Jimmy leans against a wall painted with a large mural of the
Texas flag wearing a large Stetson. “Waltz Across Texas” plays in the
background when a private commuter bus pulls up. Jimmy and the driver have a deal but the
driver warns, “Five minutes.” The driver
feigns engine trouble as Jimmy climbs aboard looking for one Alma Luna. He finds her and inquires about the flyer he
sent her regarding the Sandpiper lawsuit. At first she’s shy, but soon everyone is
listening to Jimmy’s story of how Sandpiper, through no malicious intent has been
overcharging its residents. Jimmy makes an analogy to being overcharged in at a
restaurant and getting a family member’s help to set it right. Soon, almost everyone on the bus wants to know
how they can get their money back and Jimmy is happy to oblige them with
information about the lawsuit from Davis and Main.
There is another meeting between Davis and Main and Howard’s
law firm. Jimmy’s role is “client
outreach” and he happily reports he gathered over two hundred new clients from
Amarillo. Cliff is eager to applaud his
new hire’s excellent work. Chuck shifts
in his chair and directs a question at Jimmy. Chuck wants to know exactly how Jimmy managed
to obtain his new clients and is concerned Jimmy has been illegally soliciting. Jimmy explains how old people gossip and once
someone becomes involved as a client the news spreads rapidly to other
residents. Jimmy actually thinks he
should have done better. This seems like
a plausible explanation. Chuck is silent. Cliff thanks Chuck for his question and notes
details in such a complicated case are important. Under the table, Jimmy’s foot wiggles over to
Kim for some “footsie” support but she’s not playing. Jimmy speaks up again and offers to “pull
back” on his efforts if the results look suspicious. The meeting moves on to other topics.
Afterwards, Jimmy tries to talk to Kim but she literally
runs away from him. Jimmy follows her to
her office. Kim asks him directly, “What
happened in Texas?” Jimmy doesn’t answer
her directly and Kim becomes more upset stating, “This matters Jimmy!” Jimmy thinks the results speak for
themselves. Kim wonders why Jimmy has to
sabotage his good work by his shifty behavior. Kim notes that she went out on a limb to lobby
Howard to give him a good referral to land his position at Davis and Main. Jimmy’s judgment will reflect on hers. Again, she warns him this kind of behavior
could lead to his disbarment. Kim tells
him, “You can do this and do it right!”
Mike gives his granddaughter a present of a plush pig that
rolls. The girl is delighted but her
mother Kaylee is anxious. Mike gives her
more cash from his “moonlighting” work. Kaylee
confesses she’s sleeping poorly because she’s heard gunshots the last two
nights in a row. She called the police
but they arrived an hour later and couldn’t find anything. Mike offers to stay on the couch but Kaylee
declines his offer.
At Davis and Main Jimmy works to recruit clients using
standard methods such as mailings. He’s
frustrated at the poor response and theorizes Sandpiper may be tossing the
residents mail. (Which would be a federal offense.) Jimmy suggests to Cliff that he could air a
commercial during the afternoon re-run of “Murder, She Wrote.” Jimmy is enthusiastic about this idea saying,
“It will draw them like moths to a bug zapper!” Cliff doesn’t say no, but he doesn’t agree to
the commercial either.
Jimmy watches the firm’s previous television ad regarding a
mesothelioma class action suit. The
assistant informs Jimmy that Cliff want to “get the swirls” that appear in the
background just right. (A possible subliminal message?) Jimmy is not impressed by this “boring” ad and
asks, “Cliff signed off on this? What
about showmanship?” Jimmy has an inherent
flare for the dramatic arts.
The two University of New Mexico film students who filmed
Jimmy’s billboard sign “rescue” from Season One inspect knick-knacks at a
client’s house. Jimmy asks that the men
respect the “Alpine Shepard Boy” figurine. (Title of episode from Season 1)
Jimmy explains his vision for the ad, which involves his client appearing in a
rocking chair wearing a tattered shawl and pantomimes his vision. Jimmy’s client calls to the men, “I’m ready
for my close up!” as she descends a motorized chair down the stairs.
Mike keeps a vigil near Kaylee’s home all night. He eats a sandwich and listens to sports on a
small radio. Perhaps he is reliving his
old cop days. Near the dawn, a white
station wagon drives slowly through the neighborhood. A distant “thud” is heard and repeats. As Mike looks closer, he sees the station
wagon is simply delivering the morning newspaper. A sleepy resident picks up the newspaper and
Mike drives away.
