Better Call Saul Teaches Kim A Tough Lesson About Oral Agreements

Kim Wexler has, it seems safe to say, had a pretty eventful few months. She's watched with pride as her fellow slow-track law school grad boyfriend moved up in the world -- and out of his nail salon -- to a prestigious law firm. She's gone on to be disappointed by his determination to throw away his opportunity, and horrified to find out that her own career is collateral damage to his impetuous decisions. She's experienced the compliment of a handsome job offer from another firm, and the thrill of deciding to go out on her own instead. (And somewhere in the midst of all that, she's discovered a talent for running short cons, or possibly rediscovered it....) Kim's had an unobstructed view of lots of different kinds of lawyers, and the consequence is that now that she's getting ready to hang out her own shingle, she can decide which sort she wants to be. The Jimmy of several years ago, with his well-stocked library of lawyer jokes, could have told her that her chosen flavour -- "extremely scrupulous" -- wouldn't end well for her. The Jimmy of the show's present day tries to tell her, too.

Jimmy and Kim having agreed to set up an office together without actually becoming law partners -- because Jimmy's realized there's no point in his trying to be a lawyer at all if he can't be himself -- the next step is for Kim to tender her resignation at HHM. Jimmy's got the perfect plan: she should leave her resignation letter in Howard's office at night, so that technically, technically, she's met her obligation as a professional. Then, while Howard is out golfing the next day, she can swoop in and poach Mesa Verde -- which, by all rights or reasonable interpretation, is really her client anyway. Kim refuses. "You gotta act now," Jimmy advises. "Listen: you do this the 'right way,' wait, tell Howard to his face, he'll sink his dirty hooks into Mesa Verde before you get the words 'I quit' out of your mouth." Kim reminds him that the point of their arrangement is for them each to practice the law according to their own distinct and different philosophies: "I need to find a way to do this that's right for me."

The right way for Kim is to make an appointment with Howard, meet him in his office, and tell him with all due respect -- hell, with more respect than he's due -- that she's departing the firm. Howard, after guessing wrong that she's going to Schweikart, is more gracious about it than, I think, anyone would have predicted. He declines Kim's offer to write a cheque on the spot for the balance she still owes the firm for her law school tuition: "Our gift to you." He talks wistfully about having considered opening his own solo practice back when he was starting out, before being overruled by his father (the other H in HHM). He gives her the honour of a firm handshake and wishes her luck.

And as soon as Kim has stepped outside his office door, Howard -- loudly enough for Kim, who he must know is still standing there, to hear through the door -- asks his assistant to get Kevin from Mesa Verde on the phone. CLASSIC HOWARD. But Howard should remember how Kim landed Mesa Verde in the first place:

Kim knows how to hustle. And now that she's about to be on her own, she's hungrier than she's ever been. While Howard tries to shore up Kevin's support, Kim races to her office to call Paige and confirm a lunch she'd already had on the books with her and Kevin, and then -- one assumes -- spends every moment between then and the appointed meeting perfecting her pitch. Kevin wouldn't buy a suit off the rack: he wants one made just for him. And when he becomes her only client, Kim will be his custom-made lawyer, devoting every second of her time to meeting all his legal needs, and leaves feeling pretty confident.

YAAAAAAAS, QUEEN! Way to reframe your situation as a one-woman law firm and make what could be perceived as a weakness into a strength! Mesa Verde billings are going to pay the rent on this former dentist's office for years to come!

...Ooooh. That's not great. Because elsewhere in Albuquerque, Howard is paying a rare visit to Chuck's house to tell him about Kim's departure to set up professional housekeeping with Jimmy, and asking him to do some prep work on compliance for the meeting he's scheduled with Kevin and Paige to counter Kim's pitch. Not only will Chuck prepare: he's going to put on his foil-lined suit and attend that meeting his very own self -- with the lights on and everyone's cell phones right there in the room with him. This is too important to Chuck for him to insist upon his usual electrical prohibitions, and by "this," I mean "impeding Jimmy's legal career."

Kevin and Paige make it clear from the outset that they're committed to bringing their business to Kim, and Chuck says he gets it: "Kim Wexler is, indeed, the right choice to handle Mesa Verde. She's the obvious choice. She's young, she's brilliant, she's going places. Let's face it, Howard: she's the future. Two old guys like us, we're the past." But this is just the opening to Chuck's argument by rhetorical irony: as he describes how old-fashioned and dull he is -- "I read FEC and ISO reports for entertainment!" -- and the fact that he wouldn't possibly try to handle all of Mesa Verde's business on his own the way Kim intends to, Kevin and Paige clearly see what he's doing...

...which is not to say it doesn't work. The effort takes its toll on Chuck.

But if he could see the look of anxiety on Jimmy's face when Kim breaks the bad news...

...surely Chuck would say it was worth it. And maybe even Kim would say it was worth it to her to learn, again, the lesson that probably took up her whole first week of law school.

Chuck's about to learn a lesson of his own, of course.

But that can wait until next time.