[After the PPD meeting, Jimmy leaves while Kim stays behind to confront Chuck and Howard]
I’m putting you both on notice regarding the bar hearing. First thing, I’m filing a motion to suppress that tape.
The tape that Jimmy destroyed, you mean.
How about we stop with the games. There’s no way there isn’t a duplicate.
Of course there is. You knew Jimmy was gonna break in–you wanted him to. There’s no way you were gonna let him destroy the only copy of that tape, so you made a duplicate. It’s the first thing you did.
Kim, this is not how we do discovery.
Actually, Jimmy destroyed the duplicate. [Howard is about to say something] Oh, it’s fine, Howard. [to Kim] The original is under lock and key, and in due time it will be put into evidence for your review. So, of course, file whatever motions you’d like. It’s your privilege.
But Kim, you should be aware–because I think this will be your first disciplinary hearing–the Bar Association standard of proof is far more lenient than what you’re used to. Motions aside, that tape will be played.
Chuck. [takes Chuck by the arm] See you, Kim.
[Chuck and Howard leave. Kim meets Jimmy by the elevators.]
Well? [walks in step with Kim] What?
[Jimmy visits Dr. Caldera at his veterinary clinic, holding a goldfish in a plastic bag]
CDr. Caldera
Jesus, what are you doing, man? There's barely any oxygen in that bag! You're suffocating her!
CDr. Caldera
Yeah, just because you don't see swinging dicks doesn't mean you can't tell a boy fish from a girl fish.
Oh, yes, now I can see the lipstick.
[Chuck and Howard visit the courtroom where Jimmy's hearing will be held]
How are you feeling, Chuck?
Because this is a lot to ask, and if you're not up to it, just throwing this out there: Maybe you don't need to testify at all.
No, I do. I'm the only person who can adequately explain the context of that tape, otherwise the defense will tear it to shreds.
It's already a solid case. We have Jimmy's statement from the Pre-Prosecution Diversion, there's my testimony and the private eye's... maybe there's no need to put you through the wringer like this.
…This isn't about me, or my health. This is about PR.
We lost a client. That happened because while you were... incapacitated, your brother accessed documents that should have been secured at HHM. What Jimmy did is unconscionable, yes, but one of my jobs is to safeguard the firm's reputation.
This is not the time to worry about how we look! This is about what's right and what's wrong. I'm not going to risk Jimmy getting- what, a year of suspension, maybe two? He deserves disbarment, not some slap on the wrist. No, Howard. There's only one way forward. "Let justice be done, though the heavens fall."
Did you consider taking [Jimmy] on as an associate?
Sounds like you didn't hire him. Why not, with that kind of grit?
The partners decided it would be best to avoid the appearance of nepotism. We felt hiring Jimmy might damage morale.
Nepotism, hmm? Your firm is Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill, right? Who's the other Hamlin?
[Chuck gives his testimony]
I recorded my brother to build a case against him.
RARobert Alley
And at the time, would you say you were in full possession of your faculties? All due respect, but you do sound somewhat unhinged on the recording.
Yes, I understand, but what you heard was theater, a performance, play-acting. I exaggerated the symptoms of my disease to extract the truth.
RARobert Alley
Can we talk about your disease for a moment? I'd like everybody here to be on the same page.
Of course. It is sometimes referred to as EHS: Electromagnetic hypersensitivity. I describe it as an acute allergy to electromagnetism.
RARobert Alley
It's not a common condition, is it?
I know it sounds strange, I do, but 30 years ago, no one had heard of peanut allergies.
RARobert Alley
But you admit that no one... no doctor has ever diagnosed you?
AIDS was not identified properly until 1981. HIV wasn't known as the cause until '83. These things take time to unravel, even for doctors.
RARobert Alley
Would you say that your illness affects your ability to think clearly?
No. It affects me physically. It causes me great pain; however, I'm perfectly lucid.
