Part of what challenges me in describing this series is its beautiful use of color and cinematography to tell another layer of the narrative. This episode really uses filters and colors to highlight the moods and tensions of each scene. As Jimmy transitions to Saul, the colors change from blue to oranges and reds. The flash-forward scenes the series are shown in stark black and white after Jimmy has metamorphosized once again from Saul to Gene. This hour explores Jimmy’s reaction to Chuck’s schemes and further fleshes out the story between Gus, Mike, and Hector. Red weaves into each scene of the hour, signifying both danger and power.
The hour opens with an orange saturated lens on a lavish Mexican estate. A man swims in a pool. Hector and a subordinate arrive carrying a duffle bag to Don Eladio. (The character played by Cuban actor Steven Bauer appeared in Breaking Bad at the same estate. Walter White brought him some “special” tequila.) Hector tells Eladio he has bought an ice cream company. Hector introduces his driver Jimenez, he boosts he gets “waved through by immigration” across the border every time. When Jimenez tries to speak to Eladio, Hector calls him an “idiot.” But the hefe is in good spirits, and shakes the driver’s hand. The Don has some advice for the driver, don’t cross him or Hector because he “doesn’t believe in second chances.” Hector tells Eladio he has named his ice cream shop in Albuquerque after him; “The Winking Greek.” Hector presents Eladio with a bobble head of Cesar. “Sabrosito!” Eladio declares the token. (Cute!) The duffle bag is opened to reveal wads of rolled U.S. currency secured with rubber bands.
Another man named Bolso appears, wearing a red shirt over a gray blazer. He too presents a gift to Eladio, a “Pollos Hermanos” t-shirt. Hector scoffs, “More like “Butt Brothers!” Bolso whistles for his associates. A man presents the hefe with three duffle bags of cash, this time wrapped up in neat plastic blocks. “Gustavo sends his regards!” Eladio is impressed at this tribute, all earned in one month. Bolso notes Gustavo is a “distribution genius.” Eladio praises Bolso while demanding Hector bring his future cash in the same manner. Bolso apologizes for Gustavo not being able to meet in person. Eladio is pleased, “Have him keep doing what he’s doing.” Don asks the bobble-headed Cesar about Hector, “Saborsito says Gustavo’s is bigger than yours!” After more teasing, Don Eladio chides Hector for being “so serious.” He invites all them inside for lunch, he puts on the Pollos Hermanos t-shirt. Bolso advises Hector to come inside with them. “Don’t insult him.” The camera catches Hector’s reflection in the pool, he is jealous and insulted.
Back in New Mexico, Hector’s ice cream shop is raided by the DEA courtesy of Mike’s shoe shot. Mike watches from a car across the street. The local police are there too, with bright red emblazed on their cars. He calls his daughter-in-law Stacy. His “extra-curricular” money has helped them move to a new house in a safer neighborhood. Stacy insists Mike come over for dinner. Later that evening, Kaylee has fallen asleep in Mike’s arms watching television. Stacy brings out ice cream, which wakes up the girl. The new home has an impressive wall of windows, not exactly safe from prying eyes of bad men. Stacy asks Mike if he’s okay, he sighs but states “I’m fine.” It’s easy to see why later on in Breaking Bad his sole purpose is to provide for Kaylee, what isn’t known is what happened to Stacy.
Pollos Hermanos is doing a brisk business when Hector and several of his henchmen enter. (All men wear red shirts of varying shades.) Hector approaches “Lyle” at the counter and asks where his boss is in Spanish. Lyle doesn’t understand him much to Hector’s irritation, so he asks him in English only to learn Gus isn’t available. Hector insists, “I need Fring, I’ll wait!” Hector takes out a cigar and lights it. Lyle impotently protests. Customers start to sense the tension in the restaurant and begin to leave. Hector helps himself to a fountain drink and goes into the back of the store to Gus’s office. The two henchmen stay in the restaurant area, threatening the staff and customers with their dirty looks.
Gus is at a local fire station receiving praise for his commitment to the community. His charming speech is interrupted by an urgent call from his cell phone. Gus takes the call near a red fire engine. “Yes, I’ll be right there.”
