Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul & Vince Gilligan & Peter Gould
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul
Screen Genius & Better Call Saul
INT. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE STATION
The camera slowly pans down past a wanted board, until Jimmy comes into view. He turns to Mike, who is sitting beside him.
JIMMY: Once again... I do all the talking. That's the only way this works.
We start to hear footsteps approaching in the distance. Two detectives come around the corner.
DETECTIVE ABBASI: Hand it over.
JIMMY: Now, before that happens...
DETECTIVE ABBASI: Hand it over.
JIMMY: No. Hey. I've got it right here.
Jimmy reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a notepad.
JIMMY: Is this it?
Detective Abbasi quickly snatches the notepad from jimmy.
JIMMY: I'll I will take that as a yes. Very well. Mystery solved.
DETECTIVE ABBASI: You know, I could take you into custody right now, you son of a bitch. Both of you.
JIMMY: Whoa, whoa. Where's this coming from?
DETECTIVE ABBASI: You're the one who spilled the coffee, you ambulance-chasing piece of shit!
JIMMY: Can we dial it down, you know, just a notch? Look, 45 minutes ago, I'm sound asleep. I get a call from Mr. Ehrmantraut. He's concerned. He's getting threatening voicemails from you accusing him of petty theft. I tell him, "hey, we're gonna nip this in the bud. I don't care what the hell time it is. We're gonna go talk this thing out." And walking across the parking lot, just now boom there's a notepad, plain as day, lying on the asphalt, where I can only surmise you accidentally dropped it, Detective. Now, guys, that's that's all we know.
DETECTIVE ABBASI: Let me tell you something, Slick... wait till I get you back to Philadelphia.
JIMMY: I'm confused. The state of Pennsylvania can extradite people for returning lost property? Wow, that is one bold legislature.
DETECTIVE ABBASI: Anything you want to say to me about what you found in here? Hmm? Now that it's all out in the open? Maybe your daughter-in-law maybe she's got something to tell me.
MIKE: Maybe. Maybe not.
DETECTIVE ABBASI: Yeah, we'll see. First thing tomorrow I mean, you got to figure she wouldn't reach out to us if she had nothing to say. Hopefully, whatever you are didn't rub off on the rest of your family.
Detective Abbasi walks away out of sight
MIKE: Thanks.
JIMMY: You're welcome. Let's get the hell out of here.
MIKE: No, I mean thanks, as in three's a crowd. You can go now.
JIMMY: You're not talking to my client without me.
MIKE: Yeah, he is. Please leave now.
Jimmy walks away. Detective Sanders takes a seat beside Mike
DETECTIVE SANDERS: You ever have jet lag? I guess that's what this is. Maybe it's the altitude, huh?
MIKE: Could be the altitude.
DETECTIVE SANDERS: We're a mile up, right? Sorry about the kid. He's young, looking to make his mark.
MIKE: I like him.
DETECTIVE SANDERS: Your daughter-in-law what what's she gonna tell us?
MIKE: I don't honestly know.
DETECTIVE SANDERS: Well, Mike, if she's got nothing to say, this pretty well ends it here. So maybe you should talk to her before we do.
MIKE: I talked. If I were to guess, I'd say she wouldn't tell you much. But either way, that's up to her. That's the least I owe her.
DETECTIVE SANDERS: There's a lot of people we both know that think that Fensky got what was coming to him Hoffman, too. That whole precinct was a sewer. Wouldn't be surprised if there's a few more early retirements. Might be a good thing new blood.
MIKE: Like the kid.
DETECTIVE SANDERS: Yeah. He's all right. He's just got to learn, that's all. Some rocks you don't turn over.
Detective Sanders begins to get up to his feet. He looks at Mike and then walks away
EXT. PARKING LOT
Jimmy stands up against his car, waiting for Mike. We can hear footsteps approaching.
JIMMY: What did you say to him? Let's go, word for word, verbatim, while it's still fresh.
MIKE: What I said is none of your concern. I was speaking to a friend.
