Better Call Saul Season 1 Finale Marco

Now that we’ve viewed all ten episodes of the first season, it’s a good time to reflect on the much-hyped series.  In general, I was amazed at how much heart and sadness was behind the man we formally only knew as “Saul Goodman.”  The audience figured he’d entered the world of law a slimy bottom dwelling creature.  But that’s not the case.  I think another good name for Season 1 might be  “The Ballad of Slippin’ Jimmy.”  The ten episodes have revealed the struggle Jimmy has had with his brother and family’s expectations and his own dark side.  We knew the “dark side” would win, but the journey to “Saul” has been unexpectedly subtle and sad.

This episode begins with a flashback to Jimmy’s “Slippin’” days at a dive bar outside of Chicago.  The mustachioed man seen in episode one is busy demonstrating a trick involving a bottle of Hamm’s, a stack of quarters and a twenty-dollar bill.  Jimmy arrives and greets the man as “Marco.” He informs Marco he’s moving to New Mexico to be near his brother since his brother bailed him out.  He explains, “Chuck saved my ass, it’s time to grow up.”  Marco is upset and counters, “It’s like Miles Davis saying he’s going to quit playing the trumpet!”  Jimmy just shrugs and says he has to leave.

In the present day, Jimmy waits as Kim descends the marble and steel staircase at HHM.  He reports that he’s there to speak to Howard about turning over the Sandpiper case to him.  Jimmy asks her why she didn’t tell him about Chuck black-balling him from the case and employment.  It’s clear she didn’t want to hurt Jimmy.

Jimmy and Howard are much more cordial then their last meeting. Both men apologize for their harsh words. Howard presents Jimmy with twenty thousand dollars for working the case to this point, with the promise of twenty percent of the total amount.  Jimmy presents Howard with a list of detailed instructions regarding caring and shopping for Chuck.  Howard is amazed by Jimmy’s commitment to his obviously mentally ill brother.  Howard says he’ll have someone take care of Chuck; it’s at least a part-time job.

As Jimmy leaves the office, Kim sees him out.  He apologizes for his anger towards her at the last meeting.  They ride the elevator down and pass the metal garbage can Jimmy previously kicked to death in frustration.  Kim asks if he’s going to be okay and is slightly awed by Jimmy’s restraint and maturity. He replies, “ Chuck’s a sick man. The Dali Lama’s got nothing on me!” It’s his usual “doesn’t hurt” self-deprecating humor.

Jimmy is back at the nursing home in his linen suit and “Bob Barker” microphone calling a game of BINGO for the residents. He tries to keep the banter witty and light as he draws a number of “B’s”. With each “B” he becomes more agitated finally breaking down into a series of inappropriate monologues.

 “B is for Belize, not that I’ve ever been there or will ever go there.  No one will ever leave this Georgia O’Keefe hell scape.  Ever heard of the movie, “The Hills Have Eyes” it’s a freaking documentary! You walk ten steps to your car and develop a melanoma the size of a pineapple.” The residents look confused and uncomfortable but Jimmy’s rant continues with the story of Chet.

Jimmy explains Chet was a Cicero connected criminal who had an affair with his wife.  One day he sees Chet has left his white BMW with white interior, running outside the Dairy Queen.  Jimmy decides to give the guy a “Chicago sunroof,” which is defecating through the car’s sunroof.  What he didn’t realize is Chet’s two school age boys were in the backseat of the car while Jimmy was performing his revenge.  This crime led to him being charged for “indecent exposure” and forced to register as a sex offender. “That is why I’m here!”  This explains what prompted Jimmy to leave Chicago for ABQ and try to turn his life around.  (And why he needed Chuck to represent him.) Jimmy leaves the BINGO game mumbling “Kitty notebooks for everyone!”

Jimmy enters a dive bar with “Season of the Witch” blaring.  He finds Marco asleep on the bar, buys him a beer and then rouses him to talk.  Marco is happy to see “Slippin’ Jimmy” after about ten years.  Marco tells him he has a regular job working in his brother-in-law’s standpipe company.  Jimmy reveals he and Chuck were in town briefly three years before, on the occasion of his mother’s death. Marco is hurt he didn’t inform him of the visit. (Chuck probably forbade him to see his old friends.) Jimmy pretends he’s in town to “see the sights” but it’s clear he misses his old friends and activities.