RARobert Alley
Thank you. Mr. McGill, I have only one more question for you... do you hate your brother?
Absolutely not. I love my brother. There's nothing malicious in Jimmy. He has a way of doing the worst things for reasons that seem almost noble... but what I know for sure is that the law is too important to be toyed with. It's mankind's greatest achievement. The rule of law, the idea that no matter who you are, your actions have consequences, and the way my brother treats the law... it breaks my heart. That's why I did what I did. Not to hurt him, but to protect something that I hold sacred.
[Rebecca tries to get Jimmy to assist her in helping Chuck]
RRebecca
I was just at Chuck’s and he wouldn’t answer the door. I–I was out there knocking for almost an hour.
That sounds like Chuck. I’m sure he’s fine. He’s just being dramatic.
RRebecca
Well, I think it’s a little more than that. I want you to come with me to get him to let us in. [Jimmy chuckles] Jimmy, he needs our help.
No, thanks. [rolls his eyes] I’ve already kicked my door in for the year.
RRebecca
You owe it to him.
I don’t owe him squat. [sits down on the couch and sips from his Davis & Main mug]
RRebecca
[pause] Jimmy, you lied to me. This was never about helping Chuck.
If you feel misled, I apologize. But I think I was clear. I told you I had to defend myself and Chuck would need help afterwards, which he does.
RRebecca
You got what you wanted. Now’s time to do what’s right.
RRebecca
Jimmy, he’s still your brother!
[shakes his head] Not anymore he’s not.
RRebecca
[pause; looks at Jimmy and Kim knowingly] Chuck was right about you all along. He’s mentally ill. What is your excuse? [pause] Enjoy your champagne.
[Howard visits Chuck to tell him the verdict of Jimmy’s bar hearing]
The opinion came in. Jimmy was suspended for twelve months. This is a win, my friend. I know it doesn't feel like it… but hear me out. Jimmy’s not gonna be a lawyer for one year, and if he screws up–which we both know is likely–his PPD terminates. One year may turn into forever. [pause; Chuck says nothing] Chuck, you’re at a crossroads. You can keep looking backwards, stay focused on your brother–what he’s up to–or you can go forward. And Chuck, listen to me. Jimmy’s just not worth it. Where would we be if… say, Clarence Darrow had devoted the best years of his life to supervising his ne’er-do-well relatives? Think of the cases he wouldn’t have taken, the injustices that would’ve gone unanswered. [pause] What a waste. I say… [uncorks scotch bottle] put your energy into the future. [pours glasses for himself and Chuck] Anything else… is a waste of your time and intellect. What do you say?
[beat; sniffs the scotch in his glass] To new beginnings.
What are we gonna do about Francesca?
[clears throat] Do about her? What?
Yeah, how much notice should we give her? Two weeks? [Jimmy turns to look at her] Well, we’re not doing her any favors by keeping her in the dark. She should start looking.
So, you wanna fire Francesca?
[shrugs] I don’t want to, but I don’t need her for more than filing and getting coffee, and I can do that myself.
We just hired her. I like her.
While we’re on the subject, we need to talk about the overhead on this place.
This office is set up for two legal practices, and now there’s only… one! I don’t need all this space; I only have one client!
I looked into it, and… breaking the lease will cost a hell of a lot less than ten months’ rent.
Look, we didn’t go through all of this just to give up everything after one day of suspension. One day!
It’s not everything. It’s an office. Four walls and a door. Why waste money on something we don’t need?
[pause] As far as I’m concerned, nothing’s changed, alright? I’ll hold up my end, you hold up yours. Fifty-fifty.
So you’re gonna keep paying for half a law office even though you’re not practicing law?
Call it aspirational thinking.
Okay, but how are you gonna pay for it?
[inhales deeply] The day I don’t show up with my half, that’s the day we’ll talk about closing this place.
So your father, his shop. Where does he get his upholstery?
...From, uh, the distributor.
And where is the distributor?