JIMMY: (Chuckles) You were speaking to a homicide detective who flew 2,000 miles to investigate a double murder for which you are clearly the prime suspect. How could you not recognize the mind games, the scams, the the con jobs these people play? You used to be one of them. So what got said? Right now, come on. I'm serious.
MIKE: I know you're trying to help me, but you can't go...
JIMMY: Look, no, I'm trying to help me. Those two Philly cheesesteaks they want to lock me up right alongside you. So, work with me here, for the both of us.
MIKE: You're safe, Counselor, and I no longer require your services.
JIMMY: You're... you're kidding, right? What you think you're gonna defend yourself?
MIKE: It's in someone else's hands.
JIMMY: What like God?
MIKE: No.
JIMMY: Please don't say Hamlin, Hamlin, McGill.
MIKE: I appreciate your help. Go home. Go to bed. Send me your bill.
JIMMY: Oh, I'm sending you my bill.
Mike climbs into his car, starts the engine, and drives out of the parking lot.
JIMMY: I'm sending... You better believe it!
EXT. CHUCK'S HOUSE
Jimmy's car pulls up outside Chucks house.
INT. CHUCK'S HOUSE
JIMMY: It's me your friendly neighborhood ice man. There was a run on bacon. I'll get you next time. Chuck, you there?
Jimmy walks through the living room and towards the staircase looking for Chuck.
JIMMY: Chuck? Chuck? Chuck, you up there? Hello?
CHUCK (O.S): I'm out here!
Jimmy heads towards the backdoor, where he finds Chuck standing outside.
EXT. CHUCK'S HOUSE
CHUCK: 112, 113, 114...
JIMMY: Holy shit! What are you doing?
CHUCK: Shh! 115, 116, 117, 18, 119... 120. Go! Go! Inside!
Jimmy and Chuck go back inside, closing the door behind them.
INT. CHUCK'S HOUSE
JIMMY: What the hell was that? What the hell was that?
CHUCK: Just give me a second.
Chuck sits down on the couch, catching his breath.
CHUCK: Ohh. Okay. Okay. It's an experiment, really. I've been attempting to build up a tolerance for electromagnetic fields.
JIMMY: Seriously?
CHUCK: Yeah. Yeah, it's like, um, you know, like taking small doses of poison to build up an immunity.
JIMMY: Yeah, well, is that a real thing? 'Cause that does not sound like a real thing.
CHUCK: It's a real thing. Anyway, as you well know, there is a 60-kilovolt transformer 200 meters south-southwest of my front yard. And I've been trying to get acclimated to it. I got up to two minutes today.
JIMMY: Jesus, Chuck.
CHUCK: Yeah. Two days ago, I could barely stand 30 seconds. I'm trying to get up to five minutes by next week.
JIMMY: That is just... uh, but why now?
CHUCK: Well, after what happened with the police and the hospital, I almost lost everything, Jimmy. I can't go on like this. I have to find a way to get better. I've got to. I have to get back to work. Sitting here, rotting away this is no kind of life for me for anyone. I need to be useful again.
JIMMY: Chuck I am so proud of you.
CHUCK: Oh. It'll be a long process, but one to which I'm very much committed. I have to be.
JIMMY: God, I I'll be right back. I got to get a few more things out of the car.
CHUCK: All right.
Jimmy heads out of the front door. Chuck stays on the couch, stretching and laughing.
INT. CHUCK'S HOUSE - KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM
Jimmy wheels a cart with few boxes on through the door and into the living room
CHUCK: What's all this?
JIMMY: It's just some case files. I'm out of room at the office. I don't want to leave them in the car. There's a lot of sensitive information.
CHUCK: Y... you're not planning to leave them here. Yeah, I don't know, Jimmy.
JIMMY: It'll just be for a little while, okay? I'm practically sleeping on these things back at my place.
CHUCK: Business is that good?
JIMMY: It's booming streets of gold. Yeah. I'll get these out of here as quick as I can. I just need to file the 4-13s on some of these wills, and, uh, I'll be out of your hair.
