Previously on AMC's "Better Call Saul"...
You do realize you just confessed to a felony?
For this, you destroyed our family?
You happy now?!
Jimmy! What are you gonna do?
He's got me boxed in.
You can fight this.
I regret it all, more than you can imagine,
'cause you're my brother.
I'm filing a motion to suppress that tape.
Motions aside, that tape will be played.
Well?
Bingo.
Found a phone!
It looks like it's from 1967, but I think it'll work.
Just a sec, Jimmy.
Excellent. Thank you for being so careful.
Sir. Hmm?
We have to get in your attic. For what?
Oh, the hook-up.
Oh, no. That's all right. Don't bother.
Oh, it won't take 20 minutes.
Plus, you really can't use it if I don't do it.
No, it's all right. We're not gonna.
Uh, when you're done here,
would you get some more lamps in the garage?
Thanks.
So, we got a phone. Yeah.
The yard's half-mowed.
Uh, the sockets and stuff are looking a-OK.
I'm gonna check again just to make sure.
We're almost there.
Good. Good.
Um, what do you think?
On? Off?
Ohh. I think... Off.
Yeah. You're right. Off it is.
Chuck. Hmm?
You sure this is the right play?
I mean, in my experience,
the bigger the lie, the harder it can be to dig out.
I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Hey, guys, think we're set with the lamps.
Uh, could someone give me a hand with this phone? Gracias.
Mmm.
It's open!
Rebecca.
Chuck. You look lovely.
Oh, it's so good to see you. And you.
Oh.
Hey, what's with the candles?
Why you sittin' here in the dark?
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing.
Oh, my god, the afternoon I've had.
Two hours ago, I take the sea bass out.
No sooner is it prepped and resting
than... boom! Power goes down.
I get on the phone to the city.
To make a long story short,
those bozos at PNM mixed up my payment.
The deadbeat at 512 San Cristobal
hasn't been paying his bills.
And, of course, I'm...
215. 215, exactly.
Mm-hmm. Mm.
They say they'll have it on again by tomorrow.
In the meantime, I borrowed some camping gear from my neighbors.
Hence, the rustic flair.
Jeez. Oh, yeah.
So, what do we do?
Uh, get out of here and go to a restaurant?
We could hit seasons. Your treat.
We could, yeah.
But, um, you know, dinner's almost ready.
And the fish... I would have just had to throw it out.
All I have to do is toss it in a pan.
How about we just rough it?
Huh? You okay with that?
Uh, um...
Well... Why not? It'll be fun.
We'll do an haute-cuisine camp-out.
Great! Then it's settled. Let me take that.
Take your... Oh, yeah, here.
Here, I'll take that. Oh, thank you. Mm-hmm.
Mmm. Mmm.
Oh, my god.
I can't eat another bite.
Cheers to the galloping gourmet.
Mm! Ah.
Yeah.
Mm.
The calvados is perfect.
Mm. You always liked it.
Here.
Uh, um. Let me get this.
No, no, Jimmy. You don't have to.
No, least I can do is the dishes. Oh.
Thank you.
Thanks, Jimmy.
This turned out better than I thought.
Uh, I'm so... Sorry about the lights.
Oh, it's nice. Atmospheric.
I mean, I still can't get over Jimmy being a lawyer.
Neither can I.
He's got his own shingle out and everything.
I mean, a real, responsible citizen.
I mean, who woulda thought?
Yeah.
Mm.
This place is the same.
I mean, I-i would've thought you'd
change things up.
Move things around.
You've got great taste. And if it ain't broke...
How's the tour going?
It's good. Good.
Um, the far east this fall.
Uh, China, south Korea, and Vietnam.
That's gonna be exciting. Yeah.
And then, um, after Santa Fe this week,
uh, we're back to central Europe.
And it's good?
Well, it's a lot of hotels. Yeah.
I mean, in Budapest, I think I saw mostly
the inside of the concert hall and the Marriott.
But, you know, I shouldn't complain.
You're not complaining. You're observing.
Did you finally get to see Salzburg?
Not yet, but next month, after Vienna.
Do you remember when we tried to go to Salzburg?
And that crazy old lady on the scooter...
Oh, yes! Yes! ...Chased us out of the train station.
Yeah!
And then, um... and then we went and got, uh,
it was a-a-a raspberry Linzer torte in Innsbruck?
Mm. To make ourselves feel better?
Mm. You said, "we'll never finish this!"
And then we did.
So, what's after Asia? Any plans for a stateside tour?
