Gus Fring quotes from Breaking Bad

Gus

Don Eladio is dead! His capos are dead! You have no one left to fight for! Fill your pockets and leave in peace... OR FIGHT ME AND DIE!

Gus

Hello, Hector. [presents Hector with Don Eladio's necklace] All of them, Hector. Don Eladio, Don Paco, Cesar, Reynaldo, Ortuno, Cisco, and Luis. Escalara. All dead. As is your grandson, Joaquin. Do you know who killed Joaquin? Would you like to see? [turns Hector to Jesse] This young man. Do you remember him? That young man shot Joaquin to death while I made my escape. I believe you have met him before. It was just you and Joaquin. He was the only family you had left. Now the Salamanca name dies with you. Will you look at me now? Look at me, Hector. Look at me.

Gus

What can I do for you?

Walter

Have a seat. Please. [Gus sits down across from Walt] I would like to know why you wouldn't meet with me yesterday.

Gus

I'm sorry, I'm not following.

Walter

I sat here yesterday waiting to meet with someone. I believe that person was you.

Gus

I think that you're confusing me for someone else.

Walter

I don't think I am.

Gus

[looks to the cashier to see if anyone is listening before turning back to Walter] Sir, if you have a complaint, I suggest you submit it through our e-mail system. I'd be happy to refer you to our website.

Walter

I was told that the man I'd be meeting with was very careful. A cautious man. I believe we are alike in that way. If you are who I think you are, you should give me another chance.

Gus

I don't think we're alike at all, Mr. White. You are not a cautious man at all. Your partner was late. And he was high.

Walter

Yes. Yes, he was.

Gus

He's high often, isn't he? [pause; Walter does not answer] You have poor judgment. I can't work with someone with poor judgment.

Walter

Are you familiar with my product?

Gus

I've been told it's excellent.

Walter

It is impeccable. It is the purest, most chemically sound product on the market, anywhere.

Gus

That is not the only factor.

Walter

You could charge twice the current rate for what I provide and your customers would pay it, hands down. Now, who I choose to do business with on my end is not your problem. You won't see him, you won't interact with him. Forget he exists.

Gus

I have to ask why. Why him?

Walter

Because he does what I say. Because I can trust him.

Gus

How much product do you have left?

Walter

38 pounds. Ready to go at a moment's notice. [Gus gets up] Will I hear from you?

Gus

I have your numbers. [softly] You can never trust a drug addict.

Gus

I have an offer that I think would be of interest to you.

Walter

I, uh, actually am not here to... I'm here because I owe you the courtesy and respect to tell you this personally. I'm done. It has nothing to do with you personally. I find you extraordinarily professional, and I appreciate the way you do business. I'm just... making a change in my life is what it is, and I'm- I'm at something of a crossroads... and it's brought me to a realization: I am not a criminal. No offense to any people who are, but... this is not me.

Gus

I'd like you to hear my offer, notwithstanding.

Walter

It won't change my mind, I'm sorry.

Gus

Three million dollars for three months of your time. Three months, then out.

Walter

...Three million?

Gus

May I take this as a yes?

Walter

[sighs] I have money. I have more money than I know how to spend. What I don't have is my family. The answer is still no.

Gus

...Enjoy your meal.

I don't tell you how to fry your chickens, Gustavo. You should really leave matters of my organization's politics to me.

Gus

Do I not run my own territory?

Of course you do. And I will advise them to be patient. But I recommend you finish your business with the man quickly. Or you risk losing the good graces of the cartel. That would not be wise. And those boys inside, I cannot guarantee that they will listen. They are... not like you and I.

Mike

The good news is for stage three cancer, the guy's doing well. Physically. Mentally, the guy's a disaster. He's gone off the rails over this thing with his wife. My opinion: He's not coming back. Not on his own. Your friends were at his place again, by the way. They drew something on the street outside his house. The Scythe.

Gus

Animals... Does the lawyer know?

Mike

Should he?

Gus

No.

Mike

If you want this guy to produce again, why not just tell him? You're the only thing that stands between him and an axe to the head.

Gus

I do not believe fear to be an effective motivator. I want investment. For now, I'm simply interested in time frame. He will live for the foreseeable future, yes?

