[Kim and Jimmy discuss the Acker situation after Kevin decides to keep contesting the land despite Jimmy's delaying tactics]
You gave it all you could.
KimYeah?
Yeah! You went the distance for the old SOB, above and beyond. You should feel good about that.
Kim
You think so?
You gave Acker more than he deserved... and uh, let's be real. Putting me on this? That was bad. I mean, if anyone found out...? You risked a lot for this guy. [sighs] Look, by this time next week, Acker will be living somewhere else. Is that really such a big deal? Plus, Mesa Verde... that's your bread and butter. You can only push 'em so far. [pause] There's always another play... but the rational thing to do here is close the deal, get the guy a few bucks, pop the champagne with the other winners and smile like you mean it. You wanna beer? I'm gonna get one.
[Jimmy gets up]
Kim
Or? [Jimmy turns back] Jimmy?
...There's no reason on God's green earth to take this any further. It's not worth it.
Kim
Or?
Or... we go after Kevin Wachtell. It gets nasty, it gets personal, it gets dangerous.
[Jimmy opens the beers in the kitchen. Kim comes up to him.]
Kim
Okay.
[to Kim] I'm thinking you could take a break from Mesa Verde.
Kim
A break?
Actually, a pair of mineral rights beefs just came in. They practically have your name on them. You can split your time between that and your pro bono clients.
Kim
Mesa Verde is my client.
And they still will be. I'll just step in and take point, just on a temporary basis. And, of course, it goes without saying, this won't affect any of your compensation. And that includes your bonus.
Kim
You know, Mesa Verde is fully informed of any potential conflicts. Kevin signed it off himself.
Still, I think you're going to need to take a break. [gets up to leave]
Kim
I don't understand where this is coming from.
Don't you? [pause] Kim... Sometimes the less said the better.
Kim
And why is that?
Kim
Yes, we do.
Alright. First, I had to twist your arm to get you down to Tucumcari for the eviction. Then, you put the full court press on Kevin to change sites. That doesn't work, and–abra-cadabra–your boyfriend's opposing counsel.
Kim
I told you, I explained the situation to Kevin and Paige.
Yeah, I know you did. And I'm sorry to say... I'm just not buying it.
[Kim waits a moment before leaving her office to publicly confront Rich]
Kim
Rich! Rich, hold on! What are you saying exactly?
Kim
You are accusing me of something! Go ahead and say it! Are you talking about malfeasance? Working against my clients' interests? What?
Kim
Rich, tell me! You know I worked my ass off to get here. You know that!
Kim
So, tell me! Please tell me why I would risk everything for some squatter? Why?! I don't understand. Are you–Are you trying to protect the firm? From what?!
Kim, I am not trying to protect the firm. I am trying to protect you.
Kim
I don't need your protection. I need to represent my client!
[pause] If that's how you want it.
[Jimmy presents the commercials for class-action lawsuits against Mesa Verde to the disgust of Kim and her law partners]
EMElderly Man
[in the commercial] My bank took my home over a technicality! And I never missed a single payment! It's not right, it's un-American!
DWDon Wachtell
[in the commercial] Yup!
[in the commercial as Saul Goodman] Hi, I'm Saul Goodman. Have you or a family member been wrongfully evicted from your home by Mesa Verde? Then you may be entitled to a large cash settlement. Call 505-503-4455 today!
None of that is true! It's defamation!
That's my father you're making a fool of!
Kim
Jimmy, turn it off! You know you can't do this!
[as another commercial starts] Shh, this is a good one.
DGDrama Girl
[in the commercial] I went into my bank to withdraw cash for groceries, and I came out with a rash. I–I can't stop itchin', it's everywhere!
DDon
[in the commercial] Yup!
[in the commercial as Saul Goodman] Hi, I'm Saul Goodman. Did you or a family member visit a Mesa Verde branch and come into contact with black mold? Then you may be entitled to a large cash settlement.
There's no way in hell you can legally run these!
Hmm, maybe. But, you know, we'll fight it out after they run in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Texas...
No. No, we will stop it before it ever gets that far.