Jimmy and Marco begin a con regarding a Kennedy half dollar coin. Their “mark” is a man in a suit who listens intently as Jimmy tells the story that the coin is a “mistake” and worth at least eight hundred dollars.  As Jimmy exits to the bathroom, Marco pretends to call his “uncle in the coin business” to see if the coin is really worth anything.  Intrigued, the suit asks what Marco learned on the phone, but Marco gives an ambiguous answer.  Jimmy returns, and Marco is ready to buy the coin but doesn’t have the cash. The suited man pays over a hundred dollars for a half dollar. Amazing teamwork!

The following scenes can best be described as a “scam montage.”  Jimmy and Marco use familiar tropes about “Irish Sweepstakes” and Nigerian princes, to priceless violins for sale. The men are masters of the small, face-to-face con.

Jimmy wakes up with two women who are angry to realize that he’s not Kevin Costner! They leave the dingy apartment barely taking the time to pull their waitress uniforms back on. Marco emerges from another room, its Marco’s depressing wood paneled dwelling where Jimmy is staying.  Jimmy receives a cell phone call and tells Marco he must return to New Mexico for his clients.  Marco tries to guess his occupation, “Are you a gigolo?”  Jimmy reveals he’s a lawyer.  Marco deduces he must be rich.  Jimmy says it’s a struggle.  Marco says, “If you’re a lawyer and not making bank, you’re not doing it right!”

Marco pleads for Jimmy to do one last “Rolex” scam.  Reluctantly, he agrees seeing how much Marco needs him.  Marco explains that working a legitimate job is no fun or challenge for him; he needs the excitement of the con.  Does Jimmy need it too?

The scene from the first episode replays with Jimmy leading his drunk “friend” down an alley to discover a cash filled wallet. The men look around to see Marco lying on the ground, but this time he’s not faking being passed out.  Jimmy is horrified to see he’s not responding to being poked with a stick.  He calls his name, and the “friend” leaves with the cash filled wallet.  Jimmy attempts to wake Marco as he calls 911 from his cell phone. “My friend is having a heart attack!” Marco opens his eyes and tells Jimmy that this has been the best week of his life.  Marco dies before help can arrive.

Jimmy smokes outside a brick building following Marco’s funeral.  Another mourner notices Jimmy is wearing Marco’s pinky ring.  Jimmy seems uncomfortable, but explains it was a gift from Marco’s mom. (Or did he remove it from his dead friend’s finger?) The man suggests it could be worth some money.  It seems all of Marco’s friends were shady.

Kim calls to inform Jimmy that HHM is bringing in an even larger firm from Santa Fe to help with the Sandpiper. This firm is interested in hiring Jimmy for a “partner track” position. It’s a golden opportunity for Jimmy to prosper and be legitimate.  Jimmy thanks Kim for her help in recommending him.  She informs him Howard helped too.

Chuck is at home berating the man from HHM. He chides him for buying Granny Smith apples instead of red apples, but he doesn’t like red delicious apples. The man is trying to take Chuck’s demands in stride.  As he leaves, he sees Jimmy is waiting outside Chuck’s house.  They know each other from Jimmy’s mailroom days.  Even he drives a nicer car then Jimmy.  Chuck peers through his curtain and see’s Jimmy’s car, he turns the door handle but Jimmy’s engine starts and he’s gone.

Jimmy races to HHM to meet with the Santa Fe law group.  He sees Mike on his way into the garage.  Jimmy practices his lines for the interview, then hastily turns around and heads out.  Mike observes, “Back so soon? No charge.”  Jimmy asks Mike “Why did I leave one point six million dollars in cash. We could have had eight hundred each, tax free?” Mike reminds him he said it was the “right thing to do” at the time.  Mike says, “I know why I didn’t take it. I was doing a job and did the job.” Jimmy declares, “I know what stopped me, and it’s never going to stop me again!”

As he speeds away in the yellow car, “Smoke on the Water” blares on the radio.

Jimmy had decided he’s not able to please his brother. He’s tired of being “Mr. Nice Guy,” and walked all over. He’s giving up the opportunity to obtain his dream job for a life of shady lawyering.  As he said in “Hero” he’s a self-made man. He is now becoming his brother’s expectation of him. But, he’s going to do it on his own terms. Can’t wait to witness Jimmy's continuing metamorphosis into Saul next season.