[Mike is sitting at a diner when Hector Salamanca walks in and approaches his booth.]
HectorMind if I join you?
[Hector sits across from Mike. Fran, the waitress, comes to the booth.]
FFran
Hi. What can I get you?
Hector
Coffee, black.
FFran
It's coming right up.
[Fran leaves. Hector observes the bruises on Mike's face left by Tuco.]
Hector
Mmm. He really did a number on you.
Hector
The young man who did that to you is my nephew. Hothead, always has been. He thinks he's a boxer. He should have shown you respect. I apologize to you on behalf of my family.
Hector
And you know what? He should go to jail. Best thing for him, teach him respect for his elders. But not for eight years. Less, much less.
[Fran comes back to pour Hector's coffee.]
Hector
You see where I'm getting at?
Hector
The gun charge, that's eight years he's going away, maybe ten. Aggravated assault, the gun, plus he got your wallet.
Hector
I would like for you to tell the police that the gun was yours.
Hector
Eh, you're both a little hot under the collar about whether you bump his car or not, but there was a scuffle and uh, he got your gun.
Hector
Your gun from your pocket, he got it and that's how his prints got on it.
Then I'd be subject to the gun charge.
Hector
You're an ex-cop. They go easy on you.
Hector
I even twist Tuco's ear, make him apologize, and he serves for battery, nothing else. [beat] I'm looking for the best possible outcome for everybody... and, for your trouble, you take home $5,000.
[Hector rises from his seat, leaves a tip, and begins to walk away]
Hector
Think about it.
[Mike is brought to the Salamanca hideout and put before Hector and the Cousins.]
Hector
Tomorrow, you go to the district attorney and you explain to him that my nephew's gun was yours. The DA will ask you why you didn't say anything before. You tell him you forgot, you were rattled. Make up anything you want, I don't give a shit. But it's your gun.
Let's discuss my payment.
Hector
Mm-mmm, that time is past. No five thousand for you.
Hector
How about the payment is you get to live?
Hector
Now you think you can negotiate with me? I say the word, my nephews go to a certain motel, pay a visit to your daughter-in-law and your little granddaughter. What do you think happens then? Consider your position carefully.
I get my money, or neither of us walk out of here.
[Mike reaches into his jacket, causing a reaction from the Cousins. Hector signals them to stand down.]
Hector
You're willing to die for this?
Maybe I need the fifty thousand more than you do.
[Hector chuckles]
Hector
[to Nacho, in Spanish] I told you, right? Giant balls. [to Mike, in English] How you manage to live so long with a mouth like that? Hmm? Fifty thousand, and the gun is yours.
[Hector walks up to the counter, where Lyle is taking orders]
LLyle
Welcome to Los Pollos Hermanos. May I take your order?
Hector
¿Tu jefe está aquí? ¿Dónde está?
LLyle
Oh, men's room is on the left, sir.
Hector
Cabrón! I need to see your boss.
LLyle
Okay, well, I'm the assistant manager, the manager's actually not here today.
Hector
Not the manager, the boss.
LLyle
You mean Mr. Fring?
Hector
Mr. Fring.
LLyle
Okay, well, he's not here at the moment. Uh, I'm sure I can help you with whatever you need.
Hector
I need Fring!
LLyle
Well, like I said, he's not here, uh... and I don't know when he'll be back. I can—I can take a message.
Hector
I'll wait.
[Gus confronts Hector, who is sitting behind Gus's desk in his back office at Los Pollos Hermanos.]
Hector
Took you long enough.
[Hector rests his feet on Gus's desk]
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 notices what looks like dog feces stuck at the bottom of his shoe.]
Hector
Mierda.
[Hector takes a pen and picks the feces off on Gus's desk.]
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.
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.
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.
[Hector leaves the office.]
Hector
So your father, his shop. Where does he get his upholstery?
...From, uh, the distributor.
Hector
And where is the distributor?
Hector
Jalisco. Uh, I want a new way to get my stuff over the border, a legitimate business.
Right, but the chicken man...
Hector
Temporary. I want a new front, my own.
Don Hector, my father is a simple man. He is not in the business.
