Ricky Knapp and Chip Carnes.

Jeb starts putting together a timeline. The diary entry was written ten days ago. The next day, Brenda got a call from Dianna. Ten minutes later, she called the office of the president of the church. Dianna was last seen on the security footage four days ago -- the day Brenda was killed.

This means Onias was wrong -- Ron and Dan went after Brenda first, and Dianna (and her kids) may still be alive.

Jeb packs for Florida. Rebecca expresses her disappointment that he won't be bearing his testimony, but he says it can wait.

Rebecca tells Jeb that the Stake President is her General Authority took, and she went to him with her concerns. Jeb says Ballard lied, saying it was the Holy Spirit. Jeb tells her not to interfere. Rebecca tells him that her father is coming up from Arizona to take her and the girls.

Jeb continues to pack. Jeb explains that the subjugation of women in Mormonism is rife and that their girls are already being indoctrinated. Rebecca stands by her faith and how she wants to raise the daughters.

At the station, Taba tells the chief and Jeb that Ron's car was located outside Chip Carnes's brother's house in Cheyenne. Taba and Jeb head to Wyoming, where they find Chip and Ricky hiding out, but no Ron and Dan.

Jeb and Taba question Chip and Ricky. They said they left Ron and Dan in Nevada at a motel near the state line. They say they were headed to Reno to get some cash to finish their list. Ricky says they stole Ron's car, noting how much blood there was.

Matilda watches from inside as Dan tells Sam to stay with Jacob -- only he and Ron were called.

Ricky continues to narrate. They visit Robin's house. Ron asks Robin to come with them and bring his hunting rifle. Robin apologizes about the horserace. Ron grabs Robin and kisses him.

Ron knocks on Brenda's door. She is in the backyard, then the phone rings. Brenda answers -- it's Allen. She's been worried since Dan broke in. Allen says he will protect her. They express their love and hang up.

Brenda checks the mail and finds a letter from Dianna.

Ricky recounts this when Ron started to lose it.

Driving through town, Dan suggests that this might be as far as Ron is meant to lead them. Dan believes himself to be the One Mighty and Strong as he can hear Heavenly Father, and he will set the church back in order. Ron lashes out, and they turn back around.

Brenda reads her letter from Dianna. Brenda writes a letter back to Dianna and mails it.

Dan, Ron, Chip, and Ricky re-appear outside the house in their station wagon. Dan knocks. Brenda answers, and Dan forces his way in. Ron heads in, spotted by the neighbor.

Brenda struggles with Dan. Dan asks for the blades from Ron. Dan punches Brenda. Erica cries. Brenda pleads with them. Dan says it's God's will. Brenda quotes scripture to them. Dan cuts the vacuum cleaner cord.

Ricky says that Dan did it, using the cleaner cord to finish her off, and then also killed Erica.

Ricky then recounts how they went to the Lowes and smashed up their house, as no one was home. They missed the turn to the third house and took it as a "sign" they needed to stop. Ricky says Dan wanted to get Ron re-focused on Dianna.

Taba and Jeb drive to the state line to search. They find an old suitcase with Ron's name on it. Inside are the two blades. Jeb thinks it is a warning and doesn't believe they are the murder weapons.

Jeb believes Ricky could be lying about Reno and that Dan and Ron are hunting Dianna and the kids in Florida. Taba assures Jeb that because Ricky and Chip are atheists, they have nothing to lose by telling the truth. They said Reno.

Jeb is worried about trusting atheists. Taba says their church leader, Ballard, is a liar, too. Taba tells the story of the Mormons and the Paiute as his great-grandfather had.

The Fanters were a wealthy wagon train from Arkansas, no threat to the Mormons. The Mormons had planned to attack them with the Paiute people and then place the blame on the Paiute.

The Paiute discovered this and abandoned the Mormons. Led by Major Lee, the Mormons got the Fanters to give up their arms in exchange for safe passage and then slaughtered them, including the women and children.

Taba notes that this isn't in any of the BYU history books. He finds the murder weapon in the grass -- a bloody knife.

Jeb and Taba arrive in Reno at the Circus Hotel and Casino. They talk with the local police, describing Ron and Dan. They review security footage and find Sandy, the server who associated with them.

Jeb asks about Sandy, stressing that the case has crossed state lines, and if they don't solve the case, the place will be swarmed with feds.

Taba takes Jeb aside, saying they will get a warrant for Sandy's house, and tells Jeb he needs to sleep.

Taba tails Sandy to her apartment.

Jeb had a dream that Dan sneaks up behind him and slits his throat.

A phone call awakes Jeb. Dianna and her kids have been found.

The cops enter Dianna's place and tell her about Brenda. Brenda and the kids leave the house, led away by the cops. Dianna checks her mail and finds the last letter from Brenda, which she reads.

Dianna asks Detective Lopez about the other wives. Lopez asks about Matilda, and when Dianna says she hasn't seen her, Lopez says they don't know about the whereabouts of the other wives.

Jeb is informed that the kids are in a safe house, but Dianna left (with her purse and keys), and the kids won't say where.