Some might call that prior restraint. You know what? You could stop us. Some news outlet will pick it up, they'll run for free.
EWElderly Woman
[in the commercial] ...went into my bank to open my safety deposit box, and Mr. [bleep] was standing there with his pants down! Bare genitals!
DDon
[in the commercial] Yup!
My dad never ever did anything like that!
None of this is true. This is all fantasy!
It doesn't matter. This trash airs, our reputation is in the toilet!
Stop! Stop it! That's enough of this horseshit! Jesus!
There's lots more. You know, I can leave you this one because I got plenty of copies.
What do you hope to gain with all of this?! We agreed to Acker's ridiculous demands, and you... don't run this garbage?!
Kim
It's illegal to do that. No lawyer can play one case off another. [to Jimmy] It is unethical and it is blackmail!
She's right. One has absolutely nothing to do with the other. [turns lights on] Which leads me to my next topic. [opens photo book] This is...Olivia Bitsui. She is a photographer; in fact, she took this self-portrait. It's really lovely. [turns page to show a man on a horse] Here's another picture she took fifty-four years ago.
Kim
Kevin, say nothing.
Kim
Kevin, I am strongly advising you...
Kim
Kevin!
...my dad bought it fair and square! I have a copy of it hanging in my office at home!
I think we all just heard Mr. Wachtell admit that he owns a copy of Olivia Bitsui's photo. A photo that looks remarkably like the official Mesa Verde logo!
You own a copy of the photo, you don't own the rights to it! That's copyright infringement!
You'll never be able to prove that!
Well, you know what? [walks back to the projection on the wall and holds the photo up to a still of the Mesa Verde logo] Wow. Looks like a mirror image there. So, I think I can convince a judge and probably a jury that Mesa Verde misappropriated Ms. Bitsui's intellectual property. [to Kevin] It's not your fault, sins of the father. But... we filed an injunction, so you're gonna have to take down all your horsey logos or throw a big tarp over them til we can get this thing settled. Shouldn't take more than... I don't know, a couple of years? We'll be seeing a lot of each other. Til next time.
[Jimmy whistles as he walks out of the conference room]
Hey, how'd it go? [pause] It was pretty perfect, right?
[Kim says nothing as she takes off her jacket]
[beat] Kim. Kim, look, apologies. Alright? I–I'm sorry... for sandbagging you with the old switcheroo. I... I should've warned you. But you know what? You being angry at me–that worked. You were concerned that Rich was suspicious. Did he say anything?
Kim
No.
Great! See? That anger–real anger–it worked like a protective immunity shield, you know? I mean... Hey, emotion like that, you can't fake it.
Kim
No. You can't.
Yeah, right? So, what did Kevin say?
Kim
Uh... He said he was tired of lawyers...
Wait, do the voice. You gotta do the voice.
Kim
[pause] Kevin is sick of lawyers, wants to be down with all of it. We explained that your agreement is non-binding, but he doesn't care. He's sticking with the handshake.
Boom! There you go! That's a plan cooked and served to juicy perfection. We should celebrate. Really! [Kim walks past Jimmy] We'll go to a steakhouse, get a couple bottles of red wine, some tiramisu. The whole nine yards! [pause] Okay, Kim. Look, I said I was sorry. And again, it worked! No way that Rich or Paige could believe that we were in cahoots, 'cause guess what? We worked! Acker gets to keep his home plus a nice chunk of change, Olivia Bitsui gets reparations for being cheated, and Kevin still gets his call center. Everybody wins!
Kim
You win, Jimmy.
Kim
You win.
Uh... yeah. But, I mean... Well, we win. Us.
Kim
No. I didn't.
What didn't you get that you wanted?
Kim
I don't trust you.
Kim
You played me! You made me the sucker! Again!
Again? What... Wait, how could you be the sucker? It was your plan.
Kim
Oh, fuck you, Jimmy! God! I...I–You know what? I can't do this anymore.
Kim
No! You turned you and me versus the bank into you versus me! And it is not just this. It's the same thing over and over again!