Jalisco. Uh, I want a new way to get my stuff over the border, a legitimate business.
Right, but the chicken man...
Temporary. I want a new front, my own.
Don Hector, my father is a simple man. He is not in the business.
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.
What?! All he had to do was six months! He'll be in there forever! [knocks over the table] Aah!
[Jimmy plays a videotape of his first commercial using the Saul Goodman moniker]
JIJimmy [in ad]
What's that I see? Albuquerque's next TV star? It's you, small business owner! Struggling to make it in today's fast-paced economy? Thought television advertising was too expensive for you? Well you better think again! You can't afford not to be on TV! Look at you, you're a triple threat: great services, great products, and most of all, that face! You're a star! Wrap it all up in your natural charisma, and bam—you belong on TV! Better watch out for autograph hounds and paparazzi! And it gets better! I can have you on the air tomorrow! Yeah, you heard me right! Tomorrow! Better get ready to be famous, Albuquerque! I can make you a TV star for a price you can afford! Call me, Saul Goodman! The world needs to know about you and your business! Call me now!
[Jimmy and Kim finish watching the video of the "Saul Goodman Productions" commercial. Kim is taken aback.]
The guy at the station said he's never seen so many star wipes in a row. It's never been done.
Yeah. It's like, "S'all good, man."
That guy has a lot of energy.
["Saul Goodman" split his profits from his ad with his production crew]
CGCamera Guy
Can we make this easier; just split it four ways?
Split it four—I'll split you four ways! Don't they teach you capitalism in that school of yours?
CGCamera Guy
I'm just saying we got expenses, man.
You—Expenses?! You don't have expenses, I've got expenses! [holds up some bills] You see this? This is the money I've already spent on airtime for that commercial, four hundred forty-five bucks. You know what that means I'm left with?
DGDrama Girl
One hundred dollars?
One hundred and four dollars and 95 cents for writing, directing, producing, client outreach, sales, transpo, all of it—
Yeah. So let's get you in the editing room and finish this thing, and I don't wanna hear another word about expenses!
You mind if I ask? I really don't mean to pry, but—
AAnita
Let me guess. You have another construction job you need my help on.
No, but if I do, you'll be the first person I call.
You said you kept your husband's uniform. Was he on the job?
AAnita
"On the job"? Oh, you mean the police. No, Alan was a Navy man. He was well out of the service when I lost him. I'm sorry, the group has heard my story over and over.
Well, that's what we're here for.
AAnita
Well... Alan loved to hike. We even opened a camping supply store, I helped him with the mail-order side of it, and then... This was eight years ago. He went hiking in Gila National and never came back. They found our car, but they never found him. And I don't know if he slipped and fell or had a heart attack or met someone didn't like the way he looked... I don't know. And even after all these years, not knowing how he passed or where he is? I wish it didn't matter... but it does.
[Kim and Jimmy, drinking at a bar, spot a mark for Viktor and Giselle]
We are here to meet a celebrity who's donating to my charity.
Kevin Costner. I will go stand in that corner, you point me out—You're meeting Kevin Costner.
What? You don't look like Kevin Costner.
Uh, I look exactly like Kevin Costner. People are always coming up to me, saying they loved me in Bull Durham.
[Jimmy suddenly notices a blowhard abusing a waiter]
That guy. How de we get him?
What do you think? The—the trick with the coin you told me about, or the counterfeit bill?
No. That guy's a real asshole. He needs to go down hard. Here's what we're gonna do: We're gonna sell him a worthless credit card for $5000. Here's what you do: Make eye contact with him. It's all it'll take for him to think you're interested. I'll act good and drunk, and he'll... think I'm a loser and try to steal you away. He will persist. Tell him you can't leave me, not yet. Let him know you're trying to roll me. He'll want in. He'll help you ply me with booze. Now, you take my wallet, you lift the card... following this?
...We're not actually doing this, right? We're just talking.
...Yeah. Just talking. [beat] What?
