That's it, I'm done. DONE! DONE!
MikeQuiet.
Why?! I'm quiet, I'm loud, I'm gonna die in this dirt one way or the other! Let's get it over with!
Mike
Get up.
No! I'm not going. I'm done. Everything hurts! God, I'm so thirsty!
Mike
You need to drink.
What's the point? So they can find a corpse with a mouth full of piss?!
Mike
That's not going to happen. Now, get up. Come on.
[tries to lift himself up] Oh God! I don't know how. How the hell are you still going?
Mike
Because I know why I'm out here. That's how. I know what it's for. I can't drag that money out of here by myself. So, you... You get up, and you get up now.
What it's for. What... is it for?
Mike
I have people. I have people waiting for me. They don't know what I do. They never will. They're protected, but I do what I do so they can have a better life. And if I live or if I die, it really doesn't make a difference to me as long as they have what they need. So that when it's my time to go, I will go knowing I did everything I could for them. You ask me how I keep going? That's how.
Mike
There's one other thing we should discuss: Nacho Varga. He wants out. He's done everything we asked, he held up his end. I think it's time we cut him loose.
I see no reason to give up an asset.
Mike
Once Salamanca's dealt with, we have no use for Varga. He's the only guy they have running things up here. He disappears, the Salamanca operation falls apart.
[pause] Varga stays. Better to control the opposition without their knowledge.
Mike
You have a gun to his father's head. That doesn't sit with me. You want to keep Varga for the long run... I don't think fear is a great motivator.
A dog who bites every owner he's had can only be disciplined with a firm hand, or... put down.
Mike
You can start talking any time.
You said this goes away, so what's the time frame on that?
Mike
It's different for different people, I suppose.
For me. When will this be over for me?
Mike
Well, here's what's gonna happen. One day, you're gonna wake up, eat your breakfast, brush your teeth, go about your business. Then, sooner or later, you're gonna realize you hadn't thought about it. None of it. And that's the moment you realize you can forget. When you know that's possible, it all gets easier.
But what about you? Like... what happened out there doesn't bother you?
Mike
Them wanting to steal the seven million didn't work for me. Not to mention they wanted to shoot you in the head. It was them or it was us, cut and dried. They were in the game.
[pause] What about Fred? From TravelWire. Was he in the game?
Mike
No. There was a lot wrong with what happened there.
Yeah. Lalo. Lalo killed that guy. And for what?! He killed that guy, and we're helping him. [sighs] All this shit, just to... So he can get out of jail and just... get away?
Mike
It's not the end of the story.
Wait a minute. What does that mean? Uh, "not the end of the story," what–what are you saying? Are you saying what I think you're saying? Is something gonna happen to Lalo?
Mike
I didn't say that.
Oh, Jesus! What have I gotten myself involved with here?! Look, just tell me what are you saying is gonna ha–
Mike
Look. We all make our choices. And those choices, they put us on a road. Sometimes those choices seem small, but they put you on the road. You think about getting off... but eventually, you're back on it. And the road we're on led us out to the desert, everything that happened there and straight back to where we are right now. And nothing–nothing–can be done about that. Do you understand that?
[pause] I can't believe... [sighs] I can't believe there's, like, over a billion people on this planet, and the only person I have to talk about this to is you.
[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.]
Mike
Listen to me. Put your phone down, leave it on so I can hear.
[Mike is seen driving very fast on the road]
Mike
Do what I said! Right now! Put it down somewhere it can't be seen!
[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.
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.
Mike
He went over the border and kept going. Looks to be heading for his place in Chihuahua. He should be there in a few hours.
Mike
There's a wrinkle. He took Varga with him.
Mike
If he thought Varga was working for you, he'd have killed him on the spot. If I had to guess, I'd say Varga's up for a promotion.
Can you communicate with Varga?
Mike
Salamanca's place is in the middle of nowhere. Landlines and sat phones only.