Mike arrives at the garage for a shift at his “normal” job. Kaylee calls his cell phone in a panic. Mike asks calmly, “What happened.” Moments later, Mike is back at Kaylee’s home
inspecting a gouge in the stucco near the front of her house. His daughter-in-law insists she heard gunfire
at 2:13am, three shots. Mike does his
best to remain neutral even though he knows there wasn’t gunfire last night
because he was there. He asks, “Could
you have dreamt it?” Kaylee doesn’t
waver from her story. Mike decides, “We
are getting you out of this house.” It
seems that losing her husband to violence continues to haunt Kaylee. Its touching Mike doesn’t try to belittle her
feelings but sincerely offers to help her.
Kim admires Jimmy’s new furnished apartment but makes fun of
the “bowls of balls” which seem ubiquitous in staged apartments. Jimmy proudly shows her the commercial he
created titled, “Who stole my nest egg?” The ad is in black and white and features his
client in the rocking chair complaining how she never wanted to be a burden on
her family, saved for many years to find out that Sandpiper stole her “nest
egg.” Kim is very impressed at how
professional the ad looks and states if she were a resident she’d be dialing
his number. Kim asks if Cliff has seen
and approved of the ad. Jimmy doesn’t really answer her question.
Jimmy sits at his desk at Davis and Main. His boss is currently on vacation out of
state. Jimmy gets up to presumably ask
the other partner about his commercial but hesitates before returning to his
own office. Jimmy calls a television
station in Colorado to speak to their advertising division. He calls out for assistance to send of his
tape to the station via Federal Express. It’s like the old saying, “I’d rather beg for
forgiveness then ask for permission.”
Mike goes to the veterinarian who helped him get stitched up
when he first arrived in Albuquerque. Mike
asks him if he has other jobs, hoping to earn funds to help Kaylee move. The vet says he has a “bodyguard” job but it’s
only two hundred dollars. The vet also
knows a loan shark looking for an “enforcer” but notes that “next level pay”
requires more risk. Mike is very
particular about his involvement in these extra-legal activities. Mike decides to play it safe and take the
bodyguard job.
Jimmy paces in his office in front of the odd painting of
the man with a terra cotta pot for a head. He instructs the office assistants to make
sure to answer the “commercial” calls directly and he has set up ten lines and
staff to manage the calls. Jimmy’s excuse for not doing things “above board”
has been to achieve results. If he is
successful, it will be easier for him to be granted forgiven by Cliff. The phones slowly begin to ring and soon all
the assistants are busy. Jimmy watches
the activity triumphant in his success.
Kaylee sleeps together with her daughter with a nightlight
on. Mike is on the sofa nearby when his
cell phone vibrates. It’s the vet with a
job with “next level pay” but no details about what it entails. Mike was requested specifically. Mike accepts.
Jimmy and Kim watch “The Thing” and enjoy playful banter together. Jimmy receives a call from Cliff. His boss is livid and Jimmy moves away from
Kim and explains, “I was going to tell you tomorrow!” Cliff continues, “Howard told me you were
eccentric but you’re a goddamn arsonist!”
Cliff hasn’t seen the video but insists that Jimmy meet with him and the
partners at 8 am. Jimmy explains to Kim
the boss was calling to congratulate him.
She laughs, declaring him the “Golden boy!”
Mike drives down a lonely alley to an abandoned warehouse. Out of the shadows appears Nacho. Mike asks,
“Tell me what we’re doing here?” Nacho
responds, “I need a guy to ‘go away’.” What
will this next level job entail, murder?
This episode did a fine job at highlighting Jimmy and Mike’s
reasoning for “not playing by the rules.” In Jimmy’s case, he seems to be reacting to
his brother’s rejection and criticism. Jimmy
enjoys the act of showmanship, even when he’s helping his clients. Mike’s motives are more difficult to discern
but perhaps he hopes to atone for his guilt regarding his son’s murder. Mike is unselfish with the fruits of his
actions. He gives most of his earnings to
his daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
In Breaking Bad, Mike accumulates a large sum of cash for his
granddaughter to inherit.
Next week’s preview offers a glimpse at the tense meeting
between Jimmy and his new employer. Will
he be fired because of the commercial or will the commercial’s success save
him? Mike visits the “gun guy” who
appeared in the final season of Breaking Bad. Jimmy and Chuck have a tense exchange. I’m enjoying the cinematography and the tight
dialogue in each episode. The series
keeps improving with each episode, can’t wait for next week!
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