Oh, you know, hopefully next year.
You know, maybe a residency. Oh, that would be sweet.
I mean, you know, I like the buses
and trains and planes fine, but I, um...
I miss having one... one place to hang my hat.
Oh, god!
I'm sorry. I-i-i hate that thing.
I feel like I'm on a leash. Ugh!
I'm sorry.
Oh. Oh, it's my conductor.
Um, I have to take this. I'm sorry.
H-hi, Andre.
No, I'm just at dinner. What's up?
Well, I can do that at rehearsal.
Yeah, no problem. Yeah.
No, I-i know that they're coming in late on bar 16.
Y-yeah. Got it. Got it.
I will make sure that...
uh, c-c-can you hold on a second?
Let me just get a pen.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah. No, I-i...
Yeah, hold on one second.
Yeah, I can do it... I mean, whatever you need.
Mm-hmm. Okay.
All right, shoot.
Okay...
Chuck?
I'm all right.
Well, do you want me to rehearse the cellists separately?
Rebecca. Rebecca.
Well, no, it's not just him. It's the whole section.
Rebecca!
Uh, no.
T-that's fine.
Yeah.
Chuck, what the hell?!
Andre?
I-I-i have to... I'll have to call you back.
I'm sorry.
What is your problem?
Say something.
It is incredibly bad manners
to answer a cellphone in company.
It's very rude.
Uh, I-I'm sorry.
I-I didn't know that you felt that way.
I... Didn't mean to offend you, Chuck.
I-I may have overreacted.
That was very abrupt.
No. Uh.
I understand.
Uh...
It's getting late.
Thank you for a lovely dinner,
but I should be getting back to the hotel.
Just gimme a minute, and we can...
no. Uh, um, I'll just get a cab.
I don't want to put you out any more than I already... please, let me.
No, really.
A cab is the easiest.
You gotta do somethin'.
Y-you can't let her leave like this.
Just tell her what's going on.
No. No.
She'll understand.
She'll... would you rather she think you're a raging prick
than know the truth?
No.
Look, if you won't tell her, then I will.
No, no. No!
You will not tell her.
You... Will not tell her.
All right.
Hi, Andre. Yes, I'm sorry about that.
I dropped the phone.
Jesus. What're you doing, man?
There's barely any oxygen in that bag.
You're suffocating her! "Her"?
Yeah, just because you don't see swingin' dicks
doesn't mean you can't tell a boy fish from a girl fish.
Oh, yeah, see.
Now I can see the lipstick.
This is a living creature. It's not a piece of furniture.
So, after this, you take her home.
You put her in a big bowl, at least a gallon.
Get a good bubbler, maybe a plecostomus.
And don't feed her too much.
People get fat.
Fish, they drown in leftover food.
All right already, Jacques Cousteau.
Point made.
Good.
I'm guessing our friend didn't refer you to me
to get ichthyological advice.
I'm looking for someone with a light touch.
I'm not talking some teenager taking a five-finger discount
on string cheese at the stop 'n' shop.
I need highly skilled, high-end, discreet.
A real pro.
You gotta fit him in a tight space?
I don't think so.
I got just the guy, then.
That's why I say golfing is a contact sport.
Great job, Ms. Wexler. Very refreshing.
Believe me, uh, we're happy to get this one off the docket.
Not as happy as we are.
Again, great job.
Thank you. Thank you, sir.
Ladies, dinner's on me.
Kim, I knew you were good, but I didn't know you were this good.
Oh, I'm glad you're happy.
We couldn't have done it without you.
And I hope you realize this means a whole lot a work comin' your way.
Oh, that's... that's great.
Well, you don't sound like it's great.
I hate to be a buzzkill,
but there is something you need to hear
before we get any deeper in.
It's about your former attorney, Charles McGill.
What about him?
Charles has been making
some very ugly allegations about his brother, Jimmy,
with whom I happen to share an office space.
Allegations? Of what?
Charles thinks that Jimmy
somehow took control of your documents
while he was working on them at his home.
He believes Jimmy transposed the address numbers.
Transposed the numbers?
How would he even do that?
Charles contends that Jimmy took the documents
pertaining to the Rosella branch
and, while Charles was indisposed,
photocopied and doctored them.
That's pretty baroque.
The important thing here
is I think it could make some noise in public.
Soon.
I wanted to tell you this in the spirit of full disclosure.
I thought it was better if you heard it from me.
If you have any reservations at this point
or if you are not comfortable staying with me,
we can discuss options.