Gus enters Los Pollos where his staff together is huddled together in the restaurant seating area. Hector’s men are essentially holding them hostage. The clock notes it’s one thirty in the afternoon. Gus tells his frightened staff to go home, that they will be compensated for their normal shifts but the franchise is closed for the day. Lyle asks Mr. Fring if he’s okay, “Are you sure you want to be left alone with these guys, do you want me to call someone?” Gus assures him he’ll be fine and to please leave immediately. One henchman instructs Gus to go see Hector in the office.
Gus finds Salamanca with his feet up on his desk and smoking. Gus begins, “Mine is a cartel business but it is mine and it is legitimate. My employees are civilians and you have endangered them, my interests and the interests of the cartel.” Hector fires back, “I am the cartel and you are my mule. From now on you are going to bring my product north!” Hector begins to scape excrement off his shoe with a pen onto Gus’s desk. (A clear sign to Gus, you are the poop under my shoe. Disrespectful.) Gus, ever composed notes he knows that Hector’s supply line has been compromised but he is unable to take more product north. Hector doesn’t care, “Make room!” Gus states he only answers to Bolso. “ You want to cry to Bolso, cry to Don Eladio, I don’t care!” The poop scraping continues as Gus explains expanding his operation will only endanger all their business interests. Gus wants to know if Hector has Don Eladio’s approval. Hector gets up, “I approve this! You are doing it!” Having said the last word on the matter, Hector and his henchmen leave Los Pollos.
Gus starts to clean up the trash from the day and makes a basket with a small smile on his face. Does Gus have a new plan for revenge?
Nacho drives to Mike’s parking lot in his black Cadillac Escalade. He circles the lot and presents Mike with a brown paper bag filled with cash. Mike tosses it back to him, “Tell him we’re square.” Nacho can’t believe Mike is refusing the money. Mike raises the gate for him to exit.
The next day Los Pollos is abuzz with staff cleaning up the place and slicing tomatoes for the day. Gus enters the restaurant and calls the staff together for a meeting. He begins by apologizing for the “incident” the previous day. He promises to pay employees twenty-four hours of overtime and offers them counseling if they need help coping the stressful incident. Lyle asks the question one everyone’s minds, “Who were those guys?”
Gus explains that when he opened his first Pollos in Michoacán that “bad men” wanted money from him and he was ashamed to admit it but he used to pay them. He states the same “bad men” came yesterday demanding payment but he told them he would not do it anymore because “This is America. Here the righteous have no reason to fear, here these men have no power!” Gus states the men “ran like cowards back across the border.” He promises the men will never return and together, they will all prosper. The staff applauds their brave and generous employer.
Kim makes “cold calls” for handy-man services. She is trying to find the company Chuck hired to repair the damage Jimmy caused to his house. Finally she finds the company and cancels the appointment. Francesca is doing her folksy phone routine like regular Sarah Palin. Kim gives the appointment time and company information to Jimmy. He is impressed with her tenacity. She leans over to help Jimmy edit his “remorse letter” to Chuck. She softens his “remorse.” Jimmy thanks her for her help noting how nice it is to have her working along side her. “Are you sure you got the right guy for this?” Jimmy replies, “I’m sure, the crème de la crème!”
At Chuck’s house an old clock meters out time while Chuck sits near a propane lamp. He gets up to answer a knock at the door, it’s Mike the handyman! Chuck explains the damage is mainly to the doorframe, the door body is intact. Mike notes it looks like the “thief” went after his copper wire. Mike asks where he can “plug-in” and Chuck bristles. “Didn’t they tell you!” Chuck is in sensed that the man doesn’t understand the details of his condition. Mike fires up his drill, “Good thing I brought my cordless drill, and otherwise I’d be going at it like Fred Flintstone!” Chuck yells at him to stop and do the manually. “That would turn a morning job into two days with me, my screwdriver and Bengay! But it’s your call.” Chuck decides to let him work but runs away like a scared cat upstairs. With Chuck out of sight, Mike continues to press the drill and pace around the house looking a bit like fictional serial killer Michael Myers snapping pictures with a disposal camera. The flashes illuminate the brown gloomy home.