Mike
The way things stand, he's gonna get caught in the crossfire. I'm thinking we should find a way to pull him out of there.
[pause] And tip our hand?
Mike
He's earned some consideration.
Does Varga know there is going to be an assassination?
Mike
No one's told him, but he can make a pretty damn good guess.
Perhaps... there is a way to make use of this situation. The men I've chosen for this are highly skilled. They're the best in their business. But the one thing they do not have... is a man on the inside.
[Jimmy angrily knocks on Mike's door to speak to him about Lalo]
Open up, asshole! Open this door! I want to talk to you! [walks around and taps on a nearby window] What? You didn't think I'd find your ultra-secret Batcave? Well, the joke's on you, sucker! I'm your attorney, and you will let me in!
[Jimmy runs back to the door and alternates between knocking and ringing the doorbell. Mike parks his car behind him, and comes out carrying groceries.]
I'm not going anywhere! I mean it! I got nowhere to be! Open up now!
Mike
HEY! What the hell do you think you're doing?!
Oh, there he is! Not–Not a fan of the surprise pop-in, huh? Oh, I can't imagine why!
Mike
Will you keep it down? I got neighbors!
I will not keep it down! I want answers, okay?! The time has come for you to level with me, and I'm not going to leave until you do!
Mike
[grabs Jimmy by the collar and drags him inside] Get inside. Now!
Okay, look! Look! Okay... Y–You saved my life. Thank you for that. But from here on out, I gotta be kept in the loop, man! It's not my fault that I got ambushed! Why did I have to lie to Salamanca about that?! Who was I lying for?! You gotta tell me what is happening! NOW!
Mike
That's not your concern.
OH, COME ON! Listen to me! You are not blowing me off with any "that's not the end of the story" crap! Now, just...specifics!
Mike
You're asking for information you can't have!
[sighs; long pause] If anything happens to her... I can't do this. I can't.
Mike
[pause] Alright... Alright. Now, you listen, and you shut up. This man has other things on his mind. He's not thinking about you. Lalo Salamanca is going to die. Tonight.
Mike
This time tomorrow, it'll be done.
Mike
Now, I need you to leave. I have family coming over.
[Mike, Gus, and Tyrus gather in the office trailer at the Los Pollos Hermanos chicken farm to discuss the aftermath of the attempted hit on Lalo Salamanca.]
Tell me again about the sicario who made the final report.
TTyrus
He was already wounded when he talked to our cutout. Federales found him dead at the scene. But they got Salamanca.
The mercenaries are dead. To a man. And yet their mission was a success?
Mike
It has been known to happen. Now you go down there and get Varga, bring him home safe. There's ways to do it on the quiet.
[Gus and Tyrus both stare at him]
Mike
[long pause; scoffs] ...Unless you already have something in the works.
[Tyrus turns and exits the trailer. Mike and Gus speak alone]
Mike
Loyalty goes both ways. Varga's done everything you asked him.
He wasn't given a choice.
Mike
Maybe so, but he played a tough game. And he played it on the square.
Mike
When all is said and done, the kid deserves your respect.
He has it. Is there more you wish to say?
[After a few moments pass, Mike exits the trailer]
[Gus and Juan Bolsa visit Hector at Casa Tranquila to send their condolences, still believing that Lalo is dead. The dialogue is in Spanish.]
He wishes to make amends. At least hear him out.
Don Hector. It's no secret that I did not see eye to eye with your nephew. And while the friction between your family and myself did not start with him, today I am reminded we are all Eladio's men. No matter our disagreements, a strike against one is a strike against all. I hope you will accept my condolences and my support as you navigate this terrible loss.
Gustavo speaks the truth. In this matter, he and I both stand shoulder to shoulder behind the Salamanca family. We are still looking for the traitor, Ignacio Varga. [places hand on Hector's shoulder] We will find him. And then your family will have justice.
[Hector slowly reaches his hand out to Gus. As Gus holds his hand, he notices a change of expression on Hector's face and stares at him. Cut to outside the nursing home.]
