[Nacho arrives at El Michoacano to the sound of loud music and an unfamiliar face cooking in the kitchen. He looks at Krazy-8 before walking into the kitchen. The dialogue switches between Spanish and English throughout]
Oh, hey! [in Spanish] You're here! Right on time. [in English] Hold on, one second. You are going to love this. I made this just for you! [in Spanish] Never in your life have you tasted something so delicious, it's true. Wait, wait... You're gonna die. [offers plate of food to Nacho]
Nacho[beat; in Spanish] No, thank you.
[in Spanish] Smell it! You can't say no, are you crazy? [in English] I used epazote, man! Come on! [pause; in Spanish] Very well. You're not hungry. That's your problem. This is a special recipe... a family secret.
Nacho
The Salamanca family?
Them! [in Spanish] I am Eduardo, [in English] but you can call me Lalo. [in Spanish] And you must be Varga, no? They told me you were smart. And look... Here you are, and you are.
Nacho
What are you doing here?
I'm just here to lend a helping hand, you know? Make sure the business is running in order. I got a— I got a good head for numbers, but listen... Don't even worry. It's gonna be like I'm not even here. [sits down besides Krazy-8] Come on, Varga, let's go!
[Lalo meets with Gus in his office]
Now, what may I do for you, Señor...
Salamanca. Eduardo Salamanca, but you can call me Lalo... and you're Gustavo Fring. I've been an admirer of yours for many years. You have how many of these restaurants?
Seven. And starting from nothing. It's incredible.
I come here on behalf of my entire family, to give you our deepest thanks.
For what? For saving Don Hector's life. I just visited him. You know, seeing a man like that: can't speak, can barely move, I wanted to weep... but it could have been worse. Varga tells me that while everybody else was picking their asses, you rushed to him, struck him in the chest and brought him back.
It was a simple instinct.
But still, with all the history between you two... what you did was a gesture of peace. At least, that's how we see it.
I'm very pleased to hear that.
[pause] And here we are, getting along. [leans in, begins speaking in Spanish] You ever think, maybe Don Eladio is one shrewd bastard? Hm? Maybe he likes the bad blood between us? He sits by his pool, baking in the sun, giving orders...but your trucks move the products, and Salamanca muscle keeps everyone in line.
[also in Spanish] I don't consider that there's bad blood.
[in English] Really? Still, if we were to get along too well... I'm sure Eladio wouldn't like that, would he?
[takes a deep breath] I am satisfied with the current arrangement.
...I'm just shitting you! You would be crazy to go up against Eladio. [stares at Gus] Look, I'm gonna be in town for a while, so uh- y'know, we'll talk some more! We owe you. If you need a favor, I'm your man.
[shakes Lalo's hand] Same, naturally.
Oh, and I'll be back for that chicken, eh? It's too tasty to stay away from.
[Gus frowns when he leaves. Lalo walks to his car with Nacho]
[pause] You say you pick up six keys a week?
Nacho
Yeah.
Nacho
He's got a chicken farm way out of town.
[Lalo, Nacho, Krazy-8 and other members of the cartel play poker]
K8Krazy-8
Call. [lays stack of chips]
Nacho
Fairgrounds Flats is doing really good. Lots of traffic.
[to Nacho] Hey, shut up while I'm in a hand. [long pause] You know what? [throws two stacks of chips to the center of the table] Two hundred.
K8Krazy-8
[looks at his cards for a moment before laying down two] It's too deep for me.
[Lalo quickly reveals a 7+2 suit. Krazy-8 stares at Lalo in disbelief]
[to Krazy-8] Ha! Did I get you? Let me see what you had. [flips over Krazy-8's cards to show a pair of 8s] You had a set? You had three 8's on the turn, and you don't risk. And then you fold at the river. That's too bad. Ocho Loco, this guy, huh?
[Lalo and the other cartel members laugh as he brings the chips towards his side]
Alright, guys, give me your cards.
K8Krazy-8
[hears cell phone buzzing] Sorry. [answers phone] Yeah? ...Hold up. [hangs up phone] Problem on Fifth Street. Some skells, they didn't get their stuff.