Mike

Hmm, foreseeable. Couple of years at least, barring acts of God or men with axes.

Gus

I am told his product was more or less consistent with the quality I come to expect.

Walter

More or less? More or less, really? Wow. Boy this... Talk about setting the bar low. Except you don't do that, set the bar low. Therefore, what conclusion am I left to draw? That you believe I have some proprietary kind of selfishness about my own formula? Some sort of overweening pride that you think simply overwhelms me, clouds my judgment?

Gus

But it doesn't?

Walter

Absolutely not. I simply respect the chemistry. The chemistry must be respected.

Walter

I have made a series of very bad decisions and I cannot make another one.

Gus

Why did you make these decisions?

Walter

For the good of my family.

Gus

Then they weren't bad decisions. What does a man do, Walter? A man provides for his family.

Walter

This cost me my family.

Gus

When you have children, you always have family. They will always be your priority, your responsibility, and a man... a man provides. And he does it even when he's not appreciated, or respected, or even loved. He simply bears up and he does it. Because he's a man.

Gus

I told you before. You will not kill Walter White. Not until my business with him is concluded.

We've waited long enough. We won't wait any longer.

Gus

You'll have to. The decision is not yours to make. Explain to me... Why this man White? He betrayed your cousin Tuco, yes. But he's not the one who murdered him. Was there not another man who pulled the trigger?

A DEA agent. Bolsa says the DEA is off-limits.

Gus

North of the border is my territory. My say. As a show of respect... I say yes. The agent's name is Hank Schrader. May his death satisfy you.

Walter

You knew. You knew my brother-in-law was with the DEA.

Gus

I investigate everyone with whom I do business. What careful man wouldn't?

Walter

He is not a problem for us or our business, but your being here... is this some sort of message?

Gus

I'm supporting my community. I hide in plain sight, same as you. Are we done?

Walter

No, listen, I, uh... This attack on my brother-in-law, I don't understand it, I don't know what it means. Please, if you may have some knowledge that you can share with me. I fear for my family.

Gus

I'm sure they'll be fine. I am told the assassin that survived is gravely injured. It's doubtful he'll live. Now thank me and shake my hand.

Gus

Yes, Juan?

I assume you heard the news.

Gus

Your man died. I heard. It's unfortunate.

Yeah, unfortunate. And meanwhile I have federales surrounding my house. You know what I think, Gustavo? I think you're behind all this.

Gus

Why would I do this? How would it serve me?

That's the part that I'm trying to figure out. Go off on your own, maybe? You actually think that would work?

Gus

Juan, you sound like you're under a lot of stress. Maybe you should call me back when you're seeing things more clearly.

I see things clear enough. One DEA gets shot, all of Washington starts barking. The DF suddenly has to put on a big show and I wind up with federales in my rose bushes. And just for a while, appearances, politics... Are you still there, Gustavo?

Gus

Yes, I'm here.

I'll weather this. I always do. My brother is a police chief. I got connections. They'll get me through. And when I get proof and the others find out what you've done, maybe we come pay you a visit. Maybe—

Walter

My brother-in-law, moments before he was attacked, someone called to warn him. I believe that same person was protecting me. Those two men–the assassins–I believe I was their prime target, but that somehow they were steered away from me to my brother-in-law. Because of this intervention, I am alive, and yet, I think that this person was playing a much deeper game. He made that phone call because he wanted a shootout, not a silent assassination. In one stroke, he bloodied both sides, set the American and Mexican governments against the cartel, and cut off the supply of methamphetamine to the Southwest. If this man had his own source of product on this side of the border, he would have the market to himself. The rewards would be enormous. We're both adults. I can't pretend I don't know that person is you. I want there to be no confusion. I know I owe you my life, and more than that, I respect the strategy. In your position, I would have done the same. One issue which troubles me: I don't know what happens when our three month contract ends.

Gus

What would you like, then?

Walter

You know why I do this. I want security for my family.

Gus

Then you have it. Three million for three months, that was our agreement. Extended annually, twelve million a year. Call it fifteen. Open ended. Would that be agreeable?

Gus

Walter, I would like to help you if I could.

Walter

Help me how?