If there's one thing I cannot abide,
it's a man who won't own up to his mistakes.
Now, whatever mud McGill is slinging he's not gonna
screw me out of the best outside counsel I've ever had.
That's...
I'm so glad to hear that.
We appreciate the heads-up,
but you can call this baby put to bed.
Now the most important thing... dinner.
7:00 good for you?
Uh, works for me. Great.
We'll talk strategy...
we move on Colorado or Utah first?
See ya at 7:00.
This McGill thing.
You're sure it's not gonna be a problem?
I am.
Mesa Verde isn't involved in any way, shape, or form.
Okay. Good.
Then, I'll see you tonight.
Okay, great. See you then.
Okay, this is it.
We can run without lights and mics.
We'll collect all cellphones
and hold them for the duration of your testimony.
The, uh, court reporter, would it be possible
to move him or her farther from the witness stand?
Um, yeah, I think we can arrange
having them in the back of the court.
I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do about the exit signs.
It's code.
I appreciate all you're doing.
Thank you.
Mr. alley, I wonder if you'd give us a moment.
I'd like to go over something with my colleague.
No problem. I'll be outside when you're ready.
Howard?
How you feeling, Chuck?
I'll muddle through.
Because this is a lot to ask.
And if you're not up to it... just throwing this out there...
maybe you don't need to testify at all.
No, I do.
I'm the only person who can adequately explain
the context of that tape.
Otherwise, the defense'll tear it to shreds.
It's already a solid case.
We have Jimmy's statement from the pre-prosecution diversion.
There's my testimony and the private eye's.
Maybe there's no need to put you through the wringer like this.
This isn't about me or my health.
This is about PR.
We lost a client.
That happened because, while you were... Incapacitated,
your brother accessed documents
that should have been secured at HHM.
What Jimmy did is unconscionable, yes...
But one of my jobs is to safeguard the firm's reputation.
This is not the time to worry about how we look.
This is about what's right and what's wrong.
I'm not gonna risk Jimmy getting, what?
A year's suspension? Maybe two?
He deserves disbarment, not some slap on the wrist.
No, Howard. There's only one way forward.
Let justice be done, though the heavens fall.
Sorry to keep you waiting. This'll do nicely.
Please extend my thanks to the committee for their flexibility.
Good morning. I'm Robert alley for the state bar.
In the matter of James M. McGill,
the state bar intends to prove the following violations
of the ethical code.
16-102... engaging in conduct a lawyer knows is criminal.
Mr. McGill certainly knew that breaking down his brother's door
was criminal behavior.
16-804... committing a criminal act that reflects adversely
on the lawyer's honesty or trustworthiness as a lawyer.
Any reasonable person would agree
that assaulting another lawyer in his own home
reflects badly on Mr. McGill's fitness as an attorney.
16-304... unlawfully altering, destroying,
or concealing material having potential evidentiary value.
Mr. McGill broke into his brother's home
and destroyed an audiocassette
which contained a recording of a conversation
between himself and his brother, Charles McGill.
We will show that this recording was evidence
in an ongoing legal case.
The state bar believes that,
once we have presented the facts,
the committee will agree that disbarment is warranted
for James McGill.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. alley.
Ms. Wexler?
Thank you, Mr. chairman.
Good morning.
I'm Kim Wexler, co-counsel with James McGill, for the defense.
You've already read Mr. McGill's pre-prosecution statement.
We don't dispute he broke into his brother's house,
an act he regrets... Deeply.
But there is another side to this story.
One not about calculation or ill intent,
but about about two brothers,
whose relationship, after years of strain,
finally broke.
We believe that, after you have the complete picture,
you'll understand James McGill is an asset
to our legal community.
And he should remain a full member of it in good standing.
Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Wexler.
Okay, if, uh, everyone's ready to begin testimony...
Mr. alley, call your witness.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Then he kicked down the door.
Jimmy was very agitated. He was shouting.
He demanded Charles turn over
the evidence he'd been collecting... objection.
We haven't established the tape is "evidence" of anything.
The defense has only acknowledged it as a piece of property.
Uh, allow me to rephrase.
Jimmy demanded an audiocassette in Charles' possession,
which Jimmy proceeded,
with the help of an iron fireplace implement,
to pry from Charles' desk.
He then broke the cassette into pieces
and went on to confront his brother.
What happened after the defendant smashed this tape?
Mr. Brightbill and I...
that's the private investigator
that Charles hired?
That's correct.