CHUCK: 4-13s?
JIMMY: Personal property statements.
CHUCK: You mean 5-13s.
JIMMY: Yeah. Sorry. I was just working with these seniors. Maybe the dementia's contagious, huh?
Jimmy pats Chuck's shoulder, and starts walking towards the door. Leaving Chuck with the case files.
JIMMY: So, uh, we good here? See you tomorrow. Same time.
Chuck takes a good look at the boxes, his hands twitching. He takes a deep breath, and grabs one of the files from the box. Jimmy watches from a window nearby.
INT. OFFICE BUILDING
Jimmy and Kim walk through the door of the building into the lobby area.
Jimmy: James McGill. Scott said he'd leave the keys to 801, the suite that's for lease.
The guard hands Jimmy the keys to the suite.
LOBBY GUARD: Here you go. Just bring them back when you're done.
JIMMY: You got it.
KIM: Wow, this is, like really nice.
JIMMY: Why do you sound surprised?
KIM: Not surprised, no. Just, you know, could you afford this?
JIMMY: Oh, yeah. Are you kidding? Those seniors have been very good to me. I've been meaning to expand, you know? It's time to invest in myself. Figure this may be just the place.
KIM: Well, won't you miss the nail salon?
JIMMY: Oh, I can always visit, you know, get some French tips.
Jimmy and Kim take the elevator up to the suite.
INT. OFFICE SUITE
KIM: Wow.
JIMMY: It's a clean slate. Put the, uh, reception desk right here. Uh, get some comfortable seating for the clients.
KIM: It's big lot of offices.
JIMMY: Yeah, I like the openness. I feel like I can breathe in here, you know? It's not some claustrophobic, little closet that smells like acetone. Room to grow. Dream big, I say.
Jimmy takes Kim on a tour around the empty suite.
JIMMY: Got a decent-size conference room not as big as Hamlin's, but, you know, it's cozy. Our elderly brethren prefer that, I find.
KIM: Could be cozier, though. Maybe you could embroider some little cushions, crochet a runner for the table.
JIMMY: And rocking chairs all around?
KIM: Yes. Make it look like the front of a cracker barrel, huh? Now you're talking.
Jimmy takes Kim into the office next to the conference room.
JIMMY: This is me.
KIM: I love it.
JIMMY: Got to look successful to be successful. Am I right?
KIM: Well, this definitely looks like success. Great view. Get you a big, fancy desk in here.
JIMMY: Cocobolo desk.
KIM: A what?
JIMMY: I don't know what it means, but I just like saying the word cocobolo.
KIM: Okay, well, whatever it is, you deserve it.
JIMMY: And, uh, I want you to see this one.
Jimmy takes Kim to the corner office.
JIMMY: Here we are.
KIM: Whoa. This is way better than the other one.
JIMMY: You think?
KIM: Uh, yeah. Who goes in here? 'Cause I'd be all up in here if I were you.
JIMMY: Yeah. Yeah, you know, you're right. It is real nice.
KIM: It's a corner office. You got to go with the corner office.
JIMMY: Eh, I was saving it for someone.
KIM: Who?
JIMMY: Well, my partner.
KIM: Your partner? Who's... Who would that be?
JIMMY: Well, you said you were interested in elder law.
KIM: That's... That is so... Thank you. Really. But you know I've got a lot invested at HHM. With what's going on now, I'm closer than ever to partner like, maybe two years, and I'm in.
JIMMY: Yeah, I know. Yeah, it's... it's just a thought.
KIM: Plus, you know, they put me through law school. I feel like I owe them. Actually, I do owe them literally, you know? But it's a nice thought, Jimmy.
JIMMY: Just, uh, you know, playing with ideas. So, I had the extra office and everything, so. Yeah.
KIM: Yeah. No, I get it. It's... I want to see the kitchen.
Kim leaves the office looking for the kitchen. Jimmy stays alone looking out the window.
KIM (O.S): Wow! They have stainless in here. I don't even have stainless at home.