Hector
You will teach him.
Hector
Don't worry about it, I take good care of Poppy. He make good money, a lot more than with his little sewing machine.
[Arturo enters to deliver some news to Hector.]
Lionel talked to our guy in Los Lunas. Looks like Tuco knifed a guy. But he definitely broke a guard's jaw. They got him in solitary.
Hector
What?! All he had to do was six months! He'll be in there forever! [knocks over the table] Aah!
[Hector and Gus face each other at an industrial location, flanked by their respective henchmen: Victor and Tyrus on Gus' side, and Arturo and Nacho on Hector's side. Hector communicates with Juan Bolsa via a cell phone placed on the table in front of him. The dialogue is in Spanish.]
Hector
What's so important?
JJuan (over cell phone)
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 gets up and angrily throws the cell phone to the ground.]
Hector
I hear you.
Don Hector. I never asked for this. I do not want it.
[Hector keels over, on the verge of another coughing fit. Arturo tries to come to his aid.]
[Hector pushes him away and reaches for the vial of pills in his coat pocket, unaware that Nacho has tampered with them. He downs the whole vial, but he seemingly recovers with no ill effect. He turns to Gus.]
Hector
Fuck Eladio, fuck Bolsa, and fuck you.
[Hector, Nacho, Arturo, Gus, and Juan Bolsa confront each other in the lot of the upholstery shop belonging to Nacho's father.]
Don Hector. Don Eladio wanted me to speak with you face-to-face so there's no misunderstanding. From now on, there will be only one route over the border for our product: the chicken trucks. And that is final. But you must understand, this is for efficiency only. There's no disrespect to you or your family.
Hector
[gestures to Gus] What's he doing here?
The boss wants you to settle this.
Hector
I settle it right now, okay?
[sighs] You have to work together. It's what the boss wants.
Hector
The boss can suck me!
I'd watch what I say if I were you.
Hector
Who you think you are? You should be kissing my ass right now! Me and my family, we built this whole business!
Hector
No, no! Salamanca did! Salamanca money! Salamanca blood!
Hector
That hacienda, I pay for it! And you treat us like dogs!
Hector, this isn't personal!
Hector
IT IS! IT IS PERSONAL–
[Hector begins having a heart attack. He tries to take his pills, not knowing that Nacho spiked them. He falls over and loses consciousness.]
[Lalo is preparing to be smuggled across the border with a group of undocumented immigrants when he decides to call the Casa Tranquila Nursing Home and speak to Hector. A nurse holds a phone up to Hector's ear in the common room. Hector uses his bell to communicate]
[in Spanish] Uncle, can you hear me? Do you know my voice?
[Hector visibly recognizes Lalo's voice]
Hector
[rings bell twice]
They told you about the attack, didn't they?
Hector
[rings once]
Let them keep believing I'm dead. So much the better. It was the chicken man. That coward sat up there in the north while his paramilitaries came into my home. My home, Uncle! Screw Bolsa, screw Eladio. I'm coming north. I'm going to hurt him. Hurt him like you taught me. And then I will kill him.
Hector
[rings repeatedly in agreement]
[The nurse takes the phone from Hector]
NNurse
Hector? [to Lalo] Excuse me. I'm so sorry, but Hector seems a little upset.
[in English] Yeah, sorry. Um, I'm just– I'm sharing a bit of family news, some good, some bad. Would you mind putting him back on? It will only be a minute.
[The nurse again holds the phone to Hector's ear]
Hector
[rings twice]
What is it? Do you have another idea?
Hector
[rings twice]
Okay, let's see. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, Ñ, O, P–
Hector
[rings once]
Hector
[rings once]
Okay. What's next? A, B, C, D...
[Cut to the common room; Hector rings twice]
[Cut to the common room; Hector rings once.]
Hector
[rings once]
Is that what you're saying? Proof?
Hector
[rings twice]
Uncle, I don't have any proof. For months I was in the north watching him, following his men. There was nothing.
[Lalo has a flash of realization.]
Wait... There is proof. I know where to find it. Goodbye, Uncle. You will see me soon.
Better Call Saul · 283 quotes
