[Jimmy is proposing Kim join him as a partner in their own law firm]
If we're gonna be law partners, I need to know one thing: What kind of lawyer are you going to be? I don't mean what kind of law are you gonna practice, I mean... are you gonna play it straight? Or are you going to be... colorful?
JimmyI'm going to play it straight, right down the line! I'm gonna dot every 'i', and I'm gonna cross every... [stops and looks at Marco's ring] There's no point in me doing this if I can't be myself. Every time I try to do things someone else's way, it blows up in my face. That's what happened at Davis & Main; look how that turned out. I almost derailed your career, pissed everyone off. I've been trying to be the person someone else wants me to be for... who knows how long. At first it was Chuck, then it was you and that's not your fault. That was my choice, but if we're going to do this? I'm gonna go into it as me. So, yeah... colorful, I guess.
Jimmy
So, how'd it go with Schweikart?
Uh, it went well... should be getting their offer tomorrow.
Jimmy
That's fantastic. I'm really happy for you.
Jimmy
You know what? We should celebrate. Whataburger, on me.
Jimmy
Why not?
You were right. It's time for me to be my own boss: solo practice! [beat] What, you don't think it's a good idea now? Don't tell me you've changed your mind.
Jimmy
No, I- I'm surprised, is all. Hey, I- I said all along, you're too good for those clowns! This is, uh... shit, yeah! Wow, it's great!
Good. To that end... I have a pitch for you. [places the torn business card on the desk] Not Wexler-McGill, but... [slides the two halves apart] Wexler and McGill. We find an office, share the housekeeping costs: the rent, electricity, everything. But I am Kim Wexler, attorney-at-law, and you are Jimmy McGill, attorney-at-law: both free to practice as we see fit.
Jimmy
Separate firms under one roof?
We're both headed uptown, so why can't we share a taxi? You do things your way, and I do them mine. We'll have freedom, but... we aren't trying to go it alone. Not partners, solo practitioners together. What do you think?
Jimmy
I don't know what to say...
[Jimmy, his camera crew, and what appears to be an elderly veteran in a wheelchair meet with an Air Force captain in front of the "FIFI" B-29 Superfortress]
Jimmy
Major Theodore "Fudge" Talbot. His mom used to deliver him care packages of fudge during the war and then share them with his friends. So that's the story, right guys?
BCaptain Bauer
Well sir, this must certainly bring back some memories for you.
["Fudge" mumbles]
Jimmy
Too many to count, he says.
BCaptain Bauer
I got to say, Major Talbot, it's a privilege. So thank you for your service.
["Fudge" mumbles again]
Jimmy
He says you're welcome.
BCaptain Bauer
Oh. Well, um, boy. [to camera crew] I envy you guys. I mean, the stories you must have heard. You remember any good ones?
CGCamera Guy
Uh, bombing stuff.
SGSound Guy
Bombing stuff.
CGCamera Guy
Bombing stuff.
SGSound Guy
Like, like the war.
BCaptain Bauer
Did he fly over the Hump, or did he take off out of India?
[Jimmy grabs Fudge's shoulder and makes him feign a cough]
Jimmy
Doing okay? You need some water? [Fudge nods] Yes. Yes, sir. Nuts, I forgot his water.
BCaptain Bauer
Oh, hey. I can run back to the office, get him a bottle.
Jimmy
You could? Fudge, the captain's going to run back to his office, get you some water. Okay, sir? ["Fudge" mumbles] Alright, that's great. There's no rush, he'll be fine.
BCaptain Bauer
I'll be back ASAP.
[Captain Bauer runs across the airfield. After he's gone, Jimmy and the camera crew begin removing Fudge's breathing apparatus.]
Jimmy
[to "Fudge"] I thought I told you not to say anything. Go stand by the front...nose, whatever.
[Jimmy and Fudge stand in front of "FIFI" while the camera crew sets up their equipment to shoot Jimmy's commercial]
CGCamera Guy
Where the hell did you find this guy? You couldn't get a real war hero?
Jimmy
Yeah, like they grow on trees. So this guy owes me. I defended him a while back when he couldn't pay.
CGCamera Guy
Defend him for what?
Jimmy
What, you want to be a lawyer when you grow up? Just fix—
?"Fudge"
Public masturbation. Total bullshit.