INT. HHM - CONFERENCE ROOM
Kim and Mr. and Mrs. Kettleman sit around the table discussing their case.
KIM: I know this is the last thing you want to hear. I think your chances of getting a favorable ruling from a jury are very slim.
CRAIG: What does that mean?
KIM: We're not in a great position to win at trial.
BETSY: But we came to you people because we were told you win cases.
KIM: Winning doesn't always mean getting a favorable verdict at trial. We try to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients, given each individual case. Frankly, we've worked very hard to stave off an arrest. After the misunderstanding about your, uh, camping trip, the D.A. was concerned you might be a flight risk.
BETSY: A flight risk? We we were practically in our own backyard.
KIM: That's exactly what we told the D.A. In any case, I think we've managed to come up with a deal that is very favorable under the circumstances.
BETSY: A deal? I hate that terminology. A deal is what they got O.J.
CRAIG: Well, Betsy, maybe we should, you know, hear it.
BETSY: I'm just saying, it's terrible term. What kind of deal?
KIM: If the prosecution decides to file, which is definitely the direction this seems to be headed, and if they choose to stack charges, Craig, you're looking at 30 years in prison.
CRAIG: 30 years?
KIM: That's the maximum, and given the nature of the charge and the current political environment, I'd say we should expect it. The public outcry in cases like these is a big factor. However, after much discussion with the D.A., who is also invested in keeping the press to a minimum, we have arrived at an arrangement, which would include 16 months in a county facility.
CRAIG: 16 months.
KIM: Down from 30 years. And you most likely wouldn't serve all of it.
BETSY: But he would have to say he was guilty.
KIM: Admitting wrongdoing and making the county whole again goes a long way here... hence the minimal sentence.
BETSY: Uh, "making the county whole again"?
KIM: It includes the stipulation that you return $1.6 million in misappropriated funds.
CRAIG: Give back the money?
Betsy puts her hand on Craig's arm.
BETSY: But there is no money.
CRAIG: There's no money.
BETSY: We told you Craig is innocent.
KIM: I understand. However, I'd like to emphasize again that this deal is Craig's best chance of minimizing jail time.
BETSY: You're telling us there are drug dealers and murderers walking the streets, but instead of going after them, they want to put an innocent man in jail.
CRAIG: There's no other way?
KIM: I'm sorry. I think, under the circumstances, this is your best option.
BETSY: Murderers and rapists, and this is how they tr... (inhales deeply) Okay. There is no money. There never was. You have to take this to trial.
KIM: Look, you have a difficult, but nevertheless straightforward choice to make here. On one hand, you give up the money, plead...
BETSY: Ah! I just told you there is no money.
KIM: Plead guilty... it's painful, I know and go to jail for a year and a half. But your other choice that is no choice at all. If you go to trial, you'll most likely lose, and Craig goes to prison for decades. Your children will grow up seeing their dad through bars on visiting day. I know what I'd do. I'd take the deal. Two years from now, you can be starting over. It's tough, I know, But you're tough people. And your family is worth it. Why don't I give you a few moments to discuss this? I know it's a big decision.
BETSY: We don't need to discuss it. You're fired.
INT. HHM LOBBY
Betsy and Craig burst though the door and head downstairs towards the exit. Howard and Kim follow.
HOWARD: How about we go to my office and discuss this? I'm sure there's a solution.
BETSY: That won't be necessary. We will no longer be requiring your services.
CRAIG: Yeah, it's not personal, really.
HOWARD: If you're unhappy with what we presented to you, there may be other directions we can go.
BETSY: We're done here! Please stop following us!
Craig looks back at Howard, who stands on the staircase.
BETSY: Don't look back.
BETSY (O.S): Only look forward. Always in life, look forward.
INT. BINGO
JIMMY (O.S): O-70! O-70! Oh, yeah. 70's a good age. All right, duck your heads, 'cause here comes another number. N-32. And the action never stops. I hope you all took your heart pills, 'cause it's almost too much excitement, right?
