[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.]
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.]
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.]
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.]
JuanDon 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.
[gestures to Gus] What's he doing here?
Juan
The boss wants you to settle this.
I settle it right now, okay?
Juan
[sighs] You have to work together. It's what the boss wants.
Juan
I'd watch what I say if I were you.
Who you think you are? You should be kissing my ass right now! Me and my family, we built this whole business!
Juan
We all did, together.
No, no! Salamanca did! Salamanca money! Salamanca blood!
Juan
You have to calm down.
That hacienda, I pay for it! And you treat us like dogs!
Juan
Hector, this isn't 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.]
[Gus and Juan Bolsa meet with Nacho and Arturo at a Los Pollos Hermanos warehouse after Hector's stroke. The dialogue is in Spanish.]
Juan
[to Arturo] You I know. [to Nacho] You I don't.
Juan
Tuco's man?
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.
[Nacho and Arturo both leave the room]
Juan
The old bastard, he's always been trouble. But he keeps his house in order. Gustavo. What do you think?
Someone will move against the Salamancas. Which brings... war. Which brings... chaos. Which brings... the DEA.
[Gus and Juan Bolsa visit Hector at Casa Tranquila to send their condolences, still believing that Lalo is dead. The dialogue is in Spanish.]
Juan
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.
Juan
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.]
Juan
[to Gus in English] We'll be in touch.
[Gus calls Mike on his cell phone after Juan drives away]
[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.]
Juan
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]
Juan
One last chance. Who? [long pause; scoffs and gets up to leave]
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]
Juan
Alvarez, we know. Los Odios, we know. Was anyone else involved?
[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.]
[Gus meets with Don Eladio, Juan Bolsa, and the Salamancas late at night. The dialogue is in Spanish.]
EEladio
Don Hector has made a very serious accusation.
[One of the Cousins hands a letter to Don Juan]
Juan
These are Don Hector's words, dictated to Leonel and Marco, letter by letter. "The assault on my nephew's hacienda failed. Lalo fought the assassins and won. The day after the attack, Lalo called me. I heard the truth from his own lips. It was Fring who sent the mercenaries, not the Peruvians. We kept Lalo's survival a secret. My nephew was about to take his revenge on the traitor, face-to-face. Instead, he disappeared. It is the chicken man's doing. Don Eladio, look into Fring's eyes. There you will see the truth. The chicken man hates you. He is our enemy. He plots against us. I demand blood for blood."
[Juan folds the letter and sits back down]
[pause] I have no response.
Juan
Gustavo, you must speak. Have you no defense?
With all due respect, I don't believe this merits a response.
EEladio
[to the Cousins] Did you witness these phone calls from Lalo? [Leonel and Marco shake their heads] I was told you saw Lalo's body.
EEladio
[to Juan] Didn't the federales check the teeth?
Juan
Yes, Don Eladio. My brother tells me the dental records matched.
EEladio
And that rat, Varga... What did he say before he died?
Juan
He said he was in the pay of the Peruvians, Los Odios. We know he took their money, we found bank statements.
EEladio
[beat; looks at his watch] Well... It's late. Don Hector... Since you've come a long way, tonight you sleep in my bed. [Hector angrily rings his bell repeatedly in protest] No, I insist. No arguing. I'm giving you my room. Very comfortable. And who knows? Maybe a couple of the girls will come to visit! [pause; Hector continues ringing his bell] Please. [Leonel and Marco carry Hector by his wheelchair and leave] Good night, Hector. Sleep well. [to Gus] I'd invite you to stay as well, Gustavo, but... I don't want my breakfast ruined by all the... [mocks Hector ringing his bell and laughs] Ay-yay-yay. [beat] The peace must be kept. What do you suggest?
EEladio
The South Valley will stay Salamanca territory. And the rest of the North, that'll be for you to manage. Working under Bolsa.
Juan
Thank you, Don Eladio.
[rises with Eladio out of his chair] Thank you. Your trust means everything, Don Eladio.
EEladio
Bueno. Gustavo... [long pause] When I looked into your eyes... Hate. A little bit's okay. As long as you never forget who's boss.
Better Call Saul · 283 quotes