[to Gus in English] We'll be in touch.
[Gus calls Mike on his cell phone after Juan drives away]
Mike
What did you learn?
TTyrus
They found the truck, but no sign of Varga. Salamancas have all eyes looking for him, including the federales. Still not picking up his cell, so nobody got a lock on it. Now as for Lalo, still missing. As far as everybody in the cartel is concerned, top to bottom, Lalo is dead.
Mike
May I offer a thought? [pause; to Gus] If Salamanca was coming straight for you, he'd be here already. We've got guys watching anywhere he might turn up this side of Mexico. Wire taps on any phone he might call. There is not a whiff of him. Now, my guess is he's smart enough to know it's not in the Salamanca family interest to take you out without a reason the bosses can get behind. So, the odds are he's searching for Varga. Finds him alive, gets him to talk. [pause; Gus remains silent] Varga's alone in foreign territory, no one he can trust. The kid's smart, but he's not gonna last. [Gus stands up] He's gonna get caught.
[Gus accidentally knocks a glass over and kneels down to pick up the shards from the floor]
Mike
The best way to handle this: I take four of our best guys, cross the border and track Varga down. Let me find him, bring him back before the Salamancas sweep him up. It's our only play.
[After cleaning up the broken glass, Gus throws it away and looks out a nearby window]
[beat; in Spanish] Varga's father. Bring him here.
Mike
No. You're not doing that. [locks the door after Tyrus gets his gun out] You don't understand. That's not happening.
TTyrus
[walks up to Mike and aims gun at him] Just say the word.
Mike
Whatever happens next... it's not gonna go down the way you think it is.
[Mike stares at Tyrus, who cocks his gun and waits for Mike to make a move.]
Mike
[beat; hears cell phone vibrating] It's him.
TTyrus
Bullshit. I've been calling Varga for hours. He hasn't picked up once.
Mike
He's been trying to get me since he left the Salamancas. [opens phone] You want me to answer it?
[Tyrus turns to Gus, who nods. Mike answers the phone and speaks to Nacho]
Mike
Yeah. [pause] Yeah. ...Not my call. [pause] That's up to you. [to Gus] He wants to talk to you.
[Nacho calls Mike at an auto repair shop in Mexico while on the run from the Cousins]
Mike
Yeah.
Mike
Yeah.
You knew. You knew that I was going to Mexico to die, that I was never supposed to make it out of that motel. And you let it happen.
Mike
Not my call.
Mike
That's up to you.
Is that bastard with you? Put him on.
Mike
Hmm. [to Gus] He wants to talk to you.
[takes cell phone from Mike; to Nacho] Yes.
You are screwed. [pause] You want the cartel to blame me for Lalo. But if they catch me, and make me talk? Ooh... That is not good for you, is it? Even if I disappear, everyone's gonna smell your stink all over it. The only way that this works for you is with me dead. [beat] Alright. Whatever bullshit way you want the story to go, I will make it go. But... I need one thing.
My dad. I need to know that he will be safe.
If you are true to your word, there will be no reason for anyone to harm your father.
You are not the one that I need to hear it from.
[Gus puts the phone on speaker so Mike can speak to Nacho]
Mike
Your dad's gonna be okay.
Mike
Because anyone who goes after him is gonna have to come through me.
Mike
They're gone.
Mike
The two men that were following you. They're gone.
Mike
Would you mind sitting for a moment, and I will answer any questions I can. [pause; Kim sits down next to Mike] I have men watching you and your husband. I'm not with the police, and as far as I know, they're not investigating either of you. I do know that you've been up to a few things that you probably would rather keep private. I don't care. That's not what this is about. I'm trying to solve a problem of my own.
Mike
Lalo Salamanca.
Lalo Salamanca's dead. [beat; Mike says nothing and stares at Kim] He... isn't.
