Gus Fring quotes from Better Call Saul

Gus

[to Nacho] I know what you've done. The Salamancas, they do not. Do you understand what I am saying? [Nacho nods] Look at me. From now on, You. Are. Mine.

Gus

The doctor tells me your fever has gotten worse. They say this infection may kill you. Even if it doesn't, my doctor tells me again and again that you may never wake. And yet I wait. I grew up quite poor. We lived in the hills, in a place my brothers built from things they found—metal sheeting, plywood. When it rained, it smelled like hay. We were always hungry. But there was a lucuma tree—scrawny, barely alive. My family had given up on it years before. Never bore fruit. When I was seven, I became fixated on it. I watered it, tended to it. It took a long time, but the buds grew into green fruit. I was so proud. I didn't tell anyone. I plucked one and hid behind our shack. I ate the whole thing. I'd never tasted something so sweet. It was like caramel. At first, we ate the fruit ourselves, and I began taking it to the village to sell. One day, much of the fruit was gone from my tree. Pieces were scattered on the ground, half-eaten. I thought it was probably a coati. Have you ever seen one? About the size of a large housecat. Opportunists. I built a snare, using branches and wire. It didn't take long for the animal to set it off. But the coati thrashed so hard, it broke out of the snare. Broke its leg, as well. I tried to grab it, but it slipped away. It ran under the house. I knew it would show itself sooner or later. So I waited... for hours, into the night. When my brothers called for me... I did not answer. I didn't make a sound. I was so still. Finally, it came out. It knew I was there, but it was hungry. This time, I was ready. I caught it. It fought me... but I was stronger. The merciful thing would have been to kill it. I kept it. It lived for quite some time. I believe you will wake, Hector.

Gus

Can I help you?

Jimmy

Uh... My watch, uh, clasp is loose–it falls. I tried to reach it.

Gus

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.

Gus

[puts on a latex glove] We'll find it for you.

Jimmy

Where the heck is it?

Gus

Oh, don't worry. If it's in here, I'll—Ah, there it is.

Gus

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.

Gus

[hands Jimmy the watch] No problem. It's my pleasure. Is there anything else I can do for you?

Jimmy

No. Uh, thanks.

Gus

You take care.

Mike

Yeah.

Gus

May I assume that you are armed?

Mike

Yes.

Gus

I do not wish to see your gun. And if I don't, I promise you won't see mine. Are we in agreement?

Mike

We are.

Gus

Expect two cars momentarily.

Mike

You care to elaborate?

Gus

It's not in my interests for Hector Salamanca to die... at this time.

Mike

Who is he to you?

Gus

An associate of an associate.

Mike

Hmm. How very specific.

Gus

Who is he to you?

Mike

We had a disagreement. He threatened my family. I'm not gonna let that go.

Gus

But... you had let it go. You'd taken his money. Your family was no longer in danger. And yet, still, you robbed his truck. Shouldn't that have settled the matter? Most men would have walked away. But instead, you made an attempt on his life. Why? [beat] I understand that a civilian found the driver after you robbed the truck. Hector murdered this civilian, correct?

Mike

...He wasn't in the game.

Gus

I can't allow you to kill Hector. However, I am not completely unsympathetic to your... sense of justice. You hurt Hector when you robbed that truck. You hurt his business. His pride... quite effectively. And if you were to hurt him in the same manner again, I would not stand in your way.

Mike

You want me to rob another truck.

Gus

If you feel so inclined.

Mike

I'm done with that.

Gus

Then our business here is finished.

Mike

That's it?

Gus

That's it.

Mike

No more tracker, no more of your minions following me? Just like that?

Gus

Just like that. Of course, I trust that you are done with Hector Salamanca? [Mike nods] Goodbye, Mr. Ehrmantraut.

Mike

Wait. [Gus turns back to face Mike] You want his trucks hit because you wanna disrupt his supply line. Hector's your competition.

Gus

Why do you ask?

Mike

Because I'm not done with Hector Salamanca.

Gus

Don Hector.

Hector

Took you long enough.

Gus

Don Hector, mine is a cartel business. But it is mine. And it is legitimate. My employees are civilians. Your actions here today have endangered them, my interests, and those of the cartel.

Hector

I am the cartel. And from now on, you are my mule. You are going to bring my product north.

Hector

Mierda.

Gus

I understand that your supply line has been compromised, and this is most unfortunate. However, my trucks are already at maximum capacity.

Hector

[focused on his shoe] Make room.