Nacho
It's your crew.
[Krazy-8 gets up and leaves the table]
[Nacho takes Jimmy to Lalo Salamanca after Krazy-8 is arrested by the DEA. Jimmy watches uncomfortably as Lalo whistles while fixing a car engine and washing his hands.]
Can I talk? I–I'll talk. I have a feeling I know what this is about. Just to get the ball rolling, please keep in mind whatever happened between Mr. Varga and myself... I'm hoping that's just water under the bridge. [to Nacho] 'Cause after all was said and done, you did walk out a free man. I mean, you weren't even in custody for a full day. And I admit, it was a tad bumpy getting there, but the path to justice is rarely smooth. So, I'm hoping that in the end, you know, the final result speaks for itself.
You had business with my cousin, Tuco.
Tuco? [pause] Oh, sure, sure! Yeah, I see the family resemblance. Your cousin makes quite an impression. He has a huge heart, and... a serious passion for justice.
I hadn't noticed. Uh... How is your lovely abuelita?
[pause] You know, Tuco told me about you. You're the guy with a mouth.
[to Nacho] Those guys at the house... what'd they call her?
Nacho
Biznatch.
Biznatch. Yeah, right. [grabs a chair and sits down] You know, the Tuco I know... He would've skinned them alive and let the buzzards eat their eyeballs. But there you were. You go, "Blah-blah-blah," and they walk out of there! [to Nacho] I mean, it's amazing! Really!
They wheeled out actually.
So, Ignacio and I... We got something you can do for us.
Yeah, we got a legal problem.
Oh! [chuckles] A–A legal problem? Fantastic! I'm sorry, it's just for a minute there, I thought I was gonna be... swallowing condoms filled with heroin.
[laughs] No. But, maybe later.
Nacho
We have a guy sitting in MDC, picked up two days ago.
Yeah, we'll get to that. We need our friend to tell the cops things. Some important things.
Important things, gotcha.
We want him to say exactly what we tell him. No more, no less. But the cops can't know it's coming from us. So, we send you in there... you tell him how to do it, and they can't listen.
Nacho
Attorney-client confidentiality.
[pause] Uh... that's flattering. Uh... Can I offer... [takes out disposable cell phone] this? I guarantee there are five of these in MDC right now. You know, drop phones in, say, someone's "prison wallet", if you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, you talk directly to your guy. Cut out the middle man.
Nacho
It works better if you're in there with him.
[gets up from chair] You're the guy for this.
That's just... That's... terrific, that's the only word for it. By good conscience, I think I have to warn you that my rates have gone up. So going this way could be expensive.
Yeah, um... Well, it's a full day of my time, and prep work, transportation, rush fees. Uh... do the math, it's like seven thousand... eight–nine–hundred, and twenty-five dollars? Yeah.
Seven thousand, nine hundred and twenty-five?
It's the going rate, so...
Sure. [takes out cash from back pocket] For your trouble, let's make it eight.
[Nacho receives a visit from his father at his expansive house. The dialogue is in Spanish.]
Nacho
How are you, Papa?
Mm. Gutierrez made me an offer. He wants to buy the shop.
Nacho
Really? Don't tell me... does he want to turn it into another tire shop? [chuckles]
Heh. No, he want to keep it as is. But... he offered more than it's worth, even with the land.
Nacho
What are you going to do?
[choked up] I always thought I was keeping the shop for you.
Nacho
[rubs his face] Papa. Are you going to work... eleven hours a day for the rest of your life?
Nacho
It sounds like a good deal. Could be... your chance to retire.
[sighs] This is you, isn't it?
Nacho
I don't know what you mean.
You put Gutierrez up to this. This is your money he's offering me.
Nacho
Papa, no. No.
This is you trying to get me to leave town. You want to run, you want me to run too. Deny it! Tell me I'm wrong! Look me in the eyes! [Nacho looks up at him] I've told you what you should do. Give this up! Go to the police! Face what you've done! If you want to run, run. But me? No, I will not run away!
[Jimmy and Nacho watch Lalo do several victory laps after Jimmy gets Krazy-8 out of trouble with the DEA. Eventually, Lalo gets out of his car.]
