Have you heard of a company called Gray Matter? Well, I cofounded it in grad school with a couple of friends. Actually, I was the one who named it. And back then, it just, oh, small time. We had a couple of patents pending, but nothing Earth-shattering. Of course, we all knew the potential. Hell, we were gonna take the world by storm. And then, well, something happened between the three of us. I'm not going to go into detail, but for personal reasons I decided to leave the company. And I sold my share to my two partners. I took a buyout for $5,000. Now at the time, it was a lot of money for me. Care to guess what that company is worth now?
Billions. With a B. $2.16 billion as of last Friday. I look it up every week. And I sold my share, my potential, for $5,000. I sold my kids' birthright for a few months' rent.
This isn't the same thing.
Jesse, you asked me if I was in the meth business or the money business. Neither. I'm in the empire business.
Is a meth empire really something to be that proud of?
[Walter, Skyler and Jesse are having a very awkward dinner]
Mmmm, these are great green beans, Mrs. White. I like that you got the slivered almonds going. My mom always made 'em like that. You put lemon in there too?
They are from the deli at Albertsons.
Oh... Oh, well, uh... Well–you know–good, uh, good work on your shopping then, because these are choice. I eat a lot of frozen stuff. It's usually pretty bad. I mean, the pictures are always so awesome, you know? It's like, "Hell, yeah, I'm stoked for this lasagna!" And then you nuke it, and the cheese gets all scabby on top and it's like you're eating a scab. I mean, seriously, what's that about? It's like, yo, whatever happened to truth in advertising? You know? [pause; Walter and Skyler do not respond] So, hey, uh, how's business? The car wash? Mr. White said it's going really well. Says, like, you're, uh, a great manager.
Yeah, he says you've got it running like–like a machine. Like, well-oiled. Yeah.
What else did he tell you about me?
Oh, you know, just good stuff. Just really–you know–really good, good stuff. We don't really talk that much about–you know–personal things.
[to Walter] Did you also tell him about my affair?
[Walter doesn't respond; Jesse takes a long sip from a glass of water]
May I please be excused? [leaves the table with a large glass of wine]
You know, my kids are gone.
No, I don't mean they're out for the night. They're gone. They're staying at my in-laws; she made me kick my own kids out of the house. She told me... that she was counting the days until my cancer came back. My wife is waiting for me to die. This business is all I have left now. It's all I have... and you want to take it away from me.
[Saul represents Mike at a DEA meeting]
To what do we owe the pleasure?
Well, gentlemen, we're here to discuss the illegal harassment of my client.
[chuckles] This should be good.
Mr. Ehrmantraut has become the subject of a vicious, relentless and unwarranted DEA persecution.
Gomey, does uh... does that sound right to you?
I have no idea what he's talking about.
Play it as cool as you like, Fonzie, but we all know you've been following my client day and night. The poor man can't even spend a few moments with his granddaughter without you guys quivering in the bushes, and peeping through your little binoculars. It's–Well, it's disturbing! [chuckles] And it's taken a toll on his mental and physical well-being.
[looks Mike over] Your client looks fine to me.
Well, some hurts only show on the inside. Now, you guys don't even have warrants for these tails, do you?
Theoretically, these "tails" you refer to would be completely within the boundaries of the law.
You don't need a warrant to follow somebody through a public place, theoretically.
Now, that is, uh... theoretically correct. However, I would counter that an open-ended, unrestricted surveillance like this amounts to, uh... stalking. [Hank laughs] Which is illegal. Now, I don't know what it is you find so interesting about my client, and I'm not here to judge–different strokes and all–but sadly, he's just not that into you. So, I have filed a temporary restraining order against the DEA, on behalf of Mr. Ehrmantraut.
...Where'd you get your law degree, Goodman? The same clown college you got that suit?
You know who likes this suit? Judge Papadoumian; she thinks I'm a snappy dresser. You know what Judge Papadoumian hates? Police harassment of a senior citizen. [Mike leers at him] Sorry. Expect a visit from the sheriff, Agents. You should have your ex parte within the hour.
Might as well get comfortable. This deal is going down tomorrow. It's happening and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Got it?
Uh-huh. So it's okay for you to steal my—
To insure that, you and I are going to spend the rest of the night together in this office, like it's my birthday.
When the deal is done, you'll get your money. I guarantee that.
Mike, let me cook it! I'll double your five and you still walk!
You know, I have never seen anybody work so hard not to get $5 million.
Mike, you need to listen to me.
No. Walter, the last thing I need to do is listen to you. Now sit down.
[sees that the methylamine is gone] Where is he?
[shoving Jesse] Get out of my way. [draws a gun on Walter] You sit down.
Mike, Mike, hold on! Mr. White's got an idea!
[holding the gun at Walter's temple] I am going to count to three.
It's a great idea! Look, you get your $5 million, we both do, and he gets his methylamine. Alright? Just hear him out!
[pause] Is that true, Walter?
