Better Call Saul (2015) s06e02 Episode Script

Carrot and Stick

1 Previously on "Better Call Saul" Where did it come from? Didn't it just fall out of your locker? I don't see how Lalo Salamanca is dead.
Ignacio Varga is a rat.
Don Eladio has put a price on his head.
The kid deserves your respect.
He has it.
We're working on getting you out.
It's gonna take a couple of days.
What happens between now and then? Stay out of sight.
Why'd you break up with him to begin with? What happened? Okay, well, first I got to start off with how we met.
Okay.
- I met him in August of 2002 on BlackPlanet.
- A beautiful, sunny day.
- It was! - You saw him from across the horizon.
Yeah! And I'm like, "Okay, I got to make sure this is all the way safe".
So I wait from August to April to go see him in person, so - Okay.
You met on the Internet.
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- So, I take myself, 23-hour bus tri bus trip from Ah! Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
I was like, with everything You bathed him.
- Everything - I think I'm I think I'm getting really really good at this.
But wh-wh-what do you what do you think the - what the record is? - Love him! I stayed up I-It's got to be like a l like a lot, - but wh-what do you think it is? - Yeah.
Wh-What do you think the record is? get the paper, everything - The record? - Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I-I don't I don't know.
The girlfriend of the century.
Like Like L Hundreds.
Hundreds.
Hundreds.
At least hundreds.
Like, I-I would I would need more dominoes.
I You know, I just I just think I can get really good at this.
You know, and, like, you just you just you have you have to set it up and then you just you have to set it up, and the people come they come up and they count them.
That's just how that That's how it works.
But if you knock it over before they come over here, it doesn't count anymore.
It doesn't count.
Right? If I just set it up correctly and then they would set the whole come over, and then they would come in and so, then, you know, but kind of like over the phone - Nacho's not here.
- If I knock it over before they - We haven't heard anything from him.
- it doesn't - Ahh! - Oh, my God! We don't know where he is.
He's been gone a long time.
- Please don't - We We haven't heard anything.
- We don't know anything.
- Please, please, please, please.
Ladies.
Please, please, please, please, please, please Ladies.
- Pay attention.
- please, please, please considering I got a lot of I got demand and - I have a message from Nacho.
- Exactly.
He won't be coming back.
He sends his regrets.
So here's what's going to happen.
You're going to take what's yours, and you're going to leave.
But we You You You You want us to leave? Wait.
That That man where is he going? He's helping you gather your things.
But But we like it here.
Well, now you're going to like it someplace else.
You're going to take this.
Get on a bus.
Go to your families.
You don't have a family, then you go to a friend.
You don't have friends then make some.
But I strongly suggest you do whatever you can to get back on your feet.
But do it far away from here.
This goes back in my pocket in five seconds.
You won't like what happens next.
You never come back.
Two-and-a-half deep.
Two-and-a-half wide.
Three-and-a-half high.
Tuthill, dial lock on the left.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I was a hard worker.
I was a company man.
20 years and I didn't miss a single day.
They even gave me a plaque for it.
It was a gold plaque.
Perfect attendance.
But when they handed it to me, I wrenched my back.
I was in so much pain, I couldn't do my job, which meant I couldn't put food on the table.
I didn't want to sue, but with a family to support, what choice did I have? Wait.
Who are you supposed to be again? Whatever.
I The backstory is just a placeholder.
I'm gonna polish the script once we cast.
But a personal injury suit? Best case scenario, that gets them in with an associate Mesothelioma.
When I took that job at the shoe factory, I had no idea I was risking my life.
Now I can't stop coughing.
Right? Come on.
Hey, a mesothelioma class action built Clifford Main his vacation house.
He hears "mesothelioma", his eyes pop! Well, sure, but then he takes the case.
What happens when he asks for a medical evaluation, right? And how does Howard come up? Okay.
Ask me why I'm here.
What brings you to Davis & Main today? - I am sick.
I'm really sick.
- Good.
It's not mesothelioma, but it's not good, and I need a lawyer.