Gus

Don Hector, you must understand that I answer to Juan Bolsa.

Hector

[still focused on his shoe] You want to cry to Bolsa, cry to Bolsa. Or hell, Eladio.

Gus

Adding more product will threaten the reliability of the entire operation. May I ask, did Don Eladio approve this?

Hector

[looks to Gus] I approve this. [rises from his seat and approaches Gus] You are doing it.

Gus

Excuse me, everyone. Could you all please take a moment and join me out here? Please, come. Come, come, come.

Gus

I would, uh... I would like to apologize to each and every one of you, who yesterday had to endure the behavior of those men. It was unacceptable. Despite the difficult circumstances, you all acquitted yourselves impeccably. That said, if any of you wish to seek counseling due to lingering trauma, speak with me privately and it will be arranged. Also, you will all be receiving twenty-four hours of overtime, as I am sure, in one way or another, each of you brought this incident home with you. [sees one of his employees raise their hand] Yes, Lyle?

Mr. Fring, uh... Who were those guys?

Gus

Well, some of you know that many years ago I opened my first Los Pollos Hermanos in Michoacán. Shortly thereafter, those same men showed up. They wanted money. And I—I...I'm ashamed to say that I paid them. You see, in that place, at that time, if I wished to conduct my business, I had no choice. But yesterday... Yesterday, they came here. Here. They intimidated my customers. They threatened my employees. And, again, they wanted money. Now my friends, I-I must confess that I almost gave them what they wanted. But then, I thought, "No. No. This is America." Here, the righteous have no reason to fear. Here, those men have no power. And when they saw that I had no fear of them, they ran like the cowards they are, back across the border. They will not return. We will move on from this. My friends, I promise you that together, we will prosper.

Gus

You sent back the payment we agreed upon.

Mike

What I did, I didn't do for you.

Gus

The man. The one killed for helping the truck driver. If I may make an observation, perhaps you were trying to correct something which cannot be corrected.

Mike

It's not the kind of thing I want to take money for.

Gus

But the fact remains that your actions benefited me more than you can know.

Mike

That's your business. I'm just glad to have Salamanca out of my head.

Gus

Well, perhaps in the future, you will consider working for me.

Mike

[pause] Could be. That'd depend on the work.

Gus

Would you care to know why I stopped you from killing Hector?

Mike

Like you said, it wasn't in your interest.

Gus

A bullet to the head would have been far too humane.

Mike

I've got a problem I think you can help me with. I've got cash I can't spend, about $200,000. If anything happens to me, my family will never see it. Now it seems to me, you opened this place to solve a similar problem.

Gus

And you think that solution... could be applied to you?

Mike

As a one time arrangement.

Gus

It would be unwise for us to be publicly associated, wouldn't you agree?

Mike

Because of the Salamancas.

Gus

If they were to take notice, there will be consequences for both of us.

Mike

I'm thinking a paper transaction.

Gus

Even so. Perhaps there is a way: one with a degree more... difficulty, but one I may be able to arrange.

Mike

Would twenty percent overcome this difficulty?

Gus

I would not take money from your family.

Hector

What's so important?

Had a conversation with our friend by the pool. He's very pleased with our progress. He feels our consolidated transportation method is working. In fact, it works so well that our friend says this will be the only way, moving forward. Of course, your territory will stay yours forever. But this system has less exposure. Less risk. Everything moves through the Chilean. [beat] Can you hear me?

Hector

I hear you.

Gus

Don Hector. I never asked for this. I do not want it.

Arturo

Don Hector...

Hector

Fuck Eladio, fuck Bolsa, and fuck you.

Juan

[to Arturo] You I know. [to Nacho] You I don't.

Arturo

Tuco's man. He's okay.

Juan

Tuco's man?

Nacho

Ignacio.

Juan

Don Hector had a stroke. We don't know when he will be back. But listen to me: Salamanca territory stays Salamanca territory. Nothing changes. Collections continue as before. The count must be exact. Anyone crosses a line, you stop them. You have a delivery tomorrow night. You pick up, you package, you distribute. All as you've done before. Do you understand? [Nacho and Arturo both nod] You do this right, things could go very well for you. Go.

Juan

The old bastard, he's always been trouble. But he keeps his house in order. Gustavo. What do you think?

Gus

Someone will move against the Salamancas. Which brings... war. Which brings... chaos. Which brings... the DEA.