He and I were concerned that Jimmy might strike his brother.
So that's when we stepped in.
Thank you, Mr. Hamlin. Certainly.
Nothing further at this time.
Ms. Wexler?
Thank you, Mr. chairman.
You testified you've known my client for some time.
How long exactly?
Nearly 10 years.
How did you come to know him?
His brother asked to hire him in the mailroom at our firm.
And you did. Yes.
What was your opinion of him then?
I thought
he had a lot of get-up-and-go.
He was a hard worker.
You had a nickname for him, didn't you?
"Charlie hustle."
How'd you feel when you found out he'd become a lawyer?
Surprised.
He'd put himself through law school
and taken the bar exam without telling any of the partners.
Even Charles.
He bootstrapped his way into a law degree
while working in your mailroom.
Did you consider taking him on as an associate?
We did.
Briefly.
Sounds like you didn't hire him.
Why not? With that kind of grit.
The partners decided it would be best
to avoid the appearance of nepotism.
We felt hiring Jimmy might damage morale.
Nepotism.
Your firm is "Hamlin, Hamlin, and McGill," right?
Who's the other Hamlin?
My father.
Which partner was the most concerned with nepotism?
Charles McGill.
So Jimmy's own brother blocked him.
Objection.
How are the hiring practices of Hamlin, Hamlin, McGill
relevant here?
It's relevant to understand
the relationship between these brothers.
We'll, uh, give you some leeway, Ms. Wexler,
but don't stray too far.
Charles McGill is not the subject of this hearing.
Thank you.
Did Jimmy know his brother was the one
that prevented you from hiring him?
No. He did not.
Eventually, he was hired by the firm of Davis & main.
I'd be happy to say more about that, if you'd like.
No. Thank you.
When Charles' condition appeared,
Jimmy took care of him, didn't he?
I believe so.
Jimmy was struggling to build his solo law practice,
and yet, every single day, without fail,
he brought his brother food, supplies...
even his favorite newspapers.
Isn't that right? He did.
Could you speak to the terms of Charles' leave of absence?
You know I can't.
It was an FMLA leave. Anything more is confidential.
But you can confirm it was due to mental illness, correct?
Objection! Charles McGill's mental health isn't at issue.
This is a smear job on the state bar's upcoming witness...
nothing more.
This is not a competency hearing, Ms. Wexler.
Mr. Hamlin is not a psychiatric professional.
Do you have any questions that would be more germane
to his experience?
No.
I have nothing further.
The witness is excused.
At this time, the state bar would like
to enter exhibit five into evidence.
We ask that Charles McGill's recording be played.
I'm respectfully renewing my objection.
The probative value of playing this exhibit
is outweighed by how prejudicial it is.
All due respect to Ms. Wexler,
but the state bar feels this is fundamental to hear.
We don't want to leave any question
as to the intentions of both parties.
Ms. Wexler, we already ruled this was fair game
when we denied your motion to suppress.
I'll add, the rough-and-tumble of your client's conduct aside,
we need to know whether one lawyer
attempted to tamper with another's evidence.
Come here.
What are you still doing here?
Flight's delayed.
How delayed?
40 minutes, last I checked.
Shit. Okay. Keep me posted.
Um, yes.
Here we go.
Thank you for your Patience.
The state bar is ready to proceed.
Um, begging your pardon.
Um, the defense requests a moment to review, if we could?
All right.
When you're ready.
Thank you, Mr. chairman.
What are we doing?
We're stalling.
Yes. Yes.
My brother has many admirable qualities.
I-in some ways, I can say I admire him.
Too cold.
I love my brother.
But Ted Kaczynski's brother loved him, too.
And he wanted to help.
That's sanctimonious.
I love my brother.
He's a good person. He has good in him.
But the law is too important.
Ah.
Be right there, Howard!
The law is too important.
Hmm...
I sure shit wouldn't be tellin' ya otherwise.
But, yes... It's the truth.
You'd go to such lengths to humiliate me?
I did it for Kim!
She worked her butt off to get mesa Verde
while you and Howard sat around sipping scotch and chortling.
Hamlin, Hamlin, McGill... more like scrooge and Marley!
Kim deserves mesa Verde... not you, not HHM.
She earned it, and she needs it!
I did it to help her,
but I-i honestly didn't think it would hurt you so bad.
I thought you'd just say, "oh, crap, I made a mistake,"
and go on with your life, like a normal person!
But, oh, no!
Wishful thinking!