JIMMY: Which one will it be? Say your prayers. Here it comes. All right, we've got G-48 "G," as in "Guy Lombardo." G-48.
JIMMY (O.S): Keep your elbows to yourselves, okay? No body-checking. All right, what do we have here? Wait for it. B-6. Lucky B-6, just like the vitamin, all right, which you should be taking. Keep things moving in the old G.I. tract.
OLD LADY: Bingo!
JIMMY (O.S): Oh, we have a winner!
The other bingo players give her a round of applause.
JIMMY: Lady luck has struck again. Let's see a hand so we know who's won. Let's see a hand so we know who's won.
The lady raises her hand.
JIMMY: It's the lovely young lady in the back. Congratulations, Miss. You've won a, um what do we have for the lovely lady?
BINGO HELPER: Notebook.
JIMMY: Yeah, it's an adorable notebook. Do you like cats, Miss, uh...
OLD LADY: Oh, Irene. I love kitties. I have two siamese cats, Oscar and Felix. Felix can wash himself. Oscar won't. He he just won't.
Jimmy's cellphone starts ringing. He reaches into his pocket for the phone.
JIMMY: What a lovely story. Thank you.
Jimmy looks over to the helper.
JIMMY: Um, can you take that to Irene? And when you come back, cover yeah?
Jimmy addresses the crowd, and then heads to the back of the room to answer his cellphone.
JIMMY: Uh, I'm gonna take a short break, 'cause somebody needs legal help.
JIMMY (On phone): (British accent) Offices of James McGill, esquire. How may I direct your call?
JIMMY (On phone): (British accent) Yes. Yes. Yes, of course. Um, one moment, please.
Jimmy heads out of the door.
INT. LOYOLA'S DINER
Jimmy sits down at a table with the Kettleman.
JIMMY: Déjà vu. Hello, again. Good to see you.
CRAIG: Nice to see you.
JIMMY: So, how may I be of service?
BETSY: Well, we would like to hire you as our attorney, Mr. McGill.
JIMMY: Wow. Really?
BETSY: However, we have certain conditions, and these are not up for debate. We want no jail time. Zero. Craig is innocent, and we expect you to prove that. We won't see his name smeared like this any longer.
JIMMY: Um, can we back up just a scooch? 'Cause last time we spoke, you were very enthusiastic... you were positively insistent about being represented by HHM.
A waitress comes over to offer them coffee. Craig raises his mug ready to get some, but Betsy waves the waitress away.
BETSY: Well, uh. We've parted ways.
JIMMY: May I ask why?
BETSY: We disagreed with their defense strategy.
JIMMY: Okay.
BETSY: They treated us like we were guilty.
JIMMY: So, your previous objections to my representing you are now...
BETSY: Oh, I'm sorry about my bluntness at our last encounter.
CRAIG: Unfortunate.
BETSY: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I...
CRAIG: But we really we're very sorry about that.
BETSY: We thought long and hard about it, and, um, we....
CRAIG: And, you know, given your passion and your can-do attitude. We really.. we just believe that you're the lawyer for us.
BETSY: For us, yes.
JIMMY: Well, as flattered as I am by this, um, since we last spoke, I've changed my area of specialization, so I concentrate on elder law now.
CRAIG: But, I mean, you said that you would fight for us. Yeah, you were you were adamant.
BETSY: You promised to get us a not-guilty verdict.
JIMMY: I don't think I exactly promised that.
BETSY: You said we would be client number one, morning, noon, or night.
JIMMY: Yes, and I meant what I said, at the time, but times change.
BETSY: But we've already paid you a retainer.
JIMMY: Right. A retainer.
BETSY: That is what you called it. That was your specific terminology.
JIMMY: It... could you excuse me for a moment? I, uh, had a big gulp on the way over.
CRAIG: Ohh.
INT. LOYOLA'S DINER - BATHROOM
Jimmy enters the bathroom and pulls out his cellphone, dialing Kim. Another man is also in the bathroom with his back to Jimmy.
KIM (On phone): Hey.