And the pickings are slim.
I already went to HHM.
I met with their top guy.
Howard Hamlin.
And, uh, uh I've got a brother-in-law, and he's got a pretty nasty coke habit, very similar energy.
- Just put me off.
- Oh.
Anyway, I need a lawyer, blah, blah, blah.
Okay, but you got a bad feeling from just one meeting? Yeah, well, the brother-in-law with the coke.
- Yeah, but you were only in the room with him once.
- Okay.
So it's got to be someone with a history with Howard.
- Yeah.
- But Cliff has to want to take the meeting, - but not the case.
- Right.
It's gotta be good, but not too good.
Exactly.
There's a sweet spot.
You know, like a magnet.
We We pull Cliff in, and then repel him Hmm.
- Oh.
- What? You are going to hate this.
Incident report.
Autopsy report.
Site map.
It all checks out.
Dental records, too.
This is everything? Everything the Federales have.
How did the fire start? It began at the kitchen stove.
They think, uh, someone was cooking when it all went down.
Don Juan.
I have had another thought about how we might keep the peace Wow.
Okeydokey.
Just take these little bits off for you.
We recycle, so you can feel good about that.
Alrighty.
That's $246.
73 for you! But first, we need a few little signatures Just here Good.
Be right with Um, and one more right here.
And that's all there is to it.
Here you go.
They'll cash this over at the casino for me? They sure will.
- Thank you.
- Thank you for choosing Sweet Liberty Tax Services.
- Okay.
- Thank you.
- Tell your friends! - I sure will.
- Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Mm.
- Hello, Betsy.
Long time no see.
Get out.
I have something very exciting I want to discuss with you and your husband.
We are not interested.
I am asking you nicely to leave our place of business.
This, you're gonna want to hear.
If you don't leave right now, my husband is going to remove you from this establishment.
Bodily.
- A golden opportunity like this only comes - Craig? Mr.
Kettleman, may I see you up front? Mr.
McGill! Hey.
Oh! Good to see you.
It's Goodman now, actually.
- Saul Goodman.
Long story.
- Okay.
But, hey, you're looking fit.
- I see, uh, County didn't do you any harm.
- Oh.
Y'know, they have a surprisingly good exercise program, yeah.
- It's aerobics mostly, or do they - Um Craig.
Honey.
Maybe we should discuss this in private? Oh.
Excuse us for a second.
We have a little tax emergency - Craig! - Yep.
- Okay.
- Go.
Okay, just Just get away from here.
You've got some nerve coming here after what you did.
- Listen - Thief! Because of you, we lost everything.
Our kids are in public school.
So why don't you go crawl back under whatever slime-covered rock you came from and leave us the heck alone! Okay.
I I sense some anger here.
But, uh, that's that's perfectly understandable.
But since you brought it up I came here today because I was curious if you two wanted your lives back.
There's actually a legal term for it.
"Exoneration".
Oh, y'know, we actually did look into that.
Yep.
We went to a number of lawyers and Real lawyers.
Yes.
They were all terrific.
- But they said that it was impossible.
- Mm-hmm.
Okay, but those lawyers don't know what I know.
- What's that? - No, Craig.
- He's got an angle.
- I do have an angle, Craig.
It's an angle called justice.
Uh, let me put it this way.
I think that within Craig's case, I have found the grounds for a civil suit.
A big one.
Big.
Okay, then.
Let's hear it.
Let's hold your horses because we've been down this road before, and the last time I gave you two advice, you went straight to the competition with it.
So I just need some assurances that all my hard work isn't gonna end up in the hands of, uh, Clifford Main or some other asshole at some pretentious Santa Fe white shoe law firm.
So, before we talk turkey Letters of Engagement.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, you remember these.
I made some updates.
Just closed a few loopholes and whatnot.
- So, uh - We're not signing anything.
You're gonna have to sign if you want to know what I know, so We're not signing.
Really? You're sure? Yep.
Craig? Thanks anyway.
Alright, well, um Sorry we couldn't work something out.