WOO-HOO! You hear that?! I replaced the carburetor. She's running like a race horse, man!
It's a fine vehicle. That's a thing of beauty.
A Suzuki Esteem. It's an import.
So, just like you wanted. Assuming the dead drops are a real thing, the feds are gonna be on him.
Yeah. DEA. There's a matched pair of them, and they're into this with a vengeance. I mean, think feeding time in the lion cage. And, um... they're gunning for arrests.
[pause] Oh, and... your guy is now a confidential informant.
What do you mean? Like a rat?
No! He's not a rat, no! I mean–well, if he's a rat, he's your rat. So... Uh, put it this way. You now have a hotline to the DEA. And not just now–any time, so that's a good thing. Right? But the deal is, at some point, you might hear that Domingo is a snitch. You gotta know... he's not.
Well, all due respect, you're paying me, but he's my client. I'd like to keep him alive.
[laughs; in Spanish] This dude. Good idea.
[as Lalo walks away] Oh, one more thing. You're gonna have to find a different attorney for future endeavors, 'cause my schedule is just very, very tight.
[pause] You'll make time.
[Lalo gets in his car and drives off]
[to Nacho] Who exactly did I just set up?!
Nacho
You don't wanna know.
I mean, if there's gonna be blowback, I don't wanna be in the middle of it!
Nacho
It's not about what you want. When you're in... you're in.
[Nacho sees Mike during his meeting with Gus, but pretends to not recognize him]
Nacho
You're Michael? The gringo Lalo had a bug up his ass about? If Hector or the Cousins ever find out about this...
They're not gonna find out.
Nacho
Lalo's using his CI connection. He's having Domingo call the DEA to rat out your dealers - times they're slinging, locations. Your guys are gonna get swept up.
[to Victor] Promote low-level dealers, or find new ones. Let them get arrested. Protect our people.
Nacho
He talks about a lot of things. Um... Hitting your supply trucks, going after your restaurants, getting your customers sick... Cutting off power, busting open pipes. He's gonna chip away at your business until the bosses down south don't think you're worth the trouble.
[pause; looks at Mike, who nods] From now on, you report to this man. He needs you, you do not hesitate. Act.
[Later, after Gus and Victor leave, Mike is about to get in his car before he notices Nacho walking up to him]
I'm guessing there's something you wanna get off your chest.
Nacho
[pause] You know who you're working for, right? The shit that this guy does... They shot me. Left me bleeding out in the desert, all... part of some plan.
I don't know what to tell you. I warned you.
Nacho
What?
I warned you, when you started going after Hector Salamanca, there'd be others to worry about. You made a choice. You got in with both eyes open.
Nacho
My father didn't. He's got a gun to my father's head. If I don't do what he says...
Look. First things first, we take care of Lalo. Then, we'll talk.
Nacho
I'm not telling you shit until we talk about my dad!
What you tell me and when you say it is not up to you.
Nacho
Listen. You said when Lalo's out of the picture, we'll talk about my father, right? Well, he's out of the picture!
Nacho
I'm done! I want out.
And you want me to square it with Fring?
Nacho
Fring's not all of it. It's the cartel. I disappear, they're gonna go after my father. He's gotta come with me. But no matter what I say with him, it's the cops or nothing.
The cops won't solve this.
Nacho
[pause] You got a way?
Hm. What are you holding out?
Nacho
Lalo called me from inside. He put me back in charge.
Nacho
And... he wants me to burn down Los Pollos Hermanos.
[pause] Then, he's not out of the picture, is he?
[At 3 A.M., Nacho walks outside and sees Lalo sitting by a fire. He sits next to him, and Lalo offers him a beer.]
Hey, you did good today. Tomorrow, I'll show you around. When you go back up north, you're gonna be halfway to Viva Salamanca.
Nacho
Thanks.
[sighs] Another night owl, huh? You don't sleep?
Nacho
Not tonight.
Yeah, I never sleep much. An hour, maybe two. It's enough. When it's like this... that's when I can think. I get my best ideas when everybody else is asleep. Some people, they call it a curse. I like it.
Nacho
I don't know. [looks at the gate] I'd rather get some shut-eye.