Jimmy
Alright, keep your voice down. You do not possess the power of speech. [to his film crew] Okay, let's go! Let's go! Chop, chop! [to Fudge] Alright, hands on hips. Alright, looking strong, looking proud. Alright? See the bomber, okay? The bomber's the main point, so see it.
CGCamera Guy
[sitting in the wheelchair] I see the freakin' bomber. You couldn't just plop the dude in front of a flag? Why's we have to come here?
Jimmy
Production value, showmanship. You rolling?
CGCamera Guy
Yeah, rolling.
Jimmy
Okay, start the dolly. [Sound Guy pushes the wheelchair] Action. [to Fudge] You're part of the Greatest Generation. You fought the Nazis.
?"Fudge"
Fought the Japanese.
Jimmy
[makes cutting gesture to stop filming] What?
?"Fudge"
Fought Japanese. I fought the Japanese. This machine was used in the Pacific, where the Japanese are.
Jimmy
Why don't you shut up and learn to take some direction?
?"Fudge"
[indignant] ...Japanese.
Jimmy
All right, fine. You fought all the... dirty... Axis Powers.
[Chuck wakes up to find Jimmy after he'd doctored the Mesa Verde documents]
Jimmy
He emerges. Good afternoon.
Is it afternoon? Where's Ernesto? He was supposed to stay with me.
Jimmy
Don't get mad at Ernie. He spent the better part of a day watching you do your impression of a baked potato. I told him to go home, get some shuteye. You hungry? You want something besides crackers?
No, I'm fine. I'll fix myself something after my stomach settles.
Jimmy
Really doing a number on yourself... spending so much time out of the house. You just had to do it, huh? Couldn't stand to let Kim have Mesa Verde, you had to swipe it from her?
I didn't swipe anything. We retained our client.
Jimmy
You and Howard never even heard about Mesa Verde 'til Kim brought it to you on a red velvet pillow.
[gets up] I need a shower, and I've got a ton of work to do. So if you're looking for a fight, Jimmy, I just don't have it in me. [beat] Jimmy. Thanks for staying with me. I know we have our issues, but... if things were reversed, I hope you know that I would do the same for you.
[Jimmy and Kim are lying in bed]
Jimmy
You wanna talk about this?
Jimmy
I'm just going to say: You are meant for Mesa Verde, and they are meant for you. So, all is right with the world. [beat] Good night.
Good night. [beat] Your brother is one smart lawyer.
Jimmy
The smartest one I know. I mean, no offense.
He'd make quite an adversary.
Jimmy
You'd better believe it.
The kind of adversary who'd find even the smallest crack in your defense. Going against him... you'd really want to make sure you've got all your "i"'s dotted and your "t"'s crossed. Nothing for him to find.
[Jimmy's eyes widen and he gets out of bed]
[Chuck and Jimmy are at their mother's bedside in a Cicero hospital]
Jimmy
Seriously, Chuck, we gotta eat. Mom will be okay for a few minutes. It's been three days, it could be three more. [gets up] Okay? Let's go, buddy.
Jimmy, you wanna eat, go eat.
Jimmy
I'll bring you something. Uh, roast beef, no tomato, Italian on the side, alright? Okay, be right back.
[Chuck breaks down crying when Jimmy leaves. Mrs. McGill suddenly stirs]
[Mrs. McGill flatlines. A nurse comes in to check]
NNurse
I'm sorry. She has that DNR. Is your brother in the building? We can use the intercom-
NNurse
Charles, is there anyone you want us to call?
[Chuck shakes his head. Later, Jimmy finds him in the lobby with his sandwiches]
Jimmy
Chuck, where's Mom? What happened?
Jimmy
What?! When- how did-? [beat] Did she wake up? Did she say anything?
[Jimmy visits Chuck in his hospital room to tell him about his temporary emergency guardianship]
Jimmy
Hey buddy, how's it going? [beat] Chuck.
Well, if it isn't Johnny-on-the-Spot.
Jimmy
What? What does that mean?
Jimmy
Yeah? Can I get you something-
Ernesto, come in here, please!
Jimmy
Just take it easy.
[Jimmy allows Ernie in]
Jimmy
Just put your stuff in there. [Ernie does so] I got him.
How are you feeling, Mr. McGill?
Ernesto, how long was I unconscious in that print shop?
Thirty seconds? A minute? Two minutes?
I'd say maybe... about a minute? You were kinda in and out.