I'm sure you are.
What? Are you crazy? He has something that could exonerate me.
No, he doesn't.
He is a crook.
He is a crookedy crook.
Mr.
Goodman? Best decision you've ever made.
- Here you go.
- Oh.
So.
What do you know? You got one, too, Betsy.
Oh, come on.
That's not Ow.
Alright, well, we are officially in business.
I have it on good authority that Craig here was not given proper counsel.
We already knew that.
But did you ask yourselves why? No.
Why? What if I told you that in your hour of need, the person who was supposed to be on your side was impaired.
Impaired? A A "person of substance".
Substance? - A person of substance - The substance in question being a certain illegal white powder.
That awful woman with the ponytail is a cocaine addict? No, not Kim Wexler.
No.
Craig's lead attorney.
Howard Hamlin.
Oh.
But he was so professional and and energetic.
Upbeat.
Oooooh.
"Ooooh" is right.
So upbeat is bad ? In this case, it's textbook malpractice.
I believe the magic phrase is "ineffective assistance of counsel".
If your guy wasn't nose deep in the devil's dandruff, well, Craig's case would have turned out completely different.
Oh, my God.
Don't we need some kind of proof? All the dirty laundry comes out in discovery.
- Mm.
- Just the trips to rehab - Mm-hmm.
- secret drug deals.
All we got to do is get the ball rolling.
So I say we get started on your affidavits.
- Yes.
Yes.
- About that We happen to know a thing or two about our rights, Mr.
McGill.
And it doesn't matter what you force us to sign.
We don't have to work with any lawyer we don't want.
And that means you're fired.
I am not fired! - Oh, yes, you are.
- No.
No! He's fired? I thought - Craig.
- Craig.
- I thought we were so - No, you can't fire me.
I found this case.
It's mine.
Hey Hey, you want to hear about rights? The second you say where you got this information from, guess who automatically gets a cut? Me.
So go ahead! Go ahead and see what happens! Yah! Hey, do you have a sec? Of course.
What's up? I've got a prospective client in my office and I wanted to check with you before I officially turn him away.
Who is it? Remember the old Bernalillo County treasurer? The one who embezzled I think it was something like two million dollars? - Kettlebell? - Kettleman.
- Craig Kettleman.
- Yes.
Now Mr.
Kettleman's here with his wife because they want to sue his former lawyers.
They're saying he didn't have proper counsel.
Didn't HHM handle that case? We didn't get into the details.
They said they wanted to talk to someone in charge and I'm just a, quote, "pre-pubescent intern".
What's the basis of their claim? Cocaine.
Howard Hamlin? Oh, you don't see it right away.
He is very high functioning.
- He is living a life outside his life - Mm-hmm.
- Yes, he is.
- as they sometimes say.
Yep.
And And what leads you to believe this? Well, we heard that - I heard - You Yeah.
- certain things during my incarceration.
- Yeah.
I mean, it was pretty much common knowledge - out in the yard.
- Out in the yard.
Yeah.
- Common knowledge.
Out in the yard.
- Yes.
Yeah.
Those drug people can spot each other a mile away.
- They just know.
- Yeah.
Did you have any evidence to support this? - Well, it will all come out in discovery.
- Discovery.
All his drug purchases, his drug associates, mm-hmm All of that gets on the record during discovery.
- Discovery.
- Yeah.
Okay.
But, uh, you're the expert here.
We are prepared to give our affidavits anytime.
Today would even be perfectly convenient for us.
Yes, we are ready when you are.
Yes.
Well, I want to thank you for taking the time to come see us.
Unfortunately, I don't think we're gonna be able to help.
Our firm is partnering with HHM on another case, so this would be a clear conflict of interest.
Partnering with them? Well, surely that will change now that you know the facts.
With the Can I give you some advice? You're gonna have a difficult time pursuing this no matter who your lawyer is.
Overturning a conviction in a case like Craig's is extremely difficult.
Even if these allegations were true and I got to tell ya, it does not sound like the Howard Hamlin that I know it is unlikely that you will succeed.
