"RICO" is the eighth episode of the first season of Better Call Saul and the eighth episode of the series altogether.
Summary[]
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In 1998, a jubilant Jimmy pushes a mail cart at HHM. His smile fades as he reaches Kim's office and holds up an envelope, which he wants her to open. Kim takes the envelope and reads the letter, then kisses Jimmy. In Chuck's office, Jimmy reveals that he has passed the state bar exam, having taken online courses through the University of American Samoa. He asks if he can work at HHM once he is sworn in. Chuck tells him that he has to confer with the other partners, but signals optimism. Later that day, Jimmy celebrates with Kim and his co-workers in the mail room. Howard stops by the party and - after the others have left - informs Jimmy that the firm will not be hiring him as a lawyer.
Act I[]
In 2002, Kim unpacks in her office at HHM. After salvaging the Kettleman case, she is back in Howard's good graces and has been allowed to return from exile in the dreaded "cornfield." He convinces her to attend the firm's press conference on the settlement of the Kettleman case. Kim stands demurely in the background as Howard makes the announcement.
Jimmy watches the proceedings on television with disdain, thinking Howard is taking credit for Kim's efforts. Shrugging it off, he returns to his task at the reception desk of Sandpiper Crossing, an assisted living center where he has come to visit a client. Jimmy wraps up a meeting with the client, a resident named Irene Landry, concerning her will. Irene realizes that she doesn't have enough money left from her "monthly allowance" to cover Jimmy's bill, which piques his interest. Investigating, he compares the bills of several Sandpiper residents and uncovers multiple cases of gross overcharging - the basis for a lawsuit. Jimmy convenes a group of seniors to point out the errors in their monthly statements, which is noticed by Sandpiper's facility manager.
Jimmy shares his discovery with Chuck, who has been unable to resist processing the paperwork that Jimmy asked him to store. Chuck is shocked that he missed such egregious errors, but begrudgingly agrees that a class action lawsuit could be brought against Sandpiper if Jimmy can establish a pattern of overbilling. Jimmy returns to Sandpiper but is banned from the premises, as they have enacted a new policy in order to protect their residents from unwanted "legal solicitation." As Jimmy argues with the facility manager, he hears the unmistakable sound of shredding from an adjacent office. He manages to talk his way into being allowed to use the restroom, where he furiously scribbles a "demand letter" on toilet paper, informing Sandpiper of pending litigation against them. He thrusts the "document" at the facility manager before he is tossed out.
Act II[]
At work, Mike recieves a call from Stacey, who has accepted the situation and forgiven him for his involvement in Matt's death. She asks if he could watch Kaylee later on while she is at work, to which Mike readily agrees. There will be no impositions for her; anything she needs, Mike will provide.
Jimmy returns to Sandpiper after dark to search their dumpster for the shredded documents. As he digs through the garbage, he receives a call from Richard Schweikart, Sandpiper's attorney. Schweikart also happens to be an old acquaintance of Chuck's and asserts that he's calling Jimmy out of professional courtesy to him. He warns Jimmy not to pursue legal action against Sandpiper. As Jimmy climbs out of the dumpster, he discovers the shredded documents deposited neatly in a nearby recycling bin.
Act III[]
At Chuck's house, Jimmy spends the entire night piecing the shredded documents back together. The next morning, Chuck finds an exhausted Jimmy, still up from the night before. He steps away to make coffee and returns to find Jimmy asleep. Impressed by his commitment, Chuck decides to pick up where his brother left off; by the time Jimmy wakes up, Chuck has assembled the "smoking gun" - an invoice for syringes from a medical supply company in Nebraska. Energized by the work, Chuck gives Jimmy a long list of case law to pull for research. Jimmy, ecstatic to be working with his brother, hugs him. Outside, he calls Kim and asks her to print the case law Chuck requested and to bill it to his account. Although worried that Chuck's involvement with Jimmy's case could violate his contract with HHM and endanger his mental health, Kim proceeds.
Meanwhile, Stacey arrives home from work. Mike, who had been babysitting Kaylee, gets up to leave when Stacey pulls him aside to ask for advice. She shows Mike the envelope of cash from Matt's suitcase, and shares her uncertainty about what to do with it, noting that expenses have been piling up. Mike encourages her to spend the money. Relieved, she thanks him, but mentions that this money is really "only a drop in the bucket."
Act IV[]
Schweikart receives a fax that includes a new, proper demand letter from Jimmy and Chuck, along with copies of reassembled Sandpiper billing statements. Schweikart and his team arrive at Chuck's house to negotiate with the McGill brothers. Jimmy meets them at the curb, curtly asks them to leave their electronics in the car, escorts them inside, and seats them at Chuck's dining room table. He then ducks into the kitchen to get Chuck, whom he finds in a state of anxiety. Jimmy reassures Chuck, helping him into his jacket as he restores Chuck's confidence and leads him into the dining room.
