Better Call Saul Season 5 Episode 4: The Target is Mesa Verde
Bob Odenkirk
Saul Goodman
Jonathan R. Banks
Mike Ehrmantraut
Rhea Seehorn
Kim Wexler
Patrick Fabian
Hamlin Howard
Giancarlo Esposito
Gus Fring
Plot Summary:Waking up in the morning, Jimmy and Kim finish their ablutions in their slightly cramped bathroom, grab their briefcases, and head out. Jimmy has a busy day ahead, with a morning visit to the detention center, an afternoon court appearance, and a lunch meeting with Howard. Kim notices shattered glass in the parking lot and, while cleaning it up, ponders how to properly handle Mr. Acker's situation. Jimmy arrives at the detention center, where his clients are the two troublemakers who caused chaos while trying to get a 50% discount. For a charge like theft, all they need to do is claim uncontrollable urges due to drug use, find a disreputable rehab center, and get a fake certificate. For other misdemeanors like car crashes and public property damage, they'll aim for a six-month sentence, hoping that with overcrowded prisons, they might be out in three. With the defense strategy set, the next issue is the fees. The two guys complain loudly when they hear the half-price fee is still four thousand, threatening to switch to a free public defender. Jimmy doesn't push, explaining that you get what you pay for, and a free lawyer means rotting in jail. With a mix of cajoling and intimidation, the two small-time criminals dare not complain further and quickly agree to ask relatives for money. At lunch at a fancy restaurant with Howard, it's clear Howard isn't interested in Jimmy, but in Saul Goodman. Jimmy is just Charlie's brother, and previous unpleasantness was a family matter. Saul is different; he rose from mailroom clerk to lawyer, then made a name for himself. HHM needs to expand, and they need someone with Saul's ambition, ideas, and methods. Howard's words are deeply moving but fail to sway Jimmy. Jimmy doesn't respond on the spot; after lunch, he sees Howard off to his car, still thinking about the afternoon court hearing. Kim spends the morning in a meeting room, discussing construction progress with Mesa Verde Bank. She suggests moving the customer service center construction to another plot of land. This plot was initially rejected during early assessments due to flood risks. Kim has since learned that the local government recently reinforced all drainage systems in the area and rebuilt sixteen kilometers of nearby roads. The new roads can accelerate construction and make the whole process more efficient, compensating for delays at the old site. In the long run, this plot's land value could double within five years, making it an excellent investment. Moreover, forcibly evicting Mr. Acker carries potential reputational risks. However, Kim's suggestion isn't adopted by the bank's senior management, so it seems they can only notify the sheriff to evict Mr. Acker from his home. Kim is frustrated; she doesn't want to be the executioner persecuting an old man, but she feels powerless. She packs her briefcase, goes to court, walks into the courtroom, and sits in the spectator's gallery, watching how Jimmy defends an almost unwinnable case. Jimmy is sitting at the defense table, next to the suspect in the case. The store owner is on the witness stand; the prosecutor just had him identify the suspect who robbed his small store. After the prosecutor finishes questioning, Jimmy calmly stands up and raises an objection. There were no other customers that night, no surveillance in the store, and the owner had worked eleven continuous hours; how could he be certain that the defendant stole the money from the register? The owner doesn't back down, claiming he saw the defendant steal the money up close and face-to-face and wouldn't mistake him. In reality, the person sitting at the defense table is not the suspect, but a bartender from a nearby bar. Many people can prove he was at work on the night of the incident. The real suspect is currently sitting in the back row of the spectator's gallery; his only similarity to the bartender is a full beard. The witness is speechless, and the judge and prosecutor are both angry and helpless at Jimmy's trickery, forced to declare a recess. People in the courtroom rise and leave, and Jimmy walks over to Kim, sensing she has something on her mind. After hearing Kim's story, Jimmy immediately drives to Mr. Acker's house. He knocks on the old man's door, vowing to make some people pay by any means necessary. Thus, at Kim's arrangement, Jimmy acquires a new client, and his opponent is the formidable Mesa Verde Bank.