Mike
We're watching anyone he might contact. That includes you and your husband. Most likely, he'll never reach out. He's got bigger fish to fry. But in the thousand to one chance that he does...
Mike
I said I would answer anything I can.
[long pause] You're the guy from the desert. The one who was out there with Jimmy. Why are you telling me this and not him?
Mike
Because I think you're made of sterner stuff. [pause; gets up] Alright. Now here's what's best for everyone. You spot my guys again—which I'm hoping you won't—let them go about their business. Just pretend they're not there. And pretty soon, they won't be. You and your husband just... go on living your lives. [starts to leave]
I do know you. You worked in the parking booth at the courthouse. [pause] You were the attendant.
Mike
...I was.
[Mike disarms Kim and forces her inside Gus' house before she can shoot. Gus watches Mike question her through surveillance monitors at his neighbors' residence.]
What are you doing?! I–I have to go! I have to—No, wait!
Mike
Ms. Wexler, I'd like you to sit down.
He'll–He'll kill him! You have to... You—
Mike
Now, sit there and be calm!
No, I have to get back! I have to get back!
Mike
[restrains Kim and forces her back down] Sit still... and stay calm. Now, if you take a deep breath—a deep breath—nothing's gonna happen here until you calm yourself. Alright? Now, who is killing who?
Lalo Salamanca! Lalo is going to kill Jimmy! [Mike looks shocked] He's there! He–he is there with Jimmy now!
Mike
Salamanca is at your apartment?!
Yes! He sent me! He–he wanted to send Jimmy, but then he sent me.
Mike
To do what exactly?! [pause; Kim hyperventilates] Ms. Wexler, you stay with me! What were you supposed to do here?
[beat; points at a man who looks identical to Gus] Shoot him. I'm–I'm supposed to shoot him, and then take a photo, and then get back. That's it. I only have twenty minutes left! Please! [Mike quickly looks and nods at one of his guys] He is alone with him!
Mike
Alright, stay put. We'll handle this. We will handle this. [to Victor] You call Tyrus. Get him to the condo now.
You said you were watching us! WHERE WERE YOU?! HUH?! [Mike leaves] WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE?!
[Kim tries to get up, but Victor stands in her way and forces her to sit down again]
You heard what the man said.
[Mike walks through the corridor connecting the two homes and reports to Gus.]
Mike
You heard all that? [Gus nods] Alright. You hunker down here. [to two bodyguards] You two, you stay with him. A dog barks too loud, you are on the phone with me. [to Arthur and Tyrus] You two, come with me.
Lalo said he was coming back.
Mike
He's not coming.
No, he said he was, he told me—
Mike
You understand me? He is not coming back. Let's sit. [pause; Jimmy and Kim remain standing] SIT.
[Jimmy and Kim sit at the foot of their bed; Mike stands in front of them.]
Mike
Alright. Here's what's gonna happen: In a few days, Howard Hamlin's car will be found several states away by the water. The odometer will have rolled to the exact number of miles it took to get there. There will be cocaine in the upholstery. That was the story you were setting up for this guy, yeah? They'll call it a suicide, hoping the body will come washing up. It never will. At some point, you're gonna hear about it. Someone calls you, someone at the courthouse mentions it—the moment that happens—you call the cops. His car was here for hours last night. Good chance somebody noticed it. That means you are the last people to see him alive. Cops are gonna want to hear from you. You tell the cops you saw him—he came here, seemed like maybe he was chemically altered, didn't make a lick of sense. Then he left, that's all you know. You keep telling the lie you've been telling. [to Jimmy] Now, Ms. Wexler tells me she has court at ten. What's on your docket? [Jimmy doesn't answer] Hey. Listen. Where do you need to be?
Uh, office. At my office. Clients start showing up around 9:30. Oh, my car is gone.