And how long was I lying on the floor before the ambulance arrived?
About ten minutes, I think, but I didn't look at the clock.
[to Jimmy] And yet you were there.
Jimmy
Chuck, can we, uh—
There's only one way you could've gotten there so quickly... you never left!
Jimmy
I think you're getting all wound-up. Can you take a few deep breaths-
You bribed him! The kid behind the counter!
Jimmy
What?
Between the time Ernesto left and I arrived, you paid that halfwit to swear he never laid eyes on you...
...and then you stuck around to watch! Why?! Just wanted to see me suffer?
Just wanted to have a laugh at my expense?
I called Jimmy earlier before I picked you up. He showed up when he did because I called him. I was worried about you, and I just... I called him. I'm sorry.
[hatefully] Get out. Both of you.
[Ernie leaves, but Jimmy sticks around]
Jimmy
Chuck, there's something that I have to do, and I'm really sorry. I'm really, truly sorry, but I gotta do it, and it's for you.
You're trying to have me committed.
Jimmy
No. It's a temporary—
Temporary emergency guardianship, tomato, tomahto. You finally got me where you want me.
Jimmy
Oh, my God. The Adventures of Mabel. I–I haven't thought about this in forev–You remember this, Chuck?
I do. Harry Thurston Peck.
Jimmy
Yeah. Mabel goes into the mountain, and she meets the king of the Brownies and he gives her some kind of super-delicious jelly and–Holy crap, 1912.
Yeah. It belonged to Granny Davenport. She wrote her name in it. She was reading that to her schoolkids the year the Titanic went down.
Jimmy
Damn. And Mom read it to me.
I read it to you. You don't remember.
Jimmy
Yeah, yeah, I do now that you say it, yeah. What was I? Like, five or six?
You had had this weird nightlight that you were so crazy about. It was, uh... It was...
Jimmy
It was Daffy Duck!
It was some Daffy Duck ripoff with a weird red mouth—
Jimmy
Bill. Yeah, the bill. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And it used to get so hot we thought it would burn the house down, but you wouldn't let anybody touch it.
Jimmy
Yeah, that's—You got a great memory, Chuck. The red bill and everything. Hey, what was the name of that little girl that lived, uh, three houses up from us? She had, like, a...
Jimmy
...painful haircut. And she was always in the dirt, always dirty...
Jimmy
...I liked her. She was al–
Jimmy. Don't think I'll ever forget what happened here today. And you will pay.
Jimmy
Crisis averted, I guess. I mean, he's back to being the same old Chuck, so...
Jimmy
Depends. It may or may not involve that thing you said you never, ever wanted to discuss.
Okay, then thanks. I gotta get back to it.
Jimmy
How about we call it a day? I'll buy you some dinner.
You're kidding, right? You realize how far behind I am; not to mention, now I've got eight entire wills to finish up.
Jimmy
What are you talking about? I'll do the wills.
Jimmy
'Course I will... do the wills. They're my clients.
They're my clients. You and I aren't partners, remember? Once I take these people on, I can't just reassign them to you.
Jimmy
Aw, come on. Why are you getting all, like, legal on me, huh? Who cares?
Look, I told every single one the situation: that they'd be getting me instead of you. I tried to talk 'em all into coming back another day, six of them left. Maybe you'll get those back. Look, if this is about the money-
Jimmy
It's not about the money. You can keep the money.
Don't act like I wanted this! Jesus, like I need more on my plate? [Jimmy looks melancholy] Are you mad?
Jimmy
I'm not mad. I'm just, uh... thinking about things. For ten minutes today, Chuck didn't hate me. I forgot what that felt like.
[Kim and Jimmy interview their first potential secretary: Francesca]
Jimmy
Well, I for one, am not calling it the MVD. DMV all the way.
What do you think you learned the most, working there?
Patience. Diplomacy. You meet all sorts of people down there, and most are really great, really friendly, but you encounter some who are upset, belligerent—
Jimmy
What about old folks? You get your fair share of them?
Oh, lots of elderly drivers. After 75, they need to take their test again, so if they don't pass you have to explain why their license isn't being renewed, which is hard for them.
Jimmy
What do you say then? Do you ever... yell at them? I mean, geezers, right? How can you not?
...No. I would never, no.
Jimmy
...Nor should you, that was a trick question. You passed with flying colors, very good.