Taba and Jeb are back at the Circus in the morning. Taba says he searched Sandy's house, and it seems like Ron and Dan were having sex with her, which Jeb doesn't think is possible.

A casino dealer helps find footage of Dan and Ron, telling them how they got down on their knees when they won. Dan looks up at the security footage and makes a neck-slitting motion to the camera.

Jeb explains that this is part of a temple oath to protect their covenants and that it was meant as a warning for him. Taba says the video is two days old. Ron and Dan now have money, and time is of the essence before they find Dianna.

Dianna drives past the Utah state line.

Jeb thinks Dianna has headed back to Utah, so Dan and Ron would be there, too, waiting for her. Jeb asks how Taba can do this with no "compass." Taba says he has a compass and that their job is merely to catch the bad guys.

Taba pulls over and walks out into the desert. Jeb follows him. Taba tells Jeb to take a moment.

Taba punches Jeb in the stomach and tells him to breathe, be in the moment, and listen to his gut. Jeb stares out at the rocky hills. He tells Taba about his dream where Dan killed him and used the word "One."

Jeb recounts that after the Mountain Meadows Massacre, U.S. Troops came to arrest Brigham Young and end polygamy. The Third Prophet gathered the saints, telling them they must protect the Principle and keep it alive in secret, and that One Mighty and Strong will come.

Mormon men over the years have tried to prove themselves the "One," and Dan and Ron are now fighting for the seat beside Heavenly Father. Jeb believes that one will kill the other before enacting the final blood atonement on the list.

Jeb says they must head back to Reno because unless one of them is dead, Dan and Ron are both still there.

Dianna prays in her car. She grabs a pipe and breaks into Doreen Lafferty's home.

Morgue searches in Reno yield no sign of Ron or Dan.

Jeb spots what looks like Dan on the security footage with Sandy in a back hallway.

Dianna searches the house. She goes upstairs and spots carvings that indicate Ron is interested in taking a second wife -- Flora.

Jeb watches Sandy on the footage and decides to call the feds and shut down the casino.

Matilda comes out from hiding in the closet, but Dianna calms her down, asking where Dan and Ron are. Matilda says Dan called yesterday and that he was coming back to get her. Dianna convinces Matilda to leave with her.

After continuing to watch Sandy, Jeb is convinced she is hiding Dan. Along with the FBI, they move in pursuit.

Doreen confronts Dianna and Matilda, but they still manage to run away.

Jeb and the FBI search the casino's back hallways and dressing rooms.

Taba apprehends Sandy.

Doreen makes a phone call.

Ron prays in a bathroom stall.

Dianna pulls up at a gas station while Matilda keeps her head down.

Jeb and the FBI continue their search to no avail.

Taba questions Sandy. She thinks she's pregnant.

There is no sign of Ron and Dan at the casino.

Sam Lafferty appears and pulls Matilda out of the car, dragging her away. Dianna begs for help from bystanders, but they all ignore her. Dianna yells at Sam, scolding him for his behavior.

Dianna urges Matilda to break free, and she does. With Matilda at her side, Dianna calls to Sam's wife Sarah and bids her leave Sam and come out of the car, but she does not. Sam and Sarah drive away. Dianna shames the bystanders.

Dan and Ron hide out in a bathroom. Ron tells Dan that he has received another revelation -- he must kill Dan. They hear the police outside. Dan says they should pray on it. He gets down on his knees.

Jeb finds a custodian and asks him if anyone comes through this room.

Ron begins to strangle Dan with his belt.

Jeb and the other cops break in and grab Ron. Dan comes to, and the cops apprehend him as well.

Dan and Ron are taken away. Sandy calls after Dan, but he ignores her. Dan yells to the crowd about being a prophet as they are put in the cop car.

Matilda and Dianna drive past the Utah state line. Matilda thanks Dianna.

Jeb says he needs to get to either Salt Lake City or Miami. Taba tells him to go home, informing him that Dianna called her kids in Florida. Matilda is with her, and they are safe. Jeb says he should call Allen. Taba says Allen already knows -- he is with the Wrights in Idaho.

Taba recites an old Catholic prayer and then makes up a blessing for both of them. Lastly, he sings a prayer of his ancestors in his Native language.

Jeb's taxi arrives. Jeb and Taba shake hands, and Jeb leaves for the airport.

Jeb returns home. Annie is playing the piano. Jeb greets Annie, then Caroline and Rebecca come out as well. Jeb greets Rebecca with a kiss. They link hands and begin to pray when Josie appears and joins them.

Jeb and Josie go for a walk together in the forest, and she remarks on how nature is a miracle from Heavenly Father. He says being with her is the miracle, and they embrace.

Show:
Under the Banner of Heaven
Season:
Episode Number:
7
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Under the Banner of Heaven Season 1 Episode 7 Quotes


Stake President Ballard: For some, truth brings discomfort.
Allen Lafferty: For others, lies do the same.

How can we measure the abbreviation of a mortal life when considered next to one’s eternal salvation?

Prophet Onias