Goodman

He’s no longer in a coma, but he’s unresponsive. His condition is stable, they’re managing his blood pressure, but whether he will wake up and understand what’s going on around him... there’s no way of knowing.

Gus

That’s unacceptable.

Goodman

Gustavo, he’s getting very good care here. There’s very little even the best hospitals could do. Now, might it be different if he was in the care of someplace like... Johns Hopkins? Perhaps. Or, it could make no difference at all. But in the end... in the end, I can think of no better judgment on this man. [Gus turns to glare at him] Isn’t this what he deserves?

Gus

I decide what he deserves. No one else.

Gus

Yes.

Lydia

It's me. Can we meet?

Gus

Now is not a good time.

Lydia

I'm in town. I can easily meet wherever is convenient.

Gus

Assume this is a secure line.

Lydia

I spoke with your... "security contractor." I explained the situation, again, but he's going to keep doing what he's doing.

Gus

I understand.

Lydia

But what he's doing makes no sense.

Gus

Do his reasons matter?

Lydia

They do if he's unreliable.

Gus

He is reliable.

Lydia

So I'm just supposed to let him keep stealing my employees' badges? [Gus is distracted by Tyrus pulling into the parking lot] I don't know where he's gonna turn up next, what disruption he's gonna cause, what mess I'm gonna have to clean up. This isn't something I want to spend my time worrying about.

Gus

Then I suggest you give the man a badge. [hangs up]

Oh, I tested your samples. They range from 39% to 58% pure. Except this one, which hovers around 67. Top of the glass, so to speak. You should tell the chemist to check his or her cookware. It's introducing contamination, which would be easy to avoid.

Gus

Well, thank you very much, Gale. That's very useful information. Well, I should let you get back to your work.

Mr. Fring, um... I—I don't want to cast aspersions, but I have to tell you, these samples aren't great. I-In fact, they're, um... They're—they're not even good. Basically, they're dreck. I could do much better...

Gus

Gale–

...much higher-grade. I could make a kilo or more right here, no one would know. It wouldn't take more than a few days.

Gus

I wouldn't want to interfere with your studies.

These are my studies. Please, it's the least I can do. I wouldn't let you down.

Gus

[chuckles] Oh, I'm certain that you wouldn't. But I'm afraid I can't allow it. Not yet. You were meant for better things. I'll see you soon, Gale.

Mike

You wanted to see me, here I am.

Gus

In order for our arrangement to continue, there is a matter we need to discuss.

Mike

Okay.

Gus

Do you have something to tell me? [pause] If you do, you would be well-advised to do so.

Mike

Nacho Varga. I wondered when you were gonna get around to this.

Gus

You came to me. You asked me for a favor. You looked me in the eye, you shook my hand. And all the while, you knew Varga was moving against my interests.

Mike

I said I wouldn't kill Salamanca. I never promised to be his bodyguard. So... what now? [pause; to Victor] You gonna make a move, you better make it. [long pause; to Gus] But they're not gonna, are they? You brought me here because you have an ask. So, why don't you stop running a game on me, and just tell me about the job?

Mike

Speak English, please.

Werner

I'm going to throw up!

Mike

I suggest you don't. Hold on. We're almost there.

Mike

You okay?

Werner

Better. [coughs] Pardon. I take the dramamine, but it doesn't help.

Werner

Over there?

Mike

Over there.

Mike

So?

Werner

Before I can begin excavation, I must support the existing structure to avoid a cave-in. Normally, this would involve a piling rig, working from above. But there can be no activity visible from the surface, hmm? [Mike says nothing] So I must construct secant walls of CFA piles, working completely underground. Next, I must somehow place I-beams across the top of the secant walls to support the floor and the machinery. Only now can I fully excavate. I will need to move... perhaps 1,700 cubic meters of dirt. That means trucking out about 200 loads. Going this deep, we will surely hit rock, which means... blasting. [sighs] I will need schematics of utility in the area.

Mike

You'll get those.

Werner

Once the space is fully cleared, I can waterproof, then fabricate casts for the retaining walls and pour concrete. We would need, uh... [chuckles] about 150 cubic meters. This is just the beginning. And all this in complete secrecy? [beat; Mike stares at Werner] Judging from the sounds I heard, I assume we are not far from a town. This is also not... optimal. [Mike continues staring at Werner] A project like this... many, many things can go wrong.

Gus

So... It's impossible?

Werner

Dangerous, difficult... and very, very expensive. Not quite impossible.

Gus

Gustavo Fring. [in German] A pleasure to make your acquaintance.