Jimmy meets Mike at a dinner to settle up their business. Jimmy looks through the photos as Mike eats a breakfast of bacon and eggs. (A Walter White favorite.) As usual, Jimmy does most of the talking. He focuses in on a photo featuring a stack of newspapers resting under a propane lamp. “Now that tells the whole story, you are the Ansel Adams of covert photography!” Mike hands Jimmy a piece of notebook paper that he says he procured from an address book on Chuck’s desk. Jimmy wants to know Mike’s impressions of his brother but as usual Mike is silent. “Isn’t our business concluded?” Mike notes he fixed it right and enjoyed the experience. Jimmy pays him and leaves saying, “Hasta luego.”
Mike reads a magazine called “Handyman” when a navy blue Volvo pulls up to his parking kiosk. Gus asks, “May we talk?” Mike gestures to a spot within the garage. The men face each other, Gus begins, and “You sent back the payment we agreed upon.” Mike replies, “What I did I didn’t do for you!” Gus believes Mike refused the payment based on the guilt he felt over the death of the “civilian.” Mike says he’s just happy to have Hector out of his head. Gus continues to explain that Mike’s actions have benefited his business tremendously. Gus adds, “Perhaps in the future you should consider working for me.” Mike answers, “Could be, depends on the work.” Gus turns to leave but then faces Mike once again. “Do you care to know why I asked you not to kill Hector?” Mike figures it wasn’t in Gus’s interests. Gus corrects him, “A bullet to the head would have been far too humane.” The Volvo exits the lot, red lights disappearing in the distance as Mike looks on form his kiosk.
Jimmy waits in the conference room at HHM. Howard enters and turns off the lights. Chuck and Howard sit at the far end of the table. Kim joins the men with terse hellos. Finally, Ms. Hay enters and sits across from the two parties, noting the precautions made for Chuck’s health. Ms. Hay tells a little story about an aunt she had who had to exit every time the boy’s choir sang in church and it made her think of Chuck. Ms. Hay explains the Pre-Prosecution procedure, Jimmy will have to report to a PPD officer monthly, remain employed and do community service. She warns if he violates the agreement he will be prosecuted for his crimes against Chuck and any new charges. Ms. Hay explains as a member of the Bar, this case will be referred to them. (Thus probably resulting in Jimmy’s dis-barment.)
Chuck reviews Jimmy’s confession and nit-picks the cassette tape detail. Jimmy must change his statement to read, “destroyed item of personal property” and initial it. Ms. Hay wants Jimmy to apologize in person to his brother due to his “lack of remorse.” (The lack of remorse was an element which Kim and Jimmy wanted in his confession to provoke this very reaction.)
Jimmy looks down the table at Chuck, “Chuck, I’m very sorry. I lost my temper and did some things, many things I regret. I shouldn’t have broken down your door, doesn’t matter how I was provoked. There is no excuse for that or the things that I said. I regret it all, more than you can imagine because you’re my brother, and no one should treat his own brother like that.” The wording of Jimmy’s confession is interesting, he mentions being “provoked” and that’s not how one should treat a brother. Perhaps he also means Chuck should not have treated HIM in this manner.
The final matter of the day is the damages Jimmy owes Chuck for the property. Chuck wants the damages to include the cost of the cassette tape. Jimmy writes a check for $323.98. Jimmy exits the room and walks briskly down the hall. Kim approaches Howard and Chuck. “First, I’m putting you both on notice regarding the Bar hearing. I’m putting forward a motion to repress that tape.” Howard replies, “The tape that Jimmy destroyed?” Kim wants them to cut the charade, she knows Chuck made a duplicate. Chuck admits that Jimmy destroyed the duplicate, not the original, gloating it’s “under lock and key.” Chuck dares Kim to “file any motion she likes” he will make sure the Bar hears the tape in due time. He lectures her, “The Bar Association’s standard of proof is different than what you’re used to.” Again, both men are treating Kim as if she was still their subordinate. The men walk away.
Down the hall, Jimmy waits for Kim. She gives him a quick smile, “Bingo!” Jimmy’s face expresses a grim satisfaction at the word. The couple walks out of the grey hallway together, under a red “Exit” sign.
It is implied that Jimmy already knows where the tape is hidden due to Mike’s stealth mission. Once the tape is destroyed, the confession will be useless. It’s clear Jimmy has something bigger in store for Chuck, perhaps get him dis-barred for his mental state? It looks like the hearing will be next week with Chuck feeling he has the upper hand. Chuck and Howard have underestimated Kim and Jimmy.
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