Mike
No. It's on the way home, you'll have it when you need it. So you two are going to go about your day—normal, same as ever. Today, you're Meryl Streep and Laurence Olivier. No staring into space, nothing out of the ordinary, you cover. Anybody talks to you, it's just another day that ends in Y, that's all. When you get home, we'll be gone and everything will be back the way it was. Now, I need to impress upon you: none of this ever happened. None of it. Understand? Say it out loud, I need to hear it.
[Mike meets with Nacho's father outside his shop to let him know about Nacho's fate]
Mike
It's not important.
I saw you here before. Chrysler Fifth Avenue. What about my son?
Mike
I'm sorry, he won't be found. [pause] It was over fast. No pain.
Mike
I was there. Your son made some mistakes, he fell in with bad people... but he was never like them. Not really. He had a good heart. One more thing: you won't have to worry about the Salamancas. Their day is coming. There'll be justice.
Mike
I'm sorry, my Spanish... j-justicia. Justice.
[sighs] What you talk about... is not justice. What you talk of is... revenge. It never ends... my boy is gone. [scoffs; in Spanish] You gangsters and your "justice." You're all the same.
[Saul is lying on the floor with his feet in the Swing Master as Mike enters his office]
Ho, enter sunshine! Cast some light into my cool, dark world!
[Mike doesn't say anything, sitting on the couch and looking at a newspaper crossword puzzle]
Hello? You're on the clock, right? So, get with the info any time.
Mike
When you're done.
No, I can multitask. Please.
Mike
I'm not gonna talk to you while you're on... whatever that is.
You know, LBJ used to have his underlings give him reports while he was on the shitter.
Mike
Ah-hah. Well, either I'm gonna leave or I'm gonna put my foot in your skull.
[sighs; turns off Swing Master] Fine. [gets up off the floor] You should try one of these. You walk like Frankenstein after he was probed by aliens. Ha! I can get you one. Would do wonders for your chi. [puts on his suit jacket and seats himself behind his desk] Let's go. Lay it on me.
Mike
Alright. First, there's your Mrs. Denise Gabbler. She's cheating, alright.
[whistles] Limber! Ha-ha! Well, at least I know they didn't spot you. No one could stay that aroused with your mug peeking through the window. [Mike stares silently at Saul, stone-faced] What else you got?
Mike
Well, next I followed your bus driver. Newsflash: He really does have a broken neck.
Fantastic. That makes my life much easier. Keep it coming.
Mike
Second-story guy out of Indianapolis, Lasky? Did a dime at Menard. Now, if you're looking for a talent who will keep his mouth shut, you can trust him. I say he's worth keeping an eye on.
Second-story guy, second-story guy... I–I got more second-story guys in my book than pimples at a junior prom. That... [inhales] What about, uh, that Heisenberg fella?
Mike
High school chemistry teacher.
You're shittin' me, really?
Mike
Walter Hartwell White. Chemistry teacher over at J. P. Wynne. Working with a former student, current meth head, one Jesse Pinkman.
Wow... Uh, what else about the teacher?
Mike
He has lung cancer.
Jesus. That's why he can't quit with the coughing. How bad?
Mike
Stage 3A. He's in treatment, more tests to come. But it doesn't look good. Now listen, even if this guy was gonna live, I wouldn't go near him. He's a complete amateur.
Well, you see an amateur, I see 170 pounds of clay ready to be molded.
Mike
Well, if the cancer doesn't get him, it'll be the cops or a bullet to the head.
Is that your appraisal, or is that what He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named says about him?
Mike
He didn't say anything. The guy is small potatoes.
Yeah, okay. I hear ya. I just–I got a feeling about this. This Heisenberg guy's got something. It's top-of-the-line product, that's the buzz on the street. And I just think with the right management–
Mike
You know, years ago I bought a Betamax. Good product, top of the line. Experts said it was better than a VHS. Turned out to be a complete waste of time and money.
Mike
[sternly] Let it go.
[sighs] ...Guy with that mustache probably doesn't make a lot of good life choices.
Better Call Saul · 283 quotes