No, I kept things from you to protect you! Look, if I got caught, and... God forbid you're questioned under oath, you have plausible deniability!
Kim
Jesus, Jimmy! You can excuse stabbing me in the back by making it about protecting me?! Is that... Is that really supposed to justify everything?!
Okay, Kim. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, alright? It–It'll never happen again.
Kim
That's a lie.
I swear. I swear, it won't!
Kim
Look me in the eye, and tell me it'll never happen again. [pause] You can't. I don't believe you. You don't believe yourself. It is a lie! You lie! I lie! This... has to end! I–I cannot keep living like this!
Kim
Jimmy, shut up!
Kim
Jimmy! You know this has to change! If you don't see it, I don't know what to say because we are at a breaking point!
Kim
Either we end this now, or...
Kim
Either we end this now, and enjoy the time we had, and go our separate ways, or...
Kim
Or we're... We're... I mean... Or maybe... [beat] Maybe we get married?
[to Kim] I have a new client. He's connected. He's a cartel guy from Mexico. Pretty high up. Anyway, he's in for murder, and he wants bail, which... That's impossible. I mean... no way in hell this dude is ever seeing sunshine. But if I could, you know, somehow find a way, uh... He said I'd be a friend of the cartel.
Kim
A friend of the cartel?
[pause] You know what that means. It means money. "Ranch in Montana" kind of money. Like, private jet kind of money. Press conferences, TV news, the works.
Kim
But... do you want to be a friend of the cartel?
No. No, absolutely not. Anyway, it's a moot point, 'cause the guy's the definition of a flight risk, so... I'm gonna put up a fight, alright? Just for show. There's no judge on Earth that's gonna grant him bail. I just... didn't want to tell you, so... I thought I should tell you.
Kim
[pause] You know what?
Kim
I'm glad you did.
I have some business news.
Kim
[pause] You're a friend of the cartel? Is that it?
Kim
You got him bail?
Some evidence fell into my lap. I was kinda obligated to use it, you know, for my client.
Kim
When you said you couldn't do it, I knew you'd find a way.
There's a...complication. Remember that time you had a PD case with the kid whose parents kicked him out because he got caught with a joint?
Kim
Yeah.
And you had to drive all the way out to the uncle's house–I think it was in Moriarty–to pick up the bail? Well...
Kim
Wait. So, you're saying you're gonna pick up Salamanca's bail?
Yeah. Only it's a little further than Moriarty and a little bit more money.
Kim
How much?
Kim
Seven thousand?
Kim
Seven million?!
Kim
You're going to pick up seven million dollars of cartel money?
I know what you're thinking, but it's safe. Completely. I'm just a quick drive down by the border...
Kim
The border?!
Kim
Jimmy, you are an attorney, not a bagman! There's no amount of money that is worth this! Can't his people do it?!
He trusts me. I'm his attorney, that's it. You're making a bigger deal out of this than you need to.
Kim
What?!
I will pick it up in the morning, I will be done, and I'll be home before you will!
Kim
Okay. Then I'm going with you.
They're only expecting me. You know, one guy. I mean, that's kinda the whole point, you know? Security through obscurity.
Kim
Jimmy, this is insane! I don't even–
No, listen! It's just little old me and my little old Suzuki Esteem. And there has never been more than fifty bucks in an Esteem in the history of Esteems, so no one's gonna look at me twice.
Kim
You sound like you're talking yourself into this.
I will be okay. [pause] I swear. If I smell even the faintest whiff of anything wrong, I'll be outta there like a shot.
Kim
[pause] I don't like this. I don't want you to do it!
[beat; hugs Kim] Kim, I swear, okay? I'll be fine.
[Kim visits Lalo in jail to find out Jimmy's whereabouts]
Kim
I know I misrepresented myself as a member of your legal team. I apologize for that. I wouldn't be here right now if I didn't absolutely have to be. [pause] I know who you are–who you actually are. We have something in common. You want to know where your money is, I want to find Saul Goodman. If you tell me where you sent him, I won't alert the authorities, I won't tell anyone. I will find him, and you will get your money. [long pause] Mr. Salamanca...