So, can I, uh, tell Howard
you're not quitting or retiring or whatever?
And can we take all this shit down off the walls?
I'm gonna go call Howard.
Jimmy.
You do realize you just confessed to a felony?
I guess.
But you feel better, right?
Besides, it's your word against mine.
Uh. Um.
All right, uh, Mr. alley, uh,
we need to make accommodations for your next witness.
Is that correct?
Yes, Mr. chairman. All right.
For those who don't know, we need to prepare the room.
Uh, the clerk is going to collect your, uh, cellphones,
watches, key fobs... anything electrical.
If you prefer not to, please secure your items
outside this room. Thank you.
Thank you for understanding.
Your phone, sir?
I left it in the car.
Oh. Excuse me. Sorry.
That's yours. Thanks.
Please raise your right hand.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth?
I do.
Could you state your name?
Charles L. McGill.
I'm a senior partner at the law firm of Hamlin, Hamlin, McGill.
Can the court reporter hear me?
Yes, sir. I can hear you fine.
Mr. McGill, I'll try to be brief.
We don't need to dwell on the burglary
or the assault that you suffered.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
What I would like to hear about is this tape.
What compelled you to make it?
I had a suspicion my brother had tampered with documents
in a case I was working on.
And why would he do that?
Doesn't sound particularly brotherly.
I believe it was his hope that the tainted documents
would cause the client to become disillusioned
with my representation
and return to their previous attorney, Ms. Wexler.
Which, I should note, is precisely what happened.
Objection.
I'm not saying Ms. Wexler knew what Jimmy was doing
or had any involvement.
I'm only stating that it happened.
Did you have any evidence
to support your suspicions about James?
No. My brother,
whatever else can be said of him, can be quite clever.
Did an excellent job of covering his tracks.
Objection.
The witness has admitted there's no corroborating evidence
this supposed crime even occurred.
I'd like to hear what he has to say.
We're going to continue.
Uh, we'll extend you the same latitude on cross, Ms. Wexler.
Go on, Mr. McGill.
Without physical evidence,
I felt that a recorded confession...
if I could get one... was my best bet.
On its own, I knew the tape would be somewhat flimsy,
but it was a start.
A foundation for a more ironclad case.
I suppose that Jimmy must have felt
the tape was decisive evidence on its own.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have broken in to destroy it.
Objection. More speculation.
How can he know what was going on in Jimmy's head?
Sustained. We just need to hear what happened, Mr. McGill.
I-I apologize.
I recorded my brother to build a case against him.
And at the time,
would you say that you were in possession of your faculties?
All due respect, but...
but you do sound somewhat unhinged on the recording.
Yes, I understand that.
But what you heard was theater.
A performance, play-acting.
I exaggerated the symptoms of my disease
to extract the truth.
Can we talk about your disease for a moment?
I'd like everybody here to be on the same page about it.
Of course.
It is sometimes referred to as EHS,
electromagnetic hypersensitivity.
I describe it as an acute allergy to electromagnetism.
It's not a common condition, is it?
I know it sounds strange. I do.
But 30 years ago, no one had heard of peanut allergies.
But you admit that no one...
uh, no doctor... has ever diagnosed you.
Aids was not identified properly until 1981.
HIV wasn't known as the cause until '83.
These things take time to unravel, even for doctors.
Would you say that your illness
affects your ability to think clearly?
No. It affects me physically.
It causes me great pain. However, I'm perfectly lucid.
Thank you.
Mr. McGill, I have only one more question for you.
Do you hate your brother?
Absolutely not.
I love my brother.
There's nothing malicious in Jimmy.
He has a way of doing the worst things
for reasons that sound almost noble.
But what I know for sure is that the law
is too important to be toyed with.
It's mankind's greatest achievement... the rule of law,
the idea that, no matter who you are,
your actions have consequences.
And the way my brother treats the law...
it breaks my heart.
That's why I did what I did.
Not to hurt him, but to protect something that I hold sacred.
Thank you, Mr. McGill.
The state bar rests.
I think we need to put on the brakes.
I'm sorry. My co-counsel and I need a moment to confer.
Please be brief, counselor.
Yes, of course.
She'll be here.
Do you have anything for cross?
Uh, can I look at your notes?
Yeah, of course.
Can we, um...
Yeah.
Hey. Hey.
So glad you made it.
Mr. chairman, I'm sorry.
Um, might I have a moment, uh, to get a breath?
Oh, of course, Mr. McGill.
Uh, folks, let's call this 15.