Gus

Well, when I first started out, I made a lot of mistakes. More than I care to admit. I wish I had someone to advise me, because this life of ours, it can overwhelm. You are a wealthy man now, and one must learn to be rich. To be poor, anyone can manage.

Walter

What advice do you have for me?

Gus

Never make the same mistake twice.

Gus

Sit down. I understand that you have a problem with two of my employees. It is true that they killed one of your associates. It is possible they acted rashly, but on the other hand there was a provocation. The man was selling on their territory. There is blame on both sides. This will go no further. It will be settled right here, right now.

Jesse

[to Walter] You told him?

Gus

[to the two dealers] Wait outside.

Gus

Listen to me. You have one friend in this room. [points to Walter] This man. Those men outside are my trusted employees, and when I learned what you intended to do... If it wasn't for this man and the respect I have for him, I would be dealing with this in a very different way. Don't look at him, you look at me. This is what happens now: My men will come back inside and you will shake their hands and you will make peace and that will be the end of this.

Jesse

No.

Walter

Jesse...

Gus

[motions for Walter to be quiet] Pardon me?

Jesse

They use kids. These assholes of yours, they got an 11-year old kid doing their killing for them. You're supposed to be some kind of reasonable business man, this is how you do business? [to Walter] You okay with this? You got anything to say here?!

Gus

Bring them back. [the two dealers come back inside] No more children. You understand? [to Jesse] And you, you keep the peace. [Jesse nods] Say it.

Jesse

Yeah. I keep the peace.

Gus

Shake hands.

Walter

[answers phone] Yeah?

Mike

Walter, you see us?

Walter

Yeah, I see you.

Mike

I'd like you to exit your vehicle and start walking toward us.

Walter

And then what? I'm gonna need some... some kind of assurance.

Mike

I assure you I could kill you from way over here if it makes you feel any better.

Mike

Walter. You’ve been busy. You wanna put your arms out to your sides for me, if you would?

Mike

You know I haven’t slept since Thursday? I was out all night cleaning up after you. I need my sleep.

Walter

You said no half measures.

Mike

Yeah? About that, it's funny how words can be so open to interpretation. Tsk. [leads Walter towards the car] You get your car fixed?

Walter

Not yet.

Mike

You’re gonna wanna get your car fixed.

Walter

Let’s see how this goes first.

Gus

Has your condition worsened?

Walter

Excuse me?

Gus

Your medical condition, has it grown worse?

Walter

Not that I know of, no.

Gus

Is there a ringing in your ears? Are you seeing bright lights or hearing voices?

Walter

I'm quite well, thank you.

Gus

No. Clearly you are not. No rational person would do as you have done. Explain yourself.

Walter

My partner was about to get himself shot. I intervened.

Gus

Some worthless junkie. For him, you intervened and put us all at risk? Some contemptible junkie who couldn't keep the peace for eight hours?

Walter

That's right, he couldn't. He was angry because those two dealers of yours had just murdered an 11-year old boy.

Gus

I heard about it. He should have let me take care of it.

Walter

Maybe. Then again maybe he thought it was you who gave the order.

Gus

[acting offended] Are you asking me if I ordered the murder of a child?

Walter

I would never ask you that.

Gus

Where is Pinkman now?

Walter

I wouldn't know. Couple of time zones away at least. Beyond that, I'd only be guessing. He has enough money to last forever. He knows he has to keep moving. You'll never find him.

Mike

I don't know, Walt. It's what I do after all.

Walter

He's out of the picture. I saved his life, I owed him that, but now he and I are done, which is exactly what you wanted, isn't it? You've always struck me as a very pragmatic man, so if I may, I would like to review options with you, of which, it seems to me, you have two. Option A: You kill me right here and now. Apparently I have made that very easy for you. You can kill me, no witnesses, and then spend the next few weeks or months tracking down Jesse Pinkman and you kill him, too. A pointless exercise, it seems to me, but that is option A.

Gus

What is option B?

Walter

I continue cooking. You and I both forget about Pinkman. We forget this ever happened. We consider this a lone hiccup in an otherwise long and fruitful business arrangement. I prefer option B.

Gus

You’d need a new assistant.

Walter

[nods] I could get right on that.

Gus

No. This time, I choose.