So, Jimmy and I have very different needs. His practice is mostly wills for senior citizens while I'm focused on a single client at the moment, Mesa Verde, with banking regulations that generate a ton of paperwork. So, I'm looking for someone with an eye for organization and detail.
Jimmy
Well, DMV's great for that. Tons of detail in those driver's licenses.
We did see hundreds of people every day, and you'd never want to let a mistake slip through on those forms. You'd just have a horrible cascade of problems.
Jimmy
Sounds challenging.
So, why the law? I mean, why leave the DMV- er, MVD? I have to imagine you'll be giving up a good benefits package.
Good healthcare and retirement plans, but there's a bureaucracy to government work that ultimately became too frustrating. I guess- what'd you'd call it, too much red tape? I just wanna be somewhere I can make a difference.
Jimmy
Oh, that's us. We're all about making a difference.
And I see here both Word and Excel, you're comfortable with?
Jimmy
Excel and Word? Wow. Well, you had me at "old people!" Hey, here's a question: can you start today?
Jimmy
Fantastic!
Now–Can you just give us a second, Francesca?
Absolutely, I, uh... Of course.
Thank you. [pause; to Jimmy after Francesca leaves] What are you doing?
Jimmy
What? I like her.
"Can you start today?" Don't you think we should see more resumes? Like, a lot more? She is our first interview! We haven't even checked her references!
Jimmy
So we'll check 'em! Kim, you've been taking forever searching for a paralegal. Now, we need help here.
Haven't found the right fit.
Jimmy
Yeah, because you're searching for perfection, and perfection is the enemy of perfectly adequate.
So that's the bar here? Adequate?
Jimmy
She's more than adequate! She worked at the DMV, that's like the fifth circle of Hell! Look, she's overqualified; if it doesn't work out, we can fire her. It's no big deal.
Don't you think someone with actual legal experience would be better?
Jimmy
Look, I've got a commercial airing in eleven minutes, so the phones are gonna be ringing off the hook and I need help. Can we give her a test run, please? I got a good feeling about this! Come on, Kim!
Alright, this is what you're gonna do: You're gonna go inside, buy a cup of coffee, a meal, whatever and sit in a booth. Sometime in the next ten to fifteen minutes, a guy in an old green Chevy Blazer is gonna pull into that parking lot. He'll take a knapsack and he'll go sit inside. I need you to keep an eye on the knapsack. Let me know what he does with it; does he take anything out of it, does he switch the bag with someone? Does he leave something from the bag inside—
Jimmy
Right, right, right, I got it.
Green Chevy Blazer, black top.
Jimmy
Yeah, what's in the bag? Is it money? It's gotta be money- Drugs, is it drugs? Something else? Well, I'm guessing money. Tell me I'm right.
He is gonna be here any minute. Now, I need you inside. You gonna do the job or not?
Jimmy
Fine. I'll do the job. You charmed me into it.
[Jimmy sticks his head in the trash bin at Los Pollos Hermanos, believing that a drop guy has left something inside.]
[Jimmy, taken by surprise, hurriedly takes off his watch and deliberately drops it in the bin.]
Jimmy
Uh... My watch, uh, clasp is loose–it falls. I tried to reach it.
Oh, well, I'm sorry. Allow me. [takes the trash can out of the bin.]
Jimmy
Yeah, they say a nice watch band is as the watch. That's what they get for cheapin' out.
[puts on a latex glove] We'll find it for you.
[Gus sifts through the trash can as Jimmy hovers his shoulder.]
Jimmy
Where the heck is it?
Oh, don't worry. If it's in here, I'll—Ah, there it is.
[Gus retrieves Jimmy's watch from the trash]
Oh. May I clean this for you? We have alcohol wipes.
Jimmy
Uh, no. It's been in worse places. Thank you. That was very nice of you.
[hands Jimmy the watch] No problem. It's my pleasure. Is there anything else I can do for you?
Jimmy
No. Uh, thanks.
[Kim learns about Chuck's tape from Ernesto, and goes to tell Jimmy]
Jimmy
Give you a dollar?
Hand me a dollar! Come on!
Jimmy
Okay... All I got's a twenty-
Fine, whatever. [holds up the dollar] Alright. I'm your lawyer now. If anyone asks me what I know, we have confidentiality.
Jimmy
Why do we need confidentiality?
Jimmy, what did you say to Chuck?