Who the hell are you that he tells you my business?
Kim
He didn't betray your confidence. We're married, which means I have spousal privilege. Anything he says to me stays with me. No one can make me discuss it. It's as bulletproof as lawyer-client privilege.
Kim
[pause] Yes.
Una güera. Bien por el. So, you're his wife, and you... love him, and he didn't come home last night. And you got scared enough to come down here and talk to me. [laughs] What makes you think he didn't run off with my money, huh?
Kim
He did not run off with your money.
Yeah, maybe not. Not without you.
Kim
Just tell me where you sent him. That's all I need.
I don't think so. Your man, he's... He's like la cucaracha, you know? Born survivor. If trouble found him, give it a day. If he's alive, he'll show.
Kim
And if he's...
Well, then, a day's not gonna make a difference, is it? Alright, well... Nice to meet you, Mrs. Goodman.
[Kim tells Jimmy she quit Schweikart & Cokely and left Mesa Verde with them]
What happened? Did somebody say something about what we did?
Kim
No, no–
Kim
Nobody said anything. Uh, it just, it... it felt right.
“It felt right”? Wha–How?
Kim
I- I just keep pushing Mesa Verde away to do my pro bono work and then when you were gone, I didn’t know what happened. I mean, I... I thought you were dead. So, that was, um... all of it helped me to see what’s important and what isn’t.
[checks his ringing phone and puts it away] So, you’re just gonna throw it all away? I mean, you busted your ass for all of it.
Kim
I’m not throwing it away. I did S&C, I did Mesa Verde, I did that. I-I achieved that, I had that experience, but... it doesn’t make me happy.
...Look, it’s been a rough couple of days, so why don’t you just hold off on a final decision. Call Rich, tell him you’re thinking it over.
Kim
I already talked to Rich, and I called Paige. We had a nice, very long conversation, it’s done... then I spent the afternoon in the courthouse with pro bono clients without Mesa Verde hanging over my head. Best afternoon I’ve had in a long time.
Alright, pro bono is wonderful, it is, but... pro bono means no money. So, what’s the plan here?
Kim
I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out.
Okay... leaving Schweikart, I get that: it’s a bunch of stuffed shirts, but uh, Mesa Verde? Hey, that’s like leaving the Yankees to play amateur ring toss.
Kim
No, it’s not! I’m–I’m leaving something that makes zero difference in the world to help people who are actually in need.
[muttering] This is a bad idea.
Kim
What?!
Look- we all make choices, right, and those choices, they put us on a road. And the road has good choices and it has bad choices, and this is a bad choice road!
Kim
What are you even talking about?
I’m– [silences his ringing phone] saying that bad choices lead to bad roads that lead to bad places!
Kim
When you decided to be Saul Goodman, I didn’t get it–still don’t, really–but I stood by your decision... and I’m not changing my identity, I’m just leaving a job!
What I did was completely different!
Kim
How?
‘Cause I was leaving failure for success!
Kim
It’s not different! You believed it was right for you, give me the courtesy of believing this is right for me.
And I’m giving you a reality check: this is too far, too fast!
Kim
And I’m giving you a reality check: this is really none of your damn business.
[Jimmy and Kim hear a knock on their door during their argument. Jimmy's phone rings immediately after Kim walks out of the kitchen. Jimmy sees the caller is Mike and answers the phone.]
Listen to me. Put your phone down, leave it on so I can hear.
[Mike is seen driving very fast on the road]
Do what I said! Right now! Put it down somewhere it can't be seen!
Kim
Jimmy...
[Jimmy places his phone on the counter, and walks up to the door. He opens it to reveal... Lalo.]
Hey, guys! Can I come in?
Lalo. I thought you'd be down south, enjoying your freedom.
Yeah, well... Got some business to attend to. [to Kim as he enters the apartment] Told you he'd be back. Nice! I like it!
You want a drink? I got some beer in the fridge. Unless you're not staying for... [sees Lalo tapping his goldfish tank repeatedly] You should–I'm sorry. Uh... Sorry. You shouldn't do that. It upsets the fish.