Nacho
[takes a long sip of beer] Got anything stronger?
Now you're talking! In the bar, bottom shelf, decanter. That's the good stuff. Two glasses.
[Nacho gets up and walks back inside Lalo's house. He goes in the kitchen, looks around briefly, and grabs a pan. He puts the pan on the stove, fills it with oil, and turns the heat on before he goes back outside with two glasses and a decanter of cognac.]
There he is! I thought you got lost. [pours liquor into glasses] You ever had Louis XIII?
Nacho
I don't think so.
Oh, you're in for a treat! [raises glass in a toast] To sleep, and those who need it.
Nacho
To sleep. [taps glass to Lalo's]
[sees smoke coming from inside the house] What the hell is that? These morons have no respect! Ciro! [in Spanish] What'd you do, you asshole?!
[Nacho waits for Lalo to run inside before unlocking the gate. He opens it and sees three assassins armed with assault rifles.]
Nacho
[puts his hands up; in Spanish] Inside. In the kitchen.
[Nacho flees from the house as the assassins run past the gate.]
[Nacho calls his father from an auto shop while on the run]
A-to-Z Fine Upholstery. Hello?
Nacho
Dad. It's me.
Nacho
Si, Papa. Hola.
[sighs] Hola, hijo. [in Spanish] How are you?
Nacho
[in Spanish] Good, good. Um... just wanted to hear your voice.
Nacho, where are you? You sound strange.
Nacho
[pause] It's not important.... I was just checking in, that's all.
Okay. Mijo, I have lots of work to do. We've been through this, so many times. You know what you have to do... go to the police.
Nacho
Yes, Papa. I understand... I hear you.
[pause] What else is there to say? Hmm? Goodbye, hijo.
Nacho
[choked up] Goodbye, Papa.
[Nacho calls Mike at an auto repair shop in Mexico while on the run from the Cousins]
Nacho
It's me.
Nacho
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.
Nacho
What happens now?
Nacho
Is that bastard with you? Put him on.
Hmm. [to Gus] He wants to talk to you.
[takes cell phone from Mike; to Nacho] Yes.
Nacho
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.
Nacho
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.
Nacho
You are not the one that I need to hear it from.
[Gus puts the phone on speaker so Mike can speak to Nacho]
Your dad's gonna be okay.
Nacho
How do you know?
Because anyone who goes after him is gonna have to come through me.
[Nacho is driven to a remote location in the desert with Gus, Tyrus and Victor. There they meet Juan Bolsa, Hector Salamanca, and the Cousins. Juan kneels next to Nacho.]
Today, you are going to die. But there are good deaths, and there are bad deaths. Tell me what I need to know, I'll see that your death is a good one. Who put you up to this?
[Nacho glances at Gus, as if he's about to turn on him]
One last chance. Who? [long pause; scoffs and gets up to leave]
Nacho
It was Alvarez. Los Odios, out of Peru. They paid me to set up your nephew. And I did.
[Hector furiously rings his bell and attempts to point to Gus, who he knows is the real culprit]
Alvarez, we know. Los Odios, we know. Was anyone else involved?
Nacho
[scoffs; nods to Gus] Him? You think the chicken man? Heh. What a joke. Alvarez has been paying me for years. Years. [to the Salamancas] But you know what? I would have done it for free. Because I hate every last one of you psycho sacks of shit. I opened Lalo's gate, and I would do it again. And I'm glad what they did to him. He's a soulless pig, and I wished I'd killed him with my own hands. And you know what else, Hector? I put you in that chair. Oh, yeah. Your heart meds? I switched them for sugar pills. You were dead and buried, and I had to watch this asshole... [gestures to Gus] ...bring you back. So when you are sitting in your shitty nursing home and you're sucking down on your Jell-O night after night for the rest of your life, you think of me, you twisted fuck.
[Nacho cuts himself free with a shard of broken glass, stabs Juan in the leg, grabs Juan’s gun and shoots himself in the head. Hector angrily fires shots at Nacho’s corpse while Gus and Mike leave the scene with their crew in stunned silence.]
Better Call Saul · 283 quotes