Jimmy
Oh, here it comes... Howard, right? Did Howard call? [Kim looks away] Relax! No, let me explain, please! Please. Kim, let me set the stage for you, okay? When I went to Chuck's place last week, it was like the inside of a Jiffy Pop wrapper, alright? There was Mylar on the walls. There was Mylar on the ceiling, the ceiling! He thought his brain wasn't working because of the Mesa Verde event and so... I kind of told him that he was right about everything. I had to! He- he- Kim, he was broken. He was a broken man, I couldn't leave him in crazy town like that! So I told him; you know, just to make him feel better. It doesn't matter what he says, it doesn't matter who he tells, because it's my word against his.
Jimmy
...What?
There is a tape recording of you talking to Chuck.
Jimmy
What do you mean? Who? He–He taped me? How?
I don't know how, he just did! Okay? Ernie told me.
Jimmy
Ernie told you?
He said Chuck has a tape recorder, wrapped in a space blanket in his desk drawer. Ernie was putting new batteries in it for Chuck, and the tape rolled for a few seconds and he heard you... your voice saying something about switching 1261 to 1216. So clearly, it was this confession of yours.
Jimmy
...He taped me.
[beat] Yes, Jimmy... but I'm not sure what he can do with it... legally, anyway. I'm gonna have to do some research. He made that tape for a reason, and now we have to figure out why. [notices Jimmy seething] Jimmy?
Jimmy
I gotta get back to it. The lobby's full of clients.
Jimmy
Yeah. I know.
[Howard visits Chuck's house, where Chuck and a hired private investigator named Dave are waiting for Jimmy to show up and steal the audiotape in which he confessed to doctoring the Mesa Verde documents.]
Chuck, this has been going on for eight days now, and really no indication that it's going to work.
I think I've been very patient. But the cost of these round-the-clock private investigators is really starting to add up.
Howard, this is our duty as officers of the court. We have an ethical obligation to–
My brother broke the law. We can't just sit back and do nothing!
I'm not talking about doing nothing. I just want to...free up our minds, and be open to alternate strategies. Please, meet me halfway here.
[sighs] I suppose... I suppose we can limit the investigators to just nighttime hours.
Yes. Jimmy will most likely break in while he thinks I'm sleeping. I mean, I wouldn't put anything past him. It just makes the most sense he'll try to steal the tape under cover of darkness.
[Jimmy's car can be heard screeching to a halt outside]
You really think he's going to do that?
Howard, I know my brother.
[Jimmy begins angrily banging on Chuck's front door. Chuck goes to the door while Howard and Dave hide in an adjoining room.]
Jimmy
Chuck! Chuck! Open the goddamn door, Chuck! Open the door, dammit! Open it, Chuck!
Jimmy
Open the fucking door! Open it now!
I'm not opening the door. I'm not opening the d–
Jimmy
I swear to God, Chuck!
[Jimmy starts kicking the door]
[Jimmy breaks in the door and pursues Chuck to his study.]
Jimmy
YOU TAPED ME?! YOU ASSHOLE!
Jimmy
You PULLED THAT HEARTSTRINGS CON JOB ON ME?! YOU PIECE OF SHIT! "Oh, my brain used to work, I'm sick, I don't know what to do!" Asshole! No wonder Rebecca left you! What took her so long?!
[Jimmy reaches Chuck's desk and finds the locked drawer where his audiotape of Jimmy's confession is being kept.]
Jimmy
There it is!
[Jimmy tries and fails to pry the drawer open with a pair of scissors. He spots a poker next to the fireplace.]
Jimmy
Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!
[Jimmy takes the poker and pries open the drawer. He finds the tape player and pulls out the cassette.]
Jimmy
Oh, is this it? Is this it? Is this it? Huh? For this, you destroyed our family? Are you happy now?! For what?! For nothing!
[Jimmy corners Chuck and rips the cassette apart with his bare hands.]
Jimmy
Is that all there is, Chuck? Is that all there–all there is, or did you make copies? Huh, Chuck? Huh?! You tell me or I'll burn this whole goddamn house to the ground!
[Howard and Dave step into the room.]
Jimmy! Jimmy! That's enough!
[Jimmy, seeing Howard and Dave, deflates and calms down]
[shaken] Howard? You were a witness to what happened here?
[All three men stare in silence at Jimmy, who is now at Chuck's mercy]
Better Call Saul · 283 quotes