[Lalo walks back towards them and sits on their couch. Jimmy notices a gun underneath Lalo's shirt.]
Look, you want to talk, we can talk. But, Kim was just stepping out. So...
Nah, she can stay. I mean, she is part of the legal team, right? Hey, relax. Sit down. We're just gonna talk. Come on! Sit!
[Jimmy and Kim sit on chairs on either side of Lalo]
So... tell me what happened.
Yeah. When you picked up the money. Just... walk me through it.
Fine. I picked up the money from your cousins. It was right where you told me it would be. Driving back, my car crapped out. It was about six or seven miles from the pickup site. There's no phone service, so I walked north through the desert all night. Well, I slept a little, but in the morning I walked again until I made it to a truck stop. I went into the bathroom to clean up. I bought some clothes, and I–I called a cab. I delivered the money. Took 'em a couple hours to count it–usual rigamarole–and then I–I saw you.
I picked up... the money from those two... fine gentlemen. My car broke down after about just ten minutes. There was no phone service, and I was afraid to hitchhike 'cause of how much money there was. And, uh... I ran out of water. So, I had to drink my own pee. [Lalo cringes in disgust] A lot of it. Told you all the details, there you go. And then, I... finally made it to a truck stop, I called a cab. I waited, and then he took me directly to the courthouse. I paid your bail, and I got you out. I'm–I'm not sure what you're looking for here, but... there–there you go.
I just wanna hear the story.
Kim
Lalo, this is exactly what he told me, so if you could just...
Shh. I'd just like to hear the story. I mean... I paid a lot of money for that story, so... I think I can hear it as much as I want! So... tell me again.
[Howard takes Kim into an empty courtroom]
Kim
What's up?
I wasn't going to say anything. Last time I tried to get something off my chest, it didn't go very well. I just think... before you make any big changes in your life, there's something about Jimmy you ought to hear.
Kim
[pause] Okay.
A little while ago, I offered Jimmy a job at HHM. I'm guessing he didn't mention it to you. [pause] He said he had to think about it. But then the very next night, he threw bowling balls over my front gate.
Kim
Bowling balls?
Someone could have been really hurt. More or less destroyed my car. Then, a couple of weeks later, I'm having lunch with Cliff Main... and I'm accosted by two prostitutes. Actual prostitutes! Jimmy had sent them to make a scene. I confronted Jimmy about it, and after some hemming and hawing, he all but confessed.
Kim
[pause] ...And that's it?
Kim
[laughs hysterically] Sorry! Uh... Howard. You really, y–you really had me going there.
Laugh if you want. But no person in their right mind would behave the way Jimmy has. We are talking about someone who's not in control of himself! You and I both know it makes no sense to drop a client like Mesa Verde. And I gotta think Jimmy had something to do with that.
Kim
Do you have any idea how insulting that is? I make my own decisions, for my own reasons.
You gotta listen to me. The man needs help.
Kim
Howard, I know Jimmy. And you're wrong!
[scoffs] You know who really knew Jimmy? [pause] Chuck.
[Kim and Jimmy discuss a plan to sabotage Howard to get a share of the Sandpiper Crossing settlement]
Kim
What would you do with it?
I don't know. What would you?
Kim
I'd hire step-away from Schweikart. I'd hire Bruce from HHM. I'd get Viola. I'd rent the smallest, shittiest office I could find near the courthouse, and open a pro bono practice. Get regular people to get the kind of representation usually only millionaires get.
I was gonna say we'd buy a house.
Kim
[chuckles] Yeah. We could do both. Last I heard, Sandpiper was willing to go to $26 million.
Wow. A third of that is 8.5.
Kim
And twenty percent of that is...
Two mil. [long pause] But it's not happening. Come on, Kim. We're not talking about a bar trick here. We're talking about scorched earth. We would have to hurt him. Hurt him bad. To get a bunch of lawyers to run for the exits, Howard would have to have done something... unforgivable. At the end of it, he might never be able to practice law again. He doesn't deserve that. And who knows if we can pull it off? [Kim looks at Jimmy] Okay, maybe we could pull it off, but we won't.