JIMMY (On phone): Hey, there.
The other man stops urinating and turns to face Jimmy, who quickly turns his back and continues his conversation.
JIMMY (On phone): Funny story. I found something that belongs to you... again.
KIM (On phone): Yeah? What?
JIMMY (On phone): Who? Picture "The 25th Hour", starring Ned and Maude Flanders.
KIM (On phone): Oh, Christ. The Kettlemans?
JIMMY (On phone): You lose any other clients today?
JIMMY (On phone): Yeah. Mr. and Mrs. Cuckoo Bananas just offered me the plum job of defending them.
KIM (On phone): They came to you?
JIMMY (On phone): Yeah, I know. I don't know what you did to piss them off, but it must have been good.
KIM (On phone): What did they tell you?
JIMMY (On phone): Not much, just, uh, that you treated them like they were guilty.
KIM (On phone): Jesus. Look, Jimmy I know... I know this is a lot to ask, but you have to convince them to come back to HHM.
JIMMY (On phone): I do, huh?
KIM (On phone): Yes. Please. It's important.
JIMMY (On phone): What's it worth to you?
The other man finishes urinating and exits the bathroom, nudging Jimmy out of the way.
KIM (On phone): Jimmy, I'm serious. They left because they think they can win this case, but they can't. I managed to scrape together from practically nothing, I might add a deal they should feel lucky to have. This is their absolute best bet. Please Make them understand it's better for them if they come back.
JIMMY (On phone): Tell me about this deal.
INT. LOYOLA'S DINER
BETSY: Elder law?
CRAIG: I don't know what that is.
BETSY: Yeah, me neither. Elder. Do you think...
CRAIG: Maybe if we were old.
We see Jimmy approaching in the background. He reaches the table and takes a seat.
JIMMY: Sorry. Whoo! The mysteries of the bladder.
CRAIG: Right?
BETSY: So, how do we get started? Do you need us to sign that little paper?
JIMMY: I am I am very sorry, but I'm afraid I can't take your case. My schedule is just it's just chock-full right now. I highly encourage you to go back to HHM. I'm certain they would welcome you with open arms.
BETSY: No, we're not going back there. They were incompatible.
JIMMY: I understand. They asked you to face some harsh realities, and I get it no one likes that. But bottom line here Kim Wexler is a fine attorney. She has a great relationship with the D.A. Much as I'd love to sing my own praises, I doubt I could get you a deal as good as the one she already has.
BETSY: Okay, we don't want a deal. We want you, our lawyer, to exonerate Craig.
JIMMY: "Exonerate"? That is, uh that is a big word, particularly in your case.
BETSY: Yeah, there will be no deal. There is no money with which to make a deal.
JIMMY: We can we all three just parachute down from cloud cuckoo land? 'Cause we know, without question, there is money.
BETSY: No, there...
JIMMY: I distinctly remember a spirited game of tug-of-war over this money, money which we then discussed at length.
You made many excuses justifying your possession of said money. It's there. It exists.
BETSY: But...
JIMMY: S-shh. Now, just please, for my own sanity... You can't hide a big bag of cash forever, and you certainly will never be able to spend any of it. So, go back to HHM, apologize to Ms. Wexler, and for Christ's sakes, take the deal.
BETSY: If there were any money.
JIMMY: Lady, enough!
BETSY: If there were any money, there would have to be a full accounting of it. Every penny would have to be present every single penny. You understand?
CRAIG: All of it. That includes the $30,000 that you...
BETSY: Craig, yes, he gets it. We're in this together, Mr. McGill Come what may. Now, where do we begin?
INT. HHM
Howard escorts Jimmy through HHM to Kim's office, where he collects the Kettleman case files.
HOWARD: There you go. Kettleman that's all of it.
JIMMY: Where's Kim?
HOWARD: We moved her over to the east wing.
JIMMY: The east wing? That's the cornfield. Why are you sending her to the cornfield, Howard?
HOWARD: Never heard it called that before.
