"This Bird Has Flown" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of the American Neo-Western television series Justified. It is the 43rd overall episode of the series and was written by supervising producer Taylor Elmore and directed by Bill Johnson. It originally aired on FX on January 29, 2013.
The series is based on Elmore Leonard's stories about the character Raylan Givens, particularly "Fire in the Hole", which serves as the basis for the episode. The series follows Raylan Givens, a tough deputy U.S. Marshal enforcing his own brand of justice. The series revolves around the inhabitants and culture in the Appalachian Mountains area of eastern Kentucky, specifically Harlan County where many of the main characters grew up. In the episode, Raylan searches for Lindsey and Randall after they steal his money. Meanwhile, Ava and Boyd start wondering what to do with Ellen May, who now wants to work with them again.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.08 million household viewers and gained a 0.9 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances but some expressed frustration with the episode's pace and lack of character development.
Plot
Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) and Rachel (Erica Tazel) are surveying Raylan's tossed apartment. Meanwhile, Lindsay (Jenn Lyon) and Randall (Robert Baker) go to visit sleazy fight promoter Joe Hoppus (Josh Close), who after a tense exchange agrees to set Randall up as a manager of fighters.
Following Billy's death, Ellen May (Abby Miller) returns to the bar. Boyd (Walton Goggins) and Ava (Joelle Carter) are skeptical of her intentions, and fear she may have confessed anything to Cassie (Lindsay Pulsipher). Boyd sends Colt (Ron Eldard) to investigate. Raylan and Rachel show up at Hoppus's house the next morning, finding a wrecked backyard full of hungover party goers and Hoppus in a three-way with a couple of prostitutes. Hoppus imparts that Randall was looking to get into the business of fighting chickens, and gives Raylan the name of the farmer that he was headed to see.
Cassie is brought to Sheriff Shelby (Jim Beaver), who warns her that Boyd may kill her. Cassie is scared but does not reveal anything vital about him. Unknown to her, Boyd listened to the conversation. Ava is still convinced that Ellen May will speak and suggests killing her. Boyd refuses to do this and decides to send her down to Alabama, where his cousin Lonnie runs a motel and bar. Ellen May can work for Lonnie and have a shot at a decent life.
Randall and Lindsey stop for gas, and Randall steals a bottle of beer while Lindsey distracts the cashier. Randall gets angry because he thinks the cashier was flirting with Lindsey, and goes back to beat him up. Lindsey then calls Raylan from a pay phone. Raylan later questions the badly beaten cashier. Raylan learns where Lindsey and Randall are headed and finds them on a horse farm. He shoots Randall with a non-lethal beanbag gun and questions Lindsey, but Randall regains his strength and attacks him. Raylan and Randall fight until Lindsey gets the beanbag gun, shoots both of them, and then knocks Randall out with the butt of the gun. Raylan comes to his senses to find Lindsey gone. Raylan detains Randall, but learns that he and Lindsey had already spent Raylan's money on a van full of fighting chickens.
Boyd assigns Colt to take Ellen May to Alabama. However, Ellen May inadvertently mentions Ava's murder of Delroy in a crowded hallway, with several people nearby, Boyd orders Colt to kill her. Colt, acting as though he is taking Ellen May to the bus station, stops at a gas station to check his .45 and snort some heroin in the restroom. When he goes back outside, he discovers Ellen May has disappeared.
Production
Development
In January 2013, it was reported that the fourth episode of the fourth season would be titled "This Bird Has Flown", and was to be directed by Bill Johnson and written by supervising producer Taylor Elmore.