Elliott quotes from Breaking Bad

Elliott

I miss this, Walt.

Walter

Yeah. Me too. Listen, uh, we–we ought to get together more often. Y'know, Skyler and I would love to have you and Gretchen over for dinner sometime.

Elliott

Oh, sure, yeah, absolutely... but, you know, what I mean is that–that you and I should work together again.

Walter

Heh, what, are you gonna teach high school?

Elliott

No, no, no, no, seriously. W–What's stopping us?

Walter

...Wait a minute. Elliott, what are you–Are you asking me to come work for you at Gray Matter?

Elliott

Yeah, why not? You'd fit right in! You're brilliant, you–you got a ton of experience.

Walter

Well, I... I wouldn't really know where to begin. I mean... God, you have no idea. I spend my days just drawing out atoms on the chalkboard and trying to get these kids to learn the periodic table.

Elliott

Look, I–I understand. You're a little rusty, but you're not seeing the upside here. We could really benefit from a- a new set of eyes. You know what it's like when you're trying to crack some problem for months on end, you get tunnel vision. One guy thinking outside of the box, you may be exactly what we need.

Walter

[pause] Well, listen, Elliott, it... the offer is very appealing, it really is, I thank you, but uh... there's–there's something you should know. I–I have some personal issues.

Elliott

Look, there's nothing we can't work out.

Walter

Well, yeah, but... it's–it's complicated.

Elliott

We can help you. We–We have excellent health insurance. The best.

[on television as Walter watches] But just yesterday, your charity, the Gretchen & Elliott Schwartz Foundation, announced a $28 million grant for drug abuse treatment centers throughout the Southwest.

Elliott

Charlie, the Southwest is our home, and we couldn't just ignore what's going on in our own backyard.

But I'm sure you're aware that there are people who suggest other motives. Andrew Ross Sorkin of The New York Times wrote a column suggesting that the grant was a kind of publicity maneuver to shore up the stock price of Gray Matter Technologies because of your association with Walter White.

Elliott

Well, that's not exactly the way...

To cleanse yourself, so to speak, of having a methamphetamine kingpin as co-founder of your company.

Elliott

Charlie, I'm glad you brought that up. I have to believe that the investing public understands we're talking about a person who was there early on, but who had virtually nothing to do with the creation of the company, and still less to do with growing it into what it is today.

So what was Walter White's contribution?

Elliott

You know, to be honest... Honey?

Gretchen

The company name.

Elliott

The company name. We came up with it by combining our names. Schwartz means black, black plus white makes gray.

Hence, Gray Matter Technologies.

Elliott

Exactly. As far as I can recall, his contribution begins and ends right there.

There are continuing reports of blue methamphetamine, considered his signature product throughout the Southwest, and some evidence of reaching as far as Europe. So my question is: Is Walter White still out there?

Gretchen

No, he's not.

You sound very sure.

Gretchen

I am. I can't speak for this Heisenberg that people refer to, but whatever... Whatever he became, the sweet, kind, brilliant man that we once knew, long ago, he's gone.

Walter

Keep stacking. It’ll all fit.

Walter

That’s alright. Just–Just throw it on top. Gretchen, would you mind? We don’t want to lose any under the furniture. [Gretchen picks up the dropped stacks] Alright. That is $9,720,000.

Gretchen

Where did it come from? And why is it here?

Walter

I earned it. And you’re going to give it to my children.

Gretchen

What? Why?

Elliott

Walt, I don’t think we—

Walter

On my son’s 18th birthday, which is ten months and two days from today, you will give him this money in the form of an irrevocable trust. You will tell him it is his to do with as he sees fit, but with the hope that he uses it for his college education and for the betterment of his family.

Elliott

Walt, I’m not sure that we follow. Why, um, I mean, why, in particular, would we—

Gretchen

If you wanna give your kids drug money, go do it yourself.

Walter

I can’t. My wife and son hate me. They won’t take my money. Even if they did, the federal government wouldn’t let them. But two rich benefactors, who are known for their charitable endeavors, who would think nothing of, for instance, writing a $28 million check to help victims of methamphetamine abuse. I have to think that your money would be very welcome.

Gretchen

It wouldn’t make any sense coming from us.

Walter

It certainly would. My children are blameless victims of their monstrous father, a man who you once knew quite well. Call it a beau geste. Call it liberal guilt. Call it whatever you want, but do it. And you are not to spend a single dime of your own money. If there are taxes or lawyers’ fees owed, you will take it right from here. They use my money, never yours.

Elliott

Okay, Walt, sure. That–That sounds reasonable. So what happens next?

Walter

I guess we shake on it. And I leave.

Walter

I can trust you to do this.

Elliott

Yes. Absolutely you can.

Walter

Don’t move, Don’t... Don’t dare move a muscle. You don’t want them to think that you’re trying to get away. Just breathe. Just this afternoon, I had an extra $200,000 that I would have loved dearly to leave on top of this table. Instead, I gave it to the two best hitmen west of the Mississippi. Now, whatever happens to me tomorrow, they’ll still be out there keeping tabs. And if, for any reason, my children do not get this money, a kind of… countdown will begin. Maybe a day or so later, maybe a week, a year, when you’re going for a walk in Santa Fe or Manhattan or Prague, wherever. And you’re... talking about your stock prices... without a worry in the world, and then suddenly, you’ll hear the scrape of a footstep behind you, and before you can even turn around... Pop!

Walter

Darkness. [puts his arms around Elliott and Gretchen] Cheer up, beautiful people. This is where you get to make it right.