JIMMY: Well, that's what you call it. You gonna punish her just 'cause you lost those two batshit Kettlemans? You notice I'm not exactly crowing over how I snaked them away from you.
HOWARD: Jimmy, here are your files. I'm not gonna discuss my employee policies with you.
JIMMY: I'm gonna need some help here.
HOWARD: Yeah... You sure are.
Howard walks away.
INT. HHM - ELEVATOR
Jimmy wheels the case files out of the elevator
EXT. HHM - PARKING LOT
Jimmy wheels the case files into the parking lot and stands next to Kim, who’s smoking a cigarette.
JIMMY: That prick firing you?
KIM: Best-case scenario is my 2-year plan just became a 10-year plan.
JIMMY: That schmuck. You didn't do anything wrong.
KIM: I lost the client.
JIMMY: Not your fault. They're not really playing with a full deck those Kettlemans.
KIM: You had to take their case?
JIMMY: I'm sorry, okay? I tried. I really did.
KIM: I'm not being fair. Of course you tried. They'll do what they want to do. Hope you didn't promise them too much. I doubt you'll be able to do more for them than we were offering.
JIMMY: You think very highly of my skills, obviously.
KIM: It's not that, Jimmy. It's a loser case. That deal was their best chance. After I worked my ass off finagling with the D.A., and it's just like... whatever.
JIMMY: There's got to be a way, you know? I take it to court.
KIM: You'll lose. Kettleman did a terrible job covering his tracks. For starters, they've got reams of checks he wrote for false expenses. And I can't even challenge their admission into evidence because he wrote them to himself. I know we're never supposed to say our clients are guilty, but, hey, not my client anymore. He's guilty as sin.
JIMMY: Yeah, but there has to be something... some loophole or...
KIM: None that I could find.
JIMMY: There has to be a way.
KIM: Not without the money. It's the only chip those Kettlemans have, and they refuse to play it.
INT. JIMMY'S OFFICE
Jimmy stays up late, looking over the case files, searching for a loophole. But he becomes frustrated, finding none. So he comes up with another plan. He looks up at the ceiling and climbs onto a chair, grabbing a box which he takes money out of.
EXT. KETTLEMAN HOUSE - NIGHT
We watch the Kettleman's inside their living room from outside.
Mike in the backyard, sprays a fluorescent liquid on a stack of cash, and places it on a toy truck left outside by the Kettleman kids. He then surveys the house, while listening to his radio and eating apples he finds on a tree.
Mr. Kettleman then discovers the money when he takes out the trash, and brings it inside, where both, Mr. and Mrs. Kettleman tell off the kids for playing with the money and then finally Betsy takes the money upstairs.
INT. KETTLEMAN HOUSE - NIGHT
Once the Kettleman's go to bed, Mike breaks into their house and uses a UV light to follow a trail of fingerprints left behind by Mrs. Kettleman after touching the money. The trail leads him to a bathroom cabinet, where he discovers all of the stolen money.
INT. [?]
Mike brings the cash to Jimmy, who returns what he’s spent to the pile.
JIMMY: Jesus. Gets bigger every time I look at it. Thanks for not heading to the Bahamas with this.
MIKE: What are you doing?
JIMMY: "The right thing." You know where you're going?
MIKE: Yeah. Am I correct in assuming we're now square?
JIMMY: Square.
Mike picks up the money and goes to deliver it to the district attorney.
INT. KETTLEMAN HOUSE
The Doorbell rings. Craig Kettleman answers the door.
JIMMY: Good morning.
BETSY (O.S): Who is it, Craig?
CRAIG: Oh, it's Mr. McGill! Good morning. Come on in.
Jimmy steps inside and makes his way into the living room.
JIMMY: Oh, I love what you've done with the place. Last time I was here, it was, uh, well, not a contender for the cover of good housekeeping... that's for sure.
BETSY: Do you have news about our case?
JIMMY: I do, in fact. But before we get to the nitty-gritty, I think we should chat about your deal.
BETSY: Ah. We told you there will be no deal.
JIMMY: You did, didn't you? However, circumstances have changed.