Kim
We're talking about a career setback. A career setback for one lawyer.
Yeah, and you can help a lot of people. I get it, but... [sighs] Kim, doing this... it's not you. You would not be okay with it. Not in the cold light of day.
Kim
Wouldn't I? [beat] I'm gonna go take a shower so I don't have to in the morning.
Kim... You're shitting me, right?
[Kim makes a gesture similar to the one Jimmy gave her after getting his license reinstated. Jimmy looks at her in disbelief.]
I rented us a car. It's the Ford.
Kim
So Saul Goodman drives a brown Ford Taurus?
Detroit calls that taupe, I believe.
Kim
Don't you think Saul Goodman would drive something with a little more... flair?
Kim
I don't know. Definitely American-made. Something showy. And Saul Goodman has an office. Something eye-catching. Good location.
Kim
Yeah. A cathedral of justice.
Ooooh, a cathedral of justice. Okay, yeah.
Kim
We should start looking for something for you. I mean, for Saul.
"I was a hard worker. I was a company man. Twenty years, and I didn't miss a single day. They even gave me a plaque for it. [sighs] It was a gold plaque. Perfect attendance... But when they handed it to me, I wrenched my back. I was in so much pain, I couldn't do my job... [sighs again] which meant I couldn't put food on the table. I didn't want to sue... but with a family to support, what choice did I have?"
Kim
Wait, who are you supposed to be again?
Whatever. The backstory is just a placeholder. I'm gonna polish the script once we cast.
Kim
But a personal injury suit? Best case scenario, that gets him in with an associate.
[throws hands up] Mesothelioma. [clears his throat] "When I took that job down at the shoe factory, I had no idea I was risking my life. Now, I can't stop coughin'!" Right? Come on! Hey, a mesothelioma class-action built Clifford Main his vacation house. He hears "mesothelioma," his eyes pop!
Kim
Well, sure. But then he takes the case. What happens when he asks for a medical evaluation? And how does Howard come up?
Okay, ask me why I'm here.
Kim
What brings you to Davis & Main today?
"I'm sick. I'm really sick..."
Kim
Good.
"...and it's not mesothelioma, but it's not good. And I need a lawyer, and the pickings are slim. I already went to HHM. I met with their top guy, Howard Hamlin, and uh... Uhhh, I–I got a brother-in-law and he's got a pretty nasty coke habit, very similar energy. Just put me off. Anyway, I need a lawyer, blah-blah-blah."
Kim
Okay, but you got a bad feeling from just one meeting?
Yeah, I had the brother-in-law with the coke.
Kim
Yeah, but you were only in the room with him once.
Okay, so it's gotta be something with a history with Howard.
Kim
Yeah.
But Cliff has to want to take the meeting, but not the case.
Kim
Right.
[sighs] It's gotta be good, but not too good.
Kim
Exactly. There's a sweet spot, you know? Like a magnet. We–we pull Cliff in, and then repel him. [beat] Oh!
Kim
[sighs] You are going to hate this...
[Jimmy gets a call from Betsy Kettleman after she finds out there was no case against Howard]
Saul Goodman, speedy justice for you. Oh, wait! Okay, just take a breath, and then we can... Okay, okay. I can tell you're upset. Just... I–I never advised that. No. [sighs] No, I did not, so let's agree to disagree. [pause] Okay, I think you're going to want to meet in person before you do anything rash. So how about–how about we meet up, and we can hash this out. [pause] Yeah, sure! Tomorrow, first thing. Uh, 9 A.M, I can come to your office. That work? ...Okay, okay! Good! [hangs up]
Kim
I'm surprised it took them this long. You, uh... You're gonna use the stick, right?
The stick? Well, it's a big stick. But I know these people, they're more carrot types. Especially her. [takes out cash and puts the bills in his suit pocket] Spoonful of sugar, you know?
Kim
[beat] I think maybe I'll come, too.
Kim
Sure. I have time.
Better Call Saul · 283 quotes