I keep thinking... was there another way?
"Another way"? Chuck? Is that what you're talking about? Kim, he had us in a corner, okay? We did what we had to do.
Everything that happened was his own fault. Everything. You put him in the rearview mirror. He is not worth thinking about. Done.
He called me... for obvious reasons.
Look, I'm not here to rip him off. He has the stuff, right?
I need to know what you're planning.
I know they're for Salamanca. Nitro pills. Your boss has heart problems.
You already got it all figured out. Why are you asking?
How are you going to make the switch?
[sighs] Hector keeps the pills in his coat pocket. When he hangs up his coat, I'll make the switch.
Hm. He goes down, then what?
His heart goes out, that's it.
Lot of eyes on Salamanca. You do this, how are you going to stop them from finding out it was you?
Are you trying to tell me not to do this?
I'm not telling you anything. Just want to make sure you know what you're getting into.
I'm not "getting" into anything. I'm in it. I've got no choice. Hector wants to use my dad's business. My dad is a straight-arrow, he won't stand for it, which means he goes to the police, which means... he's a dead man. And that's not happening.
You get caught, it could get worse.
You don't think I know who I'm dealing with?
[Mike goes to Nacho's van and takes out the gas cap]
[Mike pries open the gas cap to find nothing inside, then puts it back]
There are more people than the Salamancas to worry about here. Now, if you manage to pull this off without a bullet to your head, and switch those pills... then switch 'em back.
Anyone gets an itch about the medicine not working, they're gonna check those pills. You do this - switch them back.
...So. You gonna let us make this deal?
You got the money? [Nacho takes an envelope out of his pocket] Good. Now, before we do this, I'm gonna need one more thing from you.
[Mike takes out his notebook and clicks his pen]
[Jimmy and Marco break into the McGill's abandoned corner store to set up another con during their reunion. Jimmy retrieves a Band-Aid box from the ceiling and empties a pile of rare coins onto the counter]
[picking up a coin] Boom! Indian-head penny! Alright, that's worth about three bucks; we polish it up, run the coin game.
Nice. We get a hundred fifty bucks, easy.
Hundred and fifty? We got a hundred ten for a plain vanilla half-dollar. This-this is actually rare—I mean, you can see it, y'know! Three hundred, easy.
Oh, three hundred. Me likey. Now you're gonna tell me what your coin collection was doing up there.
Uh... [huffs] It's a long story. Let's get out of here.
[They freeze as they hear a police car drive by.]
Alright, now let's hit it.
No, there might be another one.
Alright, then give. What's the deal with the coins?
[chuckles] Well, uh... I was what, 12 or so, and I was working the register. Guy comes in, buys a box of Ivory Flakes and a sixer of Old Style. He pays with a couple bucks and [holds up coin] this. Second I see it, I know what it is: It's a George Washington silver. I tell my dad, "Pop, this quarter is rare, it's worth four bucks." Barely get the words out of my mouth, he hightails it outta here to give it back. He can't find the guy, so he tapes it to the side of the register; he's hoping that this guy will come back, so he can return it! After about a week, he starts talking about giving it to Father Mahoney for the poor box, so I make it disappear. Then after that, every day after school, I'm checking the till. If something catches my eye, I stick it in the box, put it up there for good luck. [clears throat] So much for good luck.
It's a crying shame they lost this place.
They never should have bought it in the first place. My dad didn't have it in him.
...What do you mean? Your folks worked so hard.
Yeah, they worked hard; they worked a lot of hours for a lot of years for nothing.
I dunno, Jimmy. Y'know, a lot of customers, everyone liked him.
Everybody liked him 'cause he was a soft touch. Y'know, every deadbeat in the neighborhood owed him money. You come in here with a sob story, you leave with a pat on the back and a gallon of milk. He could've made it work. He could've sold beer and cigarettes to the kids from Mary Margaret's but... heh, oh no, not him. [sniff] He was never gonna do what he had to do.