So you won't represent Craig? I'm afraid not.
Well, then we will take our business elsewhere.
- Sorry we couldn't be of help.
- Bet you are.
Uh okay.
Oh, yes.
Yes, of course.
She's been expecting you to call.
One moment.
We're gonna start with the Hi, Mr.
Robertson.
Sorry.
Wow.
Yeah I know I don't need to remind you everything we just heard was privileged.
Of course.
And Howard Hamlin? Please.
I tried to save you the time.
You did, Erin.
Thank you.
Don Hector.
We'll be in touch.
What did you learn? Lalo Salamanca lives.
iJefe! Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
También yo estoy ♪ En la región perdida ♪ Don't.
Get up and turn around.
Slide your gun over.
Who you working for? No sé.
No.
Señor Yeah.
Something's not right, man.
- Someone on you? - No.
I-I don't know.
I got I got a bad feeling.
I-I need to get outta here.
I wouldn't do that.
Just stay put I can't stay put, man.
I'm gonna find a way across on my own.
Hey, you wanna get through this, you listen to me.
It won't be much longer.
You go out on your own, we can't h Now.
Okay.
Look at this.
I got Judge Papadoumian tomorrow at 11:00 and I want her to see stars in her eyes.
I don't know about stars.
You might blind her.
No offense.
You don't know her like I do.
Stars.
Saul Goodman, speedy justice for you.
Ho, wait.
Okay.
Alright.
Just take a breath, and then we can Okay, okay, I can tell you're upset.
Just, uh I I never advised that.
No.
No, I did not, so let's agree to disagree.
Okay, I think you're gonna want to meet in person before you do anything rash.
So, how about how about we meet up and we can hash this out? Sure, sure.
Tomorrow.
First thing.
Uh, 9 a.
m.
Uh, I can come to your office.
That work? Okay.
Okay.
Good.
I'm surprised it took 'em this long.
Alright.
You, uh you're gonna use the stick, right? The stick? Yeah, well, it's a big stick.
It's huge.
But I know these people.
They're more carrot types.
Especially her.
A spoonful of sugar, y'know? I think maybe I'll come, too.
Tomorrow? Really? Sure.
I have time.
Okay.
Anything? All quiet.
Stay sharp.
They found the truck, but no sign of Varga.
Salamancas have all hands looking for him, including the Federales.
He's still not picking up his cell, so no way to get a lock on it.
Now, as for Lalo, still missing.
Far as everybody in the cartel is concerned, top to bottom, Lalo is dead.
Oh.
May I offer a thought? If Salamanca were coming straight for you, he'd be here already.
We've got guys watching anywhere he might turn up this side of Mexico, wiretaps on any phone he might call.
There is not a whiff of him.
Now, my guess is he's smart enough to know it's not in the Salamanca family interests to take you out without a reason the bosses can get behind.
So the odds are, he's searching for Varga.
Finds him alive, gets him to talk Varga's alone in foreign territory.
No one he can trust.
The kid's smart, but he's not gonna last.
He's gonna get caught.
Continue.
The best way to handle this I take four of our best guys across the border and track Varga down.
Let me find him, bring him back before the Salamancas sweep him up.
It's our only play.
No.
You're not doing that.
You don't understand.
That's not happening.
Just say the word.
Whatever happens next, it's not gonna go down the way you think it is.
It's him.
Bullshit.
I've been calling Varga for hours.
He hasn't picked up once.
He's been trying to get me since he left Salamanca's.
You want me to answer it? Yeah.
Yeah.
Not my call.
That's up to you.
He wants to talk to you.
How the mighty have fallen, huh? Lady Liberty's a nice touch, though.
Sure you wanna go in? Yeah.
Let's do this.
Hello, folks.
Top of the morning.
In the flesh, as promised.
What is she doing here? Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of Ms.
Wexler.
We're married.
- Oh! Mazel Tov.
- Fine.
I'll talk in front of her.
I'll talk in front of anybody.