BETSY: What circumstances?
JIMMY: To answer that, um, might I suggest that you go check on that money you insist you didn't take?
JIMMY: In the upstairs bathroom, under the sink?
CRAIG: Wait. How could you... Betsy!
Betsy and Craig both rush upstairs to bathroom, looking for the money.
BETSY (O.S): No! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! No!
CRAIG (O.S): It's okay. It's okay, Betsy. It's got to be... No. It's got to be in there somewhere.
Betsy looks over the banister to Jimmy.
BETSY: What did you do with it?
JIMMY: By "it," you mean...
BETSY (O.S): Where is it?!
Betsy and Craig both rush back downstairs to Jimmy.
JIMMY: Oh. You mean the money. Uh, let me see. Uh, it's, uh, on its way to the D. A.'s desk right about now.
BETSY: What? You oh, you thief!
JIMMY: Takes one to know one, doesn't it?
CRAIG: He took it? How did you take it?
JIMMY: A good magician never reveals his secrets. Now, here's what we're gonna do.
BETSY: Oh, you don't tell us what to do. You stole from us. We'll... we will have you arrested.
JIMMY: I can see how upset you are, and, even on a good day, you and logic are (whistles) but think about what you just said. Criminals have no recourse, and you two... you're criminals, big-time.
BETSY: How dare you?
JIMMY: Luckily, you have a very talented lawyer who has found a way to minimize the damage you've brought upon yourselves.
BETSY: Oh. Oh, you're fired.
JIMMY: Oh, I quit already. No, I'm talking about Kim Wexler. Now, you're gonna go back to her, you're gonna apologize for your hasty decision to terminate her services, and you're gonna fall on her mercy and take that deal.
BETSY: We'll tell... about the bribe you took.
JIMMY: You could do that. You absolutely could. And I'd be in a mess of trouble... a real pickle... but so would you, Mrs. Kettleman. 'Cause right now, only Mr. Kettleman is on the hook for the whole embezzlement kerfuffle. But the bribe we're back to calling it a bribe? Yeah, that implicates you, as well.
CRAIG: It does not. It was all me.
JIMMY: No, it wasn't. I'll make sure everyone knows that. Look on the bright side, you know? They could work out some kind of inter-prison visitation program, the occasional conjugal. Maybe it won't be all bad. (to Mrs. Kettleman) You? you'll probably wind up running your own gang. Thing you folks need to know about me... I got nothing to lose. Christ, you should see my office.
Craig puts his hand on Betsy's shoulder.
BETSY: No, it's not over.
CRAIG: Yeah.
BETSY: Let's find another lawyer.
CRAIG: Come on, Betsy.
BETSY: No, no. No. We don't have to put up with this. I will not be treated this way.
CRAIG: Betsy. The kids.
BETSY: The...
CRAIG: We have to do this. For the kids. They can't lose us both.
Betsy starts crying.
CRAIG: We have to.
BETSY: No.
CRAIG: Shh.
BETSY: (Sobbing) No.
CRAIG: It's okay. It's okay. Shh.
INT. HHM
Jimmy stands next to the dented trash waiting for the elevator doors to open. Once they open Kim comes into view, and she walks out into the parking lot, where the Kettleman's are waiting in the back of Jimmy's car.
Kim takes the Kettlemans upstairs in elevator, and mouths “Thank you” to Jimmy as the doors close.
INT. OFFICE SUITE
Jimmy returns to the office that he can no longer afford to lease, and stares sadly out its windows before taking out his frustration on the door to the corner office he hoped Kim would occupy.
INT. OFFICE SUITE - CORNER OFFICE
Jimmy collapses onto the floor and looked at his wit’s end, until his suddenly cellphone starts ringing. He manages to bring himself together, and answer the call.
JIMMY: (British accent) Law offices of James M. McGill. How may I direct your call?
END EPISODE
Bingo (Script) was written by Gennifer Hutchison.
Better Call Saul released Bingo (Script) on Mon Mar 16 2015.