Schweikart concedes that some Sandpiper residents were over-billed because of an accounting error. He offers $100,000 to reimburse the residents and cover legal fees, with the caveat that Sandpiper admits no wrongdoing. Jimmy responds by referencing the syringe invoice, declaring pointedly that the inclusion of interstate commerce puts Sandpiper on the hook for RICO violations, elevating the case to fraud and entitling his clients to much higher damages. After a moment of intense private discussion with his team, Schweikart asks Jimmy what number he has in mind. Chuck, thus far silent, demands "$20 million, or we'll see you in court". After Schweikart and his team leave, Jimmy panics over the demand. Chuck assures Jimmy that it's actually a conservative estimate for a multi-state federal class action lawsuit of this kind. Jimmy falls quiet, catching a glimpse of the magnitude of this case. Chuck emphatically lists their next steps; Jimmy's ready to dive in.
Mike adopts a shelter dog and visits Dr. Caldera. As the dog is examined, Mike asks whether he still has the "work" available to which he previously alluded. Later, Jimmy stops by Chuck's house with boxes of new paperwork. He leaves a box in his car, but is too tired to go and get it himself. Engrossed in a file and impatient to get the documents he needs, Chuck walks out the front door, grabs Jimmy's car keys from the mailbox, and retrieves the box from his trunk. He's out of the house - and not in pain. Jimmy watches from the doorway, amazed. Jimmy calls quietly to his brother. Chuck suddenly realizes where he is, and drops the box he was carrying.
Official Photos[]
Trivia[]
- The episode title refers to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
- The RICO act is previously mentioned twice in Breaking Bad:
- This episode explains how Mike got involved in the criminal underworld.
- Jimmy gets his law degree from the University of American Samoa, which was mentioned in Breaking Bad. In reality, there is no such university, although there is a community college.
- Jimmy claims to be watching Mozart's The Magic Flute.
Legal Notes[]
- Jimmy accuses the care home of spoliation of evidence.
- Jimmy claims that taking documents from trash is legal if it is in a public place as there is no expectation of privacy (per California v. Greenwood.)
Production[]
Credits[]
Starring
- Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill
- Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut
- Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler
- Patrick Fabian as Howard Hamlin
- Michael Mando as Nacho Varga (credit only)
- Michael McKean as Chuck McGill
Guest Starring
Co-Starring
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Uncredited
- Brian Barela as HHM Staff
- Tim Childress as HHM Attorney
- Steve Larese as Dan
- Jyl Murray as HHM Attorney
Featured Music[]
- "Son Guajira" by Antonio Garcia Isaac
- "Coffee Cold" by Galt MacDermot
Memorable Quotes[]
- "This is a demand letter informing Sandpiper Crossing of pending litigation for defrauding my clients through systematic overcharging. You're shredding in there! I'm not deaf! I can hear you! Stop right now! [Shredding continues] This here this makes it official, right? If you don't stop shredding right now, that's destruction of evidence spoliation! That's what it's called, and it's a felony! So call your lawyers right now and tell them I said that! Me! James McGill, Esquire!"
- ―Jimmy informing Sandpiper Crossing of pending litigation against them.
- "Don't thank me. This was a one-time thing, and don't think I don't see what you were doing here. You wanted to play Tom Sawyer, wanted me to paint the fence! And God help me, it worked!"
- ―Chuck, chastising Jimmy for tricking him into assisting.
- Rick Schweikart: "Maybe you should walk me through what you're alleging here."
- Jimmy: "I believe it's all in the letter."
- Rick Schweikart: "Uh, uh, I'm not saying it's not, but it's a bit hard to read. Next time, I'd use double-ply."
- ―Rick Schweikart mocking the letter written by Jimmy.
- Rick Schweikart: "This is a shakedown, and we both know it. Now, if you push this any further, my hands will be tied. Sorry for interrupting your evening. Enjoy "The Magic Flute"."
- Jimmy: "[after Schweikart has hung up] Blow my magic flute."
- ―Rick Schweikart and Jimmy.
- "Sedima establishes a pretty low threshold for RICO provisions to kick in. Interstate commerce is a bitch, huh? As soon as we establish a pattern to, what was your word? Uh, "overbillings"? I prefer the classic term of fraud. You're looking at treble damages. So your 100 grand? I think you know where you can stick it."
- ―Jimmy to Rick Schweikart.
Notes[]