Everyone's gonna hear the truth soon enough, anyway.
And what truth is that? There is no case.
There never was a case.
We went to four different lawyers real, legitimate lawyers and they all said the same thing.
There is not a snowball's chance in Hell there was ever money or anything else for us in this "insufficiency of counsel" nonsense.
I didn't get it at first why would you do this? Why send us down this road? Then the clouds parted on your sick little scheme.
You used us.
Us and our good name to character assassinate Howard Hamlin.
Somehow, some way, it benefits you to tear him down.
Yeah.
And we're we're mad.
Okay, yeah I'm hearing a lot of unfounded accusations being tossed around.
I don't know anything about "schemes" or "character assassination" or whatnot.
But if you're feeling slighted, um, we can make it right.
Money? Money's not gonna take care of this.
Money takes care of everything.
I Isn't that the motto stitched into the Kettleman Family Crest? We don't want money.
I am nonplussed.
I'm guessing you want something.
Do what you promised.
Do what I what? Exonerate Craig.
Get his good name back.
Alright, well, as you've been advised, for a number of reasons, that's not gonna happen.
It is gonna happen.
It is.
It's You're just gonna have to figure out a way.
If anyone can do this, it's you.
I know you don't want us going to Howard Hamlin.
Because whatever it is you're up to I'm sure he would be very interested.
Okay, let's just go easy on the threats We want our lives back.
The way they were befo before.
We lost everything.
And we didn't deserve any of this.
Okay.
Enough carrot.
Dial 9 to get out.
Oh.
Thank you.
We didn't give her permission to use the phone.
Kim? She needed the phone.
Internal Revenue Service, Albuquerque.
Hi, could you put me through to Justin Stangel in Criminal Investigations? One moment, please What are you doing? Excuse me? This is Justin.
Justin.
Kim Wexler.
How are you? Hey, Kim.
Good to hear from you.
- How are Noreen and the boys? - Oh, hangin' in.
Noreen always talks about having you by for dinner sometime.
We should do that.
Tell her to call me.
Listen I was wondering who your CID officer is these days.
You have something for us? Oh, I just might.
Tax preparer fraud.
A lot of it.
I'm listening.
Well, it's this, uh, rundown little mom and pop outfit I've had my eye on for a while.
Don't ask me why clearly, I need to get a life.
But from what I can glean, their clients always end up with smaller refunds that they deserve.
Please.
Don't do this.
Do the clients sign over third-party authorization? Bingo.
So what I'm thinking is these creeps file legit returns with you guys, give the clients fake ones that show about half the proper amount, and then pocket the difference.
Classic scam.
Well, I know just the guy to go after these dirtbags.
Tony Oropallo.
A real bulldog.
I'll transfer you over.
Such a big help, Justin.
You got it.
Talk soon.
You don't have to do this.
Don't I? Betsy, you'll probably get 24 months maybe 18 with good behavior.
But Craig? You are a two-time loser.
They will definitely make an example out of you.
Each false return they discover will be a separate felony.
What are we talking? A hundred? Two hundred? CID, Anthony Oropallo speaking Please.
We'll do anything.
Just tell us.
Why would I believe you? Huh? Please.
First First, you contact every person you've ripped off.
Tell them you made an accounting error, tell them you're crooks who had a change of heart, I don't care.
Give them what they are legally owed.
Everything you stole.
And then, after that you're going to forget you ever heard the name Howard Hamlin.
I'm keeping my eye on both of you.
You think you've lost everything? You have no idea.
Mm.
You gave them the money, didn't you? Wolves and sheep.
Huh? Nothing.
On the final season of "Better Call Saul" You're the guy, right? What guy's that? Salamanca's guy.
Are you building some kind of case against Jimmy? That's a lot big talk.
Prove it.
What Colonel Sanders is to chicken, Saul Goodman is to the law.
It's just you and me.
Anyone who goes after him is gonna have to come through me.
What happens now? I need to know everything he does and everyone he talks to.
"I'm Saul Goodman.
Pow.
I fight for you".

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